A bit of theory
| can | Statements | Negatives | Questions |
| I can swim. You can swim. He can swim. She can swim. It can swim. We can swim. They can swim. | I can’t swim. You can’t swim. He can’t swim. She can’t swim. It can’t swim. We can’t swim. They can’t swim. | Can I swim? Can you swim? Can he swim? Can she swim? Can it swim? Can we swim? Can they swim? | |
| cannot | I cannot swim. | In writing and formal speech. | |
| Short answers | Can you see it? | Yes, I can. No, I can’t. | |
| Tag questions | You can see it, can’t you? You can’t see it, can you? | ||
| Examples | Can you ride a bike? Sorry, but I can’t come to your party on Friday. I can’t lift this table. | ||
| able to | We use able to in place of can. Able to is only used about people, not things. I can play football. I’m able to play football. Will you be able to help me move this table tomorrow? |
1. Make questions and answers.
a) play chess … Can you play chess…………………………………………………?
…Yes, I can./No, I can’t………………………………………………
b) play tennis ………………………………………………………………….?
………………………………………………………………….
c) use a computer ………………………………………………………………….?
………………………………………………………………….
d) cook ………………………………………………………………….?
………………………………………………………………….
e) play the piano ………………………………………………………………….?
………………………………………………………………….
f) run fast ………………………………………………………………….?
………………………………………………………………….
g) ride a bike ………………………………………………………………….?
………………………………………………………………….
h) speak French ………………………………………………………………….?
…………………………………………………………………..
2. Write new sentences and questions with can or can’t.
a) I’m not able to come to your party.
… I can’t come to your party………………………………………
b) Is it possible for you to play basketball tonight?
………………………………………………………………..
c) Do you know how to use a computer?
………………………………………………………………..
d) It isn’t possible for you to borrow my bike.
………………………………………………………………..
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e) It’s impossible for us to answer this question.
………………………………………………………………..
f) It’s not possible for me to help you.
………………………………………………………………..
g) I don’t know how to play this game.
………………………………………………………………..
h) Is it possible for you to help me?
………………………………………………………………..
3. Write ten sentences about what you can and can’t do.
I can speak English but I can’t…………………………………………………………………
4. Paula has got a problem. Use can or can’t + the verb in brackets ().
Oh dear! Where’s my key? I (1).. can’t find.. (find) it. Oh look! It’s on the kitchen table.
I (2) …………………. (see) it. Now what am I going to do? I (3) ………………….. (get) in. I (4) …………………. (climb) the tree to the window on the first floor. It’s too high. I (5) ………. ………(telephone) for help because I haven’t got my money with me. Hey, what’s that noise in the sitting room? I (6) …………………. (hear) something. Oh good, it’s Peter. He’s at home. I’m safe!
COULD
Modals – past
She could hear him. I couldn’t move.
A bit of theory
| Past ability | • could | ||
| I could hear. You could hear. | He could hear. She could hear. It could hear. | We could hear. They could hear. | |
| Jane could swim when she was six. (She knew how to swim.) | |||
| • couldn’t could not = couldn’t | |||
| I couldn’t hear. You couldn’t hear. | He couldn’t hear. She couldn’t hear. It couldn’t hear. | We couldn’t hear. They couldn’t hear. | |
| I looked for my wallet but I couldn’t find it. |
1. Complete each sentence a) to h) with an ending from 1) to 8).
a) I didn’t light a fire because … 5 …
b) I didn’t do my homework because …
c) I didn’t use the computer because …
d) I didn’t do the shopping because …
e) I didn’t go to the doctor’s because …
f) I didn’t go to the party because …
g) I didn’t phone Jim because …
h) I didn’t go to the library because …
1) I couldn’t find the time.
2) I couldn’t remember his number.
3) I couldn’t make an appointment.
4) I couldn’t understand the instructions.
5) I couldn’t find the matches.
6) I couldn’t remember the exercise.
7) I couldn’t get ready in time.
