Basic English Grammar Test

English Grammar for Speaking
Sentence Patterns to Help You Speak English Fluently!
Do you want to speak English more fluently?
Learn 100 of the most common English sentences. If you can say them perfectly, you will be able to use thousands
of similar sentences when you speak English. Make these sentences a habit and your English conversations will be
easier and more interesting. Good luck!
Learn English Grammar

100 Sentence Patterns for Speaking Practice
Copyright 2005, Learn English with Teacher Joe
Edited by Raharjo
Grammar Pattern 1: Yes/No Questions
[Note: Use the first question word in your answer!]
Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question and answer out loud!
1. Do you have a pet? Yes, we do. / No, we don't.

2. Does she like to study? Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.
3. Did you see it? Yes, we did. / No, we didn't.
4. Can you speak English well? Yes, we can. / No, we can't.
5. Is she from here? Yes, she is. / No, she isn't.
6. Are you from a big city? Yes, we are. / No, we aren't.
7. Are they going to come? Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.
8. Will you go with us? Yes, we will. / No, we won't.
9. Were you at home last night? Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't.
Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!
1. Do you speak English well? (Yes I do. / No I don't.)

2. Do you speak another language well?
3. Does your sister like pizza? (Yes she does. / No she doesn't.)
4. Does your friend like to eat pizza?
5. Do you have a brother or sister?
6. Does your father work in an office?
7. Can you play the guitar? (Yes I can. / No I can't.)
8. Can you drive a car?
9. Can your father drive a car?
10. Can you answer these questions easily?
11. Can French people speak French?
12. Is your friend a good singer? (Yes he is./Yes she is./No he isn't./No she isn't.)
13. Is today Friday?
14. Are you a good student? (Yes I am. / No I am not. / No I'm not.)
15. Are your friends tall?
16. Is your mother going to work today? (Yes, she is./No she is not./No she isn't.)
17. Is your dog big?
18. Are you going to stay home tonight? (Yes, I am. / No I am not. / No I'm not.)
19. Are you going to travel this year?
20. Will you practice all of these questions? (Yes I will. / No I won't.)
21. Will your friend help you study English?
22. Was yesterday Thursday? (Yes it was. / No it was not. / No it wasn't.)
23. Was your test difficult?
24. Were your parents from the same town or city? (Yes they were./No they weren't.)
25. Were your teachers helpful to you?
Grammar Pattern 2: W Questions
["W" word + part of "Yes/No" Question]
Model Sentence:
What languages can you speak?
1. What / is your name? (My name is ~ .)

2. What / can you / do well? (I can ~ very well.)
3. Where / are you from? (I am from ~ .)
4. Where / will you go / tomorrow? (I will go to ~ .)
5. When / did you / wake up / this morning? (I woke up at ~ o'clock.)
6. When is your birthday? (My birthday is in ~ .)
7. Who is your favorite singer? (My favorite singer is ~ .)
8. Who will come with us? ( ~ and ~ will come with us.)
9. Why are you studying English now? (I am studying English because ~ . )
10. Why were they so happy? (They were so happy because ~ .)
1. What do you like to do in your free time?

2. What will you eat for dinner tonight?
3. Where do you buy fruits and vegetables?
4. Where is the best place to visit in winter?
5. Who was your favorite teacher in school?
6. Who is the most popular singer in your country?
7. When was your last vacation? (My last vacation was in ~ .)
8. When do you prefer to study, in the morning or in the evening?
9. Why are you sleeping so late? (I'm sleeping so late because...)
10. Why are you walking to your school? (I'm walking because...)
Discussions - Give longer answers to these questions.
1. What is the most exciting movie you have ever seen?

2. When is the coldest weather in your hometown?
3. Where do you like to go on a warm summer's day?
4. Who do you like to talk to when you have a problem?
5. Why do you want to learn English?
Grammar Pattern 3: Basic "How" Questions
Model Sentence:
How do you study English now?
Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud!
1. How do you go to work every day?

2. How old are you?
3. How tall are you?
4. How can I buy a ticket?
5. How do you feel this afternoon?
6. How is your stomach?
7. How are your parents doing?
8. How is your new job going?
9. How often do you go to the movies?
1. How do you like your job? (I like it a lot. Or I don't like it very much.)
2. How are you feeling today? (I'm feeling better than yesterday.)
3. How is the weather today? (It's warm and sunny – a beautiful day!)
4. How fast can you run? (I can't run very fast! Or I can run pretty fast.)
5. How often do you study English? (I often study. / I study every day. / I don't study very often. /
I frequently study. / I rarely study.)
Grammar Pattern 4: How much / How long / How many
Model Sentence
How many English sentences do you know?
1. How long have you known your friend?

2. How much time is there in a day?
3. How many people are in your family?
4. How long can you swim underwater?
5. How much time have you spent studying for your test?
6. How many hours are there in a day?
1. How long have you studied English?

2. How long will you stay in your current job?
3. How much money do you spend for lunch every day?
4. How much time do you spend sleeping each night?
5. How many years have you spent in school?
6. How many days do you work each week?
Grammar Pattern 5: Tag Questions
Model Sentence
This is a good book, isn't it?
1. This book is mine, isn't it? ("Yes it is." / "No it isn't.")

2. That car is yours, isn't that right? ("Yes that's right" / "Yes it's mine" / "No it's not mine")
3. This house is theirs, isn't it? ("Yes it is" / "No it isn't")
4. This phone number is hers, isn't it? ("Yes it is"/"Yes that's right"/"No it isn't")
5. You are from London, aren't you? ("Yes I am" / "No I'm not")
6. We have enough time, don't we? ("Yes we do" / "No we don't!")
7. You can speak German, can't you? ("Yes I can" / "No I can't")
8. They will come tomorrow, won't they? ("Yes they will" / "No they won't")
1. You can understand English well, can't you?

2. Learning sentence patterns is good practice, isn't it?
3. We should listen to English more, shouldn't we?
4. Your job is interesting, isn't it?
5. If we keep trying, we'll surely succeed, won't we?
Grammar Pattern 6: Simple Polite Questions

(Use these sentences only in special situations.
They are not so useful for conversations.)
Model Sentence
Would you like to have some coffee?

1. Would you like some tea?
2. Would you come here for a moment?
3. What do you want to eat for lunch?
4. What do you want to drink?
5. Could you tell me your name?
6. Could you help me move this?
7. May I sit here?
8. May we come in?
Grammar Pattern 7: Longer Polite Questions

(Use these sentences only in special situations.
They are not so useful for conversations.)
Model Sentence
Would you like to go out for a drink after work?
1. Would you like to get together for a drink tonight?

2. Would you come to our home for dinner Friday night?
3. Would you mind bringing some books to our meeting tomorrow?
4. Could you come to work a little early this week?
5. Could you reserve a seat for me on Wednesday evening?
6. Could you take some time to look at my report?
7. May I ask what you are doing about our problem?
8. May I know what you are planning to do next?
Grammar Pattern 8: Conditional Questions

(These questions use "would" and "could" but they are NOT polite questions! Instead, they are
questions about "possibilities". These questions are VERY good for starting interesting
conversations.)
Model Sentence
Would you like to travel to the moon some day?
1. Would you like to visit London? (Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn't.)

2. Could you take a train to work next week? (Yes, we could. / No, we couldn't.)
3. Should we study this for the test? (Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn't.)
4. Would you have studied harder as a student? [If you had another chance.] (Yes, I would have. /
No, I wouldn't have.)
5. Could you have found a better way? (Yes, I could have. / No, I couldn't have.
6. Should you have asked for help before the test? (Yes, we should have. / No, we shouldn't
have.)
1. Would you like to travel in space?

2. Would you like to visit the moon?
3. Could a lion beat an alligator in a fight?
4. Could a time machine be built in the future?
5. Should we spend more time at work or with our families?
6. Should we give money to poor people on the streets?
Discussion – Give longer answers to these questions.
1. Would you enjoy flying an airplane by yourself?

2. Could we have a cheap electric car in the future?
3. Should cloning (making a "copy" of people!) be allowed in the future?
4. What should people do to make our world cleaner?
5. How could we make a million dollars in a short time?
6. Where should we put all of the world's garbage?
Grammar Pattern 9: "Have you ever...?"

(This is one of the best ways to start interesting conversations in English! Learn them well, listen
for your speaking partner's answer. Finally ask follow-up questions to keep on talking on any
topic in English.)
Model Sentence
Have you ever been to China?
1. Have you been to California?

2. Have you seen any good movies recently?
3. Have you ever seen a ghost?
4. Has your sisters seen your new car?
5. Has English become easier or more difficult for you?
6. Has your hometown changed a lot in the past ten years?
1. Have you read any good books this year?

2. Have you travelled somewhere interesting in your life?
3. Have you ever tried a dangerous sport?
4. Have you studied a foreign language other then English?
5. Has anyone told you an interesting story recently?
Discussion – Give longer answers to these questions.
1. Would you enjoy flying an airplane by yourself?

2. Could we have a cheap electric car in the future?
3. Should cloning (making a "copy" of people!) be allowed in the future?
4. What should people do to make our world cleaner?
5. How could we make a million dollars in a short time?
6. Where should we put all of the world's garbage?
Grammar Pattern 10: Questions with "Which"

(This is a good pattern when you want to know your speaking partner's choice or what he/she
likes. After you hear your partner's answer, you can ask another question to "follow up". Have
fun!)
Model Sentence
Which do you like better, fish or meat?

1. Which do you like more, TV or movies?
2. Which do you prefer, bread or rice?
3. Which season is your favorite?
4. Which time of the year is best in your hometown?
5. Which is more interesting, watching sports or playing sports?
1. Which sport is your favorite?

2. Which job is best for you?
3. Which sound in English is hardest for you to make?
4. Which do you like more, reading books or listening to music?
5. Which did you enjoy more, your high school days or your elementary school days?
Discussion Practice - Give longer answers to these questions.
1. Which is more important to you, being rich or being happy?

2. Which do you think is more dangerous, eating too much or driving too fast?
Grammar Pattern 11
Simple Sentences with "Be" (am / is / are)
Model Sentence
We are not from this city.
This pattern is a very easy but important pattern. Be sure to say these perfectly! Especially be
careful of the different forms - "I am", "We are", "They are", "He is" or "She is". You have to say
these correctly every time or people will be confused.
Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud!
1. I am from New York.

2. He is a teacher.
3. She is my friend.
4. We are married.
5. They are not married.
6. You are a good student.
1. What is your name? (My name is ...)

2. Where are you from? (I am from ...)
3. What is your job? (I am a ...)
4. Are you married? (Yes I am. / No I'm not.)
5. Is your friend a good student? (Yes she is. / No she isn't, she's a ...)
6. Are your parents teachers? (Yes they are. / No, they are ...)
Grammar Pattern 12
Past Sentences with "Be" (was / were)
Model Sentence
We were hungry last night.
Use the past of "Be" to describe places, people, or things that happened before now. Pay close
attention to the different times we us "was" (He was... / She was... / I was...) and "were" (We
were... / They were...). These are easy sentences, but you must do them perfectly! Good luck.
1. I was a lazy student.

