English Words: The Building Blocks of English Grammar (B1)

THE ENGLISH WORD
The Building Blocks of English Grammar

MODULES
1. Course Introduction
2. Parts of Speech Overview
3. Articles
4. Nouns
5. Adjectives
6. Pronouns
7. Verbs
8. Adverbs
9. Prepositions
10. Conjunctions
11. Interjections
12. Derivation

COURSE INTRODUCTION Course summary, rationale,
and learning outcomes

COURSE SUMMARY
This course offers:
a comprehensive introduction to the nine parts of
speech in English,
a summary of the most important rules for
correctly using each word, and
guided practice on identifying and correcting errors
commonly made by students

RATIONALE
Students in intermediate and advanced level classes
continue making word form (WF) errors.
Language institutes often provide very little attention
to the parts of speech, insisting that you write
paragraphs and essays prematurely.
Paragraphs are almost incomprehensible as nearly
every sentence contains WF errors.
This course provides a solid foundation for ALL English
skills--reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
You will make fewer WF errors, and ultimately write
and speak more clearly.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Understand the nine parts of speech in English
Identify and avoid errors related to word form
Decode unfamiliar words.

INTRODUCTION
In this lesson we will cover the following:
The definitions of the nine parts of speech
A short assessment of your prior knowledge

PARTS OF SPEECH
In English there are 9 types of words, or parts of speech. Every
word in the English language will fit into one of the following:
Article: a word added before a noun or an adjective modifying a
noun, to show definiteness or indefiniteness
a an the
Noun: the name of anything that exists,
or which we have an idea of
New York computer happiness
Adjective: a word added to a noun to describe it
an old computer a happy woman

PARTS OF SPEECH
Pronoun: a word used instead of a noun to avoid
repeating the same word
Simon is happy... he is kind… he is skilled.
Verb: a word that means to BE, to DO, or to UNDERGO
I am I rule I am ruled
Adverb: a word that describes a verb, an adjective,
and sometimes another adverb
He speaks clearly A very strong woman
It works really well

PARTS OF SPEECH
Preposition: a word that connects words with
one another and shows their relationship
He drove from Toronto to Ottawa.
She was supported by her parents.
Conjunction: a word that mostly connects sentences
You and I are upset because he arrived late.
Interjection: a word that expresses a passion or
emotion
Oh! I thought the meeting was cancelled.

DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT A
Identify the parts of speech of the underlined words:
The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself with
news, entertainment, education and the fine arts. The
Ministry of Peace, which concerned itself with war.
The Ministry of Love, which maintained law and
order. And the Ministry of Plenty, which was
responsible for economic affairs. Their names, in
Newspeak: Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv and
Miniplenty. - Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT A
Identify the parts of speech of the underlined words:
The Ministry [noun] of Truth, which concerned [verb]
itself with news, entertainment, education and the
fine [adjective] arts. The Ministry of Peace, which
concerned itself with [preposition] war. The Ministry
of Love, which [pronoun] maintained law and order.
And the Ministry of Plenty, which was responsible for
economic affairs [noun]. Their names, in Newspeak:
Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv [noun] and Miniplenty.

DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT B
Identify and correct the word form (WF) errors in the
following student writing sample:
Group work is the biggest contribute to creative
thinking. The advantagous of creative thinking are
manifest through problem-solving skills of one
group. Creative thinking is a kind of pioneering thinking
activity, and group work playing a key role in the creative
thinking. Group work in students’ creative working has a
lot of advantages that puts great emphasize in student—
centered teach patterns…

DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT B
Identify and correct the word form (WF) errors in the
following student writing sample:
Group work is the biggest contribute [contributor] to
creative thinking. The advantagous [advantages] of creative
thinking are manifest [manifested] through problem-
solving skills of one group. Creative thinking is a kind of
pioneering thinking activity, and group work playing [plays]
a key role in the creative thinking. Group work in students’
creative working [work] has a lot of advantages that puts
great emphasize [emphasis] in student—centered teach
[teaching] patterns…

THE ARTICLE Basics, definite and indefinite
articles, zero article

INTRODUCTION
The basics of the article
The indefinite article A/AN
The definite article THE
The ZERO article
Common student errors

THE ARTICLE
Definition: a word added before a noun, or an
adjective modifying a noun, to show
definiteness or indefiniteness
a garden an eagle the friendly woman
There are 2 articles: A (indefinite) and THE (definite)
an is a variation of a.
It is used before a vowel sound
an app a university an online store an MP3 file

THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE: A /AN
A is the indefinite article. It is used to point out a place,
person, or thing from a larger group, without any
distinction.
A has the same meaning as the word one
before a noun.
I have a drink. = I have one drink.
A is used before singular nouns only.
I’m looking for a smartphone. = I’m looking for any
phone in the group of phones called smartphone.

