The Verb Phrase
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Questions and Answers

What is included in a verb phrase?

  • Only auxiliary verbs
  • Only the main verb
  • The main verb and any auxiliary verbs (correct)
  • The subject and object of the sentence

A verb phrase can consist of just a single word.

True (A)

What do the components of a verb work together to express?

A range of functions including politeness, formality, and probability.

A verb phrase may consist of __________ and a main verb.

<p>auxiliary verbs</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the terminology with the correct example:

<p>Auxiliary verb = He is learning French. Dynamic verb = She runs 6 miles every morning. Stative verb = I know her really well. Imperative = Don't worry. Relax!</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase is a multiword main verb?

<p>has been weeping (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'verb phrase' only refers to the main verb in a sentence.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The example 'to go, to eat, to take' represents __________ verbs.

<p>bare infinitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does 'had capsized' represent?

<p>Perfect aspect (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The verb form 'was working' is an example of the future tense.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the past participle of the verb 'awake'?

<p>awoken</p> Signup and view all the answers

The verb 'sleep' is considered a(n) ______ verb.

<p>intransitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following verbs with their correct tense:

<p>had been sleeping = Past Perfect Continuous was hauled = Past Simple Passive has lived = Present Perfect were picked up = Past Passive</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences refers to the future?

<p>If no one remembered your birthday next month. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

There is a one-to-one relationship between time and tense in English.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which verb is used in the past simple form in the sentence 'they gave up'?

<p>gave up</p> Signup and view all the answers

The verb 'drown' in the phrase 'would have drowned' is in the ______ form.

<p>past participle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the verb forms with their definitions:

<p>enabled = Past Simple battling = Present Participle could see = Modal Auxiliary hadn't been = Past Perfect Simple</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'if there hadn't been' demonstrate?

<p>Past Perfect Simple (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The verb 'decided' is a regular verb.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identify the tense of the verb in the sentence: 'I leave for Singapore next week.'

<p>Present Simple</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'were picked up' represents the ______ voice.

<p>passive</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tense is used to refer to an event in the past that occurred repeatedly?

<p>Past Simple (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The present continuous tense can refer to both current actions and planned future events.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tense is used to describe a situation that started in the past and continues to the present?

<p>Present Perfect Simple</p> Signup and view all the answers

He _____ (go) to the gym every Saturday.

<p>goes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following tenses with their descriptions:

<p>Past Perfect Simple = Focuses on an action completed before another past action Present Perfect Continuous = Emphasizes duration of an action that began in the past and continues to the present Future Perfect = Indicates an action will be completed by a certain time in the future Will = Used for future predictions or habitual present actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which form is used for a prediction based on current evidence?

<p>Going to future (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Past Perfect Continuous tense is used for actions that started and continued until a specified point in the past.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identify the tense: 'She has been studying for three hours.'

<p>Present Perfect Continuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

By the time you arrive, I _____ (finish) my homework.

<p>will have finished</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following tense forms with their examples:

<p>Past Simple = I walked to the store yesterday. Present Simple = He plays the guitar. Future Continuous = I will be working late tonight. Past Continuous = They were playing soccer when it started to rain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the future continuous tense express?

<p>An action in progress at a specific future time (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Past Perfect Simple tense is used exclusively in reported speech.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the tense used in the sentence: 'I’ll have been working here for five years by next month.'

<p>Future Perfect Continuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which auxiliary verb is used to form the continuous aspect?

<p>be (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The aspect of a verb phrase is concerned with the time of the event.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main aspects in English?

<p>Continuous and Perfect</p> Signup and view all the answers

The perfect aspect is formed using the auxiliary '______' and the past participle.

<p>have</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following sentences with their aspect type:

<p>She has finished her homework. = Perfect They are studying for the exam. = Continuous He had been working here for two years. = Perfect Continuous The kids were playing outside. = Continuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences uses the continuous aspect?

<p>She is running in the park. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The continuous aspect only refers to actions that are complete.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect indicates that an action is in progress?

<p>Continuous aspect</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mustn't' express in the negative form?

<p>An obligation not to do something (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'I can’t understand' uses the auxiliary 'do' to form its negative.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between 'have to' and 'must'?

<p>External obligation vs internal obligation</p> Signup and view all the answers

'He _____ (must) be at least 60, don’t you think?'

<p>must</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following modal verbs with their meanings:

<p>May = Possibility Ought to = Advice Must = Necessity Could = Ability in the past</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which modal verb indicates a past habit in narratives?

<p>Would (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

All modal verbs can inflect like lexical verbs.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the phrase 'You ought to go', what does 'ought to' imply?

<p>Advice</p> Signup and view all the answers

The weak form of 'can' in pronunciation is represented as _____ in 'You can borrow the car if you like.'

<p>kən</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of obligation does 'You don’t have to leave' imply?

<p>Absence of obligation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which modal verb is used to express ability?

<p>can (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Modal verbs can be inflected for person or number.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are negatives of modal verbs formed?

<p>by adding 'not' or '(n)’t' after the modal verb</p> Signup and view all the answers

You _____ (can/can't) borrow the car if you like.

<p>can</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pair of verbs is considered semi-modals?

<p>have to, ought to (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following modal verbs with their primary meanings:

<p>may = possibility or permission must = obligation or strong necessity should = advice might = less certain possibility</p> Signup and view all the answers

The verb 'need' behaves like a lexical verb when used in past negative form.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

He _____ (have to/have) leave early.

<p>has to</p> Signup and view all the answers

What forms do modal verbs not have?

<p>infinitive forms and participle forms</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the modal verb 'shall' usually express?

