DAFTAR ISI

Halaman depan.............................................................................................. 1

Daftar isi...........................................................................................................2

Ability...............................................................................................................3

Present continuous tense.................................................................................5

Permission.......................................................................................................15

Present perfect tense.......................................................................................18

Certainty : may, might, could and must........................................................26

Posibility ....................................................................................................30

State and action verb ......................................................................................34

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 ABILITY

Asking if someone can do something:

 Can you…?

 Are you good at…?

 Is he able to…?

 Are you able to…?

 Are you capable of…?

 Do you know how to…?

 Do you think you can…?

 Do you know anything about…?

 Do you have the experience or ability to…?

Saying you are able to do something:

 I can…

 I am able to…

 I know how to…

 I feel capable of…

 I might be able to…

 (Yes), no problem…

 I would I am able to…

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  I know something about…

 I have the experience of…

 I am pretty good at the job…

 I would say I am capable of…

 (I think) I have the qualification or experience or ability to…

Saying you can not to do something:

 I cannot…

 I am hopeless…

 I am not good at…

 I have no idea how…

 I have no experience of…

 No, I don’t know how to…

 I don’t know anything about…

 I am not sure I can/ know how to…

 (I am afraid) I cannot cope (with)…

 I would not know where to begin or start…

 I don’t think I have qualification or experience or ability to…

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Example

Andy : Can you explain me about the process of extraction in the laboratory?

Dony : Yes, no problem.

Andy : Do you have experience to lead the physics seminar?

Dony : No, I have no experience to lead physics seminar.

Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb to be
+ the present participle of the main verb.

(The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

Affirmative

Subject + to be + base + ing

She Is talking.

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Negative

Subject + to be + not + base + ing

She is not (isn't) talking

Interrogative

to be + subject + base + ing

Is She talking?

EXAMPLES: TO GO, PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I am going I am not going Am I going?

You are going You aren't going. Are you going?

He, she, it is going He, she, it isn't going Is he, she, it going?

We are going We aren't going Are we going?

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You are going You aren't going Are you going?

They are going They aren't going Are they going?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.

FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or
event. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that
is unfinished or incomplete

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS IS USED :

to describe an action that is going on at this moment: You are using the Internet. You are
studying English grammar.

to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend: Are you still
working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.

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to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared: We're
going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next
winter?

to describe a temporary event or situation: He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass
guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.

with "always, forever, constantly", to describe and emphasise a continuing series of repeated
actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're constantly complaining about your
mother-in-law!

BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not usually used in the continuous form

VERBS THAT ARE NOT USUALLY USED IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM

The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form because they refer to states,
rather than actions or processes.

SENSES / PERCEPTION

to feel*

to hear

to see*

to smell

OPINION

to assume

to believe

to consider

to doubt

to feel (= to think)

to find (= to consider)

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to suppose

to think*

MENTAL STATES

to forget

to imagine

to know

to mean

to notice

to recognise

to remember

to understand

EMOTIONS / DESIRES

to envy

to fear

to dislike

to hate

to hope

to like
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to love

to mind

to prefer

to regret

to want

to wish

MEASUREMENT

to contain

to cost

to hold

to measure

to weigh

OTHERS

to look (=resemble)

to be (in most cases)

to have(when it means "to possess")*

EXCEPTIONS

Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: : I can see... These verbs
may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning

This coat feels nice and warm. (your perception of the coat's qualities)

John's feeling much better now (his health is improving)

She has three dogs and a cat. (possession)

She's having supper. (She's eating)

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I can see Anthony in the garden (perception)

I'm seeing Anthony later (We are planning to meet)

Present Continuous
Use
We use the present continuous:
To talk about things that are happening now, at the moment we speak.
A: What are you doing?
B: I´m writing an e-mail.
We´re leaving now. Goodbye.
The bus is coming.

To talk about things that are happening now, but not exactly at the moment we speak.

My brother is looking for a job at the moment.

You are spending a lot of money these days.

To talk about something we have already arranged or planned to do in the future.

We often give the future time (tomorow, in July, on Saturday, this afternoon, next week,

etc…)
A: What are you doing on Saturday morning?
B: I´m meeting a friend.
We´re visiting our grandparents next weekend.
My sister is starting a new job next Monday.

