1

GRAMMAR REVIEW

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE

U N I T 1101

Be-present tense

The verb Be usually connects its subject with a complement, which may
be a name of a person, place or thing; an adjective, or adverb.

The forms of the verb Be in present are:

Am
Is
Are

PRONOUNS:
A pronoun is a word used to take the place a person, place or thing.

The subject pronouns are:

I I-am
You You-are
He He-is
She She–is
It It-is
We We-are
You You-are
They They-are

Be forms are used in speaking of:

Names Age Height

place Color Eight
Origin Size Time
Profession Shape Date
 2
The verb Be has these forms in the present:

AFFIRMATIVE:

Subject + am – complement.
are
is

Example: I am a student
He is Tom
We are at the hospital

CONTRACTIONS: Of Be with the subject pronoun. The forms of Be

are usually spoken in the form of contractions after the subject pronouns.

FULL FORM CONTRACTION

I am I´m
He is He´s
She is She´s
It is It´s
We are We´re
You are You´re
They are They´re

Example: I am a teacher I´m a teacher

You are sick You´re sick

AFFIRMATIVE QUESTIONS: In questions if the verb is Be, the order

of the subject and the subject are reversed, but the complement remains in
place.
Am
Is + subject + complement +?
Are
He’s a pilot.
That man is my father. Is he a pilot?
Is that man you father?
 3
NEGATIVE ANSWERS: The negative status is indicated by the word
NOT.
The negative can be said two forms:

I´m not I´m not

He´s not He isn´t
She´s not She isn´t
It´s not It isn´t
We´re not We aren´t
You´re not You aren’t
They’re not They aren’t

One form of the contraction is as frequent as the other, and the speakers
shift back and forth readily.

Subject + am + not + complement.

is
are

They’re not at home.

(They aren’t at home)

He isn’t here.
(He’s not here)

Short Affirmative Answers Short Negative Answers

I am. I´m not. I´m not.

He is. He´s not. He isn´t.
She is. No, She´s not. She isn´t.
Yes, It is. It´s not. It isn´t.
We are. You’re not. You aren’t.
They are. They’re not. They aren’t.

In the short negative answer, the complement is omitted. In the

contraction form, the complement follows the contraction.
 4
Plural of Nouns: A noun is the name of a person, place or thing. Nouns
can be singular (naming one person, place or thing) or plural (naming
more than one person, place or thing).

1. Form the plural of most nouns by adding -S to the singular:

Bird – birds Tree – trees

2. Form the plurals of nouns ending in -CH, - SH, - S, - X, and -Z by

adding -ES to the singular:

church – churches, bush – bushes, box - boxes

3. Form the plurals of most nouns ending in -O preceded by a consonant

by adding - ES to the singular:

* hero - heroes potato - potatoes

 There are exceptions

4. Form the plurals on nouns ending in -O preceded by a vowel by adding

- S to the singular:

radio - radios trio - trios

5. Form the plurals of common nouns ending by -Y preceded by a

consonant by changing the -Y to - I and adding -ES

cry - cries sky - skies

6. Form the plurals of nouns ending in -Y preceded by vowel by adding -S

only:

turkey - turkeys, jockey – jockeys

7. Form the plurals of some nouns ending in -F or - FE by changing the –

- F to -V and adding - ES:

wife – wives half – halves

 5
8. Some common nouns are irregular:
Man Men
Woman Women
Child Children
Foot Feet
Goose Geese
Sheep Sheep
Tooth Teeth
Ox Oxen
Mouse Mice

DEMONSTRATIVES: These words point out what is physically

present or what has just been referred to or is about to be mentioned:

SINGULAR:

This - refers to something near

That – refers to something distant

PLURAL:

These – refers to something near

Those – refers to something distant

ARTICLES: A and An are related to the word “ONE”

A – is used before consonant sounds

A man
A house
A unit

An – Is used before vowel sounds:

An apple
An ear
An honesty
 6

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1102:

There + is – means the existence of one

There is a book on the table.
(There´s)

There + are means the existence of many

There are two books on the table.

THE DEFINITIVE ARTICLE: THE can be used before singular or

plural nouns:

The book The books

The man The men
The is not used before the names of persons, animals, or personified,
entities.

Henry is at home

Days of the week:

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

Months of the year:

January July
February August
March September
April October
May November
June December
 7

How Many – is a questions word asking for number:

How many + object in plural+ are there?

Example: books are there on the table?
men are there in the class?

The answer depends on the number so it can be:

There is.....................
There are...................

PRONOUNS: They are words used to take the place of names of persons,
places or things.

SUBJECT 1st POSSESSIVE 2nd POSSESSIVE OBJECT

I My Mine me
You Your Yours You
He His His Him
She Her Hers Her
It Its Its It
We Our Ours Us
You Your Yours You
They Their Theirs Them

 The 1st possessive is used when we mention the thing possessed:

Example:

This is my book.
That is your house.

