basic english grammar

English Skills
Am/is/are + what/who?
Singular = 1 Plural = 1+
I am You are
You are We are
He/she/it is They are
To be is the most common verb in the English language. It can be used as an auxiliary or a main verb.
Question ?
Positive Statement +
Negative Statement -

Singular Written Form or spoken for emphasis
Contracted
Form (spoken)
Written Form or spoken for emphasis
Contracted
Form (spoken)

Am I? I am I'm I am not I'm not
Are you? You are You're You are not You're not
or
You aren't

Is he?Is
she?
Is it?
He is
She is
It is
He's
She's

It's
He is not
She is not
It is not
He isn't
She isn't
It isn't
or
He's not
She's not
It's not

Plural


Are we? We are We're We are not
We aren't
or
We're not

Are you? You are You're You are not
You're not
or
You aren't

Are
they?
They are They're They are not
They aren't
or

They're not
Uses
Am/Is/Are
Examples
The verbs am / is / are are used with:-
Am/Are Is
a noun group Are you an English teacher? Mr Bean is an English teacher.
an adjective I'm tired. She's English.
an expression of place or time They're at home. It's nine o'clock.
an expression of age I'm 44. He's two years old.
the form of the present continuous
tense
We're learning English. She's teaching English.
Am/Are Is
Question - ? "Am I disturbing you?" "Is this your coat?"
Positive Answer + Yes "Yes you are. We're very busy." "Yes, it is"
Negative Answer - No "No you're not. We aren't very busy." "No, it isn't"
Introductions, greetings and farewells
Follow the dialogue.
Mr Bean meets Mrs Breuer, one of his students, and her husband in the street.
Mr Bean: Good morning, Mrs Breuer.
Mrs Breuer: Good morning, Mr Bean. How are you?
Mr Bean: I'm fine thanks, and you?
Mrs Breuer: Not too bad. Mr Bean, this is my husband Michael, Michael this is Mr Bean my English teacher.
Mr Breuer: Pleased to meet you.
Mr Bean: Pleased to meet you too. Are you from Germany, Mr Breuer?
Mr Breuer: Yes, East Germany, from Dresden. And you, are you from London?
Mr Bean: No, I'm from Derby, but I live in London now.
Mrs Breuer: Well, goodbye Mr Bean, it was nice to see you.
Mr Bean: Yes, goodbye.

When leaving, you say "Goodbye".
"Bye" is more informal.
When leaving at night, you say "Goodnight".
When going to bed you say "Goodnight".
PEOPLE AND PLACES + WHERE?
Questions
Who? = People
What? = Things
Where? = Places
Learn It
CAPITALISATION RULES
Rule For example
People's names always start with a
CAPITAL LETTER.
My name is Lynne Hand.
Countries always start with a CAPITAL
LETTER.
I come from England.
Cities always start with a CAPITAL
LETTER.
I live in Darmstadt.
Nationalities always start with a CAPITAL
LETTER.
I am English.
Where is this?

Is this Germany? Is England in Poland? What is the capital of
England?

No, this isn't Germany. This is England. No, England isn't in Poland. England is in

Britain.
The capital of England is
London.


Is this France? Is Wales in Germany? What is the capital of
Wales?

No, this isn't France. This is Wales. No, Wales isn't in Germany. Wales is in
Britain.
The capital of Wales is
Cardiff.


Is this Spain? Is Scotland in France? What is the capital of
Scotland?

No, this isn't Spain. This is Scotland. No, Scotland isn't in France. Scotland is in
Britain.
The capital of Scotland is
Edinburgh.


Is this Italy? Is Northern Ireland in Italy? What is the capital of
Northern Ireland?

No, this isn't Italy. This is Northern Ireland. No, Northern Ireland isn't in Italy. Northern
Ireland is in the United Kingdom.
The capital of Northern
Ireland is Belfast.

Where is this? Is the United Kingdom in America? Tell me more.
This is the United Kingdom.
No, the United Kingdom isn't in America.
The United Kingdom is in Europe.
England, Wales and Scotland
are countries in Britain.
England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland are countries
in the United Kingdom.
This is England.

