Grammar Miscellaneous

Question 1

Adjective Order

Answer 1

Opinion
Size
Age
Shape
Color
Origin
Material
Purpose

Question 2

Describe STATE VERBS?

Answer 2

Verbs that describe states instead of actions.
Can’t be used in continuous
Can’t be used with “would” to describe past habits
Context determines correct usage statively vs. dynamically (action)

Question 3

List of STATE VERBS

Answer 3

P- Possession (to have, to own, to possess)
E- Emotion (to like, to love, to hate)
S- Sensing (to see, to smell)
T- Thinking (to know, to think, to believe)

Question 4

Define comparatives vs superlatives

Answer 4

Comparatives compare 2 items / Superlatives compare 3 or more items

Question 5

What is Comparative structure?

Answer 5

1 syllable = Adj -er + “than”
3+ syllables = “more” + Adj + “than”
2 syllables = Adj + ER with OW / Y / LE — “more” + Adj with LE / and all others

Question 6

What is Superlative structure?

Answer 6

1 syllable = “the” + Adj-est
3+ syllables = “the” + “most” + Adj
2 syllables = “the” + Adj + EST with OW / Y / LE (some) — “most” + Adj with LE (some) / and all others

Question 7

What are the IRREGULAR comparatives/superlatives?

Answer 7

Good - Better - Best
Bad - Worse - Worst
Far - Farther/Further - Farthest/Furthest

Question 8

Functions of “Like”

Answer 8

1. a verb (state) - He likes movies
2. In requests - I would like a tea
3. To give examples - I watch some sports, like ….
4. a noun - He has many likes
5. An informal filler - I, like, can’t believe it
6. To make an informal quote - He was like “No Way!”
7. An adverb - It is like a mile away.
8. Comparisons or prepositions (Figuratively “Like” vs Literally “As”) - She works like a dog

Question 9

Difference in “used to” VS “would” in PAST HABITS

Answer 9

“Used to” - STATE and ACTION verbs
“Would” - ONLY ACTION verbs

“Would” with state verbs are used to describe hypothetical situations

Question 10

When is Passive used vs Active

Answer 10

1. The active subject unknown
2. The active subject is obvious
3. The active subject is less important than the object or action
4. To avoid overtly blaming the active subject

Question 11

Active VS Passive STRUCTURE

Answer 11

Active = (acting) SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT (passive subject)

Passive = Passive Subject + “to be” (appropriate form) + Past Participle + (*Optional “by” + active subject)

“to be” = Simple form (simple) / Being (continuous) / Been (perfect)

Question 12

Reported Speech Structure

Answer 12

Subject + “said” + (*Optional “that”) + various shifts

Shifts do not occur when the reporting occurs immediately

Question 13

Reported Speech Shifts types

Answer 13

1. Tense Shifts = whichever present tense to appropriate past tense / All past tense to past perfect
2. Modal Shifts
3. Pronoun Shifts
4. “Time word” Shifts
5. “Place word” Shifts

Question 14

Gradable adjective VS Non-Gradable adjectives

Answer 14

Gradable can..
-Have Comparatives & Superlatives — That is the BIGGEST dog.
-Be altered in intensity using adverbs — He looks REALLY NICE.

Non-Gradable are…
-Extremes and can not be altered by comparatives, superlatives, or adverbs — That dog is GIGANTIC.
-Absolutes, 100% “on” or “off” — The TV is off.

Question 15

Countable noun structure

Answer 15

1. Made plural with “s”
2. When singular can be used with indefinite article (a/an)
3. When plural they are used with “many” and “a few” (in addition to “some” and “any”)

Question 16

Uncountable noun structure

Answer 16

1. Have no plural form (in normal usage)
2. Can NOT be used with the indefinite article (a/an)
3. When plural, are used with “much” and “a little” (in addition to “some” and “any”)

use uncountable nouns in a countable way by using “CONTAINER” nouns (a piece, a bottle, etc.)

Question 17

Types of Uncountable nouns

Answer 17

1. Liquids
2. Gases
3. Solids (material, ie wood)
4. Grain
5. Weather
6. Energy
7. Abstract Concept (information, advice)

Question 18

When do you use INDEFINITE ARTICLE?

Answer 18

Can ONLY be used with singular countable nouns (“a” = noun starts with consonant / “an” = noun starts with vowel)

1. Non-specific nouns — Give me a pen.
2. Not-yet-identified nouns — He wants a toy.
3. For Classification — She is a doctor.
4. First time a noun is mentioned — There is a new bar down the street.
5. With some numbers — There are a million reasons to move to Prague

Question 19

When do you use DEFINITE ARTICLE?

Answer 19

Can be used with singular or plural nouns, countable and uncountable. (“The” before noun)

1. Unique nouns — The Sun is setting.
2. Specifying things — I want the red pen.
3. When noun known to all — The water is cold.
4. 2nd or more time a noun is mentioned — The new bar is down the street.
5. With superlatives — He is the tallest in the class.
6. Oceans, rivers, seas, mountain ranges — The Atlantic Ocean
7. Countries that contain nouns — The United States
8. Groups of islands — The Bahamas

Question 20

When do you use ZERO ARTICLE?

Answer 20

1. General or collective plural, or UNCOUNTABLE nouns — I need gas. / Dogs are nice.
2. Proper names of people/places, single mountain… — Prague is great.
3. Names of certain “general” places (not always) — I am going home.
4. With transport using “by” — I’ll come by bus.

Question 21

What is a GERUND?

Answer 21

Verb + “ing”

Used when verbs are used as nouns — subject or object
(Can you replace with another noun?)

Question 22

What is a PRESENT PARTICIPLE?

Answer 22

Verb + “ing”

Used in continuous sentences
Used as adjectives

Question 23

What are MODAL VERBS?

Answer 23

“Helper” verbs that express the “mood” of the main verb.

Subject + Modal + bare infinitive

Question 24

What are types of MODAL VERBS?

Answer 24

1. Ability — can
2. Possibility — could, may, might
3. Obligation — must (internal), have/has to (external), need to
4. Non-Obligation — don’t have to, don’t need to / needn’t
5. Prohibition — mustn’t
6. Advice — should, would
7. Permission (statement) — may, can
8. Requests (questions) — may, can, could
9. Offering — would

Question 25

What are RELATIVE PRONOUNS and list them.

Answer 25

Used to introduce a relative clause.

1. People — Who
2. Places — Where
3. For time — When
4. For things — Which
5. For things and sometimes all others — That

Question 26

What are DIFINING RELATIVE clauses?

Answer 26

Adds essential information (answers “Which one?”)

Do NOT use commas.

People — “Who” or “That” / Things — “That”

Can delete if relative pronoun is OBJECT of relative clause not subject.

Question 27

What are NON-DIFINING RELATIVE clauses?

Answer 27

Adds extra, non-essential information (can be removed without losing understanding)

USE commas

People — “Who” / Things — “Which”