Regular Comparatives and Superlatives
Introduction

Comparatives and Superlatives are special forms of adjectives. They are used to compare two or more things. Generally, comparatives are formed using -er and superlatives are formed using -est. This page will explain the rules for forming regular comparatives and superlatives, and also show some basic ways of using them.

1. Forming regular comparatives and superlatives

How these forms are created depends on how many syllables there are in the adjective. Syllables are like “sound beats”. For instance, “sing” contains one syllable, but “singing” contains two — sing and ing. Here are the rules:
Adjective form Comparative Superlative
Only one syllable, en widest, finest, cutest
Only one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end. Examples: hot, big, fat Double the consonant, and add -er: hotter, bigger, fatter Double the consonant, and add -est: hottest, biggest, fattest
Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end. Examples: light, neat, fast Add -er: lighter, neater, faster Add -est: lightest, neatest, fastest
Two syllables, ending in Y. Examples: happy, silly, lonely Change y to i, then add -er: happier, sillier, lonelier Change y to i, then add -est: happiest, silliest, loneliest
Two syllables or more, not ending in Y. Examples: modern, interesting, beautiful Use “more” before the adjective: more modern, more interesting, more beautiful Use “most” before the adjective: most modern, most interesting, most beautiful
2. How to use comparatives and superlatives
Comparatives

Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can use sentences with “than”, or you can use a conjunction like “but”.

Jiro is taller than Yukio.
Yukio is tall, but Jiro is taller.
Superlatives

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things. Superlative sentences usually use “the”, because there is only one superlative.

Masami is the tallest in the class.
Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the tallest.

GERUNDS & INFINITIVES

Both gerunds and infinitives can be nouns, which means they can do just about anything that a noun can do. Although they name things, like other nouns, they normally name activities rather than people or objects. Here are five noun-uses of gerunds and infinitives (and one additional non-noun use, the adjective complement, that we throw in here, free of charge).
1

Gerunds and infintives can both function as the subject of a sentence:

1. Playing basketball takes up too much of her time.
2. To play basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.

2

It is not impossible for an infinitive to appear at the beginning of a sentence as the subject (as in Ib), but it is more common for an infinitive to appear as a Subject Complement:

1. Her favorite fantasy is to play basketball for UConn.

The gerund can also play this role:
2. Her favorite fantasy is playing basketball for UConn.

3

Both of these verbal forms can further identify a noun when they play the role of Noun Complement and Appositive:

1. Her desire to play basketball for UConn became an obsession.
2. I could never understand her desire to play basketball for UConn.
3. Her one burning desire in life, playing basketball for UConn, seemed a goal within reach.

The infinitive is often a complement used to help define an abstract noun. Here is a very partial list of abstract nouns, enough to suggest their nature. Try following these adjectives with an infinitive phrase (their desire to play in the championship game, a motivation to pass all their courses, her permission to stay up late, a gentle reminder to do your work) to see how the phrase modifies and focuses the noun.

advice
appeal
command
decision
desire
fact
instruction
motivation opportunity
order
permission
plan
possibility
preparation
proposal
recommendation refusal
reminder
request
requirement
suggestion
tendency
wish


4

Infinitive phrases often follow certain adjectives. When this happens, the infinitive is said to play the role of Adjective Complement. (This is not a noun function, but we will include it here nonetheless.)

1. She was hesitant to tell the coach of her plan.
2. She was reluctant to tell her parents, also.
3. But she would not have been content to play high school ball forever.

Here is a list of adjectives that you will often find in such constructions.

ahead
amazed
anxious
apt
ashamed
bound
careful
certain
content
delighted determined
disappointed
eager
eligible
fortunate
glad
happy
hesitant
liable
likely lucky
pleased
proud
ready
reluctant
sad
shocked
sorry
surprised
upset

5

Although we do not find many infinitives in this next category, it is not uncommon to find gerunds taking on the role of Object of a Preposition:

1. She wrote a newspaper article about dealing with college recruiters.
2. She thanked her coach for helping her to deal with the pressure.

Two prepositions, except and but, will sometimes take an infinitive.

1. The committee had no choice except to elect Frogbellow chairperson.
2. What is left for us but to pack up our belongings and leave?

