Of course you do, sorry! Think of English vocabulary as the bricks of the language and grammar as the mortar that hold those bricks together, without the mortar the bricks can come tumbling down! A lack of grammatical skills can cause embarrassing misunderstandings.

When you begin to learn English, speaking and building up your vocabulary is more important than worrying about correct grammar. However, as you progress you need to incorporate more grammar into your learning programme. At an advanced level you should be thinking much more about the correct use of the English language.

There is a common impression that learning English grammar is painful, but it is a lot easier than many other languages. Of course, English is more than just memorizing grammar rules, the grammar must be incorporated into the everyday use of the language, theory and practice should go hand in hand.

For more information on grammar check out my grammar page.

Category: Grammar

No, English grammar is not half as difficult as some other languages, such as German. We have the French to thank for that. In 1066 William the Conqueror brought to England the French language as well as the ability to build impressive castles . French was the official language in England for nearly 300 years and so the English language was kept alive by the common people (rather than the academics who do like to keep the status quo). As a result nearly all the difficult word-endings, inflexions and marks of gender and case were gaily dispensed with.

Category: Grammar

Would:-

If you want to talk about an unreal or unlikely situation that might arise now or in the future, you can use the past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause.

For example:-
How would you manage, if I wasn't here to help you? ~ I'd manage somehow, I'd find another web site.

Could:-

If you want to ask for permission politely, to make a request politely or to express ability in the past you use could.

Compare the following:-

Permission:-
Could I borrow your pen please?
Request:-
Could you do me a favour?
Ability:-
I could already read when I was two.

There is a list of modal verbs and their uses here.

Category: Grammar

"It might be a good idea." and "It may be a good idea." mean the same thing.

I think "might" is more common in American English. I'm used to hearing "may".

However be careful - 'maybe' written as one word means perhaps.

Category: Grammar

In this instance they are using 'since' in the Present Perfect Simple Tense.

The general rule is "Since a point in time." and and "For a length of time".
For example:-

"I have lived here since 1998."

"I have been here for 7 years."

So you should say: "'They haven't used it since January."

Category: Grammar

Conjunctions join words or sentences together.

For example: although, and, but, or, when and because.

Category: Grammar

The living conditions had not been easy.

Category: Grammar

Funny you should ask. I have placed a whole section on this on the grammar page under verbs - make vs do.

Category: Grammar

Yes, with the corrections to punctuation and capitalisation that I have made for you.

Category: Grammar

The children enjoyed being taken to the zoo.

Category: Grammar

Here is one of the most famous balanced sentences in history:-

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. --John F. Kennedy

Balanced sentences use parallel structure to enhance the message of compared or contrasted ideas. Look again at the quote by J.F.K. Notice how—like a set of scales—the sentence is balanced equally to either side of the comma; the same or similar words (your country can do . . . you can do . . .) are used to express compared ideas.

Category: Grammar

My first point is that the a href="http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/nounproper.php" target="newwin">proper noun French must start with a capital letter.

a)He wrote a letter in French to his parents.
b)He wrote a letter to his parents in French.


I agree with you in your choice of (a).

If you used (b) you would expect to learn more about his parents or his situation, not about the letter.

For example:-
The geographical location of his parents - "He wrote a letter to his parents in Thailand."
His situation - "He wrote a letter to his parents in case he wasn't home for Christmas."

Category: Grammar

1) I would say:- "You know that your sister is going to Australia? Well, I'm going too!" or you could say "I think I am the second person to tell you they're going to Australia. What a coincidence!"

2) This is reported speech and you are quite correct that you sometimes need a backshift of tenses -

If the reporting verb (the main verb of the sentences, e.g., told, is in the past, the verb in the noun clause will usually be in a past form. "Two people told you they were going to Australia."

However if as in this case the statement is still true or it is reported soon after the event you can still say "Two people told you that they are going to Australia."

So, in this case I think that either is correct.

There is a section on reported speech here.

Category: Grammar

Generally “some” is used in affirmative statements and polite offers or requests.

For example:-
I have some coffee. Would you like some coffee?

“Any” is used in questions and negative statements.
For example:-
Have you got any coffee? I don't have any coffee.

There are more examples on the Countable / Uncountable Nouns page.

Category: Grammar

Ok first you cannot say "Please meet to ...." you probably mean "Please go to..." If you say "...the concerned officer" concerned is an adjective, but when it is placed in front of the noun it means to be worried about something. So in this case the officer is concerned / worried about something. For example: I'm a bit concerned about your English. If you say "... the officer concerned" concerned is still an adjective, but when it is placed after the noun it means to be involved in something. So in this case the officer is concerned / in charge of something. For example: I'd like to thank everyone concerned for making this FAQ so interesting.

Category: Grammar

Both are correct (however I would say " ... because of the rockslide").

The bus stopped due to .... emphasises what stopped the bus (i.e. the rockslide). The bus was stopped ... emphasises that the bus is stationary.

Even though the driver stopped the bus it is quite ok to disregard him/her as we are more interested in what happened to the bus than who was driving it.

2. The bus was stopped by a furious mob. (you need the article)
3. "The bell has rung." - present perfect tense - indicates it has just happened (ring/rang/rung)
4. Both are correct but "You have changed." is more common.
5. Oh yes it's correct "I am way past my teens." (teenage years = teens = 13 - 19 years old)

Category: Grammar

No, they give a totally different meaning.

"I would help him with his work." Indicates I would if I could, but I can't.
"I will help him with his work." This is a promise and I will do it.

There is more about the use of would and will on the under modal verbs on the grammar page.

Category: Grammar

A phrasal verb consists of a verb in combination with a preposition or adverb or both, the meaning of which is different from the meaning of its separate parts. The word that is joined with a verb in this construction (often a preposition) is called a particle and the resulting combination creates what amounts to a new verb.

The problem with phrasal verbs is that their meaning is often, at first, obscure, and they can mean several different things, for example to come out has up to eighteen different meanings!

You can find some examples of phrasal verbs organised under different topics on my English vocabulary pages.
Here are a couple of other sites that might help you:-
Cambridge have a free phrasal verb dictionary online:- http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Churchill House do a Phrasal Verb of the Day:- http://www.churchillhouse.com/english/word.html

Category: Grammar

been is the past participle of be
gone is the past participle of go

Been is used to describe completed visits. So if somebody from Germany has been to England twice, he or she has travelled there and back twice. If somebody has gone to England, he or she has not yet returned.

Here's a test

Category: Grammar

Stative verbs are verbs that describe the state of someone or something.

For example:-
I know him. I love chocolate. I hate Marmite.

Know, love and hate are stative verbs. They never take the -ing form.

Dynamic verbs (aka action verbs) are verbs that tell you what someone or something is doing.

For example:-
I run every day. I drive to work. I work in an office.

Run, drive, work are action verbs. They can take the -ing form - running, driving, working.

I will add a section on stative verbs to my grammar pages.

Category: Grammar

WOULD

If we want to talk about an unreal or unlikely situation that might arise now or in the future, we use a past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause. Compare the following and note that would is often abbreviated to 'd:

How would you manage, if I wasn't here to help you? ~ I'd manage somehow. I wouldn't bother to cook. I'd go out to eat or bring home a take-away. I'd ask your mother to help me with the washing and the ironing. I know she'd help me.

COULD

Could can be used to ask for permission, to make a request and express ability in the past. Compare the following:-
Could I borrow your black dress for the formal dinner tomorrow? ~ Of course you can!
Could you do me a favour and pick Pete up from the station? ~ Of course I will!
I could already swim by the time I was three. ~ Could you really? I couldn't swim until I was eight.

You will find more about modal verbs here.

Category: Grammar

1. How and when to use "By+ving"while making sentences.

I presume you mean the gerund form. I have written an explanation on how to use this here:- Gerunds and infinitives

2. How & when to use "perhaps".

"Perhaps" is an adverb of probability.

It is used to show that something is possible or that you are not certain about something.

For example:-
They will come to the party. - This sentence shows that you are certain that they will come. + Perhaps:-
Perhaps they will come to the party. - This sentence shows that you are not certain they will come.

3 Is the sentence written below correct?

perhaps i will go to movie

Here, I want to say that I am not sure now if I can go to the movie. If it is not correct, what is the correct sentence?

You have got the right idea, but you have made a couple of mistakes - watch your articles, punctuation and capitalisation.

"Perhaps I will go to the movie."

4. Just look at this sentence "john is being made to do this dirty work" in this sentence someone is sure that john is being made to do this work (a process that is still going on)but what if we are guessing about a continous process can we make "ram would/might/may/must be being made to do work" .



Yup! But again watch out for silly mistakes (see above).

John is being made to do this work.
Ram would/might/may/must be being made to do this work.
You can read more about modal verbs here.

Category: Grammar

You would have to rewrite it to say:-

What is the cost of one kilogram of rice?

A native speaker would say:-

How much is a kilogram of rice?

What is the cost of the jeans ?

Again a native speaker would say:-

How much are the jeans?

!Note - Jeans are plural.
Have a look at lesson 35 for an explanation of How Much.

Category: Grammar

Why is there such strict checking going on here?

I would say:-
Why are you checking everything so strictly?

Remember:-

such + noun
so + adjective
such + adjective + noun
so + adverb + adjective
I will include an explanation for this in my Common English Mistakes page.

Category: Grammar

A participle, ending in -ing (present) or -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n (past), functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. Sometimes we use participles as adjectives before nouns. For example:- An interesting book. A fallen tree. A broken heart. Not all participles can be used in this way. You can say a lost dog, but not a found dog. There are no clear rules for this, you just have to get a feel for it. We sometimes use participles after nouns to define or identify the noun. For example:- The people questioned ... The issues discussed ... Again you have to develop a feeling about this. For example you would never say "a bridge recently constructed."

Category: Grammar

The main verb in a sentence, phrase or clause describes the main action.

For example:-
"I teach English on the web." Here the main verb is "teach".

More on verbs.

The auxiliary verb (sometimes called the 'helping verb) combines with the main verb to add more (albeit subtle) detail. The most common auxiliary verbs include the verbs to be, to have and to do.

For example:-
"I have taught English on the web since 1999." Here the auxilliary verb is 'have'. 'Have taught" is called a verb phrase.

More on auxilliary verbs.

