English (ngữ pháp tiếng anh)

NOUNS
I. Classification
1. Common nouns: man, table, banana
2. Proper nouns: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Tom
3. Abstract nouns: beauty, fear, happiness
4. Collective nouns: crowd, group, team.
II. Functions in a sentence
1. The subject of a verb
E.g.:

Doctors work hard

2. The object of a verb
E.g.:

He likes coffee.

3. The object of a preposition
E.g.:

She is good at math.

4. Complement of the linking verbs
E.g.:

I wish to become an actor in the future.

III. Gender
•

Actually, the English language doesn’t have a clear distinguished point between different

genders. In other words, there is NO GENDER in English.

•

However, some words still have the feminine and masculine forms.

Different forms for personal nouns:
boy, girl

husband, wife

widower, widow

prince, princess

king, queen

bridegroom, bride

nephew, niece

gentleman, lady

father, mother

Actor, actress

hero, heroine

host, hostess

waiter, waitress

steward, stewardess

 Domestic animals and many of the larger wild animals have different forms:
bull, cow

cock, hen

duck, drake

IV. Countable Noun and Uncountable Nouns
1. Countable noun: Things that we can count

gander, goose


E.g.:

person, man, bottle, dollar, plate

a. Countable noun can be singular or plural:
E.g.:

My dog is playing.
My dogs are hungry.

b. We can use the indefinite article a/an with singular countable noun:
E.g.:

A dog is an animal.

2. Uncountable nouns: Substance or concept, etc. that we can’t divide into separate element, it
means we can’t count them
a. Names of substances
* Food:

bread, salt, pepper, cheese, sugar, meat.

* Liquids

:

water, wine, milk, oil

* Metals

:

gold, silver, copper

* Weather

:

rain, snow, lightning

b. Abstract nouns
E.g.: advice, death, experience, hope, information, knowledge, mercy, relief

c. Illnesses
E.g.: measles, mumps
-

Measles is a very unpleasant disease

-

BUT: Alice has got a cold/ the flu

d. Subjects ending in -ics
E.g.: mathematics, linguistics, gymnastics, economics, physics, statistics
e. Some other things
E.g.: camping, damage, furniture, luggage, baggage, hair, money, time
NOTE
*** Uncountable nouns are always in singular, followed by singular verb.
Mathematics is my favourite subject at school.
*** Uncountable nouns are not used with a/ an.
I like to eat a bread ( but some bread or a loaf of bread)
*** Uncountable nouns are preceded by some, any, no, much, a little, a lot, lots of, etc or by
nouns such as bit, slice, piece, kilo, jar, glass, etc. (BUT they are not used with these above
words when we are talking about things in general):
•

He has no experience in this work.

•

She is very worried. She needs to get a piece of advice

•

He has just eaten a slice of cake.
2


•

Please buy me a kilo of sugar

BUT: We make cheese from milk.
V. Plurals of nouns
1. The plural of a noun is usually made by adding _S to the singular root
teacher teachers

;

egg eggs

;

table  tables

2. Nouns ending in o, ch, sh, ss, x , their plural has _es
potato  potatoes

; church  churches

kiss  kisses

; box  boxes

dynamo dynamos

; kimono kimonos

kilo  kilos

; photo photos

; brush brushes

* Exceptions:
; piano pianos

3. Nouns ending in y following a consonant form their plural by dropping y and adding _ies
country countries ; baby babies

; lady ladies

* Noun ending in y following a vowel form their plural by adding s:
Boy boys

; key keys

4. Nouns ending in f, fe, drop f or fe and add ves:
leaf leaves
* Exception: cliff cliffs ;

; loaf loaves

; self  shelves

(life, knife, thief)

handkerchief handkerchiefs.

5. Some irregular plurals
foot  feet

louse  lice

goose geese

sheep  sheep

man  men

mouse  mice

tooth  teeth

series  series

woman  women

ox oxen

child  children

fish fish

3


6. Collective nouns “group, family, team” can have a singular or plural verb:
E.g.:

Our football team is very excellent (word means single group)
Our football team are wearing new pullovers (a number of individual)

7. Some nouns are always in plural and have plural verbs:
E.g.:

clothes, trousers, glasses, scissors, spectacles, pyjamas, shorts, jeans

8. Some nouns with original Greek or Latin have plurals in the rules of Greek or Latin:
crisis  crises

oasis  oases

terminus termini

memorandum memoranda phenomenon  phenomena datum  data
VI. Possessive case:
* The possessive case can be used to talk about ownership or the relationship between people. It
is formed in two ways:
1. with ‘s for people and animals
E.g.: John’s book, women’s house, table’s leg, dog’s basket
•

Singular nouns + ‘s. E.g.: Jim’s car.

