English Grammar ESL

ESL GRAMMAR TIPS AND TRICKS
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ABBREVIATIONS - LATIN abbreviations
etc. = Latin: et cetera = "and so forth", "and continuing in the same way".
i.e. = Latin: id est = "it is so", "that is
mple".
A.D. = Latin: Anno Domini (the year of our Lord) refers to time after the birth of
Christ.
B.C. ="Before Christ."
A.M. = Latin: ante meridiem, "before noon", starts at midnight.
P.M. = Latin: post meridiem, "after noon".
P.S. = post script, an extra note added after a signature on a letter.
Latin is the old Italian language spoken by the Romans who ruled Europe from
about 0 - 400 A.D.. English is composed of about 30% Latin. Spanish, French, and
Italian are more strongly Latin.
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ANY MORE VS. ANYMORE
Any more (two words) means "no more".
Anymore (one word) means "now," "currently," "at this time."
We do not have any more work to do today = We have no more work to do today.
We are not working anymore = We are not working now/We are not working at
this time.
I can't give you any more tea = I can give you no more tea.
I don't want tea anymore = I don't want tea now/I have stopped wanting tea.
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(Articles) (Articles, plurals)
*(Use: A, An, The, -or- plural "s", -or- My, your, our, their; his, her, its.)*
I read a book. I read the book. I read books. I read my book. I read your book. I
read our book. I read their book. I read his book. I read her book. I read
somebody's book. etc..
*(I read, you read, we read, they read. He reads, she reads, it reads.)*
*(Anyone/no one/someone/everyone/anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody
reads.)*
I, you, we, they. He, she, it.
*(My, your, our, their. His, her, it.)*
I, you, we, they = use singular form of the verb. He, she, it = use plural form of the
verb.
Anyone/no one/someone/everyone.
Anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody.
Anything/nothing/something/everything.
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*(If it is one thing, then it can be counted, and it is a "count noun" and needs an
article.)*
(Articles - If it is one thing, then it can be counted. If it is a count noun, it has an
article.)
(Articles - If it is one thing, then it can be counted as "one", and needs an article.
If it is a count noun, or something easily countable, it needs an article.)
(technology is a non-count noun.)
*(Use "an" instead of "a" for the vowels - a,e,i,o,u - or for letters which sound like
vowels. Examples: They bought an SUV. Would you like an MP3-player? He's an
NBA fan. NBA = National Basketball Association, sponsor of championship games.
He's an HR major.)
============================================================
"The Articles" = A, An, and The:
~ DO use Articles with a thing that can be counted ("count nouns" - apples, shoes,
cats, doctors, etc.).
~ NO Articles with "non-count nouns" (A non-count noun is a thing that cannot be
counted: milk, hair, sand, freedom, justice, peace, love, energy, poverty), most
foods, most place names.
*(NO Articles with "non-count nouns", things that cannot be counted: freedom,
justice, peace, love, energy, poverty, economic growth, etc..)*
*(UNLESS it is about the economic growth of a specific place/places:)*
==========================================================
"The Articles" = A, An, and The:
~ DO use Articles with a thing that can be counted ("count nouns" - apples, shoes,
cats, doctors, etc.).
~ NO Articles with "non-count nouns" (A non-count noun is a thing that cannot be
counted: freedom, justice, peace, love, energy, poverty, milk, hair, sand), most
foods, place names (unless it's a group of places, such as the United States, the
Philippines, the Maldives, the Hawaiian Islands, the Bahamas, etc., or it's a special
place like The Bermuda Triangle, The District of Columbia, etc.).
EXAMPLES:
I go to store = I go to the store /or/ I go to a store /or/ I go to stores /or/ I go to
my store
I have flower = I have a flower /or/ I have the flower /or/ I have flowers /or/ I
have her flowers
Use: A, An, The, /or/ plural "s", /or/ My, your, our, their; his, her, its. /or/ some,
many, etc.
Use "an" when the next word starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) = "An apple a day
keeps the doctor away."
Use "the" to say "the only one". Use "a" to say "one of many".
In 2009 someone counted all English words and found 1,000,000 words. The word
"the" is the #1 most-used word in the English language. The Articles rules are the
most important grammar rules to know.
Here's a website to practice your articles:
http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/articles.htm
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*(When you use "the" you may be saying "the only one". When you use "a", you may
be saying "one of many".)*
*(When you use "the" you are saying "the only one". When you use "a" you are
saying "one of many".)*
*(When you use "the" you are saying "the only one in the world". Use "a" to say
"one of many".)*
*(use "the" to say "the only one". use "a" to say "one of many".)*
(Use "the" to say "the only one". use "a" to say "one of many"; use plural "s" to say
"many".)
============================================================
*(I live in the dormitory./I live in a dormitory./I live in my dormitory./etc.)*
*(If it is one thing, that counts as one and it is a count-noun, so it needs an
article.)*
*(But if you live in a place with a name, like the city of Seoul or a named
neighborhood, then you don't use articles.)*
*(NO Articles with place names UNLESS it's a group of places, such as: the
United States, the Philippines, the Maldives, the Hawaiian Islands, the Bahamas,
etc., OR it's a special place like The Bermuda Triangle, The District of Columbia,
The Eiffel Tower, etc..)*
*(Only use "the" for a group of places, such as the United States, the Philippines,
the Maldives, the Hawaiian Islands, the Bahamas, etc.)*
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As __ as:
As American as apple pie./As boring as watching paint dry./As brave as a lion./As
busy as a bee./As cold as ice./As easy as pie./etc.. (see:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/36400.html)
Allegory = a short story using symbols such as animals to illustrate or explain an
idea.
Metaphor = using a comparison to illustrate or explain a similarity
Symbol = something that by association can also represent something else
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AT = Where are you? I am at my friend's house.
Where is your coat? I left my coat at work.
Are you at work now? No, I'm at home.
Where is your brother? He's at the university.
Where did you get that dress? I got it at the store.
What are you looking at? I'm looking at a magazine.
When are we going to eat dinner? We'll eat at 5:30.
see end of this page
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(see also Is)
BE
*(Is/Am/Are/Be/Was/Will/Were - the most-used verb and variations in the
English language.)*
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I am. PAST TENSE = I was. FUTURE TENSE = I
will be.
Today you are. Yesterday you were. Tomorrow you will be.
PRESENT TENSE = I am, you are, we are, they are. He is, she is, it is.
*(Anyone/no one/someone/everyone/anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody is.)*
PAST TENSE = I was, you were, we were, they were. He was, she was, it was.
was.)*
FUTURE TENSE = I will be, you will be, we will be, they will be. He will be, she will
be, it will be.
IS & ARE = 1 man is, 2 men are; 1 woman is, 2 women are. 1 man isn't, 2 men aren't;
1 woman isn't, 2 women aren't.
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[Brackets] vs. (Parentheses)
Parentheses - parENT-the-sees - are used to add extra information as if you were
whispering it to a friend. Good information, but too much to fit in the sentence.
Brackets are used when the original writer did not give enough information and
you, the editor, have to add it.
