ngu phap tieng anh

The Passive Voice

In other sections, you have seen verbs used in the active voice. The passive voice is sometimes used in English as well. With the active voice, the agent or subject comes before the verb. With the passive, the subject (either stated or implied) follows the verb and is usually preceded with the word by:

ACTIVE:

--The doctor wrote a prescription.

PASSIVE

--The prescription was written by the doctor.

NOTE: In the passive, the object of the active verb becomes the subject.

To make the passive, use the appropriate form of the verb to be + past participle. Only transitive verbs are used in the passive:

ACTIVE: Fred helps Jane.

PASSIVE: Jane is helped by Fred.

ACTIVE: He is helping her.

PASSIVE: She is being helped by him.

ACTIVE: He has helped her.

PASSIVE: She has been helped by him.

ACTIVE: He helped her.

PASSIVE: She was helped by him.

ACTIVE: He was helping her.

PASSIVE: She was being helped by him.

ACTIVE: He had helped her.

PASSIVE: She had been helped by him.

ACTIVE: He will help her.

PASSIVE: She will be helped by him.

ACTIVE: He is going to help her.

PASSIVE: She is going to be helped by him.

Usually the by phrase is omitted in a passive sentence. The passive is used mainly when it is not known or not important to know who was responsible for the action:

--The house was built in 1960.

(The by phrase is left out because it is understood that builders

built the house).

Using A Few, Few, A Little, and Little

A few and few are used with plural count nouns:

--a few friends, few ideas, a few things to do, etc.

A little and little are used with noncount nouns:

--little money, a little rain, a little wind, etc.

NOTE: Few and little give a negative idea, conveying the notion that something is largely absent:

--They have very little money.
--We have few options remaining.

NOTE: A few and a little give a positive idea, indicating that something exists or is present:

--I have a little free time today.
--Do you have a few moments?
 

Placement of Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives and adverbs are invariable in English. Adjectives always come in front of the noun they modify. Adverbs usually come after the verb they modify.

ADJECTIVES:

a good book
an excellent dinner
a fine wine
a charming person
a hot day
an unreasonable person

ADVERBS:

--This newspaper is published frequently.
--The Immigration Agent is speaking quickly.
 Forms of Other

Forms of other are used as either adjectives or pronouns:

Note that a final -s is used only for a plural pronoun (others). Another means one more in addition to the one(s) already mentioned. Other/others (without the) refer to several more in addition to the one(s) already mentioned. The other(s) has a different meaning (all that remains from a given number or specific group):

--I have three apartments. Two are mine. The other is yours.

Indefinite and Definite Articles

There is no need to worry about whether a noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter in English. Normally, a noun is preceded by a definite article (THE) or an indefinite article (A, AN) as follows:

DEFINITE ARTICLE

the tourist
the area
the card
the hotel
the restaurant
the people
the signs
 
INDEFINITE ARTICLE

a tourist
an area
a card
a hotel
a restaurant
some people
some signs
 
Note that definite articles refer to something specific, while indefinite articles refer to something non-specific. Use an in front of words beginning with vowels and some with plural nouns.
 

Using Some and Any

In English the words some and any are used before plural nouns: some money, some dollars, any change, etc.

However, it is often possible to leave out the word some in declarative sentences:

--We have (some) checks.

--Mr. Roberts gives them (some) money.

The word any is usually used in questions and negations to replace some:

--Do you have any change?

--Do you have some change?

--They don't have any friends.

Imperatives (The Command Form)

It is simple to use the imperative or command form in English. When a command is directed at someone else, use the you form of the simple present tense:

--You take the elevator.
-->Take the elevator.

(Simply drop the subject you.)

If the command includes you and others, use the we form:

--We take our luggage.
-->Let's take the luggage.

(Drop the subject we and add let's [let us].)

Using Comparisons

There are two ways to make a comparison in English.

1.) Use more in front of the adjective.

--It's more exciting.

2.) Add -er to end of the adjective.

--A bus is cheaper than a taxi.

To complete a comparison, use than.

--I am older than my wife.

For most one-syllable adjectives, use -er: older, wiser, etc. For most two and three-syllable adjectives, use more: more recent. For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, use -er. Note that the y is changed to i in words such as busy (busier) and pretty (prettier).

It is sometimes hard to decide whether to use more or -er in a comparison. In fact, there are many common adjectives that use either form (such as able, angry, cruel, friendly, polite, quiet, simple, etc.). Listening and practice with speaking the language will help you more than any number of rules. Finally, note the following irregular forms:

good-->better
little-->less
bad-->worse
far-->farther

Adverbs can also be used in comparisons. More is used with adverbs that end in -ly:

slowly-->more slowly
careful-->more carefully

Use -er with one-syllable adverbs: faster, harder, sooner, closer, etc.

Note these irregular forms:

well-->better
far-->farther
badly-->worse
 

Using Conjunctions

Here are some conjunctions that are frequently used in subordinate clauses:
 

When a conjunction is used with a subordinate clause, the construction is called an adverbial clause.

Here are some adverbial clauses that relate to time:

--After we leave the bank, we'll spend the money.

--When they arrived, they sat down to dinner.

--We haven't seen her since she left.