 Possessive is used when the object possessed is omitted:

This is mine.
That is yours.
 8

Object pronouns are used after prepositions, or after verbs:

After preposition:

I spoke to him.
This is for me.

After verbs:

Give her the diamond.

He asked me to stay.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1103:

ACTION VERBS:

By “Action verbs” we mean a verb other than Be. Action Verbs do not
follow the same rules as Be.

AFFIRMATIVE – PRESENT:

1- I
You + verb + complement
We
They

Example: I go to the movies.

We study English.

2- He s
She + verb + es + complement.
It ies

Example: He works in the house.

She studies Spanish.
 9
NEGATIVE:

1- I
You + don´t + verb + complement.
We
They

I don´t go to the movies.

We don´t study English.

2- He
She + doesn´t + verb + complement.
It

Example: He doesn’t work in the house.

She doesn’t study Spanish.

 In the negative construction in present, the auxiliary verb DO,

DOES, the negative N´T is added the verb is used in the simple
form.

QUESTIONS:

I
1 Do + You + Verb + complement?
We
They

Do you go to the movies?

Do you study English?

2 Does + He + Verb + Complement?

She
It

Does she work in the house?

Does he study Spanish?
 10

SHORT ANSWERS

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

1 1
I do. I don’t.
You do. You don’t.
Yes, we do. No we don't.
They do. The don’t.
2 2
He does. He doesn’t.
Yes, she does. she doesn’t.
It does. No, it doesn’t.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1104:

IMPERATIVE:

Orders are expressed in English by the base form of the verb alone.

Come in. Sit down. Show me your passport.

In most situations, the order is made more polite by the use of the word
please, which may either precede the imperative verb or follow the verb
and its complements.

Please come in. Come in, please.

Please sit down. Sit down, please.

Negative orders use DON´T. Again, please may either precede DON´T or
follow the whole verb phrase.

Please don’t come in. Don’t come in, please.

Please don’t sit down. Don’t sit down please.
 11

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1105:

PREPOSITIONS:

IN - Denotes location, inside

Months of the year (in march)
Year (in 1987)
Seasons: Spring (in Winter)
Summer
Fall – Autumn
Winter

City (in Guadalajara)

Country (in Italy)
Continent (In Africa)

EXPRESSIONS:

In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening

In an hour, in a minute, in a short time

ON – Touching, supported by, hanging from, or connected with

Day of the week (on Saturday)
Dates (on the tenth of July)
Before the number or name of a street or avenue (On Marti Street,
on 5th Avenue)

AT - Hour (at 9:30)

With an address (I live at 12-15 3rd Av. Zone 1)

Expressions:

At noon, at night, at midnight

 12

QUESTION WORDS (INTERROGATIVE WORDS)

What – things, object

Where – places
When – time
How – manner, form
Why – reason
How long – distance in time
How far – distance
How many – number (in plural)
How much – quantity (in mass)
Who – persons
Whose – possession, ownership
Which – selection
What kind – class, name, brand
How Often – frequency

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1106:

There are two forms of present:

SIMPLE (EVERY) PROGRESIVE (NOW)

1. Expresses repeated action 1. Expresses short duration

I go there every week He´s studying the lesson.

2. Expresses non-action (condition)2. Expresses future action

He seems tired. He’s giving a lecture tomorrow.

3. Expresses future action (espe- 3. Expresses the beginning,

cially with verbs of arriving and de- progression or end of an action
parting) It is beginning to snow.
We leave tomorrow.
 13

AFFIRMATIVE:

Person + Am + verb + ing + complement

Is
Are

He’s studying English.

They’re dancing.

NEGATIVE:

Person + Am + not verb + ing + complement

isn´t
aren´t

We aren’t flying.
She’s not reading.

QUESTIONS:

An + person + verb + ing + complement

Is
Are

Is she writing a letter?

Are they speaking English?
 14

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1107:

Be – past tense

The be in the past tense has the following forms:

Was
Were

AFFIRMATIVE:

1. I
He + was + complement.
She
It

I was sick.
He was at home.

2. You + were + complement.

We
They

You were happy.

We were in Italy.

NEGATIVE:

1. I + wasn’t + complement.
He
She
It

I wasn´t sick.
He wasn´t at home.
 15

2. You + weren´t + complement.

We
They

You weren´t happy.

We weren´t in Italy.

QUESTION

1. Was + I + complement?
she
he
it

Was he at home?

2. Were + you + complement?

we
they

Were you happy?

Were they in Italy?

TIME EXPRESSIONS IN PAST

yesterday days
yesterday morning weeks
afternoon months
evening years ago.
__________ hours
last night minutes
week seconds
month
year

day before yesterday.

year before last.
 16

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1109:

Past progressive. It refers to events that were completed before the

statement is made. The past progressive emphasizes duration of an action
in the past.

