Adverbial phrases of frequency, time and place

Use: An adverbial phrase is a group of words which always go together. they describe where, when or how often something happens. Adverbial phrases of frequency describe how often something happens. every morning, every afternoon every day daily every week weekly every month monthly every year annually every Sunday on Sundays on Sunday afternoons once a day twice a day three / four / five times a day all the time Form: 1) Adverbs of frequency often go in present simple sentences. I have toast for breakfast every day. We visit our grandparents twice a month. 2) Note that on Saturday refers to one day. On Saturdays means every Saturday. Common mistakes 1) Some students write adverbs of frequency in the wrong place. We every day go the park. => We go to the park every day. 2) Some students use the plural form with every. John goes swimming every days. => John goes swimming every day. ___________________________________________________________________ __ Use: Use adverbs and adverbial phrases of time to talk about when you do something. Adverbs of time include: today, tomorrow, tonight, yesterday, tomorrow, nowadays now, first of all, beforehand soon, afterwards, later, next, then

Form: 1) Adverbs of time usually go at the beginning or the end of a sentence or clause. Tomorrow, Im going to the beach. Im going to the beach tomorrow. First of all, we had a drink at a caf. We had a drink at a caf first of all. Im going to the supermarket, and afterwards Im going to the library. Im going to the supermarket, and Im going to the library afterwards. 2) It is more common to use then at the beginning of a sentence or clause. Then we arrived at the castle. Im going to finish my work and then Im going to have a drink. It is more common to use soon and now at the end of a sentence. Were going on holiday soon. Im going home now. Common mistakes 1) Dont use an adverb of time between the subject and the object of a sentence. I went yesterday to the zoo. => I went to the zoo yesterday. / Yesterday I went to the zoo. Im going now to the bank. => Im going to the bank now. 2) You must use a noun after After and Before. Otherwise, use afterwards orbeforehand. Ill be late to class tomorrow. Im going to the doctors before. => Ill be late to class tomorrow. Im going to the doctors beforehand. Im going to my English class and Im going to the bar after. => Im going to my English class and Im going to the bar afterwards. ___________________________________________________________________ __ Use: Use adverbs and adverbial phrases of place to talk about where something happens. Adverbs of place include: outside, inside, indoors, upstairs, downstairs (over) here, (over) there abroad, overseas Form: 1) Adverbs of place usually go after a verb.

She lives abroad. Lets go indoors. 2) Adverbs of place can also go after the object of the sentence. Rachel works in the office upstairs. Your bag is on the table over there.

Definite and indefinite articles

Use: 1) Use a before a singular noun. I've got a brother and a sister. Use an if the noun begins with a vowel. I've got an aunt in Texas. 2) Use plural nouns or uncountable nouns to talk about things in general. Don't use an article here. I like cats. Dolphins are very intelligent. Crime is increasing. 3) Use the to talk about one particular thing, or a particular group of things. Books are interesting. The book on the table is interesting. Children are noisy. The children in this class are noisy. 4) Use a to introduce a new thing or person. Use the when you already know this person or thing. There is a restaurant near my house. The restaurant serves good food. 5) Use the when there is only one of these things. The moon is very big tonight. My dad is the only doctor in our village. Joe is the best student in the class. 6) Use the when there are many things, but it is clear which one you mean. Let's go to the pub! We need to go to the supermarket. 7) Most 'general' nouns do not use an article. Life is not the same as it used to be NOT: The life Health is important to everyone. NOT: The health We're worried about pollution. NOT: The pollution

But some general nouns use the: the environment People are increasingly worried about the environment. the weather What's the weather like today? the countryside I love walking in the countryside. the sea / ocean I'd love to live near the sea. the radio There's an interesting programme on the radio. the theatre / cinema We went to the theatre last night. the economy The economy is affecting everyone. Common mistakes: 1) Some students use the when they talk about things in general. I love the romantic films! => I love romantic films!

2) Some students use singular nouns without a or the. I want book about the weather. => I want a book about the weather. 3) Some students use the when they talk about things in general. I want the book about the weather. => I want a book about the weather.

Can / Could

Use: 1) Use can / cant to talk about your abilities now. I can speak English. I cant speak German. Use could / couldnt to talk about abilities in the past. I could speak French when I was a child, but I can't now. I couldnt speak English when I was a child, but I can now. 2) Use can and could to make requests. Could is more polite. Can you cook this evening please? Could you pass me the salt? Use can to reply to requests. Can I sit here? => Can you cook this evening please? cant. Yes, you can. => Sorry, you cant. Yes, I can. Sorry, I

DONT use could in replies. Could you lend me some money? Yes, I could. => Yes, sure! Sorry, I cant.