Modal verbs are (sometimes called 'modal auxilliaries') auxiliary verbs that add 'mood', most commonly imperative and probability. "Might", "must," "should", and "would" are the most common modal verbs.

For example:-
"I might teach English on the web for a few more years." Here 'might' is a modal verb modifying 'teach'.

More on Modal Verbs.

Category: Grammar

This is all about the use of the gerund (ing) form. There is a whole section on Gerunds and Infinitives here.

Category: Grammar

1. You seem to be confused. Shower is not uncountable.

For example:-
If the area doesn't have much water, don't take two showers every day.

!Note - take + noun is used to describe common actions, we can use either have or take. Have is more characteristic of British English whereas Americans would be more inclined to use take.

Category: Grammar

I would say that 'day' is a common noun. It is measurable and refers to a group of similar things.

Category: Grammar

I would write:-
"Each of the instructors is attending the conference next weekend."
(Even though you have the plural 'instructors' you are talking about them individually 'each of'.)

You could write:-
The instructors are attending the conference next weekend.
or
They each are attending the conference next weekend.

Category: Grammar

I would say:-
"To obtain an HTML coder position."

Why?

Because 'H' in 'HTML' is pronounced aitch and therefore takes the article 'an'.

You can see more about the use of the articles a/an/the here.

Category: Grammar

These are all forms of compound nouns, for example swimming pool is a compound noun. Unfortunately there is no 'rule' (that I know of). Just as some words do not exist in English so do some forms of compound nouns, however logical they may seem to you.

Category: Grammar

They are adjectives which show the distance of an object or objects.
this and that = singular
these and those = plural


For example:-
this, these = near me
that, those = near you
that, those = far away

Category: Grammar

There are three:-
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
The Present Perfect and Past Perfect Tenses have two forms, the present perfect simple, past perfect simple, the present perfect continuous and the past perfect continuous .

Category: Grammar

Take the present participle of have (having) and put it in front of the past participle of the verb you wish to use.

For example:-
having asked
having eaten
having used

Category: Grammar

They are both correct (apart from your use of capitals and spelling).

He started learning English in 2004. He started to learn English in 2004.

Category: Grammar

An auxilliary verb is a helping verb in that it helps to give the main verb in a sentence more meaning. An auxilliary verb on its own has little meaning.

For example:-
I am running. (Here the auxilliary verb (to be - am) is helping the action verb (to run - running).

A modal verb is a helping verb too, but it gives a special meaning to the main verb. It has an actual meaning on its own.

For example:-
I can speak English. (Here the modal verb (can) is helping the action verb (to speak). It shows the ability of the subject to speak English.

Category: Grammar

Good one! The thing with English is there is what is gramatically correct, and then there is what people usually say. In formal English, it is considered grammatically correct to use the adjective his to agree with indefinite pronouns such as anyone and everyone. e.g. Everyone has to do his own research. However, it is considered less discriminatory to use a phrase such as his or her to agree with such pronouns. e.g. Everyone has to do his or her own research. In informal English, the problem of gender is often avoided by the use of the plural adjective their. e.g. Everyone has do their own research. However, this use of their is often considered to be grammatically incorrect in formal (exam) English.

Category: Grammar

When we want something to happen, and it is reasonable to expect it to, we use should or shouldn't. The rest is about the time frame. For example:- Today is Saturday. If you say "It should be nice tomorrow." You are predicting the weather for Sunday. OK now it is Monday. If you say "It should have been nice yesterday." You are complaining that your previous prediction about Sunday's weather was wrong.

Category: Grammar

To take a risk. When it stands alone - it's one of the collocations that goes with take (there are lots more). If you elaborated though you could say something like:- To take the risk of doing something dangerous.

Category: Grammar

If you wanted to talk about how long a situation has lasted you could say 2 or 3. However:-
If you say, "I have been doing martial arts for 10 years," it implies you have not necessarily finished doing martial arts. This is the present perfect continuous.

If you say "I've done martial arts for 10 years," it implies you are going to stop now. This is the present perfect simple.

Category: Grammar

1. The trembling children were given a blanket for warmth. - They were trembling with cold, so they were given a blanket. You can't have a 'trembled child'. 2. When James noticed the burning building, he notified the fire department immediately. - The building was burning, so the fire department had a chance to put the fire out. If the building was burnt the fire department would be useless. 3. Dr. Jameson told my brother to elevate his aching foot. - His foot is aching and elevating it will ease the pain. You can't have an 'ached foot'.

Category: Grammar

The personal pronouns I and me are often mixed up. When you are the subject it's I, when you are the object it's me. To avoid trouble, delete any other person from the equation and see what you’re left with. If you’ve written David and me went to the pub, take away David. You’re left with Me went to the pub. That sounds strange, so you know that I, not me, is correct.

Category: Grammar

The following are correct:- 1. I am glad to meet you. - This is just a general greeting used when meeting someone for the first time. 3. He was scared to commit a crime. ( as "he was scared to see the ghost.") 2. He was uncomfortable to receive my calls. or He was uncomfortable receiving my calls. !Note - learn about the use of the gerund and the infinitive.

Category: Grammar

I am not sure what you mean by "solid bodies" however the examples you use - messages, tables, bags etc are all plural nouns - if the noun is plural, the pronoun must be plural also - they and them. For example:- Could you pick up my messages for me? They are at reception, just leave them on my desk, please.

Category: Grammar

You must choose b because you are making an exception to the statement.

Category: Grammar

Auxilliary verbs include - to be, to do, to have.

Category: Grammar

You can use some with countable and uncountable nouns. Best practice is to use some for affirmative statements:- I have got some chocolate cake. I have got some chocolates. And any for questions and negative statements: Have you got any chocolate cake? I haven't got any chocolates. Countable and Uncountable Nouns.

Category: Grammar

Usually the word fish is uncountable. However, (there is always an exception) "fishes" is the proper English plural form of "fish" that scientists use when speaking about two or more fish species, as in "There are over 25,000 fishes in the world" (meaning that there are over 25,000 fish species in the world). When speaking of two or more individual fish organisms, then the word "fish" is used, as in "There are several million fish of the species Gadus morhua" (meaning that G. morhua comprises several million individuals). To see both in action, consider the statement "There are twelve fish in this aquarium, representing five fishes" (meaning that the aquarium contains twelve individuals, some of the same species and some of different species, for a total of five species). The usage of the two words is similar to that of the words "people" and "peoples" / "fruit" and "fruits".

Category: Grammar

I will, you will, he/she will, they will, you will, we will - it's a nice easy one. Shall is just more formal and usually only used in British English. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensefuture.htm

Category: Grammar

The vowels are a, e, i, o and u. The letter y however can act as a consonant or a vowel, but is traditionally counted as a consonant.

Category: Grammar

He forced the lock open. - You can't say opened - however, you could say:- He opened the lock by force. Do you see why?

Category: Grammar

Both. Dreamed is more American, dreamt is more British. Dreamed is now catching on in the UK too and is considered more modern. Your best bet is to decide on one and stick to it.

Category: Grammar

I would say:- Backtrack to those days where the Internet was just a bare concept, and compare it with today’s technologies.

Category: Grammar

Personally I wouldn't put this into indirect speech. However if you absolutely have to you could say "He asked God to bless me."

Category: Grammar

The passive voice is very rarely used with the continuous verb forms for present perfect, past perfect, future and future perfect tenses. The main reason for this is it sounds bloody awful. So, regarding your sentence - it sounds wrong because no one would ever say it.

Category: Grammar

No, you can't say "They hate one each other." Why? You just can't. ;-) "each other" = "one another" they are both pronouns and are used to show that each person in a group of two or more people does something to the others.

Category: Grammar

Sexless objects are called "it". For example:- I put my cup in the washing up when it was empty. "Fourth of July" is a noun phrase. A noun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or a group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of a verb.

Category: Grammar

We don't often use the genitive any more (thank goodness). So, "This is Mary's book," is the possessive. "This is Mary's" is still the possessive, you don't need a following noun as long as the meaning is clear. For example:- Q. Whose coat is this? A. It's Mary's.

Category: Grammar

It is usual to only use the possessive form with people, apart from a few exceptions. So, you would be more correct to say "The petals of the flower". !Note - petals = One of the parts of a flower that is arranged in a circle. They are the colored part of the flower. Apologies if you meant the green leaves!

Category: Grammar

The two forms mean exactly the same thing. Lots of is simply more informal than a lot of. They are more common than much or many in affirmative sentences. You can use both expressions with singular (uncountable) or plural nouns. Just make sure your verb agrees if a lot of or lots of refer to the subject of your sentence. For example:- uncountable noun, singular verb: 'There's still lots of work to do.' 'A lot of time is wasted in meetings.' plural noun, plural verb: 'A lot of people were affected by the storm.' 'There are lots of interesting things to do here.

Category: Grammar

At and on are interchangeable but avoid using the same preposition twice For example:- "I'll see you at the shop on the corner." "He'll meet you on the bus at the corner of the road." "In the corner" means the corner is where two walls of a room come together. You could stand in a corner if you've been naughty.

Category: Grammar

Yes it is. I went to primary school in France. I had lunch and then did the shopping. It's all about the sequence in which things happen. In your examples either the thing has ended or one thing followed another. You use the past continuous to show what was happening when something else happened. For example:- I was driving to Frankfurt when I crashed the car. - Oops! The phone rang while I was having a shower. - Typical!

Category: Grammar

I need to get some work. (No article because work (in this context) is uncountable.) I need to get a job. (Article because jobs are countable.)

Category: Grammar

A job is more permanent than work. As a freelance English teacher I am often offered work, but no one wants to give me a job.

Category: Grammar

The verb to have is used in a variety of ways, for possession, past simple, present perfect, "have" as an auxiliary verb etc. etc. etc. Don't try to tackle English grammar this way.

Category: Grammar

"The British use the with a musical instrument (play the piano), but Americans sometimes leave it out (play piano)." Oxford Guide to English Grammar, by John Eastwood, 1994

Category: Grammar

Any is normally used with plural and uncountable nouns in questions, negative and conditional sentences. For example:- Do you have any sugar? I don't have any money. If you need any help with your English, just ask me. Some is normally used with plural and uncountable nouns in positive sentences and when we ask a question and expect a positive answer:- For example:- You have some lovely plants in your garden. Would you like some tea? Shall I send you some brochures?

