Monday 27 May 2013

Word Order

Word Order Explanation

When we make a sentence in English, we normally follow the following order. Subject + Verb + Object + Adverb Of Place + Adverb Of Time. Let's see the following example.

 Subject  Verb  Object  Manner  Place  Time
The boy   studies  English  well  at school  every day.
 The maid  cleans   the house  thoroughly  every morning.
 John  works  hard  every day.
 Mary  will get married to  George  tomorrow.

Verb + Object 

The verb and the object of the verb normally go together. We do not usually put other words between them.
 Verb + Object
  • Susan likes children very much. (not 'Susan likes very much children.')
  • Did you watch football match yesterday?
  • Ann often sees him
  • Do you clean the house every week-end? (not 'Do you clean every week-end the house?')

 Place and Time 

We usually say the place  before the time.
  place + time
  • Paul walks to school every morning. (not ' Paul walks every morning to school.')
  • She has been in Copenhagen since May.
  • We arrived at the airport early.
  • I'm going to Paris to Monday. (not 'I'm going on Monday to Paris.')


Adverb Of Time At The Beginning Of A Sentence

We can put the time at the beginning of the sentence.
  • On Sunday I'm going to Paris.
  • Every morning Paul walks to school.
Note that you cannot use early or late at the beginning of the sentence in this  way.  

Adverbs Before Verbs

A lot of adverbs are put before verbs. 
  • always
  • also
  • sometimes
  • possibly
  • probably
  • often
  • seldom
  • never
  • hardly ever
  • almost
  • still
  • definitely
  • certainly
  • even
  • only
Let's see the following sentences.
  1. Paul always walks to school.
  2. I also walk to school.
  3. He often asks me to go together.
  4. We never go to school by car.

Adverbs After The First Verb

When there are more than one verb, we usually put an adverb after the first verb. Let's see the following examples.
  1. I can never forget her. ( can = the first verb, forget = the second verb )
  2. She has always loved him. ( has = the first verb, loved = the second verb.)
  3. This house has probably been neglected.
Exercises:
Elementary
Put the following words into the correct order
 Click on the words in the correct order to form a question
 Form affirmative statements using the given words/phrases
Use the words and form meaningful statements
 Click on the words in the correct order to form a question
 Form affirmative or negative statements using the given words/phrases
 Form affirmative statements using the given words/phrases
 Ask for the underlined part. Write the questions into the gaps
 Ask for the underlined part. Write the questions into the gaps
   Ask for the underlined part. Write the questions into the gaps
Intermediate
 What's the correct word order?
Put in order
 Put the sentences in order
  Click on words to build sentences
 Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Answer each question, choosing the response which has the correct word order
 Complete each sentence with the correct tag question
Chose the correct option
Chose the correct option 
Advanced
 Chose the correct option
  Chose the correct option
Quiz
Test
Qiuz
 Put in the words into the sentences
  Put in the words into the sentences
 Put in the best form of the word in brackets
 Decide where to place the time expressions
 Adjective order in English

