Prepositions: In, On, and At

Prepositions: In, On, and At (with specific times and places)

The prepositions in, on, and at can be used to indicate time and place. Notice how they are used in the following situations: Preposition Time Place In Year, Month, In 1999, In December Country, State, City In Japan, In Utah, InTaipei On Day, Date On Saturday, On May 1 Street On Main Street, On 1st Ave. At Time At 8:00, At 7:30 Address At 815 East Main Street In many languages, there is only one preposition for the above situations. In English there are three. Just remember that in usually indicates the "largest" time or place, and at usually indicates the "smallest" time or place. Examples: A: Where's your office? B: In Taipei, Taiwan. A: Really? What part of Taipei? B: It's on Chung Shan North Road. A: I know that area. Where exactly is it? B: It's at 105 Chung Shan North Road, next to the bookstore. C: When is the wedding? D: It's in June. C: What day? D: It's on Saturday, the 25th. C: What time? D: It starts at 6:00.

Prepositions with articles and locations

When talking about locations, use at to indicate the general vicinity or area, and in to indicate inside the building, enclosed area, etc. For example:

at the swimming pool (on site)		in the swimming pool (in the pool itself i.e. in the water)
at the post office/bank (general)		in the post office/bank (inside the building)
at the zoo (visitors, general area)		in the zoo (animals in their cages)
at school		in the classroom

Sample sentences:

I met my wife at the theater. (while watching a movie)
I spilled my drink in the theater (on the floor of the building)
She works at the library on Wednesdays.
She found a rare coin in the library (building).
Dr. Jones works at the hospital every day.
John was in the hospital for a week with a broken leg.

For school, prison, and church, the is used to indicate the building. No article indicates the general situation. Note the following:

"practice"/situation		building
in school (studying, listening to teacher, etc.)		in the school (building)
in jail/prison (staying there as a criminal)		in the jail/prison (temporary)
in church (praying, listening to a sermon, etc.)		in the church (building)

Where's Dad?

in church (attending services)		in the church (fixing the windows)
at church		at the church
in prison (He committed a crime.)		at the prison (visiting his friend)

Vocabulary Around The House

Vocabulary Around The House

ASKING IF SOMEONE REMEMBER OR NOT

ASKING IF SOMEONE REMEMBER OR NOT

Formal expressions:
- I wonder if you remember.....
- You remember...., don’t you?
- You haven’t forgotten...., have you?
- Don’t you remember.....?
- Do you happen to remember it now?

Ways to respond:
- Let me think, yes, I remember.
- I remember especially the scenery.
- I’ll never forget that
- I’ll always remember.
- I can remember it clearly.

Informal expressions:
- Remember the old house we used to live in?
- Remember that?
- I’m sorry I don’t remember

Ways to respond:
- Hold on. Yes, got it!
- I know.....
- It’s coming back to me now.

Respond if you forget:
- Sorry, I’ve completely forgotten.
- I’m affraid I forget.
- I really can’t remember.
- I’m afraid I have no memory of him
- Errr, let me think. No, it’s gone.
- Sorry, it slipped off my mind.

Example..
It was Sunday morning, Cinta got dressed and had breakfast quickly. She was ready to leave for school. Her mother was a little puzzled.
Mother : Hey...hey.... are you going to school?
Cinta : Yes, Mom. I overslept. I’m in a hurry
Mother : You remember Sunday, don’t you?
Cinta : Oh, my goodnes. I thought it’s a school day !

Offering Expression

Offering Expression

The expression of “ Would you like....”is normally used for offering something to someone.


Ways to say it :


* Would you like a cup of coffee, Mr. Ardi?
* Should I get you a bottle of water?
* Could I offer you a glass of milk, Mr. Rio?
* Would you care some salad?


Offering to friends:
* Want some?
* Have some?
* Chocolate?
* Grab some for yourself


Less formal expressions:


* Would you like to have a drink?
* Why don't you have some pie?
* What can I get for you?
* What will you have?


Declining an offering :


* No, thanks.
* No, really won't, thanks
* Not for me, thanks.


Accepting an offering :


* Thank you, Kim Bum.
* Yes, please
* I'd like it very much
* That would be very nice

Simple Future Tense

I will sing

The simple future tense is often called will, because we make the simple future tense with the modal auxiliary will.

How do we make the Simple Future Tense?

The structure of the simple future tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	main verb
		invariable		base
		will		V1

For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with the simple future tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	will		open	the door.
+	You	will		finish	before me.
-	She	will	not	be	at school tomorrow.
-	We	will	not	leave	yet.
?	Will	you		arrive	on time?
?	Will	they		want	dinner?

When we use the simple future tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and auxiliary verb:

I will	I'll
you will	you'll
he will she will it will	he'll she'll it'll
we will	we'll
they will	they'll

For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we contract with won't, like this:

I will not	I won't
you will not	you won't
he will not she will not it will not	he won't she won't it won't
we will not	we won't
they will not	they won't

How do we use the Simple Future Tense?

No Plan

We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking. Look at these examples:

• Hold on. I'll get a pen.
• We will see what we can do to help you.
• Maybe we'll stay in and watch television tonight.

In these examples, we had no firm plan before speaking. The decision is made at the time of speaking.
We often use the simple future tense with the verb to think before it:

• I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.
• I think I will have a holiday next year.
• I don't think I'll buy that car.

