Grammar Pamphlet

Prepared by:
JAF Lang Institute

Articles
A, an , and the
Nouns are, either countable (one horse , six horses , three girls) or uncountable
(Sugar. ,coal , butter) . Countable nouns take I and An ( An goes with nouns beginning with
vowel sounds ) to show that the noun is singular and. undefined. A. boy - is any undefined
boy . An apple is any undefined apple.
When we form the plural of countable nouns, we drop An or A (A boy) in the
singular becomes( boys) in the plural, An apple becomes (apples)
Examples:
A cowboy lives in America.
We get milk from a cow
A soldier salutes an officer.
The: countable nouns in the singular form take A or An before them to show
that they are:
a-

singular

b-

undefined

Plural countable nouns drop A or An also to show that they are undefined. When
nouns, either countable or uncountable, singular or plural, are defined, we put The before
them. (The man, The men, The sugar).
Examples:
The sugar Is sweet and the coffee is bitter.
The sun was In the sky nearly all The time.
2.

Tenses

2.1

Present Tense

All verbs (except be) have one form for all persons except the third singular . The
third person singular is usually formed by adding-s to the simple, or infinitive form.
I

write

go

am

have

fix

You

write

go

are

have

fix

writes

goes

is

write

go

are

He
She

has

fixes

It
We
You
They

have

fix

2.2

The uses of the present tense are:

1.

To express a condition that exists at the moment of speaking and may continue for a
short time.

2.

3.

They are angry

She seems happy about the news.

To express a general truth.

-

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

The earth revolves around the sun.

To express the idea that an activity or capability existed before the

moment of speaking, existed at the moment of speaking and may continue

4.

5.

2.3

She speaks fluent English.

My country produces a lot of materials.

To express a customary or habitual action.

-

I usually take the bus to work.

I some times sleep late on Sunday

To express future time.

-

He leaves for Europe next week.

The movie starts at eight

Past Tens

The past tense of a regular verb is formed by adding - ed or - d - to the base form . The form
is the same for all persons, both singular and plural.
Present Tense

Past Tense

Regular

Talk

Talked

Verb

Agree

Agreed

Study

Studied

Irregular

Speak

Spoke

Verb

Fly

Flew

come

came

An exception is the verb BE, which has two past forms.

I was

We were

You were

You were

He was

They were
3

2.4

The uses of the past tense are:

1.

To express an activity that occurred at a definite time in the past.

2.

3.

It rained yesterday.

They came here a year ago.

To express an activity that occurred at an unspecified time in the past.

-

He came to see us about his schedule.

He spoke to the captain about it.

To express au activity that occurred in the past over a continuous period of time, but
doesnt continue to the present moment of speaking.
-

2.5

He studied French when he was in high school .

Present Progressive Tense

The present progressive is formed with the present tense forms of the auxiliary be
plus the - ing form of the verb .This tense is also called present continuous.
Singular
Subject

form of be

Plural
+-ing form

Subject

form of be

+-ing form

am

studying

We

are

studying

You

are

writing

You

are

writing

working

They

are

working

HE
She

is

It
2.6

The uses of present progressive are:

1.

To express an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking.

- David and his uncle are playing cards now.

- You are reading this sentence now.
2.

To express an activity that occurred in the past, is going on. at the time of

speaking, and will probably continue into the future.

-Mary is studying music in New York.
- Fred is working for an oil company.
3.

To express an activity that will take place in the future

- We are going to that new movie after supper.

- We are buying a new car as soon as the new models come out.
4

4.
To express a frequently repeated or habitual action that is usually by the simple
present tense It is used in combination with the adverb always.
- My son is always learning new things. .
2.7.

Past Progressive Tense:

This tense is formed with the past tense forms of the auxiliary verb BE plus the ing form of
the verb. This tense is also called past continuous.
Singular
Subject

Plural

form of be

+-ing form

Subject

form of be

+-ing form

was

studying

We

were

studying

You

were

writing

You

were

writing

working

They

were

working

HE
She

was

It
The past Progressive is used to show that an activity was in progress in the past when
another activity occurred. It is frequently used with the Past Tense.
-

I was eating dinner when Tom called

While they were playing tennis, it rained.

2.8

Present Perfect Tense:

This tense is formed with the forms of the auxiliary verbs HAVE or HAS plus the past
participle of the verb.
Singular
Subject

Auxiliary

Plural
Verb PP

Subject

form of be
have

+-ing form

have

spoken

We

seen

You

have

driven

You

have

flown

They

have

studied

HE
She

has

gone

It
2.9.

