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ENGLISH GRAMMAR
SECTION THREE: THE DEFINITE ARTICLE p2
SECTION FOUR: NOUNS p6
SECTION FIVE: PRONOUNS p21
SECTION SIX: ADJECTIVES p32
SECTION SEVEN: COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES p33
SECTION EIGHT: COMPARISON OF ADVERBS p37
SECTION NINE: PREPOSITIONS OF TIME p39
SECTION TEN: PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE p52
SECTION ELEVEN: THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE p63
SECTION TWELVE: THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
p74
SECTION THIRTEEN: THE FUTURE TENSE p85
SECTION FOURTEEN: THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE p91
SECTION FIFTEEN: THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE p99
SECTION SIXTEEN: THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
SECTION THREE: THE DEFINITE ARTICLE:
3.1 Usage:
The Definite Article is used before singular and plural nouns when
the noun is particular or specific:
e.g. the teacher the crowd the mountains
3.2 Usage: Exceptions:
The is not used before:
A: uncountable nouns with a general meaning:
e.g. I think geography is very interesting. (not the geography)
Bill cannot eat meat. (not the meat)
Here are some more examples of general uncountable nouns:
life, transport, music, society
B: the name of a language:
e.g. French is a difficult language to learn. (not the French)
I speak English at home and German at the office. (not the English or
the German)
C: names of countries:
e.g. Eric lives in England. (not the England)
Joan went to Italy for a holiday. (not the Italy)
D: days of the week, names of months, years:
e.g. He arrived on Monday. (not the Monday)
Bill visited me in July. (not the July)
E: names of meals:
e.g. What do you want for breakfast? (not the breakfast)
Mary ate lunch at midday? (not the lunch)
F: titles + names of people:
e.g. President Mitterrand (not the President Mitterand)
Queen Elizabeth II (not the Queen Elizabeth II)
G: names of towns/cities and famous buildings:
e.g. in Paris (not the Paris) at Oxford University (not the Oxford
University)
H: certain nouns:
e.g. at school (not the school) by car (not the car)
Here are some more examples:
in/to prison at/to university at/to work at/from home at night on
holiday
SECTION FOUR: NOUNS:
4.1 Usage:
There are of three types of nouns: countable, uncountable, collective:
countable nouns are nouns that can be counted and have a plural
form.
uncountable nouns are nouns that cannot be counted and do not have
a plural form.
collective nouns are the name for a group/collection of
people/animals/things.
In English, Nouns are used in the same way as they are in French but
they are not defined as masculine/feminine/neuter. Some nouns are
clearly masculine or
feminine: man (men) - masculine , woman (women) - feminine.
Domestic animals are called he or she to distinguish between male
and female.
e.g. I have a dog and he sleeps all the time.
4.2 Structure: Countable Nouns:
A: To form plural nouns add -s to the singular form:
e.g. book books
elephant elephants
However, for some groups of nouns, different rules apply
B: Nouns with distinct male and female forms. Common examples
include:
masculine feminine masculine feminine
actor actress hero heroine
author authoress host hostess
businessman businesswoman man woman
duke duchess prince princess
earl countess waiter waitress
god goddess widow widower
C: Singular nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch and x add -es in the plural
form:
singular: plural singular plural
glass glasses bush bushes
stitch stitches box box
D: Many singular nouns ending in -f change -f to -v and add -es in the
plural form. There are a few nouns ending in -f that behave normally and
add -s in the plural
form. Here are common examples of both types:
singular plural singular plural
calf calves chief chiefs
half halves cliff cliffs
leaf leaves roof roofs
loaf loaves
shelf shelves
E: Singular nouns ending in -fe change -fe to -ves in the plural form:
knife - knives life - lives wife - wives
F: Singular nouns ending in a -y after a consonant change -y to -i and add
es in the plural form:
city - cities company - companies factory - factories
G: Singular nouns ending in -y after a vowel add -s in the plural form:
boy - boys
key - keys
toy - toys
trolley - trolleys
H: Some singular nouns ending in -o add -es in the plural while others
add s. It is important to learn the most common nouns of both types:
singular plural singular plural
hero heroes banjo banjos
potato potatoes dynamo dynamos
tomato tomatoes piano pianos
volcano volcanoes solo solos
4.3 Structure: Countable Nouns: Exceptions:
A: Certain nouns do not add -s in the plural. Common examples are:
aircraft counsel graffiti media
offspring spaghetti
B: Some nouns, particularly the names of animals and fish, have the
same form in singular and plural. Common examples are:
antelope - antelope buffalo - buffalo deer - deer fish - fish
