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Adverbs of frequency
Comparative/Superlative adjectives
Future
Grammar of Report Speech
Irregular verbs
Mass and Count nouns
Modal verbs
Past simple
Present continous
Present perfect continous
Present perfect simple
Present simple
Report Speech
Some, Any, a lot, Much, Many
Statative verbs
There is/are
Time and Place Expression
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
0% NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES OFTEN
USUALLY ALWAYS 100%
I'm always very busy.
She isn't usually at the office before 11.
They never work together off line.
I don't always check my e-mail messages.
We usually post our reports to the Document Forum.
They are never on line at the same time.
We write words like always, usually,
never after the verb to be but before other verbs.
COMPARATIVE/SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
| FORME | ADJECTIVE | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE |
|---|---|---|---|
| One syllable | long
few hot |
longer
fewer hotter |
the longest
fewest hottest |
| Two syllables
ending in -y |
easy
happy famous |
easier
happier famous |
the easiest
happiest famous |
| Two or more syllables | crowded
expensive good |
more crowded
expensive better |
the most crowded
expensive the best |
| Irregular adjectives | bad
much/many little far |
worse
more less further |
worst
most least furthest |
| USE | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| We use than after a comparative adjective.
Much can come before the comparative to add emphasis. We use the before a superlative adjective. As...as shows something is the same or equal. Not as...as shows something isn't the same or equal. |
Microsoft is bigger than Netscape.
Faxing is more expensive than e-mailing. E-mail is much faster than "snail" mail. John is the happiest man in town. Susan is as happy as John. Nice isn't as big as Paris. |
*One syllable adjectives ending with one vowel and a
consonant double the consonant :
big bigger biggest
*This doesn't happen when the consonant is -w or -y :
new newer newest
FUTURE
1. " Will "
| AFFIRMATIVE | NEGATIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I
You He She It We They |
'll
(will) |
work | I
You He She It We They |
won't
(will not) |
work |
| QUESTION | SHORT ANSWER | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will | I
You He She It We They |
work ? | Yes,
No, |
I
You He She It We They |
will
won't |
| USE | EXAMPLES |
| Future facts and predictions | The new marketing study will cost 100,00.00FF.
Our subsidiaries won't be on line until next year. How many servers will we have? |
| Decision made at the time of speaking | I'll post my report to the forum this
morning.
One moment, please. I'll check Gaston's Forum calendar. |
2. " Going to "
| AFFIRMATIVE | NEGATIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I
He She It You We They |
'm (am)
's (is) 're (are) |
going to reply | I
He She It You We They |
'm not (am not)
isn't (is not) aren't (are not) |
going to reply |
| QUESTION | SHORT ANSWER | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Am
Is Are |
I
he she it you we they |
going to reply | Yes,
No, Yes, No, Yes, No, |
I
he she it you we they |
am
'm not is isn't are aren't |
| USE | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Future plans intentions, and decisions | They are going to present the new project
soon.
What is he going to do? We are not going to raise the issue publicly. |
| Future actions we feel certain about because of what we can see now | This file is quite big. It's going to
take a long time to download.
George is not going to be satisfied with this report. It doesn't take into account the new danger signs in the German Market. |
3. " Present Continuous "
For present continuous forms, see Present Continuous Language File.
| USE | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Fixed future arrangements | I am conferencing with David and Ellen
tomorrow at 2 p.m.
When is Harry sending his result? They are not visiting their client on Wednesday. |
GRAMMAR OF REPORT SPEECH
REFLECTING THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE MEETING
The report writer should not only report the facts; he/she should also reflect how they were expressed.