Uses of the Present Perfect:

1.
It is used to show that an action started in the past and continued until the moment of
speaking and finished.
-

We have finished reading this story.

She has just closed the store.

2.
This tense is used to express that the action started in the past continued to the
moment of speaking, but we are not sure if it Is going to continue in the future Or not.. Or
we dont know at all,
5

I have taught this subject for 12 years.

He has driven his mothers car.

2.10 Past Perfect:

This tense is formed with only one form of the auxiliary verb to have, which is the past form
of have = had plus the verb in the past participle form for all persons.
Singular
Subject

Plural

Auxiliary(had)

Verb PP

Subject

Auxiliary(had)
had

Verb PP

had

spoken

We

seen

You

had

driven

You

had

flown

They

had

studied

HE
She

had

gone

It
l
The past perfect tense is used to show that there were two actions in the past, one occurred
before another action, or an action occurred before a specific time in the past.
-

I had got married before I graduated.

He had watched TV before he went to bed.

She had moved before the accident.

2.11

The Future Tense:

The future verb Phrase may be formed with WILL plus the simple form of the main verb.
Subject

Auxiliary(Will) main verb

will

You

Will

Subject

eat

We

Auxiliary(Will) main verb

will

be

drive

You

will

read

go

They

will

study

HE
She

Will

It
2.12

Uses of Future:

The Future tense is used to express an action that will take place in the future. WILL is used
for all persons. SHALL may be also used for first person singular or plural in formal speech
and writing.

He will see you tomorrow at eight oclock.

I will do my best to help you.

We will discuss that later.

Shall I pick you up at eight tonight.

2.

Future time may be expressed by present tense.

He graduates tomorrow.

They leave Sunday morning.

3.

Future time may be expressed by present progressive tense.

They are opening the new store next week.

She is cooking dinner for us tonight.

4.
The. Auxiliary going to combines a form of Be with going to followed by a
main verb This form is very common in spoken English.
Subject + Be+ going to+

Main Verb

Subject + Be+ going to+ Main Verb

am going to

walk

We

are going to

walk

You

are going to

answer

You

are going to

answer

They

are going to

study

HE
She

is going to

finish

It
2.13

Linking Verbs:

A linking verb in a statement can be followed by a subject compliment(a noun or

adjective) . This subject complement modifies the subject. The most common linking verbs
are :
a.

BE.

1.

John is a student.

(noun complement).

2.

The men are hungry.

(adjective complement).

3.

Lackland is an air force base.

( noun complement)

4.

The captain was angry.

(Adjective complement)

b.

Verbs of Perception:

1.

I feel uncomfortable with those people

2.

Your perfume smells wonderful.

3.

This ice cream tastes too sweet.

4.

That chair looks comfortable.

5.

The music sounds very loud.

c.

The verbs, ( get , turn , grow) when they mean become.

7

1.

The sky grew dark as the storm approached.

2.

It turns red when heated.

Exercise 1.
Complete the sentence with a subject compliment.
1. She seems --------------------------------------------.
2. The music sounds -----------------------------------.
3. The men got -------------------------------------------.
4. The sky grew ------------------------------------------.
5. Bob became -------------------------------------------.
6. The food tastes ---------------------------------------.
7. The student felt ---------------------------------------.
8. The girl looks -----------------------------------------.
Exercise 2.
Choose the correct form(adjective or adverb).
1. This math problem looks ( easy, easily)
2. I felt ( sad/sadly) when I heard the news.
3. The soup tasted ( good/well).
4. The room got (quiet/quietly) when the teacher entered.
5. She seemed ( cheerful/cheerfully).

Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun The most common kinds of pronouns
are:

Subject pronouns

Object pronouns

Singular

Plural

We

You

You

He she it

they

Me

Us

You

You

Her, him it

them

Examples
I.

I read the book . it was good. (it refers to the noun book)

2.

Mary said, I drink tea .(The pronoun I refers to the speaker Mary").

3.

This letter is from Mary. (It is from her)

4.

This letter Is for John. (It is for him)

8

Demonstrative pronouns:
(This, That, These, and Those).
Examples
1.

This is my favorite food.

2.

These are my children.

3.

That is my notebook.

4.

