Ability present and past

Overview Can Be able to Could All exercises this page

Overview

exercises

We use can and could to express ability in the present and past.

Can

exercises

We use can to express ability in the present: I can swim.

Be able to

exercises

Be able to is the infinitive form of can, and is used in all infinitive situations: When I'm seventeen, I'll be able to learn to drive. I'd like to be able to speak more languages.

Could

exercises

We use could as the past of can, but also to express general ability in the past. When I was five, I could swim 500 metres. However, if we want to say that someone managed to do something only on one occasion, then we use was able to. He was not a good tennis player ,but he was able to beat her in the last match.(only that one time).

Adjectives

Overview Adjective Position Adjective Order Adjectives as Nouns; Nouns as Adjectives Participles as Adjectives All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Adjectives are words we can use to describe nouns. a small green interesting book. The noun in this phrase is book and the adjectives describe the size small, the colour green and an opinion interesting. The form of an adjective is the same when it describes a masculine/feminine or singular or plural noun:

a tall woman and a tall man a fast car and two fast cars

Adjective Position
exercises

When we put adjectives with nouns, they usually come before the noun: a tall young man When the adjective is a subject complement, we put it after the verb: Her hair is black. Her hair is long, straight and dark.

When the adjective is an object complement, we put it after the noun I painted the room white and yellow.

When we use compound pronouns ending with -body, -one, -thing and -where, the adjective follows: Tell us something interesting.

Adjective Order
exercises

Sometimes we use two or more adjectives in a phrase. Fact adjectives such as new, big, hot usually go after opinion adjectives like nice, beautiful, delicious, etc.... a delicious hot pizza a big car When we use more than one fact adjective in a phrase, they usually, but not always, follow the order: size, age, colour, origin, material + noun A big old black Spanish leather jacket A small blue car

We also use adjectives after some verbs, especially : be, get, become, feel, smell, taste, sound, seem, look (when look means the same as seem). I feel tired. Your coffee is getting cold. That pizza looks delicious. NOTE: After other verbs you must use an adverb.

Some adjectives can only come after a verb. These are called predicative adjectives. For example, alone is a predicative adjective; it can only follow the verb:

I worked alone in the office all day. (correct) She is an alone girl. (incorrect) In the second example, we should use an attributive adjective: She is a lonely girl. When we use a noun as an adjective, it is usually only attributive : a car door some basketball fans

Adjectives as Nouns; Nouns as Adjectives

exercises

We can sometimes use the + adjective as a noun to talk about groups of people or abstract concepts: The young, the old, the poor, the rich, the blind, the deaf, the sick, the dead, the disabled, the unemployed, the injured, the French, the Spanish, the British etc... The poor don't have as much money as the rich. These expressions are always plural. You cannot say 'a young' or 'an old'. You must say 'a young boy' or 'an old car' etc... We can also put two nouns together. When we do this, the first noun functions as an adjective giving us more information about the second noun: a kitchen table a soup spoon a football stadium a computer program

Participles as Adjectives
exercises

We can often make an adjective from a verb. We do this by using the -ing and -ed

participles: interested - interesting bored - boring excited - exciting embarrassed - embarrassing frightened - frightening tired - tiring worried - worrying etc...

We use the -ed participle as a subject adjective; it describes how the subject of a sentence feels:

I'm interested in computers. (Computers interest me) I was so tired in class that I felt embarrassed. We use the -ing participle as an object adjective; The economic crisis is very worrying. (worrying to me) The film on TV last night was really boring. (boring for me) My sister finds detective books exciting. Paul is bored because his job is boring. Paul's job is boring, so Paul is bored. (with his job).

Still, yet and already

Overview Adverb groups Adverbs of Degree Adverbs of Frequency Adverbs of Manner Adverbs of Place Adverbs of Time Adverb Order Adverb Clauses All exercises this page

Adverbs Overview
exercise

We use adverbs in many ways, but principally they give more information about verbs, adjectives, or the sentence: It was the only pink car in the street. He sang beautifully. Unfortunately it was snowing, so we couldn't go to the park. Many people classify words as adverbs because they do not fit into any other category (i.e. they are not nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc...). We can use adverbs to give more information about how, how often, when or where something happened:

how He spoke quickly on the telephone. how often

I regularly go to the swimming pool. when We haven't been to the cinema lately. where Please tell him to go away. Adverbs can also make the description stronger or weaker: He is completely mad. We hardly know them. Many, but not all, adverbs end in -ly. We make adverbs from adjectives by adding -ly to the end of the adjective: Adverb quick slow serious quiet Adjective quickly slowly seriously quietly

He is a bad player; he plays badly. Note, however, that not all words ending in -ly are adverbs. Some adjectives end in -ly. For example: friendly, silly, lovely, lonely, lively, elderly

Adverb Groups
exercise

Adverbs of manner: Tell us how something happens: They won easily. We danced slowly.

Adverbs of degree: Tell us how much something happens; i.e. to what extent. They usually go with other adjectives, adverbs and verbs: She was totally confused. He is completely relaxed. Adverbs of frequency: Tell us how often something happens: She always wins. I sometimes dance.

Adverbs of time: Tell us when things happen: She has just left. We bought it recently. Adverbs of place : Tell us where things happen: I live here. They went there last April. Intensifying adverbs: Make things stronger or weaker: I was really bored. He speaks English very well.

Adverbs of Degree
exercise

We use adverbs of degree to tell us how much something happened: Are there enough chairs? I can hardly hear you. We usually put them before the adjective or adverb they describe: too expensive

extremely well Many of these adverbs end in -ly.

Adverbs of Frequency
exercise

We use adverbs of frequency to tell us how often something happened: They rarely drink beer. I never go to the theatre alone. We usually put them before the main verb: I sometimes go. She often works late. but usually AFTER auxiliary/modal verbs: I am never sad. We have never been to Italy. He can usually understand.

Frequency of frequency adverbs always very often usually normally generally quite often sometimes occasionally seldom rarely hardly ever never

100% | | | | | | | | | | | | 0%

Adverbs of Manner
exercise

We use adverbs of manner to tell us how something happened. They describe the way or style of doing something: They played badly. You pronounced it correctly. We usually put them at the end of the sentence, but sometimes they come before the main verb: This letter was written badly. This letter was badly written. Many of these adverbs end in -ly: quickly, carefully, slowly, etc. Note: common irregular adverbs of manner include: fast, hard, well He can swim very fast. You speak English well. She works hard. (not: "works hardly"...hardly means almost not. e.g. hardly ever = almost never)

hardly any money = almost no money/very little money

Adverbs of Place
exercise

We use adverbs and adverb phrases of place to tell us where something happened: I spoke to him at the beach. We usually put them at the end of the sentence. Place comes before time in the end position: I arrived there at midnight. They saw us here yesterday.

Sometimes we can put them at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis: In the middle of the room there is a big table. Many of these adverbs do not have any special form and they are often phrases of prepositions and place: He lives at the end of the street.

Adverbs of Place
exercise

We use adverbs and adverb phrases of place to tell us where something happened: I spoke to him at the beach. We usually put them at the end of the sentence. Place comes before time in the end position: I arrived there at midnight. They saw us here yesterday. Sometimes we can put them at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis: In the middle of the room there is a big table. Many of these adverbs do not have any special form and they are often phrases of prepositions and place: He lives at the end of the street.

Adverbs of Time
exercise

We use adverbs of time to tell us when something happened: She phoned me last Saturday. They saw me there yesterday. We usually put them at the end of the sentence: I'll see you on Tuesday. The shop opened three years ago today. Sometimes we can put them at the beginning for emphasis:

Adverbs Order
exercise

If we have more than one adverb in an adverb phrase, we generally put them in the following order: manner, place, time you must drive - quickly - to the office - after lunch.

Adverb Clauses
exercise

We can join two clauses using a conjunction: He heard the door close while he was watching TV. The second clause can be turned into an adverbial clause by using the gerund. We can use the present participle by itself to show something happening simultaneously or just previously to the main event: Watching TV, he heard the door close. Laughing, I turned off the radio. Sitting down, he started eating his lunch. Using perfect forms makes the construction more formal: Sitting down, he started to sing. Having sat down, he started to sing.

Asking for and giving advice

Overview Must Should/be+supposed to Ought to If I were you..... Had better All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Giving advice is telling someone what we think is the right thing to do. Below you will find the most common forms of asking for and giving advice.

Must
exercises

'Must' is used to give strong advice. You must eat less if you don't want to get fat.

We also use it in question form to ask for advice. Must I eat less if I don't want to get fat?

Should, be supposed to
exercises

They both have a similar meaning and we use them to say something is/isn't a good thing to do.

You shouldn't walk on the grass. You're not supposed to walk on the grass.

We also use them in question form to ask for advice. What do you think I should do? Do you think I should.....? Should I....?

Ought to
exercises

It has a similar meaning to 'should', but also has a morally correct meaning to it. advice You ought to read that book. It's really good. morally correct comment Children ought to respect their parents more. We also use ought to in question form to ask for advice. Do you think I ought to.....?

If I were you.....
exercises

We use this second conditional form to tell somebody what we would do in their situation. You should exercise more. If I were you, I would exercise more.

We also use it in a question form to ask for advice. What would you do if you were me?

Had better
exercises

We use this to give stronger advice than 'should'. You're driving too fast. You had better drive more slowly. . We often contract 'had' with its subject. You'd better drive more slowly. We also use it in a question form to ask for advice. Do you think I'd better....?

The alphabet

Overview Vowels Consonants Pronunciation All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

The English alphabet consists of 26 letters. These are divided into two groups; vowels and consonants.

Vowels
exercises

There are five vowels in the English alphabet: A, E, I, O, U Note: If two vowels are placed next to each other, this is known as a diphthong.

Consonants
exercises

There are twenty-one consonants in the English alphabet: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z

Pronunciation
exercises

To simplify the pronunciation of the letter names we can group them as follows: A H J K - as in play B C D E G P T V - as in week F L M N S X Z - as in sell I Y - as in light O - as in show Q U W - as in you R - as in car When we pronounce the letters in words, their pronunciation is often different to the letter name: Compare: Letter name: A A in the word apple: A

Another/other/others

Overview Another Other/Others All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Another/other/others are words which are used to indicate alternatives or additions to people or things which have already been mentioned.

Another
exercises

We use another as a determiner which can mean one more: I want another sweet. I want one more sweet. Or we can use another as an adjective which can mean 'alternative': I don't like this shirt. Can I try another shirt? Can I try an alternative shirt? We can use another as a pronoun to replace another + noun: I don't like this shirt. Can I try another?

When we use another as a pronoun we often use another + one: Can I try another one?

Other/Others
exercises

Other is used as an adjective which means 'alternative' when we are speaking in the plural about things or people: Some people speak English. Other people speak French. Others is a pronoun which can replace other + noun: Some people speak English. Others speak French.

Articles

Overview A/an A or an The or a/an Zero article Common error All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Articles are members of the group of words called determiners that go before nouns or noun phrases and give information about quantity. In English, there are three articles: the indefinite articles 'a/an', and the definite article 'the'. Unlike many languages, there is no masculine or feminine form of the article and no special singular and plural forms. We use 'a/an' with countable singular nouns and 'the' with all kinds of nouns. In some situations, plural nouns and uncountable nouns can be used without an article. This is known as 'the zero article', which we use to express general ideas.

A/an
exercises

The articles 'a' and 'an' mean 1. They do not have a masculine or feminine form: a girl (1 girl) a boy (1 boy)

Because 'a' or 'an' mean 1, we cannot use them with plural nouns:

There are a dogs (1 dogs) in the park. There is a dog (1 dog) in the park. (correct)

When the noun is plural we can use the zero article (no article): There are dogs in the park. (correct) Or we can use another determiner: There are some dogs in the park. There are many dogs in the park.

A or an
exercises

The use of 'an' or 'a' before a noun or noun phrase depends on the pronunciation of the word after the article. It does not depend on the spelling. In general we use 'a' before consonants: a guitar a yellow book a light before words beginning with 'h' when the 'h' is pronounced: a horse a house but when the h is not pronounced we use an: an hour an honest woman

before vowels when the sound of the syllable is u (pronounced like the word you) a uniform a European a university

In summary, we use 'an' before vowels when the sound is not u (pronounced like the word 'you'). an architect an American an electrician an intelligent man an item

an old car an unhappy girl

The or a/an
exercises

We use 'the' when the noun is identified. Compare: There is a dog in the park. The dog is black and white. In the first sentence, dog is not identified; it is one dog from all the dogs that exist, so we use the article a. In the second sentence, dog is identified so we use the article - the. It is a specific dog;the dog in the park.

Zero Article
exercises

We don't use an article (zero article) when we talk about a group of nouns in general. Compare: I like fast cars. (all fast cars) I like the cars made by Ferrari the best. (specific subgroup of cars.)

People spend more money at Christmas. (general) The people who live next door to me have a new car. (specific) When we talk about things in general, we normally use a plural noun: I like fast cars. or an uncountable noun: I like beer. But we sometimes use singular countable nouns to talk in general; in which case we use 'the'. the cinema the theatre

the beach the piano the guitar Life in the city is expensive. (cities in general) Life in the country is cheap. I like going to the cinema. (cinemas in general) My favourite instrument is the piano. (Pianos in general)

The
exercises

When there is only one example of something we usually use 'the': The Sun The Eiffel Tower The sky We normally use 'the' with: Ordinal numbers: the first, the second, the third, etc. Formal titles: the President, the King, the Director Names of rivers: the Danube, the Thames

Seas: the Atlantic, the Pacific

Some countries (normally a group of states/islands): the USA, the UK, the Netherlands

Mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Sierra Nevada

Names of musical instruments: the piano, the violin

We don't normally use 'the' with: Proper names: The John lives in Edinburgh. John lives in Edinburgh.

Street names: Sherlock Holmes lived in Baker Street.

Sports: Skiing is dangerous.

Days of the week: Tuesday is the day after Monday. Meal names: Breakfast is at 8 o'clock.

Planets: Mars is red. Words like 'school', 'college', 'university', 'prison', 'hospital', 'church' when we refer to the activity of these institutions. I study at university. But when we refer to the specific building,

The University is in the center of town. The School in near the beach.

Common Error
exercises

Using 'the' when we are talking generally about something. The life is good in Spain. Using 'a' with a plural noun: There are a books on the table. There are some books on the table. (correct - plural noun)

Be

Overview Present simple - affirmative Present simple - negative Present simple - questions Present simple - answering questions Past simple - affirmative Past simple - negative Past participle and gerund All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Be is the most used and most irregular verb in English. It can be an auxiliary verb (helper verb): He is singing. It can be a normal verb which indicates for example the state or position of something: He is in the bath.

Present simple - affirmative

exercises

The verb to be has three forms in the present: am, is and are. Be Singular I am You are He is She is It is Plural We are You are They are * I'm You're He's She's It's We're You're They're

*Contraction We often abbreviate or contract the verb to be when speaking or in informal writing: They are ( they're ) red. They are not ( they aren't ) blue.

Present simple - negative

exercises

The negative contractions of Be are shown below: I am not You are not He is not She is not It is not We are not You are not They are not I'm not You aren't He isn't She isn't It isn't We aren't You aren't They aren't

Present simple - Questions

exercises

In an affirmation the subject is put before the verb to be:

You are a doctor. In the question the subject is put after the verb to be: Are you a doctor?

Present simple - answering questions

exercises

We can answer questions with a long answer or a short answer: Are you a teacher? With a long answer we can use contractions: Yes, I am (I'm) a teacher. When a short answer is affirmative we cannot use contractions: correct: Yes, I am. Incorrect: Yes, I'm. When a short answer is negative we can use contractions: No, I am not. No, I'm not.

Past simple - affirmative

exercises

The verb to be in the past has two forms: was and were. The verb to be can only be contracted in the past when it is negative. Be past I was You were He was She was It was Contractions -

We were You were They were

correct: They were in the bar. Incorrect as this would cause confusion with the present tense: They're in the bar.

