Basic English grammar
Summary: The structure of English
1) Noun structure.
article adjective noun
A / an
(indefinite) singular invariable Singular or plural (+ s or –
The (definite) es)
0 (indefinite) plural
The (definite)
Sentences to remember to help you.
An IT student IT students
The phone number The phone numbers
2) Verb structure.
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Different verb structures.
Verb + to + infinitive Verb + bare infinitive Verb+ gerund (-ing)
I want to speak English Yes, I can speak English! I like speaking English
3) Tenses
You can combine three modes with three time periods (minimum). There are more
possibilities using the infinitives and the modals too.
Simple (normal, habit) Continuous (in progress)
Present How Are you? Are you speaking now?
I am OK Yes, I am speaking now!
Do you speak English?
Yes, I speak English.
No, I don’t speak English.
Future One day I will speak English
very well!
past Before I didn’t speak English
I spoke only French
4) Modals
Possibility, capacity: Yes, I can speak English!
Obligation: You must be positive
Interdiction: You mustn’t smoke here
5) Imperative
Don’t worry! Be happy!
6) Pronunciation
- Pay attention to the pronunciation. The same letter can have a different sound.
3 main groups: vowels/ diphthongs (a combination of two vowels)/ consonants
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vowels diphthongs consonants
Short Long (:) Unvoiced versus voiced
A black cat A fast car Letter A Soul music - Zoo
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TO BE : ETRE
Positive Negative Questions
I am ’m am not ’m not Am I ?
You are ’re are not aren’t Are you ?
He, she, it is ’s is not isn’t Is he, she, it ?
we are ’re are not aren’t Are we ?
you are ’re are not aren’t Are you ?
they are ’re are not aren’t Are they ?
Yes/No questions - be (am, are, is)
Subject and verb change their position in statement and question.
statement You are from Germany.
question Are you from Germany?
We always use the short answer, not only "Yes" or "No".
If the answer is "Yes", we always use the long form.
Example: Yes, I am.
If the answer is "No", we either use the long or the contrated form (short form).
Example: No, I am not - No, I'm not.
Yes, I am.
Are you from Germany? am not.
No, I
'm not.
Is he your friend? Yes, he is.
Are Peter and John from England? Yes, they are.
Questions with question words - be (am, are, is)
Question word Verb Rest Answer
Where are you from? I'm from Stuttgart.
What is your name? My name is Peter.
How are Pat and Sue? They're fine.
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TO HAVE : AVOIR, posséder
Positive Negative Questions
I have got ( ’ve got) haven’t got have I got ?
You have got ( ’ve got) haven’t got have you got ?
He, she, it has got ( ’s got) hasn’t got has he, she, it got ?
we have got ( ’ve got) haven’t got have we got ?
you have got ( ’ve got) haven’t got have you got ?
they have got ( ’ve got) haven’t got have they got ?
Has Mary got a car? Yes, she has.
Has she got an American car? No, she hasn’t. She has got a Seat.
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Personal pronouns, Possessive determiners, Possessive pronouns
Personal pronouns
Possessive Possessive
as object
as subject determiners pronouns
(accusative and
(nominative)
dative)
I me my mine
you you your yours
he him his his
she her her hers
it it its its
we us our ours
you you your yours
they them their theirs
1 2 3 4
We have some books. The books are for us. These are our books. The books are ours.
Plural in English
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singular + -s
singular plural
a car two cars
a cassette two cassettes
a lamp two lamps
a hat two hats
a cup two cups
Add -es after sibilants:
singular plural
a box two boxes
a sandwich two sandwiches
a suitcase two suitcases
a rose two roses
a garage two garages
Substitute y after consonant with -ies:
singular plural
a city two cities
a lady two ladies
Add -s after vowel + y:
singular plural
a boy two boys 7
a day two days
Nouns on -f or -fe:
add -s substitute with -ves
singular plural singular plural
a roof two roofs a thief two thieves
a cliff two cliffs a wife two wives
a sheriff two sheriffs a shelf two shelves
Add -s for words ending in -ff.
Always use a dictionary if you are not sure.