Those are students

Possessive Pronouns:
Possessive Pronouns tell us more about the possessor than they do about the thing
possessed.
Mine
Yours
Possessive Pronouns

Hers

Ours
Yours
theirs

his

Possessive Adjectives

May name

Our names

Your name

Your names

His, her, its

name

Their names

Examples
1.

This is my book. Yours is over there.

2.

This pen is mine. The other one is yours.

3.

Johns car was expensive, but ours cost even more.

Questions:
YES/ NO questions:
A.

A yes/no question is a question that may be answered by YES, or NO,

B.
If the verb is an auxiliary, the same Auxiliary is used in the question. There is no
change in the form of the main verb.
Examples:
1.

He is living there.

Is he living there?

2.

Mary can swim.

Can Mary swim?

3.

They will go to school.

Will they go to school?

C. if the sentence has more than one auxiliary , only the first auxiliary precedes the subject.
Examples
They will be studying.

Will they be studying?

D. If the verb is in the simple present. Use does with ( he , she , it) or do with ( I, you , we ,
they) in the question. If the verb is in the simple past, Use, did. The verb in the question is
in its simple form.
Examples:
1.

She lives in New York.

Does she live in New York?

2.

They study English.

Do they study English?

3.

They worked hard.

Did they work hard?

Question Word Questions

- When:

is used to ask about time.

When did they arrive?

When will you come?
- Where:

is used to ask about place.

Where is she?
Where can 1 find a pen?
-Why:

asks about reason.

Why did they leave early?
Why arent you coming with LIS?

-How:

generally asks about manner.

How did you come to school?
How does he drive?

How much: asks about quantity.

How much money does it cost?
How many: asks about number of count nouns How many people came?
How : is also used with adjectives and adverbs
How old, How cold, how soon, how fast, how long
-Who :

is used as the subject of a question * it refers to people.

Who can answer the question?

Who came to visit you?
Who is followed by singular verb even if the answer is plural.
10

Who is coming to dinner tonight?

Who wants to come with me?
- Whom:

asks about the object

Who(m) did you see?

Who(m) are you visiting?
* In spoken English , who is used instead of whom unless preceded by a preposition.
- Whose : asks about possession.
Whose book did you borrow?
Whose key is this?
- What : is used as the subject of a question . It refers to things.
What made you angry?
What went wrong?
* What is also used as an object.
What do you need?
What did she buy?
* What may also accompany a noun.
What countries did you visit?
What time did she come?
- Which: is used instead of what when choosing from a group.
Which pen do you want?
Which book should I buy?
* Which can also be accompanied by a noun.
Which countries did be visit?
Which class are you in?

Expressions of quantity
Many Much Some and Any
1. Many :

used with plural count nouns such as apples, chairs, students , .,.. etc
used in affirmative and negative statements and questions as well :

Examples

2.

a.

She has many children.

b.

He doesnt speak many languages.

c.

Does she have many friends?

d.

Doesnt she have many friends?

Much:

used only with non c nouns such as: rice, milk, information----etc.
used in affirmative and negative find negative statements and questions
as well:
11

Examples

3.

a.

John has much money.

b.

John doesnt have much money.

c.

Does she have much confidence in herself?

d.

Doesnt she have much confidence in herself?

Some:

used with plural count nouns and non count nouns,

students, salt .. etc
used in affirmative statements and questions to give a positive attitude.

Examples

4.

a.

Jean has bought some sugar..

b.

Do you have some money?

Any:

used with singular and plural count nouns and non-count nouns; any
book / any books ,any information. Used in both affirmative and
negative questions and negative statements.

Examples
a.

Does she have any problem(s)?

b.

Dont they have any faith in God?

c.

She doesnt have any problem(s) .

Exercises:
Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the box.
Many

much

some

any

1. The test is a piece of cake, -------------------------students can make it.

2. Many questions were too hard to answer and ---------were easy.
3. The TOEFL test is extremely hard ...... .. students fail and some pass.
4. She asked for------------------------ more interesting information
The Indirect Object. (I.O)
It is the person To whom or For-whom something. Is done
a. Sara gave the letter to her father
D.0
b. Jean fixed the car for her husband
IO
12

Indirect object either comes before the direct object as in.

a. She sent her mother a package.
IO

D.O

Or comes after the direct object and takes either to or for as in.
b. She gave the book to Tom
IO
c. He got a drink for Mary
IO
*

Notice the following sentences.

a.

