Grammar Basics
Grammar Basics
Grammar Basics
PAGE
S.NO TOPICS
NO.
1 Grammar Basics 4
Confusing words
2 12
in English
3 Noun Forms 17
4 Verb 25
Regular &
5 31
Irregular Verbs
6 Tenses 32
7 Adjectives 59
8 Adverbs 65
9 Prepositions 73
10 Conjunctions 97
Active & Passive
11 100
Voice
3
1. GRAMMAR BASICS
SENTENCE
A group of words that expresses a statement, question, command, or wish. Sentences usually contain a
subject and verb. In written English, the first word of a sentence is capitalized and the sentence ends
with a period, question mark, or exclamation point.
Examples:
She can sing melodiously.
The cat caught the mouse.
Examples:
Carlo | wrote a letter to his uncle.
My neighbour's dog | barked all night.
Our electricity | went out during the storm.
A clause is defined as a group of related words that contains a subject and predicate (verb).
Examples:
he came.
since she laughs at diffident men
I despise individuals of low character
when the saints go marching in
because she smiled at him.
A phrase is defined as a group of related words that does not contain a subject and a verb.
Examples:
on the table.
leaving behind the dog
smashing into a fence
before the first test
after the devastation
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NOUN:
Countable Nouns
A noun which can be counted is called countable noun. They have a singular and a plural form. The
singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an".
Pen is countable noun because we can count it and can say one pen, two pens, three pens or more pens.
Pen, chair, cup, room, man, baby, bottle, dog, cat are examples countable nouns.
Examples:
She has three dogs.
I own a house.
I would like two books please.
How many friends do you have?
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable noun refers to substances which cannot be counted.
For example, water is an uncountable noun because we cannot count it. We cannot say, one water or two
water. Such substances which cannot be counted in terms of numbers are called uncountable noun.
Examples: Water, milk, bread, honey, rain, furniture, news, information, pleasure, honesty, courage, weather,
music, preparation, warmth, wheat, advice,businessare examples of uncountable nouns.
Examples
Uncountable countable
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Bread a piece of bread.
Wheat a grain of wheat.
Milk a glass of milk
Information a piece of information
1. Common noun
A common noun is a noun that refers to people or things in general, e.g. boy, country, bridge, city, birth,
day, happiness.
2. Proper noun
A proper noun is a name that identifies a particular person, place, or thing, e.g. Steven, Africa, London,
Monday. In written English, proper nouns begin with capital letters.
3. Collective nouns
Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things, e.g. audience, family, government, team, jury. In
American English, most collective nouns are treated as singular, with a singular verb:
In British English, the preceding sentence would be correct, but it would also be correct to treat the
collective noun as a plural, with a plural verb:
4. Abstract Nouns
An abstract noun is a type of noun that refers to something with which a person cannot physically
interact.
Emotions/Feelings
Love
Hate
Anger
Peace
Pride
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Sympathy
States/Attributes
Bravery
Loyalty
Honesty
Integrity
Compassion
Charity
Success
Courage
Deceit
Skill
Beauty
Brilliance
Pain
Misery
Ideas/Concepts/Ideals
Belief
Dream
Justice
Truth
Faith
Liberty
Knowledge
Thought
Information
Culture
Trust
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Dedication
Movements/Events
Progress
Education
Hospitality
Leisure
Trouble
Friendship
Relaxation
ARTICLES
The words a, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.
Indefinite Articles: a, an
An- used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:
an apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange
A - used before singular count nouns beginning with consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u) :
a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book
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Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or degree:
I felt a bit depressed.
When you assume there is just one of something in that place, even if it has not been mentioned before.
Examples:
We went for a walk in the forest yesterday.
My father enjoyed the book you gave him.
We live in a small village next to the church.
When we stayed at my grandmothers house we went to the beach every day.
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Clouds drifted across the sky.
The president will be speaking on TV tonight.
The CEO of Total is coming to our meeting.
With names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, seas and oceans.
Examples:
They are travelling in the Arctic.
Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
Hiking across the Rocky Mountains would be difficult.
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With countries that have plural names and those that include words like kingdom, states or republic.
Examples:
I have never been to the Netherlands.
Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?
She lives in the United States.
James is from the Republic of Ireland.
With the names of hotels & restaurants, unless these are named after a person.
Examples:
They are staying at the Hilton on 6th street.
We ate at the Golden Lion.
With the names of families, but not with the names of individuals.
Examples:
We're having dinner with the Smiths tonight.
The Browns are going to the play with us.
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The kangaroo is found only in Australia (= Kangaroos are found only in Australia)
The heart pumps blood around the body. (= Hearts pump blood around bodies)
We use the definite article in this way to talk about musical instruments.
Examples:
Joe plays the piano really well.(= Joe can play any piano)
She is learning the guitar.(= She is learning to play any guitar)
Address
Examples
Any further correspondence should be sent to my new address.
Please send the articles to the address given above.
Her new address is 12 Warwickshire Mansions.
He hasn't written to me recently - perhaps he's lost my address.
Please print your name and address in block capitals.
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Address verb (SPEAK TO)
Formal to speak or write to someone:
Examples
He addressed a few introductory remarks to the audience.
He likes to be addressed as "Sir" or "Mr Partridge".
Beside/Besides:
Beside
The word beside is a preposition. It means close to or next to.
Examples
Stand here beside me.
Place the dishes beside the sink.
Besides
The preposition besides means in addition to or apart from. As an adverb, it means furthermore or and
another thing.
Examples
What other types of music do you like besides classical?
Besides being a great statesman, Sir Winston Churchill was a great writer.
He has two languages at his command besides English.
It's time for Tom to make a new friend besides Mary.
As a linking adverb, we usually put a comma before and after besides in writing:
Examples
I dont think going for a walk is a good idea. Its quite cold, and, besides, its getting late and we dont
want to be out in the dark.
I have no time for that, and besides, I don't have any money.
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Inquiry (Inquire-Verb)
The word inquiry is being used in relation to a formal inquest (i.e., an investigation):
Examples
The judge has suspended the inquiry into the police shooting of the escaped mental patient.
(Here, inquiry means inquest or investigation.)
Who will be leading the inquiry into the accident?
The inquiry found evidence of serious misapplication of funds.
There is to be an official inquiry into the incident.
A new team of detectives were called in to conduct a fresh inquiry.
Enquiry (Enquire-Verb)
Enquiry is used to denote the act of questioning.
Examples
I would like to enquire about the toilet facilities in the hotel.
(Here, to enquire means to ask.)
A commission of enquiry was set up to investigate the root causes of the social disturbance.
Further enquiry by the Department of Trade and Industry in 2004 cleared Morgan of any charges.
Figuratively/Literally
Figuratively-Adverb
Figuratively refers to metaphoric speech, not realistic or exact:
Examples
To say, "Horace died laughing," is to speak figuratively.
I could figuratively eat an entire cow right now.
Literally-Adverb (Literal-Adjective)
Literally refers to realistic or exact speech:
Examples
If Horace literally died laughing, he must be buried (but it was not such a bad way to go).
I made a literal translation of this essay.
I told him to go jump off a cliff; I hope he didnt take me literally.
Hard/Hardly
Hard
Hard is both an adjective and an adverb. When it is an adverb, it means needing or using a lot of
physical or mental effort. It goes after the main verb:
Examples
I studied hard for my exams but didnt do very well.
We have worked hard all day.
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The comparative and superlative forms are harder and hardest:
Examples
He didnt get into the team this year. Hell just have to try harder next time.
Not: Hell just have to try more hard next time.
Right, children, who has worked hardest today?
Hardly is an adverb
Hardly has a negative meaning. It normally means almost not at all or only just. We can use it in mid
position, or before an adjective or a noun:
Examples
He wore a big hat that covered his head and you could hardly see his face. (you could only see a small
part of his face)
Kyle could hardly keep his eyes open at the lecture by Rhoda James.
Its/Its
Its (possessive pronoun) - of, belonging to, made by, or done by it
The dog will only eat its food when I am also eating.
Its (contraction) of it + is
Its a very strange dog.
Let/Lets
Let: permission
We use let to talk about permission. Let is followed by an object and an infinitive without to:
Examples
She let me look at the photos.
Not: She let me to look
Shed live on pizzas if we let her.
Warning:
We dont use let in the passive with this meaning:
Examples
They didnt let us take photographs inside the theatre. (or We werent allowed to take photographs )
Not: We werent let (to) take photographs
Lets
Let us is the first person plural imperative, which we only use in very formal situations.
Lets is the short form, which we often use to make suggestions which include ourselves:
Examples
Its midday. Lets stop now and have some lunch, shall we?
Not: Lets stop now
Okay. Were all ready. Lets go.
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We also use let me (the first person singular imperative) to give a direct, more formal suggestion or offer:
Examples
Let me move these books out of your way.
Let me take a look at the photo frame.
