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Most verbs have past tense and past participle in –ed (worked, played, listened). But many
of the most frequent verbs are irregular.
1. Irregular verbs
Most verbs have past tense and past participle in –ed ( worked, played, listened). But many
of the most frequent verbs are irregular:
be was/were been
begin began begun
break broke broken
bring brought brought
buy bought bought
build built built
choose chose chosen
come came come
cost cost cost
Base form Past tense Past participle
2. Question forms
We make questions by:
Everybody had been working hard >> Had everybody been working hard?
English is spoken all over the world >> Is English spoken all over the world?
The windows have been cleaned >> Have the windows been cleaned?
They will have arrived by now >> Will they have arrived by now?
She would have been listening >> Would she have been listening?
The work will be finished soon >> Will the work be finished soon?
They might have been invited to the party >> Might they have been invited to the party?
3: The present simple and the past simple have no auxiliary. We make questions
by adding the auxiliary do/does for the present simple or did for the past simple:
3. Verb phrases
The verb phrase in English has the following forms:
1) a main verb:
Verb
We are here.
I like it
Everybody saw. the accident
We laughed.
The verb may be in the present tense (are, like) or the past tense (saw, laughed). A verb
phrase with only a main verb expresses simple aspect
A verb with "have" and the past participle expresses perfect aspect. A verb
with have/hasexpresses present perfect, and a verb with had expresses past perfect.
4) an auxiliary verb ("have" + "been") and a main verb in the –ing form:
6) We can use modal verbs with the auxiliaries "be", "have", and "have been":
4. Present tense
Tense Form
We can use the present tenses to talk about the past ...
o when we are telling a story:
Well, it’s a lovely day and I’m just walking down the street when I see this funny guy
walking towards me. Obviously he’s been drinking, because he’s moving from side to
side …
a) Present Simple
The present tense is the base form of the verb: I work in London.
But the third person (she/he/it) adds an -s: She works in London.
Use
We use the present tense to talk about:
something that is true in the present:
I’m nineteen years old.
He lives in London.
I’m a student.
With the present tense, we use do and does to make questions. We use does for the third
person (she/he/it) and we use do for the others.
We use do and does with question words like where, what and why:
With the present tense we use do and does to make negatives. We use does not (doesn’t)
for the third person (she/he/it) and we use do not (don’t) for the others.
b) Present Continuous
The present continuous tense is formed from the present tense of the verb be and the
present participle (-ing form) of a verb:
Use
1. We use the present continuous tense to talk about the present:
for something that is happening at the moment of speaking:
I’m just leaving work. I’ll be home in an hour.
Please be quiet. The children are sleeping.
c) Present Perfect
The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past
participle of a verb:
The present perfect continuous is formed with have/has been and the -ing form of the
verb:
Use
We use the present perfect tense:
for something that started in the past and continues in the present:
They’ve been married for nearly fifty years.
She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
Note: We normally use the present perfect continuous for this:
She has been living in Liverpool all her life.
It’s been raining for hours.
for something we have done several times in the past and continue to do:
I’ve played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.
He has written three books and he is working on another one.
I’ve been watching that programme every week.
We often use a clause with since to show when something started in the past:
They’ve been staying with us since last week.
I have worked here since I left school.
I’ve been watching that programme every week since it started.
for something that happened in the past but is important at the time of speaking:
I can’t get in the house. I’ve lost my keys.
Teresa isn’t at home. I think she has gone shopping.
I’m tired out. I’ve been working all day.
We use the present perfect of be when someone has gone to a place and returned:
A: Where have you been?
B: I’ve just been out to the supermarket.
A: Have you ever been to San Francisco?
B: No, but I’ve been to Los Angeles.
We often use the present perfect with time adverbials which refer to the recent past:
- just;
- only just;
- recently;
WARNING:
We do not use the present perfect with an adverbial which refers to past time which
is finished:
I have seen that film yesterday.
We have just bought a new car last week.
When we were children we have been to California.
5. Past Tense
We can use the past forms to talk about the present in a few polite expressions:
Excuse me, I was wondering if this was the train for York.
I just hoped you would be able to help me.
a) Past Simple
Forms
With most verbs the past tense is formed by adding -ed:
call >> called;
like >> liked;
want >> wanted;
work >> worked
Use
We use the past tense to talk about:
something that happened once in the past:
I met my wife in 1983.