Past simple - negative

exercises

Note that we can contract the negative in the past: Negative past tense I was not You were not He was not She was not It was not We were not You were not I wasn't You weren't He wasn't She wasn't It wasn't We weren't You weren't

They were not They weren't

Note that we do not contract the affirmative in the past but we can contract the negative: We were happy. We were not (weren't) happy.

Past participle and gerund

exercises

The past participle of the verb to be is been and the gerund is being: We have been seen. He is being watched.

Comparatives and Comparisons

Overview Adjectives Comparatives and Superlatives Adverbs Comparatives and Superlatives As adverb/adjective as Same as/different from Similar to/like Less and fewer All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

When we need to compare two people, things, actions etc. we can use various grammatical structures. We may want to say that things are equal: He is as tall as her. We may want to say that two things are not equal: Everest is higher than Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc isn't as high as Everest. We can can compare one thing against the rest using the superlative: Everest is the tallest.

Adjectives Comparatives and Superlatives

exercises

We can use the comparative form of an adjective with a noun to compare it to another noun. When the adjective has only one syllable we make its comparative form by adding er - to the adjective and we put than after the adjective. tall: John is taller than Mary. When we need to compare more than two things, we can use the superlative form of the adjective. When the adjective has only one syllable, we make the superlative form by adding - est - to the adjective and preceding it with the article the: tall: John is the tallest in the class. When an adjective ends in - y-, we change - y - to - i - and add - er - and - est - to the adjective: happy - happier - happiest When an adjective ends with a single vowel + a consonant, we double the consonant and then add - er - and - est: big - bigger - biggest Adjectives with three or more syllables, and some adjectives of two syllables do not change, but we put 'more' and 'most' before them to make the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective: beautiful - more beautiful - most beautiful Some adjectives are irregular and do not follow any rule: Adjective Comparative Superlative

Irregular adjectives good bad far far

better worse further farther

best worst furthest farthest

Adverbs Comparatives and Superlatives

exercises

We can compare the actions or states of two subjects by using more + verb + than with the accompanying adverb. Gloria speaks slowly. Sylvia speaks more slowly than Gloria. We make the superlative by using the + most + verb with the accompanying adverb. He drives the most carefully. When the comparison is negative we use less + verb + than with the adverb. Gloria speaks less slowly than Gloria. Some adverbs and adjectives are exactly the same. For example: early, late, fast, loud, etc. When we need to make a comparison with these adverbs we add - er - and - est - to the adverb in the same way as we do when comparing adjectives: Jane sings louder than June. Janet sings the loudest. Like some adjectives, some adverbs also have irregular comparative and superlative forms:

Irregular adverbs badly little well

worse less better

worst the least the best

As + adverb/adjective + as
exercises

To express equality we can compare adjectives and adverbs using as + adverb/adjective + as He is as tall as her. Barcelona play as well as Madrid. We can also express inequality using as + adverb/adjective + as by making the verb negative: Barcelona do not play as well as Madrid.

Same as / Different from

exercises

When we want to show there is equality or a difference between two things but don't specify what characteristic is different, we can use 'different from'. He is different from her. This book is the same as mine.

Similar to/like
exercises

When we want to express that two things are not the same but only a little different we can use 'similar to' or 'like' : John is similar to Peter. Janet is like Jane.

Less and fewer

exercises

Less is the comparative of little (used especially before uncountable nouns). Fewer is the comparative of few (used before plural nouns).

My brother earns less money than a postman. There are fewer people than I expected.

Conditional Sentences

Overview Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional Mixed Conditional Other Conditional Words All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use conditional sentences to express what happens when one action or event depends on another. If it rains, I'll go to the cinema. I'll go to the cinema if it rains. Conditional sentences have two parts; the condition or if-clause: If it rains, and the result-clause which depends on the condition: I'll go to the cinema. The clauses can be put in any order. When the if-clause is placed before the result-clause, a comma is used to separate them. Conditional sentences can be classified based on the verb tenses used. There are 5 types: Zero, First, Second, Third and Mixed.

Zero Conditional

exercises

The zero conditional is: If + present tense , + present tense. We use it to talk about something which is always true, is a scientific fact, or as an imperative - to give orders. general truth: If I don't wear my glasses, I get a headache. scientific fact: If you heat ice, it melts. imperative: If he doesn't come, telephone me.

First Conditional
exercises

We use the first conditional when there is a real possibility of something happening in the future. It is formed by: If + present tense, + future (usually 'will'). If we leave at 9.00, we will catch the train. If you stop crying, I will give you a sweet. We can use 'might' or 'could' instead of 'will' to indicate probability: If you don't take care, you will hurt yourself. If you don't take care, you might hurt yourself. If you don't take care, you could hurt yourself.

Second Conditional
exercises

We use the second conditional when we want to talk about something where the probability of the condition happening is little or hypothetical. The second conditional is formed by:

If + ( past tense ), would/could/might + infinitive. If I had a lot of money, I would buy a car. ( I haven`t got a lot of money) We also use the second conditional to give advice: If I were you, I wouldn't do that. If I married you, I would be mad. Note that if we use the verb 'to be' in the if -clause, we use the were form (subjunctive).

Third Conditional
exercises

We use this conditional when we want to look back at an action in the past and speculate about what happened. They are conditions which are impossible to change because the action has finished. The third conditional is formed by: If + past perfect , would have/could have/might have + past participle. If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam. (but I didn't study hard, so I didn't pass the exam) If I hadn't spent all my money, I would have bought you a present.

Mixed Conditional
exercises

If (past perfect), would/could/might+ infinitive. We use this conditional when we want to relate a past action to a present result: If I had studied, I would be a doctor now.

Other Conditional Words

exercises

We can replace the 'if' in the if-clause with other words which are similar in meaning: supposing = if

in case = if by chance unless = if ... not see also: if conjunctions

I won't buy you a present unless you come. Supposing he comes, I will telephone you. Take some money in case you have to buy something.

Conjunctions

Overview And But As Before After although/though/even if Because As/So long as As soon as Directly Immediately As if/though Like Considering that Inasmuch as If more conjunctions n - z. . .

All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Conjunctions are used to join different clauses in a sentence together. The conjunction we use depends on the relationship between the clauses. Some conjunctions contrast the clauses, others show a time dependence etc.

And
exercises

We use 'and' to join two parts of a sentence together that are linked in meaning: I've got a dog and a cat.

The plane took off and flew up into the sky.

But
exercises

We use 'but' to join two parts of a sentence that are contrasted: I went to the casino on Saturday, but I didn't win any money. I like tennis, but I never play.

As
exercises

The conjunction as can have the following meanings: To mean at the same time, while: People ran for shelter as the rain came down. To link two contrasting ideas in the same sentence, similar to although: Clever as he is, he still can't do the Telegraph crossword. Usually used at the beginning of a sentence to mean because: As it was raining, we didn't go out. To mean in the same manner: Do as I do and we can't go wrong. To mean a fact: London, as we all know, is the capital of England. 'As' is also used in various idiomatic expressions which are not included here.

Before
exercises

We use 'before' to talk about something that happens at an earlier time: I finished dinner before I went to bed. We can also use 'before' in the same way as 'until'. I'll be studying for another three years before I get my degree. Before can also be used to mean 'would prefer'. I'd die before I betrayed my country.

After
exercises

We use 'after' to talk about something that happens later than another action: I went to bed after I (had) finished dinner.

Although/though/even if
exercises

We use 'although' to express contrasting ideas in a sentence: It can go at the beginning of a sentence or before a clause, proceeded by a comma. Although she felt tired, she went out. She went out, although she felt tired.

We use 'though' in the same way as 'although' : Though it was hot, he put the heater on.

We use 'even if' and 'even though' in the same way as 'although' : Even though you don't like flying, try it just this once. Even if you don't like her, try to be nice.

Because
exercises

We use 'because' to express the reason why we do something: She went to Venice on holiday because she's interested in art.

As/So long as
exercises

We use 'as long as' and 'so long as' to mean only on condition that. As/so long as the weather stays nice, we can go to the beach today.

As soon as
exercises

We use 'as soon as' to mean exactly at that moment. He put the television on as soon as he got home.

Directly
exercises

We use 'directly' to mean exactly at that moment. He put the television on directly after getting home.

Immediately
exercises

We use immediately to mean exactly at that moment. He put the television on immediately he got home.

As if/though
exercises

We use as if/though to mean in the same way. I was so happy, I felt as if I could fly.

Like
exercises

We use like to mean in the same way. I was so happy, I felt like I could fly.

Considering that
exercises

We use 'considering that' to mean taking into account. She speaks the language very well, considering that she's only been living here for a year.

Inasmuch as
exercises

We use inasmuch as to mean 'because'. He only studies English inasmuch as it can help him in his work.

If
exercises

If is used in various ways, depending on the meaning. see: conditionals.

If + present tense to mean something that's always true. If you heat ice, it melts.

If + present or present perfect tense to talk about a probable situation in the future: If you have finished, you can go home. If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay at home.

If + past tense to talk about an imaginary or improbable situation in the present or future: If I had a lot of money, I would travel round the world.

If + past tense to give advice: If I were you, I wouldn't do that.

If + past perfect to talk about an imaginary or improbable situation in the past: If I had been driving more carefully, I wouldn't have had the accident.

If + adjective to make a contrast: He's an intelligent person, if a little arrogant sometimes.

If + certain verbs; wonder, tell etc. to mean that there is more than one possibility: I wonder if I should go today or tomorrow. I can't tell if he's asleep or just pretending.

If + not to talk about an alternative: Is the taxi here? If not I'll have to get the bus.

If + only to talk about a wish or regret in present, future or past: If only I had more money. If only I had studied more when I was younger.

Even + if to mean the same as 'although'. Even if you beg me, I won't come with you.

Conjunctions

Overview Now that No sooner....than.... Or Once While When That Though Yet Whether Where Wherever So Since Until Till Unless Provided that Whereas All exercises this page

more conjunctions a - m . .

Overview
exercises

Conjunctions are used to join different clauses in a sentence together. The conjunction we use will depend on the relationship between the clauses. Some conjunctions contrast the clauses, others show a time dependence etc.

Now (that)
exercises

We use now (that) to say that the thing mentioned has just happened or is happening. Now (that) you've got your degree, you can get a job. Now (that) you're working, you can buy yourself a car.

No sooner....than....
exercises

We use no sooner....than....to mean exactly at that moment. No sooner had he got home than he put the television on.

Or
exercises

We use or for connecting parts of sentences in different situations. To introduce an alternative: Today we can go shopping or go to the cinema. To introduce the last one in a list of alternatives: Would you like tea, coffee or something a little stronger? After a negative: I don't like running or doing exercise. When we want to say 'if not' : Hurry up or we'll be late!

To introduce a part of a sentence which explains what something means in the first part: Psychology, or the study of the mind, is a popular university subject.

Once
exercises

We use once to mean 'when'. Once you've been here a while, you'll get used to the food.

While
exercises

We use while: To indicate something that happens during another action. See: when. The television exploded while I was watching it. While I was in town there was a bank robbery. To link two things that happened simultaneously: While I was lying on the beach, the children were catching crabs. To link two contrasting ideas: While I prefer the seaside for my holidays, my wife prefers the countryside.

When
exercises

We use when: To talk about something that happens during another action. See: while. When I was travelling to work this morning, I saw an old friend. To talk about two things that happen one after the other:

When you've finished your dinner, you can go out. To mean 'considering' : How could you do that to me when you know I love you! To link two contrasting ideas: He always rings at two in the morning, when he knows I am sleeping.

That
exercises

We use that to introduce a clause which is the subject or, more commonly, the object of a sentence: I thought that you were coming to the party too.

Though
exercises

We use though in the same way as 'although' : Though it was hot, he put the heater on.

We use even if/though in the same way as 'although' : Even though you don't like flying, try it just this once. Even if you don't like her, try to be nice.

Yet
exercises

We use yet to link contrasting parts of a sentence: He didn't study all year, yet still managed to pass the exam.

Whether
exercises

We use whether to suggest a choice. See: if. I don't know whether to stay in or go out. We also use whether to say that something will still happen, whichever alternative is taken: I'll go to the party whether you come or not.

Where
exercises

We use where to mean 'in the place' : Leave the keys where I can find them.

Wherever
exercises

We use wherever to mean 'any place' : Wherever we go, we'll have a good time. We also use wherever to mean 'everywhere' : Wherever I look, I see your face. We can also use wherever to mean 'in all cases' : People should respect one another wherever possible.

So
exercises

We use so to say, 'that is why':

The restaurants here are very cheap, so we eat out every night.

We also use so to express purpose. See: purpose I took a taxi so I wouldn't have to walk.

We can also use so to present the end of a story or text etc.: So, that's the end of the story.

So is also used to talk about two similar events or facts: Just as the government is building more hospitals, so people are having to pay more taxes.

Since
exercises

We use since in present perfect, past perfect or simple present tenses. It expresses a period of time from a specific action in the past to a later action or now: I have been living here since I was a child. I hadn't seen him since we had been at school together. It's a long time since I ate fish and chips. We can also use since to mean 'because' : Since I don't like rice, I never go to Chinese restaurants.

Until
exercises

We use until to mean 'up to the time when' : I'll wait here until you come back.

Till
exercises

Till is a more informal form of 'until' : I'll wait here till you come back.

Unless
exercises

We use unless to mean 'if not' : Unless it rains tomorrow, we can go for a picnic.

Provided that
exercises

We use provided that/providing that to mean 'only on condition that' : You can live in this country provided that you have the necessary papers.

Whereas
exercises

We use whereas to make a contrast: She is the boss of a large agency, whereas her husband is only a secretary.

The Date

Overview Date, month, year The date in numbers Saying the date All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

There are various ways of writing dates using words or simply numbers. Below are the most common variations:

Date, Month, Year

exercises

Normally, when writing the date, the date is put before the month, with the year at the end: 15th August, 1967 21st September, 1993 Note: It is normal to abbreviate the month: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 25th Dec. 1999 1st Jan. 1872 The numbers used to indicate the date are normally ordinal numbers. If it is clear which century we are talking about, the first two numbers of the year are omitted: 18th Oct. 59 23rd Feb. 92

The date in numbers

exercises

The date can be written simply using numbers; the month being referred to by its corresponding number 1 - 12: 13.4.98 ( 13th April 1998) 24.11.54 ( 24th November 1954) In American English, the order is different. The month is placed before the date: 6.27.65 ( 27th June 1965)

Saying the date

exercises

There are two ways of saying the date in British English: April the sixteenth, nineteen fifty-six (16/04/1956) or The sixteenth of April, nineteen fifty-six In American English, the date is often said as: November fourth, nineteen eighty-one (04/11/1981)

Deductions

Overview Must Can't May, might, could Must have Can't have, couldn't have May have, might have, could have All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use the modal auxiliaries shown below to make deductions about the present or past. Different modal auxiliary verbs indicate varying degrees of certainty, based on information that we have.

Must
exercises

We use must to make deductions when we are certain about something now: He must be rich. He's got a house in Marbella.

Can't
exercises

We use can't when we are sure that something is impossible now:

Who's at the door? It can't be Sue. She left for New York yesterday.

May, Might, Could

exercises

We use may, might, could when we're not really sure about something now. They are similar in meaning, but could express less possibility: I'm not sure where Diana is. She may be out shopping. We don't know where Mike is. He could be having lunch. God might be a woman.

Must have
exercises

We use must have when we are sure about something that happened in the past: I rang Jim last night, but he didn't answer. He must have gone out.

Can't have, Couldn't have

exercises

We use these modals when we are sure that something didn't happen in the past: He looks tired this morning. He can't have slept very well. He had an accident. She couldn't have been driving carefully.

May have, Might have, Could have

exercises

We use may have, might have, could have when we are uncertain about something that did or didn't happen in the past. They are similar in meaning, but could express less possibility: He's late for work. He may have missed the bus. I don't know where they are. They might have gone to the cinema.