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE: THE
THE is the definite article. It is used to refer to a
specific member of a group.
Bring me the purse. = Bring me the particular
purse referred to NOT any purse.
THE can be used before singular, plural, and non-
count nouns.
The man, the men, the water

THE ZERO ARTICLE
Nouns without an article express the broadest meaning.
Man is an animal. = All human beings are animals.
The article may be omitted before the following nouns:
Abstract nouns (e.g. happiness)
Proper nouns (e.g. Simon)
Plural nouns (e.g. smartphones)
Non-Count nouns (e.g. rice)

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: ARTICLES
Do you have pen?
She is tax inspector.
I’d like to buy new house.
I didn’t have a breakfast
yesterday.
I watched a television.
Do you play the sports?
The international tourism has
affected many cultures.
He plays the tennis.
She has a flu.
It was a very fun.
Is this the my book?
We were invited to one party.
They arrived at a agreement.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: ARTICLES
Do you have a pen?
She is a tax inspector.
I’d like to buy a new house.
I didn’t have a breakfast
yesterday.
I watched a television.
Do you play the sports?
The international tourism has
affected many cultures.
He plays the tennis.
She has a the flu.
It was a very fun.
Is this the my book?
We were invited to one a party.
They arrived at an agreement.

INTRODUCTION
In this lesson, we will cover the following:
The definition of the noun
Basic rules related to the noun
The major types of nouns
The three genders of nouns

THE NOUN: BASICS
Definition: the name of anything that
exists, or which we have an idea of
New York computer happiness
Nouns are either proper or common:
Proper nouns are the names given to individuals
Edward Facebook Harvard University
Common nouns refer to categories (fruits, animal) or
individuals in a category (apple, cheetah).

THE NOUN: BASICS
Nouns can also be divided into collective and abstract:
Collective nouns refer to a group and are generally
treated as singular.
parliament army police staff class
Abstract nouns refer to qualities and states and can be
used without an article.
knowledge goodness love excitement poverty

THE NOUN: GENDER
Gender is the distinction of nouns based on sex.
There are three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter
Masculine → animals of the male sex
a man a horse a bull
Feminine → animals of the female sex
a woman a duck a hen
Neuter → objects which are neither males nor females
a field a house a garden

THE NOUN: GENDER
There are 3 methods for distinguishing the sex:
Different words
husband/wife king/queen nephew/niece
Different termination
actor/actress hero/heroine master/mistress
A noun, pronoun, or adjective, being prefixed
a male child/a female child man-servant/maid-servant
Some nouns are used for both males and females without any
change.
parent friend teacher

INTRODUCTION
Singular and plural nouns
Regular and irregular plurals
Noun cases

NOUNS: NUMBER
Number is the consideration of an object, as one or more.
There are 2 numbers: singular & plural.
The singular number expresses one object.
a chair a table
The plural number signifies more objects than one.
chairs tables
Some nouns are non-count, meaning they
are neither singular nor plural. These nouns
are generally treated as singular.
wheat gold pride love rice milk

NOUNS: NUMBER
Some nouns are only in the plural form.
scissors ashes riches
Some words have the same form when singular or
plural.
deer sheep swine species series
apparatus
Some nouns, which were originally plural, are now
treated as singular.
news means

NOUNS: FORMING THE REGULAR PLURAL
The plural is generally formed by adding -s to the
singular.
dove→ doves chair→ chairs
thought→ thoughts
When the noun ends in x, ch, sh, ss, or s,
we add -es in the plural.
box → boxes church→ churches
kiss→ kisses bus→ buses

Nouns that end in o, have usually -es added to form the
plural.
cargoes echoes heroes potatoes volcanoes,
and sometimes only -s.
portfolios
Nouns ending in a single -f or -fe are made plural by
changing the endings into -ves.
loaf→ loaves half→ halves wife→ wives
Some exceptions to this rule are
grief → griefs relief → reliefs reproof → reproofs

Nouns which end in -y in the
singular, with no other
vowel in the same syllable,
change it into -ies in the
plural.
beauty → beauties fly → flies
When there is a vowel in the same syllable as the
final -y, it doesn’t change.
key→ keys delay→ delays
attorney → attorneys

NOUNS: FORMING THE IRREGULAR PLURAL
Some nouns become plural by changing the a of the
singular into e.
man → men woman → women
Sometimes an -en is added to the singular.
child → children ox → oxen
Sometimes the oo is changed into ee.
foot → feet goose → geese tooth → teeth