8) I couldn’t go to the supermarket.
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2. Complete these sentences. Use can’t or couldn’t + verb from the box.
type see speak find come
catch sleep answer understand
1 I’d like to read Jim’s letter. The only problem is I … can’t find… my glasses.
2 Kevin was really tired last night but he … couldn’t sleep…
3 Jane would like to work in an office, but unfortunately she ………………………...
4 People said he was a very interesting speaker, but I ……………………….. him.
5 Sue didn’t pass her Maths exam because she …………………………… the questions.
6 I’ve got two tickets for the ballet on Saturday, but unfortunately Frank ……………………...
7 Maria’s dog ran out of the house and she ………………………… it.
8 A: I’d like to live in Paris. B: Me too, but I …………………. French very well.
9 (at the cinema) Those people in front of me are very tall. I …………………… the screen.
HAVE GOT
A bit of theory
The meaning of “have got” depends on the context.
- Have you got a minute? (I want to talk to you.)
- Have you got a pen? (I want to borrow it.)
We use:
| I have got you have got we have got they have got |
- They have got a big house.
- Have you got a brother.
- We haven’t got a car.
But:
| He has got she has got it has got |
- She has got a flat in Paris.
- Has he got a sister?
- It has got a powerful engine.
Tag-questions:
- You have got a dictionary, haven’t you?
- He hasn’t got a driving license, has he?
US and some GB speakers prefer “have”
- Jane has a sports car.
- We have a computer.
- Do you have an I-Pad?
Tag-questions:
- You have a very interesting collection of CD-s, don’t you?
- He doesn’t have a good memory, does he?
1. Complete the story about Ruth. Put in has got (’s got), have got (’ve got), hasn’t got or haven’t got.
Ruth si 21. She (1).. has got.. fair hair and blue eyes. She (2) …………………. two brothers, William and Phillip, but she (3) ……………………. any sisters. Her brothers (4) …………….. brown hair and brown eyes. One of her brothers, Phillip, is married and (5) ……………………. two children, so she’s an aunt. Ruth lives with her parents in an apartment. It (6) ……………… five rooms but it (7) ……………………. a garden. She (8) ………………………. her own room in the apartment. In it she (9) ……………………… her computer and a TV. She
(10) ……………… a car but her parents (11) ……………………. one because they can’t drive.
What about you? What have you got? Look at Ruth’s story and them write about yourself.
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hair/eyes? …………………………………………………………………………………………..
brothers/sisters/parents etc.? ……………………………………………………………………….
house/apartment?..............................................................................................................................
computer/car/bicycle/a lot of books etc.? ………………………………………………………….
2. Write questions. Use have you got, has it got …? etc.
1 MARY: Tim is a good photographer.
PAT: What kind of camera … has he got?...
2 STUART: I’m rich!
VAL: How much money ………………………..?
3 TONY: Kate is going to the dentist this afternoon.
ALICE: ………………………….. toothache?
4 DEREK: Jane and Jim are buying a new house.
PETER: How many rooms ……………………………?
5 DIANA: Tony wants to talk to you.
ALEX: ………………………………. my telephone number?
6 MARTIN: My sister and brother-in-law have been married for six years.
ROSE: …………………………. any children?
7 HELEN: My neighbours love cats.
PAM: How many ……………………………?
8 LAURA: My bag is very heavy.
ADAM: What ………………………………. in it?
3. Put in has got (’s got), (’ve got). Use the positive, negative or question forms.
1 Those flowers are really beautiful and they ’ve got.. a wonderful smell.
2 I must write down John’s telephone number. ………………………….. a pen?
3 Mary works very hard so she …………………….. time for many hobbies.
4 New York …………………………. a very interesting modern art museum.
5 I can’t show you the photographs because I …………………………… them with me.
6 Tigers ………………………….. strange, yellow eyes.
7 ‘What kind of Walkman ……………. Carol ………………?’ ‘A Sony, I think.’
