BE PAST: STATEMENTS

USE:
To connect the subject with the rest of the sentence and talk about the past.

AFFIRMATIVE
FORM:
[SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + REST]
I/She/He/It was in the kitchen.
You/We/They were late.

NEGATIVE
FORM:
[SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + NOT + REST]
WASN'T/WEREN'T
I/She/He/It was not angry.
I/She/He/It wasn't here.

You/We/They were not early.

You/We/They weren't on time.

EXAMPLES:
"Diana was at home yesterday."
"She wasn't at school."

"They were late to work."

"They weren't early."
 BE PAST: QUESTIONS
YES/NO QUESTIONS
USE:
To ask questions that need an answer of "yes" or "no".

FORM:
The subject and the verb change places.

Affirmative: They were at home.

Yes/No Question: Were they at home?

Negative: He wasn't at school.

Yes/No Question: Wasn't he at school? (Always use contractions.)

Answers: Yes, I was. No, I wasn't.

WH-QUESTIONS
USE:
To ask questions that begin with these question words: WHAT, WHEN, WHERE,
WHO, WHY, HOW.

FORM:
Questions about the SUBJECT:
[WH-WORD + BE PAST + REST OF SENTENCE]
Affirmative: Juan was at home.
Wh-Question: Who was at home?

Questions about the REST OF THE SENTENCE:

[WH-WORD + BE PAST + SUBJECT + REST OF SENTENCE]
Affirmative: He was in Philadelphia.
Wh-Question: Where was he?

Affirmative: He was there in 1990.

Wh-Question: When was he there?

EXAMPLES:
Police: "Where were you last night at 9:30?"
Man: "I was at home all night."
Police: "Was Big Bob with you?"
Man: "No, he wasn't. I was alone."
 NOUNS AND QUANTIFIERS:
COUNT NOUNS and QUANTIFIERS
USE:
Quantifiers are words or phrases which show the number or amount of an
object. Some quantifiers are used with both count and non-count nouns. Some
other quantifiers are used only with either non-count nouns or count nouns,
but not with both.

some (statements):
"There are some books on the shelf."

any (questions and negative sentences):

"Are there any girls in your class?"
"There aren't any onions in the salad."

a lot of
"There are a lot of red apples."

many
"I haven't got many friends."
"How many chairs are in that classroom?"

a few
"He has a few books."

EXAMPLE:
"Are there any small nails down there, Harry?"
"Sorry, there aren't any, but I have some big nails."
"Is that OK?"
 NOUNS AND QUANTIFIERS:
NON-COUNT NOUNS and QUANTIFIERS
USE:
Quantifiers are words or phrases which show the number or amount of an
object. Some quantifiers are used with both count and non-count nouns. Some
other quantifiers are used only with either non-count nouns or count nouns,
but not with both.

REMEMBER: Non-count nouns take only the singular form of the verb!

some (statements):
"There is some water in your glass."

any (questions and negative sentences):

"Is there any money in the handbag?"
"There isn't any time left."

a lot of
"There is a lot of butter on your bread."

much
"I haven't got much money."
"How much milk do you want?"

a little
"I only want a little juice."
 PRESENT SIMPLE: STATEMENTS
USE:
To talk about actions, states or events which happen at any time, repeatedly,
or all the time.

AFFIRMATIVE
FORM:
Verbs take an -s ending in third person singular.
[SUBJECT + VERB(s) + REST OF SENTENCE]
I/You/We/They work in a bank.
He/She/It has brown eyes.

SPELLING
Verbs ending in ss, sh, ch, x, o take es in third person singular: kisses,
matches, goes, watches

For verbs ending in consonant + y, drop the y and add -ies: carry/carries,
try/tries, copy/copies

NOTE: The Present Simple is often used with adverbs and adverb phrases:
Always, Never, Often, Sometimes, Usually, Every day/week, On Sundays, Twice
a month, year, etc.

EXAMPLES:
"I often go to basketball games."
"He never watches TV."
"My brother goes to the health club twice a week."
"I always have coffee for breakfast."

NEGATIVE
FORM:
[SUBJECT+ DO NOT/DON'T+ VERB+ REST OF SENTENCE]
I/You/We/They don't drive in the city.
He/She/It doesn't have brown eyes.

EXAMPLE:
"Bill calls Mary, but he doesn't call me."
 PRESENT SIMPLE: YES/NO QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
USE:
To ask questions about actions in general time that need an answer of "yes" or
"no".

FORM:
Put DO or DOES in front of the subject.

[DO/DOES + SUBJECT + VERB + REST]

Does he/she/it like milk?
Do I/you/we/they know him?