AFIRMATIVE:

Person + was + verb + -ing + complement.

were

He was working in a restaurant.

We were writing a letter.

NEGATIVE:

Person + wasn´t + verb + ing + complement.

weren´t

It wasn´t raining.
They weren’t opening the door.

QUESTIONS:

Was + person + verb + ing + complement?

Were

Was the thinking about the accident?

Were they driving?

The past progressive is used in combination with the simple past tense.
 17

SIMPLE PAST TENSE:

It used to describe habitual or repeated occurrences.

QUESTIONS:

Did + person + verb + complement?

Simple

Did you eat here last night?

Did she go to the concert?

NEGATIVE ANSWERS:

Person + didn’t + verb + complement.

Simple
You didn’t eat here last night.
She didn’t go to the concert.

AFFIRMATIVE:

In affirmative verbs are divided into two classes:

Regular verbs form the past tense by adding – d, -ed, or, -ied.

help – helped
work – worked
study – studied
dance – danced

Irregular verbs usually form the pas tense by changing

begin – began
go – went
eat – ate
hit – hit
 18
Person+ verb in past +complement

(regular or irregular)

You ate here last night.

She went to the concert.
I danced with her for hours.

Using the words when or while and the affirmative form of the last tense
complete the past progressive.

Person + was + verb + ing +completed +when+ person + verb + complement.

were while past

I was studying English when Mary called me.

They were flying PC-7 while Tom slept.

. AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1201:

Special expressions:

Get on
Get off

Future Tense: Expresses an action, which will take place in the future.

AFFIRMATIVE:

Subject + will + simple + complement.

The store will close son.

They will eat breakfast at seven.
 19

SPECIAL VERBS:

Expect to= to think (that someone or something will

come or that something will happen)

We expect to make much money.

Hope to=desire
We hope to visit France this year.
Want to= to have a strong desire to or for
I want to rest.
Plan to = plan
Where do you plan to spend your vacations?

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1202:

Special expressions:

By bus
Car
Plane
Motorcycle
Bicycle
Train

Adverbs of Frequency:

always
often
usually
sometimes
never
seldom
hardly ever
 20

NORMAL POSISTION:

1. Just before the action verbs:

He never plays tennis.

I always visit my mother on Sunday.

2. After the verb be:

They are never on time.

He' s often here.

The adverbs never, seldom and hardly ever are solo Negative
Ever is used in questions and in negative answers then the negative word
not is in the sentence:

Do you ever drink coffee?

No, I don’t ever drink coffee.
She doesn’t ever study at night.

Already-is used in affirmative questions:

1. Before the Did you already have lunch?

Action verb Do you already know some words?

AFFIRMATIVE ANSWERS:

We already know some words

2. After the He’s already watching TV.

Verb Be They’re already here.

Yet-is used in questions and negative answers, at the end:

Did you finish yet?

I didn’t finish yet.
 21
Shall: it is used for makings suggestions or asking permission in the
interrogative and with the persons I and we.

Shall we wait for John?

Shall I get you a glass of water?

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1203:

Special Expressions:

Look for
As...as
Try on
Take off
Put on
Anything else
Pick-up

Some – means “ a quantity of” and is used in

AFFIRMATIVE QUESTIONS:

Do you have some money?

Did she have some friends?

AFFIRMATIVE ANSWERS:

I have some friends.

She has some money.

Any - means “ a quantity of” and is used in

QUESTIONS:

Do you have any money?

 22
NEGATIVE ANSWERS:

He doesn’t have any friends.

I don’t have any money.
No – can occur before singular as well as plural nouns
I have no money.
Were there no children there?

When using “NO” it is not necessary to use another negative word like:

Not
Never
Seldom
Hardly ever

Not – is an adverb, it modifies

Adjectives:

Not many people were there.

Not two students were present.

Auxiliaries:

He does not speak French.

Comparative:
There are three degrees of comparison

Positive:
Expresses a quality without comparison
Joe is tall.
Mary is beautiful.

To compare things that are the same, or have similar qualities.

As...as
This girl is as pretty as her sister.
My coast isn’t as old as yours.
 23

The comparative degree expresses a higher or lower degree than the positive
when comparing two persons or things.

1
Adjectives with one syllable
-er than
Kay is taller than Joan.
This car is older than that car.

2
Adjectives with two syllables ending in
-y -ier
dirty - dirtier
ugly - uglier

-le - le+r
noble - nobler

1
Adjectives with three or more syllables
more than
less

Book 1200 is more difficult than book 1100

John is a more careful driver than Joe.

2
Adjectives with two syllables finishing in
(-full, - less, - ish, - ous, - ing, - ed, - etc)

more than
less

The radio is more useful than the TV.

