GENERAL GRAMMAR REVISION

CHAPTER 1: VERB TENSES

Verb tense is divided into:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The Simple Tenses

The progressive tenses
The perfect tenses
The perfect progressive tenses

1.1 THE SIMMPLE TENSES

TENSES

SIMPLE PRESENT

SIMPLE PAST

SIMPLE FUTURE

EXAMPLES
(a) It snows in Aalska
(b) Tom watches television
everyday

(c) It snowed yesterday

(d) Tom watched television
last night
(e) It will snow tomorrow
It is going to snow
tomorrow
(f) Tom will watch
television tonight
Tom is going to watch
television tonight

MEANING
In general, the simple present
expresses events or situations
that exist always, usually,
habitually ; they exist now,
have existed in the past and
will probably exist in the
future
&t one particular time in the
past, these actions happened.
They began and ended in the
past
At one particular time in the
future , these actions will
happen

Exercise:
Directions: answer the following questions
1.
2.
3.
4.

Can you think of a general truth? What are some other general truths?
What are some of the things you do every day?
What did you do yesterday,
What are you going to do tomorrow?

1.2 THE PROGRESSIVE TENSES

Form: Be + ING

Meaning: The progressive tenses give the idea that an action is in progress during a particular
time. These tenses say that an action begin before, is in progress, and continues after another
time or action.
TENSES

PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE

PAST PROGRESSIVE

FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

EXAMPLES

MEANING
Tom went to sleep at a given
time tonight and he is still in
(a) Tom is sleeping right bed. His sleep began in the
now
past, is in progress at the
present time, and probably
will continue
Tom went to sleep at A0:00
last night. I arrived at 11:00.
(b) Tom was sleeping when He was still was still asleep.
I arrived
His sleep began before and
was in progress at a
particular time in the past. It
continued after I arrived
(c) Tom will be sleeping Tom will go to sleep at 10:00
when we arrive
tomorrow night. We will
arrive at 11:00. The action of
sleeping will began before
we arrive, and it will be in
progress at a particular

Exercise:
Directions: Answer the following questions1.
1. What are you doing right now?
2. Where were you at two oclock this morning?
3. Where will you be at five oclock this morning?
1.3 THE PERFECT TENSES
Form: Have + past participle
Meaning: the perfect tenses all give the idea that one thing happens before another time or
event.
TENSES

EXAMPLES
(a) Tom has already eaten

PRSENT PERFECT
(b) Tom had already eaten
when his friend arrived
PAST PERFECT

(c) tom will already have

eaten when his friend

MEANING
Tom finished eating
sometimes before now. The
exact time is not important
First Tom finished eating.
Later his friend arrived.
Toms eating was completely
finished before another time
in the past.
First Tom will finish eating.
Later his friend will arrive.

FUTURE PERFECT

arrives

Toms eating will be

completely finished before
another time in the future

1.4 THE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES

Form: Have + Been + ING
Meaning: The perfect progressive tenses give the idea that one event is in progress
immediately before, up to, until another time or event. These tenses are used to express the
duration of the first event.
TENSES
PRESENT PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE

EXAMPLES
(a) Tom has been studying
for two hours

PAST PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE

(b) Tom had been studying

for two hours before his
friend came

FUTURE PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE

(c) Tom will have been

studying for two hours
by the time his friend
arrives

MEANING
Event in progress: studying
When? Before now, up to
now
How long? For two hours
Event in progress: studying
When? Before now, up to
now
How long? For two hours
Event in progress: studying
When? Before another event
in the past
How long? For two hours

Exercise
Directions: Answer the following questions
1. What are you doing right now? How long have you been doing it?
2. What were you doing last night at nine oclock? What time did you stop doing it?
3. What are you going to be doing at nine oclock tomorrow night? What time are you
going to stop doing it?
Summary exercise
Practice using tenses by answering the question in complete sentences. Write down your
sentences
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

What do you do every day?

What did you do yesterday,
What will you do tomorrow?
What are you doing right now?
What were you doing at this time yesterday?
What will you be doing at this time tomorrow?
What have you done since you got up this morning?

8. What had you done before yow en to bed yesterday?

9. What will you have done by the time you go to bed tonight,
10. What are you doing? How long have you been doing that?
11. What were you doing before 10 oclock this morning?
12. What will you be doing before 10 oclock tomorrow?
CHAPTER 2: FUTURE WITH WILL OR GOING TO
2.1 Future with '' WILL
The future with 'Will' is used in a variety of situations discussing the future. Use the following
forms with 'will'. Notice that 'will' or 'won't' is used for ALL subjects.
Positive
Subject + will + base form of verb + object(s)
Negative
Subject + will + not + base form of verb + object(s)
Question
(Question Word) + Will + subject + base form of verb?
Used for spontaneous decisions. Spontaneous decisions are decisions made AT the moment of
speaking.
Examples
Jack's hungry. I'll make her a sandwich.
That's difficult! I'll help you with the problem.
Used for predictions:
Examples
It will snow tomorrow.
She won't win the game.
Used for scheduled public events
Examples
The concert will begin at 8 o'clock.
When will the train leave?
The class won't start next week.
Used for promises

Examples
Will you marry me?
I'll help you with your homework after class.
2.2 Future with 'Going to'
The future with 'going to' is used to speak about future intentions or plans made before the
present moment. Use the following forms with 'going to'.
Positive
Subject + to be + going to + base form of verb + object(s)
Negative
Subject + to be + not + going to + base form of verb + object(s)
Question
(Question Word) + to be + subject + going to + base form of verb?
Examples
We are going to study French next semester.
Where are you going to stay in France?
She isn't going to take a vacation this year.
Used for planned decisions. Planned decisions are decisions made BEFORE the moment of
speaking.
Examples
I'm going to study Languages at university next year.
We're going to stay at the Hilton in New York next week.
Used for predicting an action that you see is about to happen:
Examples
Watch out! You're going to hit that car!
Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
Used for future intentions:
Examples
I'm going to be a policeman when I grow up.
Katherine is going to study English when she goes to University.