Prediction

We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction about the future. Again, there is no firm plan. We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:

• It will rain tomorrow.
• People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
• Who do you think will get the job?

Be

When the main verb is be, we can use the simple future tense even if we have a firm plan or decision before speaking. Examples:

• I'll be in London tomorrow.
• I'm going shopping. I won't be very long.
• Will you be at work tomorrow?

Asking for information

 
                                                     
            

Asking for information

-(Excuse me) can could you tell me (the way to the station/...) -Do you know (if they are here / when they leave /...) -Could you give me some information about ... -Is it true that (they have moved /...) -Have you got an idea of (when they leave / ...) -I'd like to know (what he does / ...)

Correcting agreeing with a statement

-Yes, it is / was / will ... -Oh yes, I did / Oh no, I didn't. -That's (quite) right. -No, it isn't really so. -I'm sorry but that isn't correct. - Well, it's the contrary in fact.

Asking about language

-Pardon? / I beg your pardon? -I'm sorry I didn't catch what you said. -What do you mean? -What is the meaning of ...? -How do you pronounce..? -How do you say that? -How is it spelt? How do you spell ...?

Expressing certainty

Being sure. I'm sure / certain (that) (he will come / ...) -There is no doubt about it. -No doubt (you'd like to see your gift / ...) -I certainly think / believe that (she was unhappy / ...) -I'm positive on that point. I'm certain... -It is obvious that ... -That goes without saying. -It's crystal clear. -It's as sure as two and two make four. Being less sure. -I think so -I think that ( they will be there by 6 / ...) -I suppose so. -I suppose / expect that ( it is the way to the bus stop /...) -I believe that ( he is sick / ...) -I assume (that ) (they did it / ...) -It's more than probable that ... -I wouldn't be surprised if .... Being unsure. I'm not sure (that) ... -I wonder if... -I doubt if ... -May be / perhaps (they're right / ...) -It's very doubtful whether (he'll accept / ...) -There's a little chance of ( arriving in time / ...) -It isn't known for use ... Not knowing. -I don't think so. -I don't think that (they will give her a ring / ...) -I don't know / I've no idea / I wouldn't like to say (where it is). -I haven't the faintest idea. -Sorry, I can't tell you.

Inquiring about certainty

-Are you (quite) sure (that) ... -Do you think so? -Do you think that ...? -Do you believe / suppose that (it's a good idea / ...)?

Expressing possibility

-It is possible -It is possible (that) (it rains / ...) -I / you ... can (drive / read / ...) -He / we / ... is/are capable of ( doing better / ...)

Expressing impossibility

-It is impossible -It is impossible (that) (it rains / ...) -I / you ... can't (drive / read / ...) -You can't possibly ( do this / ...)

Inquiring about possibility

-Is it possible? -Is it possible (that) (he will come / ...) -Will he / she / they .. be able to (do it / ...)? -Can he / she /.... (drive / read /...)?

Expressing obligation

-You have (got) (to go / ...) -We / you ..must (leave / ...) -Do behave yourself! -It is compulsory. You are to .. (be there at 4 / ...) -We are forced to do so. -We were obliged to (pay / ...)

Expressing there is no obligation

-It's not necessary / not necessarily. -No) you needn't / you don't need to ... (go out / ...) -No need to (wait / ...) -You don't have to .. (wait / ...) -You haven't got to (wash the car / ...) -It is not compulsory. -It is not absolutely vital. -Why should you? -You aren't obliged to ...(wait for them /...)

Inquiring about obligation

-Must we ( go / stay /...) -Do you have to ( wash our hands / wait/...) -Have I / we got to ( go now /...) -Is it compulsory? -Am I / Are we required to ( take an exam / ...) -Need we (stay / ...) -Am I to (wait here / ...) ? -Am I obliged to (leave / ...)? -Are we supposed to (read this book / ...)?

Forbidding, refusing permission

Parking is strictly forbidden / prohibited here. -Trespassers will be prosecuted. -No begging / parking / waiting / ... -They won't let me (go out / ...) -Nobody is to (enter this area / ...) -I was refused permission to ( use my car / ...) -You may not (drink alcohol / ...) -We weren't allowed to (talk / ...) -It's out of question. -Smoking / drinking alcohol .. is not permitted/ is prohibited.

Modals In Past Form

Past modals come in two forms. The first type is the easiest and usually requires only a simple word change:

I can drive. I could drive when I was 16. I have to go to California. I had to go to California. Lenny will pay tomorrow. Lenny said he would pay tomorrow.

(present ability) (past ability) (present obligation) (past obligation) (future intention) (future reported from the past)

Past modals with have
Some past modals can be formed by using have + the past participle of the main verb immediately after the modal. (should have, could have, would have, etc.)
However, since modals express possibility, intention, obligation, etc., they do not always indicate a definite tense. Therefore, when using past modals with have, special meanings need to be considered.

I should go to the funeral. I should have gone to the funeral. Lex might take Karen to the airport. Lex might have taken Karen to the airport. Lex could have taken Karen to the airport. Lex would have taken Karen to the airport. Otis didn't come to work yesterday. He had to take care of his children. His children must have been sick.

(I feel an obligation to go--later.) (I didn't go. Now I regret it.) (It's a future possibility.) (He may be on his way there now.) (Most likely he didn't.) (He didn't. He had an excuse.) (past fact) (past obligation) (conjecture about the past)