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by Alan Townend
English Grammar through Stories
- Present simple tense or «It never gets you anywhere» Table of Contents
- Present continuous or «What a performance!»
- Future tense or «Jealousy»
- Articles in English or «Charlie the Brave»
- Progressive forms or «Going, going, gone!»
- Passive voice or «Haunted»...............................................
- Relative pronoun
- Usage of pronouns or «One thing or another»
- Prepositions or «How I got that job»
- Spot the preposition
- English adverb or «High hopes»
- Types of adverbs
- Indirect speech or «Say it again»
- Conjunctions or «Joined up writing»
- Conditionals or «On condition»
- Subjunctive or «Wishful thinking»
- Reflections
- Start or begin?
- Make or do? or «Doing time»
- Phrasal verb break or «Breaking up»
- Expressions with break or «Have a break!»
- Phrasal verb bring or «Upbringing»
- Phrasal verb hold or «Hold on»
- Phrasal verb take or «Take on»
- Phrasal verb look or «Look out!»
- Phrasal verb go or «Going on»
- Phrasal verb run or «A Christmas postman»
- Phrasal verb fall
- Phrasal verb get
- Word story: Health...........................................................
- Word story: Jokes
- Word story: Dictionary
- Word story: Search engines
- Word story: Weather
- Saying it twice or «Save our animals»
- Colour idioms or «A silver lining»
- Cool expressions or «From one extreme to the other»
- Book expressions or «Have you seen this book?».................
- Greeting expressions or «Well, hello!»
- Sea expressions...............................................................
- Head expressions
- Expressions with the word order or «Order into chaos»
- Expressions with the word name or «The name of the game»
- Usage of the word chip or «Potatoes»
- Usage of the word learn or «Learning to learn?»
- Usage of the word turn or «My turn»
- Usage of the word talk or «Small talk»
by Alan Townend
1. Present simple tense or «It never gets you
anywhere»
In this story you will find many examples of how the Present Simple Tense can be used. As you know we use the present simple for things that are true in general, or for things that happen sometimes or all the time:
She likes black tea.
I start work at 9 o'clock and finish at 5:30.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
We usually visit our friends on the weekend.
You probably remember that after he/she/it an «s» is added to the verb as in these examples:
She speak s excellent French.
He sometimes call s her «my darling».
It make s perfect sense to me.
When we want to make a negative sentence we use the following structure:
subject (I/you/we/they) + auxiliary verb (don't) + main verb (infinitive) subject (he/she/it) + auxiliary verb (doesn't) + main verb (infinitive)
Examples:
I don't speak Chinese.
You don't work very hard
She doesn't call me every day.
When we want to make a question we also use don't after I/you/we/they and doesn't after he/she/it :
Do you speak Chinese?
Does she work here?
What do you do for a living?
How do you usually get to work?
Now enjoy the following story and find the present simple in italics.
by Alan Townend
Everyone in the pub looks suitably depressed at this remark and begins to think of all the price increases that will follow. The gloom is palpable. Then suddenly the door bursts open and in walks our heroine, Sally looking like a drowned rat. Most people in the pub think to themselves: «What a pretty girl!» Andrew sees her as someone who is drenched and needs help. He walks over to her and asks if she is all right. For probably the first time in his life Andrew actually transferred his worry from himself to someone else and he mixes her a special drink to protect her from a possible cold. The conversation went as follows: «I hear you live in this village, too» — «How do you know ?» asked Andrew.
But Sally changed the subject. «This drink tastes delicious. How did you make it?» — «I put a drop of ginger ale and a piece of lemon in the alcohol and then stir thoroughly. I always keep those two ingredients with me when I go out at night.» Suddenly Sally looked at her watch: «I must fly. My train leaves in ten minutes.» — « Don't forget to take those tablets I suggested and let me know how you are .» — «I'll let you know as soon as I come back from London.» And then she went.
Immediately Andrew started to worry. He didn't know her name, he didn't know her address and he felt strange. He checks his pulse. He tests his mental faculties: «Two and two make four.» It was a different sort of worry that was almost a concern. He wants to see her again. Within seconds he rushed out of the pub leaving his coat behind, ran into the pouring rain with no umbrella. What was happening to him? He saw Sally standing on the platform getting into the train and the train leaving the station. He jumps down from the platform onto the track and waves at the train driver to stop. The train stops and Andrew gets onto it.
