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First Year English Grammar Lectures & Practice (S2)

Instructor: Mr. Ais Group: 08 & 09

This document has to be printed and brought with to the classroom

Simple Present

Usually, simple present tense means that

1) The action is a habit (or another type of repeated action) in the present2) The action is always or usually true.

Examples:- I usually eat lunch at the school cafeteria. (This is a habit in the present.)- What time do you usually feed your pet dinosaur? (I am asking about ahabit in the present.)- Ralph and Norton sometimes go bowling on Thursday nights. (This is ahabit in the present.)- The moon travels around the earth. (This is always or usually true.)- Government officials often do not tell the truth. (This statement is usually true.)- Wilma makes good gravel berry pies. (This is always or usually true.) How do I make simple present?Statements1. If the subject is I, you, they, or we use the simple form of the verb.Examples:I usually walk to the store.You go to bed at 11:00.2. If the subject is he, she, or it, add -s or -esto the simple form of the verb.Examples:Ralph (he) goes to bed at 11:00.Ahmed usually walks to the store.Negative Statementsdo/does+ not + simple form.Examples:Americans usually do not eat soup for breakfast.I usually don’t buy lunch on Thursdays.John does not play tennis.Questions(Question word) + do/does+ subject + simple formExamples:Does your pet gorilla bite?Do you buy your groceries at Alberstons?What do Norton and Trixie usually do on weekends?Where does Alice buy her groceries?Why do leaves turn brown in the autumn?

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More That You Should Know about Simple Present1- The verbbeThe verb be in English is just plain weird. It almost never follows the same rules as other verbs. For the verb be, simple present statements, negative statements, and questions are all formed in unusual ways.Simple Present Statements with BeIf the subject is I, use am.Example:I am a teacher.If the subject is you, we, or they, use areExample:Fred and Ethyl are in the kitchen with Lucy and Ricky.If the subject is a he, she, or it, use is.Example:She is not an English teacher.Simple Present Negative Statements with BeAdd not after be.Example:I am not a millionaire or a rock star.Simple present questions with Be2Put be in front of the subjectExamples:Am I taller than your cousin in Utah?Why is the sky blue?2. Stative verbs use simple present, not present progressive.Some verbs, such as want, understand, and know, do not use presentprogressive; instead, they usually use simple present even if the action is happening right now.

Present ContinuousUsually, present progressive tense means1) The action is happening right now or (more generally)2) The action is unfinished and still continuing.Examples:You are reading a booklet about verb tenses. (This action is happening right now.)John is not in class. He is taking care of his son, who is sick today. (This action is happening right now.)Joe is writinga book (The action of writing is unfinished and still continuing, so I use present progressive even if Joe is not writingrightnow.) How do I make present progressive?Statementsam/is/are+ verb-ingExamples:We are studying verb tenses.Norton is learning to drive.Negative Statementsam/is/are+ not + verb-ingExamples:John isn’t watching TV; he’s playing with his dog.

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Trixie and Norton aren’t eating dinner now.Questions(question word) + am/is/are + subject + verb-ingExamples:Are you taking a math course this semester?Where is Alice studying?Why are you looking at me?More That You Should Know about Present Progressive

1. Stative verbs usually do not use present progressive (or other progressive tenses).Some Common Stative Verbs:Agree doubt love rememberAmaze envy look* resembleAppreciate equal matter see*Be* exist mean seemBelieve fear mind* smell*Belong feel* need soundCare* forget owe taste*Concern hate own think*Consist have* please understandContain hear possess wantDislike know prefer wishDisagree like recognize weigh*

2. Two very common stative verbs that are sometimes progressive:think and haveA. ThinkStative meaning of thinkSometimes think means the same as believe. When we use think this way, it’sstative.Examples:Maria thinks (believes) that English is difficult to learn.Do you think (believe) it’s going to rain?Active meanings of thinkWhen think does not mean believe, it’s just an action verb. It uses present progressive and simple present the same way that most verbs do.Examples:Right now, you’re thinking about verb tenses, right?Ralph is thinking about buying a new bowling ball.B. HaveThe verb have has A LOT of different meanings and uses in English. Some of these meanings are stative, and some not. Here are some guidelines to help you figure out when have is stative and when it isn’t.Stative meaning of haveMost of the time, have means about the same as own or possess. When we use have in this way, it’s stative.Examples:Mickey Mouse has big ears and a friendly smile.Mickey’s sick today. He has the flu.When we use have to, to mean the same as need to (In other words, when we use it to show necessity), then it’s a stative .

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Example:Norton: I am sorry, but I have to (need to) go now.