NOUNS: FORMING THE IRREGULAR PLURAL
Some nouns adopted from Hebrew, Greek, and
Latin have irregular plurals.
thesis → theses
basis → bases
emphasis → emphases
datum → data
curriculum → curricula/curriculums

NOUN: CASE
Nouns have three cases: the nominative, the
possessive, and the objective.
Nominative: the subject of a verb
The boy plays. The girls learn.
Possessive: expresses the relation of property or
possession, and has an apostrophe with the letter s
coming after it.
The scholar’s duty My father’s house

NOUN: CASE
When the plural ends in -s,
the possessive s is omitted,
but the apostrophe (’) is retained.
the boys’ game
the employees’ complaints
Objective: expresses the object of an action or of a
relation, and follows an active verb or a preposition.
John assists Charles. They live in London.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: NOUNS
An information
A good weather
How many money?
The news are bad.
The people is rude.
His clothes was new.
A lot of mens
Four childrens
A computer’s keyboard
Some pencils sharpeners
The car of my brother

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: NOUNS
An information
A good weather
How many much
money?
The news are is bad.
The people is are rude.
His clothes was were
new.
A lot of mens
Four childrens
A computer’s keyboard
Some pencils sharpeners
The car of my brother’s
car

THE ADJECTIVE
Basics, degrees of
comparison, numerical
adjectives

INTRODUCTION
The definition of the adjective
Basic rules related the adjective
The comparative and superlative forms
Numeral adjectives

THE ADJECTIVE: THE BASICS
An adjective is a word added to a noun to express its
quality.
an industrious man a modest woman
a creative mind
The adjective does not change due to gender, number, or
case.
a careless boy careless girls
An adjective may become a noun by adding the article THE
to it.
Providence rewards the good, and punishes the bad.

THE ADJECTIVE: THE BASICS
Some nouns placed before another noun can
function as an adjective.
sea fish wine vessel corn field
Adjectives only change due to degrees of
comparison, namely the comparative and
superlative.

DEGREES OF COMPARISON: THE COMPARATIVE
The comparative degree increases or lessens an
adjective relative to another noun.
wiser greater less wise
The comparative is formed by adding the letters -r
or -er to single-syllable adjectives and the word
more to most multi-syllable adjectives.
healthier happier
more beautiful
more terrible

DEGREES OF COMPARISON: THE COMPARATIVE
There are a few irregular adjectives that have a
different form in the comparative form.
good/better
bad/worse
little/less
much or many/more

DEGREES OF COMPARISON: THE SUPERLATIVE
The superlative degree increases or lessens an adjective to the
highest or lowest degree.
wisest greatest least wise
The superlative is formed by adding the letters -est to single-
syllable adjectives and the adverb most to multi-syllable
adjectives, with a few exceptions.
healthiest happiest most beautiful most terrible
There are a few irregular adjectives that have a different form in
the superlative form.
good/best bad/worst little/least much or many/most

NUMERAL ADJECTIVES
Numeral adjectives are
either cardinal (for counting)
or ordinal (for ordering).
Cardinal Ordinal
One First
Two Second
Three Third
Four Fourth
Five Fifth
Six Sixth
Seven Seventh
Eight Eighth
Nine Ninth
Ten Tenth

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: ADJECTIVES
They are olds cars.
She is more tall than me.
That was the beautifullest park we’ve ever visited.
It was a test very difficult.
I am feeling boring.
The man was very furious with his neighbour.
He loves listening to softly music.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: ADJECTIVES
They are olds cars.
She is more taller than me.
That was the most beautifullest park we’ve ever visited.
It was a test very difficult test.
I am feeling boreding.
The man was very furious with his neighbour.
He loves listening to softly music.

THE PRONOUN Basics & Personal Pronouns

INTRODUCTION
This lesson will cover the following:
The definition of the pronoun
The types of pronouns
The personal pronoun

THE PRONOUN
A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun, to
avoid repeating the same word.
There are three main categories of pronouns:
Personal pronouns
Relative pronouns
Adjective pronouns

PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Personal pronouns have the following qualities:
Person
First person: the person(s) who speaks
Second person: the person(s) being spoken to
Third person: the person(s) being spoken about
Number
Like the noun, there are two numbers, singular
and plural

PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Gender is only relevant to the third person singular
pronoun.
he (masculine), she (feminine), it (neuter)
Case: Like the nouns, there are three cases:
Nominative
Possessive
Objective

PERSONAL PRONOUN CASES
Person Case Singular Plural Examples
First Nominative I We I am a student. We are students.
Possessive Mine Ours This book is mine. These books are ours.
Objective Me Us Give me the book. Give us the books.
Second Nominative You You You are a student. You are students.
Possessive Yours Yours This book is yours. These books are yours.
Objective You You I gave you the book. I gave you the books.
Third
(Masc.)
Nominative He They He is a student. They are students.
Possessive His Theirs This book is his. These books are theirs.
Objective Him Them Give him the book. Give them the books.