<p>prediction or volition (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following sentences with their modal meanings:

<p>She may go. = permission You must show valid ID. = obligation It could rain tomorrow. = possibility You should check your answers. = advice</p> Signup and view all the answers

The sentence 'What would you do?' is an example of forming a question with a modal verb.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of modality allows for the expression of interpersonal meanings such as obligation and willingness?

<p>intrinsic modality</p> Signup and view all the answers

I ____ (had to/have to) finish my project by tomorrow.

<p>have to</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the present perfect aspect?

<p>Describes a situation that occurred up until the present moment. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In English, there is a future tense.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect is demonstrated in the sentence 'When I arrived he’d already left'?

<p>past perfect</p> Signup and view all the answers

The continuous aspect indicates an action that is ______.

<p>in progress</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following verbs with their correct aspects:

<p>She has been studying = Present Perfect Continuous I had finished = Past Perfect They will have arrived = Future Perfect He was running = Past Continuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of modal verbs?

<p>To express the likelihood or desirability of a situation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The sentence 'He must be at least 60' is an example of a modal verb indicating certainty.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the perfect aspect used to indicate an event in the future called?

<p>future perfect</p> Signup and view all the answers

The sentence 'I’ll have finished by tomorrow' demonstrates the ______ aspect.

<p>future perfect</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following statements with their descriptions of futurity:

<p>'Going to' express futurity = The most common way to indicate future plans. Future forms depend on likelihood = The choice reflects the certainty of the future event. Future perfect indicates completion = Used to show that something will be done before a future time. Present continuous can imply future = Used for planned future events that are scheduled.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The modal verb 'may' expresses a strong obligation.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'modality' refer to in language?

<p>The expression of attitudes or judgments about the likelihood or desirability of situations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'He should call her' reflects ______ modality.

<p>advisory</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a semi-modal verb?

<p>Need to (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The verb 'to be' typically requires a complement following it.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the core modals in English?

<p>can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following verbs with their meanings:

<p>Must = Indicates obligation Might = Indicates possibility Should = Indicates advice Can = Indicates ability</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the passive voice emphasize in a sentence?

<p>The recipient of the action (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Active voice is the most common voice used in narratives.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name a consequence of using passive voice in a sentence.

<p>It can obscure the agent or performer of the action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In constructions using passive voice, the subject is typically what?

<p>The receiver of the action (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Passive constructions are often viewed as alternative versions of active constructions.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which form is used to indicate that something should have happened in the past without specifying the agent?

<p>Agentless passive (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Learners often confuse the passive voice with the active voice due to the use of the auxiliary 'be'.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for verbs that are followed by both the infinitive and gerund with a change in meaning?

<p>Different meaning verbs</p> Signup and view all the answers

The gerund form can function as a _______ in a sentence.

<p>noun</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following constructions with their examples:

<p>Passive Voice = He was questioned by the immigration official. Causative Construction = I’ve finally had my computer fixed. Gerund = I enjoy reading. Infinitive = She decided to leave early.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following verbs is typically followed by a gerund?

<p>enjoy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The full infinitive form of a verb always includes 'to'.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the past participle of the verb 'consider'?

<p>considered</p> Signup and view all the answers

Verbs like 'advise', 'allow', and 'recommend' can be followed by either a gerund or an _______.

<p>infinitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key issue learners face with passive voice?

<p>Not understanding verb tenses (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The sentence 'I stopped to talk to my neighbor' uses the infinitive form.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one common verb that is always followed by a gerund.

<p>avoid</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of passive constructions, the phrase 'would have been' is an example of the _______ aspect.

<p>perfect</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the verbs with their correct follow-up forms:

<p>decide = to leave enjoy = reading need = to understand prefer = swimming</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of 'forget' with an infinitive?

<p>I forgot to turn off the gas. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The -ing form of a verb can only refer to past actions.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of using 'need' with an -ing form instead of an infinitive?

<p>The -ing form indicates a passive meaning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

He always remembers to ______ me flowers on my birthday.

<p>buy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match each action with its corresponding meaning:

<p>forget to turn off the gas = An act that has not been performed stop smoking = An action that has ceased like listening to jazz = A general enjoyment try drinking less coffee = An experimental attempt</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following indicates an action that is still ongoing?

<p>They went on talking late into the night. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Using 'try and' is incorrect grammatically in English.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'I regret telling him my secret' imply?

<p>The speaker feels sorry for having told him the secret.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct form for the sentence 'I go to International House for to study English'?

<p>I go to International House to study English. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Using the infinitive after 'make' is incorrect.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

They went on ______ late into the night.

<p>talking</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the verb with its correct function:

<p>make = Used to express compulsion let = Allows someone to do something see = Indicates perception of an entire action stop = Indicates cessation of an action</p> Signup and view all the answers

What form should be used after modal verbs like 'should'?

<p>bare infinitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

I am sorry for being late. It is more common to say 'I’m sorry ______ late.'

<p>I’m</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do we use a bare infinitive after 'come and'?

<p>To suggest an action (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the conditional types to their correct forms:

<p>Zero Conditional = If + present Type 1 Conditional = If + present Type 2 Conditional = Would + base form Type 3 Conditional = Would + have + past participle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Some verbs can be followed by both full infinitive and -ing form without a change in meaning.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'I need to buy some milk' express?

<p>A necessity that needs to be addressed in the future.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence correctly uses the form after 'stop'?

<p>I stopped going to classes. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

You can use modal verbs in both clauses of an unconditional sentence.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

He didn’t ______ me yesterday.

<p>see</p> Signup and view all the answers

What commonly results in L1 interference when learning English conditionals?

<p>Using incorrect verb forms</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the verb with its respective tense description:

<p>had capsized = Past perfect tense was working = Past continuous tense decided = Past simple tense will have been = Future perfect tense</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of conditional is exemplified in the statement: 'If you leave ice cream out in the sun, it melts'?

