BCN Reader Semester 1 2015 2016 2
Foreword
This is the reader for the 1 st semester of IBMS Business Communication. Business Communication (BCN) is the subject in which English is taught as the means of communication in a
business setting. In the first year, Grammar is an important element, as accuracy in grammar improves the effectiveness of communication. That is why the first part of this reader is devoted to Grammar. We have selected a number of important grammar subjects and created exercises to practise the use of these structures. This section is rounded off by a sample grammar exam to show you the level you are expected to reach. In the ‘real’ exam – after Block 1 – there will also be a vocabulary test. This reader contains a number of vocabulary lists
to be studied (self-study). If you need more practice there are numerous internet sites where you will find more exercise material and
explanations of the individual grammatical items. The exercises on Internet usually allow you to check your answers. The exercises in the reader do not have this opportunity. The exercises will be dealt with in class.
The second (and truly business communication) element is a presentation course, in which you will learn to make your own presentation. Attention will be paid to various aspects of speaking in public. In the second half of the semester this will culminate in presentations done in pairs.
The third element of the BCN course is Writing Skills. The course entails lots of writing assignments which will be given as homework, after which they are checked by the lecturer, and the student can then try to improve them. Part of this course consists of one-on-one teaching between student and lecturer. This requires an active attitude from students, and an eagerness to improve. An additional element of Reading/Writing skills is that the business texts help you increase your business vocabulary and sharpen your analytical skills. After Block 1 you will take part in Writing Test. If you don’t pass this test, you will have attend remedial Writing classes in Block 2 and take
a second test at the end of this block. In Appendix A you can find the module descriptions, which give you an insight into the number of credits to be
had for each partial module and the amount of time you are expected to spend on the module, the exams (if any), the competencies that can be acquired etc. Please read them carefully: they will prevent questions on your side. An important thing to remember is that all parts of BCN require a passing grade of at least 5.5. There is no internal compensation.
We hope that this reader will be helpful in your language acquisition, and will show you the areas where you still need to improve.
Good luck Your BCN lecturers
GRAMMAR
Grammar Terminology
Here is a short explanation of some of the grammatical terms used in this reader
Adjective
Words like large, cold, white, American etc. It helps to describe a noun or pronoun.
I work in a large, modern office. It's nice and spacious.
Adverb
A word like carefully, quickly, well, sometimes, yesterday, never etc. It is normally used to say how or when something happens. Example: My father drives slowly. I'll see you tomorrow.
Article
A word that precedes a noun. ‘a’ and ‘an’ are called 'indefinite articles'; ‘the’ is called the 'definite article'.
Auxiliary verb
A verb like be, do, or have, which is used with another (main) verb to form tenses, passives, negatives, and questions.
I am working. She has gone home. Do you like Germany?
Conditional (or conditional clause)
A clause or sentence constructed with if, unless, etc. It is normally used to discuss an event or situation in the future, present, or past, which may or may not be real. If you are late, we'll start the meeting without you. If I were you, I would pay the bill now. If the roads hadn't been so busy, we would have arrived on time.
Continuous form
See Simple and Continuous forms.
Infinitive
The infinitive is the basic form of the verb: to see, to make, to like, etc. If you look at the list of irregular verbs, you will see the infinitive form in the first column. For example:
Infinitive
Past tense form
Past participle
The infinitive is usually introduced with the word to. Example: I want to leave, but it's not so easy to do.
Sometimes we use the 'bare infinitive' which is the infinitive without the word ‘to’. You must leave now. You shouldn't stay any longer.
-ing form
When the -ing form of the verb is used as a verb or an adjective, it is called the 'present participle'.
I saw Peter leaving. He's a very annoying person.
The -ing form is also used as a noun (sometimes called a 'gerund'). Travelling light can help you get through customs quickly.
Modal verb
Words like ‘can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would’. A modal verb comes before the bare infinitive of another verb, and adds a certain kind of meaning: for example, ability, permission, obligation, probability, or certainty. (Modal verbs are also called modal auxiliary verbs.)
I can speak Japanese, but I can't write it. The problem might be to do with the computer system. You should think about taking out a business loan.
Noun
Words like computer, accountant, information, Martin, America. It is the name of an object, concept, place, or person. 'Concrete nouns' are things you can see or touch, like a car, a table, or an office. 'Abstract nouns' are things that you cannot see or touch, like an idea, a decision, or an opinion. Nouns can be countable: one book, two pages, three ideas, four days, etc.; or uncountable: water, advice, freedom (you cannot say two waters, an advice, etc.).
Object
The object of a sentence (a noun or noun phrase) usually comes after the verb. In the sentences below, the report and a new telephone system are the objects. They follow the verbs wrote and installed. Peter wrote the report. We installed a new telephone system last week.
