Basic Sentence Pattern

Basic sentence pattern

Objective:

In this lesson, you will learn the elements of a sentence.  There are 5 basic

sentence patterns in English including Subject + Verb, Subject + Verb + Object, Subject +

Verb + Complement, Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object and Subject + Verb

+ Object + Complement.

Subject + verb. The simplest of sentence patterns is composed of a subject and verb

without a direct object or subject complement. It uses an intransitive verb, that is, a verb

requiring no direct object:

Control rods remain inside the fuel assembly of the reactor.

The development of wind power practically ceased until the

early 1970s.

All amplitude-modulation (AM) receivers work in the same

way.

The cross-member exposed to abnormal stress eventually

broke.

Only two types of charge exist in nature.

Subject + linking verb + subject complement. Another simple pattern uses the linking

verb, any form of the to be verb without an action verb:

The chain reaction is the basis of nuclear power.

The debate over nuclear power has often been bitter.

Folding and faulting of the earth's surface are important

geologic processes.

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Wind speed seems to be highest during the middle of the

day.

The silicon solar cell can be difficult and expensive to

manufacture.

Subject + verb + direct object. Another common sentence pattern uses the direct

object:

Silicon conducts electricity in an unusual way.

The anti-reflective coating on the silicon cell reduces

reflection from 32 to 22 percent.

Prestressing of the concrete increases the load-carrying

capacity of the members.

Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object. The sentence pattern with the indirect

object and direct object is similar to the preceding pattern:

We are sending you the balance of the payment in this

letter.

I am writing her about a number of problems that I have had

with my Exec comp word processor.

The supervisor mailed the applicant a description of the

job.

I am writing you about a number of problems...

Austin, Texas, has recently built its citizens a system

of bike lanes.

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Subject + verb + direct object + object complement. The sentence pattern using the

[direct object] and object complement is not common but worth knowing):

EXERCISE 1 – Basic sentence pattern

Identify the basic patterns around which most English sentences are built.

1. Cats are everywhere.

2. Mia sleeps.

3. Zulfadhli seems angry.

4. Mr. Jamal is the lecturer.

5. He loves his job.

6. Ahmad will arrive next week.

7. She is funny.

8. No one was there.

9. He is eating an apple.

10.The young men are doctor.

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The walls are usually painted black.

The plant shutdown left the entire area an economic

disaster.

The committee declared the new design a breakthrough in

energy efficiency.

The low cost of the new computer made competition much

too difficult for some of the other companies.

Parts of Speech

Nouns

Objectives:

To find out the function in the sentence as a noun

Rabbit Cat Girl Boy

Car Waterfall

What can we see in the picture?

There are some people, animals, places and things in the picture.

Each person, animal, place and thing has name.

Do you know the names?

The pictures show a rabbit, cat, girl, boy, car and waterfall.

What do we call these words?

We call them nouns

We call nouns naming-words. They are the names of people, animals, places

and things.

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EXERCISE 2 – Nouns

Fill in the blanks with nouns.

1. Sister has bought some ………. from the market.

2. He went to Canada by ………

3. The ……….. is sleeping in the cradle.

4. The ……….. has caught a thief.

5. The bird flew high in the ………..

6. They swam and fished in the ………….

7. She is busy teaching in the …………

8. Mother is hanging out the ………… to dry.

9. The meat of a ………. is called beef.

10. We write with our ………..

e.g. Last Monday I wrote a …… to my family.

Last Monday I wrote a letter to my family.

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EXERCISE 3 – Nouns

Pick out the nouns in these sentences and write them in the brackets.

1. My grandfather has a horse. ( )

2. Our gardener has a beautiful daughter. ( )

3. Dogs like to eat meat. ( )

4. His brother is always busy. ( )

5. The dog barked at the naughty boy. ( )

6. The hunter has killed a bear. ( )

7. The actress talked to the girl. ( )

8. My niece is a hardworking girl. ( )

9. Have you a servant? ( )

10. The fairy spoke to the princess. ( )

e.g. Her little sister is a teacher. ( )

Her little sister is a teacher. (Sister, teacher)

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Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Trees Flowers

Look at the pictures.

Can you name the nouns which can be counted?

We can count trees and flowers.

They are called countable nouns.

Which are the nouns that cannot be counted?

We can’t count grass and water.

They are called uncountable nouns.

Name the words which go with countable nouns.

The words are a, an, a few, many, several, some, any, plenty of, a lot of and a large

number of.

Which are the words that go with uncountable nouns?

A little, much, some, any, plenty of, a lot of, a large amount of, and a great deal of go

with uncountable nouns.

Do you know the words which don’t go with uncountable nouns?

They are a, an, a few and many.

A little and much don’t go with countable nouns.

a book an apple a few cars many birds several ducks

some pencils any boxes plenty of food a lot of flowers

a large number of books much water a little ice a great amount of flour

a great deal of sugar

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Exercise 4 – Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Choose the correct word. Then write out each sentence.

1. There isn’t (many, much) water left in the bottle.

2. Hani poured (a few, a little) tea into the cup.

3. Don’t put too (many, much) sugar in the coffee.

4. Amir stayed at his uncle’s house for (a few, a little) days.

5. Lily bought (a few, a little) eggs from the market.

6. You have to put (a little, a few) more salt in the mushroom soups.

7. Kistna saw (many, much) crabs on the rocks.

8. I have (a few, a little) sweet in my pocket.

9. (Much, Many) people came to our house.

10. We haven’t brought (many, much) money with us.

e.g. There are (much, many) trees near my house.

There are many trees near my house.

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Proper Nouns

Dalphine Zainun Hanani

These pictures show a cat and a girl.

There are special names given to them.

What are these names?

They are ‘Dalphine’ and ‘Zainun Hanani’.

