Unit 2

Language at work

Question form review UNIT 2

1 - With most verbs you make direct questions – or WH questions with a normal
auxiliary verb (BE, DO, HAVE)

Do you know many people here?

Have you ever gone to France?
Is she American?
Where do you work?

AUXILIARY + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

OR
QUESTION WORD + AUXILIARY + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB +
COMPLEMENT

Or you can use a modal auxiliary verb. It comes BEFORE the subject.

Should you send that form off today?

How could we improve our English?

MODAL+ SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

OR
QUESTION WORD + MODAL + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

2 – with prepositional ou phrasal verb, the preposition or particle comes AFTER

the verb.

Where do you come from?

Where did you grow up?

3 - Subject and object question

In the simple present and simple past tense, we make questions and negatives with do,
does and did. In object questions where we want to find information about the object,
we use the auxiliary verb do/does/did.

But there are some exceptions to this rule.

In subject questions where we want to find information about the subject, we do not
use the auxiliary verb do/does/did.
Study the sentence given below.

• John broke a window.

This sentence has a subject (John), a verb (broke) and an object (window).

Now when we make questions to find this information, there are two possibilities.

If we want to make a question where the answer is ‘window’, the question would be:
What did John break? John broke a window. OBJECT QUESTION

Now if we want to make a question where the answer is ‘John’, the question would be
‘Who broke the window?’ ‘John broke the window.’ SUBJECT QUESTION.

When we make a question where the answer is the object, we use the
auxiliary do/did. In subject questions, the auxiliary do is not used.

More examples are given below.

Jack likes ice-cream. (Subject – Jack, verb – likes, object – ice-cream)

Subject question

Who likes ice-cream? Jack likes ice-cream. (NOT Who does like ice-cream?)

Object question

What does Jack like? Jack likes ice-cream. (NOT What Jack likes?)

My sister writes short stories.

Subject question

Who writes short stories? My sister writes short stories.

Object question

What does my sister write? My sister writes short stories.

Mary keeps a pig in the yard.

Subject question
Who keeps a pig in the yard? Mary

Object question

What does Mary keep in the yard? A pig

SUBJECT QUESTION

WHAT/WHO + THE MAIN VERB CONJUGATED + COMPLEMENT + ?

4 – Rising intonation. Read an ordinary sentence but changing the intonation.

Julie is cooking lunch.

Mom didn’t bring the salt.

5 – Use negative questions to check if something is true. The expected answer

should be YES.

Didn’t you travel to Paris last month?

Yes, I did.

6 – Question tags: are short questions at the end of statements.

They are mainly used in speech when we want to:

• confirm that something is true or not, or

• to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to.

Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement and the
appropriate subject.

A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.

• Jack is from Spain, isn't he?

• Mary can speak English, can't she?

A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.

• They aren't funny, are they?

 • He shouldn't say things like that, should he?

When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag
with do / does.

• You play the guitar, don't you?

• Alison likes tennis, doesn't she?

If the verb is in the past simple we use did.

• They went to the cinema, didn't they?

• She studied in New Zealand, didn't she?

When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning, the question tag needs to
be positive

• He hardly ever speaks, does he?

• They rarely eat in restaurants, do they?
Present Perfect UNIT 3

The Present Perfect Tense is used to describe something that happened in the past (the
exact time when it started it’s not important), but continues in the present

I have done my homework = I finished my homework in the past. It is not important at

what exact time, only that it is now done.

I have forgotten my bag. = Exactly when in the past that I forgot it is not important.
The important thing is that I don't have it now.

As we do not use EXACT TIME EXPRESSIONS with Present Perfect, we CAN NOT
SAY:

I have done my homework yesterday.

In this case we use the PAST SIMPLE:

I did my homework yesterday.

Already, just and yet can be used with the present perfect.

Already means 'something has happened sooner than we expected

Just means 'a short time ago’
Yet is only used in questions and negative sentences. It means 'something is expected to
happen

The movie came out yesterday, but I have already seen it.

I have just seen your mother at the supermarket.

Have you finished your report yet?

No, I haven’t finished yet.

FOR AND SINCE

FOR and SINCE are commonly used with the Present Perfect:

For is used to talk about a period of time: I haven’t smoked for ages.

THIS IS THE EXCEPTION!!!!

Since is used to talk about a specific point in time, or a time when the action started: I
haven’t smoked since 2010.

Which means that in this case the time that action started IS IMPORTANT.
However, it started in the past and is still happening or is still important in the present.
SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT

HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT + ?

Present, past and future ability UNIT 4

CAN, COULD AND BE ABLE TO.

Present: BE ABLE TO

SUBJECT + IS/AM/ARE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + IS/AM/ARE NOT ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT
IS/AM/ARE + SUBJECT+ ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

Thomas is able to play the piano.

Catherine is not able to play the piano.
Is John able to play the piano?

Present: CAN

SUBJECT + CAN + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + CAN NOT (CAN’T) + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT
CAN + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

Catherine can play the flute.

Thomas can’t play the flute.
Can John play the flute?

Both of these forms may be used, in positive or negative, for general (e.g. run fast) or
specific ability (e.g. run 10 miles in 2 hours).

Past: COULD

Use COULD to talk about general ability in the past and with verbs of perception:
HEAR, FEEL, LISTEN TO, LOOK, SEEM, SMELL, SOUND, SEE, TASTE,
WATCH, SEE.

SUBJECT + COULD + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + COULD NOT (COULDN’T) + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT
COULD + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

She could speak German.

