Sentences for Language Practice
by Julie Combes
What is a sentence?
A SENTENCE is a group of words that expresses one or more complete ideas and normally contains a SUBJECT and a MAIN VERB.
It ends with a period.
Example:
Sentence 1: I drink coffee.
Fragment: Because it gives me energy.
Sentence 2: I drink coffee because it gives me energy.
Sentence 3: I drink coffee but I prefer tea.
The first sentence is a SIMPLE sentence because it contains only one idea. The second sentence is a COMPLEX sentence because it has two ideas, the second idea being an extension that explains the main idea and contains another subject and verb.
When a sentence contains more than one idea expressed by a MAIN VERB, the separate parts are called CLAUSES. Additional information is also added in the form of PHRASES, which are groups of two or more words that do not contain a main verb.
The main idea, or MAIN CLAUSE (I drink coffee), is expanded by the second part of the sentence (because it gives me energy), which is connected to the first by a SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION (because).
The second part of the sentence depends for its meaning on the first; by itself, it is only a FRAGMENT. For this reason, the second part of the sentence is called a DEPENDENT, or SUBORDINATE, clause.
Sentence 3 is a COMPOUND sentence, where the two clauses can exist as independent ideas that balance, or contrast with, each other. Such sentences use a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION (‘and’, ‘but’, ‘or, nor, yet)
The part of a sentence or clause that gives extra information about the VERB can be called an ADVERBIAL (an adverb, adverb phrase or adverb clause).
The part of the sentence that gives information about the NOUN can be called an ADJECTIVAL (an adjective, adjective phrase or adjective clause).
A third group of words, which can replace a noun, is, for obvious reasons, a NOUN (N) clause or phrase.
Most sentences contain at least one of these constructions, and sometimes several examples of each construction, each one attached to the verb or noun in some way. A long, usually written, sentence may contain more than one example of every kind of dependent clause.
The other vital element in a sentence is the PREPOSITION (PR). A preposition, like a verb, is always followed by a NOUN OBJECT, and normally introduces an ADVERBIAL or, less commonly, ADJECTIVAL PHRASE (at night, in a hurry, on the corner, with red hair etc.).
There are five basic types of sentence in English:
1. An Affirmative (Yes) Statement
2. A Negative (No) Statement
3. An Interrogative (Question)
4. An Imperative (Command)
5. An Exclamation or Interjection (!)
The first three of these sentence types have at least one SUBJECT (SBJ) and MAIN VERB ( MVB), in any tense.
The SUBJECT of a sentence is what the sentence is about (the WHO or WHAT). It functions as a NOUN (the name of a person, place, thing or action).
In an ACTIVE sentence, it is the thing that DOES or IS.
It is combined with a MAIN VERB, which gives us information about the SUBJECT and can be followed by a DIRECT OBJECT (DOB) or/and an ADVERBIAL (ADV) or ADJECTIVAL (ADJ), or, as in the case of the verb ‘be’, a COMPLEMENT (CP).
In a PASSIVE sentence, it is the thing that RECIEVES the action and can be followed by an adverbial or an adjectival.
Examples:
ACTIVE: The boy (SBJ) hit (MVB active) the ball (direct object).
PASSIVE: The boy (SBJ) was hit (MVB passive) by the ball (OBJ of ‘by’).
] alternative active construction: The ball (SBJ) hit him (DOB)].
The SUBJECT of a sentence can be:
1. A single noun (name of a person, a place, or a thing)
2. A pronoun (Ii/You This/that Who/what etc.)
3. A gerund (an ‘action’ noun - base form of verb + ing)
4. A gerund phrase (gerund + OBJ/ADV)
5. An infinitive (base form of verb) with ‘to’
6. An infinitive phrase (INFIN + OBJ/ADV/ADJ)
7. A noun phrase (SBJ + ADJ)
8. A noun clause (SBJ + OBJ + MVB)
Examples
1. Birds (SBJ noun) fly.
2. Did you (SBJ pronoun) call me?
3. Complaining (gerund SBJ) doesn’t help.
4. Studying English every day (gerund + OBJ + ADV.)
is hard work.
5. To succeed (infinitive SBJ) requires perseverance.
6. To have all (that) you need ( infinitive + OBJ + ADJ) is
everybody’s dream.
7.The man in the grey suit ( SBJ noun + ADJ) is my father
8. What you believe (noun clause SBJ) makes a
difference in your life .
The DIRECT OBJECT answers the question ‘What?’ or ‘Who?’ in relation to the verb.
Examples:
1. I like.(what?) .. pizza (noun object).
2. Jim likes (what?)..swimming (gerund object)
3. He invited.(who?).. all his friends.(noun phrase object).
4. The children want.(what?).. to play (infinitive object)
5. Do you know.(what?)..where he lives (noun clause object).
The ADVERBIAL answers the question ‘How?’, ‘Where?’, ‘When?’, ‘Why?’ or ‘How often?’, ‘How long?’ etc.
Examples:
1. He drives fast (single adverb of manner – how?).
2. We danced at the party (adverbial phrase of place – where?).
3. Mother waved when she saw us (adverbial clause of time – when?).
4. John stayed to see the show (infinitive [ADV] phrase of purpose – why?).
5. They visit once a week (adv. phrase of frequency – how often?).
6. The children often (adv. of frequency) play in the street.
Most verbs can have a direct object and also be modified by one or more adverbials.
Example:
SBJ ADV VB DOBJ ADV Place
1. The boys almost always leave their books on the floor.
ADV clause time SBJ VB DOBJ ADV PH place/freq.
2. Since you went away we have been playing basketball at school every day .
1. Notice that single or double adverbs (ADV + intensifier) of frequency (How often?) usually come before the verb. Adverbial phrases usually come after.
2. Adverbial clauses can normally be used at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Remember that Adverbial clauses are introduced by SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
In the same way, nouns can be qualified by one or more adjectivals.
Example:
SUB VB (PASSIVE) ADJ ADJ
You will be met by a red-haired man (who will be) carrying a brown briefcase.
Notice that single, or compound, adjectives come before the noun, but adjectival phrases and clauses normally come after the noun.
Adjectival phrases can be introduced by a PARTICIPLE (present or past)
An adjectival clause is more often introduced by a RELATIVE PRONOUN (who/which/that etc.). However, this is sometimes not written, although it is understood.
Example:
VB SUB RP ADJ (clause)
Is that the book (that) I bought you last week?
Both adverbial and adjectival phrases can be introduced by a PREPOSITION.
Examples:
The house on the corner (ADJ PHRASE qualifying ‘house’) is 100 years old.
I put the towels in the drawer (ADV PHRASE of place, modifying ‘put’).
We need someone with computer skills (ADJ PHRASE qualifying ‘someone’)
The plane leaves at 11:30 a.m. (ADV PHRASE of time, modifying ‘leaves’)
Adverbial clauses, as mentioned above, are usually introduced by subordinating conjunctions, and adjectival clauses by a relative pronouns (who/that etc.)
Examples:
Since he left (ADV CLAUSE), we have had a lot of problems.
People who live in glass houses (ADJ CLAUSE) shouldn’t throw stones.(Proverb)
Some verbs have to be followed by a direct object. These are called TRANSITIVE
Examples:
1. The boy (subject) hit the ball (direct object).
2. I (subject) enjoy swimming (direct object).
3. Do you (subject) like animals (direct object)?
4. The students (subject) put their papers (direct object) on the desk.
Verbs that cannot be directly followed by an object are INTRANSITIVE. Some of the most common ones can be followed by preposition + object.
Examples:
1. I’m listening to the news.
2. My children never talk to me.
3. He was waiting for the bus.
4. Why are you looking at that picture?
5. What are you talking about?
Verbs such as the irregular ‘be’, ‘become’, and verbs of perception (‘seem’, ‘look’, ‘feel’ etc.) that refer to the state of the subject (sometimes called STATIVE) can be followed by a noun, adjective, (or, less commonly, adverbial). This is sometimes called the COMPLEMENT, to distinguish it from other verb structures*
Examples:
1. You look tired (adjective complement).
2. My brother is a doctor (noun complement).
3. The teacher is in the main office (adverbial).
*Not all grammars use the same terms for everything. These terms are only useful if they clarify the structure of the language for you.
The sentences which follow are grouped according to particular basic grammatical patterns and their variations.
By listening to the sentences on the tape, reading and repeating them aloud, and trying to use the patterns with different vocabulary, you will become familiar with their grammatical structure as well as their stress patterns.
In some of the initial pages, the normal stress pattern of each sentence is indicated with stress marks after the words and word parts (not necessarily the conventional syllable divisions found in your dictionary) that are usually emphasized.
When you become used to observing the stress you will be able to mark it for yourself as you listen to the sentences.
Try to observe the stress as you listen and repeat the sentences. Remember that words which are not stressed are spoken very quickly and sometimes sound like a single word.
Most sentence patterns can be transferred from one tense to another since they use the same basic structure, with a few exceptions. However, they will sometimes make more sense in one tense than in another.
Basic uses of different tenses will be indicated, in addition to the patterns, which will be set out at the beginning of each section. The optional components of the pattern (OBJ/ADV/ADJ) will be included in parentheses.
Once the negative and interrogative patterns of a sentence have been established, patterns will include examples of all three kinds under the same basic pattern headings.
The irregular verb ‘be’ in its simple present form is dealt with in detail, but where the change to the pattern is simply a matter of tense there are fewer examples given.
However, in cases where the tense is an important part of the pattern, more examples will be given.
Practice can include listening to the tape, repeating what you hear, writing it, reading along with the tape and marking the stress, and finally trying to use the pattern yourself with different vocabulary and verb tenses, either written or in conversation..
Simple present tense
Sentence Patterns with the irregular verb ‘be’
For descriptions of states, feelings etc.
1. Basic Patterns:
affirmative : SBJ + am/is/are + CT (noun or adjective)/ADV (+ADJ)
affirmative contractions : I’m/you’re/he’s/she’s/it’s/we’re/they’re
interrogative : am/is/are + SBJ+ CT/ADV
Wh. question word (+ NCT) + am/is/are + SBJ (+ADJ)
How (+ ADJ CT) + am/is/are (+ ADV) + SBJ
Interrogative contractions: only with Wh/How: How’s, What’s etc.
negative : SBJ+ am/is/are not + CT (+ ADV).
negative contractions : I’m not
You’re not You aren’t
He/She/It/’s not He/She/It/ isn’t
We/They/’re not We/They/ aren’t
Unless indicated otherwise the following are all Simple Sentences.
1. She is a sec’retary. Her hus’band is retired’. Their chil’dren are in coll’ege.
2. The hard’ware department is on the first’ floor’.
3. My young’est son is four’ years old’. He is tall’, like his Dad’.
4. Juan’ is from Mex’ico and his girl’friend is from Chi’le.
5. The Jones’ children are spoiled’. They’re very’ disrup’tive in class’.
6. My friend's hus’band is a gen’eral in the mil’itary.
7. Jane’ is sick’. She’s in Holy’ Cross Hos’pital.
8. These are not’ my class portfo’lios.
9. This isn’t a new’ regula’tion.
10. The teach’er is ab’sent today’. The test’ is postponed’.
11. That’ man’ over there’ is the new’ boss’.
12. Those’ shoes aren’t mine’. They’re yours’.
13. Is Mike’ at school’ today? No’, he isn’t well’. He’s at home’.
14. Are you a stu’dent or a tea’cher? I’m a stu’dent.
15. Are the reports’ ready‘ yet? No’, they’re still in Dr.Moore’s off’’ice.
16. Is she in the hos’pital? Where are her chil’dren?
17. They’re with their grand’parents.
18. How much’ is this sweat’er? It’s on sale’ for 20 doll’ars. That’s half’’ off’.
19. What’s the time’? It’s around ten thir’ty. My watch’ is half an hour fast’.
20. When is your break’? Is Mar’y back yet’?
21. Why are you late’ for class’? I’m sorr’y. My car is still at the garage’
22. Where are the new’ supplies’? They’re in those box’es over there’.
23. What’s the new su’pervisor’s name’? His name’ is Philip Ross’.
24. Why is life so diff’icult for some’ people and not for oth’ers?
25. Whose’ is this purse’? It’s Ju’dy’s.
26. How long’ is the sale on’? It’s on’ until the end’of the week’.
27. How big’ is that jack’et? It’s a size 10’. Oh’, that’s too small’ for me’.
28. How far’ are you from the met’ro? We’re about half a mile’ away’.
29. How many stu’dents are from El Sal’vador?
30. How old’ are your chil’dren? My daught’er is five’ and my son’ is fifteen’.
31. What’s your name’? What’s your ‘Social Secur’ity num’ber?
32. How’s the wea’ther today’? It’s cool’ and bree’zy.
33. Am I’ the oldest per’son in the class’?.
34. My fa’vorite food’ is chick’en and rice’. What’s yours’? Mine’ is spaghetti’.
35. Is your car new’? What year’ is it?
37. Too much fat’ is bad for your health’.
38. When is your birth’day? It’s June the thirteenth’. I’m sixty five’ next year’.
39. What is the most in’teresting place’ in Wash’ington?
40. What is the best’ thing’ about the U.S.A’? What is the worst’?
41. What’s the speed’ limit in this coun’try?
42. What is the sa’fest form of trans’port?
43. Con’corde is the fast’est pass’enger plane in the world’.
45. Carol isn’t here to’day’. She’s on sick’ leave.
46. I’m not happy’ about my chil’dren’s school’.
47. Their tea’cher isn’t very exper’ienced.
48. Their class’mates aren’t very polite’ or well-behaved’.
49. Are we too late’ for the meet’ing?
50. Am I right’ ? No’, you’re wrong’.
51. Ev’erybody’s wrong some’times!
52. Who’s the new ‘Pres’ident of ‘Mex’ico?
53. Ms.Reeve’ is not at her desk just now’. Perhaps she’s in a mee’ting.
54. The boss is on vaca’tion until next week’.
55. He’s not my friend’. He’s just an acquain’tance.
56. My in’-laws are not very so’ciable.
57. They are really diff’icult ‘people. They’re so set’ in their ways’.
58. She’s not at all tech’nically min’ded. She’s more artis’tic.
59. The new man’ager isn’t very flex’ible. He’s not a pop’ular person.
60. The employ’ees aren’t very pleased’ about his appoint’ment.
Order, prohibition or formal obligation
SBJ + am/is/are + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ ADV/OBJ)
1. You are not to say anything to your mother. (I forbid it.)
2. The patient is not to receive any visitors.
3. I’m to meet with my lawyer next Friday.
4. She is to promise never to reveal her identity.
5. They are to leave immediately.
6. Passengers are to remain seated when the seat belt sign is on.
7. The children are to stay here for the time being.
8. The officers are to report for duty first thing tomorrow.
9. Charles is to inherit his uncle’s title and his entire estate.
10. We are to await further instructions.
11. Husbands are to wait outside for the time being.
12. What are we to do about all this surplus food?
13. Are we to believe everything reported in the newspapers?
14. The prisoner is to appeal his sentence to the Supreme Court.
15. How long are the students to continue working on this project?
SBJ + is/am/are + passive INFIN (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Are these things to be thrown out?
2. Swimming in this part of the river is not to be allowed in future.
3. This medication is to be taken 3 times a day, after meals.
4. You are to be congratulated on your outstanding achievements.
5. The prisoner is to be remanded in custody pending his trial for murder.
6. They’re to be married next week in a civil ceremony.
7. He’s to be awarded a medal for bravery.
8. Evidently we are not to be told of the engagement.
9. Elections are to be held within the next few months.
10. Are these notices to be sent out today?
11. The emergency rations are to be distributed immediately.
12. Is that man to be trusted?
14. This new law is to be regretted by all right-minded people.
15. Campaign reform is to be discussed in the Congress.
SBJ + is/are + ADJ./N + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ) (+ADV/ADJ)
1. My driver’s license is due to expire next month.
2. They’re eager to see the new house.
3. He’s overjoyed to be home at last.
4. We are always happy to be of service to our customers.
5. You are the first to hear the good news.
6. I’m so sorry to upset you like this.
7. Are you glad to be back at work again?
8. My sister Carol is always the last to arrive.
9. You’re not supposed* to know about this.
10. Are the children allowed* to use the computer?
11. I’m not the right person to give you advice about investments.
12. They are determined* to succeed in their new business.
13. What is the best way to thank him for all his help?
14. Her parents aren’t able to come to the wedding.
15. We are pleased to inform you of your success in the final exam..*
*Passive verb form follows the same pattern, with past participle (supposed/determined/allowed/pleased) functioning as adjective.
SBJ + am/is/are + ADJ/N + passive INFIN (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. You are the first to be told the good news.
2. She is always delighted to be asked for an opinion.
3. Is there anything else to be done?
4. He is eligible to be given a grant.
5. My sister is anxious to be included in the invitation.
6. They are eager to be informed about the project.
7. He isn’t likely to be chosen for the job.
8. Are the children ready to be picked up yet?
9. Is he someone to be trusted with confidential information?
9. Miriam is sure to be promoted to assistant manager.
10. He is not the kind of person to be easily discouraged.
11. Is she the only one not to be invited?
13. I am honored to be associated with your company.
14. This is not something to be fooled about with.
15. Nobody expects to be blamed for an honest mistake.
SBJ + too + ADJ + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. You’re too young to remember the war.
2. I’m too tired to do any homework today.
3. Is Mary too upset to talk to anyone?
4. We’re too poor to afford a vacation.
5. Most people are too busy to write letters these days
6. He’s too drunk to drive.
7. The children are too excited to go to sleep on Christmas Eve.
8. Are the students too nervous to answer the questions?
9. The new teacher is too inexperienced to deal with that class.
10. Jim is too shy to ask a girl for a date.
11. He’s too honest to succeed in that kind of business.
12. My mother is too sick to leave the hospital.
13. These computer manuals are too out-of-date to be of any use.
14. I’m too old to appreciate modern music.
15. Is she too nervous to drive at night?
16. Some people are too proud to admit being wrong.
17. These glasses are too fancy to suit my face.
18. This feeling is too good to last.
19. Sara is too clumsy to be a good dancer.
20. Am I too late to register for a class?
* Remember that ‘too’ has a negative meaning - don’t use it for positive statements. You can’t have “too many friends”, or be “too happy”!
SBJ + is/am/are (+ not) + ADJ + enough* + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Is John old enough to drive?
2. Are you well enough to go out yet?
3. I’m not strong enough to lift these suitcases.
4. The teacher is not strict enough to control the children.
5. She’s not experienced enough to deal with that class.
6. Is he good enough to qualify for the position?
7. This tire isn’t large enough to fit my truck.
8. I’m not clever enough to figure out this math problem.
9. He’s foolish enough to believe anything.
10. Carol is elegant enough to be a model.
11. They’re lucky enough to have lots of money.
12. The pilot was skilful enough to land the plane safely.
13. He’s old enough to know better.
14. Is the house big enough to accommodate a family of ten?
15. His car is powerful enough to win the race.
16. Am I early enough to get a ticket for the show?
17. She’s intelligent enough to succeed in anything.
18. Are the children mature enough to make their own decisions?
19. Tom is tall enough to make a good athlete.
20. Is the water deep enough to swim in?
Example: There isn’t enough time to finish the project
SBJ + is/are/am + ADJ.+ PREP + OBJ (N or GER + OBJ.) (+ ADV)
1. Jane is excited about her new computer.
2. I’m not very interested in politics.
3. They’re not used to eating American food.
4. The children are bored with summer camp.
5. I’m tired of reading about the problems of the rich and famous.
6. The tenants are upset about the state of the apartments.
7. The supermarket is full of unhealthy foods .
8. Jim is capable of looking after himself.
9. I’m no good at math and science.
10. Are you short of money?
11. Everyone is fed up with hearing about the elections.
12. I’m really sorry for her.
13. That restaurant is famous for its excellent seafood selection.
14. Our next-door-neighbors are very fond of animals.
15. Their children are crazy about horses. .
16. This drug is not recommended for pregnant women.
17. We’re very concerned about my daughter’s condition.
18. Are they nervous about driving in downtown Washington?
19. Are you opposed to the death penalty?
20. Is your little girl afraid of the dark?
(the verbs in the above patterns can be transferred to simple past and perfect tenses and can also be used with modal constructions)
Main Clause
SBJ (N/PN) + so +ADJ (+ADV/OBJ)
SBJ (N/PN) + such(a) (+ ADJ) + N + (+ADV)
Dependent ADV Clause (result)
(THAT) + sbj (pn) + vb ( + obj/adv/ct)
1. She is so scared of a break-in (that) she has double locks
on all the doors.