6

And, finally, both gerunds and infinitives can act as a Direct Object:

Here, however, all kinds of decisions have to be made, and some of these decisions will seem quite arbitrary. The next section is about making the choice between gerund and infinitive forms as direct object.

Verbs that take other verb forms as objects are called catenatives (from a word that means to link, as in a chain). Catenatives can be found at the head of a series of linked constructions, as in "We agreed to try to decide to stop eating between meals." Catenatives are also characterized by their tendency to describe mental processes and resolutions. (Kolln)

Although it is seldom a serious problem for native English speakers, deciding whether to use a gerund or an infinitive after a verb can be perplexing among students for whom English is a second language. Why do we decide to run, but we would never decide running? On the other hand, we might avoid running, but we would not avoid to run. And finally, we might like running and would also like to run. It is clear that some verbs take gerunds, some verbs take infinitives, and some verbs take either. The following tables of verbs should help you understand the various options that regulate our choice of infinitive or gerund.

The verbs in the table below will be followed by an infinitive. We decided to leave. He manages, somehow, to win. It is threatening to rain. Notice that many, but not all, of these verbs suggest a potential event.

Some of the verbs in the following table may be followed by a gerund if they are describing an "actual, vivid or fulfilled action" (Frodesen). We love running. They began farming the land. These are described, also, below.

Emotion
care
desire
hate hate
like
loathe love
regret
yearn
Choice or Intent
agree
choose
decide
decide
expect hope
intend
need
plan
prefer prepare
propose
refuse
want
wish
Initiation, Completion, Incompletion
begin
cease
commence
fail get
hesitate
manage
neglect start
try
undertake
Mental Process
forget
know how learn remember
Request and Promise
demand
offer promise
swear threaten
vow
Intransitives
appear
happen seem tend
Miscellaneous
afford
arrange claim
continue pretend
wait

The verbs in the next table will often be followed by an infinitive, but they will also be accompanied by a second object. We asked the intruders to leave quietly. They taught the children to swim. The teacher convinced his students to try harder.

The verbs in blue, with an asterisk, can also follow the same pattern as the verbs in the table above (i.e., the second object is optional). We all wanted to go. They promised to be home early.

Communication
advise
ask*
beg*
challenge
command
convince forbid
invite
order
permit
persuade
promise* remind
require
tell
warn
urge
Instruction
encourage
help instruct
teach train
Causing
allow
cause
choose force
get
hire need*
would like*
Miscellaneous
dare*
expect* trust
prepare* want*

Gerunds accompany a form of the verb to go in many idiomatic expressions: Let's go shopping. We went jogging yesterday. She goes bowling every Friday night.

The following verbs will be followed by a gerund. Did I mention reading that novel last summer? I recommend leaving while we can. I have quit smoking These verbs tend to describe actual events.

Initiation, Completion and Incompletion
anticipate
avoid
begin
cease
complete delay
finish
get through
give up
postpone quit
risk
start
stop
try
Communication
admit
advise
deny
discuss encourage
mention
recommend report
suggest
urge
Continuing Action
continue
can't help practice
involve keep
keep on
Emotion
appreciate
dislike
enjoy
hate
like love
mind
don't mind
miss
prefer regret
can't stand
resent
resist
tolerate
Mental Process
anticipate
consider
forget imagine
recall
remember see
can't see
understand

The verbs in the following table can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, and there will be virtually no difference in the meaning of the two sentences. I like to play basketball in the park. I like playing basketball in the park.

attempt
begin
continue
hate like
love
neglect
prefer regret
can't stand
stand
start

The verbs in this next, very small table can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but there will be a difference in meaning. I stopped smoking means something quite different, for instance, from I stopped to smoke. The infinitive form will usually describe a potential action.
forget remember stop

Finally, the verbs below will be followed by either a gerund or a simple verb and a second subject will be required. I saw the team losing its composure. I overheard my landlord discussing a rent increase. (I heard Bill sing/singing.) These verbs involve the senses.

