Grammar Recap

Grammar Recap

Welcome!

Hi! You have an English test this week, so I made this little lesson so you can go through all the grammar explanations again.

 

The grammar parts I'm going to explain here are:

- the present simple

- the present continuous

- the present perfect

- the gerund

 

I will also include video links of youtube videos covering the topics in an easy way.

Present Simple

When to use the present simple

When the sentence states a fact.

  • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

 

When the sentence states a habit.

  • Signal words: always, on Saturdays, during the week, once a week etc.
  • I cycle to school every day.

 

When something does or does not happen regularly.

  • Signal words: often, frequently, seldom, usually, etc.
  • My friends and I often play games together.

How to form the present simple

Infinitive verb (+s)

 

I / you / we / you / they ⮕ walk

He / she / it ⮕ walks

 

SHIT-rule exceptions

Verb ending in consonant + y ⮕ replace –y with –ies

  • study = studies

 

Verb ending in vowel* ⮕ add –es

  • go = goes

 

Verb ending in –s, –z, –sh, –ch and –x ⮕ add –es

  • miss = misses
  • watch = watches

 

*Vowels: a, e, i, o, u

Consonants: all other letters

Video Explanation

Engels - Present simple - EngelsAcademie.nl

Engels - Present simple - vragen do / does - don't / doesn't - EngelsAcademie.nl

Present Continuous

When to use the present continuous

When something is happening at the time of speaking.

  • Signal words: (right) now, as we speak, etc.
  • They are playing Monopoly as we speak.

 

When the sentence happens in the middle of something.

  • Signal words: at the moment, currently.
  • I am reading a really good book at the moment.

 

When something happens in the future/ future plans.

  • We are leaving next month.

 

When the sentence is imperative (gebiedende wijs).

  • Signal words: look, listen, wait, etc.
  • Listen! The phone is ringing.

 

For changes happening around now.

  • Is your English getting any better?

How to form the present continuous

To be + infinitive verb + ing

 

I am walking.

You / we / you / they are walking.

He / she / it is walking.

 

Exceptions

Verbs ending in –e ⮕ replace –e with –ing.

  • have = having

 

Verbs ending in –c ⮕ add –king

  • panic = panicking

 

Verbs with one syllable and one vowel* ⮕ double consonant* + ing

  • cut = cutting

 

Verbs ending in –l ⮕ double –l

  • travel = travelling

 

*Vowels: a, e, i, o, u

Consonants: all other letters

Video Explanation

Engels - Present continuous - deel 1 - EngelsAcademie.nl

Engels - Present continuous - deel 2 - EngelsAcademie.nl

Present Perfect

De voltooid tegenwoordige tijd.

When to use the present perfect

When something happened and it does not matter when it happened.

  • We have finished all our work.

 

When something started in the past and is still going on.

  • Signal words: since, for, in, etc.
  • I have lived in England for 5 years.

 

When something happened in the past of which you see the result.

  • I have done my homework, here it is.

 

When something just happened or something hasn't happened yet.

They have just sent him a message.

 

As a mnemonic (ezelsbruggetje) you can use the following:

  • FYNE JAS
  • For, Yet, Never, Ever, Just, Already, Since

If any of these words are in the sentence, you should automatically use the present perfect.

How to form the present perfect

Have (not) / has (not) + past participle (voltooid deelwoord)

 

Regular verbs:

Regular verbs have the same rules of formation as the ‘past simple’.

  • He has waited for hours.
  • I haven’t tried this drink yet.

 

Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs have their own form for the present perfect.

On p. 64-66 in Checkbook: list with irregular verbs à third column

He has written a book.

I have been here since breakfast.

 

Video Explanation

Engels - Present Perfect - EngelsAcademie.nl

Engels - Present Perfect - deel 2 - EngelsAcademie.nl

Gerund

A gerund is a verb that is used as a noun.

How to form a gerund

verb + ing

 

Don't confuse this with the present continuous! Again, the gerund is a verb used as a noun.

What function does it have?

As a subject of the sentence

If the gerund is used as the subject of the sentence, it will be at the front of the sentence.

  • Drinking under the age of 18 is illegal.
  • Skiing can be very dangerous

 

After verbs where you indicate what you think

  • (dis)like, love, hate, fancy, etc.
  • My father loves watching football.
  • I hate doing the dishes.

 

After sensory verbs

  • see, watch, hear, smell, feel
  • I smell something burning.
  • Do you see that man dancing?

 

Other verbs (unfortunately, you have to learn this one by heart)

  • avoid, consider, give up, go on, keep, manage, mind, prefer, recommend, start, stop, suggest

 

After certain expressions

  • She can't help biting her nails.
  • It's no use waiting for them.
  • It's worth trying.
  • They can't stand seeing me win.

 

After prepositions (voorzetsels)

  • I look forward to hearing from you!
  • Don't cross the road without looking.

Video Explanation

Grammatica: Gerund door Meester Gijs

Gerund hele ww

That's all!

That's all, I hope it helped you a little. Good luck on the test!