2. My grandson is so smart (that) he does all his schoolwork
in record time.
3. Kim is so lazy (that) she never does her homework.
4. The teacher is so strict (that) the children are afraid to
misbehave in class.
5. The house is so big (that) it costs thousands of dollars in utility bills.
6. Dave is such a nice guy (that) everybody loves him
7. They are such good children (that) they deserve a treat.
8. These are such easy exercises (that) nobody ever makes mistakes.
9. It is such a long way to their house (that) we hardly ever visit them.
10. Many politicians are such liars (that) nobody trusts them.
verbs in the above patterns can be transferred to simple past and perfect tenses and can also be used with modal constructions)
Variation 9
‘Tag” questions with verb ‘be’ (expecting confirmation)
Affirmative statement followed by negative interrogative and vice versa
SBJ + is/am/are (not) + CT/ADV + is/are/am (not) + SBJ
1. She’s a very talented person, isn’t she?
2. It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?
3. There are plenty of books, aren’t there?
4. You’re Maria’s mother, aren’t you?
5. The children are in bed, aren’t they?
6. I’m not too late, am I?
7. He’s not guilty of any crime, is he?
8. We aren’t expected, are we?
9. Jim isn’t your boyfriend, is he?
10. There’s no class tomorrow, is there?
11. Tuesday is a holiday, isn’t it?
12. The teacher isn’t very experienced, is he?
13. The closet is empty, isn’t it?
14. You aren’t on duty this evening, are you?
15. They’re on vacation at the moment, aren’t they?
16. This is the right address, isn’t it?
17. That’s your book, isn’t it?
18. These are photographs of your daughter, aren’t they?
19. You aren’t mad at me, are you?
20. She’s a friend of yours, isn’t she?
(Tag questions are used with all tenses and modal auxiliaries)
Negative question/exclamation
Isn’t/aren’t + SBJ + CT (ADJ?N)
1. Isn’t it a beautiful day!
2. Aren’t they good children!
3. Isn’t it wonderful news!
4. Aren’t we lucky!
5. Aren’t you frozen in that thin jacket!
6. Isn’t Joan’s brother handsome!
7. Isn’t this exciting!
8. Isn’t that a wonderful view of the mountains!
9. Aren’t these mangoes delicious!
10. Isn’t that man rude!
( the above patterns can be transferred to simple past and present perfect)
Exclamatory phrase/sentence
What (+ ADJ) + N (+SBJ) (+ is/am/are) (+ INFIN with ‘to’)
How + ADJ (+ ADV) (+ INFIN + OBJ)
1. What a beautiful dress!
2. What a good idea!
3. What wonderful news!
4. What a pity!
5. What a lovely surprise!
6. How kind of you to do that!
7. What an extraordinary coincidence!
8. What delicious pies these are!
9. What a terrible problem this is!
10. What lucky children you are!
11. What a strange person she is!
12. What a dreadful thing to say!
13. What a strange thing to do!
13. What a cute baby!
14. How delightful! How interesting! How bizarre!
15. How thoughtful of you to remember!
(exclamations containing a verb can also use simple past, present perfect or modal construction e.g. What a day this has been! What must you think of us?)
11. Patterns with ‘there’ representing embedded subject
Affirmative : there is/are + SBJ (+ ADJ) (+ ADV)
Negative: there isn’t/aren’t /there’s no/not + SBJ (+ ADJ) (+ADV)
Question: is/are there (+ any) + SBJ (+ ADJ) ( + ADV)
how/who/what + SBJ (+ ADJ.) + is/are there (+ADV)
1. Wai’ter! There’s a fly’ in my soup’!
2. There aren’t many ads.’ for apart’ment rentals this week’.
3. There’s no hurry’. The tax’i isn’t ‘here yet.
4. There’s a lot of ‘flu’ about’ at this’ time of year’.
5. There’s a big diff’erence between rent’ing a house and own’ing one.
6. There are sev’eral peo’ple in line’ outside the theater already.’
7. Are there any seats’ for the eve’ning show’?
8. There’s no’body home’ but me’.(colloquial)
9. Is there a hos’pital with an emer’gency room near here’?
10. Are there any restric’tions on the use of this cred’it card’?
11. There isn’t much point’ in waiting around any lon’ger.
12. Is there a drug’store close by?
13. There are two’ different kinds’ of bus’ service - Metro’bus and Ride’-on.
14. There’s some left-over sal’ad in the refrig’erator.
15. There are only a few’ cookies ‘in the jar.’
16. There’s an err’or on my bill’.
17. There’s noth’ing the ma’tter with this pa’tient.
18. How many stu’dents are there in your class’?
19. There aren’t so many peo’ple at the beach’ in Septem’ber.
20. There isn’t room’ for any more fur’niture in my apart’ment.
21. “There’s no time’ like the pre’sent”. (“wise saying”)
22. “There’s no place like home’.”
23. “There’s many a slip’ between the cup’ and the lip’.”
24. Is there a pair of sciss’ors in the drawer?
25. How much butt’er is there in that re’cipe?
26. Are there any other’ pho’tographs of the ba’by?
27. Why are there so many complaints’ this month?
28. What alter’native is there? There’s no’alternative.
29. There are sev’eral different insur’ance plans avail’able.
30. There’s a big’ hole’ in your shirt’ sleeve.
31. There’s some’body at the door’. Who’s there’?
32. There’s not all that much time’ for sight’seeing on a bus’iness trip.
33. There’s not much diff’erence between these two ster’eos’.
34. Is there an en suite bath’room in the master bed’room?
35. There aren’t any books’ for the stu’dents.
36. How much mon’ey is there in our bank’ accounts?
37. There isn’t much’ in your’ account but there’s some’in mine’.
38. ‘There’s’ the book’ you lost last week’.
39. There is some’ evi’dence of primitive life’ forms on ‘Mars’.
40. How many more’ pairs of shoes’ are there in your clo’set?
41. Are there any mess’ages for me?
42. Is there a doc’tor in the house?.
43. There are some lett’ers for you on the desk’.
44. There isn’t much hope’ for this pa’tient.
45. There are no’ more treat’ments avail’able.
Affirmative: There is/are + SBJ (+ for + OBJ) + INFIN (+ ADV/OBJ.)
Question: Is/Are there + SBJ (+ for + OBJ) + INFIN (+ ADV/OBJ)
Negative: There isn’t/aren’t + SBJ (+ for + OBJ) + INFIN (+ ADV/OBJ)
There’s no/not + SBJ (+ for + OBJ) + INFIN (+ ADV./OBJ)
1. There’s no’thing (for them) to do’ and no’where (for them) to go’.
2. There’s no need (for you) to hurr’y.
3. There aren’t any books’ (for the teachers) to give to the new’ stu’dents.
4. There’s not a lot of clea’ning (for me) to do’ today’.
5. Are there any lett’ers (for Jim) to take down to the mail’ room?
6. Is there time’ (for me) to take a show’er?
7. How many more’ tests’ are there (for us) to score’?
8. There’s no time’ (for us) to waste ar’guing.
9. There’s no room’ (for anybody) to move’ in this crowd’.
10. There’s no rea’son (for him) to get an’gry about
There is no/is there any? + SBJ + PREP + GER OBJ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Is there any hope of getting a replacement?
2. There is no good reason for refusing their request.
3. There is no harm in asking for a raise.
4. There’s no way of finding out his new address.
5. Is there any alternative to taking the train?
6. There isn’t any point in coming to class without the necessary materials.
7. There’s no justification for behaving badly.
8. Surely there’s a better way of doing this!
9. There’s no excuse for arriving late every single day.
10. Is there any prospect of being promoted? *
*passive
There is/are + too much/many + N (+ for + OBJ) (+ ADV) + INFIN (+ OBJ)
1.There are too many problems for one person to deal with.
2. There is too much stuff to think about.
3. There are too many people to fit into one small room.
4. There are too many distractions for students to concentrate on their studies.
5. There is too much responsibility for her to handle.
*See also with regular SBJ + VB order
Variation 4
There is/are (not) + enough + SBJ (+ PREP + OBJ) + INFIN (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. There aren’t enough eggs’ (for me) to make a cake.’
2. There isn’t enough time’ (for us) to meet’ with him today’.
3. Is there enough mon’ey in our bank’ account to pay for the trip’?
4. Are there enough stu’dents to make up a class’?
5. There aren’t’ enough books’ to go around’.
6. Is there enough cred’it on your card’ to buy the ster’eo?
7. There isn’t quite‘ enough (money) to co’ver the cost’ of the rail‘ fare.
8. There aren’t’ enough tea’chers to staff’ the schools’ in Wash’ington D.’C.
9. There is just’ enough time’ to fin’ish these ex’ercises before lunch’.
10. Some’times there isn’t enough skilled’ work’ avail’able (for immigrants) to do.
11. There aren’t’ enough bus’ services in our area to make a car’ unne’cessary.
12. There is almost enough food’ to feed an ar’my!
13. There are enough pe’ople to fill all’ the posi’tions.
14. Are there enough nur’ses to cope’ with all these pa’tients?
15. There are enough par’king spaces for ev’erybody.
Variation 5
There is/are (not) + SBJ + past participle [passive] (+ ADV)
1. There’s no time left for any more discussion.
2. There are insufficient funds allocated for this project.
3. Is there any kind of celebration planned for the end of the semester?
4. There is usually some money set aside for emergencies.
5. There’s plenty of food left over from the party.
6. Are there a lot of legal expenses involved in buying a house?
7. Are there any furnishings or fittings included in the price?
8. There’s a large green van parked outside our house.
9. There are quite a few sale items reduced by more than 50%.
10. There’s nobody qualified to teach advanced math this semester.
Passive form with infinitive of ‘be’
There is/are (not) + past participle (+ PREP + OBJ) + to be + SBJ (+ ADV/ADJ)
1. There is not expected to be any opposition to the plan.
2. There is rumored to be a new candidate for president.
3. There is thought to be a change of policy.
4. There is required to be a majority of electoral votes.
5. Is there predicted to be an economic recession next year?
6. Isn’t there supposed to be someone on duty 24 hours a day?
7. There are believed, by some scientists, to be countless different universes.
8. There are thought to be a number of life-supporting planets besides our own.
9. There are assumed to be a great many more mysteries out there.
10. Are there expected to be a lot of people at the lecture this evening?
There + VB (active) + TO BE + SBJ (+ADJ./ADV)
1. There seems to be a disagreement.
2. There doesn’t appear to be any way out of it.
3. Does there need to be someone in charge of the finances?.
4. There promises to be some warmer weather on the way.
5. There has to be a better way.
6. There ought to be a law against it.
7. Ought there to be more computer classes in schools?
8. There’s got to be some way of dealing with this.
9. There doesn’t seem to be any easy way out of it
10. There doesn’t have to be a reason for everything in this world.
Variation 8
There is + NCT + N Clause SBJ
1. There is no doubt that she is the best person for the job.
2. There is little hope that they will recover any more bodies.
3. There is still a chance that some may be alive in the ruins.
4. Is there a possibility that he will succeed after all?
5. There is a feeling that this President stole the election.
* All patterns with ‘there”’ can also be used in the simple past and present perfect (except where this would conflict with meaning)
III. Patterns with ‘It’ representing embedded subject
Basic pattern
It is/isn’t/is it? + CT + SBJ (+ ADV)
Examples:
1]. It is better to give than to receive
To give (INFIN SBJ) is better than to receive (CT ADJ)
2] It’s hard being a single mother.
Being a single mother (GER SBJ) is hard (CT ADJ)
3] It’s a pity (that) she’s so deaf.
That she’s so deaf ( N clause SBJ) is a pity. (CT N)
It is/Is it + ADJ + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Is it safe to swim here?
2. It’s cheaper to travel by bus than by train.
3. It’s cruel to keep a wild bird in a cage.
4. It’s a good idea to take notes in class.
5. It isn’t necessary to register in person.
6. It’s important to practice your English every day.
7. Is it fair to treat boys and girls differently?
8. It’s against the law not to use a car seat for young children.
9. It’s irresponsible to drink and drive.
10. It’s dangerous to dive into shallow water.
11. It’s great to be back home again!
12. Is it O.K. to do this another day?
13. It’s impossible to please my mother.
14. It isn’t always possible to stay in touch with old friends.
15. Is it essential to get a work permit to work here?
16. It’s inadvisable to ignore the speed limit.
17. It’s hard to work and study at the same time.
18. It’s not a good idea to take so many medications.
19. Is it my turn to drive the children to school?
20. It’s very difficult to succeed without money.
21. It’s not my job to clean the staff kitchen.
22. It’s my privilege to introduce our guest speaker.
23. It’s your responsibility to return the books before the due date.
24. It’s our pleasure to serve our customers to the best of our ability.
25. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” (wise saying)
Variation 1
It’s (not) + ADJ /N + PREP + OBJ (+ ADJ) + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV/ADJ)
1. It’s not easy for people with jobs to find time to study.
2. It’s very careless of them to make all those mistakes.
3. It’s dangerous for diabetics to eat anything containing sugar.
4. It’s hard for us to tell the twins apart.
5. Is it O.K. for me to park here? .
6. It isn’t easy for adults to learn a new language.
7. It’s very kind of you to help me.
8. It’s mean of Mary not to share her candy with the other kids.
9. It’s very generous of your mother to give us all that money.
10. It’s rather difficult for me to figure out.
11. Is it possible for the students to pay later?
12. It’s very brave of you to take such a risk.
13. It’s silly of me to worry so much about my children.
14. It’s a bit of a hassle for us to get downtown.
15. It’s good for you to exercise every day.
16. It’s not very practical of her to suggest a meeting at such short notice.
17. It’s impossible for me to wake up on time without an alarm clock.
18. It’s a mistake for anyone to rely on a verbal agreement.
19. It’s a long way for her to drive by herself.
20.Is it acceptable for women to wear black at a wedding?
It is + too + ADJ + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. It is too upsetting to talk about.
2. It’s too hot and humid to go out today.
3. Is it too late to register for English classes?
4. It’s too early to visit her at the hospital.
5. Is it too dangerous to go swimming there?
6. Is it too soon to expect a reply to my letter?
7. It’s not too difficult to understand the teacher.
8. It isn’t too far to walk.
9. It’s too old to be of any use.
10.‘It’s never too late to learn.’ (wise saying)
It’s (not) + CT N/ADJ + SBJ (Noun Phrase, usually with GER)
1. It’s only a short walk from here to the metro.
2. It’s very difficult being an immigrant.
3. It’s not easy learning a new language.
4. It’s hard work looking after other people’s children.
5. It’s a waste of time talking to him.
6.‘It’s no good crying over spilt milk’ (proverb)
7. It’s useless asking his advice.
8. It’s very relaxing lying in a hot tub.
9. It’s no use complaining about something like that.
10. It’s quite an effort getting up so early in the morning.
Complex sentences (with dependent /subordinate clauses)
It is + ADJ/N CT + N. Clause SBJ
1. It’s amazing (that) she’s still alive after such a terrible accident.
2. It’s a good thing (that) your mother doesn’t know about it.
3. It’s lucky (that) I arrived before the students.
4. It’s not fair (that) you have to do all the work.
5. It isn’t your fault (that) I missed the train.
6. It’s a fact (that) more couples are unmarried these days than ever before.
7. It’s a shame (that) Tom can’t come to the party
8. Is it agreed (that) we meet at my house next week?
9. It isn’t very likely (that) they’ll respond to your letter right away.
10. It’s not surprising (that) I didn’t recognise him.
11. It’s ages since I last saw him.
12. It’s marvelous what you can do with money!
13. It’s your own fault if you fail.
14. It’s a mystery where the money went.
15. It’s not clear who is going to win the election.
16. It’s doubtful (that) he’ll succeed.
17. It’s inevitable (that) there should be opposition to the plan.
18. It’s a pity (that) you can’t come to the party.
19. It’s too bad (that) he lost the race.
20. It’s outrageous (that) the murderer was allowed to go free.
It’s time’ followed by N clause with verb in subjunctive form (same as past)
1. It’s time (that) he moved out and got a job.
2. It’s time (that) he took responsibility for his actions.
3. It’s time (that) you knew better.
4. It’s time (that) they repainted the woodwork.
5. It’s time (that) you gave up smoking.
6. It’s time (that) she got married and settled down.
7. It’s time (that) I bought a new car.
8. It’s time (that) you got a haircut.
9. It’s time (that) we discussed our plans.
10. It’s time (that) I retired.
Time and weather conditions
1. It isn’t very warm this evening.
2. It’s not a good day for a picnic.
3. What day is it today? What time is it?
4. Is it twelve thirty already? It’s almost time for lunch.
5. It’s the beginning of a new millenium.
6. It’s my birthday tomorrow.
7. It’s my parents’ 50th Anniversary next week.
8. Is it always windy in March?
9. It’s the beginning of the rainy season.
10. It’s only a month until their wedding day.
Variation 7
It + VB Passive + to be + CT N/ADJ (+ ADV/ADJ)
1. It is said to be a very exclusive society.
2. It is thought to be the only jewel of its kind in the world.
3. It is expected to be a marvelous spectacle.
4. It is believed to be an improvement over the previous plan.
5. It’s not supposed to be very difficult.
IV. Other verbs that make a statement about the subject (Stative/linking)
Basic patterns as for BE
SBJ + VB + ADJ/N CT(+ ADV/ADJ)
1. The house looks beautiful with all the Christmas decorations.
2. You look really pretty in that dress.
3. Your father looks young for his age.
4. Bill and Jane seem very well suited to each other.
5. These tomatoes taste really good. The steak smells wonderful.
6. You sound upset. Do you feel nervous about the test?
7. He doesn’t seem very happy in his work.
8. Learning a language becomes easier with practice.
9. I don’t feel very well today.
10. It gets (becomes) very cold here in winter.
11. The children grow bigger every day!
12. The speaker appears rather embarrassed.
13. This chicken tastes more like fish.
14. The weather turns much colder in January.
15. She feels very unhappy about her divorce.
IV. Imperative (commands)
(SBJ understood = you) (don’t) VB (+ ADJ/N CT/ADV)
With BE
1. Be a good girl, Jenny.
2. Don’t be late for the test.
3. Be quiet, everybody.
4. Don’t be ridiculous!
5. Be at the airport two hours before departure.
With other verbs (same sentence pattern as simple present, minus SBJ)
Simple, Compound and Complex Commands
1. Don't forget to unplug the iron when you've finished with it.
2. Enter our sweepstakes and win a trip to Australia!
3. Rent two videos and get a third one free.
4. Don't delay - send in your order today.
6. Make sure the power is off before trying to mend the switch.
6. Celebrate the New Year in style - come to the Marriott!
7. Open your books to page 20.
8. Please don't interrupt while I'm speaking.
9. Tell him to be back by eight o'clock.
10. Come here - I want to ask you something.
11. Please take a seat, so we can begin the meeting.
12. Passengers please proceed to gate 14 for U. S. .Air flight 105.
13. Take it from me - he means what he says.
14. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
15. Use only as directed.
16. Try not to get the dressing wet.
17. Open your mouth really wide - say 'Ah'.
18. Fasten your seat belts. Buckle up - it's the law!
19. Go on - have another cookie. Don't worry about your calories.
20. Take 1 tablet three times a day with food.
21. Do me a favor - don't ever mention that subject again.
22. Wait for me - I won't be a minute. Have a seat!
23. Watch out for pickpockets on the metro.
24. Take a deep breath - now let it out slowly.
25. Never try to pet a strange dog.
26. Don't worry - be happy! Have a good day!
27. Don't try to talk. Just lie back and relax.
28. Give it a try. Don’t give up so easily.
29. Raise your hand if you know the answer to the question.
30. Leave the car keys with the service manager.
31. Stand up straight with your feet together. Try to touch your toes.
32. Don't get lost. Take this map with you.
33. Don't be nervous. Think about something else.
34. Do not mix this cleaner with other chemicals.
35.Take my advice. Don't have anything to do with those guys.