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Business phrases - see my note
http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_idioms/id-b.htm
http://www.businessdictionary.com/ (also has audio)
http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/vocabulary.htm <<<-wow
•Advertising
•Banking
•Company Structure
•Contracts
•Employment
•Import-Export
•Insurance
•Law
•Marketing
•Meetings
•Money
•Presentations
•Selling
•Financial Terms
http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/index.htm <<<-wowzers
English for Cashiers
English for Housekeepers
English for Hotel Staff
English for Airline Staff
English for Food and Drink Staff
English for Tour Guides
English for Nurses and Medical Professionals
English for Police
Goals for learning English or immediate needs that the student has:
o How to make a phone call
o How to leave a message in English
o How to make a hotel reservation
o How to ask for directions
o Using and understanding US money
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COLON
USING THE COLON (: )
It works like the "equals" ( = ) sign in mathematics.
1. To introduce a list - "To the soup add: 1 carrot, 2 onions, and 3 potatoes."
2. To introduce a speech - The CEO stood up and said: "We work hard, we play
hard..." (etc.)
3. To teach or demonstrate a method - "How to plant this flower: Dig a 6 cm. hole in
the garden."
4. To separate the title and the sub-title of a book - The Geography of Bliss: One
Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World, by Eric Weiner, $25.99
USING THE SEMI-COLON (;)
It's like the word "therefore". Use it to join 2 complete but related sentences. Or
you could just make 2 sentences (both are OK). For example:
She loves Paris; she can't get enough of France. = She loves Paris. She can't get
enough of France.
What an incredible situation; does it make you nervous? = What an incredible
situation. Does it make you nervous?
OR to separate long lists in a sentence:
We study English, for our travels; mathematics, for our work; and sports, for our
pleasure.
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"COULD/WOULD/SHOULD"
Hypothetical Situation = an imaginary situation, make-believe, not real.
"If" and "could/should/would": = these words talk about possible or imaginary (not
real) situations or actions, whereas "can/will" talk about actions that have
happened or will happen. "If I got a million dollars, then I would share it with
you." "If you're smart, you should go to university." "If it's sunny tomorrow, I
could take a walk."
"COULD-A, WOULD-A, SHOULD-A" (could have, should have, would have) is a
phrase used to mock someone complaining about their past choices. "I should have
married John instead of Jim. If I would have married him, I could be rich now."
The mean friend answers, "Oh well, coulda, woulda, shoulda - it's too late now!"
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DO.
*(I do, you do, we do, they do. He does, she does, it does.)*
does.)*
*(I don't, you don't, we don't, they don't. He doesn't, she doesn't, it doesn't.)*
THE TENSES
PRESENT TENSE = I do.
PRESENT TENSE = I am doing.
PAST TENSE = I did.
FUTURE TENSE = I will do.
PRESENT TENSE = I drink.
PRESENT TENSE = I am drinking.
PAST TENSE = I drank.
FUTURE TENSE = I will drink.
DESCRIBE DRINKING TOO MUCH = I got drunk./I was drunk.
In negative statements the verb "did" expresses the tense of the sentence. To form
a negative statement in the past tense use "did not" + the simple present verb.
Correct: Jim did not work yesterday.
Incorrect: Jim did not worked yesterday.
Correct: He did not eat breakfast yesterday.
Incorrect: He ate not breakfast yesterday.
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I do. (usually, in general, sometimes)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am doing. (now)
PAST TENSE = I did.
Today I do or am doing. Yesterday I did. Tomorrow I will do.
*(Anyone does, no one does, someone does, everyone does.)*
*(Anybody does, nobody does, somebody does, everybody does.)*
*(Don't I, don't you, don't we, don't they. Doesn't he, doesn't she, doesn't it.)*
The 16 Verb Tenses:
SINGULAR PRESENT
1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: I do.
2. ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE: I am doing.
3. SIMPLE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: I have done.
4. ACTIVE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: I have been doing.
SINGULAR PAST
5. SIMPLE PAST TENSE: I did.
6. ACTIVE PAST TENSE: I was doing.
7. SIMPLE PERFECT PAST TENSE: I had done.
8. ACTIVE PERFECT PAST TENSE: I had been doing.
SINGULAR FUTURE
9. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE: I will do.
10. ACTIVE FUTURE TENSE: I will be doing.
11. SIMPLE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: I will have done.
12. ACTIVE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: I will have been doing.
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DOUBLE NEGATIVES
Double negative = a grammatically incorrect negative; "I don't never go." (= "I do
go.") Or, an affirmative constructed from two negatives; "A not unwelcome event."
(= "A welcome event.") <- but both of these sentences are grammatically OK.
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E on the end of a word = SILENT "E"
When there is an "e" on the end of an English word, it changes the short vowel
sound to a long vowel sound:
a = can/cane
e = pet/Pete
i = rid/ride
o = hop/hope
u = tub/tube, us/use
"use these" as "usee thesee" because of the "e" on the end of the words. This is
called a "silent e" and is not pronounced (unless there are 2 of them there -like
agree, free, degree, employee, etc.). "Silent e" = see the video at:
http://www.starfall.com/n/skills/silent-e/play.htm?f and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVC9TayQIh8
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-ED, see -ING
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EFFECT (noun) VS. AFFECT (verb)
How Does the Effect Affect You?
EFFECT (noun) = result; consequence
Effect = Something YOU DO to other things or people, an action to bring into
existence; "effect a change", "the law is still in effect", "the effects of sleep
loss", "the effect of the anesthetic". I have a good effect on my family.
OR, a reaction: The effect of the color blue. The effect of Mozart's music. The
law of gravity is still in effect. The effects of the medicine. A change that comes
out of something which causes a reaction: "The Magnetic Effect". The effect of
Mozart's music. The law of gravity is still in effect. The effects of medicine.
An outcome or result:
The effect of losing so much weight made me healthier.
To cause to come into being:
My new diet effected a weight loss.
AFFECT (verb) = to act upon, to change or to cause a change
Affect = Something that impresses, changes, or is done TO YOU. "Will the new
rules affect me?" "This affects your business" A change that comes to something,
which changes things. "Music affects me deeply".
To make a display of liking or using; to put on a pretense of:
Mary affects airs of being a Hollywood movie star when she gets dressed up to go
out for a party.
To cause a change or variation:
Mary's cold does not affect her willingness to study: she began to study at 8 a.m.
PRACTICE PAGES:
http://www.lessontutor.com/eeseffect.html
http://homepage.smc.edu/quizzes/cheney_joyce/AffectEffect.html
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ELDERLY
Overweight/Heavy/Large/Big = a nicer word for fat
Elderly/older = a nicer word for old
Child or children = a nicer way to say kids
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Emigrate = leave one's native homeland to go live in a new country (People
emigrate out of a country).
Immigrate = come to live in a new country from the outside (People immigrate into
a country).
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-ER
*(If a word has "er" on the end (happier, sadder, slower, better, faster) don't use
the word "more" with it, because "er" = "more". But you can say more happy, more
slow.)*
Redundant = excess: more than is needed, desired, or required, repetition of same
sense in different words, `a true fact' and `a free gift'.
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"ER"
*(The "er" on the end of a verb means "more", so you can't use the word "more"
with a word ending in "er". You can say "more pretty" or you can say "prettier", but
you can't say "more prettier".)*
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EVERY DAY OR EVERYDAY?
Everyday and every day are commonly confused in English. Everyone, everywhere,
gets it wrong! There's no difference in pronunciation, but using the wrong word is
a mistake in the EVERYDAY English you use EVERY DAY.