Notice that all these words begin with a capital letter.

Such words are called Proper Nouns

Collective Nouns

a party of friends a team of footballers

Sometimes we group certain nouns together and speak of them as a whole.

We use special words for such nouns like the picture shows a collection of people.

Can you pick out the group names for them?

The group names ‘party’ and ‘team’.

They are called Collective Nouns.

A is Proper Noun the special name given to a person, place, thing or an animal.

The name used for a number of people, animals or things which are collected

together and taken as a whole is called a Collective Noun.

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Here is a list of Collective Nouns. Learn them carefully.

People

a troupe of dancers

a bench of magistrates

a mob of gangsters

a crew of sailors

a crowd of spectators

Animals

a flock of sheep

a gaggle of geese

a brood of chickens

a nest of mice

a litter of pups

Things

a cluster of stars

a library of books

a suite of furniture

a crate of fruit

a packet of cigarettes

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Exercise 5 – Collective Nouns

Fill in the blanks with a suitable word.

1. A host of ………….

2. A chest of …………

3. A hedge of …………

4. A gang of ………...

5. A tuft of …………

6. A stud of …………

7. A fleet of ……….

8. A clutch of ………..

9. A troop of ……….

10. A choir of ……….

e.g. A plague of ………………..

A plague of locusts

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Gender

Read the nouns on the left.

Of what sex are they?

They are males. They are of the Masculine Gender.

Are the nouns on the right males or females?

They are females. They are of the Female Gender.

Father Mother

Boy Girl

Fox Vixen

Monk Nun

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Here is a list of words for you to learn:

Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine

Author Authoress Dog Bitch

Bachelor Spinster Drone Bee

Billy-goat Nanny-goat Duke Duchess

Bridegroom Bride Emperor Empress

Buck Doe Fiancé Fiancée

Bullock Heifer Gentlemen Lady

Czar Czarina God goddess

He-goat She-goat Lord Ladies

Headmaster Headmistress Male Female

Heir Heiress Manager Manageress

Hero Heroine Mayor Mayoress

Horse Mare Milkman Milkmaid

Host Hostess Millionaire Millionaires

Husband Wife Monk nun

Jack-ass Jenny-ass Nephew Niece

King Queen Peacock Peahen

Lad Lass Peregrine Falcon

Landlord Landlady Poet Poetess

Lion Lioness Prince Princess

Proprietor Proprietress Stag Hind

Ram Ewe Stallion Mare

Shepherd Shepherdess Sultan Sultana

Sir Madam Tom-cat Tabby-cat

Son Daughter Uncle Aunt

Widower Widow Fox Vixen

Wizard Witch Wolf She-wolf

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Possession (Nouns and Pronouns)

The cat’s ice-cream the bear’s sun glasses

The words cat’s and bear’s show possession.

They are called Possessive Nouns.

They are formed from the nouns ‘cat’ and ‘bear’.

The nouns ‘cat’ and ‘bear’ is singular.

An apostrophe s (‘s) is added to it to show possession.

The front of the car.

The noun ‘car’ is not a living thing.

What is used with it to show possession?

The words ‘of the’ are used.

Nouns that show possession are called Possessive Nouns. We form Possessive

Nouns (1) by adding an apostrophe s (‘s) to singular nouns and plural nouns not

ending in s, (2) by adding an apostrophe (‘) to plural nouns ending in s and (3) by

using ‘of the’ with names of non-living things.

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This is my violin. It’s mine. That is your heart. It’s yours.

Read the sentences in the pictures. The word ‘mine’ is used in place of ‘my violin’.

‘Yours’ replaces ‘your heart’.

Both the words ‘mine’ and ‘yours’ are pronouns.

Exercise 6 – Possessive Nouns (The Apostrophe)

Rewrite these expressions using the apostrophe.

1. The ball of the boy

2. The dolls of the girl

3. The basket of the woman

4. The book of the teacher

5. The bags of the pupils

6. The cat of Mr. Hamzah

7. The pipe of Uncle Zarif

8. The dresses of the woman

9. The trunk of the elephant

10. The eyes of the owl

e.g. The room of the servant

The servant’s room

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Exercise 7 – Possessive Pronouns

Rewrite each sentences using a Possessive Pronoun to replace the words in bold.

1. That is her homework.

2. I have lost my shoes.

3. These are his cats.

4. Are those your basket?

5. That is his handkerchief.

6. Can you lend me your car?

7. That isn’t my toys.

8. We have brought our books.

9. She has put on her hat.

10. They have eaten their lunch.

e.g. This is my headphone.

This is mine.

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PronounsObjectives:

To find out the group of verb that have been divided and their

To figure out the Pronouns have antecedents, a reference to a word they take the place of.

Zachary Iran

Zachary and Iran are talking. Pick out all the pronouns in the sentences.

The pronouns are ‘you’, ‘I’, ‘him’ and ‘he’. They are used in place of nouns in the

sentences. The sentences are called Personal Pronouns.

Pronouns like ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘he’ are used as a subjects.

Pronouns like ‘me’, ‘his’ and ‘her’ are used as objects.

The pronoun ‘he’ is the subject of the sentence.

‘Himself’ in the sentence is also a pronoun. It is the object of the sentence.

Both ‘he’ and ‘himself’ refer to the same person. Thus action done by the doer goes back

to himself.

Pronouns ‘himself’ are called Reflexive Pronouns.

They always end in ‘self’.

Did you meet

Haifa yesterday?

No, I did not

meet him. He

did not turn up.

He has hurt himself.

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Exercise 8 – Personal Pronouns

Fill the blanks with suitable Personal Pronouns. Then write out the sentences.