Q - Is England a city?
A - No, England isn't a city. England is a country.
Q - And London. Is London a city or a country?
A - London is a city, a capital city. London is the capital city of England.
Q - Is London in Germany?
A - No, London isn't in Germany. London is in England.


Now you - make up the same dialogue for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Q - Is Wales ?
A - No, Wales .
Who is this?/Who are they?
Who is this? What is her name?
Where does she come
from?
Where does she live?
What nationality is

she?
It's Ingrid.
Her name is Ingrid
Bergman
She comes from Sweden She's dead. She's Swedish
Who is this? What is his name?
Where does he come
from?
Where does he live?
What nationality is
he?
It's Napoleon.
His name is Napolean
Bonaparte.
He comes from France. He's dead. He's French.
Who are they? What are their names?
Where do they come
from?
Where do they live?
What nationality are
they?
They're 'The Beatles'.
Their names are John
Lennon, Paul
McCartney, Ringo Starr
and George Harrison.
They come from
England.
John Lennon and George
Harrison are dead. Paul

lives in England and
Ringo lives in Monte
Carlo.
They're British.
Alphabet + Names
Vowels
A E I O U
Consonants
B C D F G H J K
L M N P Q R S T
V W X Y Z
The Rhyming Alphabet
The following letters rhyme with each other
ä sound ë sound e sound ï sound yü sound
A B F I O Q R Z
H C L Y U
J D M W
K E N
G S
P X
T
V
Naturally speaking
When two letters appear next to each other we say "double __"
Follow the dialogue.
o
What's your full name please.
•
My first name is Sonja and my last
name Pascalli

•Sorry , what was your last name
again?
•
Pascalli.
o
I'm sorry I don't understand.
Could you repeat that more
slowly please.

Pasc-all-i.
o
How do you write that? Could
you spell it please?

P-a-s-c-a-double l-i
•And your first name please? Sonja
o
Pardon?

Sonja - S-o-n-j-a.
•And what is your telephone
number please?

2-3-8-7-1-8
o
Thank you.
•
You're welcome.
Checking understanding - What to say
"My name is Mr. Bean."

" "
"?"
"My name is ????." "My name is Mr. Bean."
"I'm sorry I didn't hear
that. Could you speak a
little louder please?"
"I'm sorry, I don't
understand."
"Could you repeat your
name please?"
Could you spell that
please?
"I said, my name is Mr.
Bean!"
"My name is Mr. Bean,
your name is and
mine is Mr. Bean."
"My name is Mr. Bean." "B-e-a-n."
Whole numbers 1 to 10
Symbol Word
0 Nought
1 One
2 Two
3 Three
4 Four
5 Five
6 Six
7 Seven
8 Eight
9 Nine

10 Ten
Rhymes and Songs

One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.

One, two - buckle my shoe ,
three, four - knock on the door,
five, six - pick up sticks,
seven, eight - open the gate,
nine, ten - a big fat hen.

Ten Green Bottles
Written By: Anon
Ten green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Ten green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be nine green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Nine green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Nine green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall

There'll be eight green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Eight green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Eight green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be seven green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Seven green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Seven green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be six green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Six green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Six green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be five green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Five green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Five green bottles
Hanging on the wall

And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be four green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Four green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Four green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be three green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Three green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Three green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be two green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Two green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Two green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be one green bottles
Hanging on the wall
One green bottle
Hanging on the wall

One green bottle
Hanging on the wall
If that one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be no green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Unit2
More about people + titles
Questions
Who? = People
What? = Things
Where? = Places
CAPITALISATION RULES
Rule For example
Countries always start with a CAPITAL LETTER. I come from England.
Cities always start with a CAPITAL LETTER. I live in Darmstadt.
Nationalities always start with a CAPITAL LETTER. I am English.
Note:
Where do you come from? = Where were you born or raised.
Where do you live? = Where do you live now.
For example:
Me: - "I come from England, but I live in Germany."
What to say
Question Short answer Long answer
"What's your name?" "It's Lynne Hand." "My name is Lynne Hand."
"Where do you come from?" "From England." "I come from England."
"Where do you live?" "In Darmstadt." "I live in Darmstadt."
"What nationality are you?" "I'm English." "My nationality is English."