Ammar Rules Intermediate PDF

1 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM
Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.
We use the present tense:
1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.
• I take the train to the office.

• The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
• John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.
2. For facts.
• The President of The USA lives in The White House.

• A dog has four legs.
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• We come from Switzerland.
3. For habits.
• I get up early every day.

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• Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
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• They travel to their country house every weekend.
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4. For things that are always / generally true.
• It rains a lot in winter.

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• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.

• They speak English at work.
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Verb Conjugation & Spelling
We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).
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In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.
Subject Verb The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they speak / learn English at home
he / she / it speaks / learns English at home
The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:
1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.
• go – goes
• catch – catches
• wash – washes
• kiss – kisses

• fix – fixes
• buzz – buzzes
2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.
• marry – marries
• study – studies
• carry – carries
• worry – worries
NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.
• play – plays
• enjoy – enjoys
• say – says
Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense
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To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs
EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).
• Affirmative: You speak French.

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Negative: You don't speak French.
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You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb. We use Don't when the
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subject is I, you, we or they.
• Affirmative: He speaks German.

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Negative: He doesn't speak German.
When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the verb to make a
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negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence
(because it is in third person) disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the reason why
below.
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Negative Contractions
Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not
I don't like meat = I do not like meat.
There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

Word Order of Negative Sentences
The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in the Present
Tense using Don't or Doesn't.
Subject don't/doesn't Verb* The Rest of the sentence

I / you / we / they don't have / buy
cereal for breakfast
he / she / it doesn't eat / like etc.
* Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive without TO
before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.
Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with
TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.
Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:
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• You don't speak Arabic.
• John doesn't speak Italian.
• We don't have time for a rest. AK
• It doesn't move.
• They don't want to go to the party.
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• She doesn't like fish.
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Questions in the Simple Present Tense
To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no translation in Spanish

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though it is essential to show we are making a question. It is normally put at the beginning of
the question.
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• Affirmative: You speak English.

Question: Do you speak English?
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You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to make it a question.
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We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.
• Affirmative: He speaks French.

Question: Does he speak French?
When the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to make the affirmative
sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence
(because it is in third person) disappears in the question. We will see the reason why below.
We DON'T use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To Be or Modal Verbs (can, must,
might, should etc.)

Word Order of Questions with Do and Does
The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English using Do or Does.
Do/Does Subject Verb* The Rest of the sentence

Do I / you / we / they have / need
a new bike?
Does he / she / it want etc.
*Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive without TO
before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.
Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with
TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.
Examples of Questions with Do and Does:
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• Do you need a dictionary?
• Does Mary need a dictionary?
• Do we have a meeting now?
• Does it rain a lot in winter? AK
• Do they want to go to the party?
• Does he like pizza?
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Short Answers with Do and Does
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In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to direct questions as follows:
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Short Answer Short Answer

Sample Questions
(Affirmative) (Negative)
Do you like chocolate? Yes, I do. No, I don't.
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Do I need a pencil? Yes, you do. No, you don't.

Do you both like chocolate? Yes, we do. No, we don't.
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Do they like chocolate? Yes, they do. No, they don't.

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Does he like chocolate? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.

Does she like chocolate? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.
Does it have four wheels? Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.
However, if a question word such as who, when, where, why, which or how is used in the
question, you can not use the short answers above to respond to the question.

Simple Past Tense
The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in English.
If you already know how to use the Present Tense, then the Past Tense will be easy.
In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a definite
time in the past.
How to form the Past Tense in English
The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in the past tense.
(The exception is the Past tense of To Be, which has two forms: was and were)
This is totally different from other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian etc. where you
change the verb ending for every subject.
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For example: The past tense of the verb want is wanted.
Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.
• I wanted
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• You wanted
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• He wanted
• She wanted
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• It wanted
• We wanted
• They wanted
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So you just have to learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In this case we just
needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used for all subjects (or people).
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Past Tense Regular Verbs

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To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add –ED to the end of the verb.
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• play – played
• cook – cooked
• rain – rained
• wait – waited
There are some exceptions with a slight change in spelling which you can see here:
Spelling of words ending in ED.
Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the past tense
• Last night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.

• She kissed me on the cheek.
• It rained yesterday.

• Angela watched TV all night.
• John wanted to go to the museum.
Note: There are three different ways of pronouncing the –ed at the end of a verb in the past
tense.
We recommend reading our guide about the pronunciation of –ED at the end of words.
Negative sentences in the Past Tense
We use didn't (did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
Compare the following:
Present: They don't live in Canada.

Past: They didn't live in Canada.
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The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The auxiliary
DIDN'T shows that the sentence is negative AND in the past tense.
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NOTICE: The only difference between a negative sentence in the present tense and a negative
sentence in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
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Both don't and doesn't in the present tense become didn't in the past tense.
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Compare the negative sentences in the examples below:

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Present: You don't need a mechanic.

Past: You didn't need a mechanic.
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Present: You don't walk to work.

Past: You didn't walk to work.
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Present: He doesn't speak Japanese.

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Past: He didn't speak Japanese.
Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense
• I didn't want to go to the dentist.

• She didn't have time.
• You didn't close the door.
• He didn't come to my party.
• They didn't study so they didn't pass the test.
• We didn't sleep well last night.
Questions in the Past Tense

We use did to make a question in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
Compare the following:
Present: Do they live in France?

Past: Did they live in France?
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The auxiliary
DID shows that the question is in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a question in the present tense and a question in the past
tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both Do and Does in present tense questions become Didn't in past tense questions.
Compare the questions in the examples below:
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Present: Do you need a doctor?
Past: Did you need a doctor?
Present: Do you ride your bike to work?

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Past: Did you ride your bike to work?
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Present: Does he live in Italy?
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Past: Did he live in Italy?
We can also use a question word (Who, What, Why etc.) before DID to ask for more
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information.
• Did you study? – Yes, I did.

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• When did you study? – I studied last night.

• Where did you study? – I studied at the library.
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Read more about short answers in the past tense.

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Examples of Questions in the Past Tense
• Did you go to work yesterday?

• Did they arrive on time?
• Did she like the surprise?
• Where did she go?
• What did you do yesterday?
• What did you say? - I didn't say anything.
• Why did we have to come?
Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense

Irregular verbs are ONLY irregular in affirmative/positive sentences.
(An exception to this is with the verb TO BE in the Past Tense).
For example: The past tense of GO is WENT.

It does not end in –ED so it is considered irregular.
The word went is used for all subjects – I, you, we, they, he, she, it.
• I went to the beach

• He went to the park.
• She went to the zoo.
• They went to the library.
BUT, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went) in sentences that are
affirmative/positive.
Compare the following using GO in the past tense.
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• They went to the beach
• They didn't go to the beach --- Didn't shows that we are talking in the past tense.
• AK
Did they go to the beach? --- Did shows that we are talking in the past tense.
Another example with an irregular verb.

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The past of EAT is ATE.
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• You ate my cake.

• You didn't eat my cake.
• Did you eat my cake?
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Present vs Past Tense Summary Chart

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AT - ON - IN - Prepositions of Time
English Grammar Rules
AT
We use AT with specific times (hour / minutes):
• I get up at 7 o'clock.
• My English class starts at 10am.
• She finishes work at 6.15
• I left the party at midnight.
Midnight (and midday) is a specific hour which is why we use AT.
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12am = midnight
12pm = midday / noon
We use AT for a holiday period of two or more days: AK

• Do you normally get together with your relatives at Christmas?
• Did you eat a lot of chocolate at Easter?
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ON
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We use ON for specific days and dates:

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• I will return it to you on Wednesday.

• They got married on Friday the 13th.
•
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We get paid on the 20th of every month.

• I drank too much on New Year's eve.
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Remember that for dates, we use ordinal numbers.