We use let for third person imperatives and for impersonal imperatives:
Examples
Let them walk home on their own. (third person)
Let there be no doubt about it. (impersonal)
We can use the full forms let us and let us not in very formal situations such as political documents and
speeches, and religious and other ceremonies:
Examples
Let us remember all those who have died in this terrible conflict.
We must forgive, but let us not forget, what happened on that day ten years ago.
Resume
Resume-verb formal
If an activity resumes, or if you resume it, it starts again after a pause:
Examples
Normal services will be resumed in the spring.
He stopped to take a sip of water and then resumed speaking.
The talks are due to resume today.
If you resume a place or position that you have left for a period of time, you return to it:
Examples
To resume your post/job
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Please resume your seats, as the performance will continue in two minutes.
The company expects to resume production of the vehicle again after a two-month hiatus.
Normal service resumes in ten minutes.
The meeting will resume after lunch.
After a short break for rain, the match resumed with both players seeking to attack.
Rsum-noun
A short statement of the important details of something:
Examples
She gave us a brief rsum of the project so far.
(CV) A short written description of your education, qualifications, previous jobs, and sometimes also
your personal interests, that you send to an employer when you are trying to get a job:
Example
She sent her rsum to 50 companies, but didn't even get an interview.
3. NOUN FORMS
adage, bandage, garbage, courage, package, savage, damage, image, visage, hostage,
sausage,
voyage; language, wreckage, average, leverage, heritage, hermitage, orphanage,
personage;
advantage, percentage;
AGE Note: camouflage, collage, espionage, fuselage, garage, massage, mirage, montage,
sabotage.
Note: cartridge, partridge; vestige; college, privilege, sacrilege; prestige.
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animal, cardinal, criminal, general, marshal, vandal; professional, intellectual; tribunal,
credentials, collateral; approval, removal, referral, rehearsal, dismissal, disposal,
proposal,
refusal, appraisal, arrival, revival, survival, denial; trial; manual, ritual, serial, burial;
AL, IAL material,
memorial, editorial, centennial, initial, official; court-martial.
children, brethren, oxen, maiden, warden, citizen, chicken, kitten, marten, raven, vixen;
EN garden, burden, kitchen, oven, heaven, token, omen, batten, pollen, regimen, specimen,
acumen.
basket, blanket, bullet, pellet, comet, cabinet, hatchet, mallet, nugget, midget, owlet,
packet,
picket, pocket; planet, plummet, puppet, rocket, skillet, socket, market, target, tenet,
ET, ETTE, LET trumpet,
valet, wallet, amulet, violet; clarinet, cornet.
childhood, babyhood, boyhood, girlhood, brotherhood, sisterhood, motherhood,
womanhood,
manhood; knighthood, priesthood, neighborhood, falsehood, likelihood, livelihood,
HOOD hardihood;
adulthood.
justice, notice, office, practice, service, chalice, malice, cornice, crevice, hospice, solstice,
bodice, jaundice; police, caprice; avarice, edifice, cowardice, licorice (also, liquorice),
ICE orifice,
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precipice, prejudice; accomplice, apprentice.
Note: premise, promise, treatise.
Arctic, classic, ethic, magic, music, rhetoric, public; republic, Antarctic, arithmetic;
IC, TIC characteristic; critic, mystic, skeptic (BrE sceptic), lunatic; fanatic, mechanic, neurotic,
agnostic;
paramedic, antibiotic.
ethics, physics, politics; acoustics, athletics, gymnastics, hysterics, italics, linguistics,
mechanics,
phonetics, statistics; acrobatics, analytics, calisthenics, economics, mathematics,
ICS pediatrics.
engine, sardine, famine, doctrine, urine, medicine, heroine, wolverine; canine; aborigine;
magazine, tangerine; cuisine, machine, ravine, routine; basin, bulletin, cabin, coffin,
INE, IN margin,
origin, insulin, protein, resin; adrenalin (also, adrenaline); hemoglobin.
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treatment; apartment, department, appointment, adjustment, commitment, enlistment,
investment; government; environment, assignment, alignment; pavement, movement;
MENT improvement, involvement, achievement, agreement, excitement;rudiment, sentiment;
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reconnaissance; ordinance, ordnance, countenance, maintenance; parlance, semblance,
ambulance, nonchalance, petulance, vigilance.
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contemporary;
revolutionary; diary, primary, summary, salary, burglary, glossary, rosary, vagary,
ARY boundary,
dictionary, centenary, commentary, tributary, estuary, statuary; obituary, vocabulary,
itinerary;
anniversary, documentary.
archery, fishery, bravery, slavery, flattery, lottery, robbery, snobbery, forgery, trickery,
witchery, quackery, gunnery, millinery; artillery, adultery, effrontery; dairy, fairy;
ERY (RY) bakery,
battery, pottery, cutlery, eatery, greenery, grocery, nursery, nunnery, finery, vinery,
winery,
scenery, stationery, monastery, cemetery; machinery, refinery, confectionery.
beggar, burglar, liar, scholar, vicar, cougar, dollar, calendar, circular, seminar, vinegar,
caterpillar; registrar; altar, cellar, collar, cedar, sugar, hangar, mortar, nectar, molar,
AR pillar,
grammar, caviar; cigar, guitar.
career, veneer, auctioneer, engineer, gazetteer, mountaineer, mutineer, overseer,
EER (IER) pamphleteer, pioneer, profiteer, puppeteer, racketeer, volunteer; soldier, terrier, barrier,
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glacier, rapier; cashier, premier, frontier, bombardier, brigadier, cavalier, grenadier,
chandelier;
financier.
million, billion, trillion, union; cushion, fashion, champion, scorpion, carrion, legion,
region; religion, criterion, oblivion, accordion; caution, lotion, motion, notion, potion,
nation, ration,
ION, TION station, portion; diction, fiction, friction; prediction, addiction, conviction,
eviction; caption, option; adoption, absorption, deception, exception, perception,
reception, conception.
ignition; recognition, precognition, definition,
ITION
admonition, premonition, ammunition, exhibition,
prohibition; petition, partition, contrition,
nutrition; malnutrition, apparition,
competition, repetition, superstition; volition,
suspicion, tuition; intuition, demolition, abolition,
coalition.
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SION vision, lesion; revision, division, provision,
collision, derision, decision, incision, precision,
excision, adhesion, cohesion; fusion; confusion,
conclusion, delusion, illusion, allusion,
inclusion, intrusion, preclusion, explosion, erosion,
corrosion, occasion, invasion, evasion; passion;
SSION
compassion, concussion, discussion, percussion,
confession, profession.
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4. VERB
Definition
Verb is a word which shows action or state of something. Most
verbs describe action, for example write, eat, run, and speak. Some
verbs describe state of something, and are not usually used in
continuous tense for example be, impress, please, surprise, belong to,
consist of, resemble, seem
Examples:
He works in a factory(action)
I bought a computer. (action)
John seems happy. (state)
He resembles his brother (state)
Examples
Jonathan bought Catherine| a Catherine has received a drink, but
drink. it is the drink that has been bought.
[subject] [ind obj] [Dir
obj]
Intransitive verbs
Intransitive verbs don't take an object.
Examples of Intransitive Verbs
He ran.
The baby cried.
They napped.
They laughed uncontrollably.
The dog barked.
She slept.
Verbs that are both transitive and intransitive
Some verbs can be transitive or intransitive, depending on how
they are used in a sentence.
Examples of Verbs That Can Be Transitive and Intransitive
To cheer is one example.
They cheered. |They cheered the band.
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She sang. |She sang a song.
Larry tripped. |Larry tripped Alex.
We visited. |We visited Aunt Ruth.
Uses of being
The word being is used in several different grammatical
structures.
Being + adjective
The structure being + adjective is used to talk about actions and
behavior.
Why are you being so silly?
You are being cruel when you hurt others with your words or actions.
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Note that when the adjective refers to feelings, the continuous
form is not possible.
I was upset when I heard that I had failed the test. (NOT I was being
upset when I Here we are talking about the speakers feelings
and hence a continuous form is not possible.)
I am delighted to hear that you have won the first prize. (NOT I am
being delighted )
Compare:
Mother is cooking dinner. (Active)
Dinner is being cooked by mother. (Passive)
They are repairing the roof.
The roof is being repaired.
I am quite sure that somebody is following me. (Active)
I am quite sure that I am being followed. (Passive)
Compare:
Being late, he couldnt watch the show. (= Because he is late, he
couldnt watch the show.)
The Participle
The participle is a verb that acts as an adjective. There are two
types of participles:
1 Present Participle 2 Past Participle
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Present Participle
Present participles end in -ing.
Examples:
boiling water
caring nature
deserving recipient
For verbs that end "e", remove the "e" and add "ing":
prepare > preparing
ride > riding
For verbs that end "ie", change the "ie" to "y" and add "ing":
lie > lying
untie > untying
Past Participles
Past participles have various endings, usually -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n.
