English Grammar Pattern 1: Yes/No Questions [Note: Use the first question word in your answer!] Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question and answer out loud! 1. Do you have a pet? Yes, we do. / No, we don't. 2. Does she like to study? Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't. 3. Did you see it? Yes, we did. / No, we didn't. 4. Can you speak English well? Yes, we can. / No, we can't. 5. Is she from here? Yes, she is. / No, she isn't. 6. Are you from a big city? Yes, we are. / No, we aren't. 7. Are they going to come? Yes, they are. / No, they aren't. 8. Will you go with us? Yes, we will. / No, we won't. 9. Were you at home last night? Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you speak English well? (Yes I do. / No I don't.) 2. Do you speak another language well? 3. Does your sister like pizza? (Yes she does. / No she doesn't.) 4. Does your friend like to eat pizza? 5. Do you have a brother or sister? 6. Does your father work in an office? 7. Can you play the guitar? (Yes I can. / No I can't.) 8. Can you drive a car? 9. Can your father drive a car? 10. Can you answer these questions easily? 11. Can French people speak French? 12. Is your friend a good singer? (Yes he is./Yes she is./No he isn't./No she isn't.) 13. Is today Friday? 14. Are you a good student? (Yes I am. / No I am not. / No I'm not.) 15. Are your friends tall? 16. Is your mother going to work today? (Yes, she is./No she is not./No she isn't.) 17. Is your dog big? 18. Are you going to stay home tonight? (Yes, I am. / No I am not. / No I'm not.) 19. Are you going to travel this year? 20. Will you practice all of these questions? (Yes I will. / No I won't.) 21. Will your friend help you study English? 22. Was yesterday Thursday? (Yes it was. / No it was not. / No it wasn't.) 23. Was your test difficult? 24. Were your parents from the same town or city? (Yes they were./No they weren't.) 25. Were your teachers helpful to you?
English Grammar Pattern 2: W Questions ["W" word + part of "Yes/No" Question] Model Sentence: What languages can you speak? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question and answer out loud! 1. What / is your name? (My name is ~ .) 2. What / can you / do well? (I can ~ very well.) 3. Where / are you from? (I am from ~ .) 4. Where / will you go / tomorrow? (I will go to ~ .) 5. When / did you / wake up / this morning? (I woke up at ~ o'clock.) 6. When is your birthday? (My birthday is in ~ .) 7. Who is your favorite singer? (My favorite singer is ~ .) 8. Who will come with us? ( ~ and ~ will come with us.) 9. Why are you studying English now? (I am studying English because ~ . ) 10. Why were they so happy? (They were so happy because ~ .) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you like to do in your free time? 2. What will you eat for dinner tonight? 3. Where do you buy fruits and vegetables? 4. Where is the best place to visit in winter? 5. Who was your favorite teacher in school? 6. Who is the most popular singer in your country? 7. When was your last vacation? (My last vacation was in ~ .) 8. When do you prefer to study, in the morning or in the evening? 9. Why are you sleeping so late? (I'm sleeping so late because...) 10. Why are you walking to your school? (I'm walking because...) Discussions - Give longer answers to these questions. 1. What is the most exciting movie you have ever seen? 2. When is the coldest weather in your hometown? 3. Where do you like to go on a warm summer's day? 4. Who do you like to talk to when you have a problem? 5. Why do you want to learn English?
English Grammar Pattern 3: Basic "How" Questions Model Sentence: How do you study English now? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud! 1. How do you go to work every day? 2. How old are you? 3. How tall are you? 4. How can I buy a ticket? 5. How do you feel this afternoon? 6. How is your stomach? 7. How are your parents doing? 8. How is your new job going? 9. How often do you go to the movies? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How do you like your job? (I like it a lot. Or I don't like it very much.) 2. How are you feeling today? (I'm feeling better than yesterday.) 3. How is the weather today? (It's warm and sunny – a beautiful day!) 4. How fast can you run? (I can't run very fast! Or I can run pretty fast.) 5. How often do you study English? (I often study. / I study every day. / I don't study very often. / I frequently study. / I rarely study.)
English Grammar Pattern 4: How much / How long / How many Model Sentence How many English sentences do you know? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud! 1. How long have you known your friend? 2. How much time is there in a day? 3. How many people are in your family? 4. How long can you swim underwater? 5. How much time have you spent studying for your test? 6. How many hours are there in a day? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How long have you studied English? 2. How long will you stay in your current job? 3. How much money do you spend for lunch every day? 4. How much time do you spend sleeping each night? 5. How many years have you spent in school? 6. How many days do you work each week?
English Grammar Pattern 5: Tag Questions Model Sentence This is a good book, isn't it? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question and answer out loud! 1. This book is mine, isn't it? ("Yes it is." / "No it isn't.") 2. That car is yours, isn't that right? ("Yes that's right" / "Yes it's mine" / "No it's not mine") 3. This house is theirs, isn't it? ("Yes it is" / "No it isn't") 4. This phone number is hers, isn't it? ("Yes it is"/"Yes that's right"/"No it isn't") 5. You are from London, aren't you? ("Yes I am" / "No I'm not") 6. We have enough time, don't we? ("Yes we do" / "No we don't!") 7. You can speak German, can't you? ("Yes I can" / "No I can't") 8. They will come tomorrow, won't they? ("Yes they will" / "No they won't") Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. You can understand English well, can't you? 2. Learning sentence patterns is good practice, isn't it? 3. We should listen to English more, shouldn't we? 4. Your job is interesting, isn't it? 5. If we keep trying, we'll surely succeed, won't we?
English Grammar Pattern 6: Simple Polite Questions (Use these sentences only in special situations. They are not so useful for conversations.) Model Sentence Would you like to have some coffee? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud! 1. Would you like some tea? 2. Would you come here for a moment? 3. What do you want to eat for lunch? 4. What do you want to drink? 5. Could you tell me your name? 6. Could you help me move this? 7. May I sit here? 8. May we come in?
English Grammar Pattern 7: Longer Polite Questions (Use these sentences only in special situations. They are not so useful for conversations.) Model Sentence Would you like to go out for a drink after work? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud! 1. Would you like to get together for a drink tonight? 2. Would you come to our home for dinner Friday night? 3. Would you mind bringing some books to our meeting tomorrow? 4. Could you come to work a little early this week? 5. Could you reserve a seat for me on Wednesday evening? 6. Could you take some time to look at my report? 7. May I ask what you are doing about our problem? 8. May I know what you are planning to do next?
English Grammar Pattern 8: Conditional Questions (These questions use "would" and "could" but they are NOT polite questions! Instead, they are questions about "possibilities". These questions are VERY good for starting interesting conversations.) Model Sentence Would you like to travel to the moon some day? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud! 1. Would you like to visit London? (Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn't.) 2. Could you take a train to work next week? (Yes, we could. / No, we couldn't.) 3. Should we study this for the test? (Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn't.) 4. Would you have studied harder as a student? [If you had another chance.] (Yes, I would have. / No, I wouldn't have.) 5. Could you have found a better way? (Yes, I could have. / No, I couldn't have. 6. Should you have asked for help before the test? (Yes, we should have. / No, we shouldn't have.) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Would you like to travel in space? 2. Would you like to visit the moon? 3. Could a lion beat an alligator in a fight? 4. Could a time machine be built in the future? 5. Should we spend more time at work or with our families? 6. Should we give money to poor people on the streets? Discussion – Give longer answers to these questions. 1. Would you enjoy flying an airplane by yourself? 2. Could we have a cheap electric car in the future? 3. Should cloning (making a "copy" of people!) be allowed in the future? 4. What should people do to make our world cleaner? 5. How could we make a million dollars in a short time? 6. Where should we put all of the world's garbage?
English Grammar Pattern 9: "Have you ever...?" (This is one of the best ways to start interesting conversations in English! Learn them well, listen for your speaking partner's answer. Finally ask follow-up questions to keep on talking on any topic in English.) Model Sentence Have you ever been to China? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud! 1. Have you been to California? 2. Have you seen any good movies recently? 3. Have you ever seen a ghost? 4. Has your sisters seen your new car? 5. Has English become easier or more difficult for you? 6. Has your hometown changed a lot in the past ten years? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you read any good books this year? 2. Have you travelled somewhere interesting in your life? 3. Have you ever tried a dangerous sport? 4. Have you studied a foreign language other than English? 5. Has anyone told you an interesting story recently? Discussion – Give longer answers to these questions. 1. Would you enjoy flying an airplane by yourself? 2. Could we have a cheap electric car in the future? 3. Should cloning (making a "copy" of people!) be allowed in the future? 4. What should people do to make our world cleaner? 5. How could we make a million dollars in a short time? 6. Where should we put all of the world's garbage?
English Grammar Pattern 10: Questions with "Which" (This is a good pattern when you want to know your speaking partner's choice or what he/she likes. After you hear your partner's answer, you can ask another question to "follow up". Have fun!) Model Sentence Which do you like better, fish or meat? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each question out loud! 1. Which do you like more, TV or movies? 2. Which do you prefer, bread or rice? 3. Which season is your favorite? 4. Which time of the year is best in your hometown? 5. Which is more interesting, watching sports or playing sports? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Which sport is your favorite? 2. Which job is best for you? 3. Which sound in English is hardest for you to make? 4. Which do you like more, reading books or listening to music? 5. Which did you enjoy more, your high school days or your elementary school days? Discussion Practice - Give longer answers to these questions. 1. Which is more important to you, being rich or being happy? 2. Which do you think is more dangerous, eating too much or driving too fast?
