Basic grammar

The indefinite form = a or an

’a’ is used before consonant sounds a picture a red apple a university The indefinite form ’a’ is used before consonant sounds a picture a red apple a university

’an’ is used before vowel sounds an alien an hour The indefinite form ’an’ is used before vowel sounds an alien an hour

The indefinite form The indefinite article is more common in English than in Swedish. It’s used before occupation, nationality, religious belonging and other ’roles’. I’m a mother. (Jag är mamma) My sister is a nurse. (Min syster är sjuksköterska) Assem is a Muslim. (Assem är muslim)

The indefinite form It’s also usually used before countable nouns. I watched a film before going to bed last night. Jag tittade på film innan jag gick och la mig igår kväll. It’s is also used in many expressions. We’ll need to walk at a slow pace. Vi måste gå i lugn takt.

The indefinite form Exercise: _____ umbrella _____ tiger _____ interesting film _____ young boy

The indefinite form Exercise: an umbrella a tiger an interesting film a young boy

Singular - plural The most common plural form is –s one car – two cars one rocket – two rockets

Singular - plural Nouns that end with an s-sound or similar have the plural ending –es one kiss – two kisses one couch – two couches

Singular - plural Nouns that end with a consonant + y have the plural ending –ies one baby – three babies NB! Vowel + y have normal plural ending (-s) one toy – two toys

Singular - plural Most nouns that end with -o have normal plural ending (-s) one kilo – two kilos Some nouns with the ending –o have the plural ending –es one potato – two potatoes

Singular - plural Most nouns that end with -f or -fe have normal plural ending one roof – two roofs Some nouns that end with –f or –fe have the plural ending –ves one knife – two knives

Singular - plural There are also irregular plural endings: one foot – two feet one mouse – two mice one child – two children one woman – two women

Singular - plural Some nouns have the same form in singular and plural: one sheep – two sheep one reindeer – two reindeer one Japanese – two Japanese

Exercises One city – two _______________ One wolf – two _______________ One piano – two _______________ One foot – two ________________ One church – two _______________ One safe – two ________________

Exercises One city – two cities One wolf – two wolves One piano – two pianos One foot – two feet One church – two churches One safe – two safes

The auxiliary verb ’do’ ’Do’ is mainly used in questions and negative sentences, and not normally in affirmative sentences. I work tonight. Do you work tonight? I don’t work tonight.

The auxiliary verb ’do’ ’Do’ CAN be used in affirmative sentences, but with a specific meaning. I really did like the movie, honestly! Remember that the main verb is always infinitive after auxiliary verbs. Could you help that man last night?

Relative pronouns = who, whom, which, that, whose Relative pronouns refer back to single words/expressions or entire clauses. There is a boy in my class who likes skateboarding. She said she had seen him before, which was a lie.

Relative pronouns Who/whom is used to refer back to people. I know someone who can help you. Which is used to refer back to items (and animals). The house, which my brother bought, is in Hove.

Relative pronouns That is used to refer back to both people and items. It can often be omitted. He underlined the words that should be changed. There is someone (that) I think you should meet.

Relative pronouns Whose is the genitive form of who. Can be used to refer back to both people and items. It is difficult to understand people whose language is full of slang. I have bought the house whose roof you can see over there.

Relative pronouns Remember that who’s means ’who is’ or ’who has’! Who’s at the door? (=who is) Melinda, who’s got a large family, will visit us next Friday. (=who has)

It/there The Swedish word ’det’ is usually translated into ’it’ or ’there’ in English. A basic rule to remember is that ’there’ is used when it is possible to say ’det finns’ in Swedish. ’There’ is always followed by a noun or a pronoun. It is raining today. There is a cinema in the city centre.