Examples:
broken window
painted frame
destroyed bridge
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A swollen eye is God's way of telling you to improve your
interpersonal skills.
Do not waste time staring at a closed door.
I like children...if they're properly cooked.
If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends
[consonant-vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
open > opened
enter > entered
swallow > swallowed
If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and
add "ed":
cry > cried
fry > fried
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5. REGULAR AND IRREGULAR
VERBS
Regular verbs
Regular verbs form their past and past participle forms by adding
ed or d.
Examples:
Walk walked walked
Dance danced danced
Paint painted painted
Work worked worked
Irregular verbs
Irregular verbs form their past and past participle forms in
different ways.
There are mainly three types of irregular verbs.
Verbs in which all the three forms are the same (e.g. put put
put)
Verbs in which two of the three forms are the same (e.g. sit sat
sat)
Verbs in which all three forms are different (e.g. drink drank
drunk)
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6. TENSES
Present Tense
SIMPLE PRESENT
The simple present tense is formed:
subject + first form of the verb
Examples:
I write.
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He writes.
She writes.
You write.
They write.
For verbs that end in s, ss, sh, ch, x and o, add es:
guess> guesses
mash> mashes
fix> fixes
go> goes
General truths
Honey is sweet.
The sun rises in the east.
Fortune favors the brave.
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To tell stories (particularly jokes) to make your listener or
reader feel more engaged with the story.
A horse walks into a bar, and the barman says, "why the long
face?"
(Compare to: A horse walked into a bar, and the barman said, "why
the long face?")
We heard the helicopter overhead. Suddenly, the radio bursts into life.
3) In broadcast commentaries
In broadcast commentaries on sporting events, the simple present tense
is used instead of
the present continuous tense to talk about activities in progress.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The present progressive tense is formed like this:
[am, is, or are] + [verb] + ing
Example:
She is running.
I am talking.
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The present continuous tense is used to talk about an action going
on at the time of
speaking.
The baby is sleeping.
The children are playing.
It is raining.
The students are reading.
Note that many of these verbs can be used in the continuous form
with a change of
meaning.
I am thinking of writing a novel.
She is tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.
They are having lunch.
PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect tense is formed:
has/have + [the past participle]
Example:
I have worked
She has painted
If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends
[consonant-vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
open> opened
enter> entered
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swallow> swallowed
If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and add
"ed":
cry> cried
fry> fried
The present perfect tense can also be used to talk about past
actions whose time is not given or definite.
I have read all plays of Shakespeare. (This statement doesnt say
exactly when I read
the plays. All that we know is that it happened sometime in the
past.)
I have visited Africa.
She has acted in several films.
Note that the present perfect tense cannot be used with adverbs of
past time. However, the following adverbs or adverb phrases can
be used with the present perfect tense: never, ever, so far, till now,
yet, already, today, this week, this month etc.
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PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The present perfect progressive tense is formed:
"has/have been" + [present participle]
Example:
I have been working since yesterday evening.
She has been chewing for two minutes.
Past Tense
SIMPLE PAST
We use the simple past tense for events
that happened or started and completed in the past and that have
no relation with the present.
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If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends
[consonant-vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
open> opened
enter> entered
swallow> swallowed
If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and add
"ed":
cry> cried
fry> fried
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He left all his money to charity.
PAST CONTINUOUS
The past progressive tense is formed like this:
For singular:
was + [verb] + ing
For plural:
were + [verb] + ing
The past continuous tense is used for an action that was taking
place in the past when a shorter action (expressed in the simple
past tense) happened.
I was camping when I got stung by a bee.
When I visited him in the hospital, he was snoring loudly.
While he was reading the newspaper, he fell asleep.
While I was talking to him, his eyes looked somewhere else.
Note: The past continuous tense and the simple past tense are
used together
With while to describe two actions that were going on at the
same time in the past.
While my brother was laughing, my sister was crying.
My father was drinking while my mother was eating.
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For an action that was happening and not yet finished at a
particular time or throughout a period of time in the past. We
do not state when the action started or ended.
Grandma was knitting a sock at 11 o'clock last night.
They were hunting wild boars all evening.
To show that we were in the middle of an action.
I was collecting old newspapers. (I was in the middle of doing the
collecting.)
The police sirens were wailing.
We use when with the past continuous and simple past tenses:
To show that an action or event described in the past
continuous tense started before the event expressed in the
simple past tense.
PAST PERFECT
The past perfect tense is used to express two types of actions
which occurred or completed in the past. It is used to make it
clear that one event happened before another in the past. It does
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not matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it
clear which one happened first.
Note: The past perfect tense and the simple past tense are used
together.
The Past Perfect Tense is usedto show an action happened in
the past before another event took place:
Words usually used with the Past Perfect tense
are when and after.
They had already finished their dinner when I arrived to
join them.
When he had done his homework, he went for a smoke in
the park.
After I had eaten five apples, I felt ill.
I arrived at the cinema after the film had started.
Note: The event in the past perfect tense occurred before the
event in the simple past tense.
Words such as already, just and as soon as are also used with
the Past Perfect tense.
It had already stopped raining when I bought an
umbrella.
The whole house had just burnt down when the firemen
got there.
As soon as she had got married, she regretted it.
For states.
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They had become good friends for many years after meeting on
holiday.
When two actions were completed in the past, use a past perfect
tense to clarify which event happened earlier.
In (a), the use of two simple past tenses (occupied; was) imply the
museum and the art gallery occupied the same building at the
same time, which was not the case.
In (b), the use of the perfect tense (had been) sorts out the order of
occupation of the building.
In (c), 'I saw before' clearly indicates it happened before the list
was showed to me, and so should be in the past perfect tense as in
(d).
Sometimes the past perfect tense and the past simple tense are
used separately in different sentences.
This morning we visited John in the hospital. He had just been
admitted with stomach pains.
The past simple tense precedes the past perfect tense. Notice the
action in the past perfect tense happened first.
a) After she had read the letter, she tore it into pieces.
b) After she read the letter, she tore it into pieces.
c) We had left the stadium before the match ended.
d) We left the stadium before the match ended.
Changing the past perfect tense to past simple tense does not
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affect the meaning of the sentences as (a) and (b) have the same
meaning, and (c) and (d) have the same meaning.
Note: The first action uses the past perfect continuous and the
second action uses the simple past tense. Here are some more
examples:
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Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for
two weeks" or "since Friday," many English speakers choose to
use the Past Continuous rather than the Past Perfect Continuous.
Be careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence.
Past Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas Past
Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before
something in the past. Study the examples below to understand
the difference.
Examples:
He was tired because he was exercising so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he was
exercising at that exact moment.
SIMPLE FUTURE
We use the simple future tense for actions that will happen in the
future. How we use it depends on how we view the events are
going to happen.
Will
will + [base form of verb]
Example:
You will meet Jane tonight.
She will play.
Martin will paint.
Be Going To
[am/is/are + going to + verb]
Examples:
You are going to meet Jane tonight.
She is going to play.
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Martin is going to paint.
Positive Negative
Contraction For emphasis Contraction
I will Ill I will not I won't
You will youll You will not You won't
We will well We will not We won't
He will hell He will not He won't
She will shell She will not She won't
It will it'll It will not It won't
They will theyll They will not They won't
1. Will
We use will to:
Say something that we are certain will occur in the future.
A meeting will be held next Monday at 2 p.m.
I will come along with you.
Make a prediction.
The rain will stop soon.
The movie will end in around 20 mins.
Give a command.
You will report to me at eight o'clock tomorrow.
She will pay the fine for breaking the rules of the traffic.
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Ask questions or make a suggestion or promise.
Will you phone your mother-in-law to apologize, please?
Shall we sneak a couple of bottles of brandy through Customs?
I will try not to be late again.
2. Be going to
Be going to is used to refer to future actions as follow:
Plans or arrangements for the near future that are made prior to
the time of speaking
We are going to visit the zoo on Sunday.
They are going to meet their old family friends.
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4. Be about to (+ infinitive)
We use be about to for an action or event that will happen very
soon.
Everyone sits down when the film is about to start.
I have never drunk alcohol in my life and I am not about to start
now.
We walked quickly home when it was about to rain.
The audience fell silent when the President was about to appear.
When a plane is moved to the end of a runway, it usually means it is
about to take off.
Will / Shall
Will and shall are auxiliary verbs used mainly in the future tense.
I shall arrive before noon. / They will arrive before noon.
Shall has always been used in the first-person singular (I) and
plural (we) but will is becoming more common.
I shall be away tomorrow. / We shall be away tomorrow.
We use will to ask a favour of somebody.
Will you look after my things for a while, please?
We use won't (will not) to show unwillingness or refusal to do
something.
I have asked the noisy children to keep quiet, but they won't listen.
We use shall when we:
Ask a first-person question.
Shall I open the window?
Make a suggestion.
Shall we go together in one car?
Make an offer.
