1essential_esl_dictionary_9_000_words_for_learners_of_english

499 GRAMMAR SUMMARY

4.3 POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS AND ADJECTIVES Reflexive

Subject Object Adjective Possessive myself
my Pronoun yourself
I me your mine himself
you you his yours herself
he him her his itself
she her its hers ourselves
it it our its yourselves
we us your ours themselves
you you their yours
they them theirs

4.4 INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS AND ADVERBS

ðÜwhich: asking about choice, when there are limited alternatives.
· Which is the correct answer: A or B?

ðÜwhat: asking for information about something.
· What is your favorite color?

ðÜwho: asking which person.
· Who is the lady with the hat?

ðÜwhere: asking in or at what place.
· Where are you?

ðÜwhen: asking about time.
· When is your birthday?

ðÜhow: asking about manner or condition.
· How did you get there?

ðÜhow much: asking about quantity (uncountable) or prices.
· How much money do you have?
· How much is this car?

ðÜhow many: asking about quantity (countable).
· How many candies do you have?

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 500

5 POSSESSIVE APOSTROPHE

The apostrophe used to express possession is named possessive (‘s).

ðÜThere are different cases:

— When we talk about an item or person that belongs or relates to someone.
· Linda’s car
· Anne and Jim’s neighbor

Note: It’s not necessary to indicate the item or person when it appeared in the previous clause or sentence.
· Whose book is this? It’s John’s.

— When we talk about time expressions.
· today’s newspaper

— When we talk about organizations, countries or cities.
· the team’s uniform
· China’s most important city

— When we talk about workplaces.
· I went to the doctor’s.

ðÜForms:

— Adding ’s to the singular nouns.
· my brother’s computer

— Adding ’s to the plural nouns that don’t end in -s.
· the children’s room

— Adding ’ to the plural nouns that end in -s.
· my brothers’ computer
· my parents’ house

501

GRAMMAR SUMMARY

6 VERBS

6.1 AUXILIARY VERBS: BE / DO / HAVE

ðÜBE is used with:

— Progressive tenses: be + the ‘-ing’ form of the main verb.
· I was walking through the park when I found a ring.

— Passive voice: be + the past participle of the main verb.
· English is spoken in Australia.

— Short forms: when we don’t want to repeat all the previous sentence.
· Was Jim at the party? No, he wasn’t.

ðÜDO is used with:

— Simple present (interrogative and negative sentences):
· I don’t drink coffee.
· Do you want an apple?

— Simple past (interrogative and negative sentences):
· I didn’t understand that movie.
· Did you have a good time?

— Short forms:
· Does your mother speak English? Yes, she does.

— Question tags:
· She usually comes back at 6 pm, doesn’t she?

ðÜHAVE is used with:

— Present perfect:
· I should have studied harder.

— Present perfect progressive:
· We have been looking for you.

— Past perfect:
· Susan had left when I arrived home.

— Past perfect progressive:
· He told me he had been waiting for a long time.

— Short forms:
· Have you done your homework? Yes, I have.

— Questions tags:
· He hasn’t seen her today, has he?

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 502

6.2 MODAL VERBS

ðÜThe modal verbs are:

can could
may might
must
will would
shall
should ought to

— They do not have infinitive forms.

· to can to would to shall

— They do not add -s to the 3rd person singular of the simple present.

· Sam can drive.
· Jane must finish her homework.

— They are always followed by an infinitive without to.

· It might rain this weekend.
· Don’t worry about Andrew. He can do it.

Note: The verb ought is always followed by to.
· We ought to work harder if we want to win the game.

503

GRAMMAR SUMMARY

6.3 IRREGULAR VERBS Past Simple Past Participle

Infinitive arose arisen
awoke (US tb awaked) awoken
arise was/were been
awake bore borne (US tb born)
be beat beaten (US tb beat)
bear became become
beat began begun
become bent bent
begin bet, betted bet, betted
bend bid, bade bid, bidden
bet bit bitten
bid bled bled
bite blessed blest
bleed blew blown
bless broke broken
blow bred bred
break brought brought
breed broadcast (US tb broadcasted) broadcast (US tb broadcasted)
bring built built
broadcast burnt, burned burnt, burned
build bust (US busted) bust (US busted)
burn bought bought
bust caught caught
buy chose chosen
catch came come
choose cost, costed cost, costed
come crept crept
cost cut cut
creep dealt dealt
cut dug dug
deal dived (US tb dove) dived
dig did done
dive drew drawn
do dreamed, dreamt dreamed, dreamt
draw drank drunk
dream drove driven
drink ate eaten
drive fell fallen
eat fed fed
fall felt felt
feed fought fought
feel found found
fight flew flown
find forbade, forbad forbidden
fly forgot forgotten
forbid forgave forgiven
forget froze frozen
forgive got got (US tb gotten)
freeze gave given
get
give

