Oxford practice grammar with answers part 39 potx

Appendix 3: Punctuation
A Full stop (.), question mark (?) and exclamation mark (!)
A sentence ends with one of these punctuation marks.
Full stop: It's cold today. The office was closed. Please be careful
Question mark: Who's that? Did you see the show? Could you wait, please?
Exclamation mark: Oh, no! I don't believe it!
In the US a full stop is called a 'period'.
B Semi-colon (;)
We can use a semi-colon between two separate statements which are linked in meaning.
Melanie is a very kind person; she visits David in hospital every day.
We could also use a full stop here.
C Colon (:)
We can use a colon before an explanation or before a list. Vicky felt nervous: she hated the
dark. There wasn't much in the fridge: a couple of sausages, some butter, half a bottle of
milk.
D Dash (-)
A dash is rather informal. It is sometimes used instead of a colon or a semi-colon. I'm
having a great time - there's lots to do here. Vicky felt nervous - she hated the dark.
E Comma (,)
We often use a comma when we link two statements with and, but or or.
Daniel was tired, and his feet were hurting. It's a really good camera, but I can't afford it.
Note the two subjects in each sentence: Daniel his feet and It I. When there is only one
subject, we do not use a comma.
Daniel sat down and took his shoes off.
We can also use a comma when a sentence has a linking word like when or although.
When the office is busy, Sarah has to work late.
For commas with relative clauses, see Unit 141.
Sometimes a comma can separate off an adverb or a phrase.
Sarah, unfortunately, has to work late. On busy days, Sarah has to work late.
Here the commas separate off on busy days and unfortunately.
The rules about commas are not very exact. In general, commas are more likely

around longer phrases. With a short phrase there is often no comma. On busy
days Sarah has to work late. Sometimes she has to work late.
It is less usual to separate off something at the end of the sentence.
Sarah has to work late when the office is busy. She stayed late to get the work done. We
do not usually put a comma before to expressing purpose.
We also use commas in a list of more than two. The last two are linked by and, often without a comma.
I went out with Rachel, Vicky, Emma and Matthew.
F Quotation marks (")
We put direct speech in quotation marks.
Laura said, 'You haven't put those shelves up yet.' 'I haven't had time,' replied Trevor. We
normally use a comma to separate the direct speech from the rest of the sentence. The comma
comes before the quotation mark. Quotation marks are also called 'quotes' or 'inverted
commas'.
Double quotation marks are sometimes used. Laura
said, "You haven't put those shelves up yet."
We can put quotation marks around titles.
Do you watch that American comedy series called 'Roseanne'? We
often use quotation marks when we mention a word or phrase.
What does 'punctuation' mean? Rap music is also called 'hip hop'.
G Hyphen (-)
We sometimes use hyphens in these structures.
Compound noun: eating ice-cream
Compound expression before a noun: an oven-ready meal
Noun formed from a phrasal verb: ready for take-off Noun
+ ing-form: interested in rock-climbing
Before the last word of a compound number: a hundred and twenty-six people
After some prefixes: anti-aircraft guns Letter + noun: sending an e-mail
The rules about hyphens are not very exact. For example, you may see a compound noun written as
phonecard, phone-card or phone card. Hyphens are not very frequent in British English, and they are used
even less in American English. If you are unsure, it is usually safer to write two separate words.

H Apostrophe (')
Look at these examples.
Today we're going for a drive in the country. Everyone is looking at Nick's car.
We use an apostrophe (') in short forms, when there is a missing letter, e.g. we're (= we are). See Unit 32.
We also use an apostrophe with s to form the possessive of a noun, e.g. Nick's car. See Unit 93.
I Capital letters
There are two capital letters (big letters) in this sentence.
The boss said I could leave early. We use a capital letter at the beginning of
a sentence and for the word I.
We also use a capital letter to begin the names of people, places, companies, etc.
Mark and Sarah New Orleans the High Street Somerset House General Motors This
includes the names of books, films, magazines, etc. All the important words start with a capital letter.
The Spy Who Loved Me Four Weddings and a Funeral Newsweek
We also use a capital letter for days of the week, months of the year, holidays and festivals,
historical times, nationalities and most abbreviations.
Monday August Easter the New Year the Industrial Revolution
some Italian wine the UN (= the United Nations)
Appendix 5: American English
The differences between British and American English are mainly matters of pronunciation and vocabulary.
There are also a few spelling differences such as British centre and colour and American center and color.
There are some grammatical differences. Although they are not very great, those points that are most
relevant to learners of English are explained here.
A Seem, look, etc
Compare these examples.
BRITISH AMERICAN
In British English there can be a noun (e.g. Americans do not say She seemed a good pilot.
pilot) after appear, feel, look, seem and sound. They use to be or like after these verbs.
She seemed (to be) a good pilot. She seemed to be a good pilot.
OR She seemed like a good pilot.
It looks (to be) a lovely evening. It looks to be a lovely evening.

