VERBS

The following verbs require an infinitive for a verb in the compliment

Agree decide hesitate need refuse

Appear demand hope offer seem
Arrange deserve intend plan tend
Ask expect learn prepare threaten
Claim fall manage pretend wait
Consent forget mean promise want
We had planed to leave day before yesterday
He wanted to speak with Mr. Brown
The weather tends to improve in May

The following verbs require an - ing form for a verb in the compliment

Admit complete deny

Appreciate consider discuss
Avoid delay enjoy
Finish practice risk
Keep quit stop
Mention recall suggest
Miss recommend tolerate
Postpone regret understand

He enjoy traveling by plane

She is considering not going
I miss watching the news when I am traveling

The following verb phrases require an - ing form for a verb in the compliment

Approve of do not mind keep on

Be better off forget about look forward to
Can’t help get through object to
Count on insist on think about think of

I have been looking forward to meeting you.

We wouldn’t mind waiting.
She forgot about canceling her appointment

A COLLECTIVE SUBJECT and VERB

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The following collective subjects agree with singular verbs :

Audience faculty police variety

Band family public 2,3,4…dollars
Chorus group series 2,3,4…miles
Class majority staff
Committee orchestra team

The subject below agrees with a plural verb.

people

The staff is meeting in the conference room.

Four miles is the distance to office
Twenty dollars is the price
Many people are coming to the graduation.

SIMILAR VERBS
Borrow and lend

T0 borrow means to take and giveback.

To lend means to give and take back.

Can I borrow this dictionary?

She borrows my key to get into the room.

The bank lends money to people.

Would you please lend me your pen?

TRANSITIVE and INTRANSITIVE VERBS

Raise and Rise
Raise is a transitive verb is a verb that takes a complement.
Rise is an intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a complement.
Transitive Intransitive

Verb word Past Participle Verb word Past Participle

Raise raised raised rise rose risen

The cost of living has risen 3 percent in the past year.
The landlord has raised the rent.

Lay and lie

Lay is a transitive verb is a verb that takes a complement.

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Lie is an intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a complement
Transitive Intransitive

Verb word Past Participle Verb word Past Participle

lay laid laid lie lay lain

Her coat was lying on the chair

Why don’t you lie down for awhile?

He lays the mail on the table everyday

He lies on the sofa to rest every day after work.

Set and sit

Set is a transitive verb is a verb that takes a complement.
Sit is an intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a
complement
Transitive Intransitive

Verb word Past Participle Verb word Past Participle

Set set set sit sat sat

Please set the telephone on the table by the bed

The students set the lab equipment on the table every class
Won’t you sit down?
Denny has sat there waiting for us for almost an hour.

USED TO & BE USED TO

Used to expresses a habit, activity, or situation that existed in the past

but no longer exist.
Used to with a verb word means that a custom in the past has not
Continued.

E.g. Mary used to live in the country.

She used to get up early.

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Be used to means be accustomed to.
Be used to is followed by an –ing form (a gerund)

E.g. Mary is used to living in a cold climate.

I am used to speaking in public.

Get used to means become

Get accustomed to means become

E.g. Bob moved to Alaska. After a while he got used to /got accustomed
to living in a cold climate
CAUSATIVES
Causatives are main verbs that cause people or machines to do something or cause
things to change. In causative, a person does not perform an action directly.

Causative MAKE
The person causes it to happen by forcing another person to do it.
Is followed by the simple form of a verb word.

E.g. I made the machine work.

She made her son clean the room.
Sad movies make me cry.

Causative GET
The person causes it to happen by persuading another person to do it.
Is followed by an infinitive after a person and a participle after a thing
E.g. Jack got his friend to play soccer with him after school.
Let’s get John to go with us.
Let’s get our car fixed first.
I get my watch repaired by him.

Causative HAVE

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 is followed by the simple form of a verb word after a person. and by a participle
after a thing
The person causes it to happen by requesting another person to do it.

e.g. Jane had the waiter bring her some tea.

My English teacher had us give oral reports
I want to have this book renewed please.
Tom had a tooth filled.
The law requires that everyone have his car checked at least once a Year.