English Grammar Pattern 11 Simple Sentences with "Be" (am / is / are) Model Sentence We are not from this city. This pattern is a very easy but important pattern. Be sure to say these perfectly! Especially be careful of the different forms - "I am", "We are", "They are", "He is" or "She is". You have to say these correctly every time or people will be confused. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I am from New York. 2. He is a teacher. 3. She is my friend. 4. We are married. 5. They are not married. 6. You are a good student. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What is your name? (My name is ...) 2. Where are you from? (I am from ...) 3. What is your job? (I am a ...) 4. Are you married? (Yes I am. / No I'm not.) 5. Is your friend a good student? (Yes she is. / No she isn't, she's a ...) 6. Are your parents teachers? (Yes they are. / No, they are ...)
English Grammar Pattern 12 Past Sentences with "Be" (was / were) Model Sentence We were hungry last night. Use the past of "Be" to describe places, people, or things that happened before now. Pay close attention to the different times we us "was" (He was... / She was... / I was...) and "were" (We were... / They were...). These are easy sentences, but you must do them perfectly! Good luck. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I was a lazy student. 2. He was tired yesterday. 3. She was my neighbor. 4. We were classmates. 5. They were not classmates. 6. You were a cute child. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Were you a good student in high school? 2. Were you tired when you woke up this morning? 3. Was she your friend? 4. Were they in the same job? 5. Was he fat as a child? 6. Was yesterday a hot day?
English Grammar Pattern 13 Simple Sentences with "Have" (or "Has") Model Sentence We have a little money. This is a very easy pattern, but very common, so be sure to say each sentence perfectly! Be careful - although we say "I have" or "We have", it is different with "he" or "she". We must say "He has" or "She has". Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I have good books. 2. She has two brothers. 3. He has one sister. 4. We have no time. 5. They have a house in the city. 6. You have good pronunciation in English! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you have any brothers or sisters? 2. What good books do you have for studying English? 3. Does your friend have good English pronunciation? 4. What kind of home does your family have? 5. Do your parents have good jobs? 6. Does your hometown have good parks?
English Grammar Pattern 14 Past Sentences with "Had" Model Sentence I had a yellow bicycle. The past of "have" is very easy - it is always "had". (I had, you had, we had, she had, he had, they had) Just remember to use it when you are talking about a time in the past. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I had a blue and red pen. 2. She had a good teacher last year. 3. He had a dog. (not now) 4. We had a big dinner. 5. They had money. 6. You had English classes two years ago. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Did you have a big lunch today? 2. Did your parents have English class in school? 3. Did you have any good teachers in school? 4. What kind of toys did you have as a child? 5. What did you have for breakfast this morning? 6. Where did you have dinner last night?
English Grammar Pattern 15 Simple Sentences with "be" + "ing" Model Sentence We are studying English now. This pattern describes actions that are happening now (so we use "be", not "was") and continue (so we use "ing"). Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I am eating dinner. 2. She is riding a bicycle. 3. He is playing the guitar. 4. We are playing tennis. 5. They are singing. 6. You are reading English! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What's your mother doing now? (She's reading a book. / She's getting ready for bed.) 2. What are your parents doing now? (They're eating dinner. / They're sleeping. / They're watching TV.) 3. Where are you going? (I'm going to work. / I'm going to my friend's home.) 4. Who are they talking to? (They're talking to ...) 5. Are you studying English now? (Yes I'm studying very hard! / No I'm hardly studying!)
English Grammar Pattern 16 Past Sentences with "be" + "ing" Model Sentence We were eating dinner last night at this time. This pattern describes actions that happened now, so we use "was" or "were", not "is", "am" or "are". We use "ing" to show the action continued. It was not an action that was quickly finished! Because the action continues, it is possible that another action happened at the same time. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I was sleeping (at 4 o'clock this morning). 2. She was eating dinner (at 6 o'clock last night). 3. He was coming home (last night after work). 4. We were talking on the telephone. 5. They were running. 6. You were studying English in junior high school. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What were you doing yesterday at this time? (I was working. / I was eating lunch. / I wasn't doing anything special.) 2. What was your father doing this morning at 8? (He was ...) 3. What were your parents doing last week? (They were ...) 4. Were you studying English last night? (Yes I was studying. / No I wasn't studying.) 5. Were you working or studying five years ago?
English Grammar Pattern 17 Noun + Verb + Noun Model Sentence My sister enjoys tennis. This is another very basic pattern. You should try to say it as easily as your own name! Be careful to add an "s" after most verbs if the first noun is "he" or "she". We say "I enjoy" but "She enjoys". Got it? Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I want coffee. 2. He enjoys steak. 3. She loves money. 4. They finished work. 5. My sister went to New York. Conversation Practice - Practice these questions with your friends. Be sure to answer with the Noun + Verb + Noun pattern! 1. Do you enjoy coffee? 2. Do you enjoy tea? 3. Does your mother love cars? 4. Does your father like art? 5. Did you finish your work? 6. Where did you go yesterday?
English Grammar Pattern 18 Longer Noun + Verb + Noun Model Sentence My younger brother Sam drinks beer. This pattern is similar to Pattern 17, however the first noun (the subject of the sentence) can sometimes be a very long "noun phrase". For example, look at the model sentence above. Instead of "Sam drinks beer" which only has one word (Sam) as the subject, the model has four words ("My younger brother Sam") as the subject. This adds useful information and helps us to communicate more effectively. Or look at Pronunciation Practice sentence 5 below - the first noun phrase has nine words! Using noun phrases easily takes practice but when you can say them well, your speaking will be much more fluent. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. My older sister wants coffee. 2. My friend Joe from Hawaii enjoys tea. 3. The brother of my best friend enjoys steak. 4. The woman who works in that shop loves money. 5. My older sister's friend who works in that shop went to New York. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What does your older sister (or younger sister) like to drink? 2. Do you have a friend from another city? Does he enjoy tea? 3. Who do you know that enjoys steak? 4. What kind of people love money? 5. Do you know anyone who has travelled to another city?
English Grammar Pattern 19 Noun + Verb + Longer Noun Model Sentence This is my favorite book. Pattern 18 has a longer verb at the beginning of the sentence. In Pattern 19, however, the longer verb comes at the end. The model sentence shows a "noun phrase" with three words ("my favorite book"). Pronunciation Practice sentence 9 has a noun phrase with six words ("their work on the business deal"). Of course, there is no limit to the possible length of a noun phrase. (Let's try a looooooooooong example! "These lessons are the most useful lessons on English grammar and sentence patterns in any country on Earth or on any website now, in the past, and in the future"!) Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. That is my house. 2. The women are famous lawyers. 3. He loves to play the guitar. 4. He enjoys steak with potatos. 5. I hate to drive during rush hour! 6. She's crazy about playing tennis. 7. I love to drive down country roads! 8. I want hot coffee with no milk or sugar. 9. They finished their work on the business deal. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you love to do? 2. Are you crazy about any sport? 3. How do you drink your tea? 4. What kind of coffee do you like? 5. What work have you finished recently? 6. What kind of worker are you? 7. What kind of worker is your father?
English Grammar Pattern 20 Noun + Verb + Verb + Noun Model Sentence She can speak Japanese. Patterns 20, 21 and 22 have two verbs together in the middle of each sentence. Pattern 20 has two simple verbs together without "to" or "ing". In the Model Sentence, the two verbs are "can" and "speak". Although this pattern (Pattern 20) is quite simple, it is important to know the difference between this pattern and the next two (Pattern 21 and Pattern 22). Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. We can read books. 2. I can't hear the music. 3. You will see her. 4. We won't visit him. 5. I don't know them. 6. I do know them. ("do" makes it stronger – "I really DO know them"!) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What can you do well? copyright BoveyEdu.Cn 2. What can't you do very well? 3. Will you go somewhere tonight? 4. Will you visit anyone tomorrow? 5. Do you know the Marx brothers? (Groucho, Harpo and Chico, not Karl!) 6. Did you study English yesterday?
English Grammar Pattern 21 Noun + Verb + "to" + Verb + Noun Model Sentence He likes to sleep late. Pattern 21 has two verbs together in the middle of each sentence, linked by "to". In the Model Sentence above, the verb "likes" is followed by "to sleep". When you read English and see two verbs linked with "to", try to remember the first verb. That verb should always be followed by a verb in the "infinitive" form - that is a verb with "to". The most common verbs followed by "to" (followed by the "infinitive") are "want", "hope", "try", "ask", "expect" and "care". Notice that these verbs are all involved, in some way, with the future. (The verb "like" can be used with "to" or with "ing", as you will see with Pattern 22!) Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. We like to read books. 2. They want to eat soup. 3. She hopes to teach English. 4. He tries to improve his writing. 5. I stopped to eat dinner. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you like to read? 2. What do you want to eat for dinner tonight? 3. Where do you hope to work in the future? 4. What are you trying to improve in your life? 5. Do you sometimes stop on your way home from work? Why?
English Grammar Pattern 22 Noun + Verb + "ing" + Verb + Noun Model Sentence She remembers dancing under the stars! Pattern 22 has two verbs together in the middle of each sentence, with the second verb using "ing". In the Model Sentence above, the verb "remembers" is followed by "dancing". Besides "remember", other common verbs that are followed by "ing" are "enjoy", "prefer" "consider" and sometimes "like". Verb phrases, such as "think about" or "believe in" can also be followed by a verb with "ing". In some ways, the second verb with "ing" functions as a noun - we "enjoy something" or "prefer something" or "remember something". Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. He enjoys playing tennis. 2. Do you enjoy reading? 3. What do you enjoy doing on the weekend? BoveyEdu 4. I tried studying Japanese. 5. We remember visiting Washington three years ago. 6. They like swimming very much. (The verb "like" can be followed by "to" OR "ing"!) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you enjoy playing tennis? 2. What sport do you enjoy playing the most? 3. Do you try learning many new things? 4. Can you remember doing anything special last week? 5. What do you remember thinking when you started learning English? 6. Do you like studying English? 7. What do you like studying besides English?
