Đề cương ôn tập môn anh văn doc

TOPIC 1:
Examples:
1. She went to Los Angeles.
subject pronoun
2. She gave him her card.
object pronoun
3. That essay is mine her card.
possessive pronoun
4. Little babby has learned to eat by himself.
reflexive pronoun
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Subject pronouns
I
You
He/She/It
We
You
They
Object pronouns
Me
You
Him/Her/It
Us
You
Them
Possessive pronouns
Mine
Yours
His/Hers/Its
Ours
Yours

Theirs
Reflexive pronouns
Myself
Yourself
Himself/Herself/Itself
Ourselves
Yourselves
Themselves
Relative pronouns
Who
Whom
Whose
Which
That
TOPIC 2:
A. Form
1. Adverbs
a. Most adverbs end in –ly.
adjective adverb
brave bravely
loud loudly
quick quickly
dangerous dangerously
bad badly
b. Some adverbs are irregular.
adjective adverb
good well
fast fast
hard hard
2. Adjectives

a. We put adjectives in front of the noun.
adjective noun
a new car
two green apples
blue eyes
b. Adjectives do not change.
adjective noun
a big house
two big houses
c. We use an in front of an adjective that begins with a vowel.
an old man
an easy exam
B. Use
1. Adverbs describe verbs.
You can do this exercise easily. (Easily describes do.)
2. Adjectives describe nouns.
This is an easy exercise. (Easy describes exercise.)
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TOPIC 3:
A. Form
 Spelling
1. Basic rule: We add –ing to the infinitive.
wash washing
read reading
hurry hurrying
2. Exception: for verbs that end in –e, we remove the -e and add –ing.
drive driving
use using
For verbs with a short vowel and only one consonant, we double the consonant and add –ing.
swim swimming

sit sitting
B. Use
1. We use gerunds as subjects or objects.
Skiing can be dangerous.
I like travelling by plane.
2. Certain verbal expressions take a gerund.
Would you mind going to the bank for me?
I don’t mind doing that.
Do you fancy watching a video?
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TOPIC 4:
A. in is used with years in 1994
centuries in the nienteenth century
parts of the day in the morning
decades in the 1960s
seasons in summer
months in November
B. on is used with dates on 19 July
days of the week on Monday
on Sunday morning
‘special’ days on my birthday
on Christmas Day
C. at is used with times at 7.00
at midnight
holidays at Christmas
at Easter
at the weekend
D. no preposition is used with expressions with ago
tonight, this morning
this afternoon, etc.

tomorrow, tomorrow afternoon, etc.
yesterday, yesterday morning, etc.
expressions with last or next
TOPIC 5:
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I. THE FUTURE WITH “WILL”
A. Form
1. Positive and negative
I
He
She
It
We
You
They
‘ll
(will)
won’t
(will not)
see you tomorrow.
get the job.
2. Questions Short answers
Will
Will
you
he
be at the meeting? Yes, I will.
lend you his car? No, he won’t.
B. Use
1. We use the future with will to make predictions or general statements about the future.

We’ll need some more money soon.
In the year 2050 the world’s population will reach 10 billion.
2. We use the future with will to describe a decision made at the moment of speaking often or to make
an offer.
‘Have you got that report?’ ‘Yes, I’ll fax you a copy.’
‘I can’t hear the TV very well.’ ‘I’ll turn it up.’
II. THE FUTURE WITH “GOING TO”
A. Form
1. Positive and negative
I
‘m
(am)
going to
do the shopping.
have a shower.
clean the windows.
‘m not
(am not)
He
She
It
‘s
(is)
Isn’t
‘s not
(is not)
We
You
They
‘re

(are)
aren’t
‘re not
(are not)
2. Questions Short answers
Are you going to play football? Yes, I am.
Is he going to buy the wine? No, he isn’t
B. Use
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1. We use going to to describe plans, intentions, and things we have decided to do.
I’m going to look for a new job.
I’m going to sell my car.
2. We use going to to describe things we can see or feel will definitely happen in the future.
She’s going to have a baby.
3-0 up with five minutes to play, Manchester City are going to win.
III. THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE
A. Form
1. Positive and negative
I
We
You
They
live
in Manchester.
don’t live
(do not live)
He
She
It
plays