PERSONAL PRONOUN CASES
Person Case Singular Plural Examples
Third
(Feminine)
Nominative She They She is a student. They are students.
Possessive Hers Theirs This book is hers. These books are theirs.
Objective Her Them Give her the book. Give them the books.
Third
(neuter)
Nominative It They It is a book. They are books.
Possessive Its Theirs This ball is its. These balls are theirs.
Objective It Them Give it a ball. Give them the balls.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: PRONOUNS
In the next several weeks, my family and me will be
discussing vacation plans.
My wife complained I don’t spend quality
time with she and the children.
Edward then followed she and her daughter out of
the trail.
Rubina announced she and her husband’s plans to
divorce.

In the next several weeks, my family and me I will
be discussing vacation plans.
My wife complained I don’t spend quality time
with she her and the children.
Edward then followed she her and her daughter
out of the trail.
Rubina announced she her and her husband’s
plans to divorce.

INTRODUCTION
The relative pronoun

RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Relative pronouns are pronouns that relate to some word
or phrase mentioned before.
This word or phrase is called the antecedent.
The relative pronouns include who, whom, whose, that,
and which.
They have the same form regardless of the number of the
antecedent.

RELATIVE PRONOUN: WHO
Who is generally used to refer to humans. Who takes a
different form depending on the case.
Case Example
Nominative The man who knocked on
the door is my neighbour.
Possessive The person whose book I
borrowed is generous.
Objective The student whom you
called is present.

RELATIVE PRONOUN: WHICH
Which is applied to animals and inanimate things but not
to people.
Case Example
Nominative The desk which is broken should be replaced.
Possessive This is the company whose employees are on strike.
Objective The book which I read is on the desk.

RELATIVE PRONOUN: THAT
That may be used in place of who (and its forms) and
which, and so is applied to both persons and things.
Case Example
Nominative The man that lost his wallet has just called.
Possessive This is the car whose driver was arrested by the
police.
Objective This is the movie that you watched yesterday.

That’s the school that it has a strong reputation.
They met at the restaurant that had talked about.
They went to the same university that Mark had been to it.
This is the problem what I have to solve.
I want a car who is more spacious than my old one.
It is about a boy and girl which falls in love.
My teacher was a young lady whose liked enjoyed traveling.

That’s the school that it has a strong reputation.
They met at the restaurant that they had talked about.
They went to the same university that Mark had been to it.
This is the problem what that I have to solve.
I want a car who that is more spacious than my old one.
It is about a boy and girl which who fall in love.
My teacher was a young lady whose enjoyed traveling.

THE PRONOUN Reflexive and Adjective
Pronouns

INTRODUCTION
Adjective, possessive, reflexive, distributive and
indefinite pronouns

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
Person Singular Plural
First Myself Ourselves
Second Yourself Yourselves
Third Himself/herself/itself/oneself Themselves
Reflexive pronouns refer to a noun, another
pronoun or the subject to add emphasis or
in some cases to complete the meaning.
I did it myself. The cat licked itself.
They are formed by adding -self or -selves
to the possessive adjective form.

ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS
Adjective pronouns, as the name suggests, have
both the qualities of pronouns and adjectives.
There are four types of adjective pronouns:
possessive, distributive, demonstrative, and
indefinite

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
Possessive pronouns are those which relate to possession
or property.
Person Singular Plural Examples
First My Our My book is on the table. Our books are on
the table.
Second Your Your Your book is on the table. Your books are on
the table.
Third His/Her/Its Their His/her/its ball is on the table. Their balls
are on the table.

DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS
Distributive pronouns refer to the persons or things
that make up a number. They include each, every,
either, and neither.
Each refers to two or more persons or things, and
signifies either of the two, or every one of any
number taken separately.
Each of his brothers is in a difficult situation.
Every refers to several persons or things, and
signifies each one of them all taken separately.
Every man must account for himself.

DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS
Either refers to two persons or things taken
separately, and signifies the one or the other.
I have not seen either of them.
Neither means “not either,” not one nor the other.
I have seen neither of them.