Shall I give you a lift to the airport?
Ask for instructions.
Shall I make all these payments by the end of the month?
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Will and shall are also used to make predictions in the simple
future tense.
I think the weather will get colder around the middle of this month.
I shall be judged only by God.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
The future continuous tense is used to express an ongoing or
continued action which will occur sometime in the future.
Will be doing
Examples:
I will be writing a report.
He will be planning about his studies.
You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
Be going to be doing
Examples:
I am going to be writing a report.
He is going to be planning about his studies.
You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
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To express an action that will be in progress at a certain or
specified time in the future.
We will/shall be sleeping by the time you return.
At this time next week, I shall/will be playing poker.
Will they be coming at 6 p.m. tomorrow?
Examples:
In an hour I'll still be ironing my clothes.
Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years.
Asking questions
To seek a favour of someone by asking about their plans
Will you be passing the post office on your way home?
Will you be going to the grocers this afternoon?
FUTURE PERFECT
We use the future perfect to say that something will be finished
within a particular time in the future.
Examples:
I think astronauts will have landed on Mars by the year 2020.
Ill have finished in an hour and then you can use the computer.
By the time you arrive, my foreign guests will have left.
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses
beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before,
after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future
Perfect, Present Perfect is used.
Examples:
I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my
homework. Not Correct
I am going to see a movie when I have finished my
homework. Correct
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The future perfect continuous tense is used for actions that will be
in progress over a period of time that will end in the future. A
time-reference is used in the sentences to show starting time of
the action of how long the action continues. This tense is very
uncommon.
Example:
At 10 pm, I will have been swimming for a six hours.
They will have been talking for two hours by then.
Examples:
You won't get a promotion until you will have been
working here as long as Tim. Not Correct
You won't get a promotion until you have been working here as
long as Tim. Correct
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VERBS USED ONLY IN THEIR NON-CONTINUOUS FORMS
The following verbs, on account of their meaning, are not normally used in the continuous form
Verbs of perception hear, notice, recognize, see, smell, sense, sound, taste, weigh
care, desire, dislike, envy, fear, feel, hate, hope, like, love, prefer, refuse,
Verbs of emotion
surprise, want, wish
agree, appreciate, believe, consider, doubt, equal, forget, imagine, know,
Verbs of thinking mean, mind, need, owe, realize, remember, suppose, think, trust,
understand
have (=possess) be, belong, consist, contain, have, own, possess,
IRREGULAR VERBS
Type 1: All three forms are the same:
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4 bleed bled Bled
5 breed bred Bred
6 bring brought Brought
7 build built Built
8 burn burnt/burned burnt/burned
9 buy bought Bought
10 catch caught Caught
11 come came Come
12 creep crept Crept
13 deal dealt Dealt
14 dig dug Dug
15 dream dreamt/dreamed dreamt/dreamed
16 feed fed Fed
17 feel felt Felt
18 fight fought Fought
19 find found Found
20 get got got/gotten
21 hang hung Hung
22 have had Had
23 hear heard Heard
24 hold held held
25 keep kept kept
26 lay laid laid
27 lead led led
28 learn learnt/learned learnt/learned
29 leap leapt/leaped leapt/leaped
30 leave left left
31 lend lent lent
32 light lit lit
33 lose lost lost
34 make made made
35 mean meant meant
36 meet met met
37 pay paid paid
38 run ran run
39 say said said
40 sell sold sold
41 send sent sent
42 Shine Shone Shone
43 shoot shot shot
44 sit sat sat
45 sleep slept slept
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46 slide slid slid
47 smell smelt/smelled smelt/smelled
48 speed sped sped
49 spell spelt spelt
50 spend spent spent
51 spill spilt/spilled spilt/spilled
52 spit spat spat
53 spoil spoilt/spolied spoilt/spolied
54 stand stood stood
55 stick stuck stuck
56 sting stung stung
57 strike struck struck
58 sweep swept swept
59 swing swung Swung
60 teach taught taught
61 tell told told
62 think thought thought
63 understand understood understood
64 win won won
65 wind wound wound
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13 fall fell fallen
14 fly flew flown
15 forbid forbade forbidden
16 forget forgot forgotten
17 forgive forgave forgiven
18 freeze froze frozen
19 give gave given
20 go went gone
21 grow grew grown
22 hide hid hidden
23 know knew known
24 lie lay lain
25 mistake mistook mistaken
26 ride rode ridden
27 ring rang rung
28 rise rose risen
29 see saw seen
30 sew sewed sewn/sewed
31 shake shook shaken
32 show showed shown
33 shrink shrank shrunk
34 sing sang sung
35 sink sank sunk
36 speak spoke spoken
37 spring sprang sprung
38 steal stole stolen
39 stink stank stunk
40 swear swore sworn
41 swim swam swum
42 take took taken
43 tear tore torn
44 throw threw thrown
45 wake woke woken
46 wear wore worn
47 write wrote written
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7. ADJECTIVES
Adjective is a word that modifies (gives more information about) a noun or pronoun.
For example, tall man, old house, red car. The words tall, old, red are adjectives which
give more information about nouns man, house, and car in these examples.
Questions adjectives answer:
1. What Kind?
2. Which one?
3. How many?
4. How much?
More than one adjective can also be used for a single noun in sentence.
e.g., The tall, thin, beautiful and intelligent girl entered into the room.
Examples:
He ate a delicious mango.
She bought a red car.
A fat man was running in the street.
I saw a cute baby.
I dont like hot tea.
They live in a small home.
The Poor cant afford expensive clothes.
Severe headache and fever are symptoms of malaria.
He is facing a difficult problem.
Adjectives of Quality
The adjectives that are used to describe the nature of a subject or a noun or showing the kind or
quality of nouns or pronouns are called Adjective of Quality.
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Let us have a rocking weekend.
Adjectives of Quantity
Adjective of quantity indicates the amount or estimated amount of the noun or pronoun in the
sentence. It does not provide information about exact numbers, it tells only the amount of noun
in relative or whole terms.
Some of them are: whole, some, little, all, no, enough, sufficient, any, few, most, half, great, less,
empty.
Examples:
She ate the whole apple but I ate some rice today.
He gave me some chocolates.
I know little about country music.
He cannot spend all his money over you.
There is no milk in the glass.
There is enough water in the canal.
We have sufficient study-materials to pass the examinations.
Is there any mango in the tub?
He can spend only few dollars in this project.
Most of the boys like to eat burger.
He has taken half cup of milk.
Great leaders ruled the country.
She is a less paid worker.
The bucket was empty when I saw.
Demonstrative Adjectives
Like the article the, demonstrative adjectives are used to indicate or demonstrate specific
people, animals, or things. These, those, this and that are demonstrative adjectives.
Examples:
These books belong on that
This movie is my favourite.
Please put those cookies on the blue plate.
Numbers Adjectives
When theyre used in sentences, numbers are almost always adjectives. Also, there are
indefinite adjectives that show how many persons or things are meant or in what order a person
or thing stands. The most common indefinite pronouns are: all, no, any, each, everybody,
everyone, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, and certain.
Examples:
The stagecoach was pulled by a team of six
He ate 23 hotdogs during the contest, and was sick afterwards.
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Please bring home some dinner.
Do you have any information?
Teresa did not each much lunch.
There were a few pieces remaining.
My friends are not like most people.
Each boy must have his turn.
Every man must do his duty.
Either pen will do.
Neither accusation is true.
Interrogative Adjectives
There are three interrogative adjectives: which, what, and whose. Like all other types of
adjectives, interrogative adjectives modify nouns. As you probably know, all three of these
words are used to ask questions.
Examples:
Which option sounds best to you?
What time should we go?
Whose socks are those?
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Easy easier easiest
Happy happier happiest
Pretty prettier prettiest
3. Irregular adjectives
Positive comparative superlative Comment
Good better best
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Bad worse worst
Much more most uncountable nouns
Many more most countable nouns
Little less least
Little smaller Smallest
4. Special adjectives
Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
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Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify
(larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this
pattern:
The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example
below).
Examples:
My house is larger than hers.
This box is smaller than the one I lost.
Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
The rock flew higher than the roof.
Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better. ("than Jim" is understood)
You play tennis better than I do.
This sweater is less expensive than that one.
I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.
SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a
quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject
is compared to a group of objects.
The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final
example below).
Examples:
My house is the largest one in our neighbourhood.
This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.
Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.
This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
We all threw our rocks at the same time. My rock flew the highest. ("of all the rocks" is understood)
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8. ADVERBS
An adverb is a word thats used to give information about a verb, adjective, or other adverb:
they sang loudly
shes very pretty
he writes really well
Adverbs normally carry out these functions by answering questions such as:
When? She always arrives early.
How? He drives carefully.
Where? They go everywhere together.
In what way? She eats slowly.
To what extent? It is terribly hot.
An adverb can be used to modify an adjective and intensify the meaning it conveys.