<p>Zero conditional (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The infinitive form 'to discover' can replace the past tense in conditional structures, as seen in 'If you ______ a cure...'.

<p>discovered</p> Signup and view all the answers

'If I were you, I’d get go to bed early' is an example of a Type 2 conditional.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'Did you see him to leave the party?', which form is incorrectly used?

<p>infinitive form (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Type 3 conditionals can indicate a present/general fact with a past consequence.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of conditional is used when discussing likely or possible present/future conditions?

<p>Type 1 conditional</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of conditional structure refers to a hypothetical situation?

<p>Type 2 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In conditional sentences, what punctuation is required if the 'if' clause comes first?

<p>comma</p> Signup and view all the answers

'If you go to the beach, you _____ sunbathe for too long on your first day.'

<p>shouldn't</p> Signup and view all the answers

Type 1 conditionals can refer to events in the past.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the conditional functions to their corresponding conditional types:

<p>Giving advice = Type 2 conditional Describing scientific processes = Zero conditional Negotiating = Type 1 conditional Making excuses = Type 3 conditional</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the modals to their meanings:

<p>must = strong obligation could = possibility might = tentative possibility should = advice</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct expression for 'hate forgeting people's names'?

<p>hate forgetting people's names (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a Type 3 conditional?

<p>Speculating about past events (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do Type 3 conditionals express?

<p>Hypothetical situations about the past.</p> Signup and view all the answers

'They won’t let you in unless you show your invitation' is a Type 1 conditional.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If you __________ (heat) cobalt chloride, it turns blue.

<p>heat</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following reported speech verbs with their correct usage:

<p>say = Used without an indirect object tell = Requires an indirect object ask = Commonly used for reporting questions want to know = Used for information seeking</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a mixed conditional combine?

<p>Elements from different types of conditionals</p> Signup and view all the answers

'If he _____ arrive in the next half hour, please send him in to the meeting immediately.'

<p>should</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence is an example of reported speech?

<p>She told him that she was tired. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the example sentences with their conditional types:

<p>If I had more time, I could help you. = Type 2 conditional If you’d bought the tickets sooner, we’d have better seats. = Mixed conditional If you leave ice cream out in the sun, it melts. = Zero conditional If they weren’t so boring, we’d have invited them. = Mixed conditional</p> Signup and view all the answers

When reporting questions, the subject and verb are inverted.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which conditional type uses the form 'were + infinitive'?

<p>Type 2 conditional (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common verb used in reported speech to convey commands?

<p>tell</p> Signup and view all the answers

'If I’ll work hard, I’ll help you' is an example of a Type 1 conditional.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If you __________ (win) the lottery, you might buy a house.

<p>win</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which conditional type expresses an action that did not occur?

<p>Type 3 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

It is acceptable to use 'will' in the if clause of future conditional sentences.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'If you liked Argo, you’ll _____ Argo II.'

<p>love</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do learners often confuse with the use of 'unless'?

<p>If not</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct transformation of 'He may go on holiday together' in reported speech?

<p>He said he might go on holiday together. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'She said that she __________ (not like) chocolate.'

<p>didn't like</p> Signup and view all the answers

When reporting a request, we use ‘asked’ + object + full infinitive.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of conditional sentences with their examples:

<p>Type 1 = If you clean the kitchen, I’ll do the bathroom. Type 2 = If I were you, I wouldn’t buy that. Type 3 = If the train hadn’t been late, I’d have arrived on time. Zero Conditional = If you heat water, it boils.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the reported speech equivalent of 'He said he can speak five languages'?

<p>He said he could speak five languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

'I will help you tomorrow' changes to reported speech as 'He said he _____ help them the following day.'

<p>would</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the modal verbs with their reported speech equivalents:

<p>must = had to can = could will = would may = might</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase correctly represents time changes in reported speech when using 'here'?

<p>there (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Direct questions maintain their question format in reported speech.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What form is used to report 'Don't kick the ball'?

<p>He asked them not to kick the ball.</p> Signup and view all the answers

'She said she was busy' can create confusion because it is unclear if the action was happening at the __________.

<p>same time</p> Signup and view all the answers

What auxiliary verb is primarily used to form passive constructions?

<p>be (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the examples with the correct reported speech problems:

<p>Time reference confusion = She said she was hungry. Pronoun ambiguity = Nicky said I was clever. Incorrect tense usage = He said he will go tomorrow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Passive constructions are more commonly used in informal writing than in academic writing.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is incorrect for reporting an imperative sentence?

<p>He told to me to be quiet. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Inflection involves changing the form of a verb to convey different meanings.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'had to' indicate in reported speech?

<p>It indicates obligation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The sentence 'The car was washed by John' is an example of a __________ construction.

<p>passive</p> Signup and view all the answers

The __________ aspect describes actions that are ongoing or in progress.

<p>continuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following examples with their passive or active characteristics:

<p>The book was read by the students = Passive John kicked the ball = Active The report has been completed = Passive Sara paints beautifully = Active</p> Signup and view all the answers

When is the 'get' auxiliary commonly used?

<p>In spoken English (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence is correct in reported speech?

<p>She asked what she should bring. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Only transitive verbs can be used to create passive sentences.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using a passive voice?

<p>To focus on the action rather than the subject performing it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

An agent in a passive sentence can be followed by a __________.

<p>by-phrase</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'The application has been mislaid', what type of passive is it?

<p>Agentless passive (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The agent is always necessary in passive constructions.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The auxiliary 'be' is marked for __________ in passive constructions.

<p>tense</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential reason for using an agentless passive?

<p>To avoid assigning blame (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Verb Phrase

A group of words that functions as a verb in a sentence.

Main Verb

A verb that indicates an action or a state of being.

