Preparation of sentence of the noun phrase

The noun phrase is a group of words that ends with a noun.  It can contain determine  (the, a, this etc), adverbs, and nouns. It cannot begin with a preposition. Remember that both subjects and complements ar generally noun phrases.

Count and non-count nouns

A count noun is one that can be counted.

• Book- one book, two books, three books………….
• Student – one student, two students, three students…………
• Person- one person, two people, three people………….

A non- count is one that cannot be counted.

• Milk – you cannot say: one milk, two milks……..

It is possible, however, to count some non- count nouns it the substance is placed in a countable container.

Glass of milk – one glass of milk, two glasses of milk…………

Some determine can be use only with count or non-count nouns, while other can be used with either. Memorize the works in the following table. 

With count nouns	with non-noun
A(a), the, some, any This, that, these, those None, one, two, three…. Many A lot of A (large, great) number of A few Fewer……..than More…….than	The, some, any This, that None Much A lot of A large amount of A little Less……than More….than

It is very important to know if a noun is count or non- count. Be sure that you know that plurals of irregular count nouns. The following list contains some irregular count nouns that you should know.

Person – people              Foot – feet          woman -  women            child -  children                           Mouse – mice          man – men           tooth -  teeth

The following list contains some non-count nouns that you should know.

Sand       news      measles      food     soap      mumps       information      economics             Physics     air      meat     advertising     mathematics      politics     homework      money

Note: although advertising is a non- count noun, advertisement is a count noun. It you wish to speak of one particular advertisement, you must use this word.

There are too many advertisements during televisions shows.

There is too much advertising during television shows.

Some non- counts, such as food, meat, money, and sand, may be used as count nouns is order to indicate different types.

This is one of the foods that my doctor has forbidden me to eat. (indicates a particular type of food)

He studies meats. (for example, beef, pork, lamb, etc.)

The word time can be either countable or non-countable depending on the context. When it means an occasion, it is countable. When it means a number of hours, days, years, etc, it is non-countable.

We have spent too much time on this homework.(non-count)

She has been late for class six times this semester. (count)

Reflexive pronouns

These pronouns usually follow the verb and indicate that the subject is both giving and receiving the action. Study the following list.

Myself       ourselves Yourself        yourselves Himself           Herself         themselves        Itself

Note: In the plural, the self changes to selves.

Note: Most forms are made by adding the suffix to the possessive adjective; however, him self, itself, and themselves are made by adding the suffix to the complement form. The forms his self and theirself are always incorrect.

Note: John bought him a new car. (him= another person)

          John bought himself a new car. (himself= john)

Examples of reflexive pronouns:

• I washed myself
• He sent the letter to himself
• She served herself in the cafeteria.
• We hurt ourselves playing football.
• They were talking among themselves
• You can see the difference for yourselves

Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis. This means that the subject did the action alone. In this case, it normally follows the subject.

• I myself believe that the proposal is good.
• He himself set out to break the long distance flying record.
• She prepared the nine-course meal herself.
• The students themselves decorated the room.
• You yourself it must do this homework.
• John himself bought these gifts.

Possessive pronouns forms

These pronouns cannot precede a noun. They are pronouns and thus replace the noun. The noun is understood from the context and is not repeated. Study the following pronouns.

Mine     ours              Yours   yours              His      Hers                 theirs     Its

Example of possessive pronouns

This is my book	This is mine.
Your teacher is the same as his teacher	Yours is the same as his teacher
Her dress is green and my dress is red.	Hers is green and mine is red.
Our books are heavy.	Ours are heavy.
Their coats are too small.	Theirs are too small.
I forgot my homework.	I forgot mine.

Introduction to complement pronouns

Complement pronouns occur in complement position, whether they complement a verb or a preposition. Study the following list.

Me     us You     you Him Her       them It

Note: you and it are the same for subject or complement position. The others are different.

