Adjective or Adverb
The difference between adjective and adverb
An adjective tells us more about a noun.
He bought an expensive car last week. – We describe a thing.
Her friend Zoe is a clever girl. – We describe a person.
They live in an old house. – How is the house? Asking for a thing.
An adverb tells us more about a verb, an adjective or an adverb.
He talked nervously. – We describe an action.
It was extremely cold. – We describe a situation.
They always walk quickly. – How do they walk? Asking for an action.
How to form the adverb
Adjective + ly
They looked at their broken vase sadly.
He went quietly into the bedroom.
She opened the letter nervously.
Adjectives ending in y »»» ily
They shouted at the naughty kids angrily.
The children played in the garden happily.
We drank our glasses of orange juice thirstily.
Adjectives ending in –le »»» ly
The children did their maths homework terribly.
He was capably supported by his friends.
She stroke her dog’s head gently.
Adjectives ending in -ly
friendly – in a friendly way / manner
lively – in a lively way / manner
lonely – in a lonely way / manner
lovely – in a lovely way / manner
silly – in a silly way / manner
daily – daily
early – early
monthly – monthly
weekly – weekly
yearly – yearly
Irregular forms
good – well
fast – fast
hard – hard
long – long
low – low
straight – straight
extra – extra
doubtless – doubtless
Double forms
hard – hard / hardly = barely
near – near / nearly = almost
late – late / lately = recently
How to use the adverb
- Verb+ adverb – the adverb describes a verb.
He drove carefully on the highway.
They could sell her house quickly.
Our neighbours’s dog always barks at us loudly.
- Adjective+ adverb – the adverb describes an adjective.
He bought her a necklace which was horribly expensive.
She was terribly sorry for being late again.
- Adverb+ adverb – the adverb describes an adverb.
They played terribly badly last weekend.
He usually does his homework absolutely correctly.
No adverb with the following verbs:
Forms of to be (am, is, are, was, were, will be,etc.), seem, get, turn, grow, sound, feel, taste, become, smell, remain, stay, look (in the meaning of look like)
Some of these verbs can be used with an adverb, but the meaning is different (e.g.: feel well, taste well).
Conjunctions
Use of Conjunctions. Conjunctions are words that join different kinds of grammatical structures. They connect words, phrases or sentences and are used to give more information about time, place, persons and things, but also give reasons, conditions and express contrast.
Conjunctions of Time
when, as, until, till, after, before, since, while, at first, but then
Janet was in her room when her mother called.
He waited until she came.
After Peter had had dinner, he read a book.
Conjunctions of Place
where
He didn’t know where he had put his purse.
Conjunctions of Reason
because, therefore / that’s why, why, in order (that)
He couldn’t help them because he didn’t have any time.
She was ill, and that’s why she couldn’t go to the party.
Conjunctions of Contrast
but
This city is nice to visit, but I wouldn’t like to live there.
Conjunctions of Condition
if, unless, even if, in case (that)
Take your umbrella with you in case it starts raining.
Relative Clauses
who (persons), which (animals, things), that, whose
This is the man who / that won the race.
Is this the car which / that he bought last summer?
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are types of auxiliary verbs which express necessity, ability, permission or possibility. We also use them to make requests and offers. The most common modal verbs are can, may and must. Modal verbs don’t have a past form (except can) and a past participle (3rd form). You can only use them with the present tense. When you use other tenses you have to replace them.
CAN – MAY – MUST
No -s after he, she, it
He can speak English. – She may go there. – It must sleep now. – My sister can juggle.
No do, does in questions and negation
Can you come? Sorry, I cannot. – May he come to your party? No, he must not.
She cannot come at 10.
Replacements:
can → to be able to
must → have to
may → to be allowed to
CAN – TO BE ABLE TO
I can drive. = I am able to drive.
Present tense – Past tense
I am able to drive. – I was able to drive.
He, she, it is able to drive. – He, she, it was able to drive.
You, we, they are able to drive. – You, we, they were able to drive.
Present perfect – Will – future
I have been able to drive. – I will be able to drive.
He, she, it has been able to drive. – He, she, it will be able to drive.
You, we, they have been able to drive. – You, we, they will be able to drive.
MUST – HAVE TO
I must learn. = I have to learn.
Present tense – Past tense
I, you, we, they have to learn. – I, you, we, they had to learn.
He, she, it has to learn. – He, she, it had to learn.