2. He was tired yesterday.
3. She was my neighbor.
4. We were classmates.
5. They were not classmates.
6. You were a cute child.
1. Were you a good student in high school?

2. Were you tired when you woke up this morning?
3. Was she your friend?
4. Were they in the same job?
5. Was he fat as a child?
6. Was yesterday a hot day?
Grammar Pattern 13
Simple Sentences with "Have" (or "Has")
Model Sentence
We have a little money.
This is a very easy pattern, but very common, so be sure to say each sentence perfectly! Be
careful - although we say "I have" or "We have", it is different with "he" or "she". We must say
"He has" or "She has".
1. I have good books.

2. She has two brothers.
3. He has one sister.
4. We have no time.
5. They have a house in the city.
6. You have good pronunciation in English!
1. Do you have any brothers or sisters?

2. What good books do you have for studying English?
3. Does your friend have good English pronunciation?
4. What kind of home does your family have?
5. Do your parents have good jobs?
6. Does your hometown have good parks?
Grammar Pattern 14
Past Sentences with "Had"
Model Sentence
I had a yellow bicycle.
The past of "have" is very easy - it is always "had". (I had, you had, we had, she had, he had,
they had) Just remember to use it when you are talking about a time in the past.
1. I had a blue and red pen.

2. She had a good teacher last year.
3. He had a dog. (not now)
4. We had a big dinner.
5. They had money.
6. You had English classes two years ago.
1. Did you have a big lunch today?

2. Did your parents have English class in school?
3. Did you have any good teachers in school?
4. What kind of toys did you have as a child?
5. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
6. Where did you have dinner last night?
Grammar Pattern 15
Simple Sentences with "be" + "ing"
Model Sentence
We are studying English now.
This pattern describes actions that are happening now (so we use "be", not "was") and continue
(so we use "ing").
1. I am eating dinner.
2. She is riding a bicycle.
3. He is playing the guitar.
4. We are playing tennis.
5. They are singing.
6. You are reading English!
1. What's your mother doing now? (She's reading a book. / She's getting ready for bed.)
2. What are your parents doing now? (They're eating dinner. / They're sleeping. / They're
watching TV.)
3. Where are you going? (I'm going to work. / I'm going to my friend's home.)
4. Who are they talking to? (They're talking to ...)
5. Are you studying English now? (Yes I'm studying very hard! / No I'm hardly studying!)
Grammar Pattern 16
Past Sentences with "be" + "ing"
Model Sentence
We were eating dinner last night at this time.
This pattern describes actions that happened now, so we use "was" or "were", not "is", "am" or
"are". We use "ing" to show the action continued. It was not an action that was quickly finished!
Because the action continues, it is possible that another action happened at the same time.
1. I was sleeping (at 4 o'clock this morning).

2. She was eating dinner (at 6 o'clock last night).
3. He was coming home (last night after work).
4. We were talking on the telephone.
5. They were running.
6. You were studying English in junior high school.
1. What were you doing yesterday at this time? (I was working. / I was eating lunch. / I wasn't
doing anything special.)
2. What was your father doing this morning at 8? (He was ...)
3. What were your parents doing last week? (They were ...)
4. Were you studying English last night? (Yes I was studying. / No I wasn't studying.)
5. Were you working or studying five years ago?
Grammar Pattern 17
Noun + Verb + Noun
Model Sentence
My sister enjoys tennis.
This is another very basic pattern. You should try to say it as easily as your own name! Be
careful to add an "s" after most verbs if the first noun is "he" or "she". We say "I enjoy" but "She
enjoys". Got it?
1. I want coffee.
2. He enjoys steak.
3. She loves money.
4. They finished work.
5. My sister went to New York.
Conversation Practice - Practice these questions with your friends. Be sure to answer with the
Noun + Verb + Noun pattern!
1. Do you enjoy coffee?

2. Do you enjoy tea?
3. Does your mother love cars?
4. Does your father like art?
5. Did you finish your work?
6. Where did you go yesterday?
Grammar Pattern 18
Longer Noun + Verb + Noun
Model Sentence
My younger brother Sam drinks beer.
This pattern is similar to Pattern 17, however the first noun (the subject of the sentence) can
sometimes be a very long "noun phrase". For example, look at the model sentence above. Instead
of "Sam drinks beer" which only has one word (Sam) as the subject, the model has four words
("My younger brother Sam") as the subject. This adds useful information and helps us to
communicate more effectively. Or look at Pronunciation Practice sentence 5 below - the first
noun phrase has nine words! Using noun phrases easily takes practice but when you can say
them well, your speaking will be much more fluent.
1. My older sister wants coffee.

2. My friend Joe from Hawaii enjoys tea.
3. The brother of my best friend enjoys steak.
4. The woman who works in that shop loves money.
5. My older sister's friend who works in that shop went to New York.
1. What does your older sister (or younger sister) like to drink?
2. Do you have a friend from another city? Does he enjoy tea?
3. Who do you know that enjoys steak?
4. What kind of people love money?
5. Do you know anyone who has travelled to another city?
Grammar Pattern 19
Noun + Verb + Longer Noun
Model Sentence
This is my favorite book.
Pattern 18 has a longer verb at the beginning of the sentence. In Pattern 19, however, the longer
verb comes at the end. The model sentence shows a "noun phrase" with three words ("my
favorite book"). Pronunciation Practice sentence 9 has a noun phrase with six words ("their work
on the business deal"). Of course, there is no limit to the possible length of a noun phrase. (Let's
try a looooooooooong example! "These lessons are the most useful lessons on English
grammar and sentence patterns in any country on Earth or on any website now, in the past,
and in the future"!)
1. That is my house.
2. The women are famous lawyers.
3. He loves to play the guitar.
4. He enjoys steak with potatos.
5. I hate to drive during rush hour!
6. She's crazy about playing tennis.
7. I love to drive down country roads!
8. I want hot coffee with no milk or sugar.
9. They finished their work on the business deal.
1. What do you love to do?

2. Are you crazy about any sport?
3. How do you drink your tea?
4. What kind of coffee do you like?
5. What work have you finished recently?
6. What kind of worker are you?
7. What kind of worker is your father?
Grammar Pattern 20
Noun + Verb + Verb + Noun
Model Sentence
She can speak Japanese.
Patterns 20, 21 and 22 have two verbs together in the middle of each sentence. Pattern 20 has
two simple verbs together without "to" or "ing". In the Model Sentence, the two verbs are "can"
and "speak". Although this pattern (Pattern 20) is quite simple, it is important to know the
difference between this pattern and the next two (Pattern 21 and Pattern 22).
1. We can read books.

2. I can't hear the music.
3. You will see her.
4. We won't visit him.b>
5. I don't know them.
6. I do know them. ("do" makes it stronger – "I really DO know them"!)
1. What can you do well?

2. What can't you do very well?
3. Will you go somewhere tonight?
4. Will you visit anyone tomorrow?
5. Do you know the Marx brothers? (Groucho, Harpo and Chico, not Karl!)
6. Did you study English yesterday?
Grammar Pattern 21
Noun + Verb + "to" + Verb + Noun
Model Sentence
He likes to sleep late.
Pattern 21 has two verbs together in the middle of each sentence, linked by "to". In the Model
Sentence above, the verb "likes" is followed by "to sleep". When you read English and see two
verbs linked with "to", try to remember the first verb. That verb should always be followed by a
verb in the "infinitive" form - that is a verb with "to". The most common verbs followed by "to"
(followed by the "infinitive") are "want", "hope", "try", "ask", "expect" and "care". Notice that
these verbs are all involved, in some way, with the future. (The verb "like" can be used with "to"
or with "ing", as you will see with Pattern 22!)
1. We like to read books.

2. They want to eat soup.
3. She hopes to teach English.
4. He tries to improve his writing.
5. I stopped to eat dinner.

1. What do you like to read?
2. What do you want to eat for dinner tonight?
3. Where do you hope to work in the future?
4. What are you trying to improve in your life?
5. Do you sometimes stop on your way home from work? Why?
Grammar Pattern 22
Noun + Verb + "ing" + Verb + Noun
Model Sentence
She remembers dancing under the stars!
Pattern 22 has two verbs together in the middle of each sentence, with the second verb using
"ing". In the Model Sentence above, the verb "remembers" is followed by "dancing". Besides
"remember", other common verbs that are followed by "ing" are "enjoy", "prefer" "consider" and
sometimes "like". Verb phrases, such as "think about" or "believe in" can also be followed by a
verb with "ing". In some ways, the second verb with "ing" functions as a noun - we "enjoy
something" or "prefer something" or "remember something".
1. He enjoys playing tennis.

2. Do you enjoy reading?
3. What do you enjoy doing on the weekend?
4. I tried studying Japanese.
5. We remember visiting Washington three years ago.
6. They like swimming very much. (The verb "like" can be followed by "to" OR "ing"!)
1. Do you enjoy playing tennis?

2. What sport do you enjoy playing the most?
3. Do you try learning many new things?
4. Can you remember doing anything special last week?
5. What do you remember thinking when you started learning English?
6. Do you like studying English?
7. What do you like studying besides English?
Grammar Pattern 23
Noun + Verb + Adjective
Model Sentence
We are very busy.
Pattern 23 is basically quite easy. However, the adjective at the end can sometimes be a phrase
that is quite long. The adjective in the Model Sentence above is "busy", but it could also be "very
busy" or "really very busy" or even "so busy that we cannot get all of our work done today"!
1. They are hungry.

2. They are not very hungry.
3. The teachers are lazy.
4. The teachers are very lazy.
5. The teachers are not very lazy.
6. She seems very happy.
7. Your sisters seems to be very happy.
1. Are you tired now?

2. How do you feel today?
3. Were your high school teachers hard working?
4. Is your boss hard working or lazy?
5. You seem to be very happy. Are you?
Grammar Pattern 24
Noun + Verb + Time or Place
Model Sentence
Next month is summer.
Pattern 24 is similar to Sentence Pattern 23, except that the adjective at the end can be replaced
by words showing a time or a place. The Model Sentence is quite simple - the time is just
"summer". In the Pronunciation Practice section, you can see longer possible phrases such as "in
the restaurant" or "later in the week". Even very long phrases can be used. For example, "We ate
during the exciting football match between Germany and Brazil that was won by Germany by
a score of two to one". Most of the time, it is much simpler, though, so you can practicing the
sentences below is enough!
1. Tomorrow is Wednesday.
2. She is coming to our house.
3. She is coming today.
4. We will eat later.
5. We will eat later today.
6. We will eat Chinese food later in the week.
7. We will eat in the restaurant.
8. You can visit next week.
9. She is there.
10. Birds are in the sky.
1. What day is tomorrow?