Active meanings of haveSometimes we use have to show other meanings (not possession or necessity). When we use it this way, it’s almost always an active verb. It uses present progressive and simple present the same way that most verbs do.Examples:Right now, everyone is having cake and ice cream.2- We can use present progressive for future plansIf we want to, we can use present progressive for plans in the future. It cannot be used for all future actions; it can only be used for plans.Examples:Fred and Ethyl are going to have a party next Friday.I am going to Hawaii next summer.

Present Perfect TenseFormPositive statement: I have cooked, I have written , He has cooked, He has written (I've cooked, He's cooked)Negative statement: I have not worked (I haven't worked), He has not worked (He hasn't worked)Question:Have you worked?Neg. question: Have you not worked? (Haven't you worked?)How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present.1. We use the present perfect simple for actions or states that started in the past and still continue. We usually use for or since with this structure.Examples:We have lived here since 2001.She has known me for more than two years. The present perfect is often used with expressions indicating that the activity began in the past and comes up to now, such as: for 10 years, since 1995, all week, all the time, always, lately, recently ...Examples: We have always worked in York. (We still work in York.)It has been quite cold lately. (It is still cold.)2- We use it to describe an experience that happened in the past (the time is not given), but the effects are important now.She has been to London. (And so she knows London.)Compare:I have already been to Greece. (Experience - And I want to go somewhere else now.)I have been in Greece for two weeks. (State - I am still in Greece.)When we use this tense to express some experience, we can use following adverbs - ever, never, already, often, occassionaly, yet, before ......Examples:Have you ever tried it?

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She has never read this book.We have not seen it yet.Have you fallen off a bike yet?I have not met her before.3- We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information.Examples:I have bought a car.John has broken his leg.The police have arrested the killer

Present perfect continuousFormPositive statement: I have been cooking, He has been cookingNegative statement: I have not been cooking (I haven't been cooking), He has not been cookingQuestion:Have you been cooking?Neg. question: Have you not been cooking? (Haven't you been cooking?)Use1- We use the present perfect continuous for events that began in the past, are continuing now and will probably continue in the future.Examples:I have been playing tennis since I was 6 years old.She has been working here for 15 years.2- We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.Examples:I'm tired because I've been running.Why is the grass wet [now]? Has it been raining?

Simple Past TenseForm - regular verbsPositive statement: I watched, He watchedNegative statement: I did not watch (I didn't watch), He did not watch (He didn't watch)Question: Did you watch?Neg. question: Did you not watch? (Didn't you watch?)It is formed by -ed ending. It is the same for all persons, singular and plural.

SpellingWe add -d (not -ed) to the verbs that end with -e: like – likedIf the verb ends with a consonant and -y, we change -y into -i: carry - carried, try - tried.But: play - played, because this verb ends with a vowel and -y.If the verb has only one syllable and ends with a vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant to keep the same pronunciation: stop - stopped. The same rule applies to the verbs that end with -l: travel - travelled.Form - irregular verbsAll the irregular verbs have different forms: go - went, buy - bought, cut - cut etc.The question and negative are made in the same way: I went - Did you go? No, I did not go.

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Notes- We do not use the auxiliary verb did with the verb to be and modal verbs.Examples:Were you a student? Was he in London? I was not at home. He was not happy. Could you sing? Could he come? I could not swim. He could not stay.- The auxiliary verb did is not used in questions beginning with wh- pronouns (who, which) in case that the pronoun is the subject of the question.Who met you? (who is the subject)Which train arrived on time? (which train is the subject)But: Who did you meet? Which train did you miss? (who and which train are the objects).

Use1. We use the past simple for activities or situations that were completed in the past at a definite time.a) The time can be given in the sentence:I came home at 6 o'clock.b) The time is asked about:When did they get married?c) The time is not given in the sentence, but it is clear from a context that the action or situation finished in the past.He is 20 years old. He was born in Canada.2. We use it for repeated actions in the past.We walked to school every day. 3. It is used in stories to describe events that follow each other.Charles entered the hall and looked around. He took off his coat and put it on a chair. He was at home.

Past continuous tenseFormPositive statement: I was watching, You were watchingNegative statement: I was not watching (I wasn't watching), You were not watching (You weren't watching)Question: Were you watching? Was he watching?Neg. question: Were you not watching? (Weren't you watching?) Was he not watching? (Wasn't he watching?)The past continuoustense is formed with the past tense of the verb to be and the present participle(-ing form).Use We use the continuous tense for actions or situations in the past that were not completed.Examples:From 10 to 12 I was washing my car. I was in the garage. (I did not finish my work. It was in progress. I started before 10 and finished after 12.)The sun was setting. The beach was changing its colours.(The sun was still in the sky when I was watching it.) We use it for continuous, uninterrupted activities. If the action is interrupted, we must use the past simple.Examples: Tom was watching TV on Sunday.