AFFIRMATIVE: She likes milk.

YES/NO QUESTION: Does she like milk?

ANSWERS
USE:
To answer a yes/no question.

FORM:
[YES, SUBJECT + DO/DOES]
Yes, I/you/we/they do.
Yes, he/she/it does.

[NO, SUBJECT + DON'T/DOESN'T]

No, I/you/we/they don't.
No, he/she/it doesn't.

EXAMPLES:
"Do you work on Saturdays?"
"Yes, I do."

"Does he work on Saturdays?"

"No, he doesn't."
 PRESENT SIMPLE: Wh Questions
USE:
To ask questions about actions in general time that begin with these questions
words: WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHY, HOW.

FORM:
Questions about the SUBJECT:
[WHO-WHAT + VERB + REST]
Who lives here?

Questions about the REST OF THE SENTENCE:

[WH-WORD + DO/DOES... VERB...]
When do you go home?
Where does he live?

EXAMPLES:
"Who lives in that house?"
"The Porters."

"What does Jack want to do?"

"Go to the movies."

"Where do they work?"

"At the bank."
 COMPARISON: EQUALITY
USE:
To compare two persons or things that are alike.

FORM:
AFFIRMATIVE:
[AS + ADJECTIVE + AS]
Bob is as tall as Marty.

NEGATIVE:
[NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS]
Her hair is not as long as mine.
 COMPARISON: COMPARATIVES
USE:
To compare one or more people/things to other people/things.

FORM:
[COMPARATIVE FORM OF ADJECTIVE + THAN]
John is older than Bart.
Betty is more beautiful than Barbara.

Most adjectives take -er:

long/longer, old/older, tall/taller

Adjectives ending in -e take -r:

nice/nicer, late/later

Adjectives ending in vowel + consonant

double the consonant:
fat/fatter, big/bigger, hot/hotter

With adjectives ending in y, drop the y; add -ier:

happy/happier, easy/easier

With most two-syllable adjectives and longer adjectives form the comparative
with more:
intelligent - more intelligent
beautiful - more beautiful

The adjectives "good" and "bad" have anirregular comparative form:

good - better
bad - worse

EXAMPLES:
Todd: "Samurai Sam is winning. He's stronger than Viking Vick."
Ron: "Yes, and he's more popular, too!"
 COMPARISON: SUPERLATIVES
USE:
To compare one or more person or thing with a whole group.

FORM:
[THE + SUPERLATIVE FORM OF ADJECTIVE]
John is the tallest boy in the class.
They are the most beautiful shoes in the store.

Most adjectives take -est:

long/longest, old/oldest

Adjectives ending in -e take -st:

nice/nicest, late/latest

Adjectives ending in a vowel + consonant double the consonant:

fat/fattest, big/biggest, hot/hottest

With adjectives ending in y, drop the y; add -iest:

happy/happiest, easy/easiest

With most two-syllable adjectives and longer

adjectives form the superlative with most:
honest - most honest
beautiful - most beautiful

The adjectives "good" and "bad" have an irregular superlative form:

good - best
bad - worst

EXAMPLES:
"Come to Mad Mo's. We have the cheapest,
the biggest, the most terrific store in New York! We are the best!"
 NOUNS and QUANTIFIERS:
COUNT/NON-COUNT NOUNS
USE:
Quantifiers are words or phrases which show the number or amount of some
object. Some quantifiers are used with both count and non-count nouns. Some
other quantifiers are only used with count or non-count nouns, but not with
both.

USED WITH BOTH COUNT AND NON-COUNT NOUNS:

some (statements):
"There are some books on the shelf." (COUNT)
"There is some fruit on the table." (NON-COUNT)

any (questions and negative sentences):

"Are there any girls in your class?" (COUNT)
"There aren't any onions in the salad." (COUNT)
"Is there any butter?" (NON-COUNT)
"There isn't any homework today." (NON-COUNT)

a lot of
"There are a lot of red apples." (COUNT)
"There is a lot of noise in here." (NON-COUNT)

USED WITH COUNT NOUNS ONLY:

many
"I haven't got many friends."
"How many chairs are in that classroom?"

a few
"He has a few books."

USED WITH NON-COUNT NOUNS ONLY:

much
"I haven't got much time."
"How much milk do you want?"

a little
"I only want a little juice."
 PAST SIMPLE: STATEMENTS
USE:
To talk about past events and actions.

AFFIRMATIVE
FORM:
Regular verbs in the Past Simple end in -ed.
[SUBJECT + VERB+ed + REST]

EXAMPLES:
"Joe walked home alone last night."
"We played football last week."

SPELLING
Verbs ending in -e, take only -d: live/ lived.

