8 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners - Simple Present Tense

8 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners 

 

11 . The Present Simple Tense

     

Positive	Question	Negative
I , You ,We , hey (inf.)	I , You , We , They (do)	I , You , We , They (do not)
We play football . I usually go to school .	Do you like fish ? Do they play football ?	We do not smoke . They do not swim .
He , She , It (s ,es , ies)	He , She , It (does)	He , She , It (does not)
He plays football. She usually goes to school .	Does he sleep much ? Does she go to school ? Does it eat meat ?	He does not smoke . She does not swim . It does not eat meat .

1 . Verbs ending in the letters (ch , sh , ss , x , and o) , add (es) not (s)

Examples

brush - brushes / guess - guesses / wash - washes / go - goes / fix - fixes

He teaches English .

She brushes her teeth twice a day .

2 . Verbs ending in (y) following consonant , change (y) into (ies)

Examples

carry - carries / dry - dries / try - tries /  hurry - hurries / cry -cries /

She fries fish .

He carries his bag .

It tries to escape .

3 . Verbs ending in (y) following a vowel ( a, e, i, o, u ) follow the usual rule and add (s) .

examples

play - plays / stay - stays / pray - prays / say - says / employ - employs /

He plays football well .

They usually pray .

4 . This tense is often used with adverbs and adverbial phrases of frequency such as : often , never , always , every , usually , sometimes , (once , twice , three ,four etc. times a year , a day , a month etc.

Examples

We go to the beach every summer .

He usually goes to the club .

She visits her parents twice a week .

5 . This tense is used to express facts .

Example

The earth goes round the moon .

The sun rises in the morning .

6 . This tense is used also to express a habit .

Examples

He gets up early every day .

I usually go to school

Exercise 1

Correct the verbs between brackets :

1 . He always ----------------(play) football on Friday .

2 . She often ---------------(visit) her grandmother on Sunday .

3 . ------------he ---------------(come) to school on foot ?

4 . He --------------(go) to school every day .

5 . We --------------------9not usually eat) dinner at home ,

6 . Where -----------------your father -------------(work) ?

7 . They -------------(not go) to the cinema every night .

8 . He usually -----------------(go) to school on his bike .

9 . What time ------------the lesson ------------------(begin) ?

10. A doctor ------------------(study) medicine .

11 . It never ------------------- (rain) in summer .

12 . Father ------------------(go) to work in the morning .

13 . ---------------you(speak) English in class every day ?

14 . She ----------------(not help) her mother with the house work .

15 . He -----------------(not brush) his teeth every morning .

16 . She --------------------(walk) to school with her friend every day .

17 . Sally always ----------------(sit) in that seat .

18 . The students --------------------(write) many exercises every day .

19 . He ---------------------(read) the newspaper every morning .

20 . Adam ---------------(go) to the zoo very often .

21 . The cat always ----------------------(chase) the mouse .

22. Edward usually ---------------------(drink) tea for breakfast .

23 . She often --------------------(get) up early in the morning .

24 . Harry sometimes -------------------(spend) the week-end at home .

25 . -------------you ------------------(walk) to work every day ?

26 . He -------------(want) to be a doctor when he ---------------(grow) up .

27 . He ---------------(take) his car to work every day .

28 . Mary always ---------------9arrive) at the lesson on time .

29 . -------------it ------------(rain) very often during the month of January ?

30 . -----------------you always -------------(come) to work late ?

31 . How well -----------------he --------------(speak) English ?

32 . When ---------------the next train --------------------(arrive) ?

33 . How often -------------it (snow) in Egypt ?

Exercise 2

1 . Change the following into negative .

1 . She walks to school every morning .

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2 . They watch television in the evening .

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3 . He helps his father on the farm .

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4 . It rains in summer in Egypt .

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5 . She has many friends .

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6 . Mary teaches in a primary school .

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7 . Sarah has many English books .

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8 . William plays the guitar well .

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9 . It is hot in London .

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10 . A doctor works in a school .

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11 . Firemen work hard .

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12 . Policemen catch good people .

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13 . Postmen carry radios .

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14 . A teacher flies a plane .

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15 . A farmer helps sick people .

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16 . The sun rises in the west .

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17 . A policeman controls traffic lights .

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18 . Wild animals live in cages .

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19 . Elephants are useful to man .

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Exercise 3

Change the following into questions :

1 . She speaks French well .

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2. She eats with a fork and a knife .

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3 .We make many mistakes in class .

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4 . The baby cries too much .

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5. She goes to bed early .

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6. Nasser watches television every night .

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7 . Mary helps her mother in the kitchen .

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8 . A typist works in an office .

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9 . The teacher comes to school on foot .