Form: 1) Can and could are the same for all persons. I can/could speak English you can/could speak English he / she / it can/could speak English we can/could speak English they can/could speak English. 2) The negative form of can is cannot, or cant. The negative form of could is couldnt. 3) There is always a verb after can and could, and the verb is always in the infinitive form(without to). Sally can help you. NOT Sally can helps you. / Sally can to help you. 4) Make questions by inverting can and the subject. I can see you this afternoon. => Can I see you this afternoon? You could help me. => Could you help me? 5) Use can/cant and could/couldnt in short answers. Can your brother swim? => Yes, he can. No, he cant. Could you do the test? => Yes, I could. No, I couldnt. Common mistakes: 1) Some students make questions incorrectly. You can speak English? => Can you speak English? I could sit here? => Could I sit here?

First Conditional
Use: The first conditional structure is used to talk about something which will or may happen in the future as a result of something else. Example: If it rains tomorrow, Ill stay at home. Form: Make the first conditional in this way. If When I you he she... present simple , I you he she... will / wont might / might not

ver (inf

Examples: If I see Tom, I will tell him the news. When you visit, we might go to the park. Or I you he she... will / wont might / might not verb (infinitive form) if when I you he she...

present simpl

Examples: Shell be late if she doesnt hurry up. You might not pass your exams if you watch television all the time. Common Mistakes: 1) Dont use will or might directly after will or might. If I will arrive first, Ill make lunch. => If I arrive first, Ill make lunch. 2) Always use an infinitive verb after will and might. I might to go out tonight, if Im not too tired. too tired. => I might go out tonight if Im not

Gerunds and Infinitives

Use: 1) A gerund is a verb in its ing form, used as a noun. For example: eating, going, seeing Gerunds are used: a) As the subject of a sentence. Smoking is bad for you. b) After some verbs, such as: like, hate, enjoy, quit, suggest, dislike, deny I like cooking. I enjoy fishing. A good learners dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by a gerund or not. c) After prepositions. Im interested in buying a computer. Im scared of walking alone in the dark. 2) The infinitive form of the verb is the original verb. It can be with or without to. For example: (to) eat, (to) go, (to) see.

The infinitive form is used: a) After some verbs, such as; agree, arrange, ask, promise, decide, afford I agreed to do the work. I arranged to see the doctor, They decided to get married. A good learners dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by an infinitive or not. b) To show the reason why you did something. Tony went to the post office to pay a bill. c) After adjectives. I was surprised to see Erica. Im pleased to meet you. 3 a) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or infinitive with NO CHANGE in meaning: For example: start, begin, hate, like, prefer, continue She started to cry = She started crying. I hate watching horror films = I hate to watch horror films. b) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or a infinitive, but there is a change in meaning. For example: try, remember, stop I tried to get into the house. (Getting into the house is your goal or objective). I tried climbing through the window. (Climbing through the window is one thing you tried in order to obtain your final objective.) I stopped cleaning the windows. (I was cleaning the windows and then I stopped). I stopped to clean the windows. (I was driving, and I stopped driving in order to clean the windows). I remembered to lock the door. (I remembered, and after that I locked the door). I remember locking the door. (I remember (now) that I locked the door (in the past)).

Have to

Use: Use have to to talk about something you must do. I have to start work at eight.

Use dont have to to talk about something that is not necessary. You dont have to work tomorrow, its Saturday. Form: The positive, negative and question forms are shown in the table. Positive I, you, we, they he / she / it Negative I, you, we, they he / she / it Question Do Does I, you, we, they he / she / it have to dont doesnt have to have to has to verb (infinitive form) (go, sleep, work)

verb (infinitive (go, sleep, wo

verb (infinitive form) (go, sleep, work)

Common mistakes 1) Some students think that dont have to means must not, but this is not correct. You dont have to use your mobile phone in class. You mustnt use your mobile phone in class. 2) Some students use havent / hasnt to make negative sentences and questions. My sister hasnt to work today. My sister doesnt have to work today. Have you to leave now? Do you have to leave now?