Verbs Involving Senses
feel
hear
listen to look at
notice
observe overhear
see
watch

Verbs of perception — hear, see, watch — and a handful of other verbs — help, let, and make — will take what is called the bare infinitive, an infinitive without the particle "to." This is true of these verbs only in the active voice.

1. We watched him clear the table.
2. They heard the thief crash through the door.
3. She made me do it.
4. We helped her finish the homework.

EXERCISE Future Perfect

Verb Tense Exercise 26
Future Perfect / Future Perfect Continuous
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. By the time we get to Chicago this evening, we (drive) more than four hundred miles. We are going to be exhausted.

2. When Sarah goes on vacation next month, she (study) German for over two years. She should be able to communicate fairly well while she is in Austria.

3. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) the Grand Canyon and San Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

4. By the time you finish studying the verb tense tutorial, you (master) all twelve tenses including their passive forms.

5. Drive faster! If you don't hurry up, she (have) the baby by the time we get to the hospital.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I return to Australia, I (study) for nine months and I (be) in England for exactly one year.

7. Margie just called and said she would be here at 8 o'clock. By the time she gets here, we (wait) for her for two hours.

8. Frank just changed jobs again. If he keeps this up, he (change) jobs at least four or five times by the end of the year.

9. Come over to my house around 9 o'clock. By then, I (complete) my history essay and we can go see a movie.

10. In June, my grandmother and grandfather (be) married for fifty years.

FUTURE PERFECT

Future Perfect

Future Perfect has two different forms: "will have done" and "be going to have done." Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect forms are usually interchangeable.
FORM Future Perfect with "Will"

[will have + past participle]

Examples:

* You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
* Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
* You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

FORM Future Perfect with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

Examples:

* You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
* Are you going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
* You are not going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.
Complete List of Future Perfect Forms
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future

The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

* By next November, I will have received my promotion.
* By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
* I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o'clock.
* Will she have learned enough Chinese to communicate before she moves to Beijing?
* Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.
* By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.
* How many countries are you going to have visited by the time you turn 50?

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.

Examples:

* I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
* By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.

Although the above use of Future Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.
REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect is used.

Examples:

* I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
* I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

* You will only have learned a few words.
* Will you only have learned a few words?

* You are only going to have learned a few words.
* Are you only going to have learned a few words?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

* They will have completed the project before the deadline. Active
* The project will have been completed before the deadline. Passive

* They are going to have completed the project before the deadline. Active
* The project is going to have been completed before the deadline. Passive

EXERCISE Simple Present

Verb Tense Exercise 1
Simple Present / Present Continuous
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.
1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice.

2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) .

5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) .

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) because everybody (talk) so loudly.

7. Justin (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.

8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?
Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) to a movie tonight with some friends.

9. The business cards (be, normally ) printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.

10. This delicious chocolate (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

SIMPLE PRESENT

Simple Present
FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

* You speak English.
* Do you speak English?
* You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms
USE 1 Repeated Actions

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.

Examples:

* I play tennis.
* She does not play tennis.
* Does he play tennis?
* The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
* The train does not leave at 9 AM.
* When does the train usually leave?
* She always forgets her purse.
* He never forgets his wallet.
* Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
* Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

* Cats like milk.
* Birds do not like milk.
* Do pigs like milk?
* California is in America.
* California is not in the United Kingdom.
* Windows are made of glass.
* Windows are not made of wood.
* New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

* The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
* The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
* When do we board the plane?
* The party starts at 8 o'clock.
* When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

* I am here now.
* She is not here now.
* He needs help right now.
* He does not need help now.
* He has his passport in his hand.
* Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

* You only speak English.
* Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

* Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
* Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive

Simple Present
FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

* You speak English.
* Do you speak English?
* You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms
USE 1 Repeated Actions

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.

Examples:

* I play tennis.
* She does not play tennis.
* Does he play tennis?
* The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
* The train does not leave at 9 AM.
* When does the train usually leave?
* She always forgets her purse.
* He never forgets his wallet.
* Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
* Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

* Cats like milk.
* Birds do not like milk.
* Do pigs like milk?
* California is in America.
* California is not in the United Kingdom.
* Windows are made of glass.
* Windows are not made of wood.
* New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

* The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
* The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
* When do we board the plane?
* The party starts at 8 o'clock.
* When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

* I am here now.
* She is not here now.
* He needs help right now.
* He does not need help now.
* He has his passport in his hand.
* Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

* You only speak English.
* Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

* Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
* Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive

SIMPLE PRESENT

Simple Present
FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

* You speak English.
* Do you speak English?
* You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms
USE 1 Repeated Actions

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.