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 504

Infinitive Past Simple Past Participle

go went gone
grow grew grown
hang hung, hanged hung, hanged
have had had
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
knit knitted, knit knitted, knit
lay laid laid
lead led led
lean leaned (UK tb leant) leaned (UK tb leant)
learn learned (UK tb learnt) learned (UK tb learnt)
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay, lied lain, lied
light lit, lighted lit, lighted
lose lost lost
make made made
mean mean meant
meet met met
mimic mimicked mimicked
mistake mistook mistaken
misunderstand misunderstood misunderstood
outdo outdid outdone
overcome overcame overcome
oversleep overslept overslept
overtake overtook overtaken
pay paid paid
plead pleaded (US tb pled) pleaded (US tb pled)
prove proved proved, proven
put put put
quit quit, quitted quit, quitted
read read read
rewind rewound rewound
rid rid rid
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
saw sawed sawn (US tb sawed)
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
sew sewed sewn, sewed

Infinitive 505 GRAMMAR SUMMARY

shake Past Simple Past Participle
shine
shoot shook shaken
show shone shone
shut shot shot
sing showed shown
sink shut shut
sit sang sung
sleep sank sunk
slide sat sat
smell slept slept
sow slid slid
speak smelled (UK tb smelt) smelled (UK tb smelt)
speed sowed sown, sowed
spell spoke spoken
spend sped, speeded sped, speeded
spill spelled (UK tb spelt) spelled (UK tb spelt)
spin spent spent
spit spilled (UK tb spilt) spilled (UK tb spilt)
split spun spun
spoil spat (US tb spit) spat (US tb spit)
spread split split
spring spoiled, spoilt spoiled, spoilt
stand spread spread
steal sprang sprung
stick stood stood
sting stole stolen
stink stuck stuck
strike stung stung
swear stank (US tb stunk) stunk
sweep struck struck (US tb stricken)
swell swore sworn
swim swept swept
swing swelled swollen, swelled
take swam swum
teach swung swung
tear took taken
tell taught taught
think tore torn
throw told told
thrust thought thought
understand threw thrown
undo thrust thrust
upset understood understood
wake undid undone
wear upset upset
wet woke woken
win wore worn
wind wet, wetted wet, wetted
withstand won won
write wound wound
withstood withstood
wrote written

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 506

6.4 PHRASAL VERBS

ðÜA phrasal verb is a combination of a verb plus a particle which has a different meaning from the original
verb.

— verb + adverb
throw away (reject)

— verb + preposition
take off (depart, remove: clothing)

— verb + adverb + preposition
be up to (be capable of/ be engaged in suspicious activity)

ðÜSome common phrasal verbs are: — keep off (avoid)
— break down (analyze)

— break up (finish a relationship) — keep up (continue)

— bring up (vomit) — look after (care for)

— call back (recall) — look for (search)

— call off (cancel) — look forward to (hope for)

— come by (visit) — make out (recognize)

— come out (be published) — put on (wear)

— do with (need) — put up (build)

— fall for (be in loved with) — shut up (be quiet)

— get away (escape) — sit down (have a sit)

— get in (enter: car, taxi) — stand up (arise)

— get on (enter: bus, train) — take up (start)

— give back (reimburse) — turn down (lower volume)

— go away (leave) — turn off (stop functioning)

— go on (continue) — turn on (start functioning)

— hang up (put the phone down) — turn up (increase volume)

· I broke up with my girlfriend after two years.
(I finished my relationship after two years.).

· You should go on studying English.
(You should continue studying English).

· I love this song! Turn it up, please!
(I love this song! Increase the volume, please!).

507

GRAMMAR SUMMARY

7 VERB TENSES

7.1 SIMPLE TENSES

AFFIRMATIVE FORM NEGATIVE FORM INTERROGATIVE FORM
PRESENT SIMPLE
I study English every day. I don’t study English every day. Do you study English every day?

She studies English every day. She doesn’t study English every day. Does she study English every day?

I read every night. I don’t read every night. Do you read every night?

He reads every night. He doesn’t read every night. Does he read every night?
PAST SIMPLE
I studied English last week. I didn’t study English last week. Did you study English last week?

Last year, he read every night. Last year, he didn’t read every Did you read every night last year?
night.

FUTURE SIMPLE
She will study English next summer. She won’t study English next summer. Will she study English next summer?

From now on, I will read every From now on, I won’t read every Will you read from now on every
night. night. night?

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 508

7.2 COMPOUND TENSES

AFFIRMATIVE FORM NEGATIVE FORM INTERROGATIVE FORM

PRESENT PERFECT I haven’t studied English since Have you ever studied English?
last week.
I have studied English for two
years.

She has studied English for two She hasn’t studied English since Has she ever studied English?
years. last week.

I have already read that book. I haven’t read that book yet. Have you read that book yet?

She has already read that book. She hasn’t read that book yet. Has she read that book yet?

