Reflexive pronouns

Definition: We use the reflexive pronouns to indicate that the person who realizes the action of the verb is the same person who receives the action. Reflexive pronouns are identical in form to intensive pronouns.

	Subject	Reflexive
Singular	I You He She It	myself yourself himself herself itself
Plural	We You They	ourselves yourselves themselves

For example:

• I cut my hair myself.
  * In this example "I" does the action of cutting the hair and at the same time "I" gets the action of the hair being cut.


• We defended ourselves brilliantly. 
  * In this example the reflexive pronoun "ourselves" refers back to the subject of the sentence.


• John talks to himself when he is nervous.
  * In this example "Himself" refers to John.

Reflexive pronouns always act as objects not subjects, and they require an interaction between the subject and an object.

For example:

• Because she was not hungry when the cake was served, Ellen saved herself a piece.
  * In the independent clause, "Ellen" is the subject and "herself" is a reflexive pronoun acting as the indirect object. This sentence is grammatically correct.


• Jhon and myself are going to the movie.
  * In this sentence, "Jhon" and "myself" are the subjects. Reflexive pronouns cannot be subjects. This sentence is grammatically incorrect.

Care must be taken to identify whether the noun is singular or plural and choose the pronoun accordingly.

For example:

• Nor is she shy about giving herself credit for it.
• We gave ourselves a second chance to complete the course.
• Did they lock themselves out of the house again?
• Give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done.

Note: The reflexive pronoun can also be used to give more emphasis to the subject or object (intensive pronoun).

For example: 

• I did it myself. 
  * I want to emphasise the fact that I did it.

Examples:

• He washed himself.
• She looked at herself in the mirror.
• Diabetics give themselves insulin shots several times a day.
• After the party, I asked myself why I had faxed invitations to everyone in my office building.
• Richard usually remembered to send a copy of his e-mail to himself.

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/pronouns/reflexive_pronouns.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/refl_pronouns_ex1.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/refl_pronouns_ex2.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/refl_pronouns_ex3.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/refl_pronouns_ex4.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/refl_pronouns_ex5.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/refl_pronouns_ex6.htm

Principal parts of a verb

The principal parts of verbs are the present, present participle, past, and past participle

 

 

Complete the following sentences with the principal part indicated in parentheses.

1. Maps are both fascinating and useful, and people have been ____________ them for centuries. (present participle of read)

2. Over the centuries, maps have ____________ from being merely simple navigational tools to being complex instruments conveying varied information. (past participle of grow)

3. Mapmakers over the centuries often have ___________ that maps are as beautiful as many paintings.

(past participle of feel)

4. Some artists even ___________ to create maplike paintings as serious works of art. (past form of begin)

5. We often hear that the world has _____________ because it is so much easier to get from one place to another these days. (past participle of shrink)

6. New and more sophisticated maps certainly __________ a part in creating this impression. (past form of play)

7. In the beginning of travel by automobile, people ___________ without much help from maps. (past form of drive)

8. Good road maps later ___________ a sense of security and independence to automobile drivers. (past form of bring)

9. Detailed road maps have _____________ right along with the building of highways. (past participle of develop)

10. Maps have ___________ travel out of the dark ages and into the modern world of transportation. (past participle of take)

 

http://stpaulgiants.com/files/Language/PrincipalPartsVerbsShortAnswer.htm

http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/quiz/irrequiz.htm

http://www.classzone.com/books/lnetwork_gr09/page_build.cfm?id=quiz&ch=6

 

Present, Past and Future tenses

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

http://www.englishpage.com/irregularverbs/irregularverbs.html

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/exercises/201.html


http://www.nonstopenglish.com/exercise.asp?exid=870


http://www.nonstopenglish.com/exercise.asp?exid=881


http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-4253.php

Subject verb Agreement

Basic Rule

The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.
Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and which verb you would use with they.
Example:
talks, talk
Which one is the singular form?
Which word would you use with he?
We say, "He talks." Therefore, talks is singular.
We say, "They talk." Therefore, talk is plural.


http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/sv_agr_quiz.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/agreement_add1.htm

http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/quiz/subverb1.htm

http://www.towson.edu/ows/exercisesub-verb2.htm

http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/leshanson/Hot_Potato/SV_Agreement_6.htm

http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=WCN3302

http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/svagr.html

http://www.eslbee.com/sv.htm

Main and Helping Verbs

Main Verbs and Helping Verbs

A verb may be more than one word. The main verb is the most important verb. The helping verb comes before it.

Some Common Helping Verbs

am                       was                           has

is                        were                          have

are                       will                                had

The main verbs below are in bold print. Helping verbs are in italics.
Alfredo is training for the Olympics.
 
He has run five miles each day.
 
His coach will help him next week.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/verbs/ex4.htm

http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/helping_verbs/quiz520.html

Action and Linking Verbs

Action verbs

. An action verb is a verb that tells what action someone of something is

performing. Sometimes the action is something you can see; sometimes the verbs express

mental actions (for example: forget, believe, think).

-

Hank painted the tool shed.

-

The parakeet swings back and forth in its cage.

-

Jefferson thought about the problem.

Linking verbs

. A linking verb is a verb that connects its subject with a word at or near the end

of the sentence.

-

Victoria was Queen from 1837 to 1901.

-

The feverish child is miserable.

The most common linking verb is

be*. Other verbs that can act as linking verbs include

appear, become**, come, feel, grow, keep, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste,

turn***http://www.phschool.com/atschool/writing_grammar_08/grade8/exercise_bank/chapter15/wag8_act_15-2b.cfm.

ttp://www.dowlingcentral.com/MrsD/quizzes/grammar/DeltaExer/actionlinking.htm

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/grammar/extraexercises/GFW7_BLMs_1229_13.pdf

Singular and Plural Possessive nouns

A possessive noun tells us who (or what) owns or has something. Possessives answer the question "Whose?" Study the following rule and examples and then try the practice exercises.

Rule 1: to make a singular word possessive, just add 's

Tom => Tom's fault Kathy => Kathy's job the doctor => the doctor's coat the Jones => the Jones's house

Possessive nouns (plural)

Plural nouns follow slightly different rules for making them possessive. Study the following rules and then complete the practice exercises.

Rule 1: add ' to a regular plural noun which ends in s

dogs => dogs' leashes teachers => teachers' desks

Rule 2: if the plural noun does not end in s, add 's

geese => geese's pond children => children's rollerblades http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/possessive_nouns/quiz327.html http://www.theteachersguide.com/pages/printouts/grammar/possessivenouns2.pdf http://www.lovetolearnplace.com/Grammar/Plural%20Possessive.pdf http://www.spellingcity.com/word-match-vocabulary-game.html?listId=5706868 http://www.spellingcity.com/word-match-vocabulary-game.html?listId=5706798 http://www.myenglishlessons.net/quizzes/possessives.htm http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/par_numberless_quiz.pl/plurals_quiz.htm