Nouns on -o form the plural by adding -s or -es.
add -s substitute with -ves
singular plural singular plural
a disco two discos a tomato two tomatoes
a piano two pianos a potato two potatoes
a photo two photos a hero two heroes
There is no rule when to use -s or -es. We often add -s with technical words.
Irregular plural forms:
singular plural
a man two men 8
a woman two women
a child two children
a person two people
a foot two feet
The definite article - the
The definite article the is the same for all genders in singular and in plural:
the boy, the girl, the cat, the computers
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We use it for people and things that we have spoken about. We know who or what we are
talking about.
The indefinite article - a
The indefinite article a is the same for all genders.
a boy, a girl, a cat
The indefinite article has no plural form.
a boy - boys
We use an if the following word starts with a vowel SOUND.
the following word starts with a vowel
the following word starts with a consonant
SOUND
a boy an aunt
a school an old school
a girl an American girl
Mind the pronunciation of the following word.
a unit an uncle
This u sounds like a consonant, so we use a. This u sounds like a vowel, so we use an.
Use of the indefinite article a/an
- before phrases of time and measurements (per week/weekly)
We have English 4 times a week.
I go on holiday twice a year.
Our car can do 220 kilometers an hour.
Tomatoes are $2 a kilo.
- before phrases of jobs
My father is a car mechanic.
- with a noun complement
He is a good boy.
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No article.
without the definite article
general words (indefinite)
Life is too short.
I like flowers.
names of persons.
Peter and John live in London.
Aunt Mary lives in Los Angeles.
public buildings, institutions, means of transport (indefinite)
Mandy doesn't like school.
We go to school by bus.
Some people go to church on Sundays.
names of countries in the singular; summits of mountains; continents; towns; streets
Germany, France; but the USA, the Netherlands and the UK
Mount Whitney, Mount McKinley;
Africa, Europe;
Cairo, New York
Oxford street
Uncountable nouns
Cheese, rice, water, wine, beer, coffee, information, advice…
Plural of the indefinite article “a”
We are students.
months, days of the week (indefinite)
The weekend is over on Monday morning.
July and August are the most popular months for holidays.
The articles a/an and the in Englisch - Exercises
Decide whether to use the definite article >the< or not.
1) My grandmother likes flowers very much.
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2) I love tea.
3) See you on Wednesday.
4) I always listen to radio in the morning.
5) Alex goes to work by bus.
6) Don't be late for school.
7) Dennis plays trumpet.
8) We often see our cousins on Sunday.
9) She wants to go to Paris.
10) What about going to Australia in July?
Fill in the article >a<, >an< or >the< where necessary. Choose >x< where no article is used.
1) I like blue T-shirt better than red one.
2) Their car does 150 miles hour.
3) Where's USB drive?
4) Do you still live in Bristol?
5) Does your mother work in old office building?
6) Carol's father works as electrician.
7) I like cheese.
8) What do you usually have for breakfast?
9) You are students in history at the university.
's - Apostrophe, genitive -
English:
Ronny's brother
Singular:
Add 's: 12
Mandy's brother plays football.
My teacher's name is ...
Plural:
Add the apostrophe ' to regular plural forms:
The girls' room is very nice.
The Smiths' car is black.
Add 's to irregular plural forms:
The children's books are over there.
Men's clothes are on the third floor.
If there are multiple nouns, add an 's only to the last noun:
Peter and John's mother is a teacher.
Nouns Apostrophe 's en 313
Write apostrophe 's into the gaps.
Answer: I met Mandy's sister yesterday.
1) This is book. (Peter)
2) Let's go to the . (Smiths)
3) The room is upstairs. (children)
4) sister is twelve years old. (John)
5) and bags have blue stickers. (Susan - Steve)
6) shoes are on the second floor. (men)
7) My car was not expensive. (parents)
8) CD player is new. (Charles)
9) This is the bike. (boy)
Form of the Simple Present
We use the infinitive of the verb. In the 3rd person Singular (he, she, it - or a name) we put
an -s to the end of the infinitive.
infinitive - 3rd person Singular (he, she, it) infinitive + -s
Affirmative sentences:
I/we/you/they play football.
