Unit 1 Grammar Form & Function Level 3

Form [= grammar structure] Example

1. Affirmative Sentence
**(Subject) + (Base verb) or
(Subject) + (Base verb + “-s” or “-es”)
1. Negative Sentence
**(Subject) + (“do not” or “does not”) +
(Base verb)
2. Yes/No Questions
**(“do” or “does”) + (Subject) +
(Base verb)
2. Short Answers to Yes/No Questions
**(Pronoun Subject) + (“do/don’t” or
(“does/doesn’t”)
3. Wh- Questions
a. **(Wh- word as Subject) + (Base Verb)
b. **(Wh- word is not Subject) + (“do” or
“does”) + (Subject) + (Base Verb)
I like football.
He likes football.
We don’t like tennis.
Tom doesn’t like baseball.
Do you like soccer?
Does Sue like tennis?
Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Yes, she does./ No, she doesn’t.
a. Who wants to play basketball?
b. Why do you like basketball
What does the catcher do
in baseball?
Form [= grammar structure] Example
4. Affirmative Sentence I am studying very hard.
**(Subject) + (Present form of “be”) + The players are trying to score.
(Base verb + “-ing”) He is running across the street.

4. Negative Sentence They aren’t succeeding.

**(Subject) + (Present form of “be”) + (not) +
(Base verb + “-ing”)
5. Yes/No Questions Is our team winning?
**(Present form of “be”) + (Subject) + Are you enjoying the game?
(Base verb + “-ing”)
5. Short Answers to Yes/No Questions Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
**(Pronoun Subject) + (Present form of “be”) Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
+ (“not”)
6. Wh- Questions
a. **(Wh- word as Subject) + (Present form of a. Who is winning?
“be”) + (Base verb + “-ing”) b. Why is that player running
b. **(Wh- word is not Subject) + now?
(Present form of “be”) + (Subject) +
(Base verb + “-ing”)
Function [=reason to use] Example

a. Describe repeated actions or habits I get up at seven every

morning.
b. Talk about things that are always or The sun sets in the west.
generally true
c. Describe a permanent They live in Mexico City.
situation or a condition with no definite start or
finish and that is true now.
d. With adverbs of frequency
--IF verb is a form of “be,” the adverb goes --They are seldom late.
after the verb.
--IF the verb is not “be,” the adverb goes --She often studies in the
in front of the verb. library.
e. With time expressions of habit
--Put at the beginning of sentence On weekends, we eat late.
[use a comma after the time expression]
--Put at the end of the sentence I go to school everyday.
**We also talk about the future using the present and present progressive
sometimes.
Function [=reason to use] Example

a. Talk about something which is in progress I is raining right now.

at the moment of speaking
b. Talk about something which is in progress
around the present, but not exactly at the
time of speaking
c. Talk about situations that are changing,
developing, or are temporary
d. With adverbs such as “always” or “constantly”
to show complaints or annoyance.
e. With time expressions such as “now,” “at the
moment,” “at present,” “these days,” “today,”
and “nowadays.”
**We also talk about the future using the present and present progressive
sometimes.
Tony is looking for a new job
these days.
Computers are becoming
more and more important.
He is always calling me late a
t night.
I’m writing an email message
right now.
These days, I’m using email
to keep in touch with friends.
Form [= grammar structure]
1. Verbs of senses and perception
2. Verbs of mental states
3. Verbs of possession
4. Verbs of feeling or emotion
5. Verbs of measurement
6. Other verbs that express states
Example
Do you smell the coffee?
Ø Are you smelling this coffee?
I remember him.
Ø I am remembering when I met
him.
My boss owns this building.
Ø My boss is owning this building.
I love chocolate.
Ø I am loving chocolate.
This watch is nice, but it costs too much.
Ø This watch is costing too much.
You seem sad today.
Ø You are being sad today.
Stative Verbs
a. Stative verbs describe a state
--A state means that something is
a certain way and stays the same.
*The school is big.
*We own our apartment.
b. Stative verbs cannot be in the
progressive form
*We have two dogs.
Ø We are having two dogs.
Action Verbs
a. Action verbs describe an action
--An action means that something
happens.
*I am reading.
*She is sitting in that chair.
b. Action verbs can be in the
progressive form
*I read a book every week.
*This week, I am reading my text.
Verb Stative Meaning Active Meaning
appear She appears happy. She is appearing in a new movie.
[appears = seems] [is appearing = is starring in]

smell The milk smells strange. He is smelling the milk.