She gave him a letter.

b.

She gave a letter to him.

c.

She gave it to him.

d.*

She gave him it.

a, b, and c are all correct except d seems odd and unacceptable.

Exercise: rewrite the following sentences as shown in the example:
Example :
-

She handed the papers to her teacher.

She handed her teacher the papers.

1.

The doctor has given the results to his patients.

2.

The passenger paid three dollars to the driver.

3.

Would you lend your car to me?

4.

He has cut a piece of cake for her.

Conjunctions:
A conjunction is a word that joins other words or clauses etc. e.g.:
and ,but or both ............... and ... etc
1.

And ( indicates addition) ( used when the statements are similar).

She went downtown and bought some food.
He sent money and clothes to his father.

2.

So (therefore, as a result)
He was tired , so he went to bed.

3.

For(because) : shows cause or reason.

The child hid behind his mothers skirt, for he was afraid of the dog.

4.

Yet/but: Both show contras.

He didnt study, but be passed.
13

5.

Or (shows a choice of two or more items.) (used to contrast equivalent Items.

She has to study harder or she fails the course.

6.

Both ...... and( shows addition of two or more items. Its somewhat more emphatic
than and.
Both my mother and sister are here (the two subjects connected by both ..... and
take a plural verb.

7.

Not only .. but also ( shows mutual relations).

Not only my mother but also my sister is here. (the subject that is closer to the verb
determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

8.

Neither ------nor.( shows mutual relations and means not------ and not----)
Neither my sister nor my parents are here.

9.

Either ------or----( offers a choice between two structurally equal items).

Either John or Mary gets the prize.

Notice that in Neither ....nor and either ---- or the, subject that is closer determines
whether the verb Is singular or plural.
10.

However (shows contrast).

I am getting along quite well, however, my roommate isnt doing so well

Exercise
Combine the following sentences by using a conjunction from the box.
But

and

both-----and

so

or

Not only ----- but also

either ----or

neither ----nor

Example
- She likes to swim.
- She isnt a good swimmer.
- She likes to swim but she isnt a good swimmer.
1.

He went to the store. He bought some razor blades.

2.

The weather is very hot. John Feels cold.

3.

Jean does not like rare steak. Mary does not like rare steak.

4.

Martha ran over an old man yesterday.

5.

Martha didnt take him to the hospital.

14

Prepositions
A preposition is a word or, a group of words, that is often placed before a noun or a pronoun
to indicate place, direction, source .... etc. such as at, on, by, in -------- etc.
1.

Prepositions Of time and date. (at, on, by. in)

- At a time
(at dawn, at six oclock, at midnight, at an age ( at sixteen)
- On a day/Date.
(on Monday, on June 4, on Christmas Day).
By a time / date period = at that time or before/ not later than that date.
- On time / In time
on time means at the time arranged, not before / not after.
The bus leaves at 7:30.
The bus leaves on time if it leaves at 7:30 (not before not after) ,in time not late.
Passengers should be in time for their train.
- From , since ,for.
From is normally used with to or till! until.
They work from eight to five:
- Since from that time to the time of speaking. He has been working since 10:30.
- For is used with a period of time. for 2 months / .2 years
He has worked at that restaurant for 2 years. During is used with known periods of
time, during summer / class.......
- After and before.
He has a shower before breakfast.
He always brushes his teeth after meals.
Prepositions of Place
IN- is used with any place that has boundaries or is enclosed and rather big.
in a country, town, village.
At - is used with rather a small area! bus stop / airport / school/restaurant.
* Notice the difference between At and In in the
following 2 sentences.
She is at school (either inside or in the grounds or just outside)
She is in school (inside only).
- On -( means covering or forming a part of a surface or in contact with).
The ball is on the table.
She sat on the table.
15

- Above/Over ( higher than and sometimes either can be used.

The sky is over / above our heads.
- When there is contact or touching, over is used only.
He spread his handkerchief over his face.
-Under /Below ( lower than and some times either can
There is nothing below / under 50 cents.
-When there is contact ,under is used only.
She put her book under her pillow.
Between/Among:
Between is used with two people or things as in( she divided the money between her two
sons).
It can be used also whenever there is a definite number in mind as in
Luxemburg lies between Germany, Belgium and France.
Among is used with more than two people or things or whenever we have an indefinite
number in mind.
She divided the money among her four sons..
- Into / On to . (Both indicate motion.
-

She poured tea into the cup.

