Who wants to be a grammar
millionaire?
Developing your English
grammar and expression
Dr Julia Miller
School of Education / Discipline of Higher Education
Copyright © 2013 The University of
Adelaide
What is your first/main language?
How would you say this sentence in your language?
The door opened.
Slide 2
Sentence analysed
Definite article – the
Past simple – opened
The door opened.
Ergative verb – opened
Slide 3
Session outline
1. Articles (a/an/the)
2. Tenses in academic writing
3. The passive voice (and ergative verbs!)
4. Who wants to be a grammar millionaire?
5. Further resources
Slide 4
Help!
• While you watch, pay attention to the articles
(a/an/the) in blue
Slide 5
1. Articles: a, the or nothing?
What do articles do?
• Articles tell us more about how we see nouns in English.
• A/An – the first time we use a noun
• The – shared knowledge about a noun or the way it is
used
• 0 – general statements, or another word first (such as
‘my’ or ‘two’)
Slide 6
Articles: a, an, the or nothing?
Think about your noun.
–
Is it countable (can you make it plural)?
–
Is it singular or plural?
–
Is it definite (both reader and writer know what
you are referring to)?
e.g. Are you going to the library?
Slide 7
Slide 8
Choosing the right article
Singular, countable noun Plural or uncountable noun
Is it definite?
Is it definite?
Yes
No
Yes
No
the
a/an
the
0
Slide 9
Is the noun definite? Use the
Both writer and reader know what it refers to.
e.g
I read two articles and a book.
The book was very interesting.
I went to a wedding last week.
The bride looked beautiful.
Slide 10
Some advice from Ms Parrot
Slide 11
You try!
Where would you put articles in Exercise 1 in your handout?
How many times would you use ‘the’?
English learners’ dictionaries are useful for many purposes,
for both native and non-native speakers of English. Most
popular five versions of these dictionaries are produced in
UK. Most students would benefit from using such dictionary
several times day when writing essay. Essay need not be
complicated, but using good dictionary will improve quality
of anyone’s writing.
Slide 12
No article
English learners’ dictionaries are useful for many purposes,
for both native and non-native speakers of English. Most
popular five versions of these dictionaries are produced in
UK. Most students would benefit from using such dictionary
several times day when writing essay. Essay need not be
complicated, but using good dictionary will improve quality
of anyone’s writing.
Slide 13
Indefinite article
English learners’ dictionaries are useful for many purposes,
for both native and non-native speakers of English. Most
popular five versions of these dictionaries are produced in
UK. Most students would benefit from using such a
dictionary several times a day when writing an essay.
Essay need not be complicated, but using a good
dictionary will improve quality of anyone’s writing.
Slide 14
Definite article
English learners’ dictionaries are useful for many purposes,
for both native and non-native speakers of English. The
most popular five versions of these dictionaries are
produced in the UK. Most students would benefit from
using such a dictionary several times a day when writing
an essay. The essay need not be complicated, but using a
good dictionary will improve the quality of anyone’s
writing.
Slide 15
The missing articles
English learners’ dictionaries are useful for many
purposes, for both native and non-native speakers of
English. The most popular five versions of these
dictionaries are produced in the UK. Most students would
benefit from using such a dictionary several times a day
when writing an essay. The essay need not be
complicated, but using a good dictionary will improve the
quality of anyone’s writing.
Slide 16
Choosing the right article –
reminder
Singular, countable noun
Is it definite?
Yes
No
the
a/an
Plural or uncountable noun
Is it definite?
Yes
the
No
0
Slide 17
2. Verb tenses in academic writing
• Present simple – opinions and findings
• Past simple – finished actions
• Present perfect – findings that are still relevant; no
date
Slide 18
Use the present tense
to explain or discuss current knowledge
Continuing objectives
e.g. This study aims to ...
General principles or laws
e.g. Ohm’s law states that ...
Data or findings
e.g. These results indicate ...
Opinion (even when
expressed in the past)
e.g. Brown (1997) claims that ...
Habitual state or action
e.g. Water boils at 100C.
Slide 19
Use the past simple tense
to describe what previous researchers did or thought (but
perhaps no longer think)
Past objectives and actions
The study aimed to ...
The interviews were held ...
The researchers found that ...
What people used to think
It was believed for many years
that ...
Smith (1987) maintained that ...
but later revised his opinion.
Slide 20
Use the present perfect tense
to show the current relevance of research
Research conducted in
the recent past and still
important now
Recent studies have
indicated that this is no
longer the case.