With verbs ending in consonant+y, change the y to i:

carry / carried try/ tried

NOTE: Past Simple is often used with adverbs: Yesterday, Last

week/month/year, A... ago.

NEGATIVE
FORM:
Put did not (didn't) in front of the verb.
[SUBJECT+ DID NOT+ VERB+ REST OF SENTENCE]
/DIDN'T
They did not call me last week.
Ruth didn't study last night.

EXAMPLES:
"He didn't work at all last week."
"I didn't like the movie last night."
 PAST SIMPLE: IRREGULAR VERBS
FORM:
Some verbs have irregular forms in the Past Simple.You will have to learn them
by heart.
Here is a list of some of the most frequent verbs:

come - came put - put do - did read - read

drink - drank say - said eat - ate sell - sold
find - found sit - sat get - got sleep - slept
drive - drove speak - spoke go - went take - took
have - had tell - told hear - heard think - thought
know - knew leave - left wear - wore make - made
write - wrote meet met understand understood
 PAST SIMPLE: QUESTIONS
YES/NO QUESTIONS
USE:
To ask questions about past actions/events that need an answer of "yes" or
"no".

FORM:
Put DID / DIDN'T in front of the subject.
[DID / DIDN'T + SUBJECT + VERB + REST]
Did you walk yesterday?
Didn't they buy the book last week?

WH-QUESTIONS
USE:
To ask questions about the past that begin with these question words: WHAT,
WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHY, HOW.

FORM:
Questions about the SUBJECT:
[WHO/WHAT + PAST VERB + REST]
Who told him?
What made that noise?

Questions about the REST OF THE SENTENCE:

[WH-WORD + DID + VERB...]
When did you leave school?
Where did they buy that?

EXAMPLES:
John: "Did you ask the boss about money?"
Rose: "Yes, I did."
John: "Well, what did she say?"
Rose: "She said no."
 PRESENT SIMPLE: TAG QUESTIONS
USE:
To ask a yes/no question when a certain answer is already expected.

FORM:
Add a short, two-word question-tag to the end of the statement.

If "yes" is expected:
[AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE + DON'T/DOESN'T + SUBJECT]
You drive, don't you?
Carl paints, doesn't he?

If "no" is expected:
[NEGATIVE SENTENCE + DO/DOES + SUBJECT]
You don't smoke, do you?
Mary doesn't drive, does she?

EXAMPLES:
"You like coffee, don't you?"
"Yes, I do." (Expect the answer to be "yes".)
"She doesn't work here, does she?"
"No, she doesn't."(Expect the answer to be "no".)
 MODALS and SEMI-MODALS: CAN
USE:
The Modal CAN is used with verbs and adds a special meaning. Like most
Modals, CAN has more than one meaning.

MEANING:
"Joe can speak French." (ABILITY)
"You can leave early." (PERMISSION)
"It can be hot here." (POSSIBILITY)

FORM:
Like other Modals, CAN goes before the verb and only has one form.

AFFIRMATIVE
[CAN + VERB]
John can swim quickly.
You can go to the movies with your friends.

NEGATIVE
[CAN + NOT + VERB]
Diane can't swim.
Beth cannot meet us tonight.

YES/NO QUESTIONS
[CAN + SUBJECT + VERB + REST OF SENTENCE]
Can you help me?
Can I leave now?
Answers: Yes, you can.
No, you cannot/can't.

WH-QUESTIONS
[WH-WORD + CAN... VERB...]
When can you help me?

EXAMPLES:
Danny: "Can you open it?"
Keith: "No, I can't. I can't open it."
Danny: "Let's ask Butch. He can do it."
 MODALS and SEMI-MODALS: HAVE TO
USE:
The Semi-modal HAVE TO is used with verbs and adds a special meaning.

MEANING:
"He has to leave early." (OBLIGATION).

FORM:
Like other Modals and Semi-modals, HAVE TO goes before the verb. It has the
same form as regular verbs.

AFFIRMATIVE:
[HAVE TO + VERB + REST]
He has to leave early.
They have to do their homework.

NEGATIVE:
[DO/DOES (NOT) + SEMI-MODAL + VERB + REST]
The boys don't have to work today.

YES/NO QUESTIONS:
[DO/DOES(NOT) + SUBJECT + HAVE TO + VERB + REST]
Do I have to leave now?
Doesn't she have to study for her test?
Answers: Yes, I do. No, she doesn't.

WH-QUESTIONS:
[WH-WORD + (DO/DOES + SUBJECT) + HAVE TO + VERB + REST]
Who has to leave?
When do you have to call your parents?