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10 . Sandra sweeps the floor every day .

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11 . The girls make much noise .

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12 . Elephants eat grass .

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13 . Elephants live in the forest .

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14 . Birds feed on cereals .

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7 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners - Some & Any , A Few , Little , Much , Many , A Lot Of

7 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners 

9 . Some & Any

1 . “Some” is used in positive sentences with countable , plural nouns .

some boys , some pencils , some men

2.  “Some” is also used with uncountable nouns

some cheese , some rice , some butter

3 . “Some” can be used when you offer somebody something ; or for request .

Examples

Would you like some more tea ?

Can I have some more rice , please ?

4 . “Any” is used in negative sentences and questions .

Examples

She doesn’t have any money .

Do you have any money ?

Exercise 1

Add )some or any) in the following :

1 . There isn’t --------------milk in the fridge .

2 . We haven’t received ---------------e-mails from her for a year .

3 . I’m sorry there isn’t ---------------- more coffee . Will you have ------------tea instead ?

4 . Ask him to bring us ----------------more salt . There isn’t --------------in the kitchen .

5 . Here are --------------more exercises for you to do .

6. I can’t eat --------------more rice , but I should like ------------------meat .

7. Take ------------------------sandwiches with you or you won’t get ------------thing to eat till tonight .

8 . Is there ---------------one here who can speak Italian ?

9 . There were ------------------heavy clouds when we started this morning but there wasn’t

--------- rain while we were out .

10. The milkman promised to bring --------------------more cream tomorrow .

11 . Give those plants ---------------water ; they haven’t had -----------for two days .

12 . There aren’t ----------------------sugar left . I must gout and get ------------------------

13 . Try --------------of these grapes but be careful . Don’t eat ------------unripe ones .

14 . Put -------------------salt in your soup ; it needs ------------------- more .

15 . You must have ----------------- thing to eat before you do --------------more work .

16 . May I have ------------------more coffee , please ?

Exercise 2

Add (a , an , the , some , any or nothing) in the following :

1 . Do you take -----------------sugar in --------------tea ?

2 . ------------------house made of ------------stone can be very pretty .

3 . -----------------children love ---------------chocolates .

4 . -------------------donkeys are said to be ---------------stupid animals .

5 . Take ------------------umbrella with you to -----------------office , it may rain .

6 . I have --------------terrible headache . I’m going to take --------------aspirin and go to ------

bed

7 . Do we need ------------------visa to visit ------------------foreign countries ?

8 . I’m going shopping . I’m going to get ------------------new pair of trousers , ----------shirts and ---------------pyjamas .

9 . Mohammad is --------------doctor . His parents were -----------------doctors too .

10 . ----------------people do a lot of exercise ,others don’t do ------------------at all .

11 . -----------------people living in the flat above have --------------big wild dog .

12 . -----------------water in this glass is dirty .

13 . --------------------climate in Egypt is very nice .

14 . -------------------English language is very easy to learn .

15 . We need ----------------more light in order to study .

16 . We read -------------------long article about ---------------USA .

17 .  -----------------sugar is sweet while -------------lemon is sour .

18 . ----------------health is much more important than --------------gold .

19 . I haven’t got ------------------money . Would you give me ------------, please ?

20 . ---------------------money is the root of all evils .

21 . May I have ----------------beef-burger sandwich and -----------chips , please ?

22 . She gave me -----------------------questions to answer .

23 . It is ------------------most interesting newspaper .

10 . A Few , A little , Much , Many , A Lot Of .

1 . “A few” and “many” are used with countable plural nouns .

Examples

He ate a few sandwiches .

He has many books now .

2 . “A little” and “much” are used with uncountable nouns .

Examples

I would like to have a little coffee , please .

I didn’t eat much food .

3 . “A lot of” is used with countable and uncountable nouns .

Examples

She has a lot of brothers .

He drank a lot of tea .

Exercise

Add (a few , a little , much or many) to fill the blank spaces .

1. It is winter , but I still have ------------flowers in my garden .

2 . There aren’t -------------people at the bus stop . It must have just left .

3 .He is out of work now and lives on ------------------money left to him by his father .

4 . There isn’t -------------rain in September .

5 . You must do --------------more effort to pass the exam .

6 . She is --------------over seventy but in a very good health .

7 . Our government does not spend ------------------money on education .

8 . Do you know ----------------about Eskimos ?

9 . I don’t have ---------------friends at school .

10 . Only ---------------people attended the meeting . It was very boring .

11 . I did not see --------------friends here .

12 . Is there --------------water left ?

13 . The room was nearly empty ; there were --------------people .

14 . Are there -------------girls in your class ?

15 . She said there was too ------------sugar in her coffee .

