SYNCHRONIZE 4 4th ESO Starter Unit

Starter Unit

4th ESO English

Teacher: Ángela SotillosSynchronize 4

Starter Unit

1. Modals and semi-modals

2. Present perfect & past simple

3. Present simple & present continuous

1. What are modals verbs?

Modal + main verb

A modal verb is used along with a main verb to express possibility, ability, permission, or necessity among others. For example, in the statement “you must leave,” “must” is a modal verb indicating that it’s necessary for the subject (“you”) to perform the action of the verb (“leave”).

Modals are followed by an infinitive without to excepting 'have to' or 'need to'

No conjugation

Modals cannot be conjugated (they do not change in form)

When building a sentence modals do NOT use the auxiliary do/does

Examples

Permission & ability

Obligation, prohibition & advice

Present perfect vs past simple

Present perfect

Past simple

POSITIVE Subject + HAVE/HAS + p.participleShe has visited New York NEGATIVE Subject + HAVEN'T/HASN'T + p.participleShe hasn't visited New York QUESTION HAVE/HAS + Subject + p.participle ?Has she visited New York? SHORT ANSWERS Yes, Subject + HAVE/ HAS No, Subject + HAVEN'T/ HASN'TYes, she has

POSITIVE Subject + V-ed/ irregularThey became friends after all NEGATIVE Subject + DID NOT (didn't) + infinitiveThey didn't become friends after all QUESTION DID + Subject + infinitive ?Did they become friends after all? SHORT ANSWERS Yes, Subject + DID No, Subject + DIDN'TYes, they did

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Present perfect

Past simple

• FINISHED OR COMPLETED ACTIONS

• so it is associated with certain past time expressions:

yesterdaylast day/month/yearlast nighttwo days agofive years ago when I was a child...

• AN ACTION THAT STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUES IN THE PRESENT.

I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)

• AN ACTION WHEN THE TIME IS NOT IMPORTANT

He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is important)

• A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

We have visited Portugal several times.

• RECENT ACTIONS.

I have drunk coffee for breakfast

• Present perfect is used with these time expressions already, just, yet, for since, never, ever

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Present simple vs Present continuous

Present simple

Present continuous

POSITIVE Subject + infinitive (-s)She eats cheesecake NEGATIVE Subject + DON'T/DOESN'T (do/does not)+ infinitiveShe doesn't eat cheesecake QUESTION DO/DOES + Subject + infinitive?Does she eat cheeecake? SHORT ANSWERS Yes, Subject + DO/DOES No, Subject + DON'T/ DOESN'TYes, she does

POSITIVE Subject + am/ is/ are + V-ingThey are watching 'Twilight' NEGATIVESubject + am not/ isn't / aren't + V-ingThey aren't watching 'Twilight'QUESTION DID + Subject + V-ing ?Are they watching 'Twilight'? SHORT ANSWERS Yes, Subject + am/ is /are No, Subject + am not/ isn't/ aren'tYes, they are

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Present simple

Present continuous

• FOR HABITS

They watch television regularly.

• FOR REPEATED ACTIONS OR EVENTS

We catch the bus every morning.They drive to Monaco every summer.

• FOR GENERAL TRUTHS

Water freezes at zero degrees.The Earth revolves around the Sun.

• FOR INSTRUCTIONS OR DIRECTIONS

Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.

• FOR TIMETABLES

Our holiday starts on the 26th MarchThe train leaves tomorrow at 11pm

• ACTIONS HAPPENING NOW.

You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.

• A FIXED PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT.

We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next winter?

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