MODE 1 (The Foundation): To Be

In this mode, we learn about describing things and people. We use ‘to be’ verbs: am, are, is, was, were, will be. We do NOT use action words.

Level A Vocabulary: Food and Restaurants

• Food: Something we eat.
• Water: Something we drink.
• Apple: A red or green fruit.
• Bread: A food made from flour.
• Restaurant: A place where we buy and eat food.
• Table: A piece of furniture where we eat.
• Menu: A list of food at a restaurant.
• Hungry: When you want to eat.
• Delicious: When food tastes very good.

Examples with ‘To Be’ (Past, Present, Future)

Present: am, are, is

• I am hungry. (My state now)
• You are at the restaurant. (Your location now)
• The apple is red. (Its color now)
• They are friends. (Their state now)

Past: was, were

• I was thirsty. (My state before)
• The bread was fresh. (Its state before)
• We were happy. (Our state before)

Future: will be

• I will be at the restaurant soon. (My location later)
• The food will be ready. (Its state later)
• They will be hungry. (Their state later)

Practice 1: ‘To Be’ Sentences

Choose the correct ‘to be’ word.

1. The menu _____ on the table. (is / are)
2. We _____ hungry yesterday. (was / were)
3. I _____ at the restaurant tomorrow. (am / will be)
4. The water _____ cold now. (is / will be)

MODE 2 (The Flow): Simple ‘To Be’ + Continuous Action

In this mode, we talk about actions happening right now, or at a specific time in the past or future. We use ‘to be’ + a verb ending in -ing.

Level A Vocabulary: Food and Restaurants

• Eat: To put food in your mouth and swallow.
• Drink: To swallow a liquid.
• Cook: To prepare food with heat.
• Order: To ask for food at a restaurant.
• Serve: To give food to someone.
• Wait: To stay until something happens.

Examples with ‘To Be’ + -ing (Past, Present, Future)

Present Continuous: am/is/are + -ing

• I am eating an apple. (Now)
• She is drinking water. (Now)
• They are waiting for food. (Now)

Past Continuous: was/were + -ing

• I was cooking dinner at 6 PM. (Action happening at that time in the past)
• He was ordering pizza. (Action happening at that time in the past)
• We were enjoying the food. (Action happening at that time in the past)

Future Continuous: will be + -ing

• I will be eating lunch at 1 PM. (Action happening at that time in the future)
• She will be serving tables later. (Action happening at that time in the future)
• They will be drinking juice. (Action happening at that time in the future)

Practice 2: ‘To Be’ + -ing Sentences

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb.

1. He _____ (eat) bread right now.
2. Yesterday, we _____ (cook) soup for dinner.
3. Tomorrow, I _____ (drink) a lot of water.
4. The waiter _____ (serve) a customer.

MODE 3 (The Perspective): Simple Tenses

Here, we learn about actions that happen regularly, or are facts. We use simple present and simple past tense. We will also learn how to make questions and negative sentences.

Level A Vocabulary: Food and Restaurants

• Like: To find something pleasing.
• Want: To wish for something.
• Pay: To give money for something.
• Taste: To feel the flavor of food.
• Go: To move to a place.
• Work: To do a job.

Simple Present Tense (Declarations, Affirmations, Negations, Interrogations)

Declarations: Simple Statements

• I eat an apple every day.
• She likes juice.
• They go to a restaurant on Sunday.

Affirmations: Adding Emphasis (Using ‘do’ / ‘does’)

• I do eat an apple every day. (It is true!)
• She does like juice. (It is true!)
• They do go to a restaurant on Sunday. (It is true!)

Negations: Saying ‘No’ (Using ‘do not’ / ‘does not’)

• I do not eat meat. (Or: I don’t eat meat.)
• She does not like fish. (Or: She doesn’t like fish.)
• They do not work here. (Or: They don’t work here.)

Interrogations: Asking Questions (Using ‘Do’ / ‘Does’)

• Do you eat rice? (Answer: Yes, I do. / No, I do not.)
• Does he like soup? (Answer: Yes, he does. / No, he does not.)
• Do they pay the bill? (Answer: Yes, they do. / No, they do not.)

