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MIND YOUR LANGUAGE...Practice Makes Perfect
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Identifying Verbs
A verb is a word that identifies action (hit, fly, throw), existence (be, become), or state of being (smell, taste, seem). Along with a noun, a pronoun, or a nominal (noun phrase or noun clause), a verb forms clauses and sentences.
In a normal sentence, the subject appears to the left, in front of the verb. In the sentences below, the subjects are boldfaced, and the verbs are italicized.
George Washington crossed the Delaware.
They will eat ice cream at the birthday party.
The girl with the yellow dress likes to dance.
Whatever you decide is all right with me.
The Dodgers got beat by the Reds.
As you can see in the examples above, a verb may sometimes have one word and sometimes more. If the verb of a sentence has two or more words, then you will have a main verb, which identifies the action or state of being, and you will have a helping or auxilliary verb, which helps establish the tense, the mood, the voice, and the number of the verb. If the verb has only one word, then that verb is always the main verb. The following words may sometimes be used as auxilliary verbs: am, is, are, was, were, have been, has been, be, do, did, does, has, have, can, could, shall, should, may, might, will, and would. Auxilliary verbs always appear to the left of the main verb; they combine with the main verb to form verb phrases.
If you are having trouble identifying verbs, the two frames below should help you to identify the main verb of a sentence.
a) They somehow got____(1)____to____(2)____.
b) But it wasn't I who did the____(3)____-ing.
In frame a), insert the subject (or a pronoun referring to the subject) in space (1), and put the rest of the sentence in space (2). The word immediately to the right of the word "to" should be the main verb of the sentence.
They somehow got George Washington (or him) to cross the Delaware.
They somehow got them to eat ice cream at the birthday party.
In the sentences above, cross and eat come to the right of the word "to." Thus they are the main verbs of their respective sentences. Note that in the second sentence, the word will was removed. The word will was removed because it is an auxilliary verb, not the main verb of the sentence.
However, if the word to the right of the word "to" happens to be get or be, then use frame b).
1a) They somehow got whatever you decide (or it) to be all right with me.
1b) But it wasn't I who did the being.
2a) They somehow got the Dodgers (or them) to get beaten by the Reds.
2b) But it wasn't I who did the beating.
In sentence 1a), the word be comes to the right of the word "to." Sentence 1b) doesn't make sense, but don't worry--it's not supposed to. The frame is telling you that the word is is the main verb of the sentence.
In sentence 2a), the word get comes to the right of the word "to." Sentence 2b) should tell you that the word beat is the main verb of the sentence and that get is an auxilliary verb (in the original sentence, it is forming the passive voice).
Frame a) should also tell you if the verbs have and do are being used as main verbs rather than as auxilliaries.
3a) Bill and Sally have a sailboat.
4a) Bill and Sally did their taxes.
3b) They somehow got Bill and Sally (or them) to have a sailboat.
4b) They somehow got Bill and Sally (or them) to do their taxes.
The fact that have and did appeared to the right of the word "to" instead of being eliminated should tell you that they are main verbs and not auxilliary verbs.
Here are some sentences for you to use for practicing the frames:
Humans accept death as their destiny.
The cost of the typewriters and the clocks will be raised.
The company, which employed hundreds of workers, went bankrupt.
Whether Sam likes it or not, Sheila should call David again.
Before the game, Tom fixes himself a huge sandwich.
Chapter 4.
SOURCE: Noguchi, Rei. Grammar and the Teaching of Writing: Limits and Possibilities. Urbana, Illinois: NCTE, 1991.
Answers to Exercises
Humans accept death as their destiny.
They somehow got humans (or them) to accept death as their destiny.
(The verb of the sentence is accept.)
The cost of the typewriters and the clocks will be raised.
They somehow got the cost of the typewriters and the clocks (or it) to be raised.
But it wasn't I who did the raising.
(The verb of the sentence is raise.)
The company, which employed hundreds of workers, went bankrupt.
They somehow got the company, which employed hundreds of workers (or it), to go bankrupt.
(The verb of the sentence is go or went.)
Whether Sam likes it or not, Sheila should call David again.
They somehow got Sheila (or her) to call David again whether Sam likes it or not.
(The verb of the sentence is call.)
Before the game, Tom fixes himself a huge sandwich.
They somehow got Tom (or him) to fix himself a huge sandwich before the game.
(The verb of the sentence is fix.) |
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the correct way is ..
