© ccyang 2012 first-year class department of applied foreign languages cheng shiu university...

© CCYang 2012 First-year Class Department of Applied Foreign LanguagesCheng Shiu University

English Grammar Practice

Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.

English Grammar Practice © CCYang 2012

Table of Contents Wh- Questions Question Tags So and Neither Have Something Done Verb + -ing form Verb to-infinitive or Verb + –ing Used to do and be used to doing See it happen or see it happening Some structures with the –ing form Countable and uncountable nouns

Subject and verb The article Reflexive pronouns Preposition Word formation


What time is your friend arriving? ~Half past eight.What color is the Greek flag? ~Blue and white.What kind of/What sort of club is it? ~A nightclub.How much do you spend? ~A hundred pounds.How many books have you got? ~About Thirty.

Question Phrases (1)

Wh- Questions


How far is it from Los Angeles to San Francisco? ~From Los Angeles to San Francisco is about 400 miles.How long is a game of rugby in England? ~A game of rugby in England is eighty minutes.How often are the Olympic Games held? ~The Olympic Games are held every four years.


Wh- Questions


Where is Melbourne? ~It’s in Australia.When did the Second World War end? ~In 1945.What is Sirius? ~It’s a star.Who did Romeo love? ~Juliet.Whose friend did you meet? ~David’s.How can we get tickets? ~online booking


Wh- Questions


Who are you looking at? ~Just a friend.Who are you looking for? ~Just a friend.Who are you waiting for? ~Just a friend.Who did you go out with? ~Just a friend.Who are you talking about? ~Just a friend.

Preposition in Wh- Question (1)

Wh- Questions


What is he laughing at? ~One of his jokes. What is he ashamed of? ~One of his jokes.What is he pleased about? ~One of his jokes.What is he complaining about? ~One of his jokes.What is he feel nervous about? ~One of his jokes.


Wh- Questions


What …for asks about purposeWhat do you read for? ~To learn new knowledge.What are these bricks for? ~To build a wall.What is the party for? ~To meet new people.


What …for means the same as WhyWhat are they digging up the road for?

~They are repairing a gas pipe.

Wh- Questions


What …like asks if something is good or bad, interesting or boring, etc.What was the party like? ~We had a great time.What is the place like? ~It’s pretty quiet.What are they like? ~They’re very nice people.What was the weather like? ~It was warm and dry.


Wh- Questions


how asks about someone’s well-beingHow is your new job? ~I’m really enjoying it.How was your day? ~Not too bad. Busy as usual.


Wh- Questions


Compare these two questionsWhat is Melanie like? ~She’s very nice. (She is a nice person.)How is Melanie? ~She’s fine, thanks. (She is happy/in good health.)


Wh- Questions


Comparison- What and Which

We use what when there is a wide choice of possible answers.We use which when there is a limited number of possible answers.what and which are both possible answers.

Wh- Questions


What: a wide choice of possible answers.What sport do you play? There are a lot of different sports.(Tennis or golf of football or hockey or…?)Which: a limited number of possible answers.Which way do we go there? There’re only two or three ways to go. (Right or left?)

Comparison- What and Which

Wh- Questions


What: a wide choice of possible answers.(Do you play the piano, or the violin, or the guitar, or…?)What musical instrument do you play?(Do you like classical music, or jazz, or rock music, or…?)What music do you like?(Do you paint the wall creamy, or white, or beige, or…?)What color do you paint the wall?(Are you learning Japanese, or Spanish, or Arabic, or…?)What language are you learning?

Wh- Questions


Wh- QuestionsWhich: a limited number of possible answers.(Did you go to the Little Theatre or the Theatre Royal?)Which theatre did you go to?(Did you take the morning flight or the afternoon flight?)Which flight did you take?(Did you stay at the Grand Hotel or the Bristol?)Which hotel did you stay at?(Did you go to the Coffee Pot or the Tea Gardens?)Which café did you go to?


A question tag is a short question added on to a statement. When a tag is spoken, the voice can go down or up.Comment (with falling intonation)With a falling intonation, the speaker thinks the statement is true. The tag is not really a question.Question (with rising intonation)With a rising intonation, the speaker is less sure.The tag is more like a real question.

Question tags


Positive Statement + Negative TagA negative tag is an auxiliary verb + n’t + pronounNegative Statement + Positive Tag A positive tag is an auxiliary verb + pronoun

Question tags


Positive Statement + Negative TagA negative tag is an auxiliary verb + n’t + pronoun

It is very warm, isn’t it? It will be dark soon, won’t it? I turned right, didn’t I? You live near here, don’t you? You have played before, haven’t you? The coat looks nice, doesn’t it? The children can swim, can’t they?

