grammar tutorial

7/27/2019 Grammar Tutorial

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1Property of the Clare Language Centre

CLARE LANGUAGE CENTRE

CERTIFICATE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE

TEACHING (CELT) COURSE

GRAMMAR TUTORIAL

Parts of Speech .................................................................................................................................................... 2

Adjectives ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Comparative and Superlative adjectives .................................................................................................................. 3

Adverbs ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Articles .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Conjunctions ................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Nouns ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Countable and uncountable nouns ........................................................................................................................... 8

Prepositions ................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Verbs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Auxiliary verbs ................................................................................................................................................... 11

Overview of verb tenses ..................................................................................................................................... 14

Past tenses ........................................................................................................................................................ 15

Present tenses ................................................................................................................................................... 17

Future tenses ..................................................................................................................................................... 19

Simple versus continuous verbs .......................................................................................................................... 21

Perfect tenses .................................................................................................................................................... 21

Active and passive verbs .................................................................................................................................... 22

Phrasal verbs ..................................................................................................................................................... 23

Modal verbs....................................................................................................................................................... 24

Conditional Forms .............................................................................................................................................. 27

Quantifiers ........................................................................................................................................................ 29

Review Parts of Speech ................................................................................................................................... 31

Review Verbs .................................................................................................................................................. 32


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Parts of Speech

The termparts of speech refers to categories or types of words. You could say that parts of speech are

the building blocks of sentences. An example of a part of speech is a noun. Nouns are people, places or

things, such as teacher (a person), Ireland (a place) or scissors (a thing). A verb is another part of

speech. Verbs are action words like run, walk, laugh or study. They can also describe a state or

situation: like, feel, live, think.

The seven parts of speech that you are expected to be able to identify for this course are: adjectives,

adverbs, articles, conjunctions, nouns, prepositions and verbs.

The happy child ran quickly to her mother and father.

The happy child ran quickly to her mother and father.

article adjective noun verb adverb preposition adjective noun conjunction noun

Lets look at the parts of speech individually

Adjectives

Use: Adjectives describe nouns.

Examples: pretty, tall, numerous, cold, many, best

Example sentences:

a.) Thetallman was able to reach the lowestbranch and rescue the frightenedkitten.Tall describes man, lowest describes the branch and frightened describes kitten.

b.) A coldfront will pass over Ireland this weekend, bringingwetandmiserableweather.Cold describes front and wet and miserable describe weather.

c.) They have numerouschildrenthe oldestchild is a girl of 17.Numerous describes children and oldest describes the girl.

Exercise 1. Select the adjective among the words below.

1. tall fish read the

2. elephant quickly clever sleep

3. study beer sleepy an

Exercise 2. Select the adjective(s) in the sentences below.

1. I dont think shespretty. Do you?2. Its a difficult situation.3. The sinking of the Titanic was a tragic incident.


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Superlative adjectives are used when we indicate the most or least of more than two things. We

use the + superlative because there can only be one. Some examples:

New York is the biggestcity in the United States.

I think Maggie Smith is the bestactress.

The most popularflavour of ice cream is vanilla.

a.) Generally we addest ormost to an adjective to turn it into a superlative adjective(smallest, coldest, most interesting, most numerous)

short adjectives (1 syllable): in general, we addest:old oldest slow slowest cheap cheapest

ifthe short adjective ends in e then you simply add an st:

nice nicest late latest pale palest

if the short adjective ends with a vowel + consonant then double the consonant:

big biggest hot hottest thin thinnest

with longer words (2, 3 and 4 syllables), we use most + adjectivemost beautiful most durable most fascinating most careful

but, with two-syllable adjectives ending in y, we drop the y and add iestpretty prettiest heavy heaviest early earliest

there are also irregular superlative adjectiveshere are some examplesAdjective Irregular comparative form

good best

bad worst

many most

far farthest

much most

Exercise 1: In the right-hand column, write the appropriate comparative or superlative form of the

adjective that appears in brackets.

1. I think roses are ______ (pretty) than weeds.2. Grammar is the ______ (difficult) part of this course.3. Lionel Messi is considered the _____ (good) footballer in the world.4. The Four Seasons is ______ (expensive) than the youth hostel.5. January is often the ______ (cold) month of the year.6. In 2010, Britain had the ______ (bad) flooding for 50 years. Roads were

washed away and homes were flooded.


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Adverbs

Function: Adverbs describe verbs, and sometimes they help describe adjectives.

Examples:slowly, carefully, heavily, happily (yes, many adjectives end in -ly)

Adverbs that dont end in ly include often and well.

Example sentences:

Theman walked quickly to the microphone and began to speak loudly.quickly describes walked and loudly describes speak

We didnt go out because it was raining heavily and the children were behaving badly..

heavily describes raining and badly describes behaving

My friends were arguing terribly so I left immediately.

terribly describes arguing and immediately describes left

Exercise 1: Select the adverbs among the words below.

1. tall seriously dice China

2. arm quickly clever sleep

3. pasta beer sleepy studiously

4. jump elegantly pencil sunshine

Exercise 2: Select the adverb(s) in the sentences below.

1. Usain Bolt ran quickly.2. The children played happily.3. You dont seriously think I know what Im talking about.4. The team played well all season and won often.

Exercise 3: Give four examples of adverbs.

Articles

1. There are three articles in the English language: a, an and the.2. We use a before words starting with a consonant: a tree, a man, a book. We use an before

words starting with vowels: an ant, an umbrella, an igloo.

3. Articles are words that combine with a noun to show a degree of definiteness or specificity.A and an are indefinite articles and the is a definite article.

4. We use a or an when we dont need/want to be definite or specific: There is abook on thetable. (We dont care, know or need to indicate which book, just any book.)