I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon
or
We look forward to hearing from you soon |
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idiika This user has been deleted
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Originally posted by mbhcsf at 4-10-2003 01:15 PM:
chegu .... apa chegu ?
pardonez moi??
[ Last edited by idiika on 21-10-2003 at 04:25 PM ] |
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ha ah..yuta...any prob.. with
ur studies...
akak ucapkan selamat berposa
n raya to u...
that goes to all who are out
there..
tq... |
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SELAMAT MENYAMBUT BULAN RAMADHAN. LEBIHKAN IBADAT DAN BANYAKKAN SEDEKAH DIBULAN YANG MULIA INI |
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Thanx areyanti...
ditto to you...
Selamat bersahur,
berposa n beraya...
lap u... |
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SELAMAT MENYAMBUT BULAN RAMADHAN. LEBIHKAN IBADAT DAN BANYAKKAN SEDEKAH DIBULAN YANG MULIA INI |
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Countable and Uncountable - Noun Quantifiers - Quiz 1
Some nouns are countable which means you can use either the singular or plural form of the noun. Example: Book - a book - some books. Other nouns are uncountable which means you can use ONLY the singular form of the noun. Example: information - some information
Identify the following objects as countable or uncountable.
information --UN/COUNTABLE
rules --UN/COUNTABLE
sheep --UN/COUNTABLE
money --UN/COUNTABLE
learning --UN/COUNTABLE
rice --UN/COUNTABLE
bottles of wine --UN/COUNTABLE
equipment --UN/COUNTABLE
traffic --UN/COUNTABLE
stone --UN/COUNTABLE
stones --UN/COUNTABLE
talent --UN/COUNTABLE
web sites --UN/COUNTABLE
clothes --UN/COUNTABLE
music --UN/COUNTABLE
deserts --UN/COUNTABLE
land --UN/COUNTABLE
nations --UN/COUNTABLE
peoples --UN/COUNTABLE
fish --UN/COUNTABLE
pollution --UN/COUNTABLE
understanding --UN/COUNTABLE
RAM --UN/COUNTABLE
art works -UN/COUNTABLE
orders --UN/COUNTABLE
food --UN/COUNTABLE |
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baik...adik..
nanti akak correctkan
baru balik town nih...
tgh check other postings...
maybe by midnight
i'll give you the answer... |
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the answers...any questions???
information --UNCOUNTABLE
rules --COUNTABLE
sheep --COUNTABLE
money --UNCOUNTABLE
learning --UNCOUNTABLE
rice --UNCOUNTABLE
bottles of wine --COUNTABLE
equipment --UNCOUNTABLE
traffic --UNCOUNTABLE
stone --UNCOUNTABLE
stones --COUNTABLE
talent --UNCOUNTABLE
web sites --COUNTABLE
clothes --COUNTABLE
music --UNCOUNTABLE
deserts --COUNTABLE
land --UNCOUNTABLE
nations --COUNTABLE
peoples --COUNTABLE
fish --COUNTABLE
pollution --UNCOUNTABLE
understanding --UNCOUNTABLE
RAM --COUNTABLE
art works --COUNTABLE
orders --COUNTABLE
food --UNCOUNTABLE |
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information --UNCOUNTABLE =correct
rules --UNCOUNTABLE =incorrect...you can say Rule 1 or one rule..two rules
sheep --COUNTABLE=correct
money --COUNTABLE=incorrect ..as a unit(abstract noun) you can only count in term of currency...one ringgit two dollars three bahts
learning --UNCOUNTABLE=correct
rice --COUNTABLE (nie tak sure...tapi kalu nak kira boleh apa)=incorrect it's just like hair..too hard too count or too much...
bottles of wine --COUNTABLE=correct
equipment --COUNTABLE= incorrect..a unit again..another example furniture
traffic --UNCOUNTABLE=correct..good..
stone --COUNTABLE=incorrect...e.g. this house is made of stone..a unit..
stones --COUNTABLE=correct this one is similar to rocks..
talent --UNCOUNTABLE=correct..bravo..
web sites --COUNTABLE=correct...salute
clothes --COUNTABLE=correct..sometimes the clue is -s or es..but beware of NEWS=which can be uncountable...
music --UNCOUNTABLE=correct...a big round of applause
deserts --UNCOUNTABLE=incorrect..,here the clue is -s...desert is padang pasir..
land --UNCOUNTABLE=correct..yeay..
nations --COUNTABLE=correct...a big hand to you...
peoples --COUNTABLE=correct..the clue is -s...
fish --COUNTABLE=correct...clap clap clap....
pollution --UNCOUNTABLE= correct..yes3x..
understanding --UNCOUNTABLE=correct..yes3x
RAM --UNCOUNTABLE=sorry incorrect..you can count RAM..it can be computer ram or similar to goat..
art works -COUNTABLE..=correct..bravo..-s again
orders --UNCOUNTABLE=oops..incorrect..-s ma...
food --UNCOUNTABLE=yahoo..correct..as a unit...
