Essential English Grammar (Feb 5/2006)
ESSENTIAL ENGLISH
GRAMMAR
This essay introduces and provides practice with the most fundamental aspects of English grammar. The most fundamental aspects of English grammar are:
1) The parts of speech.
2) The five basic sentence structures.
3) The seven most common verb tenses.
4) The language circle.
5) Basic grammar vocabulary
An understanding of these basic concepts will help you to create the sentences you need to function in English. It will also help you to make the most of your dictionary and grammar text books.
Parts of Speech
Nouns (n.) - A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, idea or activity. Nouns can be used as subjects or objects of sentences. Nouns can also be used as the object of prepositions and sometimes as adjectives.
Verbs (v.) – There are two kinds of main verb:
1) Action verbs. For ex. go, think, play.
2) Be verbs. (is, am, are, was, were, been, being).
Action verbs tell what the subject “does”. Action verbs are usually quite specific with regard to tense. Structures 1 & 2 use action verbs.
Be verbs connect the subject to a noun that identifies it, an adjective that describes it or a prepositional phrase of time or place that tells when or where the subject is. (Structures 3, 4 and 5) There is another group of verbs called “linking verbs” (seems, feels, tastes, sounds, looks) that can function like “be verbs” in sentence structures number 3 and 4.
Adjectives (adj.) - Adjectives describe nouns. They are usually placed after a be verb or before the noun they describe. Many adjectives can be used in the comparative and superlative.
Adverbs (adv.) – Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. When adverbs describe verbs they usually say when, where, why, how, how often or how much an action happens. Adverbs can be found in many different places within a sentence.
Prepositions (prep.) – Prepositions combine with nouns to create adjective and adverb phrases.
Pronouns (pron.) – Pronouns are used in place of nouns to avoid redundancy. When you see a pronoun it is usually important to ask yourself if you know what it refers to.
Conjunctions (conj.) – The most common conjunctions are and, but and or. They combine nouns with nouns, adjectives with adjectives, verbs with verbs, adverbs with adverbs, phrases with phrases and clauses with clauses.
Auxiliary verbs (aux. v.) – Auxiliary verbs are the most important grammar words because they are used to make verb tenses, questions, negatives and short answers. The auxiliary verbs are Be (is, am, are, was, were, been, being) Do (do, does, did) and Have (have, has, had).
Each of these auxiliary verbs can also be used as main verbs in a sentence.
Modal Auxiliaries – Modal Auxiliaries are the words: can, could, should, will, would, may, might, must, have to. Modals add extra meaning to the verb. Modals can also be used to make questions and short answers.
VERB/AUXILIARY VERB - MODAL
COMBINATIONS
Forms of the Main Verb – Regular
Simple Form Past Form P.P.Form ING Form
work worked worked working
hope hoped hoped hoping
stop stopped stopped stopping
listen listened listened listening
control controlled controlled controlling
enjoy enjoyed enjoyed enjoying
study studied studied studying
Forms of the Main Verb – Irregular
Simple Form Past Form P.P. Form ING Form
begin began begun beginning
speak spoke spoken speaking
eat ate eaten eating
say said said saying
Auxiliary Verbs and Modals
1 2 3 4
Do Can Is Have
Does Could Am Has
Did Should Are Had
May Will Was
Might Would Were
May
Must
The auxiliaries and modals in column 1 combine with the simple form to make questions, negatives, and short answers in the simple present and simple past.
The auxiliaries in column 3 combine with the ING form to make the progressive tenses and with the past participle (P.P.) to form the passive.
The auxiliaries in column 4 combine with the P.P. to form the perfect tenses.
THE FIVE BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURES
(Simple Present)
1) Subject + Verb intransitive.
For example, Fish swim.
2) Subject + verb transitive + object.
For example, Birds eat fish.
……………………………...
3) Subject + be verb + noun.
For example, Frank is a doctor.
4) Subject + be verb + adjective.
For example, Frank is smart.
5) Subject + be verb + word or prepositional phrase of time or location.
For example, The party is at 9:00PM
The party is at my house.
Almost every sentence in English is made from one of these structures through: addition, subtraction, substitution or transformation
(from one verb tense to another, from statement to question or from active to passive)
SIMPLE PRESENT
Form - Subject + simple form of verb. For example, Birds fly. In structures 1 & 2 questions, negatives and short answers are made with do, does, did. (Do I…? Do you…? Do we…? Do they….? / Does he….? Does she….? Does it….?) For example, Do birds drive cars? No, they don’t. Birds don’t drive cars. Birds fly.
Do, does, did are not used in structures 3, 4 & 5 because in structures 3,4, & 5 the subject doesn’t “do” anything.
Meaning - Used to describe actions (structures 1 & 2) which always, usually, sometimes, occasionally happened in the past and will always, usually sometimes be happening in the future. Also used to describe conditions (structures 3, 4 & 5) which always, usually sometimes existed in the past and will probably be happening or existing in the future.
The simple present form is frequently used to describe conditions which exist now, but not necessarily always, especially in structure 4 (For ex.- This soup is too hot.).
In structure number 5 the simple present form is used to describe conditions which will exist in the future (For example – The party is at 9:00).
The simple present form is also used with linking verbs (looks, seems, smells etc. in structures 3 and 4) and with non - progressive action verbs (want, know, understand, believe etc. in structures 1 & 2) to describe currently existing conditions or actions. (pg 95 of Basic English Grammar and page 15 of Understanding and Using English Grammar. Betty Schrampfer Azar)
SIMPLE PRESENT
(Practice structures 1 & 2)
T - Everyday I get up at 7:00. Do you get up at 7:00 everyday?
S - No, I don’t get up at 7:00 everyday. I get up at …..
T - I have an alarm clock. Do you have an alarm clock?
S -
T - I usually cook my own breakfast. Do you usually cook your own breakfast?
S -
T - I eat steak and eggs every morning. Do you eat steak and eggs every morning?
S -
T - What do you usually eat for breakfast?
S -
T - After breakfast I sometimes go back to bed for an hour or so. Do you sometimes go back to bed after breakfast?
S -
T - I take the bus to work every day. Do you take the bus to work every day?
S -
T - How do you get to work everyday?
S -
T - I usually eat lunch at the restaurant. Do you usually eat lunch at the restaurant?
S -
T - I have fried rice for lunch everyday. Do you have fried rice for lunch everyday?
S -
T - What do you have for lunch everyday?
S -
T - After lunch I go back to work. Do you go back to work after lunch?
S -
T - I get off work at 4:30 every day. Do you get off work at 4:30 everyday?
S -
T - After work I always go for a swim. Do you always go for a swim after work?
S -
T - I usually eat dinner at home. Do you usually eat dinner at home?
S -
T - After dinner I usually watch a movie. Do you usually watch a movie after dinner?
S -
T - Before I go to bed I always take a shower. Do you always take a shower before you go to bed?
S -
T - It takes me about half an hour to fall asleep. Does it take you half an hour to fall asleep?
S -
T - How long does it take you to fall asleep?
S -
T - I live in Taipei. Do you live in Taipei?
S -
T - How do you spell Taipei?
S -
T - Can you use Taipei as the subject or object of a sentence or as the object of a preposition?
S -
T - Why?
S -
T - Can you give me examples?
S -
T - Do subjects perform the action of the verb or are they described by the rest of the sentence?
S -
T - Do all verbs have objects?
S -
T - Do adjectives describe nouns?
S-
T - Do adverbs describe nouns?
S -
T - What do adverbs describe?