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Tom watched TV in the morning and in the evening.Yesterday I was working in the garden.Yesterday I worked in the garden and on my house.

The past continuous tense is typically combined with the past simple tense to describe the idea that the action in the past continuous started before the action in the past simple and continued after it.

Example: When she saw me, I was looking at the trees. (These two activities happened at the same time. I was looking at the trees for some time and she saw me in the middle of it.) The past continuous can be used instead of the simple to show a more casual action:I was talking to my neighbor yesterday. We had a nice chat.(I did not do it on purpose. We just met in the street.)I talked to my neighbor yesterday. And he promised to help me.(I did it on purpose. I needed to ask him for help.)

Past Perfect Tense

FormIt is formed with the auxiliary verb "had" + past participle (-ed ending for regular verbs, e.g. worked, travelled, tried, different forms for irregular verbs, e.g. written, made, sung): I had done, I had not done (I hadn't done), Had I done? Had I not done? (Hadn't I done?).use

We use the past perfect to make it clear that an action was completed before another action in the past.Examples: The train had left when we arrived

The door bell rang at last. I had been in the room since breakfast.

Past perfect vs present perfect simpleThe present perfect refers to events that started in the past and still continue, the past perfect expresses events that began before a point of time (or another action) in the past and continued to that point of time in the past.Examples:I have been in Paris for a week. (The present perfect - I came a week ago and I am still in Paris.)

When I met Annie I had been in Paris for a week. (The past perfect - I came to Paris a week before I met Annie and I am not there anymore.)

Past Perfect Continuous

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FormIt is formed with the auxiliaries had been + present participle (-ing ending, e.g. working, trying, writing, singing): I had been doing, I had not been doing, Had I been doing? Had I not been doing?UseThe past perfect continuous is used for activities that began before a point of time in the past and were still continuing at that point of time.Examples:Last summer Josh had been renovating his house for two years.(He started three years ago and last summer he was still renovating his house.)Ram had been waiting for two hours when I arrived.

Past perfect continuous Vs present perfect continuousThe past perfect and present perfect continuous are basically very similar. The difference is, however, that in the past perfect we refer to the point of time in the past, while in the present perfect we refer to the present times.Examples:I have been practising since the morning. (Present perfect - I am still practising.)At 11 o'clock I had been practising for two hours. (Past perfect - I began at 9 o'clock and at 11 o'clock I was still practising.)

Simple Future TenseFuture simple - will

FormPositive statement: I will learn (I'll learn), He will learn (He'll learn)Negative statement: I will not learn (I won't learn), He will not learn (He won't learn)Question: Will you learn?Neg. question: Will you not learn? (Won't you learn?)We can also use shall in the first person singular and plural (I, we). But this form is quite formal in modern English and is not very common.I shall do it for you.We shall come soon.

Use1- Will is used as a modal auxiliary verb to show a general intention.He will change his job. We'll travel abroad.

2- Will is used for predictions or opinions. It will snow in winter. The horse will not win.3- We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak.Hold on. I'll get a pen. (short form of will).We will see what we can do to help you.4- Will is used to express a decision or offer made at the moment of speaking.Can I walk you home? - No, thank you. I'll take a taxi. Please, tell Peter about it. - O.K. I'll call him.

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But:I am going to call Peter. Do you want me to say hello to him?(Going to expresses our decision made before the moment of speaking.)

Future ContinuousFormPositive statement: I will be sitting (I'll be sitting)Negative statement: I will not be sitting (I won't be sitting)Question: Will you be sitting?Neg. question: Will you not be sitting? (Won't you be sitting?)UseThis tense is used for an action that will be in progress at a point of time in the future. It will start before that point of time and will continue after it.ExampleAt 4pm tomorrow, I will be working.This time tomorrow we'll be lying on the beach.Future continuous vs present continuousI am seeing Susan tomorrow.(I have some reason. Susan and I have arranged the time and place.)I'll be seeing Susan tomorrow.(Susan is my classmate and because I will go to school tomorrow, I will see her as usual.) Future Perfect Form:Positive statement: I will have painted, I will have written, He will have painted, He will have written (I'll have painted, He'll have painted)Negative statement: I will not have painted (I won't have painted), He will not have painted (He won't have painted)Question: Will you have painted?Neg. question: Will you not have painted? (Won't you have painted?)Use:The future perfect tense expresses action in the future before another action in the future.It is often used with a time expression beginning with by: by then, by that time, by midnight, by the end of the year…etc.The time can also be given by other time expressions (on Sunday, before 31 June) or other activities expressed in different future tenses.ExampleThe train will have left when you arrive.You can call me at work at 8am. I will have arrived at the office by 8.I will have sent the project by Friday.

