REVISION FOR THE FIRST - TERM EXAMINATION– English 8
School years: 2015 - 2016
A/ GRAMMAR NOTES
I. Tenses
Present simple tense
a. Form:
- of the verb “be”: S + am/is/are… - S + am/is/are + not… - Am/Is/Are + S…?
- of ordinary verb: S+V-s/es… - S+don’t/doesn’t + V-bare inf… - Do/Does + S +V-bare inf…?
b. Use
- for something that is permanently true ( The sun rises in the east and sets in the west)
- for habits and repeated actions (How often do you go to school? / He usually leaves work at 6p.m)
c. The “-s/es” ending
- kiss –kisses, go –goes, box – boxes, wash – washes, watch – watches…
- study –studies, copy – copies, carry – carries, try - tries…
- play – plays, buy – buys, obey - obeys…
d. Pronunciation of the “-s/es” ending
- /s/: hopes, fits…
- /z/: rides, learns…
- /iz/: uses, washes, watch…
2. Past simple
a. Form
- of the verb “be”: S + was/were… - S + was/weren’t… - Was/Were + S…?
- of ordinary verb: S + V-ed/V-2… - S + didn’t + V-bare inf… - Did + S + V-bare inf…?
b. Use:
- for a completed action or state in the past (We lived in Sydney 2 years ago / Yesterday, I was busy so I didn’t have time to phone you)
- some adverbs are often used in the past simple: yesterday, ago, last night/week/month/year…
c. The “-ed” ending
- walked, filled…
- .lived, moved, smiled…
- studied…
- stopped, robbed, begged… (played, fixed, plowed…)
- preferred…
- opened, entered, offered…
- traveled/ travelled
- Irregular verbs: see-saw, buy-bought…
d. Pronunciation of the “-ed” ending
- /t/: looked, missed, watched, finished, laughed…
- /d/: cleaned, saved, played, robbed…
- /id/: wanted, needed, invited, decided…
3. Future simple
a. Form: S + will +V-bare inf… - S + won’t + V-bare inf… - Will + S + V-bare inf…?
b. Use
- statements of future fact (I will be 14 on my next birthday)
- Decision made at the time of speaking (There’s Eleanor. I’ll go and talk to her)
- To show willingness (this bag looks heavy. I’ll help you)
- Some adverbs are often used: tomorrow, next…, someday, one day, tonight, this morning/ week…, soon…
4. Talk about intention with “be going to”
a. Form: S + be going to + V-bare inf…
b. Use: for a plan or an intention (Bob is tired of taking the bus to work. He is going to buy a car.)
5. Present simple with future meaning: to describe an organized future timetable (What time does the train leave tomorrow? – It leaves at 8a.m.)
6. Present progressive tense
a. Form: S + am/is/are + V-ing… - S + am/is/are + not + V-ing… - Am/Is/Are + S + V-ing…?
b. Use:
- For something that is happening at or around the time of speaking (Let’s go out. It’s raining now)
- A planned future action (I’m seeing Jessica tonight)
- To show changes with ‘get’ and ‘become’ (Many remote areas are getting electricity / Life in the provinces is definitely becoming better)
7. Present perfect with for and since
a. Form
S + have/has + V-ed/V-3(past participle)…
S + have/has + not + V-ed/V-3(past participle)…
Have/Has + S + V-ed/V-3(past participle)…?
b. Use: The present perfect with “for” and “since” is used when something started in the past and is continuing now
- For + period of time (We haven’t lived there since 1987)
- Since + a point of time in the past (He has been in the army for two years)
II. Adverbs of