S -
T - How do you say auxiliary verb in Chinese?
S -
T - Do ACTION VERBS tell what the subject does?
S -
T - Do BE VERBS (when used as main verbs) connect the subject to and adjective, noun or phrase of time or location?
S -
T - Do pronouns substitute for nouns and noun phrases to avoid redundancy?
S -
T - Do the conjunctions - and but and or - join nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, adjectives with adjectives, adverbs with adverbs, phrases with phrases and clauses with clauses?
S -
T - I listen to my Mandarin tapes everyday. Do you listen to your English tapes everyday?
S -
T - I teach grammar everyday. Do you study grammar everyday?
S –
T - I speak Chinese every day. Do you speak English every day?
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
Form - Subject + Be + ING FORM of VERB. For ex. I am running, we are running, you are running, he/she/it is running, they are running.
Questions are made by placing the auxiliary verb (is, am, are) in front of the subject. For ex. Is he running? Short answers are made with the auxiliary only. For ex. Yes, he is. And negatives are made by placing not after the auxiliary. For ex. No, he is not running.
Meaning - usually used to describe actions that are happening at the time of speaking, but can also be used to describe future events especially when the future event is going to happen according to a train, plane, bus, boat schedule.
For ex. I am leaving on the 7:00 flight tomorrow.
The present progressive form is not used with non - progressive action verbs or with linking verbs.
Five Basic Sentence Structures
(present progressive)
1) I am breathing out right now.
2) I am teaching you the five basic sentence structures right now.
………………………………….
3) He is being a man.
(the present progressive is not common in structure 3)
4) She is being rude.
(we would say this if we thought her actions were rude right now, but we did not necessarily think she was always rude.)
5) The present progressive is rare in structure five also.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
(practice structure 1 & 2)
T - I am talking to you right now. Are you talking to me right now?
S -
T - I am not eating steak and eggs right now. Are you eating steak and eggs right now?
S -
T - I am not going back to bed right now. Are you going back to bed right now?
S -
T - I am not taking the bus right now. Are you taking the bus right now?
S -
T- I am not eating lunch right now. Are you eating lunch right now?
S -
T - I am not swimming right now. Are you swimming right now?
S -
T - I am not eating dinner right now. Are you eating dinner right now?
S -
T - I am teaching you about verb tenses. Are you learning about verb tenses right now?
S -
T - Who is teaching you about verb tenses right now?
S -
T - Are you having fun?
S -
T - I am scratching my knee right now. Are you scratching your knee right now?
S -
T - Why am I scratching my knee right now?
S -
T - I am teaching you the language circle. Are you learning the language circle right now?
S -
T - I am sitting down right now. Are you sitting down right now?
S -
T - Are you sitting down or standing up right now?
S -
T - Are you drinking coffee or tea?
S -
T - What are you drinking?
S -
T - Are we recording this?
S -
T - Why are we recording this?
S -
T - Am I confusing you?
S -
T - I am trying to think of the next question to ask in the present progressive.
S - Keep thinking.
T - I am opening the book. Are you opening the book?
S -
T - Who is opening the book?
S -
T - What am I opening?
S -
T - Am I closing the book?
S -
T - Am I closing the book or the door?
S -
T - What am I closing?
S -
T - Who is closing the book?
S -
T - I am not thinking about the simple future. Are you thinking about the simple future?
S -
T - What are you thinking about right now?
S -
Simple Past
Form - Subject + past form of the verb. For example, The man walked across the road. The past form of most verbs is formed with “ed” but many of the most common verbs are irregular so their past form is NOT formed with “ed”. For example, He ran across the road. Ran is the past form of run. (There is a list of irregular verbs on page 22 of Understanding English Grammar and on page A5 of Basic English Grammar.)
In structures 1 & 2 yes/no questions are formed by placing did in front of the subject. Information questions are made by placing the information question in front of did.
Meaning - Used to describe actions (1&2) or conditions (3,4,5) that began and ended in the past.
Five Basic Sentence Structures
(simple past)
1) He died.
2) I killed him.
………………………………………..
3) He was a doctor before he got married.
4) He was smart when he was young.
5) The meeting was at the hotel.
SIMPLE PAST
(practice structures 1 & 2)
T – I got up a 7:00 yesterday. Did you get up at 7:00 yesterday?
S -
T - I had steak and eggs for breakfast yesterday. Did you have steak and eggs for breakfast yesterday?
S -
T - I had lunch at a restaurant yesterday. Did you have lunch at a restaurant yesterday?
S -
T - I had fried rice for lunch yesterday. Did you have fried rice for breakfast yesterday?
S -
T - I took the bus to work yesterday. Did you take the bus to work yesterday?
S -
T - I got off work at 4:30 yesterday. Did you get off work at 4:30 yesterday?
S -
T - I went for a swim after work yesterday. Did you go for a swim after work yesterday?
S -
T - It took me half an hour to fall asleep last night. Did it take you half an hour to fall asleep last night?
T - I lost my wallet yesterday. Did you lose your wallet yesterday?
S -
T - I found my wallet this morning. Did you find your wallet this morning?
S -
T - I lent my friend a movie yesterday?
S -
T - My friend borrowed a movie from me yesterday. Did your friend borrow a movie from you yesterday?
S -
T - I listened to my Mandarin tapes yesterday. Did you listen to your English tapes yesterday?
S -
T - I studied Mandarin grammar yesterday. Did you study English grammar yesterday?
S -
T - I tape recorded a few new sentences yesterday. Did you tape record a few new sentences yesterday?
S -
T - I used the simple past yesterday. Did you use the simple past yesterday?
S -
T - I taught the language circle yesterday. Did you study the language circle yesterday?
S -
T - I reviewed my vocabulary list last week. Did you review your vocabulary list last week?
S -
SIMPLE FUTURE
Form – Subject + Be + Going + To + Simple Form of Verb
- or -
Subject + Will + Simple Form of Verb
Yes/no questions are made by moving the Be Verb or Will to the front of the sentence. Information question words are placed in front of the Be Verb or Will.
Meaning - The simple future is used to refer to things that will happen or conditions that will exist in the future. “Be Going To” is used to refer to plans. “Will” is used to express willingness. Both “Be Going To” and “Will” can be used to make predictions. For example,
David - I am going to make a film tomorrow. Will you help me?
George - No, I think it is going to/will rain tomorrow. I don’t work on films when it is raining because I don’t want my camera to get wet.
David - That’s OK. I am going to bring my own camera.
George - Oh, OK. I will come and help you then.
Five Basic Sentence Structures
(simple future)
1) In ten seconds I am going to sneeze.
2) In twenty seconds I am going to open the book.
……………………………………….
3) He is going to be a lawyer when he finishes university.
4) You are going to be hungry if you don’t eat now.
5) The meeting is going to be at the office.
(It is more common to use the simple present form to refer to the future in structure number five)
Present Progressive Practice
(structures one and two)
T - Tomorrow I AM GOING TO get up at seven o’clock. ARE you GOING TO get up at seven o’clock tomorrow?
S - What time is your best friend going to get up tomorrow?
T - I am going to have steak and eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Are you going to have steak and eggs for breakfast tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to take the bus to work tomorrow. Are you going to take the bus to work tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to have lunch at a restaurant tomorrow. Are you going to have lunch at a restaurant tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to have fried rice for lunch tomorrow. Are you going to have fried rice tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to go for a swim after work tomorrow. Are you going to go for a swim after work tomorrow?