pike - pike sheep - sheep salmon - salmon trout - trout
C: A number of nouns have no singular form even if there is only one:
singular/plural singular/plural singular/plural singular/plural
barracks headquarters pliers shorts
clothes jeans premises spectacles
contents manners pyjamas spirits
cross-roads means scissors trousers
goods outskirts savings valuables
D: Certain compound nouns add -s to the first word in the plural
form. Some examples are:editor-in-chief - editors-in-chief
father-in-law - fathers-in-law
son-in-law - sons-in-law
passer-by - passers-by
E: Some nouns change vowels and/or add consonants in the middle of
the word or add - en in the plural form:
foot - feet child - children
goose - geese ox - oxen
man - men
woman - women
mouse - mice
louse - lice
F: Certain singular nouns ending in -ex or ix remove the last two
letters and add -ices in the plural form.. Common examples are:appendix - appendices index - indices vortex - vortices
G: Certain nouns used commonly in English are the same in English
and French:
bureau - bureaux gateau - gateaux tableau - tableaux
4.4 Structure: Uncountable Nouns:
Uncountable nouns cannot be counted normally and have no plural form:
e.g. milk sugar soap meat
4.5 Structure: Uncountable Nouns: Exceptions:
A: Some uncountable nouns can be counted by naming the
container/shape/weight in which they are found:
e.g. a bottle of milk a bag of sugar a bar of soap a tin of meat
B: Certain uncountable nouns can be counted by using a piece of .... , a
bit of .... :
e.g. a piece of information a piece of news a piece of advice
a bit of information a bit of news a bit of advice
Here are some more nouns that may be used in this way: advice, furnitue,
homework, housework, luggage, money, research.
4.6 Structure: Collective Nouns:
Collective nouns can be singular or plural and name groups/collections
of people/animals/things
e.g. a crowd of people a herd of cows a bunch of bananas
A: When the collective nouns is the subject of the sentence, the verb is
usually singular:
e.g. A flock of sheep is very noisy.
A team of horses was pulling the old carriage.
B: When the individual members of the collective group are important,
the verb is plural:
e.g. The police are protecting the town.
The government are protesting about the low wages of members of
Parliament.
SECTION FIVE: PRONOUNS:
Pronouns replace nouns for various purposes in English and as in
French, there are several types of pronouns: personal, reflexive,
demonstrative, possessive..
e.g. Derek himself took it to Marcel and showed him the details.
These books are mine and Mary bought them for me in London.
5.1 Usage: Personal Pronouns:
Different groups of Personal Pronouns have different roles in
sentences:
A: The Subject:
I, you, he/she/it can replace singular nouns and we, you, they can
replace plural nouns as the subject in a sentence:
e.g. Brian went to the cinema = He went to the cinema.
Joan and Mary visited Italy last July = They visited Italy last July.
B: The Direct Object:
me, you, him/her/it can replace singular nouns and us, you, them can
replace plural nouns as the direct object in a sentence:
S V DO
S V DO
e.g. Bill left Jane at the school gate = Bill left her at the school gate.
Joan met Tom and Mary in the park = Joan met them in the park.
C: The Indirect Object:
me, you, him/her/it can replace singular nouns and us, you. them can
replace plural nouns as the indirect object in a sentence:
S
V
IO
S
V IO
e.g. John Smith gave the cat some food = John Smith gave it some
food.
My parents gave Jill and I a car = My parents gave us a car.
5.2 Structure: Personal Pronouns:
Personal Pronouns are usually found in the same position in a sentence
as the noun/nouns they are replacing:
S
V
IO
DO
e.g. Henry wrote Ann a long letter.
He wrote her a long letter.
5.3 Structure: Exceptions:
A: With certain verbs, to can be put before the Indirect Object and the
Indirect Object is placed after the Direct Object:
S
V
IO
DO
e.g. The manager passed Jennifer a glass of wine.
S
V
DO
IO
The manager passed a glass of wine to her.
Here are some more verbs of this type: to bring, describe, explain,
pass, pay, owe, pass, pay, promise, read, sell, send, show, suggest,
take.
B: With certain verbs, for can be put before the Indirect Object and
the Indirect Object is placed after the Direct Object.
S
V
IO
DO
e.g. My mother cooked the children some eggs.
S
V
DO
IO
My mother cooked some eggs for them.
Here are some more verbs of this type: to bring, buy, cook, fetch, find,
get, leave, open, order, reserve, save.
5.4 Usage: Reflexive Pronouns:
The reflexive pronouns myself, yourself, himself/herself/itself in the
singular and ourselves, yourselves, themselves in the plural can be
used in two ways:
e.g. I drove myself to Marseille.
Bill himself found the lost watch.
5.5 Structure:
A: to mention again the identity of the subject of the sentence with
the meaning for ...... the reflexive pronoun is placed immediately
after the verb:
e.g. John found a nice house to buy.
