| A.
Active Voice & Passive Voice
a. Intransitive verbs (without
a direct object) cannot be used in the passive.
1. happen
The accident happened early on Friday morning.
2. occur
Many accidents occur in the home.
3. exist
The custom of arranged marriages still exists in many countries.
4. die
The old lady died yesterday.
5. belong
The farm belonged to my grandfather.
6. break out
The fire broke out during the night.
7. consist of
His breakfast consists of dry bread and a cup of tea.
8. disappear
My keys have disappeared.
b. The passive voice cannot
be used with certain verbs.
1. lack
He lacks courage to over difficulties.
2. resemble
Dick closely resembled his father.
3. seem
That seems a risky thing to try.
4. suffer
Small businesses have suffered financially during the recession.
5. undergo
The company underwent several major changes.
6. take place
The contest takes place every four years.
7. pass
I passed my driving test first time.
8. fail
I failed my driving test the first time I took it.
c. Some verbs are usually
used in the passive in a particular situation.
1. bear
He was born in China.
2. dress
She was neatly dressed for the interview. (on a particular occasion)
She always dresses elegantly. (for a habitual action)
3. compose
Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
4. suppose
She was commonly supposed to be extremely rich. (was believed)
You are not supposed to smoke in here. (are not allowed)
5. oblige
Parents are obliged by law to send their children to school.
B.
Forms & Tenses
a. Some verbs are seldom used in a continuous form
1. We believe the boy to be innocent.
2. I don't understand what you're talking about.
3. The jar contains ten glasses of water.
(forget, remember, wish, hope, want, like, hate, feel, smell, include,
notice)
b. Ways to express the first
action in the past:
1. I took a bath after I had finished my housework. (past perfect)
2. I took a bath after I finished my housework. (simple past)
3. I took a bath after finishing my housework. (gerund)
c. Use the past tense for
a habit in the past
When I was a child, I ate sweets every day.
d. Use a gerund after "as
well as"
As well as losing money, Dick ruined his reputation.
e. The perfect tense is
used after "this is the first/second/third time"
This is the first time I have met her.
It was the second time he had seen her.
f. Use the present continuous
for a future arrangement, 'be + going' for an intention or something
likely to happen
1. I am meeting John tomorrow. (arrangement)
2. I am going to leave tomorrow. (intention)
3. It is going to rain. (certainty)
g. Use of 'need'
1. Used as an ordinary verb
Present tense: need, needs
Past tense & past participle: needed
e.g. She needs food and shelter.
She needs to rest.
She does not need to worry.
Do you need anything?
2. Used as a modal verb (in questions and negatives only)
Only one form for subjects of different persons and numbers
e.g. She needn't take the exam.
Need she pay now?
h. Verbs followed by "infinitive
without to"
hear, see, watch, let, make and modal verbs (must, can, may, should,
will, need, dare)
1. I saw Bob steal the watch.
2. The pain made him cry out.
3. I must leave at seven today.
C.
The Conditional
a. Conditional sentences
| Type |
If-clause |
Main clause |
| 1. Probable or likely |
present simple |
will + infinitive without
to |
| 2. Inprobable or unlikely |
past simple |
would + infinitive without
to |
| 3. Unfulfilled |
past perfect |
would + have + past
participle |
e.g.
If it rains, we shall all get wet. (Type 1)
If you heat ice, it becomes water. (Type 1 of common truth)
If I were a lion, I would be the king of the jungle. (Type 2)
If you asked him, he might help you. (Type 2)
If I had worked hard, I might have passed the examination. (Type 3)
If she had brought the map, we wouldn't have got lost. (Type 3)
b. verb forms
1. For "unreal" situations, the past perfect is used after
'as if' and 'as though'
Susan looks as if she had seen a ghost.
2. After "it is time",
the past tense is used.
It is time we went home.
3. Use a bare infinitive (without "to") after "had better" and "would
rather"
You had better go home now.
I would rather play tennis than swim.
4. Use the past tense after
"would rather + object"
I would rather you didn't tell him.
5. The past perfect tense
is used to describe "unfulfilled hopes"
I had hoped that Sandy would join us but she did not.
6. The past tense should
be used after "wish"
I wish I were a bird.
Ouiz
Notes & Exercise
|