2. What day was yesterday?
3. When will you eat next?
4. Where will you eat dinner?
5. What can you often see in the sky?
6. What can you often see on a mountain?
Grammar Pattern 25
Noun + Verb + Manner
Model Sentence
My students are learning quickly.
Sentence Pattern 25 is similar to Patterns 23 and 24. The only difference is that the last part
shows the "manner", or "how" the action is done. This is a very common pattern used in
conversations, so discussion questions are included at the end. In this pattern, it is often possible
to move the "manner" (the final adverb or adverbial phrase) in front of the verb. Those
possibilities are shown below after each practice sentence.
1. Birds are flying slowly. (The birds are slowly flying.)

2. The children were eating hungrily. (The children were hungrily eating.)
3. Those children play noisily. (Those children noisily play.)
4. My friends work eagerly. (My friends eagerly work.)
5. Can you finish your work in less than an hour?
1. How do fish usually swim? (quickly? slowly?)

2. How well did you learn as a student? (slowly? eagerly?)
3. Do your friends study actively?
4. Will you speak English fluently in 3 years?
5. Did you study hard as a high school student? (Do NOT use "hardly" here. "Hardly" is a special
word in English that means "not very much"!)
Discussion Questions – Give longer answers to these questions.
1. Can you speak English fluently now?

2. How will you learn to speak English better?
3. Do you always work hard at your job?
4. What activities do you do enthusiastically?
Grammar Pattern 26
Noun + Verb + Long Phrase
Model Sentence
She asked me when the movie would begin.
Sentence Pattern 26 uses "connectors" such as "when", "where", "who", "why" and "that" to
build on Patterns 23, 24 and 25. This pattern allows you to add much more information when
you are communicating in English.
1. He was sleeping when the telephone rang.

2. They were waiting where the road curves.
3. She was wondering why the weather was so cold.
4. I want to know who will cook dinner tonight.
5. This is the book that I bought yesterday.
1. Where were you when the sun came up this morning?

2. Have you been to a city where there is lots of rain?
3. Why is the weather colder in winter than in summer?
4. Do you know who the President of China is?
5. When is the time that you study best? ("That" is not necessary! "When is the time you study
best" is okay, too!)
Grammar Pattern 27
Long Noun + Long Verb
Model Sentence
The 25-year-old man in the park is trying to fly a kite.
This sentence pattern uses two "phrases", first a "long noun" and then a "long verb", to
communicate a simple idea with several details. In the Model Sentence above, the first part (the
long noun) shows us that it is a rather young man and where he is. The second part (the long
verb) shows us what he is doing and that he is "trying" but maybe not succeeding!
1. The seven students are studying now.

2. The seven happy students are studying very hard.
3. Some young teachers were talking.
4. Some young, intelligent teachers were talking.
5. The cats and dogs had been sleeping. (Before they woke up!)

1. What are your parents doing now?
2. How hard were your friends studying as university students?
3. What had you been doing before you started this lesson?
4. What are you and your friends doing today?
5. Where are you and your family going to eat dinner tonight?
Grammar Pattern 28
Long Noun + Long Verb + Adjective or Adverb
Model Sentence
A yellow bird was flying quickly across the sky.
Now that we have mastered Sentence Pattern 27, we can add an adverb or adjective at the end to
make even more interesting sentences. The examples below are enough to show you how...
1. The happy students have been studying hard.

2. Three teachers are talking to tired students.
3. A fat cat is looking for some little mice.
4. A driver of a fast car cannot stop very quickly.
5. Good students from London are thinking about a large, delicious dinner!
Conversation Practice - Answer these questions with a full sentence.
1. How do happy workers do their jobs?

2. What do fat cats often look for?
3. What kind of students think about really special dinners?
4. How easily can a driver of a big car change directions?
5. What kind of students need help from their hard working teachers?
Grammar Pattern 29
Noun + Verb + Noun + Movement
Model Sentence
The boss gave some advice to his workers.
The end of Sentence Pattern 29 is usually called an "indirect object". What does that really
mean? It means there is some kind of movement - something is moving to another place. For
example, in the Model Sentence above, what happened to the advice? It "moved" from the boss
to the workers. Most grammar books make this pattern seem very difficult, but it's not. Just learn
the sentences below!
1. She gave the keys to her friend.

2. My brother threw a bone at the dog.
3. My sister moved her home to the city center.
4. We put the old magazines into the garbage bin.
5. The swimmer threw himself into the water.
1. Do you give any kind words to your coworkers?

2. What nice gifts have you given to your parents?
3. What kind of things have you put on top of your television?
4. What can you throw at (or to) your dog?
5. Where do you usually put old newspapers?
6. Which part of the city do you want to move to?
Grammar Pattern 30
Noun + Place + Verb + Noun or Adjective
Model Sentence
A hungry dog in the street is looking for food.
This pattern is a little more difficult than previous sentence patterns but it is based on a
combination of those patterns. The Model Sentence, for example, starts with a long noun (A
hungry dog) as subject, then mentions the place (in the street) followed by a verb (is looking)
then a final phrase (for food). Your English will become more fluent if you can say the sentences
below easily. Remember, "practice makes perfect"!
1. The apple on the table looks delicious.

2. Two cats under the bed look scared!
3. My friend in Australia wants a new job.
4. A group of people near the door seem very happy.
5. Some people in our city want to build a new train station.
1. What do the decorations in your house look like?

2. What do dogs under the dining room table seem to want?
3. Are your friends in other cities happy to live there?
4. Who in your city wants to make changes?
5. What food in your home is not very fresh?
Grammar Pattern 31
Noun + Verb + Long Noun + Place
Model Sentence
I saw a very interesting show in the theater.
Look at the Model Sentence to understand this very common grammar pattern. The first noun
("I" - the subject) and the verb ("saw") are very simple. Then we have a long noun ("a very
interesting show") followed by the place ("in a theater"). Say the Pronunciation Practice
sentences until you can say them perfectly.
1. We have two bottles of milk in the fridge.

2. He ate six big juicy hamburgers in the park.
3. There is half a loaf of bread on the table.
4. We can buy five pounds of meat from the supermarket.
5. The woman was driving a beautiful sports car up the mountain.

1. What do you have to drink in your refrigerator (fridge)?
2. Have you seen some really interesting movies in a theater?
3. What kinds of vegetables can you buy in your local supermarket?
4. What special foods do you cook at home?
5. What special foods do you eat in a restaurant?
Grammar Pattern 32
There is / There are
Model Sentence
There is a big dog in front of the house.
Use this simple grammar pattern to start lots of conversations. Start with "There is" when talking
about one thing or start your conversation with "There are" if you are talking about two or more
things. Then explain what (in the Model Sentence the "what" is "a big dog") and explain where
("in front of the house") and you have a good sentence! There are three discussion questions at
the end to get you started using this sentence pattern in real conversations. Have fun!
1. There are three people in my family.

2. There is a book on the table.
3. There aren't any eggs in the refrigerator.
4. There isn't any time left in the game.
5. There are only a few cars on the road.
6. There are too many cars on the road.
1. Are there many people in your family?

2. How many people work in your office?
3. Are there too many cars in your city?
4. Is there too much pollution in your hometown?
5. Is there any cheese in your refrigerator?
Discussion Questions - Give longer answers to these questions.

1. Do you think there are too many people in the world?
2. Are there people in this world that you admire?
3. Is there a special place that you want to visit?
Grammar Pattern 33
There was / There were
Model Sentence
There was a big storm last night.
This grammar pattern is similar to sentence pattern 32, except that it is in the past. Use this in
conversations about things that happened before now. It's quite easy, so be sure to learn these
sentences until you can say them perfectly.
1. There were seventeen students in the class.

2. There was a tall student sitting in the front.
3. There was a big earthquake in China a few years ago.
4. Was there a party last night?
5. Were there many people at the meeting yesterday?
1. Was there a special event that changed your life?

2. Were there many good teachers in your high school?
3. Was there a McDonald's in your town when you were a child?
4. Were there interesting TV shows on TV when you were a child?
5. How many TV stations were there in your hometown 20 years ago?
Grammar Pattern 34
English Articles
Model Sentence
A man jumped into the river. Who was the man?.
Articles are one of the most difficult points of English grammar for ESL students. Learn the
sentences in this lesson will make it easier for you. In English, we often start with "a" and "an"
which are called "indefinite articles". These are used with something we don't know well. We can
then continue with "the", which is a "definite article". We use "the" with something we know.
The practice sentences in this grammar lesson are in pairs - the first sentence uses an indefinite
article but then we know the topic, so the second sentence uses a definite article.
1a. There is a man next to the table. (We don't know who he is yet.)
1b. The man is from Sydney. (Now we know him, at least a little!)
2a. A man came to our office this morning. (Who? We don't know.)
2b. The man wanted to meet our boss. (Now we know him a little.)
3. The Nile is a river in Egypt. (Everybody knows it.)
4. There is a river in my hometown called the Genesee River.
5. Put this fruit in the kitchen. (We know that every house has a kitchen.)
1a. Do you have a pet?

1b. What is the pet's name?
2a. Is there a lake near your hometown?
2b. Is the lake big or small?
3. Where is the Mississippi River?
4. What is the capital city of France?
Grammar Pattern 35
English Determiners
Model Sentence
Those two cars belong to this company.
The most common English determiners are some, a few, many, these, those, and that. We use
determiners in English to show how much or how many things you are talking about. In other
words, we add important information to our conversations which helps us communicate more
effectively. Learn the sentence patterns below to practice the most useful determiners in English.
1. Those people are not my coworkers.

2. These books are mine but these are not.
3. Give me that book on the table.
4. Some of these magazines are interesting but many are not.
5. I like a few movies but not many.
1. Do you have many books in your home?

2. What things do you have only a few of?
3. What are some things you really enjoy?
4. Think of something you really hate. What is that?
5. Think of some things you want to do. What are those things?
Grammar Pattern 36
English Sentences with "it"
Model Sentence
It is very cloudy today.
Some English sentences don't have a grammatical subject, so we can use "it" as a kind of "empty
subject". We often use "it" in English to talk about time and weather. Practice the sentences
below and your English conversation will be much more colloquial!
1. What time is it? (It's 3 o'clock.)

2. What's it like outside? (It's cold and windy.)
3. It's a great day today!
4. It's Wednesday.
5. It's 2010. (Or "This year (not it!) is 2010".)

1. What will the weather be like tomorrow? (It will be...)
2. What's the date today?
3. Is it the weekend yet? (Yes it is. / No it's not. It's ...)
4. Is it raining right now?
5. Will it snow tomorrow?
Grammar Pattern 37
Either / Neither / Too / So
Model Sentence
They don't agree and neither do I!
In English grammar, we use words such as "Either", "Neither", "Too" or "So" to show agreement
during a conversation. Use one of these expressions to give answers.
1. She seems very tired. (I am too!)