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E.g. the First of September (not the one of September)
IN
We use IN for specific months, years, seasons, centuries and lengths of time.
• My birthday is in January. (I don't mention the date, just the month)

• My grandmother was born in 1927.
• The river near my house is dry in Summer.
• The company was founded in the 19th century.
• We need to have this report ready in 15 minutes.

Compare:
The New Zealand National day is in February.

(I don't mention the day - only the month)
The New Zealand National day is on February 6th.

(I mention the day - the order is not important)
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The Weekend
Sometimes you will hear AT the weekend and sometimes ON the weekend.
They are both correct. ON the weekend is used in United States.
• Where did you go on the weekend? (US)

• Where did you go at the weekend? (British)
We don't use Prepositions
Remember! We do not use at, on, in or the with the following expressions:
• Today, tomorrow, yesterday, this morning, tonight, last, next, every.
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Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect Tense is formed using the following structure:
Affirmative: Subject + Have / Has + Past Participle
Negative: Subject + Haven't / Hasn't + Past Participle
Question: Have / Has + Subject + Past Participle
Affirmative Sentences
Past
Subject Have Rest of the Sentence
Participle
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I have studied for the exam.
You have bought a new computer.
He
She
has
has
eaten
written
my chocolate.
an e-mail.
AK
It has been cold this month.
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We have won the championship.
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You have tried to learn a lot.

They have forgotten my birthday.
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Contractions
.B
The contracted form of the perfect tense is quite common:

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Have Contraction Examples

I have I've I've spent all my money.
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You have You've You've worn that dress before.

He has He's He's slept all morning.
She has She's She's lost her purse.
It has It's It's fallen off the wall.
We have We've We've chosen you for the job.
You have You've You've begun to annoy me.
They have They've They've drunk too much.
We use contractions a lot when we are speaking.

Negative Sentences
The contraction of the perfect tense in negative form is:

Have not = Haven't
Has not = Hasn't
Past
Subject Have Rest of the Sentence
Participle
I haven't studied for the exam.
You haven't bought a new computer.
He hasn't eaten my chocolate.
She hasn't written an e-mail.
It hasn't been cold this month.
We haven't won the championship.
You haven't tried to learn a lot.
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They haven't forgotten my birthday.
Questions AK
Past
H
Have Subject Rest of the Sentence
Participle
Have I been chosen for the team?
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Have you bought a new car?

Has he eaten my sandwich?
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Has she written the letter?

Has it started on time?
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Have we won a trophy?

Have you kept my secret?
Have they driven there?
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D
When do we use the Present Perfect Tense?
1. Unspecified point in the past
• I have been to Spain three times.

(At some unspecified time in the past, I went to Spain).
Compare with the simple past:
• I went to Spain three times in 2005.

(specified time in the past - the year 2005)

2. An action that occurred in the past, but has a result in the present (now)
• We can't find our luggage. Have you seen it?

(The luggage was lost in the past, do you know where it is now?)
3. Talking about general experiences (ever, never)
It usually refers to an event happening at some moment in your life.
• Has she ever tried Chilean wine before? (in her life)
• I've never eaten monkey brains before. (in my life)
4. Events that recently occurred (just)
• Do you want to go to a restaurant with me?

No, thanks. I've just eaten lunch. (I recently ate lunch.)
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5. Events that have occurred up to now (yet)
• Are Carlos and Rodrigo here? No, they haven't arrived yet. (they're still not here now)
6. Events that occurred before you expected (already)

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• I've already graduated from University. (I expected to graduate at a later date.)
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7. Events that began in the past and haven't changed (for, since)
• Mike has worked at Woodward for 3 years.

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(Mike started working at Woodward 3 years ago and he still works there now.)
• Julie has worked at Woodward since September last year.
(Julie began working at Woodward in September of last year, and that hasn't changed -
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she still works here now.)

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D

First Conditional
When we are thinking about a possible situation in the future, we use:
If + Present verb, future verb
This structure is common when talking about possible plans, promises, warnings, threats or
for persuading someone. We are predicting a likely result in the future if a condition is
fulfilled.
If + Simple Present, Will / Won't ...
• If I go to Paris next month for work, I'll visit the Eiffel Tower (Plans)
• If I have time, I will help you. (Promise)
• If you touch that wire, you will get an electric shock. (Warning)
• If you eat my chocolate that is in the fridge, you'll sleep outside with the dog.(Threat)
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• If you take me to the mall, I'll buy you an ice cream. (Persuasion)
• If she doesn't go to university, her parents won't be happy.
• If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
•
•
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If that candidate becomes President, the country will be in trouble.
If I win the competition, I will donate half of the prize money to charity.
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Notice how we use a comma after the present tense clause.
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We can also reverse the order and use:
Future Verb + If + Present Simple

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• I will be annoyed if they don't arrive on time.

• You will get a better job if you can speak English.
.B
• You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.

• The dog will bite you if you pull its tail.
• Your boss will be angry if you don't finish the job.
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• What will you do if they fire you?

D
• You will feel better if you take this medicine.
Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.
Modal Verbs in First Conditional
Normally WILL is used in the main clause of first conditional sentences. However you can also
use the modal verbs MAY, MIGHT and COULD when something is a possible consequence
(and not a certain one) in the future.
• If you are nice to me, I may buy you a gift when I'm in Peru.
• If they train a little harder, they might win the match.
• If he doesn't do his work, he could get fired.

Second Conditional
When we are thinking about a situation in the present or future that is hypothetical, unlikely
or impossible, we use:
If + Past Simple, ...Would + Verb
We use a past verb though are imagining the present or the future to be different.
The second clause of subject + would + verb (conditional verb) is conditional to the first clause
happening (or will only happen if the first part/clause happens).
Example: If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
= It is unlikely that I will win the lottery, but I'm going to hypothetically imagine that I did
win. In that situation I would travel around the world. So in order for me to travel around the
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world, I would need the first clause (the condition or situation) to happen, that is, for me to win
the lottery first.
• AK
If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. (Though I am unlikely to win the
lottery)
• If I knew his name, I would tell you.
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• If I didn't have a headache, I would go to the party.
• If I became President, I would reduce the salaries of all politicians. (Though it is
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unlikely I will become President)
Notice how we use a comma after the past tense clause.

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We can also reverse the order and use:

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Conditional verb (would + verb) + If + Past Simple
•
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I would be happy if I had more free time.

• I would tell you the answer if I knew what it was.
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• There would be fewer accidents if everyone drove more carefully.

• We would have a lot of money if we sold our house.
• Would she come if I paid for her flight?
• Would you accept the job if they offered it to you?
• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• What would you do if you saw a U.F.O?
Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.
If I were ...
Note that with the verb To Be we use IF + I / HE / SHE / IT + WERE
The reason we use WERE instead of WAS is because the sentence is in the Subjunctive mood.

• If I were not in debt, I would quit my job.
• If he were taller, he'd be accepted into the team.
• She would be still be correcting my grammar if she were still alive.
Though in informal English, you will hear some people say If I was... If he was... etc. This
usage doesn't sound good though unfortunately is common.
See our grammar notes about IF I WERE YOU...
Could in Second Conditional sentences
COULD can be used instead of WOULD to make the hypothetical present or future more
likely.
• If he trained every day, he could represent his country

• If I had a little more money, I could buy a car.
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Third Conditional
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When we are talking about something in the past which cannot be altered now, we use:
If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle

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EXAMPLE: If you had studied all of these grammar pages, you would have passed the exam.
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You can not alter or change the past. You didn't study in the past (something you cannot
change now) so you didn't pass the exam. It is an imaginary situation that didn't happen.
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• If you had been more careful, you wouldn't have had an accident.
• If I had seen you, I would have said hello.
.B
• If he had asked me, I would have helped him.

• If you had studied, they would have passed the exam.
•
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If I had known, I wouldn't have done that.

