Grammar Topics I, II & III

Grammar Topic I: PRESENT SIMPLE

Structure

AFFIRMATIVE FORM:	Subj. + Verb (he/she/it add an “s”) + Complements He          reads                                                  a book John       plays                                                  the guitar We         travel                                                  to Australia They       go                                                      to the cinema
NEGATIVE FORM:	Subj. + Don’t/Doesn’t + Verb + Complements Jane         doesn’t                   like             cats You          don’t                       know          the story She          doesn’t                   listen          to pop music We           don’t                       trust           you
INTERROGATIVE FORM:	Do/Does + Subj. + Verb + Complements ? Do                  you         like           cats? Does               he          know        the story? Does             Jane        listen        to pop music? Do                 they          go           to the cinema?

USE:

Permanent or long-lasting situations

Where do you go?

The shop opens at 9 o’clock.

She looks at you.

Regular habits and daily routines

I usually get up at 8 o’clock.

She doesn’t often eat vegetables.

When do you usually play tennis with your friend?

Facts

The boy plays  football for a foreign team.

What does ‘strange’ mean?

Water doesn’t boil at 20°.

Feelings

I love playing video-games.

She hates studying!

I don’t want to look like a fool.

Opinions and states of mind

He doesn’t agree with you.

I think he is a wonderful student.

What do you consider your best accomplishment?

Timetables and schedules

The plane leaves at 4 p.m.

When do courses begin this semester?

The train doesn’t arrive until 10.35.

Common present time expressions include:

usually, always, often, sometimes, on Saturdays, at weekends (on weekends US English), rarely, on occasion, never, seldom

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Grammar Topic II: PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Structure

AFFIRMATIVE FORM:	Subj. + To Be + Verb (-ing) + Complements Jane             is             feeding                 her cat He                is             playing                 the guitar We              are            flying                    to Spain They           are            going                    shopping
NEGATIVE FORM:	Subj. + (To Be negative) + Verb (-ing) + Compl. Jane             is not                          feeding          her cat He                is not                          playing          the guitar We              are not                         flying            to Spain They           are not                         going             shopping
INTERROGATIVE FORM:	To Be + Subj. + Verb (-ing) + Complements? Is              she           feeding              her cat? Is               he            playing              the guitar? Are            we            flying                 to Spain? Are           they           going                shopping?

* Actions you perform while speaking: I am switching on my mobile phone right now.

* Present and temporal actions: They are building a new school in this street.

* Plans for the future: I am leaving to London tomorrow.

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Grammar Topic III: “Wh-” QUESTIONS

WHO	It is used to ask about people	Who is the man standing there?
WHICH	It is used to ask about things.	Which is the wine you brought to the last party?
WHY	It is used to ask about the reason or the cause for something.	Why did you tell him those things?
WHAT	It is used to ask about things or activities.	What do you usually do at weekends?
WHERE	It is used to ask about places.	Where is the town Auditorium?
HOW	Combined with many words to ask questions about specific characteristics, qualities, quantities, etc.	How often do you go to the movies? How long was the film? How much does it cost?
WHEN	It is used to ask about a particular period of time.	When did you meet?