Compiled & Guided

by Trai Van Nguyen

Cell phone: 0913773538

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
 Miscellaneous
Most students cannot distinguish the following terms:
Sound
Letter
Syllable
Word
Phrase
Clause
Sentence
Paragraph
Passage
Text
Composition
Essay
Thesis
Dissertation
 English Sounds
A. Vowel Sounds: (22)
I.Monophthongs: (12)
/ i - i: - e - æ - a: - ə - ə: - ɔ - ɔ: - u - u: - ʌ /
II. Diphthongs: (8)
/ ei - ai - au - ɔi - ou - iə - ɛə - uə /
III. Triphthongs: (2)
/ aiə - auə /
B. Consonant Sunds: (24)
/b-d-f-g-h-k-l-m-n-p-r-s-t-v-w-z-j-ŋ-
ʃ - ʒ - ʧ - dʒ - θ - ð /
 J, j U /j/
You
/ ju: / Homophones ?

Ewe

Yew
Evergreen trees
1. Pines
Cedar
2. Firs Yew
Sequoia
3. Spruces
1. nun / nʌn / ≠? monk

2. non / nɔn /

3. none / nʌn /

Buddhism Most Venerable

 Sign
Nature
Signature /’signəʧə/

Calligraphy /kə’ligrəfi/

Graphology /græ’fɔlədʒi/

Physiognomy /fizi’ɔgnəmi/

Phrenology /frə’nɔlədʒi/

Palmistry /’pa:mistri/
 Adverbs of Frequency
 (0/10) never

(1-2/10) rarely, seldom, hardly ever, nearly/almost

never, once in a while, once in a blue moon

(3-4/10) sometimes, at times, now and then,

from time to time, occasionally

(5-6/10) often

(7-9/10) usually, frequently, generally, normally,

nearly/almost always, nearly/almost all the
time

 (10/10) always, all the time, at all times

 By-structure
You must return the book by Saturday.

word(s)
By + (90% : perfect tense)

the time + clause

By the time I got to the airport, the airplane had

already taken off.
 Future
1. Shall
2. Will
3. Be going to-verb
4. Be V-ing
5. Be about to-verb
6. Be to-verb
7. Simple present
 Adjective

Possessive Pronoun

Case
 is
has
’s possessive case
plural letters
plural numbers
 to do something

doing sth

somebody

To try: something
something on = on something

one’s best

in a place
Parts of Speech
1. Nouns
2. Pronouns
3. Adjectives
4. Verbs
5. Adverbs
6. Prepositions
7. Conjunctions
8. Interjections
 Functions
1. Subject

2. Noun modifier (= Adjective)

3. Verb modifier (= Adverb)

V.t.
4. Object of
Preposition
Subject
5. Complement
Object
6. Appositive
 Types of Nouns
1. Singular & plural
chair, house… tables, nurses, cities…

2. Countable & uncountable

pen(s), bird(s)… news, advice, information…

3. Common & proper

school(s), desk(s)… Vietnam, Paris, Mary, Everest…

4. Concrete & abstract

hat, chair, room… love, hope, belief, patience…

5. Simple & Compound

dog, bird, egg… greenhouse, passer-by, son-in-law…

6. Collective
family, group, team, committee, herd, crowd…

7. Mass
equipment, furniture, luggage, machinery…
 Types of Pronouns
1. Personal Subject Pronouns
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they

2. Personal Object Pronouns

Me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them

3. Possessive Pronouns
Mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs

4. Reflexive/Emphatic Pronouns
Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves

5. Demonstrative Pronouns
This, that, these, those
Types of Pronouns
6. Interrogative Pronouns
Who, whom, whose, what, which

7. Relative Pronouns
Who, whom, whose, which, that

8. Distributive Pronouns
All, most, each, both, either, neither

9. Indefinite Pronouns
Some, something, someone, somebody, somewhere
Any, anything, anyone, anybody, anywhere
Everything, everyone, everybody
None, nothing, no one, nobody
 Types of Adjectives
1. Descriptive 7. Positive
big, round, cheap… large, deep, expensive…

