Noun Phrases

A noun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or any group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of a verb.

For example, ‘they’, ‘books’, and ‘the books’ are noun phrases, but ‘book’ is just a noun.

Noun phrases normally consist of a head noun, which is optionally modified ("pre-modified" If the modifier is placed before the noun; "post modified" if the modifier is placed after the noun). Possible modifiers include:

*           Determiners: articles (the, a), demonstratives (this, that), numerals (two, five, etc.), possessives (my, their, etc.), and quantifiers (some, many, etc.). In English, determiners are usually placed before the noun;

*           Adjectives (the red ball); or

*           Complements, in the form of a prepositional phrase (such as: the student of physics), or a That-clause (the claim that the earth is round);

*           Modifiers; pre-modifiers if placed before the noun and usually either as nouns (the university student) or adjectives (the beautiful lady), or post-modifiers if placed after the noun. A post modifier may be either a prepositional phrase (the man with long hair) or a relative clause (the house where i live). The difference between modifiers and complements is that complements complete the meaning of the noun; complements are necessary, whereas modifiers are optional because they just give additional information about the noun.

Noun phrases can make use of an apposition structure. This means that the elements in the noun phrase are not in a head-modifier relationship, but in a relation of equality. An example of this is I, Caesar, declare ..., where "Caesar" and "I" do not modify each other.

The head of a noun phrase can be implied, as in "The Bold and the Beautiful" or Robin Hood's "rob from the rich and give to the poor"; an implied noun phrase is most commonly used as a generic plural referring to human beings. Another example of noun phrase with implied head is I choose the cheaper of the two.

That noun phrases can be headed by elements other than nouns—for instance, pronouns (They came) or determiners (I'll take these)—has given rise to the postulation of a determiner phrase instead of a noun phrase. The English language is not as permissive as some other languages, with regard to possible heads of noun phrases. German, for instance, allows adjectives as heads of noun phrases, as in Gib mir die Alten for Give me the olds (i.e. old ones).

Grammatical function

Noun phrases are prototypically used for acts of reference as in "The blonde girl shouts" or "She kissed the man". Also possible, but found less often, is the use of noun phrases for predication, as in "Suzy is a blonde girl". Note that in English the use of the copula is indicates the use of a noun phrase as predicate, but other languages may not require the use of the copula. Finally, noun phrases are used for identifications like "The murderer was the butler", where no ascription is taking place. The possibility for a noun phrase to play the role of subject and predicate leads to the constructions of syllogisms.

News item

News item is to inform the readers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important. Is structure is:
• Newsworthy Event(s): recounts the events in summary form
• Background Event(s): elaborate what happened, to WHOM, in WHAT circumstances.
• Sources: comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorities’ expert on the event.
Significant Grammar Features:

• Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline
• Generally using Simple Past Tense
• Use of Material Processes to retell the event
• Using Action Verbs, e.g.: were, run, go, kill, etc.
• Using Saying Verbs, e.g.: say, tell
• Focus on Circumstances
• Use of projecting Verbal Processes in Sources stages

There are some rules that can help to make newspaper headlines more comprehensible.

1. The passive voice is used without the appropriate form of “be”.
2. It is unusual to find complex forms, generally the simple present form is used
3. The present progressive tense is used, usually to describe something that is changing or developing, but the auxiliary verb is usually left out.
4. To refer to the future, headlines often use the infinitive.
5. Headlines are not always complete sentences

Gratitude, Compliment and Congratulation

• Gratitude
Gratitude is an expression that we show or say to express grateful feeling to other people, when speaking English, you say “thanks” very often please say “thank you” when people give you something and give you compliment, etc.

