English Grammar (British Council)

8/12/2019 English Grammar (British Council)

1/139

TENSES

1. present tense

There are two tenses in English past and present.

The present tenses in English are used:

to talk about the present

to talk about the future

to talk about the past when we are telling a story in spoken English or when

we are summarising a book, film, play etc.

There are fourpresent tense forms in English:

Present simple: I work

Present continuous: I am working

Present perfect: I have worked

Present perfect continuous: I have been working

e use these forms:

to talk about the present:

!e works at "c#onald$s. !e has worked there for three months now.

!e is working at "c#onald$s. !e has been working there for three months now.

%ondon is the capital of &ritain.

to talk about the future:

The ne't train leaves this evening at ()** hours.

I$ll phone you when I get home.

!es meetingPeter in town this afternoon.

I$ll come home as soon as I have finished work.

+ou will be tired out after you have been working all night.

1. present simple

(


2/139

The present tense is the base form of the verb: I workin %ondon.

&ut the third person she-he-it adds an -s: /he worksin %ondon.

!se

e use the present tense to talk about:

something that is true in the present:

Im nineteen years old.

!e lives in %ondon.

Ima student.

something that happens again and again in the present:

I pla" football every weekend.

We use words like sometimes, often. always, and never (adverbs of frequency) with

the present tense:

I sometimes go to the cinema.

/he neverplays football.

something that is alwa"s true:

The human body #ontains 0*1 bones.

%ight travels at almost 2**,*** kilometres per second.

something that is fi'ed in the future.

The school terms starts ne't week.

The train leaves at (345 this evening.

e fl" to Paris ne't week.

$uestions and negatives

%ook at these 6uestions:

#o you play the piano7

here do you live7

#oes 8ack play football7

here does he come from7

0


3/139

#o 9ita and ngela live in "anchester7

here do they work7

ith the present tense, we use do and does to make 6uestions. e use does

for the third person she-he-it and we use do for the others.

e use do and does with 6uestion words like where, what and why:

&ut look at these 6uestions with who:

ho lives in %ondon7

ho plays football at the weekend7

ho works at %iverpool ;ity !ospital7

%ook at these sentences:

I like tennis, but I don$t like football. don$t < do not

I don$t live in %ondon now.

I don$t play the piano, but I play the guitar.

They don$t work at the weekend.

8ohn doesn$t live in "anchester. doesn$t < does not

ngela doesn$t drive to work. /he goes by bus.

ith the present tense we use do and does to make negatives. e use does not

doesnt for the third person she-he-it and we use do not dont for the

others.

1.% present #ontinuous

The present continuous tense is formed from the present tense of the verb beand the

present participle -ingform of a verb:

!se

(. e use the present continuous tense to talk about the present:

for something that is happening at the moment of speaking:

Im &ust leavingwork. I$ll be home in an hour.

Please be 6uiet. The children are sleeping.

for something which is happening before and after a given time:

2


4/139

t eight o$clock we are usuall" havingbreakfast.

hen I get home the children are doing their homework.

for something which we think is temporar":

"ichael is at university. !es stud"inghistory.

Im workingin %ondon for the ne't two weeks.

for something which is new and #ontrasts with a previous state:

These days most people are using email instead of writing letters.

hat sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays7 hat sort of music are the"

listening to7

to show that something is changing, growing or developing:

The children are growing 6uickly.

The climate is #hanging rapidly.

+our English is improving.

for something which happens again and again:

Its alwa"s rainingin %ondon.

They are alwa"s arguing.

=eorge is great. !es alwa"s laughing.

Note: e normally use always with this use.

0. e use the present continuous tense to talk about the future:

for something which has been arranged or planned:

"aryis going to a new school ne't term.

hat are "ou doing ne't week7

2. e can use the present continuous to talk about the past:

hen we are telling a stor":

hen we are summarising the story from a book, film or play etc.:

1.' present perfe#t

The present perfe#t is formed from the present tense of the verb haveand the past

parti#ipleof a verb:

4


5/139

The present perfect #ontinuous is formed with have/has been and the -ingform of

the verb:

!se

e use the present perfect tense:

for something that started in the past and #ontinues in the present:

Theyve been marriedfor nearly fifty years.

/he has livedin %iverpool all her life.

Note:e normally use the present perfect continuous for this:

/he has been livingin %iverpool all her life.

Its been rainingfor hours.

for something we have done several timesin the pastand #ontinueto do:

Ive pla"edthe guitar ever since I was a teenager.

!e has writtenthree books and he is working on another one.

Ive been wat#hingthat programme every week.

e often use a clause with since to show when something started in the past:

Theyve been sta"ingwith us since last week.