5. Or consider this example: Can I have anapple?(I dont care which apple, I just want one.)6. With the, we are more specific. Thebook with the recipe is on the table. Now we know

which book is on the table. Or this sentence: Can I have thebig apple?Not any apple, we

know there is a definite or specific apple.


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Exercise 1: Select the articles among the words below.

1. The gold medal winner spoke to The Irish Timesabout the amazing race.

2. A: Is there a bank machine nearby?B: Yes, its near the post office.

3. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Conjunctions

Function: Conjunctions link two words, phrases, sentences, ideas or clauses together.

Examples: and, but, or, because

Different conjunctions link words in different ways:

And links non-contrasting item(s) or idea(s) ("They gamble, and they smoke."). Nor links a non-contrasting negative idea ("They do not gamble, nor do they smoke."). But presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, but they don't smoke."). Or links an alternative item or idea ("Every day, they gamble, or they smoke."). Yet is used to show a contrast or exception ("They gamble, yet they don't smoke."). So presents a consequence ("He gambled well last night, so he smoked a cigar to celebrate."). Becauselinks an outcome with a reason (He lost all his money because he gambled.)

Exercise 1. Select the conjunction(s) in the sentences below. Write them in the right column.

1. I like to read magazines and newspapers.2. The prime minister resigned because he could see that

he was going to lose the election.

3. Do you want to go to a caf or a restaurant for dinner?4. The actress thought she would win the Oscar, but she

didnt.

Nouns

A noun is a person, place or thing.

Examples: woman, dog, New York, happiness

Example sentences:a.) Thetallmanwas able to reach the lowestbranchand rescue the frightenedkitten.b.) A coldfrontwill pass overIrelandthis weekend, bringing wet and miserable

weather.

c.) They have numerous childrenthe oldestchildis a girlof 17.One sub-type of noun is a pronoun. Pronouns are substitutes for nouns.

Examples: she, they, him, hers, ours

There are seven pronouns, which take different forms depending on how they are used.


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Subject

pronoun

Object pronoun Possessive pronoun

I me mine

you you yours

he him his

She her hers

It it its

We us ours

they them theirs

Example sentences:

Please give meback that book. Its mine!Hetoldthemthattheycouldnt use the library, buthetoldusthatwecould.Ihave a best friend andsheis really supportive ofme.Youneed to be at the school at 9 a.m. ifyouwantherto give youthe test.

Another type of noun is a gerund. Gerunds are nouns that come from theing form of a verb. For

example, smoking, skiing, swimming, when used as nouns, are all gerunds.

Here is how these gerunds look when used in a sentence.

When used as a gerund... When used as a verb...

Smoking has been banned in pubs and

restaurants.

Shes smoking outside at the moment.

Skiing is my favourite sport. They are skiing in Bavaria this week.

His swimming has improved a lot. Look! He is swimming in the deep end.

Exercise: Select the noun(s) or pronoun(s) in the sentences below.

1. Gambling is a difficult addiction to kick.2. China is growing rapidly.


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3. The sleepy students studied late.4. He gave the book to me.5. I didnt speak to her for weeks.6. Enda Kenny met Barack Obama backstage.7. Sleeping eight hours a night is very good for you.8. My books are so heavy.9. I like to read bedtime stories to them.10. He lost the election to me.11. She has a great boyfriend. He is really nice12. We thought she would win the Oscar.13. That book is hers. She bought it online.14. Can you give the money to us? Its ours.15. The goldfish is hungry. Can you give it some food?

Countable and uncountable nouns

Nouns can be categorised as eithercountable oruncountable.

Countable NounsCountable nouns are easy to recognize. They are things that we can count. For example: "pen". We can

count pens. We can have one, two, three or more pens. Here are some more countable nouns: dog, cat, animal, man, person bottle, box, litre coin, note, dollar table, chair, suitcase, bagCountable nouns can be singular or plural:

My dog is playing. My dogs are hungry.We can use the indefinite article a/an with countable nouns:

A dog is an animal.When a countable noun is singular, we must use a word like a/an/the/my/this with it:

I want an orange. (notI want orange.) Where is my bottle? (notWhere is bottle?)When a countable noun is plural, we can use it alone:

I like oranges.


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Bottles can break.We can use some and any with countable nouns:

I've got some dollars. Have you got any pens?We can use a few and many with countable nouns:

I've got a few dollars. I haven't got many pens. How many pens have you got? (Not: How muchpens)"People" is countable. "People" is the plural of "person". We can count people:

There is one person here. There are three people here.

Uncountable NounsUncountable nouns are substances, concepts etc that we cannot divide into separate elements. We cannot

"count" them. For example, we cannot count "milk". We can count "bottles of milk" or "litres of milk",

but we cannot count "milk" itself. Here are some more uncountable nouns: music, art, love, happiness advice, information, news furniture, luggage rice, sugar, butter, water electricity, gas, power money, currencyWe usually treat uncountable nouns as singular. We use a singular verb. For example:

This news is very important. Your luggage looks heavy.We do not usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns. We cannot say "an

information" or "a music". But we can say a something of:

a piece ofnews a bottle ofwater a grain ofriceWe can use some and any with uncountable nouns:

I've got some money. Have you got any rice?We can use a little and much with uncountable nouns:

I've got a little money. I haven't got much rice. How much rice do you have?

Here are some more examples of countable and uncountable nouns:


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Countable Uncountable

Dollar money

Song music

Suitcase luggage

Table furniture

Battery electricity

Bottle wine


report information

tip advice

journey travel

job work

view scenery

Nouns that can be Countable and UncountableSometimes, the same noun can be countable anduncountable, often with a change of meaning.