Examples:

* I play tennis.
* She does not play tennis.
* Does he play tennis?
* The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
* The train does not leave at 9 AM.
* When does the train usually leave?
* She always forgets her purse.
* He never forgets his wallet.
* Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
* Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

* Cats like milk.
* Birds do not like milk.
* Do pigs like milk?
* California is in America.
* California is not in the United Kingdom.
* Windows are made of glass.
* Windows are not made of wood.
* New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

* The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
* The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
* When do we board the plane?
* The party starts at 8 o'clock.
* When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

* I am here now.
* She is not here now.
* He needs help right now.
* He does not need help now.
* He has his passport in his hand.
* Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

* You only speak English.
* Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

* Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
* Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive

EXERCISE USED TO/BE USED TO

Example :
A. Tom__ (take) the bus to go to work, now he walks.
=>Tom used to take the bus to go to work...

B. Sending emails to my grandmother is difficult. She isn't __ a computer.
=> She isn't used to using a computer.

1. Caroline _______________ (have) a walkman, now she has an ipod.
2. We haven't seen Bob very often since he got a promotion. He's very busy. He __(not be) so busy.
3. I've just got my first job. It's exciting but I'll have ______(work) regular hours.
4. It is difficult for Tom to drive in England. He ____ (drive) on the left-hand side of the road.
5. When Peter was young, he ________________ (ride) a bicycle to school.
6. People from India usually find our food tasteless. They _______(eat) spicy food.
7. Computers _______ (be) very expensive. Now the prices are more reasonable.
8. English has become international. Businessmen ____ (speak) English at international meetings.
9. During my childhood, I _______ (spend) a lot of time with my grandparents.
10. Maria ________ (think) that she would never ___________(live) in New York.

EXERCISE USED TO/BE USED TO

Used to do or Be used to Quiz
1 My mother (used to/is used to)cook on Sundays.
2 Didn't you (use to/are used to) stay late?
3 I didn't (use to/is used to) watch this much TV.
4 You will (be used to/used to)having noisy children soon.
5 Allison (is used to/used to) be my best friend.
6 I(used to/am used to) have 10 cigarettes a day.
7 I (was used to/used to) sunshine in Hawaii.
8 Are you (used to/be used to) spicy food?
9 My brother (is used to/used to) going early for school.
10 Did you (use to/be used to) eat meat?

NOUN CLAUSE REVIEW

EXERCISES USING NOUN CLAUSES

A. Complete the sentences by changing the questions to noun clauses.

1. Who is she? I don’t know....................
2. Who are they? I don’t know.......................
3. What is that? Do you know.........................
4. What are those? I don’t know...................
5. Whose book is that? I dont know.............
6. Whose books are those? I don’t know...................
7. What is a wrench? Do you know ...........................
8. Who is that woman? I wonder.....................
9. Whose house is that? I wonder...........................
10. What is a clause? Don’t you know ........................
11. What is in that drawer? I don’t know................................
12. What is on TV tonight? I wonder....................
13. Whose glasses are those? Could you tell me.................................
14. Who am I? H e doesn’t know...........................
15. What’s at the end of the rainbow? The little girl wants to know.............

B. Complete the sentences by changing the questions to noun clauses.

1. Who(m) did you see at the party? Tell me............................
2. Who came to the party? Tell me ...................................
3. Who did Helen talk to? Do you know ....................................
4. Who lives at that apartment? Do you know.........................
5. What happened? Tell me................................
6. What did he say? Tell me..................................
7. What kind of car does Jim have? I can’t remember .........................
8. How old are their children? I can’t even remember...........................
9. Where can I catch the bus? Could you please tell me......................
10. Who broke the window? Do you know...............................
11. Who did Sara invite? I don’t know..........................
12. How long has Ted been living here? Do you know...........................
13. What time is flight 677 supposed to arrive? Can you tell me................
14. Why is Yoko angry? Do you know.............................

