Grammar 200
Class 1 - Review and Verb Tenses
- Some verbs are not used in present progressive tense.
- Be, believe, enjoy, feel, forget, hate, have, hear, know, like, love, need, prefer, remember, see, smell, taste, think, understand, want
- (You can use think if it refers to “thoughts going through the mind”. You can use have in idioms.)
- Be, believe, enjoy, feel, forget, hate, have, hear, know, like, love, need, prefer, remember, see, smell, taste, think, understand, want
- Some Tricky Verbs
- Watch - we watch something or someone that is moving, we watch something that we are paying attention to
- Look at - we look at something or someone for a reason
- See - we see things because our eyes are open
- Listen to - we listen to something or someone for a reason
- Hear - when we hear, we receive sounds with our ears
- See and hear are usually not used in the present progressive tense.
- Watch - we watch something or someone that is moving, we watch something that we are paying attention to
HERE is a game to review present, past, and progressive tenses
HERE are games to practice verb tenses
HERE are games to practice verb tenses
Class 2 - Present Perfect Tense
HERE is a list of irregular past participles
HERE and HERE and HERE are exercises to practice past participles
HERE and HERE are exercises to practice the present perfect tense
Past Simple or Present Perfect? Practice HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE
HERE and HERE and HERE are exercises to practice past participles
HERE and HERE are exercises to practice the present perfect tense
Past Simple or Present Perfect? Practice HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE
Class 3 - Present Perfect Questions
- Present Perfect questions are interesting because you can respond to them with any verb tense.
- Have you seen the Eiffel Tower?
- Yes, I have seen pictures of it.
- Yes, I visited France last year.
- Yes, I had seen it before I saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- No, I do not want to see it.
- I have not seen it yet, but I will go to France next year.
- No, I have been dreaming about it.
- Have you seen the Eiffel Tower?
Class 4 - Present Perfect Progressive Tense
Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive?
- We use the present perfect for an action that has just finished or that was finished at some unstated point in the past.
- He has just missed the bus.
- I have missed the bus, but I won't be late.
- He has just missed the bus.
- We use the present perfect progressive for an action that started in the past and continues into the present.
- Mr. Black has been teaching for nine years.
- Mr. Black has been teaching for nine years.
- We use the present perfect to talk about a repeated action.
- She has made four telephone calls.
- She has made four telephone calls.
- We use the present perfect progressive to emphasize the duration of the action.
- She has been talking on the phone for two hours.
- She has been talking on the phone for two hours.
- With some verbs that take place over time, like live, stay, study, teach, and work, we can use either the present perfect or the present perfect progressive..
- He has been teaching for nine years.
- He has taught for nine years.
- He has been teaching for nine years.
HERE and HERE are exercises to practice the present perfect progressive tense
Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive/Continuous? Practice HERE and HERE and HERE
Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive/Continuous? Practice HERE and HERE and HERE
Class 5 - Gerunds
- Gerunds as Subject and Object
- To form a gerund, we add -ing to the base form of the verb.
- We can use a gerund like a noun. It can be the subject or the object of a sentence.
- Climbing rocks takes a lot of energy. (subject)
- Melanie loves climbing rocks. (object)
- We can use a gerund as the subject of a question.
- Is climbing rocks dangerous?
- Verb + Gerund
- We can use a gerund as the object of certain verbs.
- Consider, discuss, dislike, enjoy, finish, give up, imagine, keep, keep on, not mind, postpone, put off, quit, start, stop, thinking about
- We use a gerund after the verb go for some activities.
- Go bowling, go camping, go climbing, go dancing, go fishing, go hiking, go jogging, go running, go sailing, go shopping, go sightseeing, go swimming
- We can use a gerund as the object of certain verbs.
- Preposition + Gerund
- We can use a gerund after a preposition. The gerund is the object of the preposition.
- I apologize for being late.
- Prepositions can follow vertain verbs and adjectives.
- Prepositions following verbs: apologize for, approve of, believe in, care about, insist on, succeed in, think about, worry about
- Prepositions following adjectives: capable of, excited about, fond of, good at, interested in, pleased about, tired of, sad about
- I am thinking about leaving early today.
- He is good at skateboarding.
- We can use a gerund after a preposition. The gerund is the object of the preposition.
- Be Used To/Be Accustomed To + Gerund
- We use be used to + gerund or be accustomed to + gerund to talk about something that we are familiar with because we have done it often. They have the same meaning.
- I am used to eating with chopsticks.
- I am accustomed to eating with chopsticks.
- Do not confuse be used to + gerund with used to + base verb. We use used to + base verb to talk about something that happened or was true in the past, but it is different or not true now.
- I used to eat with chopsticks when I lived in Japan. (Now I don't.)
- We use be used to + gerund or be accustomed to + gerund to talk about something that we are familiar with because we have done it often. They have the same meaning.
Class 6 - Infinitives
- Verb + Infinitive
- We use an infinitive (to + the base form of a verb) after certain verbs.
