Present continouos passive

Present Continuous Tense, Passive Voice

S + (be) + being + past participle

This tense is confusing because the verb "be" appears twice. This example uses the verb "tell" as the main verb: tell / told / told
Singular	Plural
I am being told	We are being told
You are being told	You are being told
He is being told
She is being told	They are being told
It is being told

Exercise 1:  Present continuous and passive

Exercise 2:  Passive voice - Present Continuous

Exercise 3: Present Continuous (Progressive)  Passive 

Present perfect passive

3. Present Perfect

Type of sentence	Subject	Verb	Object
Active sentence:	Peter	has built	a house.
Passive sentence:	A house	has been built	by Peter.

The Present Perfect, Passive Voice

S + (has or have) + been + past participle

Singular	Plural
I have been given	We have been given
You have been given	You have been given
He has been given
She has been given	They have been given
It has been given

Most people use contractions:

Singular	Plural
I've been given	We've been given
You've been given	You've been given
He's been given
She's been given	They've been given
It's been given

Exercise 1: The passive (present perfect and future)
Exercise 2: Passive (present perfect)
Exercise 3: Passive Voice Present Perfect 

Passive of future

future tense passive voice

Exercise 1:  Passive voice - Simple Future
Exercise 2:  Simple Future Passive
Exercise 3:  Passive Voice (Simple Future )

Negative and tag questions for giving opinions

Negative questions

NOVEMBER 24, 2010 - 

Contracted and uncontracted negative questions have different word order. Uncontracted negative questions are usually used in a formal style.

• Aren’t you coming? (Contracted – auxiliary verb + n’t + subject)
• Doesn’t he understand? (Auxiliary verb + n’t + subject)
• Are you not coming? (Uncontracted – auxiliary verb + subject + not)
• Does he not understand? (Auxiliary verb + subject + not)

Two meanings

A negative question can have two different kinds of meanings. It can, for example, be used to ask for confirmation of something you believe to be true.

• Didn’t you see Ann yesterday? How is she doing? (= I believe that you saw Ann yesterday.)

You may also express your opinions in a more polite way by changing them into negative questions.

• Wouldn’t it be nice to paint that wall green? (More polite than ‘It would be nice to paint that wall green.’)

A negative question can also be used to ask for confirmation of a negative belief. In this case the speaker is surprised that something has not happened or is not happening.

• Hasn’t the postman come yet?

Polite requests, offers, complaints etc

Pressing offers and invitations often assume the form of negative questions. They usually begin Won’t you…? Wouldn’t you…? or Why don’t you…?

• Wouldn’t you like something to drink?
• Why don’t you come and spend the evening with us?

In other cases we do not normally use a negative question to ask people to do things.

• Can you help me with my homework? (Ordinary question used as a request.)

Exercise 1:  Tag Questions 

Exercise 2:   Tag Questions  II
Exercise 3: Put in thecorrect tag question

Present perfect versus present perfect continuous

Video about present perfect versus present perfect continuous 

What's the difference?
Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous

We use both of these tenses for finished and unfinished actions.

The present perfect simple can be used (often with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. It's often used with stative verbs:

• I've known John for three years.

The present perfect continuous can also be used (often with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. (Of course, we don't use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs):

• She's been living here for three years.

ometimes there's really no difference in meaning between the two tenses. This is especially the case with verbs such as 'live', 'work' and 'study':

• They've lived in London since 2004.
• They've been living in London since 2004.

• I've studied French for ten years.
• I've been studying French for ten years.

• He's worked at the company since 2009.
• He's been working at our company since 2009.

Sometimes, there is a difference in meaning:

1: The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise the length of time that has passed. The present perfect simple is generally neutral:

• They've been waiting for hours! (This emphasises the length of time).
• They've waited for hours. (This doesn't emphasise the length of time).

2: On the other hand, the present perfect simple is often used when we're talking about how much or how many. This isn't possible with the present perfect continuous:

• She's drunk three cups of coffee this morning.
• She's drunk at least a litre of coffee today.
• (NOT: she's been drinking three cups of coffee this morning).

3: The present perfect continuous often focuses on the action itself, while the 

present perfect simple focuses on the fact that the action is completed:

• I've been reading the book you recommended. (I'm enjoying it, but I'm not finished).
• I've read the book you recommended. (I've finished it, so we can talk about it).

We use 'yet' and 'already' with the present perfect simple:

• Have you read the book yet?
• She's finished her work already.

This difference is often used to talk about different kinds of results in the present. The present perfect simple is used when the action is finished, and the result comes from the action being finished:

• I've eaten dinner, so let's go out.
• She's done all her homework, so she can relax this evening.
• I've made a cake. Would you like some?