Kinds of gratitude expressions are :
- Thank you very much
- Thank you for you help
- I’m really very grateful to you
- You’re welcome
- Don’t mention it
- I want to express my gratitude to (my teacher, my father, etc)

Respond of expressing :
-You are welcome
-Don't mention it
-It was nothing at all
-No problem
- I am glad I could help

• Compliment
Compliment is an expression that we show or say to express/give praise. Some people use compliment to “butter up” somebody or to flatter in order to increase good will, for example :
- On his/her general appearance
- If you notice something new about the person’s appearance
- When you visit someone’s house for the first time
- When other people do their best

Kinds of compliment expressions are :
- What a nice dress!
- You look great
- I really must express my admiration for you dance
- Excellent!
- Nice work
- Good Job

• Congratulation
Congratulation is an expression that we use the give the congratulation utterance when he/she succeeds in doing something

Kinds of Congratulations are :
- Congratulation
- Congratulations
- Congratulations on your succeeds
- Happy Birthday
- Merry Christmas
- Happy New Your
- Happy Valentine
- Happy Anniversary

A. Giving The Congratulation
- Let me congratulate you
- Good
- That’s great!
- How fortunate
- Pretty Good

B. Replying To The Congratulations
- Thank You
- Thank, I needed that
- That’s very kind of you

C. Surprising
- Oh, it was very interesting! I want to the sea world
- It was fun! Went out with my classmate

Read carefully the dialogue below then practice with your friends
Rosa : How was your school party, Zenny?
Alia : It was fun! We sony song and danced

Invitation (written)

In making a written invitation, you must be careful to include the following information:
1. your full address;
2. the date, time, and place;
3. any necessary explanation regarding the kind of event or programme  

Examples :
Invitation of Wedding Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Lukman Arifyanto request the company of Mr. and Mrs. Adi Priyadi at the marriage of their daughter Retno Lisyanti with Candra Aditya in Gedung Wanita, Jl. Cut Nyak Dien 99 Semarang on Sunday, 10th August, 2009 at 09.00 A.M. R.S.V.P.*

RSVP* the French phrase “Respondez s’il vous plait” or “Please reply”. It means the host expects a response as to whether you will attend the party, dinner, or invitation. Otherwise, if someone doesn’t respond to the invitation, it means that he will not come.  

Invitation to Dinner Formal

Mr. and Mrs. Kusno Raharjo Request the pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Wiryo Subroto for dinner on Wednesday, the third of October at seven o’clock Jl. Merapi no. 78 RSVP Jl. Merapi no. 78 Boyolali 0276-356789

Invitation of Birth day
Jl. A. Yani 202 Semarang June 16th,2009

Hi, Friends. Please come and join to my birthday party of the 17th anniversary, on:
Date : June 24th, 2009
Time : 03:00 p.m.
Place : Kampung Laut Resto Jl. Marina Semarang
you and have fun with me
Best regards: Suci
Code dress : blue and black

Asking for Information

Here are some sample phrases and sentences for asking information in English.

1. What is this? 2. What is that? 3. What's this? 4. What's that? 5. What are these? 6. What are those? 7. Where is Mr. King? 8. Where is Ms. Knight? 9. Where's Johnny? 10. When's the movie? 11. When's lunch? 12. How is the food?  Here are some of the most common: * Could you tell me...? * Do you know...? * Do you happen to know...? * I'd like to know... * Could you find out...? * I'm interested in... * I'm looking for.. These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone: * I'm calling to find out... * I'm calling about... Asking for Information Information about company What does your company do? What is your specialty? What do you specialize in? What is your main line of business? We produce marketing materials. We specialize in art and design. What are your major products? What services do you provide? We produce office machines. We design software. We provide technical support. Information about products Could you give me some (more) information on this? What can you tell me about this (product)? Tell me about this one/model. This is one of our top brands. It's our best selling refrigerator. This one is the best in its class. We're really pleased with its performance. It's an excellent computer. I highly recommend this one. This model comes with several features. This particular one has two components. Information about Price What are you asking for this? What does this sell for? How much is it? How much does it run? This (one) sells for $5900. This one goes for $2900. This one is priced at $9695. Construction Formula Question Word Example Finish Could you tell me when the next train leaves? Do you know how much that vase costs? Do you happen to know where Tom lives? I'd like to know what you think about the new project. Could you find out when she is going to arrive? Formula Gerund (-ing) Example Finish I'm interested in buying a boat Formula Noun Example Finish I'm looking for information on holidays in Spain. Formula used only on the telphone Question Word Example Finish I'm calling to find out... if flight AZ098 will leave on time today. Formula used only on the telphone Noun Example Finish I'm calling about... the offer published in today's newspaper.