Everyday = "commonplace, ordinary, or normal". It's a single word and an
adjective, so it's the one that is used in front of a noun to describe something as
"normal" or "commonplace". For example: "These shoes are great for everyday
wear." "You shouldn't wear an everyday outfit to the wedding." "Don't use the
everyday dishes - Chuseok is a special occasion."
Every day = "each day." "Every day" is an adjective ("every"), plus a noun ("day"),
and it means "each day". For example: "I go to the park every day." "I have to work
every day this week except Sunday." "Every day I feel a little stronger."
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EXCEPT/EXCEPT FOR.
'Except' = This is a substitute for the word "But": other than, not including or
excluding. (Everyone is flakey except me.)
'Except for' = Exception being made for, were it not for, but for, if it weren't
for, excluding or not including especially this thing worth noting in particular.
(Except for my English teacher, I might really hate all native English speakers.)
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FUN = exciting, pleasant, enjoyable.
FUNNY = amusing, causing laughter.
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Fun with In, At, and On.
Use "at" for the hour or the name of a holiday - "on" for the day - "in" for the
month and year.
AT = Where are you? I am at my friend's house.
Where is your coat? I left my coat at work.
Are you at work now? No, I'm at home.
Where is your brother? He's at the university.
Where did you get that dress? I got it at the store.
What are you looking at? I'm looking at a magazine.
When are we going to eat dinner? We'll eat at 5:30.
IN
Where do you live? I live in Korea.
When is Chuseok? It's in October.
Do we have any rice? Yes, in the kitchen.
How do you feel today? I'm in good health.
Do you have any sisters? I have one sister in my family.
The class starts in Spring. The movie starts in an hour. She was born in 1979. He's
in a hurry.
ON
The meeting is on Monday. On May 5th, at 3:00 pm. It happened on a Friday. It's
on the list of things to do. We live on Main Street. The book is on the table. Hang
on to your hat. Hold on to the rope. Carry on with your work. Dream on, Fly Boy.
Sail on, Sailor. Be on time. He's on top of the world. They need to go on break.
Don't give up on me. She depends on you. They were both in on the joke, on New
Year's Day.
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GET
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I get. (usually, in general, sometimes)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am getting. (now)
PAST TENSE = I got.
FUTURE TENSE = I will get.
Today I get or am getting. Yesterday I got. Tomorrow I will get.
*(I get, you get, we get, they get. He gets, she gets, it gets.)*
*(Anyone gets, no one gets, someone gets, everyone gets.)*
*(Anybody gets, nobody gets, somebody gets, everybody gets.)*
*(I don't get, you don't get, we don't get, they don't get. He doesn't get, she doesn't
get, it doesn't get.)*
*(Don't I get, don't you get, don't we get, don't they get. Doesn't he get, doesn't
she get, doesn't it get.)*
The 16 Verb Tenses:
SINGULAR PRESENT
1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: I get.
2. ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE: I am getting.
3. SIMPLE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: I have gotten.
4. ACTIVE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: I have been getting.
SINGULAR PAST
5. SIMPLE PAST TENSE: I got.
6. ACTIVE PAST TENSE: I was getting.
7. SIMPLE PERFECT PAST TENSE: I had gotten.
8. ACTIVE PERFECT PAST TENSE: I had been getting.
SINGULAR FUTURE
9. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE: I will get.
10. ACTIVE FUTURE TENSE: I will be getting.
11. SIMPLE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: I will have gotten.
12. ACTIVE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: I will have been getting.
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GONNA
*(Be careful with English slang style. Use 'going to' for gonna, 'want to' for
wanna, 'didja' for did you, 'got to' or 'have to' for gotta, 'will you' for willya, etc.
In business, be formal.)*
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GO ON
*(GO ON = I go on a trip. You go on a journey. They go on a picnic. I go on the
bus/subway/train. I go on vacation. We're going on holiday. Let's go on a date.
They go on the internet. The workers go on strike. On a honeymoon. --- we "go on"
an IDEA. The opposite of GO ON is GET OFF.)*
*(GO TO = I go to work. I am going to school. Let's go to the store. He's going to
France. I am going to work. We have 2 kilometers to go on our journey. I am going
to Korea. We have 5 minutes left to go in the lesson. Do you go to university? Yes,
I am going to university. I have to go to the store. --- we "go to" A REAL PLACE.
The opposite of GO TO is COME FROM. "goto" is a statement found in some
computer programming languages, such as Basic.)*
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HYPHENS
Hyphen = a punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word (e.g.:
singer-songwriter).
Hyphenated name = a family name with two parts, very popular in the UK. (For
example Mr. John Smith-Jones, Mrs. Mary Johnson-Brown. It became fashionable
several decades ago to use both mother's and father's family names. Some people
even have 3: Mr. Chris Parker-Stone-Hayes. A little bit silly!)
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HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS:
Hypothesis (Greek) = a proposed possible explanation for an observable
phenomenon.
Hypothetical questions often use the words "if" and "would"; and we answer with
the word "would". A hypothetical situation is not real, it is a pretend, made up,
imaginary situation. So we use words of possibility, not words of reality. For
example, "If I got a million dollars, I would share my money."
Would is the possible, will is for sure.
Could is the possible, can is for sure.
Should is the possible, shall is for sure
EXAMPLE: The General of Education said we SHOULD speak better English, and
that IF we WOULD speak it more, we COULD speak it better. He WOULD like to
pass a law, so that we WILL have to speak English more, so that we CAN all speak
English much better. But we SHALL improve, anyway.
"Shall" is an old-fashioned word Americans don't use much any more, but the
British do.
Hypothesis (Greek) = a proposed possible explanation for an observable
phenomenon.
Working hypothesis = a provisionally accepted hypothesis.
Thesis = an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
Dissertation = a treatise (in book form) advancing a new point of view resulting
from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree
**************************************************************
"I JUST SAID TO YOU"
*Be careful with these phrases: I just said to you/I just told you/As I said before
(or similar). Most native speakers heard teachers and parents use these phrases
with anger, so they associate these kinds of phrases with anger in the speaker,
even if the speaker is not angry at all.
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I - I - I - I -I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I - I
My, your, our, their; his, her, its.
I, you, we, they; he, she, it.
Anyone/no one/someone/everyone.
Anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody.
Anything/nothing/something/everything.