John found himself a nice house to buy.
B: to emphasise identity, the reflexive pronoun is placed
immediately after the noun:
e.g. The brothers do not know the answer.
The brothers themselves do not know the answer.
5.6 Usage: Possessive Pronouns:
The possessive pronouns mine, yours, his/hers/its in the singular and
ours, yours, theirs in the plural show that an object/person/thing
belongs to someone who is
not named.
e.g. Mary and Bill are buying a house and the house is theirs. (the
house of Bill and Mary)
Who owns this car? It's mine. (the car of the writer)
5.7 Structure:
In sentences, possessive pronouns replace the missing name of the
owner of the object/person/thing.
5.8 Final Note:
My, your, his/her/its in the singular and our, your, their in the plural are
Possessive Adjectives. They are used to show that a person/place/thing
belongs to
someone whose identity is known:
e.g. "Mary and Bill are our children," said Ann and John.
The pilot landed his plane safely.
SECTION SIX: ADJECTIVES:
6.1 Usage:
As in French, adjectives are used in English to describe/give more
information about nouns:
e.g. the blue car the sad teacher the intelligent lion
6.2 Structure:
A: Adjectives are placed immediately in front of the noun they are
describing:
e.g. the wild pig the enormous elephant the angry boxer
B: In English, adjectives do not agree with the gender of nouns:
e.g. the tall man the noisy boy the happy prince
the tall woman the noisy girl the happy princess
C: Certain words ending in -ly are adjectives and not adverbs:
e.g. a friendly letter a lovely scene an early train
Here are some other adjectives of this type: daily, hourly, weekly,
monthly, yearly.
SECTION SEVEN: COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES:
7.1 Usage: To compare the description of two or more
people/animals/things/places.
e.g. John is young but Mary is younger and Michael is the youngest.
7.2 Structure: Regular Adjectives:
e.g. Adjective Comparative Superlative
young younger youngest
small smaller smallest
There are five rules for the construction of the Comparative and
Superlative forms of regular adjectives.
A: Short adjectives of one syllable add -er and -est to the adjective:
e.g. old older oldest
Here are more examples of adjectives of one syllable: young, small,
tall, cheap, few.
B: When an adjective ends in -y, change this letter to -i and add -er
and -est:
e.g. easy easier easiest
Here are more examples of adjectives that end in -y: heavy, early,
busy, healthy, noisy, lucky, silly, happy.
C: When an adjective ends in -e, remove the -e and then add -er and est:
e.g. large larger largest
Here are some more examples of adjectives that end in -e: brave,
wise, safe, pale, simple, late.
D: When an adjective ends with a vowel plus a consonant, double the
consonant and then add -er and -est:
e.g. big bigger biggest
Here are some more examples of adjectives of this type: thin, hot, fat,
fit.
E: Adjectives of three or more syllables and some adjectives of two
syllables do not change but more and most are put in front of these
adjectives:
e.g. beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
Here are some more examples of adjectives of this type: delicious,
efficient, humorous, expensive, careful, modern, famous, correct,
honest.
7.3 Structure: Irregular Adjectives:
There are three adjectives which do not follow any rule: these must be
memorised:
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther/further farthest/furthest
SECTION EIGHT: COMPARISON OF ADVERBS:
8.1 Usage: To compare the description of two or more
people/animals/things/places.
e.g. John runs fast but Mary runs faster and Michael is the fastest.
8.2 Structure: Regular Adverbs:
e.g. Adverb Comparative Superlative
quick quicker quickest
slow slower slowest
There are two rules which control the formation of the Comparative and
Superlative forms of regular adverbs.
A: In general, add -er and -est to the adverb.
B: When an adverb ends in -ly, more and most are put in front of the
adverb.
8.3 Structure: Irregular Adverbs:
There are three irregular adverbs which do not follow any rule: these
must be memorised:
Adverb Comparative Superlative
good better best
badly worse worst
far farther/further farthest/furthest
SECTION NINE: PREPOSITIONS OF TIME:
9.1 Usage: At, On, In:
These prepositions are used to show the time and date of events,
activities and situations:
e.g. at three o'clock. in June. on Monday.
9.2 Structure: At:
at + particular time: dawn, midday, noon, night, midnight, nine o'clock
etc.. e.g. at dawn.
at + the + a particular time in a week/month/year: start/end of the
week/month/year, weekend. e.g. at the start of July.
at + calendar festival season: Christmas, New Year, Easter, Pentecost
etc.. e.g. at Easter.
at + meal: breakfast, lunch, mid-morning, tea, dinner, supper etc.. e.g. at
breakfast.