Participle
The -ing or -ed forms of verb endings. The -ing form is called the 'present participle'; the -ed form is called the 'past participle'.
Passive and active forms
In an active sentence we say what people or things do, so we use active verb forms like went, explain, is developing, will increase. In the sentence below ‘The police’ is the subject, arrested is the verb and ‘Alain’ is the object. This is an active sentence. The police arrested Alain.
In a passive sentence, we say what happens to people or things. The passive is formed by using the verb to be and a past participle. The object of the active sentence (Alain) becomes the subject. The subject of the active sentence (the police) is called the 'agent', and is introduced by the word by. This is a passive sentence. Alain was arrested by the police.
Preposition
Words like to, in, behind, over, through, into, under, etc. Prepositions are used to give information about things like place, time, direction, and manner.
I telephoned our office in London at 7.00 this morning. Last week we drove through the Alps into Switzerland. I’ve sent them the documents by fax.
Pronoun
A word like it, me, you, she, they, him, her, etc. which replaces a noun in a sentence, usually because we do not want to repeat the noun.
I bought a new fax machine yesterday; it was very expensive. Susan's car has been stolen, and she is very upset
Relative clause
A clause beginning with words like who, where, which, whose, or that. They are used to identify someone or something, or to give more information about them. These lenses, which cost only a few pence to produce, cost over $200 to buy! Stefan Anderson is the consultant that we employed on our last project.
Short forms (a.k.a. Contractions)
The verbs be and have, and the auxiliary verbs can be contracted into a shorter form (e.g., I'm, we've, don't, didn't, can’t, shouldn’t, etc.). These short forms are commonly used in speech and informal writing.
Simple and continuous forms
Tenses have both a simple and a continuous form. The simple form carries a sense of completion, or regularity of action. The continuous form carries a sense of continuity or incompleteness of action. The continuous form ends in –ing.
he works
he is working
Past
he worked
he was working
Present perfect
he has worked
he has been working
Past perfect
he had worked
he had been working
Future
he will work
he will be working
Future perfect
he will have worked
he will have been working
In other tenses and forms (like the Passive) it sometimes is not possible to use a continuous form, as a double form of ‘to be’ would occur. However, sometimes a double form of ‘to be’ is possible: “He was only being nice
to me.”
Subject
The subject of a sentence (a noun or noun phrase) normally comes before the verb. It is usually the person or thing who does something, or is the main focus of attention. In the following sentences, the subjects are ‘My brother Peter ’ and ‘The sales conference’’. My brother Peter works in London. The sales conference will be held in September.
Tenses
The forms of a verb which help us to know the time of an action or event (past, present, or future). There are many different tenses. Here are two examples:
I work in the centre of Munich. (present simple tense)
I worked in the centre of Munich. (past simple tense)
Some tenses are formed with the main verb and an extra verb such as be or have. These extra verbs are called 'auxiliary verbs'. Antoinette is working late this evening. (present continuous tense) Ian has finished his report. (present perfect tense)
Transitive and intransitive (verbs)
Some verbs are followed by an object, and some are not. If a verb is normally followed by an object, it is called a 'transitive verb'. The verb to buy has an object, so in the sentence below, bought is the transitive verb, and a car is the object. Example: I bought a car If a verb is not normally followed by an object, it is called an 'intransitive verb'. The verb ‘to travel’ does not have an object, so in this sentence, travels is an intransitive verb and there is no object: She travels frequently in Asia.
Verb
A word like buy, sell, be, seem, think, break, decide, etc. A verb describes an action, a state, or a process. In the following sentences, competes, lies, buy, and sell are the verbs. Five companies competed for the engineering contract. La Défense lies to the West of Paris. We buy and sell shares on the open market
Section 1: Grammar topics (discussed in class)
1. Tenses in English
Simple Present or Present Continuous
Past Perfect or Past
Simple Past or Past
Future tenses
Perfect Continuous
Continuous
PAST FUTURE
Present Perfect or Future Perfect Simple Present Perfect
or Future Perfect Continuous
PRESENT Continuous
BCN Reader Semester 1 2015-2016
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Simple present:
I do
It is done
Present Continuous:
I am doing
It is being done
Simple past:
I did
It was done
Past continuous:
I was doing
It was being done
Present Perfect:
I have done
It has been done
Present Perfect Continuous:
I have been doing
NOT POSSIBLE
Past Perfect:
I had done
It had been done
Past Perfect Continuous:
I had been doing
NOT POSSIBLE
Future tenses:
1. general promise
I will/shall (‘ll) do
It will be done
2. plan
I am going to do
It is going to be done
3. absolutely certain
I do / I am doing
It is done/It is being done
Future Perfect Simple:
I will have done
It will have been done
Future Perfect Continuous:
I will have been doing
NOT POSSIBLE
Conditional:
I would do
It would be done
Conditional Perfect:
I would have done
It would have been done
Conditional Continuous:
I would be doing
NOT POSSIBLE
Conditional Perfect Cont.:
I would have been doing
They say that he works 80 hours a week
He is said to work 80 hours a week (they say this about his habits now) They say that he worked 80 hours a week
He is said to have worked 80 hours a week (they say this about what used to do) They say that he is working all the time
He is said to be working all the time (they say this about what he is doing at this moment) They say that he was working all the time
He is said to have been working all the time (they say what he was doing in the past) They said that he …… (see above)
He was said to …… (see above) (they said in the past that ….)