There are two hairs in my coffee! Hair I don't have much hair.

There are two lights in our bedroom. Light Close the curtain. There's too much light!

Shhhhh! I thought I heard a noise. Noise It's hard to work when there is too much noise.

Have you got a paper to read? (=

newspaper)Paper I want to draw. Have you got some paper?

Our house has seven rooms. Room Is there room for me to sit here?

We had a great time at the party. Time Have you got time for a coffee?

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare'sgreatest works.

Work I have no money. I need work!

Exercise 1: Select the noun(s) in the sentences below and say whether each is Countable or Uncountable.

1. Can I have some bread?2. Lets ask the librarian for information.3. The chefs need more sugar, apples and

flour for the tarts.

4. The company needs more money.5. My mum tidied up our coats and shoes.6. Ikea sells furniture.7. In this economy, work is scarce.8. The runners wanted more water.9. I hope the weather improves.


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Prepositions

Function: Prepositions tell us the relationship of a noun to the rest of the sentence, often relating to

location.

Examples: on, in, at, under, over, through, throughout, across, down, toward

Exercise 1: Select the preposition in the sentences below.

1. There are so many people in the room2. The London Marathon goes around Hyde Park.3. Shes in bed.4.

The concert is at the O2 Arena.

5. Your shoes are under the chair.6. We cycled over the mountain.

Verbs

Function:Verbs are action words like run, walk, laugh or study. They can also describe a state or

situation: like, feel, live, think.

Examples: walk, talk, cry, sleep, jump, run, shout, live

Example sentences:

Joss Stone is singing at the festival this year. She ran 26.2 miles and completed the marathon. I dont know him personally. The baby cried and cried until his motherreturned. Horses eat a lot of grass. Italians voted in vast numbers yesterday.

Verbs are quite complex and we will now look at them more specifically

Auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs. Here are some examples with the auxiliary in bold and the main

verb (which the auxiliary is helping) underlined:

Tom has lived in Boston for twenty years.

They didnt come to the party last night.

I was cooking dinner when you phoned.What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?


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Knowing correct auxiliary verb usage is key to understanding tenses. Every tense uses an auxiliary

form of the verb, except for the present simple positive (She works in a bank.), the past simple

positive (She worked in a bank.) and positive imperative statements (Hurry up!).

Here is a brief summary of the auxiliary verbs and how they are used:

1. do/doesUsed: in present simple negative and question forms

Examples: What time does he get up?

They dont drive to work. They take the bus.

Do you like white chocolate?

2. didUsed: in past simple negative and question forms

Examples: What time did he get up?

They didnt drive to work yesterday. They took the bus.

Did you finish your homework?

We did not mean to break the vase.

3. am/is/areUsed:in present continuous and for the future with going to

Examples: They are working hard at the moment.Is she talking on the phone right now?

I am going to study medicine at university.

4. was/wereUsed: in past continuous

Examples: They were working hard yesterday.

Was she talking on the phone while driving?

He was kicking the ball when his shoe flew off.

5. have/hasUsed: in present perfect and present perfect continuous

Examples: I have visited my parents several times this week.

He has been studying all day!Have you ever been to Rome?

6. hadUsed:in past perfect and past perfect continuous and for the future with going to

Examples: They had walked pretty far before it started to rain.

Had you been studying when I phoned?

I had decided to attend, but then I changed my mind.

7. willUsed: in future tense forms

Examples: I will go tomorrow

They will have been married for 20 years in August.

He wont/will not be going to Malaga this year.

Exercise 1: In the right-hand column, write the auxiliary verb that best completes the sentence.

1. He _____ come to school yesterday because he was ill.2. She _____ been working in the garden since 2 p.m.3. He _____ finished his homework by the time I arrived.4. Im afraid I ____ be able to come to the party.


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5. _______ you visited London?6. They _____ going to attend a meeting in Chicago next week.7. Why _____ you buy that? Its ugly!8. She _____ often go to the cinema. She prefers to stay home and

watch TV.

9. He _____ watching TVhes doing his homework instead.10. They _____ been playing tennis for two hours.11. They wont come to the party, _______ they?12. Mom ____ been working for two hours when I phoned.13. What ____ they doing?14. Mike _____ go on vacation last year. He was too busy.15. He ____ studying Russian this semester.

We also use auxiliaries in short answers:

1. Did you finish your homework? Yes, I did.2. Have you ever been to Spain? Yes, I have.3. Do you walk to work every day? Yes, I do.4. Has he won first prize? No, he hasnt.5. Will you walk with me? No, I wont.6. Did you talk with Sophie? No, I didnt.

Exercise. Provide short answers to these questions. Make some answers positive and some negative.

1. Will you help him with his homework?2. Does she always talk so loudly?3. Have you ever been to Paris?4. Did you eat all your vegetables?


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Overview of verb tenses

There are three general tenses: past, present and future. Within each tense there are four forms:

simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous.

Past simple Present simple Future simple

Use: for actions that happened in thepast and were completed in the past

Form: verb + -ed or irregular

I studied yesterday.

He read the newspaper last night.

Use: for habits, routines, generaltruths

Form: base verb, add s for he/she/it

I study every day.

He reads the newspaper everymorning.

Use: for predictions and offers for thefuture or spontaneous decisions

Form: will + base verb

Example: Ill study with you.

I think he will read the newspaperlater.

Past continuous Present continuous Future continuous

Use: for actions to continued over aperiod of time in the past

Form: he/she/it+was+verbing or

you/we/they+were+verbing

I was studying when you called.

He was reading the newspaper when

an alarm sounded.