- Agree, appear, can't afford, can't wait, decide, expect, forget, hope, intend, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, plan, pretend, proise, refuse, try, want, would like, would love, would prefer
- Agree, appear, can't afford, can't wait, decide, expect, forget, hope, intend, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, plan, pretend, proise, refuse, try, want, would like, would love, would prefer
- We use an infinitive (to + the base form of a verb) after certain verbs.
- Verb + Gerund or Infinitive
- We can use a gerund or an infinitive after certain verbs. The meaning is the same.
- Love, love, hate, begin, can't stand, start, continue, try
- Love, love, hate, begin, can't stand, start, continue, try
- We can use a gerund or an infinitive after certain verbs. The meaning is the same.
- Infinitive of Purpose
- We use an infinitive to talk about the reason or purpose for doing something (why someone does something).
- I went to the cafeteria to have some lunch.
- He's going to the supermarket to buy groceries.
- I went to the cafeteria to have some lunch.
- In more formal English, we use in order to.
- She left early in order to avoid the heavy traffic.
- We're saving money in order to buy a new car.
- She left early in order to avoid the heavy traffic.
- We can also use for to show purpose. We use a noun after for.
- I went to the cafeteria for lunch.
- He's going to the supermarket for milk and bread.
- I went to the cafeteria for lunch.
- We use an infinitive to talk about the reason or purpose for doing something (why someone does something).
- Adjective + Infinitive
- We can use an infinitive after certain adjectives.
- Afraid, difficult, disappointed, easy, foolish, frightened, glad, happy, pleased, right, sad, safe, sorry, surprised, wrong
- I am pleased to see you.
- She was surprised to get a letter.
- Afraid, difficult, disappointed, easy, foolish, frightened, glad, happy, pleased, right, sad, safe, sorry, surprised, wrong
- We can also use adjectives with infinitives after it.
- It is difficult to speak English.
- It is important to finish on time.
- It is difficult to speak English.
- We can use an infinitive after certain adjectives.
- Be Supposed + Infinitive
- We use be supposed + infinitive to talk about something that is expected of someone or something
- It is supposed to rain tomorrow. (That is what the weather bureau predicted.)
- Kevin is supposed to be home by ten. (His parents have told him to do this.)
- It is supposed to rain tomorrow. (That is what the weather bureau predicted.)
- We use be supposed + infinitive to talk about something that is expected of someone or something
Class 7 - Modals (Ability and Possibility)
- Can/Could/Be Able To to Express Ability
- We use the modal can + a base verb to express ability in the present or future, and could + a base verb to express ability in the past
- Like all modals, can and could take the same form for all persons. There is no -s ending in the third person singular.
- We put not after can, could, and other modals to form the negative.
- Can -> cannot -> can’t
- Could -> could not -> couldn’t
- We put can, could, and other modals before the subject to form questions.
- Can you play soccer now?
- We can use be able to to express ability in the present, past, and future.
- I am able to play soccer now.
- He was able to play soccer.
- We will be able to play soccer.
- We use can + a base verb to express ability in the present or future.
- She can speak Japanese.
- I can help you in 15 minutes.
- We use could + a base verb to express ability in the past.
- When I was young, I could run five miles.
- Am/is/are able to and was/were able to have the same general meaning as can and could but are more common in speech.
- I wanted to call you, but I wasn’t able to remember your phone number.
- I wanted to call you, but I couldn’t remember your phone number.
- When we want to suggest that something is frustrating or difficult, we usually use be able to.
- I tried very hard, but I wasn’t able to do all of my math problems.
- When we talk about a future ability that we do not have in the present, we use will be able to.
- Next year, I’ll be able to drive.
- We must use be able to, not can, with some grammatical structures, such as with another modal and in the present perfect tense.
- I have been able to swim since I was six.
- You should be able to do this problem.
- May/Might/Could to Express Possibility
- She may/may not/might/might not/could go.
- There is no contraction for may not or might not.
- We do not use could in the negative (for possibility).
- There is no contraction for may not or might not.
- We use may, might, or could + a base verb to express something that is possible now or in the future. They mean “perhaps.”
- She may fall and break something. OR She might fall and break something. OR she could fall and break something. OR Perhaps she will fall and break something.
- Remember we also use could + a base verb to mean past ability, to ask permission, and to make requests. We also use may + a base verb to ask for permission.
- I could run very fast when I was young. (past ability)
- Could I take one of these? (permission)
- Could you help me, please? (request)
- May I take one of these, please? (permission)
- When expressing possibility, we do not use may in Yes/No questions. Might can be used in Yes/No questions, but it is very formal.
- Could that answer be correct? OR Might that answer be correct? (formal)
- In this meaning, we do not use could in the negative.
- Our flight may not be late. OR Our flight might not be late.
- She may/may not/might/might not/could go.
Class 8 - Modals (Permission and Request)
- May I/Can I/Could I to Ask for Permission
- For questions, use modal + subject + base verb
- May/Could/Can I use the phone?
- May/Can I help you?
- May/Could/Can I use the phone?