He plays tennis well. (He knows how to play tennis and sometimes he wins.
He plays tennis extremely well. (He knows how to play tennis so well that he wins often.)
The students showed a really wonderful attitude.
The students showed a wonderfully casual attitude.
My professor is really tall.
Note: an adjective cannot modify an adverb
He ran real fast. Wrong
He ran really fast. Right
He behaved very bad on the trip. Wrong (bad is modifying or describing behaved, which is a
verb)
He behaved very badly. Right
His behavior is bad. Right(bad is an adjective describing the noun behavior)
Adverbial
An adverbial is a word (an adverb), phrase, or clause which modifies (changes, restricts or adds to
the meaning of) a verb.
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An adverbial can be a noun phrase:
We met that afternoon.
If a group of words containing a subject and verb acts as an adverb (modifying the verb of a
sentence), it is called an Adverb Clause:
When this class is over, we're going to the movies.
We met because we needed to talk.
When a group of words not containing a subject and verb acts as an adverb, it is called an
adverbial phrase.
He went to the movies.
She works on holidays.
They lived in Canada during the war.
Note: Prepositional phrases frequently have adverbial functions (telling place and time,
modifying the verb):-E.g., We met in the caf.
Adverbs and adverb phrases that down tone the feeling or mood would include:
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You can improve on this to some extent.
She kind of likes the movie.
The boss almost quit his job after that.
I somewhat understand what you are saying.
Joe sort of felt betrayed by his sister.
His mother mildly disapproved his actions.
We often use more and most, less and least to show degree with adverbs:
With sneakers on, he could move more quickly among the patients.
The flowers were the most beautifully arranged creations I've ever seen.
She worked less confidently after her accident.
That was the least skillfully done performance I've seen in years.
A handful of adverbs have two forms, one that ends in -ly and one that doesn't. In certain cases,
the two forms have different meanings:
He arrived late.
Lately, he couldn't seem to be on time for anything.
He listened hard. He really did listen)
Hardly, he listened.
Inappropriate Adverb Order
Misplacement can also occur with very simple modifiers, such as only and barely:
She only grew to be four feet tall.
It would be better if "She grew to be only four feet tall."
She only sits there.(She doesnt do anything other than sitting)
She sits only there.(That is the only place where she sits)
But the below 2 sentences mean the same.
She barely likes vegetables.
She likes vegetables barely.
Relative Adverbs
Where
When
Why
Adjectival clauses are sometimes introduced by the relative adverbs.
The relative word itself fulfills an adverbial function (modifying a verb within its own clause).
The relative adverb where begins a clause that modifies a noun of place:
My entire family now worships in the church where my great grandfather used to be minister.
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The relative pronoun "where" modifies the verb "used to be" (which makes it adverbial), but the
entire clause ("where my great grandfather used to be minister") modifies the word "church."
A when clause modifies nouns of time:
My favorite month is always February, when we celebrate Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day.
And a why clause will modify the noun reason:
Do you know the reason why Isabel isn't in class today?
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Another common construction with the adverb too is too followed by a prepositional phrase
for + the object of the preposition followed by an infinitive:
This milk is too hot for a baby to drink.
A disjunct is a type of adverbial that expresses information that is not considered essential to
the sentence it appears in, but which is considered to be the speaker's or writer's attitude
towards, or descriptive statement of, the propositional content of the sentence.
Frankly, Martha, I don't give a hoot.
Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Honestly, I couldn't believe it.
Wisely, she spent the money
Conjuncts, on the other hand, serve a connector function within the flow of the text, signaling a
transition between ideas.
If they start smoking those awful cigars, then I'm not staying.
We've told the landlord about this ceiling again and again, yet he's done nothing to fix it.
Jose has spent years preparing for this event; nevertheless, he's the most nervous person here.
I love this school; however, I don't think I can afford the tuition.
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THE ROYAL ORDER OF ADVERBS
Positions of Adverbs
One of the hallmarks of adverbs is their ability to move around in a sentence. Adverbs of
manner are particularly flexible in this regard.
Solemnly the minister addressed his congregation.
The minister solemnly addressed his congregation.
The minister addressed his congregation solemnly.
The following adverbs of frequency appear in various points in these sentences:
Before the main verb:
I never get up before 9o'clock.
Between the auxiliary verb and the main verb:
I have rarely written to my brother without a good reason.
Before the verb used to:
I always used to see him at his summer home.
Indefinite adverbs of time can appear either before the verb or between the auxiliary and the
main verb:
He finally showed up for batting practice.
She has recently retired.
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Linda looks well. (How is Linda? She may have been ill, but now she is fit again.)
How are you? I'm well, thank you.
In the second and third sentences, well can be an adjective (meaning fit/healthy), or
an adverb of the adjective good.
Even
It is used to show that something is surprising, unusual, unexpected, or extreme:
I don't even know where it is.
It's a very difficult job - it might even take a year to finish it.
He didn't even buy me a card for my birthday.
The new varieties of wheat grow well even in poor soil.
To say two things happened at the same time:
I tried to explain him my situation, but even as I started to explain what
had happened he stood up to leave.
It is used to say that if something is the caseor not, the result is the same:
Even if you take a taxi, you'll still miss your train.
Even now/then meaning despite something:
I gave Jim very clear instructions, but even then he managed to make a mess of it.
Even so, meaning despite what has just been said:
I had a terrible headache, but even so I went to the concert.
Even though meaning although:
Even though he left school at 16, he still managed to become prime minister.
ADVERB TYPES
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harshly Outside then most of the times quite
horribly over there today Nearly rather
luckily Somewhere tomorrow nearly always really
mildly There tonight Occationally so
nicely Top yesterday Often too
obviously Under Once very
poorly Underground Rarely
quickly Upstairs Seldom
rudely Sometimes
sadly Twice
sympathetically Usually
terribly Weekly
well
willingly
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9. PREPOSITIONS
ABOUT (preposition, adverb, and adjective)
She's about 12 years old. (She is almost 12)
When he woke up, there were about ten people waiting for his garage sale to begin.
He's been on the phone for about ten minutes.
He weighs about 240 pounds.
He's just about to sneeze.
They are about to leave.
She's reading a very interesting book about European history.
The movie is about aliens.
Tell me about your experience.
There are some words we use with about:complain, concern, excited, happy and worry:
He never complains about the pain.
Everybody was very concerned about the accident.
Im very excited about coming to France and I cant wait to see you.
Im very happy about my trip.
Please dont worry about me.
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Across means on the other side of something, or from one side to the other of something which has sides
or limits such as a city, road or river:
She lives across the street
They walked across as quickly as they could.
The road was so busy that we found it difficult to get across.
Across the street there's a small shop and some apartments.
We also use across when something touches or stretches from one side to another:
You have to be careful when you walk across the street in a big city.
They're traveling across the field on horseback.
AGAINST (preposition)
We use against to refer to negative, hostile or opposing reactions to situations, beliefs, people, events,
etc.
Millions of people campaigned against the war.
Its not easy to go against your parents advice.
That referee has something against our team. (he doesnt like our team)
I am against animal experimentation
They are against the new office policy.
She gets angry when something goes against her beliefs.
Here are some common verbs often followed by against:
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argue discriminate protest testify
Be fight react vote
campaign go rebel
Against with nouns
Discrimination against people on the basis of race, age or gender is illegal.
Everyone can be part of the fight against litter.
The best protection against illness is a good diet and lots of exercise.
Here are some common nouns often followed by against:
accusation campaign discrimination protest
action case evidence reaction
aggression charge Fight rebellion
appeal complaint Law
argument defence prejudice
battle demonstration protection
We often use against to talk about physical contact between two or more things:
He was leaning against the wall.
The bed was against the wardrobe.
A building developer wants to cut down this tree and build a new restaurant, but this
protester is against it.
We often use against with verbs and nouns connected with sport and competitions, such
as compete/competition, final, game, match, play, semi-final:
Japan competed against Germany in the semi-final.
Englands match against Jamaica was cancelled.
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We also use alongside as an adverb, meaning along the side of or next to something:
I parked my car in the drive and William parked his alongside.
AMONG (prepositions)
We use among to talk about things which are not clearly separated because they are part of a group or
crowd or mass of objects:
She is comfortable being among friends.
They found the lost dog among the wreckage.
The child star grew up among famous people.
We use among to suggest a sense of being a part of or surrounded by or included in something else. It
is typically followed by a plural noun phrase:
She's very popular among her friends.
Among their three children, one has blond hair and the other two have red hair.
They enjoy walking among the trees in the forest.
In the phrases among others and among other things, among means as well as:
Her parents, among others, were worried about her travelling alone.
Among other things, I still have to pack.
AROUND (adverb, preposition)
We use around and round when we refer to movements in circles or from one place to
another. Around and round can both be used.
She tied a ribbon around the box.
We spent a very pleasant day walking round the town. (movement from one place to
another)
Now that they are retired, they are planning a trip around the world.