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He/she/it plays football.
Negative sentences:
We use the auxiliary do.
I/we/you/they do not play football.
He/she/it does not play football.
NOTE: We often use short forms in negative sentences in the Simple Present:
I/we/you/they don't play football.
He/she/it doesn't play football.
Questions:
Do I/we/you/they play football?
Does he/she/it play football?
Simple Present - Spelling
Be careful with some words when using the 3rd person singular.
1) verbs ending in a sibilant [s] [z] [ʃ] [ʒ] [ʧ] [ʤ] or verbs ending in -o preceded by a
consonant
We add -es to the infinitive.
Examples:
I watch - he watches
I pass - he passes
I go - he goes
I do - he does
2) verbs ending in -y
verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u): Add -s.
Example:
I play - he plays
verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a consonant: Change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'.
Example:
I hurry - he hurries 14
Special verbs in the Simple Present
1) have as a full verb
affirmative sentence negative sentence question
I, we, you, they:
I have breakfast. I do not have breakfast. Do I have breakfast?
he, she, it:
He has a shower in the morning. He does not have a shower. Does he have a shower?
2) be as a full verb
affirmative sentence negative sentence question
I am from Britain. I am not from Britain. Am I from Britain?
he, she, it:
He is from Britain. He is not from Britain. Is he from Britain?
we, you, they:
We are from Britain. We are not from Britain. Are we from Britain?
We often use the short forms with this verb.
3) do as a full verb
affirmative sentence negative sentence question
I, we, you, they:
I do an exercise. I do not do an exercise. Do I do an exercise?
he, she, it:
He does an exercise. He does not do an exercise. Does he do an exercise?
4) modal auxiliaries can, could, may, must, need, will etc.
affirmative sentence negative sentence question
every time (I, he, she, it, we, you, they):
I can play tennis. I cannot play tennis. Can I play tennis?
NOTE:
We can substitute don't (can't) for do not (cannot).
Modals have the same form every time regardless the subject. We do not add an -s to the 15
infinitive
Exercises
A) Fill in the verbs in brackets into the gaps.
Example: He never writes a letter.
The pupils songs in the classroom. (to sing)
The boys computer games. (not/to play)
B) Which answers are correct? 16
1) Which of the following words are used with the Simple Present (signal words)?
always
at the moment
every day
now
often
sometimes
yesterday
2) Which verb forms go with the Simple Present?
Infinitive
Infinitive + -ed
Infinitive + -ing
Infinitive + s
have + Infinitive + -ed
C) Fill in the correct verb forms.
1) His friend to school.
2) Every morning my mother at 6 o'clock.
D) Negate the sentences.
Example: He works on the computer. - He does not work on the computer.
1) Mr Smith teaches French.
2) Anne and Sue carry a box. 17
E) Which sentences/questions are correct?
1) In which sentence is the Simple Present used correctly?
Andrew wash the dishes.
Andrew washes the dishes.
Andrew washs the dishes.
2) Which sentence is in the Simple Present?
He has read a book.
He is reading a book.
He read a book.
He reads a book.
He will read a book.
A) Fill in the correct verb forms.
1) The lesson at 8.30.
2) It rain in the desert.
3) They wear school uniform.
4) Tomorrow Sunday.
B) Fill in the verbs in brackets into the gaps.
Example: He never writes a letter.
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1) Water when it . (to expand) (to freeze)
2) She to lose weight. (to try)
3) My aunt often queues. (to jump)
4) We sometimes around the shops. (to look)
C) Form questions.
Example: where / they / to have / breakfast
Where do they have breakfast?
1) who / to help / Roger / in the shop (Roger = Subject)
2) can / I / to get / you / a glass of water
3) your parents / to wait up for you
4) why / not to clean / you / your shoes
D) Negate the sentences.
Example: He works on the computer. - He does not work on the computer.
1) We are from Nigeria.
2) Anne has lunch at home.
3) She wants to become a superstar.
4) The banks close at 2 o'clock. 19
E) Ask for the underlined part.