Category: Grammar

While jogging - who was jogging? http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_dangmod.html

Category: Grammar

We often use the present perfect to discuss what we have done in our lives. So "Have you ever acted in a play." is correct. However, once you talk about a particular play you have to use the simple past because you are discussing a particular point of time in your life. The same for a famous person:- "Have you ever met a famous person?" = in your life. "Who did you meet?" = at the time you met them.

Category: Grammar

I wouldn't actually say that in this context. I would say:- "By the time we get to the meeting, the presentation will have started." As soon as means at the same time or a very short time after. So, you could say:- "As soon as we get to the meeting, the presentation will start." When can also mean the time at which. So, you could say:- "When we get to the meeting, the presentation will start."

Category: Grammar

This is quite a web site! = This is a very good website! However, when quite is used to modify adjectives with nouns, it can mean rather. This is quite a good web site. = This is a reasonably good web site. So, you would usually say "I live in quite a big flat." Because big and good are gradeable adjectives and quite modifies them to mean not very, very big or good. If you use quite with a non-gradeable adjective you can say "a quite" when the intention is to emphasize the strength of that adjective. For example:- She leads a quite perfect life. - This means her life is 100% perfect.

Category: Grammar

Actually you wouldn't really say "I'm to go." You may say "I'm to go to...." when someone offers advice or gives an order. For example:- My doctor told me I'm to go to the gym as much as I can. Or from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe:- "Like what?" said Susan; "and anyway, it's time you were in bed." "Trying to talk like Mother," said Edmund. "And who are you to say when I'm to go to bed? Go to bed yourself." "Hadn't we all better go to bed?" said Lucy. "There's sure to be a row if we're heard talking here."

Category: Grammar

Enough means "sufficient", or"as much or many (of something) as necessary". Too means "more than enough" or "more than is needed or wanted". So the bridge is either "too narrow" or "not wide enough". The following are ok:- The bridge isn't wide enough to drive over it. The bridge is too narrow to drive over it. You could also say:- The bridge isn't wide enough. We can't drive over it. The bridge isn't wide. We can't drive over it. If you say:- "The bridge isn't too wide to drive over it." You have to ask yourself why would a bridge be too wide to drive over. It's nonsense.

Category: Grammar

Let's start with a participle, in English a participle can function independently as an adjective and to form compound tenses, it can modify a noun or pronoun. Present participles are the -ing form of verbs and past participles the -ed forms of verbs - (for irregular verbs, this is column 3). If we take from the verb "to bake" the past participle baked you can form the sentence "We had some baked beans". Used with an auxiliary verb we can use the past participle baked in the passive sentence "The beans were baked too long."

Category: Grammar

As a verb it means to finish or end something. He completed the project. When a verb is used like an adjective it becomes a participle, it means something has been successfully completed or brought to an end. The completed project. - here the past participle is used as an adjective The job is completed - past participle (compound verb with auxiliary ‘is' from ‘to be')

Category: Grammar

Have a look at my adverbs page and Picture It. But remember to learn something properly you have to use it.

Category: Grammar

In spoken English we tend to use the short form for you are - you're - or they are - they're. Notice the use of an apostrophe. It's not slang like gonna or wanna, it's natural English. 1. Good to see you're getting an education. 2. They're called Sony. Short forms in English.

Category: Grammar

You can use either to say that something is true about two things or people. For example: Either answer is correct. If either of the parents leave it will be a mistake. You can use neither to make a negative statement about two things or people. For example:- Neither answer is correct. Neither of them should leave.

Category: Grammar

Here are the most common uses of the form "to +verb +ing":- Look forward to I am looking forward to meeting him. Be/get used to I am used to answering questions on the forum. I am getting used to using the web site. Get round to I get round to answering questions eventually. Object to I have never objected to running this web site.

Category: Grammar

Adjectives ending in ‘-ing’ usually describe the effect that something has on someone's feelings. A few adjectives ending in ‘-ing’ describe a process or state that continues over a period of time. Most adjectives ending in ‘-ed’ describe people's feelings. Have a look at the a href="http://www.learnenglish.de/Level1/Extras/CommonMistakes.htm" target="newwin">Common Mistakes in English page for a couple of examples - bored vs boring and interested vs interesting.

Category: Grammar

"Have had " - present perfect tense. Thanks I've had a lot of fun. I have to have = I need something in order to do something... I have to have a lap top to run the web site effectively. I got to have = slang (very American slang at that). I have to go. = I must leave now. Gosh is that the time! Sorry, I have to go now. I got to go. (This could be slang for the above, but it can also mean I had the opportunity of going somewhere). I won the competition and got to go to Paris. I have something = I have got something. (I have got is very British English).

Category: Grammar

Some grammarians use the following terms for expressions such as dare to, ought to, have to and need to are: "near modals," "quasi-modals," "semi-modals," or "marginal modals". Ugh. This helps to differentiate them from modals. They function like modals, but they are not real modals. For example:- I have to go now. = I must go now.

Category: Grammar

Because you are asking the question Why did he do that?

Category: Grammar

In this case the infinitive can be used with or without to. I helped her answer the questions. = I helped her to answer the questions. The only thing I like to do at the weekend is (to) stay home and rest. It just sounds more natural if you leave it out.

Category: Grammar

This will explain what a past participle is. This will explain about the past perfect simple tense.

Category: Grammar

They are just adjectives. When the adjective ends in -ed, it usually describes a feeling towards something. A lot of people are interested in learning English. When the adjective ends in -ing, it describes the feeling given by something. A lot of people find learning English interesting. They often follow a pattern:- His explanation was confusing. Most students were confused by it. Adjectives ending in 'ed' are often followed by an infinitive clause:- The students were suprised to hear that she was leaving. There are a couple more examples on the common mistakes page - look up interested/interesting and bored/boring.

Category: Grammar

No, you would ask:- Q. Did he use to have a house in the country. A. Yes he did. (short answer - natural English) or A. Yes he used to have a house in the country. (long answer - not very natural) Used to

Category: Grammar

"Early on" and "later on" are quite British. They mean at or during an early/late point or stage in time. Either are correct (on) can be used or not. For example:- They scored two goals early (on) in the game.

Category: Grammar

When a sentence is built around a finite verbal part, it is a finite sentence. This site helps explain this more. When a sentence is built around a non-finite verbal part, then it is a non-finite sentence. This site helps explain this more.

Category: Grammar

Have a look at the Sources of confusion with countable and uncountable nouns section here.

Category: Grammar

You can say:- Prefer requires to + infinitive. Rather is followed by a bare infinitive without to, it means instead of and can be used in combination with would prefer to. For example:- My teacher would prefer me to do my homework this evening, rather than go out with my friends.

Category: Grammar

He has lived in New York for 2 years ... = present perfect simple tense. ... but now he lives in London = simple present tense.

Category: Grammar

When you use the past continuous you are clarifying what happened when and for how long. We sat in the car when ... - does not give the same information.

Category: Grammar

As the verb die is not inflected for person or tense then I woud say non-finite.

Category: Grammar

You need to rewrite 1 & 2 I stopped to watch their game. = I stopped what I was doing in order to watch the game they were playing. I stopped watching their game. = I didn't watch the game after this time. This page on gerund vs infinitive might help. For 3 and 4. I agree with you. = I agree with what you just said. You wouldn't say "I agree to you." You may say:- I agree to you doing that. = I give you my permission.

Category: Grammar

An abstract noun is a noun that refers to an idea, emotion, feeling, or quality that cannot be detected by the five senses (touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell), you cannot sense sleep, so I would say that when you use the word sleep as a noun it is an abstract noun.

Category: Grammar

OK I'll add this to the grammar pages, when I have time. A finite verb is a verb that has a subject, this means that it can be the main verb in a sentence. A non-finite verb has no subject and is usually indicated by the addition of 'to' to the sentence. For example. I went to England to learn English. In this sentence 'went' is a finite verb, and the subject of went is 'I' - 'to learn' is a non-finite verb. In your example 'found' is a finite verb.

Category: Grammar

Superlative = Most regularly. For example:- The most regularly read newspaper in the UK is the Sun. Comparative = More regularly. For example:- I have to start exercising more regularly.

Category: Grammar

We use if to talk about something uncertain or conditional. For example:- They promised me the job if I pass my exams. = Here the writer isn't 100% certain he'll pass his exams and the job is conditional upon his success. We use when for situations involving preparation or the passage of time. For example:- When I retire I will travel more. = I know I will retire sometime and then I'll be able to travel.

Category: Grammar

Mary's been a teacher for 20 years. = She's still a teacher, or only recently stopped teaching. Mary taught for 20 years. = She is no longer a teacher. !Note Mary's been teaching for 20 years. = She is definitely still teaching.

Category: Grammar

"Many a" is a common phrase used to describe each of a large indefinite number; "many a man"; "many another day will come". For example:- I've answered many a question on English grammar.

Category: Grammar

You would ask:- What time did they arrive? They arrived in the past and therefore you need to use the simple past tense. If you wanted to know simply if they were there, without any mention of time, you would ask:- Have they arrived?

Category: Grammar

Nearly, almost and easily can be used to mean almost. She's nearly as tall as her father now. She's almost as tall as her father now. She's easily as tall as her father now. Quite as is usually used in the negative:- She's not quite as tall as her father, yet. But:- She's taller than her father by far. She's far taller than her father.

Category: Grammar

When used with an adjective "so" can be used to mean to a very great extent or degree. For example:- She was so clever everyone wanted to hear her opinion. When you use "too" it means to an excessive degree. It can be seen as a criticism. For example:- She was too clever, no one wanted to listen to her opinion.

Category: Grammar

No. That kind of grammar exists in German, but as soon as we know the sex of a baby we say "he" or "she" - even in the womb.

Category: Grammar

There's not a huge difference. The bank is planning to open a new branch. = This indicates the plans are well under way. The bank plans to open a new branch. = This could be soon or some time in the future.

Category: Grammar

For starters we always say "in spite of". They are interchangeable and are used to show that one fact makes another fact surprising. For example:- In spite of her poor health, she is always cheerful. Despite her poor health, she is always cheerful.

Category: Grammar

The sentence doesn't compare anything.

Category: Grammar

I we you they = don't He she it = doesn't To Do.