BCN Reader Semester 1 2015-2016
1.1 Present Tense
1.1.1 Simple Present and Present Continuous
Form
Simple Present
Present Continuous
infinitive
form of 'be' and verb + ing
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak
I am speaking
you speak
you are speaking
he / she / it speaks
he / she / it is speaking
we speak
we are speaking
they speak
they are speaking
Questions and negatives are made with ‘do(es)’ followed by the infinitive of the verb:
I do not go I go Exceptions Exceptions when adding 's' :
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
For can, may, might, must, do not add s. Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: he can, she may, it must
Example: come - coming
After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
but: agree - agreeing
Example: do - he does, wash - she washes After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie.
Example: sit - sitting
(but: not after a vowel) After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British Example: worry - he worries
English (but not in American English). but: play - he plays
Example: travel - travelling (British English) but: travelling (American English) Final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying
Use
In general or right now? Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?
Simple Present
Present Continuous
in general (regularly, often, never)
right now
Colin plays football every Tuesday. Look! Colin is playing football now. present actions happening one after another
also for several actions happening at the same time First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
always
at the moment
every ...
at this moment
right now
never first then
Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?
Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?
Simple Present
Present Continuous
action set by a timetable or schedule arrangement for the near future The film starts at 8 pm.
I am going to the cinema tonight.
Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?
Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for
a limited (rather short) period of time?
Simple Present
Present Continuous
Daily: only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking)
Bob works in a restaurant. Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.
Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the continuous form). state:
be, cost, fit, mean, suit
possession:
belong, have
senses:
feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
feelings:
hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
brain work:
believe, know, think, understand
Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing." Examples: She is always coming to class late. He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
I don't like them because they are always complaining.
1.2 Past Tense
1.2.1 Simple Past & Past Continuous
Form Simple Past
Past Continuous
regular verbs: verb + ed past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
I worked
I was speaking
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs
you were speaking
I spoke
he / she / it was speaking we were speaking
Questions and negatives are made with the auxiliary verb they were speaking ‘did’ followed by the infinitive of the verb: I went I did not go (
A very common mistake is “I did not went”)
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' : - when the final letter is e, only add d.
- silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for - Example: love - loved
ee)
- after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is - Example: come - coming doubled
but: agree - agreeing
Example: admit - admitted - after a short, stressed vowel, the final - final l is always doubled in British English (not always in
consonant is doubled
American English)
Example: sit - sitting
Example: travel - travelled - final l is always doubled in British English - after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a
(not always in American English) vowel)
Example: travel - travelling Example: worry - he worried
- final ie becomes y.
but: play - he played
Example: lie - lying
Use of Simple Past or Past Continuous:
o After another or at the same time? o Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same
time?
Simple Past
Past Continuous
after another
at the same time
She came home, switched on the computer and Simon was playing on the computer while his checked her e-mails.
brother was watching TV.
New action or already in progress?
o If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both
tenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Continuous for the action already in progress.
Simple Past
Past Continuous
new action
action already in progress
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.) While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile
suddenly rang.)
Only mentioning or emphasising progress?
o Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)? Or do you want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?
Simple Past
Past Continuous
just mentioning
emphasising progress
Colin played football yesterday. Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.
Certain verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the continuous form): the section on the Simple Present/Present Continuous for verbs generally not used with the Continuous.
Signal words Simple Past
Past Continuous
while as long as
1.3 Present Perfect
1.3.1 Present Perfect Simple
The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.
Form of Present Perfect
I / you / we / they I have spoken.
I have not spoken. Have I spoken?
he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?
For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3 rd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘-ed’
Exceptions in spelling when adding -ed
Example
after a final e only add -d
love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
admit – admitted
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel – travelled final y after a consonant becomes i
hurry – hurried
Use of Present Perfect:
o Puts emphasis on the result. She has written five letters. o Action that is still going on. School has not started yet. o Action that stopped recently. She has cooked dinner. o Finished action that has an influence on the present. I have lost my key. o Action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking. I have
never been to Australia.
