BG Homework Help (Grammar)

[aduidarnenye]

I'm working on an assignment for a course I'm taking that is grammar. I've done the assignment and was hoping that the grammar Nazis of BG could have a look at my work (it's pretty short, only seven questions) and point out any obvious mistakes (or the less obvious ones too please). Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

I am trying to identify the underlined verb and correctly explain it, as well as write a similar sentence.


1. I'll read all my course notes this weekend.

Future Simple

Modal auxiliary verb "will" + infinitive verb form of "to read"

This sentence is about the future because the modal auxiliary verb of "will" indicates a future prediction or plan.

The ship will dock at noon tomorrow.


2. Does the train leave at 6 o'clock?

Present Simple

Third person singular present tense of the auxiliary verb "do" + infinitive verb form of "to leave"

This question is being asked in the present.

Does he lift weights tonight?


3. Sarah's just left, I'm afraid.

Present Perfect

Auxiliary verb "has" + adverb of time "just" + past particple (base verb + "-t")

This sentence is about an action that happened in the immediate past and is completed at the time of speaking.

He's just washed his car.


4. They're flying to India next month.

Present Continuous

Auxiliary verb "to be" + present participle (base verb + "-ing") + adverb of time

This sentence is about a planned arrangement that will happen in the future.

Her mother's acting in a play tomorrow evening.


5. Julia was crossing at the time of the accident.

Past Continuous

Auxiliary verb "to be" + present participle (base verb + "-ing")

This sentence takes place in the past and continued in the past but not until the present. also, this action was occuring at the time the sentence is referring to.

Adam was sleeping when the telephone rang.


6. Brian's still working for the company as far as I know.

Present Continuous

Auxiliary verb "to be" + adverb of time + present participle (base verb + "-ing")

This sentence is about an action that has been happening in the past and is now happening and will likely continue to happen in the future. It is a continuing state of affairs.

She's still studying for her exams.


7. We'd already eaten by the time Tom arrived.

Past perfect simple

Auxiliary verb "had" + adverb of time " past participle (base verb + "-n")

In this sentence an action occured before another action that also happened in the past (compared to the time of speaking).

I'd already lost my wallet by the time we got on the train.


Again, thank you for any help you might provide. And curses to the school system that left me with poor grammar skills.

[Penthesilea]

Example #2 is just plain awkward. I would ask "Does he lift weights regularly?" You can better express your example as "Is he going to lift weights tonight?" which IMO sounds better than what you have.

#4 leaves a lot to be desired. I'd say "We're picnicking this weekend despite the forecast."

[Arrmani]

It looks like the homework was already done and he just wants it checked.

Anyway, sorry I can't help, last time I had a grammar class was in high school. I'd hate to take another one.

[Darus Grey]

And curses to the school system that left me with poor grammar skills.

As opposed to the school that is currently teaching you an incorrect one?

As for the actual question, it's "correct enough" for the framework you're working within.

[aduidarnenye]

Example #2 is just plain awkward. I would ask "Does he lift weights regularly?" You can better express your example as "Is he going to lift weights tonight?" which IMO sounds better than what you have.

#4 leaves a lot to be desired. I'd say "We're picnicking this weekend despite the forecast."

I'll work on the ones you suggest. Thank you very much for helping.

[drwaffles]

I'm working on an assignment for a course I'm taking that is grammar.

From the looks of this sentence I'd say you're screwed.

[Shibo]

Future Simple

There is no tense such as "future" within English Grammar. I know it sounds weird, but there isn't. I took a grammar class last year for a language credit (I didn't want to take a foreign language) and will try and find my notebook. I know we went over all the specifics of everything you are doing.

Well I cannot find my notes, but I found some online that aren't terrible. In 4, 5, and 6 "continuous" should be participial phrases, unless your teacher specifically wants you to call them "continuous".

This link will open a word document with notes on participial phrases: legacy.lclark.edu/~anholt/ethics/unit8ParticipialPhrases.doc

In the notes, my teacher referred to what they call active participial phrases as present participial phrases and passive participles as past participial phrases. Different teachers have preferences for what you want to call these.

The rest looks alright from what I have read of it, except for something minor in #3. Small stuff like adverbs, adjectives, and prepositional phrases can be looked over and typically get in the way of trying to break down a sentence structure. In #3 for example, "Sarah's just left, I'm afraid." you don't need to make a note of "just" when discussing tensity, as "Sarah has just left." = "Sarah has left".

[Darus Grey]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_tense

[aduidarnenye]

There is no tense such as "future" within English Grammar. I know it sounds weird, but there isn't. I took a grammar class last year for a language credit (I didn't want to take a foreign language) and will try and find my notebook. I know we went over all the specifics of everything you are doing.

Well I cannot find my notes, but I found some online that aren't terrible. In 4, 5, and 6 "continuous" should be participial phrases, unless your teacher specifically wants you to call them "continuous".

This link will open a word document with notes on participial phrases: legacy.lclark.edu/~anholt/ethics/unit8ParticipialPhrases.doc

In the notes, my teacher referred to what they call active participial phrases as present participial phrases and passive participles as past participial phrases. Different teachers have preferences for what you want to call these.

The rest looks alright from what I have read of it, except for something minor in #3. Small stuff like adverbs, adjectives, and prepositional phrases can be looked over and typically get in the way of trying to break down a sentence structure. In #3 for example, "Sarah's just left, I'm afraid." you don't need to make a note of "just" when discussing tensity, as "Sarah has just left." = "Sarah has left".

Thank you very much. This was very helpful. I'm going over my work right now.