ENGLISH TOPICS

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates a meaning different from the original verb alone.

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary.

Example :
To get  =  to obtain	I need to get a new battery for my camera.
To get together  =  to meet	Why don’t we all get together for lunch one day?

Phrasal verbs are part of a large group of verbs called “multi-part” or "multi-word” verbs.
The preposition or adverb that follows the verb is sometimes called a particle.

Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language.
However, they are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts. They should be
avoided in academic writing where it is preferable to use a formal verb such as “to postpone”
rather than “to put off”.

 Simple Past Structure

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

Positive

Regular Verbs

Subject

+

Verb

+

ED or D

Irregular Verbs

Subject

+

Irregular Verb

Examples:

She worked all last year for a company called Kudos.
I lived in Madrid for a year in the 1990s.

but

She went to work by bus last week.
I wrote him a long letter.

If the verb finishes with "e", just add a "d", otherwise add "ed".

Past Continuous / Past Progressive

The Past Continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the past. The action started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. 

Structure

Positive form

Subject + was/were + (-ing) + Complement

Examples:

–          Michael was watching the World Cup  match.
–          They were working all night long.
–          Josh and Silvia were talking about getting married.

Negative form

Subject + wasn’t/weren’t + (-ing) + Complement

Examples:

–          John wasn’t eating because he was feeling sick.
–          Jeff wasn’t watching TV.
–          My parents weren’t having a good time because it was very cold in Canada

Question Form

(Question Word) + was/were + Subject + (-ing) + Complement

–          What were you doing last night at around 8:00pm?
–          Was Jim doing his homework?
–          Were they sleeping all morning?

Conclusions:

-The complete structure: (TABLE #1)

– Past continuous is very similar IN STRUCTURE to the Present Continuous tense. The only difference is that in the present continuous we use the verb to be in the present (am/is/are) but with the past continuous we use the verb to be in the past (was/were)

Compare (TABLE #2)

Present Continuous	Past Continuous
They are  writing	They were writing
Pedro isn’t eating	Pedro wasn’t eating
Where is he staying?	Where was he staying?

–          We do not use the auxiliary DID with the past continuous.

Had Better

We use “had better” plus the infinitive without “to”  to give advice. Although “had” is the past form of “have”, we use “had better” to give advice about the present or future.

·        You'd better tell her everything.

·        I'd better get back to work.

·        We'd better meet early.

The negative form is “had better not”.

·        You'd better not say anything.

·        I'd better not come.

·        We'd better not miss the start of his presentation.

We use “had better” to give advice about specific situations, not general ones. If you want to talk about general situations, you must use “should”.

·        You should brush your teeth before you go to bed.

·        I shouldn't listen to negative people.

·        He should dress more appropriately for the office.

When we give advice about specific situations, it is also possible to use “should”.

·        You shouldn't say anything.

·        I should get back to work.

·        We should meet early.

However, when we use “had better” there is a suggestion that if the advice is not followed, that something bad will happen.

·        You'd better do what I say or else you will get into trouble.

·        I'd better get back to work or my boss will be angry with me.

·        We'd better get to the airport by five or else we may miss the flight.

TEAM

FILIO MALDONADO JULIO CESAR

GUERRABAHENA GASPAR

HERNANDEZ  HERNANDEZ LIZETH ANAY

JIMENEZMAQUEDAMARIA LUISA

LOPEZ CALDERON BRENDA ITZEL

MARQUEZ MONTALVO I. ALEJANDRO

PREZA ESPINOSA ISANAYA

VAZQUEZ AIDE VERONICA