We went to Spain for our holidays.
They got home very late last night.
something that happened again and again in the past:
When I was a boy I walked a mile to school every day.
We swam a lot while we were on holiday.
They always enjoyed visiting their friends.
something that was true for some time in the past:
I lived abroad for ten years.
He enjoyed being a student.
She played a lot of tennis when she was younger.
we often use phrases with ago with the past tense:
I met my wife a long time ago.
Questions and negatives
We use did to make questions with the past tense:
When did you meet your wife?
Where did you go for your holidays?
Did she play tennis when she was younger?
Did you live abroad?
We use didn’t (did not) to make negatives with the past tense:
They didn’t go to Spain this year.
We didn’t get home until very late last night.
I didn’t see you yesterday.
b) Past Continuous
The past continuous is formed from the past tense of be with the -ing form of the verb:
We use the past continuous to talk about the past:
This use of the past continuous is very common at the beginning of a story:
The other day I was waiting for a bus when …
Last week as I was driving to work …
c) Past Perfect
We use the verb had and the past participle for the past perfect:
I had finished the work.
She had gone .
The past perfect continuous is formed with had been and the -ing form of the verb:
I had been finishing the work
She had been going.
The past perfect is used in the same way as the present perfect, but it refers to a time in
the past, not the present.
for something we had done several times up to a point in the past and continued to
do after that point:
He was a wonderful guitarist. He had been playing ever since he was a teenager.
He had written three books and he was working on another one.
I had been watching the programme every week, but I missed the last episode.
We often use a clause with since to show when something started in the past:
They had been staying with us since the previous week.
I was sorry when the factory closed. I had worked there since I left school.
I had been watching that programme every week since it started, but I missed the
last episode.
when we are reporting our experience and including up to the (then) present:
My eighteenth birthday was the worst day I had ever had.
I was pleased to meet George. I hadn’t met him before, even though I had met his
wife several times.
for something that happened in the past but is important at the time of reporting:
I couldn’t get into the house. I had lost my keys.
Teresa wasn’t at home. She had gone shopping.
We use the past perfect to talk about the past in conditions, hypotheses and wishes:
I would have helped him if he had asked.
It was very dangerous. What if you had got lost?
I wish I hadn’t spent so much money last month.
6. Perfective aspect
We use the present perfect to show that something has continued up to the present
They’ve been married for nearly fifty years.
She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
We use the present perfect continuous to show that something has been continuing up
to the present:
It’s been raining for hours.
We’ve been waiting here since six o’clock this morning.
We use the past perfect to show that something continued up to a time in the past:
When George died he and Anne had been married for nearly fifty years.
We use the past perfect continuous to show that something had been continuing up to a
time in the past or was important at that time in the past:
Everything was wet. It had been raining for hours.
He was a wonderful guitarist. He had been playing ever since he was a teenager.
We use will with the perfect to show that something will be complete at some time in the
future:
In a few years they will have discovered a cure for the common cold.
I can come out tonight. I'll have finished my homework by then.
We use would with the perfect to refer to something that did not happen in the past but
would have happened if the conditions had been right:
If you had asked me I would have helped you.
I would have helped you, but you didn’t ask me.
You didn’t ask me or I would have helped you.
We use other modals with perfective aspect when we are looking back from a point in
time when something might have happened, should have happened or would have
happened.
The point of time may be in the future:
We’ll meet again next week. We might have finished the work by then.
I will phone at six o’clock. He should have got home by then.
the present:
It’s getting late. They should have arrived by now.
He’s still not here. He must have missed his train.
or the past:
I wasn’t feeling well. I must have eaten something bad.
I checked my cell phone. She could have left a message.
7. Continuous aspect
active passive
The hunter killed the lion. >> The lion was killed by the hunter.
Someone has cleaned the windows >> The windows have been cleaned
The passive forms are made up of the verb be with a past participle:
be past participle
If we want to show the person or thing doing the action we use by:
She was attacked by a dangerous dog.
The money was stolen by her husband.
active passive
I gave him a book for his birthday >> He was given a book for his birthday.
Someone sent her a cheque for a thousand euros >> She was sent a cheque for a thousand euros.
We can use phrasal verbs in the passive:
active passive
They called off the meeting. >> The meeting was called off.
