It’s quite hot today.
Ms. Stress is really busy right now.
He’s my very best friend.
I’m a little tired today.
That was a pretty good shot.
Sam just got a brand new car.
I know her fairly well.
It's extremely hot outside.
You're absolutely right!
| I ate my lunch yesterday. I ate at that restaurant last week. | She went there. She went downtown. |
| I ate my lunch at noon. I ate in the cafeteria. | She went to the store. She walked into the house. |
| Incorrect: | Correct: |
| I went to somewhere. I was busy at last night. John works in downtown. She came to home on yesterday. | I went somewhere. I was busy last night. John works downtown. She came home yesterday. |
| As adverbs | As nouns |
| I will go back tomorrow. She went home last night. Next week I will travel to Iowa. | Tomorrow is another day. They built a home in Oregon. Next week is my vacation. |
| AlwaysFrequently Usually Often Sometimes Occasionally Seldom Rarely Never | 100% of the timeabout 90% of the time about 80% of the time about 70% of the time about 50% of the time about 40% of the time about 20% of the time about 10% of the time about 00% of the time |
I always come to work on time.
They are seldom home when we call.
He’s usually eating breakfast at this time.
She’s never been to Maine.
A: Do you come here often?
B: Yes. I’m here occasionally.
A: What do you usually do here?
B: Sometimes I just sit and ponder the meaning of life.
A: Do you always carry a briefcase?
B: (Yes,) I usually do.
No, I usually don’t.
No, I rarely do.
No, I hardly ever do.
Every day/week/month
Every other day/week
Once a week/month/year
Twice a year/day, etc.
(Every) once in a while
Every so often
Every once in a while I visit my grandmother in Minnesota.
I visit my grandmother in Minnesota every once in a while.
I every once in a while visit my grandmother in Minnesota. (Incorrect)
| RegularlyNormally Traditionally | (according to schedule)(commonly nowadays) (commonly in the past) |
I regularly floss my teeth.
I floss my teeth regularly.
Traditionally, that was considered child’s play.
I normally get up around 6 o’clock.
Normally, I get up around 6 o’clock.
Mrs.Jenner sang softly. (Most common word order.)
Mrs. Jenner softly sang. (Also possible.)
Mrs. Jenner softly sang a lullaby.
Mrs. Jenner sang a lullaby softly.
Mrs. Jenner sang softly a lullaby. (Not correct.)
Mrs. Jenner is softly singing a lullaby.
Mrs. Jenner softly is singing a lullaby. (Not correct.)
Mrs. Jenner has been softly singing that lullaby for a long time.
Yesterday I visited the dentist.
I visited the dentist yesterday.
Jack Prompt is here already.
Jack Prompt is already here.
I yesterday visited the dentist. (Not okay.)
I already visited the dentist. (Okay.)
Already I visited the dentist. (Not okay.)
They come directly before the words they describe.
Greg is quite happy with his new boss.
Sue eats very slowly.
You’re absolutely right!
Carl is a quick runner.
Carl runs quickly.
| Carl is a fast runner. (Adjective)Carl runs fast. (Adverb) | Jill is a good student. (Adjective)Jill studies well. (Adverb) |
| When several adjectives modify the same noun, there is a particular order they must follow in English. Certain adjectives come before others. (Not all have to be used in the same sentence.)See the chart below. |
| Quanti-fier Some of All of Both | Article Posses-sive Demons-trative the, a, an this, that my, his | Number Sequence three second next | Quality Size wonderful clean large | Shape round square flat | Color red yellow black | Origin Laos Italian French | Material metal ceramic wood |
Some of the hungry gentlemen
The last great civilization
Ten big round metal rings
The beautiful Japanese ceramic vase
Either of the small green apples
My three lovely daughters
An interesting wooden statue
The third red plastic container
A: Tell me about your boyfriend
B: Well, he is tall, dark, and handsome.
A: Sounds like mine.
Adjectives can be used to answer the questions What kind (of)or Which one?
A: Hi. I'm calling about the car you're selling?
B: It's a great car. (It's) in excellent condition.
A: What kind of seats does it have?
B: They're very comfortable seats, (soft, plush, just like a sofa.)
A: Uh. I think I'll sleep on it.
A: Hand me a book.
B: Which one do you want?
A: The red book. The red one.
Three happy hippies lived in the Heartquake Hotel.
WRONG: Three hippies happy lived in the Heartquake Hotel.
My mother is tall and slender.
WRONG: My mother tall and slender. (No linking verb.)
The journey seemed long. (It appeared strenuous and boring.)
You smell nice today. What kind of cologne are you wearing?
A: What do you want to do this weekend? Bowling? Shopping? A movie?
B: Bowling sounds good.
Example: Three tired tigers tried to tie a triangular tie.
Not: Not three tireds tigers.
The following sentences indicate a common error among non-native speakers of English.X Jackson was arrived at 10:00 yesterday. Jackson arrived at 10:00 yesterday.
|
John ate an apple. (S V O) Passive is possible.2. Move the object to the front of the sentence. Put the original subject in a "be" phrase .
John ate yesterday. (S V) Passive is not possible.
An apple (V) by John.3. Put the verb in the form "be" +3 (of main verb)
An apple У be Ф eaten by John.4. Put the "be" in the same tense as the original active sentence.
An apple was/were eaten by John. ( past tense)5. Make the first verb agree with the new subject.
An apple was eaten by John.(Put other elements of the sentence in grammatical and logical order.)
Yesterday the large green apple was quickly eaten by John, who didnТt realize that it belonged to his sister.When other (auxiliary) verbs and modals are used in combination with the passive, remember:
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | should | have | been | being | eaten by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | is eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | was eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | is | being eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | was | being eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | have | been eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | have | been | being eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | had | been | being eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | will | be eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | is going to | be eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | must | be eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | must | have | been eaten | by John |
| Modal + 1 (Modal) | Have + 3 (Perfect) | be + V-ing (Progressive) | be + 3 (Passive) | ||
| The apple | must | have | been | being eaten | by John |