•

Plural nouns ending in -S + ‘. E.g.: the boys’ hats

•

Plural nouns not ending in –S + ‘s. E.g.: the children’s toys

•

Compound nouns + ‘s. E.g.: my father-in-law’s garden

•

We use ‘s after the last of the two or more names to show common possession.
E.g.: John and Helen’s house (the house belongs to both of them)

•

We use ‘s after each name to show individual possession.
E.g.: Mary’s and Diana’s bags (each girl has her own bag.)

2. with of + inanimate things
•
E.g.:

•

of + inanimate thing or abstract noun
the window of the house
The cost of living
a/the/this/that + noun + of + possessive

E.g.: He’s a friend of Jack’s
* When we refer to a certain place or time, the possessive case is formed as follows:
•

phrase of place (shop/home/business, etc.) + ‘s
E.g.: butcher’s, barber’s, Mary’s

•

phrase showing length of time/specific moment or event + ‘s
E.g.:

an hour’s delay
Two days’ work
4


•

we can use either ‘s or of when we talk about places or organizations
E.g.: NASA’s headquarters/the headquarters of NASA.

VII. Compound nouns
* Compound nouns are nouns that are made of two or more parts and are formed as followed:

1. Noun + Noun: the first noun behaves like an adjective. The plural is usually formed by adding
S/ES to the second noun.
E.g.: London Transport

sky jacket

winter clothes

river bank

2. Noun + Gerund. The plural is usually formed by adding S/ES to the word.
E.g.: Weight- lifting

coal- mining

3. Gerund/Adjective + Noun: the gerund is for the purpose of the thing. The plural is usually
formed by adding S/ES to the noun.
E.g.:

- Dining- room (room for dining)
-

Swimming pool (pool for swimming)

4. Noun + V_ER. The plural is usually formed by adding S/ES to the noun.
E.g.: tin-opener, fire-fighter
5. Noun + IN_LAW. The plural is usually formed by adding S/ES to the noun.
E.g.: brother-in-law (brothers-in-law)
6. Noun + Adverb: The plural is usually formed by adding S/ES to the noun.
E.g.: passer-by (passers-by)

7. Verb + adverb particle. The plural is usually formed by adding S/ES to the word.
E.g.: breakdown (breakdowns)
VIII. Noun ending
* These are certain word endings which show that word is a noun
•

-ity

•



nationality
•

•

-ment 

•

happiness
-ation

•

-hood 

-ant



assistant

-ness 

•



stoppage

appointment
•

-age

-er/or 
teacher/professor

relation

childhood

•

-ist



•

-ee



employee
5

artist


•

•

-ence 
dependence

•

-ess



-ship



relationship

actress

6

•

-ion



nation

•

-ure



failure


PRACTICE
I. Add –s or – es to the following words to spell them correctly.
1. passenger

11. belief

2. tax

12. hat

3. quiz

13. page

4. brush
5. guy

21. mouse
22. foot
23. tooth

14. sketch

24. photo

15. baby

6. press

25. radio

16. song

26. zoo

7. ferry

17. sandwich

27. tomato

8. wish

18. method

28. leaf

9. face

19. child

10. day

20. ox

29. life
30. thief

II. Use the correct plural forms of the nouns in the list to complete the sentences. Use each word
only once.

bacterium
oasis
crisis
criterion

hypothesis
medium

phenomenon
stimulus
oasis

1. Graduate students are often required to write long papers in which they state an opinion
and give evidence to support it. These papers are often referred to as ………………
2. Thunder and lightning are ……………… of nature.
3. Before the students began their chemistry experiments, they started theories to explain
what was going to happen in their experiments. In other words, they made ………………
4. The government of that country is unstable. The country has faced many political
……………… in the last ten years. It has had to face one problem after another.
5. The office supervisor, Ms. Hall, is well-known for the large number of ……………… she
sends to her staff. She believes it is necessary to write many notes to remind the staff of
things that need to be taken care of.
6. The mass ……………… include radio, television, newspapers, and so on.
7. The teacher wanted to make sure the students understood the standards by which she
would make her judgments. She carefully explained the ……………… she would use to
judge the students’ work.
7


8. All of the departments at the university provide descriptions of their ……………… in the
school catalog. Look there to find out what courses each department offers.
9. Certain factors cause plants to grow. These ……………… are light, water, and fertile
soil.
10. Very small living things that can cause disease are called germs. Germs are forms of
………………
11. In a desert, there are places where water is available and a few plants grow. These areas
are called ………………
12. The researcher assembled numerous acts through months of investigation. She used the

……………… she had gathered to write a report for a scientific journal.
III. Complete the sentences with the possessive form of the nouns in parentheses.
1. (Mrs. Smith)

Mrs. Smith’s husband often gives her flowers.

2. (boy)

The ……………….. hat is red

3. (boys)

The ……………….. hats are red

4. (children)

The ……………….. toys are all over the floor.

