Imperative form

Be quiet!

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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Uses of will

What would you like to eat?

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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The Present Continuous

The Present Continuous

We use the present continuous when we say what is happening now. I am reading now. She is drinking tea at the moment. Subject to be -ing form of verb I am having lunch. He is talking to me. They are sleeping to me. If the verb finishes with -e and the letter before the -e is a consonant, we […]

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Relative pronouns and phrasal verbs

John Prine, Angel from Montgomery Level: A2 (Pre-Intermediate) – American English Practise relative pronouns and phrasal verbs with this John Prine song. Glossary “named after“: given somebody’s name “burnt down“: destroyed by fire “hold onto“: keep and not let go “broken down“: something mechanical doesn’t work anymore “wake up“: stop sleeping

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Auxiliary verbs in questions and some and any

The Beatles, With a Little Help from my Friends Level: A2 (Pre-intermediate) Practise auxiliary verbs used in questions and the difference between some and any with this Beatles song.  Glossary “walk out on“: to abandon “get by“: to manage “get high“: to feel very happy (usually, but not always, after taking drugs) “love at first sight“: to fall in love with someone the first time […]

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The Past Perfect Simple

We use the past perfect when there are 2 actions in the past. The first action is the past perfect and the second action is the past simple. I had had breakfast before I went to work. He had already finished school by the time he was 16. We went to Wembley last night. We had never been there before. Look at the construction: Subject had past participle […]

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The Past Continuous

We use the past continuous to talk about an action which was happening at an exact time in the past. I was sleeping at 6 o’clock this morning. The construction is the same as the present continuous except the verb to be is in the past. The present continous refers to a specific moment in the present -now- while the past continuous refers […]

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The Passive

We use the passive form when the action is more important than who performs it: Look at the constructions: Present simple / Past simple Subject to be past participle of verb (by + object pronoun/name) The song is sung by Bob Dylan. The song was sung by Bob Dylan. Grapes are grown in France. The dishes were washed by my mother. Present continuous / Past […]

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