2. Numeral 8. Comparative
one, first, two, second older, happier, more useful…

3. Indefinite 9. Superlative
all, each, every, some, several… best, worst, most beautiful…

4. Possessive 10. Attributive

my, your, his, our… Adjective + noun

5. Demonstrative 11. Predicative

this, that, these, those alive, afraid, alike…

6. Substantivized
Partially: Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, the rich, the good, the dead…
Fully: American(s), Australian(s), Korean(s)…
 Comparatives & Superlatives
Rule 1: Short adj. – er – est
old older oldest
Rule 2: Long adj. – more – most
useful more useful most useful
Rule 3: Irregular
good/well better best
bad/badly worse worst
many/much more most
little less least
farther farthest
far
further furthest
 Comparatives & Superlatives
Rule 4: Two-syllable adj. ending in -er, -le, -ow, -y
clever cleverer cleverest
humble humbler humblest
shallow shallower shallowest
lazy lazier laziest
Rule 5: Past participles used as adj.
tired more tired most tired
bored more bored most bored

Rule 6: Special
in inner innermost
out outer outermost
up upper uppermost
 Compound Nouns
A compound noun mostly consist of two or more words. Compound
nouns may be written into one word, two separate words, two words
liked by a hyphen, or three words linked by two hyphens.

I. Noun + Noun

- toothpick
- bus driver
- schoolboy
- tennis ball
- river bank
- postman
- kitchen table
II. Adjective + Noun

- quicksilver
- blackboard
- hothouse
- blackbird
- quicksand

III. Noun + Gerund

- weight-lifting
- fruit picking
- lorry driving
- coal-mining
IV. Gerund + Noun
- dining room
- driving license
- swimming pool
- washing-machine

V. Adjective + Verb
- whitewash

VI. Verb + Noun

- pickpocket

VII. Adverb + Verb

- outbreak
VIII. Verb + Adverb
- breakdown

IX. Noun + Preposition

- passer-by
- looker-on

X. Noun + Adjective
- secretary-general
 Compound Adjectives
Compound adjectives mostly consist of two words. The first word
usually modifies the second word, and the whole compound
modifies a noun.

I. Noun + Adjective
Adjective + Adjective
Adverb + Adjective
- the blood-thirsty enemy - a life-long effort
- a dark-blue shirt - a bitter-sweet love
- an over-anxious mother - an all-round man
- a sea-sick passenger - a red-hot iron bar
- the reddish-brown soil - an all-important factor
- a heart-free girl - a fancy-free girl
 II. Noun + Noun
Adjective + Noun
Preposition + Noun
- an air-defense base - a rear-view mirror
- a two-day holiday - large-scale production
- an off-shore oilrig - over-weight luggage
- law-school students - a late-morning breakfast
- a thousand-mile journey - the overseas trade

III. Noun + Noun + ED

Adjective + Noun + ED
- lion-hearted soldiers - earth-colored skin
- a pink-cheeked girl - a broad-shouldered man
- an egg-shaped head - a baby-faced young man
- a quick-eared old man - a heavy-bodied woman
 IV. Noun + Present participle
Adjective + Present participle
Adverb + Present participle
- a heart-rending story - freedom-loving people
- a good-looking girl - a sweet-tasting medicine
- a hard-working student - never-ending progress
- night-blooming flowers - an easy-going person
- the ever-increasing world’s population

V. Noun + Past participle

Adjective + Past participle
Adverb + Past participle
- a snow-covered mountain - a home-made dress
- a white-washed room - the long-lost wife
- a dearly-loved child - a well-known actress
- heart-felt thanks - a soft-spoken lady
 VI. Other Formations

- a would-be husband
- a difficult-to-break habit
- married-but-childless years
- a hush-hush policy
- a hit-or-miss answer
- a good-for-nothing person

Notes: In compound adjectives formed with participles,

the present participle is used for active meaning, and the
past participle for passive meaning.
 Types of Verbs
1. Auxiliary (do)
2. Modal = special = defective
3. Linking
4. Ordinary (vi = intransitive v., vt = transitive v.)
5. Regular
6. Irregular
7. Finite
8. Non-finite
 18 Linking Verbs:

appear, be, become, fall, feel, get,

go, grow, keep, look, mean, remain,

run, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn

Forms of Verbs
1. To-infinitive
2. Bare infinitive
3. Simple = base
4. S-form
5. Gerund (v-ing)
6. Present participle (v-ing)
7. Past participle
 Types of Sentences
A B
1. Simple 1. Declarative

2. Compound 2. Imperative

3. Complex 3. Interrogative

4. Compound - Complex 4. Exclamatory

 Types of Clauses
A B
1. Main 1. Independent
2. Subordinate 2. Dependent

Noun Adjective Or Relative Adverb

Restrictive Non-Restrictive
or Defining or Non-Defining
a noun clause? That or wh-words/whether/if
What can begin Relative pronouns:
an adjective clause? who, whom, whose
an adverb clause? which, that
Relative adverbs:
Subordinating conjunctions: where, when
if, before, since, because, when, although…
 Types of Phrases
1. Noun