tennis.
doesn’t play
(does not play)
a. In the third person singular we add –s to the infinitive.
b. When the verb ends in –ss, -sh, -ch, -z or –o, we add –es.
kiss kisses
wish wishes
watch watches
buzz buzzes
do does
c. When the verb ends in consonant + y, we change the –y to –ies
worry worries
study studies
2. Questions Short answers
Do you live in London? Yes, I do.
Does he play golf? No, he doesn’t.
B. Use
1. We use the present simple tense to describe states.
I live with my parents.
Water boils at 100 degrees.
2. We use the present simple tense to describe regular events.
I usually work late on Mondays.
They go on holidays to Ireland every year.
C. Pronunciation
1. After a vowel sound or a voiced consonant sound (/b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /δ/, /z/, /l/, /r/, /m/, /n/, /η/) we
pronounce the final –s as /z/.
comes / kʌmz/ goes /gәʊz/
2. After a voiceless consonant sound (/t/, /p/, /f/, and /k/) we pronounce the final –s as /s/.
cuts / kʌts/ stops /stɒps/ coughs /kʌfs/ looks /lʊks/
3. When the verb ends in –ges, –ches, –sses, –ses, –zes or –shes, we pronounce the final syllable

/iz/.
changes /ʧeinʤiz/ pushes /pʊʃiz /
IV. THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
A. Form
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1. Positive and negative
I
‘m
(am)
reading.
watching TV.
working at home.
.
‘m not
(am not)
He
She
It
‘s
(is)
Isn’t
‘s not
(is not)
We
You
They
‘re
(are)
aren’t
‘re not

(are not)
2. Questions Short answers
Am I meeting Mike at 12.00? Yes, you are.
Is she coming to the meeting? No, she isn’t
Are they driving or coming by train?
a. To make –ing forms we add –ing to the infinitive.
eat eating
fly flying
b. For verbs that end in –e, we remove the –e and add –ing.
drive driving
come coming
c. When the verb ends consonant–vowel–consonant and the stress is on the final syllable, we
double the final consonant and add –ing.
run running
admit admitting
B. Use
1. We use the present continuous tense to say what is happening at the moment.
We’re having dinner just now.
‘Where’s Sue?’ ‘She’s watching TV.’
2. We use the present continuous tense to describe a temporary state.
I can’t find a flat, so I’m living with my parents.
I’m doing French evening classes this year.
3. We use the present continuous tense to describe a future arrangement.
I’m playing tennis tomorrow evening.
They’re arriving next Monday at 10.00.
C. Present simple and present continuous
1. Sometimes the use of the present simple or the present continuous depends on whether we see a
situation as permanent or temporary.
I live in a flat in George Road. (I see the situation as permanent.)
I’m living with my parents until I find a place of my own. (I think the situation is temporary.)

Where do you work? (I think you have a permanent job.)
Where are you working? (I think you are doing something temporary.)
2. Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous form even when they refer to the present
moment. They refer to states and not to actions. The most important ones are
a. like, love, prefer, hate, want, wish, need
I need a new pen. NOT I’m needing a new pen.
b. think, imagine, believe, know, realize, mean, understand, remember, forget, suppose, hope, see
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I don’t understand. NOT I’m not understanding.
c. be, seem, appear, sound, taste, smell
This tastes delicious. NOT This is tasting delicious.
d. belong, contain, include, matter, owe, own
Who does the car belong to? NOT Who is the car belonging to?
3. Some of these verbs can be used in the continuous form when they describe actions and not states.
Compare these sentences.
This ice cream tastes disgusting. (state)
He’s tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt. (action)
I think it’s important. (state)
‘What are you doing?’ ‘I’m thinking.’ (action)
V. THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
A. Form
We make the present perfect tense with have/has and the past participle.
1. Positive and negative
I
We
You
They
‘ve
(have)
lived abroad.

haven’t
(have not)
He
She
It
‘s
(has) cooked dinner.
hasn’t
(has not)
2. Questions Short answers
Have you been to Paris before? Yes, I have.
Has she broken her leg? No, she hasn’t
a. To make regular past participles, we add –ed to the infinitive.
play played
open opened
This is the same as the regular past tense.
b. A lot of common verbs have an irregular past participle.
go gone
write written
see seen
B. Use
The present perfect links the past with the present.

PAST
PRESENT
1. We use the present perfect tense when we are interested in the present result of a past action.
She’s gone home. (She isn’t here now.)
I’ve bought a new car. (I’ve got a new car now.)
2. We use the present perfect tense when an activity or situation started in the past and still continues
to the present.