Auxiliary Verb

A verb that helps the main verb express tense, mood, or voice.

Multiword Verb Phrase

A verb phrase consisting of a main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs.

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Two-Main Verb Phrase

A verb phrase consisting of two main verbs where the first verb needs the second to complete its meaning.

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Single-Word Verb Phrase

A verb phrase consisting of a single main verb.

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Dynamic Verbs

Verbs that express actions or occurrences that are dynamic and can be measured.

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State/Stative Verbs

Verbs that express states of being, feelings, or opinions.

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Past Perfect Simple Tense

The form of a verb that indicates the action occurred before some other past event and is often used to express a completed action in the past, as in 'the boat had capsized six miles off the Australian coast'. It is formed using the auxiliary verb 'had' followed by the past participle of the main verb.

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Past Perfect Continuous Tense

A verb form that describes an action or state that was ongoing or continuous before a specific point in the past.

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Bare Infinitive

The basic form of a verb without any endings, used in conjunction with a modal verb.

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Past Continuous Tense

A verb form that describes an action or state that was ongoing or continuous at a specific point in the past.

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Passive Voice

The form of a verb used when the subject is acted upon, usually formed with the past participle of the main verb and the auxiliary verb 'be'.

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Present Participle

The form of a verb that combines the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb with the auxiliary verb 'be'.

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Past Simple

A single action happening in the past, often repeated or hypothetical. Focuses on completed events.

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Past Continuous

An action happening over a period of time in the past, usually interrupted by another event. Provides background information.

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Present Simple

An action that happens regularly in the present, or a scheduled future event.

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Present Continuous

An action happening now, often temporary, or a planned future event.

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Present Perfect Simple

An action that happened in the past but has a connection to the present. Refers to completed actions with present effects.

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Present Perfect Continuous

An action that began in the past and is continuing until now. Highlights the duration of the action.

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Past Perfect Simple

An action completed before another action in the past. Used to show the sequence of events.

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Past Perfect Continuous

An action happening over a period of time that leads up to another action in the past. Shows the progress of an action.

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Will

A prediction about the future, often stating a certainty.

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Future Continuous

A future action happening at a specific time in the future. Usually based on plans or routines.

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Going to Future

A prediction about the future based on present evidence. Usually used for planned or inevitable events.

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Future Perfect

An action that will be completed by a specific time in the future. Views the action as already finished from a future point.

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Aspect

The way a speaker views an event in a sentence, focusing on whether an action is ongoing, completed, or repetitive.

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Continuous Aspect

Refers to actions happening now, often temporary or limited in duration. Uses 'be' plus the -ing form of the verb. Example: "I am reading a book."

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Perfect Aspect

Refers to completed actions in the past, no matter when they happened. Uses 'have' plus the past participle of the verb. Example: "I have eaten lunch."

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Tense-Aspect Combination

A sentence that shows the combination of tense and aspect. Example: "They have been working."

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Perfect Continuous Aspect

A verb form that combines the perfect aspect with the continuous aspect, showing an action that began in the past and is continuing to the present. Example: "I have been working on this project all day."

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Past Perfect

A verb form that shows an action that happened in the past and is completed. Uses 'had' plus the past participle of the verb. Example: "I had already eaten dinner by the time they arrived."

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Modality

A grammatical feature in English that refers to the speaker's or writer's attitude towards the likelihood or desirability of a situation.

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Tense

A grammatical feature in English that indicates the time reference of an event or state, signifying when it happened or will happen.

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Futurity

A grammatical structure in English that expresses a future action or state, indicating that something will happen.

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Modal Auxiliary Verb

A type of verb that helps the main verb express tense, mood, or voice. They can be used to express possibility, necessity, or permission.

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Future Perfect Tense

A tense used to describe an action that will be completed by a specific time in the future, often used to express a future outcome or result.

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Present Continuous Tense

A grammatical structure in English that expresses an action or state that is happening now.

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Modal Verbs

These are a type of verb used to express possibility, necessity, or ability. They are often followed by the bare infinitive (the base form of a verb without 'to') e.g. 'I must go.'

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Negative Modal Verbs

The negative form of a modal verb is formed by adding 'not' directly to the modal: I cannot understand, I must not go.

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External vs. Internal Obligation

In some contexts, particularly when the modal refers to a past obligation, a distinction in meaning between 'must' (internal obligation) and 'have to' (external obligation) may not be as clear-cut as the rules suggest.

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Past Habit with 'Would'

This is a non-modal use of the verb 'would' which typically refers to a past habit or a repeated action in the past.

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Weak (unstressed) Pronunciation of 'Can'

This is a type of 'can' that is pronounced as a shortened form, often unstressed, which can be difficult for learners to hear correctly. It is often used in casual speech.

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Strong (stressed) Pronunciation of 'Can'

This is a type of 'can' that is pronounced with a clear and strong emphasis on the syllable. It is often used in more emphatic or formal contexts.

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Pronouncing 'Must have'

This refers to the pronunciation of 'must' as a very strong sound and 'have' as a weaker, more shortened sound, common in contracted forms of the past tense.

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Core Modal Verbs

Core modal verbs are the nine essential modal auxiliary verbs: can, could, may, might, will, would, should, must, and shall. They follow the formal rules for modal verbs.

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Modal Verb Placement

Modal verbs always come first in the verb phrase. For example: "He could be right."

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Modal Verb + Base Verb

Modal verbs are followed by a base form verb, meaning the verb is not preceded by 'to'. For instance: "He might have finished."

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Modal Verb Negatives

Negatives of modal verbs are formed by adding 'not' or 'n't' after the modal. Auxiliary 'do' is not used. For example: "She can't go."

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Modal Verb Questions

Questions with modal verbs are created by inverting the subject and modal verb. Auxiliary 'do' is not used. For example: "Would you like to go?"

