Grammar Lessons and Assignments - ESL Level 1
Overview
This file contains grammar lessons and assignments for a Level 1 academic ESL class with an emphasis on applying grammar lessons in writing. It can be combined with the other files in this folder to create an entire OER based class.
Simple Present Verbs
- For this grammar unit we will begin with simple present verbs. After watching the YouTube video, you can see the same information in the open resource textbook ESL for Beginning Students: The Way You Like It by Don Bissonnette from the bottom of page 81 to page 84. Then read the lecture notes that summarize before completing the Assignment. Let me know if you have any questions.
- Extra English Practice. “Basic Grammar: Introduction to Simple Present.” YouTube: 5 June 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnrvGwUNdHA
- Subject/Verb Agreement in Simple Present
- Simple present verbs must agree with their subjects in English.
- Singular subjects require the singular verb form which has an –s added to the base form of the verb. EXAMPLE: boy walks
- Plural subjects require the plural verb form which does NOT have the -s added to the base form. EXAMPLE: boys walk
- The Single -s Rule
- If the subject has an –s or implied (not actually there, but the word is still plural) –s, then the verb cannot have an –s. Again, boys walk. Boys has an –s, so the verb will not take an –s.
- If the subject does NOT have an-s, then the verb will need the –s. Again, boy walks. Boy does NOT have an –s, so the verb must have the –s.
- You can only have an –s on either the subject or verb, NOT on both.
- Note: The reason I said implied –s in the first point is that some words in English are plural, but they do not have an actual -s. These words still require the verb without the –s because they are still plural. EXAMPLE: Children (no –s but still plural) walk.
- Spelling Note: -s Only
- Most verbs add – s only.
travel becomes travels
talk becomes talks
2. Many verbs have a base form that ends in –e. These verbs simply
add –s to the base form.
write becomes writes
bathe becomes bathes
- Spelling Note: Add -es
- Final –es is added to words that end in –ch, -sh, -s, -x, and –z. This final –es also has a pronunciation difference. Pronounce it as - əz (- ə is called a schwa and is pronounced like –u).
watch becomes watches
wash becomes washes
kiss becomes kisses
mix becomes mixes
fizz becomes fizzes
- Why is this variation necessary? These final sounds are too close to –s, so the final sound must change.
- Spelling Note: Change the y to i
1. If a word ends in a consonant + -y, change the –y to –i and add –es.
cry becomes cries
2. However, if a word ends in a vowel + -y, add –s with no other
changes.
say becomes says (pronounced sez)
- Spelling Note: Common Irregular Forms
The singular simple present forms of go, do and have are irregular.
goes
does
has
- OER Textbook
- ESL for Beginning Students: The Way You Like It by Don Bissonnette
- Bissonnette, Don. “1. Book One.Doc.” Docs.Google.Com.
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=c291dGhzZWF0dGxlLmVkdXxlc2wtZ3JhbW1hci10aGUtd2F5LXlvdS1saWtlLWl0LWxldmVscy0xLTV8Z3g6M2ZmZTg4NjE3OTZkODI1Yw
- Simple Present Exercise and Sentences
- Complete 1-10 of the exercise on page 85 of the Bissonnette book. You only need to
type the verb, not the entire sentence.
- Write 2 sentences using simple present verbs with a first person (I) subject and 2
using a second person (you) subject. Then write 2 sentences using third person, singular subjects and 2 using third person, plural subjects.
- Writing Assignment: Where Am I?
- We all know that we humans use our five senses, sight, hearing, feel, touch, and
taste, to interact with our world. When we write, we use these sensory observations to describe experiences and locations. These sensory observations are always expressed using the simple present.
- For this writing assignment use all five senses to describe a place you would like
to be in. Make five sentences or more describing that place. Remember that they will use simple present verbs. Next week your classmates will guess the place. Since you will be describing a place, it is also a great opportunity to practice using prepositions like at, on, and in.
Present Progressive Verbs
- What Does Progressive Mean?
- When you see the word progressive, think the –ing form of the verb.
- The –ing forms can exist in English, but they are NOT verbs! They become something else which we will discuss later.
- To have the present progressive tense, you must have two things:
1. A present tense form of be conjugated to match the subject.
2. The –ing form of the verb. Note that the –ing form does
not vary (change) for conjugation or tense.