9.3 Structure: On:
on + day of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc. e.g. on
Thursday.
on + particular part of a day: Friday morning, Saturday afternoon. e.g. on
Sunday evening.
on + particular date: 25 July 1994, 4 January. e.g. on 19 March.
N.B. On the nineteenth of March is how this date is read aloud or said in
conversation.
on + calendar festival day: Christmas Day, Palm Sunday. e.g. on Easter
Sunday.
9.4 Structure: In:
in + the + a part of a day: the morning, the afternoon, evening. e.g. in the
afternoon.
in + month: January, February, March, April, May etc.. e.g. in June.
in + season of the year: Spring, Summer, Autumn. e.g. in Winter.
in + specific year: 1988, 1989, 1990 etc.. e.g. in 1994.
in + the + a specific century: nineteenth century. e. g. in the twentieth
century.
in + historical period of time: the Dark Ages, Pre-historic Times. e.g. in
the Middle Ages.
N.B. No preposition is used if the day/year has each, every, last, next,
this before it:
e.g. I go to Switzerland each Christmas ( not at each Christmas )
I'll see you next Monday afternoon. ( not on Monday afternoon )
Martin left home last evening. ( not in the evening )
9.5 Usage: For and Since:
These prepositions explain how long an event, activity, situation has
continued:
e.g. for three days since last Thursday
9.6 Structure: For:
for + a period of time: two days, one week, three months, four years e.g.
for the weekend.
This phrase can be used with all verb tenses.
e.g. Michael went to the Bahamas last year for three weeks. - past
I am in Paris for ten days. - present
My cousin will be visiting the West Indies for two months next February.
- future
9.7 Structure: Since:
since + a point of time + past tense: last week, the war ended, 1990,
yesterday.
The point of time does not have to be accurate.
e.g. My sister and her husband have worked in India since 1991.
Mary has been very ill since yesterday evening.
9.8 Usage: During and While:
These prepositions explain a period of time in which an event, activity or
situation took place:
e.g. during the next month while I was swimming.
9.9 Structure: During:
during + a noun or phrase: the war, the nineteenth century: e.g. during
my schooldays. This phrase can be used with all verb tenses: past,
present, future and is the
same as the French pendant:
e.g. Marcel received many telephone messages during the last week. past
I am seeing John during the morning. - present
Bill will return to England during the Christmas Holiday. - future
9.10 Structure: While:
while + subject + verb: to eat, talk, swim, walk etc.... This clause can be
used with all verb tenses: past, present, future and is the same as the
French pendant que:
e.g. We will take you to the theatre while we are in London.
While David was in Spain, he didn't go to a bull fight.
N.B. In English, While can often be replaced by when and retain the
same meaning.
while + infinitive + -ing (Present Participle): thinking, running, driving
etc..
e.g. While swimming in the sea, Elizabeth was attacked by a shark.
Solange met Andrew while studying History at the Sorbonne.
9.11 Usage: Before and After:
These prepositions explain accurately the timing of an event, activity or
situation:
e.g. before the weekend after the holiday
9.12 Structure: Before:
before + a noun: Monday, Christmas, examinations etc.. e.g. before the
weekend.
before + subject + verb: to eat, study, swim, talk. etc.. All verb tenses
can be used.
e.g. He spoke to his teacher before the examinations began.
Before you say anything, I must explain why I am here.
before + infinitive + -ing (Present Participle): to read, write etc.. e.g.
before eating.
9.13 Structure: After:
after + noun: the lesson, the meal etc. e.g. after the journey
after + subject + verb: to draw, sit, read etc.. All verb tenses can be
used:
e.g. Patricia was very happy after she won the tennis match.
Why did the Queen smile after the President shook her hand?
After she finishes her studies, Ann will work in South Africa.
after + infinitive + -ing (Present Participle): to decide, say, report etc..
e.g. after crying.
9.14 Usage: By, until, till:
These prepositions describe a time limit for
commencement/completion of an activity.
e.g. by Sunday until April 1995 till next week
By means not later than and can be used with all verb tenses.
Until/till explains how long an activity continues, will continue or has
continued and can be used with all verb tenses.
N.B. Until/till have the same meaning: till is a short form of until.
9.15 Structure: By:
by + noun describing time/date: examples: this afternoon, tomorrow,
Thursday.
e.g. Please pay me by Friday morning.
Will you finish your work by four o'clock?
By the end of the year, Mark spoke English very well.
9.16 Structure: Until, till:
until/till + noun describing time/date: examples: next week, this
evening, tomorrow.
e.g. Tom's wife will stay here until/till the end of next week.
Until/till the end of the month, you can use my computer.
The Williams Family lived in Germany until/till 1991.