36. Don't bother to lock the door.
37. Mix the butter and sugar and add eggs and flour.
38. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
39. Prepare the salad in advance and refrigerate.
40. Wash garment by hand in cold water or dry clean.
41. Don't park your car on a yellow line.
42. Practice your English every day.
43. Don't get discouraged - hang in there!
44. Have a good day!.
45. In case of emergency, walk, do not run, to the nearest exit.
46. Make him an offer he can't refuse!
47. Please don't do that again.
48. Let this be a lesson to you. Never underestimate a woman!
49. Always be prepared for the unexpected.
50. Don't let other people take advantage of you.
For additional emphasis use affirmative ‘do’ + VB
Do + VB (+ INDIRECT OBJ) (+ DOBJ/ADV)
1. Do tell us all about it.
2. Do forgive me for asking.
3. Do let the management know if you need anything.
4. Do stop making all that noise.
5. Do try to eat something.
(Don’t) Let’s (not) + VB (+ N Clause/DOBJ) (+ ADV)
1. Let's go and find out what's happening.
2. Let's see what there is for lunch today.
3. Let's have a party and invite all the students.
4. Don't let's make a big deal about it.
5. Let's not quarrel over such a little thing.
6. Let's try to work something out before he gets back.
7. Let's go and see a movie this evening.
8. Let's make a deal. Let's keep it a secret.
9. Let's take a trip to Atlantic City.
10. Let's try again later. Don't let's give up yet.
11. Let's not waste time arguing.
12. Let's buy him a new watch for his birthday.
13. Let’s call the whole thing off.
14. Let’s take the day off.
15. Don’t let’s go into all that again!
May – poetic or rhetorical
May + SBJ + INFIN (+ OBJ/CT/ADV)
1. May all your Christmases be white! (song)
2. May the King live forever!
.
3. May you be blessed with peace and prosperity.
4. May all your troubles be little ones.
5. May you never live to regret your decision.
REGULAR SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE VERB PATTERNS
I. simple present affirmative
SBJ+ VB + DOBJ (noun/pronoun/phrase/clause) (+ ADJ/ADV)
1. We grow all our own vegetables. My mother cooks them really well.
2. Ann cleans houses for a living.
3. She supports her children in Mexico.
4. She misses her friends and family back home.
5. We need more activities for young people.
6. She gives piano and violin lessons.
7.That sign means 'No left turn'. The other one means 'No U turn'.
8. Most supermarkets have a Health Care section.
9. They sell name brands and generic items.
10. My brother speaks five different languages.
11. He develops computer software for hospitals.
12. Joe takes a lot of different medications.
13. I really appreciate your help.
14. Children need lots of love and attention, as well as discipline.
15. My youngest daughter wears a lot of her sisters' old clothes.
16. Newco Moving and Storage Co. hires temporary truck drivers.
17.The thrift store takes donations of used furniture in good condition.
18. This company offers health insurance and retirement benefits.
19. My sister drinks a lot of coffee. I prefer tea.
20. Her husband runs a chain of hardware stores.
21. I do all the housework and cooking.
22. I deserve a break!
23. That store sells baby equipment.
24. They deduct taxes and Social Security from your paycheck.
25. He leaves the house at 7 o’clock in the morning.
26. Everybody admires my son’s new sports car.
27. Bob and Joe share an apartment in Silver Spring.
28. They own a house in Florida.
29. I respect the opinions of the other students.
30. The children like their new teacher.
31. We regret any inconvenience to our customers.
32. That firm employs several hundred workers.
33. Sam Kelly knows a lot of important people.
34. The boss drives a black BMW with out -of-state license plates.
35. Maria and Jim have six children.
36. They deduct taxes and Social Security from your pay check.
37. Clean towels belong in the linen closet.
38. That gas station gives a discount for cash.
39. Your car needs a new battery and a tune-up.
40. Too much salt causes high blood pressure.
Variation 1
SBJ + DO/DOES + VB (for emphasis or contradiction)
1. I do love your new house!
2. This job does make rather a lot of demands on my time.
3. You’re wrong - I do enjoy being retired.
4. I’m sure he really does like my mother, even if he does joke about her.
5. I do think it was rather thoughtless of them not to call.
Variation 2
Verbs such as know, believe, understand, suppose, realize, like, prefer, are
normally found in the simple present, not the present continuous/progressive.
SBJ + VB + DOBJ (+ ADJ/ADV)
1. Richard knows most of the people at the club.
2. I believe his story.
3. We understand her point of view.
4. The children like French fries with lots of ketchup.
5. I prefer a table by the window.
6. My doctor recommends exercise for everything.
7. He finally realizes the truth about their relationship. .
8. We always advise alternative remedies.
9. John considers his job rather uninteresting.
10. Gina hates living in the city.
Variation 2
Phrasal verb (VB + PREP) + OBJ (of PREP)
1. I listen to classical music - she listens to jazz.
2. We apologize for the delay in shipping your order.
3. This store specializes in baby equipment.
4. My son never worries about anything.
5. He often gets into trouble.
6. She looks after the children very well.
7. My brother-in-law disagrees with everybody.
8. I work for a large company in D.C..
9. Fewer babies die from malnutrition these days.
10. These other items add up to $25.50. .
11. This car belongs to a friend of mine.
12. All his employees think very highly of him.
13. Her husband always takes care of the bills.
14. They deal with people like that all the time.
15. The children take after their mother.
16. Some colleges ask for a very high score on the SATs.
17. They look for other things besides high scores.
18. I look forward to your reply.
19. He never cooperates with anybody.
20. The children really look up to their grandfather.
SBJ+ VB + GER OBJ (+ ADJ/ADV/CT/OBJ of GER)
1. She enjoys being independent.
2. Most of my friends like watching soap opera.
3. We start spring-cleaning in March.
4. They don’t allow smoking in any public place.
5. His mother hates being an invalid.
6. I remember seeing her last week.
7. My husband can’t stand waiting in line.
8. We begin registering for classes today.
9. I suggest calling the administration.
10. We prefer traveling by car.
Phrasal verbs with gerund object
SBJ + VB + PREP + GER OBJ (+ OBJ of gerund) (+ ADV/ADJ)
1. They insist on paying their share of the bill.
2. Sam keeps on inviting me to dinner.
3. He admits to being rather jealous of me.
4. Many people dream of winning the lottery someday.
5. We sometimes think about moving to another city.
6. I put up with hearing her complaints every weekend.
7. They often talk about taking a trip to China.
8. We look forward to seeing you next week.
9. He gives up smoking several times a year!
10. My little girl soon tires of helping me with the chores.
Variation 5
GER SUJ (+ OBJ/ADV/CT) + VB (+ indirect OBJ) (+ DOBJ) (+ ADJ/ADV)
1. Singing in the shower is fun.
2. Exercising gives you extra energy.
3. Overeating causes obesity and heart problems.
4. Walking to school every day keeps children in shape.
5. Breaking up is hard on everyone.
6. Listening and repeating sentence patterns improves your English.
7. Learning a new language requires continuous practice.
8. Cutting down too many trees damages the environment.
9. Working at home sometimes seems impossible.
10. Being a stay-at-home mother has its advantages!
SBJ + VB + indirect OBJ + DOBJ (+ ADV/ADJ)
1. We wish you all a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
2. People never tell you the truth about themselves.
3. Flying always gives me a thrill!
4. The bad weather gives them an excuse for relaxing.
5. My mother always buys my husband sweaters for his birthday.
6. Her boyfriend sends her E-mails every day.
7. My daughter sends us lots of pictures of our grandchildren.
8. That store sells its employees everything at a 50% discount.
9. He often does me a favor.
10. Nina always tells Vanessa everything.
Variation 7
SBJ+ VB + INFIN OBJ (+ OBJ of INFIN/ADV/ADJ)
1. She always wants to have her own way.
2. The students like to play word games.
3. My son hopes to graduate next year.
4. Sara always tries to do her best.
5. The donor wishes to remain anonymous.
6. I plan to retire on my 65th birthday
7. The teachers need to discuss the new material.
8. Most dogs love to go for long walks.
9. They expect to see their daughter on Thanksgiving.
10. My family hates to travel during the holidays.
11. He often forgets to write to his parents.
.
12. I prefer not to talk on the ‘phone.
13. The audience starts to arrive about fifteen minutes before curtain up.
14. She never neglects to inform me of my mistakes.
15. Children nowadays refuse to take advice from their parents.
16. Congress agrees to raise the minimum wage.
17. He promises not to do that again.
18. The store offers to exchange the goods or refund the money.
19. I hesitate to commit myself to anything involving large amounts of money.
20. He sometimes pretends not to know me.
SBJ + VB + OBJ ( SBJ) + (+ not) + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ of INFIN/ADV)
1. I advise you to get a dog for company.
2. We encourage minorities to apply for the position.
3. Their mother forbids the children to play with Jim.
4. I urge you to reconsider your decision.
5. These classes teach you to control the physical symptoms of your disease.
6. The university permits students to use these computers.
7. They warn you not to switch them off.
8. He usually invites all his family to celebrate Thanksgiving with him.
9. The rules allow non-members to dine in the cafeteria.
10. You force me to disagree with you.
11. We want the children to remember this holiday for the rest of their lives.
12. I beg you not to interfere in this argument.
13. Laughter helps me (to) forget my worries. (‘help’ can be used with, or without, ‘to’)
14. They ask new patients to be there half an hour before their appointment.
15. I dare you to go and ask the boss for a raise!
16. The instructions tell you not to take more than four pills in 24 hours.
17. We need you to fill out these forms.
18. They don’t permit students to take more than one free class.
19. The teacher lets us ask a lot of questions in class.*
20. She makes us correct our mistakes..*
‘let’ and ‘make’ do not use ‘to’ with the infinitive
SBJ + ADV FREQ + VB ( + DOBJ / ADV)
SBJ + VB + DOBJ + ADV PHR FREQ (can also be at the beginning)
1. My students sometimes forget their homework.
2. He never remembers my name.
3. She always takes the bus to the office.
4. We often use the ATM machines.
5. I usually eat sandwiches for lunch.
6. She normally does the housework on weekends.
7. They have a party every Thanksgiving Day.
8. They always invite my family.
9. My daughter writes letters once a month.
10. I usually recycle my newspapers and magazines.
11.They collect them every Friday. They also collect clothing two or three times a year.
12. The children often .play soccer after school.
13. Mother expects me once a week. I normally see her at weekends.
14. I work six hours a day, five days a week.
15. He takes the tablets every four hours.
16. Our teacher gives tests all the time.
17. We usually have lunch at 12:30 p.m.
18. He earns $85,000 a year. He pays around $25,000 in taxes annually.
19. Mr. Brown’s secretary generally chooses gifts for his wife.
20. We often rent a video instead of going to the movies.
21. The buses leave the station every hour, on the hour.
22. Most people eat breakfast before they go to work.
23. My friend and I frequently meet each other at the supermarket.
24. I often buy second-hand furniture.
25. The principal frequently calls a meeting after school.
26. Jim has allergies every summer.
27. I pay all my bills monthly, by direct deposit.
28. They take the children on field trips from time to time.
29. She still calls me occasionally
30. He plays basketball three times a week. I watch the games now and then.
31. Every once in a while they invite me for dinner.
32. We sometimes take the metro to work.
33. The mailman usually delivers the mail around midday.
34. I get a migraine headache about once every two weeks.
35. She generally buys fruit and vegetables at Giant.
SBJ + VB (intransitive) + ADV + ADV FREQ
SBJ (+ ADV FREQ) + VB (int.) + ADV
1. We only eat out on special occasions.
2. They go on vacation twice a year.
3. I go to church on Sundays. I usually stay home in the evenings..
4. She goes shopping at the weekend.
5. They frequently stay out together all night.
6. We meet for lunch once or twice a year.
7. It snows in winter and rains in summer!
8. My friends go to that nightclub regularly.
9. Accidents happen all the time.
10. He always arrives early for everything.
11. My husband exercises every morning.
12. George usually whistles while he works.
13. I often work overtime.
14. Accidents like that occur all the time.
15. He is nearly always late for class.
Negative adverbs of frequency (same pattern)
1. I never read the newspaper.
2. I hardly ever see him these days.
3. My son rarely calls us and never writes.
4. He never ever takes any time off from work.
5. She very seldom calls in sick.
6. We never have time to do our accounts.
7. My parents rarely take a vacation.
8. Fortunately, that kind of error hardly ever occurs.
9. My grandchildren never watch TV
10. He very rarely punishes his children.
11. Liz never finishes her homework.
12. We seldom eat out on weeknights.
13. The teacher hardly ever gives us dictation.
14. He never asks me out these days.
15. They very rarely go to the movies.
16. My mother hardly ever has any ailment.
17. She almost never sees a doctor.
18. It seldom snows on the West Coast.
19. He never takes my advice about anything.
20. He scarcely ever talks about his children.
Variation 13
SBJ + VB + N clause OBJ
1. I know (that) she is not responsible for the mistake.
2. I realize (that) this means a lot to you
3. We understand (that) she is arriving next week.
4. He doesn’t believe (that) they can do it.
5. Your daughter says (that) she left a message at the front desk.
6. Everybody thinks (that) we are going out of business.
7. I hope (that) you are happy about the decision.
8. I’m afraid (that) I can’t help you.
9. His family expects (that) he will do well on the test.
10. I’m sure (that) it won’t happen again.
11. The weatherman says (that) we can expect more snow at the weekend.
12. Everyone agrees (that) nationalism causes many of the world’s problems.
13. I don’t think (that) she enjoys working for that company.
14. We sometimes forget (that) we are the luckiest people in the world,
15. I hear (that) you have a new house in the country.
1. I recommend (that) you see a doctor right away.
2. He suggests (that) I apply for a scholarship .
3. The captain requests (that) you observe the No Smoking sign at all times.
4. The law requires (that) all drivers possess a valid driver’s license.
5. I only ask that you consider my request.
Variation 14
SBJ + VB + N CLAUSE (WH/HOW +SBJ + VB [+ OBJ [+ADV)}
1. We know where they live.
2. He’s not sure what she wants.
3. I know how he treats his wife.
4. He believes what his wife says.
5. One never knows what they will come up with next.
6. Everyone understands how you feel.
.
The verb 'wish' in the present tense is followed by a limited number of
auxiliaries and a few stative verbs in the subjunctive (except for
‘were’, subjunctive form is identical to past tense).
SBJ + wish/wishes (+ that) + N clause
1. I wish (that) I were a millionaire.
2. He wishes (that) he were not so nervous.
3. I wish (that) I knew what to do about this.
4. My mother wishes (that) it were not so cold in winter.
5. The students wish (that) they didn't have to study so hard.
6. I wish (that) I could do something to help you.
7. I wish (that) you wouldn't say that.
8. The children wish (that) the holidays would last all year!
9. Everyone wishes (that) they had more of the good things in life.
10. I wish (that) I looked like a movie star.
SBJ + VB + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ indirect OBJ ) + N clause OBJ.
1. We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
2. You have to admit that they were right after all.
3. He promises to do whatever you advise.
4. They agree not to tell her what we think.
5. She refuses to acknowledge what they did for her.
SBJ + verb (+ DOBJ) + ADV clause
1. It rains whenever we plan a picnic.
2. Every time he says something, his wife contradicts him.
3. I go to the gym as often as I can.
4. We go swimming when we can find time.
5. When I feel nervous, I bite my nails.
SBJ + VB + DOBJ + ADJ clause *
1. I like that guy (who(m) we met at Joan’s party..
2. I know the place (that) you mean.
3. He keeps all the magazines (which) I give him.
4. Our teacher corrects all the mistakes (that) we make.
5. We make copies of all the articles (that) she writes.
*In sentences where the direct object of the main clause is also the object of the dependent clause, the relative pronoun ( that, who etc.) is not necessary.
Variation 19
SBJ + VB + DOBJ (SBJ of ADJ clause ) *
SBJ + ADJ clause + VB + DOBJ/ADV/CT
1. We prefer the house that has the larger garden.
7. Do children who play too many video games become aggressive.
8. Don’t the people who own the house know about the new plans?
9. Those who give most to charity are often those who have least..
10. Some plants that grow in the desert can survive without water.
* In sentences where the ADJ clause defines, or restricts, the subject or object, the relative pronoun is essential
SBJ + ADJ clause + VB (+ DOBJ/ADV) *
1. Dr. Levy, who is an expert on marine biology, gives fascinating lectures.
2. The books, which are about a boy called Harry Potter, have millions of readers.
3. This event, which takes place every year, celebrates the patron saint of Ireland.
4. Our children, who are grown up now, still love their childhood home.
5. The house on the corner, which has such a beautiful garden, is for sale!
* In these sentences the ADJ clause is non-restrictive because the information it contains is not essential for us to identify the subject.
Alternative application: simple present for future schedules
1. The semester finishes the week after next.
2. The plane leaves at 4:15 p.m.
3. They set sail for Bermuda first thing tomorrow.
4. The game starts in a few minutes’ time.
5. I retire on the 15th of next month.
6. The ceremony takes place at midday in the central plaza.
7. The car pool picks the children up at three o’clock.
8. Maria gets her nursing assistant certification sometime this month.
9. The doctor goes on vacation next week.
10. The notice goes out to everyone next Monday.
11. The store opens at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow instead of 7:30 a.m.
12. My daughter graduates at the end of this semester.
13. She receives her award next month at The White House.
14. The bar closes in an hour and a half.
15. You come back on Friday for the test.
16. The next course starts after the spring break.
17. The eclipse becomes visible around noon.
18. The comet returns in a 100 years or so.
19. The store closes down for good at the end of this month.
20. Your subscription expires within a few weeks.
Simple present for future in time clauses
Main clause
SBT+ MDL / FUTURE/FUTURE PERFECT (+ OBJ/ADV)
Dependent ADV clause (time)
As soon as/when/after/by the time etc + SBT + SIM PRES (+ OBJ/ADV)
2. After he graduates, he’s going to work as an intern at N.I.H.
3. When I have time, I must get around to doing my taxes.
4. By the time he gets here, it will all be over.
5. At this rate, the party will have finished before he arrives.
6. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you.
7. I’m going for a swim as soon as we get to the hotel.
8. We shall have left by the time the police find out what’s missing.
9. Mother will tell you a bedtime story before you go to bed.
10.You should tell your doctor about your symptoms when you see him.