The actor walked on to the stage

Exercise:
Fill the blanks with the correct preposition (over, on, at, above, during ,for, between ,
among , in , into, onto... etc.
1.

She left her keys ....... the car.

2.

He came to school -------------6 : 30 a.rn.

3.

She sat --------------------John and Jean

4.

They poured cement ........ ..... the hole.

5.

He has been waiting ....--------- three hours\

6.

They put a blanket ................ her dead body.

16

ADJECTIVES.
Definition
* An adjective is a descriptive word which modifies a noun or a pronoun.
Examples
1.

Selma is smart.

2.

The food tastes delicious

3.

I feel sleepy.

Adjective position
1.

Attributive: adjectives are placed before the nouns they modify.

Examples
She bought a new car yesterday.
Alfred writes correct sentences
2.
Predicate : adjectives follow linking verbs such as be-fee1 smell , look ,sound. They
also come after these verbs - become, remain, get, appear and seem.
Examples
The lady smells nice.
The boss is sad today.
The weather will remain hot today.
Forms of Adjectives:
Most descriptive adjectives have three forms. These forms express degree in relation to the
specific qualities of people or objects. These three degrees are :1.

positive: usually describing objects or things. The children are happy:

2.

comparative: describing two persons or things. AL is older than Ed

3.
Superlative: describing three or more persons or things. Tom is the tallest student in
the class.
Inflectional forms:
1.
The suffix inflections-er and est are used for comparative and superlative of one
syllable adjectives and for certain two syllable adjectives.
Examples:
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

Great

Greater

Greatest

Happy

Happier

Happiest

Lively

Livelier

Liveliest

Tall

Taller

tallest

17

2.
More and Most are used with the Comparative and the superlative when an adjective
has more than two syllables and for some two syllable adjectives.
Examples

3.

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

careful

more careful

most careful

Expensive

More expensive

Most expensive

Interesting

More interesting

Most interesting

A few adjectives are compared with irregular forms

Examples;
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

Good

Better

Best

Bad

Worse

Worst

Far

Farther

Farthest

Far

Further

Furthest

Little

Less

least

Examples and exercises:

1.

Today is better than yesterday.

2.

Plane tickets are more expensive than train tickets.

3.

Tom is the richest student in the class.

4.

Selma is the smartest one in the party

5.

The weather today seems the best during this week.

6.

Exercise A is the most important of all.

Exercise on comparisons
Choose the correct answer:
Exercises Oil comparisons
Choose the correct answer
1.

This is the ------------- car.

a. more expensive

2.

Doctor Ned is the ...... of all

a. good

3.

b. best

c. better

The food at Aldos restaurant tastes

a. the more delicious

4.

b. most expensive c. expensive

b. the most delicious

c. deliciously.

Paperback books are ----------------than the hard cover ones.

a. cheap

b. more cheaper
18

c. cheaper

5.

She has ............ money than her friend.

a. more

6.

b. most

Speaking is ------------------ than listening.

a. more difficult

7.

b. difficult

c. difficultier

The weather today seems ---------------than it was yesterday.

a. bad

8.

c. much

b. worst . .

c. worse

She is ------------------.
a. taller than me

b. taller than I

C. .. tallest than me

Adverbs
An adverb. is a word that modifies a verb , an adjective, or an other adverb.
Examples
1.

He waited patiently . adv modifying a verb..

2.

He is completely satisfied with his boss . adv . modifying adj.

3.

Summer came very early this year. adv modifying adv

Types of Adverbs:
I.

Adverbs of Manner. usually formed by adding an ly to an adjective

Examples:
2.

Adverbs of frequency.

Exarnp1es:
3.

quickly - slowly -easily - differently.

always - never sometimes-often - usually - ever

Adverbs of location :-

Exarnp1es :outside - here - there - back down town- upstairs.

4.

Adverbs of time :-

Examples :
5.

tomorrow -tonight - today early - soon - later.

Interrogative adverbs:

Examples where - when - why - how.

6.

Adverbs of degree :

Examples: very quite- almost - too . extremely - rather.

Position:
Adverbs come after action verbs 1.

The storm broke suddenly.

2.

She dances beautifully.

3.

He speaks quickly.

4.

She drives carefully.

19

Some words are u both as adjectives and adverbs such as:

Fast - Hard - Late - Early Well

1.

He is Fast. - adjective.

2.

