the GRAMMAR.doc

The Grammar – Callan Method

STAGE 3&4

We use AN before a word beginning with a vowel, and A before a word beginning with a consonant.                            an ash-tray                            a book

The pronunciation of the word THE changes before a word beginning with a vowel.

the pen                             the apple

We us ANY in interrogative and negative sentences, and SOME in positive sentences.

We use the PERSENT PROGRESSIVE for an action we are doing now, whilst the PRESENT SIMPLE for an action we do generally.

The PREPOSITION generally comes in an English sentence with an interrogative pronoun.                                          Who are you speaking to?

We use INTO for a thing that moves from one place to another, and IN for a thing that remains in one place.                             I’m putting my hand into my pocket.                                                                                                                 My hand is in my pocket.

We use MANY and FEW for things we can count, whilst MUCH and LITTLE for things we can’t count.                             many, few books                                          much, little water

We form the PAST Tense of REGULAR VERBS by putting the letters                           “-ed” at the end.

We say OVER when there is no contact between two objects, or when one object covers the other completely, whilst we use ON when there is contact, or when one object doesn’t cover the other completely.                            My right hand is over the pen.             

My left hand is on the table.

possessive pronouns

mine                            ours

yours                            yours   his                            theirs   hers                          its

possessive adjectives

my                            our

your                            your   his                            their   her                          its

A POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE we put in front of a noun, whilst

a POSSESSIVE PRONOUN we put after it, or use without a noun.

This is my book.                                                                                                   This book is mine.

There are three ways of asking a question the verb to HAVE:

                                                                                                                              in the Past

Have you a pen?                                                                       Had you a pen last lesson?               Have you got a pen?                                                         Had you got a pen last lesson?                             Do you have a pen?                                                         Did you have a pen last lesson?

To form a NOUN from a verb we sometimes add the letters “-er” to the verb.

beginner               worker              driver

We use the PAST SIMPLE when the action is finished and the time is finished, whilst we use the PESENT PERFECT when the action is finished but the time is not finished.                                                                                                  I spoke English yesterday.                                                                                                                               I have spoken English today.

The four kinds of verbs PARADIMES are:

              1) Those that have all three parts different.                                          see – saw – seen                                                                                                                                                           give – gave – given

              2) Those that have two parts different.              say – said – said                                                                                                                                                           buy – bought – bought 

3) Those that have all their parts the same.                            cut – cut – cut                                                                                                                                                           put – put – put

4) The regular verbs that add the letters “-ed” to form their Past and Past Participles.                                                        live – lived – lived                                                                                                                                             want – wanted – wanted

We can use the PRESENT PERFECT in three kinds of sentences:

1)    Where the action is finished but the time is not finished.                                                                       I have seen him today.

2)    Where the time is indefinite (with ever, never).                        I have  never seen him.

3)    When we don’t say the time.                             I have seen him.

●

Mr. Brown HAS BEEN to Scotland

means that Mr. Brown has been to Scotland and returned, and is perhaps here now.

● Mr. Brown HAS GONE to Scotland

means that he is not here, he has gone.

For the FUTURE INTENTION we use the words “going to”. We use it when we have the intention of doing sth in the future; usually in the near future.

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