S -
T - What are you going to do after work tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to cook my own dinner tomorrow night. Are you going to cook your own dinner tomorrow night?
S -
T - Who is going to cook your dinner tomorrow night?
S -
T - I am going to watch a movie after dinner tomorrow night. Are you going to watch a movie after dinner tomorrow night?
S -
T - I am going to go to bed at 11:00 tomorrow night. Are you going to go to bed at 11:00 tomorrow night?
S -
T - What time are you going to go to bed tomorrow night?
S -
T - I am going to dream about skiing. Are you going to dream about skiing?
S -
T - Are you going to dream about verb tenses?
S -
T - Are you going to dream about the language circle?
S -
T - Are you going to dream about the parts of speech?
S -
T - Are you going to study verb tenses tomorrow?
S -
T - What are you going to study?
S -
Grammar Vocabulary
Adjective - xing2rong2ci2
Active - zhu3dong4
Adverb - fu4ci2
Answer - hui2da2
Auxiliary Verb - zhu4dong4ci2
Be Verb - be dong4ci2
Clause - zi3ju4
Complete/full answer - wan2zhen3 de da2an4
Contraction - suo1xie3
Form - xing2shi4
Grammar - wen2fa3
Information Question - xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4
Information Question Word-xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4
Main Verb - zhu3dong4ci2
Negative Answer/ sentence/ question - Fou3ding4 de hui2da2/ ju4zi/
wen4ti2
Noun - ming2ci2
Object - shou4ci2
Or question - huo4 wen4ti2
Parts of Speech - ge4zhong3ci2lei4
Passive - bei4dong4
Past Progressive - guo4qu4jin4xing2shi4
Phrase - ci2zu3
Plural - Fu4shu4 de
Preposition - jie4xi4ci2
Present Perfect - xian4zai4wan2chun2shi4
Present Perfect Progressive - xian4zai4wan2chun2jin4xing2shi4
Present Progressive - xian4zai4jin4xing2shi4
Sentence - ju4zi
Short answer - duan3 de hui2da2
Simple Future - wei4lai2shi2
Simple Past - guo4qu4shi2
Simple Present - xian4zai4shi2
Singular - dan1shu4 de
Statement - cun2xu4shou1ming2/ chen2shu4ju4
Subject - zhu3ci2
Transitive Verb - ji2wu4 dong4ci2
Verb - dong4ci2
Verb Tense - dong4ci2shi2tai4
Yes/No Question - dui4bu2dui4/shi4bu2shi4 yi2wen4ju4
Pronunciation Vocabulary
Alphabet - zi4mu4
Consonant - zi3yin1
Letter -zi4mu4
Pronunciation - fa1yin1
Rhyme - ya1yun4
Stress - zhong4yin1
Stressed - zhong4yin1 de
Syllable - yin1jie2
Unstressed - fei1 zhong4yin1 de
Voiced/Voiceless Pair - You3sheng1 zi3yin1 wu2sheng1zi3yin1 pei4dui4
Vowel - mu3yin1
Useful Sentences
Pronunciation
The English alphabet has 26 letters. 21 consonants and five vowels. - Ying1wen2 zi4mu4 you2 r4shi2liu4 ge4 zi4mu3. r4shi2yi1 ge zi3yin1, wu3ge mu3yin1.
Vowel sounds are made with the air flowing freely from the mouth - Mu3yin1 de fa1yin1 shi4 zi4you2 de cong2 zui3ba1 qu1lai2.
All vowel sounds are voiced - Sou3you3 de mu3yin1 duo1 shi4 you3sheng1 de.
B and P are a voiced/voiceless pair - B hen4 P shi4 you3shen1 he2 wu2shen1 zi3yin1 pei4dui4.
Voiced sounds are made with vibration of the vocal chords - You3shen1 zi3yin1 shi4 shen1dai4 you3 zhen4dong4 de.
Voiceless sounds are made without vibration of the vocal chords. - Wu2shen1 zi3yin1 shi4 shen1dai4 mei3you2 zhen4dong4 de.
Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives and Adverbs usually have at least on stressed syllable. - Ming2ci2, dong4ci2, xing2rong2ci2, fu4ci2 tong2cun2 zhi4shao3 you3 yi2ge4 zhong4yin1 de yin1jie2.
The other parts of speech usually have no stressed syllables - Qi2ta1 de ge4zhong3ci2lei4 tong2cun2 mei2you3 zhong4yin1 de yin1jie2.
If a word or syllable is unstressed, we pronounce it quickly, quietly with a vowel sound of schwa or /I/ and often with one or two silent letters.
Ru2guo3 yi2ge zi4 huo2 yi2ge yin1jie2 shi4 fei1 zhong4yin1 de, wo3men fa1yin1 shi4 kuai4shu4, xiao3sheng1 de, wo3men yong4 /schwa/ hai2shi /I/ de mu3yin1 fa1yin1, chang2chang2 hai2you3 gen1 yi1 liang3 bu2 yong4 fa1yin1 de zi4mu3.
Useful Sentences
Grammar
1) English has five basic sentence structures
Ying1wen2 you3 wu3ge ji1ben3 de ju4zi jie2gou.
2) Structure number one is subject + intransitive action verb.
Di4-yi4 ge jie2gou4 shi4 zhu3ci2 + bu4ji2wu4 de dong4ci2.
3) Structure number two is subject + transitive action verb + object.
Di4-er4 ge jie2gou4 shi4 zhu3ci2 + ji2wu4 de dong4ci2 + shou4ci2.
4) When we make yes/no questions from statements we move the first auxiliary verb to the front of the sentence.
Deng1 wo3men1 yao4 ba3 yi2ge chun2shu3shou1ming2 (zai4 di4-yi4ge he2 di4 –er4 ge jie2gou4) gai3wei2 dui4bu2dui4/shi4bu2shi4 de yi2wen4ju4 wo3men ba3 di4-yi4 ge zhu3dong4ci feng4 zai4 ju4zi qian2mian4
5) Simple present and simple past statements do not have auxiliary verbs so to change statements into yes/no questions in the simple present and simple past use do, does, did.
Xian4zai4shi2 he2 guo4qu4shi2 chun2shu3shuo1ming2 mei2you3 zhu4dong4ci2 suo3yi3 ba3 chun2shu3shuo1ming2 (zai4 di4-yi4ge he2 di4-er4 ge jie2gou4) gai3wei2 dui4bu2dui4/shi4bushi4 yi2wen4ju4 yong4 do, does, did.
6) The subject performs the action of the verb or is described by the rest of the sentence.
Zhu3ci2 biao3xian4 dong4ci2 de dong4zuo4 huo4shi4 xian4xia4 de ci2 xing2rong2 zhu3ci2.
7) In structures 1 and 2 the subject performs the action of the verb.
Zai4 di4-yi4 he2 di4-er4 ge jie2gou4 zhu3ci2 biao3xian4 dong4ci2 de dong4zuo4.
8) The object answers one of the questions “who” or “what” after the verb.
Shou4ci2 hui2da2 “shei2?” huo4zhe3 “shen2me?” zai4 dong4ci2 hou4mian4.
9) When we create information questions (who, what, where, when, why, how, how often, how much, how long) from yes/no questions we leave the auxiliary in front of the subject and place the information question word in front of the auxiliary.
Deng1wo3men yao4 ba3 dui4bu2dui4/shi4bu2shi4 yi2wen4ju4 gai3wei2 yige xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4 wo3men liu2 zhu4dong4ci2 zai4 zhu3ci2 qian2mian4 ran2hou4 ba4 yi2wen4ci2 zai4 zhu4dong4ci2 qian2mian4.