D
Notice how this tense can be used to say that you regret doing something or when you are
telling someone off (reproaching someone). This type of conditional can also be used when
making excuses.
We can also change the word order of the sentence...
Would have + If + past perfect
EXAMPLE: You would have passed the exam if you had studied all of these grammar pages.
• I wouldn't have left my job if I had known how difficult it is to find another one.
• I would have taken a photo if I had brought my camera with me.
• He would have died if the ambulance hadn't arrived quickly.
• She would have gone to your birthday party if she hadn't been sick.

• He wouldn't have become lost if he had taken the map with him.
• The team would have won if the referee hadn't taken the bribe.
• You wouldn't have needed fillings if you had brushed your teeth more frequently.
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Question Tags
Question tags are short questions at the end of statements.

They are mainly used in speech when we want to:
• confirm that something is true or not, or

• to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to.
Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement and the
appropriate subject.
A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.
• Jack is from Spain, isn't he?

• Mary can speak English, can't she?
A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.
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• They aren't funny, are they?
• He shouldn't say things like that, should he?
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When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag with do /
does.
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• You play the guitar, don't you?
• Alison likes tennis, doesn't she?
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If the verb is in the past simple we use did.

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• They went to the cinema, didn't they?

• She studied in New Zealand, didn't she?
.B
When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning, the question tag needs to be
positive
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• He hardly ever speaks, does he?

•
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They rarely eat in restaurants, do they?
Question Tags Summary Charts

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AA
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D

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Exceptions
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Some verbs / expressions have different question tags. For example:
I am - I am attractive, aren't I?
Positive imperative - Stop daydreaming, will / won't you?
Negative imperative - Don't stop singing, will you?
Let's - Let's go to the beach, shall we?
Have got (possession) - He has got a car, hasn't he?
There is / are - There aren't any spiders in the bedroom, are there?

This / that is - This is Paul's pen, isn't it?
Intonation
When we are sure of the answer and we are simply encouraging a response, the intonation in
the question tag goes down:
• This is your car, isn't it?

(Your voice goes down when you say isn't it.)
When we are not sure and want to check information, the intonation in the question tag goes
up:
• He is from France, isn't he?

(Your voice goes up when you say isn't he.)
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Used to vs. Use to
Common Mistakes in English
A common mistake both for learners of English as well as native speakers is the difference
between “Used to” and “Use to” and when (or if) we put the letter D at the end of the verb.
First let’s look at the meaning of it:

Used to = an action or habit that was common in the PAST but not anymore.
This should not be confused with

To be used to = accustomed to something (normally out of habit or experience)
Notice how Used to ends in –ed which normally means the verb is in the past tense.
• I used to drink coffee every morning but now I drink tea.
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• She used to live in London but now she lives in New York.
• He used to play football professionally but he had to quit because of an injury.
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These sentences refer to a past habit or a continuous action in the past and they are affirmative.
BUT…
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Used to in Negative
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If we want to make a negative sentence, the didn’t part shows that we are talking about the past
tense.
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It is NOT common to use Used to in negative form though we will show you how to do it
anyway.
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Compare the normal past tense:

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• I played rugby on Saturday. (past - affirmative)

• I didn’t play rugby on Saturday. (past – negative – play doesn’t have the –ed at the end
D
because the auxiliary didn’t tells us that the sentence is in the past tense)
And now let’s see a sentence with Used to:
• I used to like her, but now I hate her.

• I didn’t use to like her but now I think she is great.
Many times we use never instead of didn’t. In this case we use “used” in past tense. Compare:
• I didn’t use to smoke.

• I never used to smoke.

Used to in Questions
As with normal questions in the past tense, we use the base form of the verb (not the verb in
past tense), since the auxiliary DID shows us that the question is in the past tense.
• + I used to ride a bike to school every day.

• - I didn’t use to ride a bike to school. I would normally go by bus.
• ? Did you use to ride a bike to school when you were a child?
Some more examples
• What did you use to do after school when you were a kid?
• Where did you use to go on vacation with your parents?
Why do people sometimes write Use to instead of Used to in English?
Well, when we say used to, the final D in the verb used is pronounced like a T and since the
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next word (TO) also begins with the T sound, it seems like there is only one T (that belonging
to the word TO).
When speaking, we frequently run words together (join words) so it would sound like Use-to.
Used to and Would

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Sometimes we can replace Used to with Would.
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• My grandfather used to do exercises every day before work.

• My grandfather would do exercises every day before work.
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D

Whoever - Whatever - Whenever
We can think about the W-ever words semantically as the 'W' word + the quantifier 'any'. The
trick to understanding these terms is to realise that they apply to any single one of the referents,
and at the same time refer to all of the referents.
• Whatever - Any thing (This could also be every thing)

• Whenever - Any time (This could also be 'every time')
• Wherever - Any 'where' (Anywhere or everywhere).
• Whoever - Anyone (Any person or every person, or sometimes used to refer to a person
unknown to the speaker)
• Whichever - Any 'which' (Choice between a group or set).
• However - Any 'way' (In any manner or way, regardless of how).
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Basically each one means:
"It does not matter what / when / where etc." OR
"An unknown thing / time / place etc."

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Examples of Whatever
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Whatever you do, pay attention to the road when you are driving.
(You can do anything as long as you pay attention to the road)
AH
They say you can buy whatever you desire in Harrods, as long as you have the money.
(You can buy anything in Harrods, if you have enough money)
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The student was so intelligent that whatever we taught, she understood.

(She understood everything that she was taught)
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The criminal said he would do whatever he could in order to get out of jail.
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(He would do everything or anything he could to get out of jail)
Examples of Whenever
Whenever the neighbours flush the toilet, water comes through our ceiling.
(Every time they flush the toilet it happens)
Whenever she calls, the landlord is busy.

(Every time she calls the landlord, he/she is busy)
Call me whenever you need something.

(Call me any time you need something)
Whenever he comes home, he acts like a hungry dog.

(Ever time he comes home, she is like that)

Whenever I go to sleep early, I have extraordinary dreams.
(Every time I go to sleep early, I have these dreams)
Examples of Wherever
Wherever you go in the world, remember where you came from and where you are going.
(Anywhere you go in the world, remember those things)
With a good education in English, wherever you go, you will have a good time.
(If you are taught well, you will have a good time anywhere)
Wherever we put the TV in the room, the reception is bad.

(Anywhere we put the TV the reception is bad)
You can put the present that she gave you wherever you want, just don't let her know if you
put it in the trash.
(You can put that present anywhere)
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Examples of Whoever
Whoever broke the vase, can you please replace it? AK

(Any specific person who broke the vase, please replace it)
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Whoever goes to the shop, please don't steal anything.
(Any one or more of the people who will go to the shop, don't steal anything)
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Whoever it was that knocked on the door last night must have been drunk, because they
dropped twenty dollars as they ran away.
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(The unknown person who knocked on the door dropped twenty dollars)
Whoever you just spoke to, she must have some special powers, because you look like you fell
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in love.
(The unknown person who you spoke with must have some special powers)
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Examples of Whichever
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You can drive whichever of the cars you want.

(You can choose to drive any of the cars)
Whichever dress I wear tonight, I'm worried that my butt will look fat. What do you think?
(Person is worried that the person's butt looks fat in any of the selected dresses)
Whichever road you take to Rome, you will need to drive carefully.
(There are a number of roads to take, and it is necessary to drive carefully on any one that you
take)
Whichever pizza you ordered for her, it must have had some very delicious ingredients.
(The pizza that was ordered from those available had some special ingredients)

Examples of However
You can dress however you like for the party, it's not formal.
(You can dress the way that you want for the party)
However much she eats, she never puts on weight.