 IMPORTANT

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 Some verbs are not used in the present continuous. They are normally used in the
simple forms.
Some of the most important ones are:
like know love hate understand
believe mean remember want prefer
I am liking tennis > I like tennis.
Are you knowing Maria? > Do you know Maria?
 SPELLING RULES
With most verbs we add -ing.
Go > going
Play > playing
Work > working
If the verb ends in consonant + -e we delete the -e and add -ing.
come > coming live > living
move > moving have > having

*Exception: be > being

If the verb ends in -ie, we change -ie to -ying.
Die > dying
Lie > lying
If the verb ends in one vowel + one consonant ,we double the consonant.
Get > getting
Run > running
Shop > shopping
Sit > sitting
Put > putting
*Exceptions:
a) When the verb ends in one vowel + -y, -w or -x ,we just add -ing.
Play > playing
Snow > snowing
Mix > mixing
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b) When the last syllable verb is not stressed.
listen /´LIsen/ > listening
visit /´VISit/ > visiting
*Exception: travel /´TRAVel/ > travelling

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Example Present Continuous Tense

Hi, my name is Luna Ariesta. School holidays are about to come. I usually spend my
holidays with my family. But this time will be different. I am going to join one adventure holiday
in Bali with my cousins and other teenagers. Here are the arrangements.
It’s a camping holiday for two weeks in Bali. I am leaving on Sunday, July 30. Then, I am going
home on Sunday, August 13. On the first day, we are putting on backpacks then hiking to Mount
Batur. It is the second highest point of Bali with 1.717 meters above sea level. We’re setting up
our tents at 1.500 meters. Then we’re enjoying stunning sunset at peak of the mount.

Next day, we are going down and enjoying beautiful view with amazing sunrise. Finally,
we’re visiting Batur Natural Hot Spring to relax and recharge our mind at the natural hot spring.
Then, the organizers are providing other adventure activities like paint battles, flying fox,
trekking through forest and being close to nature. On other days, we’re meeting a Balinese
family. We’re helping them to plant fruit and vegetables. They say the locals are kind and
friendly.

After enjoying nature in a week, we are having water activities in Tanjung Benoa Beach.
Yay, finally we’re going to the beach. They’re providing many water activities and we’re joining
four water activities; they are Parasailing Adventure, Jet Ski, Banana Boat, and Diving. Our
experience and knowledge about life under water will be upgraded soon. On the next day, we’re
learning about Balinese culture. We’re visiting some temples and interacting with Balinese
people. The culture is one of the big reasons why tourists love visiting Bali. I’m very excited and
can’t wait to be there soon.

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Present Continuous Tense

I am staying with a Balinese family here.

I am helping them.

We’re planting fruits and vegetables.

They are telling about their culture.

I am having a wonderful experience.

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 PERMISSION

In asking and giving permission politely, you can use ‘can’, ‘could’ or ‘may’. Below are some tips on how you
can use these modal auxiliaries;

Can

You use ‘can’ to ask for or giving permission. ‘Can’ is less formal than ‘could’ or ‘may’.

For example:

Asking for permission Giving/ refusing permission

Yes, you can but you need to finish your homework

Can I go to KLCC tomorrow, dad? before you go.

Can I use your handphone, Ita? I’m sorry you can’t because I’ve left it at home.

Can we go now, Miss Nor? Yes, you can/ No, you can’t.

Could

You use ‘could’ to ask for and give permission. It is more polite than ‘can’. It is also used to show permission
given in the past.

For example:

Asking for permission Giving/ refusing permission

Could I give my opinion? Yes, you could/ No, you couldn’t.

Could we go back earlier, Miss Akeena? Yes, you could.

When you were small, could you watch television No, I couldn’t. I could watch television from 5.00
every night? p.m. till 6.30 p.m. during weekdays.

May

You use ‘may’ in a formal situation when you ask for and give permission.
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For example:

Asking for permission Giving/ refusing permission

Miss Afsyah, may I ask a question? Yes, you may.

May I submit the assignment tomorrow? I’m sorry. Everyone must submit it today.

May I see you at 5.00 p.m. today, Miss Kate? I need Yes, you may. I’ll be in my office from 2.00 p.m.
to discuss my project paper. to 6.00 p.m. today.
Making and responding to apologies

An apology is usually made when you feel regret on something that you have done. The simplest and the most
common way of apologising are by saying “sorry”. However, the way you apologise and response to it
depends on the degree of formality of the situation that you are in.