Signal Words of Present Perfect
already, ever, never, just, not yet, so far, till now, up to now , for (+ duration for five years), since (+ starting point since 2006)
1.3.2 Present Perfect Continuous The present perfect continuous expresses an action that recently stopped or is still going on. It puts emphasis
on the duration or course of the action.
Forms of Present Perfect Continuous
I / you / we / they I have been speaking.
I have not been speaking. Have I been speaking?
he / she / it He has been speaking. He has not been speaking. Has he been speaking?
Exceptions in Spelling
Exceptions in spelling when adding -ing Example final e is dropped
come – coming (but: ee is not changed)
(but: agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting NOTE: ‘l’ as final consonant after a vowel is always doubled (in British English;
travel – travelling (UK) in American English it is not doubled)
travel – travelling (US) final ie becomes y
lie – lying
Use of Present Perfect Continuous:
Puts emphasis on the duration or course of an action (not the result). o She has been writing for two hours.
Action that recently stopped or is still going on. I have been living here since 2001. Finished action that influenced the present. I have been working all afternoon.
Signal Words of Present Perfect Continuous
all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week
1.3.3 Past Perfect Simple The Past Perfect Simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past.
Form of Past Perfect Simple
Positive Negative
Question
.... had spoken. .... had not spoken. Had .... spoken? For irregular verbs, use the past participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs,
just add -ed.
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding -ed
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed
Example
after final -e, only add -d
love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
admit – admitted
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel – travelled final -y after a consonant becomes -i
hurry – hurried
Use of Past Perfect
Action taking place before a certain time in the past (putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration). Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.
Signal Words already, just, ever, never, not yet, once, until that day (with reference to the past, not the present)
1.3.4 Past Perfect Continuous The past perfect continuous puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action taking place before a
certain time in the past.
Form
A: He had been talking. N: He had not been talking. Q: Had he been talking?
Use
o action taking place before a certain time in the past o sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple o puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action
Signal words
for, since, the whole day, all day
1.3.5 How to use the perfect tenses
One of the main problems for speakers of a number of European languages is that the perfect tenses in those languages often differ from English. In English the perfect tense always describes a situation/activity that covers two points in time (points 1 and 2 in the figure below. The second of these two points determines which perfect tense – past, present or future – is to be used.
If the second point lies in the past: Past Perfect (he had done/he had been doing); the present: Present Perfect (he has done/he has been doing) the future: Future Perfect (he will have done/he will have been doing)
Past Perfect or Past
Perfect Continuous
PAST
1 2 FUTURE
Present Perfect or Future Perfect Simple Present Perfect
or Future Perfect Continuous
PRESENT
Continuous
The two points could indicate a period of time (I have been working here for 5 years now), with the first point in time being the beginning of the period and the second point representing the end of the period of time. If the activity or situation is likely to continue after this period of time, the perfect continuous (have/had/will have been doing) is used.
The two points could also be two individual points in time, on the first of which something happens which creates a certain effect on the second point.
Example: Jane: “You look different!” (at the moment of speaking)
Sue: “That’s right, I have been to the hairdresser’s”. (in the past, but the result is visible now.)
When the sentence gives information on “how much”, the standard perfect is used: “I’ve read 30 pages so far”.
When the sentence tells you “how long”, the perfect continuous is used: “I have been reading all night”.
1.4 Future Tenses
1.4.1 Simple Future I: will Simple Future I (will) expresses a spontaneous decision, an assumption with regard to the future or an action
in the future that cannot be influenced.
Form of Simple Future I (will) positive
negative
question
I will speak. I will not speak. Will I speak?
Use of Simple Future I (will)
A spontaneous decision. Wait, I will help you. o An opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future. He will probably come back
tomorrow. o
A promise. I will not watch TV tonight. o An action in the future that cannot be influenced. It will rain tomorrow.
o Conditional clauses type I: If I arrive late, I will call you.
Signal Words in a year, next …, tomorrow, I think, probably, perhaps
1.4.2 Simple Future I: to be going to
Simple Future I (going to) expresses a conclusion regarding the immediate future or an action in the near future that has already been planned or prepared.
Form of Simple Future I (going to)
Am I going to speak? you / we / they You are going to speak. You are not going to speak. Are you going to speak?
I I am going to speak.
I am not going to speak.
he / she / it He is going to speak.
He is not going to speak.
Is he going to speak?
Use of Simple Future I (going to)
o An action in the near future that has already been planned or prepared. I am going to study harder next year. o
A conclusion regarding the immediate future. The sky is absolutely dark. It is going to rain.
Signal Words in one year, next week, tomorrow
1.4.3 Future Continuous + will Future Continuous can be used with both “will” and “going to”: "will be doing " and "be going to be doing."
Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Continuous forms are usually interchangeable. Future Continuous puts emphasis on the course of an action taking place in the future.
