English 7 Reviewer

INTONATION AND ITS FUNCTIONS

Say “Hello” to - a friend you meet regularly; -a friend you haven’t seen for a long time; -a
neighbour you don’tlike; -a 6 month old baby; -someone doing what he shouldn’t;-to know
if someone is listening; -the same but on the phone.

In linguistics, intonation is the variation of pitch when.Intonation and stress are two main
elements of linguistic prosody. Intonation is a part of suprasegmental phonology.
Intonation helps to recognize the language that you hear in the same way as the melody of
a song helps to recognize the song that you hear.

Key components of Intonation : Intonation is based on several key components: Pitch,

Sentence stress, Rhythm

Pitch: Pitch is the degree of heigh of our voice in speech. Normal speaking pitch is at
midlevel. Intonation is formed by certain pitch changes, characteristic of a given language.

Sentence stress: Sentence stress makes the utterance understandable to the listener by
making the important words in the sentence stressed, clear and higher in pitch, and by
shortening and obscuring the unstressed words. Sentence stress provides rhythm in
connected speech.

An important feature of English Intonation: is the use of an intonational accent ( and extra
stress) to mark the focus of a sentence. Normally this focus accent goes on the last major
word of the sentence.

Functions of Intonation :

- attitudinal functions
- accentual functions
- grammatical functions
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 - discourse functions

Attitudinal functions: allow us to express emotions: finality, confidence, interest surprise,

doubt, joy, pain, irony, etc.

Accentual functions: when it is said that intonation has accentual function, it implies that
the placement of stress is somewhat determined by intonation.

Grammatical functions: the listener is better able to recognize the grammar and syntax
structure of what is being said by using the information contained in the intonation , e.g.
the difference between questions and statements.

The discourse functions of intonation: intonation can signal to the listener what is to be
taken as „new” information and what is already „given”. In conversation it can convey to
the listener what kind of response is being expexted from him.

Types of English Intonation: the two basic types are falling intonation and rising
intonation. Other main types of intonation include : high fall, low fall, fall-rise, high rise,
midlevel rise, low rise.

Falling intonation is the most common type of standard unemphatic intonation in English.
It is used for asking and giving information in normal, quiet, unemphatic style. Sounds more
categorical, confident and convincing than rising intonation.

Standard patterns:

falling information is used on the last stressed syllable of the setence in:

- Statements (declarative sentences) :We live in \MOScow. He doesn’t have a \CAR.

- Special questions: Where do you \ LIVE.
- Commands (imperative sentences): \STOP it! Sit\ DOWN.
- Exclamatory sentences: What a wonderful sur\PRISE!
- The last part of alternative questions (after “or”) Do you want /TEA or \COFfee?
- Tag questions (When we the speaker is sure that the answer will be “yes”): You \LIVE
here, \DON’T you?(The speaker is sure and expects the answer “yes”).

Rising intonation in English is a pretty complicated phenomenon. It can express a number

of various emotions such as : non-finality, surprise, doubt, politeness, interest, lack of
confidence. Standard rising intonation in English first goes down a little and then up.
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Standard patterns:

Rising intonation is used in:

- General questions: Was he glad to /SEE him?

- Dependent or introductory parts of sentences: If he /CALLS, ask him to /COME.
- the first part of alternative questions (before “or”): Would you like an /APPle or a
/PEAR ?
- Direct address: /SIR, you dropped your \NOTEbook.
- Enumerating items in a list: She bought / bread, /cheese and to \MAtoes.
- Tag questions: ( When we the speaker is not sure that the answer will be “Yes” or
wants your opinion): It’s a beautiful \ TOWN, ISN’T it ? ( The speaker thinks that the
town is beautiful but asks for your opinion and confirmation).
SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

All nouns and pronouns have number. They are singular in number if they refer to one thing. They are
plural in number if they refer to more than one thing.

A. When a word refers to one person or thing, it is singular in number. When a word refers to more
than one, it is plural in number.
Examples: hat, I, sky, principle (singular)
hats, we, skies, principles (plural)

B. A verb agrees with its subject in number.

Two words agree when they have the same number. The number of the verb must always agree
with the number of its subject.
Examples: He fights. (singular subject and singular verb)
Animals fight. (plural subject and plural verb)
I. Singular subjects take singular verbs.
Examples: The lightning fills the sky.

(The verb fills is singular to agree with the singular subject lightning.)

Linda begins her vacation today.