He’s worked in the same office for twenty years.(He still works there now.)
I’ve lived here for three years. (I still live here now.)
NOW
I’ve lived here for three years.
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PAST

three years ago
3. We use the present perfect tense when we are referring to a time frame that comes up to the
present.
Have you ever been to Brazil? (In your life until now.)
I’ve been to Brazil three times. (Until now I’ve been there three times.)
Have you seen John today? (We are still in the time frame of ‘today’.)
VI. THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
A. Form
1. Positive and negative
I
We
You
They
‘ve
(have)
been
playing football.
having a rest.
waiting for an hour.
haven’t
(have not)
He
She

It
‘s
(has)
hasn’t
(has not)
2. Questions Short answers
Has he been reading? Yes, he has.
Have you been waiting long? No, I haven’t
B. Use
1. We use the present perfect continuous tense to describe an activity that is still incomplete.
I’ve been writing a letter. (I haven’t finished it yet.)
How long have you been reading that book? (You haven’t finished it yet.)
2. We use the present perfect continuous tense to focus on the process of an activity.
‘What have you been doing?’ ‘I’ve been running.’
3. We use the present perfect continuous tense to emphasize the duration of an activity.
You’re late. I’ve been waiting for an hour.
C. Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous
1. The present perfect continuous and the present perfect simple can both be used to describe
situations which started in the past and are still going on, or about past actions which have present
results. The important difference is that the present perfect continuous focuses on the action itself,
but the present perfect simple focuses on the completion or result of the action.
I’ve been playing a lot of football this week. (focus on activity)
I’ve played two matches. (focus on completion)
2. We always use the present perfect simple when we say how much or how many.
How many letters have you written this week?
How much rice have you cooked?
3. With the verbs live and work we can normally use either the present perfect simple or the present
perfect continuous.
Have you lived here long?
Have you been living here long?

4. Sometimes the present perfect simple can describe a more permanent state and the present perfect
continuous can describe a temporary activity.
I’ve lived here for ten years. (permanent)
I’ve been living with my sister for the last few months. (temporary)
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VII. THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE
A. Form
1. The verb to be
a. Positive and negative
I
He
She
It
was
at home last week.
wasn’t
(was not)
We
You
They
were
here yesterday.
weren’t
(were not)
b. Questions Short answers
Was he at home last week? Yes, he was.
Were they here yesterday? No, they weren’t.
2. Regular verbs
a. To make the past simple tense we add –ed to the infinitive. The past simple is the same for all
persons.

verb past simple
watch We watched a film last night.
happen It happened in Rome.
 When the verb ends in –e, we add –d.
use used
decide decided
 When the verb ends consonant-vowel-consonant, and the stress is on the final syllable, we double
the final consonant and add –ed.
stop stopped
prefer preferred
 But we do not double –y, or –w as final letters.
delay delayed
show showed
 When the verb ends in consonant + y, we change the –y to –ied.
hurry hurried
study studied
b. Pronunciation
 After /p/, /k/, /ʃ/, /ʧ/, and /s/ we pronounce the final –d as /t/.
 When the verb ends in –t or –d we pronounce the final syllable /id/.
 Otherwise we pronounce the final –d as /d/.
/d/ /t/ /id/
pulled
lived
seemed
watched
liked
missed
wanted
ended
decided

3. Irregular verbs
Many commons verbs have an irregular past form. The irregular form is the same for all persons.
a. Positive
verb past simple
see I saw her yesterday.
buy They bought a new car last week.
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b. Negative
He didn’t
(did not)
go to the theatre.
c. Questions Short answers
Did you see the film last night? Yes, I did.
Did she visit her parents? No, she didn’t.
Negatives, questions, and short answers are the same for all persons and for all verbs except the
verb to be.
Note: In negatives and questions we use the infinitive of the verb.
Did you go out? NOT Did you went out?
Did they buy a car? NOT Did they bought a car?
B. Use
1. We use the past simple tense to describe a completed action in the past.
NOW
We went to the cinema yesterday.
PAST
2. We use the past simple tense to describe a completed situation in the past.
NOW
I worked in Edinburgh from 1989 to 1995.
PAST

1989 1995

3. We use the past simple tense to describe a repeated action in the past.
NOW
They went to Greece every year until 1995.
PAST

1988 1995
C. Past simple and present perfect
Compare the uses of the past simple and the present perfect.
1. We use the past simple when we are interested in the action or the time of the action, not the
effect.
She’s gone home. (She isn’t here now.)
She went at four o’clock. (We’re interested in when the action took place.)
2. We use the past simple when we are talking about a finished time in the past.
I’ve lived here for five years. (I still live here.)
Before that I lived in Madrid. (But I don’t live there now.)
NOW
Before that I lived in Madrid. I’ve lived here for five years.