OR It looks like a lovely evening.
I felt a fool. I felt like a fool.
B Present perfect and past simple (Units 11-15)
The British use the present perfect for recent Americans can use either the present perfect or
actions, and especially with just, already and yet. the past simple in these sentences.
Bob has washed the dishes, look. Bob has washed the dishes, look.
OR Bob washed the dishes, look.
We've already eaten our lunch. We've already eaten our lunch.
OR We already ate our lunch.
I've just seen Elaine. I've just seen Elaine.
OR I just saw Elaine.
Have you corrected your work yet? Have you corrected your work yet?
OR Did you correct your work yet?
The British normally use the present perfect Americans normally use the past simple with
with ever and never, not the past simple. ever and never, but the present perfect is
possible.
Have you ever played cricket? Did you ever play baseball?
OR Have you ever played baseball?
The child has never seen snow before. The child never saw snow before.
OR The child has never seen snow before.
C Shall (Unit 23D)
The British use will for the future, but they can Americans do not normally use shall for the
also use shall in the first person. future.
I will/I shall be here tomorrow. I will be here tomorrow.
We will/We shall contact you. We will contact you.
The British use shall to make an offer. Americans normally use should.
Shall I make the coffee? Should I make the coffee?
The British can use Shall we ? for a Americans do not normally use shall in
suggestion. suggestions.
Shall we go for a walk? How about a walk?

Would you like to take a walk?
D Got and gotten
Both have and have got are used in Britain and in the US.
He has a lot of money./He's got a lot of money. (= He is rich.)
The British do not use gotten. In the US, have gotten expresses an action.
He's made a lot of money from his business He's gotten/made a lot of money from his
activities. business activities.
Americans also use gotten meaning 'become'.
Your driving has got better. Your driving has gotten better.
E Negatives and questions with have (Unit 31)
In Britain there are two different structures. Americans normally use the auxiliary do.
I haven't (got) enough time. I don't have enough time.
OR I don't have enough time.
Has Carol got a computer? Does Carol have a computer?
OR Does Carol have a computer?
In the past tense, did is usual in both countries.
We didn't have tickets.
F Emphatic do (Unit 33C)
The British can use do with an imperative for Do with an imperative is less common in the
emphasis. US.
Have a piece of cake. Have a piece of cake.
OR Do have a piece of cake.
G Do for an action
The British can use do to refer to an action Americans do not use do in this way.
already mentioned.
I don't practise as often as I should (do). I don't practice as often as I should.
You'd better take your pill. ~ I already have You'd better take your pill. ~ I already have.
(done).
H Question tags (Unit 42)
Both the British and the Americans can use question tags when talking about facts.

Blackpool is in Lancashire, isn't it? Las Vegas is in Nevada, isn't it?
But in general Americans use tags much less often than the British. They do not use tags to persuade or to
argue. A sentence like You aren't listening to me, are you? is British but not American. But Americans often
use right? and OK? as tags.
I'll bring the luggage in, shall I? I'll bring the baggage in, OK?
I Can't and mustn't (Unit 46C)
The British use can't to say that something is Americans can also use mustn't to say that
impossible. something is impossible.
I rang, but there's no reply. They can't be at I called, but there's no reply. They can't be
home. home./They mustn't be home.
J Needn't and don't need to (Unit 48)
The British can use either form. Americans do not normally use needn't.
You needn't see the inspector. You don't need to see the inspector.
OR You don't need to see the inspector.
K Group nouns (Unit 81B)
In Britain a group noun can usually take either a In the US a group noun takes a singular verb,
singular or a plural verb. The crowd was getting restless.
The crowd was/were getting restless. Sweden plays Germany tomorrow.
Sweden plays/play Germany tomorrow.
L The (Unit 86C and 87A)
The British use the with a musical instrument. Americans can leave out the.
/ can play the piano. I can play piano/play the piano.
The British say in hospital. Americans say in the hospital.
My sister is still in hospital. My sister is still in the hospital.
M Numbers
The British use and between hundred and the Americans can leave out and.
rest of the number. six hundred twenty
six hundred and twenty OR six hundred and twenty
N Dates
There are a number of different ways of writing and saying dates, but these are the most common.

BRITISH AMERICAN
23 June June 23
'the twenty-third of June' 'June twenty-third'
'June the twenty-third'
The British write 23.6.98, and Americans write 6.23.98.
0 You and one (Unit 98C)
The British use you for people in general, Americans use you for people in general. One is
including the speaker. In more formal English unusual,
they can use one.
You/One can't be too careful You can't be too careful.
P Somewhere and someplace (Unit 103)
In informal American English, everyplace, someplace, anyplace and no place can be used
as well as everywhere, somewhere, etc.
Let's find somewhere to eat. Let's find somewhere/someplace to eat.
Q Adjectives and adverbs (Unit 108)
In informal speech we can sometimes use an adjective form instead of an adverb. Americans do
this more than the British.
We had some really nice weather. We had some really nice/some real nice
weather.
It certainly doesn't make things any easier. It certainly/sure doesn't make things any easier.
R Prepositions (Units 118-126)
There are some differences in prepositions.
BRITISH AMERICAN
round/around the village around the village
towards/toward the west toward the west
looking out of the window looking out the window/out of the window
outside the town outside the town/outside of the town
In American English there is a special use of through as a preposition of time.
He'll be on the road from Tuesday to/till He'll be on the road (from) Tuesday through
Friday. Friday.