(The verb begins is singular to agree with the singular subject Linda.)

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 II. Plural subjects take plural verbs.
Examples: Cheetahs run faster than most other animals.
(The verb run is plural to agree with the plural subject cheetahs.)

New families move into our neighborhood frequently.

(The verb move is plural to agree with the plural subject families.)

*** Notice that an -s ending is often a sign of the singular in the verb.
Examples: He screams. Everyone sings.

NOTE - When a sentence contains a verb phrase, it is the helping verb that agrees with the subject.
Examples: The motor is running.

The motors are running.

Examples: The girl has been sick.

The girls have been sick.

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 Hints for subject-verb agreement

I. (A) Cross out all prepositional phrases. Watch out

especially for
prepositional
Examples: Every one of the students try/tries hard. phrases beginning
The windows in the house stick/sticks easily. with of or in.

(B) Cross out word groups within commas. Word groups between
commas often begin with:

Examples: The doctor, as well as the nurses, work/works hard. • as well as…
The girls, along with their dogs, walk/walks daily. • with…
• along with…
• in addition to…
(C) Cross out word groups beginning with either...or and neither..nor. • including…

Examples: Either the vase or the dish was/were a gift.

Neither the teacher nor his students was/were here.

II. Find the subject: (Remember, the subject cannot be one or the words that you crossed out in
number I.)
subject
Examples: Every [one] of the students work/works hard.
subject
The [girls], along with their dogs walk/walks daily.
subject
Either the vase or the [dish] was/were a gift.
III. Select the verb:

(A) If the subject is singular, choose the verb ending in “s.”

Examples: Every one of the students try/tries hard. Singular subject, so

The doctor, as well as the nurses, work/works hard. use verb with “s”

(B) If the subject is plural, choose the verb ending without the “s.”

Examples: The windows in the house stick/sticks easily.

The girls, along with their dogs, walk/walks daily.

Plural subject, so

use verb without “s”

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 (C) If two subjects are joined by or or by nor, the verb usually agrees with the nearer subject.
Singular subject, so

Examples: Either the vase or the dish was/were a gift. use verb with “s”

Neither the teacher nor his students was/were present.

Plural subject, so
HINT: Try substituting they (plural pronoun), then use a plural verb (without “s”). use verb without “s”

Try substituting he, she, or it (singular pronouns), then use a singular verb (with “s”.)
Doctor works Cat runs Windows stick
(He) works (It) runs (They) stick

I. Sometimes phrases other than prepositional ones follow the subject. Usually they are
set off by commas and are introduced by words and phrases like including, with, in
addition to, together with, as well as, or accompanied by. The subject cannot be found
in any of these phrases. Therefore, cross out any phrase set off by commas. Then locate
the subject and agree the verb with the subject.

Examples: Mother, along with Aunt Sue, (has, have) left for Canada.
The successful candidate, including two of her aides, (has, have) entered the
auditorium.

B. Compound Subjects

A compound subject, you will recall, consists of two or more connected subjects having the same
verb. When two subjects are connected by and, even if they are both singular, they are followed by
a plural verb.

Subjects joined by and take a plural verb.

Hint: If the subject is plural, substitute the pronoun they for the plural subject.
they

Examples: A dictionary and a one-volume encyclopedia make a good beginning for a

reference library.
they

Mr. Duffy and his daughter have gone fishing.

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 Exception: A compound subject that refers to a single person or to two or more things
considered as a unit (one thing) takes a singular verb.

Examples: Gin and tonic is a popular drink.. (Gin and tonic is considered one drink.)
A mother and homemaker has a challenging job. (One person is meant.)

Exercise 1: Follow the basic directions.

1. (Is, Are) New York and Chicago the two largest cities in the United States?

2. Sleet and some snow (is, are) predicted for tomorrow.

3. The dogs in the pound and their owners (was, were) reunited.

4. New words and new meanings for old words (is, are) included.

5. Your fingernail and a piece of glass (is, are) two means for testing hardness in minerals.

6. Both talc and gypsum (shows, show) a fingernail scratch.

7. The president with his wife and the vice president (has, have) just left for the summit.

8. The opossum and the kangaroo (is, are) members of the same family of mammals.

9. Rattlesnakes, copperheads, coral snakes, cottonmouths (is, are) four kinds of poisonous snakes found
in the United States.

10. In large cities subways and cabs (is, are) two popular means of transportation.

C. Subjects connected by “or” or “nor”

The verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

Hint: Draw a straight line after or or nor, ignoring the words before the line. Begin reading the
sentence after this line.

