Homework 1 - Averbs of Frequency and Conjunctions Adverbs of Frequency There are two types of adverbs of frequency; averbs of indefinite frequency and adverbs of definite frquency. The most common averbs of indefinite frequency are - always usually often sometimes occasionally rarely, seldom, hardly ever never The most important thing to remember about adverbs of indefinite frequency is their position in the sentence. Adverbs of indefinite frequency come before the main verb UNLESS that verb is the 'be' verb. If the main verb is the 'be' verb the adverbs of indefinite frequency come after it. For example: He always comes to the office late. (adverb of indefinite frequency after the main verb come) He is always late.(adverb of indefinite frequency before the main verb is) However, if the main verb includes one or more auxiliaries, the adverb of indefinite frequency comes after the first auxiliary. For example: He has never been given a Christmas present. Adverbs of definite frquency include words such as 'yesterday' and 'tomorrow'. These words usually come at the beginning or end of a sentence. For example: I came here yesterday. NOT I came yesterday here. Conjunctions Conjunctions are words that join different parts of a sentence together. The most common conjunctions are 'and', 'but', 'so'. 'and' joins equal parts and atmosphere together. For example: John likes singing, and he likes dancing. John was born in London, and he grew up there. 'but' indicates some kind of contrast For example: John likes singing, but he hates dancing. 'so' indicates some kind of reason For example: It was raining, so I took my umbrella. Other common conjunctions and when they are used can be seen in the table below TIME CAUSE + EFFECT OPPOSITION CONDITION after because although if before since though unless when now that even though only if while as whereas whether or not since in order that while even if until so   in case (that) Homework 2 - Prepositions and Transition Words Prepositions Prepositions can be difficult because they are often used idiomatically. However there are a few simple rules that cover much of their use. If we are talking about a specific time we use at He arrived at 9:00am If we are talking about a specific day we use on He arrived on Tuesday If we are talking about a specific date we use on He arrived on December 9, 1999 If we are talking about a year we use in He arrived in 1997 If we are talking about a month we use in He arrived in December If we are talking about a specific city we use in I met her in Tokyo If we are talking about a building or institution in a city we use at I met her at the hospital Transition Words Transition words are used to join two independent clauses or sentences. They often have a semi-colon in front of them. It is important that you remember the meanings of these words and don't mix them up. Also, in addition, furthermore and moreover are used to add some extra info to the main clause in a sentence. The students were given an exercise for homework; in addition, they had to review the previous lesson. However and nevertheless are used to show contrast or contradiction. It was only a short walk to the station; nevertheless, he decided to take a taxi. Therefore, thus, so, accordingly, hence and consequently are used to show a cause/effect relationship between two clauses in a sentence. She was the most best worker in the office; consequently, she was given the job of supervisor. Common transition words include - for example furthermore in addition besides accordingly consequently hence nevertheless meanwhile on the whole as a result for this purpose Homework 3 - Causitive Verbs and Conditionals Causitive Verbs The most common cusitive verbs are get, make, order, force, cause and have, and they tell us that someone made a certain action happen. Two simple rules - (1)If the subject of the noun clause that follows the causitive verb does the action in the noun clause, we use the simple form of the verb. example: The teacher made the students rewrite their essays. Subject of sentence - Teacher Causitive Verb - made Noun Clause - the students rewrite their essays Subject of noun clause - the students Verb of noun clause - rewrite In this sentence the students do the action (rewrite), so the siple form of the verb is used. (2)If the subject of the noun clause that follows the causitive verb does NOT do the action in the noun clause, we use the past participle form of the verb. example: The teacher had the exam rescheduled. Subject of sentence - Teacher Causitive Verb - had Noun Clause - the exam rescheduled Subject of noun clause - the exam Verb of noun clause - rescheduled In this sentence the exam does not reschedule itself, so the past participle form of the verb is used. Conditionals There are two parts to a conditional sentence -the condition and the result. example - If it rains, I'll take my umbrella. Condition - If it rains Result - I'll take my umbrella The condition is usually introduced by the word if. The verb tenses we use in conditional sentences change with the time of the actions and whether they are real or unreal (an unreal action is one that is not true; for example, if pigs could fly. We know pigs cannot fly so this is unreal.) Real condition in present Verb in Condition Verb in Result simple present present, future, imperative e.g. If you change the batteries in the remote-control, the TV will work. e.g. If an earthquake happens, get under your desk. Real condition in past Verb in Condition Verb in Result simple past simple past e.g. If he got to the station by 3:00pm, he caught the train. Unreal condition in present Verb in Condition Verb in Result simple past would or could + base form of verb e.g. If the university banned homework, most students would be very happy. Unreal condition in past Verb in Condition Verb in Result past perfect would have or could have + past participle form of verb e.g. If he had studied harder, he would have passd the exam. Unreal condition in present If Verb in Condition is to be Verb in Result always use were not was would or could + base form of verb e.g. If I were you, I would go to the doctor. Homework 4 - Verb Tenses and Two-word verbs Verb Tenses The four major parts of each verb are - Present Past Past Participle Present Participle talk talked talked talking love loved loved loving eat ate eaten eating come came come coming Points to remember - 1) Look out for time markers such as tomorrow, yesterday, now and since 2) The verb in the main clause controls the verb in a dependent clause. example: He always eats his soup before he eats his salad. He ate his soup before he ate his salad. He will eat his soup before he eats his salad. 3) Stative verbs such as seem, know and be cannot be used in present continuous form. example: We never say I am knowing the answer. It is always I know the answer. Two Word Verbs Sorry, there are no rules for two-word verbs, you just have to remember them. For example the verb take up is very different in meaning from take apart or take over. Even if you know the verb take it is still difficult to work out the meanings of the others. Homework 5 - Word Families and Adjective Comparisons Word Families A word family is a group of words that all come from the same root word; for eample, rely, reliable, reliant, reliance, reliably, reliability. It is important that you can identify if words are nouns, verbs, acjectives or adverbs. Often you can do this by looking at the suffix (part of a word attched to the end of a word to change its meaning). Common noun endings are - -ance, -ence, -ness, -ation, -ism, -ship, -ment, -or Common verb endings are - -ize, -ify, -en Common adjective endings are - -able, -ible, -ive, -ful, -ish, -al Common adverb endings are - -ly, -wise, -ward Adjective Comparisons Each adjective has three forms; the basic adjective, the comparatve and the superlative. Adjective Comparative Superlative big bigger biggest happy happier happiest clean cleaner cleanest beautiful more beautiful most beautiful good better best bad worse worst little less least many, much more most far farther, further farthest, furhtest Some basic rules - 1) The comparative is used to compare two things. 2) The superlative is used to compare more than two things or all things. 3) The comparative is almost always accompanied by than. e.g. Tom is taller than Peter 4) Superlatives are almost always preceded by the. e.g. John is the most intelligent student in the class. 5) To compare two things equally, use as adjective as. e.g. A lion is as dangerous as a tiger. 6) Be careful of the six irregular forms (shown in red in the table above). Make sure you memorize them.