English Composition/Sentence Writing (Part 1)

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English Composition ＞ Sentence Writing (Part 1)

Sentence Writing (Part 1)

Overview

It is important to write sentences in a concise and easy-to-understand manner. Generally, one paragraph is created by putting together 5 to 8 sentences in order.

Formal sentences do not use contractions such as I'm, I've, don't, I'll, etc. (Used in spoken sentences such as conversations and emails.)

Sentence writing is available in chapters 5 to 8. Expression of tense in Part 1, usage of auxiliary verbs, expression of passive and active in Part 2, usage of the article, usage of conjunction and preposition in Part 3, expression of adjective and adverb in Part 4 - Word order and position Learn about subject-verb matches and punctuation marks. Examples and exercises are provided for each item. The test questions are a mix of practice questions.

Details of each item will be omitted, so please refer to the grammar index list:

• Tenses
• Modals
• Passive and Active Voice
• Articles
• Conjunctions and Prepositions
• Adjectives and Adverbs -Word Order-
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Punctuation

Tenses

Present tense and Present Continuous tense

Present tense is used to express everyday things, conditions, and actions, or to state facts. It does not matter if it is in progress at the moment.

Example:

□ I get up at 7:00 every morning.

□ I know that Hiro speaks English very well.（Note: Don't forget the "-s")

□ The earth goes around the sun.

do / does are used in questions and negative sentences.

□ What do you do?

Note: The present progress form meaning "What are you doing now?"

□　It does not rain very much in the Middle East Countries.

Use the progressive form to express an ongoing thing, condition, or action that has already begun and is not yet finished. It is also used to represent things, conditions, and actions that occur in the near future (today, tonight, this week, etc.) and to represent changes that are happening.

Example:

□ Alex is a student at the college and studying Japanese.

□ I'm talking to my friend on the phone right now.

□ We can go out now. It is not raining anymore.

□ The population of Southeast Asia is rising fast.

Past tense and Past Continuous tense

We use Past tense to describe past actions, events, and conditions at a certain point in time. The event or condition that occurred is complete at that time and has no effect on the present.

Example:

□ Ludwig van Beethoven was a German musician and composer. He lived from 1770 to 1827 and wrote many outstanding pieces of music.

Use did / did not (didn't) in questions and negative sentences.

□ I did not do anything wrong.

Note: "do" is the main verb

□ ”Did you have time to study last night?”　”No, I did not.”

We use the Past Continuous tense to describe actions, events, or conditions that have been ongoing for a certain period of time in the past.

Example:

□ ”What were you doing at 10 o'clock yesterday morning?”　”I was playing tennis with my friend.”

When something happens while you are doing something, you may use both Past tense and Past Continuous tense in a single sentence.

Example:

□ I was walking home last night when I saw the accident.

□ Kei burned her finger while she was cooking.

Present Perfect tense and Present Perfect Continuous tense

Compare the differences:

□ It has rained. (Present Perfect tense)

□ It has been raining. (Present Perfect Continuous tense)

Use Present Perfect tense when past actions, experiences, and conditions are ongoing or affecting to the present. It is often accompanied by adverbs such as Just, already, yet, before and once, and prepositions such as since and for.

Example:

□ He has already submitted the report to his class teacher.

In this case, a simple past form is also acceptable → "He already submitted the report to his class teacher."

□ We haven't seen each other for a long time.

□ “Have you ever been to Europ?” “Yes, I've been totally once.”

□ Ellen has lost her cell phone again. It is the second time this has happened.

Present Perfect Continuous tense is an expression when certain actions or conditions that have been in the past have recently or just ended and are affecting the present, or are continuing. It is often accompanied by how long, for, or since.

Example:

□　Maria and I have been talking to Ms.Chen about the project, and she agrees with us.

□　Maria has been studying English for three years.

□ How long have you been studying English?

Past Perfect tense and Past Perfect Continuous tense

The Past Perfect tense expresses the movement, experience, and state before a certain point in the past, or until a certain point in the past.

Example:

□　I had just gotten home when you called. I had been at my parents home.

□　I didn't know who he was. I had never talked with him before that time.

The past perfection form represents what happened to a certain point in the past or before a certain point in the past.

Example:

□　The sun was shining when I got up this morning, but the ground was very wet. It had been raining.

□　We had been playing soccer for an hour when it started to rain.

used to (do)

It is used to indicate that we have been on a daily basis at a certain time in the past but not now, and that it was a fact at some time in the past but not now.