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
Demonstrative pronouns point to the subjects to
which they relate. They include this, that, these, and
those.
This/these refers to the nearest person or thing. It
also indicates the latter or last mentioned.
That/those refers to the most distant person or thing.
It also refers to the former or first mentioned.
This man is more intelligent than that.
Both wealth and poverty are temptations; that,
tends to excite pride, this, discontent.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Indefinite pronouns refer to their subjects in an indefinite or general
manner.
They include the following: some, other, any, one, all, none, another,
etc.
They are also formed by combining some, any, every, and no with the
endings –one, -body, and –thing.
Some + Any + Every + No+
-one Someone Anyone Everyone No one
- body Somebody Anybody Everybody Nobody
-thing Something Anything everything Nothing

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Indefinite pronouns take a singular form of the
verb.
I saw no one. (= I didn’t see anyone.)
We brought nothing (= We didn’t bring
anything.)
I hope everyone arrive on time.*
Did someone leave their scarf at my
house on Friday?

These books is yours.
Everyone of the students are present.
He built the shed all by hisself.
I’d like to buy that shoe over here.
I’m not interested in buying neither of them.
They completed the project all by themself.

These books is are yours.
Everyone of the students are is present.
He built the shed all by hishimself.
I’d like to buy that shoe over here there.
I’m not interested in buying neither of them.
They completed the project all by themselfselves.

THE VERB The Basics, number, and
person

INTRODUCTION
The definition of the verb
The three kinds of verbs
Basic rules related to verbs
Verb numbers and person

THE VERB: THE BASICS
A verb is a word which signifies to BE, to DO, or to
SUFFER
I am I rule I am ruled
There are 3 kinds of verbs:
active, neuter, and passive
Active (transitive): expresses an action and
implies an agent and an object acted upon.
I love Penelope.

THE VERB: THE BASICS
Neuter (intransitive): expresses neither
action nor passion, but being, or a state of
being. These verbs don’t take an object.
I am I sleep I sit
Passive: expresses a passion or an
experiencing of something, or the receiving
of an action. It implies an object acted upon,
and an agent by which it is acted upon.
Penelope is loved by me.

THE VERB: NUMBER & PERSON
Verbs have two numbers, singular and plural.
In each number, there are three persons: first, second, and third.
In general, verb endings do not change due to number or person.
There are two exceptions to this rule: The verb to BE in both the
past and present and all other present simple verbs with a third
person singular subject. Person Singular Plural
First Person I love We love
Second Person You love You love
Third Person He/She/It loves They love

INTRODUCTION
The five verb moods

THE VERB: MOODS
Mood is a particular form or state of the verb,
showing the manner in which the being, action, or
passion is represented.
Verbs have five moods:
Indicative: declares a thing or asks a question
He loves. He is loved. Does he love?
Is he loved?
Imperative: used for commanding
Stop! Let us stay. Leave now.

THE VERB: MOODS
Potential: indicates possibility or liberty, power, will, or obligation. It is
used along with a modal verb (i.e. may, might, will, would, can, could,
shall, should):
It may rain. He may go or stay. I can ride. He would walk.
Subjunctive: represents a thing as hypothetical, contingent, or
uncertain. It is preceded by a conjunction (e.g. if, although) stated or
implied.
Were he good, he would be happy (i.e. If he were happy…).
It also indicates that something is suggested or demanded.
I recommend that he take some time off.

THE VERB: MOODS
Infinitive: expresses a thing in a general and
unlimited manner, without any distinction of
number or person.
to act
to speak
to be feared

INTRODUCTION
The five verb forms
Irregular verbs

BASE & PRESENT SIMPLE FORMS
Base form: the dictionary form of a verb
walk jump be
Present simple form: same as base form except third person
singular and BE verb
Third person singular, add –s or –es depending on final sound
of base form (e.g. walks, misses)
BE→ am is are

PAST SIMPLE FORM
Regular:
add –ed to base form for all persons and
number
He walked They walked You walked I walked
Irregular:
two forms for BE verb → was/were
many irregular forms → strike/struck eat/at
speak/spoke

THE PARTICIPLE FORMS
The participle derives its name from its
participating in the characteristics of
both the verb and the adjective.
I am interested in meeting him.
The students were bored.
Having finished his work, he submitted it.
There are two participles: present and past

PRESENT & PAST PARTICIPLES
Present (or Active), indicates an incomplete action.
It is used in the progressive (or continuous) tense.
I am reading a book.
Past (or Passive), indicates a completed action. It is
used in the perfect tenses and the passive voice.
I have read this book several times.
Richard is loved by no one.