 24
The superlative degree is the highest or lowest degree when comparing more
than two persons or things

1
adjectives with one syllable
the -est

Bob is the tallest boy in the club.

Louise is the prettiest of all the girls.

2
Adjectives with three or more syllables

most
the
least

Susan is the most graceful teacher at school

Book 1400 is the most difficult book of all.

IRREGULAR COMPARISON:

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

Good Better Best

Bad Worse Worst
Far Farther (distance) Farthest
Further (Addition) Furthest
Little Less Least

Much more most

 25
Adjectives used in the comparison of Nouns

SINGULAR:

Like
Similar to
The same as
Different from

Mary’s hat is similar to Jane’s. (hat)

PLURAL:

Alike
Similar
The same
Different

These two buildings aren’t different.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1204:

MODAL AUXILIARIES:

Modals are a class of auxiliary verbs

They take simple verb form
They don´t take the – s form or – ing or past
They negative is by adding not to the auxiliary
They go first in question.

Can – Physical or intellectual ability

Present – future
He can swim very fast.
 26
Permission:

I’m sorry you can’t park here.

Could – Physical or intellectual ability
Past
I could play the piano ten years ago.

Polite request
Could you tell me the time, please?

Special Modals:

Be + able to = can/ could

Present: subject + am + able to + simple + complement

Is verb
Are
I am able to swim fast.

Past: subject + was + able to + simple + complement

were verb

I was able to swim fast ten years ago.

Will – future
The train will arrive in New York at 7:25.

Special Modals:

1 Subject + am + going to + simple + complement

is verb
are

The train is going to arrive at 7:25.

Would – future with reference to a past verb

He said that he would arrive the next day.
 27

Special Modals:

1 Subject + was + going to + simple + complement

were verb

He said that he was going to arrive the next day.

May – Permission
May I see the Director in his office now?

Possibility, probability
Present – Future
I may see Mr. Parker this afternoon.

Might – Permission or possibility

Present – Past – Future

She might get lost.

He said I might borrow his book.
It might rain this afternoon.

Should – Obligation
Present – future
He should see the doctor.

SPECIAL MODALS:

1- Subject + ought to + simple + complement

verb
He ought to see the doctor.

2- Subject + had better + verb + complement

simple
He’d better see the doctor.
 28

Must – Necessity, strong obligation

Present – Future
A soldier must always follow orders.

SPECIAL MODALS:

PRESENT:

1 Subject + have to + simple verb + complement.

has to
A soldier has to follow orders.

PAST:

Subject + had to + simple verb + complement.

A soldier had to follow order.

FUTURE:

Subject + will + have to + simple + complement.

Verb

A soldier will have to follow orders.

PRESENT:

2 Subject + ´ve got to + simple + complement.

´s got to verb

A soldier’s got to follow orders.

Since must doesn’t have past tense form, it is necessary to use had to to
indicate an obligation or necessity in the past.
 29
SPECIAL MODALS:

1 Would like = want

What would you like to drink?
What do you want to drink?

2 Would rather = prefer

I’d rather have a cup of tea.
I prefer a cup of tea.

Patterns followed by the modals (not the special modals)

AFFIRMATIVE:

Subject + modal + verb + complement

Simple

I may do the work.

I can think.
You must take notes.

NEGATIVE:

Subject + modal + not + verb + complement.

Simple

I may not take notes.

They won’t be there.
May and might don’t have contraction form.

QUESTION:
Modal + subject + verb + complement?
Simple

Will he remember us?

May I open the windows?
Must we finish this?
Should they wear civilian clothes?
 30

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1205:

QUESTION QUESTION WORD PATTERN

What 1. Be – Present
Where Question:
When Word +am+person+complement?
How is
Why are
How long
How far Where is Tom?
How many How many books are on the table?
How much
Who
Whose
Which
2. Be – Past
Question:
Word + was +subject + complement?
Were

Where was Tom?

How many books were there on the table?

3. Simple – Present:

a) Question:
Word+do+subject+simple+complement?
Verb
Why do you study English?
When do they open the bank?
 31
b) Question:
Word +does+subject+simple+complement?
Verb
What does Helen buy here?
Where does he go on Saturdays?

4. Present Progressive:
Question:
Word+am+subject+verb-ing + complement?
is
are

Where are you going?

Who are they writing to?

5. SIMPLE PAST:
Question:
Word + did+subject+verb+complement
Simple
What did you do last night?
How did we get to town?

6. PAST PROGRESIVE:
Question:
Word + was + subject +verb + complement?
were ING
What were you doing?
Where was he going when I saw him?