2. Adjective

3. Adverb

Gerund (v-ing)
a noun phrase?
To-infinitive
Present participle (v-ing)
What can begin an adjective phrase? Past participle
Preposition
Preposition
an adverb phrase? (Sub.Conj.+) p. p. (v-ing)
(In order) to-infinitive,…
 How to Write Compound Sentences
1. A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined
together by a comma (,) and one of the seven coordinating conjunctions
(FANBOYS): and, but, so, or, nor, for, yet.

e.g. Tom loves Erica, and she loves him.

Jack loves Jean, but she loves Ronald.
Jack should forget Jean, or he will die a lonely man.
Jean doesn’t love Jack, so she won’t marry him.

2. Another way to make a compound sentence is to join the two

independent clauses with a semicolon (;). Notice that the first word after
a semicolon is not capitalized.

e.g. Tom loves Erica; she loves him.

Jack loves Jean; she loves Ronald.
Jean doesn’t love Jack; she won’t marry him.

Note: Or cannot be replaced by a semicolon.

3. A third way to make a compound sentence is to join the two independent
clauses with a semicolon (;) + transitional word + comma.
Transitional words or phrases: however, moreover, on the other hand,
nevertheless, instead, also, therefore, consequently, otherwise, as a result

e.g. Tom loves Erica; moreover, she loves him.

Tom loves Erica; furthermore, she loves him.
Jack loves Jean; however, she loves Ronald.
Jean doesn’t love Jack; therefore, she won’t marry him.
Jack should forget Jean; otherwise, he will die a lonely man.
 THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
I.- FORM:
SUBJECT + VERB (without TO)
The third person singular doesn’t require S or ES.
BE remains BE with all three persons

II.- USAGE:
1) The Present Subjunctive is used to express wishes or prayers.
God save the Queen!
Peace be with you!
Long live the forces of peace!

2) The Present Subjunctive or its equivalent (SHOULD + BARE

INFINITIVE) is used in noun clauses (in British English):
a) after the verbs COMMAND, DEMAND, REQUEST, PROPOSE,
SUGGEST, INTEND, RECOMMEND, INSIST, ORDER, URGE.... or their
related nouns.

The officer ordered that his soldiers cease (should cease) fire.
He demands that he be (should be) allowed to meet his lawyer.
His suggestion was that we travel (should travel) by train.

b) after expressions such as IT IS NECESSARY, IT IS

IMPORTANT, IT IS IMPERATIVE, IT IS ADVISABLE...

It is important that your father follow (should follow)

the doctor’s advice.
It is advisable that you be (should be) careful in the
lab.
 Active & Passive Voices
A. DEFINITION:
- The sentence is in Active Voice when the subject indicates the doer
of the action.
- The sentence is in Passive Voice when the subject indicates the
receiver of the action.

Active: - I kicked the dog.

- The dog bit me.
Passive: - The dog was kicked by me.
- I was bitten by the dog.

Active Subject + Vt + Object

Passive Subject + Be + Past Participle + (By –object)

B. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE TENSES:
Tenses Active Passive
Simple Simple form / S-form Be + P.P. (Past Participle)
- Present Write / writes Am/is/are written
- Past Wrote Was/were written
- Future Shall/will write Shall/will be written
Continuous Be + v-ing Be + being + P. P.
- Present Am/is/are writing Am/is/are being written
- Past Was/were writing Was/were being written
- Future Shall/will be writing Shall/will be being written
Perfect Have + P. P. Have + been + P.P.
- Present Have/has written Have/has been written
- Past Had written Had been written
- Future Shall/will have written Shall/will have been written
Perfect Continuous Have + been + v-ing
- Present Have/has been writing
- Past Had been writing (Rarely used)
- Future Shall/will have been
writing
Infinitive (to) write (to) be written
C. HOW TO CHANGE THE VOICE:
Rule 1: - The man saved my life.
- My life was saved by the man.
- They are repairing the bridge.
- The bridge is being repaired (by them).
Notes:
Omit the part by-object when this object is an indefinite noun
(people) or pronoun (they, somebody, someone, etc.)
- Everybody admires him.
- He is admired by everybody.
Notes:
By-object can’t be omitted when the indefinite pronoun is essential to
the meaning of the sentence.

