English grammar explained using clear and simple explanations.
We use the Present Perfect when the time period is continuing. Again there is a connection between the past and the present. Example I have played tennis today. Today started at midnight and is continuing. So even though the action has finished the time period is continuing, so there is a connection between the past and the present. We therefore […]
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The important thing to remember with the Present Perfect is that we use it when there is a connection between the past and the present. So we must use the present perfect for an experience in your life because your life started in the past and is continuing: So every experience in our life we talk about and don’t specify […]
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We use the present perfect continuous when the action has finished but we can still see or feel the results so, as with always in the present perfect, there is a connection between the past and present. Examples I’m tired because I’ve been running. I’m not running now but I’m tired because a was running until a short time […]
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Question tags are very common in conversation. They can be rhetorical: It’s a nice day, isn’t it? I know it’s a nice day, I don’t really need to ask you but I want you to respond. That was a good concert, wasn’t it? I know it was a good concert but let’s talk about it. And they can be used […]
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When we want something to be different than it is we can make sentences with wish or if only. Wish Present subject wish subject past simple I wish I had a million dollars. I wish I could speak Chinese. I wish she lived nearer. It is the same construction as the second conditional. As with the second conditional it […]
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When we tell someone to do something we use the base form of the verb. Examples Be quiet! Come here, please. Look after your sister while I’m out. When we tell someone not to do something we use Don’t + base form or Do not + base form Examples Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t be silly! Do not do that […]
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Of course we use will in English but not as often as you might think. Here is when we use it: To make an immediate decision What would you like to eat? I‘ll have a ham sandwich please. To make an offer You see that someone needs your help and so you offer to help him: I‘ll carry that for […]
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Look at these sentences: There is a blackbird in the garden. There’s a bottle of coke in the fridge. There are sixty people in the waiting room. There are a lot of wild animals in the forest. We use the form there is in the singular form and the form there are in the plural form. Singular Positive Negative Question […]
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Look at these sentences: Are there any anteaters in the zoo? No, there aren’t any anteaters but there are some chimpanzees. We use some in positive sentences and any in negative sentences and questions. Positive Negative Question There are some cars. There aren’t any cars. Are there any cars? You have some money. You don’t have any money. Do you […]
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The verb to be is the first verb to learn when you are learning English. It immediately allows us to give basic information about ourselves and other people. Positive Negative I am I‘m not / I aren’t You are You aren’t / you‘re not He isShe isIt is He isn’t / he‘s notShe isn’t / She‘s notIt isn’t / It‘s […]
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