Six weeks after this extraordinary episode Sally got married. Andrew doesn't worry any more now. He stays calm. The obvious time when people expected him to start worrying was during the wedding ceremony in the village church just over two years ago. As he says , «I know what everyone was thinking. They thought I would I go to pieces. But I was perfectly relaxed and I owe it all to Sally. She is certainly a wonderful wife. She smiled at me when we were standing at the altar and I stopped worrying from that moment on. You can see me looking relaxed in the newspaper pictures especially that one with the caption:
ANDREW SMODLEY HANDS THE RING TO SALLY FAIRWEATHER'S FUTURE HUSBAND.»
by Alan Townend
2. Present continuous or «What a performance!»
One of the features of the English language is that there are two sides to every tense: a simple one or a continuous one (also known as progressive ). The question is when do you use one and not the other? We’re looking at the Progressive Forms in general in the story entitled: Going, going, gone! and at the Present Simple in particular in the story called: ―It never gets you anywhere― and now it's the turn of the Present Continuous/Progressive and this is called: What a Performance! Which has a double meaning because it can describe a performance in the theatre and it can also describe a long and complicated process. I only hope when you are reading it , that you don't find it too complicated.
«What a Performance!»
I can't myself. Well, I just couldn't get up on the stage and take part in a play. Some people are always doing that. They do it for a hobby and are never happier than when they are declaiming other people's lines in front of a live audience. They are living in a realm of fantasy. They belong to that select world called amateur dramatics, a world that once a year invades the town where I live. Just when the weather is getting warmer the festival of amateur drama comes to our local theatre. For one entire week three separate groups are performing one play each every evening. In one mad moment a few years ago I agreed to buy a season ticket to see the different productions for all six nights and ever since then each year I get this very correctly written letter beginning: ' I am writing to inform you that the Summer Festival of Drama is taking place ….'
Yesterday was the last night. Today I am resting. I am being perfectly serious. Although each play is around 35 minutes long, there have been 18 of them in all – tragedies, farces, melodramas, theatre of the absurd, of the ridiculous and of the 'How much longer is this going on ?' The last category is my own personal classification for the really boring ones. And there was one play that could have won a prize for that category. When the curtain goes back, three people are sitting in deck chairs and eating ice creams. For about ten minutes nobody says a word. The audience is feeling a little embarrassed by this time and then suddenly one of the three starts shouting at the audience: 'Why are you all sitting there and staring at us?' This is a question I asked myself several times during the week! Of course nobody knows what to say. More questions followed, which were not answered. Then there was another pause, then more questions and then they went back to eating their ice creams and that was the end. The old lady next to me was utterly confused. 'Excuse me, she said. 'my deaf aid isn't working properly tonight and I'm hoping to buy a new one soon. Consequently I'm not hearing very well at the moment. Did I miss anything? I laughed and assured her that she hadn't.
But then I suppose I am being a little over critical. There were some really good performances as well – the ones that make you forget that you are sitting in the theatre. The one I liked best was a
by Alan Townend
3. Future tense or «Jealousy»
There is a common belief that the only way to express the future in English is to use the two little modal auxiliaries «will» and «shall». Sure they play a major part in this function but there are other ways too of expressing the future. Below you will see 6 ways of expressing the future. I won't call it the «future tense» because that restricts your thinking about how to talk or write about something that is not now but next :
going to This way you can express a personal intention or make a prediction about what you know/feel/see as in these sentences: I am going to stop smoking this year. The sea is going to be very rough this afternoon, so don't go swimming.
Future Simple Back to «will» and «shall». With these two words plus the infinitive of a verb you can express: a future fact, a sudden decision, an offer, a threat, a promise, an opinion about the future, a probability especially after think, suppose, expect, doubt if.
Here are a few examples:
Tomorrow will be my birthday. It's all right I'll get the shopping. I will take you in the car if you like. I'll stand by you whatever happens. I suppose we'll manage without the car.
Present Continuous This is almost the same as «going to« but it's not quite as personal. Look at this:
The Government is thinking about introducing a new law.