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
A bit of theory
1. Present continuous: affirmative
We use the present continuous to talk about actions happening at the moment, actions happening at the limited period of time at present, planned actions.
| Statements | I am sitting in my car. She’s watching television. | ||
| I am waiting. I’m waiting. You are waiting. You’re waiting. | He is waiting He’s waiting. She is waiting. She’s waiting. It is waiting. It’s waiting. | We are waiting. We’re waiting. They are waiting. They’re waiting. | |
| Examples | I’m studying English. My brother’s talking on the telephone now. We’re swimming in the sea. Sue’s reading a book at the moment. | ||
| Spelling | Verbs ending in one consonant, add – ing.
 wait waiting
Verbs ending in e, drop e and add – ing.
 make making decide deciding write writing
Verbs ending with one vowel and one consonant double the consonant.
 sit sitting swim swimming cut cutting
Verbs ending ie change ie to y.
 lie lying tie tying die dying
Verbs ending in a vowel and y add – ing.
 stay staying play playing say saying
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2. Present continuous: negative and questions
| Negatives | I’m not walking to school today. | ||
| I am not waiting. I’m not waiting. You are not waiting. You aren’t waiting. (You’re not ….) | He is not waiting. He isn’t waiting. (He’s not….) She is not waiting. She isn’t waiting. (She’s not….) It isn’t waiting. It is not waiting. (It’s not ….) | We are not waiting. We aren’t waiting. (We’re not….) They are not waiting. They aren’t waiting. (They’re not…) |
| Examples | I’m not drinking milk, I’m drinking cola. They aren’t playing football. They’re playing rugby. | ||
| Questions | Are you walking to school today? | ||
| Am I waiting? Are you waiting? | Is he waiting? Is she waiting? Is it waiting? | Are we waiting? Are they waiting? | |
| Examples | What are you doing? Are you reading? I’m fixing my bike. No, I’m not reading. |
1. Put the verbs in brackets into the present continuous.
a) Sam (drink) … is drinking… some milk.
b) You (stand) ……………………. on my foot!
c) Mike (stay) …………………….. at this hotel.
d) You (sit) ……………………….. in my place!
e) We (have) ……………………… a good time.
f) I can’t talk now. I (wash) ………………………. my hair.
g) Tim and Sue (write) …………………………… letters.
h) It (snow) ………………………… now.
2. Choose the correct spelling for the word or words underlined in each sentence.
a) Jean is swimming/swiming in the pool at the moment.
b) The girls are putting/puting on their coats.
c) Hurry up! We’re/Wer’e waiting for you.
d) Look outside! Its/It’s snowing!
e) Paula is studing/studying economics in Germany.
f) Jim is here. H’es/He’s watching television.
g) I can’t come now. I’m writting/writing a letter.
h) Gary is haveing/having a good time.
3. Make questions.
a) I’m making a lot of noise. … Am I making a lot of noise………………………..?
b) Clare is reading. …………………………………………………..?
c) You are watching the news. …………………………………………………..?
d) It is snowing. …………………………………………………..?
e) We are waiting in the right place. …………………………………………………..?
f) You are sitting here. …………………………………………………...?
g) David is enjoying the film. …………………………………………………...?
h) The bus is stopping. …………………………………………………...?
i) Bill and Ben are studying. …………………………………………………...?
j) Those girls are speaking French. …………………………………………………...?
4. Make negative sentences.
a) You’re listening to me. … You aren’t listening to me…………………………
b) Tim is studying. ……………………………………………………
c) We’re talking. ……………………………………………………
d) You are writing. ……………………………………………………
e) Katherine is lying. ……………………………………………………
f) They are waiting for us. ……………………………………………………
g) Anna’s having a good time. ……………………………………………………
h) I’m reading at the moment. ……………………………………………………
i) It’s raining. ……………………………………………………
j) I’m not eating pizza. ……………………………………………………
5. Correct each sentence or question.
a) I playing tennis with my best friend.