Example:

□　I used to jog every morning with my dog, but I don't do as much now.

□　There used to be a pharmacy next to the hospital, but it closed a year ago.

Question form = did (you) used to...? Negative form = did not/didn't used to...

Future Expression tense

We use the Present Continuous tense for personal future actions that have already been established at the present time, and the present form for public timetables, etc. Let's compare with example sentences.

Example:

□ I'm meeting Ken at the library at 10:00 tomorrow morning.

□　The library opens at 10:00 tomorrow morning.

□ What time are you leaving tomorrow?

□ What time does the train leave tomorrow?

The future expressed in 'Will'

If we propose something/agree with something/promise something/decide to do something, we use it when guessing the future.

Example:

□ This assignment looks too much to do. I'll help you with it.

□ “Will you close the window?” “Yes, I will.”

□ “Don't worry. I won't(will not) tell anyone what happened.”

□ I'm tired. I don't think I'll go out tonight.

□ If you don't study hard, you probably won't(will not) pass the exam.

The question of Shall I/we ...? is used when making suggestions or recommendations when asking the other party's intention.

□ Shall I close the door?

□ Where shall we go for dinner tonight?

Exercise 1

Choose from a group of words and answer so that it is correct.

1. I think my English （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）better.
2. The restaurant （＿＿＿＿）at 10:00 a.m. and （＿＿＿＿）at 10:00 p.m. every day.
3. The tour （＿＿＿＿）very expensive. It （＿＿＿＿）very much.
4. We （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）lunch at the Italian restaurant when Akira （＿＿＿＿）.
5. We （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）for him more than 30 minutes.
6. This is the most interesting game I (＿＿＿＿) ever (＿＿＿＿).
7. I went to Hong Kong last year. I （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿） there before.
8. Jim was angry with me because I was late and he （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿） for a long time.
9. Ann is not home now, I think she （＿＿＿＿） back in half an hour.
10. “What are you doing on Friday evening?” “（＿＿＿＿＿＿）to eat out with my girlfriend.”

Word group:

（is getting）（had never been / 'd never been） （opens）（had been waiting） （was not / wasn't）（I'm going）（closes）（did not cost/didn't cost） （were having） (played)（will be） （arrived） (have / 've) （have been waiting / 've been waiting）

→ Exercise1 Answer

Modals

With verbs, it expresses possibilities, abilities, permits, obligations, prohibitions, needs, requests, suggestions/proposals, inferences, and so on.

can, could, (be) able to

can / could express the current / past capability

Example:

□ Mary can sing, but she can't play any musical instruments.

□ I couldn't finish my homework lastnight, because I fell asleep.

can / could express the current / past possibility

Example:

□ I can come and help you this weekend if you want to.

□ We could take a trip if we had enough time and money.　

can / could express the current / future request

Example:

□ Can you speak a little slower? I can't keep up with you.

□ Could I have another cup of coffee?

can expresses the current / future permission

Example:

□ You can't use my bicycle to go to school tomorrow. I need it.

□ Can I turn off the TV? I want to concentrate on my homework.

"(be) able to" express the possibility/ability

Sometimes (be) able to is used instead of can / could. 'can is more common, but we can only use (be) able to depending on the tense, because "can" only has the present and the past.

Example:

□ Mr.Zulch, a German research doctor, can speak four languages.

= Mr.Zulch, a German research doctor, is able to speak four languages.

□ You won't(will not) be able to make the connecting flight to Tokyo.

□ I haven't(have not) been able to sleep well in these days.

Also, we use was / were able to instead of could when expressing what happened under special circumstances.

□ The earthquake occurred just after midnight local time, but everybody was able to escape.

could have (done)

Express what could not be realized despite the possibility.

□ I could have gotten a better grade if I made more effort.

□ It could have been even worse.

must, have to

must expresses the sure guess

Example:

□ The weather was very nice during their vacation, so they must have had a good time.

□ Nobody answers the phone. They must not be home.

must expresses the present and future obligations and required actions

Example:

□ You must wear a seat belt when you are in a car.

□ This application form must be mailed by today.

have to and must

"have to" is not an auxiliary verb, but it expresses duties and needs in the same way as "must". Use "do (not) / does (not) / did (not)" for questions and negative sentences. Also, since "must" can be used only in the present and future, use "had to" when in the past.

Example:

□ Julie has to take her mother to the hospital this morning.

□ You don't have to use public transportation to work. You can walk.