Rule 2: - Smoke filled the room.

- The room was filled with smoke.
- Mud covers the path.
- The path is covered with mud.
Notes:
With is used instead of by when materials (smoke, mud, snow, etc.)
not doer is mentioned.
Rule 3: - The refugees looked after the wounded soldiers.
- The wounded soldiers were looked after by the
refugees.
- His father was staring at him.
- He was being stared at by his father.
Notes:
The preposition or adverb following the active verb will remain
immediately after the passive verb.

Rule 4: - The girl has given me this pansy.

- I have been given this pansy (by the girl).
(or This pansy has been given to me (by the girl).
- He bought her a new car.
- She was bought a new car (by him).
(or A new car was bought for her (by him).
Notes:
When a sentence containing two objects is made passive, either of
those objects may become the subject of the passive sentence.
Rule 5: - The vase was broken.
- Somebody broke the vase.
- This shirt is made by hand.
- They made this shirt by hand.
Notes:
* A passive sentence without by-object is made active with an indefinite
doer (they, people, somebody, etc.)
* By-object in a passive sentence does not always indicate the doer but it is
an adverb phrase of manner. Then, the sentence is made active with an
indefinite doer and the adverb phrase remains in the active sentence.

Rule 6: - The villagers made him go.

- He was made to go by the villagers.
- They saw the woman take the money.
- The woman was seen to take the money.
Notes:
Infinitive with to must be used after “make, have” and verbs of perception
(see, hear, feel, etc.) in passive sentences.
Let, however, is used without to.
- They let us go.
- We were let go.
Rule 7: - Who raised the question?
- Who was the question raised by?
(or By whom was the question raised?)
- What made you sad?
- What were you made sad by?
(or By what were you made sad?)
Notes:
When the subject of an active verb is an interrogative word, it
becomes object of the passive verb and remains at the beginning of
the sentence.

Rule 8: - Do this exercise now.

- Let this exercise be done now.
- Don’t let them see you.
- Don’t let yourself be seen (by them).
Notes:
* Imperative sentence containing let is made passive with
Let – object – passive infinitive
* Imperative sentence containing let is made passive by inverting
the two objects following let.
Rule 9: - You must do this immediately.
- This must be done immediately (by you.)
- We ought to obey his orders.
- His orders ought to be obeyed (by us).
Notes:
Special verbs and modals (can, may, must, ought to, shall, will,
should, would, have to, be about to, be going to, happen to, begin
to…) have no passive forms; so passive infinitive is used.

Rule 10: - It is dangerous (for us) to take the shortcut.

- It is dangerous for the shortcut to be taken.
- It is impossible to answer the thorny question.
- It is impossible for the thorny question to be
answered.
Notes:
The infinitive phrase “Transitive verb + object” may be made
passive with “For + object + passive infinitive.”
Rule 11: Passive infinitive:
- Your hair needs to be cut.
- This path wants to be swept.
Or Gerund:
- Your hair needs cutting.
- This path wants sweeping.
Notes:
Gerund may be used instead of passive infinitive after
the verbs “need, want, require.”

Rule 12: - I remember your giving me this pen.

- I remember (my) being given this pen by you.
- He forgets my inviting his father to the dinner.
- He forgets his father’s being invited to the
dinner by me.
Notes:
Passive gerund is Being + Past participle
Rule 13:
Active:
- People say that money is the root of all evil.
Passive:
P.1 : - That money is the root of all evil is said.
P.2 : - It is said that money is the root of all evil.
P.3 : - Money is said to be the root of all evil.

Notes:
The following verbs can be made passive in three ways:
say, think, believe, report, rumor.
 CONDITIONALS
Tense
If-clause Main clause
Condition
1 - Simple present - Simple future
- Simple future - Simple present
PROBABLE - Modals
- Imperative

If I have time, I shall/will visit you.

You will be late for class if you don’t hurry.

If you try hard, you can pass the examination.

If anyone asks for me, tell him to call back in half an hour.
If you are right, I am wrong. (to show a real condition)
 CONDITIONALS
Tense
If-clause Main clause
Condition
2 - Past Subjunctive - Present
- Be (were) Conditional
PRESENT (could/might/should/
UNREAL would + bare infinitive)

If I were you, I should help him.

She would speak English better if she had more practice.