2. I want to go home. (So do I!)
3. I don't like this TV show. (I don't either!)
4. I am not happy with this class. (Neither am I!)
5. We don't want to go out tonight. How about you? (I don't either.)
1. How does your sister (or brother) feel now? How about you?
2. Do you have a million dollars? How about your friends?
3. Have your friends been to South Africa? How about you?
4. Can your parents fly an airplane? What about you?
5. Which country were you born in? What about your brother? (or sister?)
Grammar Pattern 38
Comparing Actions in English
Model Sentence
They must work harder. OR He can read more quickly than me.
We have two ways to compare things in English grammer. With short words, we add "-er" at the
end of a word (such as "work harder" in the Model Sentence) or we use "more" before a word (as
in "more quickly"). Practice the grammar points by using the sentences below.
1. We must study harder if we want to succeed.

2. You can run more quickly if you are in a hurry.
3. They spoke louder because nobody could hear them.
4. She drove more slowly to avoid an accident.
5. I will think more carefully before answering next time.
1. What do you want to do more seriously?

2. Is there anything you can do more quickly than your friends?
3. Is there anything you do more slowly than your friends?
4. When should people speak louder than normal?
5. When should people speak more softly than normal?
6. What should people try to do more carefully?
Grammar Pattern 39
Comparing Things in English
Model Sentence
Their car is more powerful than my car is.
Similar to English Sentence Pattern 38, this pattern makes a comparison. However, English
Sentence Pattern 39 compares two things, not two actions. Generally, shorter words will use "er"
(be + adjective + -er + than) but longer words use "more" (be + more (or less!) + adjective +
than) to make this comparison.

1. My new apartment building is taller than my old one.
2. My new teacher is more interesting than the previous one.
3. Her older brother is less successful than she is.
4. Our new computer is faster than our old computer.
5. We are better students than they are.
1. What do you do better than other people?

2. What do you do less well than others?
3. Who usually studies harder than you do?
4. Who can run faster than your mother?
5. What is more interesting than studying English?
English Grammar Pattern 40

Comparing Three or More Things in English
Model Sentence
That book is the most interesting book in our house
When we describe three or more things using English grammar, we not use "er" or "more".
Instead, we use "the" with "-est" or "the most". It's a small change from English Sentence Pattern
38 and English Sentence Pattern 39 so you should master this pattern easily!
1. That TV program is the most interesting, don't you agree?

2. This TV program is the funniest, don't you think so?
3. Our teacher is the most boring teacher in ther world, isn't he?
4. This is the tallest building in the city, right?
5. She is the worst English speaker I know!
1. Who is the best English speaker you know?

2. Who is the worst English speaker you know?
3. What is the funniest TV show you have ever seen?
4. What do you think is the most interesting city in the world?
5. Which is the longest river in the world?

Noun + "Be" + Adjectives
Model Sentence
The bread was warm, soft and tasty.
Learners of English often use single adjective to describe an object. In this grammar pattern,
students should try to use two or more adjectives together at the end of each sentence. For many
students, this is a question of pronunciation more than grammar. In any case, practice always
makes perfect.
1. The air was clean, cool and fresh.

2. The car was fast and powerful.
3. My sister is intelligent, beautiful and charming.
4. We were hungry, thirsty and tired.
5. The weather was cold, windy and rainy.
1. How can you describe your family members?

2. What is your best friend like?
3. What is the weather like today?
4. What was the weather like yesterday?
5. Can you describe your favorite food?
6. What special food did you eat yesterday?

Noun + Place + "Be" + Adjectives
Model Sentence
The people in the car were hot and tired.
This grammar pattern is similar to English Sentence Pattern 41 with the only difference being
that you tell us "where" (a place) you saw the thing being described by the adjectives. It's a little
bit longer than the previous pattern, so practice saying it until you can say it easily.
1. The air by the sea is clean, cool and fresh.

2. The woman next to the boat was tall, beautiful and dangerous!
3. A friendly dog in your home can be fun and interesting.
4. Ten of the students in the classroom were sleepy, bored, and restless.
5. My friend from Spain is hard working and intelligent.
1. Are students in an English classroom usually bored and sleepy?

2. How can we describe workers in your country?
3. What activities do you think are fun and interesting?
4. Where can you find activities that are fun and interesting?
5. Have you ever met a woman who is tall, beautiful and dangerous? Where???

Long Nouns with Question Words
Model Sentence
"Whoever smiles first is the loser!" OR "The loser is whoever smiles first!"
Although this grammar pattern is similar to English Sentence Pattern 18 it is much more
challenging. We make the longer noun in this pattern using "question words" for example, the
Model Sentences above use "whoever smiles first" either at the beginning or the end of the
sentence. When you get used to this sentence pattern, it will seem quite easy, so keep trying!
1. Whoever finishes first is the winner. (The winner is whoever finishes first.)
2. Whenever we arrive we'll have a party. (We'll have a party whenever we arrive.)
3. Whichever bus comes first, we'll take. (We'll take whichever bus comes first.)
4. Wherever we go, it will be fun. (It will be fun wherever we go.)
5. Whatever you do, we will support you. (We will support you whatever you do.)
1. Who will win a basketball match? (Whoever scores the most points...)
2. Where can we find good Chinese food in Beijing? (Wherever you go...)
3. When do you like eating pizza? (Whenever I'm hungry!)
4. What kind of movies do you watch? (Whatever is playing at the cinema...)
5. Which kind of computer do you want to buy? (Whichever is cheaper...)

Question + Preposition + Noun
Model Sentence
"What's the reason for doing it this way?
This grammar pattern begins with a full question, not just a question word. In the Model
Sentence, "What's the reason" is a question. Then "doing it this way" is a noun. Between the
question and the noun, we have a preposition "for" to link the two. This is not a very easy
pattern, but it's quite useful!
1. What's the problem with the car? (The problem with the car is...)
2. What's the matter with this tea?
3. What's the solution to this problem?
4. Who's the author of this book?
5. Where's the manager of this store?
1. Who is the leader in your company?

2. What's the name of your hometown?
3. Where's the capital city of your country?
4. How is the food in your favorite restaurant?
5. When is the biggest festival in your country or city?
Very Long Noun + Verb
Model Sentence
A bicycle with blue handlebars and a red seat almost hit me!
Sentence Pattern 45 includes some very long noun phrases. The subject in the Model Sentence
(underlined) has 9 words. The fifth sentence in the Pronunication Practice section has 16 words!
You will have to practice hard to be able say these kinds of sentences, but you will be truly fluent
if you can.
1. The boy who bought the fresh oranges on Wednesday returned today.
2. My coworker with the incredibly beautiful girlfriend is getting married soon.
3. A day in the sun without any work to do is a wonderful day!
4. Three days of working hard without any breaks will make you very tired!
5. A teacher with some very good ideas for helping students improve their English quickly and
efficiently is a great teacher!
1. How many days of working hard without a break have you done before?
2. What kind of day is a wonderful day for you?
3. Have you ever met a woman with an incredibly handsome boyfriend?
4. Do you know any teachers with good ideas for helping students improve their English more
quickly and easily than usual?

Modified Adjectives
Model Sentence
That's a truly wonderful story.
Adjectives "modify" or change nouns by adding more information about the nouns. In other
words, nouns can be described in more detail using adjectives. Not only nouns, but also
adjectives can be described, or "modified". In the Model Sentence, "wonderful" is an adjective
which is modified or described by the word "truly". Recite the practice sentences below to learn
how to modify adjectives yourself.
1. Is that a good book? Yes, it's a very exciting story.

2. Is your car new or old? It's quite an old car.
3. Does your friend like to dance? No, she's not a very active person.
4. Are your parents interested in travelling? No, they are extremely hard working so they usually
don't leave the city.
5. Do you live in a quiet neighborhood? No, it's quite noisy because there are many cars.
1. Can you describe your home or apartment?

2. What kind of neighborhood do you live in?
3. Are you the kind of person who has enough time to travel?
4. Can you tell us what kind of movies or TV programs you enjoy?
5. Is your friend the type of person who will go dancing often?

Adverbs with "When"
Model Sentence
We like to wake up when the sun rises.
Adverbs modify verbs. In other words, adverbs give more information about verbs. In the Model
Sentence, the verb is "wake up". We can show the time of waking up by using an expression with
"when" - "when the sun rises". This is a very common pattern in English, but students often
struggle with it. Just practice this grammar pattern a few times, however, and you'll master it
very soon.
1. I usually eat when my brother eats.

2. They normally sleep when the sun goes down.
3. She doesn't study when the weekend comes.
4. We need an umbrella when it's raining.
5. My cousin travels when he doesn't have a lot of work to do.
1. What do you like to do when the weekend comes?

2. Do you always have an umbrella when it rains?
3. Do you always carry an umbrella when it doesn't rain?
4. Is there a regular time when you go to bed?
5. When do you think is the best time to travel?

Adjectives with "Who"
Model Sentence
A good friend is a person who will help you in difficult times.
Who is "a person" in the Model Sentence above? We can use many adjectives to describe this
person. In English, ordinary adjectives come before the noun - "he is a good person" or "she is a
happy person". In this grammar pattern, however, we have a longer adjective that describes this
person using a phrase introduced by "who". So we know this person will help others when they
have trouble. This is a good way to add important meaning to your communication in English.
Learn it well and use it often!
1. I have a friend who likes to jump out of airplanes.

2. My sister is a person who sleeps until noon.
3. Learners of English are people who really hope to succeed!
4. A good musician is a perfectionist who practices every day.
5. Joe is a teacher who likes to laugh.
1. Do you know anybody who can fix a broken computer?

2. Do you have a friend who can play the guitar?
3. Who is a famous person who appears often on TV?
4. Are you the type of person who likes to wake up early?
5. Was there a teacher who really helped you a lot?

"Do you think...?"
Model Sentence
Do you think they can win the game?
Sentence Pattern 49 is a basic Yes / No question but with a longer noun phrase at the end. This is
one of the most common conversation starters in English, so learn it perfectly!
1. Do you think it will rain tomorrow?

2. Do you think they'll come here next week?
3. Does she think he will return home in the future?
4. Did they think we would pay the bill for them?
5. Do you think they will come here tomorrow?
1. Do you think you can speak English better than before?

2. Does your father think you are a good student?
3. Did you think you could become a great English speaker?
4. Did you think you could quickly start speaking English fluently?
5. Do you think you will learn another language after English?

"What do you think...?"
Model Sentence
What do you think is the best type of music?
Sentence Pattern 50 is another one of the most common conversation starters in English. You can
use this pattern in almost any situation, so use it often.
1. What do you think he will do?

2. What do you think the weather will be like tomorrow?
3. When do you think they'll come here?
4. Who does she think will return in the future?
5. Where do you think the show will begin?
1. What do you think you will do next week?

2. What does your mother think you should do in your career?
3. When do you think you can speak English perfectly?
4. Who do you think is the best singer in the world?
5. Where do you think is the most beautiful city in the world?