• They called us (complement) on the telephone.
• The teacher gave him (complement) a bad grade.
• John told her (complement) a story.
• The policeman was looking for him (after complement)
• To us (after preposition), it seems like a good bargain.
• Mary is going to class with me (after preposition)

However, remember that many prepositions can also function as other parts of speech, like adverbs or conjunctions. Therefore, you must determine the part of speech of the word from context and not simple rely on your normal understanding of the word.

• Janet will make her presentation after (preposition) him (complement pronoun)
• Janet will make her presentation after (conjunction) he (subject pronoun) finishes his speech.  

Subject pronoun

Subject pronouns occur in the subject position of a sentence or after the verb be. Study the following list of subject pronouns.

I            we    You       you    He        She           they      It

• I (subject) am going to the store.
• We (subject) have lived here for twenty years.
• It was she (subject) who called you. (after the verb be )
• She and (subject) I have seen this movie before.
• George and (subject) I would like to leave now.
• We students (subject) are going to have a party.

Note: we, you, and us can be followed directly by a noun. It the above sentence we students makes it more it more clear exactly who we refers to.

Examples of tag questions structure

In a tag question, the speaker makes a statement, but is not completely certain of the truth, so he or she uses a tag question to verify the previous statement. Sentences using tag questions should have the main clause separated form the tag by a comma. The sentence will always end with a question mark.

For example:

• There are only twenty-eight days in January, aren’t there?

• It’s raining now, isn’t it?

• The boys don’t have class tomorrow, do they?

• You and I talked with the professor yesterday, didn’t we?

• You won’t be leaving for another hour, will you?

• Jill and John have been to USA, haven’t they?

Introduction to embedded questions structure

An embedded question is one which is included in a sentence or another question. The word order is not that of typical questions, except for subject questions. Study the following rule.

                         Subject + verb(phrase)+ question word + subject + verb

Note: There must not be an auxiliary between the question word and the subject in an embedded question.

For example:

• We haven’t ascertained where the meeting will take place.
• The authorities cannot figure out why the plane landed at the wrong airport.

The following rule applies if the embedded question is embedded in another question.

                         Auxiliary + subject + verb + question word + subject + verb

• Do you know where he went?
• Could you tell me what time it is?

Note: Question words can be single words or phrases. Phrases include: whose + noun, how many, how long, how often, how much, what kind, what time,.

For example;

• The professor didn’t know how many students would be in her afternoon class.
• I have no idea how long the interview will take.
• Do they know how often the bus runs at night?
• Can you tell me how far the museum is from the college?
• I’ll tell you what kind of ice cream testes best.
• The teacher asked us whose book was no his desk.

Information question structure

These are questions for which the answer is more than yes or no; there must be some information in the answer. There are three different rules in this part:

1. Who or what in subject questions: A subject question is one in which the subject is unknown.

Question for structure:

            Who, what + verb  + complement + modifier

For example:

• Who opened the door? (Someone opened the door.)
• What happened last night? (Something happened last night)

2 . Whom and what in complement questions: A complement question is one in which the complement is unknown.

            Whom, what + auxiliary do, does, did + subject + verb + modifier

Although in speech, most people use who rather than whom in these questions, in correct written English, you should use whom to indicate that the question word comes form the complement position.

For example:

• Whom does John know from USA? (John knows someone from USA)
• What did George buy at the store? (George bought something at the store.)

3. When, where, how, and why questions: These questions are formed the same as complement questions.

When, where, how, why + auxiliary be do, does, did + subject + verb + complement + modifier

For example:

• When did John move to Jacksonville?
• Where does John live?
• Why did George leave so early?
• How did John get to school today?
• Where has John gone?
• When will Jack go back to USA?

Introduction to Question sentence structure

Remember, when forming a questions, one must place the auxiliary or the verb be before the subject. If there is no auxiliary or be, one must use the correct form of do, does, or did. After do, does, or did, the simple form of the verb must be used. The tense and person are shown only by this auxiliary, not by the main verb.