Category: Grammar

You're not alone. Just remember we use them a lot more in English than many other languages. I have written a simple guide to the use of articles in the English language here.

Category: Grammar

I think you mean prepositions. Beyond studying them the best way to really learn is to practise. Try coming onto the forum.

Category: Grammar

There's no real difference in meaning, both "lots of" and "a lot of" are used before singular uncountable nouns, plural nouns and pronouns. "Lots of" is more informal than "a lot of". For example:- Countable - "There are a lot of dogs in the dog shelter." "There are lots of dogs in the dog shelter." Uncountable - "There is a lot of sugar in the bowl." "There is lots of sugar in the bowl."

Category: Grammar

The modal verb "would" is explained here. It is also used in a number of different forms of the conditional: 2nd conditional If I went to China, I would visit the Great Wall. Mixed conditional If he hadn't missed the bus, he would be here now. 3rd conditional If she had studied harder, she would have passed her exams.

Category: Grammar

This pictorial representation might help:- Prepositions of place Prepositions of time

Category: Grammar

Prepositions of place: On relates to a surface. For example:- I put the report on your desk. (Here I would expect to find the report in full view on my desk.) In relates to an enclosed space. For example:- I put the report in your desk. (Here I would expect to find the report inside my desk - perhaps in a drawer.)

Category: Grammar

Simply put:- I will do something = a promise. For example:- I will answer your question. I would do something = the start of an excuse. For example:- I would give you more examples, if I had more time. There's a page on modal verbs here.

Category: Grammar

Prepositions are used to place things in time and place. Most often they come before a noun. I have written a guide here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/preposittext.htm

Category: Grammar

You can, but only in very informal speech / slang. Note that the sound "s" after "what" can have several meanings:- "What's it like?" 's = is "What's he do?" 's = does "What's he done?" 's = has

Category: Grammar

Intransitive verbs = subject + verb If an action concerns only one person or thing, you mention only the person or thing that carries out the action (the subject) and the action itself (the intransitive verb). For example:- Slept is an intransitive verb. He slept. Intransitive verbs are often followed by a prepositional or adverbial phrase to provide more information about the action - when, where, how and why etc. For example:- He slept late. But it's still an intransitive verb. Transitive verbs = subject + verb + object Transitive verbs involve not only the subject, but also someone or something else, the object. Transitive verbs are incomplete without the object. Some transitive verbs can have two objects, an indirect object followed by a direct object, or sometimes two objects, an indirect object followed by a direct object. The clue in spotting them is that although they may be followed by adverbial or prepositional phrases, transitive verbs cannot be used intransitively. For example: She brought me my breakfast in bed on a silver tray. You cannot just say:- She brought me. Unofortunately some verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively. The object is often not needed when it is obvious what you are talking about. But you may want to add it to provide more information. For example:- I'm drinking. or I'm drinking a cup of tea. So your examples:- 1. The lion roared at the mouse. (Roared is usually intransitive - at the mouse is a prepositional phrase) 2. Bala ran to class. (Ran can be either - here it is intransitive - there is no object - to class is a prepositional phrase) 3. Jane arrived at school. (Arrived is always an intransitive verb) 4. I am going to school. (Go is always intransitive) 5. Jane hid behind the door. (Hid can be either - here it is intransitive - there is no object - just an prepositional phrase - behind the door)

Category: Grammar

We use "as much as" when we are talking about quantity and want to compare uncountable nouns. For example:- I don't have as much money as Bill Gates. We use the phrase "The more..., the more..." to show effect. For example:- "The more you save now, the more money you'll have to spend on holiday." (It's not just more ... more either) For example:- "The more you revise, the better you'll do in the exam."

Category: Grammar

Yes, this is the present perfect simple, it indicates that the government has recently made the decision. If you mentioned when they made it you would use the past simple. For example:- Yesterday the government made the decision to take action against corrupt political leaders.

Category: Grammar

The first sentence is wrong, the second is correct. Present Perfect Simple

Category: Grammar

Sometimes you need to give just a little bit more information about an action or state...and that is where the perfect tenses come in. The perfect tenses are used when an action or situation in the present is linked to a moment in the past. It is often used to show things that have happened up to now but aren't finished yet or to emphasize that something happened but is not true anymore. When they end determines which of them you use. The only example of yours that I would use would be I had been playing football in the garden - and you still need more information before you would do so:- For example:- I was tired because I had been playing football in the garden. Perfect tenses are never used when we say when something happened i.e. yesterday, last year etc. but can be used when discussing the duration of something i.e. often, for, always, since etc..

Category: Grammar

It's fine to use "I would rather" but in spoken English you would contract it. For example:- I’d rather go to the mountains than the beach. If you want to use prefer you have to use the infinitive form and you wouldn't usually mention the alternative. For example:- I’d prefer to go to the mountains. You could use prefer with rather than. For example:- I’d prefer to go to the mountains rather than the beach. I only found one online test and it had mistakes in it. If I have time I'll try to get one online on the Tests page.

Category: Grammar

He he - Traditionally may = request permission to do something, can = to have the ability to and when I went to school "May I" was the order of the day, but it's a bit old-fashioned nowadays. Sigh. It's quite normal to hear "Can I help you?" or "How can I help you?" even in ***** hotels. If asking for permission I think it's fine to use "Could I ...?" Yes things have changed. My nephew always says "Can I have that?" It's worth pointing it out to your students so that they don't think that everyone in the UK is being rude if they visit one day.

Category: Grammar

When talking about situations which started in the past and are still going on you can use the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous:- "He has worked here for a year." = PPS or "He has been working here for a year." = PPC

Category: Grammar

Just ask him: Is this for you or is it for me? I hope he will realise that "Is this for you or is it for I?" sounds even funnier. The general rule is you don't use I after is, "It is just you and me," - "This is for you and me," - "This is between you and me." Good luck! And remember relationships are more important than grammar. ;-)

Category: Grammar

Would is often used to make polite requests, which can cause confusion:- 'Would you like to help me finish this lesson?' 'Would you pick Jennifer up from school on Monday?'

Category: Grammar

Use an before unsounded h. For example: An hour. And when u makes the same sound as the y in you, or o makes the same sound as w in won, then a is used. For example: A unit A one-legged dog

Category: Grammar

Are you sure you don't mean the pronoun "it"?

Category: Grammar

By and until both indicate “any time before, but not later than". However in sentences like this we use "until" with negative verbs referring to a point of time. So, you should say "I won't finish my work until tomorrow." In affirmative sentences we use "by". So, you would say:- "I will finish my work by tomorrow."

Category: Grammar

I would say:- All residents aged 60 and over. It's strange because generally "aged" is used an adjective: "She has two rather aged aunts", or as a verb: "She's aged well". However, we also use it to mean "of the age of": They've got one son, Jeremy, aged 6.

Category: Grammar

No, the form whose can be used either as a possessive adjective followed by a noun, or as a possessive pronoun. But most people would ask "Whose car is that?" or "Whose is that?" (pointing at the car). http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/questiontext.htm

Category: Grammar

There isn't a tag question for never mind. You would say "Never mind," to tell someone not to worry about something because it is not important.

Category: Grammar

Actually it is the present perfect, but it's not a complete sentence. Have you been invited to the party, yet? or Has David been invited?

Category: Grammar

Ha ha! It's one of my pet hates. Accommodation (note spelling) in the UK. That said it can be plural in the US.

Category: Grammar

Than is used to join two parts of a comparison or to compare numbers or amounts. For example:- My son is taller than my daughter. I spent more than I intended to. Then, is more complicated. It can show the order in which something is done. For example:- Let me finish this answer, then I'll go to bed. It can also be used to indicate time. For example:- The 1980's? Margaret Thatcher was prime minister then.

Category: Grammar

The use of the present perfect is all about what time you want to show. When I hear "I have been invited to the party." I know that the party has not yet taken place. That's why you use the present perfect. This is the present perfect used in conjunction with the passive voice - I don't know who invited you to the party. If you put it into the active voice the structure changes and gets rid of the pesky extra verb (been):- Lynne has invited me to the party. The passive voice is explained here

Category: Grammar

I presume that you mean Ms? You use Ms when you are addressing a woman whose marital status is unknown or when the woman asks you to do so. It's usually only used in business. It is the female equivalent of Mr.

Category: Grammar

If you do something for someone you usually help them in some way. For example:- Nurses do a lot for their patients. They give them their medicine, help them get dressed etc. If you do something to someone it can be positive or negative. For example:- A - My best friend is't speaking to me. B - Why what did you do to her? A - Nothing!

Category: Grammar

If you need a question mark or exclamation mark the markers that punctuate the quoted words are enclosed by the speech marks.

Category: Grammar

The first sentence is correct:- Are the books in the bag? You could also ask:- "Are the books there in the bag?" or "Are the books in the bag there?"

Category: Grammar

The verb to have is used in a lot of different ways. I have written (there's one of them) a brief guide here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbtohave.html

Category: Grammar

1 question at a time please. A few is (2 or 3 or 4,...) Few is not many. I have a few books means I have some books. (I am happy about the number of books I have.) I have few books means I don't have many books. (I am not happy about the number of books I have.)

Category: Grammar

I have written a brief explanation of this here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/noununcount.htm

Category: Grammar

The rest is a group noun. It means the other things, people or parts that remain or that have not been mentioned. It often depends on what you are talking about. For example:- I've got two bright students, but the rest are average. (Students are countable.) I'll keep a third of the money and the rest is for you. (Money is uncountable.) However the sentence you use is quite common and usually used to talk about information (uncountable), so people usually say "The rest is just details."

Category: Grammar

"In the brochure" = inside the pages of the brochure or within the print of the brochure. For example: "I left an important piece of paper in the brochure." "You can read the instructions on how to use the widget in our brochure." "On the brochure" = something is placed physically on top of the brochure or someone is discussing the brochure itself. For example:- "I left my pencil on the brochure." or "In her presentation she gave us a lot of information on the brochure."

Category: Grammar

Well the general rule is:- There is + singular noun There are + plural noun But when I am talking about a group of items and the first one I mention is singular I use "there is". I only use "there are", when the first is plural. So I would start all the questions with "Is there...". Of course, not everyone will agree with me. But you wouldn't ask "What are on the desk?" rather "What is on the desk?"