Example: Lydia lives in Bulgaria. - Where does Lydia live?
1) Mel works in an office.
2)The child plays the trumpet.
3) I like cycling because it's fun.
4) We write to four pen friends.
4) Which verb forms are correct?
she agrees
she annoys
she cries
she hurrys
she kissis
she rushes
she teachs
she worrys
G) Rewrite the sentences and use short forms or long forms.
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Example: He doesn't work in the garden. - He does not work in the garden.
1) She does not like rice.
2) You shouldn't eat so much meat.
3) They don't walk to school.
4) I'm not Spanish.
Questions
Question without question words Short answer
Yes, he is.
Is he from London?
No, he isn't.
Yes, they are.
Are the boys at your school?
No, they aren't.
Yes, I can.
Can you play ice-hockey?
No, I can't.
Yes, we have.
Have we got ketchup?
No, we haven't.
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Yes, she has.
Has she got a mobile phone?
No, she hasn't.
Yes, they do.
Do they live in a flat?
No, they don't.
Yes, he does.
Does he work in an office?
No, he doesn't.
Yes, it did.
Did it rain yesterday?
No, it didn't.
Yes, they are.
Are they writing a test now?
No, they aren't.
Yes, we will.
Will we arrive on time?
No, we won't.
Question words with Examples
Question word Example
where Where do you live?
who Who are you?
when When do you get up?
what What are you doing?
why Why do you smoke?
whose Whose book is this?
which Which bus do you take to school?
how How old are you
Exercises
Put in What, Where, Why, When, How into the gaps and form meaningful questions.
Example: ____ often do you play volleyball?
Answer: How often do you play volleyball?
1) do you like best?
2) does Bill get up in the morning?
3) don't you go by bus, Max?
4) hobbies does Andrew have? 22
5) do they go to every week?
6) old is Mike?
7) is Susan's birthday?
8) are my exercise books?
9) are you doing at the moment, Sally?
10) do the Robinsons live?
Present continuous
• We use the present continuous to speak about an action that is happening at the
moment of speaking or around the moment of speaking (now, at the moment)
What are you doing? I am reading this article about « renting flats », it is really interesting.
• We use it as well to speak about a temporary and unusual action (this week, this
month, this year…)
I usually go to work by car but this week I am walking to work because the weather is fine.
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NOT IN THE CONTINUOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Verbs with a stative meaning (not actions)
• Love, hate, like…
• It sounds / I hear, it seems/ I see, it tastes, it smells
• think, (opinion), believe, hope, mean, intend
• Have got, possess, own, belong to
Past simple
REGULAR VERBS
Positive (-ed) Negative Questions
(didn’t + infinitive) (DID+ SUBJECT+ INF.)
I/ you/ he/ she/ lived didn’t live Did you live ?
it/ we/ you /
they
IRREGULAR VERBS
Positive (see list) Negative Questions
(didn’t + infinitive) (DID+ SUBJECT+ INF.)
I/ you/ he/ she/ wrote didn’t write Did you write ?
it/ we/ you / had didn’t have Did you have ?
they
THE PAST OF « TO BE »
Positive Negative Questions
I was wasn’t Was I ?
You were weren’t Were you ?
He, she, it was wasn’t Was he, she, it ?
we were weren’t Were we ?
you were weren’t Were you ? 24
they were weren’t Were they ?
We use the Past simple to talk about an action or situation in the past which is finished.
Spelling of regular affirmative past tense forms.
Most regular verbs: + ed. I work -- I worked.
Verbs ending in –e: +d. I like -- I liked.
Verbs ending in one stressed vowel followed by a consonant: we double the
consonant + ed.
I stop -- I stopped, I regret -- I regretted.
Verbs ending in consonant + y: y becomes i + ed. I study -- I studied.
Verbs ending in –c: c becomes –ck + ed. I picnic – I picnicked.
Verbs ending in a short vowel + l : -ll + ed. I travel – I travelled.
