GRADE 8 English CONSUMER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – GRAMMAR IN USE:VERBS AND TENSES Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: VERBS AND TENSES
Subject: English — Topic: Consumer Roles and Responsibilities
Audience: Kenyan learners, age 13. Examples use local contexts (market, matatu, shop, warranty).
1. What is a verb?
A verb is a word that shows an action or a state. In consumer contexts, verbs tell us what buyers and sellers do.
Examples: buy, pay, complain, return, check, read.
E.g. "I buy maize at the market." 🛒 "We check the expiry date." ✅
2. Important tenses and verbs
Present Simple
Form: base verb (he/she/it + s). Use: regular habits, facts, and rights.
Examples (consumer):
- "Shops open at 8:00." (fact)
- "A consumer has the right to a receipt." (general truth)
- "He pays for maize every Saturday." (habit)
Signal words: usually, always, every, often
Present Continuous
Form: am/is/are + verb+ing. Use: actions happening now or temporary actions.
Examples:
- "I am checking the prices now." 🧐
- "They are opening a new shop on the corner." (temporary or in progress)
Signal words: now, at the moment, currently
Past Simple
Form: verb + ed (regular) or irregular forms. Use: completed actions in the past.
Examples:
- "I bought sugar yesterday." 🛍️
- "She complained to the manager last week." (completed)
Signal words: yesterday, last week, in 2023
Present Perfect
Form: have/has + past participle. Use: actions that connect past to now (experience, changes, unfinished time).
Examples:
- "I have paid for the bus fare." 🚌
- "We have bought fresh tomatoes today." (experience or result now)
- "They have complained about the poor service." (result matters now)
Signal words: already, yet, just, ever, never
Future (will / going to)
Use: predictions, intentions, plans.
- "I will ask for a receipt." (decision)
- "We are going to buy a new phone next month." (plan)
Signal words: tomorrow, next week, soon, going to
Modal verbs for duties and permissions
Use modals to show obligation, permission, or advice.
- "must / have to" = strong obligation: "You must keep the receipt."
- "should" = advice: "You should check expiry dates."
- "can" = permission/ability: "You can exchange faulty items."
- "may" = polite permission (less common in spoken Kenyan English): "You may speak to the manager."
Passive voice (useful for consumer information)
Form: be + past participle. Use when the action is more important than who did it.
Examples:
- "The goods were delivered yesterday." (who delivered is not important)
- "A refund is given when the product is faulty."
Imperative (giving instructions)
Use the base verb to give instructions or commands.
Examples:
- "Show your receipt." ✔️
- "Read the label before you buy." 📋
3. Quick grammar guide (at a glance)
- Present Simple — facts & habits: "I buy rice."
- Present Continuous — now/temporary: "I am buying rice."
- Past Simple — finished actions: "I bought rice."
- Present Perfect — past with present result: "I have bought rice."
- Future — plans & decisions: "I will buy rice." / "I am going to buy rice."
- Modals — duty/advice: "You must keep your receipt."
- Passive — focus on action not doer: "The product was returned."
4. Practice exercises
- Fill in the correct tense or modal:
- "I ______ (buy) maembe every Friday." (habit)
- "She ______ (check) the expiry date now." (happening now)
- "They ______ (complain) to the manager yesterday." (past)
- "We ______ (have) the receipt, so we can get a refund." (present perfect)
- "You ______ (must/should) keep your receipt when you pay." (strong obligation)
- "This phone ______ (be) sold yesterday." (passive — past)
- Change to negative or question:
- Positive: "He pays for the bus." → Negative: __________________
- Positive: "You will ask for a receipt." → Question: __________________
- Choose the best modal (must / should / can) to complete:
- "You ______ return the faulty kettle for a replacement." (advice or obligation)
- "Customers ______ bring identity when collecting goods on credit." (rule)
5. Quick tips for exams and daily life
- Match the tense with the time words: "yesterday" → past; "now" → present continuous; "already/just" → present perfect.
- Use modals when talking about rights and duties: "must" for rules, "should" for advice.
- In receipts and notices you often see passive: "refunds are given" — read carefully!
- Practice by writing a short diary: "Today I bought..." (past) and "I am going to..." (future plan).
Created for Kenyan learners. Examples use familiar places (market, shop, matatu) to make grammar clear and useful.