Category: Grammar

For words ending in s omit the final "s", instead we write:- Santa Claus' sleigh is red. Santa Clauses would be the plural of Santa Claus. For example there are lots of Santa Clauses in my photo here:- http://www.flickr.com/photos/your_teacher/322483023/

Category: Grammar

When you are using the present perfect tense, which is what we use to connect now with the (recent) past in some way. For example:- Have you had your question answered?

Category: Grammar

I have given a simple explanation of this here:

Going to vs will

Category: Grammar

Grammatically it's correct, but it will always be a bit ambiguous. Who used the ball, Chad or Pedro? You could make it clearer by saying:- Pedro Martinez signed a baseball for Chad that Pedro had used in a game.

Category: Grammar

Well spotted. There should not be an apostrophe. It should say:- Parking Officers and visitors The only time you would use an apostrophe would be if you wrote:- Officers' Parking

Category: Grammar

I'm afraid that there are no hard and fast rules. The problem is with prefixes and suffixes some have native English roots, some Latin and some Greek. The dictionary is really the only way to go. There is a list of prefixes here. I would start with the most common prefixes, which are:- ab- ad- anti- auto- co- com- de- dis- en- ex- il- im- in- inter- ir- mis- post- pre- pro- re- sub- super- trans- un-

Category: Grammar

When you are talking about their use as prepositions of place it's best to think along the lines that "in" means in enclosed or surrounded and "on" means in contact with a surface. Regarding your example: I am not a doctor, but it may be possible that both examples are correct. You could try rewriting the sentence to check what you mean:- A tumour inside the thyroid. = A tumour in the thyroid. A tumour on the surface of the thryoid. = A tumour on the thyroid.

Category: Grammar

I've written a brief guide to modal verbs here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbmodal.htm We also use them differently in the conditional. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conditionaltext.htm

Category: Grammar

You're both right. You wouldn't say "You are being nervous". You can only say "You are nervous". But, you could say "You're looking nervous," or "You're getting nervous," or "Being nervous about exams is natural". In a question you could ask "How can I stop being nervous?"

Category: Grammar

If you are talking about redwood trees in general you would use "is". If you are talking about a particular redwood tree you saw in the past you would use "was".

Category: Grammar

Been = you've come back. Gone = you're possibly still there.

Category: Grammar

Category: Grammar

A suffix is really a word part with a specific meaning at the end of the word. Your list seems fine, but you might have a problem with this one:- Dreamer - Dreamt - you have changed the root word. A suffix is added to the end of a word to make another word. A suffix can be either a short word, or a group of letters that is not a word. Adding suffixes to words can change or add to their meaning, but most importantly they show how a word will be used in a sentence and what part of speech (e.g. noun, verb, adjective) the word belongs to.

Category: Grammar

Think. Who wants to learn English? He wants to learn English. She wants to learn English. That said, I would write:- Easy way for anyone who wants to learn English.

Category: Grammar

First the good news. Both examples are perfectly correct. In your first example there is no auxiliary verb because it is a subject question. This is pretty advanced stuff, just be aware that both are correct, you don't really need to know why.

Category: Grammar

In your example "infected" is an adjective describing the unfortunate state of your computer. Rewrite it:- You have an infected computer.

Category: Grammar

In your examples "only" is being used as an adjective. If only is being used to show that there is a single one or very few of something, or that there are no others it is an adjective. As an adverb "only" is used to show that something is limited to the people, things, amount or activity stated. For example:- I was only running.

Category: Grammar

They are both correct. "The door will be locked at 10 o'clock every night." Is more of a warning. You can say, "I will go to bed at 10 o'clock every night." The use here isn't a warning, it is more of a promise.

Category: Grammar

You might find my guide to modal verbs useful. After you've learnt the basics though you have to practise and get feedback.

Category: Grammar

There is no inversion of subject and verb and in reported questions.

Category: Grammar

If you want to be pedantic (and a lot of teachers are) 1 is correct. But lots of people would say 2 and it's quite acceptable in informal speech. Imagine adding "am" to the end. "You are as old as I am." Then it makes more sense.

Category: Grammar

Used to do Be used to something.

Category: Grammar

Although you are talking about possibilities in the future you are referencing something that may or may not have happened before that time. You're actually using the future perfect tense. For example:- By this time next year I may have passed my exams. Reference "can't have". Your first two examples are just wrong. You could say:- We might not have finished the job by next Sunday. or We won't have finished the job by next Sunday. I might not have raised the money by then. or I won't have been able to raise the money by then. Your final example:- 'You can't have kept it a secret for a long.' Means you have already told someone a secret and they are questioning how long you were able to keep quiet about it.

Category: Grammar

Only as an adjective means single or few. It's used to show that there is a single one or very few of something, or that there are no others. When used as an adverb it shows that something is limited to the people, things, amount or activity stated. So, in your example, I'd say it's only an adverb. ;-) Of course if you were to say:- He's an only child. That would be an adjective.

Category: Grammar

Harry asked me if I HAD MET Bill and Maria yet. Is correct. If it was the other one the question would have to have been:- Haven't you met Bill and Maria yet?

Category: Grammar

Both your questions are correct. Which and that are often interchangeable. Here's a brief explanation - That vs Which

Category: Grammar

Here "any" means "not important which". For example:- When you're hungry any food is better than none.

Category: Grammar

Some people do believe that phrasal verbs are inferior to single-word verbs, but they tend to forget that there are phrasal verbs for which there is no obvious single-word equivalent. For example:- get up (= get out of bed) take off (= remove clothes) put down (= put something on the floor etc) In academic and scientific writing there are some phrasal verbs which should be avoided. For example:- give up - surrender leave out - omit look for - seek stamp out- eradicate stick out - protrude However, to list them all would probably finish me off.

Category: Grammar

I have written a guide to the verb to do here.

Category: Grammar

The clue is "will". For example:- Whenever there is any washing up to be done my husband disappears. It's no surprise, I always know he will disappear as soon as I mention it.

Category: Grammar

I don't teach grammar as a separate subject, IMHO you don’t need grammar as much as you need words. A lot of words as quickly as possible, it's all tied up with learning how to express yourself correctly. So start learning words. Then learn how to express yourself in different circumstances, grammar can come later.

Category: Grammar

English verbs have two tenses and three moods. The subjunctive mood (sometimes known to as the conjunctive mood) is used in dependent clauses. It expresses wishes, commands (in subordinate clauses), emotion, possibility, judgement, necessity and statements that are contrary to fact. In other words the action of the verb may happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances. It is oftentimes used in conditional statements (ie 'If...then...' clauses). A subjunctive mood exists in English, but native English speakers need not use it. For example: "I suggested that he read some books", he is not in fact reading a book. Contrast this with the sentence "He reads books", where the verb "to read" is in the present tense, which is the indicative mood.

Category: Grammar

We had been gone for 3 weeks.... is in the past perfect tense. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensepastperfsim.htm The article has been written... is in the passive voice. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/voicetext.htm#Passive

Category: Grammar

isn't it? You can read about tag questions here.

Category: Grammar

Using to or for is quite complicated. Sometimes you can use either, but it changes the meaning slightly. Sunshine is good for me. = It is good for your health. This test is important to me. = It has importance for you personally. To illustrate the difference a bit better:- This test is important for my future. = It has an impact on your future. My uncle is good for me. = He makes you feel good. My uncle is good to me. = He treats you well.

Category: Grammar

It depends on how you use it. It's always since a point in time and for a length of time. You'll find some examples here:- Past Perfect Continuous

Category: Grammar

We call the process of turning verbs into nouns nominalisation.

Category: Grammar

"What happened to your bike?" (You might say "What did happen to your bike?" if you don't believe their original story.)

Category: Grammar

Yes. There was a slight amount of damage. There was a huge amount of damage.

Category: Grammar

Where "to let" means "to allow" it is true that we don't usually use it in the passive voice, instead we would use allow or permit instead. For example:- Her parents let her watch the horror movie. You cannot then say:- She was let to watch... You would say:- She was allowed to watch the horror movie. You might find the form "was let do" in some older English texts, but I would avoid using it if I were you, it sounds really odd.

Category: Grammar

1 - I'm a student at Cambridge. 2 - "Science" is a department of Cambridge University. 3 - "The people of London" = the people who live there. "The people in London" = the people who are there at the moment. 4 - "The people of the world" 5 - "This is a common crime in London" 6 - "A place in London"

Category: Grammar

They are called co-ordinating conjunctions. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/clausetext.html

Category: Grammar

In this context, they all mean the same.

Category: Grammar

Presuming there is an unlimited choice of course, I would ask:- What course are you on? or What course are you taking? See which vs what

Category: Grammar

Remember, for every rule, there will be an exception. If you're using after as an adverb it usually goes at the end. For example:- They lived happily ever after. I left the room, and the dog bounded after. As a preposition it can be used in various ways:- For example:- If you mean following:- We had a few beers after the game. The Cold War began shortly after the Second World War. He was pooped after running for the bus. But if you mean behind then you could say:- He left a trail of destruction after him. And it can even start a sentence:- After a full English breakfast I hardly ever eat lunch.

Category: Grammar

It simply depends on the timing of your explanation. That's why I have left you. (I left you recently and this is my reason). That's why I left you. (I left you - maybe recently / maybe a long time ago - and this is my reason.)

Category: Grammar

I've written a pretty comprehensive list of irregular verbs here:- Category: Grammar

"They" carried out the action of giving, so "they" are the subject. The large endowment was acted upon so it is the direct object. The university is the recipient of the direct object, so the university is the indirect object.

Category: Grammar

Have a look at the tenses examples on the Vocabulary pages, each vocabulary unit looks in depth at an irregular verb in all its forms. Practise on the forum. We've been playing with the perfect tenses. Vocabulary Pages The forum

Category: Grammar

Why do you ask? Is more immediate. You can even say it before you answer. Use it carefully, it is a bit confrontational, you're actually questioning the right of the person to ask you. The tense used is just another example of "for every rule there is at least one exception".

Category: Grammar

In order to transform a direct question into an indirect question you use the interrogative or if / whether. Direct speech: “Do you know when we use wether or if?" she asked. Reported speech: She asked me whether / if I knew when we use whether or if.

Category: Grammar

You would say:- "When I got married, I was doing my A levels." It's the past continuous tense.