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Modal Verb Forms

Modal verbs do not have 3rd person 's', infinitive forms (with or without 'to'), or participles (like '-ing' or '-ed'). They have only one form.

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Semi-Modal Verbs

Semi-modal verbs share characteristics with core modal verbs and lexical verbs. They express modal meaning but can also function as lexical verbs. Examples: 'need (to)', 'have (got) to', 'ought to'.

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Semi-Modal Behavior Like Core Modals

Semi-modal verbs can behave similarly to core modal verbs. For example: "You needn't worry." (like a core modal for negatives).

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Semi-Modal Behavior Like Lexical Verbs

Semi-modal verbs can also behave like lexical verbs. For instance: "I didn't need to show my ticket." (using the auxiliary verb 'do').

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Extrinsic Modality

Extrinsic modality describes the speaker's opinion about the likelihood of a situation. It's about what the speaker thinks about the external world. For example: "It might rain." (speaker thinks it's possible).

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Intrinsic Modality

Intrinsic modality describes the speaker's opinion about the necessity or desirability of a situation. It's about how the speaker feels about the world. For example: "You should go." (speaker thinks it's advisable).

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Modals and Politeness

Modal verbs play a significant role in expressing politeness and formality in English. For example: "Could I use your phone?" (more polite than 'Can I use...).

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Learner Challenges with Modals

Learners often experience difficulties choosing the right modal verb, constructing negatives and questions, and understanding the multiple meanings of a single modal.

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Common Learner Errors

Mistakes like 'She cans speak English' or 'He can to come tomorrow' highlight common learner errors in using modal verbs.

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Expressing Obligation

The choice of modal verb for expressing obligation can vary depending on the context. 'Must' is often used for a strong obligation, while 'should' suggests a gentler expectation.

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Modal Verb Functions

Modal verbs are crucial for expressing a range of functions like asking permission, giving advice, making offers, and conveying possibility.

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Active Voice

The active voice emphasizes the agent (who performs the action) as the subject of the sentence (e.g., 'Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone').

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Active vs. Passive Voice: Choice

Choosing between active and passive voice often depends on what the listener already knows or what has already been said. We tend to start with what is already known and place new, important information at the end.

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Passive Voice: Purpose

The passive voice can be used to emphasize the recipient of an action, rather than the agent, making it a useful tool for writing in a more objective or impersonal style.

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Passive Voice: Meaning & Use

While passive voice is often taught as a mechanical transformation of active sentences, it serves specific functions in writing and speech. Understanding its uses is key to applying it effectively.

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Passive Voice: Formal Style

The passive voice is sometimes seen as a less direct or more formal way of conveying information compared to the active voice.

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Passive Voice: Complexity

Although the passive voice may sound more complicated, it's a natural part of English grammar with a specific role and can be used effectively in various contexts.

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Learning the Passive Voice

Learning to recognize and use the passive voice appropriately can enhance your understanding and mastery of English grammar.

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Passive Voice: Focus on Action

The passive is used when the focus is on the action itself rather than who or what performed it. It's often used in formal or impersonal writing.

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Passive Voice: Agentless Structure

The agent, or the performer of the action, is often omitted in passive sentences. It's commonly used when the agent is unknown, irrelevant, obvious, or when you want to avoid emphasizing it. Example: 'The car was stolen.'

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Passive Voice: Simplifying Sentences

The passive voice is often used to avoid using a long and complex subject, making the sentence easier to read. Instead, the noun phrase becomes the object of the preposition 'by', making the sentence flow better.

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Passive Voice: Tense Agreement

When using the passive voice, the auxiliary verb 'be' is used in the same tense as the action verb. Example: 'The car was being driven' (past continuous), 'The house will be built' (future simple).

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Passive Voice: 'Get' as Auxiliary

The passive voice can be formed using the auxiliary verb 'get' instead of 'be' in informal situations. It's more common in spoken English. Example: 'The car got fixed.'

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Passive Voice: Transitive Verbs

Only transitive verbs, verbs that take an object, can be used in the passive voice. Intransitive verbs, verbs that do not take an object, cannot be put in the passive voice.

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Passive Voice: Object Becomes Subject

In passive structures, the original object of the active verb becomes the subject. Example: 'The boy threw the ball.' (active) -> 'The ball was thrown by the boy.' (passive)

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Passive Voice: Unspecified Agent

The passive voice can be used to express the action by an unspecified agent, often when the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious. Example: 'The door was left open.'

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Passive Voice: Focusing on Results

The passive voice can be used to focus on the result or outcome of the action, rather than on the performer. Example: 'The project was completed on time.'

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Passive Voice in Formal Writing

The passive voice is more common in academic, scientific, and technical writing, where the focus is on events and processes, rather than the actors.

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Active Voice: Specified Agent

The agent is usually specified in active voice sentences, clearly showing who or what performed the action. Example: 'The boy threw the ball.'

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Active Voice: Focus on Actor

The active voice is typically used when the performer of the action is important and relevant to the message. Example: 'The scientist discovered the new drug.'

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Active Voice in Creative Writing

The active voice is more common in creative writing, where the focus is on the actions and experiences of individuals or characters, rather than on events or processes. Example: 'The detective chased the suspect.'

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Active Voice: Clear and Concise

The active voice is more direct and concise, making it easier for readers to understand and engaging. Example: 'The dog ate the bone.'

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Agentless Passive

A form of the passive voice found in academic writing where the agent of the action is not mentioned because the focus is on the process itself, not the individuals involved.

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Causative

A grammatical construction that indicates the subject caused something to be done by someone else, using 'get' or 'have'.

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Pseudo-Passive

A grammatical construction that combines the verb 'get' or 'have' with a past participle to express an event or action that happens to the subject, often without a clear cause.