English Grammar Pattern 23 Noun + Verb + Adjective Model Sentence We are very busy. Pattern 23 is basically quite easy. However, the adjective at the end can sometimes be a phrase that is quite long. The adjective in the Model Sentence above is "busy", but it could also be "very busy" or "really very busy" or even "so busy that we cannot get all of our work done today"! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. They are hungry. 2. They are not very hungry. 3. The teachers are lazy. 4. The teachers are very lazy. 5. The teachers are not very lazy. 6. She seems very happy. 7. Your sisters seems to be very happy. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Are you tired now? 2. How do you feel today? 3. Were your high school teachers hard working? 4. Is your boss hard working or lazy? 5. You seem to be very happy. Are you?
English Grammar Pattern 24 Noun + Verb + Time or Place Model Sentence Next month is summer. Pattern 24 is similar to Sentence Pattern 23, except that the adjective at the end can be replaced by words showing a time or a place. The Model Sentence is quite simple - the time is just "summer". In the Pronunciation Practice section, you can see longer possible phrases such as "in the restaurant" or "later in the week". Even very long phrases can be used. For example, "We ate during the exciting football match between Germany and Brazil that was won by Germany by a score of two to one". Most of the time, it is much simpler, though, so you can practicing the sentences below is enough! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Tomorrow is Wednesday. 2. She is coming to our house. 3. She is coming today. 4. We will eat later. 5. We will eat later today. 6. We will eat Chinese food later in the week. 7. We will eat in the restaurant. 8. You can visit next week. 9. She is there. 10. Birds are in the sky. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What day is tomorrow? 2. What day was yesterday? 3. When will you eat next? 4. Where will you eat dinner? 5. What can you often see in the sky? 6. What can you often see on a mountain?
English Grammar Pattern 25 Noun + Verb + Manner Model Sentence My students are learning quickly. Sentence Pattern 25 is similar to Patterns 23 and 24. The only difference is that the last part shows the "manner", or "how" the action is done. This is a very common pattern used in conversations, so discussion questions are included at the end. In this pattern, it is often possible to move the "manner" (the final adverb or adverbial phrase) in front of the verb. Those possibilities are shown below after each practice sentence. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Birds are flying slowly. (The birds are slowly flying.) 2. The children were eating hungrily. (The children were hungrily eating.) 3. Those children play noisily. (Those children noisily play.) 4. My friends work eagerly. (My friends eagerly work.) 5. Can you finish your work in less than an hour? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How do fish usually swim? (quickly? slowly?) 2. How well did you learn as a student? (slowly? eagerly?) 3. Do your friends study actively? 4. Will you speak English fluently in 3 years? 5. Did you study hard as a high school student? (Do NOT use "hardly" here. "Hardly" is a special word in English that means "not very much"!) Discussion Questions – Give longer answers to these questions. 1. Can you speak English fluently now? 2. How will you learn to speak English better? 3. Do you always work hard at your job? 4. What activities do you do enthusiastically?
English Grammar Pattern 26 Noun + Verb + Long Phrase Model Sentence She asked me when the movie would begin. Sentence Pattern 26 uses "connectors" such as "when", "where", "who", "why" and "that" to build on Patterns 23, 24 and 25. This pattern allows you to add much more information when you are communicating in English. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. He was sleeping when the telephone rang. 2. They were waiting where the road curves. 3. She was wondering why the weather was so cold. 4. I want to know who will cook dinner tonight. 5. This is the book that I bought yesterday. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Where were you when the sun came up this morning? 2. Have you been to a city where there is lots of rain? 3. Why is the weather colder in winter than in summer? 4. Do you know who the President of China is? 5. When is the time that you study best? ("That" is not necessary! "When is the time you study best" is okay, too!)
English Grammar Pattern 27 Long Noun + Long Verb Model Sentence The 25-year-old man in the park is trying to fly a kite. This sentence pattern uses two "phrases", first a "long noun" and then a "long verb", to communicate a simple idea with several details. In the Model Sentence above, the first part (the long noun) shows us that it is a rather young man and where he is. The second part (the long verb) shows us what he is doing and that he is "trying" but maybe not succeeding! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. The seven students are studying now. 2. The seven happy students are studying very hard. 3. Some young teachers were talking. 4. Some young, intelligent teachers were talking. 5. The cats and dogs had been sleeping. (Before they woke up!) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What are your parents doing now? 2. How hard were your friends studying as university students? 3. What had you been doing before you started this lesson? 4. What are you and your friends doing today? 5. Where are you and your family going to eat dinner tonight?
English Grammar Pattern 28 Long Noun + Long Verb + Adjective or Adverb Model Sentence A yellow bird was flying quickly across the sky. Now that we have mastered Sentence Pattern 27, we can add an adverb or adjective at the end to make even more interesting sentences. The examples below are enough to show you how... Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. The happy students have been studying hard. 2. Three teachers are talking to tired students. 3. A fat cat is looking for some little mice. 4. A driver of a fast car cannot stop very quickly. 5. Good students from London are thinking about a large, delicious dinner! Conversation Practice - Answer these questions with a full sentence. 1. How do happy workers do their jobs? 2. What do fat cats often look for? 3. What kind of students think about really special dinners? 4. How easily can a driver of a big car change directions? 5. What kind of students need help from their hard working teachers?
English Grammar Pattern 29 Noun + Verb + Noun + Movement Model Sentence The boss gave some advice to his workers. The end of Sentence Pattern 29 is usually called an "indirect object". What does that really mean? It means there is some kind of movement - something is moving to another place. For example, in the Model Sentence above, what happened to the advice? It "moved" from the boss to the workers. Most grammar books make this pattern seem very difficult, but it's not. Just learn the sentences below! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. She gave the keys to her friend. 2. My brother threw a bone at the dog. 3. My sister moved her home to the city center. 4. We put the old magazines into the garbage bin. 5. The swimmer threw himself into the water. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you give any kind words to your coworkers? 2. What nice gifts have you given to your parents? 3. What kind of things have you put on top of your television? 4. What can you throw at (or to) your dog? 5. Where do you usually put old newspapers? 6. Which part of the city do you want to move to?
English Grammar Pattern 30 Noun + Place + Verb + Noun or Adjective Model Sentence A hungry dog in the street is looking for food. This pattern is a little more difficult than previous sentence patterns but it is based on a combination of those patterns. The Model Sentence, for example, starts with a long noun (A hungry dog) as subject, then mentions the place (in the street) followed by a verb (is looking) then a final phrase (for food). Your English will become more fluent if you can say the sentences below easily. Remember, "practice makes perfect"! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. The apple on the table looks delicious. 2. Two cats under the bed look scared! 3. My friend in Australia wants a new job. 4. A group of people near the door seem very happy. 5. Some people in our city want to build a new train station. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do the decorations in your house look like? 2. What do dogs under the dining room table seem to want? 3. Are your friends in other cities happy to live there? 4. Who in your city wants to make changes? 5. What food in your home is not very fresh?
English Grammar Pattern 31 Noun + Verb + Long Noun + Place Model Sentence I saw a very interesting show in the theater. Look at the Model Sentence to understand this very common grammar pattern. The first noun ("I" - the subject) and the verb ("saw") are very simple. Then we have a long noun ("a very interesting show") followed by the place ("in a theater"). Say the Pronunciation Practice sentences until you can say them perfectly. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. We have two bottles of milk in the fridge. 2. He ate six big juicy hamburgers in the park. 3. There is half a loaf of bread on the table. 4. We can buy five pounds of meat from the supermarket. 5. The woman was driving a beautiful sports car up the mountain. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you have to drink in your refrigerator (fridge)? 2. Have you seen some really interesting movies in a theater? 3. What kinds of vegetables can you buy in your local supermarket? 4. What special foods do you cook at home? 5. What special foods do you eat in a restaurant?
English Grammar Pattern 32 There is / There are Model Sentence There is a big dog in front of the house. Use this simple grammar pattern to start lots of conversations. Start with "There is" when talking about one thing or start your conversation with "There are" if you are talking about two or more things. Then explain what (in the Model Sentence the "what" is "a big dog") and explain where ("in front of the house") and you have a good sentence! There are three discussion questions at the end to get you started using this sentence pattern in real conversations. Have fun! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. There are three people in my family. 2. There is a book on the table. 3. There aren't any eggs in the refrigerator. 4. There isn't any time left in the game. 5. There are only a few cars on the road. 6. There are too many cars on the road. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Are there many people in your family? 2. How many people work in your office? 3. Are there too many cars in your city? 4. Is there too much pollution in your hometown? 5. Is there any cheese in your refrigerator? Discussion Questions - Give longer answers to these questions. 1. Do you think there are too many people in the world? 2. Are there people in this world that you admire? 3. Is there a special place that you want to visit?
English Grammar Pattern 33 There was / There were Model Sentence There was a big storm last night. This grammar pattern is similar to sentence pattern 32, except that it is in the past. Use this in conversations about things that happened before now. It's quite easy, so be sure to learn these sentences until you can say them perfectly. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. There were seventeen students in the class. 2. There was a tall student sitting in the front. 3. There was a big earthquake in China a few years ago. 4. Was there a party last night? 5. Were there many people at the meeting yesterday? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Was there a special event that changed your life? 2. Were there many good teachers in your high school? 3. Was there a McDonald's in your town when you were a child? 4. Were there interesting TV shows on TV when you were a child? 5. How many TV stations were there in your hometown 20 years ago?
