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A Quick Review of Key Grammar Points for Students of English as a

Second Language

General Tips to help you learn English Grammar


 Studying too much grammar can actually make your speaking worse, not better! Most students study then forget, study and forget,
study and forget. Instead of memorizing, Super Students learn English grammar in context, the natural way.

 Focus your efforts on grammar points that you can use again and again in your conversations. The most important are NOUNS,
VERBS and ASKING QUESTIONS.

 Do not worry so much about English prepositions, transitive and intransitive verbs, phrasal verbs, etc. These are details that you
will master in time. You should focus first on sentence patterns that you can use over and over again.

Asking and Answering Questions:


The First Key to Using English Grammar
There are two question types you must master before you can speak English well:

1) Yes/No Questions and 2) Wh- Questions

1) Yes/No Questions - Listen carefully to these questions, then use the same question words when you answer.

1. Do or Did
Do you like pizza? Yes I do.
2. Can
Can you play the piano? No I can't.
3. Be(Is/Are/Was/Were)
Are you from Singapore?
Were you at home last night?
4. Will
Will you come here tomorrow?
5. Have + past participle
Have you seen any good movies lately?

2) Wh- Questions - use a Wh- question word with a Yes/No question word.

1. Who
Who is your favorite singer?
2. What
What kind of music do you like?
3. When
When will you finish your work?
4. Where
Where can I buy a good suit?
5. Why + past participle
Why didn't you call me last week?
6. How + past participle
How can we get to the supermarket from here?
How long does it take to get there?
How far is it from here?

Yuche Yahya - 085640599601 | Key Grammar


Points
Verb Tenses:
The Second Key to English Grammar
I don't usually recommend memorizing anything, but this is one table you should try to remember
completely. (The seven tenses in grey are the most common. You will use these almost every day, so learn
them first.)
Twelve Basic Verb
Past Present Future
Tenses

1) Simple Tenses walked walk will walk

2) Continuous Tenses was walking am walking will be walking

3) Perfect Tenses had walked have walked will have walked

4) Perfect Continuous had been walking have been walking will have been walking
Tenses

Sample Sentences:

1) Simple Tenses describe actions that are only one moment in time.

I walked to school yesterday.

I walk to school every day.

I will walk to school next Tuesday.

2) Continuous Tenses describe actions that continue, then another action happens more quickly.

I was walking to school last Friday when it suddenly started to rain.

He is walking to school now, but you can find him if you hurry.

I will be walking to school this time next week, so you will be able to find me easily.

3) Perfect Tenses describe TWO moments in time, with emphasis on the second one.

I had walked halfway to school before I remembered that I didn't have my books.

I have always walked to school. (Emphasis is not spoken! It is on the experience I have now - I
am a person NOW who walks, not drives or takes a bus or rides a bicycle.)

By the time the year is over, I will have walked a total of 300 kilometers!

4) Perfect Continuous Tenses describe actions that continue between TWO moments in time.

I had already been walking halfway to school when I remembered that I left my book at home.

I have been walking to school since I was 6 years old.

When I finish high school, I will have been walking to school for 12 years!

Yuche Yahya - 085640599601 | Key Grammar


Points
Longer Noun Phrases:
The Third Key to English Grammar
Students must move beyond single words and start to use longer and longer phrases

Example 1 - adding details


 boy
 a boy
 a tall boy
 a tall, slim boy
 a tall, slim boy with black hair
 a tall, slim boy with long black hair

Example 2 - giving more information

 a girl
 a girl who likes basketball
 a girl who is good at basketball
 a girl who is quite good at basketball
 a girl who is quite good at shooting a basketball

Learn Noun Phrases in Context

There are many kinds of noun phrases. By reading and listening to English as often as you can, you will learn to
use these kinds of phrases naturally and easily. Good luck!

Yuche Yahya - 085640599601 | Key Grammar


Points

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