Question tags


Negative Statement + Positive TagA positive tag is an auxiliary verb + pronoun

It isn’t very warm, is it? It will not be dark soon, will it? I didn’t turn right, did I? You don’t live near here, do you? You have not played before, have you? The coat doesn’t look nice, does it? The children can not swim, can they?

Question tags


The answer yes means that the positive is true.

The answer no means that the negative is true.

Edward works for Matthew, doesn’t he? ~ Yes, he does. He works for Matthew. Emma doesn’t eat meat, does she? ~ Yes, she does. She eats meat. Rachel is married, isn’t she? ~ No, she isn’t. She isn’t married. Mark hasn’t got many friend, has he? ~ No, he hasn’t. He hasn’t got many friends.

Question tags


Practice The price list is up to date, isn’t it? These sweaters are nice, aren’t they? The bus goes at ten, doesn’t it? There are many people, aren’t there? You came is a sports car, didn’t you? I have told you many times, haven’t I? Let’s listen to some music, shall we?

Question tags


Question tags

Practice These sausages aren’t delicious, are they? You haven’t got a newspaper, have you? The situation doesn’t bother you, does it? There is nothing to argue about, is there? He can’t see things from my viewpoint, can he? Pass me the salt, can/could/will you? Don’t do anything silly, will you?


We use so after a positive statement and neither after a negative one.

Structure: so/neither + an auxiliary +the subject We’re really busy at work. ~So are we. I’m a quiet sort of person. ~So am I. I haven’t eaten anything. ~Neither have I. I didn’t have time for lunch. ~Neither did I. The plane doesn’t work. ~Neither does this one.

So and Neither


We use so after a positive statement and neither after a negative one.

Structure: so/neither + an auxiliary +the subjectWe’re really busy at work and so are they.He likes quieter places and so does she. I haven’t eaten anything and neither has she.She didn’t have time for lunch and neither did he. The plane doesn’t work and neither does that one.

So and Neither


We can use nor instead of neither. We didn’t do well and neither/nor did they.He doesn’t like noises and neither/nor does she. They aren’t here tonight and neither/nor are we.She didn’t eat dinner and neither/nor am I. The phone isn’t working and neither/nor is that one.

So and Neither


Conversation Practice I haven’t been to a party for ages. Neither have I. I’m not a party-goer. Neither am I. I lead a pretty quiet life. So do I. I hate crowded rooms. So do I. I’m a quiet sort of person. So am I. I would really like a good friend. So would I. I will share my life everyday with him. So will I.

So and Neither


Mark likes music and so does Bryan. Mark travels quite a lot and so does Laura. Laura isn’t a music lover and neither is Karen. Karen didn’t travel much and neither did Bryan.

Mark Laura Karen Bryan

Music ✓ × × ✓Travel ✓ ✓ × ×

Practice

So and Neither


Karen can ski and so can Bryan. Mark can’t ski and neither can Laura. Laura cooks quite often and so does Karen. Bryan isn’t keen on cooking and neither is Mark.

Mark Laura Karen Bryan

Skiing × × ✓ ✓Cooking × ✓ ✓ ×

So and Neither

Practice


Compare these situations Ann painted the room. (She did the work herself.) Ann had the room painted. (A painter did the work) We can use have in a passive structure.Ann had the room painted means that she arranged for a painter to do it for her as a professional service.

Have Something Done


Look more examples: You should have your car serviced. They have their heating checked. He has his suits cleaned. We had the television repaired. You had your hair cut. My neighbor has a new garage built. She has a new cooker installed.

Have Something Done


Have Something Done

Look more examples: He went to the hospital. A nurse bandaged his arm.=He had his arm bandaged.He is going to the dentist. He is going to fill his teeth.=He is going to have his tooth filled.


Verb + -ing formAfter some verbs we use an –ing form. We usually avoid driving in the rush hour. We practice throwing the ball into the basket. We consider moving to Seattle. He finishes typing the letter. He enjoys watching football on TV. He dislikes getting up early on the weekend.


Verb + -ing formAfter some verbs we use an –ing form. He suggests having a party. He admits breaking the windows. He denies having seen these watched before. He can’t tolerates cheating on exams. He can’t justify taking all the time off from studies. He can’t imagine them having a good time.


Verb + -ing formAfter some verbs we use an –ing form. We fancy going (would like to go) out for a meal. We don’t want to risk missing the bus. The trip involves changing buses in the centre. The trip saves waiting for a bus. He postpones (puts off/ delays) sending a reply.