In a formal situation

Apologising Responding to apology

I would like to apologise for…. Your apology is accepted

Forgive me. I’m terribly sorry about…. That’s quite alright! / That’s alright.

Please accept my apologies. Apologies are accepted!

I apologise for… It doesn’t matter/ It’s not your fault.

I beg your pardon. I understand completely.

In an informal situation

Apologising Responding to apology

Sorry. I didn’t mean to… That’s / its okay.

I’m sorry about that. Not to worry.

It was wrong of me. I’m sorry. Forget it.

I can’t tell you how sorry I am for/ about… Never mind.

Asking for and giving permission:

When you ask for permission to use something that belongs to someone else you have to do your
best to be polite. It is desirable to use the word "please."
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Asking for Permission:

 Can I go out, please?

 May I open the window, please?

 Please, can I have a look at your photo album?

 Please, may I taste that hot spicy couscous dish?

 Do you mind if I smoke?

 Would you mind if I asked you something?

 Is it okay if I sit here?

 Would it be all right if I borrowed your mobile Phone?

Giving Permission:

 Yes, please do.

 Sure, go ahead.

 Sure.

 No problem.

 Please feel free.

Refusing to give permission:

 No, please don’t.

 I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.

 I'm afraid, but you can't.

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 PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect verb tense is a little difficult in English – it is used in several different
ways, and there are lots of rules to remember. This lesson will teach you everything you
ever wanted to know about the present perfect
How to form the Present Perfect
Present Perfect Positive
SUBJECT HAVE / HAS PAST PARTICIPLE
I / you / we / they have written
he / she / it has written

Note: In spoken English, it’s common to use the contraction:

• I’ve written three books.
• We’ve already seen that movie
• Barbara’s forgotten her cell phone.
• He’s just woken up.
In this case, he’s, she’s, Barbara’s, etc. mean he has, she has, and Barbara has,
not he is, she is, or Barbara is.

Present Perfect Negative

SUBJECT HAVEN’T / HASN’T PAST PARTICIPLE
I / you / we / they haven’t seen
he / she / it hasn’t seen

Examples:
• I haven’t seen John this week.
• Mary hasn’t come to class for the past two days.

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Present Perfect Questions
HAVE / HAS SUBJECT PAST PARTICIPLE
Have I / you / we / they finished?
Has he / she / it finished?

Examples:
• Have you finished the project yet?
• Has George ever been to New York?
How to answer present perfect questions:
• Have you been to London?

Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.

• Has Alex met Miriam yet?
Yes, he has. / No, he hasn’t.
• Have the results of the election been announced?
Yes, they have. / No, they haven’t.
What is the past participle?
The past participle is a form of the verb that describes a completed action or state.
For regular verbs, the past participle is the same as the simple past:
• I worked (simple past) all day yesterday.
• I’ve worked (past participle) here since August.
This is also the case for many irregular verbs:
• He sold (simple past) his car last week.
• He’s sold (past participle) 200 books so far.

However, some irregular verbs’ past participles are different from their simple past form:
• We wrote (simple past) an article for the newspaper.
• We’ve written (past participle) for many famous publications.

Many of these irregular past participles end in –n:

Infinitive Simple Past Past Participle

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be was / were been
break broke broken
choose chose chosen
do did done
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
fly flew flown
forget forgot forgotten
give gave given
go went gone
know knew known
see saw seen
show showed shown
speak spoke spoken
steal stole stolen
take took taken
wear wore worn
write wrote written

Other irregular past participles have a change in the vowel:

Infinitive Simple Past Past Participle
become became become
begin began begun
come came come
drink drank drunk
ring rang rung
run ran run
sing sang sung
swim swam swum