And here are clauses that show cause and effect relationships:

--Since you didn't call, I made other plans.

--He went to bed, because he was tired.

Another way to show a cause and effect relationship is to use such... that and so... that:

--It was such a nice evening that they stayed up too late.

--The lemonade was so cold that she couldn't drink

Using When

Previously, you learned how to use when in questions:

--When are you leaving?

When can also be used in a dependent clause:

--I forgot the date when you arrived.

In the latter example, when is used to refer to a noun of time (i.e., a day, week, month, etc.)

In time clauses, it is also possible to use that or which preceded by a preposition:

--I forgot the date that you arrived.

--I forgot the date on which you arrived.

No preposition is needed with that.

Note how two sentences are combined using when:

--I'll always remember the day she was born. She was born then (on that day).

--I'll always remember the day when she was born.

Using Where

Earlier in this course, you learned how to use where in questions:

--Where are you going?

Where can also be used in a dependent clause:

--I see the house where they live.

In the latter example, where is used to refer to a place, such as a city, state, country, room, etc.

NOTE: In dependent clauses, where can be replaced with in which, which ... in, that ... in, or nothing at all:

--The building where they work is new.
--The building in which they work is new.
--The building, which they work in, is new.
--The building that they work in is new.
--The building they work in is new.

Contractions

You will want to learn how to use contractions as soon as possible. Contractions are used constantly in informal English. Examples of contracted subject/verb forms are:

TO BE:

I am-->I'm
he is-->he's
we are-->we're
you are-->you're
they are-->they're

TO HAVE:

I have-->I've
we have-->we've
you have-->you've
they have-->they've

Contractions are frequently used with compound forms of verbs, especially the progressive or continuous form of the present tense (I'm going. / We're leaving.) and the present perfect forms (I've received the letter. / They've already left.)

A later lesson will deal with the compound forms of verbs in greater length

Exclamations!

Most exclamations in English are preceded by what or how:

--What terrible weather!
--How awful!

What is used much more frequently than how in everyday language.

Exclamations can be as brief as one or two words (What a mess!) or as long as a sentence:

--What a way to end my vacation!

NOTE: Don't forget that what and how are most frequently used in questions:

--What did you say?
--How much does it cost?
 Asking Questions

In English, you can ask simple yes/no questions by either inverting the subject and verb or by using rising intonation:

--We can change money here.
(simple, declarative statement)

--Can we change money here?
(question with verb first)

--We can change money here?
(question with rising intonation)

NOTE: In the case of the simple present tense, it is necessary to use a form of the verb to do as an auxiliary in making a question:

--They like this bank.
-->Do they like this bank?

--You have a passport.
-->Do you have a passport?

Interrogatives in Dependent Clauses

In the dialogue for this chapter, you see:

--Do you know where I can cut off the water? (correct)

This construction can be troublesome for learners of English, because there is a tendency to make the dependent clause (where I can cut off...) a question as well:

--Do you know where can I cut off the water? (incorrect)

Both do you know and where can I cut off the water are legitimate questions when used separately. However, when combined in a single sentence the main clause (Do you know...) carries the full weight of the interrogative.

Here are some additional examples:

--Do you see it? Where is it?
-->Do you see where it is?
--Do you know when? When does he arrive?
-->Do you know when he arrives?
 

Information Questions

Many times you will want to ask a question that elicits information, instead of a simple yes/no answer. Information questions will begin with one of the following words:

WHO
WHERE
WHOM
WHAT
WHOSE
WHICH
WHY
HOW
WHEN

Who refers to people. It is used as the subject of the question.

Whom is used as the object of a verb or preposition.

Whose asks questions about possession.

Why is used to ask questions about reason.

When is used to ask questions about time.

Where is used to ask questions about place.

What can be used as the subject or object of a question. It refers to things.

Which is used instead of what when a question concerns choosing from a definite, known quantity or group.

How generally asks about manner. It is often used with much and many.

When a form of to be is the main verb in the simple present and simple past, it precedes the subject:

--Who is that man?

--Where is the airport?

--Where are the checks?

--What time is it?

 Negative Questions

In a yes/no question in which the verb is negative, usually a contraction is used:

--Doesn't she live with you?

The other form, which is not contracted, is considered formal and is rarely used in everyday speech:

--Does she not live with you?

To form a negative question, make the auxiliary negative by adding not:

--Do they cash traveler's checks?
--> Don't they (Do they not) cash...?
 
HERE ARE SOME MORE EXAMPLES:

--Is Mr. Jones here?
-->Isn't Mr. Jones here?

--Are you coming?
-->Aren't you coming?
 Tag Questions

Tag questions are questions that are added at the end of a sentence.

--Mary is here, isn't she?
--You like beer, don't you?
--They are leaving, aren't they?
--She doesn't drink coffee, does she?
--He has brown hair, doesn't he?

The subject of the tag question should be the same as the subject of the main verb. If the first part of the sentence is in the affirmative, then the tag question will be negative, and vice versa.
 

In American English, a form of do is usually used when have is the main verb: They have change, don't they?

Negatives

The word not is used with do to make a verb negative, as in I don't have any money (don't = do not). No is used as an adjective in front of a noun, as in I have no money. Both of these examples are acceptable ways of expressing the idea that you do not have something.