English Grammar lessons

سَـآجدة · 2013-10-14, 09:29

English Grammar Secrets
Use these English grammar lessons for self study or to consolidate your lessons with your teacher. There is absolutely nothing to pay but please support us by buying our books and CDs in the future.
We recommend that you read the grammar explanation on the first page of the lesson and then do the exercises, thinking all the time about the rules in the grammar explanation.
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Lessons
First--- Present continuous

The present continuous is used to talk about present situations which we see as short-term or temporary. We use the present simple to talk about present situations which we see as long-term or permanent.

In these examples, the action is taking place at the time of speaking.

It's raining. Who is Kate talking to on the phone? Look, somebody is trying to steal that man's wallet. I'm not looking. My eyes are closed tightly.
In these examples, the action is true at the present time but we don't think it will be true in the long term.

I'm looking for a new apartment. He's thinking about leaving his job. They're considering making an appeal against the jugement. Are you getting enough sleep?
In these examples, the action is at a definite point in the future and it has already been arranged.

I'm meeting her at 6.30. They aren't arriving until Tuesday. We are having a special dinner at a top restaurant for all the senior managers. Isn't he coming to the dinner?

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Present simple

We use the present simple to talk about actions we see as long term or permanent. It is a very common and very important tense. Here, we are talking about regular actions or events
They drive to the office every day. She doesn't come here very often. The news usually starts at 6.00 every evening. Do you usually have bacon and eggs for
breakfast?

Here, we are talking about facts.

We have two children. Water freezes at 0° C or 32° F. What does this expression mean? The Thames flows through London.

Here, we are talking about future facts, usually found in a ti****ble or a chart.
Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year. The plane leaves at 5.00 tomorrow morning. Ramadan doesn't start for another 3 weeks. Does the class begin at 10 or 11 this week?
Here, we are talking about our thoughts and feelings at the time of speaking. Although these feelings can be short-term, we use the present simple and not the present continuous.

They don't ever agree with us. I think you are right. She doesn't want you to do it. Do you understand what I am trying to say.

Present simple or continuous
The Present Simple is used for:
- regular actions or events
  He plays tennis most weekends.
- facts
  The sun rises in the east.
- facts known about the future
  We leave at 8.30 next Monday
- thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking
  I don't feel very well.
The Present Continuous is used for:
- the time of speaking ('now')
  Shh, I'm trying to hear what they are saying .
- things which are true at the moment but not always
  We're looking for a new flat.
- present plans for the future
  We're having dinner with them next week .
Look at these examples :
- I don't usually have cereals for breakfast but I'm having some this morning because there is nothing else.
- I often cycle to work but I'm taking the car this morning because it's raining very hard.
- I'm thinking about having my hair cut short but I don't think my husband will be very happy about it.
- My parents live in Washington but I'm just visiting.
Note how, in all these examples, we use the present continuous to talk about events which are temporary/limited in time and the present simple to talk about events which are habits/permanent.

Past simple

We use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the past.

We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.

She came back last Friday. I saw her in the street.They didn't agree to the deal.

It can also be used to talk about a period of time.

She lived in Tokyo for seven years.They were in London from Monday to Thursday of last week.When I was living in New York, I went to all the art exhibitions I could.

You will often find the past simple used with time expressions such as these:

Yesterday three weeks agolast yearin 2002 from March to Junefor a long timefor 6 weeksin the 1980sin the last centuryin the past

Past continuous

We use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the past.

We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.
We use the past continuous to talk about past events which went on for a period of time.

We use it when we want to emphasize the continuing process of an activity or the period of that activity. (If we just want to talk about the past event as a simple fact, we use the past simple.)

While I was driving home, Peter was trying desperately to contact me. Were you expecting any visitors?Sorry, were you sleeping?I was just making some coffee.I was thinking about him last night.In the 1990s few people were using mobile phones.

We often use it to describe a "background action" when something else happened.

I was walking in the street when I suddenly fell over.She was talking to me on the phone and it suddenly went dead.They were still waiting for the plane when I spoke to them.The company was declining rapidly before he took charge.We were just talking about it before you arrived.I was making a presentation in front of 500 people when the microphone stopped working.

Past simple or continuous

Both the past simple and the past continuous refer to completed actions in the past.
Most of the time when we are talking about such actions, we use the past simple. This is by far the most common way of talking about the past.
I lived there for 6 years. I only found out a few moments ago.I asked her but she didn't know anything.The company made 100 people redundant last year.
Only use the past continuous when you want to emphasize the continuity of the action.
Everybody was talking about it all evening.They were really trying hard but couldn't do it.I was thinking about you the other day.Were you expecting that to happen?
When we use these two forms in the same sentence, we use the past continuous to talk about the "background action" and the past simple to talk about the shorter completed action.
It was raining hard when we left the building.I was reading the report when you rang.He was going out to lunch when I saw him.The company was doing well when I last visited it.

