Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0034 · Lesson No.034 · 零基础英语第三十四课 · A1 Grammar System
Everyday Grammar Patterns | 日常英语语法模式
Grammar is a choice system: what kind of sentence is this, what time is it about, and what form does English need?
语法不是规则堆积，而是一套选择系统：这是什么句子？说的是哪个时间？英语需要什么形式？
You have already used most of the grammar in this lesson. Now we organise it so you can choose the right pattern more deliberately.
Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.033 · Building Sentences from Chunks
The grammar decision map | 语法决策地图
- be sentence or ordinary verb?
- now, routine, past or future?
- statement, question or negative?
- one thing, many things or uncountable?
- ability, permission, necessity or plan?
- location, existence or possession?
- comparison or description?
- one idea or connected ideas?
1. First decision: be or ordinary verb? | 先判断 be 还是普通动词
Use be with identity, adjective and location:
- She is a teacher.
- She is tired.
- She is at home.
Use an ordinary verb for actions and habits:
- She works.
- She studies English.
2. Be + noun | be + 名词
- I am a student.
- He is my brother.
3. Be + adjective | be + 形容词
- I’m busy.
- The room is clean.
4. Be + location | be + 地点
- The keys are on the table.
- She is at work.
5. Ordinary verb | 普通动词
- I work.
- She reads.
- They live here.
6. Present simple: routines and facts | 一般现在：习惯和事实
- I work Monday to Friday.
- She drinks tea every morning.
- The shop opens at nine.
7. He/she/it + -s | 第三人称 -s
- I work.
- She works.
- They like tea.
- He likes tea.
This small ending carries grammar that Mandarin verbs usually do not mark.
8. Do / does questions | 一般现在问句
- Do you work here?
- Does she live nearby?
9. Don’t / doesn’t | 一般现在否定
- I don’t drive.
- He doesn’t eat meat.
After doesn’t, use the base verb: doesn’t work, not doesn’t works.
10. Present continuous: happening now | 现在进行：正在发生
- I’m eating now.
- She’s working at the moment.
Pattern: be + verb-ing.
11. Routine vs now | 习惯 vs 现在
- I work in a café. — routine/fact
- I’m working now. — happening now
12. Present continuous for arrangements | 现在进行表安排
- I’m meeting Anna tomorrow.
- We’re flying on Friday.
13. Past simple | 一般过去
- I worked yesterday.
- She went home.
Use with finished past time.
14. Was / were | be 的过去
- I was tired.
- They were late.
15. Did questions | 过去问句
- Did you work?
- Where did she go?
After did, use the base verb.
16. Didn’t | 过去否定
- I didn’t work.
- She didn’t go.
17. Future with going to | 计划未来
- I’m going to study tonight.
- We’re going to travel next month.
18. Future with will | 预测/决定
- It will rain tomorrow.
- I’ll help you.
19. Schedule future | 时刻表未来
- The train leaves at 8:30 tomorrow.
- Class starts at nine.
20. Can | 能力/许可
- I can swim.
- Can I sit here?
- Can you help me?
Meaning comes from context.
21. Can’t | 不能
- I can’t come tomorrow.
- You can’t park here.
Could mean inability or prohibition depending on context.
22. Have to | 必须/需要
- I have to leave now.
- She has to work tomorrow.
23. Don’t have to | 不必
- You don’t have to print it.
This means not necessary, not “must not”.
24. Need to | 需要做
- I need to call my teacher.
- We need to buy tickets.
25. Must not vs don’t have to | 禁止 vs 不必
- You must not enter. — prohibited
- You don’t have to come. — optional
This difference is important.
26. Imperatives | 祈使句/指令
- Open the door.
- Please wait here.
- Don’t touch that.
The subject “you” is usually not written.
27. There is / there are | 存在
- There is a shop nearby.
- There are two chairs.
28. Have / has | 拥有/具备
- I have a car.
- The flat has two bedrooms.