[smells strange =
has a strange smell]
taste This food tastes delicious.
[tastes delicious =
has a delicious taste]
think I think it is a good idea.
[think = believe]
[is smelling = is sniffing]
She is tasting the food..
[is tasting=
checking to see if she likes it]
I am thinking about the problem.
[am thinking = am considering]

**“be” + an adjective usually expresses a stative meaning [She is tall.]

When used with the progressive, it has a temporary meaning.
Then the adjective must describe a behavior the subject can control.
--He is polite. [“polite” is his character and it is permanent]
--He is being polite because his father is here. [“polite” is a behavior and
it is temporary since it will change when his father leaves]
Form [= grammar structure] Example
4. Affirmative Sentence I’ve played tennis for many years.
**(Subject) + (Present form of “have”) +
(Past participle)

4. Negative Sentence Our team hasn’t won any games.

**(Subject) + (Present form of “have”) + (not)
+ (Past participle)
5. Yes/No Questions Have you ever played soccer?
**(Present form of “have”) + (Subject) +
(Past participle)
5. Short Answers to Yes/No Questions Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
**(Pronoun Subject) +
(Present form of “have”) + (“not”)
6. Wh- Questions
a. **(Wh- word as Subject) + (Present form of a. Who has won the most games?
“have”) + (Past participle) b. How many games have they
b. **(Wh- word is not Subject) + won?
(Present form of “have”) + (Subject) +
(Past participle)
Form [= grammar structure] Example
4. Affirmative Sentence They have been practicing all
**(Subject) + (Present form of “have”) + Morning, so they are tired.
(“been”) + (Base verb + “-ing”) She has been studying.

4. Negative Sentence She hasn’t been playing

**(Subject) + (Present form of “have”) + (not) basketball very long.
+ (“been”) + (Base verb + “-ing”)
5. Yes/No Questions Have they been winning a lot of
**(“have” or “has”) + (Subject) + (“been”) games?
(Base verb + “-ing”)
5. Short Answers to Yes/No Questions Yes, they have.
**(Pronoun Subject) + (“have” or “has”) No, they haven’t.
+ (“not”)
6. Wh- Questions
a. **(Wh- word as Subject) + (Present form of a. Who has been scoring the
“have”) + (“been”) + (Base verb + “-ing”) most goals?
b. **(Wh- word is not Subject) + b. Why have they been losing
(Present form of “have”) + (Subject) + so much?
(“been”) + (Base verb + “-ing”)
Function [=reason to use] Example

a. Talk about something that started in the
past and continues to the present.
b. Talk about a completed action that has an
importance in the present.
c. Talk about what has been achieved in a
period of time.
d. Describe a situation that is more
permanent and continues into the present.
I have been here for 30
minutes.
She has done her homework.
He has written three letters
this morning.
She has always worked there.
Function [=reason to use] Example

a. Emphasize the continuation of an action I have been waiting for your call
that started in the past and continues. all morning.
b. Talk about an action that may or may not She has been doing her
be completed. homework.
c. Talk about how long something has been He has been writing all
in progress. morning.
d. Describe a situation that is more She has been working here for
temporary and continues into the present. a couple of weeks.
e. Talk about evidence in the present that A: What smells so good?
shows an action was happening in the B: Oh, I’ve been making cookies.
recent past.
Function [=reason to use]
a. Can use either with action verbs
b. Cannot use present perfect progressive
with stative verbs
c. Often use “for” or “since” with either
--”For” = length of time
--”Since” = a specific time or date
d. Certain Verbs: Work, play, live, study,
teach, stay, feel, compete, practice, and
wear can be used with either
e. Adverbs used with present perfect: Ever,
never, already, yet, still, just, and so far
Example
We’ve finished our work.
We’ve been finishing our work.
Ø I’ve been having this car for
five years.
I have been waiting for an hour.
I have been waiting since 6 pm.
We have lived here for 15 years.
We have been living here for
15 years.