Simple Past Tense

For actions that finished in the past.

• I ate an apple yesterday.
• She liked the salad.
• They went to the restaurant last night.

Practice 3: Simple Tenses

Change these sentences.

1. We eat chicken. (Make it negative)
2. He wants water. (Make it a question)
3. They cook dinner. (Make it an affirmation)
4. I taste the soup. (Make it past tense)

MODE 4 (The Completion): Perfect Tenses

In this mode, we talk about actions that are finished at a certain time. We use ‘have/has/had/will have’ + the past participle form of the verb.

Level A Vocabulary: Food and Restaurants

• Finished: Completed.
• Prepared: Made ready.
• Visited: Gone to see a place.
• Booked: Reserved a table.
• Tried: Tasted or experienced something new.

Examples with Perfect Tenses (Past, Present, Future)

Present Perfect: have/has + Past Participle

(Action started in the past, still important now, or happened at an unspecified time before now)

• I have eaten breakfast. (It is finished, and I am not hungry now.)
• She has cooked many delicious meals. (She did it before, and it’s part of her experience.)
• They have visited that restaurant. (They went there before.)

Past Perfect: had + Past Participle

(Action finished before another past action)

• I had eaten lunch before he arrived. (First I ate, then he arrived.)
• She had prepared the food when her friends came. (First she prepared, then her friends came.)

Future Perfect: will have + Past Participle

(Action will be finished before a certain time in the future)

• By 7 PM, I will have finished dinner. (Dinner will be done before 7 PM.)
• By next week, they will have booked a table. (The reservation will be made before next week.)

Practice 4: Perfect Tenses

Choose the correct perfect tense.

1. I _____ (eat) already, so I’m not hungry. (have eaten / had eaten)
2. Before I came, she _____ (prepare) the salad. (has prepared / had prepared)
3. By noon, we _____ (order) our food. (will have ordered / have ordered)

MODE 5 (The Strategy): Modals & WH-Questions

In this mode, we learn about special verbs called modals for ability, possibility, advice, and necessity. We also learn to ask for specific information using WH-Questions.

Level A Vocabulary: Food and Restaurants

• Can: Possible, able to do.
• Should: Good idea, advice.
• Must: Very important, necessary.
• May: Possible, polite permission.
• Where: A place.
• What: A thing or action.
• When: A time.
• How many: A quantity (for countable things).
• How much: A quantity (for uncountable things or price).

Modals

Modals come before the main verb. The main verb does not change (no -s, -ed, -ing).

• Can (Ability/Possibility): I can cook. We can go to the restaurant.
• Could (Past ability/Polite request): I could eat more. Could I have water?
• Should (Advice): You should eat vegetables. We should try this new soup.
• Must (Necessity): You must pay the bill. I must leave now.
• May (Possibility/Permission): It may rain today. May I have the menu?
• Will (Future/Promise): I will order a salad.
• Would (Polite request/Conditional): Would you like some tea?

WH-Questions

We use these words to ask for specific information.

• Who (Person): Who cooks the food? (The chef cooks the food.)
• What (Thing/Action): What do you want to eat? (I want to eat pizza.)
• Where (Place): Where is the restaurant? (The restaurant is on Main Street.)
• When (Time): When do you eat dinner? (I eat dinner at 7 PM.)
• Why (Reason): Why are you hungry? (Because I didn’t eat breakfast.)
• Which (Choice): Which apple do you like? (I like the red apple.)
• How (Manner): How do you cook this soup? (I cook it with vegetables.)
• How many (Countable): How many apples do you have? (I have two apples.)
• How much (Uncountable/Price): How much water do you drink? (I drink a lot of water.) How much is the bill? (It is $25.)

Practice 5: Modals and WH-Questions

1. Fill in the blank: I _____ go to the store to buy bread. (must / can)
2. Ask a question about the time: You eat lunch at 1 PM. (Use ‘When’)
3. Ask a question about the quantity of water: He drinks a lot of water. (Use ‘How much’)

For more simple and clear ESL lessons, visit ESL.onlinezr.com.

Join Mr. Ramirez for personal, in-person classes via Zoom every Saturday at 7:00 PM Pacific time.