Use: for actions that are happening atthe moment

Form: I + am + verbing,

he/she/it + is + verbing,you/we/they + are + verb -ing

Shh! Im studying!

He is reading the newspaper at themoment.

Use: for actions that continue for aperiod in the future

Form: will be + verb - ing

I will be studying until late tonight.

He will be reading the paper later.

Past perfect Present perfect Future perfect

Use: for actions that occurred beforeanother action in the past

Form: had + past participle

I had studied before I took the test.

He had read the paper before he

threw it away.

Use: for actions that began in the pastbut have some connection to thepresent or for past experience

Form: has/have + past participle

I have studied in many different

countries.

He has read the paper. You can haveit now.

Use: for actions that will already becompleted at a time in the future

Form: will + have + past participle

I will have studied every tense by thetime I finish this course.

He will have read the paper by the timeyou want it.

Past perfect continuous Present perfect continuous Future perfect continuous

Use: for longer actions that occurredbefore another action in the past

Form: had been + verbing

I had been studying for five years

before I qualified.

He had been reading the paper for an

hour when he noticed the time.

Use: similar to present perfect but thefocus is on the action which may or

may not be complete

Form: have been + verbing

I have been studying English for fiveyears.

He has been reading the paper allmorning.

Use: for actions that have beencontinuing up to a time in the future

Form: will + have been + verb - ing

I will have been studying for over a

year by the time I take the test.

He will have been reading the paper all

morning by the time he reads it all.


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*A helpful hint when trying to recognise which tense is which: continuous aspects always have a verb

ending in ing; perfect forms always have has, have or had and the perfect continuous will have

has, have or had plus a verb ending in ing.

Additional verbs-related terminology:1. Infinitive verbthe most basic form of the verb, with to. Examples: to walk, to be, to do,

to see, to hear

2. Base verbthe infinitive with no to3. Past participle base verb + -ed or irregular verb (see below); used to form the perfect

aspects. Examples: spoken, walked, been, laughed

4. Present participle base verb + -ing; used to form the continuous aspects. Examples:walking, speaking, seeing, reading.

5. Irregular verba verb that in the past simple or past participle is not formed by base verb + -ed. See Murphy,English Grammar in Use (intermediate), Appendix 1 for a list of irregular

verbs. Examples of past simple irregular verbs are: ran, spoke, was, went. Examples of

irregular past participles are: spoken, been, gone.

6. State or stative verbsState verbs do not indicate an action so much as a situation such asmental and emotional states, senses, reactions, possession and descriptions. Examples include

believe, feel (to have an opinion), know, like, love, hate, prefer, think (to have an opinion),

want, see, smell, sound, taste, disagree/agree, promise, be, belong, need, own and possess.

I love you NOT I am loving you. I prefer red wine NOT I am preferring red wine. I want a new job NOT I am wanting a new job. It smells like roses NOT It is smelling like roses. He owns a carNOT He is owning a car.

Lets look at the tenses in more detail

Past tenses

1. Past simpleForm: verb + -ed or irregular verbs (see Irregular verbs chart in Murphy,English Grammar in

Use (intermediate), Appendix 1)

Use: for actions that happened in the past and were completed in the past

Examples:I cycled to work yesterday.

Julie spoke to him about the test.

They ate pizza last night.

We went to the cinema on Saturday.

He studied really hard all summer.Negative: did + base verb. Example: He didnt go to university.

Question: did + subject + base verb. Example: Did you go to university?

2. Past continuousForm: was/were + verb + -ing

Use: for continuing actions in the pastthey continue for a period of time in the past.

Sometimes, they started before another past action and finished after it.

Examples:I wascycling all afternoon.

Julie was speaking to him when I walked past.

They were eating pizza when the phone rang.

While I was driving, it started to rain.


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Negative:wasnt/was not/werent/were not + verb + -ing. Example: He wasnt studying

when I saw him.

Question: Was/were + subject + verb + -ing. Example: Where were you walking this morning?

3. Past perfectForm: had+ past participle

Use: for actions that happened in the past before another action in the past

Examples:I hadfinished my homework before she called.

Julie had already spoken to him about the test when the teacher arrived.

We wanted to see the film but it had already finished showing.

Negative:hadnt/had not + past participle. Example: He hadnt studiedbefore the test.

Question: Had + subject + past participle. Example: Had you seen them before yesterday?

4. Past perfect continuousForm: had+ been + verb ending in -ing

Use: to talk about longer, continuing actions that happened before another activity in the past

Examples:

I hadbeen working on my homework when she called.Before 2002, we had been living in England.

They hadnt been expecting for Susan to arrive so late.

Negative:hadnt/had not + been + verb + -ing. Example: He hadnt been studying for long

before she arrived.

Question: Had + subject + been + verb -ing. Example: Had you been studying for long before she

arrived?

Exercise: Write the tense/aspect for each of the following sentences:

1.

When our first child (a) was born, we (b) had beenliving in London for seven years. a)b)

2. Did they go out last night?3. He (a) was cycling to work when his phone (b) rang. a)

b)

4. I had a) studied every day for a week before the test b) tookplace.

a)

b)

5. We werent sleeping all morning!6. We swam in Lahinch yesterday.7. The child was crying all the way home.8. a) Had you ever used a smartphone before you b) bought

your iPhone?

a)

b)

9. She a) said she b) liked the movie yet. a)b)


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Exercise: Write an example sentence of your own for each of the following tenses:

Past simple

Past continuous

Past perfect

Past perfect continuous

Present tenses

1. Present simpleForm:base verb for I/you/we/they; base verb + -s for he/she/it

Use: for routine actions, habits, general truths

Examples:I cycle to work every day.