English Grammar Pattern 34 English Articles Model Sentence A man jumped into the river. Who was the man?. Articles are one of the most difficult points of English grammar for ESL students. Learn the sentences in this lesson will make it easier for you. In English, we often start with "a" and "an" which are called "indefinite articles". These are used with something we don't know well. We can then continue with "the", which is a "definite article". We use "the" with something we know. The practice sentences in this grammar lesson are in pairs - the first sentence uses an indefinite article but then we know the topic, so the second sentence uses a definite article. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1a. There is a man next to the table. (We don't know who he is yet.) 1b. The man is from Sydney. (Now we know him, at least a little!) 2a. A man came to our office this morning. (Who? We don't know.) 2b. The man wanted to meet our boss. (Now we know him a little.) 3. The Nile is a river in Egypt. (Everybody knows it.) 4. There is a river in my hometown called the Genesee River. 5. Put this fruit in the kitchen. (We know that every house has a kitchen.) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1a. Do you have a pet? 1b. What is the pet's name? 2a. Is there a lake near your hometown? 2b. Is the lake big or small? 3. Where is the Mississippi River? 4. What is the capital city of France?
English Grammar Pattern 35 English Determiners Model Sentence Those two cars belong to this company. The most common English determiners are some, a few, many, these, those, and that. We use determiners in English to show how much or how many things you are talking about. In other words, we add important information to our conversations which helps us communicate more effectively. Learn the sentence patterns below to practice the most useful determiners in English. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Those people are not my coworkers. 2. These books are mine but these are not. 3. Give me that book on the table. 4. Some of these magazines are interesting but many are not. 5. I like a few movies but not many. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you have many books in your home? 2. What things do you have only a few of? 3. What are some things you really enjoy? 4. Think of something you really hate. What is that? 5. Think of some things you want to do. What are those things?
English Grammar Pattern 36 English Sentences with "it" Model Sentence It is very cloudy today. Some English sentences don't have a grammatical subject, so we can use "it" as a kind of "empty subject". We often use "it" in English to talk about time and weather. Practice the sentences below and your English conversation will be much more colloquial! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. What time is it? (It's 3 o'clock.) 2. What's it like outside? (It's cold and windy.) 3. It's a great day today! 4. It's Wednesday. 5. It's 2010. (Or "This year (not it!) is 2010".) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What will the weather be like tomorrow? (It will be...) 2. What's the date today? 3. Is it the weekend yet? (Yes it is. / No it's not. It's ...) 4. Is it raining right now? 5. Will it snow tomorrow?
English Grammar Pattern 37 Either / Neither / Too / So Model Sentence They don't agree and neither do I! In English grammar, we use words such as "Either", "Neither", "Too" or "So" to show agreement during a conversation. Use one of these expressions to give answers. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. She seems very tired. (I am too!) 2. I want to go home. (So do I!) 3. I don't like this TV show. (I don't either!) 4. I am not happy with this class. (Neither am I!) 5. We don't want to go out tonight. How about you? (I don't either.) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How does your sister (or brother) feel now? How about you? 2. Do you have a million dollars? How about your friends? 3. Have your friends been to South Africa? How about you? 4. Can your parents fly an airplane? What about you? 5. Which country were you born in? What about your brother? (or sister?)
English Grammar Pattern 38 Comparing Actions in English Model Sentence They must work harder. OR He can read more quickly than me. We have two ways to compare things in English grammer. With short words, we add "-er" at the end of a word (such as "work harder" in the Model Sentence) or we use "more" before a word (as in "more quickly"). Practice the grammar points by using the sentences below. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. We must study harder if we want to succeed. 2. You can run more quickly if you are in a hurry. 3. They spoke louder because nobody could hear them. 4. She drove more slowly to avoid an accident. 5. I will think more carefully before answering next time. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you want to do more seriously? 2. Is there anything you can do more quickly than your friends? 3. Is there anything you do more slowly than your friends? 4. When should people speak louder than normal? 5. When should people speak more softly than normal? 6. What should people try to do more carefully?
English Grammar Pattern 39 Comparing Things in English Model Sentence Their car is more powerful than my car is. Similar to English Sentence Pattern 38, this pattern makes a comparison. However, English Sentence Pattern 39 compares two things, not two actions. Generally, shorter words will use "er" (be + adjective + -er + than) but longer words use "more" (be + more (or less!) + adjective + than) to make this comparison. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. My new apartment building is taller than my old one. 2. My new teacher is more interesting than the previous one. 3. Her older brother is less successful than she is. 4. Our new computer is faster than our old computer. 5. We are better students than they are. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you do better than other people? 2. What do you do less well than others? 3. Who usually studies harder than you do? 4. Who can run faster than your mother? 5. What is more interesting than studying English?
English Grammar Pattern 40 Comparing Three or More Things in English Model Sentence That book is the most interesting book in our house When we describe three or more things using English grammar, we not use "er" or "more". Instead, we use "the" with "-est" or "the most". It's a small change from English Sentence Pattern 38 and English Sentence Pattern 39 so you should master this pattern easily! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. That TV program is the most interesting, don't you agree? 2. This TV program is the funniest, don't you think so? 3. Our teacher is the most boring teacher in ther world, isn't he? 4. This is the tallest building in the city, right? 5. She is the worst English speaker I know! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Who is the best English speaker you know? 2. Who is the worst English speaker you know? 3. What is the funniest TV show you have ever seen? 4. What do you think is the most interesting city in the world? 5. Which is the longest river in the world?
English Grammar Pattern 41 Noun + "Be" + Adjectives Model Sentence The bread was warm, soft and tasty. Learners of English often use single adjective to describe an object. In this grammar pattern, students should try to use two or more adjectives together at the end of each sentence. For many students, this is a question of pronunciation more than grammar. In any case, practice always makes perfect. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. The air was clean, cool and fresh. 2. The car was fast and powerful. 3. My sister is intelligent, beautiful and charming. 4. We were hungry, thirsty and tired. 5. The weather was cold, windy and rainy. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How can you describe your family members? 2. What is your best friend like? 3. What is the weather like today? 4. What was the weather like yesterday? 5. Can you describe your favorite food? 6. What special food did you eat yesterday?
English Grammar Pattern 42 Noun + Place + "Be" + Adjectives Model Sentence The people in the car were hot and tired. This grammar pattern is similar to English Sentence Pattern 41 with the only difference being that you tell us "where" (a place) you saw the thing being described by the adjectives. It's a little bit longer than the previous pattern, so practice saying it until you can say it easily. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. The air by the sea is clean, cool and fresh. 2. The woman next to the boat was tall, beautiful and dangerous! 3. A friendly dog in your home can be fun and interesting. 4. Ten of the students in the classroom were sleepy, bored, and restless. 5. My friend from Spain is hard working and intelligent. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Are students in an English classroom usually bored and sleepy? 2. How can we describe workers in your country? 3. What activities do you think are fun and interesting? 4. Where can you find activities that are fun and interesting? 5. Have you ever met a woman who is tall, beautiful and dangerous? Where???
English Grammar Pattern 43 Long Nouns with Question Words Model Sentence "Whoever smiles first is the loser!" OR "The loser is whoever smiles first!" Although this grammar pattern is similar to English Sentence Pattern 18 it is much more challenging. We make the longer noun in this pattern using "question words" for example, the Model Sentences above use "whoever smiles first" either at the beginning or the end of the sentence. When you get used to this sentence pattern, it will seem quite easy, so keep trying! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Whoever finishes first is the winner. (The winner is whoever finishes first.) 2. Whenever we arrive we'll have a party. (We'll have a party whenever we arrive.) 3. Whichever bus comes first, we'll take. (We'll take whichever bus comes first.) 4. Wherever we go, it will be fun. (It will be fun wherever we go.) 5. Whatever you do, we will support you. (We will support you whatever you do.) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Who will win a basketball match? (Whoever scores the most points...) 2. Where can we find good Chinese food in Beijing? (Wherever you go...) 3. When do you like eating pizza? (Whenever I'm hungry!) 4. What kind of movies do you watch? (Whatever is playing at the cinema...) 5. Which kind of computer do you want to buy? (Whichever is cheaper...)
English Grammar Pattern 44 Question + Preposition + Noun Model Sentence "What's the reason for doing it this way? This grammar pattern begins with a full question, not just a question word. In the Model Sentence, "What's the reason" is a question. Then "doing it this way" is a noun. Between the question and the noun, we have a preposition "for" to link the two. This is not a very easy pattern, but it's quite useful! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. What's the problem with the car? (The problem with the car is...) 2. What's the matter with this tea? 3. What's the solution to this problem? 4. Who's the author of this book? 5. Where's the manager of this store? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Who is the leader in your company? 2. What's the name of your hometown? 3. Where's the capital city of your country? 4. How is the food in your favorite restaurant? 5. When is the biggest festival in your country or city?
English Grammar Pattern 45 Very Long Noun + Verb Model Sentence A bicycle with blue handlebars and a red seat almost hit me! Sentence Pattern 45 includes some very long noun phrases. The subject in the Model Sentence (underlined) has 9 words. The fifth sentence in the Pronunication Practice section has 16 words! You will have to practice hard to be able say these kinds of sentences, but you will be truly fluent if you can. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. The boy who bought the fresh oranges on Wednesday returned today. 2. My coworker with the incredibly beautiful girlfriend is getting married soon. 3. A day in the sun without any work to do is a wonderful day! 4. Three days of working hard without any breaks will make you very tired! 5. A teacher with some very good ideas for helping students improve their English quickly and efficiently is a great teacher! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How many days of working hard without a break have you done before? 2. What kind of day is a wonderful day for you? 3. Have you ever met a woman with an incredibly handsome boyfriend? 4. Do you know any teachers with good ideas for helping students improve their English more quickly and easily than usual?