Sentence + "but" + Reason
Model Sentence
We stopped by your home last night but you may have already gone to bed.
Sentence Pattern 51 is a very long pattern but it is simply made by combining two sentences
together. In the Model Sentence above, the first sentence is "We stopped by your home last
night". At the end, a reason or explanation is given by using another sentence - "you may have
already gone to bed".
1. I called you yesterday at two o'clock but maybe you were working then. (so I couldn't talk to
you)
2. He saw her before the meeting in a coffee shop studying English. (so she didn't come to the
meeting)
3. They saw us sitting in the classroom because our class was having a test. (so they couldn't talk
to us outside of class)
1. Can a person stay home from work because she is sick?

2. Will some people try to buy a new home after getting a better job?
3. Do singers ever lose their voice after singing many songs?
4. Why might you try to work late when you have a new boss?
5. Is it possible for a young man to work less when he has a new girlfriend?

"Be afraid" + "that" + Sentence
Model Sentence
I'm afraid that I can't help you this time.
This is a very common sentence pattern that is used to make an excuse, to refuse a request, or to
say you're sorry. In the Conversation Practice exercise below, be sure that all answers use this
pattern!
1. I'm afraid I'm too tired to go to work!

2. I'm afraid (that) I won't be able to finish this job.
3. I'm afraid (that) I won't have time to see you this weekend.
4. I'm sorry but I can't meet you this week. (How about next week?)
5. I'm sorry but I won't be able to finish the job until next week.
Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends. Be sure the answers use "I'm afraid
that...".
1. Could you lend me 100 dollars?

2. Would you stay at work until 11 o'clock tonight?
3. Will you let me sleep at your home for a few weeks?
4. Can you do my homework for me?
5. Could you do all of my work for me while I'm on vacation?
"Will be" + Verb + Time
Model Sentence
Our company will be closed during the holiday.
In this grammar pattern, the verb is most often used in the '-ing' form, which means we are
talking about a continuing action in the future. We can also use the past participle, as in the
Model Sentence above.
1. I'll be travelling for business the next three weeks.

2. I'll be studying until 10 o'clock tonight.
3. They'll be staying in a hotel until their roof is repaired.
4. My friend will be coming home at the end of the year.
5. A hard winter will be coming before long.
1. What will you be doing during your next vacation?

2. Where will you be going on the weekend?
3. Who will you be working with next year?
4. When will you be staying at home this month?
5. What will you be studying next year at this time?

"Be going to" + Verb + Time
Model Sentence
Are you going to take a vacation next month?
This is very similar to Sentence Pattern 53. The big difference is that we use "be going to"
instead of "will". In sentence pattern 54, we are already using "-ing" in "going to" so most verbs
that follow will NOT be in the "-ing" form.

1. Are you going to visit Japan this year?
2. Is she going to start a new job this week?
3. Are they going to have a baby soon?
4. Is he going to visit us this month?
5. Are you going to buy a new computer sometime this year?
1. Are you going to do anything fun on the weekend?

2. Are you going to visit some place interesting this month?
3. Are your friends going to visit you this week?
4. Is your brother (or sister) going to work on Saturday?
5. Is your city going to have any big events in the summer?

Noun + Verb + Adverb + Time or Place
Model Sentence
My dog plays enthusiastically in the morning.
There are four parts to Sentence Pattern 55 so it can be long. However, the first three parts (Noun
+ Verb + Adverb) simply make an ordinary sentence. We can then add more information by
adding a time, such as "in the morning" in the Model Sentence above.
1. We speak often on the weekend.

2. Our sister studies diligently all the time.
3. A red car drove wildly down the road.
4. Two happy dogs ran eagerly to the young girl
5. My brother and I are working intensely this month.
1. Did you study hard yesterday?

2. Did your parents sleep well last night?
3. Did you eat any vegetables at dinner?
4. Will you read these sentences carefully today?
5. Have you ever woken suddenly from a dream?

Past Questions with "How"
Model Sentence
How far did you walk yesterday?
Although Sentence Pattern 56 seems easy, many students have trouble with it. Many students
learn the word "How" very early in their English studies when they learn to say "How are you?".
From that point on, they rarely use "How" to make past questions. Practice the sentences and
conversations below and it will become very easy for you.
1. How well did he sleep last night?

2. How many cookies did she eat?
3. How did you hurt your hand? (adverb is not always necessary!)
4. How quickly did you go up the stairs?
5. How hungry were you this morning?
1. How well did you sleep last night?

2. How much money did you spend yesterday?
3. How long have you studied English?
4. How far could you throw a ball? (When you were a child!)
5. How did your parents choose your name?

Longer Questions with "Be" + "ing"
Model Sentence
What will you be doing when you are 65 years old?
This grammar pattern is especially useful for talking about future possibilities. It can also be used for any action that
continues or lasts a long time. Use your imagination to answer the Conversation Questions below!
1. Who will he be living with if he moves to New York?

2. What is she going to study in university next year?
3. When are you going to invite us to dinner!
4. What will he be doing after he finishes this job?
5. Where will they be having dinner on his birthday?
1. What are you planning to do after work tomorrow?
2. When will you be taking some time off from work?
3. What are you going to watch on TV tonight?
4. Where will you be spending your weekend?
5. Where are you going to visit during your next vacation?

Longer Past Questions
Model Sentence
Why did you start to learn English so seriously?
Sentence Pattern 58 is excellent practice in asking more interesting questions about past events
and actions. This pattern can help you use English to get to know people better, so use it often!
1. How did you learn to pronounce English so clearly?

2. Where did you learn to speak French so fluently?
3. When did you learn to play the piano so beautifully?
4. What did she do to improve her singing so much?
5. Who did he find to help him with his homework?
1. When did you improve your English speaking the most?
2. Who helped you learn to remember vocabulary most effectively?
3. Where did you have the chance to gain the most job experience?
4. How did you start to move up in your career?
5. What did you do to learn English grammar so well?
Basic Sentence + Place or Time or Both
Model Sentence
We want to find a teacher near our home next year.
1. I want to travel to Canada in the fall.

2. She's going to take her mother to Mexico for a holiday.
3. They plan to sell their old magazines to the local bookstore.
4. We have to bring our children to school after breakfast.
5. The five children were asked to carry their books to school in the morning.
1. What things will you carry to work tomorrow morning?
2. Have you put any flowers on your desk at work?
3. Do you plan to throw away any old stuff in your house?
4. Are you going to buy anything for your house in the near future?
5. What do you have to do at home in the next week?

Have + "decided to"
Model Sentence
We have decided to move to another city.
1. I've decided to get married!

2. She's decided to have a baby!
3. They've decided to move to India!
4. We've decided to stop eating so much meat.
5. My wife and I have decided to travel all around the world.
1. Have you decided to make any changes in your career?
2. Have you decided to make any changes at home?
3. Would you ever decide to stop eating meat?
4. When will you decide to change jobs (or not)?
5. Have you decided to continue studying English?

"Have you ever..." + Desire or Hope or Experience
Model Sentence
Have you ever travelled on a ship?
This English sentence pattern is one of the best conversation starters. Start with "Have you
ever..." and then continue with the past participle (often the "ed" form) of the main verb. You can
learn a lot about your conversation partner with this pattern, then use follow-up questions to
practice speaking even more.
1. Have you ever been in an accident?

2. Have you ever tried jumping from an airplane?
3. Have you ever tried to stop eating meat?
4. Have you ever seen a UFO? (Unidentified Flying Object)
5. Have you ever wanted to stop doing some bad habit?
1. Have you ever experienced an earthquake?
2. Have you ever met a famous person?
3. Have you ever travelled by motorcycle?
4. Have you ever tried to stop watching TV?
5. Have you ever thought about becoming a professional singer?

"I heard (that)..." + Sentence
Model Sentence
I heard that the Earth will come to an end in 2020.
We have a choice of form here. We can say "I heard that..." or just "I heard...". Sometimes, we
can add have, as in "I've heard that..." or "I've heard..." Each of these sentences have the same
meaning. It's easiest to just practice the model sentence above and the Pronunciation Practice
sentences below, and use that form most of the time. Good luck!
1. I heard (that) there's going to be a big sale this weekend.

2. I heard (that) the zoo will get a new baby panda next week.
3. My sister heard (that) her company will go out of business soon.
4. The newspaper reporter heard (that) the president will resign tomorrow.
5. We heard (that) tomorrow's weather will be sunny and warm.
1. Have you heard what tomorrow's weather will be like?
2. Have you heard about any good movies recently?
3. Have you heard any interesting news at work?
4. Have you heard any news about famous singers or actors?
5. Have you heard any interesting stories lately?

"Have you heard of..." + Long Noun
Model Sentence
Have you heard of a story about people lost on an island?
This is a variation on English Grammar Pattern 62 and is also a good conversation starter. The
final noun phrases can be long, so practice many sentences carefully until you can say them
fluently.
1. Have you heard of a man named Obama?

2. Have you heard of a car that can fly?
3. Have you heard of a movie called "Back to the Future"?
4. Have you heard of a book called "The Tipping Point"?
5. Have you heard of a funny teacher named Joe?
1. Have you heard of a TV program called "Lie to Me"?
2. Have you heard of a talking car?
3. Have you heard of a book called "War and Peace"?
4. Have you heard of a place called "Shangrila"?
5. Have you heard of a woman named Hillary?

Do you know + if (or whether) + Noun + Verb + Long Noun
Model Sentence
Do you know if we can connect to the Internet from here?
This is quite a long sentence pattern. The final clause is, in fact, just a long sentence. See English
Grammar Pattern 19 for examples. So, if you can simply say "Do you know if..." (or "Do you
know whether...") and then add a sentence, you will do well. With practice, long sentences such
as these become easy, so keep on practicing!
1. Do you know if we can connect to the Internet from here?

2. Do you know whether Maggie works here or not?
3. Do you know if we can find a good place to park our car?
4. Do you know whether it will be warm tomorrow?
5. Does your father know if we can visit his company next week?
1. Do you know if the sun is bigger than the moon?
2. Do you know whether we can live on the moon?
3. Do you know if you will live in this city five years from now?
4. Do you know whether you will live to be 100?
5. Do you know if it will rain tomorrow?
Using "Hope" with real possibilities
Model Sentence
We hope we can come here again next week.
This sentence pattern uses "Hope" with real possibilities and is different from Grammar Pattern
66 which uses "Wish" with unrealistic possibilities. Use this pattern with "Hope" when you
believe something will really happen or can realistically happen.
1. I hope I will get the job!

2. My sister hopes she can go to England.
3. I hope the weather will be nicer tomorrow.
4. Our company hopes it can make a lot of money this year!
5. I hope we don't have a test in English class tomorrow.
1. What do you hope to do tomorrow?
2. Do you hope to go anywhere on the weekend?
3. When do you hope to move to a different home?
4. Do you hope to do anything special this year?
5. What do you hope to change in your life?