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Future Perfect Continuous Tense will + have + be in the p.p+ verb + ingit is normally used with a time expression beginning with by

Example:

By the end of this year he'll have been acting for thirty years.

We use the future perfect continuous tense to talk about a long action before some point in the

future.

Look at these examples:

I will have been working here for ten years next week.

He will be tired when he arrives. He will have been traveling for 24 hours.

The future perfect continuous bears the same relationship to the future perfect as the present

perfect continuous bears to the present perfect, i.e. the future perfect continuous can be used

instead of the future perfect:

1 When the action is continuous:

By the end of the month he will have been living/working/studying here for ten years.

https://www.e-grammar.org/english-grammar-tenses/

Practice

Excecise 01:Put the verbs in brackets into the present continuous or the future simple using the present continuous where possible.(The be going to form could be used here instead of the present continuous, but for the sake of simplicity students are advised to use only the two tenses first mentioned.)

1 I am sure that I (recognize) him.2 I (see) her tomorrow.3 He (play) in a tennis match on Friday.4 She (come) back on Monday.5 I (go) again next year.6 We (know) tonight.7 You pay and I (owe) you the money.8 I (believe) it when I see it.9 I (have) my car repainted next week.10 I hope that you (have) a good time tomorrow.11 His speech (be) broadcast tonight.12 The window-cleaner (come) at eight tomorrow.13 Tom (catch) the 7.40 train.14 Where you (meet) them? ~I (meet) them at midnight in the middle of the wood.15 What horse you (ride) tomorrow?16 Look! I've broken the teapot. What Mrs Pitt (say)?~

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She (not mind); she never liked that one.17 I've left the light on. It (matter)?18 He (not forget) to come.19 He (leave) in a few days.20 I (remember) it.21 If you drop that bottle it (break).22 I never (forgive) him.23 I'm sure that you (like) him.24 They (lay) the foundations next week.25 You (see) a signpost at the end of the road.26 He has cut my hair too short. ~Don't worry; it (grow) again very quickly.27 You (understand) when you are older.28 The cat (scratch) you if you pull its tail.29 I (be) back at 8.30.30 If he doesn't work hard he (not pass) his exam.31 She (go) on a cruise next summer.32 I (move) to a new flat next week.33 I am sorry that the child saw the accident. -I don't think it matters. He soon (forget) all about it.34 I (wait) here till he comes back.35 He (not write) to you unless you write to him.36 There (be) a big meeting here tomorrow.

Exercise 02: Look at each underlined verb and say what kind of meaning it expresses. Is it a thought, a feeling, a fact or a repeated action?Example: Matthew loves sport. a feeling

Exampe: Sarah often works late at the office. a repeated action

1 1 hate quiz programmes.

2 We play table tennis every Thursday.

3 The computer belongs to Emma.

4 These plates cost £20 each.

5 I believe it's the right thing to do.

6 I'm hungry. I want something to eat.

7 I usually go to work by bus.

8 It's OK. I understand your problem

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The Future Perfect Tense

Exercise 03: Put the verbs in brackets into the future perfect tense.

1 In a fortnight's time we (take) our exam.

2 I (finish) this book by tomorrow evening.

3 By this time tomorrow we (have) our injections.

4 By the end of next year I (be) here twenty-five years.

5 I'll still be here next summer but Tom (leave).

6 I (finish) this job in twenty minutes.

7 By next winter they (build) four houses in that field.

8 When we reach Valparaiso we (sail) all round the world.

9 At the rate he is going he (spend) all his money by the time he is twenty-one.

10 By this time next year I (save) £250.

11 By the time we get to the party everything (be) eaten.

12 The train (leave) before we reach the station.

13 If I continue with my diet I (lose) 10 kilos by the end of the month.

14 By the end of my university course I (attend) 1,200 lectures.

15 By the end of this week my illness (cost) me £100.

16 By the time that he leaves school his parents (spend) £25,000 on his education.

17 By the end of the term I (read) all twelve volumes.

18 When you come back I (finish) all the housework.

19 The police (hear) of the theft by this time.

20 We (drink) all that wine by the end of the year.

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Exercise 04

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Exercise 05

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Excercise 06

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Excercise 07

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Excercise 08