He runs fast. -adverb.

3.

The job seems hard. adjective.

4.

He works hard - adverb.

Examples of adjectives and adverbs:

Adjectives

adverbs

Quick

Quickly

Slow

Slowly

Glad

Gladly

Happy

Happily

Correct

Correctly

Bad

Badly

Early

Early

Late

Late

Hard

Hard

Fast

Fast

Good

well

Comparison of adverbs.

Adverbs have three degrees:

Positive

Comparative

superlative

Quickly

More quickly

Most quickly

Carefully

More carefully

Most carefully

Fast

Faster

Fastest

20

Irregular Forms:
Positive

Comparative

superlative

Badly

Worse

Worst

Well

Better

Best

Early

Earlier

Earliest

Much

More

Most

Farther

Farthest

Further

furthest

Far

Evaluation Exercises on adjectives and adverbs:

1.

Underline the adverbs in the following paragraph:

Lt. Jones is a good pilot. He flies well . He handles his plane efficiently and well. He
is verb patient. When he instructs the students, he answers their questions cheerfully.
Hes a rapid speaker but he Always explains slowly and carefully.

2.

3.

4.

Fill in the blanks with the adverbial forms of the adjective in parenthesis.
1.

She drives very--------- - (fast)

2.

He did the work------------- ( careful )

3.

She speaks English ------------(good)

4.

We arrived --------------(early)

5.

He obeyed ----------------(quick)

Supply the correct form of the adjective or adverb.

1.

He is a ------------- ( fast ) driver

2.

He drives........... .

3.

This sentence is----------------.(correct)

4.

They all spoke ----------------( correct(

5.

He is always----------------( glad ) to go

6.

He went---------------.( glad )

(fast)

Choose the correct form.

1.

His English is very (well , good)

2.

He speaks (careful , carefully)

3.

He doesnt drive, as (careful , carefully) as I.

4.

The pilot landed his plane ( quick, quickly) and (careful, carefully).

5.

Dont speak ( careless, carelessly) because it sounds (bad, badly(

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Adverbs of Frequency:
* They are used to indicate the number of times an action repeated
* The most commonly used adverbs of frequency are always (100%) usually(75%-95%) often (50-75%)- sometimes (1-25%)- ever (0%-100%) never (0%)

Position:
1.

Before action verbs

She always eats in the cafeteria.
We usually sleep at night.
We often speak F

2.

After be-verbs
She is always late.
The answers re usually right
We are often careless.

3.

Between the Auxiliary and Main Ver:

Martha has always been my friend
You can usually find the colonel here.
Jeff has sometimes been wrong

Meaning and Percentage:

Always

All of the time.

100 %

Usually

Most of the time.

75% - 99%

Often -

Frequently.

50%% - 75%

Sometimes Occasionally now and then, once in a while

I % - 25%

Ever

At any time

1%- 100%

Never

Not at any time

0%

Ever- Never:
Ever is used in negative statements and questions:
I dont ever ride the bus
She doesnt ever study in the morning
My friend doesnt ever read the lesson.
Is he ever at home in the morning?
Does the student ever study in his room?
Have you ever been abroad?
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Never is a negative form of adverb.

Never =Negative statement
I have never been to U.K.
They never take a cab
They never work hard.
Evaluation Exercise:
Place the adverb in the correct position:
1. (Often)

I eat at 12:30.

2. (always)

John goes downtown in a cab.

3. (usually)Are the students in an apartment house?

4. (often)Is the cab late?
5. (always)

Do those people work hi the afternoon?

6. (usually) Does Mr. Hilton teach English?

7. (ever)

Does your friend call the wrong number?

8. (always)

I dont understand the lesson.

9. (ever)

Mr. and Mrs. Burns dont ride the bus.

10. (never)1 have orange juice.

11 .(usually) She goes to work at 8 o'clock.
12 . (often) We have Lunch at the cafeteria.
13. (ever) Do you take the bus?
14 . (sometimes) They go to bed by 10 oclock.
15. (always) We have toast with Our coffee.
16 . (ever) Do you study in the evening?
17. (usually) Paul doesnt work at night.
18. (often) We dont in a restaurant..
19. (ever) They arent in class on Sunday.
20 . (always) Are the waitresses busy?

Modal Auxiliaries
Modals are auxiliary or helping verbs that are different from the other types of auxiliaries.
They give a special meaning to the main verb. They express mental concepts such as
possibility, ability, permission, obligation, necessity, and inference. The modals are followed
by the simple form of the main verb.