PAST PERFECT

I had already studied English when I hadn’t studied English yet when Had you studied English when she
arrived?
she arrived. she arrived.

She had already read that book. She hadn’t read that book yet Had she read that book yet?

FUTURE PERFECT By the time she arrives, I won’t Will you have studied English by the
have studied English yet. time she arrives?
By the time she arrives, I will have
already studied English.

She will have already read that She won’t have read that book yet Will she have read that book by the
book by the end of June.
by the end of June. end of June?

509

GRAMMAR SUMMARY

7.3 PROGRESSIVE TENSES

AFFIRMATIVE FORM NEGATIVE FORM INTERROGATIVE FORM

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE I am not studying English now. Am I studying English now?
I am studying English now. You are not studying English now. Are you studying English now?
You are studying English now. He is not studying English now. Is he studying English now?
He is studying English now.

PAST PROGRESSIVE

I was studying English when she I wasn’t studying English when she Was I studying English when she
arrived. arrived. arrived?

You were studying English when You weren’t studying English when Were you studying English when she
she arrived. she arrived. arrived?

He was studying English when she He wasn’t studying English when Was he studying English when she
arrived. she arrived. arrived?

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I have been studying English since I haven’t been studying English for Have you been studying English
since 3 o’clock?
3 o’clock. too long.
Has he been studying English since
He has been studying English since He hasn’t been studying English for 3 o’clock?

3 o’clock. too long.

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE I hadn’t been studying English Had you been studying English when
when she arrived. she arrived?
I had been studying English when
she arrived.

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 510

8 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Conditionals are sentences with two clauses ( ‘if clause + main clause) that are closely related.
There are three different types:

ðÜFIRST CONDITIONAL main sentence
It is used to express: will / can / may / might / must + infinitive without to
—  real and possible situations.
—  advices and promises.
conditional sentence
If present

— If you need help, you can call me.
— If he calls me, I’ll go to the movies with him.

ðÜSECOND CONDITIONAL

It is used to express unreal or unlikely situations in the present or in the future.

conditional sentence main sentence
If past perfect would / could / might + infinitive without to

— If I had a plane, I would travel around the world.

ðÜTHIRD CONDITIONAL

It is used to express an action in the past that did not happen.

conditional sentence main sentence

If past perfect would have / could have / might have + past participle

— If we hadn’t go lost, we would have arrived on time.
— If you had made the reservations, we could have slept in that hotel.

511

GRAMMAR SUMMARY

9 IDIOMS AND PHRASES

ðÜAn idiom or phrase is a combination of words that has a peculiar meaning owing to its common usage
and it cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements.

ðÜSome common idioms and phrases are:
— as easy as pie: very easy and simple.
· I passed the final exam! I studied all the night so it was as easy as pie.

— to add fuel to the fire: to make a bad problem even worse.
· He added fuel to the fire by bringing up old grudges while they were arguing.

— to be head over heels in love: to be very much in love with someone.
· John is head over heels in love with Mary. They are going to get married soon.

— to be in the chips: to get suddenly a lot of money.
· Apparently his uncle has left him everything, so he’s really in the chips.

— to be on one’s last leg: to be very tired, especially after a lot of physical activity or work.
· She was on her last leg after the race.

— to bend over backwards: to try very hard to do something, especially to help or please someone else.
· Banks are bending over backwards to help those in difficulties.

— to drive somebody up the wall: to annoy or irritate someone.
· Stop whistling that tune. You’re driving me up the wall.

— to drop someone a line: to write a short letter to someone.
· We really do like hearing from you, so drop us a line and let us know how you are.

— to eat one’s heart out: to be envious or jealous.
· Eat your heart out Frank, I’m going to Paris!

— to face the music: to accept the (unpleasant) consequences of what you have done.
· After years of bad decision making, the CEO finally had to face the music.

— to go bananas: to become very angry.
· She’ll go bananas if she sees the room in this state.

— to have a change of heart: to go against one’s previous decision.
· She’s had a change of heart and she is inviting her sister after all.

— to know something like the back of your hand: to be very familiar with something.
· He knew East London like the back of his hand.

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 512

— to let the cat out the bag: to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident.
· I tried to keep the party a secret, but Jim went and let the cat out of the bag.

— neck and neck: very close, as in a race.
· The two candidates were running neck and neck a month before the election.

— to pull somebody’s leg: to tell someone something that is not true as a way of joking with them.
· Is he really angry with me or do you think he’s just pulling my leg?

— to save money for a rainy day: to reserve something for some future need.
· I’ve saved a little money for a rainy day.

— to see eye to eye on something: to have a similar opinion on something.
· Despite their differences, the two candidates actually see eye to eye on most issues.

— to shake in one’s boots: to be afraid of something.
· I was shaking in my boots because I had to go to my manager’s office for being late.

— to take it easy: to be calm and not get too excited or angry.
· I know you’re upset, but you just take it easy, I’ll make you some tea, and you can tell me all
about it.