Past continuous
Use: 1) Use the past to set the scene of a story before describing what happened. It was raining. I was walking in the park. Some kids were playing football nearby. Suddenly 2) Use the past continuous to talk about an action which happened for some time in the past and was then interrupted. Use the past simple tense to talk about the interruption. I was cooking dinner when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

3) Use the past continuous to talk about events that were in progress at a certain time. At 5 oclock yesterday afternoon, I was driving home from work. Note the difference in meaning: When James got home, I cooked dinner:- I started cooking AFTER he got home. When James got home, I was cooking dinner: - I started cooking BEFORE he got home. Form: Positive I You He / She / It We / They Negative I You He / She / It We / They Question Was Were Was Were Spelling Rules: If a verb ends in e, delete the e before you add ing. have =>I was having lunch. If a verb ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant (except w and y). get play =>He was just getting up. =>We were playing. I you he / she / it we / they verb+ing ? wasnt werent wasnt werent verb+ing was were was were verb+ing

Common mistakes 1) Some students remember the verb be but forget ing.

I was watch television. =>I was watching television. 2) Some students make spelling mistakes. I was studing. =>I was studying. We were eatting =>We were eating.

Inseparable phrasal verbs

Use: Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and one or more prepositions. They are often used, especially in informal spoken English. The meaning of phrasal verbs is often completely different from the meaning of the verb alone. Form: 1) Some phrasal verbs never use an object. get up = get out of bed I get up at seven oclock every morning. take off = leave the ground The plane took off on time. look out = beware! be careful! Look out! That car is going to hit you! get on = be good friends My dad and my brother dont get on. break down = stop working (for vehicles) Our car broke down on the way home from Scotland. make up = become friends again after an argument The kids often fight but they always make up afterwards.

2) Some phrasal verbs need an object. get on / off something = exit transport Get off the bus at the next stop. look after someone / something = take care of someone / something Please can you look after our cats while were on holiday? see to something = do, arrange, prepare, organise Dont worry about dinner. Ill see to it. look into something = investigate There has been a burglary at the school. Police are looking into it. get to = arrive at When you get to the end of the street, turn right.

3) Some phrasal verbs contain three words and an object. look up to someone = respect someone I look up to my teachers. look forward to something = be excited about (a future event) Im looking forward to the party. get on with someone = be good friends with someone I dont get on with Karen. get on with something = continue doing something Please be quiet and get on with your work. put up with something = tolerate I cant put up with that noise any longer!

Separable phrasal verbs

Use: Separable phrasal verbs consist of two parts. They always require an object. They are often used, especially in informal spoken English. The meaning of phrasal verbs is often completely different from the meaning of the verb alone. Form: 1) The object of a phrasal verb can go either between the verb and the preposition or after the preposition. I handed in my homework. I handed my homework in. 2) If the object of the sentence is a pronoun, it must go between the two parts of the phrasal verb. I handed it in Examples: Some common separable phrasal verbs: pick someone/something up = collect Please can you pick me up from the station? drop someone/something off = take and leave/ deposit I dropped John off outside his school. throw away = discard I threw all my old school papers away. write down = note I wrote Sallys phone number down on a piece of paper. make up = invent NOT I handed in it.

Henry likes to make stories up about dinosaurs. take back = return This shirt is too small. Im going to take it back to the shop. let down = disappoint James studied hard because he didnt want to let his parents down. turn down = reject The company offered me a job, but I turned it down. wash up = wash (dishes) Can you wash your plates up please? take off = remove (clothes) Please take off your shoes before you come inside. put on = dress in (clothes) Youll need to put a coat on. Its cold. turn up / down = increase / decrease volume/ temperature Can you turn the music down please? Its very loud. try on = wear and test (clothes) Please can I try on these trousers? give up = stop doing something. She smokes a lot, but she wants to give it up. take up = start doing something (a new hobby) Ive decided to take up running.

Present Continuous for Future

Use: The present continuous tense has two uses: 1) Use it to describe what is happening at the moment. Wheres dad? Hes watching TV in the living room. 2) Use it to describe plans and arrangements in the future. Tom is arriving on the three oclock train tomorrow. Form: Make the present continuous in this way. Positive I you / they / we am / m are / re verb-ing

he / she / it

is / s

Examples: Im going / Hes going / Were going to Spain next week. Negative I you / they / we he / she / it m not arent / re not isnt / s not verb-ing

Examples: Im not going / Youre not going / She isnt going to the meeting. Questions Are Is you / they / we he / she / it verb-ing?

Examples: Are you coming / Is James coming to the party? Common Mistakes: 1) Some students use will to talk about future plans. However, present continuous is the correct tense to use. Ill visit my cousin in Paris this weekend. weekend. => Im visiting my cousin in Paris this

Present Perfect
Use: The present perfect is used for several reasons: 1) Use it to describe events that happened in the past and are still true now because you can see the result. Ive broken my leg! David has painted his house. 2) Use it to describe experiences in your life. Ive been to New York three times in my life. However, you cannot use the present perfect to describe experiences in someones life if that person has died. Michael Jackson performed in Britain many times. NOT Michael Jackson has performed in Britain many times.