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Present Perfect with unfinished time
Present Perfect with ever / never
The present perfect is used with ever and never to talk about actions done at any time in a
person’s life,
or at any time in history until now.
• Have you ever been to Japan?
• Has she ever seen Titanic?
• Have they ever ridden a motorcycle?
• Has Jason ever failed a test?
Use ever in questions only – NOT in statements.
“I’ve ever been to Japan.”
• “I’ve been to Japan.”
www.espressoenglish.net
Use never in statements – but only with have/has, not with haven’t/hasn’t:
•“My sister hasn’t never seen Titanic.”
• “My sister has never seen Titanic.”
• “My sister hasn’t seen Titanic.”
Present Perfect with already, yet, recently, lately, and just
The words already, yet, recently, lately, and just all refer to a recent and non-specific time. (A
specific
time would be “yesterday” or “three hours ago” or last Friday,” and in these cases we would use
the
simple past).
Already and yet
Already can be used in positive statements and questions.
• “I’ve already read today’s newspaper.”
• “Have you already paid the electric bill?”
• “She’s finished the test already.”
Note: Already can go in between “have/has” and the past participle (as in the first two examples)
or at
the end of the sentence.

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Yet can be used in negative statements and questions.
• “We haven’t cleaned the house yet.”
• “Has he told you the good news yet?”
• “Have they booked their tickets yet?”
Note: Yet usually goes at the end of the sentence or phrase.
Recently, lately, and just
Recently and lately can be used in positive statements, negative statements, or questions:
Recently
• “He’s recently lost some weight.”
• “I haven’t seen her recently.”
• “Have you spoken to Beth recently?”
Lately
• “I’ve gotten a lot of spam e-mails lately.”
• “Adam and Jessica haven’t been to church lately.”
• “Have you seen any good movies lately?”
Just (usually means very recent) is typically only used in positive statements and questions:
• “Don’t touch the walls – I’ve just painted them and they’re still wet.”
• “What book have you just finished reading?”
American English
In spoken American English, we often use the simple past with already, yet, and just:
• “Did you book the tickets yet?”
• “I already replied to the e-mail.”
• “We just got back from the gym.”
Present Perfect with for/since
The present perfect is also used with for and since to talk about actions that began in the past and
continue to the present.
• “I’ve lived here since 2004.”
• “I’ve lived here for 8 years.”

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Since is used with a point in time, and means “from that point in time until the present.” Use
since with
dates (2011, January, Tuesday, etc.), times (6:15, noon, this morning, etc.), and past events (I was
a
child, he graduated from college, etc).
Since is always used with the present perfect, and not the simple past:
• “I’ve gone to the beach every year since I was a child.”
(repeated action that continues until today)
• “I went to the beach when I was a child.”
(finished action at a specific time in the past; I don’t go to the beach today)
For is used with a time period, and means “for that period of time until the present.” Use for with
times
of any length (five seconds, eight hours, two days, six weeks, nine months, ten years, a decade,
centuries, etc.)
Be careful with for, because using the present perfect or the simple past can change the meaning:
• “We’ve lived in Berlin for 6 months.” (and we live in Berlin now)
• “We lived in Berlin for 6 months.” (and we don’t live in Berlin now)
Present Perfect Simple / Present Perfect Continuous
How to form the present perfect continuous:
Positive and negative statements:
SUBJECT AUXILIARY VERB BEEN -ING FORM
I have been working here since 1992.
He hasn’t been sleeping well lately.

Questions:
QUESTION WORD AUXILIARY VERB SUBJECT BEEN -ING FORM
How long have you been studying English?
How long has she been playing tennis?

In some cases, the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous are the same:
“I’ve worked here since 1992.” = “I’ve been working here since 1992.”

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However, we often use the present perfect progressive to emphasize the action, and the present
perfect
simple to emphasize the result:
• “I’ve been working on the report for three weeks.” (emphasizes the action of working)
• “I’ve finished the project.” (emphasizes that the project is done)
• “We’ve been cleaning the house all afternoon.” (emphasizes the action of cleaning)
• “We’ve already cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen (emphasizes the fact that the bathroom
and kitchen are done)
Be careful: Remember that “state” verbs are never used in continuous form.
• “I’ve been knowing my best friend since elementary school.”
• “I’ve known my best friend since elementary school.”
•
“She’s been understanding everything in the advanced class so far.”
• “She’s understood everything in the advanced class so far.”
In spoken English, we often use the present perfect progressive to talk about ways you have
spent your
time recently:
“Hi, Joanna! What have you been up to lately?”
“I’ve been training for a karate competition.”
“Wow – good luck! And how is your son?”
“He’s good. He’s been studying a lot lately because finals are coming up next week.”

