27 Keys to Better English Grammar

Winfield Trivette II

• Publisher: Winn Trivette II, MA
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781386827191
• Topic: Sprachen & Linguistik
• Subtopic: Grammatik & Zeichensetzung

Study these 27 easily understandable English grammar lessons!

Professor Winn, a veteran English teacher, hand selects lessons that have frustrated his own students with big grammar doubts.

He created 27 Keys to Better English Grammar because he knows both students and professional need a resource that presents English grammar without the rigid rules of other textbooks.

Better English grammar should not be difficult!

Use the exercises after each lesson to check your understanding.

Well-designed and authoritative, both students and professionals can use this great resource for everyday use.

Indeed, 27 Keys to Better English Grammar is a reference, study aide for exams, or perfect classroom text.

From the present perfect simple to the past subjunctive and relative clauses (restrictive, non-restrictive) to verbs/adjectives/nouns and prepositions, start today to improve your English grammar!

Finally, take control and answer your serious questions about English grammar.

Avoid costly grammar mistakes in your letters, memos, or research papers today!

Key#1:  Present Simple vs. Present Simple Continuous

Present Simple Usage

Talk about:

regular actions or events

statements of facts

facts about the near future

thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking

Present Simple Continuous Usage

Talk about:

statements, facts, true at the time of speaking, but not always

present plans for the future

Examples:

The stock market closes tomorrow at 4 p.m. (future fact)

The price of wheat is trending downward. (fact at time of speaking)

Ray Corp supports children literacy programs. (statement of fact)

The Board of Directors is meeting next Tuesday to discuss the company stock plan.  (future plans)

Exercise 1.1: Present Simple vs. Present Simple Continuous
 

Directions:  Choose between the present simple and present simple continuous in the following sentences. The answers appear below the exercise.

1. Tate Associates _______(sponsor) the Special Olympics in London next year.

2. CEO Franz Guerner often ______ (give) a presentation to all of his employees at the end of the year.

3. Unemployment usually _____ (lag) behind exports after an economic recovery.

4. The price of cocoa _____(soar) on news of political instability in the Ivory Coast.

5. More government regulation_____ (hinder) the export of cotton, according to a recent economic study.

6. Marketing graduates _____(enjoy) a surge of popularity with the spread of social media in the corporate world.

7. A group of senior managers _____(resign) over the harsh pay cuts this quarter.

8. A team of consultants _____ (advise) the company chairman on the hiring and firing policy.

9. It seems the company’s stock _____ (decline) every time a new product is released on the market.

10.Jerrod _____ (fly) to Paris next Wednesday and ____ (stop by) the local office during his trip to Lyon. 

11. Lynox Systems ____ (portray) its social investments in the community as a noble gesture for peace.

12. The new Internet-capable watch _____ (go) on sale this Friday at midnight.

ANSWERS

EXERCISE 1.1

1.  is sponsoring  2. gives  3. lags  4. is soaring  5. is hindering  6. are enjoying  7. is resigning  8. is advising or advises  9. declines  10. is flying or flies, is stopping by 11. portrays  12. goes or  is going

Key #2: Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

Past Simple Usage

Talk about completed actions and states in the past:

at a specific point in time.

for a period of time.

with time expressions such as these: yesterday, in 2012, four years ago, from July to November, last year, for 6 weeks

Present Perfect Usage:

Talk about actions at an unspecified time in the past:

something that happened (or did not happen) before the present time. The adverbs ever, never, already, yet, still, and just are frequently used with the present perfect tense.

the repetition of an activity before the present time.

a situation that began in the past and continues to the present time, using since or for.

Examples:

Messini Brothers sold two of its copper subsidiaries last quarter. (simple past)

Messini Brothers has already sold two its copper subsidiaries to R and J Metals. (present perfect)

Roth Burton, Inc. generated over $1.2 billion in shareholder value in only ten years. (simple past)

Roth Burton, Inc. has generated over $1.2 billion in shareholder value since 2003. (present perfect)

Exercise 2.1: Past Simple vs. Present Perfect Simple

Directions: Complete the correct form of the past simple and present perfect simple in the following sentences. The answers appear below the exercise.

1. France _____ (spend) more money than ever on railroad infrastructure since 1998.

2. Messini Brothers _______ (promise) its employees a mere two-percent pay hike despite windfall profits.

3. Shareholders ________(sue) R and L Manufacturing six times during the 1990s over improper dividend payments.

4. Shareholders ________(sue) R and L Manufacturing for three consecutive years over improper dividend payments.

5. The corporate arbitrator ______ just _____ (rule) in favor of pensioners at BL and Company.

6. The corporate arbitrator ______(rule) in favor of pensioners at BL and Company.

7. State investigators ______(uncover) gross negligence by Gee Whiz Retailers after a whistleblower ______(lodge) a complaint.

8. CEO Marta Steward ______(resign) effective immediately, according to media reports.

9. McQueenan Advisors, Ltd. _____ (counsel) Luweyn and Company in 2007 to halt all production of its silicon products, the Business Times reports today.

10. Since 1999, Belgium _______(be) the leader in the production o...