They will stay in Brighton until the end of They will stay in Miami through April.
April.
Note the prepositions after different.
BRITISH AMERICAN
This cup is differentfrom/to the others. This cup is different from/than the others.
Compare these expressions.
BRITISH AMERICAN
in Bond Street on Fifth Avenue
at the weekend, at weekends on the weekend, on weekends
stay at home stay home
a player in the team a player on the team
ten minutes past four ten minutes past/after four
twenty to seven twenty to/of seven
write to me write me/write to me
talk to someone talk to/with someone
meet someone meet with someone
S In case (Unit 148D)
In case can have different meanings.
BRITISH AMERICAN
Take an umbrella in case it rains. In case you're sick, you should call the office.
(= because it may rain) (= if you're sick)
T Go and
Americans can leave out and from this structure.
I'll go and buy the tickets. I'll go buy/I'll go and buy the tickets.
U The subjunctive
We can use expressions like I suggest that and It's important that to talk about
what we want to happen. Look at these examples.
BRITISH AMERICAN
Tim's parents have suggested that he gets a Tim's parents have suggested that he get a job.
job/that he should get a job. It's important that everything go according to

It's important that everything goes/everything plan.
should go according to plan.
The British normally use the present simple or Americans normally use a form called the
should. (They use the subjunctive only in formal 'subjunctive', e.g. get, go.
English.)
V Irregular verbs
In the past tense some verbs can have either an irregular t ending or the regular ed ending.
These verbs are burn, learn, smell, spell, spill and spoil.
The British prefer the t ending, although ed is Americans normally use the ed ending,
also possible.
They burnt/burned the old sofa. They burned the old sofa.
You've spelt/spelled this word wrong. You've spelled this word wrong.
But we say e.g. a slice of burnt toast in both British and American English.
In Britain the verbs dream, lean and leap can be regular, or they can have a t ending.
I dreamt/dreamed about you. I dreamed about you.
These three forms ending in t have the vowel sound /e/. For example, dreamt is pronounced /dremt/,
and dreamed is pronounced /dri:md/.
The verb dive is regular in Britain but can be irregular in the US.
Craig dived into the water. Craig dived/dove into the water.

Appendix 6: Irregular verbs
VERB PAST TENSE PAST/PASSIVE
PARTICIPLE
arise arose arisen
be was, were been
bear bore borne
beat beat beaten
become became become
begin began begun
bend bent bent

bet bet bet

betted
bind bound bound
bite bit bitten

bit
bleed bled bled
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
bring brought brought
broadcast broadcast broadcast
build built built
burn burnt burnt
burned
burned
burst burst burst
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
come came come
cost cost cost
creep crept crept
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
dig dug dug
dive dived dived
dove (us)
do did done

draw drew drawn
dream dreamt dreamt
dreamed dreamed
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
VERB PAST TENSE PAST/PASSIVE
PARTICIPLE
find found found
flee fled fled
fly flew flown
forbid forbad(e) forbidden
forget forgot forgotten
forgive forgave forgiven
freeze froze frozen
get got got

gotten (us)
give gave given
go went gone
grind ground ground
grow grew grown
hang hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden

hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
kneel knelt knelt
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
lean leant leant
leaned
leaned
leap leapt leapt
leaped
leaped
learn learnt learnt
learned learned
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
light lit lit
lighted lighted
lose lost lost
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
mow mowed mown
mowed
VERB PAST TENSE PAST/PASSIVE
PARTICIPLE

pay paid paid
put put put
read read read
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
sew sewed sewn

sewed
shake shook shaken
shine shone shone
shoot shot shot
show showed shown

showed
shrink shrank shrunk
shrunk
shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid

smell smelt smelt
smelled
smelled
speak spoke spoken
speed sped sped
speeded
speeded
spell spelt spelt
spelled
spelled
spend spent spent
spill spilt spilt
spilled
spilled
spin spun spun
spit spat spat
split split split
spoil spoilt spoilt
spoiled spoiled
spread spread spread
spring sprang sprung
VERB

PAST TENSE

PAST/PASSIVE

PARTICIPLE

stand stood stood

steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
stink stank stunk
stunk
stride strode stridden
strike struck struck
swear swore sworn
sweep swept swept
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
tread trod trodden
understand understood understood
wake woke woken
waked waked
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
weaved weaved
weep wept wept
win won won
wind wound wound
write wrote written
The verbs in this list are also irregular when they
have a prefix, e.g. overtake - overtook - overtaken,

foretell - foretold - foretold.
A few verbs have irregular present simple forms:
VERB

PRESENT SIMPLE

be I am; you/we/they are; he/she/it is
do he/she/it does
go he/she/it goes
have he/she/it has
say he/she/it says
For burnt/burned, dreamt/dreamed, etc in British
and American English see page 382. For gotten see
page 378.