□ This application form had to be mailed by yesterday.

□ What do I have to do to get a letter of recommendation?　

Note: must not (mustn't) has a different meaning of don't / doesn't have to

Example:

□ You must not go out now.

□ You don't have to go out now.

may, might

may / might express the permission

It is more common to use can.

□ You may not go out alone after 10 o'clock at night.

□ Might I ask you some questions?

may / might express the possibilities and guesses

It contains more indeterminacy than be going to or will.

□ Alex may be / might be able to give you a chance to get some part-time job.

□ It may not / might not be true.

In the past tense, we use the form may / might + have done.

□ I can't find my umbrella anywhere. I might / may have left it somewhere last night,

could has a similar meaning.

□ It could be true.

□ I can't find my umbrella anywhere. I could have left it somewhere last night,

may be and maybe

Do not confuse may (auxiliary verbs) + be (verbs) with maybe (adverbs) representing uncertainty.

□ My father may be outside. (OK)

□ My father maybe outside. (NG)

should, ought to, had better

should is often used with and think (I think, I don't think, Do you think ...).

should expresses opinions, recommendations, and advice.

□ I think you should visit your parents more often.

□ I think you should apply for this job.

□ I think you should have applied for this job.

should expresses things what should be / should do what

□ I don't think the price on this tag is right. It should be $19.50, not $29.50.

□ The government should not raise taxes at this time of the year.

should is similar to must, but is softer than must.

□ You should apologize.

□ You must apologize.

ought to

ought is the same as should, but must be set to. It is not used in the negative form. (should not be used)

□ Allen has been studying hard for the exam, so he ought to / should pass.

□ You ought to / should wash your car before dark.

had better (I'd better, you'd better...)

It is used in spoken language, similar in meaning to should / ought to, but not necessarily the same. should be is usable in all cases, but had better is used in specific situations and where problems may occur if you do not follow the advice. That negative form is had better not ('d better not).

□ I have to meet Yuki at 5 o'clock. I'd better go now or I'll be late.

□ We'd better take an umbrella. It might rain later.

□ You'd better not be late.(or they will be angry).

would

would expresses the meaning of "it will be ... / to be ... / intend(ed) to ...".

□ Emy said she would go there alone.

□ It would be nice to buy a new smartphone, but I can't afford it.

□ We didn't invite them to the party. They would not have come anyway.

would expresses suggestions and wishes politely.

□ I would like to get some information about hotels in Tokyo, please.

□ “Would you like to have lunch with us on Sunday?” “Yes, I'd love to.”

□ Would it be possible for you to see me on Monday morning at 10 o'clock?

would expresses habits and repetitive behaviors for a certain period of time in the past

□ When we were small, we would go sledding and skating every winter.

□ My father would often comes back home very late at night.

期待（～だといいのに）を表現するI wish... would /wouldn't

I wish ... / would / wouldn't expresses expectations (even though it is good).

□ I wish Emy would come.

□ I wish he would notalways leave the door open. It bothers me.

will, won't の過去形で使うwould, wouldn't

would / wouldn'ｔ to use in the past tense of will / won't

□ I promise I won't be late. →I promised that I wouldn't be late.

□ Ann:” I will call her and tell her the truth.” →Ann said she would call her and tell her the truth.

Exercise 2

Choose from a group of words and answer so that it is correct.

1. What are you doing here? You （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）in school right now, （＿＿＿＿＿） you?
2. If you （＿＿＿＿）find her in the office, she （＿＿＿＿）attending the conference.
3. I （＿＿＿＿）rather go to Europe than the U.S. for summer vacation.
4. Peter will not （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）attend the meeting on Wednesday since he is out on a business trip this week.
5. You （＿＿＿＿）have gotten that shirt at the outlet for a lower price!
6. It （＿＿＿＿＿）appreciated if you（＿＿＿＿）mail me back by Friday.
7. It's 10:00 already. I（＿＿＿＿＿）call my mother before she starts worrying too much.
8. Barbara（＿＿＿＿＿＿）come to school tomorrow.
9. （＿＿＿＿＿）you help me move next weekend?

   It looks like rain. You（＿＿＿＿＿）take an umbrella with you.

Word group:

（should be）（could）（would be）（may not / might not）（Can / Could） （shouldn't）（be able to）（can / would）（should）（can't）（would）

→ Exercise2 Answer

Related Links

• English Grammar: a complete guide - Edufind
• Oxford Dictionaries

CAI Exercise

• Go to CAI Exercise page