29. There is vs have | 有 的两种英语
- There is a sofa in the room. — existence
- The room has a sofa. — feature/possession
30. Countable nouns | 可数名词
- a book
- two books
- many books
31. Uncountable nouns | 不可数名词
- water
- rice
- information
- homework
Do not automatically add -s.
32. A / an | 一个
- a book
- an apple
Use with one singular countable noun when introducing it in many ordinary contexts.
33. The | 特指
- the station
- the blue shirt
the often points to a specific known item.
34. Some / any | 一些
- I have some water.
- Do you have any water?
- I don’t have any water.
35. How many / how much | 多少
- How many tickets?
- How much water?
- How much is this?
How much also asks price.
36. This / that / these / those | 指示词
- this book
- that bag
- these shoes
- those chairs
37. Pronouns | 代词
- I / me / my
- you / you / your
- he / him / his
- she / her / her
- they / them / their
Choose by grammatical job.
38. Possessive ‘s | 所有格 ‘s
- Anna’s bag
- my brother’s car
39. Adjectives before nouns | 形容词在名词前
- a blue shirt
- a small room
40. Adjective after be | 形容词在 be 后
- The shirt is blue.
- The room is small.
41. Adverbs of frequency | 频率副词
- always
- usually
- often
- sometimes
- never
Example: I usually take the train.
42. Frequency with be | be 句中的频率
- She is usually early.
- They are often busy.
Frequency word normally comes after be.
43. Comparatives | 比较级
- tall → taller
- cheap → cheaper
- expensive → more expensive
- good → better
44. Than | than
- This is cheaper than that one.
- Anna is taller than Mei.
45. Too / enough | 太… / 足够
- It’s too big.
- It’s warm enough.
too often means more than acceptable.
46. In / on / at for place | 地点介词
- in the room
- on the table
- at the station
47. In / on / at for time | 时间介词
- in September
- on Monday
- at three
48. Before / after / until | 时间关系
- before lunch
- after work
- until five
49. Because / but / so | 连接关系
- I’m late because the train is delayed.
- I like it, but it’s expensive.
- It’s raining, so I’ll take the bus.
50. And | 并列
- I bought tea and coffee.
- I went home and cooked dinner.
51. Question word + helper | 疑问词 + 助动词
- Where do you live?
- What did you buy?
- When will you arrive?
52. Be question | be 问句
- Where is the station?
- Why are you late?
53. Subject questions | 主语问句
- Who lives here?
- Who called you?
These do not always use do/did in the same way as object questions.
54. Mandarin transfer: no verb change vs English verb change | 动词变化
Mandarin often relies more on time words and context. English frequently changes the verb or adds helpers.
55. Mandarin transfer: no article system equivalent | 冠词差异
English often requires a/an/the choices that Mandarin does not mark in the same way. Learn articles with noun chunks.
56. Mandarin transfer: adjective predicate | 形容词谓语差异
- 她很忙。 → She is busy.
57. Mandarin transfer: questions | 问句差异
Mandarin can use 吗 or question words without English-style auxiliary movement. English often needs do/does/did or inversion with be.
58. Grammar decision drill | 语法决策练习
For each meaning, choose:
- be or ordinary verb?
- present/past/future?
- statement/question/negative?
- countable/uncountable?
59. Reading practice: grammar signals | 阅读语法信号
Anna usually takes the train, but yesterday she drove because the train was delayed. Tomorrow she is going to work from home.
Find:
- routine
- past event
- reason
- future plan
60. Writing practice: same meaning, different time | 同一意思换时间
- Today I work at home.
- Yesterday I worked at home.
- Tomorrow I’m going to work at home.
Build five more sets.
61. Error clinic | 常见语法错误
| Error | Better English | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| She work here. ✗ | She works here. ✓ | third-person -s |
| Does she works? ✗ | Does she work? ✓ | base verb after does |
| I am work now. ✗ | I’m working now. ✓ | be + -ing |
| I didn’t went. ✗ | I didn’t go. ✓ | base verb after didn’t |
| many homework ✗ | a lot of homework ✓ | uncountable noun |
62. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断
- I cannot choose be vs verb → sentence type.