PAST
3. We use the past simple when we are referring to a time frame that ended in the past.
‘Have you been out today?’
‘Yes, I went out this morning.’
VIII. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
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A. Form
1. Positive and negative
I
He
She
It

was
going to work.
wasn’t
(was not)
We
You
They
were
standing at the bus stop.
weren’t
(were not)
2. Questions Short answers
Was he having a bath? Yes, he was.
Were they driving to Scotland? No, they weren’t.
B. Use
The past continuous tense describes a continuous or unfinished activity in the past.
1. We use the past continuous tense to describe an action that started before a particular moment, and
probably continued after it.
At 8.00 I was having breakfast.
This time last week I was lying on a beach in Greece.
NOW
I was lying on a beach in Greece.
PAST
This time last week
2. We use the past continuous tense to describe a temporary situation in the past.
I was living in Bristol last year.
C. Past continuous and past simple
We often use the past continuous tense with the past simple tense. The past continuous describes the
situation – it is background information. The past simple describes the main event. The clauses are
usually joined by while, as, or when.

While I was waiting for the bus, it started to rain.
As I was going to bed, the doorbell rang.
NOW
We were driving to the station
PAST
when the accident happened.
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IX. THE PAST PERFECT TENSE
A. Form
We make the past perfect tense with had/hadn’t and the past participle.
1. Positive and negative
I
He
She
It
We
You
They
‘d
(had)
hadn’t
(had not)
been there for 2 hours.
finished the project.
2. Questions Short answers
Had
Had
you
he
seen him before? Yes, I had.

Eaten breakfast? No, he hadn’t.
B. Use
1. We use the past perfect tense to look back on an event that occurred before another event in the past.
We had dinner. We weren’t hungry.
We weren’t hungry because we’d had dinner.
NOW
dinner not hungry
PAST 1 2
We weren’t hungry because we’d had dinner.
2. The past perfect is often used with when, after, before, as soon as.
I was sure I’d seen him before.
After we’d finished dinner, we went for a walk.
The past perfect is necessary when we need to make it clear that one thing happened before
another. Compare these sentences.
Sheila got up, got dressed, had some breakfast, and went out.
When Sheila got to the party, Amanda had gone home.
In the first sentence we do not use the past perfect, because the order of events is clear. In the
second sentence we need to use the past perfect to make it clear that Amanda went home before
Sheila got to the party.
X. ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
never hardly ever sometimes often normally always
frequently usually
A. We put the adverb of frequency
 after the verb to be.
The train is always on time.
He’s never here at 9.00.
 in front of the main verb.
We often go to the park.
I don’t usually get up late.
B. Sometimes, normally, and usually can also go at the beginning or end of the sentence, but they usually

go before the main verb
I  have lunch in a restaurant .
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sometimes
normally
usually
TOPIC 6:
A. Form
1. When the statement is positive the tag is negative.
You’re
Italian,
aren’t you?
He’s
from Bristol,
isn’t he?
2. When the statement is negative the tag is positive.
They aren’t
coming to the party,
are they?
She isn’t
here yet,
is she?
3. With the verb to be we make the tag with the verb and the subject.
It isn’t very warm, is it?
4. When there is a modal verb or an auxiliary verb we make the tag from the modal or auxiliary and
the subject.
You can
swim,
can’t you?
She won’t

be here tomorrow,
will she?
It doesn’t
matter,
does it?
You’ve
finished,
haven’t you?
It was
raining,
wasn’t it?
5. When the verb in the sentence hasn’t got an auxiliary, we make the tag from the auxiliary that we
would normally use for making questions in that tense.
She arrived yesterday, didn’t she? You like fish, don’t you?
Note: Negative tag questions are contracted.
You knew about this yesterday,didn’t you? NOT … did not you?
She can speak Russian, can’t she? NOT … can not she?
6. When the subject of the statement is a noun, we replace it with a pronoun in the tag.
This chair‘s French, isn’t it?
Bob and Betty live near here, don’t they?
7. The question tag for a sentence with Let’s is shall we?
Let’s get a pizza, shall we?
8. The question tag for a sentence with I am is aren’t I?
I’m going to Helsinki next week, aren’t I?
9. When we write a question tag it is separated from the statement by a comma (,) and is followed by
a question mark (?).
B. Use
A question tag turns a statement into a question. It is less direct than an ordinary question.
We can use falling intonation or rising intonation on a question tag. We use falling intonation when we
think the statement is true and we expect the other person to agree. We use rising intonation when we