Simple present for dramatic statement, as in newspaper headlines
1. FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC COURTHOUSE
2. BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS MARRIES LOCAL PLUMBER
3. PRESIDENT REFUSES TO DISCUSS LATEST CHARGES
4. WIDESPREAD FLOODING CLAIMS HUNDREDS OF LIVES
5. MID EAST PEACE TALKS BREAK DOWN
Passive forms
SBT + Is/am/are + past participle of main verb (+ ADV)
1. I am registered for three different classes
2. You are scheduled for a ten o’clock appointment.
3. These rings are made from pure silver.
4. Visitors are only allowed between 2:30 and 5:00 p.m..
5. These seats are reserved for non-smokers.
6. Millions of people are injured in household accidents each year.
7. My parents are divorced.
8. Jane is separated from her husband.
9. Utilities are included in the rent.
10. Dinner is served at seven o'clock sharp.
11. I am convinced of my brother’s innocence.
12. He is accused of assault with a deadly weapon.
13. She is frightened of the dark.
14. He is involved with drugs.
15. The teacher is never annoyed by anything.
16. The meeting is postponed until further notice.
17. Both of these letters are addressed to me.
18. My car is parked just around the corner.
19. A lot of older people are cheated by con men.
20. All the meals are prepared on the premises
Variation 25
To 'have' or 'get' something done is a form of the passive (the action usually done by another person)
SBJ + get/have + DOBJ + past participle (+ ADV)
1. She always gets her hair and her nails done at Bernard's
2. They usually have their dresses specially designed.
3. I hardly ever get my hair cut at the hairdressers'.
4. She has all her groceries delivered.
5. My neighbor never has his chimney cleaned.
6. I have my teeth examined every six months.
7. My husband gets the car serviced regularly.
8. We never get our Christmas cards mailed on time.
9. You get your passport stamped in Immigration.
10. We have our furnace cleaned every winter.
11. A lot of people get their purses stolen in a crowd.
12. I get my daughter’s eyes tested once a year.
13. They get their car insured with another company.
.
14. I never have your clothes dry-cleaned
15. I usually get the children’s pictures taken professionally.
SBJ + VB (Passive) + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Passengers are requested to remain seated.
2. She is supposed to know about their plans.
3. The truck is expected to arrive at any moment.
4. The students are supposed to register before Feb.1st.
5. We aren’t obliged to do all the work ourselves.
6. .He is only licensed to practice medicine in this state.
7. The children are invited to come along too.
8. They are both engaged to be married to someone else.
9. I am instructed to remain here for the moment.
10. He is thought to be on administrative leave for the rest of the year.
11. These tires are guaranteed to last a lifetime.
12. They are scheduled to arrive very shortly.
13. They are invited to participate in the meeting.
14. She is reported to be in good condition after the operation.
15. People are urged not to use too much electric power in severe weather.
SIMPLE PRESENT NEGATIVES - with auxiliary verb ‘do’
Basic pattern
SBJ + does/do not (doesn’t/don’t) + VB (INFIN) (+ DOBJ) (+ ADV/ADJ)
1. These clothes don’t fit me anymore.
2. I don't have dental insurance in my present job.
3. We don't watch TV much. We don’t have any time to spare.
4. You don't need a car in my hometown.
5. People don't trust him. He doesn't keep his promises.
6. My mother doesn't eat very healthy food.
7. John doesn't use a credit card or an ATM card.
8. A lot of people don't tell the truth about their relationships.
9. Ann doesn't have a job at the moment.
10. I don't enjoy big parties with lots of strangers.
11.We don't know our neighbors very well.
12.The children don't like each other very much.
13. I really don't mind all the extra work.
14. She doesn't live here anymore. We don't have her address.
15. This new electric can opener doesn't work very well.
16. We don't see much of John these days. He doesn't come around much anymore.
17. My son doesn’t worry about a thing. He doesn't have any problems.
18. Sports events don't interest me.
19. Our boss doesn’t give very good bonuses at the end of the year.
20. The airline doesn’t take any responsibility for cancelled flights.
SBJ + do/does not + ADV FREQ + VB (INFIN) + DOBJ/ADV
SBJ + do/does not + VB (INFIN) + ADV FREQ/ADV
1. I don’t often go to the movies.
2. My friend doesn’t work at night.
3. That bus doesn’t run on Sundays.
4. My sister doesn’t usually wear dresses.
5. This store doesn’t normally accept credit cards.
6. The students don’t always do their homework.
7. She doesn’t go out in the evenings.
8. We don’t as a rule give tuition waivers.
9. Most of the beach houses close in winter.
10. You don’t need a referral every time.
Variation 2
SBJ + do not/don’t, does not/doesn’t + INFIN + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. I don’t expect to see him again.
2. They don’t claim to have all the answers.
3. He doesn’t like to take the metro to work.
4. The children don’t want to play outside.
5. We don’t need to be there before 8:00 p.m.
6. They don’t intend to answer his letter.
7. I don’t pretend to be an expert.
8. He doesn’t hesitate to condemn other people for their faults.
9. The weather doesn’t begin to get warm until June.
10. They don’t plan to go abroad this year.
SBJ+ do/does not + INFIN + N PH OBJ (WH/HOW + INFIN with ‘to’) (+ OBJ)
(with know, understand, remember, recall)
1. I don’t know where to go.
2. They don’t know who(m) to contact.
3. She doesn’t understand how to deal with them.
4. The children don’t know how to swim.
5. We don’t remember what to do.
6. I don’t recall how often to take this medication.
7. The teacher doesn’t know which of the students to promote.
8. They don’t have any idea how to organize their time.
9. We don’t know where to look for the lost files.
10. We don’t agree about how much to pay him.
III. SIMPLE PRESENT INTERROGATIVE
Basic pattern
Do/does + SBJ + OBJ(+ ADV/ADJ)
1. Do you need some help with those heavy bags?
2. Do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving or Christmas?
3. Does David have a driver's license or a learner's permit?
4. Does he speak French? Do they understand English?
5. Do Susan and her husband both have green cards?
6. Does the teacher give a lot of tests? Do you practice a lot?
7. Does Safeway sell beer and alcohol?
8. Do they accept Visa and Mastercard at this restaurant?
9. Do you eat a lot of vegetables?
10. Does your teenage daughter drive?
Variation 1
Do/does + SBJ + ADV FREQ + INFIN + OBJ/ADV
1. Do you ever stay home on weekends?
2. Does the committee normally meet the last week of December?
3. Does it often rain in summer?
4. Does he always park in the back lot?
5. Do you usually go home for the holidays?
6. Does your brother work for the government?
7. Do they frequently arrive late for school?
11. Do you often buy new clothes?
12. Do your children usually play out in the street?
13. Do the buses always run on time?
14. Does he ever take the children to museums?
15. Do the students always understand your accent?
18. Do those kids ever help their mother?
19.Do you usually travel by bus and metro?
20. Do your students sometimes skip class?
Variation 2
Do/does + SBJ + INFIN + INFIN with (not) ’to’ (+ DOBJ/ADV)
1. Does he deserve to get the prize?
2. Do they dare to refuse his offer?
3. Does your mother agree not to interfere?
4. Do you expect to pass the test?
5. What do they hope to get out of it?
6. Does anyone know how to change a tire?
7. How do you want to pay for this?
8. Where do they prefer to shop?
9. How long do I have to wait?
10. Do you like to go to movies?
Variation 3
How and Wh- questions.
1. How do you feel about the plans for a Megamall?
2. How often do you go to the movies?
6. How many brothers do you have?
7. How much money does he earn?
8. How long does a tourist visa last?
9. Where do you buy your clothes?
10. How late does Giant stay open?
11. How do you like your coffee?
12. Which doctor do you want to see?
13. What does John do for a living?
14. Who do you work for? Where do you work?
15. When do you get off work?
16. What time do we have to be there?
17. When does the sale end? When does the store close?
18. Why does she dress like that?
19. Why do we always argue about everything?
20. Which do you prefer - coffee or tea.?
Who/what etc. as SUBJECT
1. Who wants a ride in my new car?
2. Who remembers the answer to Question 15?
3. What makes you really angry?
4. Whose car has more room in it?
5. Who lives in that house on the corner of Bay St. and Main Ave.?
6. Who wants another cup of coffee?
7. Who looks after the children during the week?
8. Which of these two outfits looks best on me?
9. Which comes first - the chicken or the egg?
10. Who needs a number 2 pencil ?
11. Who has the right answer to problem 3?
12. Who wins most of the games?
13. Who does the cooking in you house?
14. Which of you likes shortbread cookies?
15. Who helps you with your homework?
16. Who lives next door to you?
17. Who agrees with me about the program?
18. Which of these photos belong to you.
19. What causes high blood pressure and heart problems?
20. What kind of car gets the best mileage?
Tag questions
1. You live on Randolph Rd., don’t you?
2. He comes to class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, doesn’t he?
3. She works downtown, doesn’t she?
4. They like each other a lot, don’t they?
5. The teacher speaks Spanish, doesn’t she?
Tag questions with affirmative auxiliary for emphasis
1. You do want to come to the party, don’t you?
2. She doesn’t have a boyfriend, does she?
3. I don’t have to do this, do I?
4. Your daughter does own a car, doesn’t she?
5. They don’t own a car, do they?
6. It doesn’t take long, does it?
7. The house does need redecorating, doesn’t it?
8. We don’t have any more butter, do we?
9.Those ornaments do look rather ridiculous, don’t they?
10. Little Bobby does remember me, doesn’t he?
Variation 7
Negative questions (expressing surprise)
1. Don't you know who that is?
2. Doesn't your mother live with you?
3. Don't you have anything better to do with your time?
4. Doesn't the class start at 7:30 p.m.?
5. Don’t they ever get tired of that music?
Variation 8
Passive (Negative and Interrogative)
1. Smoking is not permitted in this area.
2. What classes are you registered for?
3. Is your property insured with Allstate?
4. Where is your car parked?
5. He isn’t invited to the wedding.
6. When is the appointment scheduled for?
7. What are your dogs called?
8. Are these donuts filled with real cream?
9. This program is not funded by the government..
10.The President of the U.S. is not elected by popular vote.
VI. Answering questions
A. Short answers to 'yes/no' questions – present tenses/modals
Yes/No + SBJ + auxiliary if question verb
1. Do you like coffee? Yes, I do.
2. Do you know how to do CPR? No, I don't.
3. Does he still live in Takoma Park? No, he doesn't.
4. Do they take Karate classes? Yes, they do.
5. Do we have to pre-register? Yes, we do.
6. Does she enjoy babysitting? No, she doesn't.
7. Can he speak Russian? Yes, he can.
8. May I use your telephone for a minute? Of course you may.
9. Are you afraid of going there alone? Yes, I am.
10. Is there a post office near here? Yes, there is.
11. Is it still snowing out there? Yes, it is.
12. Aren't you going to invite Fred to the party? No, I'm not.
13. Would you vote for a person like him? No, I wouldn't.
14. Can you speak Spanish? Yes, I can.
15. Must you leave so soon? Yes, I really must.
16. Will the letter get there too late if I send it tomorrow? Yes, it will.
17. Would you like a refund? Yes, I would.
18. Do they have to fill out all these forms? Yes, they do.
19. Can you all hear what I'm saying? No, we can't.
20. Couldn't you leave earlier for once? No, I really couldn't.
21. She might be waiting for you. Yes, she might.
22. Do we have to attend the presentation? Yes, we do.
23. Don't you think that's asking too much? No, I don't.
24. Would they rather come back another day? No, they wouldn't.
25. Are Meg and John still going out together? No, they aren't.
B. ‘So’ and ‘not’ responses
A short response to a yes/no question is formed by verbs such as 'think' and 'believe' followed by 'so' or 'not'.
Note that ‘so’ or ‘not’ is always the last word of the answer.
1. Is Jane coming with us? I think so.
2. Are they going to Florida for spring break? I believe so.
3. Will David be at the party? I don't think so.
4. Can they all speak English? I believe so.
5. Can you help Jimmy with his homework? I suppose so.
6. Will they let us swim in their pool? I expect so.
7. Is Mike still working at Home Depot? I don't think so.
8. Are your parents going to retire soon? I assume so.
9. We'd better not interrupt their meal. I suppose not.
10. Is your sister going to marry Ed? I’m afraid so.
11.Why do we have to go to bed now, mom? Because I say so.
12.Do we have to start all over again? I hope not.
13. Will you have time to visit her? I’m afraid not.
14. The central heating has stopped working. I told you so.* (can be followed by adverbial: e.g. I told you so last night)
15. Do you think he will take the money? I don’t think so, I know so.
C. Tag questions and answers *
1. You like John, don't you? Yes, I do.
2. He works at McDonalds doesn't he? Yes, he does.
3. You can't speak Russian, can you? No, I can't.
4. We don't have time to visit the museum, do we? No, we don't.
5. She's very beautiful, isn't she? Yes, she is.
6. I'm very lucky, aren't I? Yes, you are.
7. The test is not until next week, is it? No, it isn't.
8. Your mother won't be angry, will she? No, she won't.
9. You must tell him, mustn't you? Yes, I must.
10. You will write to me, won't you? Yes, I will.
11. We'll never forget this, will we? No, we won't.
12. She can't forgive him, can she? No, she can't.
13. He never takes 'No' for an answer, does he? No, he doesn't.
14. They might be there this evening, mightn't they? Yes, they might.
15.We don’t have to go yet, do we? No, we don’t.
D. Agreement responses
SBJ+ auxiliary + too/ not either
So/neither + auxiliary + SBJ
1. I can't stand waiting in line. I can't either.
2. He's catching the 4 o'clock plane. She is too.
3. I want to attend that lecture. So do I.
4. My dog doesn't like to sit. Neither does mine.
5. We have to do our taxes this month. So do we.
6. I've got a pet parrot. So has my brother.
7. I don't eat meat. I don't either.
8. I'm a vegetarian. I am too.
9. They can't understand what she says. Neither can I.
10. She'd rather walk than take the bus. So would I.
11. You'd better hurry up and get ready. So had you.
12. He would never agree to that. Neither would she.
13. My son won't listen to me. My daughter won't either.
14. I must get back to work now. So must I.
15. I think it's going to rain. I do too.
16. My daughter can sing beautifully. So can mine.
17. I could never stand eating broccoli. Neither could I.
18. I'm going to start dieting. My friend Judy is too.
19. Betty never smiles at anyone. Her children don't either.
20. John won't go to the party. I won't either.
21. Tommy isn't wearing his glasses today. Dick isn't either.
22. I want to buy a new dress. I do too.
23. I really should stay home this evening and study. So should I.
24. Frances can't take a joke. Neither can her husband.
25. The school is quite a long way from here. So is the college.
It takes/requires/needs/costs + DOBJ + SBJ (INFw.‘to’) (+DOBJ/ADV)
How long does it + VB + DOBJ + SBJ (INF w. ‘to’)’ (+ DOBJ/ADV)?
(as in patterns above with verb ‘be)
1. How long does it take to cross the Atlantic by plane?
2. It takes time and lots of practice to become fluent in any langauge.
3. It requires 150 hours of class work to complete the course
4. ‘It takes a thief to catch a thief
5. It costs nothing to be polite to other people
6. It doesn’t hurt to be unsuccessful once in a while.
7. It doesn’t take much to make him angry.
8. Does it feel good to be back at work?
9. It doesn’t seem right for one person to have so much power.
10. What does it cost to fly to San Francisco
Variation 2
SBJ + VB + DOBJ + ADJ/N (+ ADV)*
1. He always leaves the door wide open.
2. We consider his behavior inexcusable.
3. All our neighbors paint their doors brown; I paint mine red.
4. Jimmy colors all his drawings black.
5. I wipe my counters clean with paper towels.
6. She keeps her house very tidy.
7. I like my coffee sweet and black.
8. My husband eats all his vegetables raw.
9. He swallows those little tomatoes whole.
10. I prefer my vegetables cooked.
11. However, I don’t like them soft or soggy.
12. We just don’t believe it possible.
13. They always find the hero of a story alive and well.
14. No doubt he thinks himself very clever.
15. I think that event unlikely.
16. Young people often feel themselves misunderstood.
Noun
17.They consider him a genius.
18. We rate this latest item in their album a smash hit.
19. Don’t you find all this extra work a bit of a burden?
20. Do you ever imagine yourself a millionaire?
· see also patterns with ‘make’
·
Variation 3 *
SBJ (+ ADV FREQ) + DOBJ + INFIN (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Do you ever see them go out?
2. I often hear my neighbors come in at night.
3. Watch me make this handkerchief disappear.
4. Sometimes, when I’m alone, I feel something touch my shoulder.
5. They don’t usually let the students see their test papers.
6. My father often listens to me play the piano.
7. We love to watch our children dance.
8. Do you like to hear Pavarotti sing?
9. I never hear the phone ring.
10. Music always helps me relax.
* see more patterns with ‘make’ in Appendix
IV. present tense modal auxiliiaries
Various simple sentence patterns already practiced
Group 1
Necessity/obligation/advice
1. We ought to call the police immediately.*
2. You had better apologize for the error.
3. You should practice your English every day.
4. The manager should resign immediately.
5. She had better see a doctor right away..
6. You really shouldn't say things like that.
7. Why must you leave so early in the morning?.
8. You mustn't tell him the rumor about his wife.
9. The children have to get their shots today.*
10. Sam ought to get a haircut.*
infinitive with ‘to’
Group 2
Ability/possibility/permission/disapproval
1. I can swim but I can't dive
2. You may use my computer for a couple of hours.
3. I can't stand waiting in line for the tickets.
4. Couldn't you find the book at the library?
5. Can you describe your symptoms to me?
6. I can't imagine doing anything like that.
7. I can't thank you enough for all your help.
8. It may take quite a while to repair this watch.
9. It might help her to understand her feelings..
10. It may rain this evening. It might be better to stay at home
11. You can’t go out in that dress –it’s not decent!
12. You can’t go around saying things like that!
13. They can’t call this a fair election.
14. He can’t expect us to pay for his mistakes.
15. I can’t possibly accept a gift from your company.
16. Can I have another cookie, Mom?
17. Can I help you with something?
18. Could you do me a favor?
19. May I park here for a few minutes?
20. Might I make a suggestion?
Group 3
Willingness/refusal/preference (see appendix for additional uses of ‘will’)
1. Would you mind closing that window?
2. The students won't listen to the teacher. .
3. She won't believe anything I say.
4. My grandmother will insist on doing everything herself.
5. I'd rather be poor and happy than rich and miserable..
6. Would you rather not go to the party?
7. Would the children like to go to the zoo?
8. Won’t you have something to eat?
9. Which would you rather have – a dog or a cat?
10. I wouldn’t like to have a disagreement with her.
11. Will you help me with my homework, please?
12. Will you give me some advice?
13. I’ll be happy to help out.
14. Wouldn’t you rather have something hot to drink?
15. What would you like to achieve in this course?
Group 4
Conclusion/assumption
1.You must be tired after your long journey.
2.The children must miss their mother a lot.
3.Tony might be sick after the party last night.
4. He may be out of the office at the moment..
5. You may have some kind of allergy.
6. This has got to be a mistake!
7. This must be the coldest winter on record.
8. There has to be a reason for this outbreak of violence.
9. You can’t be serious! You must be joking!
10. They might be held up because of the weather.
Group 5
suggestions/formal assurances
1. Where shall we go this weekend?
2. What shall we buy for Chris's birthday?
3. Shall we go by car or metro?
4. Shall I take those things to the cleaners for you?
5. Shall I call up about the tickets?
6. Shall we meet them at the airport.
7. Shall we go to the Bahamas for Christmas?
8. What shall we do about all this leftover food?
9. How shall we get there in this weather?
10. Who(m) shall we invite to the party?
formality/emphasis (alternative to ‘will’)
1. I shall be happy to make all the necessary arrangements.
2. We shall make every effort to meet the deadline.
3. We shall not hesitate to prosecute violators of this law.
4. I shall insist on leaving first thing in the morning
5. You shall have whatever your heart desires!
6. I shall do my best not to disappoint you.
7. 'They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.' *
8. I shall never give you any cause for complaint.
9. I shall always remember my mother's last words to me.
10. We shan't expect you to take responsibility for everything..
*epitaph for soldiers killed in war
Expectation
!. They should be here any minute now.