She couldn’t speak German.
Could she speak German?
Past: BE ABLE TO

Use WAS/WERE ABLE TO for a single specific action in the past, to mean “tried and
succeeded”.

SUBJECT + WAS/WERE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + WAS/WERE NOT (WASN’T/WEREN’T) ABLE TO + MAIN VERB
+ COMPLEMENT
WAS/WERE + SUBJECT+ ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

Catherine was able to run fast enough to catch the bus.

Thomas was not able to run fast enough to catch the bus.
Was John able to run fast enough to catch the bus?

Both could and be able to can be used to say that we were not capable of doing
something on a specific occasion.

Past: MANAGED TO

Use MANAGE TO for a single specific action in the past, to mean “tried HARD and
succeeded”.

SUBJECT + MANAGED TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

Gerry lost control of his car but managed to avoid a crash.

We tend to use was able to or managed to if we are talking about what happened in a
particular situation or are referring to a specific achievement.

Present Perfect: HAVE BEEN ABLE TO

Use HAVE BEEN ABLE TO to refer to past ability with a connection to the present.

SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS BEEN ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS NOT (HAVEN’T/HASN’T) BEEN ABLE TO + MAIN
VERB + COMPLEMENT
HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT+ BEEN ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT +
?

Catherine has been able to learn different languages through her life.
Thomas has not been able to learn different languages through his life.
Has John been able to learn different languages through his life?

Future: WILL+ BE ABLE TO/ GOING TO +BE ABLE TO

Use WILL+ BE ABLE TO/ GOING TO +BE ABLE TO to talk about having the power,
skill or means to do something in the future (as an aquisition).

SUBJECT + WILL + BE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + / IS/ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB +
COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + WILL NOT (WON’T) BE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB +

COMPLEMENT
SUBJECT + IS/ARE NOT (ISN’T/ AREN’T) GOING TO BE ABLE TO + MAIN
VERB + COMPLEMENT

WILL + SUBJECT+BE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

IS/ARE + SUBJECT+ GOING TO +BE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB +
COMPLEMENT + ?

Thomas will be able to play the piano. Thomas is going to be able to play the piano.
Catherine will not be able to play the piano. Catherine is not going to be able to play
the piano.
Will John be able to play the piano? Is John going to be able to play the piano?

Future: AFTER MAY/MIGHT

Use BE ABLE TO after MAY/MIGHT to refer to a possibility of aquiring an ability in

the future.

SUBJECT + MAY/MIGHT+BE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB + COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT + MAY NOT/MIGHT NOT (MIGHTN’T)+BE ABLE TO + MAIN
VERB + COMPLEMENT

Thomas may/ might be able to help you.

Catherine may/might not be able to help you.

Future: after WOULD LIKE TO and WANT TO

Use BE ABLE TO after WOULD LIKE TO and WANT TO to demonstrate a will of

aquiring an ability in the future

SUBJECT + WOULD LIKE TO/ WANT TO+BE ABLE TO + MAIN VERB +

COMPLEMENT

I would like to be able to help you.

I want to be able to help you.
 Direct and indirect questions UNIT 5

Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask friends, family members,
and people who we know well. You can form direct questions using the QUASM
model.

Example of a direct question:

“Where’s the bathroom?”

Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a
person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little
different.

Example of an indirect question:

“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”

PHRASES FOR INDIRECT QUESTIONS

▪ Could you tell me…
▪ Do you know…
▪ I was wondering…
▪ Do you have any idea…
▪ I’d like to know…
▪ Would it be possible…
▪ Is there any chance…

DIRECT AND INDIRECT QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH: EXAMPLES

Direct: Where is Market Street?
Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?

In indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is) comes after the subject (Market Street).
Direct What time does the bank open?
Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?

In indirect questions, we don’t use the auxiliary verbs do/does/did. Also, you can see
that the verb is “open” in the direct question, and “opens” in the indirect question.

Direct: Why did you move to Europe?

Indirect: I was wondering why you moved to Europe.
Again, there is no auxiliary verb did in the indirect question. In fact, this indirect
question isn’t even a question – it’s more of a statement that invites the other person to
give more information.

Direct: How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?

Indirect: Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?
The auxiliary verbs have and has can be used in both the direct and indirect questions –
but in the direct question, “has” comes before the subject (he), and in the indirect
question, “has” comes after the subject.

Direct: How much does this motorcycle cost?

Indirect: I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs.
To form the indirect question, remove does and change “cost” to “costs.”

Direct: Can you finish the project by tomorrow?

Indirect: Would it be possible for you to finish the project by tomorrow?
For direct questions with can, we can use the phrase “would it be possible…” to make it
indirect.

Direct: Can we change the meeting to Thursday?

Indirect: Is there any chance we could change the meeting to Thursday?
“Is there any chance…” is another option for forming indirect questions with can.

YES/NO DIRECT QUESTIONS –> “IF” IN INDIRECT QUESTIONS

If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what,
who, when, where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if or whether.

Direct: Does Tom like Italian food?

Indirect: Do you know if/whether Tom likes Italian food?

Direct: Are your parents joining us for dinner?

Indirect: Could you tell me if/whether your parents are joining us for dinner?

Direct: Do they speak English?

Indirect: I was wondering if/whether they speak English.

Direct: Has Barbara ever studied abroad?

Indirect: Do you have any idea if/whether Barbara’s ever studied abroad?

Direct: Do you plan on traveling this summer?

Indirect: I’d like to know if/whether you plan on traveling this summer.