1. The teacher punished …………… because he was lazy.

2. Shall we go? I think …………… ought to.

3. I like Michael. …………… is my best friend.

4. Aswan is here now. Give this book to ……………

5. Did you see him? No………….… didn’t.

6. They could not because …………. were busy.

7. Is she your sister? Yes ……….. is.

8. The bag was here a minute ago. …………… is not here now.

9. They are playing football. Don’t disturb ……………

10. I can’t do these sums. Will you help ………….. ?

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Exercise 9 – Reflexive Pronouns

Write out each sentences putting in a suitable Reflexive Pronoun.

1. I will cook …………… something to eat.

2. Our cat has hurt …………....

3. We helped ………… to the food on the table.

4. She washed …………… before breakfast.

5. My sister bought …………….. an ice-cream.

6. Nabila made …………. a new dress.

7. We warmed ………….. by the fire.

8. My father shaves …………… every morning.

9. ‘Did you behave …………. at Kamil’s house, Armand?

10. They found ………….. lost in the jungle.

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Relative PronounsI know the girl lives in the huge house beside the jungle.

In this sentence what word does ‘who’ refer to? It refers to the noun ‘girl’ which is just

before it.

‘Who’ is called a Relative Pronoun?

Where is it placed at the beginning of the word ‘who lives in the huge house beside the

jungle’.

This clause tells us about the girl. It is an adjective clause.

Exercise 10 – Who, Which, That, Whom, Whose

Choose the correct word. Then write out each sentence.

1. We meet the woman (who, whose) son is an engineer.

2. The man (that, whose) axe you borrowed is here.

3. Nora, (who, which) is my best friend, has bought a new car.

4. The girl (that, whom) we met there has two rabbits.

5. Kingfishers, (which, who) live near water, are beautiful birds.

6. Muthusammy, (who, which) is a farmer, rears many chickens.

7. The boy (whom, which) I talked yesterday lives here.

8. This is the hardest sum (who, that) I have ever done.

9. The doll (who, which) you gave me is good.

10. The book (who, that) has many pictures was given to me by my grandmother.

Who

‘Who’, ‘whom’ and ‘whose’ are used for people; ‘which’

and ‘that’ for animals and things. ‘Whom’ is only used as

the object of a sentence. ‘Whose’ is used as a

possessive.

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Forms of the VerbObjectives:

To find out the group of verb that have been divided and their usage.

I play guitar every day.

I am playing guitar now.

I played guitar yesterday.

I have already played guitar.

Do you see any difference between the verbs in the four sentences?

All the verbs in the sentences are different in form.

The verb ‘play’ is used in the Simple Present tense.

‘Played’ is used in the Simple Past tense.

Which of the verbs end in –ing?

It is ‘playing’. This word cannot stand by itself. It is used with the ‘helping word’ or

Special Finite ‘am’. ‘Playing’ is called the Present Participle of ‘play’.

Like the Present Participle, the word ‘played’ needs a ‘helping word’ too. It is used with

‘have’. It is the Past Participle of ‘play’.

A verb is used in these four forms: (1) the Simple Present tense, (2) the Simple

Past tense, (3) the present Participle and (4) the Past Participle. The participle of

the verb is always used with a ‘helping word’ or Special Finite such as ‘is’, ‘are’,

‘has’ and ‘have’.

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Below is a table of verbs. Read them carefully.

Present Tense Present

Participle

Past Tense Past participle

Abide Abiding Abided Abided

Act Acting Acted Acted

Admit Admitting Admitted Admitted

Agree Agreeing Agreed Agreed

Aim Aiming Aimed Aimed

Appear Appearing Appeared Appeared

Arise Arising Arose Arisen

Awake Awaking Awoke Awoken

Bake Baking Baked Baked

Beat Beating Beat Beaten

Become Becoming Became Become

Begin Beginning Began Begun

Bind Binding Bound Bound

Bite Biting Bit Bitten

Blow Blowing Blew Blown

Break Breaking Broke Broken

Bring Bringing Brought Brought

Burn Burning Burnt Burnt

Carry Carrying Carried Carried

Catch Catching Caught Caught

Choose Choosing Chose Chosen

Close Closing Closed Closed

Come Coming Came Come

Compete Competing Competed Competed

Cut Cutting Cut Cut

Creep Creeping Crept Crept

Dance Dancing Danced Danced

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Deal Dealing Dealt Dealt

Dig Digging Dug Dug

Do Doing Did Done

Drag Dragging Dragged Dragged

Draw Drawing Drew Drawn

Dream Dreaming Dreamt Dreamt

Drive Driving Drove Driven

Enjoy Enjoying Enjoyed Enjoyed

Explain Explaining Explained Explained

Fall Falling Fell Fallen

Fail Failing Failed Failed

Feed Feeding Fed Fed

Feel Feeling Felt Felt

Fight Fighting Fought Fought

Flee Fleeing Fled Fled

Fly Flying Flew Flown

Forbid Forbidding Forbade Forbidden

Forgive Forgiving Forgave Forgiven

Forsake Forsaking Forsook Forsaken

Get Getting Got Got

Go Going Went Gone

Grind Grinding Ground Ground

Grow Growing Grew Grown

Hang ( a thing ) Hanging Hung Hung

Hang ( a person ) Hanging Hanged Hanged

Have Having Had Had

Hide Hiding Hid Hidden

Hold Holding Held Held

Hurry Hurrying Hurried Hurried

Imitate Imitating Imitated Imitated

Instruct Instructing Instructed Instructed

Judge Judging Judged Judged

Keep Keeping Kept Kept

Kneel Kneeling Knelt Knelt

Know Knowing Knew Known

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Laugh Laughing Laughed Laughed