Irregular verbs
Infinitive Past simple Past Translation Example
participle
be Was/ were been être I am Belgian
become became become devenir She became American
come came come venir I come back home
begin began begun commencer The film begins at 2 PM
drink drank drunk boire I drink milk
run ran run Courir/ diriger He runs fast
drive drove driven conduire I drive a car
write wrote written écrire They write emails
eat ate eaten manger I eat a sandwich
give gave given donner You give her a present
fall fell fallen tomber He fell down the stairs
take took taken prendre Take a taxi!
break broke broken casser He broke my cup
wake woke woken réveiller I wake up at 6
choose chose chosen choisir I choose the blue tee-shirt
speak spoke spoken parler I can speak English
bring brought brought apporter Bring your book next time!
buy bought bought acheter She buys some chocolate
catch caught caught attraper The police caught the thieves
teach taught taught enseigner The teacher teaches history
think thought thought penser He thinks about her a lot 25
let let let laisser Let me think!
cost cost cost coûter It costs 15 euros
cut cut cut couper Cut this sheet of paper!
put put put mettre Put the document on the desk
read read read lire I read the newspaper
set up set up set up monter une He set up his own business
entreprise
do did done faire I do my homework
know knew known savoir I don’t know the answer
fly flew flown Voler en avion I fly from Paris to London
grow grew grown Grandir, croître The company grew a lot
forget forgot forgotten oublier You forgot my birthday
get got got obtenir, devenir Did you get the tickets?
go went gone aller You go to school
have had had avoir Do you have a brother?
hear heard heard entendre I can hear some noise
find found found trouver I can’t find my keys
keep kept kept garder Can you keep a secret?
feel felt felt se sentir I don’t feel well
mean meant meant Signifier, avoir What does this word mean?
l’intention
meet met met rencontrer When can we meet?
build built built construire I built my house in 2005
learn learnt/ learnt/ learned apprendre I learnt English when I was at school
learned
leave left left sortir, quitter What time does the train leave?
sleep slept slept dormir I don’t sleep well at night
send sent sent envoyer He sends emails every day
spend spent spent passer du temps, She spends a lot of money on clothes
dépenser de
l’argent
lose lost lost perdre I always lose my keys
make made made Faire, fabriquer The company makes chocolate
pay paid paid payer He paid 50 euros for this camera
say said said dire What did you say?
understan understood understood comprendre I don’t understand you
d
sell sold sold vendre He wants to sell his car
tell told told Raconter, dire He told me a strange story
wear wore worn Porter des They wear jeans
vêtements
win won won Gagner He won the race
show showed shown montrer I will show you round my school
see saw seen voir A blind person can’t see
The future.
We can use the modal auxiliary will/ won’t to say that we hope or predict about the future.
affirmative negative interrogative
I will go (‘ll go) won’t go Will I go?
You will go (‘ll go) won’t go Will you go?
He/ will go (‘ll go) won’t go Will he/ she/ it go? 26
she/it will go (‘ll go) won’t go Will we go?
We will go (‘ll go) won’t go Will you go?
You will go (‘ll go) won’t go Will they go?
they
Will is a modal auxiliary verb:
1. It doesn’t change with he/ she/it.
It will rain tomorrow.
2. WILL is followed by a bare infinitive (without “to”).
I hope he will * to keep in touch.
The negation of WILL is WILL NOT or WON’T.
I think he won’t come to the party.
The contracted form of WILL is ‘ll
I think it’ll be possible to travel to the stars one day.
BE GOING TO
But we use BE GOING TO to speak about an intention or a plan for the future.
Next year I am going to travel all around the world.
Next year I would like to travel …
Next year I want to travel…
Tomorrow they are going to visit their friends.
Comparatives and superlatives.
Short adjectives Comparatives + -er Superlatives + -est
low Lower than The lowest
fast
wide
bright
small
Adjectives ending in V+ C Double the consonant
big Bigger than The biggest
hot 27
wet
Adjectives ending in -y ier iest
sunny Sunnier than The sunniest
friendly
dry
Long adjectives More+ adjective The most+ adjective
up-to-date
generous
comfortable
Irregulars
far Further/ farther The furthest/ the farthest
good Better The best
bad worse The worst
