English Language Beginners

Lesson 2

Version 1.0 Dernire Mise Jour : 29/12/2011

Lesson objectives
Review some fundamentals about english
Subject Verb Agreement Possive nouns, adjectives and pronouns Prepositions of time

Definition The verb is the action word in the sentence.

The subject is who or what does the action.

Agreement Subjects and verbs must work together.

A verb that ends in a single -s, -es, or -ies is used with a singular noun.

Examples
Singular Subject Singular Verb

Old Dan
Little Ann Fire Mama

bellows
shares glows fixes

Agreement A verb that does not end in a single s, es, or ies is used with a plural noun.

Examples
Plural Subject Plural Verb

Old Dan and Little Ann

The coon hounds The two fires Billys parents

bellow
share glow fix

Practice
Brainpop http://www.brainpop.com/english/grammar/s ubjectverbagreement/

Common mistakes Wrong

Billys biggest problem are the many sleepless nights.

Right
Billys biggest problem [singular subject] is [singular verb] the many sleepless nights.

Which is correct?
The hound search for mountain lions. The hound searches for mountain lions.

Which is correct? Old Dan see raccoons. Old Dan sees raccoons.

Common mistakes Wrong

The topic of these books are dogs.

Right
The topic [singular subject] of these books is [singular verb] dogs.

Common mistakes Wrong

Each of the dogs hunt well.

Right
Each [singular subject] of the dogs hunts [singular verb] well.

Common mistakes Wrong

Every one of the members of both hunting teams are here.

Right
Every one [singular subject] of the members of both hunting teams is [singular verb] here.

Which is correct? Each of the traps needs to be set. Each of the traps need to be set.

Which is correct? The boy in the brown shoes wants a lollipop.

The boy in the brown shoes want a lollipop.

Common mistakes Wrong

Little Ann, as well as Old Dan, like to hunt.

Right
Little Ann [singular subject] , as well as Old Dan, likes [singular verb] to hunt.

Which is correct? Papa, as well as Mama, worries about Billy being out all night long.

Papa, as well as Mama, worry about Billy being out all night long.

either/or and neither/nor Neither Billy nor Little Ann knows which way the raccoon ran.

(Both parts are singular, so use a singular verb.)

either/or and neither/nor Neither the boys nor the girls know which way the raccoon ran.

(Both parts are plural, so use a plural verb.)

either/or and neither/nor

Neither the dogs nor Billy knows which way the raccoon ran. (One part is plural and one part is singular. The singular part comes right before the verb, so use a singular verb.)

either/or and neither/nor

Neither Billy nor the hounds know which way the raccoon ran. (One part is plural and one part is singular. The plural part comes right before the verb, so use a plural verb.)

Common mistakes Wrong

Either Little Ann or Old Dan hunt during the heat of the summer.

Right
Either Little Ann or Old Dan hunts during the heat of the summer.

Which is correct? Neither the boys or their mother sings in the church choir.

Neither the boys or their mother sing in the church choir.

Which is correct? Either Grandpa or Billy grind corn at the general store.

Either Grandpa or Billy grinds corn at the general store.

English lesson 2

PRACTICE

Practice
1. Billy (fix, fixes) breakfast before heading home. 2. The boy pup (play, plays) with the girl pup. 3. Each of the names (sound, sounds) perfect to Billy's ears. 4. With his extra money, Billy (buy, buys) gifts for his family. 5. Ma (cry, cries) with relief when she sees that Billy is safe.

Practice
6. Billy names the boy pup Old Dan. He (like, likes) the sound of the name. 7. Billy tells his sisters about the soda pop. It (taste, tastes) sweet and bubbly. 8. The fire escape was a pipe that ran up the side of the building. It (appear, appears) funny-looking. 9. Little Ann was the smartest of the two hounds. She (guide, guides) Old Dan out of trouble. 10. Papa easily forgives Billy for running off. He (know, knows) he would have done the same thing at Billy's age.

Practice 11. Which of the following is written correctly?

Billy want to go to school. Grandpa loves to tease Billy. Daisy give milk each day. Papa please Mama with a hug.

Practice
12. Which of the following sentences does not contain a mistake? She eat the candy one piece at a time. News spread quickly through the mountains. Neither Billy or his grandpa like eating raw eggs . Wilson Rawls narrates a wonderful story!

Practice
13. Choose the answer that is written correctly. One of the dogs bellows through the night. The woman with all the dogs talk to Billy at the store. The boy on the playground fight Billy. Everybody play games in the schoolyard.