Present Simple We use this when we are thinking of the certain future, something already arranged as in a timetable or programme: Your train leaves in ten minutes.
Is to/Are to These are used to express an instruction or something arranged officially. Here is an example:
The finance ministers are to meet next month to discuss the crisis.
About to/Due to We use these when we want to describe actions that are expected to happen, usually fairly soon. An example:
The 100 metre race is about to start any minute now.
by Alan Townend
Below you can see a story I've written using some highlighted examples of how you can express the future.
«Jealousy»
I want you to imagine that you are about to visit a small village. It doesn't matter which country it's in because all villages are the same whichever part of the world they are in. There were only about 300 inhabitants in total in this particular village and everyone knew everybody's business. A typical street conversation would run like this: «I hear Joan's going to have a baby next year. I expect it'll be a boy this time I wouldn't be surprised. She's having a nurse come next week to help her with her 5 girls and maybe a boy will make life easier for her!» In this village people usually help each other whenever they can. If someone is going to the «big» town — that is where there are more than a thousand people living in it — invariably they will say to their neighbours: « I'll get you some vegetables, if you like». But it's not all sweetness and light here because there is a longstanding feud going on between two families. I'll let the local gossip, Mary tell you the background. «It must be ten years ago when it all started. I doubt it'll ever stop», she laughed when she said that. «But then I've been told I am to tell you the beginning of it all and also you are to listen , remember. There are two women who are always arguing about something. One of them lives in that huge house over there. Don't look now because she'll open her front door in a minute. She's going to catch the 9.15 bus that goes in ten minutes from that stop there. Now, she's a fine lady, she is. She's due to become a councillor next month after the elections and she'll probably make a good job of it. Now hold on a second the other lady is leaving her house in a minute. Yes, what did I say? She's going to catch the bus too but she'll get on at the next stop to avoid meeting the councillor lady. Now the second lady runs a small restaurant, as a matter of fact I'm taking lunch there later today.» I asked Mary why these two women didn't get on. She looked me straight in the eye and said: «Jealousy. One runs a successful restaurant and the councillor lady runs a small guesthouse. Both of them are going to make a lot of money this year because of the festival but the guesthouse lady will make more and she always has done and that's the cause of the trouble.»
Now what I haven't told you», continued Mary, «and I'm just about to reveal it, is that there are two other people in the story. Namely the son of one of the ladies and the daughter of the other. And yes, they are getting married next year and the whole village will be invited. It's going to be a big affair» I interrupted Mary at this point and asked her what had happened to the feud. «Oh that doesn't matter much now» continued Mary « they'll be too busy making arrangements for the wedding. They're due to meet a catering firm this morning». «So what's all this about separate bus stops?» I asked. «Oh, that's just for the tourists who are coming here next month.» I tried to understand but had one more question: «And what about jealousy?» — «Now, you're not to worry about her. There are plenty of villages round here and she'll soon find another one to visit and cause trouble in» I thanked Mary and walked away, totally confused thinking to myself; « I shall never understand village life.»
by Alan Townend
Before names of meals except when preceded by an adjective. «We had a late breakfast and decided to miss lunch.»
Definite — the
Uses
Before nouns of which there is only one. «The earth is round.»
Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time. «We saw a good film last night. It was the film you recommended.»
Before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause. «The woman dressed in black.»
Before a noun which, by reason of locality, can represent only one particular thing. «There’s a bee in the kitchen.»
Before superlatives and «first», «second» and «only» «The longest river in the world.»
Before singular nouns used to represent a class of objects. «The donkey is a very obstinate animal.»
Before an adjective used to represent a class of persons. «That tax hurts the rich.»
Before names of seas, rivers, chains of mountains, groups of islands and plural names of countries. «the Pacific Ocean, the Thames, the Andes, the West Indies, the Netherlands»
Before musical instruments. «She plays the piano»
Not Used
Before countries, towns, proper names. «Charlie lived in Chicago in America»
Before abstract nouns. «Jealousy can be dangerous.»
Before parts of the body and articles of clothing — these normally prefer a possessive adjective. «Lift your left arm.» «He removed his hat.»
by Alan Townend
«Charlie the Brave»
Charlie is a teacher and his wife, Maria is an artist. One of the main differences between the two is that Charlie has no imagination well perhaps a little whereas Maria has the most vivid imagination you could think of.