(It doesn't matter how much she eats, she never gets fat)
You can do it however you like, I don't really care as long as it gets done.
(you can do it any way that you want)
However rich they may be, it still isn't enough for them.
(It doesn't matter how rich they may be)
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So - Neither - Either
SO
SO is used to show agreement with positive statements.
SO + Auxiliary/Be + Subject (pronoun)
The Auxiliary (or To Be/Have) needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.
It is similar to using TOO at the end of a sentence.
Person A Person B
I am happy. So am I. = I am happy too.
I'm going to Brazil in the summer. So am I. = I am going to Brazil too.
AM
You look nice today. So do you. = You look nice too.
Stephanie has a new boyfriend. So does Mary. = Mary has a new one too.
We went to the concert last night. So did I. = I went to the concert too.
I would love a coffee right now.
AK
So would I. = I would love a coffee too.
He will win a prize. So will I. = I will win one too.
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They have finished their homework. So have I. = I have finished too.
I can speak two languages. So can I. = I can speak two too.
AA
He should study more. So should I. = I should study more too.

We could see the mountains. So could we. = We could see them too.
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My brother had eaten too much. So had I. = I had eaten too much too.
Sometimes you can use So + Auxiliary + Subject as a continuation of the first part of the
.B
sentence.
• John can sing well and so can his brother.

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(= John can sing will and his brother can sing well too)
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NEITHER
Neither is used to show agreement with negative statements.
Neither + Auxiliary + Subject (pronoun)
The Auxiliary needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement.
It is similar to using either at the end of a sentence, although Neither is more commonly used,
especially in spoken English.

A: I don't understand Spanish.
B: Neither do I. (= I don't understand Spanish either.)
A: I cannot swim.
B: Neither can I. (= I can't swim either.)
Sometimes people respond Me Neither instead of Neither + Auxiliary + Subject though this is
very informal spoken English.
Person A Person B
I am not hungry. Neither am I. = I'm not hungry either.
I'm not going to quit. Neither am I. = I'm not going to quit either.
They don't speak French. Neither do I. = I don't speak French either.
Stephanie doesn't eat meat. Neither does Mary. = Mary doesn't eat meat either.
Mary didn't go to the party. Neither did I. = I didn't go either.
I wouldn't like to do his job. Neither would I. = I wouldn't like to do it either.
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He won't stop talking. Neither will you. = You won't stop either.
You haven't finished your meal. Neither have you. = You haven't finished either.
I can't reach the top shelf. Neither can I. AK
= I can't reach it either.
You shouldn't talk in the movie. Neither should you. = You shouldn't talk either.
We couldn't hear him. Neither could we. = We couldn't hear him either.
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I hadn't seen her before. Neither had I. = I hadn't seen her before either.
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Summary Charts
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Compound Adjectives
A compound adjective is sometimes called a hyphenated adjective. What are they?
Let's look at the following sentences:
• I saw a man-eating alligator.

• I saw a man eating alligator.
The first sentence contains a compound adjective.
The second sentence doesn't.
However the meaning of the two sentences are very different as can be seen in the picture
below:
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I saw a man-eating alligator.

We are describing the alligator. What type of alligator is it? It is one that eats men (or people).
I saw a man eating alligator.

This sentence without the hyphen sounds like a man is eating an alligator.
(man is the subject, eating is the verb, alligator is the object or thing that is being eaten).

As you can see, the hyphen (or lack of it) makes a big difference in the meaning of the
sentence.
Before we explain in more detail why we put that hyphen between those two words in the first
sentence, we need to do a quick review of Adjectives.
What is an adjective?
An adjective is a word that describes something.
A red car (red is an adjective because it describes the car. How is the car? Red)
A big book (big is an adjective because it describes the book. How is the book? Big)
See our other grammar notes about Adjectives in English. (LINK)
But sometimes we use more than one adjective to describe something.
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Compound adjectives
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A compound adjective is an adjective that contains two or more words.
In general we put a hyphen between two or more words (before a noun) when we want them to
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act as a single idea (adjective) that describes something.
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• I live in an English-speaking country.
English-speaking is an adjective (used to describe the country). We use a hyphen to connect the
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word English with speaking to show that it is one adjective (or one idea).
This adjective with two words joined by the hyphen is called a compound adjective.
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Some more examples of compound adjectives are:

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• Our office is in a twenty-storey building.

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• I have just finished reading a 300-page book.

• He is a well-known writer.
There are many types of Compound Adjectives. Here is a list of the most common types:
Compound Adjectives + Periods of Time
When he have compound adjectives using numbers + a time period, that word referring to a
time period is in singular form and is joined to the number with a hyphen.
• I work eight hours every day --> I work an eight-hour day

• I'm going on vacation for three weeks --> I have a three-week vacation
• There was a delay of 5 seconds --> There was a five-second delay

Notice how we normally write the number as a word, not in numerical form.
Adverbs and Compound Adjectives
Adverbs modify a verb.
• She walks slowly.
How does she walk? Slowly. Slowly is an adverb that modifies (or describes) the verb.
Adverbs can also be used to modify an adjective.
• It is very hot today. (Very is an adverb)

• She is extremely intelligent. (Extremely is an adverb)
Notice how we do not put a hyphen between an adverb and an adjective (not even before a
noun).
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• It is a very hot day.
• She is an extremely intelligent girl.
Adverb + Past Participle

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However when we have an Adverb + past participle, we put a hyphen between the two words to
make it a compound adjective.
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• This is a brightly-lit room.

• She is a well-known actress.
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• We live in a densely-populated city.
Noun + Past Participle

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When we have a noun + past participle, we put a hyphen between the two words to make it a
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compound adjective.
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• We should start using wind-powered generators to cut costs.

• I love eating sun-dried raisins.
Noun + Present Participle
When we have a noun + present participle, we put a hyphen between the two words to make it a
compound adjective.
• I bought some mouth-watering strawberries.

• That was a record-breaking jump.

Noun + Adjective
When we have a noun + adjective, we put a hyphen between the two words to make it a
compound adjective.
• She is a world-famous singer.

• This is a smoke-free restaurant.
Adjective + Noun
When we have an adjective + noun, we put a hyphen between the two words to make it a
compound adjective.
• It was a last-minute decision.

• We watched the full-length version of the movie.
Adjective + Past Participle
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When we have an adjective + past participle, we put a hyphen between the two words to make
it a compound adjective.
• That is an old-fashioned dress

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• Reptiles are cold-blooded creatures.
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Adjective + Present Participle
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When we have an adjective + present participle, we put a hyphen between the two words to
make it a compound adjective.
AH
• She is a good-looking girl.

• It left a long-lasting taste in my mouth.
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Compound Adjectives with Proper Nouns

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A proper noun is the name of something or someone (e.g. John, Susan Sanders).
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Compound Adjectives made from Proper nouns don't need a hyphen though must have capital
letters.
• I bought the James Jackson tickets for us.
James Jackson is a compound adjective describing the tickets (What type of tickets? James
Jackson tickets). Since the adjective is a Proper noun, we don't need a hyphen between the two
names.
How do we know when to put a hyphen?
If you can use the word “and” between the two adjectives or words, then a hyphen isn't
necessary.