want to check something.
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TOPIC 7:
A. Form
1. We make the passive with the verb to be and a past participle.
These computers
are made
in Japan.
This wine
is produced
in Portugal.
2. We can use the passive in any tense. To make different tenses we change the verb to be.
Past
The car
was
stolen.
Present perfect
Someone
has been
arrested.
Present
Thousands of cars
are
stolen.
will
The crime
will be
solved.
would
Fewer crimes

would be
committed.
3. To make the negative of the passive, we use the negative of the verb to be.
The man wasn’t sent to prison.
The weapon hasn’t been found.
4. To make questions we use the normal question form of the verb to be in each tense.
Was the man sent to prison?
Has the weapon been found?
5. We can use the passive with a modal verb. We use a modal verb + be + past participle.
Cars shouldn’t be parked there.
It can’t be done.
She must be told.
B. Use
1. We use the passive when the action is more important than the agent (who or what did the action).
2. We use the passive when we don’t know the agent.
The car has been found.
The suspect was identified.
These houses were built in the 1930s.
If we want to show the agent, we use by.
The car has been found by some children.
The suspect was identified by a witness.
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TOPIC 8:
I. FIRST CONDITIONALS
A. Form
We use the present simple tense in the if clause and the future with will in the main clause. We usually
use a comma (,) when the if clause is first, but not when the main clause is first.
If she
eats
all that ice cream, she

‘ll feel
terrible.
If I
have
time, I
‘ll phone
you later.

You
‘ll be
hungry if you
don’t have
some dinner.
They
won’t arrive
on time if they
miss
the bus.
Note: We do not use will in the if clause.
If it rains, we’ll go to the cinema.
NOT If it will rain, we’ll go to the cinema.
B. Use
First conditionals predict the results of a real or probable action or event.
If you get up late, you’ll miss the appointment.
(There is a real chance that you’ll get up late.)
We won’t go if it rains.
(There is a real chance that it will rain.)
II. SECOND CONDITIONALS
A. Form
We use the past simple form in the if clause and would + infinitive without to in the main clause. We

usually use a comma (,) when the if clause is first, but not when the main clause is first.
If I
had
enough money, I
‘d buy
that house.
If you
didn’t eat
so much, you
‘d lose
weight.
He
‘d feel
better if he
didn’t smoke
so much.
They
wouldn’t play
tennis if it
was
raining.
Note: We do not use would in the if clause.
If I had enough money …
NOT If I would have enough money …
B. Use
Second conditionals describe unreal, unlikely, or imaginary situations.
If we had more money, we’d travel business class.
What would you do if you saw a ghost?
III. THIRD CONDITIONALS
A. Form

We use the past perfect (continuous) form in the if clause and would have + past participle in the main
clause. We usually use a comma (,) when the if clause is first, but not when the main clause is first.
If I
had told
the truth, I
wouldn’t have felt.
If you
hadn’t studied
so hard, you
would have failed.
I
would have passed
if I
‘d worked
harder.
They
wouldn’t have come
if the
y
hadn’t wanted
to see you.
B. Use
We use third conditionals to describe something that didn’t happen, an imaginary situation in the past.
If I’d worked harder I would have passed the exam.
(I didn’t work hard, and I didn’t pass the exam.)
You wouldn’t have crashed if you hadn’t been driving so fast.
(You were driving too fast, and you crashed.)
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TOPIC 9:
A. Form

adjective comparative superlative
one syllable
tall
cold
taller
colder
the tallest
the coldest
One syllable:
short vowel +
one consonant
hot
thin
big
hotter
thinner
bigger
the hottest
the thinnest
the biggest
Two syllables:
consonant + y
heavy
pretty
heavier
prettier
the heaviest
the prettiest
Two or more
syllables

modern
interesting
more modern
more interesting
the most modern
the most interesting
Irregular
good
bad
far
better
worse
further
the best
the worst
the furthest
1. A comparative adjective is often followed by than.
Russia is bigger than Canada.
The film was much better than I expected.
2. as … as … can be used to make comparisons.
Her house is as big as mine.
Silver isn’t as expensive as gold.
3. In the negative so … as … is also possible.
Silver isn’t so expensive as gold.
B. Use
1. The comparative is used to compare two separate items or groups.
Alex is taller than his brothers.
2. The superlative is used to compare one member of a group with the rest of the group.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
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Alex 1.92m
Alex’s brothers 1.85m
1.83m
1.75m
all the mountains in the world
Mount Everest
TOPIC 10:
A. A relative clause gives more information about a noun in a sentence.
I saw the man.
I saw the man who lives next door.
A relative clause starts with a relative pronoun. We use
1. who with people.
He’s the man who lives next door.
2. which with things.
Where’s the disk which was on my desk?
3. that with people and things.
He’s the man that lives next door.
Where’s the disk that was on my desk?
4. whom instead of who when it is the object of a verb.
The woman whom I wanted to see was away on vacation.
5. whose instead of his / her / their
We saw some people whose car had broken down.
6. where to talk about a place
The hotel where we stayed wasn’t very clean.
7. when with time
That was the time when I was unhappy.
8. why with reason
That was the reason why I didn’t want to meet him.
B. In a relative clause we can sometimes leave out the relative pronoun who, which or that.
We can only do this if the relative pronoun is the object of the clause. Look at these sentences.