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Usage and Meaning of Modals:

A.

Can-Could= be able to

Uses
Examples:
Martha can play the piano
He could speak French when he was a boy.
She can climb the mountain
1.

Informal Permission.
Examples:
You can leave after dinner
Anyone can go to the concert.
Can I go with you?

3.

Possibility.
Examples:
I can pick you up tomorrow at 4:00
I could get married next year.
I will be able to attend my brother's wedding

4.

Polite Request:
Examples:
Could I get the price list , Please?
Can you lend me ten dollars?
Can I leave early today?

b.

May-might

Uses
1. Permission
Examples:
May I visit you sometime?
May I leave early?
You might watch TV.
2. Request.
Examples:
May I have some more coffee?
May I smoke here?
May I leave early?

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3. Possibility
Examples:
We may take our vacation in July.
We might go to the mall tomorrow
It might rain tonight.
4.Offers.
Examples:
May I drive you home?
May I help you?
May I prepare it for you?
C. Should=ought to=had better
Uses:
1. Obligation
Examples:
You should pay your Bills on time.
We should write letters to our friends
You should come on time
2. Probability
Examples:
The boss should be back anytime now.
I should get a call from him soon.
My friend should be at home now.
3. Advisability.
Examples:
You should get more sleep
We should exercise more
I should study for the test.
D. Must=have to
Uses
1. Necessity(strong obligation)
Examples:
Everyone must finish the test by 9:30.
We must not be late
We must buy a larger car

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2. Inference(conclusion).
Examples:
He is wet, It must be raining.
The statistics must be right.
She didnt come. She must be sick.
**NOTE: Must and have to are very similar in meaning. With have to, the obligation is
usually external while must is used when the feeling of obligation comes directly from the
speaker.
E. Will=be going to.
Uses:
1. Future
examples:
We will see you after lunch
We will go to the party tonight
I will visit you tomorrow
2. Request.
Examples:
Will you help me with this problem?
Will you please pass the sugar?
Will you open the door?
3. Promise
Examples:
I'll see you at ten.
I will help you tomorrow.
We will have a p[arty next Monday.
F. Would
Uses
1. Polite request.
Examples:
Would you call back please?
Would you help me open these windows?
Would you pay the Bill by Monday?
2. Would+Infintive(contrary to-fact condition)
examples:
I would go with you if I had time
He would enlist in the army if he were older
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I would buy a car if I had money

3. Would + rather= prefer.
Examples:
I would rather stay home.
I would rather have coffee
I would rather study Math.
4. Pat habitual activity.
Examples:
When she was young, she would dream of being a mother.
When I was young, I would play football.
When she was living in UK, she would practice sports.
Exercises on Modals:
Exercise -1Find the error in each of the following sentences, then correct it.
1. She can refuses the offer.
2. He must to be at home right now.
3. He has to gave more homework.
4. She didnt able to climb the mountain.
5. I ought meet someone tonight.
Exercise -2Write the meaning of the underlined Modal in each sentence.
1.

It may rain tonight

2.

Would you please wait over there?

3.

We have to leave pretty soon

4.

Could I get the price list please?

5.

He would rather make the decision later.

6.

I will visit her tonight.

7.

If I had money, I would go shopping.

8.

You must obey my orders.

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Sentence Construction
There are four types of sentences according to the structure. The char below shows these
types:

Type

Structure

examples

simple

One independent clause

He visits his parents every week

Compound

Two independent clauses joined

by a coordinating conjunction

Gold is an excellent conductor, but

nobody uses it

Complex

One dependent clause joined to

an independent clause by a
subordinating conjunction

If you do not study very hard, you will

fail the test tomorrow

Compound

At least one independent clause

plus one additional clause

Although you will be going to UK, and

you will be meeting with many people,
you will not feel satisfied

**NOTE: Coordinating conjunctions are : and , but, so, and, too.

Subordinating conjunctions are : despite the fact that, because, since, while
whereas ---------etc.
Imperatives.
To form an imperative, you had better start with the action verb, and avoid mentioning the
subject. In general, the imperative is expressed in many different ways:
a.

Verbs alone:
Stand up
Sit down
Negative forms
Dont stand up
Dont sit down

b.

Let us(let's)= lexical verb

Lets go now
Negative form: Lets not go now.

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