THE PAST PARTICIPLE IS USED AFTER HAVE AND GET TO GIVE A PASSIVE MEANING
Let’s get our car fixed first. I want to have this book renewed please.
I get my watch repaired by him. Tom had a tooth filled

Causative LET
With LET, a person gives permission for another person to do it
Is followed by a verb word after a person or thing.

e.g. The professor let us write a paper instead of taking a final exam.
Would you let us borrow your notes?
Don’t let that bother you!

Causative HELP
With HELP, a person assists another person to do it.
is followed by a verb word or an infinitive after a person in the
causative with HELP.
e.g. He is helping me type my paper.
He is helping me to type my paper.
My brother helped me wash my car.
My brother helped me to wash my car

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 COMPARISONS
COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
(-er) (-est)
ONE- Old Older than The oldest
SYLLABLE Wise Wiser than The wisest
ADJECTIVES Strange Stranger than The strangest

COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
(more) (most)
TWO- Recent More recent The most recent
SYLLABLE Famous More famous The most famous
ADJECTIVES Boring More boring The most boring
Confused More confused The most confused

COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
(-er) (-est)
TWO- Pretty Prettier than The prettiest
SYLLABLE Busy Busier than The busiest
ADJECTIVES Lazy Lazier than The laziest
(end in –y)

FARTHER & FURTHER

I walked six blocs. My friend walked three blocks.
I walked farther than my friend did.
(Farther is used to compare physical distances)

I need further information.

(Further means additional )

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 COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
(-er / more) (-est / most)
TWO- Clever Cleverer than The cleverest
SYLLABLE More clever The most cleverest
ADJECTIVES Simple Simpler than simplest
More simple The most simple
Narrow Narrower Narrowest
More narrow The most narrow
Quiet Quieter Quietest
More quiet The most quiet
(secure, stupid,
polite, obscure,
handsome,
angry, able,
cruel, friendly)

COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

IRREGULAR Good better than The best

FORMS OF Bad worse than The worst
ADJECTIVE Little less than The least
S
Far farther The farthest
IRREGULAR Well Better than The best
FORMS OF Badly worse than The worst
ADVERBS Far farther The farthest

COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

IADVER Slowly More slowly than The most slowly

B Commonly More commonly than The most commonly
Careful More carefully than The most carefully

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 ADVER Fast Faster than The fastest
BS Hard Harder than The hardest
THAT Soon Sooner than The soonest
DO
Close Closer than The closest
NOT
END
IN -LY

COMPLETING A COMPARISON
I am older than my brother / he is.
I am older than my brother / he.
I am older than him. ( very informal)

My apartment is larger than Tom’s.

My apartment is large than his.

He works harder than I do.

He works harder than I work.

He can type faster than she can.

He can type faster than she can type.

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
Type 1 TRUE IN THE PRESENT/FUTURE
e.g.
If the weather is nice tomorrow, we will go on a picnic.
can
may
If we find her address, we will write her
can
may
‘if clause’ simple present (is, find)

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 ‘result clause’ simple future (will go, will write)

Type 2 UNTRUE IN THE PRESENT/FUTURE

e.g.
If I were you, I would accept their invitation.
could
might
If we found her address, we would write her
could
might
‘if clause’ simple past
(were, found)
‘result clause’ would + simple future
(would accept, would write)

Type 3 UNTRUE IN THE PAST

e.g.
If you had told me about the problem, I would have helped you.
could have
might have
If we had found her address, we would have written her
could have
might have
‘if clause’ past perfect
(had told, had found)
‘result clause’ would have + past participle
(would have helped, would have written)

HAD BETTER
(It expresses advice for the future)

S + had beetter + verb word

We had better check the schedule

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You had better not go alone

WOULD RATHER
(It expresses preference in present sand future time)

S + would rather + verb word

( ‘d rather)

I ‘d rather have a Cocacola than a Fanta

I ‘d rather not go.

S + would rather that + S + verb (past)

( ‘d rather that)

I’d rather that you came tomorrow

I’d rather that you drove

S + would rather that + S + didn’t + verb word

( ‘d rather that)

I’d rather that you didn’t do that.