2. It shouldn’t be too difficult to trace the items.
3. Where should I look for replacement batteries?
6. I shouldn’t think so. /I should hope so.* (emphatic response)
7. I should imagine so./I should assume so.*
8. The weather should be better tomorrow, according to the forecast.
9. There should be a few bright intervals.
10. There ought to be a few seats left for tomorrow.
* ‘would’ can be substituted for ‘should’ in these patterns
Passive
1.You shouldn’t be expected to wait very long.
2.He won’t be told anything about it.
3.They may not be invited to the wedding.
4.The baby will be christened ‘Oscar’, after his grandfather.
5.Could you be mistaken about the dates of the conference?
(Complex sentences)
Main Clause
SBJ + VB (+ OBJ/ADV)
Dependent ADV Clause (purpose)
so that + SBJ + Modal + INFIN (+ OBJ)
1. I go for long walks so that I can get some peace and quiet.
2. We stayed up late so that we would not miss the fireworks.
3. So that we may process your order quickly, please include a daytime phone number.
4. He took some extra courses so that he could qualify for a better position.
5. The dogs have to be tied up so that they won’t bother visitors.
IF clauses with modal auxiliaries, for unreal conditions.
Main clause
SBJ+ modal/not + infinitive (+ DOBJ/ADV)
Dependent clause (condition)
If + SBJ + verb (subjunctive.) + DOBJ/CT
1. I shouldn't do that if I were you.
2. If your mother knew what you were doing, she would be shocked.
3. If I won the lottery, I might take a trip round the world.
4. I would write to my family more often if I had time.
5. If she had any sense she would marry him.
6. If they didn't love each other it would be different.
7. If my father didn't help me, I wouldn't be able to get by.
8. We could go to the beach more often if it weren't so far away.
9. If you were in my position what would you do?
10. What would happen to the children if you lost your job?
Variation 3
Real conditions
Main clause:
SBJ + modal + INFIN (OBJ/ADV)
Dependent clause (condition)
If + SBJ+ VB + DOBJ/CT
1. If it rains hard, everything will get wet.
2. If it pours, we can bring all the stuff inside.
3. If the children stay up, they’ll have to be good.
4. She'll help you if you ask her nicely.
5. You won't get far in life if you don't work hard.
6. I can’t continue to work unless you give me a raise.
7. Unless you leave immediately, I will call the police.
8. Even if we take a short cut, we won’t get to the wedding on time.
9. If you hurry, you might just catch the 3:30 train.
10. You may borrow my book if you promise to bring it back tomorrow.
V. Present Continuous tense
Used for actions or states of mind/being occurring in the immediate
present or in the planned future.
SBJ+ am/is/are + VB + present participle (INFIN + ing) (+ DOBJ/ADV/ADJ)
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO INCLUDE THE AUXILIARY (AM/IS/ARE).
1. I am feeling just fine at the moment.
2. You're looking much better today.
3. My mother is staying at my sister's house for the weekend.
4. He is writing another novel about World War II.
5. Our youngest daughter is majoring in Physics.
6. I'm baking cookies for the Christmas party.
7. The children are making a lot of noise today.
8. Martha is working late this evening.
9. We're studying different verb tenses this semester.
10. I'm working very hard at the moment.
11. The situation in Africa is becoming serious.
12. I'm just coming - wait for me.
13. The school orchestra is rehearsing for the concert..
14. She's busy doing her homework at the moment.
15. We're getting a lot of complaints from customers.
16. The weather is getting worse all the time.
17. We are considering whether to sue the car dealership.
18. I'm thinking of going back to school next year..
19. She is looking for a new job.
20. Bob is making a nuisance of himself again.
21. My daughter is saving up to buy a house.
22. The model is wearing a long red velvet gown.
23. I'm really enjoying my vacation.
24. It's snowing heavily today and freezing too.
25. They're offering scholarships to qualified candidates.
26. Jim is starting his own business.
27. The fans are looking forward to the start of the football season.
28. Elizabeth is studying to become a doctor.
29. It is becoming more and more difficult to buy a house.
30. We're hoping the weather improves before we go on vacation.
31. I'm getting tired of arguing with her.
32. They're laying off workers because of the bad weather.
33. Daphne is looking after her sick mother.
34. The children are watching cartoons on TV. at the moment.
35. Shh! The baby is sleeping.
36. She's finding it rather difficult working the night shift.
37. My parents are redecorating their house.
38. We're having a lot of problems with our plumbing.
39. Some of the pipes are getting rusty and leaking.
40. They are touring Europe. They're traveling everywhere by train.
41. Safeway is advertising a lot of specials this week.
42. My foot is really hurting me just now.
43. Dick's letting me borrow his leaf blower this weekend.
44. The Postal Service is issuing a special commemorative stamp.
45. Robert is thinking of buying a new car.
46. My assistant is just printing out the report.
47. The telephone is ringing off the hook - everybody's calling today!
48. You're making a big mistake not accepting that offer.
49. We're getting ready to leave at any moment.
50. They're trying to raise money for the hospital.
51. Grandpa is taking the children to the zoo tomorrow.
52. Between them they're making over $200,000 a year.
53. Helen is sleeping in the guestroom for the time being.
54. My children are collecting money for UNICEF.
55. The patient is not responding very well to the treatment.
56. We're all counting on your support of this program.
57. The Washington Post is publishing the names of the victims.
58. We are losing the war against poverty.
59. More people than ever are living below the poverty line.
60. Business is booming in the big cities of Asia.
61. The population is still growing in many parts of the world.
62. We are heading for another recession.
63. Ed and May are celebrating their 50th anniversary tomorrow.
64. I'm applying for a job at the Marriott.
65. The children are growing up fast.
66. The cost of energy is rapidly increasing.
67. I'm putting an ad. in The Journal classifieds.
68. She's breaking off her engagement to him.
70. They're just making excuses for their incompetence.
71. My company is sponsoring a food drive.
72. K Mart is expanding and upgrading many of its stores.
73. The police are cracking down on drunk drivers.
74. The kids are having lots of fun at camp
Referring to future
75. They're registering students through the end of next week.
76. Maria is expecting a baby in April.
77. Tom and Jeanette are getting married next month.
78. I'm taking a trip to Australia in the summer.
79. He's seeing the doctor on Wednesday.
80. He's getting a raise at the end of the year.
81. The students are taking a test this evening.
82. My father is retiring in two years' time.
83. The buds are beginning to come out - spring is coming!
84. Our neighbors are moving to Colorado.
85. Bill and Jane are going back home next July.
86. The boss is meeting with the employees in about an hour.
87. Nobody is coming in to the office next Monday - it's a holiday.
88. I'm picking them up at the station at 5:30.
89. They’re giving out the awards on Friday evening.
90. We’re having a party for my parents on their anniversary.
91. I’m leaving on the next train.
92. My son’s family is going to Mexico for a couple of weeks..
93. She’s leaving all her money to charity.
94. The club is holding elections quite soon.
95. He’s taking his computer with him on vacation.
96. Our professor is giving a lecture on global warming.
97. They’re driving to New York this weekend.
98. We’re hiring a lawyer to represent us.
99. He’s giving us an estimate this afternoon.
100. John is celebrating his 50th birthday tomorrow.
Negative
Present or future meaning
1. I am not feeling so good today.
2.These pills are not helping me at all.
3. He isn't working here next week.
4. He's not seeing Elizabeth anymore.
5. We aren't taking any more orders at the moment.
6. You're not listening to me.
7. You aren't making any sense.
8. We're not inviting Carl and his wife to the wedding.
9. The children are not having a party this year.
10. My mother isn't doing so well. She's not eating anything.
11. I'm never going to that store again.
12. They're not expecting her back before Tuesday of next week.
13. She's not being very cooperative.
14. The choir is not singing next Sunday.
15. Stephen and Carol are not getting married after all.
16. They're not planning a vacation this year.
17. The VCR's not working properly. It isn't recording anything.
18. I'm not doing anything at the moment.
19. We're not getting any younger, you know!
20. Silvia and I are not going to class today.
21. I'm not asking for much - just a small loan for a few days.
22. The children are not playing outside just now.
23. He's not making much progress at the moment.
24. They aren't accusing you of anything.
25. We aren't moving until the end of the month..
Interrogative
Present and future meaning
1. Are you paying by check or credit?
2. Is he still waiting for me outside?
3. Am I just making a fool of myself?
4. Are the tickets going on sale soon?
5. Is Betty quitting her job at the bank?
6. Are we going to Denise’s farewell party?
7. Is the new Macys store opening next week?
8. Are you missing me? Are you thinking about me?
9. Are they enjoying their vacation?
10. Am I doing all this for nothing?
11. Are they demolishing the old school?
12. Is Ken marrying Clare for her money?
13. Are you wondering what all this is about?
14. Are the workers still striking for better conditions?
15. Is the government spending enough money on housing?
16. Is the committee accusing him of fraud or tax evasion?
17. Are you putting a new roof on your house?
18. Are we making any progress with our application?
19. Isn't the new boss meeting with the staff next week?
20. Are we employing enough people?
21. Are you really working hard enough to succeed?
22. Am I confusing you with all these questions?
23. Are you feeling any better today?
24. Are you doing anything this evening?
25. Aren't we going anywhere next weekend?
26. Who is Kathy going out with at the moment?
27. What are you doing here?
28. How are you getting on these days?
29. Where are all the students going?
30. Why are you wearing a sweater in this heat?
31. When are they having the next PTA meeting?
32. How soon are you expecting them back?
33. Who's making all that noise?
34. Why is Samantha crying?
35. Who are your relatives staying with?
36. How many of your friends are you inviting to the party?
37. How are you finding your new office?
38. What is making you so nervous?
39. What are the students writing about in their journals?
40. Who are you talking to?
41. What are they waiting for?
42. What's happening with you these days?
43. Which of you is going first?
44. How are you doing?
45. How long is he planning to stay for?
46. What are you trying to tell me?
47. Why are you asking me all these questions?
48. What are you doing with those files?
49. Isn't he leaving the company soon?
50. Aren't you being rather unhelpful?
Variation 1
Passive
SBJ + is/am/are + being (or getting)+ Past Participle (+ ADV).
SBJ + is/am/are + getting/having + OBJ + Past Participle (+ ADV)
1. Mary is being interviewed by the manager.
2. The company is being sued for millions of dollars.
3. I am being transferred to another department next month.
4. Is he being treated for cancer?
5. Candidates are being screened by the committee.
6.The metro isn’t being extended to all areas of the city.
7. The man is being held for questioning by the police.
8. My car is being serviced on Friday.
9. Children are not getting properly educated in our schools.
10. They are not being taught the basic skills.
11. We are getting tired of all the excuses.
12. This building is currently being used as a warehouse.
13. The other buildings are being demolished soon.
14. My supervisor is being promoted to general manager.
15. The lucky numbers are being announced later this evening.
16. We are being asked for contributions.
17. They are getting divorced after being married for only a year.
18. I'm getting really annoyed by all these demands.
19. Peter keeps getting beaten up by the bigger boys.
20. She is getting too involved in politics.
21. I'm getting rather confused by all the different accounts of the accident.
22. He’s getting fired for incompetence.
23. The children are being punished for not getting their work done.
24. These buildings are getting renovated next year.
25. Her daughter is getting really spoiled.
SBJ + am/is/are getting/having + DOBJ + Past Participle
(Subject does not perform the action , but is responsible for initiating it)
1. Are you getting your kitchen remodeled?
2. My friend's getting his house repainted.
3. George and Anna are getting a new furnace installed.
4. The neighbors are having a garage built.
5. Is he having his wisdom teeth taken out?
6. I'm having my eyes tested this afternoon.
7. He's having his wisdom teeth taken out next week.
8. Joan's having her hair dyed blonde for the wedding.
9. She's having her hat specially designed.
10. Is she having a new suit made?
11. We're having our cat neutered.
12. My father is having his appendix removed.
13. Are they having their windows replaced?
14.The children are having their hair cut today.
15. Ruth is getting her ears pierced.
16. My daughter is having her first book published next month.
17. Are they having the road widened in front of the school?
18. We're getting all the locks changed on our doors as a precaution.
19. They are having the photographs developed and enlarged.
20. I am having his portrait framed.
21. The bride and groom are having their rings engraved.
22. The children are having their school pictures taken this afternoon.
23. He's having big prints made for everyone.
24. We're having our dog put to sleep by the vet.
25. I'm having the documents faxed to you right away
Present continuous + ADV (INFIN PH of purpose)
SBJ + VB + infinitive with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Are they waiting to see the principal?
2. He’s stopping off to pick me up on his way home.
3. They aren’t coming here to learn Spanish.
4. Are you calling to find out about the test?
5.Hector is not using a wheelchair to get around at the moment.
6. Is Hong studying to be a doctor?
7. I am writing to inform you of your results.
8. She’s only doing that to show off.
9. Is the doctor ordering an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis?
10.The government isn’t budgeting enough money to hire teachers.
'Going to' for future plans
SBJ + going + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. We're going to buy a new house next summer.
2. Is she going to have her baby at home?
3.They're going to drop her off at the airport.
4. I'm going to retire very soon.
5. Are you really going to quit your job?
6. Aren't you going to tell her what you told me?
7. When are they going to go back to Mexico?
8. The children aren’t going to go with us to the beach
9. Is he going to have back surgery?
10. The store is going to close down in a few weeks.
11. The work is going to take several months.
12.There isn't going to be any time for sightseeing.
13.They're not going to hire anybody else for the moment.
14. Apparently it’s going to rain this afternoon.
15. We're only going to invite a few people to the baptism.
16. Are your parents going to be upset about our engagement?
17. They aren't going to retire to Florida after all.
18. Are we going to go to the baseball game or not?
19. Where are they going to go for their honeymoon?
20. How am I going to tell them what happened?
21. When are you going to get rid of all this junk?
22. She's going to call the doctor this afternoon.
23. There's going to be a party this evening at Ted's place.
24. You're not going to believe this.
25. It's going to cost you an arm and a leg!
Variation 8
Passive
SBJ + going + PASSIVE INFIN with ‘to” (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Is she going to be operated on immediately?
2. They are going to be married next month.
3. The students are not going to be tested on their writing skills.
4. Rose is going to be promoted to Assistant Manager.
5. We are going to be exhausted after walking all that way!
6. He is going to be devastated by this news.
7. This warehouse is going to be converted into a theater.
8. The meeting is not going to be held at the church.
9. Is he going to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
10. Your mother is not going to be pleased about this.
Variation 9
SBJ + modal auxiliary + pres. cont. INFIN (+ DOBJ/ADV/ADJ)
1. He might be waiting for us at the movie theater.
2. The children must be feeling very tired.
3. You can be getting on with your work instead of daydreaming.
4. The children shouldn't be watching such a violent movie.
5. I expect you'll be wanting* to rest after your journey.
6. He really ought to be making more progress in math.
7. Some of you may be wondering why I've called this meeting.
8. They could be making a mistake hiring him.
9. We ought not to be doing this.
10. He must be joking! What can he be thinking of !
11. Shouldn't you be getting ready for the party? It's getting late.
12. I could be sitting at home instead of doing all this work.
13. They must be mistaking me for someone else.
14. The boss may be recovering from the after effects of the party.
15. He might be suffering from a hangover!
* special use of ‘want’, not normally found in present continuous
Variation 10
Referring to future (future continuous)
1. Mary will be relaxing by the pool now, while I do all the work.
2. We won't be seeing any more of Jim - he'll be leaving next week.
3. Will you be going back home this summer?
4. I might not be living here in two years’ time.
5. He won’t be returning to his old job.
6. When will the students be taking the test?
7. What will you all be doing this weekend?
8. How much money will he be making in his new job?
9. Where will your daughter be getting married?
10. Who will be looking after the children while you're away?
11. He ought to be arriving at any moment.
12. ' She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes.' (song)
13. This time next week I’ll be cruising in the Caribbean.
14. My husband will be retiring at the end of this year.
15. We might be selling our house in the spring.*
*see Uses of ‘will’ - Appendix
The present continuous for referring to annoying habits with, ‘always’
1. He’s always complaining about something.
2. They’re always trying to borrow money from me.
3. My mother is always going on at me to buy a house.
4. Jane’s children are always pestering the neighbors.
5. I am always falling and breaking something.
Variation 12
SBJ + VB (any tense) + DOBJ + present participle (+ ADV)
1. I often see him walking his dog in the park.
2. I sometimes hear the baby crying at night.
3. Listen to that wind howling - it almost sounds like a hurricane!
4. Nina always wants us to watch her dancing.
5. Can you smell something burning?
6. You can hear the neighbors shouting and arguing every night.
7. Look at those children running in the road!
8. They could feel the room getting hotter and hotter.
9. Suddenly, he felt a hand touching his shoulder.
10. He watched the sun setting over the bay.
11. I can smell something good cooking!
12. Didn’t you see me waiting for the bus?
13.They never heard her calling until it was too late.
14. I felt the rope slipping out of my hands but I couldn't stop it.
15. We love to hear the birds singing in the trees.
Variation 13
Some activities that follow 'go' use the participle, WITHOUT 'to’
1. We usually go jogging in the park at lunchtime.
2. My parents went camping last summer
3. Will you go skating with us on the Mall?
4. I have to go shopping this afternoon.
5. We all like to go swimming and scuba diving.
6. Californians love to go surfing and water skiing.
7. Jo and Kate are going horseback riding this weekend.
8. They always go bowling or dancing on Saturdays.
9. Robert prefers to go hiking and mountain climbing.
10. I never ever go fishing or sailing.
Variation 14
The above construction can also be preceded by 'take'
SBJ + VB (any tense) + DOBJ + present participle (+ ADV).
1. He is going to take me dancing tomorrow night.
2. Aunt Edith will take us sightseeing later on.
3. Uncle is taking the children fishing at the weekend.
4. The school takes the fifth grade camping every summer.
5. Can you take us skiing and sledding?
Further uses of Present Participle
The present participle is used in forming the continuous tenses and the gerund. It can be used to introduce an adjectival clause, and can also function as an adjective.
A. Participial adjective:
1. The swimming pool was really crowded today.
2. Have you got a pack of playing cards?
3.The waiting room was almost empty.
4. We need some more cleaning materials.
5. Don't go out in the pouring rain - you'll get soaking wet!
6. I just got my first parking ticket!
7. Don't forget to buy some baking soda.
8. How do you like my new sewing machine?
9. Could you lend me some writing paper?
10. Where is Dad's fishing rod?
11.The camping trip is scheduled for the first weekend in May.
12. Steve and Jill are taking dancing lessons.
13.They're having a house-warming party as soon as they move in.
14. I need a paying-in slip to deposit this check.
15. Do you have a checking account or a savings account?
16. This is very disturbing news.
17. These are reading glasses - I don't use them for distance.
18. She wore a stunning evening dress with a plunging neckline.
19. Can you lend me a roasting pan for the turkey?
20 This building used to be a canning factory.
Variation
Compound participial adjectives: present participle + adverb/noun
1. It was a very fast-moving hurricane.
2 He works in a meat processing factory
3. Edgar Allen Poe wrote some blood curdling stories.
4. Some recent discoveries of astronomers are truly mind-boggling.
5. This is a soul-destroying task.
6. Why don’t you put the money in an interest-bearing account?
7. Don’t invest in money-wasting schemes.
8. He gave a hair-raising account of his adventures in the jungle.
9.The childbearing years are usually over by the time a woman reaches 45.