The car's just stopped! It could have run out of petrol.

Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

Overview Demonstrative adjectives with position and time Demonstrative pronouns with position Demonstrative pronouns with one/ones All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

This, that, these, those can be used as adjectives or pronouns to specify which object or objects we are talking about.

Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns singular plural This These That Those

Demonstrative adjectives with position and time

exercises

If we say: Look at the book on the table. Normally it is clear which book we are talking about.

If we say: Look at this book. (adjective) We normally make a gesture such as pointing at the book to identify which specific book we are talking about.

We use this with singular nouns and these with plural nouns which are physically This book on the table. These books on the table. We also use this with singular nouns and these with plural nouns which are near in time:

I am coming to Barcelona this week. I have worked hard these weeks.

We use that with singular nouns and those with plural nouns which are more distant in space: That book on the other side of the room. Those books on the other side of the room. We use that with singular nouns and those with plural nouns which are more distant in time:

He said he was coming to Barcelona that week. He said he had worked hard those weeks.

Demonstrative pronouns with position

exercises

We can replace a demonstrative adjective and noun with this, that, these, those: I want this book. I want this. In the first example this is an adjective which identifies the book. In the second example we replace this book with the pronoun this. We can do the same for these, that, and those: I want these books. I want these. I want that book. I want that.

I want those books. I want those.

Demonstrative pronouns with one/ones

exercises

We very often use the pronouns one or ones with the pronouns this, that, these, those: I I I I like like like like this one. that one. these ones. those ones

Distributives

Either or neither Each and every All and every All exercises this page

Either or Neither
exercises

We usually use either with or to talk about choices with a positive meaning: I'll either buy the red book or the green book. or when we want to express a condition: Either you speak to him, or I'll phone his father. means: If you don't speak to him I will phone his father.

We usually use neither with nor to talk about choices with a negative meaning: Neither Trevor nor Sharon have a car.

Neither is used to talk about two noun phrases. Either means 'one or the other' : It doesn't matter which one you choose; either will be fine.

Neither has a negative meaning: Accept neither offer; both of them are too low. {either/neither} + {countable noun phrase} {either/neither} + {of} + {non-countable noun phrase} I don't like either of the records. I don't like either jam.

Each and Every

exercises We use each to refer separately to individuals and things which are part of a group: Each car has a radio. We use every to refer to the group as a whole: Every car has 4 wheels.

Often we can use either, each or every with no real difference in meaning.

All and Every

exercises

All and every refer to an entire group of people or things. We normally use all with plural nouns and verbs, and every with singular nouns and verbs: All houses have doors. Every house has a door.

We can use all and every to talk about individual members of a group. In this case, we use a determiner after all but not after every: All the students are poor. (each individual) Every student is poor.

We can use all with a singular noun: She works all day. (every part of the day) She works every day. (7 days a week)

Do and Make

Overview Do Make Do and Make - Phrasal Verbs All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

The verbs do and make often cause confusion. Generally se use do to refer to work or to unspecified activity and make when we are constructing or preparing something. However, in many cases the use of make or do has no real logic and the only way to learn how to use them correctly is by practising and memorising examples that you encounter.

Do
exercises

We generally use do to talk or ask about work or an activity where we don't specify what the activity is. What are you doing? I didn't do anything. She's doing some work. There are also some expressions with the verb do: Do an exam, Do your homework, Do your best/worst, Do well

Do more Do the housework etc.

Make
exercises

Generally we use make when we're talking about building, constructing or preparing something: She's making a new dress I'm making dinner They're making plans There are also many expressions we use with the verb make: Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make Make a mistake a choice a decision an effort money love war a phone call friends a speech an enquiry an offer a mess a meal a journey etc.

Do and Make - Phrasal Verbs

exercises

Just to complicate things even more, there are also phrasal verb constructions with these two verbs: Do up: They're doing up their house. (They're decorating/renovating it.)

Make up: She's always making up stories (inventing/lying)

And of course the really confusing Make do: You'll just have to make do with what you've got. (You'll have to accept and manage with what you have.)

For, since, during, ago, from.. to/until-till

Overview For Since During Ago From.. to/until-till All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

For, since, during, ago are time prepositions which go before a time reference:

For and during go before time reference that refer to periods of time: the day, the week, the year etc. Since and ago refer to specific points in time: last year, yesterday, 1956, 5 o'clock etc.

For
exercises We use for to refer to a period of time; very often in answer to the question How long?

She lived in Paris for 2 years. He'll be in hospital for a month. I've been studying French for 15 years.

Since
exercises We use since to refer to a time in the past when something started; normally with the present perfect tense:

I've been waiting since 9 o'clock. They've lived in that house since 1970. She's had a lot of problems since she lost her job.

Both for and since are very common in the present perfect tense: I've been working for Pirelli since 1995. I've been working for Pirelli for 5 years.

During
exercises

We use during + noun to say when something happens, not to say how long. (See for)

during the film, during the meeting, during the night Compare: during the day, during the week, during the summer for 3 days, for a week, for two weeks in the summer

When did he live in Italy? He lived there during the war. When did it rain? It rained for 2 or 3 hours during the night.

Ago
exercises

Ago refers to a point in time in the past that is finished. We therefore use it with the past tense to say when an action happened. Imagine that it is now 14:30 Tuesday 6th March 1999. We can talk about the past in different ways.

Compare: I got up at 7:30. (it's 14:30 now ) I got up seven hours ago.

I saw him on Saturday. I saw him three days ago.

I was in London in January. I was in London two months ago.

I got married in 1985. I got married fourteen years ago.

From.. to/until-till
exercises

From......to....., From...... until , From...... till... have the same meaning. We use them with specific times to indicate when something started and when something finished: I work from Monday to Friday. He lived in Miami from 1978 until 1986. The meeting will be from 9 o'clock till about 11 o'clock.

Future

Overview Present - future meaning Present continuous/Going to - plans Will - decisions Will/Going to - predictions Will - future conditions Will - future facts All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

A number of different verb tenses are commonly used to talk about the future.

Present - future meaning

exercises

The present tense can be used to talk about the future when the action happens as part of a programme of events or a timetable. The train arrives at 5 o'clock. School starts on September 4th.

Present continuous/Going to - plans

exercises

The present continuous tense is used when we talk about plans and intentions: I'm going to meet him. Some time in the future we don't say when. If we know when the action will happen we can use the present continuous tense of the action verb with a time reference. If we use the present continuous without a time reference it means the action is occurring now: I'm singing. If we add a future time reference then the present continuous tense tells us that it is a plan and the time reference tells us that the action will happen in the future: I'm singing in an Opera next Saturday.

Will - decisions
exercises

If, at the moment of speaking, we make a decision to do something, we use will with the infinitive to announce our decision: Waiter: What would you like to drink. Customer: I'll (I will) have a beer please. In the above example the use of will indicates that the customer decided at the moment of speaking.

Will/Going to - predictions
exercises

Both will and going to can be used to predict the future. We use going to when something in the present situation shows us what is going to happen. Its inevitable and usually more immediate: Look at that black sky. Its going to rain. (You can see the clouds) When there is no direct physical evidence we use will:

You will meet a tall dark stranger. If were not very sure about the prediction, we can use may or might (perhaps). The weathers not very good today. It may/might rain later.

Will - future conditions

exercises

We often use will to talk about future conditions: If it rains, we will go to the cinema. See: conditionals

Will - future facts

exercises

We use will with future facts: It's my birthday tomorrow. I will be 25 years old.

Greetings

Overview How do you do? Pleased to meet you How are you? How are things? All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

The way we greet someone in English depends on our relationship with the person and the social situation we are in when we meet them. Not surprisingly, there are many formal and informal ways to greet someone. Some of the most common structures and colloquial expressions are shown below.

How do you do?

exercises

How do you do? is the most formal way of greeting someone when you meet them for the first time. greeting: How do you do? response:

How do you do?

Pleased to meet you

exercises

Pleased to meet you is another formal way of greeting someone when you meet them for the first time. greeting: Pleased to meet you! response: Pleased to meet you! The pleasure's mine. Likewise. Same here..

How are you?

exercises

We use how are you to greet someone that we already know. It's usually preceded by Hi! or Hello! greeting: Hi! how are you?. response: I'm fine, thanks. How are you?. I'm fine, thanks. And you?. I'm very well, thanks. How are you?. Not so bad. Great, thanks.

How are things?

exercises

We use How are things? to greet someone we know very well. greeting:

How's things? How are things? response: Fine thanks. Great, thanks. Couldn't be better!.

Have/Have got

Overview Present - affirmative Present - negatives and questions Past Future All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Have is a verb which has many different meanings. We can use have to talk about performing an action: We have dinner at 5 o'clock. He has a shower everyday. I have a smoke.

We can use have to talk about experiencing something: He has an idea. We have a good time.

We can use have to talk about receiving something: Children have a lot of presents at Christmas. We often have E-mail's on Friday.

We can use have or have got to talk about possession:

You have (got) a computer. She has a car. Have is also an auxiliary verb which we use with the past participle to form the perfect tenses. I have been to Italy. They had taken the train to Valencia.

Present - affirmative
exercises

When we talk about possession in the present tense we normally use have got. The present tense of have and have got is shown below: Have present tense I have (got) you have (got) she has (got) he has (got) it has (got) we have (got) you have (got) they have (got) contraction I've (got) You've (got) she's (got) he's (got) it's (got) we've (got) you've (got) they've (got)

In informal English we often contract have with its subject They have a car. They've got a car. Notice we use have or the contraction 've except when the subject is third person singular (She, he, it) we use the has or the contraction 's. She has (got) a car. She's (got) a car. You have (got) a car. You've (got) a car.

Present - negatives and questions

exercises

To make a question or a negative sentence we normally need an auxiliary verb. When we use the have got form, have functions as an auxiliary verb: To make a question with have got, we change the order of the affirmative sentence:

You have got a car. (Affirmative) Have you got a car? (interrogative) But when we make a question with have without got, we need to add the auxiliary verb do. You have a car. Do you have a car? When we make a question, there are three possible forms that we can use: Have you got any milk? Do you have any milk? Have you any milk?

Have got questions have I got? have you got? has he got? has she got? has it got? have we got? have you got? have they got?

Have Do I have? Do you have? Does he have? Does she have? Does it have? Do we have? Do you have? Do they have?

Negatives: And to make a negative sentence we add not after have: No, I have not (haven't) got a car. I haven't got any milk. I don't have any milk. I haven't any milk. Have got - negative I have not got you have not got he has not got she has not got it has not got we have not(got) you have not got they have not got contractions I haven't got you haven't got he hasn't got she hasn't got it hasn't got we haven't got you haven't got they haven't got

Have - negative I do not have you do not have he does not have she does not have it does not have we do not have you do not have they do not have

contractions I don't have you don't have he doesn't have she doesn't have it doesn't have we don't have you don't have they don't have

Past
exercises

When we are are talking about the past tense we rarely use have got to talk about possession: I had got a car last year. (Incorrect) I had a car last year. (Correct) To make questions and negative sentences in the past, we use did/did not. Did you have a car last year? No, I did not (didn't) have a car last year.

Future
exercises

We never use have got in future tenses: I will have got a new bicycle tomorrow. (Incorrect) I will have a new bicycle tomorrow. (Correct)

Indefinite pronouns

Overview Something, somebody, somewhere Anything, anybody, anywhere Nothing, nobody, nowhere 3rd person singular Common errors All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use indefinite pronouns as objects of verbs when we don't know the specific information, or it is not important to specifically name the object: John lives in Madrid. John lives somewhere.

There are indefinite pronouns to indicate:

place somewhere, anywhere, nowhere

person somebody, anybody, nobody someone, anyone, no-one

object something, anything, nothing

The form of the indefinite pronoun we use depends on whether the sentence is negative, affirmative or interrogative: Somebody came to see you? Has anybody come to see you? Nobody has come come to see you?

Something, Somebody, Somewhere

exercises

Generally, some is used in affirmative sentences, when we want to indicate a singular noun. Thing - is used for an object. Body - is used for a person. Where - is used for a place. There is something in my pocket. There is somebody in the kitchen. It is somewhere in Paris.

Some is sometimes used to form questions when you are expecting the affirmative answer "yes", and also to make offers: Have you done something to your arm? Yes, I broke it playing rugby. (It is obvious that the person has done something to his arm)

Would you like something to drink? Yes please, a glass of coke.

(An offer of something to drink) Note: We can say somebody or someone, anybody or anyone, nobody or no-one; the meaning is the same.

Anything, Anybody, Anywhere

exercises

Any is normally used to form questions and negative sentences: Thing - is used for an object. Body - is used for a person. Where - is used for a place. Is there anything I can do? Is there anybody living at number 32? Is there anywhere we can stay for the night? I can't say anything in Japanese. There isn't anybody here to help us. There isn't anywhere to buy a Rolls Royce in Sitges. Note: Anything, anybody, anywhere can also be used to say that the object, person or place isn't important or doesn't matter: You can have anything you want for your Christmas present. Anybody can play the piano. It's easy. Where do you want to go on holiday? Anywhere is fine by me. The differences between something, somebody, somewhere and anything, anybody, anywhere are the same as the differences between some and any.

Nothing, Nobody, Nowhere

exercises

These are negative words that we normally use at the beginning of a sentence, and they indicate that the result or quantity is zero. Thing - is used for an object. Body - is used for a person. Where - is used for a place. The car has broken down, and there is nothing we can do. Nobody here can speak Chinese. Nowhere is open on Sunday mornings.

Third person singular

exercises

We use these pronouns with the third person singular form of the verb: Somebody has... Nobody likes... Everybody is... There isn't anybody... Note: we often use the words they, them or their with somebody, anybody, everybody and nobody when the gender is unknown or irrelevant: Nobody came to the meeting, did they? Somebody phoned when you were out, so I asked them to leave a message. Nobody in the group finished their exam.

Common errors
exercises

Sometimes and some time are often confused: Incorrect: He will come sometime tomorrow. Sometimes is a frequency adverb which indicates the frequency of an action. Some time indicates at an unspecified time. He will come some time tomorrow. He will come some time. He sometimes plays football on Saturdays.

Interrogative Pronouns

Overview When Why Who How Where What Which Which or what Whose Whom All exercises this page

Overview
exercises Interrogative pronouns are often called question words. We use them in questions to ask for specific information. They include the following: when why where what which whose who whom how

We normally put the interrogative pronoun at the start of a question: When is the party? Where is the post office?

When
exercises We use when to ask for the time or date of an action: When is your birthday? (Present) When did you speak to Peter? (Past) When are you going to learn to drive? (Future plan)

Why
exercises

We use why to ask for a reason or explanation: Why do you like Paul? (Present) Why did you tell me lies? (Past) Why have you been to see your mother? (Present perfect) Why are you painting the wall? (Present continuous) Why are you going to Madrid? (Future plan) A why question is often followed by an answer beginning with because: Why are you tired? Because I have been playing football. Why can't you go? Because I am tired. We can also answer with the infinitive of purpose to: Why are you going to the post office? To buy some stamps.

Who
exercises

Who is used to replace the subject or object of a sentence when we ask about a person: Who do you know? (You know somebody - who?) Who is singing? (Somebody is singing - who?) Note: If the pronoun who is the subject of a question, the auxiliary verb do is not used. The question will have an affirmative construction. (See also what and which) Who does David love? Who is the object of the question, David is the subject. Who loves David? Who is the subject of the question, David is the object.

How
exercises To ask about a method or way of doing something, we can use the question word how: How do you spell your name? How do you cook pasta? How is also used when we are asking questions of quantity: How many students are there in the class? How much water is there in the fridge? And to ask questions about health or emotions: How are you? How do you feel? Also to ask about opinions: How was the meal last night? How did the meeting go? Note: In colloquial English we use the phrase How come...?, which is similar in meaning to Why..? How come you don't have a car? Because I prefer to use the bus. We form many common questions with how + adjective/adverb.

how big (size) how long (time) how long (distance) how often (frequency) how well (health) how quickly (speed) etc... And with how much/how many + noun. How many books are there? How much wine is there? see: quantifiers

Where
exercises Where is used to ask about the position or location of something: Where is the telephone? Where did you play football? Where are we going on holiday?