5. (child)

I fixed the ……………….. bicycle

6. (baby)

The ……………….. toys are in her crib

7. (babies)

The ……………….. toys are in their cribs.

8. (wives)

Tom and Bob are married. Their …….. names are Cindy and Jane,
respectively.

9. (wife)

That is my ……………. coat.

10. (Sally)

………………. last name is White

11. (Phyllis)

……………….. last name is Young.

12. (yesterday)Did you read …………… newspaper?

IV. Look at the nouns in bold. Write C above count nouns and NC above noncount nouns.
1. I bought some chairs, tables and desks. In other words, I bought some furniture.
2. Ann likes to wear jewelry. Today she is wearing four rings, six bracelets, and a
necklace.
3. We saw beautiful mountains, fields, and lakes on our trip. In other words, we saw
beautiful scenery.
8


4. Would you like some food? How about a sandwich and an apple?
5. Ed has black hair and brown eyes.

6. We had meat, rice, bread, butter, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and tea for dinner.
7. Gold and iron are metals
8. I wish you happiness, health, and luck in your life.
9. My hometown has rain, thunder, fog, sleet and snow in the winter months. In other
words, it has bad weather.
V. Make compound nouns from the following phrases
1. a table made of wood

25. a room for guests

2. people living in the country
3. a meeting held during the night
4. a book for exercises
5. a glass used to drink beer
6. a room used to sleep
7. a conference grouping 15 countries
8. a car worth 100.000 dollars (a
100.000-dollar car)
9. a talk for 15 minutes
10. a word of many syllables
11. a ticket for a concert
12. a magazine about computers
13. pictures taken on your vacation
14. chocolate made with milk
15. a horse that runs in races
16. a race for horse
17. a question that has two parts
18. a girl who is 7 years old (7-year-old
19. a garden which has flowers in it.
20. a handbook for children

21. a baby who is ten months old.
22. a check for fifty dollars
23. the house with nine rooms
24. food for dogs
9


VI. Write a noun from each of the following words
believe educate
cold

produce

deep

dependent

please

build

wide

sing
happy

act

loyal

warm

behave pure

equal

adventurous

beautiful

useful
long

write

true
grow

comfortable

honest

employ

VII. Complete the sentences with nouns in the box. Sometimes you need an article.

pants
pajamas glasses
scissors jeans economics
species

news

binoculars
means

physics
politics shorts
1. gymnastics
My eyes aren’t very good.
I need …………………….
2. This plant is ……………………. very rare …………………….
3. Soccer players don’t wear pants when they play. They wear …………………….
4. The bicycle is ……………………. of transportation.
5. The bicycle and the car are ……………………. of transportation.
6. I want to cut this piece of material. I need …………………….
7. Ann is going to write ……………………. of articles for her local newspaper.
8. There are a lot of American TV ……………………. show throughout the world.
9. While we were out walking, we saw 25 different ……………………. of birds.
VIII. Choose the correct form of the verb, singular or plural
1. Gymnastics (is/are) my favorite sport.
2. The pants you bought for me (doesn’t/don’t) fit me.
3. The police (want/wants) to interview 2 men about the robbery last week.
4. Physics (was/were) my best subject at school.
5. Can I borrow your scissors? Mine (isn’t/aren’t) sharp enough.
6. Fortunately, the news (wasn’t/weren’t) as bad as we expected.
7. Three days (isn’t/aren’t) long enough for a good vacation.
8. I can’t find my binoculars. Do you know where (it is/they are)?

series

9. Do you think the people (is/are) happy with the government?
10. (Does/Do) the police know how the accident happened?
11. I don’t like very hot weather. Ninety degrees (is/are) too hot for me.
12. Some of the road (is/are) closed due to flooding.
13. Some of the roads (is/are) closed due to flooding.
14. A lot of that movie (is/are) full of violence.
15. A lot of movies (is/are) full of violence.
16. Three-fourths of the pizza (has/have) already eaten.
17. Three-fourths of the pizzas (has/have) already eaten.
18. Most of the houses (was/were) destroyed by fire.
19. Most of the house (was/were) destroyed by fire.
20. One of the houses (was/were) destroyed by fire.
21. Each of the houses (is/are) in ruins.
22. Each house (is/are) in ruins.
23. Every one of the houses (has/have) serious damage.
24. Every house (has/have) serious damage.
25. None of the houses (has/have) escaped damage.
26. The furniture in those rooms (is/are) comfortable.
27. The chairs in those rooms (is/are) comfortable.
28. The chair, as well as the tables, (is/are) made of wood.
29. The chairs, as well as the table, (is/are) made of wood.
30. The chair, as well as the table, (is/are) made of wood.
31. Eating vegetables (is/are) good for you.
32. Vegetables (is/are) good for you.
33.

