Present Continuous, There is/are, Countables, Past Simple

Posted on Mar 6, 2025 in English

Unit 4: Present Continuous

Affirmative

• I am playing
• You are playing
• He is playing
• She is playing
• It is playing
• We are playing
• You are playing
• They are playing

This tense uses the auxiliary verb “to be” and the -ing form of the main verb.

Negative

• I am not playing
• You are not playing
• He is not playing
• She is not playing
• It is not playing
• We are not playing
• You are not playing
• They are not playing

The negative form adds “not” after the auxiliary verb “to be”.

Interrogative

• Am I playing?
• Are you playing?
• Is he playing?
• Is she playing?
• Is it playing?
• Are we playing?
• Are you playing?
• Are they playing?

The interrogative form places the auxiliary verb (“am”, “are”, “is”) before the subject.

Forming the -ing Form

1. For most verbs, add -ing to the infinitive:
   • play = playing
2. For verbs ending in -e, remove the -e and add -ing:
   • write = writing
3. For verbs ending in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the consonant and add -ing:
   • run = running

Unit 5: There is / There are

English uses different forms for singular and plural, unlike some languages.

Examples:

• There’s a pencil on the desk.
• There isn’t a cinema in this town.
• Is there a library in your school?
• There are two supermarkets in my town.
• There aren’t any desks in the classroom.
• Are there any CDs on the chair?

Imperative

The imperative is formed with the infinitive form of the verb without “to”.

It does not have a subject and uses the same form for singular and plural.

Examples:

• Sit down
• Close the door
• Do not run
• Do not eat my sandwich
• Do not be late

Unit 6: Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns have singular and plural forms. The verb agrees with them in number. You can use the article “a/an” or a numeral before them.

Uncountable nouns cannot use the article “a/an” or a numeral.

Some and Any

“Some” and “any” are used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

• There are some biscuits, but there is not any cheese.

“Some” is used in affirmative sentences. It means “a few” or “a little”.

“Any” is used in negative or interrogative sentences.

• In the negative, it means “no” / “none”.
• In the interrogative, it means “some”, “one”, or “any”.

Present Continuous for Future Plans

The present continuous can be used to describe future plans. Such statements often include time expressions like “tomorrow”.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns “someone” and “anyone” refer to people.

• In affirmative sentences, “someone” means “somebody”.
• In negative sentences, “anyone” is translated as “nobody”.
• “Anyone” is used in interrogative sentences.

Indefinite pronouns “something” and “anything” refer to things.

• In affirmative sentences, “something” is used.
• “Anything” is used in interrogative sentences.
• In negative sentences, “anything” means “nothing”.

Unit 8: Simple Past

Regular Verbs

• I watched
• You watched
• He watched
• She watched
• It watched
• We watched
• You watched
• They watched

The past simple form of regular verbs is the same for all persons.

Forming the Past Simple of Regular Verbs

1. For most verbs, add -ed to the infinitive:
   • start = started
2. For verbs ending in -e, add -d:
   • dance = danced
3. For verbs ending in -y preceded by a consonant, replace the -y with -ied:
   • carry = carried
   • Exception: play = played
4. For verbs ending in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the consonant and add -ed:
   • stop = stopped

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not form the past simple by adding -ed. The form is the same for all persons.

• go = went