English Grammar Pattern 46 Modified Adjectives Model Sentence That's a truly wonderful story. Adjectives "modify" or change nouns by adding more information about the nouns. In other words, nouns can be described in more detail using adjectives. Not only nouns, but also adjectives can be described, or "modified". In the Model Sentence, "wonderful" is an adjective which is modified or described by the word "truly". Recite the practice sentences below to learn how to modify adjectives yourself. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Is that a good book? Yes, it's a very exciting story. 2. Is your car new or old? It's quite an old car. 3. Does your friend like to dance? No, she's not a very active person. 4. Are your parents interested in travelling? No, they are extremely hard working so they usually don't leave the city. 5. Do you live in a quiet neighborhood? No, it's quite noisy because there are many cars. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Can you describe your home or apartment? 2. What kind of neighborhood do you live in? 3. Are you the kind of person who has enough time to travel? 4. Can you tell us what kind of movies or TV programs you enjoy? 5. Is your friend the type of person who will go dancing often?
English Grammar Pattern 47 Adverbs with "When" Model Sentence We like to wake up when the sun rises. Adverbs modify verbs. In other words, adverbs give more information about verbs. In the Model Sentence, the verb is "wake up". We can show the time of waking up by using an expression with "when" - "when the sun rises". This is a very common pattern in English, but students often struggle with it. Just practice this grammar pattern a few times, however, and you'll master it very soon. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I usually eat when my brother eats. 2. They normally sleep when the sun goes down. 3. She doesn't study when the weekend comes. 4. We need an umbrella when it's raining. 5. My cousin travels when he doesn't have a lot of work to do. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you like to do when the weekend comes? 2. Do you always have an umbrella when it rains? 3. Do you always carry an umbrella when it doesn't rain? 4. Is there a regular time when you go to bed? 5. When do you think is the best time to travel?
English Grammar Pattern 48 Adjectives with "Who" Model Sentence A good friend is a person who will help you in difficult times. Who is "a person" in the Model Sentence above? We can use many adjectives to describe this person. In English, ordinary adjectives come before the noun - "he is a good person" or "she is a happy person". In this grammar pattern, however, we have a longer adjective that describes this person using a phrase introduced by "who". So we know this person will help others when they have trouble. This is a good way to add important meaning to your communication in English. Learn it well and use it often! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I have a friend who likes to jump out of airplanes. 2. My sister is a person who sleeps until noon. 3. Learners of English are people who really hope to succeed! 4. A good musician is a perfectionist who practices every day. 5. Joe is a teacher who likes to laugh. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you know anybody who can fix a broken computer? 2. Do you have a friend who can play the guitar? 3. Who is a famous person who appears often on TV? 4. Are you the type of person who likes to wake up early? 5. Was there a teacher who really helped you a lot?
English Grammar Pattern 49 "Do you think...?" Model Sentence Do you think they can win the game? Sentence Pattern 49 is a basic Yes / No question but with a longer noun phrase at the end. This is one of the most common conversation starters in English, so learn it perfectly! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Do you think it will rain tomorrow? 2. Do you think they'll come here next week? 3. Does she think he will return home in the future? 4. Did they think we would pay the bill for them? 5. Do you think they will come here tomorrow? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you think you can speak English better than before? 2. Does your father think you are a good student? 3. Did you think you could become a great English speaker? 4. Did you think you could quickly start speaking English fluently? 5. Do you think you will learn another language after English?
English Grammar Pattern 50 "What do you think...?" Model Sentence What do you think is the best type of music? Sentence Pattern 50 is another one of the most common conversation starters in English. You can use this pattern in almost any situation, so use it often. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. What do you think he will do? 2. What do you think the weather will be like tomorrow? 3. When do you think they'll come here? 4. Who does she think will return in the future? 5. Where do you think the show will begin? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you think you will do next week? 2. What does your mother think you should do in your career? 3. When do you think you can speak English perfectly? 4. Who do you think is the best singer in the world? 5. Where do you think is the most beautiful city in the world?
English Grammar Pattern 51 Sentence + "but" + Reason Model Sentence We stopped by your home last night but you may have already gone to bed. Sentence Pattern 51 is a very long pattern but it is simply made by combining two sentences together. In the Model Sentence above, the first sentence is "We stopped by your home last night". At the end, a reason or explanation is given by using another sentence - "you may have already gone to bed". Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I called you yesterday at two o'clock but maybe you were working then. (so I couldn't talk to you) 2. He saw her before the meeting in a coffee shop studying English. (so she didn't come to the meeting) 3. They saw us sitting in the classroom because our class was having a test. (so they couldn't talk to us outside of class) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Can a person stay home from work because she is sick? 2. Will some people try to buy a new home after getting a better job? 3. Do singers ever lose their voice after singing many songs? 4. Why might you try to work late when you have a new boss? 5. Is it possible for a young man to work less when he has a new girlfriend?
English Grammar Pattern 52 "Be afraid" + "that" + Sentence Model Sentence I'm afraid that I can't help you this time. This is a very common sentence pattern that is used to make an excuse, to refuse a request, or to say you're sorry. In the Conversation Practice exercise below, be sure that all answers use this pattern! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I'm afraid I'm too tired to go to work! 2. I'm afraid (that) I won't be able to finish this job. 3. I'm afraid (that) I won't have time to see you this weekend. 4. I'm sorry but I can't meet you this week. (How about next week?) 5. I'm sorry but I won't be able to finish the job until next week. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends. Be sure the answers use "I'm afraid that...". 1. Could you lend me 100 dollars? 2. Would you stay at work until 11 o'clock tonight? 3. Will you let me sleep at your home for a few weeks? 4. Can you do my homework for me? 5. Could you do all of my work for me while I'm on vacation?
English Grammar Pattern 53 "Will be" + Verb + Time Model Sentence Our company will be closed during the holiday. In this grammar pattern, the verb is most often used in the '-ing' form, which means we are talking about a continuing action in the future. We can also use the past participle, as in the Model Sentence above. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I'll be travelling for business the next three weeks. 2. I'll be studying until 10 o'clock tonight. 3. They'll be staying in a hotel until their roof is repaired. 4. My friend will be coming home at the end of the year. 5. A hard winter will be coming before long. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What will you be doing during your next vacation? 2. Where will you be going on the weekend? 3. Who will you be working with next year? 4. When will you be staying at home this month? 5. What will you be studying next year at this time?
English Grammar Pattern 54 "Be going to" + Verb + Time Model Sentence Are you going to take a vacation next month? This is very similar to Sentence Pattern 53. The big difference is that we use "be going to" instead of "will". In sentence pattern 54, we are already using "-ing" in "going to" so most verbs that follow will NOT be in the "-ing" form. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Are you going to visit Japan this year? 2. Is she going to start a new job this week? 3. Are they going to have a baby soon? 4. Is he going to visit us this month? 5. Are you going to buy a new computer sometime this year? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Are you going to do anything fun on the weekend? 2. Are you going to visit some place interesting this month? 3. Are your friends going to visit you this week? 4. Is your brother (or sister) going to work on Saturday? 5. Is your city going to have any big events in the summer?
English Grammar Pattern 55 Noun + Verb + Adverb + Time or Place Model Sentence My dog plays enthusiastically in the morning. There are four parts to Sentence Pattern 55 so it can be long. However, the first three parts (Noun + Verb + Adverb) simply make an ordinary sentence. We can then add more information by adding a time, such as "in the morning" in the Model Sentence above. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. We speak often on the weekend. 2. Our sister studies diligently all the time. 3. A red car drove wildly down the road. 4. Two happy dogs ran eagerly to the young girl 5. My brother and I are working intensely this month. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Did you study hard yesterday? 2. Did your parents sleep well last night? 3. Did you eat any vegetables at dinner? 4. Will you read these sentences carefully today? 5. Have you ever woken suddenly from a dream?
English Grammar Pattern 56 Past Questions with "How" Model Sentence How far did you walk yesterday? Although Sentence Pattern 56 seems easy, many students have trouble with it. Many students learn the word "How" very early in their English studies when they learn to say "How are you?". From that point on, they rarely use "How" to make past questions. Practice the sentences and conversations below and it will become very easy for you. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. How well did he sleep last night? 2. How many cookies did she eat? 3. How did you hurt your hand? (adverb is not always necessary!) 4. How quickly did you go up the stairs? 5. How hungry were you this morning? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How well did you sleep last night? 2. How much money did you spend yesterday? 3. How long have you studied English? 4. How far could you throw a ball? (When you were a child!) 5. How did your parents choose your name?
English Grammar Pattern 57 Longer Questions with "Be" + "ing" Model Sentence What will you be doing when you are 65 years old? This grammar pattern is especially useful for talking about future possibilities. It can also be used for any action that continues or lasts a long time. Use your imagination to answer the Conversation Questions below! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Who will he be living with if he moves to New York? 2. What is she going to study in university next year? 3. When are you going to invite us to dinner! 4. What will he be doing after he finishes this job? 5. Where will they be having dinner on his birthday? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What are you planning to do after work tomorrow? 2. When will you be taking some time off from work? 3. What are you going to watch on TV tonight? 4. Where will you be spending your weekend? 5. Where are you going to visit during your next vacation?
English Grammar Pattern 58 Longer Past Questions Model Sentence Why did you start to learn English so seriously? Sentence Pattern 58 is excellent practice in asking more interesting questions about past events and actions. This pattern can help you use English to get to know people better, so use it often! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. How did you learn to pronounce English so clearly? 2. Where did you learn to speak French so fluently? 3. When did you learn to play the piano so beautifully? 4. What did she do to improve her singing so much? 5. Who did he find to help him with his homework? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. When did you improve your English speaking the most? 2. Who helped you learn to remember vocabulary most effectively? 3. Where did you have the chance to gain the most job experience? 4. How did you start to move up in your career? 5. What did you do to learn English grammar so well?