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Base Form

The simplest form of a verb, often appearing as the infinitive without 'to'.

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Full Infinitive

The infinitive with 'to' - e.g. 'to go', 'to take', 'to eat'.

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The -ing Form

The form of a verb ending in '-ing', used in continuous verb phrases, as a noun, or as an adjective.

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Gerund

The '-ing' form used as a noun, often expressing an activity.

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Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The choice between using the infinitive or the '-ing' form after certain verbs, often depending on the specific meaning.

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Verbs Followed by Full Infinitive

A set of verbs that are always followed by the full infinitive - e.g. 'agree', 'appear', 'arrange', 'attempt', 'decide', 'expect', 'fail', 'hope', 'offer', 'promise', 'refuse', 'want', 'wish'.

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Verbs Followed by Infinitive or -ing Form

A set of verbs that can be followed by either the full infinitive or the '-ing' form, sometimes with a change in meaning.

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Meaning Change With Infinitive vs. -ing

A situation where changing the infinitive to '-ing' form or vice versa changes the meaning of the sentence.

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Understanding Passive Voice

The ability to understand and use the passive voice in English.

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Confusing Passive with Active Continuous

A common learner error in which students incorrectly use the present participle ('-ing' form) instead of the past participle form in the passive voice - e.g. 'He was questioning...' instead of 'He was questioned...'.

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Confusing Passive with Active Perfect

A common learner error in which students incorrectly use the past participle form instead of the correct present participle form for the active continuous - e.g. 'She has put in prison' instead of 'She was/has been put in prison'.

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Forget - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The verb 'forget' followed by the infinitive emphasizes the missed action, while 'forget' followed by the -ing form highlights the memory of the action itself.

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Like - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The -ing form after 'like' expresses a general enjoyment or a habit, while the infinitive suggests a deliberate action or something done out of duty.

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Need - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The infinitive after 'need' expresses a necessity that will be addressed in the future, while the -ing form indicates a necessary action that is passive.

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Remember - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The -ing form after 'remember' focuses on the memory itself, while the infinitive emphasizes the act of remembering.

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Try - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The infinitive form after 'try' implies an effort or attempt, usually one that is difficult or unsuccessful, while the -ing form focuses on an action done to see its effect.

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Stop - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The -ing form after 'stop' indicates the cessation of an action, while the infinitive marks a pause for another action to follow.

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Regret - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The infinitive form after 'regret' conveys a formal apology or regret for a future action, while the -ing form emphasizes regret for a past action.

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Go On - Infinitive vs. -ing Form

The -ing form after 'go on' means to continue an action, while the infinitive refers to a progression or shift from one action to another.

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Make + Bare Infinitive

When we use 'make' to compel someone to do something, we use the bare infinitive following this verb.

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Let + Bare Infinitive

The bare infinitive follows 'let' when permitting someone to do something.

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Verbs of Perception + Bare Infinitive

When verbs of perception like 'see', 'hear', 'feel' are used to describe a complete action witnessed, the bare infinitive is used.

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Why/Why Not + Bare Infinitive

Why followed by a bare infinitive is used to question someone's intention, while 'why not' plus a bare infinitive is used to make a suggestion.

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Try and + Bare Infinitive

We use the bare infinitive after 'try and' when expressing an attempt, particularly in informal contexts.

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Come And/Go And + Bare Infinitive

We use the bare infinitive after 'come and' or 'go and', particularly in informal contexts, to express intention or add emphasis.

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Conditional Sentences

This is a grammatical structure with two clauses, one stating a condition (with 'if') and the other showing the consequence. They are used to express different relationships between actions or events.

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Zero Conditional

This type expresses a general truth, a fact that is always true. It uses the present simple tense in both the main and if clauses.

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Type 1 Conditional

This type deals with future possibilities. The main clause uses a future form (will, might, could, etc.), while the if clause uses the present simple.

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Type 2 Conditional

This type focuses on imaginary situations in the present or future. The main clause uses 'would + base form', and the if clause uses the past simple.

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Type 3 Conditional

This type considers hypothetical events in the past. The main clause uses 'would + have + past participle', and the if clause uses the past perfect.

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Variations of Conditionals

These are variations of conditional sentences where 'if' is replaced with words like 'as long as', 'only if', or 'unless'.

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L1 Interference

This is a common situation where a learner uses an incorrect grammatical structure because their native language influences their English.

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Issue of Form

When a learner is unsure about the correct form of a verb, leading to grammatical errors.

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Issue of Appropriacy

When a learner uses a grammatically correct form, but it's inappropriate for the situation, making the sentence sound unnatural in English.

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Infinitive After Make/Let

This is a common error where a learner uses the infinitive form after 'make' or 'let', while the correct form is the bare infinitive (without 'to').

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Infinitive After Modal Verbs

Here, a learner incorrectly uses the infinitive form (with 'to') after modal verbs, while the correct form is the bare infinitive.

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Avoiding Object + Infinitive

A learner avoids using the infinitive in a common structure called 'object + infinitive'. This might be due to their native language influence.

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Overusing Infinitives

This is a common error where learners use infinitives where they shouldn't, usually because they are not aware of specific verb patterns.

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Spelling Issues with -ing forms

This refers to errors in spelling, particularly when forming the -ing form of verbs. Learners might not know when to drop the final 'e' or double the final consonant.

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Mixed Conditionals

This is a variation that combines elements from different conditional types, usually type 2 with type 3 or type 3 with type 2. For example, "If I had known about the party, I would go."

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Conditionals for Giving Advice

These are used for giving advice, often with "should" or "ought to."

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Conditionals for Describing Scientific Processes

These are used to describe scientific processes, often using the present simple tense in both clauses.