7. Modals:
Question:
Word + modal + subject + simple + complement?
Verb
What can I do for you?
Where shall we go?
How far could you swim last year?
 32
AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1206:

PRESENT FERFECT: Represents time that begins in the past

and extends to the present, either in actual
fact or in the mind of the speaker, it is not
used with definite words like yesterday,
last year.

AFFIRMATIVE:

1. Subject + have + past + complement.

participle
I have lived here for three years.
Cur guests have just arrived.
We have seen him recently.

2. Subject + has + past + complement.

participle

He has lived here in this town.

She has known them for a long time.

CONTRACTION FORM:

1. I´ve
You´ve
We´ve
They´ve

2. He´s
She´s
It´s
 33
NEGATIVE:

1. Subject + haven´t + past + participle + complement.

I haven´t lived here for three years.

We haven´t seen him recently.

2. Subject + hasn´t + past participle + complement.

Has he lived here in this town?

Has she known them for a long time?

In the present perfect is commonly used following expression

FOR - Refers to a period of time, frequently stated in terms

Of the number of hours, days, weeks, etc.

We´ve waited for fifteen minutes

She´s been here for several months

Since - Refers to a period of time that extends from a point

of time in the past to the present (When the action
began).

We´ve waited since three o’clock

She´s been here since May.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1207:

SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS

Make up (my) mind

Change (my) mind
Sound like
Look like
 34

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1208:

SPECIAL EXPRESSION:

Turn on
Turn off

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1209:

SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS:

Look forward to

1. Subject + look forward to + noun + complement

We look forward to the holiday next week

2. Subject +look forward to + ING + complement

We look forward go going to Mexico

Count Nouns. They are things that we can count.

These nouns can be used in the plural and can be used with a
or an when they are singular.

An apple three apples

A chair two chairs
 35
Mass Nouns: These nouns cannot be counted.
They cannot be used in the plural and they cannot be used
with a or an.

Sand water love beauty

Quantity Count Nouns Quantity Mass Nouns

Some, any several, many few Some, any much, a little, a
A few, a lot of, lots of. Lot of, lots of a great deal of.

Examples:

Count Nouns: (In plural)

There aren’t any napkins on the table

He ate a few sandwiches.
They have a lot of mistakes.

Count Nouns: Are in plural after the quantity word

Mass nouns in singular

Do you want some coffee?
There isn’t any sugar on the table?
Would you give a little meat, please?

Compound Sentences. When two statements have different subjects but

the same predicates, they are sometimes combined to make a compound
sentence. The predicate is reduced to the first auxiliary of the verb phrase.

Too – is added when the statements are affirmative

Jack was working in the dorm and his roommate was too.
Bill lives in a private room and George does too.

and + subject + auxiliary + too.

(affirmative)
 36
Either - is added when the statements are negative

and + subject + auxiliary + either

(negative)

Jack wasn´t working in the dorm and his roommate wasn’t either
Bill doesn’t live in a private room and George doesn’t either.

But – is the connective when the predicates contrast, affirmative and

negative.

Kate didn’t know about decorating but Jack did.

Jack father came on Sunday but his roommate’s father didn’t.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1301:

SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS:

Right here
Right there
Right now
Right over there
Right over here

Predicate adjectives are used to complete the meaning of predicate:

The work was difficult.

Mountains are beautiful.

The predicate adjective is usually joined to the subject by a linking verb.

Be
Remain
Become
Seem
Get etc.
 37

Be going to
Have to/must

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1302:

Modals
Adjective – comparative/superlative

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1303:

SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS:

Used to - this expression is always past tense.

It specifies events that were habitual or characteristic
of the past but no longer occur.

AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + used to + simple + complement
Verb
They used to live there, but they moved.

NEGATIVE:
Subject + didn´t + use to + simple + complement
Verb
They didn´t use to live there.

QUESTION:
Did + subject + use to + simple + complement?
Verb
Did they use to live there?
 38

BE USED TO = means to be accustomed to

1. Subject + am + used to + noun + complement

is
are

Tom is used to the American food.

We are use to the new house.

2. Subject + am + used to + ING + complement

is
are

Tom is used to eating American food.

We are used to living in the new house.

GET USED TO – means to become accustomed to

1. Subject + get + used to + noun + complement

I’m getting used to the weather here.
You’ll get used to the American food.

2. Subject + get + used to + ING + complement

They get used to using the car.

We are getting used to speaking English.

Usually
Pronouns
Few/little
 39

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1304:

SPECIAL VERBS:

(Have to, want to, be going to, be able to, ought to)

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY:
(A lot of, lots of, a great deal of also, too, either)

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1305:

PRONOUNS:

Relative – the relative pronouns are:

Who – persons
Which - things
Whom – persons
Whose – possessive

Relative pronouns are used to connect two sentences.

They boy who sang is here.

They cut down the tree that block the view.

The relative pronouns

That – persons or things

The boy that is with her is her brother.

