Future with 'Going to' The future with 'going to' is used to speak about future intentions or plans made before the present moment. Examples: We are going to study Russian next semester. Where are you going to stay in New York? She isn't going to take a vacation this year. The future with 'going to' is used to express events you have already planned in the future and your intentions for the future. We sometimes also use the present continuous for planned events in the near future. Examples: She's going to attend university and study to become a doctor. We're going to make the presentation next week. Future with Going to Structure Positive Subject + to be + going to + verb I am going to attend the meeting. He, She is going to attend the meeting. You, We, They are going to attend the meeting. Negative Subject + to be + not + going to + verb I'm not going to visit Rome next year. He, She isn't going to visit Rom...

Future Future with 'Will' the future with 'will' is used to make a future prediction or express a decision about the future made at the moment. Examples: It will be sunny tomorrow. I think the government will help the poor. I'm hungry. I'll buy something to eat. The future with 'will' is used to make future predictions and promises. Often the precise moment the action will occur is unknown or not defined. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: soon next month / year / week Basic Construction Positive Subject + will + verb + object(s) + time Expression The government will increase taxes soon. Negative Subject + will not (won't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression She won't help us much with the project. Question (Question Word) + will + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression Why will they reduce taxes?

Present Perfect Continuous The present perfect continuous is used to express how long a current activity has been going on. It is often used in context to provide a reason for a present result. Remember that continuous forms can only be used with action verbs.  This tense is often used with the following time expressions: since + specific point in time for + amount of time Basic Construction Positive Subject + has / have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time expression Example He's been cleaning house for two hours. Negative Subject + has / have not (hasn't / haven't) + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time expression Example Janice hasn't been studying for too long. Question (Question Word) + has / have + subject + been + verb + ing + object(s) + (time expression) Example How long have you been working in the garden?

English grammar | Present Perfect The present perfect is used to say what has happened recently and has an effect on the present moment. We often use 'just', 'yet' and 'already' to express the relationship to the present moment. Examples Have you seen Mary yet? They've already had dinner. She's just been to the dentist's. The present perfect is also used to express something which has happened up to the present moment of time. Examples Have you worked here for a long time? Peter's lived here since 1987. She hasn't had much fun this week. Positive Form Subject + have + past participle + object(s) Examples Peter's lived here since 1987. We've been very busy today. Negative Form Subject + have + not + past participle + object(s) Examples I haven't been to class very often this month. She hasn't had much fun this week. Question Form (Wh?) + have + subject + past participle? Examples ...

Past Perfect Simple They had lived in New York for 3 years before they moved to Seattle. (up to the time they moved to Seattle) Past Perfect Continuous She had been studying for 4 hours when he arrived. (The four hours directly before he arrived) Now, let's take a look at the specific differences between the two forms: Past Perfect Simple is used to express finished activity before a specific point of time in the past. Example: He had already eaten when his wife came home. Past Perfect Continuous is used to express continuous/progressive activity up to a specific point of time in the past. Example: They had been waiting for 2 hours before their friends finally arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous Listed below are uses with examples, and the structure of the past perfect continuous tense. Something that had been happening before something else took place I had been working for three hours when you arrived. Susan had been thinking about the idea for a while when Bob made the suggestion.   Something that had been happening over a period of time in the past up until another point in the of past I had been playing tennis for two hours when I sprained my ankle. Jack had been studying for two years when he was drafted into the army.   Something that had been happening in preparation for something else I had been practicing for three days and was ready for the concert. Tom had been studying hard and felt good about the test he was about to take.   In the third conditional to express imagined conditions If I had been working on that project, we would have been successful. She would have been ready for the test if she...

Past Perfect There are two past tenses used to describe things that happen before another point in time in the past. Use the past perfect to talk about an event which had happened at some point in time before something took place. Tom had interviewed five times before he got his first job. She had already eaten by the time they arrived. Past Perfect Structure Positive Subject + had + past participle I, You, He, She, We, They had finished before I arrived. Negative Subject + had + not (hadn't) + past participle I, You, He, She, We, They hadn't eaten before he finished the job. Questions Question word + had + subject + past participle What - had he, she, you, we, they thought before I asked the question? Past Perfect Listed below are uses with examples, and the structure of the past perfect tense. Something that had happened before something else took place I had eaten lunch before they arrived. Susan had already finished the pro...

Past Continuous Listed below are uses with examples, and the structure of the past continuous tense. Something happening at a specific point of time in the past I was watching TV at 9 o'clock last night. They were working on the report at six. Something that was happening during a period of time in the past We were studying during the recess. Peter was sleeping during class. Something that was happening when something important took place She was speaking on the phone when he arrived. When he won the game, I was cooking. Something that was happening while something else was happening She was working on her homework while I was preparing dinner. They were finishing the project while we were putting together the proposal. Common time expressions used with the past continuous: at six, nine o'clock, etc. during, while, when Structure   Positive Subject + conjugate the helping verb "be" + verb + -ing. I was, You were...