… I’m playing tennis with my best friend……………………………………………
b) You’re coming to the cinema tonight?
…………………………………………………………………………………
c) John and Mandy don’t going to the beach.
…………………………………………………………………………………
d) Is Emma and Katy flying to America?
…………………………………………………………………………………
e) My sister is walk on the beach now.
…………………………………………………………………………………
f) We not studying French at school this year.
…………………………………………………………………………………
g) What’s that noise? The dog is outside?
…………………………………………………………………………………
h) I aren’t watching the TV. Turn it off.
…………………………………………………………………………………
i) Fred are eating a sandwich for his lunch.
…………………………………………………………………………………
j) Are waiting they for a bus?
…………………………………………………………………………………
6. How do you spell it? Write these verbs in the continuous form (-ing) in the correct list.
help put decide die swim listen have forget write
arrive play begin start come stop win work laugh
live lie wear tie cry dance dig make rob
+ -ing t→tt, p→pp, etc. e→ing ie→ying
..helping……..putting………..deciding……..dying…………
……………… ………………… ……………….. ………………….
……………… ………………… ……………….. ………………….
……………… ………………… ………………..
……………… ………………… ………………..
……………… ………………… ………………..
……………… ………………… ………………..
……………… ………………… ………………..
7. You can hear your mother talking to your grandfather on the telephone.
Write the questions your grandfather is asking, using the present continuous (is/are + -ing). Look at all the answers first.
GRANDFATHER: (1) … Are… the children … watching TV?...
MOTHER: No, they’re in bed.
GRANDFATHER: (2) …………………………………………… reading?
MOTHER: No, they aren’t. They’re asleep.
GRANDFATHER: (3) …………………. Simon ………………………………?
MOTHER: He’s writing a postcard and watching TV at the same time.
GRANDFATHER: (4) …………………………………………………………..?
MOTHER: A travel programme about India.
GRANDFATHER: (5) …………………… Anna ……………………………..?
MOTHER: No, she isn’t watching it. She’s in the kitchen, cooking the dinner.
GRANDFATHER: (6) ………………………………………………………….?
MOTHER: Lying on the floor and talking to you!
8. Next month, you are going on holiday for three weeks to Australia (or the mountains of Switzerland, or Florida). Write six things that you are going to take with you.
Start with: I am taking
1 …………………………………………….. 4 ……………………………………………...
2 …………………………………………….. 5 ……………………………………………...
3 …………………………………………….. 6 ……………………………………………...
BE GOING TO DO
Future plans and predictions
He’s going to stop.
I’m not going to drive.
Are you going to play?
A bit of theory
| Plans or intentions | When you decide to do something in the future you make a plan or have an intention. Plans can change, so it is not 100% certain. I’m going to visit my family in New York. This is my plan or intention. Carol is going to study in France. This is her plan or intention. | ||
| Predictions from the situation | Sometimes we can see that something is going to happen. Look out! Those books are going to fall on your head. | ||
| Statements | He’s going to stop eating chocolate. | ||
| I am going to stop you are going to stop | he is going to stop she is going to stop it is going to stop | we are going to stop they are going to stop | |
| Negatives | Clare isn’t going to cook dinner. | ||
| I am not going to stop you are not going to stop | he is not going to stop she is not going to stop it is not going to stop | we are not going to stop they are not going to stop | |
| Questions | Are you going to take your umbrella? | ||
| Am I going to stop? Are you going to stop? | Is he going to stop? Is she going to stop? Is it going to stop? | Are we going to stop? Are they going to stop? | |
| Wh - questions | What are you going to do in the summer? When are you going to phone me? | ||
| Examples | Is it going to rain? Mike’s going to run in the Marathon in April. Peter is going to learn Chinese. | ||
| Careful! | We do not use gonna in writing. |
1. Write questions with … going to ….
1 BEN: What/Dad/do?.. What’s Dad going to do?...
MUM: Paint the kitchen walls.
BEN: what colour/he/do them? … What colour’s he going to do them?...
