Unit.1 Grammar Flores Santiago Michel

Unit 1. Grammar 

To be - have got - can

The verb "to be" is one of the most common verbs in the English language. It has many different forms. The meanings of the verb "to be”:

1. Exists.
2. Happens
3. Located
4. Shows Identity 
5. Shows a quality

In British English have got is used quite often, in other areas it is common to use the main verb have.

1. Affirmative sentences

have	have got
I have a brother.	I have got a brother.
	I've got a brother.
You have a sister.	You have got a sister.
	You've got a sister.

2. Negations

have	have got
I do not have a brother.	I have not got a brother.
	I haven't got a brother.
I don't have a brother.	I've not got a brother.

3. Questions

have	have got
Do I have time?	Have I got time?
Do you have pets?	Have you got pets?

We use the verb can to ask for things.

Can I borrow your dictionary, please?

Can I use the phone, please?

We use can to ask for permission to do things.

Can I leave early today, please?

I have to go to the dentist.

We use can to talk about things we can do.

examples:

I can drive.

I can give you a lift to college.

I can give you a lift home.

We use can't to talk about things we are unable to do.

examples:

You can't smoke in here.

You can't park here.

Present Simple 

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

• I take the train to the office.
• The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
• John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

• The President of The USA lives in The White House.
• A dog has four legs.
• We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

• I get up early every day.
• Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
• They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

• It rains a lot in winter.
• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
• They speak English at work.

Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs that change or qualify the meaning of a sentence by telling us how often or how frequently something happens are defined as adverbs of frequency.

An adverb of frequency is exactly what it sounds like – an adverb of time. Adverbs of frequency always describe how often something occurs, either in definite or indefinite terms. An adverb that describes definite frequency is one such as weekly, daily, or yearly. An adverb describing indefinite frequency doesn’t specify an exact time frame; examples are sometimes, often, and rarely.

Frequency	Adverb of Frequency	Example Sentence
100%	always	I always go to bed before 11 p.m.
90%	usually	I usually have cereal for breakfast.
80%	normally / generally	I normally go to the gym.
70%	often* / frequently	I often surf the internet.
50%	sometimes	I sometimes forget my wife's birthday.
30%	occasionally	I occasionally eat junk food.
10%	seldom	I seldom read the newspaper.
5%	hardly ever / rarely	I hardly ever drink alcohol.
0%	never	I never swim in the sea.

Present continuous

The present continuous tense is most often used for the following:

For actions happening now

When we want to talk about an action that is happening now or at this time (and is unfinished), we use the present continuous tense. We also use this tense when we want to make clear that the action is temporary.

• Sorry, she can't come to the phone right now; she is having a bath.
• Look! Someone is trying to break into your car.
• This work is good! Your handwriting is getting better and better.
• I'm wearing these old trousers to school this week, as we're doing a pottery course and it's very messy work!
• Of course she likes you. You're just being stupid!
• Where's John? - He's playing soccer in the sports hall.
• This calculator isn't working properly. Do you have another one.
• You can go outside now. It isn't raining any more.
• What are you doing? - My watch is broken and I'm trying to fix it.
• Why are you talking? You should be listening to me.

For future arrangements

We usually use the present continuous tense for future events that have already been arranged:

• I'm meeting my mother at the airport tomorrow.
• Our grandmother is visiting us at Christmas.
• Sorry, I can't stay after school today; I'm playing tennis with Jun-Sik.
• My mother's going to the dentist tomorrow.
• I'm not going home at Christmas, so I can come to your party after all!
• Are you doing anything on Sunday morning?
• Do you know if he is going to the dance with Maiko next week?

To express annoyance at repeated actions

Usually the present simple is used for repeated actions. For example, He always gets up before 7 o'clock, but .. the present continuous is the correct choice when the speaker wants to express annoyance at a repeated action. (Note how often the word "always" is used in such statements):

• You are always interrupting me when I'm talking and I don't like it!
• She's always tapping her pencil on the desk and it's getting on my nerves!
• My ESL teacher's always giving detentions; how can anyone be so mean?
• I'm getting tired of you always coming late to class.
• Why is it always raining in Germany?
• Why are you always criticising me?

This use of the present continuous is not possible as a negative statement.

Order of adjectives

In many languages, adjectives denoting attributes usually occur in a specific order. Generally, the adjective order in English is:

1. Quantity or number
2. Quality or opinion
3. Size
4. Age
5. Shape
6. Color
7. Proper adjective (often nationality, other place of origin, or material)
8. Purpose or qualifier

For example:

1. I love that really big old green antique car that always parked at the end of the street.
2. My sister adopted a beautiful big white bulldog.

When there are two or more adjectives that are from the same group, the word and is placed between the two adjectives:

1. The house is green and red.
2. The library has old and new books.

When there are three or more adjectives from the same adjective group, place a comma between each of the coordinate adjectives:

1. We live in the big green, white and red house at the end of the street.
2. My friend lost a red, black and white watch.

A comma is not placed between an adjective and the noun.