I’d rather that you didn’t drive

WISH

Events in the present and future

S + WISH (present) that + S + could/would verb word

She wishes that they could have another baby next year
We wish that you would change your mind about leaving tomorrow.

Events that repeat

S + WISH (present) that + S + verb (past)

I wish that you called everyday

I wish that you didn’t take such a lot of medicine
I wish that we saw the Relays more often
Impossible result
S + WISH (present) that + S + were

I wish that it were true.

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I wish that he were here.
She wish that the trip were over.
SUBJUNCTIVE VERBS

The following verbs are used before that and the verb word clause

Ask propose
Demand recommend
Desire request
Insist require
Prefer suggest

S + V + that + S + verb word

 The doctor suggested that she not smoke

 He prefers that I speak with him personally.
 The law requires that everyone have his car checked at least once a year.
 The international student advisor recommended that she study more
English before enrolling at the University

The following nouns are used in the pattern below.

Demand recommendation
Insistence request
Preference requirement
Proposal suggestion

N + that + S + verb word

 The recommendation that we be evaluated was approved

 She ignored the suggestion that she get more exercise.
The following adjectives are used in impersonal expressions.
Essensial important
Imperative necessary

It is + adjective + infinitive

It is important to verify the data.

It is imperative to be on time
It is not necessary to take an entrance examination to be admitted to
an American university

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 It is + adjective + that + S + verb word

It is important that the data be verified.

It is imperative that you be on time
It is not necessary that you take an entrance examination to be admitted
to
an American university

NEED
(May express necessity for repair or improvement}

S + NEED + ing form

His car needs fixing

The house needs painting.
Her watch needed repairing
This paragraph needs revising

S + NEED + to be + participle

His car needs to be fixed.

The house needs to be painted..
Her watch needed to be repaired.
This paragraph needs to be revised.

TAG QUESTIONS

Tag questions are used frequently in conversation to encourage

agreement.

BE and Other Verb

S + BE not + , BE not + S

The mail is late, isn’t it?

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It is far from the university, isn’t it?
It is as hot as it was yesterday, isn’t it?

S + BE not + , BE + S

The mail isn’t late again, is it?

It isn’t far from the university, is it?
It isn’t as hot as it was yesterday, is it?

S + V (present) + , DO not + S

They agree with us, don’t they?

I owe you twenty dollars, don’t I?

S + V (past) + , DID not + S

He played very well, didn’t he?

She understood the question, didn’t she?

MODALS and Modal-Related Form

S + Modal + Verb Word, + Modal (not) + S

You will help, won’t you?

He will meet us there, won’t he?

He can swim, can’t he?

You can buy almost anything in the drug store, can’t you?

We have to hurry, don’t we?

You have to wait for a few minutes, don’t you?

She had to leave, didn’t she?

You had to keep it, didn’t you?

I ought to complain, shouldn’t I?

She ought to go by plane, shouldn’t she?

Let’s talk about it, shall we?

Let’s go home, shall we?

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AMBIGUOUS Abbreviations

S’s + ing form + …not + S

She’s doing her best, isn’t she?

He’s writing her another letter, isn’t he?

S’s + participle + …not + S

She’s done her best, hasn’t she?

She’s taken the test already, hasn’t she?
He ‘s been elected, hasn’t he?

S’d + Verb word + …not + S

He’d work overtime, wouldn’t he?

They’d go with us, wouldn’t they?

S’d + participle + …not + S

He’d worked overtime, hadn’t he?

We’d decided to open a joint account, hadn’t we?

FEW and LITTLE

(both of them have the same meaning but,

few is used before plural count nouns and
little is use before non count nouns)

John has few friends.

Few reference books may be checked out.

There is little time to waste.

He had little money, as far as I knew.

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A LITTLE and LITTLE
A FEW and FEW

(Little or few means not a lot. A little or a few means some.)

We have a little/ little time.

Give me a little butter, please (some)
We have a little news about the plane crash.(not much)

We made a few / few mistakes

There are a few tickets left for the concert. (some)
Few people in my apartment building are friendly. (not many)

(many is used before plural countnouns and much is used before noncount nouns)

He always has many problem with his teeth.

They don’t have many children.
MUCH and MANY There are many TV programs for children on Sunday.

We don’t have much information.