Yes and No questions

The are questions for which the answer is yes or no. For structure:

             Auxiliary be do, does, did + subject + verb………

For example: 

• Is Mary going to school today?
• Was Mary sick yesterday?
• Have you seen this movie before?
• Will the committee decide on the proposal today?
• Do you want use the telephone?
• Does George like peanut butter?
• Did you go to class yesterday?

Negative agreement sentence structure

Either and neither function in simple statement much like so and too in affirmative sentences. However, either and neither are used to indicate negative agreement. The same rules for auxiliaries, be and do, does, or did apply.

Negative statement + and (subject + negative or be + either/ neither + positive auxiliary or be + subject)

• I didn’t see Mary this morning.      John didn’t see Mary this morning.
• I didn’t see Mary this morning, and John didn’t did John.
• I didn’t see Mary this morning, and neither did John.

• She won’t be going to the conference.  Her colleagues won’t be going to the conference.
• She won’t be going to the conference, and her colleagues won’t either.
• She won’t be going to the conference, and neither will her colleagues.
• John hasn’t seen the new movie yet.   I haven’t seen the new movie yet.
• John hasn’t seen the new movie yet, and I haven’t either.
• John hasn’t seen the new movie yet, and neither have I.

Sentence Negation

To make a sentence negative, add the negative particle not after the auxiliary or verb be. If there is no auxiliary or be, add the appropriate form of do, does or did and place the word not after that.

• John is not rich.
• Sandra is not going to Hawaii.
• Mark has not seen Bill.
• Mary cannot leave now.

Sentence commands

A command is an imperative statement. One person orders another to do something. It can be preceded by please. The understood subject is you. Use the simple form of the verb.

• Close the door
• Please turn off the light
• Open the window.
• Leave the room

Negative commands

A negative command is formed by adding the word don’t before the verb.

• Don’t close the door.
• Please don’t turn off the light.
• Don’t open the window.

Indirect commands

Usually the verbs order, ask. Tell, or say are used to indicate an indirect command. They are followed by the infinitive (to + verb)

• John told Mary to close the door.
• Jack asked Jill to turn off the light.
• The teacher told Christopher to open the window
• John ordered Bill to close his book.

Negative indirect commands

To make an indirect command negative, add the particle not before the infinitive.

Subject + verb + complement + not + (verb in infinitive )

• John told Mary not to close the door.
• Jack asked Jill not to turn off the light
• The teacher told Christopher not to open the window.
• John ordered Bill not to close his book.

Affirmative sentence agreement structure

When indicating that one person or thing does something and then adding that another does the same, use the word so or too. To avoid needless repetition of words form the affirmative statement, use the conjunction and , followed by a simple statement using so or too. The order of this statement will depend on whether so or too is used.

When a form of the verb be is used in the main clause, the same tense of the verb be is used in the simple statement.

Affirmative statement(be)+ and + (subject + verb be + too)/(so + verb be + subject

• I am happy, and you are too.
• I am happy, and so are you.

When a compound verb (auxiliary + verb), for example, will go, should do, has done, have written, must examine, etc. occurs in the main clause, the auxiliary of the main verb is used in the simple statement, and the subject and verb must agree.

Affirmative statement  + and + (subject+ auxiliary only + too/ so+ auxiliary only+ subject)……..

• They will work in the lab tomorrow, and you will too.
• They will work in the lab tomorrow, and so will you.

When any verb except be appears without any auxiliaries in the main clause, the auxiliary do, does, or did is used in the simple statement. The subject and verb must agree and the tense must be the same.

Affirmative statement + and + (subject + do, does, or did + too/ so + auxiliary only + subject)

• Jane goes to that school, and my sister does too.
• Jane goes to that school, and so does my sister.

Problem of the right form verbs

The verbs lie/lay, rise/raise, and site/set cause problems even for native English speakers. The solutions to the problem is to remember which verbs are transitive (verb that take a complement) and which are intransitive (verbs that do not take a complement).