Category: Grammar

We use the emphatic form by putting the stress on an auxiliary verb instead of some element after the verb. You could ask:- What will be returned? When will it be returned? But they're not really emphatic. An emphatic question would be more like:- They're returning what? or They did what? or Did they really want to do that?

Category: Grammar

It not forceful, it's just not right. You could either ask:- When is the school due to start its summer holidays? or When will the school start its summer holidays?

Category: Grammar

Yes, it's correct. Some verbs can take two objects. They are called ditransitive verbs: verbs which can take a subject and two objects, a direct object which has the action of the verb done to it and an indirect object which has the action of the verb directed towards it. You could also write:- He found a seat for me.

Category: Grammar

Hi Gregory, You can write this, but it would be if you were having some kind of argument. For example:- "Do you ever help me in the kitchen? Well do you?" If you were asking for help you would use a modal verb like would / could / will / can. For example:- Can you help me push my car? PS - I wouldn't recommend arguing with your teacher. He marks your papers, not I. ;)

Category: Grammar

They are both correct. One is asking about the object the other is asking about the subject. Rewrite the questions and you get:- 1 - Who owns this pen? 2 - Who does this pen belong to?

Category: Grammar

'Rather than' means instead of. For example: Rather than drink soy milk because they are vegetarian, more and more people are choosing it because of the added health benefits.

Category: Grammar

A noun phrase.

Category: Grammar

Was is used with I, he, she, it. Were is used with you, we, they. They are the past of the verb to be.

Category: Grammar

Subject. Think of it like this: She went to Japan, and she saw Mount Fuji.

Category: Grammar

You could say both are correct, it depends on how you pronounce historian. If you pronounce the "h" it's "a historian". If you come from places like Nottingham and drop the h it's "an 'istorian". ;) Personally I say "I am a historian."

Category: Grammar

In the US they say "mom" for (mother), in the UK we say "mum" and "dad" for father. You can consider them as proper nouns if you use them in place of the name of the person.

Category: Grammar

You might find this useful. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbtobe.html

Category: Grammar

Both are correct depending on the name. If the family name is "Hamilton", then Hamilton's is correct. If the family name is "Hamiltons", then Hamiltons' is correct, but often when the name ends in an "s" people don't bother with the apostrophe.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/adverbtext.htm

Category: Grammar

As a general rule:- -ing adjectives are used to describe people or things: "The teacher was so boring." -ed adjectives are used to describe feelings: "I was very bored." -ible or -able adjectives express ability, capacity, or fitness. I believe they are a throwback to Latin, and in English, -able is used for native words, and -ible is usually found on words of obvious Latin origin. I hope this helps.

Category: Grammar

Well you can, but you shouldn't. Did is the past form and after that you don't need to overstate the fact.

Category: Grammar

Join the forum, and practise.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/mistakes/whichvswhat.html But to be honest I would ask my students to "Find the subject in this sentence."

Category: Grammar

You can use either. Which one is better depends on the context. For example:- Why are you so sleepy? I'm tired because I was playing football for over two hours last night. What did you do last night? I played football for over two hours, believe it or not. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensetext.htm

Category: Grammar

No. You didn't do anything. or You haven't done anything.

Category: Grammar

You and many others:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbtobe.html http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbtodo.html http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbtohave.html http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensetext.htm

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/clausetext.htm

Category: Grammar

This has been covered on the website. It is a "subject" question. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/questiontext.htm (For every rule, there is at least one exception.) :-)

Category: Grammar

I was invited to ... http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.htm

Category: Grammar

I went to France 2 years ago. Look at the sky! It's going to snow. I have understood you all along. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensetext.htm

Category: Grammar

Sorry, I don't use the form / function method to teach. Just learn simple sentence structure. It's enough for most native speakers. :) http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/sentencetext.htm

Category: Grammar

It simply conveys a kind of reluctance to leave. (You'll often hear it in pubs.) :-)

Category: Grammar

Will, because it's not a plan, it's a certainty. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensefuture.htm

Category: Grammar

What is she like? http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/questiontext.htm

Category: Grammar

I presume you mean, "The government has fallen".

Category: Grammar

1 - It's a promise. 2 - It's not very likely.

Category: Grammar

Simply put "I will..." is a promise, we can use shall/will to make promises for the future. The problem you're students have is you can't use the future perfect in clauses beginning with or containing time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, etc. Instead of the future perfect, we use the present perfect.

Category: Grammar

When you start a sentence with "rather than" you can use the bare infinitive or and -ing form.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conjunctioncoordinating.htm

Category: Grammar

Raja can solve this sum, can't he? http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/questiontext.htm#tag

Category: Grammar

No. Why, when Kayle threw a stone into the waves, did it constantly come back to her?

Category: Grammar

Have a look at the brackets:- Have you (ever in your life) lived with your parents? Do you (now) live with your parents? http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensetext.htm

Category: Grammar

Both are correct. "Do you ever use a needle?" = Is it your habit to use a needle? "Did you ever use a needle?" = I know you don't use one any more, but did you use one in the past?

Category: Grammar

You need to say, "I have known her for a long time." It's the present perfect simple tense. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensepresperfsim.htm (The clue is in the word "for".)

Category: Grammar

You should write:- "School has started."

Category: Grammar

1)I am prepared for the exam. (Shows you are ready for the exam. Simple present.) 2) I have prepared for the exam. (Shows you have done the work necessary to pass the exam. Simple perfect. 3) I have been prepared for the exam. (Implies someone (maybe a tutor) has prepared you for the exam. Simple perfect.)

Category: Grammar

The food will have been eaten. The food had been eaten. But:- We had been eating for hours. We will have been eating the food for hours.

Category: Grammar

It would sound more natural if you put the time at the end of the sentence - oh and don't forget capitalisation and punctuation:- We will have finished the examination by next week.

Category: Grammar

Yes.

Category: Grammar

Your examples are proper nouns. You could call them proper compound nouns I suppose.

Category: Grammar

(One question please.) Which one is correct? It depends on how much of a purist you are. If you are a purist, and have ingested Strunk & White's The Elements of Style, then the first sentence is correct.

Category: Grammar

No. You could write:- I write with a pen. (Something I do all the time.) or I'm writing with a pen. (Something I am doing now.) !Note - you need an article with the noun "pen". http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/articlestext.htm

Category: Grammar

'Neither' is a sticky one. You're not the first to ask and you won't be the last, so I've written an explanation. http://www.learnenglish.de/mistakes/neither.html

Category: Grammar

"I have not been invited to the party." Capitalisation and punctuation are important.

Category: Grammar

It's an adjective:- http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/scared

Category: Grammar

People would understand you, but it is more natural to say, "No, she doesn't." Generally the clue is in the question: Does ...? elicits "doesn't or does" - Has .... ? elicits "hasn't or has". So if someone asked you "Has Tina got a bicycle," then you would answer "No, she hasn't" or "Yes, she has". Of course you can always use the KISS principle and simply answer, "Yes" or "No".

Category: Grammar

I'm not sure what you mean? You can join the forum and practise your tenses here:- http://learnenglishonline.yuku.com/forums/178/Various-Verbs (If you can't post, PM me your forum id and I'll open it for you.)

Category: Grammar

Well these aren't idioms, they are phrasal verbs, and phrasal verbs can be tricky. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbphrasaltext.htm All the examples you used are correct, with no difference in meaning. This is because they are all separable phrasal verbs.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/adjectivetext.htm Sometimes nouns are used like adjectives to describe the material that something is made of. For example: cotton, glass, metal A cotton shirt. A glass vase. A metal pan.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbtext.htm

Category: Grammar

You could say:- It was with reluctance that John gave his dog up for adoption. or When John gave his dog up for adoption, it was with reluctance. Why? Because the two clauses are not grammatically independent.

Category: Grammar

"I didn't take my father's advice. I wish I had taken it now." I didn't take my father's advice. = in the past I wish I had taken it = regret for a past decision (you can compare it with conditional type III - http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conditional3.htm) In other words you wish now that you had done something different in the past.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbphrasaltext.htm

Category: Grammar

When you're learning English it's best not to try and memorise lists, unless that's how your brain works. Instead read explanations and then form meaningful sentences. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/doormake.htm

Category: Grammar

No one would ever say, "My most recent series of events ..." Try "My most recent experience was working with ...." (Singular experience = was) The major challenge in producing these events was fulfilling an ambitious brief... (Singular challenge = was) If you want to see "were" in action, try:- "The major challenges in producing these events were fulfilling an ambitious brief and dealing with the volunteers." (Plural challenges = were)

Category: Grammar

1 - John Master's book. (I'm presuming you meant to type John.) 2 - Mr Stone's hat. 3. This prey may have been hunted by a lion. (Past perfect). or This prey was probably hunted by lion. (Same meaning). There's no direct past tense of "maybe". !Note - if the name in Q1 is John Masters, then it would be John Masters' book. Practise using apostrophes.

Category: Grammar

The use of 'were' isn't wrong when reporting the news, as usually the reporter is talking about the effect of a natural or man made catastrophe. Imagine the sentence goes further:- "A lot of houses were destroyed by the earthquake." You might be happier with, "A lot of houses have been destroyed," which implies that they are still in such a state.

Category: Grammar

Are you ever likely to be someone else? I think that the answer is no. So, "If I were you," expresses the impossibility of being someone else. If you want to get all grammary, we call it the Conditional Type II. A lot of people do say "If I was you..." but it won't get your through an exam. If I were you, I would be a bit "Zen" and accept that the correct form without questioning the whys and wherefores too much. That way you will make faster progress in English.

Category: Grammar

No, "news" is uncountable. You could say "This is a piece of bad news." Otherwise stick to "This is not good news."

Category: Grammar

Cricket has been played in England for more than six hundred years now. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensepresperfsim.htm

Category: Grammar

As an adverb "yet" usually goes at the end of a sentence or clause. There's a subtle difference when you put it in the middle. 1. I don't know yet who the wicked witch is. (Uses "yet" for emphasis, but there's a slight impression that you may never find out who the wicked witch is.) 2. I don't know who the wicked witch is yet. (Is the more natural way to say it, and implies you will know one day.)

Category: Grammar

Singular - A sheep. Plural - A lot of sheep. Personally I would say "sheep hearts", like "human hearts".