His grandmother looked after him. >> He was looked after by his grandmother.
They will send him away to school. >> He will be sent away to school.
Some verbs very frequently used in the passive are followed by the to-infinitive:
9. to + infinitive
• after certain verbs (see verbs followed by infinitive), particularly verbs of thinking and
feeling:
choose, like,
decide, love,
expect, mean,
forget, plan,
hate, prefer,
hope, remember,
intend, want,
learn, would like,
would love
… and verbs of saying:
agree,
promise,
refuse
Some verbs are followed by a direct object and the infinitive(see verbs followed by
infinitive):
advise, tell,
ask, warn,
encourage, expect,
invite, intend,
order, would prefer, want,
persuade, would like
remind,
able unlikely
unable ready
due prepared
eager unwilling
keen willing
likely
difficult wrong
easy kind
possible nice
impossible clever
hard silly
right foolish
It’s easy to play the piano, but it’s very difficult to play well.
He spoke so quickly it was impossible to understand him.
We use the preposition for to show who these adjectives refer to:
difficult impossible
easy hard
possible
ability failure
desire opportunity
need chance
wish intention
attempt
as an adjective:
The main problem today is rising prices.
That programme was really boring.
He saw a woman lying on the floor.
Because the -ing noun or adjective is formed from a verb it can have any of
the patterns which follow a verb, for example:
... an object:
I like playing tennis.
Can you imagine living on the moon?
... or an adverbial:
You can earn a lot of money by working hard.
There were several people waiting for the bus.
... or a clause:
I heard someone saying that.
tiring annoying
after a noun:
Who is that man standing over there?
The boy talking to Angela is her younger brother.
and especially after verbs like see, watch, hear, smell etc.
I heard someone playing the piano.
I can smell something burning.
when we are talking about something that continued for some time in the past
Everybody worked hard through the winter.
We stayed with our friends in London.
When we are talking about something that happened several times in the past we use
the past simple:
Most evenings we stayed at home and watched DVDs.
Sometimes they went out for a meal.
… or used to
Most evenings we used to stay at home and watch DVDs.
We used to go for a swim every morning.
... or would
Most evenings he would take the dog for a walk.
They would often visit friends in Europe.
when we are talking about something happening before and after another action in the
past:
He broke his leg when he was playing rugby.
She saw Jim as he was driving away.
When we are talking about something that started in the past and still goes on:
We have lived here since 2007. (and we still live here)
I have been working at the university for over ten years.
was/were going to
John was going to drive and Mary was going to follow on her bicycle.
It was Friday. We were going to set off the next day.
1. When we know about the future we normally use the present tense.
We use the present simple for something scheduled or arranged:
We have a lesson next Monday.
The train arrives at 6.30 in the morning.
The holidays start next week.
It is my birthday tomorrow.
4. We often use verbs like would like, plan, want, mean, hope, expect to talk about the
future:
What are you going to do next year? I’d like to go to University.
We plan to go to France for our holidays.
George wants to buy a new car.
5. We use modals may, might, and could when we are not sure about the future:
I might stay at home tonight, or I might go to the cinema.
We could see Mary at the meeting. She sometimes goes.
9. We can use the future continuous instead of the present continuous or going to for
emphasis when we are talking about plans, arrangements and intentions:
They’ll be coming to see us next week.
I will be driving to work tomorrow.
Verbs in time clauses and conditionals follow the same patterns as in other
clauses except:
In clauses with time words like when, after, until we often use the present tense forms
to talk about the future:
I’ll come home when I finish work.
You must wait here until your father comes.
They are coming after they have had dinner.
in conditional clauses with if or unless we often use the present tense forms to talk
about the future:
We won’t be able to go out if it is raining.
If Barcelona win tomorrow they will be champions.
I will come tomorrow unless I have to look after the children.
He could get a new job if he really tried = He cannot get a job because he has not tried.
If Jack was playing they would probably win = Jack is not playing so they will probably not win.
If I had his address I could write to him = I do not have his address so I cannot write to him.
We use the past tense forms to talk about the future in clauses with if:
for something that we believe or know will not happen:
I would look after the children for you at the weekend if I can’t look after the children because I will not
=
I was at home be at home.