What
exercises What is used to replace the subject or object of the sentence when we want to identify or ask about something which is not a person: What did he do? (He did something - what?) What happened? (Something happened - what?) Note: If the pronoun what is the subject of the question, the auxiliary verb do is not used. (See also who and which)

Which
exercises We use which when we ask something about a group of objects when the group has a limited number of members: I can see two cars. Which is your car ? There are three schools in the town. Which school do you go to? I like the red jacket. Which jacket are you going to buy? Note: If which is the subject of the sentence, the auxiliary verb do is not used. (See also who and what)

Which or What
exercises Both which and what are used to ask about people and things: Which is normally used when the number of objects we ask about is limited, and what when the number of objects is big or not known. Compare: Which do you prefer, tea or coffee? What is your favourite drink?

Whose
exercises Whose is used to form a question to ask about possession: Whose pencil is this? or Whose is this pencil? Whose books are these? or Whose are these books?

Whom
exercises We use Whom with a preposition to mean the same as who: Who are you talking to? To whom are you talking? Note: We use whom in very formal English and many people never use whom. In ordinary English we usually move the preposition to the end of the sentence. Whom then normally changes to who: With whom did you go? Who did you go with? To whom did you talk? Who did you talk to?

Still, yet and already

Overview Would you like to..? Want All exercises this page

Overview
exercises When we want to invite someone to do something, we can use some of the structures shown below.

Would you like to..?

exercises We use would you like to..? in formal and informal situations to make invitations: Would you like to come to the cinema with me tomorrow?

Want
exercises We use want in more informal situations: Do you want to come to the cinema with me tomorrow?

The Date

Irregular verbs forms Common irregular verbs forms Irregular verb meanings Common irregular verb meanings A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|K| L|M|O|P|Q|R|ST|U|W

arise-arose-arisen awake-awoke-awoken

B
be-/am/is/are-was-been bear-bore-born/borne beat-beat-beaten become-became-become befall-befell-befallen beget-begot-begotten begin-began-begun behold-beheld-beheld bend-bent-bent

beseech-beseeched-beseeched beset-beset-beset besought-besought-besought bespeak-bespoke-bespoken bestrew-bestrewn-bestrewn bestride-bestrode-bestrode betake-betook-betaken bethink-bethought-bethought bid-bid/bade-bid/bidden bind-bound-bound bite-bit-bitten bleed-bled-bled bless-blest-blest blow-blew-blown break-broke-broken breed-bred-bred bring-brought-brought broadcast-broadcast-broadcast build-built-built burn-burnt/burned-burnt/burned burst-burst-burst buy-bought-bought

C
can-could cast-cast-cast catch-caught-caught choose-chose-chosen clad-clad-clad cling-clung-clung clove-cleft-cleft/cloven cold-draw-cold-drew-cold-drawn come-came-come cost-cost-cost countersink-countersank-countersunk creep-crept-crept crossbreed-crossbred-crossbred cut-cut-cut

D
deal-dealt-dealt dig-dug-dug do-did-done draw-drew-drawn dream-dreamt-dreamt drink-drank-drunk drive-drove-driven

dwel-dwelt-dwelt

E
eat-ate-eaten

F
fall-fell-fallen feed-fed-fed feel-felt-felt fight-fought-fought find-found-found flee-fled-fled fling-flung-flung fly-flew-flown forbear-forbore-forborne forbid-forbade-forbidden forecast-forecast-forecast forego-forewent-foregone foreknow-foreknew-foreknown forsee-foresaw-foreseen foretell-foretold-foretold forget-forgot-forgotten forgive-forgave-forgiven forsake-forsook-forsaken forswear-forswore-forsworn freeze-froze-frozen

G
gainsay-gainsaid-gainsaid get-got-got/gotten girt-girt-girt gnaw-gnawed-gnawn go-went-gone grave-graved-graven grind-ground-ground grow-grew-grown

H
hang-hung-hung have/has-had-had hear-heard-heard hew-hewn-hewed hide-hid-hidden hit-hit-hit hive-hove-hove

hold-held-held hurt-hurt-hurt

I
inlay-inlaid-inlaid interweave-interwove-interwoven

K
keep-kept-kept kneel-knelt-knelt knit-knitted-knitted know-knew-known

L
lay-laid-laid lead-led-led leap-leaped/leapt-leaped/leapt learn-learnt-learnt leave-left-left lend-lent-lent lend-leant-leant let-let-let lie-lay-lain light-lit/lighted-lit/lighted lip-read-lip-read-lip-read lose-lost-lost

M
make-made-made may-might mean-meant-meant meet-met-met miscast-miscast-miscast misdeal-misdealt-misdealt misgive-misgave-misgiven mislay-mislaid-mislaid mislead-misled-misled misread-misread-misread misspell-misspelt-misspelt misspend-misspent-misspent mistake-mistook-mistaken misunderstand-misunderstood-misunderstood

molt-melted-molten mow-mowed-mown/mowed

O
outbid-outbade-outbidden outbread-outbred-outbred outdo-outdid-outdone outgo-outwent-outgone outgrow-outgrew-outgrown outride-outrode-outridden outrun-outran-outrun outsell-outsold-outsold outshine-outshined-outshined outshine-outshone-outshone outwear-outwore-outworn overate-overated-overated overbid-overbid-overbid overbore-overborne-overburden overbuild-overbuilt-overbuilt overcast-overcast-overcast overcome-overcame-overcome overdo-overdid-overdone overdraw-overdrew-overdrawn overeat-overate-overeaten overfeed-overfed-overfed overfly-overflew-overflown overgrow-overgrew-overgrown overhang-overhung-overhung overhear-overheard-overheard overlay-overlay-overlayed overlay-overlain-overlain overlie-overlaid-overlaid overran-overrun-overran override-overrode-overridden oversee-oversaw-overseen overset-overset-overset overshoot-overshot-overshot oversleep-overslept-overslept overspend-overspent-overspent overspread-overspread-overspread overtake-overtook-overtaken overthrow-overthrew-overthrown

P
partake-partook-partaken pay-paid-paid prepay-prepaid-prepaid proof-read-proof-read-proof-read prove-proved-proven

put-put-put

Q
quit-quit-quit

R
ran-run-ran read-read-read rebound-rebound-rebound rebuild-rebuilt-rebuilt recast-recast-recast red-red-red redo-redid-redone relay-relaid-relaid remake-remade-remade rent-rent-rent repay-repaid-repaid rerun-reran-rerun resell-resold-resold reset-reset-reset retake-retaken-retook retell-retold-retold rethink-rethought-rethought retred-retrod-retrodden rewind-rewound-rewound rewrite-rewrote-rewritten rid-rid-rid rid-ridded-ridded ride-rode-ridden ring-rang-rung rise-rose-risen rive-rived-rived rive-rived-riven

S
saw-sawed-sawn say-said-said see-saw-seen seek-sought-sought sell-sold-sold send-sent-sent set-set-set sew-sewed-sewed/sewn shake-shook-shaken shave-shaved-shaven shear-sheared-shorn shed-shed-shed shine-shone-shone

shoe-shod-shod shoot-shot-shot show-showed-shown shred-shredded-shredded shrink-shrank-shrunk shrive-shrove-shriven shut-shut-shut sing-sang-sung sink-sank-sunk sit-sat-sat slay-slew-slain sleep-slept-slept slide-slid-slid sling-slung-slung slink-slunk-slunk slit-slit-slit smell-smelt-smelt smite-smote-smitten sow-sowed-sowed/sown speak-spoke-spoken speed-sped-sped spell-spelt/spelled-spelt/spelled spend-spent-spent spill-spilled/spilt-spilled/spilt spin-span-span spit-spat-spat split-split-split spoil-spoilt/spoiled-spoilt/spoiled spread-spread-spread spring-sprang-sprung stand-stood-stood stave-staved-staved steal-stole-stolen stick-stuck-stuck sting-stung-stung stink-stank-stunk strew-strewed-strewed/strewn stride-strode-stridden strike-struck-stricken string-strung-strung strive-strove-striven sunk-sank-sunken swear-swore-sworn sweat-sweated-sweated sweep-swept-swept swell-swelled-swollen/swelled swing-swung-swung

T
take-took-taken teach-taught-taught tear-tore-torn

tell-told-told think-thought-thought thow-threw-thrown thrive-throve/thrived-thriven/thrived thrust-thrust-thrust tread-trod-trodden typewrite-typewrote-typewritten

U
unbend-unbent-unbent unbind-unbound-unbound underbid-underbid-underbidden underbid-underbid-underbid undercut-undercut-undercut underdo-underdid-underdone underfeed-underfed-underfed undergo-underwent-undergone underlet-underlet-underlet underpay-underpaid-underpaid undersell-undersold-undersold understand-understood-understood undertake-undertook-undertaken underwritten-underwrote-underwrote undo-undid-undone undraw-undrew-undrawn unfreeze-unfroze-unfrozen ungird-ungirded-ungirded ungirt-ungirt-ungirt unhang-unhung-unhung unknit-unknit-unknit unlade-unladen-unladed unlearn/unlearnt/unlearnt unmake-unmade-unmade unsay-unsaid-unsaid unsew-unsewed/unsewn-unsewed unstick-unstuck-unstuck unstring-unstrung-unstrung unweave-unwove-unwoven unwind-unwound-unwound upbore-upbore-upborne uphold-upheld-upheld uprise-uprose-uprisen upset-upset-upset

W
wake-woke/waked-woke/waked waylay-waylaid-waylaid wear-wore-worn weave-wove-woven

wed-wed-wedded weep-wept-wept win-won-won wind-wound-wound withdraw-withdrew-withdrawn withhold-withheld-withheld withstand-withstood-withstood work-worked-worked wright-wrought-wrought wring-wrung-wrung write-wrote-written

Nouns

Overview Singular and plural nouns Gender Countable and Non-Countable Nouns Pronouns Gerunds as nouns Noun Phrases Nouns with determiners Nouns with determiners and adjectives All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Nouns are words which name objects: pen, tomato, lamp. They also name abstract ideas or concepts: love, pain, hunger

When the noun names a person, place or a title it is called a proper noun and starts with a capital letter:

The Queen, The Duke of Windsor, John, Wendy, Spain, Earth, London

Singular and Plural nouns

exercises

Nouns can be singular or plural: one book, two books To make a plural noun, we usually add -s to the end of the singular noun: pens, cars, toys

We make some plural nouns by adding -es to the end of the singular noun:

churches, buses

When the noun ends in consonant + y we normally replace the y with i and add -ies:

baby - babies Some nouns have irregular plural forms which are very different from their singular forms: man - men woman - women child - children tooth - teeth foot - feet mouse-mice Some plural and singular forms are the same: one sheep - two sheep

Gender
exercises

In English, nouns do not have a feminine or masculine form; they are neutral. We use the same noun to refer to male or female subjects: a doctor

a lawyer a judge

However, some nouns are gender specific, they refer specifically to females or males.

Family relations: masculine bridegroom brother father husband nephew son uncle widower

feminine bride sister mother wife niece daughter aunt widow

Animal names often have gender-specific forms: Family relations: masculine bull cock dog drake fox gander lion stallion tiger

feminine cow hen bitch duck vixen goose lioness mare tigress

Some jobs, professions and titles have gender-specific forms:

Family relations: masculine actor author duke hero king male nurse manager monk spokesman steward waiter policeman

feminine actress authoress duchess heroine queen nurse manageress nun spokeswoman stewardess waitress policewoman

Many nouns are not gender-specific: doctor, scientist, teacher

We can indicate gender with a pronoun or a possessive adjective: She is said to be an intelligent scientist.

We can also use pronouns or possessive adjectives to give character to non-gender-specific nouns: The cat hasn't eaten his dinner. The ship sounded her hooter. Spain defended her borders against the invaders.

Countable and Non-Countable Nouns

exercises

Countable nouns:

Most nouns refer to things we can count and have plural and singular forms. We use a determiner which could be a number or an adverb to indicate the quantity.

Determiner + noun Singular one book a book the book few books Plural two books some books the books a lot of books

Non-Countable Nouns: Some nouns refer to things we cannot count and only have singular forms:

liquids: beer, cola, juice, lemonade, milk, tea, water, whisky, wine

foods: butter, cheese, grain, meat, pepper, rice, salt, sugar, wheat, pasta

miscellaneous: information, advice, furniture, hair, knowledge, luggage, money, news, progress, research

Because non-countable nouns are singular when they are the subject of the sentence, we use them with the singular form of verbs: Information is free. Milk is cheap. Butter is expensive.

When a countable noun is the subject of the sentence we use the singular form of the verb when the quantity is 1, or the plural verb form when the quantity is more than 1. This book is expensive. Books are cheap.

We cannot indicate the quantity of an uncountable noun with a number. We cannot say 1 pasta, 3 informations. So we normally indicate the quantity by counting a container or with a measure:

1 packet of pasta a packet of pasta 1 kilo of pasta

5 bottles of water 5 litres of water Some other common containers and measures include: bar, bottle, box, cup, jar, kilo, loaf, metre, mile, packet, piece, pound, sheet, slice, tin, ton, tube, yard.

Pronouns
exercises To avoid repeating the same noun in a sentence or a paragraph, we can replace the noun with a pronoun.

See: pronouns

Gerunds as nouns
exercises The gerunds (the ing form) of many verbs can be used as a noun: Smoking (noun) is not permitted in the cinema. I smoke (verb) 2 packets a day. I like reading (noun) and watching television. I am reading (verb) Lord of The Rings.

Noun Phrases
exercises

We can use words such as adjectives and determiners with nouns to give more information about the noun. The result is a noun phrase which can replace a single noun in a sentence.

Nouns with determiners

exercises

Determiners are used with nouns to indicate the quantity of the noun: a book, some books, five books, a few books etc.

see: determiners see: articles

Nouns with Determiners and Adjectives

exercises Adjectives are used with nouns to give qualitative information about the noun. They are often used with a determiner: a big red book some green books five old books a few interesting books

Numbers

Overview The numbers one to a thousand Ordinal numbers All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

This section deals with the numbers and ordinal numbers in English.

The numbers one to a thousand

exercises

The numbers 1 to 12 are: One (1) Two (2) Three (3) Four (4) Five (5) Six (6) Seven (7) Eight (8)

Nine (9) Ten (10) Eleven (11) Twelve (12) The next 7 numbers have the suffix teen Thirteen (13) Fourteen (14) Fifteen (15) Sixteen (16) Seventeen (17) Eighteen (18) Nineteen (19)

Twenty (20) Twenty-one(21) Twenty-two(22) Twenty-three(23) Twenty-four(24) Twenty-five(25) Twenty-six(26) Twenty-seven(27) Twenty-eight(28) Twenty-nine(29) This method is followed up to the number 99. Thirty (30) Forty (40) Fifty (50) Sixty (60) Seventy (70) Eighty (80) Ninety (90) The next number is one hundred (100). When we continue past one hundred, the word and has to be added between one hundred and any following numbers. One hundred and one (101) One hundred and thirteen (113) One hundred and sixty-two (162) One hundred and ninety-nine (199) Two hundred (not two hundreds) (200) We can also say a hundred (= one hundred) To indicate the number 1000, we use the word one thousand. This can be followed by hundreds, tens and units using this system: One thousand and one (1,001) One thousand and fifty-eight (1,058) One thousand one hundred and twenty-two (1,122)

One thousand nine hundred and eighty-four (1,984) Twelve thousand four hundred and three (12,403) (not twelve thousands) Two hundred and seventy-one thousand nine hundred and fifty-three (271,953) After 999,999 we use the word million 1,000,000 = one million or a million 1,500,000 = one million five hundred thousand (or one and a half million) 2,000,000 = two million (not two millions) The number representing thousands and/or millions is followed by a comma: 2,500 (not 2500 or 2.500) Note: It is also possible to say eleven hundred (1,100), sixteen hundred (1,600)etc... Zero (0) can also be called nought, nil (normally used in sports results), or as the letter O (especially in telephone numbers). In tennis, squash and badminton zero is called love (150 is fifteen love). When the number is less than zero, we use a dot, or decimal point to separate the numbers higher than zero from the numbers lower than zero: 0.25 (= 1/4), 0.5 (= 1/2), today's temperature is 25.6C. It is read as zero point two five (0.25) or nought point two five (0.25).