*(I am, you are, we are, they are. He is, she is, it is.)*
*(I am not or I'm not, you aren't, we aren't, they aren't. He isn't, she isn't, it
isn't.)*
*(I believe, you believe, we believe, they believe. He believes, she believes, it
believes.)*
believes.)*
*(I buy, you buy, we buy, they buy. He buys, she buys, it buys.)*
buys.)*
*(I call, you call, we call, they call. He calls, she calls, it calls.)*
calls.)*
*(I come, you come, we come, they come. He comes, she comes, it comes.)*
comes.)*
*(Anyone does, no one does, someone does, everyone does.)*
*(Anybody does, nobody does, somebody does, everybody does.)*
*(A company, a country, a family, a school = an "it")*
*(EXAMPLES = The company doesn't have yellow dogs. My family doesn't have
green eyes. The school doesn't have enough books. Her country doesn't have big
cars.)*
*(Don't I, don't you, don't we, don't they. Doesn't he, doesn't she, doesn't it.)*
*(I eat, you eat, we eat, they eat. He eats, she eats, it eats.)*
*(Anyone eats, no one eats, someone eats, everyone eats.)*
*(Anybody eats, nobody eats, somebody eats, everybody eats.)*
*(I enjoy, you enjoy, we enjoy, they enjoy. He enjoys, she enjoys, it enjoys.)*
enjoys.)*
*(I feel, you feel, we feel, they feel. He feels, she feels, it feels.)*
*(Anyone feels, no one feels, someone feels, everyone feels. Anybody feels,
nobody feels, somebody feels, everybody feels.)*
*(I get, you get, we get, they get. He gets, she gets, it gets.)*
gets.)*
*(I give, you give, we give, they give. He gives, she gives, it gives.)*
*(I go, you go, we go, they go. He goes, she goes, it goes.)*
*(I have, you have, we have, they have. He has, she has, it has.)*
has.)*
*(I have to, you have to, we have to, they have to. He has to, she has to, it has to.)*
*(Anyone/no one/someone/everyone/anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody has
to.)*
*(I keep, you keep, we keep, they keep. He keeps, she keeps, it keeps.)*
*(I know, you know, we know, they know. He knows, she knows, it knows.)*
*(I like, you like, we like, they like. He likes, she likes, it likes.)*
*(I live, you live, we live, they live. He lives, she lives, it lives.)*
lives.)*
*(I look, you look, we look, they look. He looks, she looks, it looks.)*
*(I love, you love, we love, they love. He loves, she loves, it loves.)*
*(I make, you make, we make, they make. He makes, she makes, it makes.)*
*(Anyone makes, no one makes, someone makes, everyone makes. Anybody makes,
nobody makes, somebody makes, everybody makes.)*
*(I mean, you mean, we mean, they mean. He means, she means, it means.)*
means.)*
*(I need, you need, we need, they need. He needs, she needs, it needs.)*
needs.)*
*(I prepare, you prepare, we prepare, they prepare. He prepares, she prepares, it
prepares.)*
*(I provide, you provide, we provide, they provide. He provides, she provides, it
provides.)*
provides.)*
*(I read, you read, we read, they read. He reads, she reads, it reads.)*
reads.)*
*(I say, you say, we say, they say. He says, she says, it says.)*
I sleep, you sleep, we sleep, they sleep. He sleeps, she sleeps, it sleeps.
*(I speak, you speak, we speak, they speak. He speaks, she speaks, it speaks.)*
speaks.)*
*(I take, you take, we take, they take. He takes, she takes, it takes.)*
takes.)*
*(I talk, you talk, we talk, they talk. He talks, she talks, it talks.)*
talks.)*
*(I tell, you tell, we tell, they tell. He tells, she tells, it tells.)*
*(I think, you think, we think, they think. He thinks, she thinks, it thinks.)*
*(I try, you try, we try, they try. He tries, she tries, it tries.)*
tries.)*
*(I use, you use, we use, they use. He uses, she uses, it uses.)*
uses.)*
*(I want, you want, we want, they want. He wants, she wants, it wants.)*
wants.)*
*(I wear, you wear, we wear, they wear; he wears, she wears, it wear.)*
wears.)*
*(I work, you work, we work, they work. He works, she works, it works.)*
works.)*
**************************************************************
-ING or -Y or -FUL vs. -ED
When the adjective ends in -ing or -y or -ful, it means that the person or thing
causes this effect.
When the adjective ends in -ed, it means that the person or thing experiences this
effect.
Clear weather is refreshing. = Clear weather makes me feel refreshed.
The movie is interesting. = I am interested in the movie.
My mother is loving. = I am loved by my mother. My mother makes me feel loved.
This food is satisfying. = I am satisfied with this food.
Paris is amazing. = I am amazed by Paris.
Pink is a pleasing color. = The color pink makes me feel pleased.
The lightning is scary. = The lightning makes me feel scared.
The noise is stressful. = The noise makes me feel stressed.
***********************************************************
(see also ON)(see end of this page)
IN
Where do you live? I live in Korea.
When is Chuseok? It's in October.
Do we have any rice? Yes, in the kitchen.
How do you feel today? I'm in good health.
Do you have any sisters? I have one sister in my family.
The class starts in Spring. The movie starts in an hour. She was born in 1979. He's
in a hurry.
*("at" for the hour - "on" for the day - "in" for the month and year)*
**************************************************************
IN CASE OF/IN THE CASE OF
In case = if there happens to be need. "In case of trouble, call 119"; "I have
money, just in case"
In the case of = a specific example you want to discuss. "In the case of Korea, we
value education." "In the case of France, wine is a very popular drink."
**************************************************************
Inflection = the pattern of loudness, pitch, and tone of the voice, which put more
or less stress on words in a sentence.
**************************************************************
---- Is, Isn't/Are, Aren't ---- IS & ARE = 1 man is, 2 men are; 1 woman is, 2 women
are. 1 man isn't, 2 men aren't; 1 woman isn't, 2 women aren't.
1 child, many children. 1 person, many people. 1 tooth, 2 teeth. 1 man 1 woman, 2
men, 2 women.
*(1 gentleman, 2 gentlemen. 1 lady, 2 ladies. 1 man, 2 men. 1 woman, 2 women. 1
child, many children.)*(woman sounds like woo-mun. women sounds like wim-min)*
*(one is, many are)*
Verbs:
am.do.love.feel.speak.say.see.understand.
(my/your/our/their/his/her/a/the/plural)
**************************************************************
"Known as" vs. "Known for" vs. "Know to"
1. To be "known as" is to be given a name or a description:
She is known as Mary. She is known as a hard worker. Florida is known as "The
Sunshine State". California is known as a casual place to live.
2. To be "known for" is also to have a certain quality:
President Lincoln was known for his honesty and was even known as "Honest Abe".
Rome is known for architecture and France is known for art. Mother Teresa was
known for her kindness, which is why she was known as "Mother" to so many
people.
3. To be "known to" is to be recognized for doing something:
She is known to cook delicious food. I have been known to make a mistake. The
police are known to give tickets. Children are known to play.
***********************************************************
Lend = The bank lends me money. My sister lends me money. Will you lend me
money? I will lend you money. (Give)
Loan = The bank makes a loan to me. I get a loan. I loan money to my sister. Will
you loan me money? I will loan you money. (Give)
Borrow = I borrow money from the bank. I borrow money from my sister. Can I
borrow money from you? You can borrow money from me. (Take)
***********************************************************
Use MAKE for Creating and Doing - to create something, such as: make food, make
a cup of tea, make breakfast.
Common ways to use the word MAKE:
Make a deal = bargain, negotiate
Make a face = a silly expression like stick out your tongue
Make a fool of myself = I do something embarassing
Make a fool of someone = cause someone to appear silly
Make a mess = cause disorder
Make a mistake
Make a phone call
Make a reservation = reserve a place for seating
Make a scene or make a fuss = cause a problem
Make an effort = try
Make an exception to the rules = not apply rules to a particular situation
Make believe = pretend
Make ends meet = get enough money for bills
Make fun of something = laugh about something
Make good on a promise = keep a promise
Make history = influence current events
Make it easy on yourself/make it easy for someone = help yourself/help someone
Make light of a bad situation = not complain about something
Make light of something = mock something
Make love = kiss and hug
Make money = work
Make my day = give me happiness
Make out what someone is saying = try to understand or hear
Make out with someone = kiss and hug someone
Make peace = stop fighting
Make sense = be understandable
Make some noise = sing or play music
Make the bed = arrange sheets, blankets, pillows neatly
Make the most of it/make the best of it = take advantage of it
Make up with someone = make peace
Make up your mind, make a decision = decide
Make-up = Women's cosmetics for the face
I made it = I succeeded
***********************************************************
MAYBE
May be is an auxiliary verb + linking verb: We may be able to visit Thailand soon.
