ENGLISH GRAMMAR

SECTION THREE: THE DEFINITE ARTICLE p2SECTION FOUR: NOUNS p6SECTION FIVE: PRONOUNS p21SECTION SIX: ADJECTIVES p32SECTION SEVEN: COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES p33SECTION EIGHT: COMPARISON OF ADVERBS p37SECTION NINE: PREPOSITIONS OF TIME p39SECTION TEN: PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE p52SECTION ELEVEN: THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE p63SECTION TWELVE: THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE p74SECTION THIRTEEN: THE FUTURE TENSE p85SECTION FOURTEEN: THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE p91SECTION 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 orfeminine: 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 pluralform. 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/thingse.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 isnot 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 tosomeone 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 easiestHere 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 largestHere 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 biggestHere 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 beautifulHere 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 thesame 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: QuestionsTo form questions, the auxiliary verb to be and the subject are reversed.

S AUXe.g. Statement: We are going to the restaurant.

AUX SQuestion: Are we going to the restaurant?

S AUXStatement: The small boy is listening to the radio.

AUX SQuestion: 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 bespoken/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?