English Grammar Pattern 59 Basic Sentence + Place or Time or Both Model Sentence We want to find a teacher near our home next year. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I want to travel to Canada in the fall. 2. She's going to take her mother to Mexico for a holiday. 3. They plan to sell their old magazines to the local bookstore. 4. We have to bring our children to school after breakfast. 5. The five children were asked to carry their books to school in the morning. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What things will you carry to work tomorrow morning? 2. Have you put any flowers on your desk at work? 3. Do you plan to throw away any old stuff in your house? 4. Are you going to buy anything for your house in the near future? 5. What do you have to do at home in the next week?
English Grammar Pattern 60 Have + "decided to" Model Sentence We have decided to move to another city. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I've decided to get married! 2. She's decided to have a baby! 3. They've decided to move to India! 4. We've decided to stop eating so much meat. 5. My wife and I have decided to travel all around the world. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you decided to make any changes in your career? 2. Have you decided to make any changes at home? 3. Would you ever decide to stop eating meat? 4. When will you decide to change jobs (or not)? 5. Have you decided to continue studying English?
English Grammar Pattern 61 "Have you ever..." + Desire or Hope or Experience Model Sentence Have you ever travelled on a ship? This English sentence pattern is one of the best conversation starters. Start with "Have you ever..." and then continue with the past participle (often the "ed" form) of the main verb. You can learn a lot about your conversation partner with this pattern, then use follow-up questions to practice speaking even more. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Have you ever been in an accident? 2. Have you ever tried jumping from an airplane? 3. Have you ever tried to stop eating meat? 4. Have you ever seen a UFO? (Unidentified Flying Object) 5. Have you ever wanted to stop doing some bad habit? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you ever experienced an earthquake? 2. Have you ever met a famous person? 3. Have you ever travelled by motorcycle? 4. Have you ever tried to stop watching TV? 5. Have you ever thought about becoming a professional singer?
English Grammar Pattern 62 "I heard (that)..." + Sentence Model Sentence I heard that the Earth will come to an end in 2020. We have a choice of form here. We can say "I heard that..." or just "I heard...". Sometimes, we can add have, as in "I've heard that..." or "I've heard..." Each of these sentences have the same meaning. It's easiest to just practice the model sentence above and the Pronunciation Practice sentences below, and use that form most of the time. Good luck! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I heard (that) there's going to be a big sale this weekend. 2. I heard (that) the zoo will get a new baby panda next week. 3. My sister heard (that) her company will go out of business soon. 4. The newspaper reporter heard (that) the president will resign tomorrow. 5. We heard (that) tomorrow's weather will be sunny and warm. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you heard what tomorrow's weather will be like? 2. Have you heard about any good movies recently? 3. Have you heard any interesting news at work? 4. Have you heard any news about famous singers or actors? 5. Have you heard any interesting stories lately?
English Grammar Pattern 63 "Have you heard of..." + Long Noun Model Sentence Have you heard of a story about people lost on an island? This is a variation on English Grammar Pattern 62 and is also a good conversation starter. The final noun phrases can be long, so practice many sentences carefully until you can say them fluently. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Have you heard of a man named Obama? 2. Have you heard of a car that can fly? 3. Have you heard of a movie called "Back to the Future"? 4. Have you heard of a book called "The Tipping Point"? 5. Have you heard of a funny teacher named Joe? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you heard of a TV program called "Lie to Me"? 2. Have you heard of a talking car? 3. Have you heard of a book called "War and Peace"? 4. Have you heard of a place called "Shangrila"? 5. Have you heard of a woman named Hillary?
English Grammar Pattern 64 Do you know + if (or whether) + Noun + Verb + Long Noun Model Sentence Do you know if we can connect to the Internet from here? This is quite a long sentence pattern. The final clause is, in fact, just a long sentence. See English Grammar Pattern 19 for examples. So, if you can simply say "Do you know if..." (or "Do you know whether...") and then add a sentence, you will do well. With practice, long sentences such as these become easy, so keep on practicing! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Do you know if we can connect to the Internet from here? 2. Do you know whether Maggie works here or not? 3. Do you know if we can find a good place to park our car? 4. Do you know whether it will be warm tomorrow? 5. Does your father know if we can visit his company next week? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you know if the sun is bigger than the moon? 2. Do you know whether we can live on the moon? 3. Do you know if you will live in this city five years from now? 4. Do you know whether you will live to be 100? 5. Do you know if it will rain tomorrow?
English Grammar Pattern 65 Using "Hope" with real possibilities Model Sentence We hope we can come here again next week. This sentence pattern uses "Hope" with real possibilities and is different from Grammar Pattern 66 which uses "Wish" with unrealistic possibilities. Use this pattern with "Hope" when you believe something will really happen or can realistically happen. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I hope I will get the job! 2. My sister hopes she can go to England. 3. I hope the weather will be nicer tomorrow. 4. Our company hopes it can make a lot of money this year! 5. I hope we don't have a test in English class tomorrow. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you hope to do tomorrow? 2. Do you hope to go anywhere on the weekend? 3. When do you hope to move to a different home? 4. Do you hope to do anything special this year? 5. What do you hope to change in your life?
English Grammar Pattern 66 Using "Wish" with unreal possibilities Model Sentence I wish I could play the piano well enough to perform on stage! This sentence pattern uses "Wish" with UNreal possibilities. Use this pattern when you are just dreaming! It is different from Grammar Pattern 65 which uses "Hope" with realistic possibilities. Use this pattern with "Wish" when you do not believe something will really happen or if it cannot realistically happen. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I wish I could find a million dollars in the street! (But I won't!) 2. He wishes he could be promoted to company president tomorrow. (But he won't!) 3. They wish their boss would take a vacation and never come back! (But he won't!) 4. They wish they could go to the movies more often. (But they can't.) 5. She wishes she could speak English well enough to get a better job. (But she can't. Not yet!) Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What do you wish you could have on the job? (But you can't have now.) 2. What do you wish you could do for fun? (But you can't do yet.) 3. How much money do you wish you could have? (But you can't have now.) 4. How many husbands (or wives) do you wish you could have? (But you can't!) 5. Where do you wish you could travel to this weekend? (But you can't.)
English Grammar Pattern 67 "Have you always" + Verb + Adjective or Verb or Noun Model Sentence (1) Have you always (2) been (3) such a good student? Starting with English Grammar Pattern 67, we will learn how to use various English verb tenses. This pattern uses "been", the past participle of "be", to talk about how past actions or experiences affect the present (now). You can answer English questions starting with "Have you ever" by using either "Yes, I have" or "No, I haven't", then you can give more information. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Have you always had blond hair? 2. Have you always been so thin? 3. Have you always taught English? 4. Have you always worked for that company? 5. Have you and your sister always been such good students? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you always lived in the same home? 2. Have you always worked at the same job? 3. Have you always been the same weight you are now? 4. Have you always used the Internet for learning? 5. Have you always been interested in the same kind of movies?
English Grammar Pattern 68 (1) "Have" + (2) Past Participle + (3) Noun + (4) Result Model Sentence (1) I've already (2) visited (3) that museum. (4) Let's not go there now. English Grammar Pattern 67 used "been" to describe situations that continue from the past until now. In English Grammar Pattern 68, we will learn how to use various English past participles that show a past event's effect on a decision in the present. You can use this sentence pattern to give reasons, explanations and excuses. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I've already been to Italy. Let's go to Spain. 2. We've already talked about that. Can we change the topic? 3. I've already seen that movie. Let's see another one. 4. I've already finished my homework. Now I can have some fun! 5. I've already received ten phone calls this morning and it's still early! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you already finished Lesson 67? 2. Have you already seen the latest movie? 3. Have you already been to New York? 4. Have you already eaten your dinner? 5. Have we already finished Lesson 68?
English Grammar Pattern 69 (1) "Have you ever" + (2) Long Verb Model Sentence (1) Have you ever (2) dreamed you were flying in a space ship? English Grammar Pattern 69 is good for learning more about your conversation partner's experiences and memories. Reminder: You can use "ever" in a question, because anything is possible. However, in answers, do NOT use "ever". Simply answer "I have..." or "I haven't...". In a negative situation, you can emphasize your answer by saying "I've never..." plus the long verb. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Have you ever been in a serious accident? 2. Has she ever worked for a bank before? 3. Have they ever given a speech to 500 people? 4. Has your boss ever owned his own company? 5. Have they ever travelled around Europe? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you ever travelled around the world? 2. Have you ever given a speech in English? 3. Have you ever bought a new house? 4. Have your parents ever given you a special gift? 5. Have your teachers ever told you you are a great student?
English Grammar Pattern 70 (1) "Have been" + (2) "ing" + (3) Time Model Sentence (1) We've been (2) waiting (3) for over three hours! English Grammar Pattern 70 expresses an action or situation that has continued for a long time. Do NOT use this for actions that are quick or sudden! (For such actions, you should use verbs in the simple past tense.) Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I've been studying English most of my life. 2. I've been living in New York since I was 10 years old. 3. I've been worrying about tests for too long! 4. She's been studying science since her first day in school. 5. We've been eating in that restaurant since we came to this city. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How long have you been studying English? 2. How long have you been living in the same home? 3. Have you been working at the same job a long time? 4. What have you been doing since you finished high school? 5. What kind of transportation have you been using for the past five years?
English Grammar Pattern 71 (1) "Have been" + (2) Adjective + (3) Time Model Sentence (1) I've been (2) worried about you (3) for a long time. English Grammar Pattern 71 is similar to Grammar Pattern 70 except that we use an adjective instead of "ing". This pattern expresses how long a feeling or situation has been going on. Do NOT use this for feelings or situations that may change suddenly. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I've been sick for the past week. 2. We've been awake since 8 o'clock. 3. He's been busy all month. 4. They've been crazy about tennis for the past year. 5. She's been interested in science since she was six years old. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Have you been tired or sick recently? 2. Have you been busy with anything special recently? 3. What have you been interested in since you were a child? 4. Have you been awake a long time today? 5. Have you ever been crazy about some activity?