He’s the man. She married him.
object
He’s the man (who/that) she married.
In this sentence the man is the object of the relative clause, so we can leave out the relative pronoun.
He’s the man. He lives next door.
subject
He’s the man who/that lives next door.
In this sentence the man is the subject of the relative clause, so we can’t leave out the relative pronoun.
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TOPIC 11:
I. STATEMENTS
When we report what somebody says we make the following changes.
 The pronouns and possessive adjectives change, because a different person is now speaking.
Direct speech: I like cooking.
Reported speech: Sally says that she likes cooking.
 When we report something with a past tense verb (e.g. said or told), some of the tenses of the
verbs also change.
Direct speech Reported speech
present perfect past perfect
past simple past perfect/past simple
present simple past simple
present continuous past continuous
will would
Note: The past perfect tense, would, and modal verbs do not change.
Direct speech Reported speech
Walter: I’ve read that book. Walter said (that) he had read that book.
Zoe: We saw a great film last week. Zoe said (that) they had seen a great film the week before.
Tom: I don’t want to stay here. Tom said (that) he didn’t want to stay there.
Andrea: I’m going out. Andrea said (that) she was going out.
Luke: I’ll be away till March. Luke said (that) he’d be away till March.

Zoran: I had never been there before. Zoran said (that) he had never been there before.
Helen: I’d like a coffee. Helen said (that) she’d like a coffee.
Monica: I might phone you later. Monica said (that) she might phone us later.
Note: In everyday speech the rules are not always followed, particularly when the direct speech is still
true at the time of reporting.
Zoe said that they saw a great film.
Tom said that he doesn’t want to go.
II. QUESTIONS
Reported questions are a form of indirect question.
When we report questions, we make the following changes.
 The tenses and pronouns change as for statements.
 The word order changes to a statement word order, and verbs have a statement form.
 There is no question mark at the end of a reported question.
‘Where does John work?’
A man asked me where John worked.
‘How many times have you seen this film?’
She asked me how many times I’d seen the film.
 With Yes/No questions, the reported question starts with whether or if.
‘Have you seen them today?’
He asked me whether/if I had seen them today.
III. COMMANDS AND REQUESTS
We normally use tell for commands and ask for requests, but other verbs can also be used, such as advise,
warn, persuade, beg, order, and command. To report a command or a request we use the following
structure: told/asked + person + (not) to + verb.
‘Don’t worry.’
He told me not to worry.
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‘Please sit down.’
The doctor asked me to sit down.
TOPIC 12:

I. SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE VERB
Very often, if the subject and verb are separated, they will be separated by prepositional phrase. The
prepositional phrase has no effect on the verb.
The study of languages is very interesting.
singular subject singular verb
Several theories on this subject have been proposed.
plural subject plural verb
The view of these disciplines varies from time to time.
singular subject singular verb
The danger of forest fires is not to be taken lightly.
singular subject singular verb
The effects of that crime are likely to be devasting.
plural subject plural verb
The fear of rape and robbery has caused many people to flee the cities.
singular subject singular verb
The following expressions also have no effect on the verb.
The actress, along with her manager and some friends, is going to a party tonight.
singular subject singular verb
Mr. Robbins, accompanied by his wife and children, is arriving tonight.
singular subject singular verb
NOTE: If the conjunction and is used instead of one of these phrases, the verb would then be plural.
The actress and her manager are going to a party tonight.
plural subject plural verb
II. WORDS THAT ALWAYS TAKE SINGULAR VERBS AND PRONOUNS
Some words are often confused by students as being plural. The following words must be followed by singular
verbs and pronouns in formal written English.
* Either and neither are singular if they are not used with or and nor.
Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should be in this line.
Something was under the house.
If either of you takes a vacation now, we will not be able to finish the work.