I think there is too much violence on TV.
The letter was short because there wasn’t much news.

ENOUGH
(means sufficiency)

With Nouns

We have enough tickets.

We have enough time.
I need to by a lamp because I don’t have enough light in my room.
Do we have enough hamburgers for the party?
Without enough sleep, you won’t be able to do well on the examination

We have tickets enough..

We have time enough.
I need to by a lamp because I don’t have light enough in my room.

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Do we have hamburgers enough for the party?
Without sleep enough, you won’t be able to do well on the examination
With Adjectives

It is warm enough to go swimming.

That excuse is good enough.
His car is big enough for us to go together comfortably.

It isn’t warm enough to go swimming.

That excuse isn’t good enough.
His car isn’t big enough for us to go together cmfortably.

THE SAME AS and THE SAME

(the same as is used between the two nouns compared, and the same is used after two
nouns or a plural noun.)

This coat is the same as that one

That car is almost the same as mine.
My briefcase is exactly the same as yours.
Is your book the same as mine?

This coat and that one are the same.

That car and mine are almost the same.
My briefcase and yours are exactly the same.
Are your book and mine the same?

SIMILAR TO and SIMILAR

Similar to is used between the two nouns compared, and similar is used after two nouns
or a plural noun.

This coat is similar to that one.

That joke is similar to a joke that I heard.
I wouild really like to have a stereo that is similar to the one on display

This coat iand that one are similar.

That joke and the joke I herard are similar.
The stereo that I wouild really like to have and the one on display are similar.

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 LIKE and ALIKE

Like is used between the two nouns compared, and alike is used after the two nouns or
plural noun.

This coat is like that one.

I want to buy some shoes like the ones I have on.

This coat and that one are alike.

The shoes I want to buy and the shoes I have on are alike.

DIFFERENT FROM and DIFFERENT

Different from is used between the two nouns compared,

and different is used after the two nouns of a plural noun.

This coat is different from that one.

The watch in the window is a little different from this one.
This coat and that one are different.

These coat are different

The watch in the window and this one are a little different.
Those watch are different.

BESIDES / BESIDE

Besides means in addition to. Beside means near

Besides taxi service, there isn’t any public transportation in town.

Besides our dog, we have two cats and a canary
Besides white, we stock green and blue.

We sat beside the teacher.

To lead balanced life, you need to have other interest beside studying.
Jeanny has lots of friends besides her roommate.

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DESPITE and IN SPITE OF
(introduce a contradiction in a sentence or clause of cause- and- result)

Despite his denial, we knew that he was guilty

In spite of his denial, we knew that he was guilty

Despite their quarrel, they are very good friends.

In spite of their quarrel, they are very good friends.

Despite the delay, they arrived on time.

In spite of the delay, they arrived on time

Despite their quarrel, they are very good friends.

In spite of their quarrel, they are very good friends

BOTH……and

They are used together to include two parallel structures (two nouns, adjectives, adverbs).

She speaks both English and Japanese at home.

The lecture was both interesting and instructive.
She works both quickly and efficiently

NOT ONLY….BUT ALSO

They are used together to include two parallel structures (two nouns, adjectives, verbs,
adverbs).

The objective is not only to identify the problem but also to solve it.
Check are not only safer but also more convenient
The program provide not only theoretical classes but also practical training.

SO and TOO

So is used before auxiliary verbs and too and also are used after auxiliary verbs

He likes to travel, and so does she I am worried about it, and so is he

He likes to travel, and she does too I am worried about it, and he is too
He likes to travel, and she does also I am worried about it, and he is also

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She took pictures, and so did I She took pictures, and I did also
She took pictures, and I did too
NEITHER and EITHER

Neither is used before auxiliary verbs and either is used after auxiliary verbs and not

She hasn’t finished the assignment yet, and neither have I

She hasn’t finished the assignment yet, and I haven’t either

I didn’t know the answer, and neither did he

I didn’t know the answer, and he didn’teither.

She is not in agreement, and neither am I

She is not in agreement, and I am not either.

He won’t be here today, and neither will his sister.

He won’t be here today, and his sister won’t either.

SOMETIME and SOMETIMES

Sometime means at sometime in the indefinite future and is usually used after verb..
Sometimes means occasionally and is usually used at the beginning or end of a sentence
or a clause.