Lay Laying Laid Laid

Leap Leaping Leapt Leapt

Leave Leaving Left Left

Lend Lending Lent Lent

Lie Lying Lay Lain

Lift Lifting Lifted Lifted

Make Making Made Made

Marry Marrying Married Married

Mislay Mislaying Mislaid Mislaid

Mistake Mistaking Mistook Mistaken

Occur Occurring Occurred Occurred

Open Opening Opened Opened

Owe Owing Owed Owed

Own Owning Owned Owned

Pay Paying Paid Paid

Peel Peeling Peeled Peeled

Point Pointing Pointed Pointed

Pray Praying Prayed Prayed

Promise Promising Promised Promised

Prove Proving Proved Proved

Quit Quitting Quit Quit

Reject Rejecting Rejected Rejected

Relive Relieving Relieved Relieved

Reply Replying Replied Replied

Ride Riding Rode Ridden

Ring Ringing Rang Rung

Rise Rising Rose Risen

Run Running Ran Run

Sag Sagging Sagged Sagged

Say Saying Said Said

See Seeing Saw Seen

Seek Seeking Sought Sought

Sell Selling Sold Sold

Send Sending Sent Sent

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Sew Sewing Sewed Sewn

Shake Shaking Shook Shaken

Shine Shining Shone Shone

Shrink Shrinking Shrank Shrunk

Sleep Sleeping Slept Slept

Sing Singing Sang Sung

Sink Sinking Sank Sunk

Smell Smelling Smelt Smelt

Sow Sowing Sowed Sown

Speak Speaking Spoke Spoken

Spell Spelling Spelt Spelt

Spend Spending Spent Spent

Spring Springing Sprang Sprung

Stand Standing Stood Stood

Stink Stinking Stank Stunk

Strive Striving Strove Striven

Take Taking Took Taken

Teach Teaching Taught Taught

Tear Tearing Tore Torn

Tell Telling Told Told

Thank Thanking Thanked Thanked

Think Thinking Thought Thought

Throw Throwing Threw Thrown

Tie Tying Tied Tied

Understand Understanding Understood Understood

Use Using Used Used

Wake Waking Woke Woken

Wait Waiting Waited Waited

Watch Watching Watched Watched

Wave Waving Waved Waved

Wear Wearing Wore Worn

Weep Weeping Wept Wept

Weigh Weighing Weighed Weighed

Withdraw Withdrawing Withdrew Withdrawn

Withhold Withholding Withheld Withheld

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Wipe Wiping Wiped Wiped

Win Winning Won Won

Wish Wishing Wished Wished

Work Working Worked Worked

Worry Worrying Worried Worried

Write Writing Wrote Written

Exercise 11 – Forms of the Verb

Complete the table below. The first one has been done for you.

No. Every day Now Yesterday Already

1. He runs He is running He ran He has run

2. I choose

3. They make

4. She drives

5. They hit

6. We begin

7. He hears

8. I beat

9. We leave

10. You cry

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Present Continuous Tense

Ismail

Can you answer Ismail’s question?

The boys are running now. What does the verb ‘are running’ show?

It shows a verb an action that is going on now.

This verb is used in the Present Continuous tense.

Exercise 12 – Present Continuous Tense

Use the Present Continuous tense of the verbs in brackets.

1. It ……….. (rain) very heavily now. Let’s run for shelter.

2. That’s Alice. He ………. (swim) in the pool.

3. Your father ………….. (sleep) now. You mustn’t make a noise.

4. Look at the squirrel. It ……….. (climb) up the tree.

5. Listen! The dogs ………... (bark) now.

6. We ………. (wait) for Fatima.

7. She ……… (cry) again. Can’t you stop her?

8. Don’t turn now. He ……… (look) at you.

9. Can you see what I ………. (hold) in my hand?

10. They have gone to bed. They ……….. (sleep) soundly now.

What are

the boys

doing now?

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Simple Present Tense

Nicole Dianna

What are Nicole and Dianna talking about?

They are talking of a fact about birds.

What tense is used for such sentences? The Simple Present tense is used.

The verb in the above sentence is ‘goes’.

It is used in the Simple Present tense.

What action does it show? It shows an action is done every day.

Actions which we do every day, always, often or sometimes called habits.

Do birds fly?

Yes, birds fly.

She goes to the

market every day.

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Exercise 13 – Simple Present tense

Fill in blanks with the Simple Present tense of the verbs in bracket.

1. He ……… (not live) here. He …….. (live) in that little hut in front of my house.

2. This diamond is real. It ………… (shine) and …………. (glitter).

3. She usually ………... (keep) quiet and ………. (do) her work.

4. Every day I ………… (leave) the house at seven and ……….. (return) at five ion

evening from my school.

5. She ……….. (think) that she ………. (be) clever.

6. How do you ………... (like) you’re new dress? I ………. (not like) it at all.

7. You mustn’t ……….. (eat) and ………. (talk) at the same moment.

8. My little brother ……….. (have) a fever. He ……… (be) often ill.

9. I know Fahim. He ………. (be) friendly and he ………. (speak) well.

10. Please …………. (help) me to find my necklace. It ………. (have) a diamond.

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Present Perfect Tense

Nyssa Farina

Nyssa and Farina tell us what they have already done. Do they tell us the exact time of

their actions?

No, they don’t. They only use words like ‘already’ and ‘yet’ to show the time. Nyssa and

Farina use the verb ‘have finished’ in their sentence.

This verb is used in the Present Perfect tense.

Exercise 14 – Present Perfect tense

Fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect tense of the verbs in brackets.

1. We ……….. (not go) there since September.

2. Aida ………… (work) here since last year.

3. They ………. (take) it for a month.

4. She ………... (wait) for half an hour.

5. We ………… (live) in Kuantan since 1991.

6. This beggar ………… (not eat) for three days.

7. Rudy ………. (stay) with his aunt since last month.

8. It …………. (not rain) for five days.

9. Fahri ………. (be) here since six o’clock.

10. You ……… (not do) your work for a week.

I have already finished my homework.