If she were to see you (= If she should see you), she would be
very surprised.
(to emphasize the feeling of doubt)
 CONDITIONALS
Tense
If-clause Main clause
Condition
3 - Past perfect subjunctive - Perfect conditional
(Had + Past participle) (would/could/might/
PAST should/must + have +
past participle
UNREAL

If I had known she was sick, I should have visited her.

He would have been angry if you had not told him the truth.

Note:
The past perfect subjunctive in the If-clause may be replaced
by COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE.
If he could have seen you, he would have explained our plan.
 CONDITIONALS
Tense
If-clause Main clause
Condition
4
MIXED TIME
1- Past – Present
If we hadn’t brought the map with us, we would now be
completely lost.
If my sister hadn’t quitted her job last year, she might now be
making a lot of money.
2- Present – Past
You are not a good student.
If you were a good student, you could have passed the test.
3- Past – Future
If I hadn’t promised to go out with Mike, I would go with you
tomorrow.
 Perfect conditional
would có lẽ… đã…
could có thể… đã…
might rất có thể… đã…
+ have + P.P.
should lẽ ra… nên…
(đáng lẽ… phải)
must chắc hẳn… đã…
 THE INVERSION OF SUBJECT AND VERB
I. REMARKS:
+ The inversion of subject and verb is generally used for emphasis
or for some literary purpose.
+ In the inversion construction, the word order is the same as that
in questions.

II. CASES:
There is the inversion of subject and verb in a sentence:

1. When a Negative or Semi-negative adverb begins the sentence.

- Never have I heard such a thing.
- Seldom did he give his wife a present.
- Little does he know what is awaiting him.
- No sooner had I got outside than it began to rain.
- Not only do they come late, but they are also often absent.
2. When HERE, THERE, FIRST, LAST or an Adverb or Adverb phrase of
place, which does not normally have front position, begins the
sentence.
- There comes the bus we’ve been waiting for.
- Last went the elephants.
- Out into the street ran the weeping girl.
Notes:
a. In this construction, the verbs denote a state, position or movement
(BE, EXIST, LIVE, LIE, SIT, STAND, GO, COME, ENTER, RUN, RUSH …). They
can stand before the subjects and are nearly always in the Simple Present or
Simple Past tense.
b. There is no inversion in sentences beginning with HERE or THERE if the
subjects are pronouns.
- Here lie the unknown soldiers.
- Here they lie, cold and forgotten.

3. When SO, SUCH, THUS or an Adverb or Adverb phrase of

Frequency,
which does not normally have front position, begins the sentence.
- So sick was he that he had to be taken to hospital.
- Such was the tale he told me.
- Thus should you act and not otherwise.
- Many a time has he given me good advice.
4. When ONLY WHEN (AFTER, THEN, BY, WITH, IN, AT … ) begins the
sentence. If the sentence is complex, the inversion takes place in the

main clause.
- Only at night do I have a chance to read.
- Only when he is here, does he speak English.

5. When IF is omitted from a Conditional sentence.

- Were she to see you, she would be very surprised.
- Had I been there, I should have spoken to him.

6. When the object, generally qualified by such a word as MANY,

MUCH, LITTLE or NO, begins the sentence.
- Many a trick had we played in class, without the teacher noticing it.
- Little help will you get from him.

7. When a predicative Adjective, Present Participle or Past Participle

begins the sentence.
- Calm and peaceful was the sea.
- Spent was the day and darkening was the sky.
 Verbs of Perception:
see bare infinitive
watch
+ O. v-ing (present participle)
hear
feel… past participle

1. I saw him beat a little boy yesterday.

2. I saw him beating a little boy

yesterday.
3. I saw him beaten by his father yesterday.
 Predicate Patterns
1. Subject + V.i. (Intransitive verb) (+ Verb Modifier)
e.g. – The baby is sleeping (in the cradle).
– The leaves fall (on the ground).
– The clouds are flying (in the sky).

2. Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement

e.g. – She is beautiful.
– He has become a pilot.
– They look happy.
– I feel lonely.
– Money is what she wants.

3. Subject + V.t. (Transitive verb) + Object

e.g. – They are drinking beer.
– I like music.
– My boss speaks French.
4a. Subject + V.t. + Direct Object + Preposition + Ind. Object
e.g. – He has written five letters to his girlfriend.
– She bought a new watch for her daughter.

4b. Subject + V.t. + Indirect Object + Direct Object

e.g. – We gave her some flowers.
– He told us the truth.