No specific date in the future

Let’s have lunch sometime.

Why don’t you call me sometime?

Occasionally

Sometimes my family calls me long distance.

It is cool now, but sometimes it gets very warm here.

AS A WHOLE and WHOLELY

As a whole means generally and is often used at the beginning of a sentence or a clause.
Wholly means and is often used after the auxiliary or main verb. Completely.

Generally

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As a whole, we are in agreement.
As a whole, people try to be helpful to tourists..
As a whole, the news is correct.

Completely

The news is wholly correct.

The house and its contents were wholly consumed by the fire.

INSTEAD OF and INSTEAD

Instead of and instead both mean in place of

Instead of is used before a noun, adjective, or adverb , and insstead is used at the end of
a sentence or a clause to refer to a noun, adjective, or adverb that has already been
mentioned.

Could I have potatoes instead of rice, please?

Could I have potatoes instead, please?

Paula’s problem is that she likes to go to movies instead of to class.

Paula’s problem is that she likes to go to movies instead.

DIFFERENT FROM and DIFFERENT

Different from is used between the two nouns compared and different is used after the
two nouns or plural noun.

The watch in the window is a little different from this one.

The watch in the window and this one are a little different

Differ from

Differ is a verb and must change forms to agree with the subject.

Do you have anything a little different from these?

Do you have anything that differs a little from these?

She is different from other woman I know.

She differs from other woman I know.

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NEGATIVE EMPHASIS

The following are used in the beginning of a statement to express emphasis and auxiliary
must agree with verbs and subjects.
Negative answer the question, how often?

not one not once not until never

never again only rarely very seldom

Never again will they stay in the hotel.

Only rarely has an accident occurred
Not one paper has she finished on time.
Not once have they invited us to their house
Very seldom can a movie hold my attention like this one

SUBJECT with ACCOMPANIMENT and VERB

The ambassador, with his family and staff, invites you to reception at the embassy on
Saturday evening at seven o’clock

The Mayer, with his assistant and his press secretary, is scheduled to arrive in New York
today.

The guest of honor, a long with his wife and two sons, was
seated at the first table.

Similar VERB and DO

DO is often used before complements that describe work and chores.

MAKE is often used before complements that derived from verbs.

DO an assignment MAKE an agreement (to agree)

the dishes an announcement (to announce)
a favor an attempt (to attempt)
homework a decision (to decide)
the loundry a discovery (to discover)
a paper an offer (to offer)
research a profit (to profit)
work a promise (to promise)

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We do our homework before class everyday
We make an agreement with each other every semester.

Verbal modifiers
-ing and -ed forms

-ing and -ed forms may be used as verbal. Verbal function as modifiers
An introductory verbal modifier with –ing or –ed should immediately
precede the nun it modifies.
Otherwise, the relationship between the noun and the modifier is unclear
and the sentence is illogical.
Avoid
-using a noun immediately after an introductory verbal
phrase which may not be logically modified by the phrase.
-using a passive construction after an introductory verbal
modifier

EXAMPLE

1) After graduating from City College, Professor Baker

continued his studies at State University, where he received
his Ph.D. in English
NOT
After graduating from City College, Professor Baker’s studies
were continued at State University, where he received his
Ph.D. in English

2) Having been delayed by heavy traffic, she arrived late.

NOT
Having been delayed by heavy traffic, it was not possible for
her to arrive late.

3) Accustomed to getting up early, he had no difficulty

adjusting to the new schedule.
NOT
Accustomed to getting up early, the new schedule was not
difficulty for him to adjust to.
Verbal modifiers
-Infinitives of purpose to introduce instruction

An infinitive that expresses purpose may be used as an introductory

verbal modifier.(verb word follows the infinitive)

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The verb word expresses a manner to accomplish the purpose.
Avoid
-using a noun or to with an –ing form instead of the infinitive of
purpose.
-using an –ing form or passive construction after an introductory
verbal modifier

EXAMPLE

1) To prepare for the TOEFL, study thirty minutes everyday for

several months
NOT
Prepare for the TOEFL, study thirty minutes everyday for
several months

2) To protect yourself from the dangerous exposure to the sun

rays, use a sun cream
NOT
To protect yourself from the dangerous exposure to the sun
rays, using a sun cream

3) To send letters and packages from the United States

Overseas, use Express Mail or DHL. Delivery.
NOT
The send letters and packages from the United States
Overseas, use Express Mail or DHL. Delivery.

