Grammar Review 2: Verbs€¦ · Grammar Review 2: Verbs . Present Simple • To talk about routines...
Transcript of Grammar Review 2: Verbs€¦ · Grammar Review 2: Verbs . Present Simple • To talk about routines...
Grammar Review 2: Verbs
Present Simple
• To talk about routines or habits.
I get up at 6.00 every morning to get to uni.
• To talk about future events on a timetable or programme of events. This use is
sometimes called the timetable future.
The train for Central leaves at 6.00 on Monday.
Past Simple
• To talk about things that happened in the past, are finished and have no
connection with the present. We usually know when the action happened.
I chatted with my tutor on Skype last night.
Present Perfect Simple
• To talk about things that have happened in an unfinished period of time that
includes the present. It is used with expressions like this morning, this week, this
month, this year.
Have you seen Joe this morning?
*Did you see Joe this morning?
• To talk about the duration of an action that started in the past and continues up
to and includes the present. It is often used with for and since.
She has studied here for 3 years.
Present Perfect Simple
• To talk about the present result of an action completed at an unspecified time in
the past.
Oh, you have completed your assignment.
• To talk about experiences people have had at some time in their lives. When it
happened is not specified.
He has travelled all around Australia.
Past Perfect
• To talk about two actions in the past and to make clear the sequence of events. It
shows that one action happened before the other.
The tute had finished when he arrived.
Present Continuous
• To talk about an activity in progress, which includes the present moment.
A: What are you doing?
B: I am watching TV.
• To talk about definite future events. This is sometimes called the diary future. The
time reference is given or understood.
I am meeting my tutor at 3.30 on Friday.
Past Continuous
• To talk about an action that was in progress at a past point in time.
I was doing my assignment at 8.00.
• To talk about an activity that was in progress and interrupted by a single
complete action in the past. It is made with the Past Continuous, the Past Simple
and the words when or while.
I was doing my assignment when the phone rang.
Present Perfect Continuous
• To talk about the duration of an activity that started in the past and continues up to
and includes the present.
He has been working on his assignment since 8.00.
• To talk about the result of a recently stopped activity. The result of the activity is
evident in the present.
He has been working on his assignment. He is exhausted.
Past Perfect Continuous
• To talk about the duration of an activity that continued up to a specified point in
time in the past. The words for and since are used to talk about the duration of the
activity. The word when is often used to introduce the past time reference.
They had been researching in the library for 2 hours when the siren went off.
• To talk about the result of a past activity that stopped before a point in time in the
past. The result of the activity is evident at this past point in time.
I got home last night and the place was a mess. My flatmates had been partying.
Zero Conditional
• To express a general rule or scientific fact that is always true.
If you press this button, the trash is gone forever.
First Conditional
• To talk about a situation that we see as possible in the future. It is called the
‘possible conditional’. It can be used to express a variety of functions, e.g. an offer, a
threat, a warning, a consequence.
If it rains, I will not go to uni.
Second Conditional
• The Second Conditional is used to talk about a situation that we see as either
improbable or unreal. It is called the ‘improbable conditional’. It can be used to give
advice, make offers, and talk about a variety of hypothetical situations.
If I won a lot of money, I would quit uni and travel around the world.
If I were you, I would stop worrying about the assignment.
Third Conditional
• To speculate about the consequences of something that did not happen in the
past. It is called the ‘impossible conditional’. It can be used to express regret or
relief.
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
Reference
Workman, G. 2008, Concept questions and time lines, Gem Publishing.
Reporting verbs
Choosing the ‘right’ reporting verb depends on:
• what the author is doing
• the extent to which you agree with the author
• the significance the author has placed on the information
• the way the reporting verb fits together with other words in a sentence
What the author is doing
• ARGUE: verbs concerned with writing or saying
argue, suggest, propose, point out, observe, explain, conclude, claim, state
• THINK: verbs concerned with thinking, knowing, understanding
think, believe, assume, feel, hold, hope
• SHOW: verbs concerned with indicating a fact or situation
show, demonstrate, reveal, indicate, confirm, imply
• FIND: verbs concerned with the research process
find, discover, observe, establish, identify, infer
Agreement with author
You can indicate, through a choice of reporting verbs, your viewpoint:
• a belief that the information is correct
acknowledge, define, demonstrate, explain, identify, observe, outline, show, throw
light on
• a neutral attitude towards the veracity of the information
add, argue, claim, clarify, conclude, describe, express, feel, find, indicate, inform,
present, propose, remark, remind, report, state, use
• a belief that the information is incorrect
allege, confuse, disregard, ignore
Significance of information
It is possible to indicate whether the author is positive or negative in their attitude to the
content of the information.
• Positive
accept, advise, affirm, agree, applaud, assert, concur, insist, maintain, note, praise,
point out, posit, recommend, remark, stress, subscribe to, suggest, support, think,
urge
• Negative/uncertain:
attack, challenge, disagree, dismiss, dispute, doubt, mistrust, oppose, question,
reject, suspect, warn
• The author is very assertive/certain: argue, challenge, claim, insist, refute, reject
• The author is tentative: propose, speculate, suggest
• The author believes the information is very important: contend, emphasise, stress
• The author believes the information is of lesser importance: mention, note, say
• The author is offering advice to the reader: caution, recommend, warn, urge
How it fits in the sentence
• Mostly in the present tense
ARGUE (concerned with writing or saying), THINK (concerned with thinking,
knowing and understanding) and SHOW (concerned with indicating a fact/situation)
verbs
• Occasionally in the present perfect tense
ARGUE, FIND and SHOW verbs
• Mostly in the past tense
FIND (concerned with the research process) verbs