2. Noun Clauses
What are the most common functions of a noun in a sentence?
Jim studies business in Boston.
Subject Direct Object Object of a Preposition
Jack decided to give his sister a new car.
Subject Indirect Object Direct Object
Julia is a great teacher.
Subject Subject Complement
The same happens to noun clauses.
I don’t know whether he is honest.
Direct Object
What he said is that eveyone should have done it.
Subject Subject Complement
He will give whoever arrives first a book about what happened.
Indirect Object Object of a Preposition
3. Noun Clauses
The same happens to noun clauses.
I don’t know whether he is honest.
Alternative Words
What he said is that eveyone should have done it.
Question Words “that”
He will give whoever arrives first a book about what happened.
Question Words Question Words
Which one can be omitted?
“that”
What he said is that everyone should have done it.
4. Noun Clauses – Indirect Speech
Report the sentences below.
Jack says, “You write pretty well.”
Jack says that I write pretty well..
Jack said, “You write pretty well.”
Jack said that I wrote pretty well.
What can we conclude?
If the reporting verb (the main verb of the sentence) is in the
simple past, the verb in the noun clause will usually be
backshifted.
5. Noun Clauses – Indirect Speech
Report the sentences below.
Jack said, “I watch TV everyday.”
Jack said that he watched TV everyday.
Jack said, “I can watch TV with you later.”
Jack said that he could watch TV with me later.
Jack said, “I shouldn’t watch TV this evening.”
Jack said that he shouldn’t watch TV that evening.
What can we conclude?
“Should” doesn’t change.
Are there any other verbs that do not change?
“Ought to” and “might.”
6. Noun Clauses – Wish
Complete the sentences below with the correct form of the
verb in parentheses.
1. Our classroom doesn’t have any windows.
had
I wish our classroom _______________ windows.
2. I didn’t go shopping.
had gone
I wish I ______________ shopping.
3. She will not tell me.
would tell
I wsh she _______________ me.
What can we conclude?
The simple past is used to make a wish about the present.
The past perfect is used to make a wish about the past.
“Would” is used to make a wish about the future.
7. Noun Clauses – Verbs of Urgency
Rewrite the first sentence in each pair below, substituting
“this” for the second sentence.
1. Frank demanded this.
Marta must hand in her assignment on time.
Frank demanded that Marta hand in her assignment on time.
2. Frank requests this.
John should study at home.
Frank requests that John study at home.
3. Frank will propose this.
Mariana cannot visit him on weekdays.
Frank will propose that Mariana not visit him on weekdays.
What can we conclude?
The present subjunctive (=simple form) of the verb is always
used in noun clauses after verbs of urgency.
8. Noun Clauses – Adjectives of Urgency
Complete the sentence below with the information given.
1. Jack must call his boss.
that Jack call his boss.
It is urgent _______________________________________
2. Beth should start planning her trip.
that Beth plan her trip.
It’s important _____________________________________
3. Junior must not touch his boss’s computer.
It’s imperative _____________________________________
that Junior not touch his boss’s computer.
What can we conclude?
The present subjunctive (=simple form) of the verb is always
used in noun clauses after adjectives of urgency.
9. Present Verb Tenses
- Not as easy as one might assume.
Simple Present
1) Actions that happen repeatedly - _________________
2) Actions that are happening right now - _____________
Present Progressive
3) Actions that began in the past and are still happening
now - ________________
Present Perfect
Typical ELL Errors
- I am in this city for all my adult life.
- The solution to my problem isn’t depend on another person.
- Is working your uncle at the bank now?
- Modern cars are having much better tires than in the past.
- Do you have worked at this bank since the last time I saw
you?
10. Present Verb Tenses
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Simple I study Chinese every day. a habitual or repeating action
Present
Present I am studying Chinese today. a current action
Progressive
Present I have studied Chinese since an action that began in the past
Perfect 2006. and continues to be true
Present I have been studying an action that began in the past
Perfect Chinese all morning. and is continuing now (with
Progressive emphasis on the fact that it is
still happening now.