Category: Grammar

The rich should help the poor. Why? Because it's the right thing to do. ;) Oh okay - if you insist. We use the article "the" in order to refer to a group of people as a class.

Category: Grammar

It's a little grammar oops. We often use the present continuous form to talk about future plans, "Tomorrow I'm going to London." or "I'm going to go to London tomorrow." http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tenseprescontfut.htm We usually use the simple present form for the future to discuss timetables etc:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensesimpresfut.htm

Category: Grammar

We are tall men, aren't we? We are not tall men, are we? The short form "ain't" is slang. You can use it if you want, but I wouldn't recommend you do so in any test or exam. ;-)

Category: Grammar

If you are talking about something you are in the process of doing, you add -ing to the end of the verb. There are other uses, which are explained here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tenseprescont.htm

Category: Grammar

You probably mean:- A simple meatball recipe using basic ground beef. (The meatball isn't actually "doing" anything, so you don't use "is".)

Category: Grammar

"We, the children, are the leaders of tomorrow." Imagine the sentence without "the children" = "We are the leaders of tomorrow". !Note - tomorrow, no capital T.

Category: Grammar

In the picture she is wearing a hat. We just don't bother saying "In this picture she is ....". :) If you were talking about an event in the past, you could say "she wore a hat". For example:- "At the royal wedding, they wore some really ugly hats." http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2068553,00.html

Category: Grammar

What do you do if you late? There is no such verb, so you use the auxilliary verb "to be".

Category: Grammar

I am friends with her. She is friends with me. We are friends. We = She and I. She and I are friends. I hope that helps. :)

Category: Grammar

It's basically about open (wh questions) and closed (Yes/No) questions. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/questiontext.htm

Category: Grammar

keys - plural - them key - singular - it

Category: Grammar

Yes, or "I'll show it to you in the morning", or simply "I'll show you in the morning". If you're confused as to why, you could read about dative shift and it will confuse you more. :)

Category: Grammar

Transport plays silly tricks with prepositions. You should say "I'm on the bus / train / plane / ferry." (We get on / off them.) But you should say "I'm in the taxi / car". (We get in / out of them.)

Category: Grammar

1. Is okay. 2. Is strictly speaking wrong as books are countable. You should say, "I have fewer books than Sue." 3. Is okay. Your first example was fine, but you need to watch out for countable / uncountable nouns, fewer with countable nouns, less with uncountable, although, to be honest, a lot of people don't bother. :)

Category: Grammar

Oh dear, this sounds like one of those questions that will have linguists jumping down my throat. Well IMHO it's not in the present continuous, so it must be in the present simple as it's asking a general question about their present location. Think of it in this way:- Q. "Where are you?" = "What is your present location? " A. "I'm at the airport." But, I guess if you added a main verb you could use the present continuous:- Q. "I am at the airport. Where are you actually standing?" A. "I am standing next to the taxi rank."

Category: Grammar

You can't quote or report something that hasn't been said.

Category: Grammar

In the sense of ownership:- http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson24/Course/ToHave.htm In the present tense:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensepresperfsim.htm

Category: Grammar

Only "The work was done by his wife."

Category: Grammar

-tion -cion etc. are noun suffixes. Anyway - you add these suffixes to verbs to form nouns that describe the action, if you want to be technical this is called nominalisation, but you can't just add any old suffix, for example -ance -ence and -ment are also noun suffixes, and so to describe the act of absconding, abscond becomes abscondment. The only rule I can think of that might help, is a verb ending in t will usually take a -tion ending. A verb ending in s will usually take an -sion ending. If in doubt use the old "Google it" trick to see if a word is correct.

Category: Grammar

Because you are referring to a specific time in the past. In this case "last year". http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson29/Lesson29.htm "You have been to New York, but I have never been there." (Here there's no time reference, so you can use the present perfect.) http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson48/Lesson48.html

Category: Grammar

It depends on the context of what you're trying to say. "I was looking for my medicine yesterday, then I remembered I had taken it in the morning." Q. "Did you take your medicine yesterday?" A. "Yes, I took it in the morning."

Category: Grammar

The basic parts of any sentence are the subject and the verb, and the rule is they have to agree. On the net you will find lots of sentences using "am" without the subject "I" in them, (especially on Twitter) but it's slang and the "I" should be there. If you want to be clever, form a question, "Am I being silly now?" http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbtobe.html http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/sentencetext.htm

Category: Grammar

The question is wrong. Smitha joined the school three years ago. Smitha has been at the school for three years. Smitha has been at the school since 2009. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensetext.htm

Category: Grammar

Yes. It's the usual answer to questions like:- What did you do at the weekend? We went to the cinema. Depending on context you could also say "We went to a cinema." For example:- "I was in London and I went to a cinema, but I can't remember which one." (One of the many cinemas in London).

Category: Grammar

Sigh. First let's put this into direct speech:- 1. He said, "What a lovely picture it is". 2. You said, "Mathur, have you finished your work on time?" 3. The old man said to me, "Do you know me?" Now indirect speech (not an exact science as there is often more than one way to write this. 1. He said that he thought the picture was lovely. 2. You asked me if I had finished my work on time. 3. The old man asked me if I knew him. BTW - when asking someone to do something it is best to be a bit less direct. For example: Could you change these sentences into indirect speech? or Change these sentences into indirect speech, please.

Category: Grammar

Imagine saying "She is her," you wouldn't (I hope), you would say, "It is her." If you wanted to answer, "Yes, she is", the question would have to be "Is she over there?"

Category: Grammar

a - She usually wears a dress to work. b - She is wearing a dress to work today, maybe she doesn't usually do so. Present simple vs Present Continuous

Category: Grammar

You are mixing up your personal pronouns. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/pronounpersonal.htm

Category: Grammar

In order to be a co-ordinating conjunction "since" has to introduce a clause. When it simply introduces a date or a specific time in the past it's a preposition. I haven't exercised since yesterday. (Preposition) I haven't exercised since I injured my back. (Subordinating Conjunction) (In all honesty you don't need to know this, unless you are studying linguistics, or maybe CELTA. It's much better to get a feeling for the right thing to say / write because when you are having a conversation or replying to an email, you don't have time to think about the naming of parts.)

Category: Grammar

The lines between good and well are getting blurred, so you will probably hear and see both, but "I hope he treats you well" is correct.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/participleperfect.htm

Category: Grammar

"What were he and his wife doing in my house?" In other words you are asking "What were they doing in my house?" BTW - What were they doing in your house? I'd love to know.

Category: Grammar

My pencils are everywhere. My pencils aren't anywhere to be seen. Have you seen my pencils anywhere? !Note - We use "anywhere" in negative sentences or questions. That goes for " any / anyone / anybody / anything" too. Note - pencil / pencils

Category: Grammar

There are 3000 items. The number of items is 3000. Here we are referring to "The number" - singular. Funnily we would use the plural form with "A number":- A number of items are waiting at the station. Here we are referring to "the items" - plural. No one ever said English made sense. Just try to get a feeling for what is right.

Category: Grammar

Usually we talk about subject/verb agreement. In the present tense of to be we always say, I am / he - she - it is / we - you - they are. This is subject verb agreement. The subject I / he / she etc. agrees with the verb "to be" in its different forms - am / is / are. Best thing is not to worry too much about it, just develop a feeling for what is correct.

Category: Grammar

Bread. It's uncountable.

Category: Grammar

Yes. We treat them as proper nouns, so they should start with a capital letter; along with Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and other special holidays. http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson19/Lesson19.htm http://www.learnenglish.de/basics/dates.htm

Category: Grammar

1. It's not a full sentence as there is no subject. You need to tell the reader who or what was indifferent. 2. We don't use indifferent "of", we use the preposition "to". So:- He was indifferent to whether they were damaged or not. She was .... I was ... They were .... You were .... We were .... The dog (Laika probably) was ...

Category: Grammar

It sounds like the beginning of a joke, if it is we would say something like:- A man walks into the doctors surgery and says ... If you are describing something that happened you would say:- A man walked into the doctors surgery and said ...

Category: Grammar

If you want grammatically correct, try:- There is someone calling me, isn't there? But you may see: Someone is calling me, aren't they? We often use the plural pronouns ‘they’, ‘them’, ‘their’ etc., despite the fact that, technically, they are referring back to a singular noun.

Category: Grammar

Apostrophe s indicates possession, but it is not a hostel that belongs to one girl, so it isn't a "girl's hostel". So, is it Girls' Hostel? No, because if you think about it, it's a hostel for girls, it doesn't actually belong to them. You can apply the "of the" test. The hostel of the girls, is nonsense. So - Girls Hostel is fine.

Category: Grammar

Each is singular. So you would say:- Each of the cycles is damaged. It would be more natural to say:- All of the cycles are damaged.

Category: Grammar

Using "By what name", (indirect speech), is too stilted, it would be more natural to ask "What is this award called?".

Category: Grammar

You can start a sentence with the word "being", but this isn't a full sentence, it's a phrase and you need to complete it. Being in Boston tomorrow, I could buy you some Bog Frogs. However, I'm not a fan of using "being" at the start of a sentence, so IMHO it would be better to write / say:- As I am in Boston tomorrow, I could buy you some Bog Frogs. PS - Bog Frogs are chocolates with cranberries in them. They are delicious. :)

Category: Grammar

I speak British English, so I would say:- I wish I had known. This is so American, and I think they do say things like "I wish I would have", but I suspect that even in AmE it relaxes the rules of grammar a bit.

Category: Grammar

If you insist on writing it this way, "You and I are perfect together." Think of it this way:- You are perfect. I am perfect. You would never say:- Me am perfect. or Us are perfect. I would write:- We are perfect together. You can learn more about pronouns here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/pronountext.htm

Category: Grammar

Neither. We wear colourful clothes at birthday parties. (It's what we do if and when we go to a party.) We wore colourful clothes at the birthday party. (It's what we wore for a particular party.)

Category: Grammar

It's what I'd call "English in ads". You might see it on a poster, or bill board. It wouldn't be "correct" in a business letter or report.