Verb + -ing formAfter some verbs we use an –ing form. She wouldn’t mind waiting a moment. Would you mind waiting a moment?

keep or carry on means something continuing Please keep stirring the mixture until it boils. Please carry on stirring the mixture until it boils.


Verb + -ing formAfter some verbs we use an –ing form. He gives up drinking and smoking. We can’t (couldn’t) help laughing at his jocks. She can’t (couldn’t) resist buying it. She can’t (couldn’t) stand waiting in a queue.


V to-infinitive or V-ing With some verbs, the choice of a to-infinitive or an –ing form depends on the meaning.

remember/forget to do for necessary actions remember/forget doing for memories of the past I must remember to post this important letter today. I remember posting the letter on yesterday morning. She forgets to switch off the machine. She never forgets flying over the Grand Canyon.



regret to do something means to be sorry for something you are doing, e.g. giving bad news. regret doing something means to be sorry because something that happened in the past. We regret to inform you there’s no vacancy now. We regret spending all money. We’ve got none left.



try to do something means attempt something, to do your best. try doing something means to do something which might solve a problem. We are trying to run this computer program. We tried clicking on the box, but it doesn’t work.



stop to do something means to stop the current action and to do something stop doing something means to end the current action An old man walking along the road stopped to ask us what problems we met. There’s too much noise. Can you stop talking, please?



mean to do something means to intend to do it mean doing something expresses the idea of one thing resulting in another I think Nick meant to break that glass. It didn’t look like an accident. I’m applying for a visa. It means filling in this form.



Go on to do something means to do something else, to do the next thing. Go on doing something means to continue doing it

The agent introduced herself and went on to explain about the project. He kept answering his phone during the meeting. People asked him to end the call, but he went on talking.


Used to do and Be used to doing

used + to-infinitive

means that something happened regularly or went on for a time in the past. be (get) used to + -ing means something is familiar and is no longer strange.


used + to-infinitive means that something happened regularly or went on for a time in the past.We used to play that game when we were young.There used to be a hall here, but they knocked it down.Lots of trains used to stop here, but not many do now.



We normally use didn’t use to in negatives. We didn’t use to have computers.=We never used to have computers.

We normally use did … use to in questions. Did you use to live in Los Angeles? Did you use to help with the family business? Where did people use to buy their food before the

supermarket was built?



be (get) used to + -ing means something is familiar and is no longer strange.

Most visitors to Britain aren’t used to driving on the left.=Most visitors to Britain don’t get used to driving on the left.She isn’t used to speaking to a large audience.=She doesn’t get used to speaking to a large audience.



See it happenWe saw Trevor plant the tree. (He planted the tree. We saw him do the whole job.)

See it happeningWe saw Trevor planting the tree. (He was planting the tree. We saw him in the middle of the job.)

see it happen or see it

happening


See it happen (we can use this structure with these verbs:

feel, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch) We saw him fall down the steps. We heard someone close the door. We watched the parade go past.


happening


See it happening (we can use this structure with these verbs:

feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, smell, watch) We saw him walking with a stick. We hear someone playing the piano. We found him exercising in the gym.


happening


When we talk about a short action, it often does NOT matter which structure we use.

They heard a car turn/turning the corner.They didn’t see anyone leave/leaving any litter.


happening


Two actions at the same time (1)When two things are happening at the same time, we can use a main verb and an –ing form.

We stand in a queue waiting for the bank to open.We cannot sit watching television all day.She lay on the sofa reading a magazine.

Some structures with the –ing form


Two actions at the same time (2)We can also use a main verb and an –ing form, when one action comes in the middle of another. We use the –ing form for the longer action.He injured his knee doing gymnastics.(He injured his knee while he was doing gymnastics.)He went to sleep listening to the music. (He went to sleep while he was listening to the music.)



One action after another (1)When there are two short actions, one straight after the other, we can use an –ing form for the first action.

Opening the bottle, he poured the drinks. (After opening the bottle, he poured the drinks.)Turning right into the avenue, the car drove north for two blocks. (After turning right into the avenue, the car drove north for two blocks.)



One action after another (2)We can also use the perfect –ing form.Opening the bottle, he poured the drinks.Having opened the bottle, he poured the drinks. (After opening the bottle, he poured the drinks.)



One action after another (3)If either of the actions is long, we must use the perfect –ing form.

Having photocopied all the papers, she put them back in the file.

Having repaired the car, he took it out for a road test.