Using "Wish" with unreal possibilities
Model Sentence
I wish I could play the piano well enough to perform on stage!
This sentence pattern uses "Wish" with UNreal possibilities. Use this pattern when you are just
dreaming! It is different from Grammar Pattern 65 which uses "Hope" with realistic possibilities.
Use this pattern with "Wish" when you do not believe something will really happen or if it
cannot realistically happen.

1. I wish I could find a million dollars in the street! (But I won't!)
2. He wishes he could be promoted to company president tomorrow. (But he won't!)
3. They wish their boss would take a vacation and never come back! (But he won't!)
4. They wish they could go to the movies more often. (But they can't.)
5. She wishes she could speak English well enough to get a better job. (But she can't. Not yet!)
1. What do you wish you could have on the job? (But you can't have now.)
2. What do you wish you could do for fun? (But you can't do yet.)
3. How much money do you wish you could have? (But you can't have now.)
4. How many husbands (or wives) do you wish you could have? (But you can't!)
5. Where do you wish you could travel to this weekend? (But you can't.)

"Have you always" + Verb + Adjective or Verb or Noun
Model Sentence
(1) Have you always (2) been (3) such a good student?
Starting with English Grammar Pattern 67, we will learn how to use various English verb tenses.
This pattern uses "been", the past participle of "be", to talk about how past actions or experiences
affect the present (now). You can answer English questions starting with "Have you ever" by
using either "Yes, I have" or "No, I haven't", then you can give more information.
1. Have you always had blond hair?

2. Have you always been so thin?
3. Have you always taught English?
4. Have you always worked for that company?
5. Have you and your sister always been such good students?
1. Have you always lived in the same home?
2. Have you always worked at the same job?
3. Have you always been the same weight you are now?
4. Have you always used the Internet for learning?
5. Have you always been interested in the same kind of movies?
(1) "Have" + (2) Past Participle + (3) Noun + (4) Result
Model Sentence
(1) I've already (2) visited (3) that museum. (4) Let's not go there now.
English Grammar Pattern 67 used "been" to describe situations that continue from the past until
now. In English Grammar Pattern 68, we will learn how to use various English past participles
that show a past event's effect on a decision in the present. You can use this sentence pattern to
give reasons, explanations and excuses.
1. I've already been to Italy. Let's go to Spain.

2. We've already talked about that. Can we change the topic?
3. I've already seen that movie. Let's see another one.
4. I've already finished my homework. Now I can have some fun!
5. I've already received ten phone calls this morning and it's still early!
1. Have you already finished Lesson 67?
2. Have you already seen the latest movie?
3. Have you already been to New York?
4. Have you already eaten your dinner?
5. Have we already finished Lesson 68?

(1) "Have you ever" + (2) Long Verb
Model Sentence
(1) Have you ever (2) dreamed you were flying in a space ship?
English Grammar Pattern 69 is good for learning more about your conversation partner's
experiences and memories. Reminder: You can use "ever" in a question, because anything is
possible. However, in answers, do NOT use "ever". Simply answer "I have..." or "I haven't...". In
a negative situation, you can emphasize your answer by saying "I've never..." plus the long verb.
1. Have you ever been in a serious accident?

2. Has she ever worked for a bank before?
3. Have they ever given a speech to 500 people?
4. Has your boss ever owned his own company?
5. Have they ever travelled around Europe?
1. Have you ever travelled around the world?
2. Have you ever given a speech in English?
3. Have you ever bought a new house?
4. Have your parents ever given you a special gift?
5. Have your teachers ever told you you are a great student?

(1) "Have been" + (2) "ing" + (3) Time
Model Sentence
(1) We've been (2) waiting (3) for over three hours!
English Grammar Pattern 70 expresses an action or situation that has continued for a long time.
Do NOT use this for actions that are quick or sudden! (For such actions, you should use verbs in
the simple past tense.)
1. I've been studying English most of my life.

2. I've been living in New York since I was 10 years old.
3. I've been worrying about tests for too long!
4. She's been studying science since her first day in school.
5. We've been eating in that restaurant since we came to this city.
1. How long have you been studying English?
2. How long have you been living in the same home?
3. Have you been working at the same job a long time?
4. What have you been doing since you finished high school?
5. What kind of transportation have you been using for the past five years?
(1) "Have been" + (2) Adjective + (3) Time
Model Sentence
(1) I've been (2) worried about you (3) for a long time.
English Grammar Pattern 71 is similar to Grammar Pattern 70 except that we use an adjective
instead of "ing". This pattern expresses how long a feeling or situation has been going on. Do
NOT use this for feelings or situations that may change suddenly.
1. I've been sick for the past week.

2. We've been awake since 8 o'clock.
3. He's been busy all month.
4. They've been crazy about tennis for the past year.
5. She's been interested in science since she was six years old.
1. Have you been tired or sick recently?
2. Have you been busy with anything special recently?
3. What have you been interested in since you were a child?
4. Have you been awake a long time today?
5. Have you ever been crazy about some activity?

Describing Two Past Events - (1) "Had" + (2) Past Participle + (3) Past
Model Sentence
I (1) had already (2) eaten a big meal before they (3) invited me to dinner.
English Grammar Pattern 72 is not used very often, but it causes many troubles for learners of
English. This is called the "past perfect" tense in English grammar. One event (usually the
second one) was in the past, so we use the past tense of the verb. That event was influenced by a
previous past event, which should should be in the past perfect, using "had" with a past
participle. The examples below are better than any explanation, so learn them well!
1. I had already read the book before I saw the film.

2. We had already read the news when John told us.
3. My mother had left before the letter was delivered.
4. The game had already finished when we arrived at the stadium.
5. I had finished washing the floor just as the dog ran in.
1. Had you already studied English before starting these lessons?
2. Had you already studied another language before starting English?
3. Had you visited another country before you finished high school?
4. What work had you done before starting your current job?
5. What experience did you have when you started your first job?

Negative Past Event + Positive Past Event
(1) "Had not" + (2) Past Participle + (3) Past
Model Sentence
She (1) hadn't (2) studied English since she (3) started her new job last month.
English Grammar Pattern 73 is similar to English Grammar Pattern 72 but starts with a negative
verb. (Pattern 73 is also called the "past perfect" tense.) This shows that the first verb DID NOT
happen at all until the time of the second verb. The examples below are better than any
explanation, so learn them well!
1. She hadn't slept since she heard the news

2. I hadn't called her since she said good-bye.
3. I hadn't visited New York in several years until I went there last weekend.
4. We hadn't eaten roast duck in a long time before having it last night.
5. We hadn't seen her in a month until she visited us yesterday afteroon.
1. Is there something you hadn't done before the age of 16?
2. What hadn't you done before you became 21?
3. What hadn't you seen before starting your first job?
4. Is there anything you hadn't thought about before you saw it on TV?
5. Is there something you hadn't tried before you started these lessons?

"If" + Verb + "Might" + Noun
Model Sentence
(1) If you (2) eat too much, you (3) might get a (4) stomachache.
English Grammar Pattern 74 is useful for expression the possible results that will come if you do
something. It is often used and is the base of Grammar Pattern 75, so learn the sentences below
perfectly!
1. If you work too hard, you might get a headache.

2. If he eats too quickly, he might get sick.
3. If you drive too fast, you might have an accident.
4. If they wait patiently, they might have a good chance.
5. If we study well, we might learn more than we expect!
1. What might you get if you don't do your work well?
2. Where might you have to go if you eat too much and get sick?
3. Who might you talk to if your car has trouble?
4. When might you wake up if you have a lot of extra work to do?
5. If you want to hear some good music, where might you go?

If + Sentence + Might be + Long Noun
Model Sentence
(1) If (2) you feel sick, it (3) might be (4) a good idea to see a doctor.
English Grammar Pattern 75 is similar to Grammar Pattern 74 and is also useful for expressing
possibilities. The difference is that Grammar Pattern 74 expresses possible results while this one
suggests possible actions that you can (and maybe should) take. Study the sample sentences
below to fully understand the way Pattern 75 is used.
1. If tomorrow is sunny, it might be a good time to wash the car.

2. If they are in a hurry, it might be a good idea to take a taxi.
3. If she wants to lose weight, it might be worth it to start exercising more.
4. If your parents come, it might be a great chance to take them out to dinner.
5. If you are hungry, it might be a good time to cook something.
1. If you want to play tennis well, might it be a good idea to take lessons?
2. If you have a good job, might it be a good time to save money?
3. If you have a pain in your stomache, what might it be worth doing?
4. If you get a phone call from a customer, what might you do?
5. If your friend has trouble, what might it be a good idea for him to do?

(1) "Might" + (2) Verb A + (3) "Might" + (4) Verb B
Model Sentence
I (1) might (2) buy a car next month or
I (3) might (4) save my money for a trip.
English Grammar Pattern 76 is very useful when you want to talk about a possible decision in
English. Choice "A" is one possibility and choice "B" is another. By practicing the sentence
patterns below, you will be able to say the same type of thing when you must use English to
express two choices in the future.
1. I might go shopping today or I might stay home and watch TV.

2. We might start a business or we might keep our present jobs.
3. She might marry him or she might marry someone else!
4. I might look for a new job in sales or I might stick with my current job.
5. They might have a party next week or they might have a party the week after.
1. Which two foods might you eat for dinner tonight?
2. What are two jobs you might do in the future?
3. Can you think of two places you might visit next year?
4. Might you finish work early tomorrow or might you stay late?
5. What might you do next weekend?

(1) Basic Sentence + (2) "Might have been"
Model Sentence
(1) I'm still waiting for the bus – (2) it might have had an accident.
English Grammar Pattern 77 is used to express a possible reason or the cause of some situation.
In this pattern, be sure to use a past participle after "might have".
1. My neighbor didn't come today - he might have been too busy.

2. My telephone stopped working – the battery might have died.
3. If your stomach is hurting, it might have been because of the spicy food you had for lunch.
4. I wonder why your friend is not here - she might have had other things to do.
5. They didn't want to come to the museum with us - they might have been there before.
1. you came home to find your TV gone, what might have happened to it?
2. What if you suddenly saw a spaceship – where might it have come from?
3. If somebody had a car accident, what might have caused it?
4. What if your boss suddenly left the company this morning – what might have been the reason?
5. What might you have said if your boss had told you last week that you were the new company
president?

"Should" + Verb
Model Sentence
We (1) should (2) stop here to buy something to eat.
We can use English Grammar Pattern 78 to express a good idea that we have. All we have to do
is (1) use "should" and then (2) use a verb or verb phrase to make the suggestion. Pretty easy,
isn't it? Still, you have to practice! You can practice by saying the sentences below.
1. You should call her to see if she's okay.