Form
A: He will be talking / He is going to be talking. N: He will not be talking / He is not going to be talking. Q: Will he be talking? / Is he going to be talking?
Use
o action that is going on at a certain time in the future o action that is sure to happen in the near future
Signal Words in one year, next week, tomorrow
1.4.4 Future Perfect Simple Future Perfect Simple expresses an action that will be finished at a certain time in the future.
Form
A: He will have talked. N: He will not have talked. Q: Will he have talked?
Use
o action that will be finished at a certain time in the future
Signal Words by Monday, in a week
1.4.5 Future Continuous Perfect Future continuous perfect puts emphasis on the course / duration of an action taking place before a certain
time in the future. It can also be used to express an assumption regarding a future action. Future continuous perfect is not used very often as it can usually be replaced by Future simple.
Form
A: He will have been talking. N: He will not have been talking. Q: Will he have been talking?
Use
o action taking place before a certain time in the future o puts emphasis on the course of an action
Signal Words for ..., the last couple of hours, all day long
1.4.6 Simple Present used for future
Simple Present for future Scheduled Events in the Near Future
Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.
Examples: The train leaves tonight at 6 PM. The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM. When do we board the plane? The party starts at 8 o'clock. When does class begin tomorrow?
1.4.7 Present Continuous for the near future
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.
Examples:
I am meeting some friends after work.
I am not going to the party tonight. Is he visiting his parents next weekend? Isn't he coming with us tonight?
Tenses Exercises
Exercise 1.
Make logical sentences with the following groups of words. Be careful to select the tense that belongs to the meaning that you wish to convey. You can (and should) add words to make your sentence complete.
1. to write – letters – yesterday – secretary.
2. to raise – the Central Bank – March – interest rates – 1996
3. to lie – to find – hours – she – when
4. to lay – since last month – files – drawers.
5. to lose – last year – Stock Exchange – money.
6. to tell – to spend – too much – holiday –people.
7. to go – spring – bankrupt – companies.
8. to read – silly advertisements – always – local papers.
9. to correct – we – for hours – these sentences – now.
10. to swear – to speak – last week – the truth
Exercise 2.
Fill in the correct tense of the verb in brackets.
1. Ms Gore really (believe) that John (cheat), now that he has such a good mark for his Maths exam?
2. I (know) for years that John cannot (trust), and I think that Ms Gore (know) the same.
3. I (take) a walk when an old lady (ask) me if I (see) her dog anywhere.
4. If she (know) that Jake was such a creep, she never (go) out with him.
5. Unless the weather (improve), I (not go) to school by bike.
6. Since when they (live) in this neighbourhood?
7. They first (live) in the Bronx for two years, but they (move) two years ago.
8. I (buy) this new sweater at C&A’s; it (cost) only € 5.—
9. Our neighbour always (blow) his horn early in the morning when he (leave); it drives me insane.
10. “Look, I (bring) you some sausages.” “You needn’t (bring) sausages, I’ve got plenty in the freezer.”
11. Next month Mr Graham (be) general manager of Halo Inc. for twenty years. I hope there (be) a celebration.
12. He said that he (have) his car since 1999.
13. This report (show) that we (sell) a lot of refrigerators this month.
14. I (not know) that you (know) Mrs Pitt-Jolie. How long you (know) her?
15. When he (promote) by his boss last month, he (become) Assistant Manager.
16. I (not know) when the new model (come) out, but I expect it (be) by the end of the month.
17. He (welcome) the new guests, and then (go) on talking about his children. I thought to myself, “Why he (always talk) about them? It irritates me madly.”
18. Why you (smoke) a cigar, Mr Heys? You usually (not smoke) at all.
19. Look at what I (just buy)! Isn’t it beautiful?
20. Our sales campaign is a failure. It (be) a disaster from the start.
21. While we (walk) past the office block, a policeman (stop) us to ask if we (see) anything suspicious a few blocks back. We said that we (see) a dark figure hurrying round the corner.
22. She (work) here. She (do) so for twenty years next summer.
23. This (not happen) if we had listened to his warnings.
24. What (you do) if he had asked you to go with him to Costa Rica?
25. My train (leave) in thirty minutes, so I am not in any great hurry.
26. Although the car (just repair) by my local garage, the engine (fail) me again the next morning.
27. The handyman (strip) the wallpaper when suddenly a whole piece of wall came down.
28. He usually (attend) most lectures?
29. Why you (always watch) those stupid soaps on TV! Every time I look at the screen, I (see) terrible acting and tearful eyes. I’d like to see some serious drama for a change.
30. When the Gulf War (start)?
31. They (know) each other for months when they (discover) that they (have) mutual acquaintances.
32. I never (meet) him, but they say that he is charming.
33. After he (finish) reading his paper, he (call) his wife and (tell) her to bring him a beer immediately.
34. He slowly (recover) from his injuries, so he must not get too many visitors at the same time yet.
35. I (have) an interesting experience just now. I (tell) you all about it in a minute.
Exercise 3.
