Ôn tập tiếng Anh lớp 6: Ngữ pháp và từ vựng

Review of English Grammar for Grade 6: Tenses, Negatives, Vocabulary and Common Structures

Welcome to this comprehensive revision lesson designed for sixth‑grade students studying English. The material below covers the most frequently tested concepts in the curriculum, from the simple present tense to the present continuous, from negation patterns to the use of there is/are, and includes essential vocabulary such as prepositions of place and the possessive ’s. Each section is organized with clear headings, examples, and concise explanations to help you master the rules and apply them confidently in writing and speaking.

1. The Simple Present Tense – Third‑Person Singular

The simple present is used for habits, general truths and scheduled events. When the subject is a third‑person singular pronoun (he, she, it) or a singular noun, the verb receives a special ending.

• Add -s to most verbs (e.g., he walks).
• Add -es to verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z, or -o (e.g., she watches, it goes).
• For verbs ending in a consonant + y, change y to i and add -es (e.g., he flies).

Common mistake: Adding -ing (the progressive form) or leaving the verb in its base form. The base form is only used with I/you/we/they or after auxiliary verbs.

2. Forming Negatives in the Simple Present

To make a negative statement in the simple present, we use the auxiliary do/does followed by not and the base form of the main verb.

• For he/she/it: does + not + base verb → She doesn’t like coffee.
• For I/you/we/they: do + not + base verb → They don’t play soccer on Sundays.

Notice that the verb does not receive the -s ending after does because the auxiliary already carries the subject agreement.

3. Recognising Actions Happening Right Now

Adverbs and adverbial phrases can signal that an action is occurring at the moment of speaking. The most reliable indicators are:

• now
• at the moment
• the present progressive form (e.g., She is reading now)

Other time expressions such as every day, never or every Sunday usually refer to habits or repeated actions, not to the present moment.

4. The Present Continuous (Progressive) with “They”

The present continuous describes actions that are in progress at the exact time of speaking. Its structure is:

Subject + am/is/are + verb‑ing

When the subject is they, the correct auxiliary is are:

• They are playing basketball.
• They are studying for the test right now.

Using does or is with they is incorrect because the auxiliary must agree with the plural subject.

5. Showing Possession with the ’s

In English, the possessive ’s is attached directly to the owner’s name or noun, not to the object owned.

• Correct: Phong’s book (the book belonging to Phong).
• Incorrect: the book of Phong’s or Phong book’s.

For plural owners that already end in s, we usually add only an apostrophe after the s (e.g., the teachers’ lounge).

6. Prepositions of Place – “Under” vs. Others

Choosing the right preposition helps convey precise spatial relationships. When something is directly below another object, the most appropriate preposition is under.

• The cat is under the table.
• There is a drawer under the desk.

Other prepositions have distinct meanings:

• between – used when something is in the middle of two items.
• below – often used in abstract or vertical comparisons (e.g., “The temperature is below zero”).
• opposite – indicates facing each other across a space.

7. Existence Statements with “There is/are”

English uses the dummy subject there to introduce the existence of people or things. The verb must agree with the noun that follows.

• Singular: There is + a/an + singular countable noun.
  • Example: There is a desk in the classroom.
• Plural: There are + plural noun.
  • Example: There are three chairs near the window.

When we want to express the non‑existence of plural items, we use the negative form there aren’t any followed by the plural noun.

• Correct: There aren’t any apples left.
• Incorrect: There isn’t any apples left. (singular “isn’t” does not match a plural noun).

8. Practice Questions – Applying What You’ve Learned

Use the following exercises to test your understanding. After each question, check the explanation to see why the chosen answer is correct.

1. In the simple present, how is the verb changed for a third‑person singular subject?

   • Add -ing
   • Add auxiliary are
   • Add -s or -es (Correct)
   • Keep the base form

   Explanation: The verb receives -s or -es when the subject is he, she, it, or any singular noun.

2. How do you form a negative sentence in the simple present with a third‑person singular subject?

   • Subject + isn’t + verb‑ing
   • Subject + doesn’t + base verb (Correct)
   • Subject + don’t + base verb
   • Subject + doesn’t + verb‑s

   Explanation: The auxiliary does already shows the third‑person singular agreement, so the main verb stays in its base form.

3. Which adverb signals that an action is happening right now?

   • Never
   • Every Sunday
   • Now or at the moment (Correct)
   • Every day

   Explanation: Words like now and the phrase at the moment directly indicate the present moment.

4. What is the correct affirmative present continuous structure for the subject “they”?

   • They + are + verb‑ing (Correct)
   • They + does + base verb
   • They + base verb
   • They + is + verb‑ing

   Explanation: The plural auxiliary are pairs with “they,” followed by the -ing form of the main verb.

5. Where do you place the possessive ’s for a person named Phong?

   • After the name, with an apostrophe and s (Correct)
   • Before the name
   • Before the owned object
   • After the name, only add s

   Explanation: The ’s attaches to the owner: Phong’s indicates something belonging to Phong.

6. Which preposition best describes a position directly below another object?

   • between
   • below
   • opposite
   • under (Correct)

   Explanation: “Under” is the most common preposition for a physical object that is directly beneath another.

7. When referring to a single item, which structure is appropriate?

   • There are + plural noun
   • There are + a/an + singular noun
   • There is + a/an + singular noun (Correct)
   • There is + any + plural noun

   Explanation: “There is” matches singular countable nouns, and the indefinite article a/an introduces the noun.

8. Which negative form correctly expresses the non‑existence of plural nouns?

   • There aren’t any + plural noun (Correct)
   • There aren’t a + singular noun
   • There don’t any + plural noun
   • There isn’t any + plural noun

   Explanation: The contraction aren’t (are not) agrees with plural nouns, and the word any is used in negative statements about quantity.

9. Tips for Mastering These Grammar Points

• Practice with flashcards: Write a subject on one side and the correct verb form on the other. Test yourself repeatedly.
• Read aloud: Hearing the sentence helps you notice whether the verb sounds right, especially with -s/-es endings.
• Use a checklist: When writing, quickly verify: subject‑verb agreement, correct auxiliary for negatives, and proper placement of ’s.
• Visualise spatial prepositions: Draw simple sketches of objects “under,” “above,” “between,” etc., to cement the meaning.

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q: Can I use doesn’t with a verb that already ends in -s?
• A: Yes. The auxiliary already carries the -s, so the main verb stays in its base form: She doesn’t likes coffee is wrong; the correct form is She doesn’t like coffee.
• Q: When do I add -es instead of just -s?
• A: Add -es when the verb ends in s, sh, ch, x, z, or o. Example: watch → watches, go → goes.
• Q: Is “under” interchangeable with “below”?
• A: They are close in meaning, but “under” is used for direct physical contact (the cat is under the table), while “below” often refers to a more abstract vertical relationship (the temperature is below zero).

By reviewing these rules, practicing the examples, and applying the tips, you will strengthen your command of English grammar and be well‑prepared for quizzes and classroom activities. Keep revisiting each section until the patterns become automatic, and you’ll notice a clear improvement in both written and spoken English.