REPORTING STATEMENTS
| He
She The representative |
said
stated mentioned explained told the meeting advised |
that |
REPORTING REQUESTS
Requesting something
| " We need further details of the project. "
The representative requested further details... asked for wanted |
Requesting action
| " Can you send us a copy of the report ? "
Mr. Brown asked that the company send... requested |
Requesting information
| " Does the cost include a maintenance arrangement ? "
The client asked if the cost included... inquired whether wanted to know " When will the project start ? " He asked when the project would start |
REPORTING REPLIES
| The representative
replied
that
answered |
REPORTING AGREEMENT OR REFUSAL OF ACTIONS
| " We will provide further financing. "
The officials agreed to provide further... " We will not provide further financing. " The officials refused to provide further... |
IRREGULAR VERBS
| VERBS | PAST TENSE | PAST PARTICIPLE |
|---|---|---|
| arise
be beat become begin bend bet bind bite bleed blow break bring broadcast build burn burst buy catch choose come cost creep cut deal dig do draw dream drink drive eat fall feed feel fight find fly forbid forget forgive freeze get give go grind grow hang have hear hide hit hold hurt keep know lay lead lean leap learn leave lend let lie light lose make mean meet pay put read ride ring rise run say see seek sell send set shake shine show shrink shut sing sink sit sleep slide smell speak speed spell spend spill spin split spoil spread spring stand steal stick sting strike swear sweep swim swing take teach tear tell think throw understand wake wear win wind write |
arose
was, were beat became began bent bet bound bit bled blew broke brought broadcast built burnt burst bought caught chose came cost crept cut dealt dug did drew dreamt drank drove ate fell fed felt fought found flew forbade forgot forgave froze got gave went ground grew hung had heard hid hit held hurt kept knew laid led leant leapt learnt left lent let lay lit lost made meant met paid put read rode rang rose ran said saw sought sold sent set shook shone showed shrank shut sang sank sat slept slid smelt spoke sped spelt spent spilt spun split spoilt spread sprang stood stole stuck stung struck swore swept swam swung took taught tore told thought threw understood woke wore won wound wrote |
arisen
been beaten become begun bent bet bound bitten bled blown broken brought broadcast built burnt burst bought caught chosen come cost crept cut dealt dug done drawn dreamt drunk driven eaten fallen fed felt fought found flown forbidden forgotten forgiven frozen got given gone ground grown hung had heard hidden hit held hurt kept known laid led leant leapt learnt left lent let lain lit lost made meant met paid put read ridden rung risen run said seen sought sold sent set shaken shone shown shrunk shut sung sunk sat slept slid smelt spoken sped spelt spent spilt spun split spoilt spread sprung stood stolen stuck stung struck sworn swept swum swung taken taught torn told thought thrown understood woken worn won wound written |
MASS AND COUNT NOUNS
Count nouns are people, animals, plants (a boss, a dog), concrete objects (a desk, a fax machine), or units of measurement (a meter, a Deutschmark).
Mass nouns include things like substances, materials, and commodities (e.g. water, oil, money, information), abstract ideas (profitability, progress), and languages (English, Arabic). We do not usually talk about "three informations," "six monies," "two waters" etc.
| MASS NOUNS | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| Mass nouns have no plural form.
We do not use a or an with them. We use them with a singular verb form. |
They mailed us some information.
I don't like advice. This machinery is experiensive. |
| COUNT NOUNS | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Count nouns have a singular and plural form.
We use them with a and an. We use them with singular and plural verb forms. |
This machine is experiensive.
Did you send him a message last week ? These machines are expensive. |
| NOUNS THAT ARE BOTH
MASS AND COUNT |
EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Mass (general meaning)
Count (specific meaning) |
John has a lot of experience.
He develops software. John had an interesting experience yesterday. He tested two different messaging softwares. |
MODAL VERBS
| USE | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| Necessity
Prohibition No necessity Advice Possibility Permission Ability Requests Offers |
He must enter his password in order to gain access.
You musn't turn off your computer without shutting down Windows '95 first. We needn't inform everyone individually by mail. There is a Forum notice. You should plan your meeting from the Team Calendar. You shouldn't assume the date suits Linda until you have had confirmation. They can post documents for comment more easily at the Forum. John may post his document later than promised. Christine might want John to include more evidence for his conclusions. Can I ask your advice ? Could I have your name, please ? May I send you a copy of our findings ? We would like your opinion. Can you speak English ? Georges could speak English at the age of 10. Could you comment on this report, please ? Will you post your comments directly to the Forum ? Would you contact Max about this problem ? He knows the case very well. Would you like a cup of coffee ? Shall I tell Frank you are ready ? |
*The form of a modal verb is the same for all persons. We don't add -s to the 3rd person singular of a modal verb.