- Difference Between Simple Present and Present Progressive
- The present progressive deals with something happening right now or around now.
- The simple present expresses habitual or usual activities that you do over and over.
- Watch the short video linked below for more discussion of this point.
- Video Explanation
Shepherd, Nick. “Learn English - Present Simple and Present Progressive.” YouTube, 16 Jan. 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dToboUPXdxE
- Exercise Assignment and Sentences
- Complete the present progressive/simple present exercise on page 93 of ESL for Beginners: The Way You Like It.
You only need to type the verbs into this assignment, NOT the entire sentence.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=c291dGhzZWF0dGxlLmVkdXxlc2wtZ3JhbW1hci10aGUtd2F5LXlvdS1saWtlLWl0LWxldmVscy0xLTV8Z3g6M2ZmZTg4NjE3OTZkODI1Yw
- Then, write 6 sentences, 3 using simple present and 3 using present progressive. Make them about the same topic. Examples below.
EXAMPLES:
Simple Present: I teach English to a variety of students.
Present Progressive: I am teaching English to new students today.
Subject/Verb Agreement
- Video Explanation
Schmoop. “Subject Verb Agreement.” YouTube: 4 August 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVhUEq6P1w
- Subject Verb Agreement Exercise
Complete Exercise III on page 9 in Writing Skills Practice Book for EFL.
- Online Source
Peterson, Patricia Wilcox. Writing Skills Practice Book for EFL Beginning/Intermediate
Level, United States Department of State: Office of English Language Programs, 1982.
https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/developing_writing.pdf
Grammar Review and Quiz
- Instructions for Review: Because we are in a writing class, writing is the most important skill. So, the grammar quiz will NOT have grammar exercises. Instead, you will be asked to apply the grammar we have learned to your writing. Review simple and compound sentences, introductory adverbs, and introductory prepositional phrases.
- Quiz Questions – (Lessons for introductory adverbs and prepositional phrases are in the Sentence Variety file in this folder)
- Write a simple sentence using present progressive verb tense.
- Write a compound sentence using simple present verb tense.
- Write a sentence with an introductory adverb.
- Write a sentence with an introductory prepositional phrase.
- Write a sentence with an action verb.
Recognizing Run-On/Fused Sentences and Comma Splices
- What Are Run-on/Fused Sentences?
- A run-on or fused sentence is actually two or more sentences that are put together without proper punctuation.
- The length of the sentence is not always a clue about whether a sentences is a run-on/fused one. You can have a short sentence that is a run-on, and a long sentence that is not.
- This issue is a punctuation/writing problem.
- EXAMPLES: I was hungry I ate breakfast.
Emily was an only child for five years now she has a baby sister.
When I was little, I played with my cousins they were my best friends.
- The First Step to Correcting Run-On/Fused Sentences
- For now I want you to recognize this error and correct them by adding periods because this method is the easiest way to correct them.
- We are focusing on recognizing these sentences.
- However, I want you to know there are many ways to correct run-on/fused sentences. We will learn about all of the other options (choices) later in the course.
- What are Comma Splices?
- A comma splice is similar to a run-on/fused sentence except that there is a comma between the sentences.
- This error is NOT an error in Spanish and some other languages, but it IS an error in English.
- EXAMPLES: I am hungry, I want to eat lunch.
When my mother gets home from work, she wants to rest, she needs
help with dinner.
Running is my favorite way to get exercise, I run every day.
- The First Step to Correcting Comma Splices
- First, I want you to recognize these errors in your writing. If you can spot them in your writing, you can correct them.
- The easiest way to correct a comma splice is to replace the comma with a period.
- Again, we have many options for how to correct a comma splice. We will learn about the other options later in the semester.
- Web Source
“Recognizing Comma Splices and Fused Sentences.” Chompchomp.com.
https://chompchomp.com/csfs01/
- Homework Assignment
- Complete the exercise at the link below by writing the sentences correctly in a Word document and uploading it to the Assignments folder. The first one is NOT a run-on. The exercise has an error in it. So, please complete sentences 2-10 for homework. Although we have many ways we can correct a run-on error, please just use periods to correct them in this exercise.