- We use may I/can I/could I + a base verb to ask for permission to do something
- May I is the most polite/formal of the three. We often use May I when speaking to someone who is older, who is in authority over us, or who we do not know
- Could I is more polite or formal than Can I. Could I is a good choice for most situations.
- Can I is often used between people who know each other way.
- May I is the most polite/formal of the three. We often use May I when speaking to someone who is older, who is in authority over us, or who we do not know
- For questions, use modal + subject + base verb
- Can/Could/Would to Make Requests
- Can/Could/Would you wait a minute, please?
- We use would/could/can you + a base verb to ask someone to do something. The meaning of these three modals is the same when we use them to make a request.
- Although they have the same meaning, would and could are more formal than can. We generally use could and would when we make requests of strangers, older people, or people in authority. We use would, could, and can with friends and family members.
- We use please to make requests more polite. We use please especially with would or could. Please usually comes after the subject or at the end of the sentence. When please comes at the end of the sentence, we put a comma before it.
- Would you please sign this?
- Could you sign this, please?
- Would you please sign this?
- Can/Could/Would you wait a minute, please?
Practice modals HERE
Class 9 - Modals (Recommendation and Necessity)
- Should/Ought To/Had Better to Give Advice
- We use should and ought to + a base verb to say what is the best or right thing to do. Should and ought to have the same meaning.
- You should buy a new one.
- You ought to buy a new one.
- You should not lie about it.
- You shouldn’t lie about it.
- We usually do not use ought to in questions, negative sentences, and short answers.
- You shouldn’t stay up late. You have an exam tomorrow.
- Should I send a card? Yes, you should.
- Strong Advice or Warning
- We use had better to give a strong recommendation. Had better often suggests a warning and is stronger than should or ought to. The speaker expects the action to happen.
- You had better hurry.
- We’d better eat now.
- We had better not wait.
- She’d better not leave.
- We rarely use had better in questions.
- We use had better to give a strong recommendation. Had better often suggests a warning and is stronger than should or ought to. The speaker expects the action to happen.
- We use should and ought to + a base verb to say what is the best or right thing to do. Should and ought to have the same meaning.
- Have To, Have Got To, and Must to Express Necessity
- Must, have to, and have got to have almost the same meaning. They all mean that it is necessary to do something.
- Must is the strongest form. We use must in requirements, rules, and laws. We often use must in written instructions.
- You must take an entrance exam. (school requirements)
- Drivers must signal before they turn right or left. (driver’s manual)
- When must expresses necessity, we use it only to refer to the present or the future. To refer to the past, we use had to.
- I had to work last Saturday.
- We usually use have to and have got to in everyday conversation. Have to and have got to have the same meaning.
- It’s Saturday, but I have to work.
- It’s Saturday, but I’ve got to work. I had to work last Saturday, too.
- We usually do not use have got to in questions and negative statements.
- We use have got to only to refer to present and future necessity. To refer to the past, we use had to.
- We had to finish this homework.
- Must Not to Forbid and Not Have To for Lack of Necessity
- We use must not + a base verb to say that something is not allowed or is forbidden. Must not is stronger than should not.
- You must not park here.
- You mustn’t park here.
- We use not have to to show that something is not necessary.
- Tomorrow is Sunday. You don’t have to get up early.
- I had to get up early yesterday.
- We use must not + a base verb to say that something is not allowed or is forbidden. Must not is stronger than should not.
- Must to Make Deductions
- We use must for deductions, or guesses, from facts that we know. Must expresses what is logical in the situation.
- Deduction: He must be rich.
- Fact: Tony has three houses and four cars.
- We use must not for a negative deduction.
- Fact: Tony has three companies. He works very hard.
- Deduction: He must not have a lot of free time.
- We use must for deductions, or guesses, from facts that we know. Must expresses what is logical in the situation.
Class 10 - Phrasal Verbs
Excellent course on different phrasal verbs HERE
56 of the most useful phrasal verbs HERE
Common phrasal verbs HERE
List of phrasal verbs HERE
Phrasal verb dictionary HERE
Practice phrasal verbs HERE and HERE and HERE
56 of the most useful phrasal verbs HERE
Common phrasal verbs HERE
List of phrasal verbs HERE
Phrasal verb dictionary HERE
Practice phrasal verbs HERE and HERE and HERE
Class 11 - Past Perfect Tense
- Past Perfect is used with Simple Past to show that one action happened before another action
- If an action is out of sequence and one needs to show that it happened first, then Past Perfect is used
- If the order is clear because of sequence or words like “before” and “after,” then the Past Perfect should NOT be used
Class 12 - Past Perfect Progressive Tense
Class 13 - Passive Voice
Class 14 - Future Perfect Tense
Class 15 - Future Perfect Progressive Tense
Note: 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 future continuous instead of the future perfect continuous. Be careful because this can then change the meaning of the sentence. Future continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas future perfect continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the future.
- I will be sleeping for two hours when the alarm rings.
- I will have been sleeping for two hours when the alarm goes off.