Ordinal numbers
exercises

Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the order or rank of a number. 1 = First 1st 2 = Second 2nd 3 = Third 3rd 4 = Fourth 4th 5 = Fifth 5th 6 = Sixth 6th 7 = Seventh 7th 8 = Eighth 8th 9 = Ninth 9th 10 = Tenth 10th This continues up to the number twenty 20 = twentieth (20th) Then we return to the ordinals one to nine 21 22 23 29 = = = = Twenty-first (21st) Twenty-second (22nd) Twenty-third (23rd) Twenty-ninth (29th)

30 = Thirtieth (30th)

40 = Fortieth (40th) 50 = Fiftieth (50th) 60 = Sixtieth (60th) 70 = Seventieth (70th) 80 = Eightieth (80th) 90 = Ninetieth (90th) 100 = One hundredth (100th) 121 = One hundred and twenty-first (121st) 1000 = One thousandth (1000th)

Obligation

Overview Have/Had to Should have and Ought to have Needn't have and Didn't need to All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use different modal verbs to express different types of obligation.

Have/Had to
exercises

We use this modal to express both have to and must in the past: I'm so tired! I had to work late today.

The question is formed by did + subject + have to: Did you have to get up early this morning?

Should have and Ought to have

exercises

We use should have and ought to have when we want to recriminate someone; i.e. tell someone that you think they did something wrong. Both are very similar in meaning: You should have studied for the exam. (You failed) You shouldn't have stayed out so late last night. (You're very tired) You ought to have used a sun filter cream. (You've got sunburn)

Needn't have and Didn't need to

exercises

We use needn't have when someone did something, but it wasn't necessary: I needn't have put petrol in the car. (I did, but the tank was nearly full) We use didn't need to when someone didn't do something because it wasn't necessary: I didn't need to put petrol in the car. (I didn't, because the tank was nearly full)

Opinion

Overview Think Feel In my opinion From+possessive+point of view If you asked me.... All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use different structures to express our own or someone else's opinion.

Think
exercises

We use think to give a personal opinion about something: I think you need a holiday.

Feel
exercises

We use feel to give our opinion about something: I feel you could be wrong.

In my opinion
exercises

We use in my opinion to express our opinion about something: In my opinion euthanasia is wrong.

From + possessive + point of view

exercises

From + possessive + point of view is similar to in my opinion, but normally expresses opinion from someone else's point of view: From a politician's point of view, taxes are necessary. From a taxpayer's point view, taxes are unnecessary.

If you asked me....

exercises

As in many cases, we can use the second conditional to give our opinion; in this case using if you asked me....... If you asked me, I would say (that) euthanasia is wrong.

Passive

Overview Causative have Impersonal passive Make Need doing All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

To construct the passive from the active use the same tense of 'be' as used in the active sentence, and add the past participle of the original verb. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The subject of the active sentence becomes the agent of the passive sentence, preceded by 'by'.

Note: the agent is often understood but not mentioned, as in the second example below: Active: Many people use this road to travel into London. Passive: This road is used by many people to travel into London. Active: Thieves stole the painting yesterday. Passive: The painting was stolen (by thieves) yesterday. The passive is used when the object of an action is more important than an agent, or needs to be emphasised. Compare these sentences: A crowd of 50.000 welcomed the Champion of the League. (the agent is important) The Champion of the League was welcomed by a crowd of 50.000 people. (the object of an action is important)

Causative have
exercises

We can use the structure have + object + past participle when we want to talk about a service which someone does for us: I have my hair cut once a month. I'm having my house painted next week.

We can use get instead of have to mean manage, although the difference in meaning is small: I'm getting my house painted next week.

Or when we want to describe something that happened to us, usually bad, caused by an unspecified person: She had her car windows smashed last night.

Impersonal passive
exercises We use the impersonal passive with some reporting verbs such as believe, say, understand and report. Its use avoids the use of they or people.

Active: They say that smoking is bad for you.

Impersonal passive: Smoking is said to be bad for you. It is said that smoking is bad for you.

Note: we can use two different structures. Subject + be + past participle + to infinitive It is + past participle + that + subject + verb

If we want to express something that relates to something or someone in the past, we can use the following structures: Subject + be + to have + past participle It is + past participle + that + subject + past tense

Active: People believe that dinosaurs once existed. Impersonal passive : Dinosaurs are believed to have once existed. It is believed that dinosaurs once existed.

Make
exercises

We use the structure be + make + to infinitive to express that force was used. Active: They made him confess to the crime. Passive:

He was made to confess to the crime.

Need doing
exercises

We use need + gerund to say that a thing or a person needs a service but we don't specify who will do the service: My clothes are dirty. They need washing. My car isn't running very well. It needs servicing.

Past continuous

Overview Formation Use Common error All exercises this page

Overview
exercises We use the Past Continuous tense to talk about: An action that was in progress at a specified time in the past: I was watching television at 10 o'clock last night. An action that was in progress which was interrupted by another action: We were having a shower when the phone rang.

Two or more actions that were in progress at the same time in the past: I was singing while you were playing the guitar.

Formation
exercises

All continuous tenses are formed with the verb to be + gerund. To form the past continuous tense we use the past of the verb to be: was /were + gerund. Past continuous tense was I (not) were you (not) he was singing she (not) it we were you (not) they

The negative of the past continuous tense is made by adding not (n't) to the auxiliary verb was/were: I was not (wasn't) singing. They were not (weren't) singing. Interrogative forms of the past continuous are made by inverting the auxiliary verb and the subject: Were you singing? Was he singing?

Use
exercises

We use the past continuous to talk about an action that was in progress in the past: I was watching television. We were playing football. If we don't know when the action was in progress we normally add a time reference: I was watching television at 10 o'clock last night. We also use past continuous to talk about a continuous action that was interrupted by

another action. The interrupting action is normally in the past simple tense and we use when to join the two actions: I was having a bath when the telephone rang. We can also use two phrases in the past continuous tense to talk about parallel continuous actions in the past which are usually joined with the conjunction while. I was having a bath while Sandra was painting the window.

Common error
exercises

Using the past continuous when the simple past is indicated: What did you do yesterday? I was playing football. I played football.

Using verbs not usually used in continuous tenses: I was hating the film. I hated the film. See: verbs not normally used in the continuous tenses.

Past simple

Overview Past perfect formation Past perfect to make the 3rd conditional Past perfect with with adverbs of time Past perfect with adverbs of frequency Past perfect with exclamations of regret All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use the past perfect tense to talk about: An action which happened in the past, and was then interrupted by another action in past simple: She had just switched on the TV, when the doorbell rang.

I had been waiting for the bus for an hour, when it finally arrived. (Past perfect continuous) Something which happened in the past which implies a change of state when compared to the present situation: We had never seen so many people on the beach before! It was a surprise when he went to prison. He had seemed such a nice man.

Past Perfect formation

exercises

We make the past perfect tense with the auxiliary verb 'had' + past participle. I had seen him the week before. We'd been to Dublin twice already. (contraction) She had not expected to see so many people at the party. (negative) Lucy hadn't been working for long when they promoted her to sales manager. (negative contraction) How long had you been unemployed when you found the job? (question) Hadn't she been working in another office before she became Bill's secretary? {contraction of the question)

Past perfect to make the 3rd conditional

exercises

We use the past perfect with a with 'if' to form the third conditional : If it had not rained so much, we could have visited all the city.

Past perfect with adverbs of time

exercises

We use the past perfect with adverbs of time: already/just/yet

She had already worked part-time as a secretary during the summer, so she was confident

of getting the job when she went to the interview. The old lady had just crossed the road when two cars crashed near the zebra crossing.

He was twenty-seven years old, and he hadn't left home yet.

Past perfect with adverbs of frequency

exercises

We use the past perfect with adverbs of frequency: Never/always/often I had never thought about problems in the Third world until I saw a documentary on TV the other day.

She had always wanted to be an air-hostess, and now her dream was going to come true.

Bill had often imagined himself as a great businessman.

Past perfect with exclamations of regret

exercises

With exclamations of regret I've got a terrible headache. I wish I hadn't drunk so much last night. If only you had told me about him before!

Asking for and giving/refusing permission

Overview Can Could/Do think I could All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

The way we ask for, give or refuse permission depends on the situation and how polite or familiar we want to be. The most common forms are explained below.

Informal permission
exercises

We use can in a more familiar situation: Can I go out with my friends tonight? Yes, you can. No, you can't. Is it all right if + subject + present tense is used the same as can. Is it all right if I go out with my friends? No, it isn't. Yes, it is.

Formal permission

exercises

In more formal situations we can use the following structures to ask, give and refuse permission. Could Could I open the window please? Do you think I could..? Do you think I could come back later? Would you mind if ...? (followed by the verb in past)

Would you mind if we sat here

Personal pronouns

Overview Subject personal pronouns Object personal pronouns Direct and indirect object pronouns All exercises this page

Overview
exercises We can use personal pronouns as the subject of a sentence or the object of a sentence to replace a noun: Jane lives in America. She (Jane) is a architect.

Subject personal pronouns

exercises Subject personal pronouns go before the verb and indicate who does the action. Very often they replace a name of somebody or something:

He (John) is at home. She (Jane) is at home. It (the cat) is at home. They are (John and Jane) at school. Sometimes they are impersonal and do not replace a noun: It is raining.

The subject personal pronouns are as follows: Singular 1st I person 2nd you person he 3rd she person it Plural 1st we person 2nd you person 3rd they - masculine, person feminine, neutral

live(s)

live

Object personal pronouns

exercises Object personal pronouns take the place of a noun which is the object of a verb. The object of the verb indicates who or what receives the action of the verb. Jack loves Jill. In this sentence Jack is the subject of the verb and Jill is the object. We can replace Jack with a subject pronoun and Jill with an object pronoun: He loves her.

The object personal pronouns in English are as follows: Singular 1st person Jane like(s) 2nd person me you

3rd person Plural 1st person 2nd person 3rd person

him her it us you Jane like(s) them masculine, feminine, neutral

Direct and indirect object pronouns

exercises

Object pronouns can be the direct or indirect object of the verb: Jane gives Bill a book. Jane (subject) gives Bill (indirect object), a book (direct object). We can rewrite the sentence: She gives him it. or She gives it to him

Phrasal verbs

Overview Separable two-part verbs Inseparable two-part verbs with object Inseparable two-part verbs without object Three-part verbs All exercises this page

Overview
exercises A phrasal verb is a multi-word verb which is formed by a verb and one or more words (adverbs or prepositions). Sometimes it is possible to guess the meaning of the phrasal verb from the particles (component parts ). This is often the case when the verb is followed by a proposition: He looked up at the summit of Everest. Here the meaning of look up is literal; it means to observe something which is above the

viewer. But it is not possible to understand the meaning of many phrasal verbs just by understanding their component parts. The meaning of the phrasal verb can change according to the context: He looked up the word in the dictionary. In this sentence look up means to consult. Its meaning is said to be transferred i.e. not literal. One phrasal verb can have different meanings according to the context it is used in. So it is necessary to learn a phrasal verb in a context which can help you remember its meaning. Phrasal verbs can be divided into four different classes which depend on the number of parts, whether the verb takes an object, and if the object can be put between the verb and its particles.

Two-part phrasal verbs which can be separated

exercises

These verbs have only one particle, and an object which can come before or after the particle. In the following example the phrasal verb fill in means complete and the object is the form. Note that the form can separate fill and in or go after fill in. Can you fill in the form? Can you fill the form in?

However, when the object is a pronoun, the pronoun must separate the verb and the particle. Can you fill it in? Not - Can you fill in it?

Inseparable two-part verbs with object

exercises

Two-part phrasal verbs which cannot be separated, followed by an object, must always have the object after the participle: I came across an old photo the other day. Not - I came an old photo across the other day.

Inseparable two-part verbs with no object

exercises

These are, quite simply, two- part phrasal verbs without an object: My plane took off three hours late.

Inseparable three-part verbs with object

exercises

These phrasal verbs are made up of a base verb and two particles, and cannot be separated. The object must always come after the complete verb: I can't put up with that noise any longer! I can't put up with it any longer! Not: I can't put it up with any longer! I can't put up it with any longer!

Possession

Overview Saxon genitive Possessive adjectives and pronouns Other possessive words Prepositions - possession All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Saxon genitive, possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns, prepositions and certain verbs are used to indicate procession in English.

Saxon genitive
exercises

We can add 's to a name or noun to show possession: It is John's car. They are the cat's whiskers. If the name or noun is plural we only add an apostrophe: It is the players' decision. They are peoples' rights.

Sometimes it is difficult to know if the s on the end of a word indicates possession, a contraction of a verb or a plural noun. The car's garage. The car's in the garage In the first sentence 's indicates possession and the second 's is a contraction of the verb to be.

Sometimes it is difficult to know if we should use the genitive or a noun with its compliment to show possession: my computer program my computer's program The first sentence indicates that I own the computer programme the second that it is a part or processed by my computer.

Possessive adjectives and pronouns

exercises

We can also use possessive adjectives before a noun to indicate possession. It is John's car. It is his car. It is Sally's radio. It is her radio.

The possessive adjective changes in accordance with the subject: person I you she it he we you they adjectives pronouns my your her Its his our your their mine yours hers Its his ours yours theirs

We can use a possessive pronoun in a sentence to replace a possessive adjective + noun: It is Paula's newspaper. It is her newspaper. It is hers. It is the people's newspaper. It is their newspaper. It is theirs.

Other possessive words

exercises

We commonly use other words such as, belong, have, have got, own, to indicate possession: The car belongs to me. I have a car. I own a car.

Prepositions - possession
exercises

Sometimes we can use a preposition to show possession: The people's rights. The rights of the people.

Both phrases mean the same but the second puts more emphasis on the word rights.

Prepositions

Overview Prepositions of place Prepositions of time Prepositions with words and phrases All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use prepositions in many different ways. Prepositions of place tell us where something is or happens: on the table under the chair We use prepositions of time to tell us when something happens: at Easter in March Some words are often followed by the same prepositions: look at succeed in

Some verbs take a preposition to make multi-word verbs: put up with hand out

Prepositions of place
exercises

There are two types of place preposition. Static prepositions are stationary; they refer to a place. Mobile prepositions imply movement; they suggest moving from one place to another: He lived in London. He moved to London. Whether the preposition is static or mobile usually depends on the meaning of the verb. These are common prepositions of place and their uses. There are a number of exceptions though: at: the place where something happens He lives at 14 Green Street.

He's at the cinema, sitting at the front. We'll stop at Liverpool.

in: something all around We sat talking in the park. We live in Vilanova. She lives in Italy. into/out of: movement from outside to inside a place or vice versa He ran out of the garage and into the kitchen. We cycled out of Leicester and into Avon. on: the top surface The cat is on the sofa. The duck is on the river. onto/off: movement to the top surface of an object from another object: The man jumped off the wall and onto the roof. He jumped off the roof and onto the car. Other prepositions of place include: above, across, along, around, behind, below, beside, by, in, in front of, into, near, next to, on, opposite, out of, over, past, round, through, to, towards, under

Prepositions of time
exercises

We use these prepositions to talk about time: in: year, month, season, period of time in 1980 in April in the morning

in the summer but:at night on: we use on with specific days or dates: on Tuesday on the 27th of August on Christmas day at: we use at before specific points in time: at six o'clock at midday at Easter

Prepositions with words and phrases

exercises

Some words and phrases are very often followed by a preposition. Common words with their prepositions: afraid of, apologize for, arrange for, bored with, care for, different from, fond of, good at, insist of, intention of , interested in, keen on, look at, ready for, succeed in/at, take part in, tired of, worry about, intend to

Present continuous

Overview Actions in progress Changes over time Future meaning Verbs not used in continuous Present continuous or present simple All exercises this page

Overview
exercises The present continuous has three main uses: Actions which are in progress now: I am writing a letter. Things which are changing over time: People are becoming richer. And also to talk about the future: I am meeting him on Saturday. The present continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb to be and the ing form of the principal verb. Affirmative: They are dancing. She is singing. Negative: They aren't (are not) dancing. Interrogative Are they dancing?