One action after another (4)These patterns are typical of written English. In spoken English, to talk about one action after another we use a sentence like this.

He repaired the car and then took it out for a road test.



The –ing form saying why (1)We can use the –ing form to give a reason. The fans queued for hours, hoping to get tickets. (They queued for hours because they hoped to get tickets.) Being the youngest child, she was her father’s favorite. (She was her father’s favorite because she was the youngest child.) Not knowing the way, she had to ask for directions. (Because she didn’t know the way, she had to ask for directions.)



The –ing form saying why (2)We can also use the perfect –ing form to give a reason.

Having spent all his money, he couldn’t afford a new ja

cket. (He couldn’t afford a new jacket because he spent all his money.)

We decided not to travel, having heard the terrible weather forecast. (We decided not to travel because we have heard the terrible weather forecast.



Countable A countable noun (e.g. ship) can be singular or

plural. We can count ships. We can say a ship/ one ship or some ships.

Uncountable An uncountable noun (e.g. water) is neither singular

nor plural. We cannot count water. We can say water or some water.

Countable and uncountable nouns


The +both countable and uncountable nouns The goes with both countable and uncountable

nouns. re countable noun. We can say the ship (singular), the ships (plural) or the water (uncountable).



some and any go with plural or uncountable nouns

plural nounsHe told some jokes. Do you know any jokes?

uncountable nounsWe had some fun. That won’t be any fun.



uncountable nouns a carton of milk a carton of juice a bottle of water a glass of water a cup of coffee a jar of jam


a loaf of bread two loaves of bread a piece/slice of bread a tin/can of soup a box of matches a packet of crisps a bar of chocolate a tube of toothpaste a collection of pictures


uncountable nouns a kilo (kilogram) of cheese three kilos (kilograms) of potatoes five meters of cable twenty liters of petrol half a pound of butter



uncountable nouns a piece of wood a piece of cake a piece/ slice of bread a piece/sheet of paper a piece/ bit of advice a bit/ an item of news two pieces/ bits of information



The nouns are uncountable in English but they may be countable in other languages:

accommodation baggage/ luggage behavior equipment furniture fun/ luck


homework/ housework litter/ rubbish/ trash/ junk

garbage/ refuse/ waste progress scenery traffic weather


Some nouns can be either countable or uncountable. For example, a potato is a separate, individual thing, but potato cannot be counted as food.

They are peeling the potatoes. (countable) Would you like some potato? (uncountable) They baked a cake. (countable) Have some cake. (uncountable)



Often the countable noun is specific, and the uncountable noun is more general.

Rugby is a sport. (a particular sport) (countable)Do you like sport? (sport in general) (uncountable)That’s a nice painting. (a particular painting) (countable)He’s good at painting. (painting in general) (uncountable)We heard a sudden noise. (a particular noise) (countable)Constant noise make you ill. (noise in general) (uncountable)He had an interesting life. (a particular life) (countable)Life is complicated sometimes. (life in general) (uncountable)



Sometimes nouns can be countable or uncountable with different meanings.

COUNTABLE a paper(=newspaper) a glass of juice an iron for clothes switch all lights on many times a great experience run a business(=company) a space in the park


UNCOUNTABLE I need some paper to write on. a piece of glass for the window The bridge is made of iron. There’s more light by the window. I can’t stop. I haven’t got time. job experience do business (=buying and selling) There’s no space for a piano here. There’re many satellites out in space.


Words for drink are usually uncountable. Coffee is more expensive than tea.

But when we are ordering or offering drinks, we can say either a cup of coffee or a coffee. Two coffee, please. (= two cups of coffee) Would you like a beer? (= a glass/bottle/can of beer)

Some nouns can be countable when we are talking about a particular kind or about different kinds. Chianti is an Italian wine. (= a kind of Italian wine) The use of plastics has increased. (= the use of different kinds of plastic)



After a singular or an uncountable noun and after he, she, or it, we use a singular verb. SINGULAR The window is open. She was upset. The soup tastes good.

After a plural noun or they, and after nouns joined by and, we use a plural verb. PLURAL The windows are open.

Subject and verb

This method doesn’t work. He doesn’t like to go out. It is raining outside.

The biscuits taste good. These methods don’t work. Her eyes were wet. The door and the window are open.


After everyone, something, nothing, every, each, or one of we use a singular verb.

Everyone was pleased. Something is wrong. Nothing is special here.

After all and a number of we use a plural verb. All the seats have a number. A number of questions were asked.

Subject and verb

Each door is a different color. Every seat has a number. One of the photos is missing.