EXAMPLES:
Mother: "It's time for bed, Michael."
Rick: "Aw, Mom. Do I have to go to bed now?"
Mother: "Yes, you do. It's late and you have to go to school tomorrow."
 MODALS and SEMI-MODALS: MAY
USE:
The Modal MAY is used with verbs and adds a special meaning. Like most
Modals, MAY has more than one meaning.

MEANING:
"You may leave early."(PERMISSION)
"They may buy a new house." (POSSIBILITY)

FORM:
Like other Modals, MAY goes before the verb and only has one form.

AFFIRMATIVE
[MAY + VERB]
John may go with you.
They may visit us later.

NEGATIVE
[MAY + NOT + VERB]
You may not leave the table.
We may not go to the party later.

YES/NO QUESTIONS
[MAY + SUBJECT + VERB + REST]
May we leave now?
May I help me?
Answers: Yes, you may. No, you may not.

WH-QUESTIONS
[WH-WORD + MAY... VERB...]
When may we leave?

EXAMPLES:
Girl: "Mom, may I have a cookie?"
Mother: "Okay, but only one. Your brother may want one, too."
 MORE MODALS (and SEMI-MODALS): BE ABLE TO
AFFIRMATIVE
USE:
Used to talk about ability in the present, future, and past. It is very similar in
meaning to the Modals CAN and COULD.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + BE(present/past/future) + ABLE TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"He worked hard and was able to pass the exam."
"Mary broke her leg just two months ago but she's already able to walk again."
"She needs time to decide, but she'll be able to give you an answer tomorrow."

NEGATIVE
USE:
Used to talk about inability or failure to do something in the past, present, or
future.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + BE (present/past/future) + NOT + ABLE TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"The store was closed, so I wasn't able to buy the book."
"Sorry, we won't be able to fix your car until next week."

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

USE:
Used to ask questions about ability in the present, past, and future.

YES/NO QUESTIONS
FORM:
[Q: BE (all tenses) + SUBJECT + ABLE TO + VERB...?]
[A: Yes, + SUBJECT + BE.
No, + SUBJECT + BE NOT.]

EXAMPLES:
"Were you able to buy that book for me?"
"Yes I was. Here it is!"
 WH-QUESTIONS
FORM:
About the SUBJECT of the sentence
[WH-WORD + BE ABLE TO+ VERB...?]

About the REST of the sentence

[WH-WORD + BE + SUBJECT + ABLE TO + VERB...?]

EXAMPLES:
"Who was able to finish their homework on time?"
"When will you be able to pay back the loan?"
"We'll be able to pay you next month."
 GERUNDS: AS OBJECTS
USE:
The object of the verb is normally a noun or a pronoun. The objects of some
verbs, however, can be GERUNDS. These verbs include: ENJOY, ALLOW, LIKE,
FINISH, HATE, LOVE, and PREFER.

EXAMPLES:
"Eric loves collecting comic books."
"Sandy prefers buying only fresh meat and vegetables."
"She enjoys meeting new people."
"John dislikes going to big parties."
"We do not allow smoking in our office."
"I hate getting lost in foreign cities."

GERUNDS: AFTER PREPOSITIONS

USE:
A preposition is normally followed by a noun or a pronoun. If it is followed by a
verb, the verb is a GERUND.

EXAMPLES:
"Mary left without saying goodbye."
"James had an accident after drinking too much."
"Always lock the door before going to bed."
"He read the newspaper while having breakfast."
 MORE MODALS (and SEMI-MODALS): MUST
USE:
Used to talk about a strong necessity, obligation, or duty to do something.
There is often very little difference between MUST and HAVE TO. In formal,
written English, MUST is used for public notices about official rules and
regulations. MUST can also be used to express a strong opinion about a
situation based on existing facts or circumstances.

AFFIRMATIVE
FORM:
[SUBJECT + MUST + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"I have a terrible toothache; I must go to the dentist."
"We must try to help Nicky; she's our oldest friend."
"All workers must wear safety helmets in work areas!"
"Jack must be on his way. There was no one home when I called his
apartment."

NEGATIVE
USE: In both formal and informal English we use the negative form MUST NOT
(often shortened to MUSTN'T) to talk about something which is wrong or
forbidden. Note that this is not the same as the negative form of HAVE TO,
which only means that something is not necessary.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + MUST + NOT (MUSTN'T) + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"You mustn't pull the dog's tail, dear; he'll bite you."
"We mustn't forget to pay back that loan."
"Workers must not smoke in work areas!"