In the text below, which was adapted from an article in the Guardian, the verbs have been put in brackets. It is your task to put them in the correct tense. Sometimes there could be more than one solution; if this is the case you should try to determine what differences in meaning occur with the different solutions.
The number of single-use plastic bags handed out to shoppers by UK supermarkets (rise) for the second year running, new figures from the government's waste reduction body WRAP (reveal). The figures (be) a huge disappointment to the government, which (back) a voluntary scheme to cut the use of throwaway bags.
A total of 8bn "thin-gauge" bags (be) issued in the UK in 2011 – a 5.4% rise on the 7.6bn in 2010 – and every shopper now (use) an average of almost 11 a month.
It is the second year in a row the number of throwaway plastic bags (rise), although their use (fall) by more than a third (35%) since 2006, when 12.2bn bags (be) handed out. Retailers (blame) the recession and (say) families (change) their shopping habits and (do) more smaller shops every week – often using public transport.
Broken down, the figures (reveal) stark differences across the UK. In Wales, use (fall) by 22%, thanks to a 5p charge, which (be) introduced last October. But in England use (rise) by 7.5% rise, Northern Ireland (see) a 8.1% rise, although a levy (be) introduced next year, while there (be) no significant change in Scotland.
2. Conditionals
Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are four types of Conditional Sentences. The opposite of ‘if’ is ‘unless’ (= if not).
In English the rules for Conditional Sentences are rather strict when it comes to the verb tenses that can be used. Normally ‘’will, shall, would or should” are not used in the ‘if’ part of the sentence. ‘Would’ can be used in the ‘if’ part in the case of requests (“I would be grateful if you would send me your reply as soon as possib le.”) ‘Should’ can be used in the ‘if’ part in order to make it sound more formal. However, using ‘should’ in the ‘if’ part tends to make the fulfilment of the condition appear less probable.
2.1 Conditional Sentence Type 0 (general truths and facts)
In this category ‘if’ can be replaced by ‘when’, ‘as soon as’, etc.
Form: if + simple present {then} simple present Example: If/when you heat water to 100°, it boils. (THAT’S A GIVEN FACT)
2.2 Conditional Sentence Type 1 (Future Real Conditional)
It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled in future.
Form: if + simple present will + infinitive Example: If I earn enough money, I will book a trip to the Bahamas. (SO I HAVE TO CHECK MY BANK ACCOUNT).
2.3 Conditional Sentence Type 2 (Future Unreal Conditional)
It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + simple past, would + Infinitive Example: If I earned enough money, I would book a trip to the Bahamas (BUT I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, SO NO BAHAMAS FOR ME!)
2.4 Conditional Sentence Type 3 (Past Unreal Conditional)
It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past. If this unrealistic outcome is situa ted in the past, ‘would have + Past Participle’ is used (Form 1). If the unrealistic outcome is situated in the Present, ‘would + infinitive’ is used.
Form 1: if + Past Perfect, would + have + Past Participle Example: If I had earned enough money, I would have booked a trip to the Bahamas. (BUT I DID NOT EARN ENOUGH, SO I NEVER WENT THE BAHAMAS)
Form 2: if + Past Perfect, would + inifinitive Example: If I had earned enough money, I would be on the Bahamas now! (BUT I DID NOT EARN ENOUGH, SO I AM STILL IN RAINLY OLD ENGLAND NOW!!!)
2.5 Other ways of making conditional sentences
Instead of using ‘if’ or ‘unless’ there are other ways to express conditions.
1. Should instead of ‘if’:
Type 1: If I earn enough money, I will book a trip to the Bahamas
Should I earn enough money, I will book a trip to the Bahamas
2. Inversion of the subject-auxiliary order
In formal English conditional sentences can be formed by inversion of subject and auxiliary. Also, if is removed.
Type 2:If I were you, I would visit my grandfather. Were I you, I would visit my grandfather. Type 3: If I Had known this fact before, I wouldn't have come here. Had I known this fact before, I wouldn't have come here.