An amount + a singular verbAfter an amount of money, a distance, a weight or a length of time, we normally use a singular verb. We are talking about the amount as a whole, not the individual pounds or meters.

Eight pounds seems a fair price. A hundred meters isn’t far to swim. Ninety kilos is too heavy for me to lift. Five minutes doesn’t seem long to wait.

Subject and verb


Some nouns end in s, but take a singular verb. e.g. the word news; the subjects economics, mathematics (maths), physics, politics and statistics, etc.

The news was better than we had expected. Statistics is a different subject. This means of transport saves energy. It was a crossroads in my life. They’re living not from the company headquarters.

Subject and verb


Pair nouns

We use a pair noun for a thing made of two parts which are the same. Some pair nouns are glasses, jeans, pants, scissors, shorts, trousers, etc. A pair noun is plural and take a plural verb. We use pair of, rather than a/an or a number with a pair noun.

The shorts are quite cheap. She bought two pairs of jeans.

Subject and verb


Group nouns

When we mean the group as a whole, we use a singular verb. When we mean the individual people in the group, we use the plural verb. Some group nouns are audience, class, committee, crew, family, staff, orchestra, etc.

The orchestra consists of eighty-six musicians. The orchestra don’t know how to play.

Subject and verb


The choice of a or an and the pronunciation of the depend on the next sound.

a /ə/ or the /ðə/ + consonant sound an /ən/ or the /ði/ + vowel sound

It is the sound of the next word that matters, not the spelling.

a uniform/ university /j/ an hour/ honest person /aʊ/

The article


SomeSome with a plural noun means a number of

Some with an uncountable noun means an amount of

He bought some flowers. They took some photos. Let’s play some music. There is some milk in the fridge.

The article


TheGeneral a plural noun or an uncountable noun on its own has a general meaning

They don’t understand computers. (=all computers, computer in general.)

Specific The+ plural noun or uncountable noun has a specific meaning

The computers crashed at work today. (=the specific computers at my workplace.)

The article


Compare these sentencesWhen the police officer came in, the gunman shot him. (him= the police officer)When the police officer came in, the gunman shot himself. (himself= the gunman)

Reflexive pronouns


The use of reflexive pronounsMark made himself a sandwich.She is looking at herself in the mirror.We have locked ourselves out.The children watched themselves on video.The light switched itself off automatically.

Compare yourself and yourselvesEmma, dry yourself on this towel.Vicky and Rachel, dry yourselves on this towel.

Reflexive pronouns


Idioms with reflexive pronounsWe really enjoyed ourselves. (=had a good time)I hope the children behave themselves. (=behave well)Help yourself to sandwiches.(=take as many as you want)Make yourself at home. (=behave as if this is your home)I don’t want to be left here by myself. (=on my own, alone)

Reflexive pronouns


I apologized for making a mistake.He believes in discussing things openly.She is looking forward to seeing her friends again.She has succeed in getting the position she wants.She was fed up with living in this awful place.She is keen on taking photos.Everyone congratulated her on winning the competition.

Preposition


Some fans were arrested for attacking the police.The man was found guilty of stealing from others.Higher prices will discourage customers from buying.The fire-fighters stopped the fire from spreading.The police prevented the crime from taking place.The club punished its players for fighting during a match.She accused the nanny of not taking care of her child.

Preposition


Word formation

Some common prefixes

anti- (=against) anti-bacteria inter- (=between) an international match mini- (=small) the minibar in the hotel room mis- (=wrongly) miscalculate the amount multi- (=many) multimedia over- (=too much) overcrowded roads


Word formation

Some common prefixes

post- (=after) a postgraduate student pre- (=before) in prehistory times re- (=again) a reunion of old friends semi- (=half) sitting in a semicircle super- (=big) supermarket under- (=too little) undernourished


Word formation

Negative prefixesWe can use a prefix to form an opposite. For example, the opposite of clear is unclear (=not clear). Un- is the most common negative prefix.

un- an uncomfortable chair/ an unusual event

uncertain what to do/ unpack the baggage


Word formation

Negative prefixes dis- a dishonest (a.) way to behave

disappear (v.) from the scene a disadvantage (n.) of the plan non- non-alcoholic drink/ an non-stop flight


Word formation

Negative prefixes il- (+l) an illegal (a.) drug/ an illiberal (a.) attitude im- (+p) an impossible task/ an impolite person in- an invisible person/ a great injustice ir- (+r) an irregular shape/ an irrelevant remark

© ccyang 2012 first-year class department of applied foreign languages cheng shiu university...

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