- I mix routine and now → present simple vs continuous.
- I know time but wrong verb form → tense control.
- I mix question helpers → do/be/did/will choice.
- I make noun errors → countability/articles.
- I translate Chinese structures directly → transfer map.
63. Retrieval lab | 提取练习
- 她很忙。 → ______
- 她每天工作。 → ______
- 她现在正在工作。 → ______
- 她昨天工作了。 → ______
- 她明天打算工作。 → ______
- 你工作吗？ → ______
- 你昨天工作了吗？ → ______
- 房间里有两把椅子。 → ______
- 我不需要打印。 → ______
- 这件比那件便宜。 → ______
Suggested answers: She is busy. / She works every day. / She is working now. / She worked yesterday. / She is going to work tomorrow. / Do you work? / Did you work yesterday? / There are two chairs in the room. / I don’t have to print it. / This one is cheaper than that one.
64. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟
| 2 min | be vs verb | 句型 |
| 2 min | present/past/future | 时态 |
| 2 min | question/negative | 问否 |
| 2 min | nouns/articles | 名词冠词 |
| 2 min | one grammar decision drill | 综合 |
65. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练
| Day 1 | be vs ordinary verb | 核心 |
| Day 2 | present simple/continuous | 现在 |
| Day 3 | past | 过去 |
| Day 4 | future/modals | 未来情态 |
| Day 5 | countability/articles | 名词 |
| Day 6 | questions/comparatives/connectors | 扩展 |
| Day 7 | 30-choice grammar test | 综合 |
66. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测
- When do you use be?
- When do you use present simple?
- When do you use present continuous?
- Give one present simple sentence.
- Give one present continuous sentence.
- Give one past simple sentence.
- Give one going-to future.
- Give one will future.
- Explain can.
- Explain have to.
- Explain don’t have to.
- Explain there is vs have.
- Name two countable nouns.
- Name two uncountable nouns.
- Use a/an correctly.
- Use some in a sentence.
- Use any in a question.
- Use a frequency adverb.
- Make one comparative.
- Use in/on/at for time.
- Use because.
- Use but.
- Use so.
- Make one do-question.
- Make one be-question.
- Correct: She work here.
- Correct: Does she works?
- Correct: I am work now.
- Correct: I didn’t went.
- Explain one Mandarin-English grammar difference.
Answer key | 答案
1 identity/adjective/location; 2 routines/facts; 3 happening now/arrangements; 4–25 answers vary; 26 She works here; 27 Does she work?; 28 I’m working now; 29 I didn’t go; 30 answers vary.
67. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师
Teach grammar as decisions attached to meaning. Ask “routine or now?” before giving a tense name.
Use contrast pairs: I work / I’m working, I went / I didn’t go, there is / I have.
For Mandarin speakers, explicitly teach English verb marking, auxiliaries, articles and be + adjective rather than assuming exposure will fix them automatically.
Keep grammar productive: every rule should end in speaking or writing.
68. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务
- Choose be vs verb correctly.
- Use routine vs now correctly.
- Use past and future correctly.
- Make questions in five systems.
- Make negatives in five systems.
- Use countable/uncountable nouns.
- Use articles in basic noun chunks.
- Use ability/necessity patterns.
- Use comparisons and connectors.
- Explain your grammar choice in simple words.
Next: Lesson No.035 | 下一课
Grammar gives structure, but vocabulary gives range. Next, grow vocabulary efficiently through word families, collocations, opposites, categories and repeated use instead of memorising isolated lists.
Lesson No.035 · Growing Vocabulary by Word Families · 用词族扩展词汇
Reference floor: British Council A1–A2 Grammar · Cambridge Essential Grammar in Use A1–B1.