He drinks a protein shake every morning.

Waterboils at 100 degrees Centigrade.

It rains a lot in Ireland.

Negative:I dont drink much coffee.

Question: Does he go to the gym often?

2. Present continuousForm: am/is/are + verb + -ingUse: for actions happening at/around the moment of speaking

Examples:He iscycling at the moment.

I cant talk right now, I am eating dinner.

We cant go to the cinema, we arestudying for the test.

Negative: am not/is not/are not (or contraction) + verb + -ing. Example: Im not drinking tea

at the moment, Imdrinking coffee.

Question: am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing. Example: Is he working out at the gym now?

3. Present perfectForm: has+ past participle

Use: for actions that began in the past and continue to the present oroccurred recently in the

past and have an effect in the present orto indicate an experience in the past (when is not

important)

Examples:I havejust finished my homework.

We have lived in Ireland for nine years. (We still live in Ireland.)

She has lost her keys. (They are still lost.)

He has visited Moscow many times. (Experience)

Negative: has not/have not (or contraction) + past participle. Example: Ive nevereaten

kangaroo.Question: Have/has + subject + past participle. Example: Has he worked at a solicitors firm

before?


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4. Present perfect continuousForm: has/have + been + verb ending in -ing

Use: to talk about longer, continuing actions that started in the past and continues to the

present, with emphasis on the action

Examples:I havebeen working on my homework all day. (The action has been continuing for some

time and is not complete.)

We have been driving for hours. (And we are still driving.)

They have been expectingSusan since two oclock. (And shes still not there.)

Negative: has/have + not (or contraction) been + verb + -ing. Example: Mary hasnt been

working all week.

Question: has/have + subject + been + verb + -ing. Example: Have they been living here all

these years?


1. Do you sleep late on Sundays?2. Hes been playing tennis all morning.3. a) Ive painted the bedroom. Be careful the paint b)

is wet.

a)

b)

4. I havent seen you in ages!5. I run for at least an hour every day.6. Shhhh! The children are sleeping.7. Are you waiting for me?8. It snows a lot in Siberia.9. They dont go to France every summer.10. Have you been talking on the phone all this time?11. Have you ever used a Sat Nav?


Present simple

Present continuous

Present perfect

Present perfectcontinuous


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Future tensesTense Form Uses Examples

Future simple Will + verb

(Sometimes we

use shall, but

only with I or

we)

1. Predictions/probability2. Spontaneous decisions (often with

I think)3. Spontaneous offers4. Uncertainty (often with maybeor perhaps)

1. Climate change will cause majorproblems in the next fifty years.

2. I think Ill go to bed now.3. Shall/will I carry that for you?4. Perhaps hell go to Peru whenhes in South America.

Future

continuous

Will be + verb

ending ining

For actions that continue for a period

in the future

I will be teaching all summer.

The course will be running every

Monday from September to April.

Future perfect Will + have +

past participle

(verb + -ed or

irregular verb)

For actions that will already be

completed at a time in the future.

Kate will have lived in Ireland for

10 years this August.

By 10 oclock, we will have been in

class for three hours.

Future perfect

continuous

Will have been

+ verb ending in

-ing

For actions that have been continuing

up to a time in the future.

I will have been studying for five

hours by the time I stop for dinner.

They will have been driving all day

when they reach the hotel.

You will have been writing for three

hours before class ends.

Negative form: Will not orwont instead ofwill.

Examples:It wont rain tomorrow, according to the weather reports.

I wont be dancing tonight. I want to go to bed early.

They wont have been playing for three hours when we see them, theyll have been playing for four!

Question form: Will + subject + base verb

Will they go to school tomorrow?

Will you have finished by the time I do?

Will Kate and William have been married a year by the time they visit Kenya?


1. Will they go to church on Sunday?2. By 2029, Rory McIlroy will have been playing golf

professionally for 21 years.

3. Well be partying tonight.4. They will have lived in Spain for four years in July.5. The teacher said she wont put the answers on the

board.6. This time next week I will be sailing the

Mediterranean.


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7. Will scientists have found a cure for cancer by 2020?8. When will you be here?9. Im worried we wont have saved enough for our

retirement.

10. I will have studied enough by the day of the test.


Future simple

Future continuous

Future perfect

Future perfect

continuous

Other ways of talking about the future:

Form Use Example

Going to + verb Fordecisions already made.

Its more definite than will.

When something is certain or

when referring to evidence.

Im going to teach in Spain when I finish my

course.

Im going to have lunch with Mary on Friday.

Its going to rain. Look at those clouds!

Present

continuous forthe future

Forplans or arrangements

already made. Its moredefinite than going to or

will.

Im teaching in Barcelona when I finish my course

Ive just received confirmation of my new job!Were having lunch together on Thursday. The

reservation is for the Rowan Tree at 1 p.m.

Present simple

for the future

For schedules, timetables,

itineraries.

I start my job at 9 a.m. on July 1.

The Rowan Tree opens at 11 a.m.

My flight departs at 16:05.

The film begins at 8.


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Simple versus continuous verbs

Instead of looking at verbs in terms of past, present and future, we can look at them in terms of

whether they are in the simple or continuous tense. Note, too, that some grammar books use the term

progressive instead of continuous really the two terms are interchangeable.

Here is a table of continuous tenses:

He is learning to be a teacher.

It has been snowing all day.

They were standing in a queue.

I will be having a lunch.

How are the continuous tenses formed?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Which of the following is a simple tense and which is a continuous tense?

1. He works in a bank.2. Hes smoking a cigarette.3.

Ive been thinking about it for awhile.

