Category: Learn and Study

Lesson 19:  Imperative Form

Use the imperative form when giving instructions or orders. The imperative is also very common in written instructions. Be careful when you use the imperative, as it is often considered impolite in English. If someone asks you for instructions, use the imperative. If, on the other hand, you would like to request that someone do something use a polite question form.

There is only one imperative form for both ‘you’ singular and plural.

Examples:

• Hurry up!
• Take the first left, go straight on and the supermarket is on the left.

Positive: Base Form of Verb + Objects

• Turn the music down, please.
• Insert coins into the slot.

Negative: Do + Not + Base Form of Verb + Objects

• Do not smoke in this building.
• Don’t rush, I’m not in a hurry.

Adjectives modify nouns and are placed directly before them.

• Tom is an excellent singer.
• I bought a comfortable chair.
• She’s thinking about buying a new house.

Adjectives are also used in simple sentences with the verb ‘to be’. In this case, the adjective describes the subject of the sentence:

• Jack is happy.
• Peter was very tired.
• Mary’ll be excited when you tell her.

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They are easily recognized because they end in ‘-ly’ (with a few exceptions!):

• Adjective – careful / Adverb – carefully
• Adjective – quick / Adverb – quickly

Adverbs are often used at the end of a sentence to describe (modify) the verb:

• Jack drove carelessly.
• Tom played the match intelligently.
• Jason talks about his classes constantly.

Source:  thoughtco.com©

Time expressions are used to indicate the time at/during which an action took place. Common time expressions include:

Present forms: everyday, on Fridays, at the moment, now, as well as adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, sometimes (for present habits and routines). Days of the weeks followed by ‘s’ such as Mondays, Tuesdays, etc.

Examples

• He sometimes finishes work early.
• Marjorie is listening to the radio at the moment.
• Peter goes jogging on Saturdays.

Past forms: when I was …, last week, day, year, etc., yesterday, ago (two weeks ago, three years ago, four months ago, etc.)

Examples

• He visited his friends last week.
• I didn’t see you two days ago.
• Jane flew to Boston yesterday.

Future forms: next week, year, etc., tomorrow, by (the end of the week, Thursday, next year, etc.) in X time (in two weeks time, in four months time, etc.)

Examples

• I’m going to attend a conference next week.
• It won’t snow tomorrow.
• They’re going to visit New York in two weeks.

Perfect forms: since, yet, already, just, for

Examples

• Michael has worked here since 1998.
• Have you finished reading the paper yet?
• He’s just gone to the bank.

Adverbs of Frequency – Rules for Use

Use adverbs of frequency to say how often you do something. Adverbs of frequency are often used with the present simple because they indicate repeated or routine activities. For example, They often go out for dinner.

Adverbs of frequency include (form most often to least often):

• always
• usually
• often
• sometimes
• occasionally
• seldom
• rarely
• never

If the sentence has one verb (e.g. no auxiliary verb) put the adverb in the middle of the sentence after the subject and before the verb.

Examples

• Tom usually goes to work by car.
• Janet never flies. She always goes by bus.

Adverbs of frequency come after the verb ‘be’:

Examples

• I am never late for work.
• Peter is often at school.

If the sentence has more than one verb (e.g. auxiliary verb), put the adverb of frequency before the main verb.

Examples

• I can never remember anything!
• They have often visited Rome.

When using adverbs of frequency in the question or negative form, put the adverb of frequency before the main verb.

Examples

• She doesn’t often visit Europe.
• Do you usually get up early?

Source:  thoughtco.com©

Countable nouns are individual objects, people, places, etc. which can be counted.

• books, Italians, pictures, stations, men, etc.

A countable noun can be both singular – a friend, a house, etc.—or plural—a few apples, lots of trees, etc.

Use the singular form of the verb with a singular countable noun:

• There is a book on the table.
• That student is excellent!

Use the plural form of the verb with a countable noun in the plural:

• There are some students in the classroom.
• Those houses are very big, aren’t they?

What are Non-countable Nouns?

Non-countable (or uncountable) nouns are materials, concepts, information, etc. which are not individual objects and can not be counted.

• information, water, understanding, wood, cheese, etc.

Uncountable nouns are always singular. Use the singular form of the verb with uncountable nouns:

• There is some water in that pitcher.
• That is the equipment we use for the project.

Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Use a/an with countable nouns preceded by an adjective(s):

• Tom is a very intelligent young man.
• I have a beautiful grey cat.

Do not use a/an with uncountable nouns preceded by an adjective(s):

• That is very useful information.
• There is some cold beer in the fridge.

Some uncountable nouns in English are countable in other languages. This can be confusing! Here is a list of some of the most common, easy to confuse uncountable nouns in English.

• accommodation
• advice
• baggage
• bread
• equipment
• furniture
• garbage
• information
• knowledge
• luggage
• money
• news
• pasta
• progress
• research
• travel
• work

Lesson 15: Comparative Forms in English

We use the comparative and superlative form to compare and contrast different objects in English. Use the comparative form to show the difference between two objects. Example: New York is more exciting than Seattle. Use the superlative form when speaking about three or more objects to show which object is ‘the most’ of something. Example: New York is the most exciting city in the USA.

Here is how to construct the comparative form in English. Notice in the example sentences that you use ‘than’ to compare the two objects:

One-Syllable Adjectives

add ‘-er’ to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel) remove the ‘y’ from the adjective and add ‘ier’

Example: cheap – cheaper / hot – hotter / high – higher

• Yesterday was hotter than today.
• This book is cheaper than that book.

Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in ‘-y’

Example: happy – happier / funny – funnier

• I am happier than you.
• That joke was funnier than his joke.

Adjectives With Two, Three, or More Syllables 

place ‘more’ before the adjective

Example: interesting – more interesting / difficult – more difficult

• London is more expensive than Madrid.
• This test is more difficult than the last test.

Important Exceptions

There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important exceptions:

Good

• good – adjective
• better – comparative

Example:

• This book is better than that one.
• I am better at tennis than my sister.

Bad

• bad – adjective
• worse – comparative

Example:

• His French is worse than mine.
• His singing is worse than Tom’s.

Source:  thoughtco.com©

This list shows first the country, then language and, finally the nationality of many major countries from around the world.

One-Syllable Country Names

• France, French, French
• Greece, Greek, Greek

Nationality Ends in ‘-Ish’

• Britain, English, British
• Denmark, Danish, Danish
• Finland, Finnish, Finnish
• Poland, Polish, Polish
• Spain, Spanish, Spanish
• Sweden, Swedish, Swedish
• Turkey, Turkish, Turkish

” Ends in ‘-An’

• Germany, German, German
• Mexico, Spanish, Mexican
• The United States, English, American

Nationality Ends in ‘-Ian’ or ‘-Ean’

• Australia, English, Australian
• Brazil, Portuguese, Brazilian
• Egypt, Arabic, Egyptian
• Italy, Italian, Italian
• Hungary, Hungarian, Hungarian
• Korea, Korean, Korean
• Russia, Russian, Russian

” Ends in ‘Ese’

• China, Chinese, Chinese
• Japan, Japanese, Japanese
• Portugal, Portuguese, Portuguese

Lesson 13: Countable and Uncountable Expressions with Nouns

Uncountable

Use the singular form of the verb with uncountable nouns. Use both ‘some’ and any’ with uncountable nouns when speaking about specific objects.

Examples

• Do you have any butter?
• There is some juice in the bottle.

If you are speaking in general, do not use a modifier.

Examples

• Do you drink Coca-Cola?
• He doesn’t eat meat.

Countable

Use the plural form of the verb with countable nouns. Use both ‘some’ and ‘any’ with countable nouns when speaking about specific objects.

Examples

• There are some magazines on the table.
• Has he got any friends?

If you are speaking in general, use the plural form of the noun.

Examples

• They love books by Hemingway.
• She doesn’t eat apples.

Expressions for Use with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Use the following expressions with uncountable nouns.

• most
• much, lots of, a lot of
• some
• a little, little

Examples

• There is lots of interest in the project.
• She’s got some money left in the bank.
• There’s little time to finish.

Use the following expressions with countable nouns.

• many, lots of, a lot of
• several
• some
• not many, only a few, few

Examples

• There are a lot of pictures on the wall.
• We have several friends in Chicago.
• She bought some envelopes this afternoon.
• There are only a few people in the restaurant.

Source:  thoughtco.com©