English Composition/Sentence Writing (Part 1)
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English Composition ＞ Sentence Writing (Part 1)
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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 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.
- □ What do you do?
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 collage and studying Japanese.
- □ I'm talking to my friend on the phone right now.
- □ We can go out now. It isn't 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 an 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 didn't do anything wrong.
- Note: "do" is the main verb
- □ ”Did you have time to study last night?” ”No, I didn't.”
- □ I didn't do anything wrong.
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 to Itary once.”
- □ Ellen has lost her cell phone again. It is the second time this has happened.
- □ He has already submitted the report to his class teacher.
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.
- I think my English （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）better.
- The restaurant （＿＿＿＿）at 10:00a.m. and （＿＿＿＿）at 10:00p.m. every day.
- The tour （＿＿＿＿）very expensive. It （＿＿＿＿）very much.
- We （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）lunch at the Italian restaurant when Akira （＿＿＿＿）.
- We （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）for him more than 30 minutes.
- This is the most interesting game I (＿＿＿＿) ever (＿＿＿＿).
- I went to Hong Kong last year. I （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿） there before.
- Jim was angly with me because I was late and he （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿） for a long time.
- Ann is not home now, I think she （＿＿＿＿） back in half an hour .
- “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）
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.
- □ Mr.Zulch, a German research doctor, can 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 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 answer 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はしばしばとthink(I think, I don't think, Do you think...)と共に使われます。
意見、提言、忠告、助言などを表現するshould
□ I think you should visit your parents more often. （もう少し頻繁にご両親を訪ねたほうがいいと思います。）
□ I think you should apply for this job. （君はこの仕事に応募したほうがいいと思う。）
□ I think you should have applied for this job. （君がこの仕事に応募すれば良かった のにと思う。）
～するべき、～であるべきを表現するshould
□ I don't think the price on this tag is right. It should be $19.50, not $29.50. （このタグの価格は正しくないと思う。$29.50ではなく$19.50であるはずだ。）
□ The government should not raise taxes at this time of the year. （政府はこの時点で税を引き上げるべきではない。）
＊shouldはmustと似ていますが、mustよりもやわらかい表現になります。
□ You should apologize.（謝ったほうがいい。）
□ You must apologize,（誤らなければならない。）
ought to
oughtはshouldと同じですが必ずtoとセットにします。 また否定形では使われません。（should notを用います）
□ Allen has been studying hard for the exam, so he ought to / should pass. （Allen は一生懸命試験勉強をしてきたのできっとパスするはずだ。）
□ You ought to / should wash your car before dark. （日が暮れる前に車を洗ったほうがいい。）
had better (I'd better, you'd better...)
口語表現で用います。 shouldや ought to と意味が似ていますが、必ずしも同じではありません。shouldはあらゆるケースに使用可能ですが、had better は特定的な状態で使われ、忠告に従わないと問題が起こるような場合で用いられます。 否定形は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. （５時に Yukiに会わなければならない。もう行かないと遅れてしまう。）
□ We'd better take an umbrella. It might rain later. （傘を持っていったほうがいい。後で雨が降るかもしれない。）
□ You'd better not be late.(or they will be angry). （遅刻しないように。遅れると彼らは怒るよ。）
would
～だろう、～であろうに、～するつもりだ（だった）を表現するwould
□ Emy said she would go there alone. （Emy は一人でそこへ行くつもりだと言った。）
□ It would be nice to buy a new smartphone, but I can't afford it. （新しいスマフォを買えればいいけど（高すぎて)買えないな。）
□ We didn't invite them to the party. They wouldn't have come anyway. （パーティに招待しなかったけど、いずれにしても彼らは来なかっただろう。）
提案や希望を丁寧に表現するときのwould
□ I would like to get some information about hotels in Tokyo, please. （東京のホテルについての情報をいただきたいのですが。）
□ “Would you like to have lunch with us on Sunday?” “Yes, I'd love to.” （”日曜日のランチを一緒にいかがですか？はい、ご一緒させていただきたいです。”）
□ Would it be possible for you to see me on Monday morning at 10 o'clock ? （月曜日の朝１０時にお会いすることは可能でしょうか。）
過去の一定の期間の習慣や反復行動（～したものだ）を表現するときのwould
□ When we were small, we would go sledding and skating every winter. （私たちが子供のころ、毎年冬にはそり滑りやスケートに行ったものだ。）
□ My father would often comes back home very late at night. （父はしばしば夜とても遅い時間に帰宅したものだ。）
期待（～だといいのに）を表現するI wish... would /wouldn't
□ I wish Emy would come. （Emyが来てくれればいいのに。）
□ I wish he wouldn't always leave the door open. It bothers me. （彼がいつもドアを開けっ放しでおくのはやめて欲しい。気になるんだ。）
will, won't の過去形で使うwould, wouldn't
□ I promise I won't be late. →I promised that I wouldn't be late. （遅れないと約束します/しました。）
□ Ann:” I will call her and tell her the truth.” →Ann said she would call her and tell her the truth. （Ann:”彼女に電話して本当のことを話すわ。” / Annは彼女に電話して本当のことを話すと言った。）
練習問題２（助動詞の使い方）
日本語の意味になるようにカッコ( ）を埋めなさい。
- ここで何しているの。学校に居なくてはいけない時間でしょ。
- → What are you doing here? You （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）in school right now, （＿＿＿＿＿） you?
- オフィスに居なかったら彼女は会議に出席しているに違いない。
- → If you （＿＿＿＿）find her in the office, she （＿＿＿＿）attending the conference.
- 夏休みにはどちらかといえばアメリカよりもヨーロッパへ行きたい。
- → I （＿＿＿＿）rather go to Europe than U.S. for summer vacation.
- Peterは今週出張しているので水曜日の会議には出られないだろう。
- → Peter will not （＿＿＿＿＿＿＿）attend the meeting on Wednesday since he is out on a business trip this week.
- あのシャツ、アウトレットでもっと安く買えたのに！
- → You （＿＿＿＿）have gotten that shirt at the outlet for lower price!
- 金曜日までにメールで返事をいただければ幸いです。
- → It （＿＿＿＿＿）appreciated if you（＿＿＿＿）mail me back by Friday.
- もう１０時だ。あまり心配しないうちに母に電話をしなければ。
- → It's 10:00 already. I（＿＿＿＿＿）call my mother before she starts worrying too much.
- バーバラは明日学校に来ないかもしれない。
- → Barbara（＿＿＿＿＿＿）come to school tomorrow.
- 来週末に引越しを手伝ってもらえますか？
- → （＿＿＿＿＿）you help me move next weekend?
- 雨になりそうだから傘を持っていったほうがいいですよ。
- → It looks like rain. You（＿＿＿＿＿）take an umbrella with you
→ 解答はこちら