Monday 20 May 2013

The Subject-verb agreement


Basic Rule
The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.
Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and which verb you would use with they.
Example:
talks, talk
Which one is the singular form?
Which word would you use with he?
We say, "He talks." Therefore, talks is singular.
We say, "They talk." Therefore, talk is plural.
Rule 1
Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.
Example:
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Rule 2
Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor require a singular verb as in Rule 1.
Examples:
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.
Rule 3
When I is one of the two subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor, put it second and follow it with the singular verb am.
Example:
Neither she nor I am going to the festival.
Rule 4
When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
Example:
The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.
Rule 5
When a singular and plural subject are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
Example:
Neither Jenny nor the others are available.
Rule 6
As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected byand.
Example:
A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
Rule 7
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.
Rule 8
The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, andsomebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.
Examples:
Each of the girls sings well.
Every one of the cakes is gone.
NOTE: Everyone is one word when it means everybody. Every one is two words when the meaning is each one.
Rule 9
With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none, remainder, and so forth —look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.
Pie is the object of the preposition of.
Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
Pies is the object of the preposition.
One-third of the city is unemployed.
One-third of the people are unemployed.
NOTE: Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.
None of the garbage was picked up.
None of the sentences were punctuated correctly.
Of all her books, none have sold as well as the first one.
NOTE: Apparently, the SAT testing service considers none as a singular word only. However, according to Merriam Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, "Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is. The notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism" (p. 664).
Rule 10
The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while the expression a number is followed by a plural verb.
Examples:
The number of people we need to hire is thirteen.
A number of people have written in about this subject.
Rule 11
When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular verbs.
Examples:
Neither of them is available to speak right now.
Either of us is capable of doing the job.
Rule 12
The words here and there have generally been labeled as adverbs even though they indicate place. In sentences beginning with here or there, the subject follows the verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Rule 13
Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.
Examples:
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Rule 14
Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject of a verb in the middle of the sentence. The pronouns who, that, and which become singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of them. So, if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
Salma is the scientist who writes/write the reports.
The word in front of who is scientist, which is singular. Therefore, use the singular verb writes.
He is one of the men who does/do the work.
The word in front of who is men, which is plural. Therefore, use the plural verb do.
Rule 15
Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular or plural depending on their use in the sentence.
Examples:
The staff is in a meeting.
Staff is acting as a unit here.
The staff are in disagreement about the findings.
The staff are acting as separate individuals in this example.
The sentence would read even better as:
The staff members are in disagreement about the findings.



Exercises:
Elementary
Exercise 1
Choose the correct option.

Exercise 2
Choose the correct answer.

Exercise 3
Choose the correct verb in each sentence.

Exercise 4
Choose the correct variant.

Exercise 5
Fill each gap with a correct form.


Intermediate
Exercise 1
Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence.

Exercise 2
After each sentence select the verb form that will best fit in the blank.

Choose the correct verb for each sentence.

Choose the right variant.

Choose the right variant.


Advanced
Select the appropriate verbs from the drop-down menus to complete each sentence correctly.

Choose the right variant.

Exercise 3
Fill in the blanks with a correct form of be.

Exercise 4
Fill in the blanks with a correct form from the two choises.

Exercise 5
Choose the form of th verb.



NEW EXERCISES

Grammar links
Elementary level
Intermediate level
Advanced level

Monday 6 May 2013

Conjunctions


Definition

A conjunction is a joiner; a word that connects (conjoins) two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together.

Classification and Use

Coordinating conjunctions are the simplest kind, and they denote equality of relationship between the ideas they join. Coordinating conjunctions are sometimes called the fanboys because that is an acronym for them, e.g.:
  • for - presents a reason ("He is gambling with his health, for he has been smoking far too long.").
  • and - presents non-contrasting item(s) or idea(s) ("They gamble, and they smoke."
  • nor - presents a non-contrasting negative idea ("They do not gamble nor do they smoke.").
  • but - presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, but they don't smoke.").
  •  or - presents an alternative item or idea ("Every day they gamble or they smoke.")
  • yet - presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, yet they don't smoke.").
  • so - presents a consequence ("He gambled well last night so he smoked a cigar to celebrate.").
 Their relatives, correlative conjunctions, not only denote equality, but they also make the joining tighter and more emphatic. They are:
  •  both . . . and (“Both the cross country team and the swimming team are doing well”
  • not only . . . but also (“Not only is he handsome, but he is also brilliant”
  • either . . . or (“You either do your work or prepare for a trip to the office”
  •  neither . . . nor (“Neither the basketball team nor the football team is doing well”
  •  whether . . . or (“Whether you stay or you go, it's your decision”
  • just as . . . so too (“Just as many Australians love cricket, so many Canadians love ice hockey”)
A Subordinating Conjunction (sometimes called a dependent word or subordinator) comes at the beginning of a Subordinate (or Dependent) Clause and establishes the relationship between the dependent clause and the rest of the sentence. It also turns the clause into something that depends on the rest of the sentence for its meaning. The subordinate clause supplies a time, reason, condition, and so on for the main clause.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Time
Reason
Concession
Place
Condition
Manner
after
before
since
when
whenever
while
until
as
as . . . as
once
because
since
so that
in order that
why
although
though
even though
while
where
wherever
if
unless
until
in case
provided that
assuming that
even if
as if
as though
how