I have workedhere since I left school.Ive been wat#hingthat programme every week since it started.

when we are talking about our e(perien#e up to the present:

Note: e often use the adverb ever to talk about e'perience up to the present:

"y last birthday was the worst day I have ever had.

Note: and we use never for the negative form:

)ave "ouevermet=eorge7

+es, but Ive never methis wife.

for something that happened in the past but is important at the time of

speaking:

I can$t get in the house. Ive lostmy keys.

Teresa isn$t at home. I think she has goneshopping.

I$m tired out. Ive been workingall day.

5


6/139

e use the present perfect of bewhen someone has gone to a place and returned:

: here have "ou been7

&: I$ve&ust been out to the supermarket.

: )ave "ou ever been to /an >rancisco7&: ?o, but Ive beento %os ngeles.

&ut when someone has not returned we use have/has gone:

: here is "aria7 I haven$t seen her for weeks.

&: She*s gone to Paris for a week. /he$ll be back tomorrow.

e often use the present perfect with time adverbials which refer to the re#ent past:

just; only just; recently@

/cientists have re#entl" dis#overeda new breed of monkey.

e have &ust gotback from our holidays.

or adverbials which in#lude the present:

ever in 6uestions@ so far@ until now@ up to now@yetin 6uestions and negatives

)ave "ou everseena ghost7

+here have "ou beenup to now7

)ave "ou finishedyour homework yet7?o, so far Iveonly donemy history.

+,NIN-:

e do not use the present perfect with an adverbial which refers to past timewhich

is finished:

I have seen that film yesterday.

e have Aust bought a new car last week.

hen we were children we have been to ;alifornia.

&ut we can use it to refer to a time which is not yet finished:

!ave you seen !elen today7

e have bought a new car this week.

. past tense

There are two tenses in English past and present.

1


7/139

The past tense in English is used:

to talk about the past

to talk about h"potheses things that are imagined rather than true.

for politeness.

There are fourpast tense forms in English:

Past simple: I worked

Past continuous: I was working

Past perfect: I had worked

Past perfect continuous: I had been working

e use these forms:

to talk about the past:

!e worked at "c#onald$s. !e had worked there since 8uly..

!e was working at "c#onald$s. !e had been working since 8uly.

to refer to the present or future in #onditions:

!e could get a new Aob if he really tried.

If 8ack was pla"ing they would probably win.

and h"potheses:

It might be dangerous. /uppose they got lost.

I would always help someone who really needed help.

and wishes:

I wish it wasnt so cold.

In #onditions, h"potheses and wishes, if we want to talk about the past, we

always use the past perfe#t:

I would have helped him if he had asked.

It was very dangerous, hat if you had got lost7

I wish I hadnt spent so much money last month.

e can use the past forms to talk about the present in a few polite

e(pressions:

E'cuse me, I was wondering if this was the train for +ork.I Aust hoped you wouldbe able to help me.

)


8/139

. past simple

backne't

/orms

ith most verbs the past tense is formed by adding Bed:

call CC called@ like CC liked@ want CC wanted@ work CC worked

&ut there are a lot of irregular past tenses in English. !er are the most common

irregular verbs in English, with their past tenses:

infinitive irregularpast

be

begin

break

bring

buy

build

choose

come

cost

cutdo

draw

drive

eat

feel

find

get

give

go

have

hear

hold

keep

know

leave

lead

let

lie

lose

make

meanmeet

was-were

began

broke

brought

bought

built

chose

came

cost

cutdid

drew

drove

ate

felt

found

got

gave

went

had

heard

held

kept

knew

left

led

let

lay

lost

made

meantmet

D
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tensehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-continuoushttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-continuoushttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tensehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-continuous


9/139

infinitiveirregular

past

pay

put

runsay

sell

send

set

sit

speak

spend

stand

take

teach

tellthink

understand

wear

win

write

paid

put

ransaid

sold

sent

set

sat

spoke

spent

stood

took

taught

toldthought

understood

wore

won

wrote

!se

e use the past tense to talk about:

something that happened on#e in the past:

I met my wife in (3D2.

e went to /pain for our holidays.

They got home very late last night.

something that happened again and again in the past:

hen I was a boy I walked a mile to school every day.e swam a lot while we were on holiday.

They always en&o"ed visiting their friends.

something that was true for some time in the past:

I lived abroad for ten years.

!e en&o"edbeing a student.

/he pla"ed a lot of tennis when she was younger.

we often use phrases with ago with the past tense:

I met my wife a long time ago.

3


10/139

$uestions and negatives

e use did to make 6uestions with the past tense:

hen did "ou meetyour wife7

here did "ou gofor your holidays70id she pla"tennis when she was younger7

0id "ou live abroad7

&ut look at these 6uestions:

ho discovered penicillin7

ho wrote #on ui'ote7

>or more on these 6uestions see uestion forms

e use didntdid not to make negatives with the past tense:

They didnt goto /pain this year.

e didnt get home until very late last night.