When we are talking about something which did not happen in the past we use the past
perfect in the if clause and a modal verb in the main clause:
If you had seen him you could have spoken to him = You did not see him so you could not speak to him
You could have stayed with us if you had come to You couldn’t stay with us because you didn’t come to
=
London London.
If I had got the job we would be living in Paris = I did not get the job so we are not living in Paris.
If the main clause is about the past we use a modal with have:
If you had seen him you could have spoken to him. = You did not see him so you could not speak to him.
You could have stayed with us if you had come to You couldn’t stay with us because you didn’t come to
=
London. London.
If you had invited me I might have come. = You didn’t invite me so I didn’t come.
If the main clause is about the present we use a present tense form or a modal without
have:
If I had got the job we would be living in Paris now. = I did not get the job so we are not living in Paris now.
If you had done your homework you would You did not do your homework so you do not know
=
know the answer. the answer.
Wishes
We use past tense forms to talk about wishes:
We use past tense modals would and could to talk about wishes for the future:
I don’t like my work. I wish I could get a better job.
That’s a dreadful noise. I wish it would stop.
I always have to get home early. I wish my parents would let me stay out later.
We use past tense forms to talk about wishes for the present:
I don’t like this place. I wish I lived in somewhere more interesting.
These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were travelling first class.
Everyone wishes they had more free time.
John wishes he wasn’t so busy.
I wish it wasn’t so cold.
We use the past perfect to talk about wishes for the past:
I wish I had worked harder when I was at school.
Mary wishes she had listened to what her mother told her.
I wish I hadn’t spent so much money last month.
We use a past tense form to talk about the future after suppose and what if to suggest
something is not likely to happen:
It might be dangerous. Suppose they got lost.
What if he lost his job. What would happen then?
We use modals with have to talk about something that did not happen in the past:
I did not see Mary, or I might have spoken to her.
It’s a pity Jack wasn’t at the party. He would have enjoyed this party.
Why didn’t you ask me. I could have told you the answer.
I am We are
Present simple: Affirmative You are You are
He/She/It is They are
Am I? Are we?
Question form: Are you? Are you?
Is he/she it? Are they?
We are not/aren’t
I am not/ I’m not
You are not/aren’t
Negative: You are not/ aren’t
They are not/aren't
He/She/It is not/ isn’t
I was We were
Past simple You were You were
He/She/It was They were
2. with an adjective:
This soup is very tasty.
The children were good.
2.1 with the -ing form to make the continuous aspect
We were walking down the street.
Everything was wet. It had been raining for hours.
2.2 with the -ed form to make the passive voice
The house was built in 1890.
The street is called Montagu Street.
This car was made in Japan.
These verbs are called link verbs. Common verbs like this are:
be look
become remain
appear seem
feel sound
Some link verbs are followed by an adjective. Common verbs like this are:
get taste
go smell
grow
We often use common verbs like have and take with nouns like a shower, a drink:
I took a shower. = I showered.
She had a drink. = She drank something.
We call these delexical verbs because the important part of the meaning is taken out of
the verb and put into the noun.
have
We use have with:
Food and drink: a meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack, a cup of tea
Talking: a chat, a conversation, a discussion, a talk
Washing: a bath, a shower, a wash, a scrub
Resting: a break, a holiday, a rest
Disagreeing: an argument, a dispute, a fight, a quarrel
can could
may might
shall should
will would
must
We use modal verbs to show if we believe something is certain, probable or possible (or
not). We also use modals to do things like talking about ability, asking permission making
requests and offers, and so on.
The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would.
The modals are used to show that we believe something is certain, probable or possible:
Possibility:
We use the modals could, might and may to show that something is possible in the future,
but not certain:
They might come later. (= Perhaps/Maybe they will come later.)
They may come by car. (= Perhaps/Maybe they will come by car.)
If we don’t hurry we could be late. (= Perhaps/Maybe we will be late)
We use could have, might have and may have to show that something was possible now
or at some time in the past:
It’s ten o’clock. They might have arrived now.
They could have arrived hours ago.
We use the modal can to make general statements about what is possible:
It can be very cold in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold in winter)
You can easily lose your way in the dark. (= People often lose their way in the dark)
Impossibility:
We use the negative can’t or cannot to show that something is impossible:
That can’t be true.
You cannot be serious.
Probability:
We use the modal must to show we are sure something to be true and we have reasons
for our belief:
It’s getting dark. It must be quite late.
