English Grammar

BREAK To break up :   * to separate, to end a relationship: They couldn't stand each other. They've just broken up. * to go on a school holiday :  When do the schools break up in December? * that cannot be heard any more (voice when calling someone): Sorry, I can't hear you, you're breaking up!  * breaking into pieces and in this way permanently break: She broke the vase with a baseball bat. To break down :  * ( break down in tears) to suddenly start crying : She couldn't take it anymore so she broke down in tears. * to reduce to smaller parts in order to analyse: Susan has broken down her favourite doll to see what it is made of. * to stop working: Sorry I'm late. My car has broken down. * someone's resistance  (to overcome it): Parents should know how to break down their child's barriers.   To break in/into : * to walk into sb's house using force: They broke into his house.  * to start do

Prepositional vs. Phrasal Verbs Many students mix prepositional and phrasal verbs. However, we make a distinction between them. There is only one minor difference: the particle in phrasal verbs can come before or after the object (if the object is not a pronoun), *the particles in phrasal verbs can come before or after the object (if the object is not a pronoun) Example: I’ll put my coat on . *the prepositions in prepositional verbs come only  before the object and immediately after the verb: Example: She is studying for the exam. You cannot write: She is studying the exam for. The main difference here between the prepositional and phrasal verbs are that prepositional verbs always have prepositions which need objects in order to complete a sentence and in phrasal verbs we have something that seems to be a preposition but instead, behaves as an adverb that actually changes the meaning of the verb (or the whole sentence) and not as a preposition although it is the s

Adverb Particles Some words are combined with adverb particles in order to build idiomatic expressions we call phrasal verbs . As adverb particles seem the same as prepositions it is necessary to see whether they are tied to their verbs or a noun/pronoun. If they are tied to a verb they are called adverb particles , otherwise they are called prepositions .   Look at the examples: *Peter has put his jacket on . -adverb particle is in red ( as it is tied to the verb put to form a phrasal verb) *We drove to the supermarket. ( closely tied to the noun- supermarket, so we call it preposition) Note : Some adverb particles and prepositions are the same words and we need to see in which context they occur in order to decide whether they belong to adverb particles or prepositions.

Fill in the blanks with the proper question words: _________ is your favourite colour? _________ colours are your eyes? _________ is your favourite teacher? _________ is the nearest bank? _________ are you? _________ is your brother now? _________ do you usually go to bed? _________ much time do you need to finish your homework? _________ many friends do you have? _________ is the nearest restaurant? _________ can I buy hot dogs? ____________ is your favourite subject? ____________ have you talked to? ____________ is the weather like now? ____________ is your favourite TV show? ____________ often do you go to the gym? ____________ is my red T-shirt?  ____________ time do you watch TV? ____________ are my glasses? ____________ are you so nervous? ____________ is in the house? ____________ old is your brother? ____________ much time do we have for the test? ____________ colour do you like most? Read more here  and here .

Compound sentences combine   two   or more   independent sentences into one with the use of   conjunctions   known as   F A N B O Y S .  The two independent sentences are usually separated by a comma. The acronym stays for: F – for A – and N – nor B – but O – or Y – yet S – so Examples of   compound sentences: My father is at home, and my mother is at work. More than one hundred people applied for the job, but only two were hired. There are three types of compound sentences: The one that consists of two independent sentences separated by a comma and one of the   FANBOYS  conjunctions :  –   More than one hundred people applied for the job, but only two were hired. Two compound clauses are devided by a semicolon (;). The idea is that two sentences are related to one another although there is no any conjunctions in the sentence. – Susan wrote a novel; she wrote it really well! NOTES: -do not use a comma instead of a semicolon! -do not use the first capital letter a

Complete the sentences using the right possessive pronouns: 1. It's Susan's jacket. It's ______. 2. It's Tom's cat. It's ______. 3. They are my friends' children. They are ______. 4. It's my book. It's ______. 5. That is not my skirt. That's not _______. 6. This is not your pocket money. This is not _______.  Complete the sentences using the right possessive pronouns or possessive adjectives: 1. Have you seen Peter? I think that this bag is ________. 2. Hi Tom! Is this pencil _______.? –No, it's not ________. 3. Does this T-shirt belong to Susan? –Yes, it's _______. 4. Peter is playing with _______ toys. 5. The dog is in front of _______ dog house which I designed. 6. Susan is waiting for ________ parents. They agreed to pick her up after school. 7. He is washing ________ hands after playing in the garden. 8. Tom is having a great time with ________ best friends. 9. The pupils usually eat ________ lunch at school. 10. Have you see

I) Look at the picture and make the sentences with there is / there are : 1. ____________________________ 2 . ____________________________ 3. ____________________________ 4 . ____________________________ 5 . ____________________________   Useful vocabulary : mirror, bed, curtains; chair, three books, desk, girl, green wall, window, desk lamp, poster, wardrobe   II ) Look at the picture and make the sentences with there is / there are :     1. ____________________________ 2 . ____________________________ 3 . ____________________________ 4 . ____________________________ 5 . ____________________________ Useful vocabulary : scissors, paperclips, pencils, pencil case, Bulldog clips TM, highlighters, pencil sharpener, compass, erasers, ruler Speaking : Look around you and describe what is near. For example: There are three sheets of paper. There is a pencil. You can ask your teacher to help you