English Grammar Notes for Midterm
Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verbs are 'helping' verbs used with a main verb to form tenses, questions, or negatives.
Examples:
- I am reading a book. (Present Continuous)
- She has finished her homework. (Present Perfect)
- Do you like coffee? (Present Simple question)
Present Simple and Present Continuous
Present Simple is used for habitual actions or facts. Present Continuous is used for actions
happening right now. Examples:
- I work every day. (Present Simple)
- She is working at the moment. (Present Continuous)
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement. Common linking verbs include 'be,'
'seem,' 'become,' 'feel,' and 'look.' Example:
- She seems happy.
- The soup smells delicious.
Telling Stories
When telling stories, the past simple is often used to describe the sequence of events, while past
continuous describes background actions. Example:
- I was walking when I saw a friend.
Future Plans
To express future plans, we can use 'going to' or the present continuous. Examples:
- I am going to visit my grandparents tomorrow.
- We are meeting at 7 PM.
Present Perfect Simple
This tense is used to express actions that have occurred at an unspecified time or actions that still
have relevance in the present. Example:
- I have eaten breakfast. (It's relevant because I'm not hungry now.)
Habit and Frequency
We use Present Simple to describe habits and adverbs of frequency like 'always,' 'often,'
'sometimes,' etc. Example:
- She always drinks coffee in the morning.
Present Perfect Continuous and Past Simple for Duration
Present Perfect Continuous is used for actions that started in the past and are still ongoing. Past
Simple is used for actions that are finished. Example:
- I have been studying for three hours. (It's still happening)
- I studied for three hours. (It's finished)
Must and Can't for Commenting and Replying
'Must' is used for strong suggestions or logical deductions. 'Can't' is used to express impossibility.
Example:
- You must be tired after such a long trip.
- That can't be true.
Talking about Rules
We use 'must' and 'have to' for rules. 'Must' is more formal and emphasizes obligation. Example:
- You must wear a seatbelt while driving.
- You have to finish the assignment by tomorrow.
Comparisons
We use comparatives (-er, more) to compare two things and superlatives (-est, most) for more than
two. Example:
- My car is faster than yours.
- She is the most talented person in the group.
Noun Phrases
Noun phrases include a noun and its modifiers. Example:
- The big, brown dog barked loudly.
Generalizations and Tend to
'Tend to' is used for general behavior or regular habits. Example:
- People tend to spend more money during holidays.
First Conditionals
First conditionals express real possibilities in the future. Example:
- If it rains, I will stay home.
Future Time Clauses
Future time clauses use 'when,' 'before,' 'after,' etc., to talk about the future. Example:
- I will call you when I arrive.
Second Conditionals
Second conditionals describe hypothetical situations in the present or future. Example:
- If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Simple is used for finished actions with present relevance, while Present Perfect
Continuous is for ongoing actions. Example:
- I have read the book.
- I have been reading for two hours.
Comparing Now and the Past
We use 'used to' for habits in the past and 'now' to compare with the present. Example:
- I used to play football, but now I swim.
Quantifiers
Quantifiers like 'some,' 'many,' 'a lot of' describe quantities. Example:
- I have some money.
- She has a lot of friends.
Future in the Past
We use 'was going to' or 'would' to talk about the future from a past perspective. Example:
- I was going to visit, but I got sick.