Example present perfect tense :

During my last holiday, I made a lot of handcrafts. At that time, I was crazy about art and
creativity. Many ideas had come to my mind three months before. All of the ideas were written
on my note book so I could read them again. Also, I searched other ideas from internet. Yap, I
googled it. I watched tutorial videos and read many art blogs.
My parents helped me to prepare the materials. They also gave me money to buy things I needed.
On the first day, I painted on some rocks. People call it rock art. It was so fun. My siblings joined
me on the third day. Then, my siblings and I made paper crafts from used newspapers and

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magazines. The papers were rolled, shaped and glued together to create decorative
designs. Many beautiful crafts were created.

The last activity was sewing. My mother is a tailor so I learn how to sew from her. My mother
helped me too. Sewing used clothes and towels was very fun. We produced many useful things.
Finally, I really enjoyed my last holiday.

Answer:

During my last holiday, I made a lot of handcrafts. At that time, I was crazy about art and
creativity. Many ideas had come to my mind three months before. All of the ideas were written
on my note book so I could read them again. Also, I searched other ideas from internet. Yap, I
googled it. I watched tutorial videos and read many art blogs.

My parents helped me to prepare the materials. They also gave me money to buy things I needed.
On the first day, I painted on some rocks. People call it rock art. It was so fun. My siblings joined
me on the third day. Then, my siblings and I made paper crafts from used newspapers and
magazines. The papers were rolled, shaped and glued together to create decorative
designs. Many beautiful crafts were created.

The last activity was sewing. My mother is a tailor so I learn how to sew from her. My mother
helped me too. Sewing used clothes and towels was very fun. We produced many useful things.
Finally, I really enjoyed my last holiday.

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 POSSIBILITY

Expressing asking about possibilities:

Would it be possible for (somebody) to …?

Do you think it’s possible that … ?
What possibility is there that … ?
Is there any possibility that … ?
What’s the possibility of … ?
What are the chances of …?
Do you think you can…?
Is it possible that … ?
Is it possible to … ?
Are you capable of…?

Responding:

Yes, it is.
That’s possible.
Sure. It can be.
I think so.
Perhaps.
It’s possible.
Not a chance!
That’s not possible.

Example Dialogue expressing Possibilities

Jalal : What do you think we should give Arni as her birthday present?

( Hadiah apa yang kamu fikir, bagus diberikan kepada Arni sebagai hadiah ulang tahunnya ? )

Rusli : A doll, I think

( Saya pikir, Boneka)

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Jalal : Are you sure?

(Apakah kamu yakin ?)

Rusli : Yes, certainly. As far as I know, she likes doll.

(Ya , tentu saja . Sejauh yang saya tahu , dia suka boneka )

Jalal : Well, it is possible I suppose, but I doubt it.

(Yah , mungkin saya kira , tapi aku ragu ).

Rusli : So, what do you think?

(Jadi , apa yang Anda pikirkan ?)

Jalal : Why don’t we buy her a wristwatch?

(Mengapa kita tidak membelikannya jam tangan ?)

Rusli : I don’t think so. It’s too expensive.

(Saya tidak berpikir begitu . Itu terlalu mahal ).

Jalal : You are right, but we can collect the money

(Anda benar , tapi kita bisa mengumpulkan uang)

Rusli : Still, I doubt it. I’m broke now. I don’t think I can get enough moneywithin this week.

(Namun, aku ragu . Aku pecah sekarang . Saya tidak berpikir saya bisa mendapatkan
cukup uang minggu ini )

Jalal : Well, doubt isn’t going to do anything. I can lend you the money if you want.

(Nah , keraguan tidak akan melakukan apa-apa . Aku bisa meminjamkan uang jika Anda mau )

Rusli : Really?

(Benarkah?)
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Jalal : Certainly.

(Tentu saja)

Rusli : Thank you very much.

(Terima kasih banyak)

Jalal : Don’t mention it.

(Jangan menyebutkan itu )

Expressing Impossibility digunakan untuk mengungkapkan suatu hal yang mungkin tidak
terjadi atau bisa juga dikatakan Tidak mungkin terjadi.