Anybody who has lost his ticket should report to the desk. (note the singular pronoun)
No problem is harder to solve than this one.
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subject + [prepositional phrase] + verb
together with along with
accompanied by as well as
any + singular noun no + singular noun some + singular every + singular noun each + singular noun
anybody nobody somebody everybody
anyone no one someone everyone either*
anything nothing something everything neither*
Nobody works harder than John does.
III. NONE/NO
None can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on the noun which follows it.
None of the counterfeit money has been found.
None of the students have finished the exam yet.
No can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on the noun which follows it.
No example is relevant to this case.
No examples are relevant to this case.
IV. EITHER/NEITHER
When either and neither are followed by or and nor, the verb may be singular or plural, depending on whether
the noun following or and nor is singular or plural. If or or nor appears alone, the same rule applies. Study the
following formulas.
Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach today.
plural noun plural verb
Either John or his friends are going to the beach today.
plural noun plural verb
Neither John nor Bill is going to the beach today.
singular noun singular verb
Either John or Bill is going to the beach today.
singular noun singular verb

Examples:
Neither John nor Jane is going to class today.
singular singular
Neither Maria nor her friends are going to class today.
plural plural
John or George is bringing the car.
singular singular
Neither the boys nor Carmen has seen this movie before.
singular singular
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none + of the + non-count noun + singular verb
none + of the + plural count noun + plural verb
no + + singular verb
singular noun
non-count noun
no + plural noun + plural verb
+ noun + + plural noun + plural verb
neither
either

nor
or
+ noun + + singular noun + singular verb
neither
either

nor
or
Neither the director nor the secretary wants to leave yet.
singular singular

V. COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Also many words indicating a number of people or animals are singular. The following nouns are usually
singular. In some cases they are plural if the sentence indicates that the individual members are acting
separately.
* Majority can be singular or plural. If it is alone it is usually singular. If it is followed by a plural noun, it is
usually plural.
The majority believes that we are in no danger.
The majority of the students believe him to be innocent.
Examples of collective nouns:
The committee has met, and it has rejected the proposal.
The family was elated by the news.
The crowd was wild with excitement.
Congress has initiated a new plan to combat inflation.
The organization has lost many members this year.
Our team is going to win the game.
The following nouns are used to indicate groups of certain animals. It is not necessary to learn the nouns;
however, they mean the same as group and thus are considered singular.
The flock of birds is circling overhead.
The herd of cattle is breaking away.
A school of fish is being attacked by sharks.
Collective nouns indicating time, money, and measurements used as a whole are singular.
Twenty-five dollars is too much to pay for that shirt.
Fifty minutes isn’t enough time to finish this test.
Twenty dollars is all I can afford to pay for that recorder.
Two miles is too much to run in one day.
VI. A NUMBER OF/THE NUMBER OF
A number of students are going to the class picnic.
The number of days in a week is seven.
A number of the applicants have already been interviewed.
The number of residents who have been questioned on this matter is quite small.

VII. NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS PLURAL
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congress family group committee class
organization team army club crowd
government jury majority minority public
flock of birds, sheep school of fish
herd of cattle pride of lions
pack of dogs
a number of + plural noun + plural verb…
the number of + plural noun + singular verb…
The following nouns are always considered plural. They cannot be singular. In order to speak of them as
singular, one must say “a pair of___________.”
The pants are in the drawer.
A pair of pants is in the drawer.
The pliers were on the table.
The pair of pliers was on the table.
These scissors are dull.
This pair of scissors is dull.
VIII. THERE IS/THERE ARE
Remember that with sentences beginning with the existential there, the subject is actually after the verb.
There is a storm approaching.
singular singular
There have been a number of telephone calls today.
plural plural
There was an accident last night.
singular singular
There were too many people at the party.
plural plural
There has been an increase in the importation of foreign cars.
singular singular

There was water on the floor where he fell.
singular non-count
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scissors shorts pants jeans tongs
trousers eyeglasses pliers tweezers
+ singular subject…
(or non-count)


there is
there was
there has been
+ plural subject…


there are
there were
there have
been
Read the text carefully and then choose the correct answer.
PASSAGE 1
(5)
(10)
Alfred Bernhard Nobel, a Swedish inventor and philanthropist, bequeathed most of his vast fortune in trust
as a fund from which annual prizes could be awarded to individuals and organizations who had achieved the
greatest benefit to humanity in a particular year. Originally, there were six classifications of outstanding
contributions designated in Nobel’s will including chemistry, physics, physiology and medicine, literature, and
international peace.
The prizes are administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm. In 1969, a prize for economics
endowed by the Central Bank of Sweden was added. Candidates for the prizes must be nominated in writing