CHAPTER 4: VERBS & TENSES
A. VERBS
I. TYPES OF VERBS

1. Lexical verbs: walk, write, play, etc.
2. Auxiliary verbs:
- Primary: do, have, be


- Modal : can, may, shall, will
could, might, should, would
must, ought to, used to, need, dare
II. VERBS FORMS AND VERBS PHRASE
−

Many English verbs have 5 forms: the BASE, the _S FORM, the PAST, the _ING PARTICIPLE, and the
_ED PARTICIPLE.

−

Regular lexical verbs have the same _ed inflection for both the past tense and the _ed participle.

−

Irregular lexical verbs forms vary from three (e.g.: put, puts, putting) to eight (be, am, is, are, was, were,
being, been).

−

Modal auxiliaries are defective in not having infinitive, _ing participle, _ed participle, or imperative.

No.

FORM

E.G.AMPLE
call

1

Base

drink
put

_s form
rd

2

3

drinks

present)

puts
called

Past

drank

(present participle)

_ed participle

5

(past participle)

put
calling
drinking
putting
called
drunk
put

E.g.:
* The base form:
−

I/You/We/They call every day.

−

Call at once!

−

He demanded that she call and see him.

−

He may call

−

He wants her to call.

** The _s form:
−

- imperative
- subjunctive
- the bare infinitive, and the to-infinitive

calls

(3 person singular

_ing participle

4

FUNCTIONS
- all the present tense e.g.cept 3rd person

He/ She/ It calls every day.

- 3rd person singular present tense

- past tense

- progressive aspect (be + V_ing)
- in _ing participle clauses
- perfective aspect (have + V_ed)
- in _ed participle clauses


*** The past form:
−

He called yesterday

**** The _ing participle form:
−

He’s calling in a moment.

−

Calling early, I found her at home.

***** The _ed participle form:
−

He has drunk the water.

−

Called early, he had a quick breakfast.

III. INTENSIVE VERBS AND E.G.TENSIVE VERBS

1. Intensive verbs: followed by subject complements (also called linking verbs or copular verbs), e.g.
be, feel, seem, become, etc.
E.g.

- Mary is my friend.
- His hair goes gray.
2. Extensive verbs: having no subject complements.
a. Intransitive verbs: do not permit any object or complement, e.g. run, go, sit, etc.

E.g.:

- He goes to school.
- She is sleeping now.
b. Transitive verbs: take a direct object.

E.g.

•

Mono-transitive verbs: take ONE direct object

•

Di-transitive verbs: take ONE direct object and ONE indirect object

•

Complex.-transitive verbs: take ONE direct object and ONE object complement.

- The boy is kicking the ball.

- She gives him a bunch of flowers.
- She made him sad.

IV. DYNAMIC AND STATIVE VERBS
1. Dynamic verbs: admit the progressive
E.g.: sing-singing, cut-cutting, travel-traveling
2. Stative verbs: do not admit the progressive (non-progressive)
E.g.: know, love, be, etc.
 Notes:
- Some verbs can be seen as both dynamic verbs and stative verbs: taste, smell, weigh, etc.
E.g.:

- She is tasting the cake. It tastes delicious.
- The postal officer is weighing the package. It weighs 1 kilo.

B. VERBS TENSES


I. Simple present
1. Form:
 Positive:

- I, WE, YOU, THEY
- HE, SHE, IT
+

 Negative:

+ VERB (without TO)
VERB_S/ES

- I, WE, YOU, THEY
+ DO NOT/ DON’T
- HE, SHE, IT
+ DOES NOT/ DOESN’T

 Interrogative:

- DO
- DOES

+ I, WE, YOU, THEY
+ HE, SHE, IT

+ V(infinitive)?

2. Usage
a. A habitual action in the present
E.g.:

- I come to class on time every day.
- He often plays tennis in the morning.

b. A general truth
E.g.

- Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
- A magnet extracts iron.

 Notes:

-

The first use of this tense is often used with adverbs of frequency (Unit 4).

-

Adverbs of frequency come:
o

Before main verbs

o

After TO BE

o

After auxiliary and modal verbs.

II. Present continuous
1. Form
 Positive

-

I
WE, YOU, THEY
HE, SHE, IT

+ AM

+ ARE
+ IS

-

I
WE, YOU, THEY
HE, SHE, IT

+ AM
+ ARE + NOT + V_ING
+ IS

-

AM
ARE
IS

+ V_ING

 Negative

 Interrogative

2. Usage

+I
+ WE, YOU, THEY
+ HE, SHE, IT

+V(infinitive)

+ V_ING


a. A continuous action at the moment of speaking in the present.
E.g.

- Listen! Someone is knocking at the door.
- Let’s go now. It isn’t raining.

b. A near-future action that has already been arranged.
E.g.

- I am meeting Tom for lunch tomorrow.