Note: When the two objects are pronouns, only 4a is used.

e.g. – She gave it to me.
– He got them for us.

5. Subject + V.t. + Object + Object Complement

e.g. – They elected him President.
– We call her Liz.
– The sun keeps us warm.
 18 Linking Verbs:

appear, be, become, fall, feel, get,

go, grow, keep, look, mean, remain,

run, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn

 Types of Questions
1. Yes-No Questions:
a/. Affirmative Yes-No Questions:
- Are you a doctor?
- Can she dance?
- Do they speak English?
- Have you read this book?

b/. Negative Yes-No Questions:

- Isn’t he an engineer?
- Couldn’t they answer your question?
- Didn’t she come yesterday?
- Hasn’t he returned your book?

2. Alternative Questions = Or-Questions

- Is she a nurse or a doctor?
- Can he play football or tennis?
- Will you come at 8 or 10 o’clock?
3. Wh-Questions:
(who, whom, whose, what, which, when, where,
why, how)
- Who lives with her?
- Who are you talking to?
- Whom are they waiting for?
- Whose car won the race?
- Whose car are you driving?
- What is happening?
- What does she mean?
- What time is it now?
- What music do you like best?
- Which book is yours?
- Which book do you want to read?
- When were you born?
- Where do they come from?
- Why are you crying?
- How did she make this cake?
- How tall is he?
- How long has she been married?
4. Tag-Questions:
- He’s American, isn’t he?
- It never snows in Vietnam, does it?
- They seldom come here, do they?
- She can sing very well, can’t she?
- You didn’t go to the movies last night, did you?

5. Embedded Questions = Indirect Questions:

- Ask her where she lives.
- Tell him what they need.
- I want to know why they didn’t call me yesterday.
- I wonder if she is 20 years old.
- She wants to know whether he can come today or tomorrow.
- Tell me whether the new secretary can speak English or
French.
- Do you want to know if the director has come back from
abroad yet?
- When do you think they will come?
- How do you think she can help us?
- What do you say his name is?
 Main Clause + Embedded Question

1. Ask him/her/them.. Wh-word + Subject + Verb .

2. Tell him/her/them…
If + Subject + Verb .
3. I wonder…
Whether + S. + V. + Or… .
4. I want to know…

5. Do you know… Wh-word + Subject + Verb?

6. Do you wonder… If + Subject + Verb?

7. Do you want to know… Whether + S. + V. + Or…?
6. Echo Questions:
- Oh, I’m very cold!
- Are you? = You are?
- I like coffee very much.
- Do you? = You do?
- She can swim very well.
- Can she? = She can?
- He died last month.
- Did he? = He did?

7. Inserted Questions:
- I like beer. Does he? Do they?
- He can play basketball. Can you? Can his brother?
- She has been to Hong Kong several times. Have you?
Has her husband?
8. Rhetoric Questions = Rhetorical Questions:
- Where am I now?
- What should I do?
- Is anybody home?
- Why is it so dark?

Rhetoric questions are used when the speaker or anyone else can’t
answer them, or when you want to make your writing or speech
more vivid. They are also used for some literary purpose.
THE INVERSION OF SUBJECT AND VERB
I. REMARKS:

+ The inversion of subject and verb is generally used for emphasis

or for some literary purpose.
+ In the inversion construction, the word order is the same
as that
in questions.

II. CASES:
There is the inversion of subject and verb in a sentence:

1. When a Negative or Semi-negative adverb begins the

sentence.
- Never have I heard such a thing.
- Seldom did he give his wife a present.
- Little does he know what is awaiting him.
- No sooner had I got outside than it began to rain.
- Not only do they come late, but they are also often absent.
2. When HERE, THERE, FIRST, LAST or an Adverb or
Adverb phrase of Place, which does not normally have
front position, begins the sentence.
- There comes the bus we’ve been waiting for.
- Last went the elephants.
- Out into the street ran the weeping girl.

Notes:

a. In this construction, the verbs denote a state, position or

movement (BE, EXIST, LIVE, LIE, SIT, STAND, GO, COME, ENTER,
RUN, RUSH …). They can stand before the subjects and are nearly
always in the Simple Present or Simple Past tense.

b. There is no inversion in sentences beginning with HERE or

THERE if the subjects are pronouns.
- Here lie the unknown soldiers.
- Here they lie, cold and forgotten.
3. When SO, SUCH, THUS or an Adverb or Adverb phrase
of Frequency, which does not normally have front
position, begins the sentence.
- So sick was he that he had to be taken to hospital.
- Such was the tale he told me.
- Thus should you act and not otherwise.
- Many a time has he given me good advice.
- Often did we go for walks together.