Maybe I'll see you later = It may be that I will see you later.
Maybe is an adverb: Maybe we can visit Thailand soon.
***********************************************************
"My friend and I" or "my friend and me"?
Break the sentence into 2 parts.
#1. - The cats took food from Sam and me. = 1. The cats took food from Sam. + 2.
The cats took food from me.
Can't say, The cats took food from I. So, can't say, The cats took food from Sam
and I. So say, "Sam and me".
#2. - He told Sam and me to get ready. = 1. He told Sam to get ready. + 2. He told
me to get ready.
Can't say, He told I to get ready. So, can't say, He told Sam and I to get ready. So
say, "Sam and me".
#3. - If Sam and I get married. = 1. If Sam gets married. + 2. If I get married.
Can't say, If me get married. So, can't say, If Sam and me get married. So say,
"Sam and I".
***********************************************************
ON
The meeting is on Monday. On May 5th, at 3:00 pm. It happened on a Friday. It's
on the list of things to do. We live on Main Street. The book is on the table. Hang
on to your hat. Hold on to the rope. Carry on with your work. Dream on, Fly Boy.
Sail on, Sailor. Be on time. He's on top of the world. They need to go on break.
Don't give up on me. She depends on you. They were both in on the joke.
*("at" for the hour or the name of the holiday - "on" for the day - "in" for the
month and year)*
(see end of this page)
***********************************************************
ONE MAKES, MANY MAKE
One goes - many go/One makes - many make/One does, many do.
One tree makes paper - Lots of trees make paper. One horse runs fast - Lots of
horses run fast. One car uses oil - Lots of cars use oil. One flower smells good -
Lots of flowers smell good. One child laughs - Lots of children laugh. One man talks
- Lots of men talk. One man works - Lots of men work.
***********************************************************
OVERWEIGHT
Overweight/Heavy/Large/Big = a nicer word for fat
Elderly/older = a nicer word for old
Child or children = a nicer word for kids
***********************************************************
Per se = Latin for "by itself". A per se matter is one that is alone and not connected
to another matter, or "in itself", intrinsically; "as such".
***********************************************************
PLURALS (see S)
When there is more than one thing, make sure to sound out the letter "s" at the end
of the word:
1 car, 2 cars - 1 book, 2 books - 1 hand, 2 hands - 1 school, 2 schools - 1 hat, 2 hats
One tree makes paper. Lots of trees make paper. One horse runs fast. Lots of
horses run fast. One car uses oil. Lots of cars use oil. One flower smells good. Lots
of flowers smell good. One child laughs. Lots of children laugh. One man talks. Lots
of men talk. One man works. Lots of men work.
1 gentleman, 2 gentlemen. 1 lady, 2 ladies. 1 man, 2 men. 1 woman, 2 women. 1 child,
many children. 1 person, 2 people.
*(1 man, 2 men. 1 woman, 2 women. 1 child, many children. 1 person, 2 people.)*
Usually you do not add the plural "s" to a word such as "women", because that is
already a plural word, like "children". But you do use "apostrophe s" when talking
about something belonging to that group. Men's health. Women's rights. Children's
toys.
1 country, 2 countries. Plural possessive = put the apostrophe after the s. So: Many
countries' flags. Mr. Lee was the peoples' choice. Singular possessive = One
country's flag. Mr. Lee was that person's choice.)
No apostrophe is used in the following possessive pronouns and adjectives: yours,
his, hers, ours, its, theirs, and whose.
All other possessive pronouns ending in s do take an apostrophe: one's; everyone's;
somebody's, nobody else's, etc.
With plural forms, the apostrophe follows the s, as with nouns: the wives'
husbands. If a plural noun ends in an “s,” then you only add an apostrophe (after
the “s”). For example, “One cat's paws were different from the other cats’ paws.”
Plurals not ending in s: Use s for the possessive plural - (men s, people s, sheep s).
http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifwhrtptpstrphsnp.shtml
My sister s friend s investments (the investments belonging to a friend of my
sister)
My sister s friends investments (the investments belonging to several friends of
my sister)
My sisters friend s investments (the investments belonging to a friend of several
of my sisters)
My sisters friends investments (the investments belonging to several friends of
several of my sisters)
Do NOT use an apostrophe For possessive pronouns:
its /whose /yours /theirs /ours /hers
For plurals:
the Joneses /dictionaries /bonuses
1 leaf, 2 leaves/1 life, 2 lives/1 wife, 2 wives/loaf, loaves/calf, calves/elf,
elves/shelf, shelves/self, selves/myself, ourselves/yourself, yourselves/himself
or herself, themselves/itself, themselves
PLURAL RULES
The plural of most nouns is formed by adding s. [boys, cages, horses]
Nouns ending with the sounds of s, x, z, ch, sh or j form their plurals by adding e
-s. [fox es, bush es, boss es]
Nouns ending in y after a vowel form their plurals by adding s. [mon key/mon keys]
Nouns ending in y after a consonant form their plurals by changing y to i and
adding e-s. [pup py/pup pies]
Nouns ending in o after a vowel form their plurals by adding s. [pa ti o / pa ti os]
Nouns ending in o after a consonant usually form their plurals by adding e-s [he
ro/he roes] B except some musical terms. [pi an o/pi an os]
Most nouns ending in f and f-e form their plurals by adding s [belief / beliefs];
some change f to v and add e-s. [wolf /wolves, wife /wives]
Most verbs form their third person, present, singular as if they were nouns
becoming plurals. [cuts, raises, dresses, fixes, fizzes, catches, pushes, plays,
carries, goes]
*************************************************************
THE PREPOSITIONS = directions of space or time (of where and of when) -
above, across, against, ahead of, along/alongside, among, around, at, be/to be,
behind, below, beneath, beside, between, by, for, from, in/in front of/inside/into,
is/are, near/nearby, next to/close to, of, off, on/onto, out of/outside of, over,
since, through/throughout, to/toward, under/underneath, up/upon, with/within.
PREPOSITION EXAMPLE:
You can sit before the desk or in front of the desk. You can sit on the desk or
behind the desk, and put your feet under the desk or beneath the desk. You can
stand beside the desk (meaning next to the desk), between the desk and the window,
or even on the desk. You can bump into the desk or try to walk through the desk,
and stuff would fall off the desk. You can put a light on over the desk or near the
desk, and put your book upon the desk, as you look across the desk and speak of the
desk. Because sometimes you wonder about the desk, what s in the desk, what you
paid for the desk, and if you could live without the desk? You can walk toward the
desk, to the desk, around the desk, by the desk, and even past the desk. You can sit
at the desk or lean against the desk. And all of this happens IN time: during
studying, before studying, at study time, until the time is up, throughout the day,
after studying, etc..
A PREPOSITION POEM
I lately lost a preposition
It hid, I thought, beneath my chair
And angrily I cried, "Perdition! ->("Lies!" or "Evil!")
Up from out of in under there."