3) Use it to describe events that started in the past and are still happening now. Ive lived here all my life (and I live here now). John has worked here for 10 years (and he works here now). Never refer to a finished time with a present perfect verb. Form: Make the present perfect in this way. Positive I / you / they / we he / she / it Examples: Negative I / you / they / we he / she / it Examples: Questions Have Has Examples: you / they / we he / she / it Have you seen him? Has she taken my bag? past participle? havent / ve not hasnt / s not I havent seen him; they havent gone yet; shes not been here. past participle have / ve has / s Ive seen him; theyve gone; shes taken my bag. past participle

Common mistakes: 1) Dont use the present perfect to refer to a finished time. Ive hurt my arm yesterday. Johns been to New York last month. => => Ive hurt my arm. Johns been to New York.

Should and Ought to

Use: Use Should and Ought to give advice. Examples: Form: Should You should see a doctor. You ought to find a new job.

Should is a modal verb, like can and will, so it follows the same rules. 1) Do not add s to the third person singular. He should buy a new car. NOT You shouldnt do that! 3) To form questions, invert should and the subject. What time should we arrive? 4) Should is always followed by a verb in the infinitive form. I should to go. =>I should go. 5) You can also use should in the continuous form. Use should + be + verb-ing. Why are you watching TV? You should be working! Ought Ought is a semi-modal verb. It is similar to should in some ways: 1) Do not add s to the third person singular. He oughts to buy a new car. You ought not to do that! However, ought is not often used in negative sentences 3) To form questions, invert ought and the subject. What time ought we to arrive? However, ought is not often used in questions. Ought is different to should because: 1) Ought is always followed by to + a verb in the infinitive form. I ought go. =>I ought to go. => He ought to buy a new car. 2) To form a negative, add not / nt after ought. He should buys a new car. 2) To form a negative, add not / nt after should.

some / any / much / many

Some and any Use: Use some before plural nouns or uncountable nouns. There are some children in the street. There is some money in my pocket. Use any, not some, in negative sentences and questions. There arent any children in the street. There isnt any money in my pocket. Are there any children in the street? Is there any money in your pocket?

However, Some is possible in offers and requests. Please can I have some chocolate? Would you like some tea? Much and Many Use: Use many in negative sentences and questions. We dont often use it in positive sentences, especially in informal situations. We use a lot of / lots of. Use many with plural nouns. Are there many Chinese students in your class? I havent got many CDs. There are many cars on the road today. Many people think that trains are too expensive. Not many people know that you can get free coffee here! We use much in negative sentences and questions with uncountable nouns. We dont often use it in positive sentences. We say a lot of / lots of. Have you got much money with you? I havent got much money with me. I have much money. Common mistakes 1) 2) Some students use many with uncountable nouns. I dont have much money. I havent got any brothers or sisters. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Some students use some in negative sentences and questions. I dont have many money. I have a lot of money. There are a lot of cars on the road today. However, we can use Many of Not Many before the subject of the sentence.

I havent got some brothers or sisters. Do you have some brothers or sisters?

Subject and object questions

Use: Some questions ask about the object of a sentence. Who did you see? => I saw Helen. Helen is the object of the sentence. Some questions ask about the subject of a sentence. Who saw you?=> Nobody saw me. Nobody is the subject of the sentence. Subject and Object questions have different structures. Form:

Object Questions 1) To be Use to be before a subject + nouns, adjective or place.

to be Is / Was

Subject he / she / it / Tom a teacher / a student? happy / cold / tired / ready? at the party / in the classroom? here / there?

Are / Were

we / you / they / your parents

teachers / students? happy / cold / tired / ready? at the party / in the classroom? here / there?