10) Auxiliary verbs are used to make questions, negatives and short answers.
The auxiliaries are Be, Do and Have (sometimes used as main verbs) and will, would, can, could, may, might, should, have to and must (sometimes called modals or modal auxiliaries).
11) “Be”, “Do” and “Have” can be used as
main verbs or as auxiliaries. Do and Have are used as main verbs in structures 1 & 2 and Be can be used as an a auxiliary in structures 1, 2 & 3. Modal verbs cannot be used as main verbs because they add meaning to main verbs. They can however be used in short answers where the subject is “assumed” or understood”.
12) The complete affirmative answer to a yes/no question (minus the yes) is the same as the original statement.
Yes/no yi2wen4ju4 de ken3ding4 wan2quan2 da2an4 gua1hao4 ru2guo3 qu4diao4 “yes” gua1hao4 ji2shi4 he2 yuan2lai2 de chen2shu4ju4 yi2yong4
The complete negative answer to yes/no question (minus the no) is the same as the original statement but in the negative.
Yes/no yi2wen4ju4 de fou3ding4 wan2quan2 da2an4 gua1hao4 qu4diao4 “no” gua1hao4 ji2shi4 he2 yuan2lai2 de chen2shu4ju4 gai3wei2 fou3ding4 yi2yong4.
13) The complete answer to an information question is the same as the original statement.
Xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4 de wan2quan2 da2an4 ji2shi4 yuan2lai2 de chen2shu4ju4 (cun2xu4shou1ming2) yi2yong4.
14) Objects answer the question “who” or “what” after the verb.
15) A sentence is a complete idea.
Yi1 ge4 ju4zi5 shi4 yi1ge4 wan2zheng3 de yi4si1.
16) A sentence contains a subject and a verb. Sometimes the subject is assumed. Sometimes the verb is assumed. Sometimes both are assumed. And sometimes the auxiliary verb(s) are assumed.
Yi1 ge4 ju4zi bao1han yi1 ge4 zhu3ci2 hen4 don4gci2. You3shi2hou4 zhu3ci2 shi4 jia3she4 de. You3shi2hou4 dong4ci2 shi4 jia3she4 de. You3shi2hou4 zhu4dong4ci2 shi4 jia3she4 de.
THE MYTH OF TWELVE VERB TENSES
Look up the word tense and you will find something like this: “Tense - The tense of a verb phrase is the form, which usually shows whether you are talking about a past, present or future time. Compare aspect.”
You then look up “aspect” and find: “Aspect - In grammar aspect is the way that the verb group shows whether the activity is continuing, repeated or is completed. For example, in the sentence “They are laughing,” the verb is in the progressive ASPECT and shows that the action is continuing.”
Remembering what you read about tense being the form of the verb phrase which shows whether you are talking about past, present or future time, you wonder how it is that English ends up with twelve verb tenses. You ask your teacher about this and he tells you that actually there are only two tenses (past and future) and that the concepts of tense and aspect have been combined for convenience. He tells you that “now” doesn’t really exist because time never stops and the moment we call “now” is continually slipping into the past or into the future depending on how you choose to look at it. The illusion of “now” is a useful one though and we expand and contract it as needed. Sometimes “now” represents a period of time as short as a second and sometimes it represents as much as a few years time. In either case the period of action or condition referred to is continually slipping towards the present moment or into the past.
That’s very interesting you say but a little hard to understand. “I know,” says your teacher.
MORE ABOUT THE SIMPLE PRESENT
It is difficult to say whether “simple present” is a good name for this verb form (Subject + simple form of verb). The “simple” part is accurate certainly but the “present” part is more problematic. Let’s look at it one structure at a time.
1) The sun sets in the west.
(S + simple form of verb + adverb phrase)
In this example “present” is misleading because the time frame referred to in this sentence obviously includes the past and future. (In fact it refers to the present “moment” as well since the sun is always setting somewhere.)
Let’s look at a few examples from structure two.
2) I’m hungry. I want an apple.
(S + V + O)
Here the verb refers to the present time but “want” is what we call a NON - PROGRESSIVE ACTION VERB. Non progressive action verbs refer to physical or emotional needs or conditions such as want, like and hate. These kinds of verbs are not usually used in the progressive so simple present is a good name to describe these verbs. The verb is in the simple form and the meaning is now. You can find a little more about non progressive action verbs in Betty Schrampfer’s Basic English Grammar – page 95.
2) A) I have a meeting at 3:00 tomorrow.
B) I leave on the plane tomorrow at 6:00.
As you can see we sometimes use the simple present verb form to describe a future action if the future action is going to happen according to a definite schedule.
…………………………………….
3) Fred is a doctor.
(S + be verb + noun)
This is the “simple present” form as well but the time frame referred to includes the past, the future and the present. It is rare to see structure three in the progressive aspect.
4) Fred is rude.
(S + be verb + adjective)
Again the verb is in the simple form but the meaning includes the past and future.
If we want to emphasize that Fred is just being rude right now rather that that he is rude generally we would use the present progressive form and say “Fred is being rude.”
5) The party is a five o’clock tomorrow.
Here the form is simple present but the meaning, of course, is future. It is extremely rare to see structure five in the present progressive.
LINKING VERBS
Linking verbs are like action verbs (because questions are made with do, does did when a linking verb is the main verb) and like be verbs because they are followed by adjectives. For example,
Statement - White rice tastes delicious.
Y/N Question - Does white wine taste delicious?
In this example it is being stated that white rice is delicious generally. If some particular white rice was being described as delicious the person would say “This, that, your, my, his… tastes delicious.”
LINKING VERBS are homonyms that can also refer to physical actions.
When we “are tasting” (action verb) our girlfriends cooking for the first time for example we would say “Hmm, this tastes (linking verb) good” NOT “Hmm, this is tasting good”. You can find a little more about linking verbs in Betty Schrampfer’s Basic English Grammar - page 360.
LINKING VERBS PRACTICE
(structure four)
T - This tastes delicious. Does that taste delicious?
S - It smells good too. Does that smell good too?
T - Ohhh that feels good. Does that feel good?
S -
T - This sounds nice. Does that sound nice?
S -
T - You look nice. Do I look nice?
S -
NON PROGRESSIVE ACTION VERBS
PRACTICE
(structure two)
T - I want a hamburger. Do you want a hamburger?
S -
T - I know where you can buy a hamburger. Do you know where you can buy a hamburger?
S -
T - I understand what you are saying. Do you know what I am saying?
S -
T - I believe what you are saying. Do you believe what I am saying?
S -
T - I need a haircut. Do you need a haircut?
S -
T - I like weird movies. Do you like weird movies?
S -
T - I hate boring movies. Do you hate boring movies?
S –
PRESENT PERFECT
The Present Perfect is formed with has/have and the past participle. It is used to express the idea that something happened (1 & 2) or that a situation existed (3 4 & 5) before the moment of speaking at an unspecified time in the past. If the time is specified the simple past is used.
For example, I HAVE BEEN to Mexico. I went there last year.
The present perfect is also to express the idea that an action was repeated a number of times before the moment of speaking. For example, I have been to Thailand four times.
With Be verbs and non-progressive action verbs the present perfect is used with for and since to express the idea that a situation began in the past and continues to the moment of speaking. For example, I have been in
Taiwan for six years. I have been in Taiwan since the year 2000.