Transitive verbs

raise- raised - raised- raising
lay - laid - laid - laying
set - set - set - setting

Intransitive verbs

rise - rose- risen - rising
lie - lay- lain- lying
sit - sat - sat - sitting

Rise verb of the sentence

This verb means to get up, move up under one's own power (without the help of someone else), increase. Notice that there is no complement.

•  The sun rises early in the summer.
• When the bell rings, the students rise from their seats.
• When oil and water mix, oil rises to the top.
• Jim rose early so that he could play golf before the others.
• It must be late; the moon has risen.
• Prices have risen more than ten percent in a very short time.

Raise verbs of the sentence

The verb means to lift or elevate an object: or to increase something. It must have a complement.

• The students raise their hands (complement) in class. 
• The weightlifter raises the barbells(complement) over his head.
• The crane raise the car(complement) out of the lake.
• After studying very hard, John raised his grades (complement)substantially. 
• Mr. Daniels has raised his tenants' rent (complement) another fifteen dollars.

Lie verb of the sentence

This verb means to rest, repose, or to be situated in a place. It is often used with the preposition down. Note: This verb should not be confused with the verb lie, lied, which means to say something that is not true.

Examples of lie verb:

• The university lies in the western section of town.
• If the children are tired, they should lie down for a nap.
• Maria Elena lay on the beach for three hours yesterday sunbathing. 
• The old dog just lay on the grass watching the children at play.
• That old rug had lain in the corner for many years before it was put in the garage.

Lay verb of the sentence

• This verb means to put somebody or something on a surface.
• Don't lay your clothes(complement) on the bed.
• The boy lays his books(complement) on the table every day.
• The enemy soldiers laid down their weapons(complement) and surrendered.
• The children laid their toys(complement) on the floor when they had finished using them.
• The nurse laid the body(complement) in the crib.

Sit verb of the sentence

This verb means to take a seat. It is also often used with the preposition down.

For example:

• We are going to sit in the fifth row at the Google.
• Bullfight fans sit in the shade because it is cool.
• Because the weather was nice, we sat on the patio.
• After swimming, Bob sat on the beach to dry off.
• Nobody has sat through as many boring lectures as Pete has.
• They have sat in the same position for two hours.

Set verb of the sentence

This verb means to put somebody or something on a surface or in a place. I is often interchangeable with lay or put except in certain idiomatic expressions like set the table.

• The little girl helps her father set the table(complement) every night.
• The carpenters set their tools(complement) in the box at noon and go to luch.
• The botanist set her plants(complement) in the sun so that they would grow.
• After carrying her son from the car, the mother set him(complement) in his crib.
• Don't set the chocolate(complement) near the oven or it will melt.

How to use the verb need

The verb need is followed by the infinitive only if an animate being is the subject. It an inanimate object is the subject of this verb, the verb is followed by a gerund or the verb be plus the pas participle.

Animate being as subject + (verb in infinitive )……..

• John and his brother need to paint the house.
• My fried needs to learn Spanish
• He will need to drive alone tonight

Inanimate object as subject + (verb + in)/(to be + (verb in past participle )………

• The grass needs cutting.      Or     The grass needs to be cut.
• The television needs repairing.     Or The television needs to be repaired.

In need of

It is also possible to use the expression in need of in some cases instead of using need as a verb. Because need is not a verb in this case, it must be preceded by the verb be. Study the following rule.

Subject + be + in need of + noun………..

• Jill is in need of money
• The roof is in need of repair
• The organization was in needed of volunteers.

Pronouns before the gerund or infinitive

In cases where the infinitive is used as a complement, any noun or pronoun directly preceding it preceding it will be in the complement form, some common verbs which are followed by the infinitive and which often require an indirect object are listed here.

Allow    invite remind     ask    order   urge     beg    permit   want     convince     persuade    Expert      prepare      instruct        promise

Subject       +   Verb  +    complement form (Pronoun noun)    + (to + verb)………….