Exercise 1: Supply the correct tense, simple present or Present continuous, of the verbs in parentheses.
1. Jim (watch) television every evening.
2. The earth (revolve) around the sun.
3. Please shut the windows. The rain (come) in now.
4. We (leave) for Dallas early next month.
5. The sun (not rise) in the west. It (rise) in the east.
6. Where the Scotts usually (stay) when they (come) to town?
- At a hotel. But tonight they (stay) with us.
7. Mother (cook) some food in the kitchen at the moment. She always (cook) in the morning.
8. Be careful! The teacher (look) at you.
9. You (look) for George? I think he (read) in the library.
10. Nothing (be) faster) than the speed of light.
11. On my way to school, I generally (meet) a lot of children who (go) to school.

12. I (have) coffee for breakfast every day.
13. My mother.(work) in a shoe store this summer
14. She (go) to school every day.
15. We (do) exercise five right at the moment.
16. It (rain ) very much in winter. It (rain) now.
17. Bad students never (work) work hard.
18. He generally (sing ) in English but today he (sing) in French.
19. Be quiet! The baby (sleep)
20. Look! A man (run) after the train. He (want) to catch it.
21. It (be) very cold now.
22. John (travel) to England tomorrow.
23. I (need) some money for my textbooks.
24. Tom (love) ice cream.
25. Listen! I (hear) someone knocking at the front door.
26. I (see ) that you (wear) your best clothes.
27. I (do ) an exercise on the present tense at this moment and I (think ) that I (know) how to use it now.
III. Simple Past
1. Form


 Positive:

-

I, WE, YOU, THEY
+ V_ED (regular Verbs)

 Negative:

-

HE, SHE, IT

-

I, WE, YOU, THEY

-

HE, SHE, IT

+ DID NOT/DIDN’T + V (infinitive)
 Interrogative:

I, WE, YOU, THEY
DID+

+ V (infinitive)
HE, SHE, IT

2. Usage
a. A complete action at a definite time in the past/ activities of someone who is no longer alive.
E.g.

- Mr. Brown visited us last night.
- They bought this house two years ago.

b. A habitual action in the past
E.g.

- He played tennis every Sunday last year.
- You often mentioned her in your letter.

IV. Past Continuous
1. Form
 Positive

-

I, HE, SHE. IT

-

WE, YOU, THEY

-

I, HE, SHE. IT

-

WE, YOU, THEY

-

WAS + I, HE, SHE. IT

-

WERE + WE, YOU, THEY

+ WAS
+ V_ING
+ WERE

 Negative

+ WAS NOT/WASN’T
+ V_ING
+ WERE NOT/WEREN’T

 Interrogative

+ V_ING
2. Usage
a. A continuous action at a point of time in the past
E.g.- We were watching television at 8 o’clock last night.
- He was resting all the evening.
b. A continuous action in the past, during which another action might occur
E.g.

- I was reading when the light went out.
- As we were drinking coffee, the dog barked.

 Note: The shorter action is in simple past


c. Two or more continuous actions happening in parallel over the same period of time in the
past.
E.g.

- They were playing ball while I was doing my work.
- Mr. Brown was reading a magazine while he was waiting for the bus.

Exercise 2: Supply the correct tense, simple past or past continuous, of the verbs in parentheses
1. I (wake) up at five minutes past ten this morning.
2. While her husband was in the army, Julie (write) to him twice a week.
3. She (study) English for two years, but she doesn’t study it now.
4. “What you (do) at 8 o’clock last night?” - “I (prepare) my English lessons.”
5. It still (rain) when you came in?
6. While I (stay) in London, they (repair) Big Ben.
7. I looked out of the window, some of the children (play) in the park.
8. You (not know) much about Marxism-Leninism at that time?
9. When I was a boy, I often (go) fishing with my uncle Jim.
10. She (look) at the flowers when this fellow (come) up behind her and (snatch) her handbag.
11. Miss Reed (type) some letters in the outer office while Professor Fox (talk) to Eric.
12. The old lady (fall) as she (get) into the taxi.
13. She was fond of him, but I (not believe) she (love) him.
14. The train (not leave) on time yesterday. It (be) ten minutes late.
15. They (arrive) at any decision at the meeting last Thursday?
16. I saw Jim in the park. He (sit) on the grass and (read) a book.
V. Present Perfect
1. Form
 Positive

- I, WE, YOU, THEY + HAVE
+ PAST PARTICIPLE
- HE, SHE, IT

+ HAS

 Negative

- I, WE, YOU, THEY + HAVE NOT/ HAVEN’T
+ PAST PARTICIPLE
- HE, SHE, IT

 Interrogative

- HAVE

+ HAS NOT/ HASN’T
+ I, WE, YOU, THEY
+ PAST PARTICIPLE

2. Usage

- HAS

+ HE, SHE, IT

a. An action which began in the past and has consisted up to the present.
E.g.

