I’m going to see my sister at the weekend. Are you going to marry Paul?
Form:
1) The form of the positive and negative sentences and questions is shown below.
Positive
| I | am / ‘m | going to | verb (infinitive form) |
| you | are / ‘re | ||
| he / she / it | is / ‘s | ||
| we | are / ‘re | ||
| they | are / ‘re |
Negative
| I | ‘m not | going to | verb (infinitive form) |
| you | aren’t OR ‘re not | ||
| he / she / it | isn’t OR ‘s not | ||
| we | aren’t OR ‘re not | ||
| they | aren’t OR ‘re not |
Questions
| Am | I | going to | verb (infinitive form) ? |
| Are | you | ||
| Is | he / she / it | ||
| Are | we | ||
| Are | they |
2) The short reply to a ‘be going to’ question is ‘Yes, I am’, ‘Yes, she is’ etc. You cannot contract these short sentences.
Yes, he’s. => Yes, he is.
The short negative replies are:
No, I’m not.
No, you’re not / No, you aren’t.
No, he’s not / No he isn’t. No, she’s not / No she isn’t. No, it’s not / no it isn’t.
No, we’re not / No, we aren’t.
No, they’re not / No, they aren’t.
Common mistakes:
1) Some students forget to add the verb ’be’ before ‘going to’.
I going to see my friends tonight. => I’m going to see my friends tonight.
2) Some students forget to invert the subject and be in questions.
What time you are going to leave? => What timeare you going to leave?
Uncountable Nouns
Use:
Some nouns are countable – you can count them. These include:
apples, books, cars, trees
Some nouns are uncountable – you cannot count them. These include:
water, oil, rice, fruit, bread, information, money
Uncountable nouns have different grammar rules from countable nouns.
| countable singular nouns e.g. apple | countable plural nouns e.g. apples | uncountable nouns e.g. fruit |
| Singular countable nouns always need a determiner: a, this, that, my, the etc. Look at that cat! Can I have an apple? Is this your bag? | Plural countable nouns do not need a determiner. I like apples. Dogs are friendly. But they can be used with determiners: Where are my shoes? Are those pens yours? | Uncountable nouns do not need a determiner. I like fruit. But they can use singular determiners: This fruit is nice. |
| You can count countable nouns. Can I have five apples please? |
You cannot count uncountable nouns. | |
| Use singular verbs and determiners. This apple is nice. | Use plural verbs and determiners. These apples are nice. | Use singular verbs and determiners. This bread is nice. |
| Some determiners can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. some, a lot of, lots of, loads of, plenty of, any We’ve got some potatoes. We need some bread. We don’t have any potatoes. We don’t have any bread. | ||
| Some determiners can only be used with countable nouns: several, various, a few, many | Some determiners can only be used with uncountable nouns: much, a bit of, a little |
Would like/ like
Use:
1) Would like means want, but it is more polite.
You can use it in sentences and questions.
I’d like a biscuit.
Would you like some tea?
2) You can also use it to talk about your dreams and ambitions.
I’d like to go to Japan.
I wouldn’t like to live here!
You can also use I’d love and I’d hate to talk about dreams.
I’d hate to live in the countryside.
I’d love to work with Simon.
Form:
1) Would like is the same for all persons.
I would like some tea.
You would like some tea.
He / she / James would like some tea.
We would like some tea.
They / our clients would like some tea.
2) To make questions, invertthe subjectandwould.
Would you / James / your clients like some tea?
3) Use wouldn’t to make the negative form.
I wouldn’t like to work there.
4) Would like can be followed by a noun or to + verb.
noun: Would you like a biscuit?
verb: Would you like to go to Malaysia?
5) In positive sentences, you can contract would to ‘d.
I would like to go to the USA. => I’d like to go to the USA.
But NOT in negative sentences:
I’dn’t like to work in a factory. => I wouldn’t like to work in a factory.
And NOT in short answers:
Would you like to have a horse?
Yes, I’d. => Yes, I would.
6) Be careful not to confuse would like and like.
Use like to talk about things you like all the time.
I like chocolate cake. It’s my favourite food.
Use would like to talk about things you want now, or at some time in the future.
I’d like a cup of coffee please.
I’d like to work in a chocolate factory.
Imperative Forms
Use:
Use the imperative form to give instructions, orders and warnings.
Must is often used in signs and notices to give instructions.
Form:
1) Do not use a subject when giving orders.
You wash your hands. => Wash your hands.
Always use the infinitive form of the verb, without to.
To sit down please. => Sit down please.
Use Don’t to make the negative form.
Don’t sit there!
2) Written instructions on signs often use Do not, not Don’t.
Do not cross this line.
3) When giving instructions to a friend, you can soften the order by using ‘you’. However, this is usually only done in spoken English.
First you put the mixture into a bowl, and then you add two eggs. Then you whisk it.
4) Some written signs use Must / Must not.
All visitors must wear a badge.
Passengers must not talk to the driver.
Notice how plural nouns (visitors / passengers) are generally used in signs.
Common mistakes:
1) Some students use to after Don’t / Must
Don’t to go in that door. => Don’t go in that door.