2. He should arrive early if he wants to get a seat.
3. They should come tomorrow at 7 so they can meet the boss.
4. We should check the meat to see if it's done cooking.
5. You should check the weather forecast before going out today.
1. What should you do before going to bed? Why?
2. What should you do every morning after you wake up? Why?
3. Do you think we should give money to poor people? Why?
4. Do you believe all people should stop buying cars? Why or why not?
5. What should people do to become healthier?

(1) "Tell" + (2) "Should" + (3) Verb
Model Sentence
(1) Tell your brother he (2) should (3) arrive early if he wants to get a seat.
Grammar Pattern 79 uses English Grammar Pattern 78 but adds another verb at the beginning. In
the model, we use "Tell" but we could use any similar verb such as "Ask", "Announce to" (more
formal), or "Remind". Instead of telling your suggestion to somebody directly, you can tell
someone else to make your suggestion instead!
1. Tell your friend he should come here with you.

2. Tell her she should come to visit more often.
3. Tell them to check the weather forecast before going out today.
4. Tell the teacher she should give homework earlier so you can finish it on time.
5. Tell Joe he should make more lessons so we can improve our English more!
1. What should you tell your coworker if you want finish your project quickly?
2. What should we tell the salesman if we want to buy the best computer?
3. What should we say to the doctor if we have a very bad sore throat?
4. What should we tell our neighbor if we want his dog to stop eating our flowers?
5. What should you tell the teacher to help you understand better?

"Should have" (past)
Model Sentence
I had an accident today – I should have been more careful!
Grammar Pattern 80 is used to talk about something we did not do, but it was a good idea to do
it! Now, when we are talking about the past, we realize our mistake!
1. It's raining today – we should have brought an umbrella!

2. Thanks for helping me - I should have talked to you last week!
3. You will start working next year – should learn more about accounting now.
4. The salesman didn't make a good impression - He should have spoken more confidently.
5. The movie we watched wasn't very good - We shouldn't have wasted our money on it!
1. What should you have done before you finished university?
2. What should you have learned before starting your first job?
3. If you find yourself in the rain without an umbrella, what should you have done?
4. If you eat in a restaurant with very bad food, what should you have done?
5. Where should you have visited during your last vacation?

Simple Past using "Could"
Model Sentence
My family could get together often before I went to university.
Grammar Pattern 81 uses "could" to express something that was possible in the past but is
probably NOT possible now. It shows a contrast between the past and the present.
1. I could run faster 10 years ago.

2. She could remember everything when she was young.
3. They could easily see their children before they moved to Florida.
4. We could eat spicy food when we were younger, but not now.
5. My sister could work 20 hours per day when she was just out of university.
1. What could you do well when you were a child?
2. How long could you study when you were in university?
3. Could you visit anywhere special when you were younger?
5. Who could you meet in the past that you can't meet now?

Conditions using "Could"
Model Sentences
A. (1) If I (2) were rich, I (3) could buy lots of wonderful things.
B. I (1) could buy lots of wonderful things (2) if I (3) were rich.
Grammar Pattern 82 uses "could" to express something that is not possible. It can be used when
we are dreaming of something or imagining something that probably will not be true, at least for
now. (Maybe someday, though!)
1. If I had more money, I could start my own business.

2. If she weren't sick, she could come with us.
3. We could be very successful if customers like our idea.
4. We could move to California if we lose our jobs.
5. If I weren't so tired, I could continue working.
1. What could you do if you had a million dollars?
2. Where could you move to if you didn't have your current job?
3. How long could you work if you never had to sleep?
4. What could you say to your girlfriend (or boyfriend) if you had a fight?
5. Who could you talk to if you had a very serious problem?

Past Conditions using "Could"
Model Sentences
A. She (1) could (2) have come here (3) if her car (4) hadn't broken down.
B. (1) If her car (2) hadn't broken down, she (3) could (4) have come here.
Grammar Pattern 83 is similar to Grammar Pattern 82 which uses "could" to express something
that is not possible. Pattern 83, however, describes an imaginary possibility in the past which did
NOT, in fact,happen.
1. I could have made a lot of money if I had started a business 20 years ago.
2. We could have seen a movie if we had left home earlier.
3. She could have told us the news if her phone hadn't been stolen.
4. If the bank hadn't closed early, we could have withdrawn some money.
5. If I hadn't been lazy as a student, I could have had a much better job today!
1. If you had been born in New York, what could you have experienced differently?
2. What could you have done in high school if you had had better teachers?
3. If you had studied many languages before, could you have learned English more effectively?
4. What could have helped you to be a more successful student?
5. Where could you have studied if you had wanted to learn French?
Conditions using "Would"
Model Sentences
A. (1) If I (2) were taller, I (3) would try to play professional basketball.
B. I (1) would try to play professional basketball (2) if I (3) were taller.
Grammar Pattern 84 is another pattern that is similar to Grammar Pattern 82. The difference is
that Grammar Pattern 82 uses "could" which is similar to "can" and shows possibility. Grammar
Pattern 84 uses "would" which expresses the idea of a decision, although in a conditional phrase,
this is not a real decision!
1. If I were rich, I would buy a house in Hawaii.

2. If it weren't raining, we would be able to go to the park.
3. If they didn't have a big house with five dogs and seven cats, they would travel more often.
4. If you stopped staying up until four in the morning, you would have more energy at work.
5. If she didn't enjoy studying so much, she wouldn't come to the library so often.
1. Would you start your own company if you had the chance?
2. If you had knew the future, how would you use that information?
3. What would you do if you didn't have to work?
4. Where would you live if you could choose any place in the world?
5. When would you like to live if you had a "time machine"?
6. Who would you like to meet if you had the chance to meet any famous person?

Past Conditions using "Would"
Model Sentences
A. They (1) would have (2) come here (3) if they (4) had had enough time.
B. (1) If they (2) had had enough time, they (3) would have (4) come here.
Grammar Pattern 85 is similar to Grammar Pattern 83. Grammar Pattern 83 uses "could have"
which is similar to "can" and shows possibility in the past. Grammar Pattern 85 uses "would
have" which expresses the idea of a possible decision in the past.
1. My hometown would have grown fast if the leaders had been more active.
2. If I had known it was going to get colder in the afternoon, I would have taken a sweater with
me.
3. We wouldn't have tried to do it if you had told us how dangerous it was!
4. If you had told me you were going to the supermarket, I would have asked you to buy me
some fruit.
5. The old teacher would have cancelled the test if he had known how much the students were
worried!
1. Would you have studied English so hard if you had known how long it would take?
2. If you had studied English even harder, would you have already succeeded by now?
3. What would you have done differently if you had known how challenging English was?
4. How would you have studied differently if you had understood how to study effectively?
5. Where would you have travelled ten years ago if you had had more time?

(1) Past Perfect + (2) Connector + (3) Past
Model Sentence
We (1) had already finished eating (2) when our boss (3) offered to take us out to dinner!
Grammar Pattern 86 has two past events, one which happened before the other. Usually, the first
past event has an important connection to the second one. In the Model Sentence above, "we had
finished eating" so we were not hungry when "our boss offered to take us out to dinner". The
meaning of the sentence is that we missed a good opportunity - if only the boss had offered
earlier!
1. He had been waiting for two hours when the telephone suddenly rang.
2. I had already been planning my holiday when the boss told me I had to work overtime.
3. She had been studying for the exam for two months before learning that it was cancelled.
4. When we arrived at the football match, they had already been playing for 15 minutes.
5. I had just started using my computer when the electricity suddenly went out.
1. How long had you been working in your job before you started to do well?
2. Had you already been studying sentence patterns before you started these lessons?
3. Where had you been living when you decided to start your career?
4. Can you remember when you first went to university or started your first job? How long had
you been studying to prepare for that day?
5. What kind of job had you been dreaming of before you found your current job?

Passive Sentences
Model Sentence
These lessons were put together by a teacher named Joe.
Grammar Pattern 87 is the "passive" structure in English, which uses the past form of the verb
"b" plus a past participle. Don't use passive sentences too often. Only use them in formal
situations or when the action is more important than the person who did it.
1. This book was written by a famous writer.

2. The movie was produced by an unknown director.
3. Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
4. The telephone was invented by Alexander Bell.
5. This amazing story was written in the middle of winter.
1. Who was "My Heart Will Go On" sung by?
2. Who was the telephone invented by?
3. Who was the airplane invented by?
4. Was the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo?
5. Do you like movies that were directed by famous directors?
(1) Before / After / During / While + (2) Two Verbs
Model Sentences
(1) After I (2) visited Paris, I (2) decided to learn to speak French well.
OR
I (2) decided to learn to speak French well (1) after I (2) visited Paris.
Grammar Pattern 88 is the first "very long sentence" we will look at. The adverb, such as
"before", "after", "during" or "while", can be at the beginning or at the end, as you can see in the
model sentences.
1. Before I came here, I was not sure wanted to come.

2. After I decided, I started to worry about my decision!
3. She burned herself while she was cooking dinner.
4. I fell in my face while I was ice skating!
5. We learned so much during our time practicing these sentences.
1. Do you like to listen to music while you are studying?
2. What activities do you enjoy doing during the spring?
3. Before you go to work in the morning, how do you prepare?
4. After you watch a good movie, what do you like to do?
5. While you are reading an interesting book, can you have a conversation?

(1) Long Sentence + (2) "as if" or "as though"
+ (3) Verb Phrase
Model Sentence
(1) We continued playing tennis (2) as if (3) it weren't raining.

Grammar Pattern 89 is a simple but useful "very long sentence". Simply start with a normal
sentence pattern, then compare that using "as if" or "as though". Using "as if" or "as though"
suggests doing something in a certain way, even if it's not real. Practice with the questions below
and you'll get the concept. Have fun!
1. My boss listened as if here were interested. (But he wasn't!)

2. They were running as if they were trying to catch a train.
3. I worked as if my life depended on it.
4. We laughed as if it was the funniest joke we had ever heard!
5. I am living my life as if I will die tomorrow.
1. Do you usually live your life as if you will live forever?
2. Have you ever tried to live as if you only had one week to live?
3. Have you ever talked to a boring person as if he or she were really interesting?
4. Would you ever want to act as if you were the leader of the world. (When?)
5. What would you do if you acted as if you were the leader of the world?

(1) Although + (2) Sentence A + (3) Sentence B
Model Sentence
(1) Although (2) I don't understand English perfectly, (3) I can still have many conversations!
Grammar Pattern 90 can be used to connect two very different ideas. Both "though" and
"although" are the same as "but", except they are a bit more formal and can be used at the
beginning of a sentence. ("But" should only be used in the middle of a sentence.) "Even though"
is simply a stronger version of "though" and "although". In every case, the meaning is still the
same as "but", only the positioning within the sentence is different.
1. We continued to walk in the park even though it was raining.

2. I'll continue to study languages although I don't need to.
3. Though I have already reached a high level, I will continue to work hard.
4. Although I am not rich, I am happy with my life.
5. Even though I have had trouble, I have never given up.
1. Even though a man is poor, can he still enjoy life?
2. Although someone is busy, can she still find time for fun?
3. Will you always be so energetic, though you are getting older?
4. Can you move up in your job even though there is a lot of competition?
5. Should we try to succeed even though we may fail completely?