You haven’t eaten all day. You must be hungry.
We use the modal should to suggest that something is true or will be true in the future,
and to show you have reasons for your suggestion:
Ask Miranda. She should know.
It's nearly six o'clock. They should arrive soon.
The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would.
The modals are used to do things like talking about ability, asking permission making
requests, and so on.
Ability:
We use can to talk about someone’s skill or general abilities:
She can speak several languages.
He can swim like a fish.
They can’t dance very well.
We use can to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in the present or
future:
You can make a lot of money if you are lucky.
Help. I can’t breathe.
They can run but they can’t hide.
We use could have to say that someone had the ability/opportunity to do something, but
did not do it:
She could have learned Swahili, but she didn’t have time.
I could have danced all night [but didn't].
Permission:
We use can to ask for permission to do something:
Can I ask a question, please?
Can we go home now?
may is another more formal and polite way of asking for permission:
May I ask a question please?
May we go home now?
may is a more formal and polite way of saying that someone has permission:
Students may travel free.
We sometime say I can ... or I could ... or I’ll (I will) ... to make an offer:
I can do that for you if you like.
I can give you a lift to the station.
I’ll do that for you if you like.
I’ll give you a lift to the station.
c) modals + have
The negative form is can’t in spoken English and cannot in written English.
We sometimes say cannot, but it is very emphatic.
The negative form of could is couldn’t in spoken English and could not in written English.
We sometimes say could not.
We use may:
when we are not sure about something:
Jack may be coming to see us tomorrow.
Oh dear! It’s half past ten. We may be late for the meeting.
There may not be very many people there.
to make polite requests:
May I borrow the car tomorrow?
May we come a bit later?
We use might:
• when we are not sure about something:
I might see you tomorrow.
It looks nice, but it might be very expensive.
It’s quite bright. It might not rain today.
• As the past tense of may for requests:
He asked if he might borrow the car.
They wanted to know if they might come later.
• For very polite requests:
Might I ask you a question?
Might we just interrupt for a moment?
We use may have and might have to show that something has possibly happened now or
happened at some time in the past:
It’s ten o’clock. They might have arrived now.[= Perhaps they have arrived]
They may have arrived hours ago. [= Perhaps they arrived hours ago.]
f) can or could
Possibility
We use the modal can to make general statements about what is possible:
It can be very cold in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold in winter)
You can easily lose your way in the dark. (= People often lose their way in the dark)
We use could to show that something is possible in the future, but not certain:
If we don’t hurry we could be late. (=Perhaps/Maybe we will be late)
We use could have to show that something is/was possible now or at some time in the past:
It’s ten o’clock. They could have arrived now.
They could have arrived hours ago.
Impossibility:
We use the negative can’t or cannot to show that something is impossible:
That can’t be true.
You cannot be serious.
Ability:
We use can to talk about someone’s skill or general abilities:
She can speak several languages.
He can swim like a fish.
They can’t dance very well.
We use can to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in the present or
future:
You can make a lot of money if you are lucky.
Help. I can’t breathe.
They can run but they can’t hide.
Permission:
We use can to ask for permission to do something:
Can I ask a question, please?
Can we go home now?
We use will:
to talk about the future – to say what we believe will happen
to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do
to make promises and offers
would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense it is used:
to talk about the past.
to talk about hypotheses – things that are imagined rather than true.
for politeness.
Beliefs
We use will
to say what we believe will happen in the future:
We'll be late.
We will have to take the train.
Willingness
to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do:
We’ll see you tomorrow.
Perhaps dad will lend me the car.
to talk about something that we did often in the past because we wanted to do it:
When they were children they used to spend their holidays at their grandmother’s at
the seaside. They would get up early every morning and they’d have a quick breakfast
then they would run across the road to the beach.
Conditionals
We use will in conditionals with if and unless to say what we think will happen in the
future or present:
I’ll give her a call if I can find her number.
You won’t get in unless you have a ticket.
We use would to talk about hypotheses, about something which is possible but not real:
to talk about the result or effect of a possible situation:
It would be very expensive to stay in a hotel.
in conditionals with words like if and what if. In these sentences the main verb is usually
in the past tense:
I would give her a call if I could find her number.
If I had the money I'd buy a new car.
You would lose weight if you took more exercise.