- They have lived here for five years now.
- The child has been ill since yesterday.

b. An action which happened at an indefinite time in the past.

E.g.

- Mr. Clark has traveled around the world

c. An action which was repeated several times in the past.
E.g.

- We have seen this play several times.

Exercise 3: Supply the correct tense, present perfect or simple past, of the verbs in parentheses.
1. When I last saw him, he (be) in good health.
2. She (do) very little work recently.
3. Miss Clark (be) with this company for two years now.
4. As soon as he (save) five hundred thousand dollars, he will retire from business.
5. When I was a boy, every holiday (seem) ideal.
6. The patient’s condition (improve) considerably since last night.
7. My brother (serve) in the army in 1980s.
8. Jenny (study) French for a few months last year.
9. You ever (ask) yourself what makes life beautiful and worth living?
10. We (not hear) from her for nearly six months.
11. “Is John in?” – “No, he (go) to the cinema”.
12. Men (travel) since they first (appear) on the earth.
13. Tom (meet) Mary in 1998 and they (be) good friends since then.
14. A bus (just, come) round the corner. Perhaps we’d better take it.
VI. Past Perfect
1. Form
 Positive

S + HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE
 Negative

S + HAD NOT/ HADN’T+ PAST PARTICIPLE
 Interrogative

HAD + S + PAST PARTICIPLE
2. Usage
a. An action which happened in the past before another past action.
E.g.

- The child had died before he was brought to hospital.
- He knew that he had made a serious mistake.
b. A complete action before a definite point of time in the past.

E.g.

- By the age of 25, he had written two famous novels.

Exercise 4: Supply the correct tense, past perfect or simple past, of the verbs in parentheses.
1. By the end of the summer, the farmers (harvest) the whole crop.
2. When I went back to the shop, they (sell) the book I wanted.
3. The manager already (leave) for the conference by the time we got to the office.


4. he told me he (be) very ill since he returned from abroad.
5. Mr. Green (phone) the Scotts after they had sold their house.
6. How many countries they (visit) by March last year?
7. Mr. Hill (not finish) the report when the Manager came in.
8. Mary was in Paris last Friday. She (be) in London two days earlier.
9. Three men, none of whom I (see) before, (come) in to the room.
10. We (live) through terrible times during the war years.

11. Before I could say anything, they (admit) their mistakes.
12. Why you (write) such a long letter? What a waste of time!
VII. Simple Future
1. Form
 Positive

-

I, WE

+ SHALL
+ VERB

-

I, WE, YOU, HE, SHE, IT, THEY

+ WILL

 Negative

-

I, WE

+ SHALL NOT/SHAN’T
+ VERB

-

I, WE, YOU, HE, SHE, IT, THEY

+ WILL NOT/WON’T

 Interrogative

-

SHALL

+ I, WE
+ VERB

-

2. Usage

WILL + I, WE, YOU, HE, SHE, IT, THEY

a. A prediction about the future, usually with the verbs think, believe, e.g.pect, etc., the
expressions be sure, be afraid, etc., and the adverbs, perhaps, certainly, probably, etc.
E.g.

- His parents think he will become an artist one day
b. An on-the-spot decision and offer.

E.g.

- Will you go shopping with me now?
c. An action/ event/ situation which will definitely happen in the future and which we cannot

control.

E.g.: Jill will be two years old next month.
d. A promise, threat, warning, request, or hope.
E.g.: I hope pollution levels will drop soon.
VIII. Near Future
1. Form:
a. Positive

-I
- HE/SHE/IT
- YOU/THEY/WE

+ AM
+ IS
GOING TO + VERB (infinitive)
+ ARE


b. Negative

-I
- HE/SHE/IT
- YOU/THEY/WE

+ AM NOT
+ IS NOT
+ ARE NOT

GOING TO + VERB (infinitive)

c. Interrogative

- AM I
- IS
HE/SHE/IT
- ARE YOU/THEY/WE

2. Usage:

+ GOING TO + VERB (infinitive)

a. for plans, intentions or ambitions we have for the future
E.g.: I am going to employ more staff and expand my company. That’s the plan for next year’s
operation.
b. in predictions when there is evidence that something will happen in the near future.
E.g.: Look at him! He is going to win the match.
IX. Future Continuous
1. Form
 Positive

S + SHALL/WILL + BE + V_ING
 Negative

S+

SHALL NOT /SHAN’T
WILL NOT/ WON’T

+ BE + V_ING

 Interrogative

SHALL/WILL + S + BE + V_ING
2. Usage
a. A continuous action at a point of future time.
E.g.

- This time tomorrow, they will be flying to France.
- I shall be waiting for you at 4 this afternoon.
b. An action which will definitely happen in the future as the result of a routine or arrangement.

