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.

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?

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.

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.

Examples of illogical Comparisons

An illogical comparisons is one in which unlike entities have been compared. Be sure that the items being compared are the same. These forms can be dividend into three categories: possessives, that of and those of.

Incorrect : His drawing are as perfect as his instructor.
Correct : His drawings are as perfect as his instructor's.
Incorrect: The salary of a professor is higher than a secretary.
Correct: The salary of a professor is higher than than of a secretary.
Incorrect: The duties of a policeman are more dangerous than a teacher.
Correct : The duties of a policeman are more dangerous those of a teacher.


Examples of logical comparisons:

• John's car runs better than Mary's.

• The climate in Florida is as mild as that of California. 

• Classes in the university are more difficult than those in the college. 

• The basketball games at the university are better than those of the high school.

• Your accent is not as strong as my mother's.

• My sewing machine is better is better than Jane's.