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 AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF IRREGULAR VERBS

SIMPLE FORM SIMPLE PAST PAST PARTICIPLE

Arise Arose Arisen
Be Was, were Been
Bear Bore Borne/born
Beat Beat Beaten/beat
Become Became Become
Begin Began Begun
Bend Bent Bent
Bet Bet Bet
Bid Bid Bid
Bind Bound Bound
Bite Bit Bitten
Bleed Bled Bled
Blow Blew Blown
Break Broke Broken
Breed Bred Bred
Bring Brought Brought
Broadcast Broadcast Broadcast
Build Built Built
Burst Burst Burst
Buy Bought Bought
Cast Cast Cast
Catch Caught Caught
Choose Chose Chosen
Cling Clung Clung
Come Came Come
Cost Cost Cost

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Creep Crept crept
Cut Cut Cut
Deal Dealt Dealt
Dig Dug Dug
Do Did Done
Draw Drew Drawn
Eat Ate Eaten
Fall Felt Fallen
Feed Fed Fed
Feel Felt Felt
Fight Fought Fought
Find Found Found
Fit Fit Flit
Flee Fled Fled
Fling Flung Flung
Fly Flew Flown
Forbid Forbade Forbidden
Forecast Forecast Forecast
Forget Forgot Forgotten
Forgive Forgave Forgiven
Forsake Forsook Forsaken
Freeze Froze Frozen
Get Got Gotten
Give Gave Given
Go Went Gone
Grind Ground Ground
Grow Grew Grown
Hang Hung Hung
Have Had Had
Hear Heard Heard
Hide Hid Hidden
Hit Hit Hit

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Hold Held Held
Hurt Hurt Hurt
Keep Kept Kept
Know Knew Known
Lay Laid Laid
Lead Led Led
Leave Left Left
Lend Lent Lent
Let Let Let
Lie Lay Lain
Light Lit/lighted Lit/lighted
Lose Lost lost
Make Made made
Mean Meant meant
Meet Met met
Mislay Mislaid Mislaid
Mistake Mistook Mistaken
Pay Paid Paid
Put Put Put
Quit Quit Quit
Read read Read
Rid Rid Rid
Ride Rode Rode
Ring Rang Rung
Rise Rose Risen
Run Ran Run
Say Said Said
See Saw Seen
Seek Sought Sought
Sell Sold Sold
Send Sent Sent
Set Set Set

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Shake Shook Shaken
Shed Shed Shed
Shine Shone/shined Shone/shined
Shoot Shot Shot
Show Showed Shown/showed
Shrink Shrank/shrunk Shrunk
Shut Shut Shut
Sing Sang Sung
Sit Sat Sat
Sleep Slept Slept
Slide Slid Slid
Slit Slit Slit
Speak Spoke Spoken
Speed Sped/speeded Sped/speeded
Spend Spent Spent
Spin Spun Spun
Spit Spit/spat Spit/spat
Split Split Split
Spread Spread Spread
Spring Sprang/sprung Sprung
Stand Stood Stood
Steal Stole Stolen
Stick Stuck Stuck
Sting Stung Stung
Stink Stank/stunk Stunk
Strive Strove Striven
Strike Struck Struck/stricken
String Strung Strung
Swear Swore Sworn
Sweep Swept Swept
Swim Swam Swum
Swing Swung Swung

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Take Took Taken
Teach Taught Taught
Tear Tore Torn
Tell Told Told
Think Thought Thought
Throw Threw Thrown
Thrust Thrust Thrust
Understand Understood Understood
Undertake Undertook Undertaken
Upset Upset Upset
Wake Woke/waked Woken/waked
Wear Wore Worn
weave Wove Woven
Weep Wept Wept
Win Won Won
Wind Wound Wound
Withdraw Withdrew Withdrawn
Wring Wrung Wrung
Write Wrote Written

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