Actions in progress
exercises

We use the present continuous to talk about actions which are happening as we speak.

I am using a computer at the moment. Monica is playing tennis in the park now.

Changes over time

exercises We can use the present continuous to talk about things that are changing over a period of time:

More bars are opening in Vilanova every year. My cold is getting better. Generally less people are smoking nowadays.

Future meaning
exercises

We can use the present continuous to talk about future plans and predictions: I'm going to Barcelona on Saturday. I am playing football tomorrow. See: future

Verbs not used in continuous

exercises

Some verbs are rarely used in the continuous tense:

hear, hate, like, believe, mean, understand, know, remember, forget, want, seem, own, belong, have (when we mean possess)

Present continuous or present simple

exercises

The present continuous tense normally refers to a temporary action in progress at the time of speaking, while the present simple tense talks about an action which generally or permanently occurs but may not be occurring at the time of speaking, or is a permanent state:

Jake is writing a letter at the moment. Jake writes to Jill every day. Jill lives in Barcelona. (Permanent) Jake is living in Madrid. (Temporary) see: present simple

Present perfect

Overview Present perfect formation Recent actions

Past experiences Duration of an action in progress Present perfect continous with since or for All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use the present perfect tense is to talk about: -an action which happened in the past, the results of which affect or have some connection with the present: I am tired because I have been playing football. -an action which started in the past and continues to the present: I have been living in Spain for 5 years. -experiences and to give news: Majorca has won the European Cup. -an action which happened at an unspecified time in the past: Jane has been to Italy.

Present perfect formation

exercises

We make the present perfect tense with the auxiliary verb have/has + past participle. Present perfect affirmative: subject + auxiliary I have you have he has she has it has we have you have they have contraction I' ve you' ve he's she's it's we' ve you' ve they' ve been to Italy past participle

Note: - the third person singular of the auxiliary have is has. - the past participle does not change when the subject is plural or singular. - In spoken and informal written English it is common to contract the subject and the auxiliary verb have/has. The contraction of the third person : he's, she's, it's is the same as the contraction of the third person of the present tense of the verb to be. How do we know if he's is he is or he has? Compare: She's a doctor. She's seen a doctor. In the second example She's is followed by the past participle so we know it is the present perfect tense.

Present perfect negative: subject I you he, she, it we you they have not (haven't) auxiliary have not (haven't) has not (hasn't) been to Italy past participle

Note the third person singular of the auxiliary have is has and the past participle does not change when the subject is plural or singular.

Present perfect questions: auxiliary Have Has Have subject I you he, she, it we you they been to Italy? past participle

To make a question with the present perfect tense we invert have with the subject.

Recent actions
exercises We can use the present perfect tense to talk about an action which happened in the past, the results of which have some connection or importance in the present: He is unhappy now because he has lost some money. We don't know exactly when, but the action happened recently and the effect in the present is that he is unhappy. We can use an indefinite time adverb with the present perfect tense: never, ever, before, yet, already, recently etc. He has recently lost his money. He has just lost his money. But we normally use the past simple tense to say when the action happened if we use a time adverb which indicates the specific time that has finished: yesterday, last year, last month, ago etc... He lost some money yesterday. Compare: I haven't had breakfast this morning. (This morning isn't finished; it's before 12 o'clock) I didn't have breakfast this morning. (It's now after 12 o'clock)

Past experiences
exercises We can use the present perfect to ask about past experiences: Have you ever been to Italy? No, I have never been to Italy. Yes, I have been to Italy. Note: We often use ever (which means at any time before now) in the question, and in the negative never (which means at no time before now). We commonly follow a "Have you ever . .?" question with a past simple tense question. Have you ever eaten paella ? When did you eat paella? Note: We generally use the past simple, and not the present perfect, in questions with

When...? and What time...?

Duration of an action in progress

exercises

When we want to talk about the duration of an action or state which started in the past and is still in progress, we use the present perfect tense: How long have you lived in Spain? I started to live in Spain in 1989. It is now 1999. Conclusion: I have lived (been living) in Spain for 10 years. or I have lived (been living) in Spain since 1989. Common error: Because many languages use the present tense to express the same meaning, students often make a common error of using the present tense which, of course, is incorrect. I live in Spain for 10 years. (Incorrect) I am living in Spain for 10 years. (Incorrect)

Present perfect continuous with since or for

exercises

We use the perfect continuous tense to talk about how we have been spending our time. e.g. John has been working in the garden all day.

We can also use the present perfect continuous tense to say how long something has been happening. e.g. I've been waiting for 20 minutes. note that: "I am waiting for 20 minutes". is incorrect in English we DON'T use the present tense to express action which started in the past and continue to the present. We often use the prepositions for or since with the present perfect continuous. for is used to introduce a period of time:

He has been working here for 10 years. We use since to introduce a point in time: He has been working here since 1999.

Common errors: Since...ago is never possible. I have been studying English since two years ago. (Incorrect) I have been studying English for two years. (Correct) He has been working here since two weeks ago. (Incorrect) He has been working here since the end of September. (Correct) During is normally used with an action which continued in the past but has now finished: He worked here during the Easter holiday but now he doesn't work here. We don't normally use during with the present perfect tense. see: for, since, during, from, ago

Present simple

Overview Affirmative Third person 's' Negative Questions Present tense - have got/be/can Present tense with frequency adverbs All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use the present simple tense to talk about things we do regularly: I go swimming every day. Also to express things which have a permanent state which are generally true: The sun is hot. Also to express things which happen all the time: I start work at 8 o'clock.

Affirmative
exercises To form the present simple tense of regular present tense verbs we use the infinitive of the verb except when the subject is third person singular (he, she, it), then the principle verb must end in s: Conjugation of infinitive: live Singular subjects I you he she it Plural subjects we you they Conjugation of infinitive: Be Singular subjects I you he she am are is live lives live

it Plural subjects we you they were

A few verbs such as the verb to be have irregular present simple tenses, but note that the third person singular (he, she, it), finishes in s. Modal auxiliary verbs (e.g.. Can, must, should etc.) do not change with a change of subject: I must pay. He must pay. We must pay.

Third person -s
exercises

The third person singular (he, she , it ) form of the majority of verbs is formed by adding s to the infinitive.

Live: He lives in Vilanova. Write: She writes books. Like: My cat likes milk. It is a common mistake to forget to add the s: He live in Vilanova. She write books.

When the infinitive ends in ch, s, sh, we add - es: watch - watches wash - washes pass - passes When the infinitive ends in y we change y to i and add - es: carry - carries try - tries Some verbs are irregular:

have - has do - does go - goes

Negative
exercises

To make a negative sentence we generally use the negative of the auxiliary verb do, do not (don't), with the infinitive:

Singular subjects I he she it we you they I don't live in Vilanova. We don't like ice-cream. When the subject is third person singular we use does: She doesn't live in Vilanova. He doesn't live in Vilanova. To form the negative of the auxiliary verbs ( be, have, do) ) and the modal auxiliary verbs (must, can, etc.) we add not, or the contraction n't. He must not (mustn't) smoke. We will not (won't) see him tomorrow. I have not (haven't) got a car. She has not (hasn't) got a car. do not (don't) does not (doesn't) like onions

Plural subjects do (don't) like onions

Questions

 exercises To make a present tense question, again we generally use the auxiliary verb do with the infinitive: Do you live in Vilanova? Singular subjects Do I he Does she it Plural subjects we Do you they like onions? like onions?

When the subject is third person singular we change do to does: Does she live in Vilanova?

Present tense - have got/be/can

exercises To form interrogative and negative present tenses which include the auxiliary verbs ( be, have) )and the modal auxiliary verbs (must, can etc.) it is not necessary to add the auxiliary verb do: Have Got You have (you've) got a car. You have not (haven't) got a car. Have you got a car? Yes, I have. /No, I haven't. Third Person singular: She has (she's) got a car. She has not (hasn't) got a car. Has she got a car? Yes, she has./No, she hasn't. To Be They are happy. They are not (aren't) happy.

Are they happy? Yes, they are./No, they aren't.

Modal auxiliary verbs (can, will, should etc.) We can go. We can't (cannot) go. Can we go? Yes, we can /No, we can't.

Present tense with frequency adverbs

exercises

Because we use the present tense to talk about things we do regularly, we can use a frequency adverb or an expression to indicate the frequency of the action. Some common frequency adverbs are:

frequency adverbs always often normally generally usually sometimes seldom rarely hardly ever never

Relative frequency +++ | | | | | | | | | | | ---

Some common frequency expressions are: Every day, once a week, a year, every Saturday, each time.

Purpose

Overview To+infinitive For+subject+to+infinitive In order to So as to In order that So that If+subject+be+infinitive Come/go+and All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

There are a variety of structures we can use to express our aims or intentions.

To+infinitive
exercises

To+infinitive is the most common form of expressing purpose: You go to the cinema to see a film. They've gone to the airport to meet some friends.

For + subject + to + infinitive

exercises

We can use for + subject + to + infinitive to express the aim of the speaker: I've brought this cassette for you to copy.

In order to
exercises

We can use in order to to express our intention in a more formal way: You go to the cinema in order to see a film. The negative form is: in order not to You should use a map in order not to get lost.

So as to
exercises

We use so as to to express our intention in a more formal way:

You go to the cinema so as to see a film. The negative form is so as not to: You should use a map so as not to get lost.

In order that
exercises

We can express our intention in a formal way using: in order that + subject + modal The most common modals used are can, could, will, would. Other modals which are less frequently used are may, might, should. He drove carefully in order that he wouldn't have an accident. I've bought a car in order that I can get about more easily. He's got a magnifying glass in order that he may read better.

So that
exercises

A more common way of expressing our intentions is to use: so that + subject + modal The most common modals used are can, could, will, would. Other modals which are less frequently used are may, might, should. He drove carefully so that he wouldn't have an accident. I've bought a car so that I can get about more easily. He's got a magnifying glass so that he may read better.

If + subject + be + infinitive
exercises

To express our intention we can sometimes use : if + subject + be + infinitive We should get a taxi if we are to arrive on time.

Come/go + and
exercises

We can sometimes use come/go + and to express intention: Come and look at this. Go and see who's at the door.

Quantifiers

Overview A lot/a lot of, lots of How many/much, much/many (a) little, (a) few, a lot All exercises this page

Overview

exercises

We use quantifiers when we want to describe the quantity of something. Some quantifiers, such as numbers, indicate the exact quantity:

One car Two houses

But other quantifiers give an approximate quantity: I do not have much money. I have a lot of friends. Some quantifiers only go before countable nouns and others before both countable or uncountable nouns.

Quantifiers countable many a few not many few a lot (of) much some not a lot (of) a little not much little uncountable

A lot/a lot of, lots of

exercises

A lot of indicates an abundance of something and is used with both countable and uncountable nouns. There are a lot of oranges. (countable) She has a lot of wine. (uncountable) In more colloquial language we often say lots of: There are lots of oranges

Normally we use a lot of + noun: There is a lot of rain in Britain. but we can also say

In Britain, it rains a lot.

How many/much, much/many

exercises

Like a lot of, much and many also indicate an abundance of something, but we use many with countable nouns in the affirmative, negative and interrogative: How many cars are there? There are many cars. We haven't got many cars. How many cars are there?

and much with uncountable nouns in the affirmative and the negative. Much in the affirmative is not usually used: How much money has she got? She hasn't got much money. She has got much money.(uncommon) She has got a lot of money. (common)

(a) little, (a) few, a lot

exercises

We use few to mean not many: There are not many books. There are few books.

We use little to mean not much with uncountable nouns: There is little wine in the glass. Often we use an intensifier with few and little: There are very few books. There is very little wine.

Note: that the meaning of a few and a little is not the same as little and few without the article. A little and a few is similar to some or often it is used to mean: more than expected. There is little wine in the glass. (The glass is nearly empty) There is a little wine in the glass. (There is some wine in the glass.) There are few books. (There are not many books.) There are a few books. (There are some books.)

Question tags

Overview Question tag formation Question tag intonation All exercises this page

Overview

exercises

Question tags are used at the end of a statement to make a question. We use them to confirm information in the statement when there is doubt or when we ask for agreement: You have a car, don't you? It is cold, isn't it?

Question tag formation

exercises

Questions made with a question tag have two parts; the statement, which can be affirmative or negative: She is 20 years old. He hasn't got a car. And the question tag, which is an auxiliary verb with the subject of the statement: She is 20 years old, isn't she? He hasn't got a car, has he? If the statement is affirmative, the question tag is normally negative and vice versa: They live in Italy, don't they?

The auxiliary verb in the question tag is normally the one we would use in a direct question: Do you have a car? The auxiliary verb used to form the question is do, therefore the question tag will be don't you?:

You have a car, don't you? Have you seen Peter? The auxiliary verb is have so the question tag is: You haven't seen Peter, have you? Note: when the statement uses a proper name as the subject, the question tag will use a corresponding pronoun: Mark can drive, can't Mark? (incorrect) Mark can drive, can't he? (correct)

An affirmative statement is followed by a negative question tag: It's cold today, isn't it? She is happy, isn't she? Andrew has a dog, doesn't he? You like pasta, don't you? They saw the film, didn't they? He has worked with her for 5 years, hasn't he? You will come, won't you? He would come if he could, wouldn't he? Jeff can drive, can't he?

A negative statement is followed by an affirmative question tag: It isn't a very big house, is it? Jane isn't tall, is she? You don't eat meat, do you? They didn't go to Spain, did they? He didn't buy a new car, did he? You won't lose it, will you? Paul wouldn't say that, would he? She can't play basketball, can she?

After Let's... the question tag is shall we? Let's go to the cinema, shall we?

After imperatives, the question tag is will you? Answer the phone, will you? Close the window, will you? Don't forget, will you? Note: after I'm....we use the question tag aren't I? (= am not I?) I'm invited, aren't I?

Question tag intonation

exercises The meaning of a question tag depends on how you say it. To form a real question, or to express a degree of uncertainty which requires confirmation, the voice will go up on the question tag: You live in Spain, don't you? = I think you live in Spain, but I'm not sure.

You haven't found a wallet, have you? = Have you found a wallet?

The voice will also go up on affirmative question tags to express the following: Surprise/disbelief: That Ferrari isn't yours, is it?

To ask for something: You don't have a cigarette, do you?

To ask for information: You don't know where Bill is, do you?

To ask someone to do something: You wouldn't do me a favour, would you?

If the voice goes down on the question, we aren't really asking a true question, we are

simply asking the other person to agree. It's cold, isn't it? = I know it's cold, I'm just making friendly conversation.

In some situations we use affirmative tags with affirmative sentences. To indicate an interest in something: You are going to Greece, are you? To indicate an interest in something: Paul said that, did he?

Reason

Overview Because As Since In case For Seeing(that), seeing as

Now(that) All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use various forms to express the cause of something or to justify an action.

Because
exercises

Because is the most common conjunction used to express reason: He got on the bus because he wanted to go to London.

As
exercises

As is a common conjunction used to express reason: People use sun filter creams as they don't want to get sunburnt.

Since
exercises

Since is a common conjunction used to express reason: He took an umbrella since it was raining.