9.17 Usage: From - - - - to/until:
From . . . . . to/until defines the beginning and end of a period of time,
present, past or future:
e.g. from April 1989 to July from November until March
9.18 Structure: From - - - - - to/until/till:
From + time/day/date/year to + time/day/date/year and can be used
with all verb tenses.
e.g. From 1987 until 1991, Mary was at university in Brussels.
Each day, Derek works in the bank from nine till five thirty.
My shop will be closed from 1st July to 31st August
SECTION TEN: PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE:
10.1 Usage: At, on, in:
At, on and in are prepositions of place and show the position of people,
places and things:
e.g. at the cinema on the wall in the shop
10.2 Structure: At:
at + the + place: the cinema, theatre, school, cross roads etc.. e.g. at the
bank.
at + specific place: Orly Airport, Buckingham Palace: e.g. at Notre Dame
Cathedral.
at + specific address including the house number/name: e.g. at 33 rue de
La Fayette, Paris.
N.B. In English, at is not normally used with names of villages, towns
and cities.
10.3 Structure: On:
on + a/the + surface of a place or object: shelf, wall, floor, ceiling etc..
e.g. on the table.
on + the directions: left/right/other side/nearside/far side: e.g. on the left.
on + levels of a building: first floor, second floor, top floor etc.. e.g. on
the ground floor.
on + the + parts of a ship: port side/ starboard side/bow/stern.
on + parts of the body: his foot, her leg, our heads etc.. e.g. on his left
arm.
on + a/the + types of transport: horse, bicycle, train, foot etc.. e.g. on the
ferry, on a horse.
N.B. English people say in a car ( not on a car ).
10.4 Structure: In:
in + names of countries: France, England, Germany etc.. e.g. in Belgium.
in + names of towns, villages, cities: Paris, London etc.. e.g. in Cairo.
in + named places: Buckingham Palace, the Louvre etc.. e.g. in Windsor
Castle.
in + the + geographical regions: Auvergne, Lake District etc.. e.g. in the
Pas de Calais.
in + streets, roads, avenues: rue du Lion, Fish Street etc.. e.g. in Stratford
Avenue.
in + the + rooms and places: kitchen, bedroom, foyer, auditorium etc..
e.g. in the bathroom.
in + the + weather: sun, rain, hail, snow etc.. e.g. in the fog.
in + parts of the body: his foot, her leg, our heads etc.. e.g. in his foot.
in + a/the + types of transport: car, train, van, lorry, aeroplane, ship e.g.
in a train.
10.5 Prepositions: Exceptions:
A: In English, certain expressions are different from French and must be
learned:
at the moment on holiday in a loud/angry/quiet/low voice
at this/that moment on the radio in a good/bad mood
at the same time on television in a bad temper
at no time on the menu in a suit
at present on the agenda in a new dress
at the end/beginning in clean/dirty/new shoes
B: Some expressions are used without a/the, here are some common
examples:
at school in bed
at home in business
at school in hospital
at school in prison
at work
at university
at 37 k.p.h.
C: Both on and in can be used for types of transport and parts of the
body:
On is used when the part of the body/type of transport is the most
important detail.
In is used when position is the most important piece of information.
e.g. Peter travelled to London on the train. - type
John sat in the last carriage of the London train. - position
Mary has a cut on her left arm. - part of the body
Anna has broken a bone in her wrist. - position in the body
D: At and in can be used with places which can contain large numbers
of people: cinema, theatre, church, stadium etc..
At is used when the activity is the most important piece of information.
In is used when the place/position is the most important detail.
e.g. I will meet you for a meal at the usual restaurant.
Richard and Mary met in the foyer of the Royal Theatre.
E: Both at and to can be used with places:
At is used when there is no active movement in the phrase/sentence.
To is used when there is movement in the phrase/sentence
e.g. At school, there are forty teachers and four hundred pupils. - no
movement
Martin is cycling to London to visit his friends. - movement
F: Both at and to can follow certain verbs: the meaning of the verb is
different in each case: to throw, run, shout.
e.g. Bill threw a stone to me. ( a friendly action )
Bill threw a stone at me. ( a hostile action: intending to hurt someone
)
Mary ran to me. ( a friendly action )
Mary ran at me ( a hostile action: intending to attack )
Eric shouted to me. ( a friendly action )
Eric shouted at me ( a hostile action: intending to express anger )
G: The preposition by is often used with transport when the type of
transport is very important: the common examples are: by aeroplane,
bicycle, horse, car, ferry,
horse, lorry, ship, train
e.g. The businessmen travelled to Africa by aeroplane and in Africa,
they travelled by car.
N.B. Walking is travel on foot ( not by foot )
SECTION ELEVEN: THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE:
11.1 Usage:
A: to make a statement about actions that are continuing or things
happening repeatedly.
e.g. Jean lives in France.