The book that I want is in your room.
 40
Comparative/ superlative
Modal auxiliaries
Future

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1306:

SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS:

Rare
Medium
Well done

Count Nouns –Mass Nouns

Some, the, a/an

Special terms with mass nouns

Countable units of measure may be used with mass nouns
to indicate definite amounts.

A cup of a bottle of a gallon of

A glass of a tube of
A pound of a piece of
A bar of a kind of

He has a cup of coffee.

They ordered a piece of toast.

Irregular Count and Mass Nouns

1. No special form of plural:

Deer Chinese
Fish Japanese
Sheep
 I hunted two fish.

2. Plural only:

Scissors
Trousers
Pants
Pajamas
Clothes
People
Police

People are interesting.

3. Finish in - S but they are singular:

United States
News
Measles
Electronics
Physics

The United States is a large country.

The news is very interesting.

Very– indicates large amount or a high degree of a quality or

quantity.

She is very tired.

It is raining very hard.

Too – indicates more of a quality or quantity than is needed or

quantity than is needed or desired for a certain purpose.
The purpose is usually stated, but it may be implied.

Too + adjective + to + verb

 This coffee is too hot to drink.
It’s too hot to wear a coat.

INTENSIFIERS: - These words are used to give emphasis and force.

Very
Quite
Rather
Extra
Mighty

The story was quite interesting.

The actor was extra good.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1307:

SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS

At all

Modal auxiliaries:

Quantity words

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1308:

ADJECTIVES: They are words used to modify a noun or a

pronoun.
 ADVERB: It is used to modify a verb, and adjective or another
adverb.
With certain verbs, adjectives may be used rather than adverbs.
These adjective forms express a state rather than manner. Verbs
taking adjectives are:

Be
Seem
Appear
Look
Become
Taste + adjectives
Feel
Sound
Get
Turn

These eggs seem fresh.

The baby’s skin feels smooth.
The milk tastes sour.

Adverbs are formed using the adjective as the base:

Adjective + ly = adverb
Quick quickly
Smooth smoothly
Slow slowly
Easy easily
Busy busily

Adverbs are used after any verb except the one listed for adjectives.

He works quickly
They ate slowly
We answer the exam easily
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVE – ADVERB:

Adjective - Adverb

Fast fast
Early early
Hard hard
Late late
Good web*

* Well can be used as an adjective when referred to health

I’m well, not sick.

* Comparative - Superlative

Had better

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1309:

Shortened Attached Questions

It’s a short question attached to a statement in

English to ask confirmation of it or agreement
with it.

1. Only auxiliary verbs can appear in tag questions. If

the main sentence has an auxiliary, then the tag
question uses the same auxiliary. If the main
statement doesn’t have an auxiliary, then it’s
 necessary to use an auxiliary depending on the
verb, and tense.

2. If the sentence is affirmative, the tag question

Is negative. If the sentence is negative then the tag
question is affirmative.

Those boys are students, aren’t they?

You like ice cream, don’t you?
They arrived yesterday, didn’t they?

You haven’t lost your sweater, have you?

He isn’t your brother, is he?

The emphatic form gives emphasis. We use do, does or did plus the simple
form of the verb in present or past.

Subject + do + simple + complement

Does verb
Did
They do come early every day.
He did watch TV every night.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1310:

SPECIAL VERBS

SAY: Something

I said good-bye to the teacher

SAY: Direct Speech

He said, “Hello”
TELL: A person
1
Tell + name

I told Mary my name.

2
Object pronoun
(Me, you, him, her, us, then, is)

She told them her name.

3
Expressions

Tell a story
Tell a secret
TELL Tell the truth
Tell a lie
Tell the time

MAKE - To produce by work or action

I’m making a cake.
To force or cause (someone to do something)
How do you make this machine work?
Earn money
He makes a lot of money on his job.
To have the qualities of
This coat will make a good present for my
mother.
Make = attend
Can you make the party?
Do - helping verb
Do you like it?
Emphatic
Please do come.
Used instead of another verb
He likes it and so do I?
To advance
I did well in the examination.

SPECIAL EXPRESIONS: (We have two forms of expressions)

1 MAKE 2 DO NOTE:
Impressions the dishes We’re going to use
Mistakes good/bad MAKE in the number (1)
Names something And DO in the other
Fortune nothing words (2)
Speeches a work
Money favors
Habits things
Efforts business
Decisions
The beds

Have - helping verb:

I’ve written a letter.
To receive or obtain
Have some coffee.
Allow or permit
I can’t have you running.
To cause (something) to be done
I had hair cut.
Get - to receive or obtain
I got a letter today.
Become
The food is getting cold.
Go or arrive
We got home very late.
Cause to do = hacer que
I got him to help me.
Understand
Did you get it?
Emphatic
(do, does, did)

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1401:

PAST-PERFECT – Expresses action completed

Before a certain time in the past
AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + has + past participle + complement.
I had written the letter before I saw him.

