Grammar Spotlight
The English Grammar Profile (EGP) is a sister resource to the English Vocabulary Profile, and has been put together by Anne O'Keeffe (Limerick University) and Geraldine Mark, the co-authors, along with Ron Carter and Mike McCarthy, of English Grammar Today (Cambridge University Press). Mark and O'Keeffe investigated the extensive data in the Cambridge Learner Corpus to establish when learners begin to get to grips with different linguistic structures.
A series of insights from their research will be posted on this page, each one putting the spotlight on an interesting aspect of learner grammar development. Please note that all of the learner examples come from the Cambridge Learner Corpus, a 55-million word electronic collection of written learner data. The examination and the candidate’s first language are given in brackets after each learner example.
See the latest Grammar Spotlight entry below. Scroll right down to the bottom of this page to browse through previous entries.
Learners at the A1 level can use the affirmative form with a limited range of regular and irregular verbs.
Every day at college I learn new words and new things. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Polish)
She plays tennis and she likes going to the swimming pool. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; French)
I am your new neighbour. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Panjabi)
Learners can also use the negative form with a limited range of regular and irregular verbs.
I don’t like meat and fish. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Kurdish)
You don’t know the place. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; French)
The cost of holidays is not so expensive. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Portuguese)
Learners can use the present simple with the adverb really as an intensifier.
I really like my kitchen, because it is big and new and it makes my cooking easy. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Somali)
I really want to see you. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Polish)
Learners use the present simple to talk about repeated events or habits, and general facts.
I like my place because it is quiet, the people are nice, it is near the town centre, not too far from the college, and my flat is lovely. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Kurdish)
I watch TV in the evening. I read books at night. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Farsi)
It takes 25 minutes by car, but by bus it takes 1 hour. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Nepali)
So, A1 level learners demonstrate skill in using the present simple in both its affirmative and negative forms to in talk about repeated events or habits, and general facts. As learners advance through the CEFR levels, their use of the present simple expands in both form and function.