Category: Grammar

The two of us. http://youtu.be/jEy6MGu3bIA

Category: Grammar

an I am an I.A.S officer. Even FBI. I am an FBI officer. But I am a BBC reporter. Can you figure out why? http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/articlestext.htm

Category: Grammar

Look what they have in common - States - Emirates - Kingdom. You could say "The Kingdom of China". http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/articlestext.htm

Category: Grammar

"She is a friend of Mary's." "She is Mary's friend." You probably think it's weird, because you would also say:- "She is a friend of mine." but "She is my friend." However, if a phrase begins with the preposition "of" and is followed by an instance of possession, and the possesor is a person then the apostrophe is used. It's called "a double possessive." Now, the fun of English grammar is that there are always exceptions to every rule, and the double possessive doesn’t always work, which is why it's more important to develop a feel for the language, rather than to learn all the rules. Sources: The New Fowler's Modern English Usage Harbrace Handbook

Category: Grammar

This is simply the difference between reported speech and direct speech. This is how I imagine it went:- Teacher to your friend: "Are you Indian?" Friend: "Yes I am." Teacher to you: What did your friend just say. You: She said she was Indian. (reported speech) or You could have said "She said, 'I am Indian'." (direct speech) Read this, and then come and play around with it on the forum:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.htm

Category: Grammar

First - "Your request will be approved" = a promise. It hasn't been approved yet, but it will be in the future, you're not ecstatic, but you will just have to wait. "Your request has been approved" = you have what you wanted, you're happy. "Your request is approved" = present simple. The grammar is a bit iffy and formal - still you have what you wanted, so you're happy. "Your request is being approved" = present continuous - you haven't got the approval yet, but the process is taking place now, so you're happy, but impatient.

Category: Grammar

2 syllables - help + ful. The most helpful. You can even say to someone, "Thank you, you have been most helpful." :)

Category: Grammar

The weather can't be ill, so it can't be well. The weather can be bad, so it can also be good. The weather is good this weekend.

Category: Grammar

Firstly - It's two words. I don't want to be pedantic, but it's two words. Secondly - It's used in the present tense because it expresses a regular occurrence. Thirdly it means "whenever". So you would say something like "Every time I want to go on a picnic, the weather changes." It can start a sentence and can also act as a conjunction:- The weather changes every time I want to go on a picnic. I think in your example you were trying to say something like, "The weather is capable of changing at any time."

Category: Grammar

Have a look at the examples here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/pronounpersonal.htm and here:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/adjectiveposs.htm Not to be confused with possessive pronouns:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/pronounpossessive.htm The best way to learn form and usage is to use them. Try joining us on the forum and play around with telling us about the things you own. :) The Home and Family section is a good one for that:- http://learnenglishonline.yuku.com/forums/215/Home-and-Family

Category: Grammar

For your example I wouldn't use conditional II. You could say something like:- "If she ever asked me about her dress sense, I would tell her she hasn't got any." Maybe you mean something like:- "If she had asked me about her dress, I would have told her not to buy it." This is the 3rd conditional. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conditionaltext.htm To be honest, the only way you will get a feeling for this is by practising it, not by learning the rules, so why not join us on the forum? :)

Category: Grammar

I can, but the real question is - Can you? Come onto the forum, tell us what you think the answers should be.

Category: Grammar

Well apart from Elvis: http://youtu.be/i4IUE921omw you wouldn't. Because is a conjunction, the only time you might see it is if someone wrote about why because is used the way it is. We say this because 'because' is a conjuction. Or maybe if you are a little angry with someone. Mums often say:- Because? Because I said so! But that's not one sentence. If you can think of any other examples, feel free to post them on the forum. BTW - no need to shout (all capitals is shouting).

Category: Grammar

Wow! Sometimes I wonder where you guys get these ideas from! If your friend asked you in the second conditional, she would say something like:- "If I asked your opinion of this dress, what would you say?" You could reply something along the lines of:- "If you asked me, I would have to tell you that it's not beautiful enough for you." But let's face it, people don't talk like that in real life. (In the New Year we will be doing some shopping role play in Kitely. Why don't you come and join us - see the calendar.)

Category: Grammar

Count the number of subject pronouns... They watched her as she grew up... They were able to watch her grow up... The prince saw her climb ... He watched as she climbed ... Got it?

Category: Grammar

There is no error. "To go on" vs "To go". We shall go next Friday. = We shall visit a place next Friday. We shall go on next Friday. = We shall continue next Friday.

Category: Grammar

It might not be correct because it's his book and maybe you shouldn't have it. Grammatically:- The book belongs to him. It is his book. Give him his book back now. Start getting a feel for the language, stop worrying about the rules.

Category: Grammar

You are probably asking about the conditional. There are more than 3 rules for using "if" in sentences. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conditionaltext.htm

Category: Grammar

He's always late. Lately he has been late every day. http://learnenglishonline.yuku.com/topic/12720/Dont-mix-a-word-up-with-another#.UNV6yG_O0f4

Category: Grammar

In English the verb should agree with the subject, so the correct verb would be the singular "asks". One of you asks and the other one answers. For "Each of you ..." the subject here is "each", which is a singular noun. Think of it like "Each one of you ..." "Have" is plural, but of course we say: we / you / they have, which is why you will see "Each of you have...", all over the place, but here "of you" is a prepositional phrase and not part of the subject. You can't argue with:- There are seven people in the room and each person has a card. So:- "Each of you has a card."

Category: Grammar

I didn't cook it.

Category: Grammar

You would say, "We have been struggling to set our country free," and it is the present perfect continuous. It implies you're still struggling. It's neither formal nor informal.

Category: Grammar

The adjective old modifies the noun friend. Poor old sentences, getting chopped into little bits. It would be much better to just practise writing meaningful sentences.

Category: Grammar

To that or not to that, that is the question. If the meaning of the sentence is still clear, you can leave it out. So, it's up to you. There are times when it has to remain, such as:- Which is the one that needs correcting? All that glitters is not gold.

Category: Grammar

One is right, and the other is wrong. "I saw him 10 minutes ago", is correct. The other one is wrong. Why? Because you mentioned "10 minutes ago". "I have seen him. He was there about 10 minutes ago." http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson48/Lesson48.html Really the only way to learn how to get to grips with this is to use it, until it feels natural. Have a look at some examples and corrections on the forum:- http://learnenglishonline.yuku.com/forums/244/Lets-Practise

Category: Grammar

There is a difference between pretty as an adjective and pretty as an adverb. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/adjectivetext.htm http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/adverbtext.htm Here pretty is working as a modifying adverb, and diluting the word beautiful. As in - The pain was pretty awful. Pretty as an adjective = lovely - fair - attractive Pretty as an adverb = quite - rather - fairly - plenty - sufficiently This is a good example of why you need to develop a feel for the language, and not just the rules.

Category: Grammar

It depends, but if she married the doctor you would say:- She was married to a doctor. or She married a doctor.

Category: Grammar

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/nouncommon.htm

Category: Grammar

Fish in general = Fish live in water. A particular fish = Nemo lives in water.

Category: Grammar

Imagine this - you are at a football match, waiting for a friend. When it starts to rain heavily, and they announce that they are going to stop the match. You: Oh no! They're stopping the match, just because it's raining. The wusses! You phone your friend: Don't bother coming they've stopped the match due to rain. The next day you tell your friend: It's such a shame they stopped the match.

Category: Grammar

You're making a promise to yourself. If it's the grammar you're interested in, it's a conditional sentence:- http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conditionaltext.htm

Category: Grammar

I am going home. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tenseprescontfut.htm I am going to go home. http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensefuture.htm

Category: Grammar

Try to avoid putting 'also' at the end of a sentence, that's usually reserved for "too". Also usually goes in front of the main verb in a sentence. I would write:- Are your friends also studying English? or Are your friends studying English too? !Note - It goes after the verb “to be” or any auxiliary or modal verb. Lynne runs a couple of websites, she is also a qualified ESL teacher. If you ask a sensible question she will also give you an answer.

Category: Grammar

Have a look at the lessons:- http://www.learn-english-online.org/ Practise on the forum.

Category: Grammar

These are "awkward" ones. May simply isn't used to form tag questions, because "mayn't" is just horrible. If you are asking for permission to leave, you could say, "I can go, can't I?" We also tend to avoid using "must" in this way too, but when we do use it with the idea of obligation we use mustn't to form the tag question If you insist on using your example:- "I must eat, mustn't I?" It would be more natural to ask:- I need to eat, don't I? http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tagquestions.htm

Category: Grammar

Read this: http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.htm Then look here: http://learnenglishonline.yuku.com/topic/14480/Reported-Speech If you want to practise, join the forum and ask Lynne Hand to allow you to reply to the topic.

Category: Grammar

I think you are confused: "lets" here is not a noun, so it's not plural. It's a verb "to let" as in "to allow". She allows me to do it. / She lets me do it. = I have permission. She makes me do it. = I have no choice. I have to do it.

Category: Grammar

I hope you will be successful. http://learn-english-online.org/Lesson39/Lesson39.htm hope vs wish - http://learnenglishonline.yuku.com/topic/5290/Hope-and-Wish

Category: Grammar

"She, as well as her friends, enjoyed the show didn't she?" Think of it as:- "She enjoyed the show, as well as her friends, didn't she?" Whereas :- "She and her friends enjoyed the show, didn't they?"

Category: Grammar

Hmm - well I would never say "keyboard this letter", maybe you mean, "enter this letter" or "press this letter" or simply "press A". Whatever words you choose this is the imperative. (Giving orders.) http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/moodimperative.html

Category: Grammar

It sounds as if you have a bad memory. Usually you wouldn't need a question tag for something you have done. Some of you went to play cricket, didn't you? Some of them went to play cricket, didn't they? And if you insist on an attack of amnesia:- Some of us went to play cricket, didn't we?

Category: Grammar

My child in an honours student. We don't pronounce the "h", so it takes the article "an". The same for "an hour". PS - honors is AmE spelling, honours is BrE spelling.

Category: Grammar

I came to Canada in 19.. I arrived in Canada in 19.. You simply need to learn which prepositions go with which verbs to express what you mean. The wrong preposition can give the wrong meaning.

Category: Grammar

Don't try to learn it, just get a feeling for it. Failing that there are some great sites, books, videos out there on the internet. The basics of grammar are pretty easy, but then they turn into a quagmire and there are far better things to spend your learning time on. Talking with people for example. http://www.learnenglish.de/ImproveEnglish/improvegrammarpage.htm

Category: Grammar