The present perfect continuous is used when the result comes from the action itself. It doesn't matter if the whole action is finished or not. The result is often something we can see, hear, smell, or feel:

• I've been eating dinner, so there are plates all over the table.
• She's been doing her homework, so she's tired.
• I've been making a cake, that's why the kitchen is such a mess.
4: Finally, the present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise that something is temporary:
• She's been running a lot recently. (She doesn't usually do this).
• Usually I study at home, but I've been studying in the library for the last week.

Exercise 1: TestPresent Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Progressive

Exercise 2: Choose the present perfect simple or continuous.

Exercise 3:  presentperfect simple or continuous 2

PRESENT PERFECT VS. SIMPLE PAST

Look at the video about present perfect versus simple past

You must always use the Present perfect when the time of an action is not important or not specified.
You must always use the Simple past when details about the time or place that an action occured are given or requested.

COMPARE :

Present perfect Simple past
I have lived in Lyon. I lived in Lyon in 1989.
They have eaten Thai food. They ate Thai food last night.
Have you seen 'Othello'?. Where did you see 'Othello'?
We have been to Ireland. When did you go to Ireland?
There is also a difference in attitude between the two tenses, which is often an important factor in choosing which tense to use.

"What did you do at school today?" I use the simple past tense because the question is about activities, and the school day is considered finished.
"What have you done at school today?" I use the present perfect because the question is about results : « show me ». The time at which the question is asked is considered as a continuation of the school day.



Exercise 1:   Test Simple Past – Present Perfect Simple
Exercise 2:   Simple Pastor Present Perfect
Exercise 3:  Choose pastsimple or present perfect

Reported speech

Reported Statements

When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said.

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. (Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'.) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.
Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.
We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

(As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.
Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

Tense	Direct Speech	Reported Speech
present simple	I like ice cream	She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present continuous	I am living in London	She said (that) she was living in London.
past simple	I bought a car	She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car.
past continuous	I was walking along the street	She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
present perfect	I haven't seen Julie	She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
past perfect*	I had taken English lessons before	She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
will	I'll see you later	She said (that) she would see me later.
would*	I would help, but..”	She said (that) she would help but...
can	I can speak perfect English	She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
could*	I could swim when I was four	She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
shall	I shall come later	She said (that) she would come later.
should*	I should call my mother	She said (that) she should call her mother
might*	I might be late	She said (that) she might be late
must	I must study at the weekend	She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had to study at the weekend

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

• Direct speech: The sky is blue.
• Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

• Direct speech: Where do you live?

How can we make the reported speech here?

In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. A bit confusing? Maybe this example will help:

• Direct speech: Where do you live?
• Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

Do you see how I made it? The direct question is in the present simple tense. We make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then I need to change the verb to the past simple. 


Exercise 1:  Reported speech – simple statements
Exercise 2:   Reported questions
Exercise 3: Reported commands

Infinite and gerund phrases

Gerunds and infinitives as subjects

The subject of a sentence is usually a noun or a pronoun. But sometimes, to-infinitives and –ing forms are also used as subjects.

Study the examples given below.

• Swimming is a good exercise.

Here the –ing form ‘swimming’ acts as the subject of the verb ‘is’.

More examples are given below.

• Smoking is injurious to health.
• Singing gives me great pleasure.
• Telling lies can get you into deep trouble.
• Collecting stamps is his hobby.
• Driving very fast on a busy road may lead to an accident.

In each of the following sentences, the subject is an –ing form.

A to-infinitive can also act as the subject of a verb.

Study the example sentences given below.

• To err is human.
• To give advice is easy.
• To follow this advice may be difficult.
• To swim in that sea may be dangerous.
• To drive very fast here is not advisable.

Now study the examples given below. They show another kind of subject a sentence can have.

• What you say is not true.
• Where the police have taken him is not known.
• Why even good people suffer in this world is a great mystery.

As you can see, the subject in each of these sentences is not a word or a phrase, but a group of words which itself looks like a sentence. A group of words of this kind is called a clause. Here the clause functions as a noun and therefore it is called a noun clause.

Exercise 1: Decide if the verbs are followed by a verb in the gerund or in theinfinitive form

Clauses...

Clauses Stating Reasons and Conditions

Unless

Used to communicate that something is true or will happen except if something else happens.

I’ll be at the meeting unless I am really busy.
Unless I’m really busy, I’ll be at the meeting.(If I am really busy, I will not go to the meeting.)

even if

Used to introduce something that does not affect the result of the main clause.

I’ll be at the meeting even if I am really busy.

Even if I’m busy, I’ll be at the meeting.

(If I am busy, I will still go the meeting. The amount of work I have will not prevent me from attending the meeting.)

as long as

Used to introduce that something will only happen or be true if what “as long as” introduces happens.

I will be at the meeting as long as I’m not busy.

As long as I’m not busy, I’ll be at the meeting.

(If I am busy, I will not be at the meeting.)

(just) in case

Used to introduce something that someone is preparing for because there is a chance it might happen.

I asked Tim to take notes (just) in case I can’t go to the meeting.

(Just) in case I can’t go to the meeting, I asked Tim to take notes for me.

(I will probably be at the meeting, but I’m taking precautions because there is a possibility I won’t be at the meeting.)

only if

Used to introduce something that must happen or be true for the main clause to happen.

 I’ll miss the meeting only if I have something really urgent to take care of.

I’ll only miss the meeting if I have something really urgent to take care of.

now that

Used to explain a new situation.

Now that I’m a manager, I attend more meetings.

I attend more meetings now that I’m a manager

Exercise 1: condition : If / Unless / As long as
Exercise 2: unless / only if
Exercise 3: In case and Unless

Reduced time clauses

Reduced time clauses

In English grammar, a reduced adverb clause is an adverb(ial) clause that has been shortened to a phrase, usually by omitting its subject and a form of be.

In conventional usage, an adverb clause can be reduced to a phrase only when the subject of the adverb clause is the same as the subject of theindependent clause. But there are exceptions.

See Examples and Observations below. Also see:

·                 Clause

·                 Dangling Modifier and Misplaced Modifier

·                 Dependent Clause and Subordinate Clause

·                 Ellipsis

·                 Main Clause

·                 Substitution

EXAMPLES AND OBSERVATIONS

·                 "Study the examples below to see how adverb clauses are reduced:

1. Time sequences with after, before, once, since, until, when, and while:

After they sang two songs, the performers did a dance. [clause]
After singing two songs, the performers did a dance. [phrase]

Before he answered the phone, he grabbed a pencil and notepad. [clause]
Before answering the phone, he grabbed a pencil and notepad. [phrase] . . .

2. Giving reasons with because
When a clause introduced by because is reduced, because is omitted and the verb changes form:

Because she had always been interested in sports, Linda became an avid supporter of the team. [clause]
Having always been interested in sports, Linda became an avid supporter of the team. [phrase]

3. Clauses of concession with although, despite, in spite of, though, andwhile:

Although he was hurt, Jack managed to smile. [clause]
Although hurt, Jack managed to smile. [phrase] . . .

In spite of the fact that she works long hours, Joan spends a lot of time with her family. [clause]
In spite of working long hours, Joan spends a lot of time with her family. [phrase] . . .

The verb in a reduced adverb clause can be in one of two forms. The -ing form is used for the active voice, and the -ed form (the past participle) is used for thepassive voice."
(Jolene Gear and Robert Gear, Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL® Test, 4th ed. Cambridge University Press, 2006)
 

·                 While I was away in college, I stayed with my roommate's family during one spring break. [clause]
While away in college, I stayed with my roommate's family during one spring break. [phrase]
 

·                 When she is working at home, Carla takes her youngest child to school in the morning. [clause]
When working at home, Carla takes her youngest child to school in the morning. [phrase]
 

·                 Although Marc Bloch was impressed by the bravery of his fellow soldiers, he had harsh words for the army leadership. [clause]
"Although impressed by the bravery of his fellow soldiers, Bloch had harsh words for the army leadership." [phrase]
(Marnie Hughes-Warrington, Fifty Key Thinkers on History, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2008)
 

·                 Types of Phrases
"A full adverbial clause . . . is reduced to a nonfinite clause by the deletion of thesubject and whatever form of be it contains. This means that reduced adverbial clauses consist of a subordinating conjunction followed by a phrase which can be one of a number of different types, as shown by (43):

(43a) Although Head of Department, he relies on the Departmental Secretary. [noun phrase]
(43b) Although seriously ill, he came to the meeting. [adjective phrase]
(43c) Although on holiday, Susan responded to the request for help. [prepositional phrase]
(43d) Although waiting in a long queue, Catriona stayed calm. [participial phrase]"

(Jan McAllister and James E. Miller, Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. John Wiley & Sons, 2013)
 

·                 Functions of Reduced Adverb Clauses
"Reduced adverb clauses include present or past participles with or withoutprepositional (or adverbial) phrases and/or adverb clause markers, external/peripheral to the independent clause structure, for example, The professor looked at me, smiling broadly, or While walking to class that night, I noticed this poster, or After releasing her first CD, she made a hit movie (NSs). With full or reduced adverb clauses, the independent clause retains its structure and meaning if the subordinate construction is completely omitted (Leech & Svartvik, 1994). In academic texts, reduced adverb clauses integrate information compactly, while retaining the meanings and functions of full adverb clauses (Biber, 1988). In general, they mark formal and written registersand are . . . seldom employed in speech.

"In reduced adverb clauses, the subject is not present in the subordinate structure and is assumed to be the same as that in the independent clause. However, the constructions in which the subjects are not the same abound in both L1 and L2 writing and are considered to be questionable (if not outright unacceptable) (Quirk et al., 1985)."

Exercise 1:  choosing thecorrect reduced adverb clause
Exercise 2: Reduced Adverb Clauses - Active and Passive Meanings
Exercise 3: Reduced Adverb Clauses - Quiz