4. When ONLY WHEN (AFTER, THEN, BY, WITH, IN, AT…)

begins the sentence. If the sentence is complex, the
inversion takes place in the Main clause.
- Only at night do I have a chance to read.
- Only when he is here, does he speak English.

5. When IF is omitted from a Conditional sentence.

- Were she to see you, she would be very surprised.
- Had I been there, I should have spoken to him.
6. When the object, generally qualified by such a word as
MANY, MUCH, LITTLE or NO, begins the sentence.
- Many a trick had we played in class, without the teacher
noticing it.
- Little help will you get from him.

7. When a predicative Adjective, Present Participle or

Past Participle begins the sentence.
- Calm and peaceful was the sea.
- Spent was the day and darkening was the sky.
like → alike
same
identical
similar
to look like
to look alike
to resemble
to take after (someone)
to be a ringer for someone
 Like – Prefer – Would rather
1. Like
noun noun
pronoun pronoun
Subject + like + + better than +
V-ing V-ing
to-infinitive to-infinitive
2. Prefer
noun noun
pronoun + to + pronoun
Subject + prefer +
V-ing V-ing
to-infinitive + rather than + to-infinitive

3. Would rather
Subject + would rather + bare infinitive + than + bare infinitive
e.g. I’d rather drink cocoa than (drink) beer.
1.What are you?
2. What do you do?
3. What’s your job?
4. What’s your occupation?
5. What’s your profession?
6. What’s your career?
 Twins
1. Fraternal twins
 Twins
2. Identical twins
 Twins
3. Siamese twins
Chang and Eng Bunker were born on May 11, 1811 in Siam
(modern day Thailand) to a Chinese father and half-
Chinese, half-Malay mother. They were the conjoined twin
brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis
for the term "Siamese twins."

In April, 1843, Chang was married to Adelaide Yates and

Eng to Sarah Ann Yates in a double wedding. Adelaide and
Sarah were two of nine daughters of local farmer and part-
time clergyman, David Yates.

Chang fathered six boys and five girls; and Eng seven girls
and three boys.

On January 17, 1874, Chang Bunker died after a severe

case of bronchitis, possibly from a cerebral clot. Eng died
3 hours thereafter. 
This statue of the twins stands
near their birthplace in Thailand.
 Causative Form
Active:
have Bare infinitive
Subject + + O.1 + + O.2
get To-infinitive
have wash
e.g. – I often a boy my car.
get to wash

Passive:
have
Subject + + O.2 + Past Participle + by O.1
get

e.g. – I often have/get my car washed by a boy.

 How to use “Likely”

1. Likely = probable (adj.):

- I’m likely to be very busy tomorrow.
- Do you think it’s likely to rain?
2. It is likely… that …
- It’s quite likely that the meeting will go
on until late.
3. Likely + Noun:
- What’s a likely date for the next General
Election?
 How to use “Like”
1. Ordinary verb (v.t.) + object:
- He likes her.
- My boyfriend likes my new hairstyle.
2. Ordinary verb (v.t.) + v-ing/to-infinitive:
- I like collecting stamps.
- She likes to stay at home this evening.
3. Noun:
- What are your likes?

4. Adjective:
- Like father, like son.
5. Preposition:
- He looks exactly like his father.
- She sings like a bird.
- I want to do something nice, like going to a party.

6. Like = As (Conjunction) *American English:

- Nobody loves you like I do, baby.
- He sat there smiling like it was his birthday.
- She started kissing me like we were on our honeymoon.