English Grammar Pattern 72 Describing Two Past Events - (1) "Had" + (2) Past Participle + (3) Past Model Sentence I (1) had already (2) eaten a big meal before they (3) invited me to dinner. English Grammar Pattern 72 is not used very often, but it causes many troubles for learners of English. This is called the "past perfect" tense in English grammar. One event (usually the second one) was in the past, so we use the past tense of the verb. That event was influenced by a previous past event, which should should be in the past perfect, using "had" with a past participle. The examples below are better than any explanation, so learn them well! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I had already read the book before I saw the film. 2. We had already read the news when John told us. 3. My mother had left before the letter was delivered. 4. The game had already finished when we arrived at the stadium. 5. I had finished washing the floor just as the dog ran in. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Had you already studied English before starting these lessons? 2. Had you already studied another language before starting English? 3. Had you visited another country before you finished high school? 4. What work had you done before starting your current job? 5. What experience did you have when you started your first job?
English Grammar Pattern 73 Negative Past Event + Positive Past Event (1) "Had not" + (2) Past Participle + (3) Past Model Sentence She (1) hadn't (2) studied English since she (3) started her new job last month. English Grammar Pattern 73 is similar to English Grammar Pattern 72 but starts with a negative verb. (Pattern 73 is also called the "past perfect" tense.) This shows that the first verb DID NOT happen at all until the time of the second verb. The examples below are better than any explanation, so learn them well! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. She hadn't slept since she heard the news 2. I hadn't called her since she said good-bye. 3. I hadn't visited New York in several years until I went there last weekend. 4. We hadn't eaten roast duck in a long time before having it last night. 5. We hadn't seen her in a month until she visited us yesterday afteroon. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Is there something you hadn't done before the age of 16? 2. What hadn't you done before you became 21? 3. What hadn't you seen before starting your first job? 4. Is there anything you hadn't thought about before you saw it on TV? 5. Is there something you hadn't tried before you started these lessons?
English Grammar Pattern 74 "If" + Verb + "Might" + Noun Model Sentence (1) If you (2) eat too much, you (3) might get a (4) stomachache. English Grammar Pattern 74 is useful for expression the possible results that will come if you do something. It is often used and is the base of Grammar Pattern 75, so learn the sentences below perfectly! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. If you work too hard, you might get a headache. 2. If he eats too quickly, he might get sick. 3. If you drive too fast, you might have an accident. 4. If they wait patiently, they might have a good chance. 5. If we study well, we might learn more than we expect! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What might you get if you don't do your work well? 2. Where might you have to go if you eat too much and get sick? 3. Who might you talk to if your car has trouble? 4. When might you wake up if you have a lot of extra work to do? 5. If you want to hear some good music, where might you go?
English Grammar Pattern 75 If + Sentence + Might be + Long Noun Model Sentence (1) If (2) you feel sick, it (3) might be (4) a good idea to see a doctor. English Grammar Pattern 75 is similar to Grammar Pattern 74 and is also useful for expressing possibilities. The difference is that Grammar Pattern 74 expresses possible results while this one suggests possible actions that you can (and maybe should) take. Study the sample sentences below to fully understand the way Pattern 75 is used. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. If tomorrow is sunny, it might be a good time to wash the car. 2. If they are in a hurry, it might be a good idea to take a taxi. 3. If she wants to lose weight, it might be worth it to start exercising more. 4. If your parents come, it might be a great chance to take them out to dinner. 5. If you are hungry, it might be a good time to cook something. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. If you want to play tennis well, might it be a good idea to take lessons? 2. If you have a good job, might it be a good time to save money? 3. If you have a pain in your stomache, what might it be worth doing? 4. If you get a phone call from a customer, what might you do? 5. If your friend has trouble, what might it be a good idea for him to do?
English Grammar Pattern 76 (1) "Might" + (2) Verb A + (3) "Might" + (4) Verb B Model Sentence I (1) might (2) buy a car next month or I (3) might (4) save my money for a trip. English Grammar Pattern 76 is very useful when you want to talk about a possible decision in English. Choice "A" is one possibility and choice "B" is another. By practicing the sentence patterns below, you will be able to say the same type of thing when you must use English to express two choices in the future. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I might go shopping today or I might stay home and watch TV. 2. We might start a business or we might keep our present jobs. 3. She might marry him or she might marry someone else! 4. I might look for a new job in sales or I might stick with my current job. 5. They might have a party next week or they might have a party the week after. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Which two foods might you eat for dinner tonight? 2. What are two jobs you might do in the future? 3. Can you think of two places you might visit next year? 4. Might you finish work early tomorrow or might you stay late? 5. What might you do next weekend?
English Grammar Pattern 77 (1) Basic Sentence + (2) "Might have been" Model Sentence (1) I'm still waiting for the bus – (2) it might have had an accident. English Grammar Pattern 77 is used to express a possible reason or the cause of some situation. In this pattern, be sure to use a past participle after "might have". Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. My neighbor didn't come today - he might have been too busy. 2. My telephone stopped working – the battery might have died. 3. If your stomach is hurting, it might have been because of the spicy food you had for lunch. 4. I wonder why your friend is not here - she might have had other things to do. 5. They didn't want to come to the museum with us - they might have been there before. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. you came home to find your TV gone, what might have happened to it? 2. What if you suddenly saw a spaceship – where might it have come from? 3. If somebody had a car accident, what might have caused it? 4. What if your boss suddenly left the company this morning – what might have been the reason? 5. What might you have said if your boss had told you last week that you were the new company president?
English Grammar Pattern 78 "Should" + Verb Model Sentence We (1) should (2) stop here to buy something to eat. We can use English Grammar Pattern 78 to express a good idea that we have. All we have to do is (1) use "should" and then (2) use a verb or verb phrase to make the suggestion. Pretty easy, isn't it? Still, you have to practice! You can practice by saying the sentences below. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. You should call her to see if she's okay. 2. He should arrive early if he wants to get a seat. 3. They should come tomorrow at 7 so they can meet the boss. 4. We should check the meat to see if it's done cooking. 5. You should check the weather forecast before going out today. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What should you do before going to bed? Why? 2. What should you do every morning after you wake up? Why? 3. Do you think we should give money to poor people? Why? 4. Do you believe all people should stop buying cars? Why or why not? 5. What should people do to become healthier?
English Grammar Pattern 79 (1) "Tell" + (2) "Should" + (3) Verb Model Sentence (1) Tell your brother he (2) should (3) arrive early if he wants to get a seat. Grammar Pattern 79 uses English Grammar Pattern 78 but adds another verb at the beginning. In the model, we use "Tell" but we could use any similar verb such as "Ask", "Announce to" (more formal), or "Remind". Instead of telling your suggestion to somebody directly, you can tell someone else to make your suggestion instead! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Tell your friend he should come here with you. 2. Tell her she should come to visit more often. 3. Tell them to check the weather forecast before going out today. 4. Tell the teacher she should give homework earlier so you can finish it on time. 5. Tell Joe he should make more lessons so we can improve our English more! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What should you tell your coworker if you want finish your project quickly? 2. What should we tell the salesman if we want to buy the best computer? 3. What should we say to the doctor if we have a very bad sore throat? 4. What should we tell our neighbor if we want his dog to stop eating our flowers? 5. What should you tell the teacher to help you understand better?
English Grammar Pattern 80 "Should have" (past) Model Sentence I had an accident today – I should have been more careful! Grammar Pattern 80 is used to talk about something we did not do, but it was a good idea to do it! Now, when we are talking about the past, we realize our mistake! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. It's raining today – we should have brought an umbrella! 2. Thanks for helping me - I should have talked to you last week! 3. You will start working next year – should learn more about accounting now. 4. The salesman didn't make a good impression - He should have spoken more confidently. 5. The movie we watched wasn't very good - We shouldn't have wasted our money on it! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What should you have done before you finished university? 2. What should you have learned before starting your first job? 3. If you find yourself in the rain without an umbrella, what should you have done? 4. If you eat in a restaurant with very bad food, what should you have done? 5. Where should you have visited during your last vacation?
English Grammar Pattern 81 Simple Past using "Could" Model Sentence My family could get together often before I went to university. Grammar Pattern 81 uses "could" to express something that was possible in the past but is probably NOT possible now. It shows a contrast between the past and the present. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I could run faster 10 years ago. 2. She could remember everything when she was young. 3. They could easily see their children before they moved to Florida. 4. We could eat spicy food when we were younger, but not now. 5. My sister could work 20 hours per day when she was just out of university. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What could you do well when you were a child? 2. How long could you study when you were in university? 3. Could you visit anywhere special when you were younger? 4. Who could you meet in the past that you can't meet now?
English Grammar Pattern 82 Conditions using "Could" Model Sentences A. (1) If I (2) were rich, I (3) could buy lots of wonderful things. B. I (1) could buy lots of wonderful things (2) if I (3) were rich. Grammar Pattern 82 uses "could" to express something that is not possible. It can be used when we are dreaming of something or imagining something that probably will not be true, at least for now. (Maybe someday, though!) Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. If I had more money, I could start my own business. 2. If she weren't sick, she could come with us. 3. We could be very successful if customers like our idea. 4. We could move to California if we lose our jobs. 5. If I weren't so tired, I could continue working. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What could you do if you had a million dollars? boveyedu.cn 2. Where could you move to if you didn't have your current job? 3. How long could you work if you never had to sleep? 4. What could you say to your girlfriend (or boyfriend) if you had a fight? 5. Who could you talk to if you had a very serious problem?
