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Basic English the Mikie Metric Way : Lesson 2

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Lesson 2:  Basic English Sentences: I want food.  I have money.  I need medicine.

I want __(something).    " I have a desire for something."   SOMETHING will usually be named by a NOUN, the name of a person, place, thing, or idea.

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 I want a pizza.
I want a drink.
I want the newspaper.
I want an orange.
  I want an aspirin.
I want a job.
I want some change.
I want some water.
  I want a new car.
I want a room.
I want the telephone.
I want some gas.

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Notice the Articles - A, AN, THE - and the adjective SOME.  They all point out nouns. 

  • Use A  before words that begin with a consonant sound.  It refers to any one of a group of things.  "A pizza" means one of the pizzas in the shop: not a particular one. 
  • AN is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.  It also refers to any one of a group of things.  "An aspirin" means one of the aspirins in the bottle or medicine cabinet, but no special one.
  • THE refers to a particular something: "I want the newspaper."  usually means today's newspaper or the most recent one. It could also mean the only newspaper in the room or the one on the table.
  • SOME  means an indefinite amount of the noun it refers to.  "some water" could mean a glass of water, half a glass of water, or a bucket of water.  The exact meaning would be different in different situations.

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I need   something.    SOMETHING  will usually be named by a noun.

I need a drink.   I need a job.   I need a new car.     I need a hug.
I need an aspirin.    I need an umbrella.   I need an overcoat.     I need an envelope.
I need some gas.   I need some change.   I need some milk.     I need some help.
I need the screwdriver.   I need the phone book.   I need the newspaper.     I need the answer.

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I have   (something - a noun ) [I possess something or I am experiencing something now.]

I have a headache.   I have a toothache.   I have the newspaper.
 I have the time.   I have two sisters.   I have a good job.
I have a stomach ache.   I have an apple.   I have some friends.
I have an idea.   I have an apartment.   I have some coffee.

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In the place of the articles (A, AN, THE), you can often use numbers or amount words:  "I have a lot of time."  "I have little time." "I have a cup of coffee."  "I have two friends."  "I need 5 gallons of gas."  "I need three envelopes." "I want two aspirins."

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I want to   (+ verb) [This form talks about an action I wish to take.]

I want to go home.   I want to write a letter.   I want to change shoes.
I want to drive.   I want to work.   I want to sleep.
I want to stay home.   I want to study.   I want to help.

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I need to   (+ verb)  .  [This form is used for an action that is necessary or important.]

I need to sleep.   I need to wake up.   I need to buy milk.
I need to fix my car.   I need to pay bills.   I need to drive slowly.
I need to go shopping.   I need to study.   I need to exercise.

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I have to   (+ verb) .  [This form is to talk about an action I must do.]

I have to rest.   I have to work.   I have to visit Mother.
I have to take a test.   I have to pay my rent.   I have to finish this job.
I have to go home.   I have to eat.   I have to fix my car.

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When other people WANT, HAVE or NEED something.

  • you want, you need, you have (YOU can mean one person you are talking to or several people: "Mary, will you come here?" or "Class, you need to open the new books carefully."

  • he wants, he needs, he has

  • she wants, she needs, she has

  • it wants, it needs, it has

  • we want, we need, we have

  • they want, they need, they have

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Forming questions with Survival Sentences.

To make a question out of a WANT, HAVE or NEED sentence, put a form of  DO at the beginning of the sentence, then place a question mark ( ? ) at the end.  Use DO with I, YOU,  WE, or THEY;  Use DOES with HE, SHE, IT or with nouns that would mean the same. For example,  THEY could be the same as THE BOYS, ALL THE CHICKENS, SIX BEETLES.  HE could be the same as JOHN, MR. SMITH, MARY'S SCIENCE TEACHER.  SHE could be the same as JANE, MRS. MARTIN, THE NURSE.  IT could be the same as MY CAR, JOSE GARCIA'S DOG.

  • Do I want  .....?  Do I need ......?  Do I have ...... ?

  • Do you want ......?  Do you need .......?  Do you have ..... ?

  • Does he want ...... ? Does he need .......?  Does he have ..... ?

  • Does she want ..... ?  Does she need ......?  Does she have ......?

  • Does it want ..... ?  Does it need ......?   Does it have ......?

  • Do we want ...... ?  Do we need ...... ?  Do we have .......?

  • Do they want ..... ?  Do they need .......?   Do they have ....... ?

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(Note: English sentences only need one verb to agree with the subject or show the tense.  When DO is added to a statement to form a question, it takes over the job of agreeing with the subject or showing the tense.  Thus, "He wants ..."  with the S ending for a Third Person Singular subject, becomes "Does he want ...?"  using the Third Person Singular form of DO and returning "wants" back to the basic form, "want".  In the sentence "She has ...", the Third Person Singular form of "HAVE" is used, but when this is turned into a question, DO becomes "Does" and "has" changes back to "have":  "She has a dress.  Does she have a dress?") EXAMPLES >>>>>

1. You want a new coat.
2. You need a haircut.
3. You have a cold.
4. He wants a glass of milk.
5. He needs a better bicycle.
6. He has a pet rabbit.
7. They want hamburgers.
8. She wants my house.
9. She needs some lipstick.
10. She has an umbrella.
11. We want to swim.
12. We need some water.
13. We have six goats.
14. They need to rest.