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

USE:
Used to ask whether something is necessary or obligatory. The interrogative
form of HAVE TO has the same meaning and is more common.
 YES/NO QUESTIONS
FORM:
[Q: MUST + SUBJECT + VERB...?]
[A: Yes, + SUBJECT + MUST
No, + SUBJECT + NEEDN'T]

EXAMPLE:
"Must I go to school today, Mom?"
"Yes, you must."

WH-QUESTIONS FORM:
About the SUBJECT of the sentence:
[Wh-Word + MUST + VERB...?]

ABOUT REST OF SENTENCE:

[WH-WORD + MUST + SUBJECT + VERB...?]

EXAMPLES:
"What must happen before we can leave?"
"When must you take the test?" "Next Friday."
 MORE MODALS (and SEMI-MODALS): HAD TO
AFFIRMATIVE
USE:
Used to talk about necessity, obligation, and duty in the past. HAD TO is the
past form of both HAVE TO and MUST.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + HAD TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"I had to stay up all night to write this paper!"
"We had to run to catch the train."

NEGATIVE
USE:
Used to talk about something that was not necessary or not obligatory in the
past.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + DID NOT (DIDN'T) + HAVE TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"Monday was a holiday, so I didn't have to go to work."
"I didn't have to study Latin in high school."

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

USE:
Used to ask questions about duties and obligations in the past.

YES/NO QUESTIONS
[Q: DID + SUBJECT + HAVE TO + VERB...?]
[A: Yes, + SUBJECT (pronoun) + DID.
No, + SUBJECT (pronoun) + DIDN'T]

EXAMPLE:
"Did you have to borrow money to buy the car?"
"Yes, we did."
 WH-QUESTIONS
About the SUBJECT of the sentence:
[WH-WORD + HAS/HAD/HAD TO+ VERB...?]

About the REST of the sentence:

[WH-WORD + DID + SUBJECT + HAVE TO + VERB...?]

EXAMPLES:
"Who had to wash the car this week?"
"What did you have to do to get the loan?"
"I had to fill out a form for the bank."

MORE MODALS (and SEMI-MODALS):

MUST NOT/DON'T HAVE TO
USE:
While MUST and HAVE TO have similar meanings in the affirmative, they
cannot be used interchangeably in the negative.

MUST NOT (MUSTN'T) is used to show that something is prohibited or

forbidden.

DON'T HAVE TO means "it's not necessary to do something".

EXAMPLES:
"You mustn't run in here; this is a hospital."
"You don't have to run; the bus is waiting for you."
 MORE MODALS (and SEMI-MODALS): SHOULD
AFFIRMATIVE
USE:
Used to talk about a duty or obligation which is much weaker than MUST or
HAVE TO. It is also used to give somebody advice.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + SHOULD + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"You should study for your test tonight instead of watching TV." (duty)

"I'm terribly tired."

"You should work less!" (advice)

NEGATIVE
USE:
We can use SHOULD NOT (SHOULDN'T) as a weaker form of MUSTN'T, to warn
people or advise them not to do something.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + SHOULD NOT (SHOULDN'T) + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"You shouldn't eat so much candy. It'll make you fat!"
"You shouldn't throw candy wrappers on the street. Put them in the trash can
instead."

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

USE:
Used to ask whether something is necessary, right, or useful, or to ask people
for advice.

YES/NO QUESTIONS
FORM: [Q: Should + SUBJECT + VERB...?]
[A: Yes, + SUBJECT + SHOULD
No, + SUBJECT + SHOULDN'T]
EXAMPLE:
"Should I answer Peter's letter?"
"Yes, you should!"

WH-QUESTIONS
FORM:
About the SUBJECT of the sentence
[WH-WORD + SHOULD + VERB...?]

About the REST of the sentence

[WH-WORD + SHOULD + SUBJECT + VERB...?]

EXAMPLES:
"Who should bring the drinks?"
"Where should we go to buy the local pottery?"
"Well, don't go to the big tourist shops. You should go to the small shops in the
villages."
 INFINITIVES: AFTER VERBS
USE:
When two verbs in the same clause have the same subject, the second acts as
the object of the first. Depending on the first verb, the second may be in the
infinitive form.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + VERB 1 + (NOT) + Infinitive...]

EXAMPLE:
"Tina decided to study Russian."

There are two main groups of verbs which can be followed by an Infinitive:

SUBJECT'S ATTITUDE: Agree, Choose, Decide, Hope, Offer, Promise, Refuse,

etc.

EXAMPLES:
"Patrick agreed to cook dinner."
"Jane chose to stay at home."
"We decided not to buy a new house."
"I hope to win first prize next year."

SUBJECT'S ABILITY: Attempt, Fail, Learn, Manage, Try, Be able to, etc.