If he got a new job he would probably make more money.
What if he lost his job. What would happen then?
would you like ...; would you like to ..., for offers and invitations:
Would you like to come round tomorrow?
Would you like another drink?
I would like …; I’d like … (you)(to) ..., to say what we want or what we want to do:
I’d like that one please.
I’d like to go home now.
I would think, I would imagine, I'd guess, to give an opinion when we are not sure or
when we want to be polite:
It’s very difficult I would imagine.
I would think that’s the right answer.
h) will have or would have
We use the perfective will have when we are looking back from a point in time when
something will have happened.
By the end of the decade scientists will have discovered a cure for influenza.
I will phone at six o’clock. He will have got home by then.
We use would have in past conditionals to talk about something that did not happen:
If it had been a little warmer we would have gone for a swim.
He would have been very angry if he had seen you.
1. Some verbs have two objects –an indirect object and a direct object:
These clauses have the structure : V + N (direct object) + Prepositional phrase (indirect
object)
3. Common verbs with for and an indirect object are:
book bring
buy make
get pour
cook save
keep find
give sell
lend send
offer show
pass promise
post tell
read
He gave his programme to the man sitting next to him.
They sent Christmas cards to all their customers.
Some verbs are two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases). They consist of
a verb and a particle:
grow + up
>> The children are growing up.
count + on
>> I know I can count on you
= I know I can trust you, or I know I can believe you.
Some transitive two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases) have only one
pattern:
N (subject) + V + p + N (object)
[Note: N = noun; V = verb; p = particle]
Some transitive two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases) are phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verbs have two different patterns:
When the object is a personal pronoun,these verbs always have the pattern:
N + V +N + p:
She gave back it
>> She gave it back
He knocked over it
>> knocked it over
buy: out, up
call: off, up
point: out
put: across, away, down, forward, off, on, out, through, together, up
read: out
Reflexive verbs
1. The reflexive pronouns (see pronouns) are:
We use a reflexive pronoun after a transitive verb (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases)
when the direct object is the same as the subject of the verb:
I am teaching myself to play the piano.
Be careful with that knife. You might cut yourself.
These are the verbs most often found with reflexive pronouns:
introduce
cut kill
dry prepare
enjoy teach
hurt
Some verbs change their meaning slightly when they have a reflexive pronoun as direct
object:
amuse distance
apply express
busy find
content help
behave see
blame
I wish the children would behave themselves. = I wish the children would behave well.
I had to content myself with a few Euros. = I had to be satisfied with a few Euros.
The verb enjoy always has an object:
We all enjoyed the party.
I really enjoyed my lunch.
NOTE: We do not use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually
do for themselves:
He washed in cold water.
He always shaved before going out in the evening.
Michael dressed and got ready for the party.
Ergative verbs
1. Ergative verbs are both transitive and intransitive:
Verbs of saying:
agree
promise
refuse
3. Passive infinitive
Many of these verbs are sometimes followed by a passive infinitive
(to be + past participle):
I expected to be met when I arrived at the station.
They wanted to be told if anything happened.
I don’t like driving myself. I prefer to be driven.
detest fancy
dislike like
enjoy love
hate
With "that"
We can use clauses with that:
1. after verbs of thinking:
think suppose
believe guess
expect imagine
decide feel
hope remember
know forget
understand
I hope that you will enjoy your holiday.
She didn’t really think that it would happen.
I knew that I had seen her somewhere before.
Note: tell and some other verbs of saying almost always have an indirect object (see
clauses, sentences and phrases). There are also some fixed expressions with tell such as
tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell it like it is.
tell
convince
persuade
inform
remind
We tried to tell them that they should stop what they were doing.
The police informed everybody that the danger was over.
She pointed out the danger that they might be left behind.
There was a chance that we would succeed
Note: We often use a that clause to define one of these nouns after the verb be :
danger
problem
chance
possibility
fact
The danger is that we will be left behind.
The fact is that it is getting very late.
5. after some adjectives which describe feelings to give a reason for our feelings:
pleased excited
sorry glad
happy disappointed
unhappy afraid
sad
No "that"
NOTE: We can always use a clause without the word that:
They admitted [that] they had made a mistake.
The police informed everybody [that] the danger was over.
I am sorry [that] you can’t come.
There was chance [that] we would succeed.