by a qualified authority in the field of competition. Recipients in physics, chemistry, and economics are
selected by the royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; in physiology or medicine by the Caroline Institute; in
literature by the Swedish Academy; and in peace by the Norwegian Nobel Committee appointed by Norway’s
parliament. The prizes are usually presented in Stockholm on December 10, with the King of Sweden
officiating, an appropriate tribute to Alfred Nobel on the anniversary of his death. Each one includes a gold
medal, a diploma, and a cash award of about one million dollars.
1. What does this passage mainly discuss?
A. Alfred Bernhard Nobel B. The Nobel prizes
C. Great contributions to mankind D. Swedish philanthropy
2. Why were the prizes named for Alfred Bernhard Nobel?
A. He left money in his will to establish a fund for the prizes.
B. He won the first Nobel prize for his work in philanthropy.
C. He is now living in Sweden.
D. He serves as chairman of the committee to choose the recipients of the prizes.
3. How often are the Nobel prizes awarded?
A. Five times a year B. Once a year
C. Twice a year D. Once every two years
4. The word “outstanding” in line 3 could best be replaced by ______________.
A. recent B. unusual C. established D. exceptional
5. The word “will” in line 4 refers to ________________.
A. Nobel’s wishes B. a legal document
C. a future intention D. a free choice
6. A Nobel prize would NOT be given to ______________.
A. an author who wrote a novel B. a doctor who discovered a vaccine
C. a composer who wrote a symphony D. a diplomat who negotiated a peace settlement
7. The word “one” in line 12 refers to _______________.
A. tribute B. anniversary C. prize D. candidate
8. Which individual or organization serves as administrator for the trust?
A. The King of Sweden B. The Nobel Foundation
C. The Central Bank of Sweden

D. Swedish and Norwegian academies and institutes
9. The word “appropriate” in line 12 is closest in meaning to _________________.
A. prestigious B. customary C. suitable D. transitory
10. Why are the awards presented on December 10?
A. It is a tribute to the king of Sweden.
B. Alfred Bernhard Nobel died on that day.
C. That date was established in Alfred Nobel’s will.
D. The Central Bank of Sweden administers the trust.
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PASSAGE 2
Line (5)
(10)
(15)
Noise, commonly defined as unwanted sound, is another environmental pollutant. Particularly in
congested urban areas, the noise produced as a byproduct of our advancing technology causes physical and
psychological harm, and detracts from the quality of life for those who are exposed to it.
Unlike the eye, the ear has no lid; therefore noise penetrates without protection. Loud noises
instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including human beings. In response,
heartbeat and respiration accelerate, blood vessels constrict, the skin pales, and muscles tense. In fact, there
is a general increase in functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to fear, and
some of these responses persist even longer than the noise, occasionally as long as thirty minutes after the
sound has ceased.
Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding in the
same ways that we would respond to danger. Recently, researchers have concluded that noise and our
response may be much more than an annoyance. It may be a serious threat to physical and psychological
health and well-being, causing damage not only to the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach. We
have long known that hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are
learning that some of us with heart disease and ulcers may be victims of noise as well. In addition,
the psychic effect of noise is very important. Nervousness, irritability, tension, and anxiety increase, affecting
the quality of rest during sleep, and the efficiency of activities during walking hours.

1. What is the author’s main point ?
A. Noise may pose a serious threat to our physical and psychological health.
B. Loud noise signal danger.
C. Hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem.
D. The ear is not like the eye.
2. What is the author’s definition of noise?
A. Unwanted sound B. Physical and psychological harm
C. A byproduct of technology D. Congestion
3. What was probably the topic of the paragraph that preceded this passage?
A. Environmental pollutants B. Technology
C. Urban areas D. Disease
4. The word “congested” in line 2 could be best be replaced by ________________.
A. hazardous B. polluted C. crowded D. rushed
5. It can be inferred from this passage that the eye ______________.
A. responds to fear B. increases functions
C. enjoys greater protection than the ear D. is damaged by noise
6. According to the passage, people respond to loud noises in the same way that they respond to ___________.
A. annoyance B. danger C. damage D. disease
7. The word “accelerate” in line 6 is closest in meaning to ___________________.
A. decline B. interrupt C. increase D. cease
8. The word “it” in line 3 refers to ___________________.
A. noise B. harm C. life D. technology
9. According to the author, which of the following is correct?
A. Noise is not a serious problem today.
B. Noise is America’s number-one problem.
C. Noise is an unavoidable problem in an industrial society.
D. Noise is a complex problem.
10. The phrase “as well” in line 15 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
A. after all B. also C. instead D. regardless
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