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Conditionals for Negotiating

These are used in negotiations, often with "will" or "would" in the main clause.

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Conditionals for Making Excuses

These are used to make excuses, often with "if" and a past tense in the if clause.

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Conditionals for Threatening

These are used to threaten, often with "will" or "would" in the main clause.

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Conditional Sentences: General Meaning

These are used to express conditions in general time and focus on the relationship between the condition and the consequence.

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Conditionals: Real vs. Unreal Situations

Some authors view conditionals in terms of whether they refer to real or unreal situations rather than dividing them into prescriptive types.

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Conditionals: Hypothetical Past and Future

A past hypothetical situation is linked to a hypothetical future consequence.

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Conditionals: Exceptions to the Rules

It is not always possible to neatly categorize conditional structures based on form and meaning.

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Present Perfect to Past Perfect

In reported speech, when we change a present perfect tense into past perfect, we often use the words "had" followed by the past participle of the verb, e.g., "She had not been sleeping well."

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Present Perfect Continuous to Past Perfect Continuous

In reported speech, when we change a present perfect continuous tense to past perfect continuous, we use "had been" followed by the present participle of the verb, e.g., "He said they'd been travelling for several months."

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Going to to Was/Were Going to

In reported speech, we change 'going to' to 'was/were going to', e.g., "She asked who was going to pick them up."

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Will to Would

In reported speech, we change 'will' to 'would'. e.g., "They said they'd see you later."

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May to Might

In reported speech, we change 'may' to 'might', e.g., "They said they might go on holiday together."

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Can to Could

In reported speech, we change 'can' to 'could', e.g., "She said she could speak 5 languages."

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Shall to Should

In reported speech, we change 'shall' to 'should', e.g., "He asked what they should bring to the picnic."

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Must to Had to

In reported speech, we change 'must' to 'had to', e.g., "He said we had to be there on time."

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Reporting Requests

When reporting requests, we use 'asked' followed by the object and then the full infinitive (with or without 'not'), e.g., "He asked them not to kick their football ..."

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Reporting Imperatives

When reporting imperatives, we use 'told' followed by the object and then the full infinitive (with or without 'not'), e.g., "He told them to be quiet."

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Time Ambiguity

Learners may have difficulty understanding which time is being referred to in a reported sentence, e.g., "She said she was hungry."

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Pronoun Ambiguity

Learners may not understand who is being referred to in a reported sentence, e.g., "Nicky said I was very clever."

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Backshifting Uncertainty

Learners may struggle to determine when to backshift tenses in reported speech and when it's not necessary.

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Real-Time Shifts

Learners often find it difficult to remember and apply the necessary changes to time markers and pronouns in real-time when speaking, e.g., "now" to "then", "I" to "you".

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Reported Question Structure

Learners may mistakenly try to make reported questions look like direct questions, e.g., "He asked who was she."

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Reported Speech

When we report what someone said, we change the tense of the verbs and pronouns to match the context of the report. For example: "She said she was tired." (instead of "She said, 'I am tired.'")

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Say

A verb used to report a statement. It is not followed by an indirect object. e.g., "She said she was tired."

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Backshifting

Using a verb in a sentence that is one tense 'back' from its original tense in direct speech. This applies when reporting statements, questions, requests, and imperatives. For example: "She said she was tired" (past continuous) instead of "She said 'I am tired'" (present continuous).

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Ask

A verb used to report a question. It can be followed by an optional object. e.g., "He asked (her) what time it started."

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Want to know

A verb used to report a question. It is never followed by an object. e.g., "He wanted to know what time it started."

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Question Words

Words that are used to introduce reported questions, replacing question words in direct speech. For example: 'if'/'whether' for 'yes/no' questions, and 'when', 'how', 'why', 'what time', 'who', 'where' for longer answer questions.

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Incorrect Tense in Reported Speech

An error that learners often make in reported speech, where they use the same tense as the original statement, ignoring the need for backshifting. For example: "She said she is tired." instead of "She said she was tired."

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If Clause

The part of a conditional sentence that states the condition or possibility. For example, "If you study hard" in the sentence "If you study hard, you will pass the exam."

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Main Clause

The part of a conditional sentence that states the result of the condition. For example, "you will pass the exam" in the sentence "If you study hard, you will pass the exam."

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Were-Conditional

A sentence that begins with 'were' followed by a noun phrase, expressing a hypothetical condition in the present. e.g., "Were we richer, we’d travel more."

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Study Notes

Verb Phrases

  • Verb phrases can be single words or clusters of words
  • Verbs have various functions: modals, conditionals, nuanced meanings (politeness, formality, probability)
  • Verb phrases include main and auxiliary verbs
  • Some verb phrases involve two main verbs, where one depends on the other for meaning
  • Objects following verbs can be included in verb phrases by some grammarians
  • Verb phrases also indicate voice (active or passive)
  • Voice shows the roles of participants in an action (agent, recipient)
  • Active voice is common in narratives; placing agent first, new info later
  • Passive voice is used to emphasize recipient; placing recipient first

Types of Verb Phrases

  • Single-word main verb: Example: wept
  • Multiword main verb: Example: stood up
  • Auxiliaries and main verb: Example: has been weeping
  • Two main verbs: Example: want to speak
  • Passive construction: Example: The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. (Auxiliary 'be' + past participle).