Correctness is my vade mecum, ->(Latin: Vade = walk, mecum = with me: a pocket-
sized reference book)
And straggling phrases I abhor, ->(abhor = hate)
And yet I wondered, "What should he come
Up from out of in under for?"
~ Morris Bishop, 1947
THE PREPOSITIONS = directions of space or time (of where and of when). There
are about 200, but these 35 are the ones you really need to know:
about
above,
across,
against,
ahead of,
along/alongside,
among,
around,
at,
behind,
below,
beneath,
beside,
between,
by,
for,
from,
in/in front of/inside/into,
near/nearby,
next to/close to,
of,
off,
on/onto,
out of/outside of,
over,
since,
through/throughout,
to/toward,
under/underneath,
up/upon,
with/within.
WITH = We agree with someone or an with an idea, but agree to a contract/to a
date/to do something/to someone s demands.
"With" and "to" are prepositions, as are "on" and "about".
We can also agree on. (Let s agree on a time for the meeting. We agree on the
plan.)
We can also agree about. (We agree about the economic crisis.)
~
It is (at this time) a little bit hot = It s still a little bit hot/It s yet a little bit
hot/It s already a little bit hot.
It is (classifiable within a certain degree) a tough question = It s kind of a tough
question/It s sort of a tough question/It s somewhat of a tough question/It s a bit
of a tough question
"Still" and "kind of" are prepositions (words of direction in time or space).
~
English Prepositions List (eBook) - http://tinyurl.com/yfkm7du
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/prepositions-of-place.htm
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-at-in-on-place.htm
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-at-in-on-time.htm
~
English Preposition Rule
There is one very simple rule about prepositions. And, unlike most rules, this rule
has no exceptions.
A preposition is followed by a "noun". It is never followed by a verb.
By "noun" we include:
•noun (dog, money, love)
•proper noun (name) (Bangkok, Mary)
•pronoun (you, him, us)
•noun group (my first job)
•gerund (swimming)
A preposition cannot be followed by a verb. If we want to follow a preposition by a
verb, we must use the "-ing" form which is really a gerund or verb in noun form.
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-rule.htm
winner of the "the championship of the sport of preposition-piling" (Morris Bishop
in the New Yorker, 27th September, 1947
**************************************************************
PLURALS
Exercises to practise plurals:
1. It s raining cats and dogs.
2. Sometimes, it seems to me, sounds and letters disagree.
3. Hang up coats! Bags, away. Put your snacks in the tray!
4. 1 car, 2 cars - 1 book, 2 books - 1 hand, 2 hands - 1 school, 2 schools - 1 hat, 2
hats
5. She sells sea shells by the seashore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I m sure she sells seashore-shells!
~
Without enunciation, "Why white wine?" sounds like "Why why why?" :-) It may
seem as if you need to forcefully spit out the consonants clearly. Some English
speakers do spit when they speak. That s why English people don t stand too close
when talking to each other. Different languages use different muscles.
Exercises to practice enunciation:
1.) Music video with words: I M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER -
http://tinyurl.com/nnf8ol
2.) Leo the Lazy Lion
3.) Roger the Running Rabbit
4.) Never trouble trouble, til trouble troubles you. ~ Irish proverb
5.) Be loyal to the royal within. ~ Utah proverb
6.) "Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry."
~ LORD POLONIUS, "Hamlet" ~ by William Shakespeare.
Exercise your speech muscles these ways: Play a musical instrument which uses
the mouth: horns, woodwind, harmonica, etc. Blow soap bubbles. Blow up balloons.
Kiss someone you love. Think of it like exercising at the gym.
**************************************************************
Punctuation Game
Woman without her man is a savage
Woman! Without her, Man is a savage.
Woman without? Her man is a savage!
Wo! Man without Herman is a savage.
etc..
**************************************************************
Quantifiers
half, most, many, some, all, 60%.
Have you ever said something like this: "Most of people want to learn more
English."? If so, you need to read this!
On the TOEFL all the time, and one of the most common mistakes, in speaking, in
writing, and on the TOEFL!
A cute little song which helps with Quantifiers (half, most, many, some, all, 60%,
much, a lot of) = http://tinyurl.com/yhna3zp and http://tinyurl.com/yl8jahl
**************************************************************
REDUNDANT
redundant = repetition of same sense in different words; excess; more words than
are needed, desired, or required.
*************************************************************
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS
The Chicken-egg dilemma or "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Is a
rhetorical question or rhetorical trick meaning, "it s impossible to know the cause
of this problem".
If April showers bring May flowers, then what did the Mayflower bring? (The
Pilgrims to America.)
If oranges are called oranges why aren t bananas called yellows?
Who let the dogs out? Seriously? "Cry Havoc and let loose the Dogs of War."
William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Where does your lap go when you stand up? If you re really fat it will fall to the
ground with the rest of your belly.
More rhetorical questions: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/FAQ/3325
**************************************************************
The "S" Sound~~S~~S~~S~~S~~S~~S~~S~~S~~S~~S~~S~~
Please enunciate the "s"-sound on the end of plurals clearly. It s quite important in
English. Without enunciation, "Why white wine?" sounds like "Why why why?"It
may seem as if you need to forcefully push out the consonants clearly. Some
English speakers do spit when they speak. That s why English people don t stand
too close when talking to each other. Different languages use different muscles.
Here are some exercises to practise plural "s":
1. It s raining cats and dogs.
2. Sometimes, it seems to me, sounds and letters disagree.
3. Hang up coats! Bags, away. Put your snacks in the tray!
4. 1 car, 2 cars - 1 book, 2 books - 1 hand, 2 hands - 1 school, 2 schools - 1 hat, 2
hats.
(from sayitproper.com)
(IF STUDENT STILL HAS PROBS, Please go to PLURALS & practiCe together)
*(Please enunciate the "s"-sound on the end of plurals.)*
More plural "s"-sound practice:
Where s Jack?
He s not here.
Where did he go?
I don t know.
Where s Mary?
She s not here.
Where did she go?
I don t know.
Here s an "s"-sound tongue-twister. It s very difficult!:
She sells seashells by the seashore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I m sure she sells seashore-shells!
Tongue-twister = an expression that is difficult to enunciate clearly, like "Rubber
baby buggy bumpers", or "Beetles black blood". These are used to strengthen the
muscles used in enunciation.
**************************************************************
SHALL = this is the old-fashioned, or England-English, form of "will".
It is still used in England, but not so much in America any more.
The negative form of "shall" is "shall not", for which the contraction is "shan t".
But in America we prefer to say "will not" and "won t".
In England "shall" is used thus:
Shall I open a window?
Shall we dance?
Shall I tell you what happened?
Shall it rain today?
It is also used in American poems and songs: "I Shall Be Released", "We Shall
Overcome", and "Shall the Circle Be Unbroken?" (see below):
Shall the circle be unbroken?
By and by, Lord, by and by,
There s a better home a-waitin
In the sky, Lord, in the sky.
**************************************************************
SHOULD
*(Should = I should work harder. Could = I wish I could work harder, but it s
impossible. Would = I would work harder if I were paid more money.)*
**************************************************************
SOUNDS that may be difficult = R, L, W.