• She has a big blue book.
(Big and Blue are adjectives)

Can we say: She has a big and blue book. (Yes, it is possible)
• He is a world famous singer
Can we say: He is a world and famous singer. No, it doesn't sound correct so we need a hyphen
to join the words world and famous.
Also, look at the following:
• It's an old coal-mining town
Notice how we didn't put a hyphen between the word old and coal. If we had have done that,
we would have been referring to old coal, as in coal that is old. We want to emphasis that the
town in old and not the coal.
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Here we can say it is old and a coal-mining one.
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Passive Voice
The Passive Voice is used in English when the person or thing that is receiving the action is
more important than the person or thing that is performing the action.
The structure of a sentence in the passive is as follows:
Object + To Be + Past Participle
Look at the structure of the following sentences in the active and the passive voice to
understand the difference in structure.
AM
• I sent Christmas cards to all my friends. (Active)
• Christmas cards were sent to all my friends. (Passive)
•
•
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The earthquake destroyed the town last night. (Active)
The town was destroyed last night. (Passive)
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In these examples, you can see it is the action / result that is the most important factor in the
passive sentences.
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When to use the Passive Voice

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1. It is used when the person/thing performing the action is unimportant or unknown.

e.g. Our car was stolen last night.
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2. It is used when it is obvious who/what is performing the action.

e.g. Cameron was sacked last week.
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3. It is used to describe factual information, especially when describing a process.

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e.g. The lasagna is baked in an oven for 35 minutes at 250 degrees Celsius.
4. It is used in news reports and to give instructions.

e.g. Five people were arrested at a nightclub last night.
While it is possible to use this structure in a large variety of tenses in English, it is rare to use
the passive in Future Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous or
Future Perfect Continuous tenses.

Below are examples of the passive in a range of verb tenses.
To Be Past Participle Tense
The butter is kept here. Present Simple
The window was broken. Past Simple
The work will be done soon. Future Simple
The bridge is being repaired. Present Continuous
The cheese was being eaten by mice. Past Continuous
Our work has been finished. Present Perfect
The car hadn't been used much. Past Perfect
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The house will have been built by then. Future Perfect
The shelf can't be reached. Modal Verb - Can

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The task must be done now. Modal Verb - Must
The lesson may be finished. Modal Verb - May

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The car ought to be repaired. Modal Verb

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Future - Will vs. Going to
A very confusing concept is when to use WILL and when to use BE GOING TO when we
refer the future.
Both refer to the future and there is a slight difference between the two though in most cases
they can be used interchangeably with no difference in meaning. Even if you misuse them, a
native speaker is going to understand you without any problems.
Quick Summary Chart
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When to use GOING TO
The structure BE GOING TO is normally used to indicate the future but with some type of
connection to the present. We use it in the following situations:
1. When we have already decided or we INTEND to do something in the future. (Prior

Plan)
The decision has been made before the moment of speaking.
• They're going to retire to the beach - in fact they have already bought a little beach
house.
• I'm going to accept the job offer.
2. When there are definite signs that something is going to happen. (Evidence)
Something is likely to happen based on the evidence or experience you have.
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• I think it is going to rain - I just felt a drop.
• I don't feel well. I think I'm going to throw up. (throw up = vomit)
3. When something is about to happen:

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• Get back! The bomb is going to explode.
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When to use WILL
In other cases, where there is no implicit or explicit connection to the present, use WILL:
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1. For things that we decide to do now. (Rapid Decisions)

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This is when you make a decision at that moment, in a spontaneous way.
•
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I'll buy one for you too.

• I think I'll try one of those. (I just decided this right now)
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2. When we think or believe something about the future. (Prediction)
• My team will not win the league this season.

• I think it will rain later so take an umbrella with you.
Note: You can use both Will and Going to for making future predictions.
3. To make an offer, a promise or a threat.
• I'll give you a discount if you buy it right now.

• I promise I will behave next time.
• I'll take you to the movies if you'd like.
4. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do something.

• I told him to take out the trash but he won't do it.
• My kids won't listen to anything I say.
• My car won't start.
Future Predictions
As you can see, both Will and Going to can be used for making future predictions without
having a real difference in meaning.
• The weather report says it will rain tomorrow. (Correct)

• The weather report says it is going to rain tomorrow. (Correct)
Compare Will vs. Going To
If someone asks: "Are you busy this evening?"
If I respond: "Yes, I'm going to the movies." I use going to because it is a plan I made earlier
AM
(before I was asked the question). - In this case we cannot use Will.
If I haven't made plans, then you can say either: "I will probably watch TV." OR "I'm probably
going to watch TV." AK
Both will and going to are possible in this situation because we are predicting what will happen
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(since we haven't made any plans).
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Quantifiers
What are quantifiers?
Quantifiers tell us something about the amount or quantity of something (a noun).
Some quantifiers express a small or large quantity:
• Small: I have a few things to do before finishing work.

• Large: I have many things to do before finishing work.
Some quantifiers express part of or all of a quantity:
• Part: It rains most days in winter.

• All: It rained all day yesterday.
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Quantifiers belong to a larger class called Determiner.
Examples of quantifiers
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Quantifiers can be a single word (e.g. some) or a phrase (e.g. a lot of). Quantifiers that appear
as a phrase are often called Complex Quantifiers.
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Simple Quantifiers: all, another, any, both, each, either, enough, every, few, fewer, little, less,
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many, more, much, neither, no, several, some.
Complex Quantifiers: a few, a little, a lot of, lots of

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The position of quantifiers

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We put quantifiers at the beginning of noun phrases.

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quantifier + noun
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• some people
quantifier + adjective + noun
• many old books
quantifier + adverb + adjective + noun
• a lot of very crazy drivers
We can also use quantifiers without a noun, like a pronoun.
• These books are old but some are still in good condition. (Some refers to some books)

Quantifier + Noun
CHART COMING SOON
Formal and Informal Quantifiers
Sometimes we can make a sentence more formal or more informal (or natural) just by changing
the quantifier.
Many people where invited to the wedding. (formal)

A lot of people arrived late. (informal/natural)
They made little progress. (formal)

They didn't make much progress. (informal/natural)
Next activity
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To learn more about when to use quantifiers see the following pages: (SOON)
• Another vs. Other vs. Others

•
•
All vs Every vs Each
Both, Neither, Either
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• Little, less, least
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• More, most
• Much, many, a lot, few, little
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• No
• Several
• Some vs. Any, A vs. An
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Pronunciation of ED
Past Tense, Past Participles and Adjectives
ED appears at the end of regular verbs in the past tense (e.g. wanted, helped, lived) sometimes
in adjectives ending in ED (e.g. tired, embarrassed, relaxed) as well as in some Past Participles.
However the pronunciation of ED sometimes causes problems for non-native speakers because
it can be pronounced in three different ways: as / id /, as / t / or as / d /
(Note: whenever you see letters or symbols between two slash marks (/ /), it refers to the
pronunciation of that letter or sound)
Before we learn the difference ways to pronounce ED, we must first know what voiced and
voiceless consonants are:
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Voiced Consonants vs. Voiceless Consonants
A voiced consonant (or sound) means that it uses the vocal cords and they produce a vibration
AK
or humming sound in the throat when they are said. Put your finger on your throat and then
pronounce the letter L. You will notice a slight vibration in your neck / throat. That is because
it is a voiced sound.
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A voiceless sound (sometimes called an unvoiced sound) is when there is no vibration in your
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throat and the sound comes from the mouth area. Pronounce the letter P. You will notice how it
comes from your mouth (in fact near your lips at the front of your mouth). The P sound doesn't
come from your throat.
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Try this with the other letters and you will "feel" the difference between a voiced and a
voiceless consonant (or sound).
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Now we know the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds we can look at the
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following rules for the correct pronunciation of ED in English:

D
1. The /id/ sound
If the last letter of the word is spelled with D or T, the ED is pronounced as a separate syllable
with an /id/ sound (it rhymes with kid and lid).
• wanted (sounds like "want-id")

• waited
• needed
• folded
2. The /t/ sound
If the last consonant of the word is voiceless, then the ED is pronounced as a T. Be careful not
to create an extra syllable or "id" sound.