I didnt see you yesterday.

. % past #ontinuous

backne't

The past continuous is formed from the past tense of bewith the -ingform of the

verb:

e use the past continuous to talk about the past:

for something which continued before and after another a#tion:

The children were doing their homeworkwhen I got home.

;ompare:

I got home. The children did their homework.

and

The children did their homework when I got home.

s I was watching television the telephone rang.

This use of the past continuous is very common at the beginning of a story:

(*
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-simplehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-perfecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-perfecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-simplehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-perfect


11/139

The other day I was waiting for a bus when F

%ast week as I was driving to work F

for something that happened before and after a parti#ular time:

It was eight o$clock. I was writing a letter.

;ompare:

t eight o$clock I wrote some letters.

In 8uly she was working in "c#onald$s.

.to show that something #ontinued for some time:

"y head was a#hing.

Everyone was shouting.

for something that was happening again and again:

I was pra#tising every day, three times a day.

They were meeting secretly after school.

They were alwa"s uarrelling.

with verbs which show #hange or growth:

The children were growing up6uickly.!er English was improving.

"y hair was going grey.

The town was #hanging 6uickly.

. ' past perfe#t

backne't

e use the verb hadand the past parti#iple for the past perfe#t:

I had finished the work.

/he had gone .

The past perfect #ontinuous is formed with had been and the 2ingform of the verb:

I had been finishingthe work

She had beengoing.

The past perfect is used in the same way as the present perfect, but it refers to a time

in the past, not the present.

((
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-continuoushttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/perfective-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/perfective-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-continuoushttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/perfective-aspect


12/139

e use the past perfect tense:

for something that started in the past and continued up to a given time in the

past:

hen =eorge died he and nne had been married for nearly fifty years./he didn$t want to move. /he had lived in %iverpool all her life.

e normally use the past perfect #ontinuous for this:

/he didn$t want to move. /he had been living in %iverpool all her life.

Everything was wet. It had been raining for hours.

for something we had done several times up to a point in the past and

#ontinued to do after that point:

!e was a wonderful guitarist. !e had been pla"ing ever since he was a teenager.

!e had written threebooks and he was working on another one.

I had been wat#hing the programme every week, but I missed the last episode.

e often use a clause with since to show when something started in the past:

They had been staying with us sin#e the previous week.

I was sorry when the factory closed. I had worked there sin#e I left school.

I had been watching that programme every week sin#eit started, but I missed the last

episode.

when we are reporting our e'perience and including up to the then present:

"y eighteenth birthday was the worst day I had ever had.

I was pleased to meet =eorge. I hadn$t met him before, even though I had met his

wife several times.

for something that happened in the past but is important at the time of

reporting:

I couldn$t get into the house.I had lost my keys.

Teresa wasn$t at home. She had gone shopping.

e use the past perfect to talk about the past in #onditions, h"potheses and wishes:

I would have helped him if he had asked.

It was very dangerous. hat if "ou had gotlost7

I wish I hadnt spentso much money last month.

perfe#tive aspe#t

(0


13/139

backne't

e use the present perfe#tto show that something has continued up to the present

Theyve beenmarried for nearly fifty years./he has lived in %iverpool all her life.

F or is important in the present:

Ive lostmy keys. I can$t get into the house.

Teresa isn$t at home. I think she has goneshopping.

e use the present perfe#t #ontinuous to show that something has been continuing

up to the present:

Its been rainingfor hours.eve been waitinghere since si' o$clock this morning.

e use the past perfe#tto show that something continued up to a time in the past:

hen =eorge died he and nne had beenmarried for nearly fifty years.

... or was important at that time in the past:

I couldn$t get into the house. I had lostmy keys.

Teresa wasn$t at home. /he had goneshopping.

e use the past perfe#t #ontinuous to show that something had been continuing up

to a time in the past or was important at that time in the past:

Everything was wet. It had been rainingfor hours.

!e was a wonderful guitarist. !e had been pla"ingever since he was a teenager.

e use will with the perfect to show that something will be complete at some time in

the future:

In a few years they will have dis#overeda cure for the common cold.I can come out tonight. I*ll have finishedmy homework by then.

e use would with the perfect to refer to something that did not happen in the past

but would have happened if the #onditions had been right:

If you had asked me I would have helpedyou.

I would have helpedyou, but you didn$t ask me.

+ou didn$t ask me or I would have helpedyou.

e use other modals with perfective aspect when we are looking ba#kfrom a point

in time when something might have happened, should have happened or would havehappened.

(2
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-perfecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/continuous-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/continuous-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-perfecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/continuous-aspect


14/139

The point of time may be in the future:

e$ll meet again ne't week. e might have finished the work by then.