16 . There isn’t ------------ink in the bottle .

17 . He is a wild boy . He causes ---------------trouble in class .

18 . I’m afraid we nearly ran out of sugar . We have got very ---------------left .

19 . I saw this film --------------times before but I didn’t understand ----------of it .

20 . I don’t know all my classmates . -------------of them are new comers .

21 . I don’t understand all my lessons . ------------of them are difficult .

22 . Most of my friends come to school by bus , but ---------------of them come on foot .

23 . I’m on a diet . I eat ----------------bread and a ------------of salad .

24 . He can’t come to the party . He has ----------------homework to do . 

6 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners - Definite & Indefinite Articles

6 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners

8 .The Indifinite Articles A &An

1 . A & an are used with countable nouns . Only singular nouns . “A” is used with words beginning with a consonant . “An” is used with words beginning with a vowel ( a , e , i , o , u ) .

Examples

a hotel- a dog - a manager  

 an apple - an egg - an ice-cream - an orange - an umbrella

2 . Use “a” or “an” before jobs .

a teacher , a doctor , a manager , an artist , an actor , an engineer

He is a teacher .

He works a doctor .

Her job is an engineer .

3 . “A” is used with numbers when it means “every” .

once a week , day / twice a month / three times a year / five times a day

He goes to the club once a week .

They visit their grandfather three times a week .

4 . No article is used with the names of games , meals , materials

Examples

We play football / basketball / handball / tennis etc.

They have lunch / dinner .

Milk is useful for health .

Books are made of paper .

Iron is hard .

The watch is made of gold .

Exercise

Add (a , an or nothing) to complete the following :

1 . -----------------bicycle is made of ----------steel and ------------rubber .

2 . ---------------- shoe is made of --------------leather .

3 . ---------------- corn grows in ----------------field on -------------farm .

4 . --------------table is made of --------------- wood .

5 . -----------------bird flies in the air .

6 . --------------suit is made of ---------------cloth .

7 . ---------------ship sails on the sea .

8 . She live in ------------------ nice big house .

9 . My father is -------------------engineer .

10 . Nicono is ----------------Japanese name .

11 . What’s that ? It’s ----------------- camera .

12 . Miss Salma is ----------------very good teacher .

13 . I waited for --------------hour .

14 . His salary is 3000 pounds --------------monthe .

15 . We see ----------------lion in -------------zoo .

The Definite Article “The”

“The” is used before :

1 . a noun that is the only of its kind .

Examples

the Alps , the Sahara Deserts , the Golden Gate Bridge

2 . A noun that has just been referred to .

Example

She has got two children : a girl and a boy . The boy is fourteen and the girl is eight .

3 . Names of rivers , seas , oceans etc.

Examples

the  Thames ,  the Red Sea ,  the Mediterranean sea , the Pacific , the Bahamas

4 . The names of musical instruments .

the guitar , the violin , the drum , the piano

Example

Can you play the guitar ?

She plays the piano skillfully .

5 . Name of some countries such as ;

The United Arab Emirates , the USA , the Yemen , the Sudan , the United Kingdom

No article is used with :

1 . subjects

Examples

I don’t like history .

My favorite subject is Science .

2 . such words ; school , home , bed , work etc.

I am going home now .

I always go to bed early .

I go to school every day .

We don’t use (the) with these expressions :

by car - by bus - by train - by plane - on foot

Exercise 1

Add (the) in the blank spaces if is needed :

1 . As she was walking in ---------------street she looked at ------------clothes in ----------store windows .

2 . They were sailing along --------------river watching -----------clouds in ------------sky .

3 . She ran into -----------------house and shut ---------------- door .

4 . ---------------Russia is the largest country in Europe .

5 . -----------------United States of America is one of the richest countries in the world .

6 . People in --------------Mexico speak --------------------Spanish .

7. He visits --------------Africa twice a year .

8 . He was educated in ----------------Cairo University .

9 . They live in -----------------21 , Higgaz Street , Heliopolis .

10 . --------------Suez Canal is in -------------Middle East .

11 . Who’s --------------------girl in ----------------car over there with Tom ?

12 . The visitors are staying in --------------Grand Hotel .

13 . ---------------English Channel lies between ----------------England and -------------France .

14 . Today ---------------sun is very hot .

15 . -----------------moon goes round --------------------earth and it goes round -----------sun .

16 . -------------------summer is the ottrest season of the year .

17 . -----------------house where we live is surrounded by a large garden .

18 . When I returned there was nobody at -----------------home .

Exercise 2

Add (a , an , the or nothing) to complete the following :

1 . I met -----------------English boy the other day . He comes from -------------United Kingdom .

2 . What’s ---------------------name of your friend’s father ?

