Modern English Grammar

1. PRESENT / 09
2. PAST / 18
3. FUTURE / 24
4. PRESENT PERFECT / 31
5. PAST PERFECT / 39
6. FUTURE PERFECT / 46
7. AUXILIARY (MODAL) VERB / 51
8. PASSIVE / 70
9. DETERMINER and NOUN / 80
10. PRONOUN / 99
11. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT / 110
12. INFINITIVE / 119
13. GERUND / 132
14. NOUN CLAUSE / 144
15. ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE / 153
16. ADVERBIAL CLAUSE / 167
17. HYPOTHETICAL IF / 194

References / 202

1. PRESENT

1.1 Introduction

Present Tenses
There are two types of present tenses in English verb. One is ‘simple present’ or ‘present simple,’ and the other is ‘present progressive’ or ‘present continuous.’ Forms of ‘simple present’ or ‘present simple’ are like I sleep, she memorizes. Forms of ‘present progressive’ or ‘present continuous’ are like I am sleeping or she’s memorizing. The two present tenses function in multiple ways.

Simple Present
The simple present tense can refer to something that regularly exists or habitually happens. This tense is used to talk about states or actions in the present and it sometimes refers to general truths.

Present Progressive
The present progressive tense can express a state or action in progress in the present time.

1.2 Usage

Simple Present
1) The simple present tense can state general/scientific facts or the way things exist.
ex) Water boils at 100° Celsius.
The earth moves around the sun.

2) The simple present tense can be used to talk about the activities which occur regularly (i.e., daily, weekly or monthly). This tense is used to talk about what routinely happens.
ex) She eats out every Sunday night.
I visit my grandparents every weekend.

3) The simple present tense can express activities for custom or habit. This tense represents relatively permanent situations.
ex) This tradition bonds one generation to the next one.
We eat locally produced vegetables.

4) The simple present is used to talk about a future situation, such as a scheduled event and time-table activity.
ex) The train arrives in London at 6 p.m.
The school term begins on September 1st.

5) The simple present tense can be used to talk about the future in time-clauses following the conjunctions such as before, after, until, as soon as or when and in conditional if-clauses following the conjunctions such as if or unless.
ex) If Real Madrid wins tomorrow, they will be champions.
I will buy some ice creams before she arrives.

Present Progressive
1) The present progressive tense is used to express an observation of the action which is happening at the point, the momentary change, or the moment of speaking.
ex) Snow is falling on my head.
The ice is melting now.

2) The present progressive tense can represent not routine and regular states but short-term and temporary activities which are just happening at that moment.
ex) I’m reading a lot these days.
We are renovating our roof this week.

3) When present progressive tense is used with all the time, always or continually, this tense can be used to describe annoyance which expresses and emphasizes a continuous sequence of repeated behaviors.
ex) She is always breaking something.
They are quarreling all the time.
He is always being late.

4) The present progressive tense can be used to talk about something that is occurring earlier and later than a given time.
ex) At six o’clock we are usually having dinner.
While the children are sleeping. I usually do the dishes

5) The present progressive is used to talk about a future situation, such as a personal arrangement and planned activity.
ex) I’m meeting my girlfriend tonight.
We’re having a party tomorrow. Would you like to come?

1.3 Static vs. Dynamic Verbs

A static (linking) verb (i.e., belong, hear, realize, and see) describes a state of being, sensation or perception. Therefore, this verb mostly takes the non-progressive form. However, a dynamic verb represents an action and activity which we carry out and thus this verb can be the progressive form.
ex) The pasta tastes too salty. (static)
A dog is chasing him now. (dynamic)

Exercise

A. Put the verbs into the correct form.

1. We (play) basketball once a week.
2. Hurricane winds (blow) from 80 to 140 miles per hour.
3. My mother always (prepare) too much food.
4. The plane (arrive) at 18.00.
5. I (work) to get my teaching certification these days.
6. It will be nice to see John when he (get) home.
7. The sun (set) down the mountains now.
8. I (meet) my grandparents tonight.
9. He usually (drink) coffee at breakfast.
10. The online Korean course (begin) next week.
11. Michael (leave) for Paris this evening.
12. My grandmother (believe) in life after death.
13. The runners of the marathon (approach) the finish line now.
14. Water (freeze) at zero degrees.
15. Every year my family (go) to Japan for a week.
16. If it (rain) tomorrow, we'll stay at home.
17. My husband (complain) about his work all the time.
18. We (discuss) the solution to the problem now.
19. She usually (have) a regular health checkup.
20. I (work) in New York this month but I will return to Korea next month.

B. Read each sentence and choose the correct answer.

1. Travelling in a spaceship (sounds / is sounding) interesting to me.
2. I can’t hear you because the fire station (sounds / is sounding) the fire alarm too loudly. Can you say that again?
3. I’m looking for a soft pillow. So I (feel / am feeling) the material of the pillow to see if it is soft enough.
4. Did you make a decision? Yes, I’ll take it. I (feel / am feeling) lucky to have your offer.
5. What are you doing here? I (taste / am tasting) the soup to know whether it has gone bad.
6. How is the food? It (tastes / is tasting) awful. I have to throw it away.
7. Last night, I (heard / listened to) footsteps behind me on my way home.
8. You must have been scared. You had better not (hear / listen to) music with earphones at night.
9. Your room (smells / is smelling) bad. When did you open the windows lastly?
10. I (smell / am smelling) the lilies which my husband bought me yesterday.