I have not finished my work yet.

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Simple Past Tense

The sentence above is talking about their past actions.

Are we told when the actions took place?

Yes, the actions took place ‘two weeks ago’ and ‘yesterday’.

What tense is used in these sentences?

The Simple Past tense is used.

Exercise 15 – Simple Past Tense

Write out the sentences putting the Simple Past tense of the verbs in brackets.

1. A long time ago, men ………….. (live) in caves.

2. Aswan …………. (not play) football last Wednesday.

3. My brother …………... (not cut) down the tree yesterday.

4. She …………. (find) her handbag under the table yesterday.

5. I ………… (write) to Qhumaira last week.

6. Hani ………….. (break) the glass ten minutes ago.

7. We …………. (shut) all the windows just now.

8. They …………… (not do) their homework yesterday.

9. He ………… (wait) until 7 o’clock two days ago.

10. Lilly ………… (not come) to my house last evening.

I drew this

beautiful picture

two weeks ago.

I bought this

book

yesterday.

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Past Continuous Tense

The sentence above shows two past actions. Did these two actions happen at the same

time?

No, they didn’t. One action was going on first when another action happened.

Which verb shows the first action?

It is ‘were playing’. This verb is used in the Past Continuous tense.

The verb in the sentence above also used in the Past Continuous tense.

What actions do these verbs show?

They show actions that were going on in the past. The actual period or point of time like

‘all yesterday afternoon’ is given.

While they were playing a football

yesterday, they saw a swarm of

I was reading a ghost story

book all yesterday afternoon.

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Exercise 16 – Past Continuous Tense

Fill in the blanks with the Past Continuous tense of the verbs in brackets.

1. While he ……….. (run) down the stairs, he fell.

2. Kistna heard a loud scream when she ………. (leave) the room.

3. As Ronald ………….. (rush) for the taxi, someone called him.

4. While I …………… (have) my bath, Ameba knocked at my door.

5. While we …………. (wait) to him, the bus came.

6. When his sister came in, he …………… (sleep).

7. The light went out while they ………….. (eat) their dinner.

8. As they …………. (dress) up, the telephone rang.

9. When we entered the room, they ………….. (write).

10. While we …………. (walk) along the road, we met Hanne.

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Past Perfect Tense

The time table show the two things which Amir did this morning.

Can you tell what he did? First he ate some bread. Then he drank a glass of milk.

Can you describe the two actions in one sentence? This is the sentence:

When Amir hat eaten some bread, he drank a glass of milk.

We use ‘when’ in this sentence. The verb ‘had eaten’ shows the first action. It is used in

the Past Perfect tense. The second action is in the Simple Past tense.

The Past Perfect tense is also used in the Indirect or Reported Speech.

7.00 am:-

-eat some bread

-drink a glass of milk

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Exercise 17 – Past Perfect Tense

Put the following sentences into Indirect Speech beginning with the expressions given. Use the Past Perfect tense.

1. “Khairul have not locked the door.” He said that ……………

2. “I have seen the film.” She said that ……………

3. “We went there by bus.” They said that …………..

4. “I have read the poem.” He said that ……………

5. “We have cleaned the car.” They said that ……………

6. “I have picked some flower.” She said that ………….

7. “I have rung the bell.” He said that ……………

8. “Hasbi cut the tree.” He said that …………..

9. “I saw Sierra in the school library.” She said that ……………

10. “My sister has gone out.” She said that ………….

e.g. “I have eaten my dinner”. He said that ………………..

He said that he had eaten his dinner.

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Simple Future & ‘Going To’ Form

I shall come again tomorrow.

We shall meet you there tonight.

He will finish the work in half an hour.

They will sing in the concert next week.

All the sentences above tell us about future actions. In these sentences the time

expressions ‘tomorrow’, ‘tonight’, ‘in half an hour’ and ‘next week’ refer to the future.

Can you name the verbs used? They are ‘shall come’, ‘shall meet’, ‘will finish’ and ‘will

sing’. These verbs are used in the Simple Future tense.

Notice that ‘shall’ is used with ‘I’ and ‘we’, and ‘will’ is used with other nouns and pronouns.

We do not only use ‘will’ and ‘shall’ for future action. There are other ways of showing

future actions too.

The ‘going to’ form may be used for future action, especially when a plan has been made.

The ‘going to’ form is also used to show that something is certain to happen.

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Exercise 18 – Simple Future Tense

Fill in the blanks with ‘shall’ or ‘will’. Then write out each sentence.

1. When ……… you be in Switzerland again?

2. There ………… be a holiday next Monday.

3. …………. we all play tennis this evening?

4. I think it …………. rain in the morning.

5. We ………….. tell him the bad news tomorrow morning.

6. The shops ………… open at eight o’clock.

7. The baby ………… be three months old next week.

8. Mariah ………. be in Primary Five next year.

9. He …………. be seventy years old next July.

10. They ………… wait at the cinema for us.

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AdjectivesObjectives:

To figure out what is an adjective provides a detail about a noun.

A BA box A square box

A cat A Siamese cat

A knife A sharp knife

A girl A tall girl

What is the difference between the words in A and those in B?

In B we know more about the nouns ‘box’, ‘cat’, ‘knife’ and ‘girl’. The word square,

Siamese, sharp and tall tell us something about these nouns.

Such words are called Adjectives.

Exercise 19 – Adjectives

Put suitable Adjectives in the blanks.