CHAPTER 3: MODAL VERBS (SHOULD, MAY, CAN)

Modals are verbs that modify other verbs. The most common modals are:
Can
Should
Must
May
Note that all subjects take the same form of the modal.
Positive
Subject + Modal + Base Form of Verb + Objects
Examples
He can play the piano.
I must leave soon.
Negative
Subject + Modal + Not + Base Form of Verb + Objects
Examples
They can't visit next week.
You shouldn't go to that film.
Question
Modal + Subject + Base Form of Verb + Objects
Examples
Can you help me?
What should I do?
Giving Advice with Should
'Should' is used when asking for or giving advice. It is also used when asking for suggestions.
Examples
I think you should see a doctor.
What type of job should I get?
Expressing Ability with Can
'Can' is used to speak abilities.

Examples
He can speak Japanese.
Can you play golf?
Asking for Permission with May
'May' is used to ask for permission.
Examples
May I help you?
May I visit you this afternoon?
NOTE: In spoken English, 'Can I ...?' is often used instead of 'May I ...?'

CHAPTER 4: ARTICLES: THE /A /AN

a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with
consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with
vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.
the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener
know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?
The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that
object use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.
DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and
mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United
States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.
Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas My country borders on the Pacific Ocean
DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.
DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport
He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi.

CHAPTER 5: COMPARATIVES
We use the comparative and superlative form to compare and contrast different objects in
English. Use the comparative form to show the difference between two objects. Example:
New York is more exciting than Seattle. Use the superlative form when speaking about three
or more objects to show which object is 'the most' of something. Example: New York is the
most exciting city in the USA.
Here is a chart showing how to construct the comparative form in English. Notice in the
example sentences that we use 'than' to compare the two objects:
One Syllable Adjectives
Add '-er' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel)
remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'ier'
Example: cheap - cheaper / hot - hotter / high - higher
Example Sentences
Yesterday was hotter than today.
This book is cheaper than that book.
Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y'
Example: happy - happier / funny - funnier
Example Sentences
I am happier than you.
That joke was funnier than his joke.
Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives
Place 'more' before the adjective
Example: interesting - more interesting / difficult - more difficult
Example Sentences
London is more expensive than Madrid.
This test is more difficult than the last test.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS
There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important
exceptions:
Good

good - adjective
better - comparative

Example sentences
This book is better than that one.
I am better at tennis than my sister.
Bad

bad - adjective
worse - comparative

Example Sentences
His French is worse than mine.
His singing is worse than Tom's.
CHAPTER 6: SUPERLATIVES
Here is a chart showing how to construct the superlative form in English:
One Syllable Adjectives
place 'the' before the adjective and add '-est' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final
consonant if preceded by a vowel)
Example: cheap - the cheapest / hot - the hottest / high - the highest
Example Sentences
Today is the hottest day of the summer.
This book is the cheapest I can find.
Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives
Place 'the most' before the adjective
Example: interesting - the most interesting / difficult - the most difficult
Example sentences
London is the most expensive city in England.
That is the most beautiful painting here.
Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y' place 'the' before the adjective and remove the 'y'
from the adjective and add 'iest'
Example: happy - the happiest / funny - the funniest

Example Sentences
New York is the noisiest city in the USA.
He is the most important person I know.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS
There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important
exceptions:
Good

good - adjective
the best - superlative

Example Sentences
Peter is the best golf player in the school.
This is the best school in the city.
Bad

bad - adjective
the worst - superlative

Example sentences
Jane is the worst student in the class.
This is the worst day of my life.

CHAPTER 7: ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY (Usually, Sometimes, Never)

Use adverbs of frequency to say how often you do something. Adverbs of frequency are often
used with the present simple because they indicate repeated or routine activities.
For example, They often go out for dinner.
Adverbs of frequency include (from most often to least often):
Always; usually; often; sometimes; occasionally; seldom; rarely; never

If the sentence has one verb (e.g. no auxiliary verb) put the adverb in the middle of the
sentence after the subject and before the verb.
Examples

Tom usually goes to work by car.

Janet never flies. She always goes by bus.
Adverbs of frequency come after the verb 'be':
Examples
I am never late for work.
Peter is often at school.
If the sentence has more than one verb (e.g. auxiliary verb), put the adverb of frequency
before the main verb.
Examples
I can never remember anything!
They have often visited Rome.
When using adverbs of frequency in the question or negative form, put the adverb of
frequency before the main verb.
Examples
She doesn't often visit Europe.
Do you usually get up early?