3 . ----------------empty bag is worth nothing .

4 . Can you remember -------------------beginning of ----------------interesting story he told us last night ?

5 . He arrived --------------------hour ago from ---------------United States of America .

6. What is -----------------matter with you ?

7.She bought ------------------largest car in town .

8 . He is -----------------inch taller than I am .

9 . He was ----------------------year old and could not climb ----------------Alps .

10 . She is -----------------very clever student .

11 . We make -----------------butter and -------------------cheese from -------------milk .

12 . There is -----------------garden behind ---------------house .

13 . She always goes to --------------------school on ----------------foot .

14 . I have ------------------idea . “Let’s go by bus,” I suggested .

15 . -------------------------length of the road is ten miles . 

5 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners - Adverbs

5 - ] Basic Grammar For Beginners

7 . Adverbs

1 .An adverb describes a verb . It tells how we do something . It generally ends in (ly) ( adverbs of manner ) .

Examples

He speaks slowly .

She works carefully .

2 . Many adverbs are formed simply by adding (ly) to the adjectives .

soft + ly = softly  careful + ly = carefully nice + ly = nicely -

3 . Adverbs that end in (y) after a consonant , change (y) to (i) before adding (ly) .

Example

The children are shouting happily .

The played noisily .

4 . Good is an adjective while well is an adverb .

Example

She is a good student .

She studies her lessons well .

5 . Some adjectives are uses also as adverbs .

hard - hard

fast - fast

late -late

early - early

Examples

He is a hard worker .

He works hard .

It rains hard .

The car is fast .

The car runs fast.

The train is late .

The train arrived late .

He comes in the early morning .

He usually comes early.

Exercise 1

Put the correct form of adverbs in the blanks .

1 . Mary plays the piano --------------------                                      [skillful]

2 . She always speaks very -----------------                                       [ soft]

3 . He did the work very ------------------                                         [ clever]

4 . She always prepares her lessons ----------                                  [ careful]

5 . I can do this exercise ----------------                                               [ easy]

6 . The old man walks very --------------------                                     [slow]

7 . He does all his work -----------------                                               [quick]

8 . They speak English --------------------                                            [perfect]

9 . He always prepares his lessons ---------------                                [good]

10 . The baby has slept -------------all night .                                     [sound]

11 . Adel drove his car so ----------------                                             [ careless]

12 . The old man waited --------------at the bus stop .                       [patient]

13 . The soldiers fought very -----------------                                      [brave]

14 . She always speaks ----------------- of herself .                              [proud]

15 . The airplane landed ---------------                                                [safe]

16 . The hungry man ate the food -----------------                              [greedy]

17 . John kicked the cat ---------------                                                 [cruel]

18 . The little boy was riding his bike -------------                              [dangerous]

19 . The birds are singing very ---------------                                      [sweet]

20 . The boys are playing -----------------                                            [noisy]

21 . The children are playing ------------------                                     [happy]

22 . The film has ended ---------------------                                           [sudden]

23 . The girl is sitting --------------------in front of the television .     [comfortable]

24 . Adam always behaves ---------------------                                      [foolish]

25 . The children are playing -----------------in the garden .              [quiet]

Exercise 2

Complete the following :

1 . The exercise was easy and I did it ------------------------

2 . Our teacher treats us gently . She is very --------------with us .

3 . Luckily he passed the driving test . He was ---------------

4 . His writing is always neat . He always writes ----------------------

5 . He spent the money foolishly . He was a ----------------boy .

6 . The song was very clear . She sang very --------------------

7 . It was a fierce battle . The soldiers fought -----------------

8 . She is a very cheerful teacher . She does everything ------------------------

9 . He is a careful teacher . She does everything --------------------

10 . He was such a patient person . He did everything --------------------

Degrees of Comparison

1 . We form the comparative degree by adding (er) to the positive degree .

Examples

soon - sooner late - later early - earlier

2 . If the adverb has more than two syllables we use “more” .

rapidly more rapidly - cleverly more cleverly + than

 Examples

She writes more carefully than ever before .

He walks more rapidly than I .

Exercise

1 . He arrived at the party -----------------[late] than I .

2 . We will get there ----------------------[soon] than you .

3 . He called -------------------[early] than usual .

4 . He answered me -------------------[quick] than I expected .

5 . She plays the piano --------------------[good] than you .

6 . She also sings ----------------------[beautiful] than you .

7 . The train arrived ------------------------[late] than ever before .

8 . You can run -----------------------[fast] than all of us .

9 . Harvard works -------------[hard] than other students .

10 . You speak French ---------------------[good] than I .

11 . Charles drives ---------------------[fast] than his father .

12 . They go to the zoo ------------------[frequent] than us .