- Simple Present* Present Progressive*
Present Perfect Present Perfect Progressive
- Present Progressive – Future Meaning*
- Present Perfect – Unspecified Past*
11. Simple Present
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Simple I study Chinese every day. a habitual or repeating action
Present
Past Now Future
X X X X X I X X X X X
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I walk we walk
- -s in the third person singular
you walk you walk
- Irregular forms (-ies / -es / has)
he/she/it walks they walk
Typical ELL Errors
- Laura cook scrambled eggs for breakfast every day.
- My baby sister crys when she is hungry.
- I am walk to school every day.
12. Present Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I am studying Chinese today. a current action
Progressive
Past Now Future
X IX
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I am walking we are walking - am/is/are + present
participle
you are walking you are walking
- Formation of present
he/she/it is walking they are walking participles*
Typical ELL Errors
- We study very hard for tomorrow’s test.
- The earth is going around the sun once a year.
- My baby brother crying now.
- He is siting on the table.
- I am having two cars.*
13. Present Perfect
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I have studied Chinese since an action that began in the past
Perfect 2006. and continues to be true
Past Now Future
X X X X X I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I have walked we have walked - has / have + past participle
you have walked you have walked - Formation of past
he/she/it has walked they have walked participles*
Typical ELL Errors
- I lived here my whole life.
- Sarah have rented the same apartment since 2005.
- Sarah has already complete all the homework.
- Macy has putted the book on the teacher’s table.
14. Present Perfect Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I have been studying an action that began in the past and is
Perfect Chinese all morning. continuing now (with emphasis on the
Progressive fact that it is still happening now.*
Past Now Future
X X X X X I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should
Know
I have been walking we have been walking - has / have + been
you have been walking you have been walking + present
participle
he/she/it has been walking they have been walking
Typical ELL Errors
- I been waiting for the bus for almost 45 minutes.
- I am waiting for the bus for almos 45 minutes.
15. Negative Forms
Tense Negative Form
Simple I/you/we/they + do + not + verb
Present he / she / it + does + not + verb
Present I am + not + present participle
Progressive you/we/they + are + not + present participle
he / she / it + is + not + present participle
Present I/you/we/they + have+ not + past participle
Perfect he / she / it + has + not + past participle
Present I/you/we/they + have+ not + been + present participle
Perfect he / she / it + has + not + been + present participle
Progressive
What ELLs Should Know
- Most difficult – Present Simple*
Typical ELL Errors
- I no speak French well. // The soup doesn’t smells good.
- The man is not like this food. // We don’t have eaten yet.
16. Contractions
Tense Affirmative Negative
Simple Present ----- do not – don’t
does not – doesn’t
Present I am – I’m am not - ---
Progressive he/she/it is – he’s/she’s/ it’s is not – isn’t (he’s not...)
you/we/they are – you’re, are not – aren’t (you’re not...)
we’re, they’re
Present Perfect I/you/we/they have – I’ve / I/you/we/they have not –
+ Present you’ve / we’ve / they’ve haven’t (I’ve not...)
Perfect he / she / it has – he’s / he / she / it has not – hasn’t
Progressive she’s / it’s* (he’s not...)
Typical ELL Errors
- I amn’t from northern India.
- Linda’s bought a new car. It’s an amazing sound system.
17. Forming Questions
Tense Negative Form
Simple Present do + I/you/we/they + verb
does + he / she / it + verb
Present am + I + present participle
Progressive are + you/we/they + present participle
is + he / she / it + present participle
Present Perfect have + I/you/we/they + past participle
has + he / she / it + past participle
Present Perfect have + I/you/we/they + been + present participle
Progressive has + he / she / it + been + present participle
What ELLs Should Know
- Most difficult – Present Simple*
Typical ELL Errors
- Do Luke like hockey? // Does Valery goes to class every day?
- Is Mary have a sports car? // Do you wearing a new tie today?
- How many international trips did you have taken in your life?
18. Present Tenses
Portuguese Interference Common Errors
English Present Perfect tense can be 1. “I live here all my life.”
rendered in Portuguese by the 2. “I already watched this film.”
present form or the past form.
Portuguese speakers frequently use 1. “If you need a ride to the
the simple present to talk about the store, I take you.”
future. 2. “In a little while, I cook
dinner.”
In Portuguese, the ending of verbs
change according to the subject.
Students might get confused.
In Portuguse, there are no auxiliary 1. “___You want to go?”
verbs used to form questions or to 2. “I no want to go.”
form negative sentences in the
Simple Present.