Practice
14. Which of the following sentences does not contain a mistake? The family love to eat dinner at 6:00 P.M. Everyone sees Billy in his overalls. An old K. C. Baking Powder can fill to the top with coins. Billy count his money every day until he has enough to buy the pups.

Practice
15. Choose the answer that is written correctly. Each day brings a new joy to Billy. Either Little Ann or Old Dan play games through the woods going home. Billy love his grandpa. It sound like the mountain lion would cry all night long.

English lesson 2

POSSIVE NOUNS, ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS

Possessive Nouns
Possessive nouns modify other nouns to indicate possession.
Examples
Janes books the architects new project

Form the possessive pronoun by placing an apostrophe (') after the noun + s.
Jane -> Janes books the architect -> the architects new project

When a noun ends in s, place the apostrophe directly after the s. Do not add another s Sisters (plural) -> This is my sisters bedroom
Oasis (singular) -> The oasis palm trees were dying.

Possessive nouns can also be used in the same manner as possessive pronouns.
Whose cell phone is that? - It's John's. Who do these computers belong to? - They're our parents'.

Possessive adjectives
I -> my You -> your He -> his She -> her It -> its (NOT it's!) We -> our You -> your They -> their

Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives are used instead of possessive nouns when the reference is understood.
James and Nathalie live in an old farmhouse. Their house is located on Winchester. In this case, it is clear that Their refers to James and Nathalie.

Possessive adjectives are always placed in front of the noun they modify.
Examples
He forgot his hat at the office. Thats my house.

Possessive pronouns
I -> mine You -> yours He -> his She -> hers We -> ours You -> yours They -> theirs

Possessive pronouns
Use possessive pronouns to indicate possession when no noun is used.
Whose car is parked outside the house? It's mine. = It's my car. Is this their dog? No, it's ours = It's our dog

Examples
Is this your bag? - No, its not mine. Whose books are those? I thought they were yours.

Practice
1. Replace the personal pronouns by possessive adjectives. a) Where is (you) __________ from? b) Thats a present from (I) _______________ sister Jane. c) He is on holiday in Greece with (he) ____________ family. d) (she) __________ parents live in Paris. e) (he) ___________ car is parked in the garage. f) (They) ____________ children go to a private school. g) (we) ____________ friends are going to Africa for their honeymoon. h) I have reviewed (you) ___________ report and answered (they)

Practice
2. Replace the personal pronouns by possessive pronouns. a) The book is (you) ___________. b) This glass is (I) ____________. c) The yellow car is (we) ________________. d) The watch is (he) ____________. e) John and Sheila live here. This house is (they) _______________. f) The bags are (her) ______________. g) Whose dog is this? It is (I) _____________. h) But the cat is (they) _____________. i) It was not your fault. It was (I) _________________.

English Lesson 2

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME

Review on in, at and on

In Months, years, part of the day seasons duration At part of the day time of day celebrations fixed phrases On days of the week date special holidays a special part of a day in April; in 2009; in the morning in summer; in the summer of 69 in a minute; in 2 months at night at 8 o'clock; at midnight at Christmas; at Easter at the same time on Saturday; on Monday on the 4th July on Boxing Day on the morning of September 11th

Prepositions of time
after before between by during for From to / from till/until later than something earlier than something time that separates two points not later than a special time through the whole of a period of time during period of time two points form a period after school before Christmas between Monday and Friday by the end of June during the holidays for two weeks from Monday to Friday from Monday till Friday from Monday until Friday 23 minutes past 6 (6:23)

past

time of the day

since

point of time

since Tuesday

Prepositions of time

Till/until to Up to within ago

no later than a special time until next month time of the day not more than a special time during a period of time how far something. happened (in the past) 23 minutes to 6 (5:37) up to 5 times a day within last week 6 years ago

Practice
What are you doing _____________ the weekend? I dont know yet. I was thinking of going to London ____________ Saturday. Thats a good idea. I havent been to London ____________ last summer. We could go together. I was thinking of leaving __________ the morning to get there ____________ lunchtime. That would be great. But I would prefer to leave ___________ the afternoon. I am having lunch with my parents _____________ Saturday.

Practice
Thats okay. Theres a train leaving for London ________ 2 oclock. Do you think you could be ready ____________ then? Yes. Could you pick me up __________ half __________ one? Ill do that. It takes 15 minutes to drive to the station so we should be there ___________ time for the train. At what time do you expect us to be back? I have quite a lot of Christmas shopping to do so I was thinking of staying in London __________ 7 oclock. Thats fine. I must also by stuff ______________ Christmas. Would you like to stay there ____________ dinner? Good idea. Well just have to make sure we are at the station __________ Midnight for the last train back.