Present perfect – Will – future
I, you, we, they have had to learn. – I, you, we, they will have to learn.
He, she, it has had to learn. – He, she, it will have to learn.
MAY – BE ALLOWED TO
I may go out. = I am allowed to go out.
Present tense – Past tense
I am allowed to go. – I was allowed to go.
He, she, it is allowed to go. – He, she, it was allowed to go.
You, we, they are allowed to go. – You, we, they were allowed to go.
Present perfect – Will – future
I have been allowed to go. – I will be allowed to go.
He, she, it has been allowed to go. – He, she, it will be allowed to go.
You, we, they have been allowed to go. – You, we, they will be allowed to go.
| NOTE: | Positive | Negative |
| I may | I must not | |
| I must | I need not |
Past Progressive
The past progressive is also called past continuous.
How to form the Past Progressive. We form the past progressive with was or were and the ing-form of the verb. Key words: while , when.
I was working. – I wasn’t (was not) working.
You were singing. – You weren’t (were not) singing.
He was running. – He wasn’t (was not) running.
She was laughing. – She wasn’t (was not) laughing.
It was sleeping. – It wasn’t (was not) sleeping.
We were enjoying. – We weren’t (were not) enjoying.
You were playing. – You weren’t (were not) playing.
They were reading. – They weren’t (were not) reading.
Use of the Past Progressive
- Shows that an action in the past lasted along time.
What were they doing yesterday?
- If an action happened, while another action took place. We use the past simple for the short action and the past progressive for the long action.
When Tom was cooking, he burnt his hand.
They came home when she was studying for the test.
- Two long past actions happenedat the same time. We use the past progressive for both actions.
While I was repairing my bike, she was watering the flowers.
He was watching TV while she was reading a book.
No progressive Form
| love | know |
| like | understand |
| hate | realize |
| dislike | recognize |
| be | think |
| want | last |
| wish | possess |
| need | have |
| see | mean |
| look | remember |
| smell | forgive |
| hear | belong |
| prefer | forget |
| refuse | notice |
| desire | own |
| adore | feel |
| care | believe |
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns
Use of the possessives. Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns are used to show that something or someone belongs to a person. The Possessive adjective is used with a noun, the Possessive pronoun is used without a noun.
The Possessive pronoun replaces an Possessive adjective + a noun:
This laptop is his laptop and not my laptop. This laptop is his and not mine.
These keys are her keys and not your keys. These keys are hers and not yours.
Are that your motor bikes over there? Yes, they are ours.
Is this your grandparents’ house? Yes, it’s theirs.
This isn’t my sister’s cat. Hers is much bigger and has a darker fur.
Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns
| Possessive Adjective
This is my house. Is this your bike? This is his book. Her pullover is green. Here is its ball.
We like our dog. Is this your car? This is their telephone. |
Possessive Pronoun
No, it’s mine. No, it’s yours. Yes, it’s his. No, hers is brown. —- (We don’t use its)
This dog is ours. Yes, it’s yours. No, it isn’t theirs. |
Present Perfect Simple
The Present Perfect Simple is used, if an action happened in the past and there is a connection to the present. This action has just stopped or is still going on. There’s no exact time expressed when the action happened.
Key words: already, just, yet, ever, never, for, since, so far, up to now, not yet, lately, recently
How to form the Present Perfect Simple
I, you, we, they – have + 3rd form
he, she, it – has + 3rd form
They have visited her uncle recently. – She has just baked an apple pie.
Short forms
I‘ve never been there before. – We‘ve studied a lot so far.
He‘s worked in this shop lately. – He‘s found his wallet.
Negation
I, you, we, they – have not (haven’t) + 3rd form
he, she, it – has not (hasn’t) + 3rd form
They haven’t tidied up their room so far. – He hasn’t finished his homework yet.
Questions
Question word – have/has – subject -verb
Have you already done your homework?
Have/Has – subject – verb
How long have you been there?
Examples of Use of the Present Perfect Simple
Nick has gone on holidays. – result – He is not in the office.
He has already met Sue. – connection to the present – He likes her.
He has just eaten something bad. – connection to the present – He feels sick now.
He has lived in Spain for ten days. – connection to the present – He is still there.
He has been in Spain since Friday. – connection to the present – He is still there.
Have you ever been to Italy? – connection to the present – Do you know Italy? No, I‘ve never been there.