(1) Sentence + (2) Unless + (3) Condition
Model Sentences
(1) We will not change (2) unless (3) you have a good idea.
OR
(2) Unless (3) you have a good idea, (1) we will not change.
Grammar Pattern 91, shows how to use "Unless", whose basic meaning is similar to "only if".
The word "unless" can serve as a connector, as in Model Sentence 1, or it can come at the
beginning, as in Model Sentence 2. "Unless" must go directly with the condition. If the condition
and "unless" are separated, it sounds quite strange. For example, we could not change the
example to "Unless we will not change, you do not have a good idea".
1. We can't do it unless you pay us more.

2. Unless it rains tomorrow, we will go for sure.
3. I will be there unless you decide to do it yourself.
4. Unless I get sick, I will be there next Friday.
5. They said they will finish unless you want to add something.
1. Unless there's an emergency, when will you get up tomorrow morning?
2. Where will you go tomorrow, unless something unexpected happens?
3. What could happen to a young student, unless he or she studies well?
4. How can a company succeed unless they work well and work efficiently.
5. Unless you finish these lessons, can you be sure to speak English correctly?

(1) "Now that" + (2) Finished Action + (3) Result
Model Sentence
(1) Now that (2) we're finished, (3) we can relax.
In grammar Pattern 92, we begin with the phrase "Now that", then add an action that is finished,
followed at last by the result, which is usually in the form of a sentence. It is possible to invert
the sentence, using "now that" in the middle and stating the result first.
1. Now that I'm an adult, I can eat and drink whatever I want!
2. I can get more sleep now that I'm not so busy.
3. Now that we're ready to start, why don't we start!
4. She's ready to start cooking, now that she's prepared all the food.
5. Now that you've gotten a promotion, what are you going to do first?
1. What will you do next, now that today's lesson is almost finished?
2. Now that the weekend is almost here, what are your plans?
3. Now that you've learned many new sentences, what do you want to talk about?
4. What are your plans, now that a new year has come? (If it has just come!)
5. How will your life be different, now that you're married? (If you have just gotten married!)
Learn English Grammar
in 3 easy steps!
Since, Until and For to Show Continuation
a) She has been here since 2 o'clock.

Step 1:
b) We will be here until 4 o'clock.
Learn Key
Sentences c) They have been here for two and a half hours.
d) They will stay for one more hour.
Use since with have been plus a time or a day.

Step 2:
Use until with the future tense (usually) - will or be going to - plus a
Learn How time or a day.
to Use
Use for with have been or the future tense plus how long (how much
time).
Step 3:
Conversation using Since
Learn Sample A: How long have you lived here, Mary?
Conversations B: I've lived here since June 1st.
Conversation using For

A: Hi Bob, sorry to keep you waiting
B: That's okay, Alice, I have only been here for a few minutes.
Conversation using Until or For
A: So, you will stay until next Sunday, is that right?
B: Yes, we will be here for just ten days.
Using Maybe, Probably, and Certainly
a) Maybe I will go home early today or maybe I'll work late. I don't
Step 1:
really know yet!
Learn Key
b) I will probably finish at 6:30.
Sentences
c) We will certainly succeed. I'm sure of it!
a) Maybe is the same as perhaps or might but perhaps is more formal

Step 2: and might is more informal.
Learn How b) I will probably do something means the same as I am pretty sure I
to Use will do it. It is less than 100% but more than maybe.
c) Certainly and surely are the same, they both mean 100%.
Conversation using Maybe, Probably and Certainly
A: What are your plans for the weekend?

Step 3:
B: I'm not sure. Maybe I'll go for a bike ride, or I might stay home
Learn Sample and watch a DVD.
Conversations
A: According to the weather report, it will probably rain tomorrow.
They are predicting an 80% chance of rain.
B: Well, it it does rain, then I will definitely stay home.

Noun Phrases
Students must move beyond single words and start to use longer and longer phrases
Example 1 - adding details
· boy
· a boy
· a tall boy
· a tall, slim boy
· a tall, slim boy with black hair
· a tall, slim boy with long black hair
Example 2 - giving more information
· a girl
· a girl who likes basketball
· a girl who is good at basketball
· a girl who is quite good at basketball
· a girl who is quite good at shooting a basketball
Learn Noun Phrases in Context
There are many kinds of noun phrases. By reading and listening to English as often as you can,
you will learn to use these kinds of phrases naturally and easily. Good luck!
Four Ways to Use Could
a) When I was a child, I could play the piano a little.

Step 1:
b) Could you close the window, please?
Learn Key
Sentences c) We could go to a Chinese restaurant. What do you think?
d) If we had time, we could go to see a movie.
Could can be used in four ways:
Step 2: a) As the past of can.
Learn How b) To make a polite question.

to Use
c) To make a suggestion.
d) To talk about a possibility (using if and a past tense verb)
Step 3:
Conversation using Could
Learn Sample
Conversations A: I really enjoy the way you play the piano!
B: Thanks. I've been practicing for many years. Can you play a
musical instrument?
A: No. When I was a child, I could (a) play a little, but not now.
Could (b) you teach me?
A: If I had the time, I could (d) teach you, but now I'm too busy at
work. Maybe in the future I'll have more time.
B: I have an idea! I could (c) help you with your math homework,
and you could (c) teach me the piano.
A: That's a good idea. It could (d) work!
English Verb Tenses

The seven tenses in blue are the most common.
You will use these almost every day, so learn them first.
Past Tenses Present Tenses Future Tenses
Simple walked walk will walk
Continuous was walking am walking will be walking
"Perfect" had walked have walked will have walked
had been walking have been walking will have been

Perfect Continuous
walking
Sample Sentences:
 1) Simple Tenses describe actions that are only one moment in time.
I walked to school yesterday.
I walk to school every day.
I will walk to school next Tuesday.
 2) Continuous Tenses describe actions that continue, then another action happens
more quickly.
I was walking to school last Friday when it suddenly started to rain.
He is walking to school now, but you can find him if you hurry.
I will be walking to school this time next week, so you will be able to find me
easily.
 3) Perfect Tenses describe TWO moments in time, with emphasis on the second
one.
I had walked halfway to school before I remembered that I didn't have my books.
I have always walked to school. (Emphasis is not spoken! It is on the experience I

have now - I am a person NOW who walks, not drives or takes a bus or rides a
bicycle.)
By the time the year is over, I will have walked a total of 300 kilometers!
 4) Perfect Continuous Tenses describe actions that continue between TWO

moments in time.
I had already been walking halfway to school when I remembered that I left my
book at home.
I have been walking to school since I was 6 years old.
When I finish high school, I will have been walking to school for 12 years!
How to Use Hope and Wish
a) I hope I can learn English well. [This is possible!]
Step 1: b) I hope we will go home early today. [This is possible, too.]
Learn Key c) I wish I could speak German, Russian and Japanese. [This is not
Sentences possible, at least for me!]
d) She wishes she had a better job. [But she does not, at least not
now.]
Step 2:
Use hope when you want something and you think it is really
possible. Hope goes together with helping verbs such as will or can
or to be.
Learn How
to Use Use wish when you want something but you do not think it is
possible. Wish goes with helping verbs such as would, could or past
tense forms of other verbs.
Conversation using Hope

A: I hope it will snow tomorrow. Then we can go skiing.
Step 3: B: The weather report says it might rain, not snow.
A: Well, I hope the weather report is wrong!
Learn Sample
Conversations Conversation using Wish (One day later...)
A: Too bad it's raining today.
B: I wish I had a snow machine.
A: If you had a snow machine, you could make a lot of money.
How often?
Using Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often and Always
a) I never drink coffee. I don't even like the smell of it!
b) He rarely finishes work before 6:30.

Step 1:
c) We sometimes go to the cinema, but not very often.
Learn Key
Sentences d) She often visits us on the weekend.
e) They always ask us before they borrow one of our books.
f) I will never leave you, so you will always have a friend!

We usually use these "adverbs of frequency" with a present tense
verb. Sometimes, as in example (f) above, we use these adverbs to
talk about the future, especially always and never. a) Use never when
something is done 0% of the time.
b) Rarely means not very often, so it could be between 1% and 20%

Step 2: of the time.
Learn How c) Sometimes might mean 20% of the time, or 80% of the time - it is
to Use not so clear!
d) Often means many times, so it could be around 50% or more of the

time.
e) Always should be 100% of the time, but sometimes we use it to

mean "too much" when we are a little bit angry - "You're always
asking me for money. Stop it!"
Conversation using adverbs of frequency
A: Do you often come to this restaurant?

Step 3:
B: Two years ago, I would always come here on Sundays, but now
Learn Sample
I'm too busy. I rarely eat here more than once a month. Are there any
Conversations
restaurants you like to go to?
A: I sometimes have lunch at a restaurant at my office but I never eat

there on weekends.
http://www.teacherjoe.us/Learn_English_Grammar04.html

Basic English Grammar Test

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic English Grammar Test

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

English Grammar for Speaking

Sentence Patterns to Help You Speak English Fluently!

Do you want to speak English more fluently?

Learn English Grammar

Copyright 2005, Learn English with Teacher Joe

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question and answer out loud!

1. Do you have a pet? Yes, we do. / No, we don't.

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. Do you speak English well? (Yes I do. / No I don't.)

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question and answer out loud!

1. What / is your name? (My name is ~ .)

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. What do you like to do in your free time?

Discussions - Give longer answers to these questions.

1. What is the most exciting movie you have ever seen?

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud!

1. How do you go to work every day?

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud!

1. How long have you known your friend?

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. How long have you studied English?

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question and answer out loud!

1. This book is mine, isn't it? ("Yes it is." / "No it isn't.")

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. You can understand English well, can't you?

Grammar Pattern 6: Simple Polite Questions

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud!

Grammar Pattern 7: Longer Polite Questions

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud!

1. Would you like to get together for a drink tonight?

Grammar Pattern 8: Conditional Questions

1. Would you like to visit London? (Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn't.)

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. Would you like to travel in space?

Discussion – Give longer answers to these questions.

1. Would you enjoy flying an airplane by yourself?

Grammar Pattern 9: "Have you ever...?"

1. Have you been to California?

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. Have you read any good books this year?

Discussion – Give longer answers to these questions.

1. Would you enjoy flying an airplane by yourself?

Grammar Pattern 10: Questions with "Which"

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud!

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. Which sport is your favorite?

Discussion Practice - Give longer answers to these questions.

1. Which is more important to you, being rich or being happy?

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud!

1. I am from New York.

1. What is your name? (My name is ...)

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud!

1. I was a lazy student.

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. Were you a good student in high school?

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud!

1. I have good books.

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud!

1. I had a blue and red pen.

Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends!

1. Did you have a big lunch today?

Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud!