Grammar for TEFL Teachers

Perfect Functions
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Grammar: Perfect Functions

February 12, 2017September 30, 2021 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Functions The present perfect is the most commonly used perfect tense construction in the English language. Although it has many functions we will deal primarily with just four perfect functions. A. It describes a state, event or habit that started in the past, and continues to the present and may continue into the future. For example:…

Future Functions
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Grammar: Future Functions

February 12, 2017January 9, 2020 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , ,

Future Functions Look at these functions of the Future Simple tense (will + bare infinitive) 1. A command or order: * Will you sit down and listen! 2. A future possibility or prediction: * It’ll probably be too late to do anything by then. * I think the weather will improve tomorrow. 3. An offer…

Present Continuous
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Grammar: Continuous Functions

February 12, 2017January 9, 2020 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , ,

Present Continuous  The present continuous (sometimes referred to as the present progressive) uses the –ing form of the verb and is often used to describe something that is temporary. For example: It’s raining That is, it’s raining now, but it is temporary. The past continuous (sometimes referred to as the past progressive), which also uses…

Present and Past Simple
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Grammar: Present and Past Simple Tense Functions

February 12, 2017September 30, 2021 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , ,

Present and Past Simple Tense Functions In addition to referring to different times, sentences that use the same tense can have quite different functions (present and past simple). Look at the following four sentences. All of them use the present simple tense construction yet they all have different functions. These sentences express a scientific or general truth: Tadpoles turn into frogs.…

Conditional Forms
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Grammar: The Conditional Forms

February 12, 2017September 30, 2021 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , ,

The Conditional Forms We are going to look at structures called conditional forms. There are two clauses in these structures. These clauses are usually called the conditional clause or if-clause (the cause) and the main clause (the effect). Sometimes they are called the if-conditionals or if-structures because the sentences contain the word if. There are basically four conditionals that will be dealt with. The Zero Conditional…

Active and Passive Voices
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Grammar: The Active and Passive Voices

February 12, 2017January 9, 2020 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , , , ,

The Active and Passive Voices Aside from having different tenses, verb phrases have two voices. These are the active and passive voices. When we use the active voice, the ‘doer’ of the action is the subject of the sentence. The ‘doer’ of the action is sometimes called the agent. For example: Manchester University employs people. (Present simple tense) People in India export cars. (Present simple…

Future Forms
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Grammar: The Future Forms

February 12, 2017September 30, 2021 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , ,

The Future Forms There are a number of ways to talk about the future. We will look at four of the future forms: 1. The Future with “Going To” 2. Future Simple  (Will) 3. Present Continuous with a Future meaning 4. The Future using Modal Verbs The Future with ‘Going  To’ When we want to describe our plans, intentions…

Clauses
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TEFL Grammar: Clauses

February 2, 2017September 30, 2021 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , ,

Clauses A clause is a group of words that contain a subject and a verb. Sometimes a clause by itself can make a short sentence. Sometimes clauses are put together to make longer sentences. We will deal with three types of sentences. Simple Sentences  Look at the first example: Chris ate fish and chips. In…

Prepositions
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TEFL Grammar: Prepositions

February 2, 2017January 9, 2020 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , ,

Introduction to Prepositions Prepositions usually go before nouns or pronouns and link it with another word or phrase. They often show where things are in relation to each other. For example: The book is lying on the table. I looked at the painting. The money is in my pocket. The supermarket is opposite the post office. My house is by the sea. She moved through the crowd.…

Adverbs
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Grammar for TEFL Teachers: Introduction to Adverbs

January 29, 2017September 30, 2021 Grammar for TEFL Teachers, , , , , , , , ,

Introduction to Adverbs Adverbs are words that modify verbs, that is, they describe verbs. They also show to what degree something has been done. Many adverbs end in -ly. For example: Annie walked quietly into the room. My house was completely destroyed in the earthquake. He blatantly ignored my request. Sometimes we use adverbs that do not end in -ly and we often refer to…