1. Izzard is …………… because he has won a prize.

2. My mother need a …………….. knife to cut the meats.

3. He was bitten by a ………….. snake.

4. Grass is …………..

5. He burnt his fingers on the …………… stove.

6. Nurul has …………… hair and …………… eyes.

7. I felt very ………….. so I switched off the fan.

8. They helped the ……………. man to cross the road.

9. Most clocks have ………….. faces.

10. We can’t do these sums. They are too …………….

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Comparison of Adjectives

Khairul Shazwan Muaz Fiqri

The boys are making comparisons among themselves.

Khairul and Shazwan are equally fat. What words does Khairul use to compare himself

with Shazwan? He use ‘as fat as’. ‘Fat’ is called the Positive degree.

Who else is comparing himself with Shazwan? Muaz is. What does Muaz add to ‘fat’ in his

sentence? He adds ‘-er’. ‘Fatter’ is the Comparative degree of ‘fat’.

Fiqri is comparing himself with the other three boys. He uses the Superlative degree

‘fattest’ in his sentence. He has added ‘-est’ to ‘fat’.

as valuable as more valuable than most valuable

as talkative as ………………….. most talkative

as luxurious as ………………….. most luxurious

as friendly as more friendly than ……………….

as helpful as more helpful than ……………….

Can you complete the comparison of the adjectives by following the same pattern ? You

can see that the comparison of these adjectives is different from the one you have just

learnt. The Comparative and Superlative of these adjectives are formed by adding ‘more’

and ‘most’. Adjectives which are formed in this way usually have three or more

syllables, or they end in ‘-ful’.

as good as better than the best

as many as more than the most

as far as farther than the farthest

What is the difference between this type of comparison and those you have learnt? That

comparison of these adjectives is not regular. Such a comparison is called an irregular

comparison.

I am as fat as

you.I am fatter

than you.

I am the

fattest of

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Comparison of Adjectives

Positive Comparative SuperlativeAcceptable More acceptable Most acceptable

Attractive More attractive Most attractive

Bad Worse Worst

Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful

Big Bigger Biggest

Careful More careful Most careful

Choosy More choosy Most choosy

Clever More clever Most clever

Comfortable More comfortable Most comfortable

Cold Colder Coldest

Courageous More courageous Most courageous

Dangerous More dangerous Most dangerous

Dark Darker Darkest

Disastrous More disastrous Most disastrous

Distant More distant Most distant

Easy Easier Easiest

Energetic More energetic Most energetic

Enjoyable More enjoyable Most enjoyable

Famous More famous Most famous

Far ( distance/time ) Further Furthest

Far ( distance ) Farther Farthest

Favorable More favorable Most favorable

Forgetful More forgetful Most forgetful

Fortunate More fortunate Most fortunate

Friendly More friendly Most friendly

Gentle Gentler Gentlest

Glorious More glorious Most glorious

Good Better Best

Harmful More harmful Most harmful

Healthy More healthy Most healthy

Helpful More helpful Most helpful

Hot Hotter Hottest

Interesting More interesting Most interesting

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Kind Kinder Kindest

Large Larger Largest

Little Less Least

Long Longer Longest

Lovable More lovable Most lovable

Luxurious More luxurious Most luxurious

Many/much More Most

Marvelous More marvelous Most marvelous

Mischievous More mischievous Most mischievous

Natural More natural Most natural

Noisy More noisy Most noisy

Obedient More obedient Most obedient

Old ( people, things ) Older Oldest

Old ( people ) Elder Eldest

Patient More patient Most patient

Pleasant More pleasant Most pleasant

Pretty Prettier Prettiest

Proud Prouder Proudest

Reasonable More reasonable Most reasonable

Rich Richer Richest

Sensible More sensible Most sensible

Shady Shadier Shadiest

Small Smaller Smallest

Strong Stronger Strongest

Studious More studious Most studious

Successful More successful Most successful

Talkative More talkative Most talkative

Tall Taller Tallest

Thoughtful More thoughtful Most thoughtful

United More united Most united

Useful More useful Most useful

Valuable More valuable Most valuable

Wise Wiser Wisest

Young Younger Youngest

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Exercise 20 – Comparison of Adjectives

Use each word to make three different phrases. Make any necessary changes to the word.

1. Harmful

2. Quick

3. Ripe

4. Smooth

5. Sweet

6. Narrow

7. Deep

8. Lovable

9. Bad

10. Cheerfully

AdverbObjectives:

To find out what is an adverb provides more information about a verb, adjective, or another

adverb; that is, it "qualifies" the verb, adjective, or adverb.

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Adverbs add more to the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb.

Adverbs of manner answer the question ‘HOW?’ We usually put an

Adverb of Manner just after the verb.

An Adverb of Time answers the question ‘WHEN?’ It is either placed at

the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

An Adverb of Frequency or Mid-position Adverb answers the question

‘HOW OFTEN?’ It is usually placed before the verb.

An Adverb of Place answer the question ‘WHERE?’ It is placed after the

verb.

An Adverb of Degree answers the question ‘TO WHAT DEGREE?’ It is

usually placed before the adjective and the adverb, except ‘enough’ which

is placed after them.

Exercise 21 – Adverbs

Put the adverb correctly in each sentence.

e.g. (often) They swim in that swimming pool.

They often swim in that swimming pool.

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1. (still) The baby is crying.

2. (never) We have met Ariff before.

3. (enough) Delilah was not tall, so she could not reach the shelf.

4. (seldom) I write to him.

5. (usually ) The boys wait for their school bus there.

6. (already) The workmen have left.

7. (ever) Have you been to Korea?

8. (always) I keep my dictionary on this shelf.

9. (sometimes) Our teacher tells us a story.

10. (often) We play netball with them.

Comparison of AdverbsCan you remember how adjectives are compared? The comparison of adverbs is quite

similar to the comparison of adjectives.

Like adjectives, adverbs have three degrees of comparison – the Positive, the

Comparative and the Superlative.