17/25...correct me if i'm wrong...sleepy mood..heheheh...
not bad not bad at all... |
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Test it out!
Put "much", "many", "a little" or "a few" into these sentences:
1. Are there ...... products of that type on the market?
2. How.... time have you got?
3. I've had ...... ideas about the design of the packaging.
4. He doesn't earn .....money.
5. There are only.... women in the engineering profession.
6. Their busy period is during the winter months. They don't have so ....work to do in the summer.
7. Can you spare me ...... time please? I'd like to talk to you about some ideas I've had.
8. There aren't ...... trains after eleven in the evening.
9. Would you like ...... more coffee?
10. I won't be free until 10 o'clock. I have to see ........people before our meeting. |
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Originally posted by yutanagi at 11/11/03 08:52 AM:
Aiseh!!!salah lapan
17/25 darab 100 = 68% (masih tak terer)
Timakasih bebanyak Kak seri sudi check dan bagi explaination.
k la...tak mo cuba yg baru ker???
explaination= explanation...no 'i' yer...
selamat berposer... |
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much ngan a little= for uncountable nouns...
many ngan a few= for countable nouns...
but we must know the nouns to use them...
i'll get back to these again.. |
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1. Are there a few products of that type on the market?= many=banyak
2. How much time have you got?= correct
3. I've had much ideas about the design of the packaging. = a few (ideas =countable)
4. He doesn't earn much money. = correct
5. There are only a little women in the engineering profession. = a few (countable)
6. Their busy period is during the winter months. They don't have so many work to do in the summer. = much (work=abstract noun=uncountable)
7. Can you spare me a little time please? I'd like to talk to you about some ideas I've had. = correct
8. There aren't many trains after eleven in the evening.
9. Would you like much more coffee? = a liitle (sedikit + more lagi)
10. I won't be free until 10 o'clock. I have to see a few people before our meeting.=correct..
....ok..yuta?? |
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What's the rule?
Countable nouns have two forms: singular and plural.
Examples
A house is more expensive than a flat.
Houses are more expensive than flats.
Uncountable nouns have only one form and go with a verb in the singular.
Examples
The information you need is in the report.
Last night's news was very bad.
Much or many?
Much is used with uncountable nouns.
Examples
I haven't got much time.
How much sugar would you like in your coffee?
Many is used with countable nouns.
Examples
How many people attended the meeting?
There aren't many mistakes in the report.
A lot/A little/A few?
Be careful! Much and many are more usual in question and negative forms than in positive sentences. "A lot" is more common in positive sentences with both countable and uncountable nouns:
Examples
They have launched a lot of new products in the last few years.
He gave me a lot of advice when I joined the company.
"A little" = not much.
"A little" is used with uncountable nouns:
Example
We've only made a little progress.
"A few" = not many.
"A few" is used with countable nouns:
Example
Could I make a few suggestions? |
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eh bulan..
salam La Lunar, dah terlangsung you citer pasal this topic would you kind enough to teach us abit about ..thse things..
yg
ader rangkai kata tu.
like a cluster of diiamonds
a pile of books?
a chest of drawers ker ???
yg tu dah lupa lak I. |
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ooo...collective nouns yek...ok...
TUNGGUUUUU..... |
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salam..
yes that one dear i lupa lah..best jugak..dapat ulangkaji eh LA lunar, tumpang you cuti ni baik you ajaq lingo Anglo saxon ni dr basic like sejarah bhs Inggeris tu sendiri or apa yg dikatakan parts of speech lepas tu kupas satu -satu .. janganlah yg complicated sangat kan..tapi boleh lah utk i tau ..boleh kan my dear WATSON?:bg:
[ Last edited by mbhcsf on 13-11-2003 at 11:08 PM ] |
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Category: Belia & Informasi
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Author
Post time 18-10-2003 03:05 AM