This is a table. That is a chair. It's a pen. It's an apple. These are pencils. Those are books. He is over there. She's (right) here. He's in the house. It's at 9:00. Lunch is at noon. It's delicious.

Surprise or Disbeliefs

Surprise or disbeliefs is an expression that we show/say when know/hear/see something that rather difficult to believe.

Example :

Dina : " Look ; I got "
Dysa : " That`s very surprising "
Dina : " I don`t know why "

Dysa : " Perhaps you did the wrong number "

When get a surprising fact, you can say those to tell other people :

• Do you know what ?
• Believe it or not ?
• You may not believe it, but ...
• Can you believe it ?

Respons :

• Really ?
• Are you joking ?
• Where ? show me

There are some ways to express surprise :

• Never !
• Oh, no!
• No, is, i don`t believe it !
• You`re kidding
• What a surprise
• Good heavens
• My goodness

Direct to Indirect Speech

In this section, We are going to see How the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech and Indirect to Direct Speech is done?

We may report the words of a speaker in two ways.

1. Direct Speech

We may quote the actual words of the speaker. This method is called Direct Speech.

2. Indirect Speech

We may report what he said without quoting his exact words. This method is called Indirect Speech or Reported Speech.

Example:

• Direct: Clinton said, “I am very busy now.”
• Indirect: Clinton said that he was very busy then.

• Direct : He said, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He said that his mother was writing letter.

How to change Direct to Indirect Speech?

It will be noticed that in Direct Speech, we use inverted commas to mark off the exact words of the speaker.In Indirect Speech we do not use the inverted commas.

It will be further noticed that in changing the above Direct Speech into Indirect speech, certain changes have been made.

Thus:

i. We have used the conjunction ‘that’ before the Indirect Statement.

ii. The pronoun “I” is changed to “HE”. (The Pronoun is changed in Person)

iii. The verb “am” is changed to “was”.

iv. The adverb “now” is changed to “then”.

Rules for changing Direct into Indirect Speech:

A. When the reporting or principal verb is in the Past Tense, all the Present Tenses in the Direct Speech are changed into Past Tense.

a. A simple present tense becomes simple past tense.

Example:

• Direct : He said, “I am unwell.”
• Indirect: He said that he was unwell.

b. A present continuous tense becomes a past continuous.

Example:

• Direct : He said, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He said that his mother was writing letter.

c. A present perfect becomes a past perfect:

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

Example:

• Direct: He said, “I have passed the examination.”
• Indirect: he said that he had passed the examination.

d. As a rule the simple past tense in the Direct Speech becomes the past perfect tense in Indirect Speech.

Example:

• Direct: He said, “His horse died in the night.”
• Indirect: he said that his horse had died in the night.

NOTE:

The shall of the future is changed into should.
The will of the future is changed into would.
The can and may of the future are changed into could and might respectively.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?
B. The tenses will not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth. We can often choose whether to keep The original tenses or change them.

Examples:

• Direct: “I know her address”, said John.
• Indirect: John said that he knows/knew her address.

In this Indirect Speech, both the past tense and the present tense make the sentence a correct one.

• Direct: The teacher said, “The earth goes round the sun.”
• Indirect: The teacher said that the earth goes/went round the sun.

• Direct: She said, “German is easy to learn.”
• Indirect: She said that German was/is easy to learn.

The past tense is often used when it is uncertain if the statement is true or when we are reporting objectively.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

C. If the reporting verb is in present tense, the tenses of the Direct Speech do not change. For example, we may rewrite the above examples, putting the reporting verb in the present tense.