In case
exercises

In case is another common conjunction used to express reason. They took maps with them in case they got lost.

For

exercises

For is a conjunction we can use to express reason: He's taking tablets for arthritis.

Seeing (that), Seeing as

exercises

We can use seeing (that) and seeing as to express reason: Seeing that it was a sunny day, they went to the beach. Seeing as it was a sunny day, they went to the beach.

Now (that)
exercises

We can use now to express reason: Now (that) you've got your degree, you can get a good job.

Recommending

Overview Recommend+noun(gerund) Recommend+object+to infinitive Recommend+that+subject+should

All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use the verb recommend to speak favourably/unfavourably about something, or say what we think would(n't) be a good thing to do. See asking for and giving advice and also opinions for other ways of recommending.

Recommend+noun(gerund)
exercises

We use recommend + noun / gerund to speak favourably/unfavourably of something or say what we think would(n't) be a good thing to do: I recommend the fish in this restaurant. I recommend going to Barcelona for your holidays.

Recommend+object+to infinitive
exercises

We use recommend + object + to infinitive to speak favourably/unfavourably of something, or say what we think would(n't) be a good idea: I recommend you to go to Barcelona for your holidays.

Recommend+that+subject+should
exercises

We use recommend + (that) + subject + should to speak favourably or unfavourably about something, or say what we think would(n't) be a good idea: I recommend (that) you should go to Barcelona for your holidays.

Reflexive pronouns
Overview Reflexive pronouns Omitting reflexive pronouns Reflexive verbs Reflexive verbs - change of meaning Reflexive pronouns - emphasis All exercises this page

Overview

exercises

The reflexive pronouns can be used when the subject and the object of a verb are the same. In the following sentences the subject and object are different. I is the subject of the verb and Susan or her is the indirect object of the verb. I speak to Susan. or I speak to her. In the next sentence Susan is the subject of the verb and Susan is the indirect object of the verb. Susan speaks to Susan. Normally we would replace the indirect object Susan with a reflexive pronoun: Susan speaks to herself.

Reflexive pronouns
exercises

The reflexive pronouns are as follows: reflexive pronouns I you he she it impersonal we you they Note that the plural reflexive pronouns have the termination selves and the singular self. Some more examples: I cut myself. myself yourself himself herself itself oneself ourselves yourselves themselves

He shaves himself. She looks at herself in the mirror. We congratulated ourselves on the result. They washed themselves with soap and water.

Omitting reflexive pronouns

exercises

Sometimes we omit the reflexive pronoun when the action is a frequent or usual action: He shaves himself everyday. or He shaves everyday.

I wash myself every morning. or I wash every morning.

Reflexive verbs
exercises

There a few uncommon verbs in English which cannot be used without a reflexive pronoun: absent oneself demean oneself ingratiate oneself perjure oneself pride oneself on

Reflexive verbs - change of meaning

exercises

The majority of verbs do not change the meaning when they are reflexive but the following verbs do: She applied for the job. She sent her CV in order to be considered for the job

She applied herself to job. She worked very hard.

Reflexive pronouns - emphasis

exercises We can use reflexive pronouns to emphasize that an action was completed without help: I wrote this myself. He made a cake by himself.

Refusing

Overview Refuse+to infinitive Refuse+2 objects+to infinitive Will not(won't) All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use the structures shown below to say we don't want to do something. For refusing permission, see: asking for, giving and refusing permission. For refusing invitations, see: invitations.

Refuse + to infinitive
exercises

We use refuse + to infinitive to say we don't want to do something: I refuse to put up with that noise any longer!

Refuse + 2 objects + to infinitive

exercises

We use refuse + 2 objects + to infinitive to express that someone is denied something: The town council refused the contractor permission to build a new discotheque. We can also express the same meaning with the passive: The contractor was refused permission to build a new discotheque by the town council.

Will not (won't)

exercises

We use won't to be emphatic when we refuse something: I won't go back to that awful place ever again!

Relative Clauses

Overview Identifying relative clauses Non-identifying relative clauses All exercises this page

Overview

exercises

Relative clauses can be divided into two groups:

Identifying relative clauses Non-identifying relative clauses

An example of an identifying relative clause is: Is that the man who married Jane? In the above sentence, who married Jane, is the clause. In this example, it identifies a particular man. Without this information, we would not know who the man was. The clause identifies the man, therefore it is known as an Identifying relative clause. An example of a non-identifying relative clause is: Peter, who won the lottery, has bought a big house. The clause, who won the lottery, gives extra information. It is assumed that we know who Peter is. The clause is a non-identifying relative clause; it does not identify who Peter is, but only serves to give extra information about Peter. In non-identifying relative clauses, the clause is often separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. In identifying relative clauses, commas are not used.

Identifying relative clauses

exercises

In identifying relative clauses, that is often used to replace other relative pronouns. That replaces who: Where is the man that delivers the milk? That replaces whom: He is a teacher that is popular with his students. That replaces which: I've forgotten the books that I borrowed from you.

The relative pronoun is often left out if the relative clause is the object of the verb: I've forgotten the books (that) I borrowed from you. Prepositions can either be placed in front of a relative pronoun, or after a relative clause.

It is more common to put the preposition at the end of the relative clause, especially in spoken English.

Non-identifying relative clauses

exercises

The clause in a non-identifying relative clause is separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. If the sentence continues after the clause, there is another comma: This is Peter Smith, who works in a bank. Austria, which is cold in winter, is a popular skiing resort. That cannot be used in a non-identifying relative clause, and the object pronoun cannot be omitted

Relative Pronouns

Overview Who and whom Which

That Whose When/Where All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Relative pronouns are words which are used to link clauses together and to avoid repeating the subject of the sentence: That is the book. The book I read. That is the book which I read. Here the relative pronoun is which. Other relative pronouns are: What Who Whom Which That The following also function as relative pronouns, although grammatically they are not classed as relative pronouns: Whose When Where Relative clauses can be classified as defining and non-defining relative clauses. When the relative clause is defining the relative pronoun that is generally used.

Who and Whom

exercises

Who and whom are used to refer to people: That is the man. The man robbed the bank That is the man who robbed the bank. That is the girl. The girl speaks English. That is the girl who speaks English. Whom means the same as who and is used after a preposition: Those are the people. I work with those people Those are the people with whom I work. (Very formal)

Whom is very formal and is not usually used in spoken English. We normally replace whom with who and put the preposition after the verb: Those are the people who I work with. (Informal)

Which
exercises

Which is used to refer to things: That is the book. The book I read. That is the book which I read.

That
exercises That can be used in place of which or who in relative sentences: It is The It is or It is the book. book I read. the book which I read. the book that I read.

That's the girl. The girl speaks English. That's the girl that speaks English.

Whose
exercises

Whose refers to possession: Ann and John live next door. Their surname is Smith. Ann and John, whose surname is Smith, live next door to me.

When/Where
exercises

If when or where are used after a noun which refers to time or place, they are used to signify at which or in which:

Can you tell me when the shop will open. (At which time) I know a restaurant where you can eat well for ten pounds. (In which)

Reported Speech

Overview Tense changes Special changes No Changes Commands, Requests, Advice and Warnings

Special Reporting Verbs Indirect Questions Reported Suggestions All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use indirect speech when we want to talk in the present about what someone said in the past. see: Reported Speech. We also use it in question forms, both in the past, and also to make polite questions in the present. -->

Tense changes
exercises

The tense of of what someone says is generally moved one tense back in time: 'I'm tired'. He said he was tired. 'I saw her yesterday'. She said she had seen her the day before. 'I've seen that film'. He said (that) he had seen that film.

and will changes to would:

'We will come tomorrow'. They said that they would come the next day.

Note that the use of that is optional and that in complex sentences, we only change the first verb:

'I was watching the television when it exploded!' She said she had been watching the television when it exploded. When the verb tense in direct speech is the past perfect tense, in the reported sentence this tense is not changed: 'During the war he had been a Doctor'.

She said that during the war she had been a doctor.

Special changes
exercises

Some modals change in reported statements. See: Reported Speech. 'I can manage quite well, thanks'. She said she could manage quite well.

We also change time indicators. See: Reported Speech. 'I read that book five years ago'. He said he'd read that book five years before.

Some pronouns are also changed. See: Reported Speech. 'I spoke to her last week'. He said he had spoken to her the week before.

No Changes
exercises

We don't change tenses when the reporting verb is in the present: 'My grandmother's ill'. Lucy says her grandmother's ill.

We don't change tenses when the reported speech is said immediately after the original dialogue: 'I'm on the phone'. He said he's on the phone.

Or if the reported words refer to something that is still true at the time of speaking: 'I love ice cream!' She said she loves ice cream. 'The sun is hot'. Newton said the sun is hot.

Commands, Requests, Advice and Warnings

exercises

We report commands, requests, advice and warnings using the reporting verbs; tell, ask, advise and warn + infinitive 'Shut up!' He told him to shut up. 'Don't do that again!' Ruth told Phil not to do that again. 'Pass the sugar, please'. She asked him to pass the sugar. 'You should smoke less'. The doctor advised him to smoke less. 'If you touch that, you'll be in trouble!' She warned him not to touch it.

Special Reporting Verbs

exercises

See: Reporting Verbs.

Indirect Questions
exercises

We report the question word questions; what, where, when, why, who, how in a normal affirmative structure without the question mark.

The reporting verb is normally ask, but we can also use wanted to know: 'Where is my wallet?' He asked her where his wallet was. 'Why did you speak to him like that?' She wanted to know why he had spoken to him like that.

We report questions that don't use question words using if or whether, and omit the auxiliary verb: 'Do you give discounts?' He asked her if she gave discounts. 'Are you disappointed?' She asked him whether he was disappointed.

We can also use reported questions to make a question more polite, using polite phrases such as: Could you tell me . . ? I would like to know . . . I wonder/wondered . . . 'Where is the bus stop?' 'Could you tell me where the bus stop is?' 'Is service included?' 'I would like to know whether/if service is included'.

Reported Suggestions
exercises

We can report suggestions using the following structures: 'Let's go to the beach'. suggest + (that) + subject +( should) + verb (present) He suggested (that) we (should) go to the beach. suggest + (that) + subject + past tense He suggested that we went to the beach. suggest + gerund He suggested going to the beach

Reporting Verbs

Overview Verb+that+clause Verb+subject+to+infinitive Verb+prepositions Verb+subject+infinitive without to Verbs+gerund or infinitive+to Verb+object+infinitive+to or +gerund Verb+gerund Verb+infinitive with to All exercises this page

Overview
exercises We use many different reporting verbs when explaining what someone said. Different grammatical structures follow different verbs. Here you will find the main structures, along with the most useful verbs.

Verb + that + clause

exercises

In the structure verb + that + clause, 'that' is optional in all these cases. decide 'It's a good idea'. He decided that it was a good idea. believe 'I believe the world is round'. Columbus believed that the world was round. claim 'That bag is mine!' She claimed that the bag was hers. state 'The government has reduced prices'. The MP stated that the government had reduced prices. claim 'I've been double-booked!' He claimed that he had been double-booked. insist 'I am innocent!' He insisted that he was innocent. deny 'I didn't do it!' She denied that she had done it. admit 'I did it'. He admitted that he had done it. imply 'I think you're being economical with the truth'. She implied that I was lying.

announce 'I'm having a party tomorrow'. She announced that she was having a party the next day. confirm 'You're flight is definitely booked'. The travel agent confirmed that my flight was booked. think 'Maybe the sun goes round the Earth'. Centuries ago, people thought that the sun went round the Earth. doubt 'I'm not sure you're right'. She doubted that he was right. complain 'That's far too expensive!' She complained that it was far too expensive. predict 'Men will one day fly in machines'. Nostrodamos predicted that men would one day fly in machines. remember 'I almost forgot. I have to call my grandmother!' He remembered that he had to call his grandmother. promise 'I'll call you tomorrow.' She promised that she would call him the next day.

Verb + subject + to + infinitive

exercises

invite 'Would you like to go to the cinema?' He invited her to go to the cinema. persuade 'If you study for your exam, I'll buy you a new bike.' He persuaded his son to study for the exam. remind 'Don't forget your keys'. She reminded her son not to forget his keys.

Verb + prepositions

exercises

apologise 'I'm sorry I hurt you, Alice'. He apologised to Alice for hurting her. blame 'It's your fault we had the accident!' She blamed him for the accident. accuse 'You murdered the Duchess!' He accused her of murdering the Duchess. suspect 'I have a feeling the butler stole the silver'. Sherlock suspected the butler of stealing the silver. congratulate 'Well done! You've passed your driving test!' She congratulated her on passing her driving test. insist 'I must have the truth'. He insisted on the truth. or 'You must clean your room before you go out!' She insisted on her daughter cleaning her room before she went out. decide 'I think I'll have the red sweater instead of the blue one'. He decided on the red sweater. protest 'We don't want the new tax laws!' The people protested about/against the new tax laws. confess 'Yes. I stole the money'. She confessed to stealing the money. or She confessed to the theft.

Verb + subject + infinitive without to

exercises make 'You will do your homework now!' His father made him do his homework.

let 'You can come in'. She let him come in.

Verbs + gerund or infinitive + to

exercises

propose - the meaning is not changed. 'I think we should make tobacco illegal'. The politician proposed making tobacco illegal. or The politician proposed to make tobacco illegal.

forget and remember - we use the gerund to refer to a past action. 'I'm sure I didn't leave the door open'. He forgot leaving the door open. He didn't remember leaving the door open. We use to to refer to something that we need to do: He forgot to close the door. He didn't remember to close the door.

regrets see:

Verb + object + infinitive + to/or + gerund

allow 'You can park behind the supermarket'. The policeman allowed her to park behind the supermarket. 'People can't park behind the supermarket'. exercises

The town council wouldn't allow parking behind the supermarket.

Verb + gerund
exercises

deny 'I did not break the window!' He denied breaking the window. admit 'I broke the window'. She admitted breaking the window. object to 'I really don't think I should pay motorway tolls'. He objected to paying motorway tolls. put off 'I won't pay the phone bill until later in the month'. She put off paying the phone bill until later in the month. look forward to 'I hope to see you soon'. He looked forward to seeing her soon. suggest 'Let's go to a restaurant'. He suggested going to a restaurant. regret 'I wish I hadn't driven so fast'. He regretted driving so fast.

Verb + infinitive with to

exercises

promise 'I'll call you tomorrow'. She promised to call him the next day. refuse 'There's no way I will do that!' She refused to do it. agree 'All right. I'll do whatever you want'.

He agreed to do whatever she wanted. offer 'Can I help you?' She offered to help him. ask 'Can I go to the toilet?' He asked to go to the toilet

Result

Overview So So....(that) Such....(that) So much/many....(that)

All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use various forms to express the result or outcome of an action.

So
exercises

We can use so to express the result of an action: It was cold, so we didn't go to the beach.

So....(that)
exercises

We use so....that, usually followed by an adjective or an adverb after so, to express the result of an action: It was so cold (that) we didn't go to the beach.

Such... (that)
exercises

We use such.... (that) in the same way as so.... (that), but usually with a noun or adjective + noun after such, to express the result of an action: It was such a cold day (that) we didn't go to the beach.

So much/many.... (that)
exercises

We use so much + uncountable noun or so many + countable noun to express the result of an action: They put so much food on our plates (that) we could hardly eat it all! There were so many people in the shop (that) we waited ages to get served

Sentence Transformations

Overview Hints & Techniques All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

In Paper 3 of the First Certificate Exam you are asked to transform sentences from one grammatical form to another. You are given a complete sentence followed by a key word and a sentence with missing words. Using a maximum of 5 words, including the key word, you must complete the answer sentence so that it is similar in meaning to the original sentence. You cannot change the key word:

Example John cleaned my car yesterday. had I ____________________ John yesterday.

Answer I had my car cleaned by John yesterday.

Remember: - You must use the Key word. - You must not change the key word. - You can only write a maximum of 5 words (contractions like he's are considered as 2 words). - The new sentence must be similar in meaning to the original sentence.

