For example :
That isn't mypencil. Is this yourbag?
This can't be theircat.
Mineis here.
My bag is old and yoursis new.
Theirsis black and white .
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
use
example
Singular pronouns end in -self:
myself yourself himself herself itself
The plural forms end in -selves:
ourselves yourselves themselves
We use reflexive pronouns after the verb when the subject and the object are the same person.
I hurt myselfwhen I fell down .
She made herselfa cup of coffee .
Note:We often use reflexive pronouns after : behave, burn, control, cut, defend, enjoy, help, hurt, introduce, killand teach .
use
example
Reflexive pronouns are also used after a verb+ preposition.
She spoke to herself.
He looked at himselfin the mirror. Take care of yourself.
She did it by herself.(on her own)
Sometimes we use reflexive pronouns for emphasis .
Prince Charles himself painted the pictures.
COMPARATIVES: ADJECTIVES
use:to compare two things , people, etc .
form
example
one-syllable adjectives : usually adjective
+ -er (+ than)
one-syllable adjectives ending in a short vowel followed by a consonant: usually double the last consonant+ -er (+than)
adjectives ending in -e:usually adjective
+ -r (+than)
Drums are louderthan violins .
Chillies are hotterthan onions.
I think peaches are nicerthan apples.
form
example
two-syllable adjectives ending in -y.
usually change -y to -er (+than)
most two-syllable adjectives and adjectives with three or more syllables: more + adjective(+ than)
Pete is noisierthan Tom.
The Emperor Nero was more famous
than the Emperor Tiberius.
Notes:
• We use as+ adjective+ asto say that two people or things are the same .
Example: He is astall ashis father.
• 'The film was not as I sointeresting asthe book' means the same as 'The book was more interesting than the film '.
• 'Lemons are not as big asoranges ' means the same as 'Oranges are bigger than lemons'.
SUPERLATIVES: ADJECTIVES
use:to compare three or more things , people, etc.
form
example
one-syllable adjectives :
usually the + adjective + -est
one-syllable adjectives ending in a short vowel followed by a consonant: usually the + adjectivewith a last consonant doubled + -est
adjectives ending in -e:usually
the + adjective + -st
two-syllable adjectives ending in -y.
the + adjectivewith -ychanged to -iestmost two-syllable adjectives and adjectives with three or more syllables:
the most + adjective
Are drums the loudestmusical instrument?
Chillies are the hottestvegetables.
I think peaches are the nicestfruit in the world .
Pete is the noisiestboy in the school.
Nero was the most famousRoman emperor .
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES: ADJECTIVES
ADJECTIVE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
good bad far
much I many
little old
better worse
farther I further
more less
older I elder
the best the worst
the farthest I furthest
the most the least
the oldest I eldest
COMPARATIVES: ADVERBS
use:to compare two actions , etc.
form
example
one-syllable adverbs: usually more + adverb
adverbs with the same form as adjectives:
adverb+ -er
Sue speaks more quietlythan John.
My grandmother lived longerthan my grandfather.
SUPERLATIVES: ADVERBS
use:to compare three or more actions , etc.
form
example
one-syllable adverbs : usually the most+
adverb
adverbs with the same form as adjectives:
the + adverb + -est
Sue speaks the most quietly .
My grandfathe r lived the longest
in our family .
THE VERB: PRESENT SIMPLE
form + 1/You like pasta. He/She/It likes pasta. We/You/They like pasta.
- 1/You don't like pasta. He/She/It doesn't like pasta. We/You/They don't like pasta.
? Do 1/you like pasta? Does he/she/it like pasta? Do we/you/they like pasta?
The present simple is used to talk about things which happen or exist all the time , not just at the moment of speaking .
use
example
for repeated actions -often used with adverbs of frequency , e .g. always, often, sometimes, never
for general truths , facts and states
for timetables and programmes (often made by someone else, not the speaker)
for present actions in commentaries or stories
The postman always deliversthe letters at 8:00a .m.