Examples:

• Direct : He says, “I am unwell.”
• Indirect: He says that he is unwell.

• Direct : He says, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He says that his mother is writing letter.

• Direct: He says, “I have passed the examination.”
• Indirect: he says that he has passed the examination.

• Direct: He says, “His horse died in the night.”
• Indirect: he says that his horse died in the night.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

D. The pronouns of the Direct Speech are changed where necessary, so that their relations with the reporter and his hearer, Rather than with the original speaker are indicated.

Examples:

• Direct: He said to me, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: He said that he did not believe me.

• Direct: She said to him, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: She said to him that she did not believe him.

• Direct: I said to him, “I did not believe you.”
• Indirect: I said to him that I did not believe him.

• Direct: I said to you, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: I said to you that I do not believe you.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

E. Words expressing nearness in time or places are generally changed into words expressing distance.

Examples:

• Direct: He said, “I am glad to be here this evening.”
• Indirect: he said that he was glad to be there that evening.

• Direct: He said, “I was here yesterday.”
• Indirect: He said that he was there the day before.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

Now, let us see the words which get changed when the Direct Speech is changed into Indirect Speech.

• Now becomes then
• Here becomes there
• Ago becomes before
• Thus becomes so
• Today becomes that day
• Tomorrow becomes the next day
• Yesterday becomes the day before
• Last night becomes the night before
• This becomes that
• These becomes those

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

F. How the questions used in the Direct Speech are changed into Indirect Speech?

In reporting questions, the indirect Speech is introduced by such verbs as asked, inquired etc…

Examples:

• Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?”
• Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.

• Direct: A stranger asked me, “Where do you live?”
• Indirect: A stranger enquired where I lived.

• Direct: The Policemen said to us, “Where are you going?”
• Indirect: The Policemen asked us where we were going.

• Direct: He said, “Will you listen to such a man?”
• Indirect: He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
• Indirect: Would they, he asked, listen to such a man.

• Direct: His angry mother jeered, “Do you suppose you know better than your father?”
• Indirect: His angry mother jeered and asked whether he supposed that he knew better than his father.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

G. How the Commands and the Requests in the Direct Speeches are changed when the Direct Speeches are changed into indirect Speeches?

In reporting commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing commands and requests, and the Imperative Mood is changed into Infinitive Mood.

Examples:

• Direct: Raja said to John, “Go away.”
• Indirect: Raja ordered John to go away.

• Direct: He said to Mary, “Please wait here till I return.”
• Indirect: he requested Mary to wait there till he returned.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

• Direct: “Call the first witness”, said the Judge.
• Indirect: The Judge commanded them to call the first witness.

• Direct: He shouted, “Let me go.”
• Indirect: he shouted to them to let him go.

• Direct: He said, “Be quite and listen to my words”.
• Indirect: He urged them to be quite and listen to his words.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

H. How the Exclamation and the Wishes in the Direct Speeches are changed when the Direct Speeches are changed into Indirect Speeches?

In reporting exclamation and wishes, the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb expressing Exclamation and Wishes.

Examples:

• Direct: He said, “Alas! I am undone”.
• Indirect: He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.

• Direct: Alice said, “How clever I am?”
• Indirect: Alice exclaimed that he was very clever.

• Direct: He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
• Indirect: he applauded him, saying that he had done well.

• Direct: “So help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again”.
• Indirect: He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to resolve.

Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?

Go to the Section on 'Indirect to Direct Speech' to continue.

Descriptive Text

A descriptive text is a text which lists the characteristics of something. Take an example, the following is one of the text belongs to the descriptive text.

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta.

The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Hindu temples in south-east Asia. It is characterised by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the 47m high central building inside a large complex of individual temples.