English Grammar | how to use adjectives and adverbs This difference can be explained quite easy . [incorrect] This difference can be explained quite easily . [correct] It is clearly that people without money do not have as much freedom. [incorrect] It is clear that people without money do not have as much freedom. [correct] Adjectives are used to describe a noun: Today life is very complicated . (complicated describes the noun life ) To describe a whole idea or situation, we can use: It is + adjective + that-clause or It is + adjective + to + infinitive : It is essential that you bring back all of your books before the end of term. It is important to begin studying several weeks before the exam. Adverbs can be used to describe a verb: We must act quickly . (quickly describes the verb act ) or an adjective : This chart is significantly different . (not significant different) ( significantly is an adverb describing the adjective different ). We use adverbs such a...

My brother is good at sport but he is very bad at English. (correct) My brother is good in sport but he is very bad in English. (incorrect) The percentage in women attending university is increasing. (incorrect) The percentage of women attending university is increasing. (correct) Some adjectives are always followed by a specific preposition. At . We say you are bad at , good at or surprised at something: I was surprised at the number of people who came. About and with . We say you are angry about or pleased about something but angry with or pleased with a person: I am pleased about your new job. I was really angry with John. After disappointed we use about or with ; after worried we only use about : She was pretty disappointed with / about her exam results. I am worried about John. They are worried about the test. Some nouns are always followed by a specific preposition. In . We say decrease in, drop in , fall in , increase in , rise in : The...

English Grammar | verb use: stop / try / forget / remember People should stop spending their money on the latest fashions. [correct] People should stop to spend their money on the latest fashions. [incorrect] The government tried stopping this plan but was not successful. [incorrect] The government tried to stop this plan but was not successful. [corrcet] Some verbs have a different meaning when they are followed by - ing or to + infinitive , Stop + -ing = to stop an activity. Stop + to + infinitive = to stop a previously mentioned activity in order to do something else. Compare: The boys stopped playing . The boys were playing and they stopped to watch a large truck go past. (= they stopped playing in order to watch the truck) Try + -ing = to attempt to solve a problem by doing something. Try + to + infinitive = to attempt and fail to do something. Compare: I tried turning the tap but the water still poured out. (I managed to turn the tap) I tried to turn...

Gerund or infinitive after verbs My school does not allow us taking holidays during term. [incorrect] My school does not allow us to take holidays daring term. [correct] Our teacher suggested me to buy a good dictionary. [incorrect] Our teacher suggested I buy a good dictionary. [correct] Some verbs are followed by - ing if there is no object and by to + infinitive if there is a direct object - advise , allow , forbid , permit : The teacher allowed talking as long as it was in English. (no direct object) The teacher allowed us to talk as long as it was in English. ( us is the direct object) Make is followed by the infinitive without to : My boss made me wear a horrible uniform. (not made me to wear ) Note that the direct object must come between the verb and the infinitive: She allowed her dog to sit in the front of her car. (not She allowed to sit her dog ) In the passive, these verbs are followed by to + infinitive : be advised , be allowed , be for...

Verbs after adjectives and prepositions Young children often feel shy to talk to adults. (incorrect) Young children often feel shy talking to adults. (correct) It is easy to understand why. (correct) It is easy understanding why. (incorrect) With feel + adjective we use the -ing form of the verb: New students do not always feel comfortable speaking English to other people. After be + adjective , too + adjective and adjective + enough , we use to + infinitive : I was happy to see her when she arrived. (not I was happy seeing her ) The lecture was easy enough to understand . (not enough easy or easy understanding ) After all prepositions ( about , by , from , for , in , of , without , etc.) we use the - ing form of the verb; we cannot use a clause (subject + verb): They celebrated their anniversary by organising a big party. Thank you for helping me so much with my studies. He opened the door without thinking about what would happen next. (not without he...

I just managed to avoid hitting the car in front of me. (correct) I just managed to avoid to hit the car in front of me. (incorrect) I want telling you a little about myself. (incorrect) I want to tell you a little about myself. (correct) We use to + infinitive after the following verbs: ask , afford , decide , deserve , help , hope , learn , offer , prepare , promise , refuse , seem , want , would like : Summer seems to arrive later and later these days. Nowadays most people would like to have more money. Learn how is also followed by to + infinitive : I want to learn how to drive before I go to university. After some verbs, we use - ing : avoid , carry on , consider , deny , enjoy , finish , give up , imagine , involve , keep , like , mind , practise , recommend , resist , suggest : I really enjoy watching movies at the cinema. (not enjoy to watch ) Look forward to is also followed by - ing : I look forward to hearing your reply. (not look forward to...

In the USA this situation is totally different (correct) In USA this situation is totally different (incorrect) The table shows number of people working in Britain in 1976 (incorrect) The table shows the number of people working in Britain in 1976 (correct) We use the • with countries or places where the name refers to a group: the United States, the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates, the UK • with superlatives: the best, the longest, the highest • with cardinal numbers: the first, the second, the third • when there is only one in the world: the environment, the internet, the sun • to refer to the only one in a particular area: the government, the police, the rive r • in the phrase: the same as We don't use the • with a single country or place: America, England, China • to talk about something in general. We use the plural if we are talking about something in general; we use the to identify one specific example. Compare: People with reading diffi...