Mary watches television each evening.
B: to give instructions/directions.
e.g. You take the first left then take the next right.
C: to tell jokes and stories.
e.g. A man comes into the pub and he says ............
D: to ask a simple question using do/does.
e.g. Do you like English food?
Does your father speak English?
E: short answers to a simple question.
e.g. Do you enjoy English food? Yes, I do.
11.2 Structure:
A: the verb to be:
singular plural
I am We are
You are You are
He/she/it is They are
B: the verb to have:
singular plural
I have We have
You have You have
He/she/it has They have
The general rule for construction of the Simple Present Tense of most
verbs is:
Use the infinitive form of the verb for all persons except the third person
singular which adds - s or -es.
C: the verb to sit:
singular plural
I sit We sit
You sit You sit
He/she/it sits They sit
D: the verb to go:
singular plural
I go We go
You go You go
He/she/it goes They go
11.3 Structure: Exception
A: Verbs that end with a consonant plus -y: to try, fly, worry, cry, deny,
study:
In the third person singular of the Present Simple Tense of these verbs,
replace the -y with - ies.
i.e. He/she/it tries, flies, worries, cries, denies, studies.
B: Verbs that end with a vowel plus -y: to play, enjoy, delay, obey, buy:
In the third person singular of the Present Simple Tense these verbs are
normal.
i.e. He/she/it plays, enjoys, delays, obeys, buys.
11.4 Structure: Negatives
In the negative, the Present Simple Tense requires the auxiliary verb
do/does:e.g. Positive: I walk home every day.
Negative: I do not walk home every day.
/I don't walk home every day.
Positive: She studies English at weekends.
Negative: She does not study English at weekends.
/She doesn't study English at weekends.
11.5 Structure: Questions:
In forming questions, the Present Simple Tense requires the auxiliary
verb do/does:
e.g. Do you speak English? (not speak you English?)
Does the cashier use a computer? (not use the cashier a computer?)
N.B. Carefully note the word order for a question including a negative.
e.g. Positive: Do you understand my question?
Negative: Don't you understand my question?
11.6 The Simple Present Tense: Position of Adverbs:
There are rules for the positioning of certain adverbs: always, often,
never, usually, sometimes:
A: In positive statements:
In the Simple Present Tense, these adverbs are placed after the
subject and before the verb:
S ADV V
e.g. The teacher always shouts at the class.
The student often talks in class.
B: In negative statements:
In the Simple Present Tense, these adverbs are placed after the
negative:
e.g. Positive: Chantal is usually happy at work.
Negative: Chantal is not usually happy at work
/Chantal isn't usually happy at work.
Positive: The manager often drives his car to work
Negative: The manager does not often drive his car to work.
/The manager doesn't often drive his car to work.
C: In questions:
In the Simple Present Tense, the question uses the form do/does and the
adverb is placed after the subject.
S ADV
e.g. Do your sons sometimes travel by train?
Does your father usually walk to the office?
SECTION TWELVE: THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE:
12.1 Usage:
A: to describe something happening now or for a limited time in the
future.
e.g. Mary is working today.
John is learning French this year.
The policeman is not driving his car this week.
The students are not learning English this term.
N.B. Word order in the negative sentence.
B: to describe an expected or unexpected event that happens
frequently and uses the adverb always:
e.g. The teacher is always shouting at his class.
It is always snowing in winter.
C: to make appointments and arrangements using go/come:
e.g. I am going to the dentist at 9 a.m..(not I go)
Eric is coming here tonight (not Eric comes)
D: to describe an event that is to happen and where the sentence
includes a word/phrase with limited future meaning:
on Monday, on Tuesday etc.. in June, in July etc..
this afternoon, this evening, tomorrow etc.. next week, next month,
next year etc..
e.g. Michael is buying a new car next Tuesday.
For my holiday in July, I am flying to Japan.
E: to form a question in the present tense:
e.g. Are you coming to my house? (not come you)
Is he going to work today? (not goes he)
N.B. the word order in a question.
12.2 Usage: Exception:
Some verbs are never used in the Present Continuous Tense.
A: Verbs of "thinking": to think (when it means believe), believe,
agree, understand, know, remember, forget, mean, doubt.
e.g. I understand the teacher's lesson. ( not I am understanding)
B: Verbs of "feeling": to wish, love, hate, like, dislike, imagine, want
e.g. The soldier wishes to go home.(not is wishing)
C: Verbs of "possession": to have, own, belong, want.
e.g. The rich man owns three cars (not is owning)
D: Verbs for "reporting": to say, tell, answer, report.
e.g. My uncle says he is poor. (not is saying)
E: Particular verbs: to cost, seem, appear, need, weigh, prefer,
recognise, taste.
e.g. The elephant weighs fifty kilos. (not is weighing)
12.3 Structure:
The verb to work:
singular plural
I am working We are working
You are working You are working
He/she/it is working They are working
The general rule for construction of the Present Continuous Tense of
most verbs is:
Take the Simple Present Tense of the auxiliary verb to be plus the
infinitive plus -ing.