Running Rabbit
Leo the Lazy Lion
Wooden Wagon
***********************************************************
SPEECH THERAPY
Exercise your speech muscles these ways: Play a musical instrument which uses the
mouth: horns, woodwind, harmonica, etc. Blow soap bubbles. Blow up balloons. Kiss
someone you love.
http://speech-language-therapy.com/txresources.html
~
http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/tx-facts-and-tricks.html
http://crokebeck.tripod.com/articbks.htm/homepage.html
Problem sounds:
-Final "s and "z" (possessives, plurals, and other words) - incorporate "is," or
contractions like "What s?" or "Where s?"
-Initial and final "k" and "g"
-Initial and medial "s" -
-Initial, medial, and final "s" clusters - snow, snakes, stars, space, spiders...
-Initial "sh" and "ch" - Sheep on a Ship, Shaw, shoes
-Initial, medial, and final "th"
-Initial "L"
***********************************************************
SURE
sure = certain.
assure = inform positively, with certainty and confidence; promise.
reassure: cause to feel sure, give reassurance to; "The airline tried to reassure the
customers that the planes were safe."
ensure = guarantee: make certain of; "This money will ensure a nice meal."
insure = cover: protect by insurance; "The insurance will cover any accident."
***********************************************************
SYNTAX
SUPER BASIC ENGLISH SYNTAX RULES
In Korean, the syntax is: Subject-Object-Verb. But in English, the syntax is:
Subject-Verb-Object.
"The cat sat on the mat." Subject (cat) + Verb (sat) + Object (mat).
* "The cat sat on the mat." = "cat" is the subject.
* "The cat sat on the mat." = "sat" is the verb.
* "The cat sat on the mat." = "mat" is the object.
***********************************************************
SUPERLATIVES are words like: outstanding, excellent, amazing, remarkable,
fabulous, fantastic, etc..
Good, better, best,
Never let it rest
‘Till your good is better
And your better, best.
Church makes bad men good and good men better.
Go here: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/List_of_comparatives_and_superlatives
***********************************************************
TENSE
The 16 Verb Tenses:
SINGULAR PRESENT
1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: I go.
2. ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE: I am going.
3. SIMPLE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: I have gone.
4. ACTIVE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: I have been going.
SINGULAR PAST
5. SIMPLE PAST TENSE: I went.
6. ACTIVE PAST TENSE: I was going.
7. SIMPLE PERFECT PAST TENSE: I had gone.
8. ACTIVE PERFECT PAST TENSE: I had been going.
SINGULAR FUTURE
9. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE: I will go.
10. ACTIVE FUTURE TENSE: I will be going.
11. SIMPLE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: I will have gone.
12. ACTIVE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: I will have been going.
THE CONDITIONALS:
Use the conditionals for hypothetical ("if") situations - be becomes were -
can/will/shall become could/would/should:
13. SUBJUNCTIVE: If I were to go. If I were a millionaire.
14. UNREAL PRESENT TENSE: If I were you, I would go to Jeju Island.
15. UNREAL PAST TENSE: I wish I could have gone to Jeju Island.
16. UNREAL MIXED TENSE (past & present): If I were rich, I would have gone to
Jeju Island.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE 4 TENSES YOU REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND:
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I go. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am going. (now)
SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE = I will go. (tomorrow)
SIMPLE PAST TENSE = I went. (yesterday)
~
I, you, we, they. He, she, it.
Anyone/no one/someone/everyone/Anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody.
*(I go, you go, we go, they go. He goes, she goes, it goes.)*
goes.)*
More at bottom of page.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE TENSES
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I am; I do; I love; I feel; I speak; I say; I see; I
understand; I eat food; I go; I change; I run; I work.
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am; I am doing; I m loving; I am feeling; I am
saying; I am seeing; I am understanding; I am eating food; I am going; I am
changing; I am running; I m working.
FUTURE TENSE = I will be; I will do; I will love; I will feel; I will speak; I will say;
I will see; I will understand; I will eat food; I will go; I will change; I will run; I
will work.
PAST TENSE = I did; I was; I loved; I felt; I spoke; I said, I saw, I understood, I
ate, I went, I changed, I ran, I worked.
Verbs:
am.do.love.feel.speak.say.see.understand.
Do ~ ~ ~
I do, you do, we do, they do. He does, she does, it does.
Anyone/no one/someone/everyone/anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody does.
I do not, you do not, we do not, they do not. He does not, she does not, it does not.
I don t, you don t, we don t, they don t. He doesn t, she doesn t, it doesn t.
Anyone/no one/someone/everyone/anybody/nobody/somebody/everybody
doesn t.
**USUALLY - USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY**
*(For "every time", "sometimes", "in general", "used to", "always", or "usually"
situations, use Simple Present Tense: I go, it changes, you run, he works, etc.)*
NOTE* For "every time", "sometimes", "in general", "used to", or "usually"
situations, use the Simple Present Tense:
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I do. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
FUTURE TENSE = I will do. (tomorrow)
PAST TENSE = I did. (yesterday)
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I make. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
PRESENT TENSE = I am making. (now)
FUTURE TENSE = I will make. (in the future)
PAST TENSE = I made. (in the past)
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I don t (do not). (usually, in general)
PAST TENSE = I didn t (did not).
FUTURE TENSE = I won t (will not).
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I go. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am going. (now)
FUTURE TENSE = I will go. (tomorrow)
PAST TENSE = I went. (yesterday)
~
NOTE *(For "every time", "sometimes", "in general", "used to", or "usually"
situations, etc., use Simple Present Tense: You always do good work. In general,
we love Kim Chi. At parties we feel happy. He speaks English every day. Sometimes
strangers say "Hello". The boss sits in the big chair. You work every day. I used to
eat chocolate. Frank says such funny things.)*
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Singular: I walk; you walk; he, she, it walks
Plural: We walk; you walk; they walk
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE
Singular: I am walking; you are walking; he, she, it is walking
Plural: We are walking; you are walking; they are walking
~
SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Singular: I walked; you walked; he, she, it walked
Plural: We walked; you walked; they walked
ACTIVE PAST TENSE
Singular: I was walking
Plural: We were walking
~
SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
Singular: I will walk; you will walk; he, she, it will walk
Plural: We will walk; you will walk; they will walk
PRESENT PERFECT =
Use to talk about something that happened at some time in the past.
Often seen with these words: Has, have, just, already, yet, ever, never.
I/you/we/they have talked; he/she/it has talked
http://www.impactenglish.com/members/Grammar_Explanations/Maps/PresentPe
rfect-Map.htm
http://www.welcometoenglishandfun.com/grammar/pdf/present_perfect.jpg
PAST PERFECT
Singular: I had walked; you had walked.
Plural: we had walked; you had walked; they had walked
FUTURE PERFECT
Singular: I will have walked; you will have walked;
Plural: We will have walked; you will have walked;
~
In negative statements the verb "did" expresses the tense of the sentence. To form
a negative statement in the past tense use "did not" + the simple present verb.
Correct: Jim did not work yesterday.
Incorrect: Jim did not worked yesterday.
Correct: He did not eat breakfast yesterday.
Incorrect: He ate not breakfast yesterday.
***********************************************************
"THESE DAYS"
These days = In these days/In this day and age/At this time/Nowadays/Here and
now/lately/recently
***********************************************************
"UNDERSTAND"
Today = I understand. Tomorrow = I will understand. Yesterday = I understood.
Understand = know, make sense of, comprehend the meaning of something
Misunderstand = misconstrue, interpret in the wrong way.