NEGATIVE:
Subject + hadn´t + past participle + complement.

Edward hadn’t been to New York before.

QUESTION:

Subject + had + past participle + complement.

Had they bought many clothes while on vacation?

Present Perfect Progressive – It is generally

 Used for a single action that extends from the past
to the present.

AFFIRMATIVE:

Subject + have + been + - ING + complement

Has

She has been going to school all her life.

You have been saying the same thing for an hour.

NEGATIVE:
Subject + haven’t + been + - ING + complement
Hasn’t

He hasn’t been feeling well recently.

They haven’t been working on the bridge all year long.
QUESTION:
Have + subject + been + -ING + complement?
Has

Has the same mailman been delivering the mail for ten year?

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1402
Past perfect progressive – It expresses an activity
that existed or occurred either before another activity in
the past or before a point of time in the past.
AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + had + been + ing + complement

Mary had been expecting a telegram from Bob

They had been shopping for presents.
NEGATIVE:
Subject + hadn´t + been + -ing + complement
 The children hadn’t been playing.
She hadn’t been waiting for us.

QUESTIONS:
Had + subject + been + - ing + complement?

Had Tom been planning a visit for a long time?

Had the boys been talking long?

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1403:

Future perfect – The future perfect tense expresses

a future time that precedes another future time.
This really means an action that began in the past.

Subject + will + have + past participle + complement.

At the end of this summer, I will have been away from home for ten years.
They will have been here by July.

Present
Present Progressive
Past
Used to
Sequence of Sentences - the verb usually agrees in
tense with the main verb.
Present Present
Professor Allen knows that his students don´t always understand.

Future Present
We’ll wait here until he comes.

Past Past
We waited until he came.

Present Perfect Present Perfect

He has learned a lot since he has been here.

Past Perfect Past

They had just come when you called.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1404:

BE – Passive Verb indicates that the subject receives the

action.
The passive voice is used in the following:
a. When we don’t know who performed the action:
This rule was made in Germany.

b. When it is preferable not to mention the performer

Miss Liu was given some bad advice.

PRESENT
AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + am + is + past participle +complement
is
are
The grass is cut every week.
The books are published in New York.

NEGATIVE:
Subject + am not + past participle + complement.
isn’t
aren’t

That car isn’t made in Detroit.

Heavy things aren’t shipped by airplane.
QUESTIONS:
Am + subject + past participle + complement.
Is
Are

Are books sold at the bookstore?

Is she weighed by the nurse?
Are they sent by the government?

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1405:

Be –Passive
Past Tense

AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + was + past participle + complement.
Were
The letter was signed by him.
The movies were made in Hollywood.

NEGATIVE:
Subject + wasn’t + past participle + complement.
Weren’t

He wasn’t examined by Dr. Brown.

These books weren’t published in New York.

QUESTION:

Was + subject + past participle + complement ?

Were

Were you helped by that medicine?

 Was he called John?

Present Perfect Tense

AFFIRMATIVE:

Subject + have + been + past participle + complement.

has

I have always been called Robert.

She has already been invited to the party.

NEGATIVE:
Subject + haven´t + been + past participle + complement.
hasn’t

These cars haven’t been sold by them.

That program hasn’t been seen.

QUESTION:

Have + subject + been + past participle + complement

Has

Has the grass been cut every week?

Have you already been examined?

Past Perfect

AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + had + been + past participle + complement

The mail had been delivered.

The news had been announced.

NEGATIVE:
 Subject + hadn’t + been + past participle + complement.

That report hadn’t been written.

The room hadn’t been cleaned.

QUESTIONS:
Had + subject + been + past participle + complement.

Had he been taught English before?

Had you been told that he was coming?

Be - Passive Progressive

PRESENT:
Subject + am + being + past participle + complement.
is
are

His room is being cleaned.

They are being transferred.

PAST:
Subject + was + being + past participle + complement
were

The work was being completed.

Modal – Passive

Subject + modal + be + past participle + complement

This lesson must be finished today.

The vocabulary can be learned easily.
They should be invited.
 Get – Passive

Subject + modal + be +past participle + complement.

The leaves get blown by the wind.

The man got killed.
The meat didn’t get cooked in time for dinner.
Did the package get damaged?
How did that dish get broken?

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1406:

Review verb phrase

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1407:

If – the principal part of a sentence may express the imagined result of

one or more conditions.

1 Future Condition:

Subject + will + simple + complement IF subject +present + complement.

Can verb verb
May
 Betty will help Jane is she needs some help.
Jane can pass if she does well in her exam.

