Intensifiers

Intensifiers

Intensifiers are adverbs that enhance adjectives and adverbs. In English, they come
before the words they modify.
Examples:
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!

Adverbs and Prepositions

Adverbs and Prepositions

Adverbs are words or groups of words which tell time, place, frequency ormanner.
    I ate my lunch yesterday.
    I ate at that restaurant last week.
    She went there.
    She went downtown.
    Prepositions are usually followed by objects in prepositional phrases. They can also be used to indicate time, place, frequency, duration, reason, manner, or to show contrast.
    I ate my lunch at noon.
    I ate in the cafeteria.
    She went to the store.
    She walked into the house.

*Do not use adverbs as objects of prepositions.
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.
Be careful with words such as home, downtown, today, next/last week, etc. which are sometimes used as adverbs and sometimes used as nouns.
    As adverbsAs 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.
 

Frequency Adverbs

Frequency Adverbs  

The most common frequency adverbs in English are:
    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
    Note: The percentages here are rough estimates only.
Frequency adverbs can be placed at various points in the sentence, but are most commonly used before the main verbs and after be verbs.
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.
Note: The adverbs seldom, rarely, never and hardly ever are considered negative.
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.
Other frequency adverbs and expressions are as follows:
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
These expressions are used at the beginning and end of sentences, not before main verbs.
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)
These words can come at various points in the sentence.
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.

Adverbs

Adverbs

Adverbs are used to describe actions. They may come before or after a verb, but not between a verb and its object.
    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.)

Adverbs may come between a main verb and its auxiliaries.
    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.

Some time and frequency adverbs are “movable.” That is, they can be placed at various points in a sentence.
    Yesterday I visited the dentist.
    I visited the dentist yesterday.
    Jack Prompt is here already.
    Jack Prompt is already here.

Caution: 
Even though some adverbs can be used in certain sentence positions, others can not.
    I yesterday visited the dentist. (Not okay.)
    I already visited the dentist. (Okay.)
    Already I visited the dentist. (Not okay.)

Adverbs such as quite, very, really, extremely, and absolutely are used to modify adjectives and other adverbs.
They come directly before the words they describe. 

Greg is quite happy with his new boss. 

Sue eats very slowly. 

You’re absolutely right!

Many adverbs can be formed by adding –ly to adjectives:
Carl is a quick runner. 
Carl runs quickly.

Some adverbs are identical to adjectives in form. Others are completely different.
Carl is a fast runner. (Adjective)Carl runs fast. (Adverb)Jill is a good student. (Adjective)Jill studies well. (Adverb)


Be careful with words like hardly and lately, which have no relation to the adjectives/adverbs hard and late.
 

Adjective Order

Adjective Order


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

Examples:
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

Adjectives

Adjectives

Adjectives are used to describe nouns. They give more details or information about the nouns they are associated with.
    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.

Adjectives come before the nouns they modify (not after).
Three happy hippies lived in the Heartquake Hotel.
WRONG: Three hippies happy lived in the Heartquake Hotel.
Adjectives can also be used with linking verbs to describe the subject of a sentence.
When used in this manner, the adjective(s) come after the linking verb.
My mother is tall and slender.
WRONG: My mother tall and slender. (No linking verb.)
Seem, become, appear, and verbs of perceptioncan also be used as linking verbs. Note how they are used with adjectives in the following. Can you identify the linking verbs and the adjectives?
    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.

    CAUTION/BE CAREFUL:
    Tom looked greedy. (He appeared to be a greedy person.) 

    The adjective greedy is used to describe Tom. 

    Tom looked greedily at the pie on the table. 

    (He saw it and wanted it for himself.) 

    The adverb greedily is used to describe Tom's action.

Adjectives are the same for all nouns. They do not change for plurals.
Example: Three tired tigers tried to tie a triangular tie.
Not: Not three tireds tigers.

Non Passives

Non Passives


The following sentences indicate a common error among non-native speakers of English.
    X Jackson was arrived at 10:00 yesterday. 
    X My dog was died last week. 
    X What was happened? 
    X Dudley was slept at a hotel last night.
When using the simple past tense, only one verb is needed. The correct sentences are:
    Jackson arrived at 10:00 yesterday. 
    My dog died last week. 
    What happened? 
    Dudley slept at a hotel last night.
Sometimes students confuse the simple past tense with the passive. Notice the difference in the following sentences.
    Tamara ate a sandwich at noon.
    A sandwich was eaten by Tamara.
    Tamara ate yesterday.
    Yesterday was eaten by Tamara.
    Simple past tense
    Passive past tenseOkay
    Not Okay
    (Yesterday is not an object. Thus, the passive is not possible here.)
Some verbs in English are in-transitive. That is, they do not take objects. These verbs cannot be used in the passive voice.
    Alexander wrote a letter.
    A letter was written by Alexander.The news surprised Karen.
    Karen was surprised (by the news).
    My dog died last week.
    X My dog was died last week.
    Monica swims every day.
    Monica is swum every day.
    Transitive verb and object
    Passive voice okayTransitive verb and object
    Passive voice okay
    In-transitive verb (no object)
    Incorrect! Passive not okay
    In-transitive verb (no object)
    Incorrect! Passive not okay
*Some verbs can be either transitive or in-transitive depending on the situation.
    Jim walked to school this morning.
    Jim walked the dog this morning.
    The dog was walked (by Jim).

Passive Voice

Passive Voice

How to construct the passive.
1.  Check to see if the active sentence contains an object.
John ate an apple.         (S V O)       Passive is possible.
John ate yesterday.       (S V)          Passive is not possible.
2.  Move the object to the front of the sentence.  Put the original subject in a "be" phrase .
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 appleshouldhavebeenbeingeaten by John
Combination of auxiliary verbs with the passive.
Present Tense
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The apple   is eatenby 
John
Past Tense
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The apple   was eatenby John
Present ProgressiveTense
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The apple  isbeing eatenby John
Past Tense
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The apple  wasbeing eatenby 
John
Present Perfect Tense
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The apple have been eatenby John
Present Perfect Progressive
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The apple havebeenbeing eatenby John
Past Perfect Progressive
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The apple hadbeenbeing eatenby John
Future/Modal
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The applewill  be eatenby John
Future/Modal
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The appleis going to  be eatenby John
Modal
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The applemust  be eatenby John
Past Modal
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The applemusthave been eatenby John
Combination
 Modal + 1
(Modal)
Have + 3
(Perfect)
be + V-ing
(Progressive)
be + 3
(Passive)
 
The applemusthavebeenbeing eatenby John