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Look at the comparison of the adverbs below.

Brightly More brightly Most brightly

Noisily More noisily Most noisily

Easily More easily Most easily

What similarity can you see between the three adverbs ‘brightly’, ‘noisily’ and ‘easily’?

They all end in ‘-ly’.

‘More’ and ‘most’ are added to these adverbs to form the Comparative and the

Superlative.

Look at this comparison:

as fast as faster than the fastest

as badly as worse than the worst

How many syllables are there in the adverbs ‘fast’ and ‘badly’? They are one-syllable

adverbs.

How the Comparative and the Superlative of these adverbs formed? They are formed by

adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.

Like some adjectives, some adverbs also form the Comparative and the Superlative

irregularly.

Look at the irregular comparisons below and study how they are formed.

Little Less than The least

Much More than The most

Badly Worse than The worst

Here are some examples of the comparison of adverbs.

Positive Comparative SuperlativeAs angrily as More angrily than The most angrily

As brightly as More brightly than The most brightly

As carefully as More carefully than The most carefully

As clearly as More clearly than The most clearly

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As happily as More happily than The most happily

As kindly as More kindly than The most kindly

As loudly as More loudly than The most loudly

As quietly as More quietly than The most quietly

As slowly as More slowly than The most slowly

As fast as Faster than The fastest

As hard as Harder than The hardest

As late as Later than The latest

As long as Longer than The longest

As near as Nearer than The nearest

As soon as Sooner than The soonest

As badly as Worse than The worst

As early as Earlier than The earliest

As far as Farther than The farthest

As little as Less than The least

As much as More than The most

As well as Better than The best

Exercise 22 – Comparison of Adverbs

Give the comparative and the superlative of these adverbs

1. Well

2. Cleverly

3. Freely

4. Sweetly

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5. Patiently

6. Terribly

7. Little

8. Hard

9. Bravely

10. Lazily

Sentence Structure Objective:

Remember that every clause is, in a sense, a miniature sentence. Simple sentences

contain only a single clause, while a compound sentence, a complex sentence, or a

compound-complex sentence contains at least two clauses.

Simple Sentences

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A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a

verb, and a completed thought.

Examples of simple sentences include the following:

1. Haikal waited for the taxi.

"Haikal" = subject, "waited" = verb

2. The taxi was late.

"The taxi" = subject, "was" = verb

3. Daleela and Natalia took the taxi.

"Daleela and Natalia" = compound subject, "took" = verb

4. I looked for Daleela and Natalia at the taxi station.

"I" = subject, "looked" = verb

5. Daleela and Natalia arrived at the taxi station before noon and left on the taxi before

I arrived.

" Daleela and Natalia " = compound subject, "arrived" and "left" = compound verb  

Tip: If you use many simple sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of

the sentences into compound or complex sentences (explained below).

The use of compound subjects, compound verbs, prepositional phrases (such as "at the

taxi station"), and other elements help lengthen simple sentences, but simple sentences

often are short. The use of too many simple sentences can make writing "choppy" and can

prevent the writing from flowing smoothly.  

A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It is referred to as

"independent" because, while it might be part of a compound or complex sentence, it can

also stand by itself as a complete sentence.

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independent clauses (or

complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of the words "FAN BOYS":

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For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Examples of compound sentences include the following:

1. Angelina waited for the bus, but the bus was late.

2. I looked for Britney and Kelly at the bus station, but they arrived at the station

before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.

3. Britney and Kelly arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left on the bus

before I arrived.

4. Britney and Kelly left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the bus

station.

Tip: If you rely heavily on compound sentences in an essay, you should consider revising

some of them into complex sentences (explained below).

Coordinating conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences, but compound sentences

often are overused. While coordinating conjunctions can indicate some type of relationship

between the two independent clauses in the sentence, they sometimes do not indicate

much of a relationship. The word "and," for example, only adds one independent clause to

another, without indicating how the two parts of a sentence are logically related. Too many

compound sentences that use "and" can weaken writing.

Clearer and more specific relationships can be established through the use of complex

sentences. 

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent

clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or

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complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that would make it a complete

sentence. 

Examples of dependent clauses include the following:

because Lionel and John arrived at the bus station before noon

while he waited at the train station

after they left on the bus

Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can

be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.

Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of the most

common subordinating conjunctions:

after

although

as

because

before

even though

if

since

though

unless

until

when

whenever

whereas

wherever

while

A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.

The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause,

as in the following:

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Tip: When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the two

clauses.

1. Because Lionel and John arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them

at the station.

2. While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.

3. After they left on the bus, Lionel and John realized that Joe was waiting at the train

station.

Conversely, the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the

dependent clause, as in the following:

Tip: When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be used to separate

the two clauses.

1. I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus

station before noon.

2. Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train station.

3. Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left

on the bus.

Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a

complex sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main

parts of the sentence. The word "before," for instance, tells readers that one thing occurs

before another. A word such as "although" conveys a more complex relationship than a

word such as "and" conveys.

The term periodic sentence is used to refer to a complex sentence beginning with a

dependent clause and ending with an independent clause, as in "While he waited at the

train station, Joe realized that the train was late."

Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the completed thought occurs at

the end of it, so the first part of the sentence can build up to the meaning that comes at the

end.

Exercise 23 – Comparison of Adverbs

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Identify a simple sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence, or a compound-

complex sentence.

1. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, but Seoul is the capital of Korea.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

2. Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the minority from the

tyranny of the majority.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

3. I do not own a Sony Ericsson headphone.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

4. Call your lovely grandparents as soon as you arrive in Kota Bharu.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

5. I ate the chicken rice and left the restaurant.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

6. Unless my cousin postpones her visit from Hungary, I will not have time to study for

my test.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

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c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

7. Hannah wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her gorgeous car is in the

shop.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

8. The softball game was cancelled because it was raining.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

9. The football game was cancelled because of the rain.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

10.When the train arrives and if Ms. Langlois is on it, she will be served with a subpoena.

a) Simple Sentence

b) Compound Sentence

c) Complex Sentence

d) Compound-Complex Sentence

Answer:Exercise 1:

1. Subject-Verb-Adverb 2. Subject-Verb 3. Subject-Verb-Adjective 4. Subject-Verb-Noun5. Subject-Verb-Object6. Subject-Verb7. Subject-Verb-Adjective8. Subject-Verb-Adverb9. Subject-Verb-Object

10.Subject-Verb-Noun

Exercise 2:

1. Fruit 2. Airplane3. Baby 4. Sky 5. Policeman 6. River 7. Classroom 8. Clothes

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9. Cow 10.pencils

Exercise 3:

1. (grandfather, horse)2. (gardener, daughter)3. (dogs, meat)4. (brother)5. (dog, boy)6. (hunter, bear)7. (actress, girl)8. (niece, girl)9. (servant)10. (fairy, princess)

Exercise 4:

1. Much 2. A little 3. Much 4. A few 5. A few 6. A little 7. Many 8. A few 9. Many 10.Much

Exercise 5:

1. Angels 2. Drawers 3. Bushes 4. Labourers5. Grass6. Horses 7. Motorcars 8. Eggs 9. Monkeys

10.Singers

Exercise 6:

1. The boy’s ball2. The girl’s doll3. The woman’s basket4. The teacher’s book5. The pupil’s bags6. The Mr. Hamzah’s cat7. The uncle Zarif’s pipe8. The woman dresses 9. The elephant trunk 10.The owl’s eye

Exercise 7:

1. Hers 2. Mine 3. His 4. Yours 5. His 6. Yours 7. Mine 8. Ours 9. Hers 10.Theirs

Exercise 8:

1. Him 2. We 3. He 4. Him 5. I 6. They 7. She 8. It 9. Them10.Me

Exercise 9:

1. Myself 2. Itself3. Ourselves4. Herself 5. Herself6. Herself 7. Ourselves 8. Himself 9. Yourself 10.Themselves

Exercise 10:

1. Whose 2. That 3. Who 4. Whom 5. Which 6. Who 7. Whom 8. That 9. Which

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10.That Exercise 11:

No. Every day Now Yesterday Already1. He runs He is running He ran He has run2. I choose I am choosing I chose I have chosen3. They make They are making They made They have made4. She drives She is driving She drove She has driven5. They hit They are hitting They hit They have it6. We begin We are beginning We began We have begun7. He hears He is hearing He heard He has heard8. I beat I am beating I beat I have beaten9. We leave We are leaving We left We have left

10. You cry You are crying You cried You have cried

Exercise 12:

1. Is raining 2. Is swimming 3. Is sleeping 4. Is climbing 5. Are barking 6. Are waiting 7. Is crying 8. Is looking 9. Am holding 10.Are sleeping

Exercise 13:

1. Does not live, lives2. Shine, glitters3. Keeps, does4. Leave, return 5. Thinks, is6. Like, do not like7. Eat, talk8. Has, is9. Is speaks10.Help, has

Exercise 14:

1. Have not gone2. Have worked3. Have taken4. Has waited 5. Have lived 6. Has not eaten7. Has stayed 8. Has not rained 9. Has been

10.Have not done

Exercise 15:1. Lived 2. Not played3. Not cut 4. Found5. Wrote 6. Broke 7. Shut8. Not done 9. Waited10.Not came

Exercise 16:

1. Was running 2. Was leaving 3. Was rushing 4. Was having 5. Were waiting 6. Was sleeping 7. Were eating8. Were dressing 9. Were writing 10.Were walking

Exercise 17:

1. He said that he had not locked the door.

2. She said that she had seen the film.

3. They said that they had gone there by bus.

4. He said that he had read the poem.

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5. They said that they had cleaned the car.

6. She said that she had picked some flowers.

7. He said that he had rung the bell.8. He said that he had cut the tree.9. She said that she had seen Sierra

in the library.10.She said that her sister had gone

out.

Exercise 18:

1. Will2. Will3. Shall4. Will5. Shall6. Will7. Will8. Will9. Will10.Will

Exercise 19:

1. Champion 2. Sharp 3. Poisonous 4. Green 5. Hot 6. Black, beautiful 7. Cold8. Old9. Smiling 10.Difficult

Exercise 20:

Positive Comparative

Superlative

Harmful More harmful

Most harmful

Quick Quicker QuickestRipe Riper RipestSmooth Smoother SmoothestSweet Sweeter SweetestNarrow Narrower NarrowestDeep Deeper DeepestLovable More

lovableMost lovable

Bad Worse Worst

Cheerful More cheerful

Most cheerful

Exercise 21:

1. The baby is still crying.2. We have never met Ariff before.3. Delilah was not tall enough, so she

could not reach the shelf.4. I seldom write to him.5. The boys usually wait for their

school bus there.6. The workmen have already left.7. Have you ever been to Korea?8. I always keep my dictionary on this

shelf.9. Our teacher sometimes tells us a

story.10.We often play netball with them.

Exercise 22:

Positive Comparative

Superlative

Well Better BestCleverly More

cleverlyMost cleverly

Freely More freely Most freelySweetly More

sweetlyMost sweetly

Patiently More patiently

Most patiently

Terribly More terribly

Most terribly

Little Less LeastHard Harder HardestBravely More

bravelyMost bravely

Lazily More lazily Most lazily

Exercise 23:

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1. B 2. C3. A 4. C5. B6. C7. B8. C9. C10.D

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