Now — imagination is an essential quality if you’re an artist but sometimes it can lead to — problems. Take the night before last, for example. It was a fine summer night and you could see the moon and the stars quite clearly, it was shortly before the longest day of the year. Charlie was sitting in a deckchair enjoying the warm summer air when he felt something touch his shoulder; it was Maria’s hand and he could tell immediately she was a little worried about something. He had noticed this sensation a hundred times before. He asked her what the matter was and she replied that there was a strange thing on the jacket that was hanging in the bedroom. Now you must remember that they had both lived in the West Indies and had seen a lot of strange creatures in their house before. But now they were living in — England and so Charlie just laughed and said he would have a look at the «thing».
He left the garden and made his way to the bedroom. He could see a jacket hanging in the bedroom and went up to it to have a closer look at the «thing». The moment he touched it, the thing sprang into — life. Now Charlie experiences — fear like the rest of us but when this creatures opened its wings, he jumped out of his skin and ran screaming from the room like a small child doing about 100 miles an hour.
What a fuss you may say and the brave among you may well regard such behaviour as pathetic but — bats (for this thing was a bat) bring out the worst in many people. For a moment the next-door neighbours thought that Charlie was murdering his wife because of the noise they could hear. In fact the bat was the one that was frightened and it fluttered its wings and flew from one side of the bedroom to the other.
Eventually Charlie managed to trap the bat in a box and went out into the front garden clutching the box as if it had a bomb inside it, took off the lid and the bat, obviously delighted to be free, flew away into the dark. Eventually Maria, who had been playing the guitar while Charlie was upstairs, asked Charlie if he had found out what the thing was. «Oh, nothing to worry about«, he said casually hoping that the terror could not be seen in his eyes, «it was just a bat.»
by Alan Townend
money but at the same time there is a little voice at the back of peoples' minds that is suggesting to them that there will also be bargains if they wait until the last minute. Habit is a significant factor in all this. You did this last year while you were taking down the Christmas decorations and therefore without realizing it, you will be doing exactly the same this year. You sit back in your favourite armchair and say: «In six months' time I shall be sitting on a sunny beach somewhere and I shall be reading my favourite book.»
The Marvells did not believe in leaving things to chance. They believed in planning. On a winter evening around mid-January in the Marvell household the following would be a typical conversation: « Are you thinking , what I'm thinking Daisy?» — «I'll tell you what I'm thinking: I'm dreaming of my summer holiday at the moment in a lovely warm place, And.» She was being very romantic when she called him «And». «And, And (this was Daisy's sense of humour) where will you be taking your holiday this summer?» — «I was thinking perhaps we might try Majorca, it's said to be very pretty.»
At this stage of the conversation there would be the sound of screams of laughter and the following day Andrew usually booked the holiday. The next-door neighbours, the long-suffering Nortons, heard the laughter too, turned to each other and said: «They're obviously making arrangements to go to Majorca again.»
When Andrew finished work that Monday and was walking down the high street to the station to get his train home, he decided to call in at the travel agents to make his booking. When he reached the door, it didn't seem to open in the usual manner. In fact to his surprise it opened outwards instead of inwards. He ought to know, he thought, he'd been pushing and not pulling it several times a year over the last twenty-five and he usually went to young Jack (now old Jack) who'd been working there over the same period of time. The layout was different, too. Something strange was happening and poor Andrew couldn't make it out. There was the smell of damp and hot hair. «Can I help you, sir?» asked a young woman in a white overall. — « I've been coming here for the last twenty ...» Andrew's jaw dropped. For a moment he thought he was standing in the wrong shop, dashed outside and then came back in again. Maybe he was dreaming but then it dawned on him, the travel agents had gone and been replaced by a hairdressers. The woman explained: «We opened last week and are opening another new premises by the park next month. The travel agents have been experiencing a difficult time this year. They weren't getting their regular customers.» Andrew just couldn't handle it. If Daisy were here, she would be feeling the same. He tried to picture how he would be explaining it to her. What would she be doing right now at home? She would probably be preparing the supper and expecting to see the receipt for the booking as he came through the door. What could he do? He was in a hairdressing salon and it was a uni-sex one as well! He didn't know what to do, where to look.