7. Like … very much: word order

* Typical mistakes: I like very much going to parties and dancing
and meeting people.
- I very much like going to parties and dancing and meeting
people.
- I like you and your sister very much.
 How To Read “ED”
Rule 1:
Any regular verb ending with the sound /d/ or /t/
ED / id /
need  needed
grade  graded
want  wanted
hate  hated
Rule 2:
Any regular verb ending with one of the following sounds:
/f/, /k/, /p/, /s/, /∫/, /ʧ/, /θ/ ED / t /
laugh  laughed
photograph  photographed
ask  asked
bake  baked
stop  stopped
hope  hoped
kiss  kissed
promise  promised
mix  mixed
slice  sliced
wish  wished
wash  washed
watch  watched
match  matched
unearth  unearthed
Rule 3:
Any regular verb ending with any vowel sound such as
/i/, /i:/, /a:/, /ɔ:/, /ə:/, /u:/, /ei/, /ai/, /aiə/, /au/, /auə/, /εə/, /iə/,
/ɔi/, /uə/, or one of the following consonant sounds: /b/, /g/,
/l/, /m/, /n/, /v/, /z/, /ŋ/, /dʒ/, /ð/ ED / d /
study  studied
agree  agreed
star  starred
store  stored
prefer  preferred
tattoo  tattooed
play  played
cry  cried
require  required
plough  ploughed = plowed
devour  devoured
stare  stared
steer  steered
employ  employed
tour  toured
stab  stabbed
beg  begged
travel  traveled
harm  harmed
name  named
happen  happened
buzz  buzzed
close  closed
sneeze  sneezed
hang  hanged
ring  ringed
change  changed
breathe  breathed
 President
Chairman
Vice Chancellor
Admiral
Attorney-General

Viceroy
 ,
truly,
sincerely,

Yours respectfully,

faithfully,

cordially,

Regards, Best regards, As ever, Fondly,

Love, With love,

 How to Write and Read a Date
1. Thursday 21 April 2011
2. Thursday, 21st April 2011.
 3. Thursday, 21 April 2011
 4. Thursday, 21st April 2011
5. Thursday, April 21, 2011.
6. Thursday, April 21st 2011.
 7. Thursday, April 21st, 2011
 8. Thursday, April 21, 2011
- Thursday, the twenty-first of April, two thousand eleven
- Thursday, April twenty-first, two thousand eleven
- Thursday, April the twenty-first, two thousand eleven
 C & F Temperatures
Anders Celsius
(Swedish astronomer, 1701-1744)

Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit

(German physicist, 1686-1736)

F = (C x 9/5) + 32
C = (F – 32) x 5/9
 What else?

Yes = Yea = Yeah = Yep = Yup = Ay = Aye = Uh huh

No = Nah = Nope = Nay = Nix = Huh uh

 Human Lifespan
1. First day – 8th week : embryo
2. 9th week – birth : fetus
3. Birth – 2 years old : baby
4. 3 years old – 7 years old : infant
5. 8 years old – 12 years old : child
6. 13 years old – 19 years old : teenager = adolescent
7. 20 years old – 40 years old : adult
8. 41 years old – 55 years old : middle-aged
9. 56 years old – 69 years old : elderly
10. 70 years old → : old
Infant prodigy
 Human Longevity

1. Quinquagenarian (50)

2. Sexagenarian (60)

3. Septuagenarian (70)

4. Octogenarian (80)

5. Nonagenarian (90)

6. Centenarian (100)
OFFSPRING BORN AT A SINGLE BIRTH

(2): Twin
(3): Triplet /’triplit/
(4): Quadruplet /kwa:’dru:plit/
(5): Quintuplet /kwin’tu:plit?
(6): Sextuplet /seks’tu:plit/
(7): Septuplet /sep’tu:plit/
(8): Octuplet /ɔ k’tu:plit/
(9): Nonuplet /nɔ’nu:plit/
 BRITISH HEREDITARY PEERAGE
Male Female
Duke Duchess
Marquis Marquise/Marchioness
Earl/Count Countess
Viscount Viscountess
Baron Baroness

NON-HEREDITARY
Baronet
Knight Dame
 0
Greenwich

• GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
P.M. A.M.

A.M.: Ante meridiem

P.M.: Post meridiem
12
 The Alphabet Code

A Alpha J Juliet S Sierra

B Bravo K Kilo T Tango

C Charlie L Lima U Uniform

D Delta M Mike V Victor
E Echo N November W Whisky
F Foxtrot O Oscar X X-ray

G Golf P Papa Y Yankee

H Hotel Q Quebec Z Zulu
I India R Romeo    
 Nobody
No body
Somebody
Some body
 v.v. (Not: V.V……., or VV….)
1/. ---------...

2/. ---------, etc. (, -------.)

3/. ---------, and so on, ------.

4/. ---------, and so forth.

5/. ---------, and so forth and so on.

 Occupation
1. What are you?
2. What do you do?
3. What’s your job?
4. What’s your occupation?
5. What’s your profession?
6. What’s your career?
How fast can you guess these words

1. F_ _K Fork

2. PU_S_ Pulse

3. S_X Six

4. P_N_S Pants

5. BOO_S Books

6. _ _NDOM Random