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 Examples: The chief geologists or their assistant is due to arrive tonight.

Neither a rabbit nor raccoons do that kind of damage in a garden.

Exercise 1: Follow the basic directions. Also use the straight line to separate the or, nor subjects.

1. Either a loan or a scholarship (is, are) available to selected applicants.

2. A desk or a bookcase (goes, go) into that corner.

3. Neither sheets nor towels (is, are) furnished at camp.

4. (Has, Have) the books or other supplies come?

5. A vocabulary notebook or vocabulary flashcards (is, are) helpful for review.

6. Either the clock on the town hall or my watch (is, are) wrong.

7. Another boy or girl (takes, take) the part of the narrator.

8. A map or a guidebook (has, have) been my constant companion in this city.

9. Enthusiasm for the proposal or excitement about it (is, are) not the same as solid support.

10. A course in ceramics or a course in woodworking (is, are) recommended.

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 I. The following common words are singular: each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, no
one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody.

Examples: Anyone (without tickets) is asked to see Mrs. Harris.

Each (of the newcomers) was welcomed (to the city.) No
one understands a person who mumbles.

Exercise 1: Follow the basic directions.

1. Each of the apples (was, were) ripe.

2. No one except Mary and Lettie (was, were) excited.

3. Each (try, tries) to win the game.

4. Neither of them (walk, walks) to school.

5. Somebody (is, are) going to be surprised!

6. Everybody on the team (show, shows) outstanding ability.

7. Why (hasn’t, haven’t) someone given us the signal?

8. Either of the quarterbacks (is, are) going to be the new captain.

9. (Do, Does) everyone in the band play well?

10. Of all my friends, only one (has, have) written to me.

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 Simple present tense(1)
We use the simple present tense to talk about:

(1) things that are true now, e.g. My name is Susie. I am twelve years old.

(2) how often we do things, e.g. Susie and Betty go shopping every Saturday morning. They usually buy a lot of things.

(3) Things that are always true, e.g. Birds have two wings. They fly very high.

We form positive and negative statements in the simple present tense with the verb ‘to be’ (is/am/are)like this.

verb ‘to be’

Subject
Positive (+) Negative (-)

I am (‘m) am not (‘m not)

e.g. I am twelve years old. e.g. I am not twelve years old.

We

You (singular)
are (‘re) are not (aren’t)
You(plural)

They

e.g. We are very good students. e.g We are not very good students.

You are a handsome boy. You are not a handsome boy.

You are my friends. You are not my friends.

He

She is (‘s) is not (isn’t)

It

e.g. He is the class monitor. e.g. He is not the class monitor

She is my sister. She is not my sister.

It is a lovely dog. It is not a lovely dog.

Exercise 1

Fill in these sentences using the correct form of the verb ‘to be’ and the words in the brackets. Then write the words in
the blanks.
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1. I_____________ happy.(not) 1 2. He _________ sad. 1/06 Disk ZZ (52)

3. You _____________ Japanese.(not) 4. We __________ Chinese.

5. They ____________ busy.(not) 6. Tigers _________big cats.

7. Cheung Chau __________ in 8. His name ______ Billy..

Kowloon.(not)
 9. We _______ good friends.

11. You ______ the monitor. 10. She ______ my mother.

13. He ______ 2 years old.(not) 12. I ______ thirteen years old.

14. They ______ good football players.(not)

English Grammar Exercise

Name:__________________________ Group:__________ Date:___________________________

Simple present tense(2)

With other verbs, we usually form positive and negative statements in the simple present tense like this

Subject Subject

I/We/You/You/They He/She/It

I eat ice-cream. He eats ice-cream.

You eat ice-cream. She eats ice-cream.

Positive (+) We eat ice-cream. It eats ice-cream.

They eat ice-cream.

I don’t eat ice-cream. He does not eat ice-cream.

You don’t eat ice-cream. She does not eat ice-cream.

Negative(-) We don’t eat ice-cream. It does not eat ice-cream.

They don’t eat ice-cream.

Exercise 2

Say these sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Then write the words in
the blanks.