2 Present Conditions:

Subject + would + simple + complement IF subject + past + complement

Could verb
Might

Betty would move to a dorm if Professor Allen left College Town.

They could play baseball if they finished their work.

3 Past Conditions:

Subject + would + have + past participle + complement IF subject + had + past participle +complement.
could
might

Miss Liu would have come here If she had been sure of coming.
I wouldn’t have caught a cold if I had worn a coat.

In the present condition we use the verb form WERE with all the persons in the
subject in the If part.
He would fix the car if he were there.

AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1408:

Direct Speech – the words of a speaker are

repeated exactly as they were spoken.

He said, “ I don’t speak English.”

He asks, “ Are you leaving here today?”
They asked, “Is Mary working today?”
 Indirect Speech – Is the restatement of a speaker’s
words by someone else.

He says, I want to go, too” (direct)

He says (that) he wants to go, too (indirect)

He says, “ I have already written a letter home” (direct)

He says (that) he has already written a letter home (Indirect)

 For questions we use if

He asks, “Are you leaving here today”? (direct)

He asks if we are leaving here today. (Indirect)

He asked, “Will Mary buy this to take home?” (Direct)

He asked, if Mary would buy this to take home. (Indirect)

 For Commands

He will say, “ Come back again tomorrow (Direct)

He will say to come back again tomorrow (Indirect)

He said, “Wait here until I return. (Direct)

He said to wait here until he returned (Indirect)

 With question words

He’s asking, “When do you study?” (Direct)

He’s asking when I study (Indirect)

He asked, “What time is it”? (direct)

He asked what time it was (indirect)
 AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1409:

Prepositions:

Place or Positions

at below in front of
in inside from
on outside in back of
between by
over near
under behind
above ahead of
reside against

Direction and motion

In across
To through
Out of up
Into beyond
Toward over
From down

Time
On Before
At About
By Around
After

Manner

By
On

Purpose
For

Modals in past - The sentences in this pattern retains the meaning of the
modal, in addition to the idea of past time.
These sentences mention actions that did not occur.

Subject + modal + have + past participle + complement.

I would have helped you.

They ought to have repaired the roof.
They could have come yesterday.
They may have bought a new car.

Two – word verbs - They are a combination of a verb and another

word, together they express a unit of meaning.
Call of = cancel
Call up = telephone
Call out = do
 We study a complete list in a different part
 AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE:

U N I T 1410:

 Be –Passive

GRAMMAR USAGE:

The usage of the - ING:

1 After the verb:

am They are working hard.
is + ING I’m dancing.
are

2 After Prepositions:

In, on, at, of, for,

From, before, after I’m interested in going.
With, without. We relax after finishing.

3 To indicate an action in process:

The stopping car caused the accident

4 Before nouns they modify

A swinging door
The learning process
5 When it is used as subject
Going by train is interesting.
Working at night makes me tired.

6 Used as a sport

Swimming is a good exercise.

7 After the following verbs

appreciate
avoid
consider You shouldn´t risk giving your opinion.
delay Did you fnish studying your lesson?
deny My father enjoys reading.
enjoy
escape
excuse
finish
mention
miss
risk
remember
stop
practice
like

The usage of the past participle

1 After the auxiliary verb

have She has studied.

has + past participle
had We had had some money.
 2 After the verb Be in the passive:

Am
Is + past participle It is caught.
Are
Was
Were The mail was delivered.
Been
Being They have been ordered.
Be It can be learned.

3 After THE:

Mary took out the broken chair.

Beside = by the side of

He was standing beside me
Besides = In addition to
Besides me, there were others who said so

Into = 1 That an action ends inside of something

He put his hands into his pocket.

3 That something passes to a

different state, place, or
from.

Translate this sentence into English.

He cut the paper into pieces.

Someone They refer to ONE person and they take the “S” form of
Somebody the verb in simple present.
Everything It´s used for things and takes “S” form
Everybody It´s used for persons and takes the “S” form
Everyone It´s used for persons and takes the “S” form

Somebody was here.

Everybody says he is honest.

Each – takes the “S” form

All - is plural

Wish – We wish for things we don’t have, for events which can not happen.

A whish about the present, takes the past tense

I wish I had a million dollars.

A wish about the past is expressed in the past perfect

Miss Liu wishes that she had studied English in high school.

Verbs used with to + verb

Tell stay ask ought

Invite close....to plan going to
Expect refuse order be to
Go mean have
Take used have got to

Expressions used with: verb + to + verb

Against the regulations to time to difficult for me to

Worth to ready to
Ability to happy to

Examples: Mary asked me to close the window.

 I stay to study.

We are ready to go.

I don’t have the ability to swim.

Special GO

1) go downtown 2) go to church 3) go to the ...

go home go to school

I always go downtown on weekends.

On Sundays I go to church.
She has lunch at the restaurant.