Around and round also mean in different places and here and there:
He doesn't know his way around.
How are you getting around?
Let's take a look around.
We live around the area.
They planted a lot of trees around their house.
The place I need to go to is just around the corner. (not far away, or going to happen soon)
Around can also mean approximately:
I think it's around 1:00.
AT (preposition)
Used to show an exact position or particular place:
Let's meet at the library.
I found this at the store.
She's sitting at the table in the corner.
Used to show an exact or a particular time:
I'll meet you at noon.
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I have to wake up tomorrow at 6:00.
In the direction of:
Take a look at all of these items.
I glanced at the clock.
She was waving at the crowd.
Used to show the cause of something, especially a feeling:
We were surprised at the news.
I was quite excited at the prospect.
Why does no one ever laugh at my jokes?
Used to show the activity in which someone's ability is beingjudged:
I was never very good at sports.
He's very good at getting on with people.
She's hopeless at organizing things.
Used to show a price, temperature, rate, speed, etc.:
I'm not going to buy those shoes at $150!
Inflation is running at 5 percent.
He was driving at 120 mph when the police spotted him.
My favorite radio station is at 91.1 FM on the radio dial.
Other examples:
Andrea lives at number 21 Oak Street.
While Liz was at the dentists, I went shopping.(We use at the to refer to public places where
we get treatments, such as a dentists or doctors surgery, hairdressers or spa)
BEFORE (preposition, adverb, and conjunction)
Before means earlier than the time or event mentioned:
Can you call me back before 5 pm, please?
I met her just before she left.
We use before meaning in front of in more formal contexts:
Moses went before King Pharaoh and asked him to let his people go.
These musicians enjoy performing before an audience.
We have a long journey before us.
We use before most commonly with noun phrases to refer to timed events:
It feels good to wake up before sunrise.
They left before dinner.
I came here before.
I didn't think about it before.
Especially in writing, we use before long to mean after a short time:
Theyll marry before long, and then youll have more grandsons than you can count.
We can use beforehand as an alternative to before as an adverb, especially when the reference to time is
less specific.
Beforehand is more common in informal speaking than in writing:
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I love singing but I always get so nervous beforehand.
With before + ing-form is more formal:
Before bringing the milk to the boil, add the egg. (more formal than Before you bring )
We can use adverbs such as just, immediately, shortly and long, and expressions involving words such
as days, weeks, months, years in front of before:
We got home just before it rained.
The deadline for the essay was 5 pm. I got mine in shortly before five oclock but Lily had
hers in days before the deadline.
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Inflation has fallen below 5% for the first time in six years.
To talk about the position one hold in comparison to someone higher:
She works below the assistant manager. He's not her supervisor, but he tells her what to do.
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Beyond meaning outside the limits. Weuse beyond with expressions of time to mean after that time
or further than that time:
Its impossible to predict beyond the next five years as regards world economic trends. (we
cannot predict further in time than the next five years)
Beyond very often has a meaning of outside the limits of something. We often use it in the
expressions beyond belief and beyond doubt:
That the government should want to tax the poor even more heavily is beyond belief. (no
one can believe it)
Her commitment to her profession is beyond doubt. (no one can doubt it)
The mechanic announced that the engine was beyond repair. (it could not be repaired)
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By and near have a similar meaning but by refers to a shorter distance:
Theres a lovely caf by the river. We could go there. (The caf is beside the river.)
Three people walked by the house as Henry opened the door. (They walked past the house.)
Lisa waved as she went by. (She passed the house without stopping.)
We use by to talk about measurements, and increases and decreases in amounts:
When you work part-time, you are usually paid by the hour.
The price of fuel has increased by 12% this year.
We use by, not with, to talk about the action of something:
He got into the house by breaking the window. (action)
DURING
We use during before nouns and noun phrases to refer to when something happens over a period of
time. During can refer to the whole time of the event:
You are not allowed to use your mobile phone during class. (the whole of the class)
I have to have my window open during the night. (the whole of the night)
In this meaning, during can often mean the same as in:
His grandfather fought in the army during the First World War. (or in the First World
War.)
When I was a kid, our cousins often came to stay with us during the summer. (or in the
summer.)
I havent done any exercise during the last week.
During can refer to something that happened while the main event was taking place.
What was that noise I heard during the night, I wonder? or in the night. (I heard a noise
at an unspecified point in the night.)
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This soup tastes good except it needs salt.
Except for his keyboarding skills, he'spretty good at using a computer.
FROM (preposition)
We use from to show the time or point in time when something starts:
Tickets for the concert are on sale from Monday.
The finals take place from 1.30 pm on Sunday.
We use from to show the level that things begin at, such as numbers or prices:
Prices start from 300 rupees for a ticket to the theme park.
We use from to talk about distance in relation to somewhere else:
The Metro station is nearby and we are only five minutes from the toll gate.
We use from to refer to the place where someone or something starts or originates:
She is from Italy.
Do you live far from here?
We get our vegetables from the farm shop. Theyre really fresh.
We use from to talk about the way we use materials or ingredients to make things:
Ivory is made from elephant tusk..
We use from to to talk about ranges of different things such as prices, geographical distance, time
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There were six Miller children, ranging in age from nineteen to seven.
Other examples
Sweat is dripping from his forehead.
He's a mean dude. He comes from a bad family.
This picture is from a trip I took to Paris.
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Call me back near the end of September.
We can use near (to) to talk about being almost in a particular state or condition:
It was full of soldiers and of military police, and I was near despair.
In formal contexts, we can use near as an adjective to refer to time with the phrase in the near
future meaning soon. It is usually in end position:
Bank interest rates are expected to rise in the near future.
We dont use near as an adjective modifying a noun when it refers to distance:
We went to a nearby restaurant in the evening.
Not: a near restaurant
Nearby is an adverb or an adjective meaning not far away:
Does Paul live nearby? (adverb)
Luckily, the nearby buildings werent damaged by the fire. (adjective)
We dont use nearby as a preposition. We use near:
He worked in a restaurant near the station.
Not: He worked in a restaurant nearby the station.
NEXT TO (preposition)
They're sitting next to each other in the movie theater.
There's a church next to this house.
He's sitting next to the window.
OF (preposition)
Of commonly introduces prepositional phrases which are complements of nouns, creating the pattern:
noun + of + noun.
Delhi is the capital of India.
Twenty-four-hour TV news makes sure we all know the main events of the day.
Would you like some more pieces of toast?
We also commonly use of as a preposition after different adjectives (afraid of, generous of, proud of)
and verbs (approve of, dream of, think of):
I never thought she could take a flight on her own at her age. I feel very proud of her.
Best of luck with the interview tomorrow. Well be thinking of you.
We use the structure determiner + of + noun in expressions of quantity:
Most of the new workers in the country are from Turkey.
Some of my best friends are computer scientists.
Of is optional with all, both, half except before the object pronouns me, you, it, him, her, us, them:
Both (of) the finance ministers have decided to resign.
All of them will be able to travel on the bus.
The pronoun other has the same forms as nouns. We add s to the singular form, and we add an
apostrophe after the plural -s ending in the plural form:
They took each others hand and started walking.
All of our luggage arrived but the others cases didnt.
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We can talk about possession using the pattern: noun phrase + of + possessive pronoun:
A friend of mine told me that all of the tickets have already sold out.
Hes gone to pick up a cousin of his at the station.
Is Linda McGrath a close friend of yours?
A neighbour of mine called late last night.
Hes a brother of Marias. (Marias brother)
A friend of my sisters has opened a caf on Dawson Street. (sisters friend)
She was a daughter of the Presidents. (Presidents daughter)
We dont use s when the noun is not a person, animal, country, organisation, etc., or when the noun
phrase is very long:
The name of the ship was Wonder Queen. (Not: The ships name was Wonder Queen.)
The house of the oldest woman in the village. (Not: The oldest woman in the villages
house.)
Other examples:
Hundreds of people on bikes appeared at the event.
He's sick of his computer.
He's tired of doing paperwork.
OFF (adverb, adjective and preposition)
Away from a place or position, especially the present place, position, or time:
He drove off at the most incredible speed.
She's off to Canada next week.
He thief saw the police and took off.
Please take your shoes off.
All the berries had dropped off the tree.
He fell off his bike.
Take your feet off that seat, young man!
Used with actions in which something is removed or removes itself from another thing:
One of my buttons has come off.
She had all her hair cut off.
Not operating
Make sure the computers are all off before you go home.
(Of money) taken away from the original price:
The card entitles you to 30% off all rail fares.
Not at work; at home or on holiday:
I'm going to take/have some time off to work on my house.
She was off sick last week.
In such a way as to be separated:
The police have shut/closed off all streets leading to the city.
She marked off the amount of fabric she needed.
(Of an arranged event) stopped or given up:
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The partys off - she's decided to cancel it.
Andrew must be so well-off (= rich) by now.