When Andrew eventually reached home about two hours later, Daisy was speaking on the phone. She had been going frantic trying to find out what had happened to Andrew. As she was watching him come
by Alan Townend
through the door, she couldn't believe it was him. He looked about 20 years younger. Apparently he had been persuaded to stay on at the salon and have his hair done. He had seriously been considering having something done for some time and the young woman in the white overall had convinced him that he should experience all the facilities on offer. It wasn't long after that when Daisy gave the salon a try, too. Within three months Andrew and Daisy had become very important customers. It wasn't cheap of course but both their heads were immaculate and they were enjoying the appreciative comments from friends and colleagues including of course the postman, the dustman and the next door neighbours. Normally at this time of year they would have been saving hard and putting money aside for the holiday in Majorca but that topic was not being discussed at the moment. As the weeks went by they both became very friendly with the young woman in white called Angela and on one of their regular visits she told them:
« I'm running a raffle to mark our first 100 days at the salon that's how long we'll have been doing business by the end of this week and I was wondering whether you would like to buy some tickets.» Anxious to keep in favour they paid up, bought six tickets and thought no more about it. About a month later when they arrived at the salon, Angela was waiting for them at the door excitedly waving an envelope. « They've just been doing the draw and you've won first prize.» As Daisy was casually opening the envelope she half expected to have won a set of hairbrushes or a bottle of champagne. As she read the note, a strange smile was beginning to cross her face. « We're going on holiday And!» — «Oh, yes that's nice dear and where are we going ?» — «Somewhere called Majorca, dear.» — «Ah well, said And that'll keep the postman, the dustman and the neighbours happy.»
by Alan Townend
I had just finished at university and had a couple of weeks holiday before I started my first full-time job when I was invited by my aunt and uncle to stay for a few days at the famous haunted house. «You are given freedom of the house while you're here», my uncle had said, «and you can carry out any investigations you like concerning our «house ghost» — that was how the old lady was referred to because I want you of all people to to be convinced of the authenticity of this apparition.» Somehow I was a highly respected member of the family and my uncle firmly believed that my word was accepted. The first two days, no sign was given of the «ghostly» old lady. On the third day my aunt and uncle asked me if I wanted to come on a lengthy shopping expedition because their supplies now had been exhausted and they had to travel some twenty miles to the nearest town that had a supermarket. This ritual regularly was carried out once a month. I declined the offer as I had decided it was time for me to go for a swim in the sea. Before they left, meaningful glances were exchanged between my aunt and uncle as if they both expected to hear some news from me when they got back. As they left, my uncle turned and said, «You will be suprised at what happens, while we are away.»
I went for my swim but the sea was very rough and I constantly was pushed onto the beach by the waves. I gave up in the end and made my way back to the house, got washed and dressed, had a bite to eat and sat on the most comfortable chair to watch television. After what seemed like a few minutes, I was aware of an unusual sound as if pieces of material were rubbed together. I got up from the chair and walked into the hall. I was quite taken aback with what confronted me. There, at the bottom of the stairs was the celebrated little old lady carrying her walking stick and holding a pack of cards. For some strange reason I wasn't frightened at all by this apparition. I went up to her and quite calmly asked her, «Will you come in and join me in the sitting room.» She too showed no sign of being disturbed by my casual invitation. «I should be delighted» she replied «and perhaps you could be persuaded to join me in a game of cards .» We got on like a house on fire but strange as it may seem, the subject of ghosts or haunting not wasn't mentioned and we played one game of cards after the other as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I think I was dealt some terrible cards because I kept on losing and in the end my guest was obviously getting bored by the lack of competition. A little later she complained of tiredness and left the room.
When they returned, I told my uncle that the little old lady had made an appearance but I didn't go into the card games and our little chat. He was overwhelmed by the news. It changed his life. Till his dying day he regaled all visitors with the story of the ghostly lady and then added with a broad grin, «It is not just me, you know, the story was verified by my nephew .»