Untuk lebih jelasnya, untuk mengungkapkan ketidakmungkinan yang bisa Sahabat SBI gunakan
jika ingin mengatakan expressing Impossibility yaitu :

Example Spoof Text :

It is impossible ………. ( itu tidak mungkin )

It is not possible……….( itu tidak mungkin )
It can’t be……………...( itu tidak mungkin )
It is not really happened….. ( itu tidak benar-benar terjadi )
May be no………………. ( mungkin tidak )
It is not probable ……….. ( tidak mungkin )
I can’t believe it ………… ( saya tidak mempercayainya )

For example : It was impossible to sleep because of the noise.

It is not possible for me to climb the tree.

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Example Dialogue Expressing of Imposibility

Adel : are you ready for English debate competition Miko ?

Miko : no, I am not ready yet.

Adel : why Miko ?

Miko : I don’t have enough preparation and I’m very nervous. it is impossible for me compete
well.

Adel : why did you say that ? your English is good. You only have to be confidence. Just do
your best and don’t be nervous. I believe you can present the debate well.

Miko : thanks Adel, you are my best friend.

Adel : my pleasure.

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 CERTAINY : MAY, MIGHT, COULD MUST

A. In General
Modals of Possibility and Certainty:
MAY, MIGHT, COULD, MUST / CAN'T, etc.
• The usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid: They cannot be used with
the will-future, they have no infinitive, no to-infinitive, no -ing form, and no past
participle. Neither do the ones dealt with here, in these meanings, have a past form.
• There can only be one modal in a verb group. For the purposes of questions and
negations, the modal auxiliary is “the” auxiliary.
• We may use modals of possibility and certainty to talk about the future, and
sometimes May, Might and Could can be used indiscriminately: “It may / might /
could rain later.”
• We may use a continuous form after all of these: “Jack may/might/could/must/can't
be playing squash right now.”
• For possibility and certainty in the past (may have done etc.), consult this paper.
Combinations with other modals,
Perfect Tenses,
All uses of the -ing form,
To-infinitive.
B. MAY, MIGHT, and COULD
Paraphrases
(LIKELY, POSSIBLE, PERHAPS...)
• MIGHT tends to be a bit more tentative than MAY, but both indicate rather probability
than possibility: The speaker wishes to express that something is likely.
• COULD often means that something is possible but unlikely.
• Consider:
◦ Someone's knocked the door. It may /
might be the postman.
( = Perhaps it's the postman.)

◦ We may / might go out tomorrow

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night.
( = Perhaps we'll go out.)
◦ It could be true, I suppose.
( = Possibly it's not a lie.)
◦ You could win a million quid!
( = It is possible for you to win
that money.)
C. MAY, MIGHT, and COULD in the Negative
• MIGHT NOT and COULD NOT may be contracted, but this is never done with MAY NOT
-just try it, and you will see why.
• MIGHT NOT and MAY NOT mean that it is possible that something is not the case, while
COULD NOT means that something is impossible.
• Consider:
◦ Dave may not get the job.
( = It is possible that he won't get
the job.)
◦ We still might not lose the match.
( = It's unlikely but possible for us
to win.)
D. MUST and CAN'T
◦ Jane is afraid of heights – she
couldn't climb the roof.
( = It's impossible for her...)
◦ I'm totally unfit – I couldn't run a
marathon.
( = It's impossible for me...)
• MUST and CAN'T are opposites. Both indicate certainty, but while MUST means that we
are certain that something is true, CAN'T expresses our conviction that something is
impossible.

• Consider:

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◦ She isn't answering the phone – she
must be out.
( = I'm certain she is out.)
◦ You've had a long journey – you
must be tired.
( = I'm certain you're tired.)
◦ Nick can't be in Scotland – I saw him
this morning.
( = It's impossible for him to be
there.)
◦ Life can't be easy if you have to
spend it in a wheelchair.
( = It's impossible for life to be
easy...)
E. Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the correct modal of possibility and certainty, using the verb in
brackets. Sometimes, you may have to use the continuous, and some gaps permit more than
one solution.
1. A: Where's Natasha? I haven't seen her all day.
B: She might be (BE) in the music room. She may be practising (PRACTISE) for the concert
tomorrow.
A: No, she can't be (BE) – we'd hear her, wouldn't we?
B: Well, so she must be (BE) at the conservatory already.
A: Yeah, I guess.
2. I'm not sure, but it __________________ (RAIN) later on.
3. What are you saying? You __________________ (BE) serious about that!
4. It __________________ (BE) wonderful to be gliding down to earth on a parachute.
5. Dave __________________ (WORK) as a taxi driver – he can't drive.
6. Dan just __________________ (WIN) the match – he's really good at chess.
7. Jenny __________________ (BE) in the office – I can't reach her at home.
8. A: What are you doing tonight?