In such a way as to be completely absent, especially because of having been used or killed:
It says on the bottle that it kills off all known germs.
It'll take some time before she manages to pay off all her debts.
The good thing about exercise is that it burns off calories.
Having a particular amount or number, especially of money:
Andrew must be so well-off (= rich) by now.
I think they're fairly badly-off (= poor) now that David has lost his job.
ON/ONTO (prepositions)
We use on when we refer to a position on a surface (on the table, on the ocean, on the moon, on the
roof, on the bus):
Your keys are on the table.
The men were standing on the roof.
We use onto to talk about direction or movement to a position on a surface, usually with a verb that
expresses movement:
The cat climbed onto the roof.
She emptied the suitcase full of clothes onto the floor.
We use on to describe a position along a road or river or by the sea or by a lake:
The hotel is on the road opposite the beach.
They have a fabulous house on a lake in Ireland.
We use onto to describe movement towards an end position along a road or river:
The path leads onto the main road.
We use on or onto with very little difference in meaning to refer to attachment or movement of
something to something else. onto gives a stronger feeling of movement:
Theres a battery pack with the camera that you can clip onto a belt.
You can save the data onto your hard disk.
Have you put the pictures on your memory stick?
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We use out as an adverb to mean not in a building or an enclosed space:
He went out last night.
The dog ran out the door.
He walked out the back door.
He is out at the moment.
They are always out.
Tell them I'm out.
She threw the spoiled food out.
We use out as a verb particle in phrasal verbs:
Look out theres a car coming.
I thought Id phone and find out how you are.
She called out for help.
Has the new book come out yet?
We use out of to say that something is all gone:
The printer is out of ink. We need to get some soon.
Im afraid, were out of soup.
We use out of as a preposition to talk about movement from within somewhere or something,
usually with a verb that expresses movement (e.g. go, come). It shows where something is or was
going:
You go out of the building and turn right.
He pulled a letter out of his shirt pocket, opened it and handed it to her to read.
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A plane flew really low over our heads.
He had mud all over his face.
You can buy a plastic cover to put over your computer if youre worried about dust.
Over as an adjective means finished; done
The game was over quickly.
The meeting is finally over.
We can use over to refer to extended periods of time:
Over a period of three centuries, very little changed in the pattern of life for the poorest
people.
What are you doing over the summer holidays? Are you going away?
Over means more than a particular number, or limit:
There were over 100 people at the lecture.
If your hand baggage weighs over 10 kilos, you must check it in.
Over as an adverb can mean to someones house:
Would you like to come over and have dinner one evening? (to the speakers house)
Over and over means repeatedly, many times.
Stop it! Ive told you over and over not to play with the radio!
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Since leaving school, he has had three or four temporary jobs. (Since he left school, he has
)
We can use since or since then as an adverb of time when the time reference is understood from
the context:
His father doesnt talk to him. They had an argument a couple of years ago and they havent
spoken since. (since they had the argument)
They bought the house in 2006 and theyve done a lot of work on it since then. (since 2006)
We use ever since as a stronger form of since or since then:
When I was young, I had a little collie dog, but one day he bit me really badly. Ive hated
dogs ever since.
We use since as a subordinating conjunction to introduce a subordinate clause. We use it to give
a reason for something:
Since it's hot today, let's turn on the air conditioner.
Since her husband hated holidays so much, she decided to go on her own.
TO
To is a preposition. It is also used as part of the infinitive (the to-infinitive):
Does this train go to Cambridge? (preposition)
Id like to see that film. (to-infinitive)
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We can use to as a preposition to indicate a destination or direction:
Were going to Liverpool next week.
The dog ran to us as soon as we arrived.
We use to with verbs such as give, hand, send, write, to indicate the person or thing that
receives or experiences the object of the verb:
I [V]gave [O]the keys to [receiver]Jane.
Shes always writing letters to the local newspaper.
We use to in telling the time, when we refer to the number of minutes before the hour:
Her train arrives at quarter to five.
Its ten to six. Wed better leave now or well be late.
We can use to with the meaning of until when we are talking about time. We often use it in
the expression from to :
Its just three days to New Years Day.
To as a preposition: time
We use to in telling the time, when we refer to the number of minutes before the hour:
Her train arrives at quarter to five.
Its ten to six. Wed better leave now or well be late.
We can use to with the meaning of until when we are talking about time. We often use it in
the expression from to :
Its just three days to New Years Day.
Theyre only open from Monday to Friday. Theyre closed at the weekend.
To as a preposition: approximate numbers
We can use to when we refer to an approximate number somewhere between a lower number
and a higher number:
There were forty to fifty people at the meeting.
Itll probably cost you thirty to thirty-five pounds.
To as a preposition: after nouns
A number of nouns are followed by to. These include nouns expressing direction or destination
such as door, entrance, road, route, and way:
The door to the main office was open.
Is this the way to the airport?
They also include nouns referring to transport, such as bus, coach, ferry, flight, train:
The ferry to Santander takes 12 hours.
Is this the bus to the stadium?
Nouns expressing reactions and responses are also followed by to. These include answer, key,
reaction, reply, response, solution:
His reaction to her comments was very aggressive.
They dont seem to be able to find a solution to the problem of global warming yet.
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To as a preposition: after verbs
Some verbs are followed by the preposition to, including be used, get used, listen, look forward,
object, reply, and respond:
We listened to that CD you lent us. Its great.
I object to your remarks.
The bank hasnt replied to my letter yet.
To as a preposition: after adjectives
Some adjectives connected with peoples behaviour and feelings are followed by to,
including cruel, faithful, generous, kind, loyal, nasty:
I cannot bear people being cruel to animals.
Be kind to her. Youre so nasty to her!
Many individuals have been loyal to the Conservative Party all their lives.
To: the to-infinitive
We use to before a verb to make the to-infinitive form:
She loves to wear really colourful dresses.
I need to leave early today.
To get an outside line, you have to dial 9 first.
TOWARD/TOWARDS
Towards and toward are prepositions. We can use both forms, but towards is much more
common than toward.
Toward(s) most often means in the direction of something:
The oil pollution is now moving towards the shore, and could threaten beaches and wild
life.
He stood up and moved toward the door.
We use toward(s) to mean in relation to someone or something.
Shes always been very friendly towards me.
He felt very angry towards her when she refused him.
We use toward(s) to mean near to or just before a time or place:
Toward the late afternoon I always get sleepy and cant work so well.
We sat towards the back of the room but we could still hear the speakers very clearly
Toward(s) can mean for the purpose of buying or achieving something:
Would you like to make a contribution towards our new childrens playground? (Would
you like to give some money to help pay for it?)
The essays you do during term count towards your final grade.
UNDER
Under is a preposition. We use under to talk about something that is below or lower than
something else:
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The cat is under the table.
His shoes were under his bed.
When we use under, we can also mean that one thing is touching or covering something else. We
do not use below in this way:
The wreck of the Titanic still remains under the sea.
Not: below the sea.
He had hidden the money under the floorboards.
Not: below the floorboards.
We dont use under to refer to something in a lower position than something else. We use below:
Venus is just below the moon right now.
Not: Venus is just under the moon
We use under, not below, to refer to age:
You have to be under 18 to get an allowance.
They have three children under the age of five.
We use under, not below, to talk about measurements of time and weight:
We finished the project in under a year and a half.
The bag was just under 10 kilos, so I was able to bring it on the plane.
When we talk about height and temperature, we use below not under:
The roof of the new building is just below the height of the church and I think it distracts
from the church.
Not: under the height of the church
The liquid must be kept below five degrees. (preferred to under five degrees.)
Underneath is similar to under, but it usually only refers to position:
Underneath the stairs is where we keep our vacuum cleaner and brushes.
The child weighed under five kilos.
Not: underneath five kilos.
Other examples:
This bridge is under construction.
I'm under the care of a very good doctor.
UNTIL
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Until is a preposition and a conjunction. Until is often shortened to till or til.
Until as a preposition means up to (the time that):
We played chess until midnight. (up to midnight)
The film didnt end till eleven oclock.
We use from with until or till to talk about when something begins and when it ends:
I worked out at the gym from 6 pm till 7.30 pm.
The road outside our house will be closed from 6 am until 6 pm tomorrow.
We dont use until or till to talk about quantity or numbers. We use up to:
The taxi can take up to five people.
We use until as a subordinating conjunction to connect an action or an event to a point in time:
Lets wait here till the rain stops. (till + subordinate clause)
Warning:
We dont normally put the until-clause before the main clause:
No one left the room until the talk ended.
Not: Until the talk ended no one left the
We use present verb forms to refer to the future after until:
I cant wait until the summer holidays begin.
We also use the present perfect after until to refer to actions or events that will continue up to a
point in the future:
Well sit here till Donna has finished.
We use the past simple and past perfect to talk about events in the past:
He was the headteacher until he retired in 1968.
We couldnt put down the new floor till the plumber had finished.