• talked (sounds like "talkt")
• kissed (the S sound comes from the front of mouth so it would sound like "kisst")
• parked
• helped
NOTE: As an example, with the word "helped", if you say "help-id" as a two syllable word,
then it is very likely that people will NOT understand the word or what you are saying. (It is
pronounced like "helpt")
3. The /d/ sound
If the last letter of the words ends in a voiced consonant (or sound), then the ED is pronounced
like a D (without creating another syllable)
• played (sounds like "playd")

• closed (the S sounds like a vibrating Z so the word would sound like "clozd")
• opened
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• lived
An easy way to remember how to pronounce ED words

AK
The most important thing to remember is that there are two main divisions:
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1. The words that end in T or D
- the ED is pronounced as a syllable /id/
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2. and the REST of the words

- you can pronounce the ED as /t/ and people will understand.
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In time you will learn when to pronounce the ED as /t/ or /d/.
Pronunciation of ED Video
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Summary Chart
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This is the chart that appears in the video.

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Adverbs
Adverbs describe verbs (actions). They give more detail about the action.
• My cat eats slowly.
Slowly is an adverb since it describes the way my cat eats.

How does my cat eat? Slowly.
Adverbs will generally answer the question 'How'.
Some adverbs are used to modify an adjective.
Adverbs that do this are: very, extremely, really, totally, absolutely, quite, fairly, well. These
are normally placed before the adjective.
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• It was very hot yesterday.
• He is totally crazy.
Types of Adverbs AK
There are many types of adverbs, such as:
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Adverbs of Frequency - always, sometimes, never, etc.
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Adverbs of Manner - carefully, slowly

AH
Adverbs of Time and Place - here, yesterday, then
Adverbs of Relative Time - recently, already, soon

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Adverbs of Degree - very, extremely, rather

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Adverbs of Quantity - a few, a lot, much

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Adverbs of Attitude - fortunately, apparently, clearly
Adverbs Word Order
Adverbs are usually placed after the verb:
• He speaks clearly.
When there is an object, the adverb is usually placed after the verb + object:
• I put the vase carefully on the table.
However, adverbs are never positioned between the verb and the object.

• I read the book quickly. - (Correct)
I read quickly the book. - (Incorrect)
Sometimes adverbs are placed at the beginning of a clause.
• Quickly, I changed my opinion.
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Articles
Definite, Indefinite and No Article
The Indefinite Article – A / AN
We use A/AN with:
1. Singular nouns and the first time we refer to a person, animal or thing.
• a child
• an elephant
• a television
2. We don't use A/AN with possessive pronouns, demonstratives or cardinal numbers.
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• My shirt is dirty.
• This car is expensive.
• One person is in the reception.
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3. We use ONE (or more) instead of A/AN when the number is important.
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• There is only one exit from the airport.
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What is the difference between A and AN?
A is used when the next word begins with a consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k etc).
AH
• a book
• a table
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• a clock
• a university (because the beginning of university sounds like YOU-niversity)
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AN is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
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• an apple
• an elephant
• an umbrella
• an hour (because the H is silent)
Try our game to practice the difference between A and AN.

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The Definite Article – THE
We use THE with:

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1. A singular or plural noun when it is clear/obvious which person or thing we are talking
about.
• There is a lamp in my bedroom. (we mention the lamp for the first time)
• The lamp is next to the desk.
2. Anything which we identify immediately.
• We watched the new Brad Pitt movie last night.
3. Musical instruments (the violin, the guitar, the drums, the flute, the piccolo).
• She plays the piano.
4. Something that is unique or there is only one.

• the sun
• the moon
• the internet.
5. Names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges and deserts (always in capitals).
• The Mississippi River

• The Black Sea
• The Andes
• The Sahara Desert
6. Directions (cardinal points).
• the west
• the south-east
• the north-west.
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No Article
We use no article with:

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1. When we refer to general ideas, plurals or uncountable nouns we do not use THE.
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• Religion is an important issue. (NOT The religion is an important issue)

• Mexican food is spicy. (NOT The Mexican food is spicy).
AH
2. Names of people, books and plays (unless it is part of the title).
• I have read Romeo and Juliet.

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3. Towns, cities, states and countries.

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• Cape Town
•
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Montana
• Vietnam
(Exceptions – The USA, The UK, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic, The Philippines).
4. Lakes, single islands, continents or mountains.
• Lake Victoria
• Jamaica
• Asia
• Mt Fuji
5. Planets
• Mars

• Jupiter
• Saturn
6. Sports or games
• soccer
• tennis
• skiing
• monopoly
7. Meals
• breakfast
• lunch
• dinner
• supper
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D

Comparatives and Superlatives
We use Comparatives and Superlatives to compare two or more nouns.
The formation of the comparative and superlative depends on the number of syllables in the
adjective:
One-syllable Adjectives
To form the comparative, we add -er to the end of the adjective.
To form the superlative, we add -est to the end of the adjective.
AM
Adjective Comparative Superlative
small smaller the smallest
cold
light
colder
lighter
the coldest
the lightest
AK
wide * wider the widest
H
hot ** hotter the hottest
AA
* When an adjective ends in the letter E, we just add the -R (for comparatives) or -ST (for
AH
superlatives). We do not write two Es together. Wider (correct) not wideer (incorrect).
** When an adjective ends in a consonant + short vowel + consonant (C + V + C), we normally

.B
double the last letter. big - bigger - biggest, wet - wetter - wettest
• London is bigger than Santiago.

R
• Mike is taller than John but James is the tallest.

D
• Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.

• It is the oldest building in the village.
• I want a faster car.
Notice how comparatives are often followed by than when comparing two things or people.
Two-syllable Adjectives ending in -Y
To form the comparative, we remove the -y and add -ier to the end of the adjective.
To form the superlative, we remove the -y and add -iest to the end of the adjective.

crazy crazier the craziest
happy happier the happiest
early earlier the earliest
• It was the happiest day of my life.

• My joke was funnier than your one.
• This section is easier than the rest.
Adjectives with Two or more Syllables
For Adjectives with 2 syllables (that don't end in -y) and higher (3, 4 syllables etc), we use
more for comparatives and the most for superlatives.
AM
handsome more handsome the most handsome
nervous more nervous the most nervous
AK
enthusiastic more enthusiastic the most enthusiastic
H
AA
• My girlfriend is more beautiful than yours.

• Alex is more intelligent than you but I am the most intelligent.
• It was the most wonderful day I have ever had.
AH
Some exceptions with two-syllable adjectives ending in -er and -est:

.B
narrow - narrower, simple - simpler, quiet - quieter
Irregular Forms
R
D

good better the best
bad worse the worst
far *** further / farther the furthest / farthest
little less the least
many/much more the most
old **** older/elder the oldest / eldest
• I am a better tennis player than you but Marcelo is the best.

• Steve is a worse liar than me but Adrian is the worst.

*** Farther - Further
Further / farther, furthest / farthest are all used for distance.
Only Further / furthest are used to mean 'additional' or 'more advanced'.
• Puerto Montt is further / farther than Valdivia is from here (in Santiago).
• If you require further information, please contact reception.
Remember that the opposites of 'more' and 'most' are 'less' and 'least', respectively.
**** Older - Eldest
We use elder / eldest when we are talking about family relationships and normally only before
a noun (not by itself unless it is a pronoun).
• He is my elder brother. (We cannot say: My brother is elder than me. - incorrect)
AM
• The eldest sister would pass on her dresses to the younger one.
Comparative and Superlative of ILL

AK
When comparing how ill people are, you will normally hear worse or the worst and not "iller
or illest". Some people may prefer to replace ill with sick (sicker, sickest) when comparing.
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D

Summary Chart
AM
AK
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D

Every day vs. Everyday
A common mistake in English is the correct use of the words everyday and every day. Don't
worry, this is also a mistake commonly made by native speakers too.
The word everyday (one word) and phrase every day (two words) are not interchangeable.
The difference between everyday and every day.
Everyday is an adjective so it goes before the noun it describes.
Everyday = ordinary, regular, normal or commonplace. It can refer to something done or used
daily or routinely.
• You should wear an elegant dress for the wedding, not just an everyday one.
• Even though he has won some money, it hasn't changed his everyday life.
AM
• Some everyday activities damage the environment.
• Why do you always use those big words that are not common in everyday language?
Every day is a phrase that usually acts as an adverb. AK

Every day = all of the days or each day over a period of time. It can also mean very regularly.
H
• You've been wearing that same shirt every day this week. You need to change it!
AA
• You should take a shower every day.