Exercises Conditionals
Exercise 1 Make as many conditional sentences as possible from the notes below
1. lower the price … sell more goods (we) 9. lose the contract last year … go bankrupt 2. can speak English … get the job (you)
(our company)
3. take a taxi … catch the train (he) 10. have time … show you around the shop 4. go on strike … lose their jobs (they)’
floor (the manager) 5. … the goods are satisfactory, further
11. are packed carefully … arrive safely (the orders follow (-)
goods)
6. it is convenient … come on Tuesday (we) 12. start at 7.30 … can leave at 4 o’clock (you) 7. work harder … earn more (you)
13. smoke less … may live longer (he) 8. see him … tell him (we)
14. have time … stay last week (she) 15. have time … come tomorrow (they)
Exercise 2 Complete the following sentence fragments, so that a correct and logical sentence is created:
1. If I had known about those
9. They would have phoned you earlier if restrictions, …
2. She will never leave him unless …
10. If you go there without my consent, …
3. Should anything happen to the house
11. They can try the blue van if … while I am away, …
12. If Jonas has met her, he …
4. If the weather were slightly better, …
13. The car would be in much better shape
5. If the results of your exam had been
if …
worse, …
14. Sandy will have to come up with a
6. Unless you pay the amount due today,
better offer if …
15. If Jane cut the slices a little bit thinner,
7. Had she told me before, I …
8. If you paid more attention to her
be haviour, …
Exercise 3 Fill in the correct tense of the given verb
1. Terry (tell) me all about it if you hadn’t
6. The tea lady at the office would quit interrupted him.
working immediately if she (win) the
2. What would happen if we (make)
lottery.
them a more attractive offer?
7. …. the consequences (be) grave if the
3. Unless you (pay) me now, I will never meteor that was discovered in our lend you anything again in my life.
solar system last week hits earth?
4. If I (be) a rich man, I would buy a Rolls
8. Mr Spike (fly) up the wall if he heard Royce, a Porsche and a Jaguar.
about the success of his competitor.
5. If I had invested all my money in
9. If you (lend) me five grand, I would be Aegon shares four years ago, I (lose)
eternally grateful. most of my money, I (be) a poor man
10. All the goods (perish) if the freezer had now.
been switched off.
Section 2: Grammar Items for Self-Study
3. Phrasal Verbs
3.1 What are phrasal verbs?
1. A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb. In many cases the verb can take both a figurative and a literal meaning.
Example: I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. RUN + INTO = MEET He ran away when he was 15. RUN + AWAY = LEAVE HOME
2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.
Example: He suddenly showed up. " SHOW UP " CANNOT TAKE AN OBJECT
3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.
Example:
I made up the story. " STORY " IS THE OBJECT OF " MAKE UP "
4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb. Exampl:
I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car. She looked the phone number up.
5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb. Example:
I ran into an old friend yesterday. They are looking into the problem .
6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and +. Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book. I looked up the number in the phone book.
7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun (it, him, her, etc.). This applies to separable phrasal verbs and those with two possibilities. For inseparable phrasal verbs it applies that the object is ALWAYS placed after the preposition.
Example: I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book. I looked it up in the phonebook
BUT:
He takes after his two elder brothers he takes after them
3.2 List of Phrasal Verbs
catch up with + = speed up to be at the
* = separable
same place as a person or thing in front of you
+ = inseparable
catch up on + = become up-to-date check for + = try to find
*+ = both separable and inseparable
check * out + = investigate, take a look at A
check out = leave a hotel, hospital check out of + = leave a hotel, hospital
Add * up + = calculate a sum check up on + = investigate someone or add up to + = equal an amount
something add up = make sense check with + = ask a person for confirmation close * down + = close a place permanently B close * up + = close temporarily
back down = stop defending your opinion in a come about = occur / happen debate come across + = discover by accident
back out = not keep (a promise, agreement, come down with + = become sick with deal) come up to + = approach; to equal
back out of + = not keep (a promise, come up with + = produce or create (an idea, a agreement, deal) plan)
back * up + = give support count on + = depend/rely on bear on + = have to do with
count * out + = exclude bear with + = be patient count * up + = add
blow over = pass without creating a problem cut down = decrease the amount of break * down + = analyse in detail cut down on + = decrease the amount of
break * in + = wear or use something new
cut in = interrupt until it is comfortable cut * off = interrupt someone while they
break in = interrupt were speaking
break * up + = break into pieces cut * up + = cut into small pieces break up = end a relationship
bring*about + = cause to happen
bring * on + = cause something do away with + = abolish bring * up + = mention do without + = manage without something
brush * off + = ignore something or
one wants or needs someone (inf.) draw * up + = create ( a contract)
buy * out + = buy the shares of a company or drop in = visit someone unexpectedly the shares the other person owns of a
drop out = quit an organized activity
business buy * up + = purchase the entire supply of F something face up to + = acknowledge something
difficult or embarrassing C fall back on + = be able to use in case of call for + = require (as in a recipe) emergency
call * off + = cancel something fall behind = go slower than scheduled, lag call * off + = order to stop (an invasion,
fall behind in + = go slower than scheduled, lag guard dogs) fall through = fail to happen
call on + = visit feel up to + = have the energy to do call on + = invite someone to speak in a
something meeting or a classroom figure * out + = solve something, understand
carry on + = continue (a conversation, a fill in for + = substitute for game)
fill * out + = complete (an application) carry on about + = continue in an annoying
way G
carry * out + = complete and/or accomplish get * across + = cause to be understood something get ahead = make progress
get away with + = do something against the get away with + = do something against the
document
get by = survive without having the things you
make up = reconcile
need or want make up for + = compensate for
get by on + = survive with minimal resources
get by with + = manage with get down to + = get serious about a topic
O get through + = complete occur to + = pop into one's mind, come to
get through to + = make contact
one’s mind
give * away + = betray (a secret)
give in = stop trying P
go back on + = not keep (one’s word, a pass * off + = try to convince someone that promise) something is real
go over + = review pass * on + = transmit
go through + = examine in detail, study pay * off + = complete payment on a debt pick carefully on + = to tease, bully
go through + = endure; experience pick * out + = choose challenges, difficulties or traumas pick up = grow, increase (inf.)