10. Rats have been out in record-breaking numbers this winter.
B. Participial phrases
Present Participle + ADV/OBJ + SBJ + VB (+CT/OBJ/ADV)
Reasons and results
1. Having a lot of work to do, I couldn’t stay for the party.
4. Not wanting to interfere, we usually say nothing.
5. I went there really early, hoping to get a ticket for the show.
6. Being an invalid, my mother did not travel far from home.
7. Hoping to avoid a costly lawsuit, the company settled out of court.
8. Not wishing to intrude, he quietly left the room.
9. Teenagers often hang out at the mall, having nothing better to do.
10 Jane called in earlier on, expecting to find you at home.
Sequence of actions
1. Breaking through the barriers, the crowd surged forward.
2. Giving a loud yell, he dived head-first into the freezing water,
3. He raced towards the finishing line, leaving everyone else behind.
4. Looking out of my window, I saw the mountains in the distance.
5. They rush off to work every day, pausing only to snatch a cup of coffee.
Variation 1
SBJ + VB + DOBJ + Participle (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. I’m having a hard time understanding these documents.
2. We’re experiencing some difficulty reordering those items.
3. The students have a problem making themselves understood.
4. The children are having a great time camping in the mountains.
5. Do you have a conflict dealing with both of these things?
6. He sits around all day, watching TV.
7. My mother spends most afternoons reading and writing letters.
8. Do you lie awake at night, thinking about all your problems?
9. I waste so much time looking for things!
10. She has a new job, supervising a construction site.
Variation 2
There is/are + SBJ (+ ADV) + present participle (+ ADV/OBJ)
1. There are several people (who are) standing outside the theater.
2. There’s someone knocking at the door..
3. There’s a huge crowd of protesters shouting anti-government slogans.
4. There is nobody working on that project at the moment..
5. Are there any more students taking the test today?
6. There’s a newspaper reporter here requesting an interview.
7. Is there anyone still looking for a ride?
8. There is a huge crowd waiting to see the parade.
9. There’s a man over there selling hot dogs and hamburgers.
10. There aren’t many students coming to class just now.
Variation 3
SBJ + present participle + OBJ/ADV + VB (+OBJ/ADV/CT)
1. Students (who are) studying English are sometimes too shy to speak.
2. People living in this area don’t usually see much of their neighbors.
3. Please store all items belonging to you in the overhead compartment.
4. Do you have any articles relating to the Presidential Election?
5. Passengers requiring extra assistance may board now.
Patterns with gerund
A. Preposition + GER (+ OBJ/ADV) + SBJ + VB (DOBJ/ADV/INFIN)
(Sentence order can be reversed, as in 3.)
1. By clinging on to the broken mast, he was able to stay afloat
2. He made a fortune by investing all his money in Microsoft.
3. I met my husband as a result of being cast in the same play.
4. By creating trust funds, you can avoid paying taxes on your legacy.
5. In spite of feeling so sick, she kept on working.
B. SBJ +VB + OBJ + PREP + GERUND (+OBJ/ADV)
3. Why don’t you buy her a book on bird-watching?
* for gerund subject and object of sentence, see present tense section
VII. PERFECT TENSES
Present perfect and Present perfect continuous
Both these tenses indicate an action begun in the past that influences, or
continues into, the present
It is often replaced by the simple past. In some cases, however, when discussing duration of time it is necessary to use the Perfect tenses.
These sentences use many of the patterns we have already practiced in the Present tenses. See if you can identify them
.
Present Perfect
SBJ + have/has + Past Participle (+ DOBJ/ADV/ADJ/INFIN)
(WH/HOW) (+ ADJ/N) have/has (not) SBJ + past participle (+ as above)
1. Has he really lived in the same house for seventy years?
2. I have always believed in the power of positive thinking.
3. Haven't you two met before? No, we haven’t.
4. How many times have I told you not to tease the cat?
5. I've heard all about you from Mary.
6. Some of the students have never studied English before..
7. We've known each other all our lives.
8. My parents have been married for over fifty years.
9. Christine has been in hospital for the past few weeks.
10. I've learned a lot of English in this class.
11. He's made a fortune selling real estate.
12. The weather's been really terrible lately.
13. I've started buying lottery tickets. I haven't had any luck so far.
14. How much weight have you lost so far with your new diet?
15. Where have you been all this time? Î haven't seen you in ages!
16. He's never once asked me to help him.
17. I've visited Mexico a number of times.
18. She's been here since the beginning of the semester.
19. He's had lots of different jobs at one time or another.
20. They've been members of that club all their lives.
21. Have you seen them at all lately?
22. How long have you had that ring?
23. I've never succeeded in getting him to come here.
24. Helen has started going to yoga classes.
25. We have stayed at this hotel many times before.
26. I haven't had time to finish my homework yet.
27. How have you been? Have you gotten over the 'flu yet?
28. They haven't heard from their son since last July.
29. She's always wanted to have a place of her own.
30. I haven’t met Rodrigo’s family yet.
31. We haven’t known each other for very long.
32. Have you ever been to Paris?
33. I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous!
34. Hasn’t your daughter found a job yet?
35. Has anyone seen my car keys?
36. Where have all the flowers gone? (song)
37. Who has seen the wind? (poem)
38. How long have you and Harry been together now?
39. Ordering supplies has always been my responsibility.
40. Have you come to help with the registration?
Passive :
SBJ + has/have (not/never) been + past participle (+ OBJ/ADV)
Has/have + SBJ + been + past participle (+ OBJ/ADV)?
1. He has been taken to hospital.
2.Three men have been arrested and charged with assault.
3. We have been informed of the management decision.
4. He has never been heard of since the day he disappeared.
5. The dress has been torn in several places.
6. This room has not been properly cleaned.
7. The doctor has been called out on an emergency.
8. We've never been invited to their house.
9. The names of the hostages have not been made public.
10. I have just been asked to make an announcement.
11. My team's been beaten at every game so far this season.
12. Henry's already been offered a scholarship to Harvard.
13. She's been confined to the house since her last illness.
14. The children have been given a new swing set.
15. My application has been turned down.
16. Has your brother's application been accepted?
17. The apartment has been re-carpeted and the kitchen remodeled.
18. The tests have already been scored and given back to the students.
19. Has Mike been promoted to General Manager?
20. This program has been sponsored by a grant from Mobil Corp.
21. Millions of dollars have been raised for charity.
22. Have the books been returned to the library yet?
23. We have not been officially informed of the plan to lay off workers.
24. The concert's been cancelled on account of the bad weather.
25. These letters have been delivered to the wrong address.
26. You have been charged with drunk driving.
27. The children have been forbidden to see that movie.
28. Have you been invited to the party?
29. Has the letter already been mailed?
30. Have you ever been robbed?
31. I'm afraid all the tickets have been sold.
32. Has David been chosen as the new president?
33. How long have you been married?.
34. Don't worry. You haven't been forgotten.
35. Many children have not been taught to read early enough.
36. I have never been woken up by an alarm clock.
37. He has been forced to resign.
38. We haven't been consulted about the changes in the schedule.
39. She hasn't been told about his mother's accident yet.
40. How much money has been spent on this project so far?
Variation 1
Complex sentences
Main Clause
SBJ + VB (+ DOBJ/ADV)
Dependent Clause
(ever) since + SBJ + VB (Simple Past) (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. I have always loved horses, ever since I was a small girl.
2. She has never spoken to me since we quarreled about the children..
3. He hasn’t been able to find a job since he had that accident.
4. Since you went away, I’ve missed you so much.
5. Since their parents divorced, the children have been very difficult.
Variation 2
SBJ + VB + ( + ADJ) + present perfect INFIN (active/passive) + (OBJ/ADV/CT)
1. I seem to have lost my ability to concentrate.
2. It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. (saying)
3. The diamonds appear to have been stolen.
4. I am honored to have known him.
5. You are lucky to have survived such a terrible accident.
6. He is fortunate to have been chosen for the job.
7. He is thought to have been killed in Vietnam.
8. It appears to have been a mistake.
9. I would love to have seen her face when you told her that!
10.You were supposed to have done this work a week ago.
Variation 4*
Having + Past Participle + OBJ/ADV + SBJ + VB ( + OBJ/ADV)
1. Having done our best to persuade them, we finally gave up.
2. Having seen the dreadful effects of the disease, we took precautions.
3. Not having lived through the war, it is difficult for me to understand.
4. We left the camp early, having made all the necessary preparations,.
5.Having refused our invitation, she spent the holiday alone.
Passive
6. Having been warned of the danger, we left as quickly as possible.
7. The place was in a terrible state, not having been used for years.
8. He had nothing left to live for, having been deprived of his liberty.
9. The document, having been duly notarized, was sent to the lawyers.
10. All flights having been cancelled, we returned home for the night.
* These patterns are used more in written than in spoken English
Variation 3
Present Perfect with Modals
SBJ + Modal (not) (+ to) + have + past participle (+ DOBJ/ADV)
Unfulfilled obligation
1. You shouldn’t have said that.
2. We ought not to have allowed them in the building.
3. I should have studied more for the test.
4. You could have tried harder.
5. Why couldn’t they have called us?
6. They might at least have thanked us for helping them.
7. He ought to have known better.
8. What should we have done about it?
9. The mail should have been here by now.
10.Couldn’t they have prevented the accident?
Passive
1. You should have been seen by a specialist.
2. He should have been told about this sooner.
3. This work should have been returned to the students.
4. These apartments ought to have been demolished years ago.
5. Why couldn’t they have been renovated?
Past conclusion/speculation
1. He must have been very good-looking before his illness.
2. They may have expected us to confirm the invitation.
3. He must not have understood the arrangements.
4. There has to have been some misunderstanding.
5. They can’t have gotten our message.
6. .I couldn’t have done it better myself!
7. He may not have wanted us to know.
8. They couldn’t have arrived before midnight.
9. Some of the old building may have been torn down.
10.What could that noise have been?
11.Could it have been a gas leak?
12. How could you have known?
13.Where could I have put my car keys?
14.I must have been half asleep at the time..
15. Life can’t have been all that easy for them in those days.
16. It couldn’t have seemed all that bad, compared to some.
17.I must have forgotten to turn the thermostat down.
18.She may have decided to stay home on account of the weather.
19.The children might have had an accident or gotten lost..
20.They may not have known which exit to take.
Passive
1. This condition could not have been caused by a virus.
2. He might have been held up in traffic.
3. She must have been devastated by the loss of all her family.
4. You could have been killed!
5. His car may not have been insured.
6. You must have been surprised to hear from her.
7. Could the accident have been avoided?
8. The documents may not have been lost after all.
9.They might have been detained by the police.
10.The house must have been sold.
Variation 4
It + modal + ADJ + INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV)
1.It might have been better to tell him the truth.
2. It would not have been easy to convince him.
3. It would have been impossible to continue without them.
4. It wouldn’t have been too far to walk.
5. It must have been very difficult for you to know what to do.
Conditional sentences with would/could/might have
Subordinate conditional clause (subjunctive) + Main Clause (modal)
(Subordinate clause can contain a secondary Noun Cause, as in 1.)
1. If I had realized you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
2. If you hadn’t left so early, we could have given you a ride.
3. If you had looked more carefully, you might have found it.
4. If we’d known you were coming, we’d have baked a cake! (song)
5. I wouldn’t have said that if I had stopped to think.
6. If you hadn’t found that note, we might never have known about it.
7. If the ambulance had not come right away, the baby might have died.
8. You could have saved time if you had taken the Beltway.
9. Whether or not you had won, it would have been worth trying.
10.What would you have done if I hadn’t lent you the money?
11.Would you have married him if he had asked you?
12. If I’d had the time, I could have traveled more.
13.If he loved her, why would he have done a thing like that?
14. He could have written more masterpieces if he hadn’t died so young.
15. We might have accepted his offer if he hadn’t been so arrogant.
*In addition to their other uses, these modals represent the past tenses of ‘will’, ‘can’ and ‘may’. A special use of ‘would’ is similar to ‘used to’:
1.When we were children, my mother would never let us play outside.
2. I would sit in my bedroom for hours on end, just reading books.
3. We would pretend we lived on a desert island or in a castle.
4. Sometimes, in winter, she would take us skating or sledding.
5. To pass the time, the Brontes would make up stories and plays.
Variation 4
Indirect statements (complex sentences)
Main Clause
SBJ + VB (+ IND OBJ)
Dependent (N) Clause
CON + SBJ + Modal (+ OBJ/ADV/CT)
1. He asked if he might borrow my book
2. I knew I could never be as brilliant as my brother.
3. We were not sure whether the president would come.
4. Did he say what he would do?
5. He thought he could make a fortune on the Internet.
6. The children promised they would be good.
7. She said she would not be able to join us today.
8. He believed he could get a better deal from another agency.
9. I hoped it would all turn out for the best..
10. Did you tell the teacher we might be latefor class tomorrow?
11. He said he would be here for lunch.
12. He didn’t say whether Janet would be coming too.
13. I knew he might be upset by the news..
14.The teacher told us we could use calculators.
15. They warned us they might be late.
Use of Past Participle
Participial Adjective.
1. The injured man could hardly speak.
2. There was a broken vase on the floor.
3. It’s no use crying over spilt milk (wise saying)
4. The pioneers traveled in covered wagons.
5. He has a sprained ankle and a badly bruised arm.
6. She wore a beautiful embroidered silk blouse.
7. He Knew where to look for the hidden gold.
8. The children adore iced cupcakes.
9. We’re buying a reconditioned engine for our car.
10. There aren’t many published works on this subject.
11. His closet is full of rejected manuscripts.
12.There was a pile of soiled linen in the corner of the room.
13.This room has a concealed door in one corner.
14. We had boiled beef and candied yams for dinner.
15. Do you prefer boiled eggs to poached eggs?
16. He was cast away on an uninhabited island.
17.The floors were made of polished marble.
18. This man is an escaped convict.
19. All the houses have built-in closets.
20. I always buy used cars.
Compound adjective -participle combined with adverb/noun/adjective.
1. It was a small leather-bound volume of poetry.
2. The murderer was a well-respected member of society.
3. Jane has a physically handicapped daughter.
4. The company had a short -lived success.
6. The house had newly painted doors and windows.
7.
Variation 2
Adjectives formed by adding -ed to a noun/adj – not past participles
1. He made a half-hearted attempt to smile
2. Their baby is a blond-haired, blue-eyed angel!
3. My mother is very broad-minded.
4. I can’t stand narrow-minded people.
5. I have always been very flat-footed.
Variation 3
Past Participle + ADV + SBJ + VB (+ OBJ/ADV)
1. Seen from a distance, the hill didn’t look all that high.
2. Mary, adopted as a baby, could not remember her parents.
3. Toys imported from Taiwan, do not meet safety standards.
4. Many people, confused by the voting system, voted incorrectly.
5. Animals brought up in captivity cannot survive in the wild.
Present perfect continuous.
SBJ + have/has (not) + been + present participle (+ DOBJ/ADV)
(WH/HOW) (+ ADJ/N/ADV) Have/has (not) + SBJ + present participle etc.
1. I've been waiting for the bus over an hour.
2. She's hasn’t been working this week.
3. We've been looking forward to the picnic all week.
4. It's been raining since early this morning.
5. I haven't been feeling well recently.
6. Who's been eating my chocolate candy?
7. Have you been dieting? You've lost weight.
8. How long have you been living with your sister?
9. The students haven't been doing their homework.
10. Mary and Joe have been arguing all evening.
11. He hasn't been working there since last year.
12. I haven't been sleeping well for over a week.
13.They've been studying English for many years.
14.The weather's been getting worse and worse every day.
15. I've been thinking of buying a new car.
16. My friends have been trying to save enough money for a new car.
17. John's been repainting the outside of his house this week.
18.They've been building some new apartments in my neighborhood.
19. What have you been doing all this time?
20. Where has he been staying?
21. She's been sleeping for almost eleven hours!
22. We've been saving this wine for a special occasion.
23. He's been having a lot of problems at school lately.
24. You haven't been looking after yourself properly Mrs. Morris.
25. My brother's been drinking too much again.
26. She hasn't been following the doctor's orders.
27. Your mother has been telling me all about your vacation.
28. I've been wishing to talk to you about this for a long time.
29. Your son has not been behaving very well in class.
30. Someone's been spreading rumors about the boss's wife.
simple past tense
Same basic patterns as simple present
Pronunciation of regular –ed ending
A.) -id (after t or d final consonant)
1. The show started early and ended late.
2. We rented a movie last night.
3. They invited us to come round.
4. The crowd shouted “Down with Duvalier!"
5. We visited a lot of different museums in Washington.
6. The soldier saluted the general.
7. He pointed to a door in the wall.
8. The father lifted his child up on his shoulders.
9. Our teacher acted very strangely this evening.
10. We voted not to join the strikers.
11.They waited hours for the parade to begin.
12.The bomb exploded shortly after we left the building.
13.The police wanted to question everybody.
14. We mended the hole in the fence last week.
15. I planted a whole lot of bulbs last spring.
16.They expected us to pay for the food.
17.The movie was rated PG.
18.They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last week.
19. He counted the money out in small bills.
20. I intended to find out what was going on.
21.They all crowded around the president's car.
22.The teacher congratulated me on my perfect attendance.
23. He painted the front door bright green.
24.The police arrested the man they had suspected all along.
25.The factory polluted the water with toxic chemicals.
26. She fainted when she saw all the blood.
27. His mother knitted him a bright green sweater for his birthday.
28.The students elected Stuart class president.
29. The surgeon operated on the patient immediately.
30. I handed him the money and he ran off.
31.They awarded him a medal for his bravery.
32. He succeeded in getting me to change my mind.
33. She rewarded the man who found her gold ring.
34. The plane landed half an hour ago.
35. You offended her with your remarks about her son..
36. He finally remembered to bring his books to the class.
37. They ordered a really expensive meal.
38. The AIDS quilt covered the Mall.
39. My sister never recovered from her daughter's death.
40. The drunk man wandered into the road.
41. We wondered whether to call the police.
42. The thief entered the building through a back window.
43. Have the students mastered their math objectives?
44. They scattered trash all over the floor.
45. The jewel glittered under the glass case.
47. I don't think it mattered that we were late.
48. He felt honored to be invited to meet the President.
49. The blow almost severed his arm.
50. My mother altered this suit for me.
B.) -t (after an unvoiced consonant )
1. She never washed her face or brushed her hair.
2. They rushed out to see who was there.
3. The boys watched TV all evening.
4. He looked very tired last night.
5.They checked out of the hotel yesterday morning.
6. I booked my flight last week.
7. My daughter cooked a wonderful meal for us on Sunday.
8. We hoped you would be able to help us.
9. She passed all of her exams with honors.
10. Bill wrecked his car in an accident.
11. She crossed over to the other side of the road when she saw me.
12. I asked you not say anything about it.
13. We talked about old times and discussed our plans for the future.
14. I walked all the way to the supermarket this morning.
15. The audience clapped loudly after each song.
16. Fortunately we finished early
17. I always wished I could be like my mother.
18. The exercises helped me to improve my pronunciation.
19. She faxed the papers to you yesterday afternoon.
20. He packed up his office and left the same day.
21. He parked his car right in front of mine.
22. I raked the leaves into the gutter.
23. The mirror cracked when I dropped it.
24. The bus stopped right outside my house.
25. I tripped and fell as I was walking to school today.
26. We baked ten dozen cookies for the sale.
27. I liked the way she did her hair.
28. The students finished their homework for once.
29. We pushed the car out of the driveway.
30. Those dogs barked all night.
31. We missed the children after they left home.
32. I soaked the shirt in bleach to remove the stain. .
33. I dressed as quickly as I could.
34. She pronounced the words incorrectly.
35. They shipped my order in time for Christmas.
C.) -d (After a voiced consonant)
1.The schools closed early today.