Well, I did spend a lovely holiday there, they were both very kind to me and no harm no harm was done. You see it depended on the way «made an appearance» is interpreted. After my vigorous swim I'd sat down in front of the television and fallen asleep and well — I have to confess — I simply dreamt the whole thing.
by Alan Townend
7. Relative pronoun
The story I am about to tell you contains lots of examples of the «Relative Pronoun». Before you read it, look through the following notes:
General
- Relative pronouns do two jobs at once: a. acting as subject or object of a verb b. joining two clauses together
- The most common are: who , whom , which and that — who and whom for people and which for things.
- Whom is not used much in conversation and refers to an object of a verb or a preposition.
- That can often replace whom , who and which.
- After nouns referring to times and places, when and where can be used to mean at which or in which and why can be used to mean for which.
- Whose is a possessive relative word, referring to people and things.
Particular
- Defining and non-defining relative clauses Compare: «George, who lives next door, always watches television.» «The couple who live next door always watch television.»
- That
a. For people and things and in conversation.
b. After the following: all, everything, something, anything, nothing, none, little, few, much.
c. After superlatives.
- In defining relative clauses the relative pronoun is often left out if it is the object of the verb.
- Prepositions can come before the relative pronoun or at the end of the clause but you cannot use that or who after a preposition.
- In a non-defining relative clause that cannot be used and object relative pronouns cannot be left out.
by Alan Townend
was expecting a visitor, who was due any minute, she opened the door to the garden and threw out the rug that was causing the trouble and whose stain was upsetting her. Unfortunately she forgot to get off the rug first and threw herself out into the garden as well. That was how she ended up in the hospital with a broken leg. There were endless stories like those, which were probably exaggerated and that had been added to over the years. Nobody really knew what was true and what was complete fabrication. The one thing that nobody could understand or explain was why she had gone to live in another country where she had stayed for more than twenty years. Everybody had something to say on the matter: she had had an unhappy love affair with a man who was married, she wanted to make a fresh start in a place where no-one knew her, she wanted to get away from her family whom she couldn't put up with. Such stories, which grew in number as the years went by, fascinated me. The strange thing was that not one of these stories fitted with the generally accepted belief that Aunt Enid was supposed to be a very shy person, who wouldn't have the courage to say boo to a goose. This was an enigma that I wanted to resolve and when I heard that she was returning to the place where she was born, I hoped I might have the opportunity to meet this living legend and get to the bottom of these stories.
My parents had decided to meet her at the port where her ship was due to arrive and I was allowed to go with them. I can still remember the excitement and anticipation I felt as a child waiting for the ship to arrive. My father, who was always making fun of Aunt Enid, made some remark to the effect that she had probably missed the boat and taken the wrong one to another destination that was probably the other side of the world. We waited and then slowly through the mist we saw the ship whose right side bore the name «Voyager», which I thought was very romantic since it aptly described what my aunt had been doing for the last twenty years. I even imagined that the small dot visible on the deck was Aunt Enid waving to us. But my father pointed out that what I thought was Aunt Enid was in fact one of the anchors.
Eventually the «Voyager» docked and as was to be expected the last person to disembark was my celebrated Aunt. I must admit that she was a bit of an anti-climax because she was small, frail, gray-haired, spoke with a tiny crackling voice, which sounded like a tiny mouse, and was to all intents and purposes a very ordinary old lady.
It was several weeks before Aunt Enid and I were alone together. In fact it was the afternoon on which she was preparing to go back to her home abroad. I had not had enough courage to put the question to her, which I had promised myself I would. In a sudden rush of confidence I burst out: «Why did you go and live abroad all those years ago, Aunt Enid?» She smiled that smile for which old people are famous, that combines compassion with wisdom. «I'll tell you on one condition«, she replied «and that is that you don't tell a living soul». I promised. As all the «living souls» to whom she was referring are now no longer alive, I think it's reasonable to reveal Aunt Enid's secret. Apparently the day on which she left home for the last time she had taken a train to visit a friend, who didn't live far
by Alan Townend
away but unfortunately she had fallen asleep, missed the station she wanted and didn't wake up until the train came to the end of the line, which happened to be the very port where we had met her some weeks before. She decided there and then that she would not put up with any more of the jokes which had haunted her all her life and booked a passage on the next ship never finding the courage with which to explain the reason for her departure. What you might call a RELATIVELY simple explanation.