English Grammar Pattern 83 Past Conditions using "Could" Model Sentences A. She (1) could (2) have come here (3) if her car (4) hadn't broken down. B. (1) If her car (2) hadn't broken down, she (3) could (4) have come here. Grammar Pattern 83 is similar to Grammar Pattern 82 which uses "could" to express something that is not possible. Pattern 83, however, describes an imaginary possibility in the past which did NOT, in fact,happen. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. I could have made a lot of money if I had started a business 20 years ago. 2. We could have seen a movie if we had left home earlier. 3. She could have told us the news if her phone hadn't been stolen. 4. If the bank hadn't closed early, we could have withdrawn some money. 5. If I hadn't been lazy as a student, I could have had a much better job today! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. If you had been born in New York, what could you have experienced differently? 2. What could you have done in high school if you had had better teachers? 3. If you had studied many languages before, could you have learned English more effectively? 4. What could have helped you to be a more successful student? 5. Where could you have studied if you had wanted to learn French?
English Grammar Pattern 84 Conditions using "Would" Model Sentences A. (1) If I (2) were taller, I (3) would try to play professional basketball. B. I (1) would try to play professional basketball (2) if I (3) were taller. Grammar Pattern 84 is another pattern that is similar to Grammar Pattern 82. The difference is that Grammar Pattern 82 uses "could" which is similar to "can" and shows possibility. Grammar Pattern 84 uses "would" which expresses the idea of a decision, although in a conditional phrase, this is not a real decision! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. If I were rich, I would buy a house in Hawaii. 2. If it weren't raining, we would be able to go to the park. 3. If they didn't have a big house with five dogs and seven cats, they would travel more often. 4. If you stopped staying up until four in the morning, you would have more energy at work. 5. If she didn't enjoy studying so much, she wouldn't come to the library so often. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Would you start your own company if you had the chance? 2. If you had knew the future, how would you use that information? 3. What would you do if you didn't have to work? 4. Where would you live if you could choose any place in the world? 5. When would you like to live if you had a "time machine"? 6. Who would you like to meet if you had the chance to meet any famous person?
English Grammar Pattern 85 Past Conditions using "Would" Model Sentences A. They (1) would have (2) come here (3) if they (4) had had enough time. B. (1) If they (2) had had enough time, they (3) would have (4) come here. Grammar Pattern 85 is similar to Grammar Pattern 83. Grammar Pattern 83 uses "could have" which is similar to "can" and shows possibility in the past. Grammar Pattern 85 uses "would have" which expresses the idea of a possible decision in the past. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. My hometown would have grown fast if the leaders had been more active. 2. If I had known it was going to get colder in the afternoon, I would have taken a sweater with me. 3. We wouldn't have tried to do it if you had told us how dangerous it was! 4. If you had told me you were going to the supermarket, I would have asked you to buy me some fruit. 5. The old teacher would have cancelled the test if he had known how much the students were worried! Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Would you have studied English so hard if you had known how long it would take? 2. If you had studied English even harder, would you have already succeeded by now? 3. What would you have done differently if you had known how challenging English was? 4. How would you have studied differently if you had understood how to study effectively? 5. Where would you have travelled ten years ago if you had had more time?
English Grammar Pattern 86 (1) Past Perfect + (2) Connector + (3) Past Model Sentence We (1) had already finished eating (2) when our boss (3) offered to take us out to dinner! Grammar Pattern 86 has two past events, one which happened before the other. Usually, the first past event has an important connection to the second one. In the Model Sentence above, "we had finished eating" so we were not hungry when "our boss offered to take us out to dinner". The meaning of the sentence is that we missed a good opportunity - if only the boss had offered earlier! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. He had been waiting for two hours when the telephone suddenly rang. 2. I had already been planning my holiday when the boss told me I had to work overtime. 3. She had been studying for the exam for two months before learning that it was cancelled. 4. When we arrived at the football match, they had already been playing for 15 minutes. 5. I had just started using my computer when the electricity suddenly went out. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. How long had you been working in your job before you started to do well? 2. Had you already been studying sentence patterns before you started these lessons? 3. Where had you been living when you decided to start your career? 4. Can you remember when you first went to university or started your first job? How long had you been studying to prepare for that day? 5. What kind of job had you been dreaming of before you found your current job?
English Grammar Pattern 87 Passive Sentences Model Sentence These lessons were put together by a teacher named Joe. Grammar Pattern 87 is the "passive" structure in English, which uses the past form of the verb "b" plus a past participle. Don't use passive sentences too often. Only use them in formal situations or when the action is more important than the person who did it. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. This book was written by a famous writer. 2. The movie was produced by an unknown director. 3. Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. 4. The telephone was invented by Alexander Bell. 5. This amazing story was written in the middle of winter. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Who was "My Heart Will Go On" sung by? 2. Who was the telephone invented by? 3. Who was the airplane invented by? 4. Was the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo? 5. Do you like movies that were directed by famous directors?
English Grammar Pattern 88 (1) Before / After / During / While + (2) Two Verbs Model Sentences (1) After I (2) visited Paris, I (2) decided to learn to speak French well. OR I (2) decided to learn to speak French well (1) after I (2) visited Paris. Grammar Pattern 88 is the first "very long sentence" we will look at. The adverb, such as "before", "after", "during" or "while", can be at the beginning or at the end, as you can see in the model sentences. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Before I came here, I was not sure wanted to come. 2. After I decided, I started to worry about my decision! 3. She burned herself while she was cooking dinner. 4. I fell in my face while I was ice skating! 5. We learned so much during our time practicing these sentences. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you like to listen to music while you are studying? 2. What activities do you enjoy doing during the spring? 3. Before you go to work in the morning, how do you prepare? 4. After you watch a good movie, what do you like to do? 5. While you are reading an interesting book, can you have a conversation?
English Grammar Pattern 89 (1) Long Sentence + (2) "as if" or "as though" + (3) Verb Phrase Model Sentence (1) We continued playing tennis (2) as if (3) it weren't raining. Grammar Pattern 89 is a simple but useful "very long sentence". Simply start with a normal sentence pattern, then compare that using "as if" or "as though". Using "as if" or "as though" suggests doing something in a certain way, even if it's not real. Practice with the questions below and you'll get the concept. Have fun! Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. My boss listened as if here were interested. (But he wasn't!) 2. They were running as if they were trying to catch a train. 3. I worked as if my life depended on it. 4. We laughed as if it was the funniest joke we had ever heard! 5. I am living my life as if I will die tomorrow. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Do you usually live your life as if you will live forever? 2. Have you ever tried to live as if you only had one week to live? 3. Have you ever talked to a boring person as if he or she were really interesting? 4. Would you ever want to act as if you were the leader of the world. (When?) 5. What would you do if you acted as if you were the leader of the world?
English Grammar Pattern 90 (1) Although + (2) Sentence A + (3) Sentence B Model Sentence (1) Although (2) I don't understand English perfectly, (3) I can still have many conversations! Grammar Pattern 90 can be used to connect two very different ideas. Both "though" and "although" are the same as "but", except they are a bit more formal and can be used at the beginning of a sentence. ("But" should only be used in the middle of a sentence.) "Even though" is simply a stronger version of "though" and "although". In every case, the meaning is still the same as "but", only the positioning within the sentence is different. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. We continued to walk in the park even though it was raining. 2. I'll continue to study languages although I don't need to. 3. Though I have already reached a high level, I will continue to work hard. 4. Although I am not rich, I am happy with my life. 5. Even though I have had trouble, I have never given up. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Even though a man is poor, can he still enjoy life? 2. Although someone is busy, can she still find time for fun? 3. Will you always be so energetic, though you are getting older? 4. Can you move up in your job even though there is a lot of competition? 5. Should we try to succeed even though we may fail completely?
English Grammar Pattern 91 (1) Sentence + (2) Unless + (3) Condition Model Sentences (1) We will not change (2) unless (3) you have a good idea. OR (2) Unless (3) you have a good idea, (1) we will not change. Grammar Pattern 91, shows how to use "Unless", whose basic meaning is similar to "only if". The word "unless" can serve as a connector, as in Model Sentence 1, or it can come at the beginning, as in Model Sentence 2. "Unless" must go directly with the condition. If the condition and "unless" are separated, it sounds quite strange. For example, we could not change the example to "Unless we will not change, you do not have a good idea". Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. We can't do it unless you pay us more. 2. Unless it rains tomorrow, we will go for sure. 3. I will be there unless you decide to do it yourself. 4. Unless I get sick, I will be there next Friday. 5. They said they will finish unless you want to add something. Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. Unless there's an emergency, when will you get up tomorrow morning? 2. Where will you go tomorrow, unless something unexpected happens? 3. What could happen to a young student, unless he or she studies well? 4. How can a company succeed unless they work well and work efficiently. 5. Unless you finish these lessons, can you be sure to speak English correctly?
English Grammar Pattern 92 (1) "Now that" + (2) Finished Action + (3) Result Model Sentence (1) Now that (2) we're finished, (3) we can relax. In grammar Pattern 92, we begin with the phrase "Now that", then add an action that is finished, followed at last by the result, which is usually in the form of a sentence. It is possible to invert the sentence, using "now that" in the middle and stating the result first. Pronunciation Practice - Repeat each sentence out loud! 1. Now that I'm an adult, I can eat and drink whatever I want! 2. I can get more sleep now that I'm not so busy. 3. Now that we're ready to start, why don't we start! 4. She's ready to start cooking, now that she's prepared all the food. 5. Now that you've gotten a promotion, what are you going to do first? Conversation Practice - Ask these questions to your friends! 1. What will you do next, now that today's lesson is almost finished? 2. Now that the weekend is almost here, what are your plans? 3. Now that you've learned many new sentences, what do you want to talk about? 4. What are your plans, now that a new year has come? (If it has just come!) 5. How will your life be different, now that you're married? (If you have just gotten married!)