- “Run-On Sentences Worksheet.” Englishforeveryone.org.
https://englishforeveryone.org/viewpdf.html?pdf=/PDFs/Run%20on%20sentences.pdf&title=Run-on%20Sentences%20Worksheet
Simple Past Verbs
- Simple Past Homework Assignment
- Please complete the first 15 sentences in the exercise on page 105 of ESL for Beginning Learners: The Way You Like It. The instructions ask you to change the sentence from present tense to past tense.
- Bissonnette, Don. “1. Book One.Doc.” Docs.Google.Com.
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=c291dGhzZWF0dGxlLmVkdXxlc2wtZ3JhbW1hci10aGUtd2F5LXlvdS1saWtlLWl0LWxldmVscy0xLTV8Z3g6M2ZmZTg4NjE3OTZkODI1Yw
- Simple Past Paragraph Assignment
Write a first person (I) narrative paragraph of at least five sentences about something that happened in your life. Remember to follow the standard paragraph organization with a topic sentence telling us what the paragraph will be about, a body that has the details of what happened, and a concluding paragraph that wraps everything up by telling us what you learned, why this event was important, etc. You will also need to have good sentence variety and include at least one sentence with an introductory subordinate clause. Since this paragraph is short, make sure you choose a short event. You cannot tell us about an entire year or even something that took place over a couple of weeks. You need a small event that took place in a short period of time.
Past Progressive Verbs
- What Is Past Progressive?
- Since the first part of this tense’s name is past, you know that we use it to talk about something in the past.
- Progressive means that this verb tense must use the –ing form of the verb.
- Since –ing forms of the verb must have an auxiliary verb, you know that these verbs will have two parts.
- Definition: past progressive verbs express an activity that was occurring or happening at a specific time or at the time of another action in the past.
- When to Use Past Progressive
- Like all progressive tenses, you use it to show that something was happening over a period of time when something else was happening or over a period of time at a specific time.
- Examples:
1. When the phone rang, I was taking a nap.
2. Last night at 5:30, we were watching the news during dinner.
- Difference Between Simple Past and Past Progressive
- Simple past talks about something that began and ended in the past.
- Like we said in the previous slide, past progressive emphasizes the duration of what you were doing when something else happened.
- Sometimes you have to use one or the other, but sometimes both are an option, depending on what you want to stress.
Last night, we watched the news.
Last night at 5:30, we were watching the news.
- Both of these are correct, but you MUST have the specific time (5:30) in order to use the past progressive.
- Writing with Past Progressive
- Because we only use the past progressive tense in certain situations, you will need to use simple past as well. You will need to use both of them together. You will also need to use time words that are often subordinating conjunctions (after, when, until, before, etc.) Here is an example story:
- Really Learn English. “Past Progressive Story 1.” ReallyLearnEnglish.com.
https://www.really-learn-english.com/support-files/past-progressive-story-1.pdf
- Video Explanation
- Shepherd, Nick. “Past Simple and Progressive 3.” YouTube, 18 Nov. 2013.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn9gDe5UWgI
- Homework Exercise
- Complete Exercise 56 on page 114 in ESL for Beginning Students: The Way You Like It.
- Bissonnette, Don. “1. Book One.Doc.” Docs.Google.Com.
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=c291dGhzZWF0dGxlLmVkdXxlc2wtZ3JhbW1hci10aGUtd2F5LXlvdS1saWtlLWl0LWxldmVscy0xLTV8Z3g6M2ZmZTg4NjE3OTZkODI1Yw
- Past Progressive Paragraph Assignment
Write a short paragraph where you use both simple past and past progressive.
Sentence Fragments
- What Is a Fragment?
- A fragment is an incomplete sentence.
- A sentence must have both a subject and a verb in an independent clause, so a fragment is missing either the subject or the verb in the independent clause.
- Often the fragment is a dependent clause or a phrase.
- Examples of Fragments
- The boy who lived next door. This sentence is a fragment because the main subject in the independent clause does NOT have a verb. But wait, what about lived? Lived is the verb that goes with who, and who lived next door is a dependent clause. Who lived? Not the boy, who is the subject for lived.
- Running across campus. This sentence is a fragment because it is a verbal phrase only.
