There Are Five Basic Patterns Around Which Most English Sentences Are Built
There Are Five Basic Patterns Around Which Most English Sentences Are Built
There Are Five Basic Patterns Around Which Most English Sentences Are Built
At the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other elements can be added to make a sentence more interesting, but they are not essential to its formation.
Mary will sleep later. The dogs are sleeping in the garage.
Subject is named and another tense is used. New subject may require a different form of the verb.
Note: Any action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.
Note: Only transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
Present simple - common mistakes Common mistakes I working in London. Correct version I work in London. Why? The gerund ing form is not used in the present simple. The third person he, she, itadds the letter s. He work in London? Does he work in London? Questions - third person: does + subject + infinitive. Work he in London? Does he work in London? All other persons: do + subject + infinitive. He not work in London. He doesn't work in London. Negatives - third person:
He work in London.
He works in London.
Present continuous - common mistakes Common mistakes They still waiting for you. They are still waiting for you? Do they still waiting for you? Where they are waiting for you? Correct version They are still waiting for you. Are they still waiting for you? Are they still waiting for you? Where are they waiting for you? To form the negative we put notafter the verb be (am not, is not = isn't, are not = aren't). I'm believing you. I believe you. Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses - these are In questions the subject (they) and the auxiliary verb (be) change places. Why? to form a continuous tense we use be + -ing.
called stative verbs (e.g.believe, come from, cost, depend, exist, feel, hate, like).
Past simple - common mistakes Common mistakes Correct version Why? In positive sentences, a I was work in London. I worked in London. helping verb such as 'was' or 'did' is not used. He worked in London? Did he work in London? The helping verb 'did' is used in past simple questions. The helping verb 'did' is used in past simple questions. The main verb is used in the Did he wrote a letter? Did he write a letter? infinitive form in questions and negatives. The main verb is used in the He didn't wrote a letter. He didn't write a letter. infinitive form in questions and negatives.
Worked he in London?
Structure of past continuous positive I was reading a book. He/she was talking. It was raining. You were reading a book. We were waiting. They were drinking. negative I wasn't (was not) reading. He/she wasn't talking. It wasn't raining. You weren't (were not) reading. We weren't talking. They weren't drinking. question Was I reading? Was he/she talking? Was it raining? Were you reading? Were we waiting? Were they drinking?
Past continuous - common mistakes Common mistakes I waiting for him almost two hours. What did he doing when you saw him? We were playing tennis every morning. Correct version I was waiting for him almost two hours. What was he doing when you saw him? We played tennis every morning. We use the past simple for repeated actions in the past. We use the past continuous They watched TV when I came. They were watching TV when I came. when we want to say what was happening (what was in progress) at a particular time in the past. To form the past continuous we use was/were + ing. Why?
He's (he has) gone. She's (she has) gone. It's (it has) gone.
Present perfect simple - common mistakes Common mistakes Correct version Why? The past participle of the verb must be used - wrote is past simple, written is the past participle. The helping verb 'have' is used Did you have seen him before? Have you seen him before? in the present perfect- it is inverted with the person (you have becomes have you). The helping verb 'have' is used I didn't have seen him before. I haven't seen him before. in the present perfect- to make it negative we simply add not(n't). The present perfect is used to I am here since last week. I have been here since last week. show an action which continues to the present (an unfinished action). Verbs such as know, want,like, I've been knowing him for 5 years. etc. (stative verbs) suggest I've known him for 5 years. permanent states, not actions, so are used in the simple form, NOT the -ing form.
Structure of present perfect continuous positive I have (I've) been living here for two years. He has (he's) been waiting for question negative
Have you been living here for a I have not (haven't) been long time? What has she been doing? waiting for long. He has not (hasn't) been
you.
working.
Present perfect continuous - common mistakes Common mistakes Correct version It has been raining heavily all day. Why? The structure of the present perfect continuous is have/has been -ing. Verbs such as sit, wait, speak, I have sat here for two hours. I have been sitting here for two hours. etc. (non-stative verbs) suggest continuity and so are mostly used in the continuous (-ing) form. Which? I have worked here for five years. I have been working here for five years. When BOTH the simple and continuous forms are possible, native speakers prefer to use the continuous.