12.4 Structure: Negatives
In negative sentences, the word not is placed immediately after the
auxiliary verb and before the verb ending in -ing.
S AUX V
e.g. Positive: The driver is running to his bus.
Negative: The driver is not running to his bus.
/The driver isn't running to his bus.
12.5 Structure: Questions
To form questions, the auxiliary verb to be and the subject are
reversed.
S AUX
e.g. Statement: We are going to the restaurant.
AUX S
Question: Are we going to the restaurant?
S AUX
Statement: The small boy is listening to the radio.
AUX S
Question: Is the small boy listening to the radio?
N.B. Carefully note the word order for a question including a negative.
The word not follows immediately after the auxiliary verb and before the
subject.
AUX S
e.g. Isn't he visiting his mother today?
Aren't the fish swimming quickly?
12.6 Final note on the Present Tenses:
In general, we use the Present Continuous Tense for temporary
situations:e.g. They are going to the park.
We use the Simple Present Tense for permanent situations:-
e.g. I celebrate Christmas every year.
SECTION THIRTEEN: THE FUTURE TENSE:
The Future Tense describes events/activities that are to happen later the
same day or in near or distant time after the immediate time.
13.1 Usage:
The future can be expressed in four ways in English:
A:. by using the Simple Future Tense will/shall with an infinitive.
e.g. The teacher will give me the answer on Monday.
B: by using the Present Continuous Tense of the verb to go with an
infinitive when the action is to take place very soon:
e.g. I am going to wash my car.
C: by using the Present Continuous Tense with a word/phrase indicating
the future:
e.g. The Channel Tunnel is opening for passenger travel next year.
D: by using a statement beginning with let us or let's when wishing to
ask a question:
e.g. Let's go to the cinema this evening! (Shall we go to the cinema this
evening?)
Let's eat our lunch now! (Shall we eat our lunch now?)
13.2 Structure: The Simple Future Tense:
The verb to sit:
singular plural
I will sit We will sit
You will sit You will sit
He/she/it will sit They will sit
The general rule for construction of the Simple Future Tense of verbs is:
Use the auxiliary verb will followed by the infinitive form of the main
verb.
N.B. Shall is used with the same meaning as will only in the first person
singular and plural
N.B. The Simple Future Tense can be spoken/written in a shortened
form.
e.g. I'll speak to you again later this week.
13.3 Structure: Negatives:
In negative sentences, the word not is placed immediately after the verb
will/shall and before the infinitive form of the verb. The Simple Future
Tense can be
spoken/written in two ways with the same meaning:
AUX V
e.g. I will not walk home from work.
I won’t walk home from work.
13.4 Structure: Questions:
To construct questions using the Future Tense:
A: begin the question with will/shall and leave the verb and subject in the
same order as in a statement..
e.g. Statement: Christopher will begin work on Monday.
Question: Will Christopher begin work on Monday?
B: use let's to ask the question indirectly:
e.g. Let's start our homework! (meaning: Shall we start our homework?)
SECTION FOURTEEN: THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE:
14.1 Usage: Regular and Irregular Verbs:
The Simple Past Tense is used:
A: to describe actions/events that happened in the recent or long past
and are now finished.
e.g. The salesman sold two cars yesterday.
My brother bought a new house last year.
B: to tell a story.
e.g. A man went into a pub and asked for a beer .............
N.B. The Simple Past Tense is often used with certain phrases of time:
yesterday, last night, last month, last year, two years ago.
14.2 Structure: Irregular Verbs:
e.g. The policemen caught the criminals.
In English, there are many irregular verbs and these must be learned.
Some examples are:Infinitive Past Tense Past Participle
to buy bought bought
to drive drove driven
to drink drunk drunk
The most common irregular verbs are listed in Appendix I.
14.3 Structure: Regular Verbs:
e.g. I cleaned my car.
The general rule for construction of the Simple Past Tense of regular
verbs is:
Take the infinitive of the verb and add -ed. E.g. To clean ..........
cleaned
14.4 Structure: Exceptions:
A: When the infinitive form ends in -e, only -d is added:
e.g. I live in Paris .................... I lived in Paris.
B: When the infinitive form ends in a consonant plus -y, remove the y and add -ied in its place:
e.g. I try hard ........................... I tried hard.