2.The children opened their presents on Christmas Eve.
3. It snowed heavily last night.
4. He refused to listen to me.
5. I mailed the letter yesterday afternoon.
6. My aunt raised fifteen children.
7. Sally cried a lot when her kitten died.
8. I used vanilla to flavor the cake.
9. The teacher praised the students for their hard work.
10. My uncle trained as an engineer when he was in the Marines.
11. I cleaned and vacuumed all my rugs today.
12. My brother applied for a job as a waiter last week.
13. They returned home late last night.
14. I burned myself on the kitchen stove.
15. We agreed to do what he proposed.
16. I learned a lot from my kindergarten teacher.
17. He combed his hair and straightened his tie.
18. She called to ask how you were.
19.They buried the two of them side by side.
20. It rained all day yesterday.
21. I phoned home late last night.
22. She always earned more than I did.
23.They really enjoyed themselves at the dance last night.
24. I sewed some new buttons on your coat for you.
25. They sailed to the Bahamas on their last vacation.
26. He married someone from Argentina.
27. The students groaned when the teacher announced the test.
28. All that happened a long time ago.
29. I'm not sure whether he retired or resigned from the firm.
30. It seemed a shame to miss such a great opportunity.
31. It's a wonder that the first settlers survived the winter.
33. I never realized how much she meant to me.
34. He and his wife moved away years ago.
35. They loved to walk by the lakeside in the evening.
Irregular past tense
1. We all overslept today because we went to bed so late.
2. I wrote and told them all about it.
3. He brought his guitar to the party but someone stole it.
4. Denise fell and broke her leg the other day.
5. We bought a lot of stuff on sale after Christmas.
6. He caught a cold when he went skiing.
7. She drove her car into a stop sign and broke the windshield.
8. Mary lent me her book but I forgot to give it back.
9. I found five dollars yesterday but I lost it again.
10. I understood how she felt about it.
11. She grew up in Mexico before her family left for the States.
12. He kept the children indoors and never let them go out to play.
13. They won a lot of money but they spent it all on junk.
14. We knew him before he made all that money.
15. He said he meant to tell her when he wrote to her next.
16. I rode the bus to work yesterday and I met your friend Bill.
17. I thought Elizabeth wore too much makeup.
18. My parents took the children to the movies on Saturday.
19. He tore up all my best pictures and threw them into the trash.
20. I rang the bell several times but there was no answer.
21. They ate breakfast and left immediately. Nobody spoke to me.
22. We ran into our teacher yesterday at the supermarket.
23. Our parents taught us to be honest.
24. He drank a lot and always hit his children when he came home.
25.They put on a show - Jack sang and Jill read some poetry.
26. I heard you had an accident the other day.
27. He did nothing to help me when I hurt myself.
28. She gave me a beautiful picture which I hung up beside the door.
29. I sent for your mother when I saw how ill you were.
30. He took his coat off and sat down by the window.
31. After the divorce, Andrew never spoke to his father again.
32. The ship sank off the coast of Chile. There were no survivors
33. Jo woke in the middle of the night. She heard a noise.
34. A strong current swept the raft out to sea as they swam ashore.
35. They sold their old home and bought a smaller one.
36. I got a letter from my sister telling me about the wedding.
37. He made a mistake when he quit his job with Giant.
38. Mary drew a picture of her mother for the teacher.
39. Harry stood outside the door for ages before he rang the bell.
40. The rush hour traffic held me up and I ran out of gas.
41. It was dark but I could see what was happening.
42.The children sat very still for the photographer.
43. He would insist on telling me all about his old girlfriend.
44. My brother could play the piano when he was only two years old.
45. She never forgave my mother for marrying my father.
46. My uncle taught us how to play chess.
47.The director chose Amy to play the part of Lady Macbeth.
48. Prices rose only a fraction of a per cent this month.
49. The water pipes froze overnight.
50. He did his best to persuade her not to go.
51. I read three new books last month.
52. Carla lent me a lot of different detective novels.
53. My uncle spent a fortune before he died.
54. Joanne lost her husband quite recently.
55. I found out about the program at the library.
56 The show began at seven. We got there half an hour late.
57. We misunderstood what she meant.
58. You were too tired to notice the difference.
59. She never thought of telling us about it.
60. He took me home after the class.
Negative and interrogative (auxiliary ‘did’)
1. She didn't want anyone to know about it.
2. I didn't know who(m) to call.
3. Did you leave a message for him?
4. Where did you find your watch?
5. Who did they give the key to?
6. Did the teacher give us any homework?
7. We didn't ask her why she was late.
8. Didn't you tell him we would be late?
9. How did you find out about these classes?
10. Did I leave my purse here?
11. Did he propose to you last night? Did you accept?
12. I didn't think you'd be back so early.
13. Did he say where he was going?
14. Did you remember to buy milk?
15. When did you first meet the Holmans?
16. Why didn't you lock the door when you went out?
17. I didn't do my homework - did you?
18. Rob didn't dance with Lisa at the party last night.
19. We didn't get home until after midnight.
20. I didn't really enjoy myself all that much.
21. Did your husband like the sweater you gave him?
22. Did you make a new dress for the wedding?
23. We didn't have time to see everything we wanted to see.
24. She didn't say whether she could come or not.
25. There didn't seem to be any point in arguing about it.
26. Didn't I tell you that would happen?
27. I didn't want to interfere with your plans.
28. Did you get the postcard I sent you?
29. Where did you get that hat?
30. Why didn't she ask someone to help her?
31. How did they manage to open the door without the key?
32. Did you see Norma's new baby yesterday?
33. Did you order a large pizza or a small one?
34. Who did you get to baby sit the children tomorrow evening?
35. When did you first notice the pipe was leaking?
36. I didn't have enough money to buy all the books.
37. What did he do with his old car when he bought a new one?
39. How did you enjoy your trip?
40. Did you all have a good time at the beach?
41. I didn't know Charles was your cousin.
42. What did they think of the movie?
43. Did any of you do your homework?
44. Did you buy anything at that yard sale?
45. Did they get my message last night?
46. She didn't say when she would be back.
47. He didn't know I could speak Italian.
48. How did you get to class this evening?
49. We didn't expect to see him again.
50. It didn't rain last night after all.
Questions that imply surprise or annoyance
1. Didn't they leave any instructions?
2. Didn't he tell you where he was going?
3. Didn’t you hear what I said?
4. Didn’t the president stay for the ceremony?
5. Didn’t your friends offer you a ride to the game?
Wh SBJ questions
1. Who knitted those beautiful sweaters?
2. What made you so angry?
3. Which job offered a higher salary?
4. How many of your friends came to the party?
5. Which students passed the test?
6. Who referred you to this office?
7. Whose cake won the competition?
8. Which of your brothers went to live in Texas?
9. Who gave you permission to use this room?
10. Who left their umbrella behind?
11. Who was the last person to leave the room?
12. Who ate all the cookies?
13. Who could ask for anything more?
14. Which came first - the chicken or the egg?
15. Who scored the final goal?
Passive forms
SBJ + was/were + past participle (OBJ/ADV)
1. The school was closed for Thanksgiving.
2. He was presented with a gold watch on his retirement.
3. The wedding was postponed at the last minute.
4. The party was held outdoors in a large tent.
5. We were not informed of the decision to strike.
6. Her wedding gown was ruined when someone spilt wine on it.
7. Were the children invited to the reception?
8. The new furnace was installed last week.
9. Their teenage son was injured in a car accident
10. Her house was destroyed in a fire last winter.
11. She and her children were sent to a shelter.
12. The house wasn't insured for flood damage.
13. I was disappointed in the show.
14. The TV was turned on all the time in their house.
15. He was awarded a scholarship to Yale.
16. Both of my neighbors’ sons were arrested for drug dealing..
17. Kennedy was shot and killed by an assassin.
18. She was warned about the risk of infection.
19. The animals were fed half an hour ago.
20. How long were you stuck in the elevator last night?
21. Was Ruth chosen for the basketball team?
22. The door was locked when I left the house.
23. When was the house sold?
24. Who(m) was the letter addressed to?
25. Where was your boss transferred to?
26. The check wasn't deposited in time.
27. The letter was never mailed to him.
28. They weren't told about the changes in the schedule.
29. She was examined by the nurse before the doctor arrived.
30. We were charged extra for leaving our car over the weekend.
31. Was the check signed by her husband?
32. Were these potatoes baked, or fried in oil?
33. The sidewalk was covered in snow.
34. The money was not missed until the next day.
35. He was promoted to general manager.
36. The houses were built of brick and concrete.
37. We were taken to a small room behind the main office.
38. Where were you employed previously?
39. Was Karen's purse was stolen on the metro?
40. America was not 'discovered' by Christopher Columbus.
Variation 1
SBJ + was/were (+ not) + Past Part.+ (not) INFIN with ‘to’ (+ OBJ/ADV/ADJ)
1. We were warned not to leave our cars unlocked.
2.The children were allowed to stay up later than usual on July 4th.
3. What were you asked to bring for the party?
4. The students weren't given enough time to prepare for the test.
5. The President was asked to speak at the meeting.
6. You children were told to be quiet!
7. You are warned not to swim in this part of the Bay..
8. They were advised to stay home because of the bad weather.
9. I was forbidden to say anything about it.
10. I was not scheduled to work today.
Variation 2
for past habits or states no longer occurring
SBJ + 'used to' + INF (+OBJ/ADV)
1. The children used to play out in the street at all hours.
2. He used to sing in the church choir when he was a boy.
3. We didn’t use to visit my mother before my father died..
4. My aunt always used to send us candy for Christmas.
5. There used to be a post office on the corner but it closed down.
6. It used to be my job to take the trash out when we were kids.
7. The speed limit on the highways used to be 55 mph everywhere.
8. We used to have a lot of friends in our old neighborhood.
9. I didn’t use to get tired so quickly.
10. Their father used to be very strict with them.
11. They often used to talk about moving.
I used to enjoy going out but now I prefer to stay home*
*Do not confuse 'used to' with the passive form 'to be used to' :followed by
gerund or noun
Examples:
Is she used to dealing with older children?
She was always used to having her own way.
They are not used to life in a big city.
Past Continuous
The past continuous is normally used for an ongoing action or state in the past - often interrupted at some point by a past tense action.
1. She saw the accident while she was working in the yard.
2. I was just leaving the house when the telephone rang.
3. We were just finishing our meal when Bob walked in.
4. It was raining when I got up this morning.
5. I saw your friend Judy while I was out jogging yesterday.
6. I was walking on the beach one day when I suddenly had an idea.
7. She was living in Paris when she met her future husband.
8. They were both staying in the same hotel when a fire broke out.
10. They were looking for an apartment to share, so they called me.
11. She was studying art at the time and he was studying medicine.
12. You were taking a shower when I called.
13. By the time I got there they were already eating dinner.
14. It was beginning to snow as they drove home from the party.
15. Harry was looking much better when I saw him yesterday.
16. I wasn't planning to go there at first, but I changed my mind.
17. We weren't expecting to see you back again so soon.
18. He wasn't telling the truth when he said he didn't know her.
19. You could tell she wasn't feeling too good last night.
20. The classes were not going too well to begin with.
21. As I was saying, we really weren't getting anything out of it.
22. I was just making up my mind to leave when they got a new guy.
23. I was waiting for the bus when he stopped and offered me a ride.
24. He was running out of money so he asked me for a loan.
25. They were just getting ready to leave when I called.
26. It was obvious they were expecting us to pay for the dinner
27. I saw him the other day while I was waiting for the bus home.
28. We were not making much money when we first got married.
29. She lost her job when they found out she was expecting a baby.
30. Kay told me you were looking for an apartment to rent.
31. I was driving on the beltway when a car swerved and ran into me.
32. I suppose he wasn't looking where he was going.
33. The other car was speeding.
34. It was getting dark so we had to go home.
35. My neighbors were making so much noise I couldn't sleep.
36. I think they were celebrating their anniversary or something.
37. When we arrived, the band was playing the National Anthem.
38. She said she was inviting a hundred people to the wedding.
39. He was working as a waiter in a bar when he won all that money.
40. I wasn't really thinking when I asked her to do that..
Past continuous with 'always' for annoying repetition
1. My children were always asking me for money.
2. He was always telling long, boring stories about the war..
3. The boys were always getting into trouble with their teacher.
4. They are/were always complaining about something.
5. Fran and Mark were always arguing with each other.
6. He was always complaining about something.
7. I was always being asked to help with something or other.
8. We were always having to learn things by heart.
9 The students were always making excuses for not doing their work.
10. My VCR was always going wrong and needing to be fixed.
Interrogative
1. What were you doing outside the Taco Bell last night?
2. Where were they going at that time of night?
3. Who was he talking to on the phone just now?
4. How were you going to pay for this?
5. What were you trying to do with that equipment?
6. What was the teacher talking about last class?
7. Were you expecting any visitors this weekend?
8. Were you still sleeping when I called?
9. What were those customers complaining about?
10. Where was he working at the time of the accident?
11. Did you understand what he was referring to?
12. Was she living at home when you met her?
13. Was it raining when you went out this morning?
14. Who were you dating before you met Jeff?
15. Where was the meeting being held?
16. Who were you writing to last night?
17. Whose car was that you were driving when I saw you?
18. Didn't she say she was going to sue them?
19. Was she driving when you had the accident?
20. What were you doing between 9:00 p.m. and midnight?
21. Did the accused say he was visiting with friends at that time ?
22. Were you expecting them to call back?
23. Was the manager threatening to fire you just now?
24. Was your girlfriend dancing with Mike?
25. Is that the guy that was making all that trouble last week?
Tag questions
1. You weren't thinking of doing it yourself, were you?
2. He hasn't been hurt, has he?
3. They didn't break up again, did they?
4. He wasn't referring to me, was he?
5. She's lost a lot of weight, hasn't she?
6. I couldn't very well refuse to do it, could I?
7. We haven't got her address, have we?
8. He was going to buy the tickets, wasn't he?
9. They weren't too expensive, were they?
10. You locked the front door, didn't you?
11. He had been sick for a long time, hadn't he?
12. They've just opened a new store, haven't they?
13. She wasn't thinking of going there alone, was she?
14. You never used to like our old boss, did you?
15. We've already paid these bills, haven't we?
Variation
'Did' added to a statement for emphasis or if seeking confirmation.
1. He did offer to give you a ride, didn't he?
2. You did remember to lock the gate, didn't you?
3. We did have a lucky escape, didn't we?
4. I did tell you about my new apartment, didn't I?.
5. They did invite your brother, didn't they?
6. You did give her my message, didn't you?
7. It did seem a shame, didn't it?
8. He did make a fool of himself, didn't he?
10. He did do a good job on the painting, didn't he?
Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous
These tenses indicate an action completed BEFORE another action in the past and are normally used in complex sentences
Past Perfect
Main Clause
SBJ + VB (PAST PERF) (+ OBJ/ADV)
Dependent Clause
CON + SBJ + VB (SIMPLE PAST) (+OBJ/ADV)
1. By the time we got there, the movie had already begun.
2. When Pam arrived at the airport, her plane had already left.
3. When time was up, a lot of us still hadn't finished the test.
4. By the time the class ended, it had stopped raining so hard.
5. I saw Angela the other day - I hadn't seen her for months!
6. Why was he so sure he had failed the test?
7. She said she knew my mother, but we had never met before.
8. When I got up this morning, I saw that it had snowed heavily.
9. My daughter had never seen snow before we came to the States.
10. I went shopping last night because we had run out of food.
Past Perfect Continuous
1. We hadn’t been living there very long before we got to know her.
2. My eyes felt sore because I had been watching too much TV.
3. The grass was soaking wet because it had been raining all day.
4. By the time the doctor arrived we'd been waiting over two hours.
5. He'd been seeing Janet for several years before they broke up.
6. My father had been feeling unwell for a long time before he died.
7. I'd been looking for a job for months before I finally found one.
8. Mary looked a mess - what had she been doing with her hair?
9. How long had you been working there before you got promoted?
10. By the time he graduated, he had been studying for ten years.
Some uses of 'will'
' WILL' is not normally used for simple statements of positive future plans or arrangements.
It is a modal auxiliary, not a tense (time) auxiliary.
We do not refer to an appointment we have with the dentist next week by saying 'I will
see the dentist next week.' Instead, we use the Present Continuous 'I am seeing the
dentist next week', or 'I am going to see the dentist next week.'
We do not say 'My daughter will get married next month.' but 'My daughter is getting
married next month', or 'My daughter is going to get married next month.'
When we use 'will', we are expressing more than a simple future arrangement. 'Will'
(or the negative 'will not'/won't) indicates a particular attitude on the part of the speaker.
The following are some examples of situations in which we would frequently use 'will' instead of the present tenses:
To express: Anxiety, impatience, concern:
1. How soon will my order be ready? Will you be able to ship it right away?
2. How long will it take you to do all the repairs? How much will it cost?
3. Will you be back in time to take the children swimming?
4. How soon will they be able to get the money they need for the deposit?
5. How much longer will we have to wait?
6. How will you manage to get there without a car?
7. Who'll be responsible for cleaning the apartment?
8. Will I be able to exchange this rug if it doesn't match my curtains?
9. You won't tell him what I said about his wife, will you?
10. They will let me know as soon as possible, won't they?
11. Don't use that detergent to clean the car - you'll damage it.
12. Won't the baby get too hot in that heavy jacket?
13. Will you be all right on your own or shall I come over?
14. When will they ever learn not to do that!
15. Won't you have something to eat before you leave?
Possibility and prediction:
1. It won't be long before everybody has a cellular telephone.
2. If you don't study, you won't get anywhere in this world.
3. He'll never make the team; he doesn't practice hard enough.
4. Do you think you'll go back to your country some day?
5. How many students, do you think, will pass the test?
6. I know I'll never fall in love again.
7. You won't find a job unless you start looking for one.
8. Do you think John will ever get married?
9. I'll probably have to get a loan to pay for my remodeling.
10. This time next year we'll probably be on vacation in the Bahama
Promise, resolution, offer, reassurance:
1. I'll do my best to help you. Don't worry - I'll see to it.
2. I'll get back to you as soon as I hear any news.
3. He says he'll take care of it for you. Everything will be just fine.
4. I promise I'll never do that again.
5. I'm sure he won't forget to come to the party.
6. They'll let us know as soon as they arrive.
7. My husband and I will be happy to help you to move into your apartment.
8. I'll go on a diet next month, when I've finished all the Christmas candy!
9. Relax! Everything will be O.K. You'll do just fine!
10. She won't let you down - you can trust her, believe me.
Condition, doubt, hope:
1. If it rains, we won't be able to go on a picnic.
2. If you study regularly, your language skills will improve.
3. If he doesn't hurry, he'll be late for school
4. I'm afraid I won't have time to finish my homework.
5. I hope my car will start in the morning - the battery's a bit low.
6. I don't know whether there will be time to visit all the museums in one day.
7. Maybe he'll agree to lower the rent if we offer to repaint the apartment.
8. Do they know how soon the new furniture will be delivered?
9. They're not sure whether their parents will pay for the wedding or not.
10.It's doubtful whether she'll return to her old job after being out so long.