(1) Susie ______________ shopping in Causeway Bay.(love) Packet 6.doc

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(2) Causeway Bay ____________ very busy.(be)

(3) Betty _______________________ early.(not get up)

(4) I ______________________ fruit.(not like)

(5) School always _____________ at eight o’clock in the morning.(start)

(6) We usually _________________ at school at half past seven.(arrive)

(7) The dog ________________ me. (like)

(8) Henry ___________ a nice school bag.(have)

(9) She ________________ television every night. (not watch)

(10) I ____________________ that dress.(not like)

English Grammar Exercise

Name:__________________________ Group:__________ Date:___________________________

Simple present tense(3)

With most verbs, we add –s to the verb when it is used with the third person singular. With other verbs, we change the
verb in different ways:

Verbs you should…

With most verbs +s

e.g. run →runs

sleep →sleeps

Ending in a consonant + y - y + ies

→flies
e.g. Fly
→carries
carry

Go/ Do +es

Ending in ss, x, sh, ch + es

e.g. Kiss →kisses

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Wash →washes

switch →switches

Exercise 3
Say these sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Then write the words in
the blanks.

1. Sam __________(wash)his face every day.

2. Susie ___________(kiss)Mum every night.

3. Dad often _____________(carry)Susie’s books.

4. Nick ___________(cook) dinner for his family every evening.

5. He ____________ (brush)his hair every morning.

6. May often ____________ (read)books.

7. Kitty ____________ (wash) the dishes every night.

8. My bird __________(fly) beautifully.

9. The dog __________(like) eating bones.

10.My baby sister ___________(cry) every night.

11.Jenny always ___________(do) her homework on time.

12.Vincent _____________(love) Flora.

13.Ron_________(take) his dog for a walk every afternoon.

14.Mable usually___________(buy) vegetables at the market.

15.The lion __________(run) very fast.

English Grammar Exercise

Name:__________________________ Group:__________ Date:___________________________

Simple present tense(4)

We form positive and negative statements in the simple present tense with the verb ‘to have’ like this:

Positive (+) Negative(-) Packet 6.doc

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I I

You You
have a good book. do not (don’t) have a good book.
You You

We We
 They They

He He

She has a good book. She does not(doesn’t) have a good book.

It It

Exercise 4

Say these sentences using the correct form of the verb ‘to be’ or ‘to have’ and the word in
brackets. Then write the words in the blanks.

1. He ___________(have/not) any brothers.

2. Betty _____________(have) one sister.

3. Yuki ______________(have/not) a very nice dress.

4. The cat _____________(have) a very good place to live at.

5. They ___________(have/not) a very big house.

6. We _______________(have) a very kind class teacher.

7. Peter and Jason _____________(have) a powerful computer.

8. I __________(have) 5 members in my family.

9. She __________(have/not) long hair.

10.He ___________(have) white teeth.

11.Sally ___________(have) 6 members in her family. She _____________(have) 3 sisters but

she __________(have/not) any brothers. Sally __________(have) short hair bur all her
sisters ___________(have) long and straight hair. Sally and her sisters ___________(have)
a pet cat called Dolly.

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English Grammar Exercise

Name:__________________________ Group:__________ Date:___________________________

Simple present tense (Questions 1)

With the verb ‘to be’, we use ‘Am’/‘Are’/‘Is’ to ask a question in the simple present tense. The
answer is always ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Exercise 1

Say these questions and answers using the correct form of the verb ‘to be’. Then write the
words in the blanks.

1. ___________ he early? Yes, he is.

2. ___________ I late? No, you aren’t.

3. ___________ you sick? No, I’m not.

4. ___________ they friends? Yes, they are.

5. ___________ she at school? No, she isn’t.

6. ___________ we in the hall? No, you aren’t/we aren’t.

7. ___________ I in Class 1S? Yes, you are.

8. ___________she your friend? Yes, she is.

9. ___________they police? No, they aren’t.1 Packet 6.doc

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10.__________we good friends? Yes, we are.

Simple present tense (Questions 2)

We can also use ‘Do’/‘Does’ to ask a question in the simple present tense with other verbs.
The answers is always ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Exercise 2

Say these questions and answers using the correct form of the verb ‘to do’. Then write the
words in the blanks.

1. ________ you like English? Yes, I do/we do.

2. _________Bobby like noodles? No, he doesn’t.

3. _________ we have a test now? Yes, you do/we do.

4. __________ they have a test this morning? No, they don’t.

5. __________ Susie like ice cream? Yes, she does.

6.___________Tommy walk to school? Yes, he does.

7.___________you understand? Yes, I do.

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9. ___________you remember me? Yes, I do.

10. ___________we have to stay after school? No, you don’t.