It was built around 850 CE by either Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty, or Balitung Maha Sambu, during the Sanjaya Dynasty. Not long after its construction, the temple was abandoned and began to deteriorate. Reconstruction of the compound began in 1918. The main building was completed in around 1953. Much of the original stonework has been stolen and reused at remote construction sites. A temple will only be rebuilt if at least 75% of the original stones are available, and therefore only the foundation walls of most of the smaller shrines are now visible and with no plans for their reconstruction.

The temple was damaged during the earthquake in Java in 2006. Early photos suggest that although the complex appears to be structurally intact, damage is significant. Large pieces of debris, including carvings, were scattered over the ground. The temple has been closed to the public until damage can be fully assessed. The head of Yogyakarta Archaeological Conservation Agency stated that: “it will take months to identify the precise damage”. However, some weeks later in 2006 the site re-opened for visitors. The immediate surroundings of the Hindu temples remain off-limits for safety reasons.

We get the purpose from the text above that description is used in all forms of writing to create a vivid impression of a person, place, object or event e.g. to: ·

• Describe a special place and explain why it is special.
• Describe the most important person in your live.
• Describe the animal’s habit in your report.

Descriptive writing or text is usually also used to help writer develop an aspect of their work, e.g. to create a particular mood, atmosphere or describe a place so that the reader can create vivid pictures of characters, places, objects etc. To complete our intention to, here are the characteristics based on descriptive writing or text, below;

As a feature, description is a style of writing which can be useful for other variety of purposes as:

• To engage a reader’s attention
• To create characters
• To set a mood or create an atmosphere
• To being writing to life

While in language function, descriptive writing;

• Aims to show rather than tell the reader what something/someone is like
• Relies on precisely chosen vocabulary with carefully chosen adjectives and adverbs.
• Is focused and concentrates only on the aspects that add something to the main purpose of the description.
• Sensory description-what is heard, seen, smelt, felt, tasted.Precise use of adjectives, similes, metaphors to create images/pictures in the mind e.g. their noses were met with the acrid smell of rotting flesh.
• Strong  development of the experience that “put the reader there” focuses on key details, powerful verbs and precise nouns.

Beyond the characteristics stated on, descriptive writing also consists of generic structure in range as:

1. General statement
2. Explanation
3. Closing

The description text has dominant language features as follows:

1. Using Simple Present Tense
2. Using action verbs
3. Using passive voice
4. Using noun phrase
5. Using adverbial phrase
6. Using technical terms
7. Using general and abstract noun
8. Using conjunction of time and cause-effect.

Finite verb

Definition of a finite verb

A finite verb is: also called a main verb a verb that has a subject a verb that shows tense, person, and number can be the main verb in a sentence Only verbs that are in certain moods are finite indicative mood (expressing a state of affairs) The coffee is hot. imperative mood (giving a command) Make the coffee hot. subjunctive mood (expressing something that might or might not be the state of affairs, depending on some other part of the sentence) If the coffee was hot, I would drink it. The following are NOT finite verbs infinitive verbs past participle present participle gerund

Examples of finite verbs

I go to the store. She goes to the store. They went to the store. You play football. I read a book. She walks home. He drinks beer. They watch the game. I ride a bike. She brushes her hair.

Offering

Definition of 'Offering'

The issue or sale of a security by a company. It is often used in reference to an initial public offering (IPO) when a company's stock is made available for purchase by the public but it can also be used in the context of a bond issue.

Investopedia explains 'Offering'

Usually, a company will offer stock or bonds to the public in an attempt to raise capital to invest in expansion or growth. There are instances of companies offering stock or bonds because of liquidity issues (i.e. not enough cash to pay the bills), but investors should be wary of any offering of this type.

Here are some phrases and expressions used for offering in English.

1. Here. Have a cookie. 2. Would you like some pie? 3. How about a glass of wine? 4. What will you have (to drink)? 5. Would you like some more cake? 6. Can I get you some milk or something?

Thanks. No thank you. It looks delicious though. Thanks, but I don't drink (alcohol). Orange juice will be fine. Sure. It's really good. Did you bake it yourself ? Well, a glass of water would be okay.

