Basic Grammar Preparation Before Your TEFL Course - The Mighty Verb
| When I started my TEFL course in Madrid, I was | So, if you´re not sure if a verb is in the present | |||
| amazed and embarrassed by how little I knew about | simply put TO in front of it - if it sounds correct | |||
| my own language. The course started at a basic level, | it´s in the present. | |||
| but not nearly basic enough for me! I found it hard to | Identifying a Verb in a Sentence | |||
| even identify the most fundamental of grammar | One of the handiest things to be able to do before you | |||
| concepts and felt that I needed a pre-grammar course | start your TEFL Course is to be able to identify a verb | |||
| before the grammar course on my TEFL. The | in a sentence. One of the easiest ways to identify a | |||
| following articles will help you get to grips with some of | verb (or at least narrow the options) is to place the | |||
| the basic terminology. These articles are meant for | word TO in front of the word you´re trying to | |||
| those that are in the 'couldn't identify English grammar if | identify. If TO + a word sounds correct then it´s | |||
| it came up in hit me on the head with a grammar book' | probably (depending on the context of a sentence) a | |||
| category. | verb. Let me demonstrate. | |||
| The Infinitive & The Bare Infinitive | Spiders have eight legs. | |||
| A verb with the word TO in front of it is called "the | Let´s put TO in front of all the words in this | |||
| infinitive". Here are some examples of "the infinitive". | sentence. | |||
| To run | To spider (sounds wrong) | |||
| To play | To have (sounds right and is a verb) | |||
| To spin | To eight (sounds wrong) | |||
| To laugh | To legs (sounds wrong) | |||
| If the verb is without the word TO it is called "the bare | This is very simplistic however, if you´ve never | |||
| infinitive". Here are some examples: run, play, spin and | had to identify a verb before it´s a good place | |||
| laugh. | to start. | |||
| If the verb is in the infinitive or the bare infinitive, it is | Note: if the verb in the sentence isn´t in the | |||
| ALWAYS in the present. | present it won´t sound correct for example, | |||
| For example: | "The cat sat on the mat." The verb in this sentence is | |||
| I like coffee. (Like is in the present) | SAT. But if this happens try and think of the verb in | |||
| I hate Fridays. (Hate is in the present) | the present for example SAT in the present is SIT and | |||
| I run to work. (Run is in the present) | "to sit" sounds correct. |
Natasha Mason Kennedy is an experienced TEFL trainer and owner Teacher Training Madrid in Spain - www.ttmadrid.com