Grammar- The BasicsWhat you need to know

in order to teach!

“This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” ☞quote attributed to Winston Churchill

Part 1-Grammar WorkshopOBJECTIVES

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to….

• identify common grammatical errors that Spanish speakers often make• explain how to correct these common errors• apply your knowledge and demonstrate how you would explain these concepts to your students

1) Breakfast is an important meal. I’m always eating breakfast.

What’s Wrong?

Answer? Always is a frequency adverb- Most of the time*, you use this in the simple present only:

I always eat breakfast. Other frequency adverbs?

usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, never *always can be used in the progressive when complaining:

He’s always leaving his socks on the floor2) What means “windy”?

Answer? There is no auxiliary which is what we need for a Wh-question: What does windy mean**?**Note: the verb does not have ‘s’ in the question form- only the auxiliary

3) She has twenty years old.Answer? We use the verb “be” with adjectives

She is twenty years old. ORShe is beautiful.

We use “have” to show possession:I have a new car.4) I am agree with you.

Answer? Agree is a verb. It doesn’t need the auxiliary “am”Also, agree is a “stative verb” meaning it describes a state and is only used in the progressive form as an exception:

Tom is tasting the sauce. The doctor is seeing a patient.

5) I must to leave at 5:00.Answer? Must is a Modal* AuxiliaryModal Auxiliaries express people’s attitudes and moods:

I must leave at 5:00. Other modals are may, might, can, could,

shall, should, will, would, ought to*True modals never take infinitives (to

+verb)6) He said me hello.

Answer? He said, “Hello.” OR He said hello to me.The object of the verb SAY is what is said: “He said hello” not the person it is said to.

Compare with: “He told me a story”

7) I haven’t a pen.

Answer? I don’t have* a pen.In the simple present, all verbs in the negative use ‘don’t’ or ‘doesn’t + verb, depending on person.

* In British English, they say, “I haven’t a pen.”

8) Where’s my pencil? Have you seen him?Answer: Where’s my pencil? Have you seen it?In the simple present, verbs in the negative use ‘don’t’ or ‘doesn’t + verb, depending on person.

9) Is important to have a car in this city.Answer: It’s important to have a car in this city?In English, you can never omit the subject pronouns like you can in Spanish: I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they.

10) The people is very angry at the tax increase.(2 errors)Answer: People are very angry at the tax increase.

1 There’s no definite article “the” because you are making a generalization.Compare: The people in Chicago are very angry at their tax increase.

2) “People” is a plural noun, so the verb is plural; compare with “Person.”

Game Time: What is it called?

1. He is fast. Answer: It’s an adjective

2. My book is new. Answer: It’s a possessive adjective

3. on, at, in Answer: They’re prepositions

4. I’m Answer: It’s a contraction of I am

5. They ate fast. Answer: It’s an adverb

6. Bob likes me.

Answer: It’s an object pronoun

7. Juan lives in a nice house. Answer: It’s an article (indefinite)

8. The wives’ dresses are new.

Answer: It’s a possessive noun

9. Gold is expensive. Answer: It’s a non-count noun

10. I will leave before he comes.Answer: It’s an adverb clause orsometimes called a time clause

Game Time: What verb tense is this?

1. He is running fast.

Answer: It’s present continuous or present progressive2. He slept late. Answer: It’s the simple past

3. She has taught for 30 years.

Answer: It’s the present perfect

4. Tom was studying when they came.

Answer: It’s the past progressive or past continuous

5. It is going to rain tomorrow. Answer: It’s the simple future

6. It smells nice. Answer: It’s the simple present

7. By 6:00, he had finished eating.

Answer: It’s the past perfect

Think-Pair-Share ActivityA. Look at the following sentences and find the

error(s).B. How would you explain them to your students?

1. Abe is wanting a snack. He’s being hungry. 2. I am more tall than my brother. 3. Where are my keys? I lay them here on the desk five minutes

ago. 4. Since I came to this country, I am learning a lot about the way

of life here. 5. I have been in New York City two weeks ago. 6. I will intend to go back home when I will finish my education.7. A film director must has control of the set. 8. May you please help me with this?9. Can you borrow me some money?10. He go in the market in Saturdays.

So what will you take away from this?

thanks!

"The greater part of the world's troubles are due to questions and grammar." - Michel de Montaigne