I/You/He/She/It/We/They may reject these figures.
*We don't use to after modal verbs
We must to discuss the problem. (false)
*To make the negative of a modal verb, we add not or n't. We don't use don't and doesn't
He can't /cannot access the server
We mustn't/must not be late
*We can't add -n't to may
She mayn't finish before 10 a.m. (false)
*We put the modal verb before I/you/he, etc. to make a question
Should I check the server now ?
*With I and we, we use shall for offers, and when asking for and making suggestions.
Shall I enquire for you ?
Were shall we look ?
Shall we work on the document together ?
*We can use have to for necessity.
I have to remind John from time to time.
*We can use don't have to when there is no necessity.
I don't have to remind Linda. She remembers everything.
PAST SIMPLE
| POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I
You He She It We They |
started
rang |
yesterday | I
You He She It We They |
didn't
start
(did not) ring* |
yesterday |
| QUESTION | SHORT ANSWER | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Did |
I
you he she it we they |
start
ring* |
yesterday | Yes,
No, |
I
you he she it we they |
did.
didn't. |
| USE | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Finished situations and
actions in the past |
I searched in Yahoo for one hour.
He replied to my e-mail message last week. They didn't collaborate on the document. Where did you download that plug-in ? |
* We often use the Past Simple with finished time phrases like yesterday, last week, an hour ago.
* Regular verbs in the Past Simple and in -ed. A dictionary tells you when the consonant doubles (Group 3), and when the -y changes to -i (Group 4).
| Group 1 | work
worked |
play
played |
wait
waited |
| Group 2 | live
lived |
smile
smiled |
close
closed |
| Group 3 | stop
stopped |
travel
travelled |
plan
planned |
| Group 4 | study
studied |
worry
worried |
try
tried |
* When the infinitive end in a "d" or a "t" sound (visit- visited, demand- demanded), we pronunce the "-ed" ending as "id".
PRESENT CONTINOUS
| POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I
He She It You We They |
'm (am)
's (is) 're (are) |
working | I
He She It You We They |
'm not (am not)
isn't (is not) aren't (are not) |
working |
| QUESTION | SHORT ANSWER | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Am
Is Are |
I
he she it you we they |
working ? | Yes,
No, Yes, No, Yes, No, |
I
he she it you we they |
am.
'm not. is. isn't. are. aren't. |
| USE | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| Actions happening now
Temporary situations or actions |
He's posting a Newsgroup message at the moment.
He's working a lot from home this month. |
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS
| POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I
You We They He She It |
've
(have) 's (has) |
been working | I
You We They He She It |
haven't
(have not) hasn't (has not) |
been working |
| QUESTION | SHORT ANSWER | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Have
Has |
I
you we they he she it |
been working ? | Yes,
No, Yes, No, |
I
you we they he she it |
have
haven't has hasn't |
| USE | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| Actions that began in the Past and continue to the present
Actions that began in the past and have just stopped |
We've been collaborating on this project since Thursday
He's been contributing to our newsgroup discussion for three weeks How long have you been doing business with them ? You seem happy. Have you been reading your favourite usenet groups ? I'm smiling because I have been reading John's news. He's so funny ! |
*The Present Perfect Continuous and Simple are similar in meaning. The form we use often depends on whether we are more interested in the action or its result.
I've been reading John's messages (I am smiling)
I have read John's messages (now I will do something else)
*We use the Present Perfect Continuous to say how long.
They've been working on the project since Thursday
He's been contributing to our discussion for three weeks now.
We use the Present Perfect Simple to say how many
She's posted 5 messages .
