Some confused or confusing elements of English Grammar

1. Some Prepositions Confused ................................................................................................ 345

2. The Complex Sentence ........................................................................................................... 349

3. Revision Exercises .................................................................................................................. 358

4. Emphasis .................................................................................................................................. 360

5. Additional Exercises. Miscellaneous .................................................................................... 364

Appendix 1. List of Irregular Verbs.................................................................................. 371

Appendix 2. Irregular Verbs: Difficult Cases................................................................... 375

Appendix 3. Regular Verbs: Spelling Rules..................................................................... 376

Appendix 4. List of Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases...................................................... 377

Appendix 5. Place of Adverbs............................................................................................ 383

Appendix 6. Verbs Followed by the Infinitive................................................................... 384

Appendix 7. American English.......................................................................................... 390

Appendix 8. List of Grammar Terms and Key Words..................................................... 391

Appendix 9. Punctuation.................................................................................................... 395

Literature.............................................................................................................................. 400

THE VERB 1. THE VERB TO BE4

THE VERB TO BE' IN THE PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

POSITIVE FORM NEGATIVE FORM QUESTIONS

I am (I'm) I am not (I'm not) Am I?

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

He is (he's) He is not (he's not or he isn't) Is he?

She is (she's) She is not (she's not or she isn't) Is she?

It is (it's) It is not (it's not or it isn't) Is it?

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

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

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

□ I'm small but I'm not helpless.

□ Where are you from?

Q How much are these stamps?

EXERCISES (A)__________________________________________________________

Ex. 1

I. Write short forms {she's/we're, etc.).

1. he is he's 3. she is not_____________ 5.1 am not_____________

2. they are____________ 4. it is not________________ 6. you are not___________

II. Write the full forms (she is/we are, etc.)

7. we aren't we are not 9. you're __________________ 11. it isn't______________

8. I'm________________ 10. they aren't_____________ 12. she's______________

Ex. 2. Put in am, is or are.

1. The sky /§ very blue today. 2.1________ not tired. 3. This shelf__________ very heavy.

4. These shelves______ very heavy. 5. The child_______ asleep. 6. Look! This________

Mabel. 7.1____ cold. Can you shut the window, please? 8. The castle_____ one thousand

years old. 9. My brother and I______ good tennis players. 10. Amy______ at home but her

parents____ in church. 11.1_____ a student. 12. My sister_______ an archeologist.

Ex. 3. Write full sentences. Use am/is/are each time.

1. (my grandparents very old) My grandparents are very old.

2. (my desk very comfortable)______________________________________________

8

3. (your spectacles in your bag)

4. (I not very clever today)_____

5. (this house very expensive) _

6. (the shops not open today) _

 

7. (Mr Wren's grandson six years old)

8. (the houses in this street very big)

9. (the examination not difficult)____

10. (those flowers very beautiful) ____

Ex. 4. Write positive or negative sentences. Use am/am not/is/isn't/are/aren't.

1. (Brussels...the capital of Belgium) Brussels is the capital of Belgium.

2. (I...interested in hockey) / am not interested in hockey.

3. (I...angry)____________________________________________________

4. (It...cold today)________________________________________________

5. (The Hague...in Switzerland)____________________________________

6. (I...afraid of dogs)

7. (Myhands...dirty).

 

8. (Russia...a very big country)

9. (The Amur...in Europe)____

10. (Diamonds...cheap)

 

11. (Motor-racing...a dangerous sport)

12. (Squirrels...big animals)_________