GERUND AND INFINITIVES

Gerunds and Infinitives

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

* Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence
* Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence
* I enjoy reading. object of sentence

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

* He enjoys not working.
* The best thing for your health is not smoking.

2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

* To learn is important. subject of sentence
* The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence
* He wants to learn. object of sentence

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

* I decided not to go.
* The most important thing is not to give up.

3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

* Learning is important. normal subject
* To learn is important. abstract subject - less common
* The most important thing is learning. normal complement
* The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement - less common

4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

Examples:

* He enjoys swimming. "Enjoy" requires a gerund.
* He wants to swim. "Want" requires an infinitive.

5. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects. List of Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Examples:

* She suggested going to a movie.
* Mary keeps talking about her problems.

6. Some verbs are followed by infinitives. List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Examples:

* She wants to go to a movie.
* Mary needs to talk about her problems.

conversation

REVIEW NOUN CLAUSE

Words used to introduce Noun Clause
1. Question Words
When
Where
Why
How
Who
Whose
Which
What
Whom
2. Whether
If
3. That
EXERCISES USING NOUN CLAUSES

A. Complete the sentences by changing the questions to noun clauses.

1. Who is she? I don’t know....................
2. Who are they? I don’t know.......................
3. What is that? Do you know.........................
4. What are those? I don’t know...................
5. Whose book is that? I don’t know.............
6. Whose books are those? I don’t know...................
7. What is a wrench? Do you know ...........................
8. Who is that woman? I wonder.....................
9. Whose house is that? I wonder...........................
10. What is a clause? Don’t you know ........................
11. What is in that drawer? I don’t know................................
12. What is on TV tonight? I wonder....................
13. Whose glasses are those? Could you tell me........................
14. Who am I? H e doesn’t know...........................
15. What’s at the end of the rainbow? The little girl wants to know...........

WRITING & PRESENTING REPORTS

WRITING & PRESENTING REPORTS
Read and study the following expressions for presenting a report.
 Introducing the subject
• I'd like to start by....
• First of all, I'll....
 Finishing one subject
• Well, I've told you about....
• That's all I have to say about....
 Starting another subject
• Next....
• Now I'd like to discuss....
 Analyzing a point and giving recommendations
• Let's consider this in more detail ....
• What does this mean for ABC?
 Giving an example
• For example, ....
• As an illustration, ....
 Dealing with questions
• We'll be examining this point in more detail later on....
• I'd like to deal with this question later, if I may....
 Summarizing and concluding
• In conclusion, ....
• Finally, let me remind you of some of the issues we've covered....

SKL Bahasa Inggris

GRAMMAR REVIEW (Used To/Be Used To)

Used To and Be Used To
1. Used to (pernah)
It is used for the past habit (kebiasaan ms. Lalu).
Form:
Used to + Verb1
Examples:
• He used to play cards a lot.
• Did he use to play soccer at school?
2. Be used to (terbiasa)
It is used to express that someone is used to doing something so often that is no longer strange to him (u/mengungkapkan bahwa seseorang tlh terbiasa melakukan sesuatu)
Form:
Be used to + Verb ing / Noun (k.benda)
Examples:
 I’ve lived in Bandung for ten years, so I’m quite used to the traffic
 You can say what you like! I am used to being criticized
 When I was younger, I was used to walking long distance
EXERCISE 1
Put the verbs in the correct forms (Verb1/Verb ing)
1. Rois used to … a lot of coffee when he was a student. (drink)
2. Yadi got tired very easily. He wasn’t used to …so fast. (run)
3. These days Surya usually stays in bed until late. But when he had a job, he used to …up early. (get)
4. When Karto was a child, he used to … swimming everyday. (go)
5. It took safe’i a long time to get used to … glasses. (wear)
6. Urip used to … Erni but now she gets on her nerves. (like)
7. Sahid will have to get used to …less if he wants to lose weight. (eat)
8. Darto is the boss. He is not used to …told what to do. (be)
9. There used to … a cinema in downtown Kuningan but it was knock down. (be)
10. Fitria had to get used to … on the right. (drive)