Is Tom a teacher? Is it cold? Was he at the party? Is she here? Are you students? Were you tired? Are they in the classroom? Were you parents there? 2) Use Question word + to be before nouns, pronouns, places and this / that. Question word Where Who What When are / were be is / was he / she / it / my bag? this / that? at the party / in the classroom? we / you / they / my keys? these / those? at the party / in the classroom? Who is it? When was it? Where was my bag? Who was at the party? Where are my keys? What are those? 3) Use (Question word) + auxiliary verb before a subject + verb Question word auxiliary verb is / are was / were Subject doing going seeing eating

Where Who What When Why

do / does did can / could will / would should have / has had

you he she it we they

do go do go

see eat see eat

done gone

saw eaten

Where are you going? Who did you see? What did you do? When will we go? Why have they gone? Subject Questions 1) Subject questions have no subject in the question. Any present / past simple verbs should go in the past / present simple tense, not the infinitive form. Only What and Who can be used in this kind of question. Question word Who verb likes / needs / wants is following / calling saw / called What happened (to is happening (to Who likes me? What happened to you? In the present tense, always use the third person singular form of the verb. What happens next? Common mistakes: 1) Some students use an auxiliary verb in an subject question. What did happen? => What happened? Who met you at the station? Who did meet you at the station?=> NOT What happen next? me / you / him / her / us / them?) object me / you / him / her / us / them? the film?

will / wont
Use: Will and wont are used to talk about the future. Will is positive and wont is negative. I will be late tomorrow. John wont be at the party next Saturday.

Use will and wont to: a) Make predictions. In the year 2050, people will live under the sea. b) Make an offer or promise. Ill buy you a drink. John will help you with that box. c) Make a decision about the future at the same time as you speak. Sorry, we dont have any tea. Thats OK, Ill have coffee. Form: 1) Will is the same for all persons. I will go, you will go, he / she will go, we will go, they will go. 2) Always write a verb in the infinitive form after will. You will happy when you hear the news. 3) You can contract will to ll for pronouns. Ill buy it. Well be late. Theyll be delighted. Hell be take today. => You will be happy when you hear the news.

But dont contract will with names. Markll be late. => Mark will be late.

4) To write questions, write will before the subject. Will you buy me a drink? Will Tom get the job? 5) The short answer for Will questions is: Yes, I/you/he/she/he/they/we will No, I/you/he/she/he/they/we wont. Do not contract will in short answers. Will John be late? Yes, hell.=> Yes, he will. Common mistakes: 1) Some students forget to write will before the subject in questions. You will be late? => Will you be late? 2) Many students use will to talk about their plans. But you should use going to or the present continuous. I will meet my friends on Friday. => Im meeting my friends on Saturday. Im going to meet my friends on Saturday.

Zero Conditional

Use: The first conditional structure is used to talk about something which is always true. It always happens, on the condition that something else happens. Example: If it rains a lot, our garden floods. Form: 1. If When Unless Make the first conditional in this way. I you he she... Examples: Or I you he she... Examples: 2. present simple if when unless I you he she... You have to buy your own drinks if you fly on a budget airline. Geoff always cooks us a roast dinner when we visit him. You can also form the zero conditional with the imperative form. If you have a membership card, enter through the door on the left. Enter through the door on the left if you have a membership card. 3. You can also form the zero conditional using a modal verb. If the alarm goes off, we should leave the building. If its rainy and sunny at the same time, you can often see a rainbow. 4. Different tenses can be used in the If / When (condition) clause. However, only the If weve finished all our work, we can leave early. If people are getting enough exercise, they usually feel better emotionally as well as physically. present simple, a modal or imperative form can be used in the result clause. present simple present simple , I you he she... If you fly on a budget airline, you have to buy your own drinks. When we visit Geoff, he always cooks us a roast dinner. present simple

Would like/ like

Use: 1) Would like means want, but it is more polite. You can use it in sentences and questions. Id like a biscuit. Would you like some tea? 2) You can also use it to talk about your dreams and ambitions. Id like to go to Japan. I wouldnt like to live here! You can also use Id love and Id hate to talk about dreams. Id hate to live in the countryside. Id love to work with Simon. Form: 1) Would like is the same for all persons. I would like some tea. You would like some tea. He / she / James would like some tea. We would like some tea. They / our clients would like some tea. 2) 3) 4) noun: verb: 5) To make questions, invert the subject and would. Use wouldnt to make the negative form. Would like can be followed by a noun or to + verb. Would you like a biscuit? Would you like to go to Malaysia? In positive sentences, you can contract would to d. => Id like to go to the USA. I wouldnt like to work in a factory. Would you / James / your clients like some tea? I wouldnt like to work there.

I would like to go to the USA. But NOT in negative sentences:

Idnt like to work in a factory. => And NOT in short answers: Would you like to have a horse? Yes, Id. 6) => Yes, I would.

Be careful not to confuse would like and like.

Use like to talk about things you like all the time. I like chocolate cake. Its my favourite food. Use would like to talk about things you want now, or at some time in the future.

Id like a cup of coffee please. Id like to work in a chocolate factory.