Prepositions: In, On, and At

Prepositions: In, On, and At (with specific times and places)

The prepositions in, on, and at can be used to indicate time and place. Notice how they are used in the following situations: Preposition Time Place In Year, Month, In 1999, In December Country, State, City In Japan, In Utah, InTaipei On Day, Date On Saturday, On May 1 Street On Main Street, On 1st Ave. At Time At 8:00, At 7:30 Address At 815 East Main Street In many languages, there is only one preposition for the above situations. In English there are three. Just remember that in usually indicates the "largest" time or place, and at usually indicates the "smallest" time or place. Examples: A: Where's your office? B: In Taipei, Taiwan. A: Really? What part of Taipei? B: It's on Chung Shan North Road. A: I know that area. Where exactly is it? B: It's at 105 Chung Shan North Road, next to the bookstore. C: When is the wedding? D: It's in June. C: What day? D: It's on Saturday, the 25th. C: What time? D: It starts at 6:00.

Prepositions with articles and locations

When talking about locations, use at to indicate the general vicinity or area, and in to indicate inside the building, enclosed area, etc. For example:

at the swimming pool (on site)		in the swimming pool (in the pool itself i.e. in the water)
at the post office/bank (general)		in the post office/bank (inside the building)
at the zoo (visitors, general area)		in the zoo (animals in their cages)
at school		in the classroom

Sample sentences:

I met my wife at the theater. (while watching a movie) I spilled my drink in the theater (on the floor of the building) She works at the library on Wednesdays. She found a rare coin in the library (building). Dr. Jones works at the hospital every day. John was in the hospital for a week with a broken leg.

For school, prison, and church, the is used to indicate the building. No article indicates the general situation. Note the following:

"practice"/situation		building
in school (studying, listening to teacher, etc.)		in the school (building)
in jail/prison (staying there as a criminal)		in the jail/prison (temporary)
in church (praying, listening to a sermon, etc.)		in the church (building)

Where's Dad?

in church (attending services)		in the church (fixing the windows)
at church		at the church
in prison (He committed a crime.)		at the prison (visiting his friend)

For Practice: See
At-On-In Used in Time and Dates (from The Internet TESL Journal) Prepositions: At, In and On (from The Internet TESL Journal)
See also:
Grammar: Prepositions and Time Words;Prepositions of Location
If you have questions or comments about this page, please contact us. Be sure to include the title of this page in the Subject line of your e-mail.

We use:

• at for a PRECISE TIME
• in for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS
• on for DAYS and DATES

at	in	on
PRECISE TIME	MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS	DAYS and DATES
at 3 o'clock	in May	on Sunday
at 10.30am	in summer	on Tuesdays
at noon	in the summer	on 6 March
at dinnertime	in 1990	on 25 Dec. 2010
at bedtime	in the 1990s	on Christmas Day
at sunrise	in the next century	on Independence Day
at sunset	in the Ice Age	on my birthday
at the moment	in the past/future	on New Year's Eve

Look at these examples:

• I have a meeting at 9am.
• The shop closes at midnight.
• Jane went home at lunchtime.
• In England, it often snows in December.
• Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?
• There should be a lot of progress in the next century.
• Do you work on Mondays?
• Her birthday is on 20 November.
• Where will you be on New Year's Day?

Notice the use of the preposition of time at in the following standard expressions:

Expression	Example
at night	The stars shine at night.
at the weekend	I don't usually work at the weekend.
at Christmas/Easter	I stay with my family at Christmas.
at the same time	We finished the test at the same time.
at present	He's not home at present. Try later.

Notice the use of the prepositions of time in and on in these common expressions:

in	on
in the morning	on Tuesday morning
in the mornings	on Saturday mornings
in the afternoon(s)	on Sunday afternoons
in the evening(s)	on Monday evening

When we say last, next, every, this we do not also use at, in, on.