C: When the infinitive ends in -p or -it, double the last letter:
e.g. to stop ................................stopped
to knit ..................................knitted
14.5 There are no other exceptions to the rule in written form but
there are exceptions in pronunciation of the Simple Past Tense.
A: If the infinitive ends in -d, -t, -te, the Simple Past Tense ending is
pronounced -id:
e.g. to shout ..............shouted (pronounced shout-id)
B: If the infinitive ends in any other consonant, the Simple Past
Tense ending is pronounced -d:
e.g. to fix ...................fixed (pronounced fixd)
C: If the infinitive ends in -ce, -k, -s, -ss, the Simple Past Tense
ending is pronounced -t:
e.g. to dance..............danced (pronounced dancet)
to walk ...............walked (pronounced walkt)
14.6 Structure: Regular and Irregular Verbs: Negative:
In the negative form use the Simple Past Tense of the verb to do as
did plus the infinitive:
e.g. I did not notice the cat. - Regular
/I didn't notice the cat.
Didn't Bill forgive his sister? - Irregular
N.B. Carefully note the word order in negative sentences.
14.7 Structure: Regular and Irregular verbs: Questions:
To form questions, use the Simple Past Tense of the verb to do as did
/did not plus the infinitive:
e.g. Did you stop at the shop?
Where did you work?
Didn't Bill sing a song?
N.B. Carefully note the word order for questions.
SECTION FIFTEEN: THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE:
15.1 Usage:
A: To describe an event, activity or situation that happened in the past
for a period of time:
e.g. On Sunday, I was walking for three hours.
B: To describe an event, activity or situation happening in the past at
the same time as another event happened.
e.g. Henry was speaking to Mary when Jane arrived.
C: To describe a scene or situation in a story or report.
e.g. It was snowing and the trees were looking beautiful when the
accident happened.
15.2 Usage: Exceptions:
The Past Continuous Tense is not normally used:
A: to describe habitual or often repeated events:
e.g. The tourists climbed Mont Blanc three times in three weeks. (not
were climbing)
B: Verbs of "thinking". to believe, doubt, forget, know, mean, to think
(meaning to have an opinion), remember, understand:
e.g. I believed what he said ( not was believing)
C: Verbs of "feeling". to dislike, hate, like, love, want, wish:
e.g. While I was speaking to John, I wanted to be with Mary ( not was
wanting)
D: Verbs of "possession". to belong, have (meaning to possess), own,
want:
e.g. When he was in Germany, Brian owned a large Mercedes ( not
was owning)
E: Particular verbs. to appear, cost, need, prefer, recognise, see
(except when it means to meet), seem, taste, weigh:
e.g. All last year, it cost [[sterling]]200 to fly to Canada ( not was
costing)
15.3 Structure:
The general rule for construction of the Past Continuous Tense of all
verbs is:
The Simple Past Tense of the auxiliary verb to be + infinitive + -ing.
e.g. I was speaking to my mother this morning.
15.4 Structure: Negatives:
In negative statements, not is put after the auxiliary verb and before
the verb ending -ing:
AUX V
e.g. positive: The King was sailing to Norway.
negative: The King was not sailing to Norway.
15.5 Structure: Questions:
In questions, reverse the positions of the auxiliary verb and the subject.
S AUX V
e.g. statement: Anna was enjoying the race.
AUX S
question: Was Anna enjoying the race?
S AUX V
statement: John was running fast.
QW AUX S V
question: Why was John running fast?
SECTION SIXTEEN: THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE:
16.1 Usage:
A: To describe an event, activity or situation that ended only a short time
ago. Here the word just is often used.
e.g. I have just arrived home from work.
B: To describe an event, activity or situation that is to happen soon. Here,
the word yet is often used.
e.g. I haven't telephoned her yet but I will telephone her before midnight.
C: To describe an event, activity or situation that began in the recent or
long past and is still continuing.
e.g. Mary has always lived in France.
D: To describe an event, activity or situation with the meaning up to now.
e.g. I have never visited India but I hope to go there soon.
Have you ever met my brother?
16.2 Structure:
The general rule for the construction of the Present Perfect Tense of all
verbs is:
Take the simple present tense of the auxiliary verb to have + the past
participle of the verb:
e.g. My friends have gone to Provence for the weekend.
Bill has eaten five apples and three oranges today.
16.3 Structure: Negatives:
In negative statements, the word not is put immediately after has/have
and before the verb:
e.g. I have not seen Martin this week.
/I haven't seen Martin this week.
16.4 Structure: Questions:
To form questions, reverse the positions of the auxiliary verb and the
subject:
S AUX
e.g. Statement: John has worked hard all day.
AUX S
Question: Has John worked hard all day?