- Although the boy was hungry. This sentence is also a fragment because the word although subordinates it, so you are going to need an entire sentence after it.
- Fragments Are Easy to Correct
- The boy, who lived next door, made me a cake. Here boy is the subject of the sentence and made is the verb in the main clause. Who is the subject and lived is the verb in the dependent clause. Do you see that who lived next door does not make sense unless it is a question.
- Running across campus, the boy ran into three people. OR The boy was running across campus.
- Although the boy was hungry, he did not have time to eat his dinner. Or, the boy was hungry.
- Video Explanation
Sensei, Kerry. “Sentence or Fragment? | Identifying Sentences and Sentence Fragments.” YouTube, 23 June 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0GJ3X64NV0
- Sentence Fragment Exercise
- To practice discerning (deciding) between fragments and complete sentences, complete Exercise VII on pages 119-120 in Writing Skills Practice Book for EFL.
- Peterson, Patricia Wilcox. Writing Skills Practice Book for EFL Beginning/Intermediate Level, United States Department of State: Office of English Language Programs, 1982.
- https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/developing_writing.pdf
Future Tenses
- Future Tenses in English Are Different
- They are not like present and past.
- They rely on using auxiliary verbs and which auxiliary verbs you use depends on the situation.
- There are four main situations in future tense.
- Predictions or Statements of Fact
- This situation is the most common one and what we usually think of when we say future tense.
- Will
- EXAMPLES:
1. He will succeed because he works hard.
2. Registration for the spring semester will begin soon.
3. Thursday, November 26, will be Thanksgiving.
4. I probably will not finish this piece of cake. OR
I probably won’t finish this piece of cake.
5. Will you help me move this cabinet?
- Intentions or Future Plans
- Be going to works exactly the same way will does when you are making predictions about the future. Both forms are correct in those examples. However, you MUST use be going to describe prior (before) plans that you have already thought about.
- EXAMPLES:
1. We are going to work on future tense this week.
2. I am going to be out of town the first week of November.
3. He is going to succeed because he works hard.
- Arrangements
- Prior plan that you have already thought about AND discussed with someone else
- Uses a form of the present progressive
- EXAMPLES:
1. I am meeting my friend for lunch tomorrow at 12:00. OR
I’m meeting my friend for lunch tomorrow at 12:00.
2. My daughter is not coming home for Thanksgiving this year.
- Scheduled Events
- Uses simple present
- We only use the simple present for previously scheduled events that are out of our control.
- EXAMPLES:
1. I have a meeting at 3:00 today.
2. The bus leaves for Nashville at 8:00 a.m.
3. Our flight does not leave until this evening. OR
Our flight doesn’t leave until this evening.
- Are You Confused?
- These are often confusing because they are very similar, and they overlap each other.
- Don’t worry. We will clarify (give more explanation) next week.
- Video Explanation
- Shepherd, Nick. “Learn English - Future Tense Basics (‘I Will, I Am Going to’).” YouTube, 23 July 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2O4a_7Ony4
- Web Source
Shoebottom, Paul. “English Grammar Explanations - Future Tenses.” Fis.Edu, 2019.
http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/rules/future.htm
- Homework Assignment
Write four future tense sentences, one for each of the types of future situations: predictions/statements of fact, intentions/prior plans, arrangements, and scheduled events. Use the examples in this module as your guide. Do your own work, and do NOT copy from the internet!!!
- Future Tense Paragraph Assignment
Write a paragraph about what you plan to do with your friends and/or family when we are able to travel and gather in groups again. Make an effort to use all four of the types of future tenses. You
Editing a Paragraph
- Correcting Run-On Sentences – Web Source
“Teaching Writing – Fix Run-On Sentences.” Eslwriting.org.
https://www.eslwriting.org/teaching-writing-run-on-sentences-paragraphs-grammar-conjunctions-clauses/
- Correct the Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices
- The first cat I had after getting married was names Montana and he was a funny little cat who climbed the curtains and kept us awake at night, he also stole nuts from the bowl when he was a kitten he was impossible to stop, he was so cute.
- Smart phones are one of the most amazing inventions in the history of the world we can not only call anyone anywhere we can immediately get answers to almost any question, the smart phone has taken the place of phones, cameras, maps, and more however they do distract people and can interfere with human interactions.