Views held in the past
and still held
This has been a key issue
for many years.
Adapted from Winckel & Hart 2002, Swales & Feak 1994 and CALLR 2001
Slide 21
Which tense?
Can you put these verbs from Exercise 2 in your
handout into the correct tense?
In Smith’s experiment (2006), the researchers (heat) the
liquid in a test tube.
- In Smith’s experiment (2006), the researchers
heated the liquid in a test tube.
Smith (2006) (maintain) that ...
- Smith (2006) maintains that ...
Slide 22
More examples
Researchers (prove) that chocolate is good for our
health.
- Researchers have proved recently that chocolate is
good for our health.
- Researchers proved in 1998 that chocolate is good
for our health.
Slide 23
Which tense (more examples)?
Shakespeare (say) that not all that glitters is gold.
- Shakespeare says that not all that glitters is gold.
Jones et al. (conduct) the first experiment in 2002.
- Jones et al. conducted the first experiment in 2002.
Researchers already (try) to replicate the results.
- Researchers have already tried to replicate the results.
Slide 24
3. Passives
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/english-for-uni/passive-voice/
Slide 25
Stolen
What part of speech is ‘stolen’?
• The past participle of ‘to steal’
Someone has stolen my necklace.
• My necklace has been stolen.
Slide 26
Passives need the verb ‘to be’ and
a past participle
What’s wrong here?
1. The new living experiences they want to have could be vary
for each person.
2. Australia is well knowing as a multicultural country.
3. It has recognized that Australia is a well developed country.
1. The new living experiences they want to have could vary for
each person – active – no verb ‘to be’
2. Australia is well known as a multicultural country – passive
3. It has been/is recognized that Australia is a well developed
country – passive
Active to passive
Prince Wolfgang gave it to me.
• It was given to me by Prince Wolfgang.
Someone has stolen my necklace.
• My necklace has been stolen.
Slide 28
Now watch the video and look out
for passives
• Bobby Dylan: It’s my table and I’m looking for my
necklace. It’s been stolen. It was given to me by
Prince Wolfgang.
• Kareena Kapadia: My necklace has been stolen, and
my necklace was given to me by Prince Wolfgang!
Slide 29
Other passive constructions
• She went out to have her nails manicured.
• Both necklaces got covered by a napkin.
Slide 30
Ergative verbs – Middle voice
Someone broke the window. (Active)
The window was broken. (Passive)
The window broke. (Middle)
Examples from the story
The train’s speed increased.
The door opened.
Slide 32
What is an ergative verb?
An ergative verb can be active or passive.
e.g.
She opened the door.
The door was opened.
The door opened.
Slide 33
Why does it matter?
Many people misuse or ignore ergative verbs.
e.g.
The figures increased.
The gap in earnings decreased.
Slide 34
Ergative verbs in academic writing
Are the verbs in Exercise 3 ergative?
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/english-for-uni/passive-voice/
Scroll down for the list of ergative verbs.
Slide 35
Exercise 3
Active
Passive
Ergative verbs
James
dropped the
ball.
Peter kicked
the ball.
The ball was
dropped by
James.
The ball was
kicked by
Peter.
The ball
dropped.
Peter
laughed.
X
X (We cannot
say, *The ball
kicked.)
X
Active
Passive
Ergative verbs
The fire
The wood was The wood burned.
burned the
burned by the
wood.
fire.
Jack coughed.
X
X
Farmers grow
crops.
The speaker
discussed the
topic.
Crops are
grown by
farmers.
The topic was
discussed by
the speaker.
Crops grow.
X
Active
The revolution
happened in
1974.
Oswald killed
Kennedy.
Passive
Ergative verbs
X
X
Kennedy was
killed by Oswald.
X
The economy has The gap . . . has
The gap . . . has
widened the gap been widened by widened.
between the rich the economy.
and the poor.
4. We need $1,000,000 to
save English grammar.
Who wants to be a grammar
millionaire?
$1,000,000
Slide 39
$100
Does this sentence need an article?
Some people live there.
a) Yes – a (orange)
b) Yes – the (blue)
c)
d) Yes – a and the
(pink)
Correct answer: c – no articles needed
Slide 40
$1,000
Are the articles in this sentence correct?
The wheels on the bus go round and
round.
a) Yes – this is
correct
b) No – it should
be a wheels
c) No – it should
be round and a
round
d) No – it should
be some of
wheels
Correct answer:
a) Yes – the sentence is correct
Slide 41
$4,000
Which tense should the verb be in?