Formal announcements, polite or emphatic requests, instructions:
1.Will passengers please stay seated until the plane comes to a complete halt.
2.The 3:45 train to Boston will leave from Platform 9.
3.Will the audience please resume their seats, as the show is about to continue.
4.Will Ms. Maria Perez please identify herself to one of the flight attendants?
5.Will you children please be quiet and sit down!
6.Will you have a seat? The doctor will be with you in a moment.
7.There will be a choice of entrees, and beverages will be complimentary.
8.Will you please indicate what kind of immigration document you need.
9.Smoking will only be allowed in the areas outside the main terminal.
10.There will be an opportunity for you all to speak with the cast after the show.
Request/willingness/ refusal (negative):
1. Will you marry me?
2. Will you help him with his homework?
3. My dog won't eat anything and he won't let me touch him.
4. The children won't take any notice of the teacher - they won't pay attention.
5. Her husband won't agree to share custody of the children.
6. Will you children promise to be good?
7. Will you tell them I'll be there shortly?
8. You won't mind if I borrow your book, will you?
9. Won’t you stay and have dinner with us?
10. Will you please be quiet!
With 'be'/'be' + present participle (Future Continuous):
1.Where will we be in a hundred years from now?
2.What will you and your family be doing this weekend?
3.I'll be visiting my parents in California next summer.
4.We won't be getting another raise for quite a while.
5.Will you be home this evening?
6.
These items will be going on sale next week
7. Will there be anyone at the airport to meet them?
8 Will you be moving back to Mexico eventually?
9 What will we be studying next semester?
10. Will Mike be leaving the hospital any time soon?
Things that are inevitable (cannot be avoided or changed):
1. Today is Saturday. Tomorrow will be Sunday.
2. There will always be someone who disagrees with you.
3. Spring will soon be here.
4. 'Boys will be boys'.
5. Tomorrow it will be too late to change your mind.
6. I'll be 50 years old next July.
7. When will they ever learn?
8. Changes will come - it's inevitable.
9. However, some things will never change.
10.At the third stroke, the time will be exactly 3 o'clock.
Some uses of the verb 'get'
Get is used in many expressions with an adverb or preposition, as
a reflexive/passive (he hurt himself – he was hurt/he got hurt)
Other: to arrive, acquire or receive, become, succeed, prepare, persuade
.
1. I usually get up at 10:00 a.m.
2. My husband gets up very early.
3. He gets breakfast ready.
4. The children get dressed by themselves.
5. They get their own breakfast.
6. They get ready for school.
7. They get the bus at 8 o'clock.
8. They have to get there by 9 o'clock.
9. They got into trouble last week.
10. They missed the bus and got to school late.
11. The other day Joan fell as she was getting off the bus.
12. Luckily, she didn't get hurt.
13. She only got a few bruises.
14. The teacher got very upset when Joan told her.
15. Both the children got straight As this semester.
16. My husband got the 'flu last month.
17. He got over it quite quickly, though.
18. We really have to get down to work this week.
19. I must get around to painting the living room ceiling.
20. My sister is getting married next week.
21. My brother is getting divorced.
22. My mother got very angry when she heard about it.
23. He has gotten involved with another woman.
24. I'm getting tired of listening to her.
25. It's getting very late. Can you get a bus to the airport?
26. We've been getting so much junk mail recently!
27. My son is trying to get out of doing his homework.
28. It's getting too hot to work outside.
29. They're getting a team together to play softball.
30. They always get together at the beach.
31. We get a kick out of watching them play.
32. She gets annoyed when you say things like that.
33. Our teacher never gets angry
34. I don't know what she gets out of it.
35. The bus broke down so we all had to get off
36. I don't get along (on) very well with my mother-in-law
37. My father got into debt when his business failed.
38. Could you get me another glass of water, please.
39. I don't get it. Why did she have to do that?
40. She told him to get out of her life.
41. Can you get the documents out of the car, please?
42. It's getting much cooler.
43. The food is getting spoiled.
44. I can't get these shoes on- they’re too small.
45. Let's get started - it's getting late.
46. He got into the car and drove away.
47. My friend Judy never got over her husband's death.
48. The dog must have gotten over the fence somehow.
49. Anita got lost several times when she first moved here.
50. My husband just got laid off.
51. I got fired the day before my birthday.
52. This was not what I got hired to do.
53. Do you think he will get elected again?
54. Nobody gets promoted in that firm.
55. She got very depressed after she got fired.
56. I have two more chapters to get through before the exam.
57. Did you get to see the parade?
58. We are getting to know some of our neighbors already.
59. How have you been getting on?
60. You have to be very hard headed to get on in business.
61. Very few people get to the top.
62. Everybody would like to get rich quickly.
63. Have you got that, or shall I repeat it?
64. I can't get away before 5:30 p.m.
65. I think she's getting a bit above herself, don't you?
66. Have you seen Mary's latest get-up?
67. There's usually some way of getting around the regulations.
68. Mother doesn't get around much these days: she's too sick.
69. When do I get to drive the new car?
70. We didn't get invited to the reception.
71. If you break the speed limit you may get ticketed.
72. She got killed in a car accident.
73. Don't do that! You might get hurt.
74. The children are getting excited about seeing their grandm
75. I can't get any sense out of him.
76. She's really gotten into this yoga thing!
77. The car stopped and a strange woman got out of it.
78. We can't get through to her how important this is.
79. He's trying to get back at her for the way she treated him.
80. He said he would get back to me later.
81. Why do you always get at me? It's not my fault.
82. I don't know what you're getting at.
83. It's getting more and more difficult to raise children.
84. It's getting dark earlier already.
85. The train gets in at 6:30 in the evening.
86. We're getting a lot of complaints about the product.
87. All the evidence got destroyed in the fire.
88. It will be nearly midnight by the time we get home.
89. I've got a good idea. Let's get drunk!
90. We're trying to get in touch with her family. that hat
91. I always get a headache when the weather gets hot.
92. How much did you get for the car you sold?
93. He gets discouraged very easily.
94. I used to get really worried when you got back so late.
95. I can't get these shoes on - they're too small.
96. Her parents can't get her to do anything.
97. Would you please get your car out of the way - I can't get by.
98. Don't worry about me - I'll get by..
99. I can get along without their help if I have to.
100. He got himself arrested and sent to jail.
101. That got me thinking about what I really wanted out of life.
102. The family got evicted from their apartment last week.
103. It's getting to be a habit with me.
104. It's getting late. We'd better get a move on.
105. The smoke gets in your eyes.
106. He got nothing in return for all his efforts.
107. How did you get on at your interview?
108. I get the impression she’s not really happy..
109. Where did you get that hat?
110. Arguing won't get you anywhere.
111. Don't let the children get into mischief.
112. We're getting down to the last of our emergency supplies.
113. The whole thing is really getting out of hand.
Have (got) to' - present necessity
Have (got) – possession (emphatic)
1. You've got to (you have to) see this!
2. I've got to (I have to) call the doctor back tomorrow.
3. The children have got to (have to) take a test tomorrow.
4. Where have you got to (do you have to) go?
5. We've got to (we have to) do better than this.
6. We haven't got to (we don't have to) be there for another hour.
7. You've got to (you have to) admit he works very hard.
8. She's got to (she has to) stop worrying about the children.
9. When have you got to (do you have to) deliver these papers?
10. What have we got to (do we have to) do today?
11. He's got (he has) a new sports car.
12. He hasn't got (doesn't have) the guts to argue with her..
13. I've got (I have) an appointment at the dentist's tomorrow.
14. They've got (they have) a huge house in the country.
15. I haven't got (I don't have) any time to spare this week.
16. Have you got (do you have) a moment to look at this?
17. The building hasn't got (doesn't have) air conditioning.
18. She hasn't got (doesn't have) many close friends.
19. What have you got (do you have) to say for yourself?
20. I've got (I have) nothing to say to you.
Some uses of ‘make’ and ‘do
Make: Create/put together actual things
1. She made a beautiful dress for the wedding.
2. He makes wonderful cakes and cookies.
3. My husband is making a tree house for the children.
4. He made his first movie in 1998.
5. Has you father made a will?
6. Can you make us some bookshelves for the family room?
7. The children made the teacher a big book of all their drawings.
8. Johnny loves to make snowmen.
9. That factory makes medical equipment.
10. Do you know how to make a paper plane?
Create Abstractions/Intangibles:
1. Our neighbors make a lot of noise.
2. He made a promise but he broke it.
3. Don't make such a fuss!
4. Look what a mess you've made with your food, Jimmy!
5. I would like to make a suggestion.
6. Who made that proposal?
7. Nobody made any objection at the time.
8. Are you going to make an offer on the house?
9. We haven't made any plans for our vacation yet.
10. He loves to make stupid jokes.
11. They have made some modifications to the original plan.
12. She always makes difficulties for us.
13. That's wonderful! You've made my day!
14. He made his first million at the age of 25.
15. Some people make a fortune selling pirated CDs.
16. He doesn't make much money in that job.
17. They made $50,000 on the sale of their house.
18. It's hard to make a profit selling that stuff.
19. Have you made any New Year resolutions?
20. He didn't make a very good impression at the interview.
21. I made a vow never to do that again.
22. We must make an effort to practice our English.
23. Parents should always make time for their children.
24. Would you like to make a donation to the Red Cross?
25. I don't want to make extra work for you.
26. They tried hard to make a go of it, but it didn't work out.
27. What do you make the total? I make it $100 even.
28. The crowd moved back to make way for the President.
29. The prisoner made a full confession.
30. The principal made a brief appearance.
31. Can you make room for another chair?
32. If only we could make an end of war!
33. I'm sure John will make a very good father.
34. Come on, everyone - let's make a start!
35. The baby slept all night - he didn't make a sound!
36. I think you must have made a mistake.
37. Two plus two makes four.
38. He likes to make trouble for other people.
39. The chairperson made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
40. Make love, not war!
41. I don't like having to make conversation/small talk.
42. Don't make a habit of it!
43. I make (it) a rule never to ask for advice.
44. He can never make up his mind what he wants to do.
45. Could you make an exception in this case?
46. The judge decided to make an example of the defendant.
47. I have to make a trip to Baltimore to see my aunt.
48. Everyone should try to make a difference in the lives of others.
49. They are going to move away and make a fresh start.
50. The children made short work of the cookies!
51. He's going to make a speech at the reception.
52. I hope my mother-in-law doesn't make a scene.
53. He made the case for the prosecution.
54. The bosses don't like anyone to make waves.
55. We'd better be making tracks; it's getting late.
56. You need to make some changes in the program.
57. He said he was sorry - that makes a change!
58. Let's make a deal - you help me and I'll help you.
59. She was never much good at making friends.
60. I made a lot of contacts at the conference.
61. Neither side wishes to make peace.
62. She always likes to make an entrance after everyone has arrived.
63. They made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the South Pole.
64. You have to make allowances for them - they're still very young.
65. Mike has made a lot of progress this semester.
66. Astronomers keep making new discoveries about the universe.
67. We have to make a move sooner or later.
68. Let them make the first move.
69. The president made a public apology for his mistakes.
70. Everybody makes different choices.
71. He made a decision not to tell anyone what he knew.
72. I thought we had made an agreement about this.
73. They made an expedition into the Amazon rainforest.
74. Have you heard of the Make a Wish Foundation?
75. I have already made my request.
76. He has not made contact with his family since he left last year.
77. I would like to make a person-to-person call.
78. We haven't made any plans for our vacation this year.l
79. This doesn't make sense to me.
80. He always makes rude remarks about me.
81. We can't make heads or tails of this.
82. I don't know what to make of it - I don't understand.
83. He has made a big success of his new business.
84. 'Love made a fool of me! " (Song)
85. I always make a point of checking the locks when I leave the house.
86. You had better not make an enemy of him.
87. She made a mess of her project.
88. They tried to make an issue of it, but nobody agreed with their views.
89. Don't blame me - I don't make the rules!
90. I need to make some alterations to this suit.
91. We must try to make the best of a bad job (situation).
92. Make the most of the good weather while it lasts!
93. You mustn't make fun of other people.
94. He made a false claim on his federal income tax returns.
95. The students are always making excuses for not doing their homework.
96. The plane made an unscheduled stop when one of the engines failed.
97. The teacher made some very nice comments on my son's report card.
98. We had to make a detour because of a demonstration downtown.
99. I don't know why you are making all these accusations.
100. It takes two to make a quarrel.
101. I know he's trying to make trouble for me.
102. He makes no secret of the fact that he can't stand me.
103. We made a formal complaint to the manager.
104. They had to go down to the police station and make a statement.
105. My sister made all the arrangements for the adoption of my baby.
106. It's time we started to make preparations for our vacation.
107. It's very hard to make a living in rural America these days.
108. Make a left turn at the lights on to Randolph Rd.
109. My mother always loved making music.
110. The announcement was made on the last day of the semester.
111. That vacation really made a hole in my savings!
112. Let's make a date: how about the 25th of June?
113. You ought to make an appointment to see your doctor.
114. They asked me to make a full report of what happened at the meeting.
115. Make sure the door is locked!
Make + noun/pronoun + verb root (infinitive without 'to')
1. The teacher made us do the work over.
2. "You made me love you!" (Song)
3. Don't make me laugh!
4. They made him cancel the project.
5. You made all my dreams come true.
6. Can you make this thing work?
7. We made him leave right away.
8. You can't make someone do what they don't want to do.
9. Why did you make your little sister cry?
10. Nothing will make me believe that!
11. This medicine will make you feel better.
12. "You make me feel so young!" (Song)
13. I can't seem to make her understand.
14. My Spanish was so poor I couldn't make herself understood.
15. What can we do to make him change his mind?
Make + noun/pronoun + adjective ( + infinitive/noun clause/prepositional phrase)
1. The weather made it impossible to go on.
2. You are making it very difficult for yourself.
3. They made me very angry.
4. I couldn't make myself any clearer.
5. He made it very hard to refuse.
6. We had to make certain everybody understood.
7. Do whatever makes you happy.
8. Thinking about my country makes me homesick.
9. That makes me rather worried.
10. The decorators made the house beautiful.
11. He didn't make it clear what he wanted us to do.
12. They made sure that no one knew about the meeting.
13. His attitude made me very upset.
14. That medication made me dizzy.
15. Our neighbors didn't exactly make us welcome.
Proverbs and wise sayings:
1. Make hay while the sun shines.
2. Fine feathers make fine birds.
3. Hardship can make you or break you.
4. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
5. You can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
6. Many hands make light work.
7. Make haste slowly.
8. Haste makes waste.
9. Life is short - make every moment count.
10.You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Idiomatic expressions:
1. I can't make ends meet. (I don't have enough money for all my needs.)
2. She was making eyes at all the boys (flirting with them).
3. We try to make do (manage) with what we have.
4. Mommy, she's making faces at me! (grimacing)
5. She says that Santa Claus is only make believe (not real).
6. It's only a makeshift shelter (inadequate) but it's better than nothing.
7. They're made of money (very rich)!
8. You've got it made! (Your success is guaranteed.)
9. What do you make the time? (What time does your watch indicate?)
10. Did he make the team? (Was he chosen for the team?).
11. Is it too late to make (catch) the midday flight?
12. Let's make it (schedule it) next Wednesday.
13. They make a very good team. (They work well together.)
14. I don't know what makes him tick. (I don't understand how his mind works.)
15. He's always on the make (looking for personal profit).
16. I forgot to make the bed today. (put in order)
17. The story made (was on) the six o'clock news
18. He made her a present of the money (gave it to her).
19. What he said didn’t make difference to me.(change my attitude)
20. May I make a suggestion? (suggest something)
With phrasal verbs:
1. How did you make out (get on)?
2. He tried to make out that it was my fault. (claim)
3.The children love to make up stories. (invent)
3. I can't make out what happened. (not clear)
4. They made all their property over to their son. (transferred title)
5. She always wears too much makeup. (cosmetics)
6. She got a complete makeover in the cosmetics department. (facial etc.)
7. We need to make out a new purchase order. (fill out)
8. Soon after their quarrel, Jim and Lisa made up. (reconciled)
9. I promise I'll make it up to you some day. (compensate for)
10. The thieves made off with more than five million dollars.
DO:
task or activity:
1. I forgot to do my homework.
2. He does the laundry and she does the cooking.
3. Who does the housework?
4. The children do some of the chores.
5. Mary does the dishes and Mark does the vacuuming and dusting.
6. Nobody does any ironing these days.
7. I have a woman who comes in twice a week to do the cleaning.
8. We do all our own painting and decorating.
9. George does all the necessary repairs.
10. I usually do the yard work.
11. That man does a lot of odd jobs in the neighborhood.
12. Home Depot is a big D.I.Y. (Do it yourself) store.
13. It's time to think about doing our Spring cleaning.
14. What did you do in class yesterday?
15. They're doing a lot of construction in downtown Washington.
16. What are you doing this weekend?
17. I'm not doing anything special. I have a lot of little things to do.
18. We're going to do some planting and weeding.
19. She said she had some errands to do.
20. He never does any work on Sundays.
21. Mary does a lot of traveling in her job.
22. What do you do for a living?
23. My brother is going to do a course in electrical engineering.
24. Can you do the lunch today?
25. Your son could do better if he tried.
26. He's not doing very well at the moment.
27. He did very badly on the test.
28. I'd do anything for you; you know that.
29. The children are doing a project on the environment.
30. Have you done your taxes yet?
31. He's the one who does the payroll and the accounts.
32. The president of the company does all the hiring and firing.
33. Could you do something for me?
34. Who does all the dirty work?
35. They are doing a survey to find out who supports this proposal.
36. Do we have to do a listening test as well as a written one?
37. I haven't done much sewing recently.
38. The storm did millions of dollars worth of damage.
39. Can I do anything to help?
40. Doctors have to do years of expensive training.
Idiomatic:
1. Do to others what you would have them do to you.(saying)
2. She refuses to have anything to do with the plan.
3. The decision has nothing to do with me.
4. It's too late to do anything about it.
5. This dress doesn't do anything for me.
6. I must do my hair before we leave.
7. A vacation would do you good.
8. That's enough - that will do!
9. How are you doing?
10. I need a dress for the wedding - will this do?
11. We could do with a rest.
12. We shall have to do without lunch today - it's getting late.
13. He always does a good job.
14. I never do business over the phone.
15. That should do the trick.
16. Now you've done it! You've gone and wrecked the engine.
17. He was doing over 80 (miles an hour) when the accident happened.
18. Shall I do the steak in the oven?
19. My daughter usually does my hair for me.
20. They did a performance of 'Hamlet' last year.
21. Do you think I did the right thing?
22. Jimmy always does as he's told - that's most unusual!
23. Does that restaurant do takeouts?
24. What would I do without you?
25. She has done very well for herself.
26. Can you undo this knot for me?
27. He always does as he pleases.
28. Could you do me a favor?
29. Let’s do lunch sometime.
30. They’re having another big do next month.
Phrasal constructions:
1. They bought an old house and did it up.
2. She was all done up in a scarlet dress with matching shoes.
3. They've done away with the old system.
4. I feel absolutely done in - I'm exhausted!
5. I don't want to do you out of a job.
6. We'll have to make do with what we've got.
7. Those things are done for - we need to buy new ones.
8. Have you done with those books? May I have them back?
9. He feels very hard done by - he thought he deserved better.
10. The teacher made the students do the work over.
11. I'll have to do these kitchen cabinets out next week.
12. What have you done to your leg? Did you break it?
13. I didn't do anything to him - he hit me for no reason!
14. Jimmy has learned how to do his buttons up by himself.
15. She can't do with too much excitement in her condition.