• I went to London last June. (not in last June)
• He's coming back next Tuesday. (not on next Tuesday)
• I go home every Easter. (not at every Easter)
• We'll call you this evening. (not in this evening)

Present Tense

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		do		base

There are three important exceptions:

1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.

Look at these examples with the main verb like:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I, you, we, they			like	coffee.
	He, she, it			likes	coffee.
-	I, you, we, they	do	not	like	coffee.
	He, she, it	does	not	like	coffee.
?	Do	I, you, we, they		like	coffee?
	Does	he, she, it		like	coffee?

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:

	subject	main verb
+	I	am		French.
	You, we, they	are		French.
	He, she, it	is		French.
-	I	am	not	old.
	You, we, they	are	not	old.
	He, she, it	is	not	old.
?	Am	I		late?
	Are	you, we, they		late?
	Is	he, she, it		late?

How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

We use the simple present tense when:

• the action is general
• the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
• the action is not only happening now
• the statement is always true

John drives a taxi.
past	present	future
It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future.

Look at these examples:

• I live in New York.
• The Moon goes round the Earth.
• John drives a taxi.
• He does not drive a bus.
• We meet every Thursday.
• We do not work at night.
• Do you play football?

Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not general. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the simple present tense - some of them are general, some of them are now:

Am I right? Tara is not at home. You are happy.
past	present	future
The situation is now.

 

I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? Ram is tall.
past	present	future
The situation is general. Past, present and future.

Vocabulary around the house

Useful Vocabulary - click on a room to find out more

attic | bathroom | bedroom | kitchen | living room

Build Up

Other Rooms

Attic	People store things in the attic.
Ballroom	A room in stately homes where rich people dance and concerts are held.
Box Room	A small room used for storage.
Cellar	Underneath the house.
Cloakroom	A small room where people put their coats.
Conservatory	A greenhouse attached to a house for the display of plants.
Dining Room	A room where people eat (see eating at home).
Drawing Room	A room in stately homes where rich people entertain.
Games Room	A room in large houses where games are played.
Hall	The entrance passage to a house.
Larder	A small room used for the storage of food.
Library	A room where books are kept.
Lounge	Another name for living room.
Music Room	A room where people play music.
Office	A room where people work.
Pantry	A small room used to store kitchen and dining items.
Parlour	Old fashioned word for living room.
Sitting Room	Another name for living room.
Spare Room/ Guest Room	A room where guests sleep.
Toilet	A room where people go to the toilet (often known as WC)
Utility Room	A room where appliances such as washing machines are used.

Things you may find around the house

light bulb(s)	plug(s)	socket(s)	torch(es)
ceiling light(s)	lamp(s)	curtain(s)	lock(s)
key(s)	shelf (shelves)	(tele)phone(s)	box(es)
plug(s)	battery (batteries)	photo(graph)(s)

Naturally Speaking

ceiling | door | floor | wall | window

Dialogue

Here is a conversation between Mrs Smith (Joan) and husband Steve.

It's Saturday and Joan and Steve are decorating.
Joan	Steve, you missed a bit.
Steve	Where?
Joan	Here, on the wall just by the window, you can see a patch of white.
Steve	Oh yes, I see it. It's difficult in this light.
Joan	I know, well at least we have finished this room, only five more to go.
Steve	Are you sure you want to put wallpaper up in the lounge?
Joan	Yes, but don't worry, I'm really good at wallpapering. I just wish that John would decide on what he wants his room doing in.
Steve	I know, it's difficult when you're a boy. At least he's grown out of Star Wars, I keep thinking he'll ask for red and black or something equally gruesome.
Joan	Yes, but it is his room. I'm glad we decided not to move though. Maybe we should think about building an extension to the kitchen instead.
Steve	One thing at a time please! Lets get this decorating over and done with first.
Joan	Ha! Oh by the way you missed a bit by the door too!
Steve	Hmmm, thanks. Here's a brush.

Games and Tests for this Vocabulary Unit

All these games and tests open in a new window.
All these games and tests open in a new window.