Our bodies containfive litres of blood. She hasfour dogs . They livein the country. Lunch is at 1 p.m.
The horse Starlight is in the lead.
form be + verb + -ing form
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
+ I am reading . You are reading. He/She/It is reading. We/You/They are reading .
- I am not reading . You are not reading. He/She/It is not reading .
We/You/They are not reading.
? Am I reading? Are you reading? Is he/she/it reading? Are we/you/they reading?
use
example
for incomplete actions taking place at the moment of speaking
for temporary situations in the present
I'm talkingon the phone- I'll be finished soon.
It's rainingat the moment.
use
example
for changes taking place at the present time (sometimes used with more and more)
to express irritation (used with always)
for future arrangements (often used with adverbs oftime , e.g. tomorrow, this weekend)
The weather is gettinghot.
Our teacher is always givingus extra homework!
I'm meetingmy friends at 6:00 p.m.
STATIVE VERBS
Some verbs are usually used only in the Present Simple , not in the Present Continuous .
use
verbs
example
for talking about the senses
for talking about thinking
for talking about feeling for talking about
possession
for situations which stay the same
appear, feel, hear, see, seem ,
smell, sound , taste
agree, appear, believe, disagree, forget, imagine, know, prefer; promise , remember; realise, think , recognise , understand
like, love, dislike, hate, want , wish
belong, have I have got , own ,
possess
be, contain, deserve, include,
need
You seemtired.
That smellswonderful! He soundsannoyed .
He thinksshe's happy. I knowwhat you mean.
We preferto walk .
I loveItalian paintings. The coat belongsto
that woman.
He hasa motorbike.
The trees aretall.
He needsa holiday.
form regular: verb + -ed
PAST SIMPLE
+ 1/You/He/She/lt/We/You/They played football.
- 1/You/He/She/lt!We/You/They did not play football.
? Did 1/you/he/she/iUwe/you/they play football?
irregular: e.g. shake/shook, make/made, think/thought
use
example
for repeated actions in the past
for short, completed actions at a definite time in the past (sometimes the time is not mentioned but is understood)
for telling stories in which one thing happened after another
for completed situations in the past
We walkedin the park every morning .
We leftat 6 p m.
She saidgoodbye, openedthe door and left
the house.
My grandparents livedin Corfu for many years .
Note:Adverbial expressions which we often use with the Past Simple include: at (four o'clock), on (2 July 2000) , last week/ month /year, in (1999), yesterday , on (Friday), ago.
PAST CONTINUOUS
form past tense of be + verb + -ing form
+ I was sleeping. You were sleeping. He/She/It was sleeping .
We/You/They were sleeping.
- I was not sleeping. You were not sleeping. He/She/It was not sleeping .
We/You/They were not sleeping.
? Was I sleeping? Were you sleeping? Was he/she/it sleeping?
Were we/you/they sleeping?
use
example
for temporary, continuing situations in the past
for background information about the weather; what people were doing or wearing
for an action in the past which is interrupted by another
He was standingnext to the window.
The children were all wearingnew clothes.
The sun was shiningas we drove along the coast.
form have + past participle
PRESENT PERFECT
+ 1/You have read Persuasion . He/She/It has read Persuasion.
We/You/They have read Persuasion .
- 1/You have not read Persuasion . He/She/It has not read Persuasion.
We/You/They have not read Persuasion .
? Have 1/you read Persuasion? Has he/she/it read Persuasion?
Have we/you/they read Persuasion?
use
example
for recently completed actions (without a definite time)
for recently completed actions (with just)
for actions in the past which are still important in the present
for actions or situations which started in the past and continue up to the present (often used with since, for)
for past actions which refer to an unknown, incomplete time (often used with never, ever)
with the superlative
I've finishedmy homework .
He hasjust washedthe car.
He has paintedmany wonderful pictures.
They have walkedto school every day for two years. He has livedin this town since 1980.
Haveyou ever visitedAustralia? He hasnever beenin a plane.
This is the best holiday I'veever had.
+ 1/You/He/She/lt/We/You/They played football.