1. Do you want a new coat?
2. Do you need a haircut?
3. Do you have a cold?
4. Does he want a glass of milk?
5. Does he need a better bicycle?
6. Does he have a pet rabbit?
7. Do they want hamburgers?
8. Does she want my house?
9. Does she need some lipstick?
10. Does she have an umbrella?
11. Do we want to swim?
12. Do we need some water?
13. Do we have six goats?
14. Do they have to sleep?

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Forming Negative Sentences.

If you want to say the opposite of the sentences above, you need to use the correct form of DO and the word NOT.  For example, if I first said, "I want a pizza." but then I changed my mind, I would say, "I do not want a pizza."  I might say about my sister, "She needs a bicycle."  If you asked why, I could say, "She does not have a bicycle."  When they were told of the new, healthy menu at school, the students complained, "We do not want spinach for lunch."  Here is the rule:

  1. When making a sentence negative, add the form of DO that agrees with the subject of the sentence, add NOT after the form of DO, and change the main verb back to the basic form. 

Examples:

I want a kitten. I do not want a kitten.   You need a nap. You do not need a nap.
He has new shoes. He does not have new shoes   She wants the newspaper. She does not want the newspaper.
The car needs new tires. The car does not need new tires.   We have a lot of homework. We do not have a lot of homework.
They have my baseball. They do not have my baseball.   They want a vacation. They do not want a vacation.

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Note: The forms of DO and NOT can combine, forming a contraction. Contractions make it easier for phrases and sentences to be pronounced.  Here are the contractions using forms of DO and NOT.  do + not = don't (leave out the O of NOT and replace it with an apostrophe ( ' ).  The pronunciation also changes from a Long U sound in DO to a Long O sound in DON'T.  The next contraction is does + not = doesn't (leave out the O in NOT and replace it with an apostrophe.  The pronunciation of DOES stays the same - /duznt/ )

Examples:

I don't want a kitten.   The car doesn't need new tires.
You don't need a nap.   They don't have my baseball.
She doesn't want the newspaper.   He doesn't have new shoes.
We don't have a lot of homework.   They don't want a vacation.

Exercise A:  Complete the following sentences with I want,  I need, or I have

1. ____________ some cherry pie. 4. _____________ a lawyer. 7. ____________ an ice cream cone.
2. _____________ new tires for my car. 5. _____________ film for my camera. 8. ____________ a wife and two kids.
3. ____________ some cold medicine. 6. ____________ too many bills. 9. ____________ a vacation.

Exercise B: Complete the following sentences with I want, I have, I need.

1. ___________ to go swimming. 4. ___________ to polish my shoes. 7. ___________ to mow the grass.
2. ___________ to buy groceries. 5. ___________ to watch a movie. 8. ___________ to play basketball.
3. ___________ to attend school. 6. ___________ to pay my taxes. 9. ___________ to learn English.

Exercise C: Put the correct words in the spaces in the following sentences to form complete sentences or questions.

1. ______ she have a new dress? 6. Do _______ have my wallet? 11. You ________ to arrive early.
2. You _______ to call home. 7. ______ each have apartments. 12. ______you need a license?
3. We _______ to go to the movies. 8. _______ the dog have a leash? 13. _______ have six cats.
4. Do they ________ enough money? 9. He ________ ten dollars more. 14. Do ______ need more pencils?
5. He _______ two brothers. 10. Does he _______ more money? 15. He _______ a new bike.

Exercise D: First, change the following sentences to questions, then change the original sentences to negative sentences. Example:

Bill needs a new hammer.  Does Bill need a new hammer?   Bill doesn't need a new hammer.

We need potatoes.    
You have three dogs.    
Mary wants my house.    
John has a large boat.    
The car needs a tune-up.    

Answers to Lesson 2 Exercises:

Exercise A: These are the best answers, but other choices may be correct.

1. I want (have) some cherry pie. 4. I need (want) (have) a lawyer. 7. I want an ice cream cone.
2. I need (have) (want) some new tires for my car. 5. I need (want) (have) film for my camera. 8. I have (want) a wife and two kids.
3. I need (have) (want) some cold medicine. 6. I have too many bills. 9. I need (want) a vacation.

Exercise B: The best answers are first.  Other answers may be OK.

1. I want to go swimming. 4. I have (want) (need) to polish my shoes. 7. I have (need) (want)  to mow the grass.
2. I need (have) (want) to buy groceries. 5. I want to watch a movie. 8. I want to play basketball.
3. I have (want) to attend school.  6. I have to pay my taxes. 9. I need (want) to learn English.

Exercise C:  The best answers are first.  Other answers might be okay.

1. Does 4. have 7. We (They) 10. need (have, want) 13. we (they, you)
2. have (need) 5. has (wants, needs) 8. Does 11. need (have) 14. we (you, they)
3. want (have, need) 6. you 9. needs (wants, has) 12. Do 15. has (wants, needs)

Exercise D: 

We need potatoes. Do we need potatoes? We do not (don't) need potatoes.
You have three dogs. Do you have three dogs? You do not (don't) have three dogs.
Mary wants my house. Does Mary want my house? Mary does not (doesn't) want my house.
John has a large boat. Does John have a large boat? John does not (doesn't) have a large boat.
The car needs a tune-up. Does the car need a tune-up? The car does not (doesn't) need a tune-up.

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