EXAMPLES:
"Ben attempted to start the car."
"Anne failed to finish her paper on time."
"We learned to ski when we were on vacation."
 GERUNDS: AFTER VERBS
USE:
GERUNDS are used as the object of most transitive verbs, instead of a noun or
pronoun. In some cases an object-verb takes the infinitive form, but normally it
is a Gerund. Note that a Gerund can also follow "BE".

FORM:
[SUBJECT + VERB + GERUND]

EXAMPLES:
"Smith admitted stealing the jewels, but denied killing the security guard."
"I avoid arguing with my boss."
"Frank enjoys watching horror movies."
"We must finish painting this wall today."
"I can't imagine eating snails."
"Cats don't like swimming."
"Do you mind waiting for me?"
"Sam remembers meeting you last year."
 PAST PROGRESSIVE - vs. PAST SIMPLE
USE:
We use the Past Simple to talk about a completed action in the past. We use
the Past Progressive to talk about an action that continued over a period of
time in the past.

We can also use the Past Simple and the Past Progressive together in the same
sentence, to show that one short action or event happened during a longer
action or event. If we mention the shorter action first, we usually join the two
parts of the sentence together with WHILE.

EXAMPLES:
"Tom arrived while we were talking about him."
"She came in while I was doing my homework."

If we mention the longer action first, we usually join the two parts of the
sentence together with WHEN.

EXAMPLES:
"We were talking about Tom when he arrived."
"I was doing my homework when she came in."
 ADVERBS: COMPARISON
USE:
Used to compare two subjects performing the same action. The comparative
and superlative forms of most adverbs are made in the same way as long
adjectives:

COMPARATIVE
FORM:
[SUBJECT 1 + VERB + MORE + Adverb + THAN + SUBJECT 2 (+DOES/CAN etc)...]

EXAMPLES:
"I can sing more beautifully than you (can)."
"Ted writes more slowly than Brenda (does)."

SUPERLATIVE
FORM:
[SUBJECT 1 + VERB + THE MOST + Adverb (OF ALL)]

EXAMPLES:
"Of all the students in her class, Sarah does her homework the most carefully."
"Jimmy behaves the most childishly of anyone in the class."

Adverbs which have the same base form as adjectives also have the same
comparative and superlative forms. These are constructed by adding-er (for
the comparative) and -est (for the superlative) to the base form.

EXAMPLES:
"Fred can run faster than Martin can, but Sharon runs the fastest."
"My wife got up earlier than I did this morning, but our daughter got up the
earliest."

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES and SUPERLATIVE FORMS

There are also a small number of irregular comparative and superlative forms
of adverbs:
Base form Comparative Superlative
WELL BETTER THE BEST
BADLY WORSE THE WORST
LITTLE LESS THE LEAST
MUCH MORE THE MOST
 FUTURE: WILL and GOING TOWILL
USE:
WILL is used to express a subjective opinion, or to express a decision, a
promise,a belief, or a threat, etc. about the future. This is why WILL often
follows expressions like "I hope...", "Do you think...", etc.

EXAMPLE:
"Do you think she will like these flowers?"

FORM:
Affirmative: [SUBJECT + WILL + VERB...]
NOTE: We often shorten WILL to "-'ll" and pronounce it together with the
subject.

EXAMPLE:
"I think he will (he'll) fix the car tomorrow."

Negative: [SUBJECT + WILL + NOT + VERB...]

NOTE: We often shorten WILL NOT to "WON'T".

EXAMPLE:
"I'm afraid we won't finish the job today."

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

YES/NO QUESTIONS
USE:
In the interrogative form, WILL often introduces a request.

FORM:
[Q: WILL + SUBJECT + VERB...?]
[A: Yes, + SUBJECT + WILL
No, + SUBJECT + WILL NOT(WON'T).]

EXAMPLES:
"Will you open the window, please?"
"Yes, of course I will."

"Will you buy me an ice cream, please?"

"No, I won't!"
 WH-QUESTIONS
FORM:
Questions about the subject of the sentence:
[Q: WHO/WHAT + WILL + VERB...?]

EXAMPLE:
"Who'll be there tonight?"
"Liz will go for sure. And maybe Tom will be there too."

Questions about the rest of the sentence:

[Q: Wh-word + WILL + SUBJECT + VERB...?]

EXAMPLE:
"When will we get home tonight?"
"I think we'll get home at around 10."

GOING TO
USE:
GOING TO is used to talk about definite, objective facts and plans in the future.

EXAMPLE:
"Look at those clouds! It's going to rain!"

FORM:
AFFIRMATIVE
[SUBJECT + BE + GOING TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"I'm going to study Chinese History next semester."
"Look out! That car's going to hit us!"

