CAN, CAN’T, COULD, COULDN’T

What’s the difference between CAN and COULD? CAN and COULD are very similar in the English language. Both words are very common because they have many meanings or functions. This means that both CAN and COULD can be used in various ways and different situations.   CAN COULD FRIENDLY FORM POLITE FORM ABILITY ABILITY IN THE PAST PERMISSION PERMISSION REFUSE … Read More

LIST OF ENGLISH TENSES

ACTIVE TENSES SIMPLE CONTINUOUS PERFECT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PRESENT work / works am / is / are working have / has worked have / has been working NEGATIVE FORM do not work / does not work am / is / are not working have / has not worked have / has not been working QUESTION FORM Do you work / Does ... Read More

PRESENT TENSES

Explanation of the Present Simple Tense in English Find out more about the Present Continuous and Progessive Forms in English Learn the Present Perfect

VERBS THAT STAY THE SAME IN THE PAST

Some very common verbs in English have the same Simple Past, Perfect and Past Participles!   Test your knowledge or irregular verbs in the Past Simple Tense in English! ID:13 HP5

HOW TO REMEMBER IRREGULAR SIMPLE PAST AND PAST PARTICIPLES IN ENGLISH

Students are always daunted by the seemingly endless list of irregular verbs in the past in English. While there are many irregular verbs in the past, many can be placed into phonetic groups. This makes them easier to remember and can be particularly useful when students need to study a long list of verbs in the past form to pass … Read More

DON’T USE THESE VERBS IN PROGRESSIVE FORM

ENGLISH VERBS THAT CANNOT BE USED IN THE CONTINUOUS OR PROGRESSIVE FORM Verbs of Emotion:  love, hate, prefer, mind, like, dislike, please, surprise, astonish, impress Verbs of Possession: have, own, want, belong, need, possess, own, owe, include, involve Verbs used for the Senses:  see, hear, smell, seem, sound, taste, look (=seem), appear, be Verbs of Thought: know, believe, remember, agree, … Read More

PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE – form and use

USE PRESENT SIMPLE FOR; Routines – I work 5 days a week.  I go to the gym on Monday and Thursday during my lunch break. Habits – I have a cup of coffee for breakfast.  I smoke.  I bite my nails Facts – Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.  The earth goes around the sun. Scheduled Future Events (i.e. timetables) … Read More

PRESENT CONTINUOUS / PROGRESSIVE TENSE – Form and Use

FORM Regular Form: Verb ‘to be’ (am/is/are) + Base of Verb + ING (Present Participle).  Examples of the Present Participle: work + ING = work, talk + ING = talking Negative Form: Use verb ‘to be’ (am/is/are) + NOT + Present Participle.  Example: He is not working.  / She is not listening. Question Form (Regular & Irregular Verbs): Verb ‘to … Read More

PAST SIMPLE TENSE – Form and Use

PAST SIMPLE FORM Regular Form: Add ‘ed’ to the bare infinitive for regular verbs – I worked / he played Negative Form: Use DID NOT + Base of Verb (long form) or DIDN’T + Base of Verb Question Form (Regular & Irregular Verbs): DID Subject Base of Verb – Did you buy a book at the shop? Irregular Form: Remember … Read More

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE – Form and Use

FORM Basic Form: Subject + Helping (Auxiliary)  verb ‘to have’ + Past Participle Question Form: Helping verb (Auxiliary) + Subject + Past Participle Negative Form: Subject + helping verb + not + Past Participle USE THE PRESENT PERFECT TO DESCRIBE: an action that began in past continues in present – I have been in Malta for 3 months. a past … Read More