go through with + = continue or proceed play * down + = make less important (inf.) despite difficulties or fears point * out + = indicate
go without + = abstain from something you put * across + = communicate (an idea or want or need suggestion) clearly so that it is understood
put * down + = insult, say bad things about H put * off + = postpone hand * back + = return put out + = spend (usually used with hand * over + = relinquish control of unreasonably large sums of money) hear from + = receive news from (a letter, put up with + = tolerate
an e-mail)
hear of + = know about something or
R somebody rule * out + = eliminate
hold * up + = delay (a flight, traffic) run against + = compete in an election hook * up + = make the electrical
run for + = campaign for a government connections required for a machine or
position information service run into + = meet unexpectedly
J run out of + = not have any more of jack up + = to raise something
jump in = enter a conversation
jump to + = make a quick, poorly thought out
S decision see * off = say good-bye to someone at the
beginning of their trip (at the airport, train K station)
keep up with + = stay on schedule with (a see to + = make sure something happens, person, the workload, homework) arrange
set up + = arrange (an appointment, a
meeting, etc.) L settle on + = make a decision after a period
lay down + = establish (laws, rules) of time lay * off + = suspend someone from a job settle up = pay one's debts (during a slow period) show off = boast, draw attention to oneself let * down = disappoint spell * out + = to explain something in a
live up to + = keep a standard detailed way so that the meaning is clearly look into + = investigate understood
look * up + = search for (in a dictionary) stand by = wait
look up to + = respect, admire someone stand for + = represent stand for + = tolerate
M stand out = be very noticeable stick make * out + = write a check or other
T take after + = resemble a parent or relative
take * back + = retract something you said take * for = consider, view as take over = take control of talk back (to) = respond in an impolite way to an adult talk * over + = discuss tear down + = destroy tear * up + = tear or rip into small pieces think * over + = consider think * through + = consider carefully think * up + = create or invent a false story throw * away + = discard throw * out + = remove by force from (a room, school, a house, etc.) try * out = test turn * around = change or reverse direction turn * down + = refuse an offer; reject an application turn * off + = stop the function of (a stove, a water faucet, a car, etc.) turn out = end up being turn up = find unexpectedly
V veer away from + = stay away from, avoid
W wait on + = serve, service (a table)
watch out = be careful watch out for + = be careful of wear off = disappear after a period of time wear * out = use until something is not useable anymore wear * out = cause to be very tired work * out + = solve write * up + = prepare a report
Z zero in on + = discover, pinpoint zoom in on + = focus on something, pinpoint
Exercises Phrasal Verbs
To find the correct answer you can consult the above list of phrasal verbs. If the phrasal verb cannot be found
complete list given at http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/prepositions.html , where you will also find more exercises. For more exercise material you can also simply google ‘phrasal verbs’.
Fill in the blanks using the words below.
about after away back
on over together up
down aside along out
round across through
1. We had some problems when we checked …… the hotel. They had reserved the room under the wrong name.
2. My book club meets regularly to discuss selected novels. In fact, we are getting ……. next week to talk about a really unique mystery novel called Illusion. 3. Mrs Jones's husband passed ……. last Friday. We are going to attend his funeral next week. 4. In the dream, my wallet turned …. a butterfly and flew away. Isn't that symbolic? I think I'd
better stop spending so much money. 5. Before the plane took ………, the flight attendant told everyone to fasten their seat belts and put their chairs in an upright position. 6. Don't forget to put your gloves ……… . It is cold outside! 7. The police chased the robber down the street and through the park but they couldn't catch him. He
got ……… by jumping on the back of a passing truck.
8. Fred told us to keep ……... . He said the dog was very aggressive and that it might even be rabid.
9. I am looking ……… an apartment near the beach. I would like a studio or a one bedroom with a view of the ocean. 10. I can't believe how much John takes ……… his father. They look and act exactly the same. 11. I can mail the letter for you. I go ……… the post office on my way to work.