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B: I'm not sure, but I __________________ (GO) to the cinema with Jim.
9. How can you work with that noise? If I were you, I __________________ (CONCENTRATE)
like this!
10. We'll have to get more glasses for the party – we __________________ (HAVE) enough.
11. We __________________ (GO) to Egypt in summer, but we're not sure yet.
12. Don't just drop by tomorrow, but call beforehand – I __________________ (BE) in.
13. What did you do that for? You __________________ (BE) out of your mind!

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 STATE AND ACTION VERB

Based on the meaning, verbs can be divided into two types: action verb and state verb. Action
verb is a verb describing the actions performed by the sentence subject. State verb is a verb that
shows no action but shows the subject condition.

Action Verb State Verb

Jane went to bed. Jane was tired.

I am buying a new briefcase. I need a new briefcase.

I lent Jeremy five pounds. Jeremy owes me five pounds.

Example Action Verb

 We are having lunch now. (having: makan)

 We are thinking about moving. (thinking: memutuskan)

 Jeff tasted the soup. (tested: mencoba)

Action verb means that something is happening or changing. The majority of verb actions
describe physical activity, but there are some verbs that are reporting (say) or action-related
actions (decide). Some examples of action verbs are verbs like

 do, go, buy, play,

 stop, take, decorate,

 say, ask, decide.

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Example State Verb

 We have a big kitchen. (have: memiliki)

 I think we ought to move. (think: opini)

 The soup tasted like water. (tasted: berasa)

State verb has the meaning of something that remains in the same condition. State verb is
a verb but does not show any change, especially on the subject line. State verb describes
meanings such as being, ownership, opinion, feeling. Here are some examples of state
verbs.

 adore, depend, doubt, lack, owe, seem

 be, deserve, envy, like, own, understand

 believe, desire, exist, love, pity, want

 belong, to, despise, hate, matter, possess, wish

 consist of, detest, intend, mean, prefer

 contain, dislike, know, need, resemble

Action verb dapat digunakan dalam kalimat continous sedangkan state verb tidak dapat
digunakan dalam bentuk continous.

• We are decorating the house. Not We are owning the house.

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Some verbs have a double meaning, can be as action or state. The meaning depends on the context in
the sentence.

There are some verbs that are always state verbs so they can not be continuous shapes. The verb is
belong to, consist of, contain, depend, deserve, desire, know, matter, own, possess, prefer, seem.

• The factory contains some old machinery.

• I know the worn quite well now.

Verbs associated with the senses are state verbs, so they can not be changed in a continuous form.

• We saw a magnificent sunset. ~ sawing

• I smell something burning. ~ smelling

• They felt the building shake. ~ felting

• I heard someone crying. ~ hearing

Akan tetapi verb smell dan taste dapat dalam bentuk continuous jika tindakan tersebut dilakukan
secara sengaja.

• Steve picked up the bottle and smelted the milk.

• The chef is tasting the steak.

STATIVE VERB

Definisi Stative Verb

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Stative Verb merupakan kata kerja (verb) yang tidak menggambarkan aksi atau kegiatan yang
dilakukan oleh subjek. Stative Verb ini biasanya tidak mengalami perubahan bentuk dan sangat
jarang ditambahkan imbuhan –ing di akhir kata kerjanya. Stative Verb atau yang dikenal dengan
nama non-action verb dapat digolongkan menjadi enam jenis: menyatakan emosi (emotion),
mental (mental state), kebutuhan dan kecenderungan (need and preference), indera dan wujud
(sense and apperance), ukuran (measurement), dan kepemilikan (possession).