MUM: White.
2 JILL: what/you/buy/for Paul’s birthday? ………………………………………………….?
MEG: I don’t know yet.
JILL: he/have/a party? ……………………………………………………………………..?
MEG: Yes, on Saturday.
3 TOM: you/buy/a new computer? …………………………………………………………..?
SUE: Yes.
TOM: what kind/you/get? ………………………………………………………………….?
SUE: An Apple Mac, I think.
4 MARY: what/Sarah/do/after university? …………………………………………………...?
JACK: First, she’s going to travel.
MARY: how long/she/be away? ……………………………………………………………?
JACK: About six months.
5 PAUL: Joe and Kate/get married? ………………………………………………………….?
SALLY: Yes, in the autumn.
PAUL: where/they/live? …………………………………………………………………….?
SALLY: With her parents.
2. Write sentences using … going to (be) …
1 It’s only 7 o’clock in the morning but the sun is shining and it’s warm. … It’s going to be … a beautiful day.
2 John is driving on the wrong side of the road! …………………………….. an accident!
3 Carol is eating her third box of chocolates! ……………………………… sick!
4 What a fantastic race! Roger is nearly there! Only 50 metres to the finish. ……………… win!
5 Look at those boys on that big bicycle! They’re not safe. ……………………………… fall off!
6 This film is making me feel very sad. ……………………………… cry.
3. Complete each sentence. Use going to and the verb in brackets.
a) (you, buy) ……………. Are you going to buy ………………………… a new bike?
b) Tom (not be) ………………………………………………………….. a doctor.
c) I (buy) …………………………………………………………… some new shoes.
d) (Helen, catch) …………………………………………………………. the train?
e) Who (carry) …………………………………………………….. the shopping for me?
f) Jim and Dinah (not get) …………………………………………………….. married.
g) Sam (take) ………………………………………………………… a holiday.
h) What time (you, phone) ……………………………………………………….. me?
i) Where (we, eat) ……………………………………………………….. tonight?
j) I (not give) ………………………………………………………… a birthday present!
4. Rewrite each sentence or question with going to.
a) Joe plans to buy a new computer next year.
…. Joe is going to buy a new computer next year……………………………………
b) We don’t plan to play tennis this weekend.
……………………………………………………………………………………
c) Does Nick plan to join the sports club?
……………………………………………………………………………………
d) What are your plans for next summer?
……………………………………………………………………………………
e) Look! That tree is about to fall over!
…………………………………………………………………………………….
f) Do you plan to work hard this year?
…………………………………………………………………………………….
g) I don’t intend to get a new car.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
h) The forecast for tomorrow is rain.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
i) Do Mike and Pat plan to make sandwiches for the party?
…………………………………………………………………………………….
j) I think it’s about to snow.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
5. What are you going to do next summer? Write sentences, starting with:
Next summer I’m going to have a great holiday. I’m going to …
PRESENT SIMPLE
Present simple: affirmative
Frequency adverbs
I walk, he walks
always, often, usually,
sometimes, never
A bit of theory
We use the present simple to describe general facts, repeated actions and habits, facts that are always true.
· general facts
I like milk. They speak Turkish.
Maria plays basketball. We live in Australia.
· repeated actions and habits
Harry often arrives late. I usually get up at 7.30.
· things that are always true
The sun rises in the east. The earth goes round the sun.
| Statements | I walk to school every day. My brother usually walks with me. | ||||
| I walk you walk BUT he walk s | we walk they walk she walk s | it walk s | |||
| Spelling | go → goes miss → misses watch → watches wash → washes relax → relaxes study → studies | ||||
| always, usually, often, sometimes, never | always usually often sometimes never | 100% 80% 60% 40% 0% | Tim always wears jeans. I usually go to bed at 10.30. Sue often goes to the cinema. Sam sometimes walks to university. It never rains here in August. | ||
| The frequency adverb goes between subject and verb. Monday always comes after Sunday. | |||||
Present simple: negative and questions