4. Ive been vaccinated against smallpox.5. It was raining.

Perfect tenses

Now lets look at the perfect tenses. In general, we use the present tenses to convey differences in the

duration and completion of actions and events.

Here is a table of perfect tenses:

I have known her for three years

He had studied there for a long time.

They had been wondering what to do.

That carpet has just been cleaned.

How are the present tenses formed?


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_______________________________________________________________________________________

Which of the following is a perfect tense?

1. He lived in Waterford.2. He has lived there for nine years..3. Before that he lived in Bristol.4. I had already been to Cambridge.5. Ive been sitting here for hours.6. I came here by train.7. I have never waited so long for anyone.

Active and passive verbs

Separate from the issue of tenses, verbs can also be active orpassive. Consider the differences, both inmeaning and form:

Active Passive

The company released its annual report. The annual report was released by the company.

The zookeepers feed the lions twice a day. The lions are fed twice a day.

Garda Traffic Corps officers are giving out on-

the-spot fines to motorists this weekend.

Motorists are being given on-the-spot fines this

weekend.

First, with regard to meaning, in the active sentence, the doer (the company) is also the subject. In the

passive sentence, the subject (the annual report) is not the doer. We use the passive when we are more

focused on the recipient of the action (like the annual report, the lions or the motorists) and not so much on

who the doer is, or when it is obvious who the doer is.

Now, the form: The passive sentence is a form ofbe (in the tense of the active sentence) + past participle:

Active Passive

The company are releasing the annual report. The annual report is being released by the company.

The company have released the annual report. The annual report has been released by the company.

The company will release the annual report. The annual report will be released by the company.

The company released the annual report. The annual report was released by the company.

More examples:

Active PassiveThe cleaner is cleaning the room. The room is being cleaned by the cleaner.

The journalist had interviewed the prime

minister before the election.

The prime minister had been interviewed by the

journalist before the election.

I hope a kind family will buy that dog. I hope that dog will be bought by a kind family.

Exercise: Mark the passive sentences with an X.

1. He lived in Birmingham for a year.2. I wasnt invited to the wedding.3. I have already finished reading it.4. The wall is being repaired.5. First, the water is boiled, then the rice is added.6. He a.) was coming at nine, but he b.) was delayed. a.) b.)7. My car is being mended at the moment.


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Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb + a preposition or prepositional phrase that means

something different (even slightly) from the verb when it is used alone. Phrasal verbs are common

in everyday English. Some examples include: to hang out, to sit up, to get together, to put off.

Lets consider the first of these examples, hang out. If we use hang on its own, it means to fasten

or attach something so it is supported from above. Example sentences include: We hung the picture

above the fireplace. Or: They used to hang people for murder.

But if we add out to hang then we get hang out, which has a completely different meaning to

spend time together, often with no purpose. Example sentences include: I hung out with my friends

all day Saturday. Or: Do you want to hang out or should we go to the cinema?

Example sentences:

1. He needs to do up his laces or he will fall. (do up = tie)2. We started going out last year. (go out = date)3. Can you take down those election posters? (take down = remove)4. The manager is talking uphis teams chances for next year. (talk up = speak very positively)Exercise 1: Indicate the phrasal verbs in the sentences below.

1. The parents gave in and bought him an X-Box.2. Sit down and shut up!3. The author came up with a great ending.4. The supermarket has brought down its prices.5. I give upyou can take over the driving.6. She is very ill and can no longer sit up unaided.7. Hang up by pressing the red button on your mobile.8. The student passed out from drinking too much.9. The organisation handed out leaflets at the march.10. The plane took off at 8:05 a.m.11. We set out on foot.12. The politician came out of the closet.13. We made up after a few weeks.14. I was passed over for a promotion.


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Modal verbs

1. Modal verbs are common auxiliary verbs in English that indicate modality. Modality refers to themoods and opinions of the speaker. What this means is that we typically add a modal to a verb to

express something about our mood or opinion. Modal verbs can indicate possibility, probability,

necessity, obligation, permissibility, ability, desire, and contingency.

2. The nine modals verbs in English are:

can could may might must

should

will/shall ought to would

3. So how do modals show the speakers mood or opinion? Consider how the meaning of these sentencechanges depending on which modal verb we use:

The team can win. The team must win. The team should win. The team will win. The team might win.

4. Position of Modal Verbs: Modal verbs always appear in the first position at the beginning of the verbphrase in English. Unlike other verbs, modal verbs do not show tense or number. They cant be

combined with other modal verbs to form various tenses. The typical structure of a sentence with a

modal is: modal verb + bare infinitive

I can write with my left hand.You may leave now.You must drive carefully.

5. Some of the common definitions of the modal verbs are: canability, permission, possibility, request couldability, permission, possibility, request, suggestion maypermission, probability, request mightpossibility, probability, suggestion mustdeduction, necessity, obligation, prohibition shalldecision, future, offer, question, suggestion shouldadvice, necessity, prediction, recommendation willdecision, future, intention, offer, prediction, promise, suggestion wouldconditional, habit, invitation, permission, preference, request, question, suggestion

6. Examples of modal verb usage: The following sentences are examples of usage of modal verbs inEnglish. For example, the following four sentences all ask for permission but with different degrees

and types of modality:

Can I go to the bathroom? (asking for permission) May I go to the bathroom? (more politely asking for permission) Could I go to the bathroom? (asking for permission with less certainty) Might I go to the bathroom? (asking for permission with uncertainty)

7. Important: Have to, need to and used to are semi-modal and do a similar job to modals but do nothave the same strict grammar form. In other words, they are not modal verbs. An easy way to tell is if

you can inflect the verb (inflect means to put the verb into the past tense). For example, I have to

wear a tie to work. I had to wear a tie to work. Both are correct. So it is possible to put have
http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/56366.aspxhttp://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/56783.aspx?p=2http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/58440.aspx?p=2http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/56366.aspx?p=2http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/56366.aspx?p=2http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/58440.aspx?p=2http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/56783.aspx?p=2http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/56366.aspx


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to into the past tense. So have to isnt a modal. BUT consider must. You can say I must wear a

tie to work, but you cannot say I musted wear a tie to work. So must is a modal because it cannot

be inflected (put into the past tense.)