Berikut adalah tipe dan contoh Stative Verb

Tipe Stative Verb Contoh Stative Verb

Emotion (emosi) like, love, dislike, hate, appreciate, respect

think, agree, understand, memorize, know,

Mental State (mental) remember

Need and Preference (kebutuhan dan

kecenderungan) prefer, need, want, wish, desire

Sense and Appearance (indera dan wujud) see, touch, taste, smell, sound, hear, appear, seem

Measurement (ukuran) owe, weigh, heigh, cost

Possession (kepemilikan) have, own, belong, possess

Contoh Stative Verb dalam Kalimat

Menyatakan emosi (emotions)

 I really love this novel. (Saya sangat suka novel ini)

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  The manager appreciates the work of his employees. (Manajer tersebut menghargai
pekerjaan pegawainya)

Menyatakan mental (mental states)

 I do not understand what you just said. (Saya tidak mengerti apa yang baru Anda
katakan)
 The students agree not to throw rubbish in the classroom. (Para murid setuju untuk tidak
membuang sampah di dalam kelas)

Menyatakan kebutuhan dan kecenderungan (need and preference)

 I prefer reading a novel to watching a horror movie. (Saya lebih suka membaca sebuah
novel daripada menonton sebuah film horor)
 She wants to continue her study in a university in Turkey. (Dia mau melanjutkan
pendidikannya di sebuah universitas di Turki)

Menyatakan indera dan wujud (sense and appearance)

 I hear someone walking behind us. (Saya mendengar seseorang berjalan di belakang
kita)
 Drinking a cup of hot chocolate sounds good in this cold day. (Meminum secangkir
coklat panas terdengar baik di hari yang dingin ini)

Menyatakan ukuran (measurement)

 The bag in a shop near my house costs $100. (Tas di sebuah toko di dekat rumah saya
berharga $100)
 My best friends owe me a ticket to watch a new movie in cinema. (Teman – teman baik
saya berhutang sebuah tiket untuk menonton sebuah film baru di bioskop)

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Menyatakan kepemilikan (possession)

 This little red bicycle belongs to my younger brother. (Sepeda merah kecil ini kepunyaan
adik kecil saya)
 My friend in Dubai has a Lamborghini and a Range Rover. (Teman saya di Dubai
memiliki sebuah Lamborghini dan sebuah Range Rover)

Definisi Action Verb

Action Verb atau yang disebut juga dengan dynamic word adalah kata kerja (verb) yang
menyatakan suatu aksi, kegiatan atau perubahan. Aksi tersebut biasanya mengalami
perubahan. Action Verb ini memiliki bentuk continous atau progressive yang artinya kata
kerja tersebut dapat ditambahkan akhiran –ing dalam bentuk Present Continous
Tense.Action Verb digunakan untuk menyatakan aktivitas (activity), aksi singkat
(momentary action) atau proses (process).

Berikut adalah tipe Action Verb beserta contohnya.

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Tipe Action Verb Contoh Action Verb

walk, eat, play, kick, listen, cook, work, write,

Activity (aktivitas) etc.

Momentary Action (aksi singkat) knock, jump, hit, etc.

grow, widen, lengthen, melt, shorten, change,

Process (proses) develop, etc.

Contoh Action Verb dalam Kalimat

Menyatakan aktivitas (activity)

 The students play football in the school yard at break time. (Para siswa bermain

sepak bola di halaman sekolah saat jam istirahat)

 The students are playing football in the school yard now. (Para siswa sedang

bermain sepak bola di halaman sekolah sekarang)

 Zarif always cooks a very delicious food for me in his restaurant. (Zarif selalu

memasak makanan yang sangat enak untuk saya di restorannya)

 The chef is cooking a delicious food for guests. (Koki tersebut sedang memasak

makanan yang enak untuk para tamu).

Menyatakan aksi singkat (momentary action)

 I always knock on the door before I enter someone’s house. (Saya selalu mengetuk

pintu sebelum saya masuk ke rumah seseorang)

 Someone is knocking on the door of my house. (Seseorang sedang mengetuk pintu

rumah saya)

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  The little boy jumps on the trampoline. (Anak kecil tersebut melompat di

trampolin)
 The naughty boy is jumping over the fence of his house. (Anak nakal tersebut

sedang melompati pagar rumahnya)

Menyatakan proses (process)

 My mango tree grows so fast. (Pohon mangga saya tumbuh dengan sangat cepat)

 The new company is growing (Perusahaan baru tersebut tumbuh dengan cepat)

 The ice melts when the temperature increases. (Es meleleh ketika suhu udara

meningkat)
 The ice in my glass is melting because the weather is very hot today. (Es di gelas

saya sedang mencair karena cuaca hari ini sangat panas)

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