Hints & Techniques

exercises

-(1)- Try to identify the type of transformation. Look at the original sentence and the sentence with blanks and try to identify the what type of transformation is needed. Many of the types of transformations are very common; for example, active to passive, direct speech to reported speech, substituting different comparative structures, simple past or present perfect.

-(2)- Analyze the Grammar. Example The noise frightened him. This is a sentence in the simple past tense with a subject, verb and object and is an active sentence.

scared The key word is either the simple past or the past participle form of the verb scare.

He ________________________ the noise.

The transformed sentence starts with the object of the original sentence which indicates that the transformation is from an active to passive sentence. Passive sentences normally use the verb to be with the past participle and the agent of the action (the subject in the active sentence is introduced with by). Answer He was scared by the noise.

-(3)- Try to learn different ways of saying the same thing.

For many transformations you don't need to change the tense of the sentence, only substitute one structure for another: Example: The return fare is double the single fare.

twice

The return fare is______________________the single fare.

Answer The return fare is twice as expensive as the single fare.

Some/Any

Overview Some Any Some and any - affirmative sentences

Any - negative sentences Some and any - questions All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Some and any are determiners which are often used with nouns or other words which indicate quantity. We generally use some in affirmative sentences and any in negative sentences and questions: I have some money but not much. I don't have any cheese. Do you have any cheese? When we are making an offer or a request, or in questions when we know the answer will be affirmative ('yes'), we often use some and not any: You look hungry. Do you want some chocolate?

Some
exercises

We use some with plural nouns to indicate an indefinite number of things or people: I have some books. She wants some sweets.

We also use some with uncountable nouns: I have some water. She wants some wine.

We use some to indicate or refer to a limited part or number of things which form part of a group when the quantity is not known exactly or is of no importance: All shops are open on Monday, but only some shops are open on Sunday. I have got some magazines. There is some water in the glass.

Any

exercises

We can use any with plural nouns to indicate an indefinite number of things or people when we make a question or a negative sentence: Have you got any books? We also use any with uncountable nouns: Do you have any wine ?

Like some, we use any to refer to a limited part or number of things which form part of a group when the quantity is not known exactly or is of no importance.

In negative sentences any is the opposite of some and means zero quantity: I don't have any cheese. I have no cheese. There isn't any money. There is no money.

Some and Any - affirmative sentences

exercises We generally use some in affirmative sentences with plural and uncountable nouns: Some people go to church on Sundays. Some wines are sweet, others are bitter.

We can use any in affirmative sentences: -After if: If any letters arrive for you, I'll put them on your desk. If you have any problems, let me know. -When the meaning of any is - it doesn't matter which/what/who/when/where/how: Can you buy me a newspaper? Yes. Which newspaper do you want? I don't mind. Any newspaper will be fine. You can drink wine in any town in Spain. (It doesn't matter which town - they all sell wine)

Any - negative sentences

exercises

Any is normally used in negative sentences when the quantity is zero: I haven't got any pencils. There aren't any people in the building. There isn't any cheese in the cupboard. Some is not normally used in negative sentences.

Some and Any - questions

exercises Any is generally used in questions: Have you got any books? Has the car got any petrol? Have they bought any wine?

Some is generally used in questions when: - Making an offer: Would you like some tea? Would you like some more biscuits? - Asking for something: Could I have some water, please? Can I have some of your pizza? - We expect the answer will be yes: What's the matter? Do you need some help? (I think you need some help and I imagine you will say yes)

Still, yet and already

Overview Still Yet Already

All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

Still, yet and already are used to indicate if an action has been completed or if it remains to be done: I still haven't finished my homework. I haven't finished my homework yet. I have already done my homework.

Still
exercises

Still is used to indicate that an action is continuing or the situation hasn't changed. It is usually placed with the verb in the middle of a sentence: It is still raining. Have you retired? No, I am still working. Do you still live in Rome? When I left the house, my sister was still sleeping. We can also use still in negative sentences. It is often used to express surprise or impatience: He still hasn't turned the music down! (I asked him to do it an hour ago) He is still hasn't left that horrible wife of his! (Why not?) I still don't understand. (I didn't understand before, and I don't understand now) Note: Still is placed before the negative : I still can't... I'm still not... They still haven't...

Yet
exercises

Yet is used to ask if something has happened or to say that the action has not happened, but probably will happen in the future. Yet is usually placed at the end of a sentence and is generally used in questions and negatives: I'm thirsty. Is the pub open yet? Have you finished painting the wall yet? I don't know what I'm going to do yet. He hasn't finished the book yet. Note: Yet is often used with the present perfect tense.

Already
exercises

Already can be placed with the verb in the middle of a sentence and is generally used in affirmative sentences or questions. It is used to suggest that something has happened before or sooner than you thought: Mike has already finished reading the book. They have already arrived. They're early! Shall we watch Forrest Gump tonight? No, I've already seen it eight times. Already can be placed at the end of a sentence to add emphasis to what you want to say: He's eaten all those sandwiches already! He'll have stomachache. He's spent all his lottery prize money already! He only won it last week!

Still, yet and already

Overview Let's+infinitive without to Why don't we+infinitive without to How about+noun(gerund)

Shall Imperative Could Propose All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use different forms to express an idea which we would like to be considered. See: asking for and giving advice and reporting verbs.

Let's + infinitive without to

exercises

We use let's to suggest something: Let's go to the cinema.

Why don't we + infinitive without to

exercises

To suggest something, we can use: why don't we with the infinitive of a verb without to: Why don't we play football?

How about + noun (gerund)

exercises

We use how about + noun/gerund to suggest something: How about a game of tennis? How about playing tennis?

Shall
exercises

We use shall to suggest something:

Shall we go to the cinema tonight?

Imperative
exercises

We use imperative to suggest something: I wonder if John's going out tonight. Ring him up.

Could
exercises

We use could to make a weak suggestion: We could go to the cinema.

Propose
exercises

We use propose + gerund or propose + (that) + subject + verb to suggest something in a formal way: I propose opening a new sports centre. I propose (that) we open a new sports centre

Thanking

Overview Thank you+for+noun(gerund) Be+grateful+(for) Thanks to+object Second and third conditional

All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We can use some of the structures shown below to express thanks to someone for something or to express our gratitude.

Thank you for + noun(gerund)

exercises

We use thank you for + noun/gerund to thank somebody for something. Thanks can be used instead of thank you in more informal situations: Thank you for the lovely gift! Thank you for helping me.

Be + grateful + (for)
exercises

We use be grateful for to thank somebody for something in a more formal situation: I'm grateful for your help.

Thanks to + object
exercises

We use thanks to + object to express the cause of something: Thanks to the operation, I can walk again. But it can be used in a cynical way: Thanks to the council's interference, I can't extend my house!

Second and Third Conditional

exercises

We use the second conditional to say thank you to someone for something in a present

situation: If it weren't for you giving me a lift, I would still be waiting for the bus. We use the third conditional to say thank you to someone for having done something in the past: If it hadn't been for your quick action, I could have been killed. If you hadn't acted so quickly, I could have been killed.

There is/are

Overview There is/are There was/were There + modal verb + be Common errors All exercises this page

Overview

exercises

We use there with the verb to be to say that something exists or does not exist: There is a bank in my street. There isn't a post office in our street.

We can use there with be to say if something existed in the past or will exist in the future: There was a cinema here ten years ago. There will be a cinema here next year.

There is/are
exercises We use there is for singular/uncountable objects and there are for plural objects: There is a post office in Vilanova. There are two swimming pools in Vilanova. There is not (isn't) an airport in Vilanova. There are not (aren't) any skyscrapers in Vilanova. Often when we talk about something for the first time, we use there is or there are and then, when we refer to the object again, we use an object pronoun and a verb: There is a dog in the street. It (the dog) is a big dog. There are some dogs in the street. They (the dogs) are big dogs.

There was/were
exercises We use the past of the verb to be: was/were with there to say if something existed, and the negative there was not (wasn't), there were not (weren't) to say that something didn't exist in the past: There was a windmill in Vilanova. There were two lighthouses in Vilanova. There was not (wasn't) an airport in Vilanova. There were not (weren't) any streetlights in Vilanova.

There + modal verb + be

exercises

We can use there + modal verb + be to talk about the existence or not of things in other tenses: Future prediction: There will be a stadium here within a year.

Future plan: There is going to be a stadium here within a year. (Future plan)

Probability: There might be a stadium here within a year. There could be a stadium here within a year.

Prediction: There should be a stadium here within a year. (Prediction)

Common errors
exercises

The following are some of the common errors that students make:

Using we are in the following expression: We are seven people. (Incorrect) There are seven of us. (Correct) Using are with singular objects:

There are a tower in Paris. (Incorrect) There is a tower in Paris. (Correct)

Using are with uncountable objects: There are some water in the glass. There is some water in the glass. (Correct) Using have to indicate if something exists or not: My street has a bank. (Incorrect) There is a bank in my street. (Correct)

Time

Overview The 12 hour clock The 24 hour clock All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

There are two ways to say the time in English; using: The 12 hour clock The 24 hour clock The 12 hour clock is used in everyday English. To indicate if we are talking about the morning or the afternoon we use the abbreviations: am to indicate the morning pm to indicate the afternoon

The 24 hour clock is normally used in timetables and technical contexts.

The 12 hour clock

exercises

If we want to indicate the exact hour, we use the expression: o'clock 10.00 = ten o'clock. 02.00 = two o'clock. This is not sufficient information to tell us if it is the morning or the afternoon. Therefore the phrase in the morning or in the afternoon can be added: ten o'clock in the morning two o'clock in the afternoon or we can add pm or am: ten am two pm To indicate minutes we use past and to: 8.15 = a quarter past eight 11.30 = half past eleven When the minutes are greater than 30, we use to:

6.45 = a quarter to seven More examples of the time: 1.05 7.10 2.20 4.25 9.35 5.40 8.50 3.55 = = = = = = = = five past one ten past seven twenty past two twenty-five past four twenty-five to ten twenty to six ten to nine five to four

Note: If the minutes are not divisible by five; e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20, etc., we have to include the word minutes: 1.03 = three minutes past one 4.27 = twenty seven minutes past four 5.34 = twenty six minutes to six 11.58 = two minutes to twelve

Twelve o'clock Twelve o'clock can also be referred to as midday or midnight, depending on the time of day.

The 24 hour clock

exercises

The twenty-four hour clock is used mainly for timetables, and is not normally used in everyday English. Examples of the twenty-four hour clock are as follows: 08.00am = eight hundred hours 11.00am = eleven hundred hours 02.00pm = fourteen hundred hours 11.00pm = twenty-three hundred hours 06.22am = oh six twenty-two 10.38am = ten thirty-eight 06.05pm = eighteen oh five 08.53pm = twenty fifty-three

Use to/would

Overview Use to/would To be used to

Get/become used to All exercises this page

Overview
exercises We can use used to to talk about actions and states in the past that occurred regularly but which now have finished: I used to live in England but now I live in Spain. We can also use would to express the actions but not states: I would live in England but now I live in Spain. (Incorrect) I would play the guitar for hours. (Correct)

We can use used to to talk about unfamiliar actions of activities that are becoming familiar with time: I'm getting used to living in Spain. Or actions or states which we are accustomed to doing: I'm used to working 18 hours a day.

We can use used to to talk about how we use objects and things: It is used to make holes. I use soap in the shower.

Used to/would
exercises

Used to + infinitive can describe an action or states that happened regularly in the past, but which have now stopped.

When I was young, I used to read a lot of comics. (But now I don`t have time). When I worked in Japan, I used to eat sushi every day. (But now I live in Europe and I eat hamburgers every day).

More formally we can use would with the infinitive to express the same meaning when we are talking about action but not states: When I was young, I would read a lot of comics. When I worked in Japan, I would eat sushi every day. But note when we talk about a state we cannot use would: When I would sleep in the chair I snored. (Incorrect - state) When I used to sleep in the chair I snored. (Correct - action) When we are not interested in emphasizing the repetition of the action, we can use the simple past to express something we did in the past but has finished now, but it doesn't occur now: I played football every Saturday.

Please note that when we make questions and negatives sentences with used to and the auxiliary verb do we employ the infinitive use to: She used to live in Spain. Did she use to live in Spain? She didn't use to live in Spain.

Sometimes the meaning of used to can be confusing. Compare: I used to play football. I used it to play football. In the first example we talk about something that happened regularly in the past, but in the second one we are saying that we employed an object to do something.

To be used to
exercises

When we want to say that we are accustomed to something, or that something is something normal, regular or familiar, we can use be used to + gerund. I'm used to getting up at 6.30. I do it every day. She's used to getting her own way. She's been spoilt all her life.

Get/Become used to
exercises

To get used to + gerund describes something that starts as strange, difficult or unfamiliar but becomes normal, straightforward or familiar: I'm getting used to getting up at 6.30. I do it every day. She's used to getting her own way. She's been spoilt all her life. Living in another country is strange at first, but you soon get used to it. I was nervous when I first learnt to drive, but I soon got used to it.

Want, need

Overview Common errors

All exercises this page

Overview
exercises The use of want and need can be difficult because the structure we use to express necessity and desire is often different to the structure used in many languages. Want and need can be followed by an object: I need a book. I want a computer.

We can also use them with a verb: I want to buy a book. I need to buy a computer. Notice we use the infinitive with to after want and need.

Sometimes we use an indirect object to indicate who does the action: I want you to buy a book. I need you to buy a computer.

Sometimes we use an indirect object to indicate who does the action: I want you to buy me a book. I need you to buy me a computer.

Common errors
exercises

The sentences below probably seem more natural because the structure is similar to your language, but they are incorrect: Incorrect sentences:

I want that you buy me a book. I want that you come. He wants that she does it. I wouldn't like that you go.

Correct sentences:

I want you to buy me a book. I want you to come. He wants her to do it. I wouldn't like you to go

Reporting Verbs

Overview Present or future situation

Wish+would Past situation If only Regret I'd rather/I'd sooner It's time All exercises this page

Overview
exercises

We use wish to talk about situations we would like to change but can't, either because they are outside our control or because they are in the past. The tense of the verb after wish does not correspond to the time we are wishing about; it changes. The verb tense is one step back in time: I wish I were an astronaut. (I want to be an astronaut now) We use the subjunctive form were or the simple past form was of the verb to be which is one step back in time from now.

Present or future situation

exercises

This is expressed by using: subject + wish + past tense. Situation: I'm an only child. Wish: I wish I wasn't an only child.

Situation: I can't drive. Wish: I wish I could drive.

Situation: Rod isn't coming to the party. Wish:

I wish Rod was coming.

Remember that we can use were instead of was in this structure: Situation: It's raining. Wish: I wish it weren't raining.

Wish + would
exercises

When we want to express anger or annoyance we use: wish + would: I wish you would shut up! I wish you wouldn't play the music so loud!

Past situation
exercises

To express a wish or regret about a past situation we can use: subject + wish + past perfect. Situation: I've lost my best pen. Wish: I wish I hadn't lost it. Situation: I didn't remember. Wish: I wish I'd remembered.

If only
exercises

We can use if only instead of wish to give more emphasis, although they are very similar: I wish I could drive!

If only I could drive! I wish I'd remembered! If only I'd remembered!

Regret
exercises

We use: regret + infinitive with to, to tell somebody something we are sorry about: I regret to tell you that your bank balance is zero. We use regret + gerund to say we are sorry for something that happened in the past: I regret telling my best friend that he was stupid.

I'd rather/I'd sooner

exercises

I'd rather and I'd sooner both mean the same. We use them with a subject to say that it would be better to do something else: Please don't do that. I'd rather you didn't do that. We can also use them with the infinitive to state a preference: I'd prefer to walk than take the bus. I'd rather walk than take the bus.

It's time
exercises

We use: It's time + subject + past tense to express the same meaning as wish: I wish you would tidy your room. It's time you cleaned your room