E.g.: I’ll be seeing Sam at the meeting tomorrow. I’ll give him this message.
c. When we ask politely about someone’s plans for the near future (What we want to know is if
our wishes fit in with their plans)
E.g.:

- Will you be going out later? Could you get me a sandwich, please?

Exercise 5: Supply the correct tense-simple future, future continuous or near future - of the verbs in
parentheses.
1. We (have) our exams next week.
2. At this time next week, all of you (sit) for your exams.


3. Professor Fox said to Erik: “Goodbye, Mr. Grin. And I (see) you again at our open house this
weekend.”.
4. Alfred has just been employed. He (work) in our office as a clerk next week.
5. When you return with the car, I still (pack) my suitcase.
6. They say that in 100 years’ time, life (be) far better than it is today.

7. If you don’t do your lessons well, you (go) to bed without any dinner.
8. When it (be) convenient for you to start work?
9. My friend and I (get) up early tomorrow morning and go fishing.
10. Though there is violence all around, the world (not end).
11. He (dig) up the potatoes the day after tomorrow.
12. This time next week I’ll be on holiday. I probably (lie) on a beautiful beach.
13. My sister (be) 20 years old this Saturday.
14. The new exhibition (open) on April 30 and (finish) on May 31.
15. I’m really thirsty. – I know. I (get) you a cup of water.
16. I am looking forward to my party. I hope every one (enjoy) it.
17. Aunt Maggie (come) to visit us tomorrow.
18. Why are you buying all those vegetable? – Because I (make) vegetable soup.
X. Future Perfect
1. Form


Positive

S + SHALL/WILL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
 Negative

S

+ SHALL NOT
+ WILL NOT

+ HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

 Interrogative

SHALL/WILL + S + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
2. Usage
a. A complete action before a point of time, or another action, in the future.
E.g.

- By noon tomorrow, they will have launched the space ship.
- The games will have finished when we arrive.
b. An action which continues up to a point of future time.

E.g.

- When you return next year, the children will have grown much taller.

Exercise 6: Supply the correct tense, future perfect or simple future, of verbs in parentheses
1. The leaves (fall) from the trees when autumn comes.


2. By the end of autumn, most of the leaves (fall) from the tree.
3. He (live) in this city for exactly two years by next Monday.
4. In two years from now, he (take) his university degree.
5. He (not be) able to travel next week, because he has just had an accident.
6. The chief engineer confirms that the bridge (be) rebuilt before the next flood.
7. I haven’t started reading the book yet, but I (get) through it before the semester ends.
8. By the end of the holiday, tom (recover) his strength.
9. By this time next year, you (forget) all your present troubles.
10. There (be) rain over the Mekong delta during the night.
XI. Present Perfect Continuous
* Form:

S + HAVE/HAS + BEEN + V_ING

XII. Past Perfect Continuous
* Form:

S + HAD + BEEN + V_ING

XIII. Future Perfect Continuous
* Form

S + WILL/SHALL+ HAVE + BEEN + V_ING
*** Note: The use of these three tenses is similar to the use of Present Perfect, Past Perfect, and Future
Perfect; but these tenses put more emphasis on the continuous aspect and the duration of time of the action.
C. Modal verbs
1. Must
-

Obligation, necessity, duty

-

Prohibition

-

Strong advice

-

Logical assumptions
o

Must can only be used to talk about the present or near future. We use have to when we need
to use other tenses.

2. Must – have to/have got to
-

Must = it is necessary to do something (we use must when the speaker decides that something is
necessary)

-

Have to = it is necessary to do something (we use have to when someone else decides that
something is necessary)


-

Must and have to have different meanings n questions

-

Have got to has the same meaning as have to, and it is usually used in everyday speech.

3. Mustn’t – needn’t/ don’t have to
-

Mustn’t = it is forbidden to do something/ you are not allowed to do something. (prohibition)

-

Needn’t = it isn’t necessary to do something (the lack of necessity) (= don’t have to)

4. Didn’t need to – needn’t have done
= lack of necessity
-

didn’t need to + infinitive = it was not necessary to do something, the action did not happen in the
past because we knew it was not necessary.

-

Needn’t have + P.P. = it was not necessary to do something, but it was done.

5. Can/ could
-

ability in the present: can = am/is/are able to

-

ability in the past: could = was/were able to

-

asking permission: can/could I …? = Would you mind if …?

-

Giving/ refusing permission

-

-

o

Can/may = you are allowed to do

o

Can’t/ mustn’t/ may not = you are not allowed to do

Possibility
o

Could/may/might + infinitive = it is possible/ it is likely/ perhaps

o

Could/may/might + have + P.P. = it was possible, but it didn’t happen.