THE PARTICIPLE FORMS
Past participle form– the same form as past simple
for regular verbs and different for irregular
Regular: walk→ walked → walked
Irregular: drink→ drank → drunk
Present participle form – add –ing to the base form
of the verb
walk→ walking , drink→ drinking

IRREGULAR HELPING VERBS: BE, HAVE
BE – used to make progressive form and passive voice
am/is/are→ was/were→ being/been
I am going to college.
The polio vaccine was discovered by a Canadian doctor.
HAVE – used to make the perfect tenses
have/has→ had→ having/had
I have seen that movie already. (present)
I had seen that movie before you did. (past)
I will have left by the time you arrive. (future)

IRREGULAR HELPING VERBS: DO
DO – used to make the negative and interrogative
(question) forms for simple present and past verbs
except BE and MODALS
do/does → did → doing/done
Do you listen to music?
I don’t like horror movies.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: VERBS
They didn’t to know
about the test.
Did you be here?
You wasn’t in class.
My sister speak French
well.
She has went back
home.
I woken up late on
Saturday.
The boy slided down the
hill.
She read the book but
didn’t like.
I suggest that he comes
up with a good excuse.

They didn’t to know
about the test.
Did Were you be here?
You wasn’t weren’t in
class.
My sister speaks French
well.
She has went gone back
home.
I woken up late on
Saturday.
The boy slided down the
hill.
She read the book but
didn’t like it.
I suggest that he comes up
with a good excuse.

THE VERB The Present Simple and
Progressive

INTRODUCTION
The form and functions of the present simple and
progressive tenses

PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE
FORM: Present simple form
Routine
I get up at 6:00 every day.
He watches TV every night
after dinner.
General rule or general knowledge
The earth circles the sun.
The square root of 81 is 9.

PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE
States
I am a student.
The lake looks like it’s frozen.
Immediate future
I leave for Montreal tomorrow.
We arrive on Friday

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
FORM: is/are/am + present participle
Ongoing action at the time of speaking
I am studying right now.
She’s working on the report right now.
Immediate future
I am picking her up at 7:00.
She’s flying to Paris tomorrow.
Cannot normally be used with verbs describing beliefs, emotions,
senses
I am believing in miracles.*

What do you do with my phone?
I’m not knowing him.
Teacher, I no understand.
I writing to you.
Does he plays basketball?

What do did you do with my phone?
I’m do not knowing him.
Teacher, I no don’t understand.
I am writing to you.
Does he plays basketball?

THE VERB The Past Simple and
Progressive

INTRODUCTION
The past simple and progressive tenses
Common student errors related to these tenses

SIMPLE PAST TENSE
FORM: Past simple form
Action completed before the time of speaking
The suspect arrived at 2300.
She finished the test 10 minutes ago.
Reported speech
John said, “I am a doctor.” → John said that
he was a doctor.
Unreal conditional
If I ever said something like that, she would
kill me.

PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
Form: was/were + present participle
Ongoing action in the past
She was working on the report when I
saw her this afternoon.
She was shopping while I was making
dinner.
While the suspect was fleeing the crime
scene on foot, the victim called 911.

I dranked a bottle of water.
Did you ate all the rice?
I was do my homework when she arrived.
I sleeping at 9 last night.

I dranked a bottle of water.
Did you ate eat all the rice?
I was doing my homework when she arrived.
I sleeping slept at 9 last night.

INTRODUCTION
The present perfect simple and continuous
tenses

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE
FORM: have/has + past participle
Action/situation began in the past and continues
to the present
I have lived in Geneva for over 35 years. (I’m
still living there.)
He has been an OPP officer since 1982. (He’s
still an OPP officer)
Recently completed action
Guess what? John has (just) won the lottery.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE
Action has occurred at unspecified time in
the past and may recur in the future.
I have seen that movie five times.
(I may see it again in the future.)
NOT I have seen that movie yesterday.*
He has read every one of
Shakespeare’s plays.
(He may reread Shakespeare’s
plays in the future.)

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
FORM: (have/has + been + present participle)
To emphasize the continuous nature of an action
which began in the past and has continued to the
present
I have been living here for 10 years.
Cannot be used with state verbs.
I have been seeing that movie five times.*

I am waiting for you since 9 PM.
I stay in Ottawa since Sunday.
How long time have you been living here?
How long are you working here?
It is three years I haven’t drunk coffee.
There’s so long we don’t talk to each other.
I had been there last year.

I am have been waiting for you since 9PM.
I have been staying in Ottawa since Sunday.
How long time have you been living here?
How long are have you been working here?
It is has been three years since I haven’t drunk coffee.
There’s It has been so long since we don’t have talked
to each other.
I had been was there last year.