Irregular verbs
All new verbs in English are regular.
I photocopied the report.She faxed it to me.They emailed everybody about it.I googled my name and got more than 20 000 responses.
There are approximately 180 irregular verbs. You don't need to learn all of them because some of these are very rare but many others are very useful and you do need to know them.
What's the easiest way to learn them? Some people think you should learn a list 'by heart'. Others think you should not learn them at all – you will just gradually acquire them over time.
One useful method is to note down new irregular verbs as you meet them. It is useful to write these verbs (or any vocabulary you want to learn) in sentences and learn those rather than the individual word.
Which is easier to learn?
stick stuck stuckI stuck the photo into my album.
Another technique is to classify the irregular verbs into 4 categories.
1. All forms the same
set set setcost cost cost
2. Similar sound groups
beat beat beaten eat ate eatenblow blew blownthrow threw throwndrink drank drunksing sang sungspeak spoke spokenwake woke woken
3. The second and third forms are the same.
bend bent bent sleep slept sleptspend spent spentbring brought broughtbuy bought boughtteach taught taughthave had hadpay paid paidsay said said
4. The "unclassifiables"
come came come do did donego went goneshow showed show

Present perfect

(Please note that British and American English have different rules for the use of this tense. The explanation and exercises here refer to British English. In American English, it is often acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.)
We use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.
We can use it to look back on the recent past.
I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
They have cancelled the meeting.
She's taken my copy. I don't have one.
The sales team has doubled its turnover.
When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only).
We've already talked about that.
She hasn't arrived yet.
I've just done it.
They've already met.
They don't know yet.
Have you spoken to him yet?
Have they got back to you yet?
It can also be used to look back on the more distant past.
We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
She's done this type of project many times before.
We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months.
They've often talked about it in the past.
When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in questions) and 'never'.
Have you ever been to Argentina?
Has he ever talked to you about the problem?
I've never met Jim and Sally.
We've never considered investing in Mexico.
Present perfect continuous

This tense is used to talk about an action or actions that started in the past and continued until recently or that continue into the future:
We can use it to refer to an action that has finished but you can still see evidence.
Oh, the kitchen is a mess. Who has been *****ng?
You look tired. Have you been sleeping properly?
I've got a a stiff neck. I've been working too long on computer.
It can refer to an action that has not finished.
I've been learning Spanish for 20 years and I still don't know very much.
I've been waiting for him for 30 minutes and he still hasn't arrived.
He's been telling me about it for days. I wish he would stop.
It can refer to a series of actions.
She's been writing to her regularly for a couple of years.
He's been phoning me all week for an answer.
The university has been sending students here for over twenty years to do work experience.
The present perfect continuous is often used with 'since', 'for', 'all week', 'for days', 'lately', 'recently', 'over the last few months'.
I've been wanting to do that for ten years.
You haven't been getting good results over the last few months.
They haven't been working all week. They're on strike
He hasn't been talking to me for weeks.
We've been working hard on it for ages.
I've been looking at other options recently.
He's been working here since 2001

Present perfect simple or continuous

Often there is very little difference between the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous. In many cases, both are equally acceptable.
They've been working here for a long time but Andy has worked here for even longer.
I've lived here for 10 years and she has been living here for 12 years.
To emphasize the action, we use the continuous form.
We've been working really hard for a couple of months.
She's been having a hard time.
To emphasize the result of the action, we use the simple form.
I've made fifteen phone calls this morning.
He's written a very good report.
Look at the difference in these examples.
I've been reading this book for two months but I've only read half of it. It's very difficult to read.
She's been trying to convince him for 20 minutes but she hasn't managed to yet.
They've been talking about this for month and they still haven't found a solution.
When an action is finished and you can see the results, use the continuous form.
The phone bill is enormous. You've been calling your boyfriend in Australia, haven't you?
You're red in the face. Have you been running?
When you use the words 'ever' or 'never', use the simple form.
I don't know them. I've never met them.
Have you ever heard anything so strange in your life.

Present perfect continuous
(Remember that British and American English have different rules for the use of the present perfect. The comments and the exercises here refer to correct grammar for British English. In American English, it is often considered acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.)
The past simple is used to talk about actions in the past that have finished. It talks about 'then' and definitely excludes 'now'.
The present perfect simple to look back on actions in the past from the present. It always includes 'now'.
These sentences are in the past with no connection to the present.
I first got to know him 10 years ago.
I started work here in 1989.
I had too much to eat at lunchtime.
Now look at these same situations seen from the present.
I've known him for 10 years.
I've worked here since 1987.
My stomach hurts. I've eaten too much.
We use time expressions like 'yesterday', 'ago', 'last year', 'in 1999' with the past simple.
We spoke to him yesterday.
He came in a few moments ago.
We made our last purchase from them over a year ago.
She joined the company in 1999.
We use time expressions like are 'ever', 'never', 'since' with the present perfect.
I've never seen so many people here before.
Have you ever been more surprised?
I've done a lot since we last talked about it.
Typical time expressions used with the present perfect in British English but often used with the past simple in American English are 'already', 'just', 'yet'.
I haven't done it yet. (UK)
I didn't do it yet. (US)
I've just done it. (UK)
I just did it. (US)
I've already done it. (UK)
I already did it. (US)
We can use the time phrase 'for' with both forms, but with different meanings.
I lived in Paris for a couple of years before I moved here.
I've lived in Paris for a couple of years and still love it.

Past perfect
We use the past perfect simple to talk about what happened before a point in the past. It looks back from a point in the past to further in the past.
I hadn't known the bad news when I spoke to him.I checked with the supplier and they still hadn't received the contract.She had already told him before I got a chance to give him my version.The company has started the year well but was badly hit by the postal strike.
The past perfect simple is often used when we report what people had said/thought/believed.He told me they had already paid the bill.He said he believed that John had moved to Italy.I thought we had already decided on a name for this product
Past perfect continuous
We use the past perfect continuous to look back at a situation in progress.
It was a good time to invest. Inflation had been falling for several months. Before I changed jobs, I had been working on a plan to reduce production costs.We had been thinking about buying a new house but then we decided to stay here.
We use it to say what had been happening before something else happened.
It had been snowing for a while before we left.We had been playing tennis for only a few minutes when it started raining.He was out of breath when he arrived because he had been running.
We use it when reporting things said in the past.
She said she had been trying to call me all day.They said they had been shopping.I told you I had been looking for some new clothes.
Followed, allah willing,