Terminology

  • Auxiliary verb: Helps the main verb
  • Dynamic verb: Indicates actions
  • Stative/state verb: Expresses states or conditions
  • Bare infinitive: The base form of a verb (e.g., to go)
  • Past participle: Formed from a verb, often used in passive voice (e.g., sent)
  • Present participle: Formed from a verb, used in continuous tenses (e.g., seeing)
  • Intransitive verb: No object (e.g., runs)
  • Imperative: Command or instruction (e.g., Don't worry, relax!)
  • Passive: The subject receives the action (e.g., It was stolen)
  • Agent: The person or thing performing the action
  • Recipient: The person or thing affected by the action
  • Phrasal verb: A verb with a preposition or adverb (e.g., took up fishing)
  • Aspect: The speaker's view of an event (duration, completion, repetition), separate from time
  • Continuous (Progressive) Aspect: Events in progress, temporary or incomplete
  • Perfect Aspect: Event viewed in relation to a point in time (retrospective)
  • Present Perfect: Finished action affecting the present
  • Past Perfect: Earlier past action
  • Future Perfect: Future action completed by a future point
  • Perfect Continuous: Ongoing actions since a past time
  • Past Continuous: Background actions interrupted, temporary past situations
  • Past Simple: Repeated actions in the past, hypothetical situations
  • Present continuous: Ongoing temporary situations, future plans
  • Present Simple: Habits, scheduled future events
  • Inflection: Modification of a verb's base form (e.g., adding "-ed")
  • Function: The specific use of a verb in a sentence (e.g., asking for permission)
  • Mood: Grammatical term for imperative, infinitive, and subjunctive forms
  • Intrinsic modality: Speaker's view of necessity/desirability
  • Extrinsic modality: Speaker's view of event likelihood
  • Complement: Follows verbs (often 'be', 'seem', 'appear'); can be adjective, noun phrase, pronoun, number
  • Semi-modal verb: Verb that combines with another verb to express modality

Example Verb Phrases in a Text

  • The text provides examples of verb phrases and their components (such as perfect aspect, past perfect simple, past perfect continuous).

Time and Tense

  • No direct correlation between time and tense
  • Linguists consider only present and past tenses
  • Auxiliary verbs (e.g., will, going to) express future time
  • Tenses (past simple, past continuous, present simple, present perfect, past perfect, etc.) serve varied time references (habit, future events, finished actions, etc.)

Tenses Explained

  • (all existing tense explanations remain)

Aspect

  • Aspect shows the speaker's view of an event (duration, completion, repetition)
  • Two main aspects: continuous (progressive) and perfect
  • Continuous aspect: events in progress (temporary, incomplete)
  • Perfect aspect: events viewed in relation to a point in time (retrospective)
  • Perfect aspect is retrospective (looking back from specified time) - present, past, or future

Futurity

  • Futurity in English is expressed through various means (e.g., "going to", verb forms)
  • Choice of future form depends on the context, and often the perceived likelihood or closeness of the event.
  • Modality: Lexical and grammatical ways to express attitudes (likelihood, desirability)
  • Modal auxiliary verbs express speaker/writer judgement about likelihood or desirability of events
  • Core modals: can, could, may, might, will, would, should, must, shall
  • Semi-modals: need (to), have (got) to, ought to (combine with other verbs to express modality)
  • Modal verbs are always first in the verb phrase
  • Followed by the bare infinitive (no "to")
  • Negatives: adding "not" / "n't"
  • Questions: inverting subject-verb order.
  • Modal verbs have only one form per person
  • No 3rd person "s"
  • No infinitive or participle forms

Semi-Modal Verbs

  • Behave like core modal verbs in some contexts, but have lexical verb characteristics
  • Examples: Need, have (got) to, ought to
  • (existing info remains)

Learner Problems with Modals

  • (existing info remains)

Passive Voice

  • Passive voice uses auxiliary 'be', past participle
  • Passive used when recipient is known or when avoiding agent
  • Passive used to avoid lengthy subject phrases, emphasize action, impersonal writing
  • 'Get' can also form passive, particularly informal contexts
  • Only transitive verbs can form passive constructions
  • Agent (if known and important) can follow with "by"
  • (Examples of passive formation, use, learner problems)

Other Passive Constructions

  • "Causative" or "pseudo-passives" use 'get' or 'have' (more common in spoken language)
  • These structures often show the subject causing an action to be done by someone else, not emphasizing the subject as the recipient.

Infinitives and -ing Forms

  • Infinitive: Base form of verb (e.g., go), or with "to" (e.g., to go)
  • Full infinitive used after specific verbs (e.g., decide, hope)
  • Infinitive used after verbs + objects
  • -ing form (present participle and gerund) used after specific verbs (e.g., avoid, enjoy)
  • Some verbs take both infinitives and -ing forms; meanings can change (e.g., stop, forget)
  • (Examples differentiating Infinitive/ -ing Form meanings)

Conditionals

  • Conditionals consist of two clauses: main clause, condition/if clause
  • Zero conditional: present + present, universal truths
  • First conditional: future + present, likely conditions
  • Second conditional: would + past simple, unlikely/hypothetical situations
  • Third conditional: would + have past participle, past impossible/hypothetical conditions
  • Mixed conditionals: combine elements from different types
  • Variations including "as long as", "provided that," "supposing," "unless"
  • (Specific examples and classifications of different conditional types)

Reported Speech

  • Direct speech: exact words
  • Reported speech: reporting words, changes in words
  • Reporting verbs: "say," "tell," "explain," others for attitudes/judgement
  • Reported speech reports statements, imperatives, requests, questions
  • Reporting speech generally uses backshifting of tenses
  • Backshifting in Reported Speech – examples & rules
  • Pronoun and time indicator changes in reported speech (e.g., today, now, changed based on when the original event happened.)
  • Learner difficulties in reported speech (including understanding time reference, who is being referenced, and changing word order)

Other Information

  • (Existing info about learner problems, other verb forms like phrasal verbs, etc.)

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Test your understanding of verb phrases in English grammar with this quiz. Explore different types of verb phrases, including single-word verbs, multiword verbs, and the use of auxiliary verbs. Enhance your grammatical knowledge and application skills.

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