Can is used in the present, could is the past tense of can. We use be able to to form all the other
tenses

6. May/ might
-

possibility (present/ future) = could

-

asking permission

-

request

7. Should/ ought to
-

advice

-

criticism: ought to/should + perfect infinitive = it would have been better if you had … (we use
these structures to show that someone did the wrong thing in the past)

Exercise 7: Fill in these sentences with appropriate modal verbs
1. You ……… your homework before you watch TV.
2. ……… I come in? It’s rather cold out here.
3. You ……… water the plants this weekend, they look dry.
4. ……… you collect the children from school, please?
5. ……… you play the piano?
6. I ……… buy some milk. There isn’t nay left.


7. When ……… I call you?
8. I ……… swim before I was able to walk.
9. You ……… walk to school. I’ll give you a lift.

10. Tim ……… be out. There are no lights on.
Tense Revision
Exercise 8: Stative vs. progressive verbs – use either the simple present or the present continuous of the
verbs in parentheses.
11. Tim (have) a car.
12. Tim (have) trouble with his car, so he has to take the bus to work these days.
13. This box (weigh) a lot. It’s too heavy for me to lift.
14. I just handed the box to the postal worker. Right now she (weigh) it to see how much postage
it (need).
15. I (do) this practice at the moment. It (consist) of both nonprogressive and progressive verbs.
16. I (think) about the verbs in this grammar practice right now. I (think) all of my answer are
correct.
17. Mrs. Edwards is at the market. Right now she (look) at the apples. They (look) fresh.
18. Jack (appear) happy this morning. He’s smiling.
Exercise 9: Supply the correct tense of the verbs in brackets:
1. Food, air, and clothes (be) necessary for life.
2. He (pay) a visit to Ha Long Bay in 1965.
3. About a year ago he (be) elected president of a big company and he (not have) a holiday since then.
4. The Prime Minister (be) to Moscow several times.
5. Yesterday my father (buy) a new watch as his old one (be) stolen.
6. “Did you see the thieves?” – “No, they already (run) away by the time I came in”
7. This morning while I (wait) for the bus, the rain (stop).
8. Before he (reach) us, a child had died of fever.
9. “ I (phone) you at 7 tomorrow. Will that be all right?”
- “At 7? No, I (eat) out with my boss”
10. The bus drivers’ strike (begin) last week, and it still (go) on today.
11. I (not finish) the work that I was assigned to.
12. I don’t smoke while I (drive) a car.
13. By the end of next week, Christmas (come) and (go).
14. I (not see) him since last Monday, but I (believe) he (write) an essay on Hamlet at present.

15. We (meet) you tomorrow after you (finish) your work.
16. In a few minutes’ time, when the clock strikes six, I (wait) here for an hour.
17. Two straight lines which (meet) at a point (form) an angle.


18. When we (go) to see them last night, they (play) cards; they (say) they (play) since 6 o’clock.
19. Every morning, in the city parks, the grass (be) cut, the flowers (be) weeded, and the paths (be)
swept.
20. It (rain) a good deal at this time of year. As you can see, it (rain) now.
Exercise 10: Complete these passages with the correct form of verbs in parentheses.
1. Yesterday while I (read) in my room, Tom (come) in and (ask) me to lend him a dictionary. “I
(prepare) tomorrow’s lesson,” he (say), “ and I find several words that I (not know).”
2. I (be) very busy recently. Last week I (be) at the office every evening until 7 and this week extra
work (keep) me there until 7.30 every evening.
3. “Why are you so late? I (wait) here more than an hour” – “Sorry, but just as I (get) ready to start, a
friend (call) and (stay) a long time. I (come) as soon as he (leave)”
4. He told his wife that he (be) back about 6 and (ask) her to have dinner ready about 7. He said that he
(bring) 3 friends back with him, so he (want) her to prepare a specially good meal.
5. This morning when I (get) to the station, I (learn) that the train I had expected to get (leave) 10
minutes before. The station-master (tell) me that the time-tables (be) altered the previous week.
6. Your train (leave) at 11 o’clock. Why you (sit) here doing nothing as though you (have) plenty of
time? You (pack) your bag yet? I (order) a taxi to come at 10.30 and it (be) nearly 10 now.
7. That man (teach) in this school since 1985. Before he (come) here, he (live) in Hue. Now he (live) in
the suburbs and (come) to school every day on his bicycle.

CHAPTER 6: GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

1. Gerunds
-

Form : V_ing

-

Usage:
•

We can use a gerund as a noun: it can be the subject or the object of a sentence.

E.g.:

- Swimming is very good for your health.
- Do you like smoking?

•

We often put a gerund after prepositions

E.g.: He is interested in watching TV.
•

The gerund is often used after such verbs as love, like, enjoy, dislike, hate or
prefer to express general preference.

•

We always use a gerund after such expressions as: can’t help, be/get used to, look
forward to, it’s no use, it’s (not) worth, be busy, etc.