• Low prices, every day! (A sign in a shop)
• Woodward English publishes new material on Twitter every day.
AH
How to know when to use every day or everyday.

.B
To know which of the words to use in your sentence, replace the word(s) with each day.
R
If it sounds correct, then write every day (two words).

If it doesn't sound correct (usually because it is before a noun) then use everyday (one word).
D
For example:
• I do exercises every day. (correct)

• I do exercises each day - This sound correct so we use every day (two words)
• It's not an every day event. (incorrect)

• It's not an each day event. - This doesn't sound correct so we use everyday (one word)
Another way of doing this is by replacing the word(s) with ordinary.
If it sounds correct, then write everyday (one word).

If it doesn't sound correct then use every day (two words).
For example:

• I do exercises everyday. (incorrect)
• I do exercises ordinary - This does not sound correct so we use every day (two words)
• It's not an everyday event. (correct)

• It's not an ordinary event. - This sounds correct so we use everyday (one word)
Another tip is that the word everyday is followed by a noun and is not used by itself at the end
of a sentence.
Pronunciation of Every day and Everyday.
The main difference in pronunciation between every day and everyday is where the accent (or
word stress) is placed.
Everyday: the stress is on the first syllable … EVeryday.

Every day: the stress is on the word day … every DAY.
AM
Summary Chart
AK
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D

How much? - How many?
English Grammar
When we want to know the quantity or amount of something, we ask questions starting with
How much and How many.
HOW MUCH ...? - (Quantity)
How much is used with uncountable nouns.
HOW MUCH + UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
AM
How much time do we have to finish the test?
• How much money did you spend?
• How much sugar would you like in your coffee?
• How much paper will I need?
• How much milk is in the fridge?
AK
• How much traffic was there on the way to work?
H
If the verb To Be is used with an uncountable noun, it is in singular form (= IS or WAS etc.)
AA
HOW MUCH ...? - (Price)

AH
How much can also be used when we want to know the PRICE of something.
In this case, we can use How much with countable nouns (both singular and plural nouns).
.B
• How much is that painting?

• How much are those shoes?
R
• How much did your jacket cost?

• How much is the dress on display in the window?
D
• How much will it cost me?

• How much does it cost ?
HOW MANY ...? - (Quantity)
How many is used when we want to know the QUANTITY of something.
It is only used with plural countable nouns.
HOW MANY + PLURAL NOUN
• How many days are there in January?

• How many people work in your company?
• How many cousins do you have?
• How many books did you buy?
• How many countries are there in the world?
• How many students are in the class right now?
• How many chairs are there in this room?
• How many pieces of chocolate would you like?
Omitting the noun
Often the noun is omitted in the question when it is obvious what we are talking about.
A: I would like to buy some cheese. B: How much (cheese) would you like?
The noun cheese is not necessary after how much since we already know we are talking about
AM
cheese. In fact, it is normally omitted to avoid sounding repetitive.
More examples:
• A: I need some coins. - B: How many do you need?

AK
• A: I need some sugar. - B: How much do you need?
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D

Summary Chart
AM
AK
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D

Modal Verbs
English Grammar
Modal verbs are a part of the larger category called auxiliary verbs which are verbs that cannot
be used on their own. They need to be accompanied by another (main) verb. Sometimes modal
verbs are called modal auxiliaries.
The following words are modal verbs: Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Shall, Should, Will,
Would.
They are modal auxiliary verbs that provide additional information about the verb that follows
it.
AM
Modal verbs are used to express ability, obligation, permission, assumptions, probability and
possibility, requests and offers, and advice. Each modal verb can have more than meaning
which depends on the context of that sentence (or question).
AK
• You can go now. (= permission)
• I can play the guitar. (= ability)
H
AA
Structure with Modal Verbs

AH
A Modal verb is followed by another verb in the base form (the infinitive without the 'To') and
they are not conjugated (we don't add an 'S' in third person). See the following structure:
.B
Subject + Modal Verb + Verb (base form of the infinitive)

R
• I can speak English (NOT: I can to speak English)

• He can speak Spanish (NOT: He can speaks Spanish)
D
• She can speak Spanish (NOT: She cans speak Spanish)
Modal Verbs in Negative Sentences
Subject + Modal Verb + not + Verb (base form of the infinitive)
• You must not walk on the grass. (= You mustn't walk on the grass.)
• He cannot speak Arabic. (= He can't speak Arabic.)
• We should not be late. (= We shouldn't be late.)
As you can see in the examples above, contractions of the Modal verb + not are normally
possible.
The negative of can is cannot ('not' is joined to 'can') and the contraction is can't

Modal Verbs in Questions
Modal Verb + Subject + Verb (base form of the infinitive)
• May I help you?

• Can I have another piece of cake please?
• Would you like to come with us?
AM
AK
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D

Pronunciation of Final -S
Plural Nouns and Verbs in Third Person
The pronunciation of S at the end of plural nouns, verbs in third person and as a part of the
possessive case sometimes causes problems for non-native speakers because it can be
pronounced in three different ways: / ɪz /, / s / or / z /.
(Note: whenever you see letters or symbols between two slash marks (/ /), it refers to the
pronunciation of that letter or sound)
The pronunciation depends on the last sound of the verb or noun which is usually a consonant.
Before we learn the difference ways to pronounce the final S, we must first know what voiced
and voiceless consonants are as well as sibilant sounds:
Voiced Consonants vs. Voiceless Consonants
AM
A voiced consonant (or sound) means that it uses the vocal cords and they produce a vibration
or humming sound in the throat when they are said. Put your finger on your throat and then
AK
pronounce the letter L. You will notice a slight vibration in your neck / throat. That is because
it is a voiced sound.
H
A voicedless sound (sometimes called unvoiced sound) is when there is no vibration in your
throat and the sound comes from the mouth area. Pronounce the letter P. You will notice how it
AA
comes from your mouth (in fact near your lips at the front of your mouth). The P sound doesn't
come from your throat.
AH
Try this with the other letters and you will "feel" the difference between a voiced and a
voiceless consonant (or sound).
.B
Sibilant Sounds
R
Another sound which is relevant to this is the sibilant sound which is produced by forcing air
out toward your teeth. Is is characterized by a hissing sound (sssss), a buzzing sound (zzzzz) or
D
the sound teachers make when they want you to be quiet (shhhh!).
• Z like the sound a bee makes... zzzzzz

• S like the sound a snake makes... sssssss
• SH like the sound a teacher makes when they want you to be quiet... shhhhh
Now we know the difference between voiced, voiceless and sibilant sounds we can look at the
following rules for the correct pronunciation of S at the end of words in English:
The pronunciation of the S at the end of words in English
The pronunciation of the final S in plural words and verbs in the third person depend on the
final consonant sound before that S.