NEGATIVE
[SUBJECT + BE + NOT + GOING TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"We aren't going to make a profit this year."
"I know I'm not going to pass this exam!"
 QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
YES/NO QUESTIONS
[Q: BE + SUBJECT + GOING TO + VERB...?]
[A: Yes, + SUBJECT (pronoun) + BE.]
or:
[No, + SUBJECT (pronoun) + BE + NOT.]

EXAMPLE:
"Is this train going to arrive on time?"
"No, it isn't. It's going to be late."

WH-QUESTIONS
Questions about the subject of the sentence:
[Q: WHO/WHAT + BE + GOING TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLE:
"Who's going to finish this?"
"I am."

Questions about the rest of the sentence:

[Q: WH-WORD + BE + SUBJECT + GOING TO + VERB...?]
[A: Affirmative sentence with GOING TO.]

EXAMPLE:
"Who are you going to vote for?"
"I'm going to vote for Tom Baxter."

NOTE: We often find both WILL and GOING TO in the same conversation.In the
following dialogue, the patient wants a definite answer to his question,but the
nurse replies with only a promise:
"Is this injection going to hurt?"
"Don't worry, it will only hurt a little and it won't take long!"
 FUTURE: SIMPLE PRESENT
USE:
We sometimes use the Simple Present to talk about 'definite' future actions
and events that are already fixed or arranged on an official timetable.

EXAMPLES:
"The President leaves for Japan on Monday."
"When does the next bus arrive?"

FUTURE: PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

USE:
We often use the Present Progressive to talk about plans and decisions for the
near future. It is most commonly used with verbs expressing movement (e.g.
arrive, come, go, leave, sail, visit, etc.)

EXAMPLES:
"I'm leaving early today; I have a headache."
"Are you visiting your mother tonight?"
"I'm not waiting any longer; he's half an hour late already!"
 PAST PROGRESSIVE: STATEMENTS
AFFIRMATIVE
FORM:
[SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + VERB + ing...]
He was waiting for the bus when it started to rain.
They were waiting for the bus when it started to rain.

EXAMPLES:
"She was eating when I arrived."
"We were sleeping at 3:OO a.m."

NEGATIVE
[SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + NOT + VERB + ing...]
I was not (wasn't) waiting for the bus.
They were not (weren't) waiting for the bus.

EXAMPLES:
"He wasn't sleeping when the phone rang."
"They weren't watching TV when the news was on."
 PAST PROGRESSIVE: QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
YES/NO QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
FORM:
[Q: WAS/WERE + SUBJECT + VERB + ing...]
Was she waiting for the train?
Were you waiting for the train?

[A: YES/NO + SUBJECT + BE(NOT)]

Yes, it was.
No, she wasn't.
Yes, we were.
No, you weren't.

EXAMPLES:
"Were the children playing in the garden when you came in?"
"Yes, they were."

"Were you working in Tokyo in1991?"

"No, I wasn't."

WH-QUESTIONS
Questions about the SUBJECT of the sentence.
FORM:
[WHO/WHAT + WAS/WERE + VERB + ing...]

EXAMPLES:
"Who was watching the baby last night?"
"What was playing at the Cineplex last night?"

Questions about the REST OF THE SENTENCE:

[WH-WORD + WAS/WERE + SUBJECT + VERB + ing...]

EXAMPLES:
"What were you doing at 10 o'clock?"
"I was walking the dog."

"Who was Pat looking at?"

"She was looking at Kim."
 INFINITIVES: AFTER ADJECTIVES
USE:
Used to say how somebody thinks or feels about an action or event.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + BE + ADJECTIVE + TO + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"Mike was very surprised to see Ted with Laura."
"We were delighted to see Fred at the party."

INFINITIVES: AFTER VERB + OBJECT

USE: When there are two verbs with different subjects in the same clause, the
second is sometimes an Infinitive. This structure is often used to talk about the
first subject's attitude towards or influence on the second subject.

FORM:
[SUBJECT 1 + VERB 1 + SUBJECT 2 + Infinitive]

EXAMPLES:
"I told Maggie to write that letter last week."
"The teacher allowed the students to go home early."
"Fred asked me to lend him some money."
"I expected them to answer my letter immediately."
"They invited Sarah to go on vacation with them."
"We'd like you to work with us."
"I need you to sign this paper, please."
"The general ordered his men to retreat."
"Janet paid the mechanic to fix her car."
"David reminded her to feed the cat."
"Mary teaches people to read."
"The boss told me to work harder."
"Angela wants Paul to marry her."
 GERUNDS: AS SUBJECTS
USE:
A GERUND can act as the subject of any verb, instead of a noun or pronoun.
We often use Gerunds in this way to make generalizations. The Gerund can
stand alone, be followed by a complement (i.e. an object or an adverbial) or by
an adverbial clause.

