Chapter one grammar notes

Chapter OnePage 5

GRAMMAR NOTES

1.

Use the simple present to show actions, events or states that are true in general or happen habitually.

1.

For example:

• We use the Internet to stay in touch with friends. (true in general)

• After dinner every night, Elena gets out her laptop. (habitual)

1.

We also use the simple present to narrate events in sequence.

1.

For example:

• Elena logs on to the Internet, reads her email, and starts responding.

1.

Simple Present (informal): This morning the teacher comes in, unlocks the cabinet, and takes out a big box.

Simple Past (formal): This morning the teacher came in, unlocked the cabinet, and took out a big box.

1.

!Events in a story can be told in the simple present (informal)

ORthe simple past (more formal):

1.

BUTYou must decide which tense to

use in your story, and be consistent.

DON’T mix up the tenses in the same story!!

1.

This is wrong!!!

**This morning the teacher comes in, unlocked the cabinet, and takes out a big box.

2.

Use the present progressive (= present continuous) to show actions or events in progress at the moment (not finished).

For example:

• Allison is sitting in front of the computer.

2.

BE CAREFUL!!

We generally don’t use the progressive with non-action

verbs.

2.

For example:

• We need to put things in balance.

NOT

** We’re needing to put things in balance.

3.

The present perfect and present perfect progressive (= present perfect continuous)

CAN

Connect the past with the present. Use them to show actions and states that began in the past and continue until now.

3.

The perfect tenses are often used with

• for + a length of timeor• since + a starting point in the

past:

3.

For example:

• I’ve had my iPod for six months. (I got my iPod six months ago and I still have it.)

or• He’s been writing a blog since

2008. (He started writing a blog in 2008, and he is still writing it.

3.

Use the present perfect, not the present perfect progressive, to describe completed, repeated actions with a connection to the present.

3.

For example:

• I’ve bought four cell phones in the past four years.

not**I’ve been buying four cell phones in the past four years.

4.

Action verbs (also called active) describe actions.

For example, perform is an action verb:

• Computers perform tasks quickly.

4.

Action verbs (also called active) describe actions.

Write is also an action verb:

4.

Use simple verb forms (without -ing) to describe an action in general.

For example:

• I write articles for a psychology magazine (in general or again and again)

4.

Use progressive verb forms (with -ing) to describe an action in progress at a specific time:

For example:

• Right now I’m writing my blog. (in progress at the moment)

5.

Non-action verbs (also called stative) describe states such as appearance (seem), emotions (love), mental states (know), perceptions (hear), possession (own), and wants (need).

5.

For example:• You seem stressed.• Elena loves email• We hear that all the

time.• They own four

computers• I need a new phone.

5.

We most often use non-action verbs in the simple tense and not in the progressive:• I know my coworker

well.NOT** I’m knowing …

5.

Some non-action verbs can be used to describe either states or actions. When they are used to describe actions, they usually have different meanings.

5.

For example:

• We have a new laptop. (= We possess a new laptop. It belongs to us.)

but• We’re having trouble with it. ( = We

are experiencing trouble right now. The situation is temporary—we expect to solve the problem.

5.

For example:

• He is a nice fellow. (= He is generally nice. That is his general state.)

but• Today he’s not being nice.( = He is

not behaving in a nice way right now. The situation is temporary; he is a nice person at other times.

6.

We normally use adverbs with action verbs:

For example:

• She always listens carefully.

• She works hard at her job.

6.

We normally use the verbs look, sound, feel, smell and taste to show states, in which case they are used with adjectives and not adverbs:

For example:

• You sound excited!NOT** You sound excitedly!

6.

For example:

• She feels bad about what she said.

NOT

** She feels badly …

6.

BE CAREFUL!The sense verbs are

sometimes used to show actions, in which case they

are used with adverbs.

6.

For example:

• The fire alarm sounded a warning loudly.

6.

Note:

Your textbook uses the verb hear in another example here. The verb hear is always an action verb used with an adverb.

For example:

• I don’t hear well when other people are talking.