The ending is pronounced /s/ after a voiceless sound, it is pronounced /z/ after a voiced
sound and is pronounced /ɪz / or /əz/ after a sibilant sound:
• Voiceless: helps /ps/ -- sits /ts/ -- looks /ks/

• Voiced: crabs /bz/ -- words /dz/ -- gloves /vz/,
• Sibilant: buses /zɪz / or /zəz /, bridges /dʒɪz / or /dʒəz /, wishes /shɪz / or /shəz /
1. The /ɪz/ sound (or /əz/ sound)
Sometimes this sound is written as /əz/ and uses the symbol "schwa" or "upside down e" before
the z. For ease we will write this sound as /ɪz/ or /iz/
If the last consonant sound of the word is a sibilant sound (a hissing or buzzing sound), the
final S is pronounced as /ɪz/. This /ɪz/ sound is pronounced like an extra syllable. (e.g. the word
buses has two syllables)
If the sound has a J sound (/dʒ/ like the letter J at the beginning of the word jacket or /ʒ/ like the
AM
S in pleasure), then the final S is also pronounced as /ɪz/.
Examples of words ending in the /ɪz/ sound:
• C: races (sounds like "race-iz")

AK
• S: pauses, nurses, buses, rises
H
• X: fixes, boxes, hoaxes
• Z: amazes, freezes, prizes, quizzes
•
AA
SS: kisses, misses, passes, bosses

• CH: churches, sandwiches, witches, teaches
• SH: dishes, wishes, pushes, crashes
AH
• GE: garages, changes, ages, judges
Remember: after verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -ss and -x, we add the -es to the end of the verb (in
.B
third person) and the pronunciation is /iz/ as an extra syllable.
2. The /s/ sound

R
D
If the last consonant of the word is voiceless, then the S is pronounced as /s/. Be careful not to
create an extra syllable.
NOTE: The consonants c, s, sh, ch and x are voiceless though they use the sibilants ending seen
above.
Examples of words ending in the /s/ sound:
• P: cups stops, sleeps

• T: hats, students, hits, writes
• K: cooks, books, drinks, walks
• F: cliffs, sniffs, beliefs, laughs, graphs, apostrophes (the -gh and -ph here are pronounced like a
F)
• TH: myths, tablecloths, months (voiceless th)

3. The /z/ sound
If the last letter of the words ends in a voiced consonant (or sound), then the S is pronounced
like a Z /z/(without creating another syllable). This Z sound is similar to the sound a bee makes
zzzz.
We also use this ending when the word ends in a vowel sound (e.g. bees, flies etc.)
Examples of words ending in the /z/ sound:
• B: crabs, rubs
• D: cards, words, rides, ends
• G: rugs, bags, begs
• L: deals calls, falls, hills
• M: plums, dreams
• N: fans, drains, runs, pens
• NG: kings, belongs, sings
AM
• R: wears, cures
• V: gloves, wives, shelves, drives
• Y: plays, boys, says,
• THE: clothes, bathes, breathes AK
• VOWEL SOUNDS: sees, fleas
H
Pronunciation of S cheat sheet
AA
AH
.B
R
D

Past Participles
Past participles are used for all perfect tense forms of a verb and in the passive voice in
English.
For regular verbs, we normally add ED to form its past participle. Unfortunately for irregular
verbs there are no rules and it is just a matter of practice.
The highlighted words below are examples of past participles:
1. Present perfect
• She hasn't finished her assignment yet.

• I still haven't found my keys.
2. Past perfect
AM
• Chris was ill because he had eaten too much chocolate.
• She missed the bus because she hadn't set her alarm.
3. Future perfect
AK
H
• Jamie will have been in Australia for one year in April.
• He will have gone by the time you arrive.
AA
4. Conditional perfect
AH
• If his passport had not been stolen, Adam would have gone to Brazil.
• I wouldn't have known if you hadn't told me.
.B
5. Passive Voice
• The west coast of The USA was struck by torrential rain last night.
R
• The painting was stolen in the middle of the night.

D
Participles as adjectives
Past Participles can also be used like an adjective in front of a noun:
• The stolen baby was found by the police unharmed.

• Dean's broken arm was set in plaster by the doctor at the hospital.
• Please bring all of the required documents for your interview tomorrow.

Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are used to show possession or ownership of something. While we use
them when we refer to people, it is more in the sense of relationship than ownership.
The possessive adjectives in English are as follows:
AM
AK
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D
The possessive adjective needs to agree with the possessor and not with the thing that is
possessed.
Examples
• My car is very old.

• Her boyfriend is very friendly.
• Our dog is black.

• Their homework is on the table.
Like all adjectives in English, they are always located directly in front of the noun they refer to.
(Possessive Adjective + Noun)
We do not include an S to the adjective when the noun is plural like in many other languages.
Examples:
• Our cars are expensive. (Correct)

Ours cars are expensive. (Incorrect)
However, the verb that is used needs to be in agreement with the noun - if the noun is singular
then the verb is singular; if the noun is plural then the verb is plural.
Examples:
AM
• My pen is black. (Singular)
My pens are black. (Plural)
• Our child is intelligent. (Singular)
Our children are intelligent. (Plural) AK
Its vs. It's
H
Be careful not to confuse its and it's.
AA
Its = The possessive adjective for It.

It's = a contraction of it is.
AH
.B
R
D

Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are used in English to avoid repeating information that is already clear. In
general it makes the sentence less confusing because the same information is not being
repeated.
This book is my book, not your book. (Sounds repetitive)

This book is mine, not yours. (Mine and yours are possessive pronouns)
In the sentence, mine is a possessive pronoun that replaces my book.

In the sentence, yours is a possessive pronoun that replaces your book.
The possessive pronouns in English are as follows:
Possessive
Subject
Pronouns
AM
I Mine
You Yours
He His AK
She Hers
It Its
H
We Ours
You (pl) Yours
AA
They Theirs
AH
Examples:
.B
• I didn't have my umbrella so Marta lent me hers.

(I didn't have my umbrella so Marta lent me her umbrella).
• Her car is faster than mine.
R
(Her car is faster than my car).

D
• That food is ours and not theirs.

(That food is our food and not their food).
• I know this drink is yours but I need to drink something.
(I know this drink is your drink but I need to drink something).
Remember that with possessive pronouns there are no apostrophes (').
Of yours
It is also very common to say a friend/some friends + of + possessive pronouns.
• I saw one of your friends last night.

I saw a friend of yours last night.
Both of these sentences are correct and both common in English.

Yours faithfully - Yours sincerely
Yours is also used in English with faithfully or sincerely at the end of a formal letter or e-mail.
The two common expressions are:
• Yours faithfully (If it someone that you don't know)

• Yours sincerely (If it is someone that you know)
AM
AK
H
AA
AH
.B
R
D

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1 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM

Simple Present Tense

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

• I take the train to the office.

• The President of The USA lives in The White House.

• I get up early every day.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

• It rains a lot in winter.

• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.

Subject Verb The Rest of the sentence

2 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

• Affirmative: You speak French.

subject is I, you, we or they.

• Affirmative: He speaks German.

Negative: He doesn't speak German.

I don't like meat = I do not like meat.

There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

3 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM

Subject don't/doesn't Verb* The Rest of the sentence

Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:

Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no translation in Spanish

• Affirmative: You speak English.

We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.

• Affirmative: He speaks French.

4 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM

Do/Does Subject Verb* The Rest of the sentence

Examples of Questions with Do and Does:

Short Answer Short Answer

Do I need a pencil? Yes, you do. No, you don't.

Do they like chocolate? Yes, they do. No, they don't.

Does he like chocolate? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.

5 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM

How to form the Past Tense in English

Past Tense Regular Verbs

Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the past tense

• Last night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.

6 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM

Negative sentences in the Past Tense

Compare the following:

Present: They don't live in Canada.

Compare the negative sentences in the examples below:

Present: You don't need a mechanic.

Present: You don't walk to work.

Present: He doesn't speak Japanese.

Past: He didn't speak Japanese.

Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense

• I didn't want to go to the dentist.

Questions in the Past Tense

7 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES BAHAA HAKAM

Compare the following:

Present: Do they live in France?

Compare the questions in the examples below:

Present: Do you ride your bike to work?

Past: Did he live in Italy?

• Did you study? – Yes, I did.

• When did you study? – I studied last night.

Read more about short answers in the past tense.