8. Past modals: When we use a modal + have + past participle, it expresses possibility, advice,deduction, etc., but in the past.

Examples:They could have eaten somewhere else. (It was possible at a point in the past to eat somewhere else.)They should have eaten somewhere else. (It was advisable at a point in the past to eat elsewhere.)They must have eaten somewhere else. (From evidence, we are deducing that they ate elsewhere.)

9. Summary of rules about modals:Modals are auxiliary verbs.Modal verbs carry meaning related to the speakers opinion or perception.Modal verbs cannot be inflected.Modal verbs cannot be combined with other modals to form various tenses.

Have to, used to and need to are not modal verbs.Modal verbs are combined with the bare infinitive form of the verb.Past modal verbs of deduction use the perfective infinitive.

Exercise 1: Identify the modal verb and modality (definition) in the following sentences. No. 1 is done as an

example.

Sentence Modal and definition

1. You could ride your bike across the country,but I advise against it.

Could

Possibility

2. Since all dogs are mammals, this goldenretriever must be a mammal.

3. He can juggle four knives at once.4. You should try to get more sleep.5. The puppy can sit on command.6. I think it will rain tomorrow.7. Can I borrow your notes?8. The train must be approaching the station; I can

hear it.

9. I must get my hair cut soon.10. It must be raining outyou are soaked!11. We should all quite smoking.


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Exercise 2: What modal verbs can be used to express the below meanings? Write in the space what modal

verbs fit the meaning. Then choose one modal verb and write an example sentence. Ability is done for you.

Meaning Modal verbs Example sentence

Ability Can, could He can write with his left hand.

Permission

Possibility

Request

Suggestion

Probability

Deduction

Necessity

Obligation

Prohibition

Willingness

Habit


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Conditional Forms

Conditional sentences are types of sentences that discuss factual implications or hypothetical situations and

their consequences. There are four types of conditional sentences.

Form Uses Level Notes

ZeroConditional

If + present tense +present tense

Universal truthsand scientific facts.

Pre-inter

1st

Conditional

If + present tense +

will

Real possibilities or

likely situations.

Pre-inter Can use other modals

instead of will in main

clause

Can use should after or

instead of `if` if we are less

sure

2n Conditional

If + past tense +would

Unlikely orimaginary

situations

Pre-inter Can use were instead ofwasmore formal, also

used for giving advice

Can use might or could

instead of would

3r

Conditional

If + past perfect +

would have + past

participle

Unreal past,

hypothetical past

situations.

Used to express

relief, regret andaccusation

Inter Can use might or could

instead of would

The use of `I wish I had` is

possible.

Use might or could insteadof would

Notes about Conditionals:

The If clause can be eitherfirst or second in the sentence. If it is at the beginning use a comma toseparate it from the main sentence. For example: If you study, you will pass the test. Or: You will

pass the test if you study.

There are several words that can be used instead ofifunless (= if .. not), so, as long as,provided, providing that, should, suppose, if only. Examples:

If you study, you should pass the test. Provided you study, you should pass the test. Unless you study, you wont pass the test. So long as you study, you will pass the test.


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Example sentences:

Conditional Examples

Zero Conditional If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.

If you eat too much, you get fat.

First Conditional If you dont wear suncream, you will get a sunburn.

If you go out in the rain, you will get wet.

Second Conditional If he won the lottery, he would buy a new car.

If I was stranded in the Amazon rainforest, I would be scared.

Third Conditional If he had bought a lottery ticket, he would have won!

If I had driven more slowly, I could have avoided the car in frontof me.

Exercise 1. Complete the table with the uses of the different conditionals and provide an example

sentence for each.

What is it used for? Example

Zero Conditional

1st Conditional

2nd Conditional

3rd Conditional


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Quantifiers

Use: Quantifiers indicate imprecise quantity. They differ from numbers which indicate precise quantity.

Examples: some/any, much, many, a lot, a few, several, enough

There are three types of quantifiers:1. neutral quantifiers,2. quantifiers of large quantity, and3. quantifiers of small quantity

1. Neutral quantifiers:

Examples: Some and any: several, a number of, enough

Some and any are both quantifiers and articles. In many contexts, some is the plural indefinite article, the

plural of "a" or "an"; but more often, some implies a limited quantity, and for this reason has the value of a

quantifier.

Some is used in affirmative statements; it is replaced with any in negative and interrogative contexts.

Example sentences:

I've got some apples in my basket and some water in my bottle. Have you got any apples in your basket? Have you got any water in your bottle? We had some visitors last weekend, but we didn't have any this weekend Have you got any rooms free for the night of September 30th?

Several and a number ofimply "more than one, but less than a lot". They are not usually used in negative

or interrogative structures, only in affirmative statements. For example:

There are several books / a number of books by J.Z. Plummerman in our library.

Several people / A number of people said that they'd seen the missing child.Enough implies asufficient quantity; it is used in affirmations, negations and questions.

We can get tickets for the concert, I've got enough money now. Have you got enough money for the tickets?

2. Large quantity quantifiers:Examples: much, many, lots of, plenty of, numerous, a large number of

Important: Much and many:much is used with uncountable nouns (always in the singular); many is used

with countable nouns in the plural.

