NOUNS: SINGULAR/PLURAL

USE:
To indicate two or more of the same object.

FORM:
Add an "s" to the noun.
a dollar two dollars
a guitar many guitars

Many nouns have spelling changes in their plural forms.

When a noun ends in "s", "ss", "x", "sh", or "ch", add "es".
a watch watches

NOTE: "es" is pronounced "ez"

When a noun ends in a consonant + "y" change the "y" to "i" and add "es".
a baby babies

When a noun ends in "o", sometimes add "es".

a potato potatoes

BUT
a radio radios

When a noun ends in "f" or "fe", change the "f" to "v" and add "es" or "s".
a shelf shelves

Sometimes the noun plural looks completely different:

a foot / feet
a woman / women
a man / men
a mouse / mice
a person / people
a child / children
 THERE IS / THERE ARE

USE:
To state that something exists or is present.

FORM:
Singular: [THERE IS + REST OF SENTENCE]

Plural: [THERE ARE + REST OF SENTENCE]

Questions: [IS/ARE THERE + REST OF SENTENCE?]

EXAMPLES:
"Are there any cookies left?"
"There is one more left."

ARTICLES

USE:
"a" or "an" is used with all singular nouns that can be counted.

"the" is used to refer to a specific noun, singular or plural.

FORM:
Words that begin with a consonant take "a". Words that begin with a vowel take
"an".

EXAMPLES:
"Give me a sandwich please."
(Sandwich is singular and can be counted.)

"This is a dog."
(Dog begins with "d", a consonant.)

"This is an orange."
(Orange begins with "o", a vowel.)

"I want the English book."

"I want the English books."
("the" is used with both singular and plural nouns.)

"I want water, please."

"I want the water, please."
(Water cannot be counted so only "the" can be used and not "a".)
 PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: AFFIRMATIVE

USE:
To describe actions that are happening now or in the future.

FORM:
[SUBJECT + BE + VERBing + REST OF SENTENCE]

I am waiting for you.

You are eating my cake.
He/She/It is sleeping now.

We are going tomorrow.

You are walking too fast.
They are studying English this year.

EXAMPLES:
"I am trying to study."
"He is eating an apple."
"Our secretary is eating lunch."
"We are meeting them tonight."

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: YES-NO QUESTIONS

USE:
To ask questions that need an answer of "yes" or "no".

FORM:
The subject and the form of "BE" change places.

Statement: He is sleeping.
Yes/No Question: Is he sleeping?

Statement: They are working now.

Yes/No Question: Are they working now?

EXAMPLES:
"Are you listening to me?"
"Is your sister moving to New York?"
planation
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: SHORT ANSWERS

USE:
To answer a yes/no question.

FORM:
[YES + SUBJECT + BE] (never used with contractions)
[NO + SUBJECT + BE + NOT] (often used with contractions)
AFFIRMATIVE
Yes, I am.
Yes, you are.
Yes, he is.
Yes, she is.
Yes, it is.

Yes, we are.
Yes, you are.
Yes, they are.
NEGATIVE

No, I'm not.

No, you're not. No, you aren't.
No, he's not. No, he isn't.
No, it's not. No, it isn't.

No, we're not. No, we aren't.

No, you're not. No, you aren't.
No, they're not. No, they aren't.

EXAMPLES:
"Marie, are you enjoying the party?"
"Yes, I am."
"Are we leaving now?"
"No, we aren't."

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: NEGATIVE

USE:
To describe an action that isn't happening now or in the future.
FORM:
[SUBJECT + BE + NOT + VERB+ing (+ REST)]
I am not driving.
You are not listening.
She is not working.
He is not working.
It is not working.

We are not studying.

You are not waiting.
They are not talking.

EXAMPLES:
"It is not raining anymore."
"I am not going to the party tonight."

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: WH-QUESTIONS

USE:
To ask questions that begin with the following question words: WHAT, WHEN,
WHERE, WHO, WHY, HOW

FORM:
[QUESTION WORD + BE + SUBJECT + VERBing + REST]

NOTE:
The subject and the form of "BE" change places.

They are working at home now.

Are they working at home now?
Where are they working now? (Wh-Question)

EXAMPLE:
"What are you doing now?"
"I'm watching a movie on TV."

"BE" PRESENT: NEGATIVE

USE:
To make a sentence negative.

FORM:
Add "not" after the verb "BE".
[SUBJECT + BE + NOT + REST OF SENTENCE]

I am not
You are not
She is not
He is not
It is not

We are not
You are not
They are not

EXAMPLES:
"This dress is not my size."
"They are not happy."

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: SPELLING CHANGES

USE:
The spelling of some verbs changes when "ing" is added.

FORM:
For most verbs that end in consonant-vowel-consonant, double the last letter:
stop - stopping

For verbs that end in "e", drop the "e" before adding "ing":
have - having
give - giving

EXAMPLES:
"I'm having a great time in Paris."
"The bus driver is stopping the bus."
 NOUNS: POSSESSIVE

USE:
To show who/what a thing belongs to.

FORM:
Add " 's " to the name of the person, place or thing that the noun belongs to. For
plural nouns, put the
" ' " after the "s".

EXAMPLES:
"The boy's pizza."
(The pizza belongs to the boy.)

"The boys' pizza."

(The pizza belongs to the boys.)

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: CONTRACTIONS

USE:
To join the subject and the form of "BE" and make them one word. Used in
conversation.

FORM:
AFFIRMATIVE FORMS

Regular Form Contracted Form

I am going. I'm going.
You are going. You're going.
He is going. He's going.
She is going. She's going.
It is going. It's going.
We are going. We're going.
You are going. You're going.
They are going. They're going.

EXAMPLES:
He is taking the bus.
He's taking the bus.
NEGATIVE FORMS

I'm not working.

You're not working. You aren't working.
He's not working. He isn't working.
She's not working. She isn't working.
It's not working It isn't working.

We're not working. We aren't working.

 You're not working. You aren't working.
They're not working. They aren't working.

EXAMPLES:
"Frank is not driving to work today."
"Frank isn't driving to work today."
"Frank's not driving to work today."