Examples:
  • Sally steamed the corn while Fred fried the steak
  • After the rain stopped, the dog ran into the mud to play.
  • The snowman melted because the sun came out.
  • Even though John fell asleep, the telephone salesman kept talking.
Conjunctive adverbs make up an even stronger category of conjunctions. They show logical relationships between two independent sentences, between sections of paragraphs, or between entire paragraphs. Conjunctive adverbs are so emphatic that they should be used sparingly; however, when used appropriately, they can be quite effective.

Conjunctive adverbs
also
hence
however
still
likewise
otherwise
therefore
conversely
rather
consequently
furthermore
nevertheless
instead
moreover
then
thus
meanwhile
accordingly

Examples: 
  •  If the salmon is grilled, I will have that; otherwise, I might have the chicken  
  • James has a garage full of wood working tools. He might, however, have some metric wrenches, too. 
  •  I do not recommend that you play with a stick of dynamite lit at both ends. Rather, a ham sandwich would be better for you.
Relative pronouns and relative adjectives are also used to join ideas together by creating adjective or noun clauses, which allow a writer to create smoother, more flowing and effective sentences by combining ideas.

Relative Pronouns and Relative Adjectives
who
whom
whose
whoever
whomever
which
that
what
whichever
whatever

Examples:  
  • This is the man who sells peanuts  
  • Tell me what you want
  • Hers is an idea that I would like to think through.
  •   The shirts, which are in the laundry, will need ironing. 
 
Adverbs of time, place, and sequence are actually transitions of logic, but as such they also have conjunctive force, because they connect ideas by showing a time relationship.

Adverbs of Time, Place, and Sequence
earlier
next
lastly
later
before
after
then
now
soon
here
there
today
first
second
third
fourth
eventually
tomorrow

Examples:
  • The twilight glides away. Soon night will awake.
  •  First, get a pad and pencil. Next, find a quiet place to think.
Sentential Adverbs are closely related to conjunctive adverbs. The "official" line on these words is that they convey no meaning of their own but instead serve only to emphasize the statement to which they are attached. As such, then, they technically do not show a logical relationship like time or cause between ideas, and that fact prevents them from being true-blue conjunctive adverbs. But it could be argued that sentential adverbs create a relationship of emphasis between ideas: this new idea is important in light of what preceded it. Indeed, that is why they are included here.

Sentential Adverbs
of course
indeed
naturally
after all
in short
I hope
at least
remarkably
in fact
I think
it seems
in brief
clearly
I suppose
assuredly
definitely
to be sure
without doubt
for all that
on the whole
in any event
importantly
certainly
naturally

Examples:
  • The flashlight hit the floor and broke into a hundred pieces. At least there was a candle in the room.
  • They all began to use appropriate sentential adverbs in their writing. They were convinced, I suppose, by the excellent examples.
  • The conjunction list has left the building. On the whole, I hope you enjoyed it.

Exercises

Elementary

(fill in the blanks with these words: although, and, because, but, or, since, so, unless, until, when.) (in the following questions, you will be presented with different sentences. Put a tick next to the ones you think are correctly punctuated.)

 (fill in the blanks with these words: and, but, because.)
(fill in the blanks with words and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so, although, because, since, unless)
  • Exercise 5
  • Exercise 6
  • Exercise 7
  • Exercise 8
  • Exercise 9
  • Exercise 10

Intermediate


(click on the buttons until you find the correct answer) (connectors of cause, result and addition)
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4
  • Exercise 5
  • Exercise 6
  • Exercise 7
  • Exercise 8
  • Exercise 9
  • Exercise 10

Advanced 

(complete the sentences with the correct option)
  • Exercise 2
  • Exercise 3
  • Exercise 4
  • Exercise 5
  • Exercise 6
  • Exercise 7
  • Exercise 8
  • Exercise 9
  • Exercise 10