PRESENT PERFECT
(practice all structures)
GRAMMAR
This essay introduces and provides practice with the most fundamental aspects of English grammar. The most fundamental aspects of English grammar are:
1) The parts of speech.
2) The five basic sentence structures.
3) The seven most common verb tenses.
4) The language circle.
5) Basic grammar vocabulary
An understanding of these basic concepts will help you to create the sentences you need to function in English. It will also help you to make the most of your dictionary and grammar text books.
Parts of Speech
Nouns (n.) - A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, idea or activity. Nouns can be used as subjects or objects of sentences. Nouns can also be used as the object of prepositions and sometimes as adjectives.
Verbs (v.) – There are two kinds of main verb:
1) Action verbs. For ex. go, think, play.
2) Be verbs. (is, am, are, was, were, been, being).
Action verbs tell what the subject “does”. Action verbs are usually quite specific with regard to tense. Structures 1 & 2 use action verbs.
Be verbs connect the subject to a noun that identifies it, an adjective that describes it or a prepositional phrase of time or place that tells when or where the subject is. (Structures 3, 4 and 5) There is another group of verbs called “linking verbs” (seems, feels, tastes, sounds, looks) that can function like “be verbs” in sentence structures number 3 and 4.
Adjectives (adj.) - Adjectives describe nouns. They are usually placed after a be verb or before the noun they describe. Many adjectives can be used in the comparative and superlative.
Adverbs (adv.) – Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. When adverbs describe verbs they usually say when, where, why, how, how often or how much an action happens. Adverbs can be found in many different places within a sentence.
Prepositions (prep.) – Prepositions combine with nouns to create adjective and adverb phrases.
Pronouns (pron.) – Pronouns are used in place of nouns to avoid redundancy. When you see a pronoun it is usually important to ask yourself if you know what it refers to.
Conjunctions (conj.) – The most common conjunctions are and, but and or. They combine nouns with nouns, adjectives with adjectives, verbs with verbs, adverbs with adverbs, phrases with phrases and clauses with clauses.
Auxiliary verbs (aux. v.) – Auxiliary verbs are the most important grammar words because they are used to make verb tenses, questions, negatives and short answers. The auxiliary verbs are Be (is, am, are, was, were, been, being) Do (do, does, did) and Have (have, has, had).
Each of these auxiliary verbs can also be used as main verbs in a sentence.
Modal Auxiliaries – Modal Auxiliaries are the words: can, could, should, will, would, may, might, must, have to. Modals add extra meaning to the verb. Modals can also be used to make questions and short answers.
VERB/AUXILIARY VERB - MODAL
COMBINATIONS
Forms of the Main Verb – Regular
Simple Form Past Form P.P.Form ING Form
work worked worked working
hope hoped hoped hoping
stop stopped stopped stopping
listen listened listened listening
control controlled controlled controlling
enjoy enjoyed enjoyed enjoying
study studied studied studying
Forms of the Main Verb – Irregular
Simple Form Past Form P.P. Form ING Form
begin began begun beginning
speak spoke spoken speaking
eat ate eaten eating
say said said saying
Auxiliary Verbs and Modals
1 2 3 4
Do Can Is Have
Does Could Am Has
Did Should Are Had
May Will Was
Might Would Were
May
Must
The auxiliaries and modals in column 1 combine with the simple form to make questions, negatives, and short answers in the simple present and simple past.
The auxiliaries in column 3 combine with the ING form to make the progressive tenses and with the past participle (P.P.) to form the passive.
The auxiliaries in column 4 combine with the P.P. to form the perfect tenses.
THE FIVE BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURES
(Simple Present)
1) Subject + Verb intransitive.
For example, Fish swim.
2) Subject + verb transitive + object.
For example, Birds eat fish.
……………………………...
3) Subject + be verb + noun.
For example, Frank is a doctor.
4) Subject + be verb + adjective.
For example, Frank is smart.
5) Subject + be verb + word or prepositional phrase of time or location.
For example, The party is at 9:00PM
The party is at my house.
Almost every sentence in English is made from one of these structures through: addition, subtraction, substitution or transformation
(from one verb tense to another, from statement to question or from active to passive)
SIMPLE PRESENT
Form - Subject + simple form of verb. For example, Birds fly. In structures 1 & 2 questions, negatives and short answers are made with do, does, did. (Do I…? Do you…? Do we…? Do they….? / Does he….? Does she….? Does it….?) For example, Do birds drive cars? No, they don’t. Birds don’t drive cars. Birds fly.
Do, does, did are not used in structures 3, 4 & 5 because in structures 3,4, & 5 the subject doesn’t “do” anything.
Meaning - Used to describe actions (structures 1 & 2) which always, usually, sometimes, occasionally happened in the past and will always, usually sometimes be happening in the future. Also used to describe conditions (structures 3, 4 & 5) which always, usually sometimes existed in the past and will probably be happening or existing in the future.
The simple present form is frequently used to describe conditions which exist now, but not necessarily always, especially in structure 4 (For ex.- This soup is too hot.).
In structure number 5 the simple present form is used to describe conditions which will exist in the future (For example – The party is at 9:00).
The simple present form is also used with linking verbs (looks, seems, smells etc. in structures 3 and 4) and with non - progressive action verbs (want, know, understand, believe etc. in structures 1 & 2) to describe currently existing conditions or actions. (pg 95 of Basic English Grammar and page 15 of Understanding and Using English Grammar. Betty Schrampfer Azar)
SIMPLE PRESENT
(Practice structures 1 & 2)
T - Everyday I get up at 7:00. Do you get up at 7:00 everyday?
S - No, I don’t get up at 7:00 everyday. I get up at …..
T - I have an alarm clock. Do you have an alarm clock?
S -
T - I usually cook my own breakfast. Do you usually cook your own breakfast?
S -
T - I eat steak and eggs every morning. Do you eat steak and eggs every morning?
S -
T - What do you usually eat for breakfast?
S -
T - After breakfast I sometimes go back to bed for an hour or so. Do you sometimes go back to bed after breakfast?
S -
T - I take the bus to work every day. Do you take the bus to work every day?
S -
T - How do you get to work everyday?
S -
T - I usually eat lunch at the restaurant. Do you usually eat lunch at the restaurant?
S -
T - I have fried rice for lunch everyday. Do you have fried rice for lunch everyday?
S -
T - What do you have for lunch everyday?
S -
T - After lunch I go back to work. Do you go back to work after lunch?
S -
T - I get off work at 4:30 every day. Do you get off work at 4:30 everyday?
S -
T - After work I always go for a swim. Do you always go for a swim after work?
S -
T - I usually eat dinner at home. Do you usually eat dinner at home?
S -
T - After dinner I usually watch a movie. Do you usually watch a movie after dinner?
S -
T - Before I go to bed I always take a shower. Do you always take a shower before you go to bed?
S -
T - It takes me about half an hour to fall asleep. Does it take you half an hour to fall asleep?
S -
T - How long does it take you to fall asleep?
S -
T - I live in Taipei. Do you live in Taipei?
S -
T - How do you spell Taipei?
S -
T - Can you use Taipei as the subject or object of a sentence or as the object of a preposition?
S -
T - Why?
S -
T - Can you give me examples?
S -
T - Do subjects perform the action of the verb or are they described by the rest of the sentence?
S -
T - Do all verbs have objects?
S -
T - Do adjectives describe nouns?
S-
T - Do adverbs describe nouns?
S -
T - What do adverbs describe?
S -
T - How do you say auxiliary verb in Chinese?