Smith (suggest) (1999) that this is true.
a) Past simple
– suggested
b) Present simple –
suggests
c) Present perfect –
has suggested
d) Past perfect
had suggested
–
Correct answer:
b) Present simple – suggests
Slide 42
$8,000
What two words are missing in this
sentence?
Australian dollar is stronger than
American dollar.
a) the/a
b) a/a
c)
d) the/the
Correct answer: d - The Australian dollar is
stronger than the American dollar.
Slide 43
$16,000
Is this sentence correct?
The liquid chocolate solidified.
a) Yes, it’s correct.
c)
b) No. It should be
‘was solidified’.
d) No. It should be
‘was solidified by us.
Correct answer: a – It’s correct.
Slide 44
$64,000
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
Researchers discover recently that everyone
likes chocolate.
a) No – discovers,
likes
b) Yes – it’s fine
c) No – have
discovered, likes
d) No – discover,
liked
Correct answer: c – Researchers have discovered
recently that everyone likes chocolate.
Slide 45
$132,000
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
An university is the good place to study.
a) No – An university is
a good place to study.
b) No – A university is a
good place to study.
c) Yes – It’s fine.
d) No – A university is
the good place to
study.
Correct answer:
2: A university is a good place to study.
Slide 46
$200,000
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
The number wrote.
a) No – It can only be
‘Someone wrote the
number’.
b) No – It can only be
‘The number was
written’.
c) Yes – It’s fine.
d) No – It can be either
‘Someone wrote the
number’ or ‘The
number was written.
Correct answer:
d: ‘Someone wrote the number’ or ‘The number
Slide 47
was written’.
$250,000
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
Some of people in this room don’t like quiz shows!
a) No – It can only be
Some of the people
b) No – It can only be
Some people
c) Yes – Some of
people is correct
d) Both – Some of the
people and Some
people are correct.
Correct answer: d: Some of the
people/Some people are both correct.
Slide 48
$500,000
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
France, the United Kingdom, Portugal and the
Netherlands are all in Europe.
a) No – The France, the
United Kingdom, the
Portugal, the Netherlands,
the Europe
b) No – France, United
Kingdom, Portugal,
Netherlands, Europe
c) Yes – It’s fine.
d) No – France, the United
Kingdom, Portugal,
Netherlands, the Europe
Correct answer: c – it’s correct
Slide 49
$1,000,000
Correct this sentence as necessary: Master (1986) (say) that
English article system (be) difficult system to understand.
a) Master (1986) says that an
English article system was
difficult system to understand.
c) Master (1986) says that the
English article system is a
difficult system to understand.
b) Master (1986) said that
the English article system has
been difficult system to
understand.
d) Master (1986) says that an
English article system is the
difficult system to
understand.
Correct answer: c - Master (1986) says that the English article
system is a difficult system to understand.
Slide 50
$1,000,000
Slide 51
Summary
• Articles
What should you consider?
• Tenses
Which tense do you use for
– opinions and findings?
– finished actions?
– recent or still relevant research?
• Passives
How can you use ergative verbs?
Slide 52
5. Further resources
• Ms Parrot’s website: www.adelaide.edu.au/english-for-uni
• A learners’ dictionary. e.g. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
• A concordancer
http://ec-concord.ied.edu.hk/paraconc/monoconcE.htm
• Using English for Academic Purposes
http://www.uefap.com/
• RMIT Learning Lab https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/
• ESL café http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar.html
• University of Adelaide Library Website
http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/esl
Slide 53
The Writing Centre
Location: Level 3, Hub Central
Opening times:
Monday – Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
Website: www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre
Slide 54
Time for action!
What will you use from this lecture?
What was most helpful?
Is anything still unclear?
Slide 55
References
Centre for Applied Language and Literacy Research, Edith Cowan University 2001, Writing a
literature review, viewed 15 August 2006,
<http://www.ecu.edu.au/ses/research/CALLR/WRITING/tense.html>.
Master, PA 1986, Science, medicine and technology: English grammar and technical writing,
Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Swales, JM & Feak, CB 1994, Academic writing for graduate students, The University of Michigan
Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Winckel, A & Hart, B 2002, Report writing style guide for engineering students, 4th edn, University
of South Australia, Adelaide.
Slide 56
Thank you.
Have a great year!
Slide 57