INTRODUCTION
The past perfect simple and progressive tenses

PAST PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE
FORM: Had + past participle
To show one action in the past took place before another in
the past.
The thieves had gone when the police arrived.
Prior to 1990, he had worked for the senator for ten years.
Counterfactual conditionals (i.e. Type 3)
I could have called him if I had had his number.
Reported speech
Ahmed said, “I finished my report on time”. →
Ahmed said (that) he had finished his report on time.

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
FORM: had + been + present participle
To show the continuous nature of an
action which occurred before another
action
They had been playing baseball
before we arrived.
She had been working on her paper
for over an hour when Jack came
home.

Why he hadn’t been coming here?
The hikers didn’t had drunk anything for days when
the paramedics arrived.
When I arrived at the station, the bus already left.
My grandfather has always supported my career
choices. (The grandfather is deceased.)
She has been living in Quebec for more than 10
years but still didn’t speak French.

Why he hadn’t he been coming here?
The hikers didn’t hadn’t drunk anything for days when
the paramedics arrived.
When I arrived at the station, the bus had already left.
My grandfather has had always supported my career
choices. (The grandfather is deceased.)
She has had been living in Quebec for more than 10
years but still didn’t speak French.

INTRODUCTION
The future simple, progressive, and perfect

FUTURE SIMPLE
FORMS: will + base form: an unplanned (spontaneous)
event in the future
I will turn the lights on.
am/is/are + going to + base form: a planned future event
or prediction
We’re going to vacation in Florida this summer.
It looks like it is going to rain soon.
Present Simple form: referring to a timetable or program.
The plane leaves in 1 hour.
Present Progressive form: an arranged future event
We’re working this Saturday.

FUTURE SIMPLE PROGRESSIVE, AND PERFECT TENSES
Future Progressive (will + be + present participle
form)
Ongoing action in the (often near) future
I will be studying tomorrow if none of my
friends call me.
Future Perfect (will + have + past participle)
A future action will occur before another action in
the future
I will have finished before you arrive.
She will have read the entire book by 5 o’clock.

Will you work this weekend?
I’ll play basketball tomorrow morning.
I’m going to open the window.
We’ll call you when he’ll arrive.
We come to see the house this Saturday.
Will you driving home?
When you will write the exam?

Will Are you going to work this weekend?
I’ll am going to play basketball tomorrow morning.
I’m going to will open the window.
We’ll call you when he’ll arrives.
We are comeing to see the house this Saturday.
Will you driveing home?
When you will you write the exam?

THE ADVERB The Basics, Categories

INTRODUCTION
The definition of adverb
Basic rules for using adverbs
The major categories of adverbs

THE ADVERB: THE BASICS
An adverb is a part of speech joined to a verb, an adjective, and
sometimes to another adverb, to express a quality or
circumstance.
He reads well. A truly good man. He listens very carefully.
Adverbs, like adjectives, have comparative and superlative forms
Soon/ sooner/soonest often/oftener/oftenest
There are many words that are used both as an adjective and as
an adverb.
More men than women were there.
I am more social than he is.

THE ADVERB: THE BASICS
Some words are used both as a noun and as an adverb.
Today’s agenda
Leaving today
Home is where the heart is.
She’s going home.
A smaller category of words can be
used as a noun, adjective, and adverb.
Where much is given, much is required.
Much money has been wasted.
It is much better to go than to stay.

THE ADVERB: CATEGORIES
Number: Once, twice, thrice
Order: First, secondly, lastly, finally
Place: Here, there, where, elsewhere, anywhere,
somewhere, nowhere, herein, upward, downward,
forward
Time: Now, today, already, before, lately, yesterday, long
ago, tomorrow, immediately, often, seldom, soon
Quantity: Much, little, sufficiently, how much, how great,
enough, abundantly

THE ADVERB: CATEGORIES
Manner or Quality: Wisely, justly, quickly,
cheerfully, badly, admirably
Doubt: Perhaps, possibly
Affirmation: Truly, undoubtedly, certainly, yes,
surely, indeed, really
Negation: No, not, by no means, not at all
Interrogation: How, why, whether
Comparison: more, most, better, best, worse, worst,
less, least, very, almost, little, alike

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: ADVERBS
She draws beautiful.
He runs fastly.
He treated us very friendly.
I like very much Indian cuisine.
She opened carefully the lid.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: ADVERBS
She draws beautifully.
He runs fastly.
He treated us in a very friendly manner.
I like very much Indian cuisine very much.
She carefully opened carefully the lid.

THE PREPOSITION Basics, definition of common
prepositions

INTRODUCTION
The definition of the preposition
The basic rules for using the preposition
Definitions of the most commonly used
prepositions

THE PREPOSITION
Prepositions connect words with one another and
show the relationship between words.
They are usually placed before nouns and pronouns.
He went from Ottawa to Toronto.
They are instructed by him.