S -
T - Do ACTION VERBS tell what the subject does?
S -
T - Do BE VERBS (when used as main verbs) connect the subject to and adjective, noun or phrase of time or location?
S -
T - Do pronouns substitute for nouns and noun phrases to avoid redundancy?
S -
T - Do the conjunctions - and but and or - join nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, adjectives with adjectives, adverbs with adverbs, phrases with phrases and clauses with clauses?
S -
T - I listen to my Mandarin tapes everyday. Do you listen to your English tapes everyday?
S -
T - I teach grammar everyday. Do you study grammar everyday?
S –
T - I speak Chinese every day. Do you speak English every day?
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
Form - Subject + Be + ING FORM of VERB. For ex. I am running, we are running, you are running, he/she/it is running, they are running.
Questions are made by placing the auxiliary verb (is, am, are) in front of the subject. For ex. Is he running? Short answers are made with the auxiliary only. For ex. Yes, he is. And negatives are made by placing not after the auxiliary. For ex. No, he is not running.
Meaning - usually used to describe actions that are happening at the time of speaking, but can also be used to describe future events especially when the future event is going to happen according to a train, plane, bus, boat schedule.
For ex. I am leaving on the 7:00 flight tomorrow.
The present progressive form is not used with non - progressive action verbs or with linking verbs.
Five Basic Sentence Structures
(present progressive)
1) I am breathing out right now.
2) I am teaching you the five basic sentence structures right now.
………………………………….
3) He is being a man.
(the present progressive is not common in structure 3)
4) She is being rude.
(we would say this if we thought her actions were rude right now, but we did not necessarily think she was always rude.)
5) The present progressive is rare in structure five also.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
(practice structure 1 & 2)
T - I am talking to you right now. Are you talking to me right now?
S -
T - I am not eating steak and eggs right now. Are you eating steak and eggs right now?
S -
T - I am not going back to bed right now. Are you going back to bed right now?
S -
T - I am not taking the bus right now. Are you taking the bus right now?
S -
T- I am not eating lunch right now. Are you eating lunch right now?
S -
T - I am not swimming right now. Are you swimming right now?
S -
T - I am not eating dinner right now. Are you eating dinner right now?
S -
T - I am teaching you about verb tenses. Are you learning about verb tenses right now?
S -
T - Who is teaching you about verb tenses right now?
S -
T - Are you having fun?
S -
T - I am scratching my knee right now. Are you scratching your knee right now?
S -
T - Why am I scratching my knee right now?
S -
T - I am teaching you the language circle. Are you learning the language circle right now?
S -
T - I am sitting down right now. Are you sitting down right now?
S -
T - Are you sitting down or standing up right now?
S -
T - Are you drinking coffee or tea?
S -
T - What are you drinking?
S -
T - Are we recording this?
S -
T - Why are we recording this?
S -
T - Am I confusing you?
S -
T - I am trying to think of the next question to ask in the present progressive.
S - Keep thinking.
T - I am opening the book. Are you opening the book?
S -
T - Who is opening the book?
S -
T - What am I opening?
S -
T - Am I closing the book?
S -
T - Am I closing the book or the door?
S -
T - What am I closing?
S -
T - Who is closing the book?
S -
T - I am not thinking about the simple future. Are you thinking about the simple future?
S -
T - What are you thinking about right now?
S -
Simple Past
Form - Subject + past form of the verb. For example, The man walked across the road. The past form of most verbs is formed with “ed” but many of the most common verbs are irregular so their past form is NOT formed with “ed”. For example, He ran across the road. Ran is the past form of run. (There is a list of irregular verbs on page 22 of Understanding English Grammar and on page A5 of Basic English Grammar.)
In structures 1 & 2 yes/no questions are formed by placing did in front of the subject. Information questions are made by placing the information question in front of did.
Meaning - Used to describe actions (1&2) or conditions (3,4,5) that began and ended in the past.
Five Basic Sentence Structures
(simple past)
1) He died.
2) I killed him.
………………………………………..
3) He was a doctor before he got married.
4) He was smart when he was young.
5) The meeting was at the hotel.
SIMPLE PAST
(practice structures 1 & 2)
T – I got up a 7:00 yesterday. Did you get up at 7:00 yesterday?
S -
T - I had steak and eggs for breakfast yesterday. Did you have steak and eggs for breakfast yesterday?
S -
T - I had lunch at a restaurant yesterday. Did you have lunch at a restaurant yesterday?
S -
T - I had fried rice for lunch yesterday. Did you have fried rice for breakfast yesterday?
S -
T - I took the bus to work yesterday. Did you take the bus to work yesterday?
S -
T - I got off work at 4:30 yesterday. Did you get off work at 4:30 yesterday?
S -
T - I went for a swim after work yesterday. Did you go for a swim after work yesterday?
S -
T - It took me half an hour to fall asleep last night. Did it take you half an hour to fall asleep last night?
T - I lost my wallet yesterday. Did you lose your wallet yesterday?
S -
T - I found my wallet this morning. Did you find your wallet this morning?
S -
T - I lent my friend a movie yesterday?
S -
T - My friend borrowed a movie from me yesterday. Did your friend borrow a movie from you yesterday?
S -
T - I listened to my Mandarin tapes yesterday. Did you listen to your English tapes yesterday?
S -
T - I studied Mandarin grammar yesterday. Did you study English grammar yesterday?
S -
T - I tape recorded a few new sentences yesterday. Did you tape record a few new sentences yesterday?
S -
T - I used the simple past yesterday. Did you use the simple past yesterday?
S -
T - I taught the language circle yesterday. Did you study the language circle yesterday?
S -
T - I reviewed my vocabulary list last week. Did you review your vocabulary list last week?
S -
SIMPLE FUTURE
Form – Subject + Be + Going + To + Simple Form of Verb
- or -
Subject + Will + Simple Form of Verb
Yes/no questions are made by moving the Be Verb or Will to the front of the sentence. Information question words are placed in front of the Be Verb or Will.
Meaning - The simple future is used to refer to things that will happen or conditions that will exist in the future. “Be Going To” is used to refer to plans. “Will” is used to express willingness. Both “Be Going To” and “Will” can be used to make predictions. For example,
David - I am going to make a film tomorrow. Will you help me?
George - No, I think it is going to/will rain tomorrow. I don’t work on films when it is raining because I don’t want my camera to get wet.
David - That’s OK. I am going to bring my own camera.
George - Oh, OK. I will come and help you then.
Five Basic Sentence Structures
(simple future)
1) In ten seconds I am going to sneeze.
2) In twenty seconds I am going to open the book.
……………………………………….
3) He is going to be a lawyer when he finishes university.
4) You are going to be hungry if you don’t eat now.
5) The meeting is going to be at the office.
(It is more common to use the simple present form to refer to the future in structure number five)
Present Progressive Practice
(structures one and two)
T - Tomorrow I AM GOING TO get up at seven o’clock. ARE you GOING TO get up at seven o’clock tomorrow?
S - What time is your best friend going to get up tomorrow?
T - I am going to have steak and eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Are you going to have steak and eggs for breakfast tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to take the bus to work tomorrow. Are you going to take the bus to work tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to have lunch at a restaurant tomorrow. Are you going to have lunch at a restaurant tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to have fried rice for lunch tomorrow. Are you going to have fried rice tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to go for a swim after work tomorrow. Are you going to go for a swim after work tomorrow?
S -
T - What are you going to do after work tomorrow?
S -
T - I am going to cook my own dinner tomorrow night. Are you going to cook your own dinner tomorrow night?