Understanding = the condition of someone who understands/an
agreement/sympathy/comprehension
Misunderstanding = mistake, an incorrect understanding of something,
misinterpretation, error
Understood = (past tense) fully comprehended as to purport, meaning, or
explanation
Misunderstood = (past tense) wrongly understood, "a misunderstood question."
*************************************************************
USUALLY
**USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY USUALLY**
*(For "every time", "sometimes", "in general", "used to", "always", or "usually"
situations, use Simple Present Tense: I go, it changes, you run, he works, etc.)*
*(For "every time", "sometimes", "in general", "used to", or "usually" situations, use
the Simple Present Tense: You always do good work. In general, we love Kim Chi.
At parties we feel happy. He speaks English every day. Sometimes strangers say
"Hello". The boss sits in the big chair. You work every day. I used to eat chocolate.
He used to say such funny things.)*
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I do. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
FUTURE TENSE = I will do. (tomorrow)
PAST TENSE = I did. (yesterday)
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I make. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am making. (now)
FUTURE TENSE = I will make. (in the future)
PAST TENSE = I made. (in the past)
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I work. (usually, in general, sometimes)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am working. (now)
PAST TENSE = I worked.
FUTURE TENSE = I will work.
Today I work. Yesterday I worked. Tomorrow I will work.
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I don t (do not). (usually, in general)
PAST TENSE = I didn t (did not).
FUTURE TENSE = I won t (will not).
~
*************************************************************
VICE VERSA
Vice-versa (v.v.) = "and the other way, as well/OR/the opposite, too."
Latin, with the translation being the other way round or the position being
reversed .
For example: "Fish can t live where humans are most comfortable, and vice-versa".
***********************************************************
VOCABULARY
YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR VOCABULARY
1. Listen. Speak. Read. Write.
2. Get a Dictionary and Thesaurus.
The Most Important Words in the English Language:
5 most important words: I am proud of you./You did a great job.
4 most important words: What do you think?/How do you feel?
3 most important words: If you please./I love you./All is forgiven.
2 most important words: Thank you./I m sorry.
1 most important word: You./Because./Free./We.
The Least Most Important Word: I.
A vocabulary game: http://www.vocabulary.co.il/games2/slanggame/index.php
The 100 Most Commonly Used Words in English:
http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/100freqused07.htm
http://www.duboislc.org/EducationWatch/First100Words.html
Fun Vocabulary Lessons:
http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/blweathervocabulary.htm
Free and fun English lessons! "English, baby!" brings you Ebaby! TV!
http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/ebaby_tv
***********************************************************
Walk = sounds like, "Tick-Tock says the clock, let s go for a walk."
Work = sounds like, "I wear my workshirt to work because I m a clerk."
~
Work = sounds like, I wear my workshirt to work.The clerk is going berserk from
too much work because he saw the smirk from the jerk who likes to lurk.
clerk (a common worker); berserk (going crazy from too much work); smirk (evil
smile from the jerk); lurk (to hide around corners and spy on the workers).
***********************************************************
WEATHER
"March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" = The weather is traditionally
wild at the beginning of March, but fair by the end. The reverse, however, is also
true, and the saying continues: "But when March comes in like a lamb, it goes out
like a lion." This does not bode well for the year.
"April showers bring May flowers." = Rain brings flowers. This is also a pun: "If
April showers bring May flowers, then what did the Mayflower bring?" Answer:
the Pilgrims came to America on a ship called the "Mayflower".
***********************************************************
WERE VS. WAS
Use "were" instead of "was" after: * if * as if * wish * suppose * as
though
she smiles as if she were not sad. = OK
she is smiling as if she were not sad. = OK
she will smile as if she were not sad. = OK
she smiled as if she were not sad. = OK
she smiles, as it were, as if she were not sad. = OK
she smiles as if she is not sad. = OK
They were smiling, as it were, as if they were not sad. = OK
she smiled as if she was not sad. = NOT proper/formal English
she smiled. It appeared she was not sad. = OK
"as it were" = "so to speak"/if you can imagine/imagine, if you will/sort of/like
***********************************************************
WITH = We agree with someone or an with an idea, but agree to a contract/to a
date/to do something/to someone s demands.
"With" and "to" are prepositions, as are "on" and "about".
We can also agree on. (Let s agree on a time for the meeting. We agree on the
plan.)
We can also agree about. (We agree about the economic crisis.)
***********************************************************
WOULD
Who, What, Where, When, Why, How.
*(Would is the possible, will is for sure.
Could is the possible, can is for sure.
Should is the possible, shall is for sure.)*
I keep six honest serving-men
They taught me all I knew;
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
~ Rudyard Kipling
Who
What
Where
When
Why
How
***********************************************************
Who s vs. Whose
If you can replace the word with who is or who has, use "who s". If not, use
"whose". The trouble here is due to the apostrophe, which on 99% of English
words indicates possession, but on this one indicates a contraction.
Who s = who is or who has.
Who s watching TV?/Do you know who s going to speak?/Who s ready to
go?/Who s in the kitchen?/Who s this?/Who s already eaten?
Whose = the possessive of who or which.
Whose book is this?/Do you now whose car this is?/I know a woman whose kids
study there./Whose side are you on?/An idea whose time has come.
***********************************************************
X-TRA STUFF
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I talk. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am talking. (now)
SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE = I will talk. (tomorrow)
SIMPLE PAST TENSE = I talked. (yesterday)
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I say. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am saying. (now)
SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE = I will say. (tomorrow)
SIMPLE PAST TENSE = I said. (yesterday) <<<Look how it changes.
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I tell. (usually, in general, used to, sometimes, etc.)
ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE = I am telling. (now)
SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE = I will tell. (tomorrow)
SIMPLE PAST TENSE = I told. (yesterday) <<<Look how it changes.
(Man Seog, )
~
The 16 Verb Tenses:
PLURAL PRESENT
1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: She goes.
2. ACTIVE PRESENT TENSE: She is going.
3. SIMPLE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: She has gone.
4. ACTIVE PERFECT PRESENT TENSE: She has been going.
PLURAL PAST
5. SIMPLE PAST TENSE: She went.
6. ACTIVE PAST TENSE: She was going.
7. SIMPLE PERFECT PAST TENSE: She had gone.
8. ACTIVE PERFECT PAST TENSE: She had been going.
PLURAL FUTURE
9. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE: She will go.
10. ACTIVE FUTURE TENSE: She will be going.
11. SIMPLE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: She will have gone.
12. ACTIVE PERFECT FUTURE TENSE: She will have been going.
THE CONDITIONALS:
Use the conditionals for hypothetical ("if") situations - be becomes were -
can/will/shall become could/would/should:
13. SUBJUNCTIVE: If she were to go. If she were a millionaire.
14. UNREAL PRESENT TENSE: If she were you, she would go to Jeju Island.
15. UNREAL PAST TENSE: She wishes she could have gone to Jeju Island.
16. UNREAL MIXED TENSE (past & present): If she were rich, she would have
gone to Jeju Island.
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I do. (usually, in general, sometimes)
PAST TENSE = I did.
Today I do or am doing. Yesterday I did. Tomorrow I will do.
~
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE = I work. (usually, in general, sometimes)
PRESENT TENSE = I am working. (now)
PAST TENSE = I worked.
FUTURE TENSE = I will work.
Today I work. Yesterday I worked. Tomorrow I will work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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