• Joe asked Mary to call him when she woke up.
• We ordered him to appear in court.
• In urge you to reconsider your decision.
• They were trying to persuade him to change his mind.
• The teacher permitted them to turn their assignments in late.
• You should prepare your son to take this examination.

However, before the gerund, a noun or pronoun must appear in the possessive form. 

Subject     +    verb     + (possessive form of noun/possessive adjective) + (verb + ing)……

• We understand your not being able to stay longer.
• He regrets her leaving.
• We are looking forward to their coming next year.
• We don’t approve of John’s buying this house.
• We resent the teacher’s not announcing the test sooner.
• We object to their calling at this hour.

Adjectives followed by the infinitive

The following adjectives are always followed by the infinitive form of the verb and never by the gerund.

Anxious      eager      pleased        usual       boring      easy      prepared       common     Dangerous    good      ready      difficult     hard     strange     able

Able means the same as capable in many instance, but the grammar is very difficult. While able is followed by the infinitive, capable is followed by of + (verb + ing )

• These students are not yet able to handle such difficult problems.
• These students are not yet capable of handling such difficult problems.

Examples of adjectives followed by infinitives:

• Mohammad is eager to see his family.
• It is dangerous to drive in this weather.
• We are ready to leave now.
• It is difficult to pass this test.
• It is uncommon to find such good crops in this section of the country.

Nouns plus prepositions followed by the gerund

The following nouns + preposition are also followed by gerund.

Choice of       possibility of        excuse for       intention of Reason for       method for

• George has no excuse for dropping out of school.
• There is a possibility of acquiring this property at a good price.
• There is no reason for leaving this early.
• Connie has developed a method for evaluating this problem.

Any time a preposition is followed directly by a verb, the verb will be in the gerund form.

• After leaving the party, Ali drove home.
• He should have stayed in new York instead of moving to Maine.

Adjectives plus Prepositions followed by the gerund

The following adjectives + prepositions are also followed by the gerund.

Accustomed to       intend on       afraid of       interested in        Capable of         successful in       fond of       tired of

• Mitch is afraid of getting married now.
• We are accustomed to sleeping late on weekends.
• Jean is not capable of understanding the predicament.
• Alvaro is intent on finishing school next year.
• Craig is fond of dancing.
• We are interested in seeing this film.

Verbs plus Prepositions followed by the gerund

If a verb plus preposition, adjective plus preposition, noun plus preposition, or preposition alone is followed directly by a verb, the verb will always be in the gerund form. The following list consists of verbs + prepositions.

Approve of        give up       rely on        worry about       be better off     Insist on       succeed in         count on        keep on        think about        Depend on    put off      think of

The following expressions contain the preposition to .  the word to in these expressions must not be confused with the to in the infinitive. These verb + preposition expressions must also be followed by the gerund.

Object to        look forward to       confess to

• John gave up smoking because of his doctor’s advice.
• Mary insisted on taking the bus instead of the plane.
• Fred confessed to stealing the jewels.
• We are not looking forward to going back to school.
• Henry is thinking of going to France in August.
• You would be better off leaving now instead of tomorrow.

Verbs that are always followed by the infinitive

Some verbs can take another verb as the complement instead of a noun. Sometimes the verb functioning as the complement must be in the infinitive (to+ verb) and sometimes it must be in the gerund (verb +  ing) form. The following verbs are always followed by the infinitive if the complement is a verb.

Agree     desire      hope     plan       strive         attempt       expect     intend     prepare     tend     Claim    fail      learn       pretend        want        decide       need     refuse        wish      demand     Hesitate    offer    seem

For example:

•  John expects to begin studying law next semester.
• Mary learned to swim when she was very young.
• The budget committee decided to postpone this meeting.
• The president will attempt to reduce inflation in the next four years.
• Cynthia has agreed to act as a liaison between the two countries.
• The soldiers are preparing to attack the village.