S -
T - Who is going to cook your dinner tomorrow night?
S -
T - I am going to watch a movie after dinner tomorrow night. Are you going to watch a movie after dinner tomorrow night?
S -
T - I am going to go to bed at 11:00 tomorrow night. Are you going to go to bed at 11:00 tomorrow night?
S -
T - What time are you going to go to bed tomorrow night?
S -
T - I am going to dream about skiing. Are you going to dream about skiing?
S -
T - Are you going to dream about verb tenses?
S -
T - Are you going to dream about the language circle?
S -
T - Are you going to dream about the parts of speech?
S -
T - Are you going to study verb tenses tomorrow?
S -
T - What are you going to study?
S -
Grammar Vocabulary
Adjective - xing2rong2ci2
Active - zhu3dong4
Adverb - fu4ci2
Answer - hui2da2
Auxiliary Verb - zhu4dong4ci2
Be Verb - be dong4ci2
Clause - zi3ju4
Complete/full answer - wan2zhen3 de da2an4
Contraction - suo1xie3
Form - xing2shi4
Grammar - wen2fa3
Information Question - xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4
Information Question Word-xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4
Main Verb - zhu3dong4ci2
Negative Answer/ sentence/ question - Fou3ding4 de hui2da2/ ju4zi/
wen4ti2
Noun - ming2ci2
Object - shou4ci2
Or question - huo4 wen4ti2
Parts of Speech - ge4zhong3ci2lei4
Passive - bei4dong4
Past Progressive - guo4qu4jin4xing2shi4
Phrase - ci2zu3
Plural - Fu4shu4 de
Preposition - jie4xi4ci2
Present Perfect - xian4zai4wan2chun2shi4
Present Perfect Progressive - xian4zai4wan2chun2jin4xing2shi4
Present Progressive - xian4zai4jin4xing2shi4
Sentence - ju4zi
Short answer - duan3 de hui2da2
Simple Future - wei4lai2shi2
Simple Past - guo4qu4shi2
Simple Present - xian4zai4shi2
Singular - dan1shu4 de
Statement - cun2xu4shou1ming2/ chen2shu4ju4
Subject - zhu3ci2
Transitive Verb - ji2wu4 dong4ci2
Verb - dong4ci2
Verb Tense - dong4ci2shi2tai4
Yes/No Question - dui4bu2dui4/shi4bu2shi4 yi2wen4ju4
Pronunciation Vocabulary
Alphabet - zi4mu4
Consonant - zi3yin1
Letter -zi4mu4
Pronunciation - fa1yin1
Rhyme - ya1yun4
Stress - zhong4yin1
Stressed - zhong4yin1 de
Syllable - yin1jie2
Unstressed - fei1 zhong4yin1 de
Voiced/Voiceless Pair - You3sheng1 zi3yin1 wu2sheng1zi3yin1 pei4dui4
Vowel - mu3yin1
Useful Sentences
Pronunciation
The English alphabet has 26 letters. 21 consonants and five vowels. - Ying1wen2 zi4mu4 you2 r4shi2liu4 ge4 zi4mu3. r4shi2yi1 ge zi3yin1, wu3ge mu3yin1.
Vowel sounds are made with the air flowing freely from the mouth - Mu3yin1 de fa1yin1 shi4 zi4you2 de cong2 zui3ba1 qu1lai2.
All vowel sounds are voiced - Sou3you3 de mu3yin1 duo1 shi4 you3sheng1 de.
B and P are a voiced/voiceless pair - B hen4 P shi4 you3shen1 he2 wu2shen1 zi3yin1 pei4dui4.
Voiced sounds are made with vibration of the vocal chords - You3shen1 zi3yin1 shi4 shen1dai4 you3 zhen4dong4 de.
Voiceless sounds are made without vibration of the vocal chords. - Wu2shen1 zi3yin1 shi4 shen1dai4 mei3you2 zhen4dong4 de.
Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives and Adverbs usually have at least on stressed syllable. - Ming2ci2, dong4ci2, xing2rong2ci2, fu4ci2 tong2cun2 zhi4shao3 you3 yi2ge4 zhong4yin1 de yin1jie2.
The other parts of speech usually have no stressed syllables - Qi2ta1 de ge4zhong3ci2lei4 tong2cun2 mei2you3 zhong4yin1 de yin1jie2.
If a word or syllable is unstressed, we pronounce it quickly, quietly with a vowel sound of schwa or /I/ and often with one or two silent letters.
Ru2guo3 yi2ge zi4 huo2 yi2ge yin1jie2 shi4 fei1 zhong4yin1 de, wo3men fa1yin1 shi4 kuai4shu4, xiao3sheng1 de, wo3men yong4 /schwa/ hai2shi /I/ de mu3yin1 fa1yin1, chang2chang2 hai2you3 gen1 yi1 liang3 bu2 yong4 fa1yin1 de zi4mu3.
Useful Sentences
Grammar
1) English has five basic sentence structures
Ying1wen2 you3 wu3ge ji1ben3 de ju4zi jie2gou.
2) Structure number one is subject + intransitive action verb.
Di4-yi4 ge jie2gou4 shi4 zhu3ci2 + bu4ji2wu4 de dong4ci2.
3) Structure number two is subject + transitive action verb + object.
Di4-er4 ge jie2gou4 shi4 zhu3ci2 + ji2wu4 de dong4ci2 + shou4ci2.
4) When we make yes/no questions from statements we move the first auxiliary verb to the front of the sentence.
Deng1 wo3men1 yao4 ba3 yi2ge chun2shu3shou1ming2 (zai4 di4-yi4ge he2 di4 –er4 ge jie2gou4) gai3wei2 dui4bu2dui4/shi4bu2shi4 de yi2wen4ju4 wo3men ba3 di4-yi4 ge zhu3dong4ci feng4 zai4 ju4zi qian2mian4
5) Simple present and simple past statements do not have auxiliary verbs so to change statements into yes/no questions in the simple present and simple past use do, does, did.
Xian4zai4shi2 he2 guo4qu4shi2 chun2shu3shuo1ming2 mei2you3 zhu4dong4ci2 suo3yi3 ba3 chun2shu3shuo1ming2 (zai4 di4-yi4ge he2 di4-er4 ge jie2gou4) gai3wei2 dui4bu2dui4/shi4bushi4 yi2wen4ju4 yong4 do, does, did.
6) The subject performs the action of the verb or is described by the rest of the sentence.
Zhu3ci2 biao3xian4 dong4ci2 de dong4zuo4 huo4shi4 xian4xia4 de ci2 xing2rong2 zhu3ci2.
7) In structures 1 and 2 the subject performs the action of the verb.
Zai4 di4-yi4 he2 di4-er4 ge jie2gou4 zhu3ci2 biao3xian4 dong4ci2 de dong4zuo4.
8) The object answers one of the questions “who” or “what” after the verb.
Shou4ci2 hui2da2 “shei2?” huo4zhe3 “shen2me?” zai4 dong4ci2 hou4mian4.
9) When we create information questions (who, what, where, when, why, how, how often, how much, how long) from yes/no questions we leave the auxiliary in front of the subject and place the information question word in front of the auxiliary.
Deng1wo3men yao4 ba3 dui4bu2dui4/shi4bu2shi4 yi2wen4ju4 gai3wei2 yige xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4 wo3men liu2 zhu4dong4ci2 zai4 zhu3ci2 qian2mian4 ran2hou4 ba4 yi2wen4ci2 zai4 zhu4dong4ci2 qian2mian4.