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
| POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I
You We They He She It |
've
(have) 's (has) |
arrived
finished |
I
You We They He She It |
haven't
(have not) hasn't (has not) |
arrived
finished |
| QUESTION | SHORT ANSWERS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Have
Has |
I
you we they he she it |
arrived ?
finished ? |
Yes,
No, Yes, No, |
I
you we they he she it |
have
haven't has hasn't |
| USE | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Finished experiences in
your life up to now. |
She has met Bill Gates
He has written a book Have you ever been to California ? |
| Recent situations and
actions in a time up to now. |
We've posted our articles to the newsgroup
The price of Netscape stock has gone up Has he collaborated with you this year ? |
| Situations that started in
the past and still continue. |
She has been on the team since January
He has had this e-mail address for a week |
| Past actions in a time up
to now where we give the quantity. |
How long have you known Gaston ?
She has cross-posted 4 messages so far this week How many postings have you saved to your personal file ? |
PRESENT SIMPLE
| I
You work We They |
I
You don't work We (do not) They |
| He
She works It |
He
She doesn't work It (does not) |
| QUESTION | SHORT ANSWER | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do | I
you we they |
work? | Yes,
No, |
I
you we they |
do.
don't. |
| Does | he
she it |
work? | Yes,
No, |
he
she it |
does.
doesn't. |
| USE | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Long-term situations
Habits and routines Feeling and opinions Facts |
I live in Nice.
Where does she work? I stay in contact with John by e-mail. How often do you update your web site? She doesn't like shopping on the .net. I agree with you. The operation takes about 15 minutes. It costs $150. |
| Where do you live?
In Rome.
How often do you make business trips? Once a month. What do you do at week-ends? I usually play golf. Whose book is this? It's mine. When do they check the server? Every Friday. Who do you consult in London? Andersen. Which magazine does he write for? Wired. Who runs the product Newsgroup? Anna does. How do you stay in contact? Cooltalk. |
REPORT SPEECH
1. VERBS
| simple present
WORK
present continous IS WORKING simple past WORKED future WILL WORK can CAN WORK may MAY WORK must MUST WORK |
simple past
WORKED
past continuous WAS WORKING past perfect HAD WORKED conditional WOULD WORK could COULD WORK might MIGHT WORK had to HAD TO WORK |
NO CHANGE FOR
would - could - might - had to - should - ought to
2. PRONOUNS
"We must receive your findings by the end of March"
He said that they had to receive his/her findings by the end of March.
SOME, ANY, A LOT, MUCH, MANY
| some
With mass and count nouns in affirmative sentences In offers and requests. |
I bought some equipment.
She did some exercises. Would you like some coffee ? Could I have some sugar ? |
| any
With mass and count nouns in negative sentences, and in questions. |
I didn't buy any equipment.
He didn't pay any invoives. Did they give you any articles ? Do you have any questions ? |
| a lot of/lots of
With mass and count nouns in affirmative sentences. |
There is a lot of information here.
There are a lot of messages in my inbox. Lots of companies use e-mail. |
| much
With mass and count nouns in negative sentences, and in questions. |
We don't have much information.
We don't need much time. Do you nedd much advice ? |
| many
With count nouns and in negative sentences, and in questions. |
We don't have many documents.
She didn't have many references. How many attachments did you receive? |
STATATIVE VERBS
There are a number of verbs which describe states rather than actions. They are not normally used in the continuous form. Common examples are :
| Verbs of thinking | believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, realize, suppose, understand |
| Verbs of the senses | hear, smell, sound, taste |
| Verbs of possession | belong to, have (meaning possess), own, possess |
| Verbs of emotion | like, love, prefer, want, wish, dislike, hate, regret |
| Verbs of appareance | appear, seem |
| Others | contain, depend on, include, involve, mean, measure, weigh, require |
These are usually found in the simple form because they do not refer to actions:
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean.
THERE IS /ARE
| POSITIVE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
There |
is
are |
a message
two messages |
singular
plural |
| NEGATIVE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
There |
isn't
aren't |
a message ?
any messages ? |
singular
plural |
| YES/NO QUESTIONS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Is
Are |
there | a message ?
any messages ? |
Yes, there is
No, there isn't Yes, there are No, there aren't |
TIME AND PLACE EXPRESSION
| yesterday | the previous day , the day before |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the following day , the next day |
| last week , month , year | the previous week , month , year |
| two weeks ago | two weeks previously |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| now | then |