UP
Up is an adverb, a preposition and an adjective.
Up is the opposite of down. It refers to movement to a higher level.
We use up as an adverb to talk about movement towards a higher position, value, number or
level:
She put the books up on the highest shelf.
The good weather has pushed sales of summer clothes up.
We light the fire every night and that heats the room up.
We use up to talk about a higher position or movement to a higher position:
He was up a ladder painting.
My grandparents live just up the road.
I followed Vivian up the stairs, where there was a small dining room.
As we were climbing up the narrow mountain road, we could see the sea below.
We use up as an adjective usually to talk about increases in prices, levels or amounts:
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The price of fuel is up again.
It was cold yesterday but the temperature is up today.
Up is commonly used as a particle in phrasal verbs:
He was brought up by his grandmother.
Dont give up. You will find a job.
What time did you wake up this morning?
Up is also commonly used as an adverb particle followed by a preposition in phrasal
prepositional verbs:
I had to run to catch up with Elaine. She walks so fast.
Ive always looked up to my older brother.
UP TO
Up to: as much as; almost
An elephant can eat up to 400 pounds of food in one day!
He spends up to two or three hours on the phone every day at work.
Up to: as high as
A sudden thunderstorm flooded the streets. The water was up to the top of his tires.
She worked her way up to a management position very quickly.
Other examples
What are you up to? = What are you doing?
Most of the big decisions in the company are left up to him.
He walked up to a police officer and asked for help in finding his mother.
UPON
Upon (prep): on top; on; indicating someone or something is close by
The king put his crown upon the prince's head.
Once upon a time, there lived a prince and princess.
The movie star was escorted into a room upon arrival.
Upon her head she wore a black velvet hat.
A country's future prosperity depends, to an extent, upon
the quality of education of itspeople.
WITH
With (prep): used when saying people or things are together; in addition to
I am going to the mall with my friends.
I need to do math with a calculator.
I decorated the room with posters.
She arrived with her grandpa.
I dont like tea with milk.
With often follows adjectives which refer to reactions and feelings:
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Are you happy with your music lessons?
The teacher got angry with them because they were behaving badly.
Im delighted with this new jacket.
We use with to refer to what we use to do something:
They opened the package with a knife.
Ill tie it with some tape to keep it closed.
He cleaned the table with a cloth he found in the kitchen.
We use with to mean having or possessing:
Its the house with the really big gates.
She woke with terrible toothache.
The Commonwealth Institute used to be a building with a very unusual roof in Kensington.
We use with to mean because of or as a result of. This is especially common in speaking:
With all this work, Id better stay in tonight.
I couldnt sleep with the noise of the traffic.
WITHIN
Within means inside or not further than a particular area or space:
People who live within the city pay higher local taxes than people who live just outside the
city. (= the people who live no further than the city boundary or limits)
Weve always lived within ten miles of the coast. We love the sea. (Weve always lived no
further than ten miles from the coast.)
We can use within to refer to time:
Ive booked train tickets on the Internet. They should arrive within three days. (no later than
three days from now)
Ive noticed her change within a very short time.
WITHOUT
The preposition without means not having something or lacking something:
I cant drink tea without milk.
I found myself in a strange country, without money and with no one to turn to.
He left without his umbrella and it's raining now.
I can't see anything without my glasses.
Without + -ing form can also mean if someone does not do something:
I couldnt get the picture out of the frame without breaking the glass. (if I did not break the
glass)
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I like Sarah but I dont like her brother much.
Do you like pasta?
ike + -ing
I like swimming before breakfast.
He likes telling jokes.
like + to-infinitive
She likes to go and see her parents at the weekend.
I dont like to cycle in the dark.
ike + wh-clause
I dont like what he did.
We liked how they cooked the fish.
We use would like or d like to offer something to someone in a polite way or to ask them to do
something politely (requests), or politely to say what we want. We use the to-infinitive form of
verbs that follow:
Would you like another coffee?
Would you like to watch a DVD?
Id like to enquire about the Sales Manager position which you have advertised
Like means similar to. We often use it with verbs of the senses such as look, sound, feel, taste,
seem:
She looked like she was going to cry.
It looks like it may rain.
I want a haircut like yours.
My brother looks like my dad.
When we use like to mean similar to, we can put words and phrase such as a bit, just, very,
so and more before it to talk about the degree of similarity:
Its a bit like skiing but theres no snow.
Isnt that just like the bike we bought you for your birthday?
That smells very like garlic.
We can use like as a suffix at the end of a noun to mean similar to:
There is something child-like about Marianne. She always seems so innocent.
What is Martinas new colleague like? What is his personality like? Is he nice?
Hes really nice.
What does Martinas new colleague look like? What is his appearance like? Is he
Hes tall, with blond hair. handsome?
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10. CONJUNCTIONS
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are what come to most peoples minds when they hear the word
conjunction, and they do exactly what their name implies they make things go together.
They can join together words, phrases and independent clauses. If youve ever heard the classic
Schoolhouse Rock song, Conjunction Junction, then you are already somewhat familiar with
coordinating conjunctions.
The English language has seven coordinating conjunctions, and theyre easy to remember if you
can just remember FANBOYS:
Examples:
I will be late to the party, for I am working until seven.
Tom likes to read and write.
Sally does not like the mountains, nor does she like the ocean.
I wanted to ride my bike, but the tire was flat.
Fred wants peas or carrots for supper.
I love chocolate, yet I do not eat chocolate ice cream.
She was late to work, so her boss made her stay after five.
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Subordinating Conjunction
A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects a main clause to a subordinate clause. A
main clause is an independent clause that can stand alone by itself as a sentence. In other words,
a main clause does not need any additional information to operate as a sentence. For example,
the sentence "The student failed the test" is an example of a main clause.
A subordinate clause is a dependent clause that adds some extra information to the main clause.
These phrases cannot stand by themselves, and their meaning is dependent upon that of the
independent clause. They are not sentences! For example, "because she didn't study" is not a
complete idea worthy of being defined as a sentence. However, combine the two clauses, and
we have "The student failed the test because she didn't study." A complete idea has been
expressed, and enough information has been presented in order to fully explain the thought.
Subordinating
Category Example
Conjunction
as Reason As it's raining, I'm staying in.
because Reason I'm staying in because it's raining.
Since Reason Since you're going out, I'm staying in.
I'm staying in so that I don't miss the
so that Reason
postman.
Although/though/even concession and I'm staying in although/though/even
though comparison though the sun is out.
concession and
As I'm staying in as you should.
comparison
concession and
Though I'm staying in though I wish I weren't.
comparison
concession and
Whereas I'm staying in whereas you are going out.
comparison
concession and
While I'm staying in while you are going out.
comparison
even if Condition Even if it rains, I'm going out.
If Condition If it rains, I'm staying in.
in case Condition I'm staying in in case it rains.
Where Place I fish where the waves start to form.
Wherever Place I will live wherever the weather is good.
After Time I'm going out after the football.
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Before Time I'm going out before the football.
Once Time I'm going out once the football has finished.
I'm staying out till/until the weather turns
Till/Until Time
bad.
When Time I'm going out when the weather improves.
Whenever Time I go out whenever the weather is good.
While Time I'll stay out while the weather is good.
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you
have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work. They get their
name from the fact that they work together (co-) and relate one sentence element to another.
Correlative conjunctions include pairs like both/and, whether/or, either/or,
neither/nor, not/but and not only/but also.
Examples:
I want either the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate.
Ill have both the cheesecake and the frozen hot chocolate.
I didnt know whether youd want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate, so I got you both.
Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the frozen hot chocolate? No problem.
Ill eat them both - not only the cheesecake but also the frozen hot chocolate.
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11. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
If we want to show the person or thing doing the action we use by:
She was attacked by a dangerous dog.
The money was stolen by her husband.
Depending on the tense, the way we use the active and passive forms varies.
SIMPLE PRESENT
am/are/is + past participle
Examples:
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Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
am/are/is being + past participle
Examples:
Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive
PRESENT PERFECT
have/has been + past participle
Examples:
Many tourists have visited that castle. Active
That castle has been visited by many tourists. Passive
NOTE: Present Perfect Continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.
SIMPLE PAST
was/were + past participle
Examples:
Tom repaired the car. Active
The car was repaired by Tom. Passive
PAST CONTINUOUS
was/were being + past participle
Examples:
The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Active
The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Passive
PAST PERFECT
had been + past participle
Examples:
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license. Active
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license. Passive
NOTE: Passive forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are not common.
SIMPLE FUTURE
will be + past participle
Examples:
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John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active
The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. Active
A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. Passive
FUTURE PERFECT
will have been + past participle
Examples:
They will have completed the project before the deadline. Active
The project will have been completed before the deadline. Passive
They are going to have completed the project before the deadline. Active
The project is going to have been completed before the deadline. Passive
This language for sure, will change your life course whether you like
it or not!!!
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