10) Auxiliary verbs are used to make questions, negatives and short answers.
The auxiliaries are Be, Do and Have (sometimes used as main verbs) and will, would, can, could, may, might, should, have to and must (sometimes called modals or modal auxiliaries).
11) “Be”, “Do” and “Have” can be used as
main verbs or as auxiliaries. Do and Have are used as main verbs in structures 1 & 2 and Be can be used as an a auxiliary in structures 1, 2 & 3. Modal verbs cannot be used as main verbs because they add meaning to main verbs. They can however be used in short answers where the subject is “assumed” or understood”.
12) The complete affirmative answer to a yes/no question (minus the yes) is the same as the original statement.
Yes/no yi2wen4ju4 de ken3ding4 wan2quan2 da2an4 gua1hao4 ru2guo3 qu4diao4 “yes” gua1hao4 ji2shi4 he2 yuan2lai2 de chen2shu4ju4 yi2yong4
The complete negative answer to yes/no question (minus the no) is the same as the original statement but in the negative.
Yes/no yi2wen4ju4 de fou3ding4 wan2quan2 da2an4 gua1hao4 qu4diao4 “no” gua1hao4 ji2shi4 he2 yuan2lai2 de chen2shu4ju4 gai3wei2 fou3ding4 yi2yong4.
13) The complete answer to an information question is the same as the original statement.
Xun4xi2yi2wen4ju4 de wan2quan2 da2an4 ji2shi4 yuan2lai2 de chen2shu4ju4 (cun2xu4shou1ming2) yi2yong4.
14) Objects answer the question “who” or “what” after the verb.
15) A sentence is a complete idea.
Yi1 ge4 ju4zi5 shi4 yi1ge4 wan2zheng3 de yi4si1.
16) A sentence contains a subject and a verb. Sometimes the subject is assumed. Sometimes the verb is assumed. Sometimes both are assumed. And sometimes the auxiliary verb(s) are assumed.
Yi1 ge4 ju4zi bao1han yi1 ge4 zhu3ci2 hen4 don4gci2. You3shi2hou4 zhu3ci2 shi4 jia3she4 de. You3shi2hou4 dong4ci2 shi4 jia3she4 de. You3shi2hou4 zhu4dong4ci2 shi4 jia3she4 de.
THE MYTH OF TWELVE VERB TENSES
Look up the word tense and you will find something like this: “Tense - The tense of a verb phrase is the form, which usually shows whether you are talking about a past, present or future time. Compare aspect.”
You then look up “aspect” and find: “Aspect - In grammar aspect is the way that the verb group shows whether the activity is continuing, repeated or is completed. For example, in the sentence “They are laughing,” the verb is in the progressive ASPECT and shows that the action is continuing.”
Remembering what you read about tense being the form of the verb phrase which shows whether you are talking about past, present or future time, you wonder how it is that English ends up with twelve verb tenses. You ask your teacher about this and he tells you that actually there are only two tenses (past and future) and that the concepts of tense and aspect have been combined for convenience. He tells you that “now” doesn’t really exist because time never stops and the moment we call “now” is continually slipping into the past or into the future depending on how you choose to look at it. The illusion of “now” is a useful one though and we expand and contract it as needed. Sometimes “now” represents a period of time as short as a second and sometimes it represents as much as a few years time. In either case the period of action or condition referred to is continually slipping towards the present moment or into the past.
That’s very interesting you say but a little hard to understand. “I know,” says your teacher.
MORE ABOUT THE SIMPLE PRESENT
It is difficult to say whether “simple present” is a good name for this verb form (Subject + simple form of verb). The “simple” part is accurate certainly but the “present” part is more problematic. Let’s look at it one structure at a time.
1) The sun sets in the west.
(S + simple form of verb + adverb phrase)
In this example “present” is misleading because the time frame referred to in this sentence obviously includes the past and future. (In fact it refers to the present “moment” as well since the sun is always setting somewhere.)
Let’s look at a few examples from structure two.
2) I’m hungry. I want an apple.
(S + V + O)
Here the verb refers to the present time but “want” is what we call a NON - PROGRESSIVE ACTION VERB. Non progressive action verbs refer to physical or emotional needs or conditions such as want, like and hate. These kinds of verbs are not usually used in the progressive so simple present is a good name to describe these verbs. The verb is in the simple form and the meaning is now. You can find a little more about non progressive action verbs in Betty Schrampfer’s Basic English Grammar – page 95.
2) A) I have a meeting at 3:00 tomorrow.
B) I leave on the plane tomorrow at 6:00.
As you can see we sometimes use the simple present verb form to describe a future action if the future action is going to happen according to a definite schedule.
…………………………………….
3) Fred is a doctor.
(S + be verb + noun)
This is the “simple present” form as well but the time frame referred to includes the past, the future and the present. It is rare to see structure three in the progressive aspect.
4) Fred is rude.
(S + be verb + adjective)
Again the verb is in the simple form but the meaning includes the past and future.
If we want to emphasize that Fred is just being rude right now rather that that he is rude generally we would use the present progressive form and say “Fred is being rude.”
5) The party is a five o’clock tomorrow.
Here the form is simple present but the meaning, of course, is future. It is extremely rare to see structure five in the present progressive.
LINKING VERBS
Linking verbs are like action verbs (because questions are made with do, does did when a linking verb is the main verb) and like be verbs because they are followed by adjectives. For example,
Statement - White rice tastes delicious.
Y/N Question - Does white wine taste delicious?
In this example it is being stated that white rice is delicious generally. If some particular white rice was being described as delicious the person would say “This, that, your, my, his… tastes delicious.”
LINKING VERBS are homonyms that can also refer to physical actions.
When we “are tasting” (action verb) our girlfriends cooking for the first time for example we would say “Hmm, this tastes (linking verb) good” NOT “Hmm, this is tasting good”. You can find a little more about linking verbs in Betty Schrampfer’s Basic English Grammar - page 360.
LINKING VERBS PRACTICE
(structure four)
T - This tastes delicious. Does that taste delicious?
S - It smells good too. Does that smell good too?
T - Ohhh that feels good. Does that feel good?
S -
T - This sounds nice. Does that sound nice?
S -
T - You look nice. Do I look nice?
S -
NON PROGRESSIVE ACTION VERBS
PRACTICE
(structure two)
T - I want a hamburger. Do you want a hamburger?
S -
T - I know where you can buy a hamburger. Do you know where you can buy a hamburger?
S -
T - I understand what you are saying. Do you know what I am saying?
S -
T - I believe what you are saying. Do you believe what I am saying?
S -
T - I need a haircut. Do you need a haircut?
S -
T - I like weird movies. Do you like weird movies?
S -
T - I hate boring movies. Do you hate boring movies?
S –
PRESENT PERFECT
The Present Perfect is formed with has/have and the past participle. It is used to express the idea that something happened (1 & 2) or that a situation existed (3 4 & 5) before the moment of speaking at an unspecified time in the past. If the time is specified the simple past is used.
For example, I HAVE BEEN to Mexico. I went there last year.
The present perfect is also to express the idea that an action was repeated a number of times before the moment of speaking. For example, I have been to Thailand four times.
With Be verbs and non-progressive action verbs the present perfect is used with for and since to express the idea that a situation began in the past and continues to the moment of speaking. For example, I have been in
Taiwan for six years. I have been in Taiwan since the year 2000.
PRESENT PERFECT
(practice all structures)
posted by david at 9:50 PM
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