FORM:
[GERUND + (Complement/Adverb Clause) + VERB...]

EXAMPLES:
"Smoking is dangerous."
"Eating always makes me sleepy."
"Smoking cigars is very dangerous." (with Complement)
"Playing football makes me thirsty." (with Complement)
"Smoking when you are in a crowded room is inconsiderate." (with Adverbial
Clause)
"Not brushing your teeth before you go to bed is bad for your teeth." (with
Adverbial Clause)
 ADVERBS: ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
USE:
Used to talk about how often or how rarely something happens. The most
important adverbs of frequency are ALWAYS, GENERALLY, NORMALLY,
USUALLY, FREQUENTLY, OFTEN, SOMETIMES, EVER, OCCASIONALLY, SELDOM,
RARELY, and NEVER.

FORM:
Adverbs of frequency normally come immediately before the verb in
affirmative sentences, but after the verb "BE". In negative sentences, adverbs
of frequency normally come immediately after the word NOT. In questions,
adverbs of frequency normally come immediately after the subject.

AFFIRMATIVE
[ADVERB + VERB]

EXAMPLE:
"I always drink champagne with my supper."

[BE + ADVERB]

EXAMPLE: "Peter is sometimes late for lessons."

NEGATIVE
[NOT + ADVERB]

EXAMPLES:
"We don't often go to the theater."
"My sister isn't usually so quiet."

QUESTIONS
[SUBJECT + ADVERB]

EXAMPLES:
"What do you usually have for breakfast?"
"Do you always eat a sandwich for lunch?"
"Are you ever going to finish that book?"
"We sometimes take the car and sometimes walk."
"Bill is rarely late."
"Jessica doesn't ever call me at work."
 GERUNDS: GERUND OR INFINITIVE
USE:
Several verbs can be followed by either GERUNDS or INFINITIVES. In some
cases, such as REMEMBER, FORGET, STOP, and USE, this changes the meaning
of the sentence completely.

FORM + MEANING:
[REMEMBER/FORGET + GERUND - memories of the past]

EXAMPLES: "I remember seeing the Beatles in 1970." "I'll never forget meeting
you in Rome last year." FORM + MEANING: [REMEMBER/FORGET + INFINITIVE -
actions in the future] EXAMPLES: "I'll remember to give him the message
tomorrow." "Don't forget to feed the chickens this evening!" FORM +
MEANING: [STOP + GERUND - to finish or abandon an action] EXAMPLE: "We
stopped dancing because we were tired." FORM + MEANING: [STOP +
INFINITIVE - to start a new action] EXAMPLE: "I stopped to tie my shoelace."
FORM + MEANING: [TRY + GERUND - to experiment; to perform an action to
see what the result will be.] EXAMPLE: "If you want to make perfect tea, try
heating the pot with some boiling water before putting in the tea." FORM +
MEANING: [TRY + INFINITIVE - to attempt something; to find out whether it is
possible] EXAMPLE: "I tried to stroke the cat, but she ran away before I could
touch her." FORM + MEANING: [LIKE + GERUND - to enjoy something]
EXAMPLES: "I like eating chocolate." "I like reading novels." FORM + MEANING:
[LIKE + INFINITIVE - to think that something is wise, right, or enjoyable]
EXAMPLES: "I like to brush my teeth after meals." "I like to answer business
letters immediately." Note the difference between USE TO + INFINITIVE and
BE/GET USED TO + GERUND: FORM + MEANING: [USED TO (past) + INFINITIVE -
refers to a past habit or state which has now stopped or changed] EXAMPLES:
"I used to smoke 50 cigarettes a day, before I stopped." "We used to live in
Washington; now we live in Montreal." "My father used to have brown hair,
but now he is bald." FORM + MEANING: [BE or GET USED TO + GERUND -
means to consider something normal or become accustomed to something]
EXAMPLES: "I'm used to driving on the left now, but when I first came to
Britain it felt very strange!" "I can't get used to being a grandmother; I feel so
old!" "Don't worry; you'll get used to having grandchildren." With some verbs
(e.g. START, BEGIN, CONTINUE), it makes very little difference whether they
are followed by GERUND or an INFINITIVE, although one form may be slightly
more common than the other. In the following examples the more common
form comes first. EXAMPLES: "We started traveling/to travel at 6 o'clock." "Pat
began swimming/to swim when she was six." "Joe continued writing/to write
to me for years."