THE PREPOSITION
Verbs are often followed by a preposition.
He waited by the bus station.
Sometimes the same verb may be
followed by a different preposition
resulting in a different meaning.
He waited in/across the bus station.

THE PREPOSITION
Of Into Above At Off
To Within Below Near On/Upon
For Without Between Up Among
By Over Beneath Down After
With Under From Before About
In Through Beyond Behind Against

DEFINITION OF COMMON PREPOSITIONS
Of → possession or belonging; an effect or consequence
The house of God
He died of a fever.
To → opposed to from; receiver of an
action (i.e. indirect object)
He drove from Ottawa to Toronto.
I gave a gift to my friend.
For → the cause or motive of an action or circumstance
He loves her for her friendly qualities.

By → the cause, agent, or means
He was killed by a fall.
This house was built by him.
We’re travelling by car.
With → the act of accompanying or the means
We will go with you.
They are on good terms with each other.
He was cut with a knife.

In → time, place, the state or manner of being or acting
He was born in 1990. He lives in West
Ottawa. She lives in affluence.
Into → motion of any kind
He was born into immense wealth. Copper
is converted into brass.
Within → something comprehended in any place or
time
They are within the house. He began and
finished his work within the time limit.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: PREPOSITIONS
I enjoy listening music.
Have you looked your schedule yet?
I have a big problem about my boss.
We have lived in Ottawa since 3 years.
They discussed about the basketball game.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: PREPOSITIONS
I enjoy listening to music.
Have you looked at your schedule yet?
I have a big problem about with my boss.
We have lived in Ottawa since for 3 years.
They discussed about the basketball game.

INTRODUCTION
The definition of the conjunction
The two types of conjunctions

THE CONJUNCTION
A conjunction is a part of speech that connects two
or more sentences into one sentence.
Conjunctions may be divided into copulative &
disjunctive based on meaning.

THE CONJUNCTION
Copulative connects or continues a sentence by
expressing an addition, a supposition, a cause, etc.
He and his brother live in Manhattan.
I will go if he comes with me.
You are happy because you are charitable.
Other examples: so, for, or, since

THE CONJUNCTION
Disjunctive not only connects and continues the
sentence, but also expresses opposition of meaning
in different degrees.
Although he attended class regularly, he
rarely completed his assignments.
They came with her, but they went away
without her.
Other examples: yet, even though, whereas

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: CONJUNCTIONS
Since he is athletic, so he can run fast.
Because I came in to work yesterday.
Although you had attended each class, but you weren’t
prepared.
He loves hiking, swimming, working out.
So I have some savings, I repaired my damaged car.
But I’m successful, I’m not as hardworking as John.

COMMON STUDENT ERRORS: CONJUNCTIONS
Since he is athletic, so he can run fast.
Because I came in to work yesterday, I have a day off on Friday.
Although you had attended each class, but you weren’t
prepared.
He loves hiking, swimming, and working out.
So Because I have some savings, I repaired my damaged car.
But Although I’m successful, I’m not as hardworking as John.

INTRODUCTION
The definition of the interjection
Categories of interjections

THE INTERJECTION
An interjection is a word used to express some
passion or emotion of the mind
Oh! I have annoyed my friend.
Alas! I fear for life.
Interjections may express the following:
Deep Grief: Alas Wonder: Really, Strange, Wow,
Aversion or disgust: Away, Rats, Boo Requesting
silence: Hush,
Salutation: Welcome, Hi, Hello Joy: Hooray

TYPES
Words are derived from one another in various ways:
Nouns from verbs
To love → lover, to visit → visitor, to survive → survivor
Verbs from nouns, adjectives, and adverbs
Salt→ to salt, warm → to warm, forward→ to forward, grass
→ to graze, length → to lengthen, short→ to shorten,
bright → to brighten
Adjectives from nouns
Health → healthy, wealth → wealthy, might → mighty,
wood → wooden, joy → joyful, fruit → fruitful, trouble →
troublesome, worth → worthless, care → careless, man →
manly, earth → earthly, child → childish, answer →
answerable, change→ changeable

TYPES
Nouns from adjectives
White → whiteness, swift → swiftness, long → length,
high → height
Adverbs from adjectives
Slow → slowly
Nouns from other nouns (by adding –hood, head, ship, ery,
wick, rick, dom, ian, ment, and age.)
Manhood, falsehood, partnership, slavery, freedom,
physician, commandment, usage

English Words: The Building Blocks of English Grammar (B1)

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