Incorrect: How much apples do you want from the shop? (Apples are countable.)Correct: How many apples do you want from the shop?

Correct: How much butter do you need for the recipe? (Butter is uncountable)

Much and many are not often used, in modern spoken English, in affirmative statements; but they are very

commonly used in interrogative and negative contexts.

Examples:I have many reasons for thinking that this man is innocent is acceptable, but rather formal; most English

speakers would more naturally say:

I have plenty of / a lot of / a large number of reasons for thinking...

Much whisky is of very good quality. This sentence is technically acceptable, but not probable in modern

English. Most people would say (and write): A lot of whisky / A good proportion of whisky / Plenty of

whisky...


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Remember this principle: don't use much ormany in affirmative statements.

Lots of, a lot of, plenty of, a large number of, numerous.These expressions all mean more or less exactly the same. In the list above, they are arranged in order of

formality, going from the most informal (lots of) to the most formal (numerous). Informal language is more

appropriate in dialogue, formal language in written documents.

3. Small quantity quantifiers:

Examples: few, a few, little, a little, not many, not much, a small number of

These quantifiers are normally only used in affirmative statements, to which they give a negative

colouring.

Little, a little, not much are used with uncountable nouns (always in the singular)

Few, a few, not many are used with countable nouns in the plural.

Example sentences:

Few people can speak more than three languages A few (of the) paintings in this gallery are really good. There's little point in trying to mend it. You'll never succeed! I've got a little money left; let's go and have a drink.

Exercise 1. In the following sentences, fill in the gaps with much ormany.

1. I think we've had _______ assignments in English this term.2. How _________ material can we be expected to read in one week?3. How _________ homework do you have tonight?4. Do you get _____________ headaches?

Exercise 2. In the following sentences, fill in the gaps with much, many, few, little ormost.

1. Our yard looks awful this summer. There are too ________ weeds.2. I'm afraid it's rained _______ this summer, and the grass is turning brown.3. ________ experts say you should fertilize your lawn in the fall.4. Unfortunately, it seemed to do my lawn_______ good.5. _________ advice you get from experts doesn't seem to help.

Exercise 3. In the following sentences, fill in the gaps with the following: a little, little, a few, orfew.

1. They say __________ knowledge is a bad thing.2. I know _______ instances where that proves true.3. _________ people know as much about computers as Tomasz does.4. But it does him _______ good when the whole system goes down.


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Review Parts of Speech

Exercise 1. What part of speech is the underlined word?

1. Give it to me.2. Im going to France.3. I want to go, but I cant.4. I saw Mary last night.5. Have you ever wondered how it works?6. Its not yours.7. Smoking is a revolting habit.8. When does the train leave?9. I can speak French quite well.10.Why do you walk so slowly?11.They want me to go on Sunday but I cant.12.We need some butter from the shops.13.I cantput up with that noise any longer.14.The post office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.15.I am visiting my grandmother this afternoon.16.He runs faster than his friend.17.I think I have a pen.18.She is the coolestperson Ive ever met.19.It is a hot day.


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Review Verbs

Exercise 1. Choose a verb form from the box and write the name of the appropriate form in the space

provided.

Each correct answer worth 1 mark.

Present Simple Present Continuous Past Simple Past Perfect

Past Continuous Present Perfect Future Simple Future Continuous

1. I will be dancingat the Queens all night.2.

I am studyingMandarin at university.

3. I think they will go to China next year.4. In 1999, hegraduatedfrom Trinity College Dublin.5. She was takinga shower when the phone rang.6. Russell Crowe had livedin the United States for a while before he

returned to Australia.

7. He has repaintedthe gate.8. My colleague cycles to work every day.

Exercise 2. Fill out the table below using activeforms of the verb work in the third person singular (in

this case, he). The first has been done for you.

ACTIVE:

Simple Continuous

Present 1. He works. 2.Past 3. 4.Future 5. 6.Presentperfect

7. 8.Past perfect 9. 10.Future

perfect

11. 12.


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Exercise 3. Fill out the table below using passiveforms of the verb mend in the third person singular (in

this case, it). As you can see below not all tenses are possible. They would be too long so we avoid

them by used the active form. The first has been done for you.

PASSIVE:

Simple Continuous

Present 13. It is mended. 14.Past 15. 16.Future 17. 18.Present perfect 19.Past perfect 20.Future perfect 21.

Exercise 4. Now look at the following story. There is at least one example (sometimes more) of all the

tenses from exercises 2 and 3 above. In the brackets after each main verb say which number it is, referring

to the number in exercises 2 and 3 above. The fist has been done to help you.

Pavarottis RecoveryLess than 24 hours after losing his voice, Luciano has made [7] a fantastic recovery and the legendary

performer will be singing [ ] at Covent Garden this evening.

Im feeling [ ] a lot better, he said[ ] at his home in north London. I was being interviewed [ ] by a

German magazine when my throat dried up [ ]. I had been talking [ ] far too much. Ill have recovered

[ ] by tonight.

His problem was diagnosed [ ] as exhaustion and hes resting [ ] today. I had heard [ ] he was getting

better and when I went [ ] to see him he was sitting [ ] in bed smoking a cigar. I smoke [ ] one to two

a day. They are made [ ] especially for me in Havana.

His house is being converted [ ] so that his neighbours will not be disturbed [ ] by his singing. The walls

have been covered [ ] in cork and by the end of the month the house will have been completely

soundproofed [ ]. The work will be done while hes on away on holiday. Ill have been living [ ] here

for six years in January and I really dont want [ ] to leave. It had been used [ ] as a stable before I came

[ ].

And tonight? Dont worry, Ill be [ ] there!

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