I will phone at si' o$clock. !e should have got home by then.

the present:

It$s getting late. They should have arrivedby now.

!e$s still not here. !e must have missed his train.

or the past:

I wasn$t feeling well. I must have eaten something bad.

I checked my cell phone. /he #ould have left a message.

#ontinuous aspe#t

backne't

&oth tenses have a continuous form. These continuous tenses are formed with the

verb beand the3ingform of the verb:

e use continuous aspect:

for something happening before and after a given time.

!es gettingon the train. [before and after the moment of speaking]

It was 6uarter past ten. e were wat#hingthe news on television.

for something continuing before and after another action:

"other will be #ookingthe dinner when we get home.

e were waitingfor the bus when it started to rain.

for something continuing for some time:

Everybody will be waitingfor us.

They had been workinghard all day.

for something happening again and again:

Theyve been doingthat every day this week.

The children were alwa"s shouting.

!e will be pra#tisingthe piano every night.

for something temporar":

(4
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/perfective-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/active-and-passive-voicehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/active-and-passive-voicehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/perfective-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/active-and-passive-voice


15/139

e are renting an apartment until our house is ready..

!e was working in a garage during the vacation.

for something new:

e have moved from &irmingham. ere livingin "anchester now.!e had left university and was workingin his father$s business.

to describe something #hanging or developing:

Everything has been getting more difficult.

!e was growing more badBtempered every day.

a#tive and passive voi#e

backne't

Transitive verbs have both a#tive and passive forms:

a#tive passive

The hunter killed the lion. CCThe lion was killed by the

hunter.

/omeone has cleaned the

windows

CCThe windows have been

cleaned

The passive forms are made up of the verb bewith a past parti#iple:

be past parti#iple

English is spoken all over the world

The windows have been cleaned

%unch was being served

The work will be finished soonThey might have been invited to the party

e sometimes use the verbgetto form the passive:

&e careful with the glass. It might getbroken.

Peter got hurt in a crash.

If we want to show the person or thing doing the action we use by:

(5
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/continuous-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/infinitivehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/infinitivehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/continuous-aspecthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/infinitive


16/139

/he was attacked b" a dangerous dog.

The money was stolen b" her husband.

e can use the indire#t ob&e#t as the subAect of a passive verb:

a#tive passive

I gave him a book for his birthday CC!e was given a book for his

birthday.

/omeone sent her a che6ue for a

thousand eurosCC

/he was sent a che6ue for a

thousand euros.

e can use phrasal verbs in the passive:

a#tive passiveThey #alled off the meeting. CC The meeting was #alled off.

!is grandmother looked after

him.CC

!e was looked afterby his

grandmother.

They will send him awa" to

school.CC !e will be sent awa" to school.

/ome verbs very freuentl" used in the passive are followed by the to2infinitive:

be supposed to be e'pected to be asked tobe scheduled to be allowed to be told to

8ohnhas been asked tomake a speech at the meeting.

+ou are supposed towear a uniform.

The meeting is s#heduled tostart at seven.

to 4 infinitive 567689;6

backne't

e use the toBinfinitive:

G to e'press purposeto answer Hhy...7H:

!e bought some flowers to giveto his wife.

!e locked the door to keep everyone out.

e sometimes say in order to or in order not to:

(1
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/active-and-passive-voicehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs-ing-formshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs-ing-formshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/active-and-passive-voicehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs-ing-forms


17/139

e set off early in order toavoid the traffic.

They spoke 6uietly in order not towake the children

F or we can say so as to or so as not to:

e set off early so as toavoid the traffic.They spoke 6uietly so as not towake the children.

G after #ertain verbs seeverbs followed by infinitive, particularly verbs of thinking

and feeling:

choose, decide, expect, forget, hate, hope, intend, learn, like,

love, mean, plan, prefer, remember, want, would like, would love

F and verbs of sa"ing:

agree, promise, refuse

They de#ided tostart a business together.

,emember to turn the lights out.

/ome verbs are followed by a dire#t ob&e#tand the infinitivesee verbs followed by

infinitive:

advise, ask, encourage, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, warn,

expect, intend, would prefer, want, would like

/he remindedme to turn the lights out.

!e en#ouragedhis friends to vote for him.

G after certain ad&e#tives.

/ometimes the toBinfinitive gives a reason for the adAective:

disappointed

glad

sad

happy an'ious

pleased

surprised

proud

unhappy

e were happ" to #ome to the end of our Aourney

< e were happy because we had come to the end of our Aourney

8ohn was surprised to see me

< !e was surprised because he saw me

?ther ad&e#tives with the toBinfinitive are:

()
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1404/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1404/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1404/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1404/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1404/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1404/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1404/


18/139

able

unable

due

eager

keen

likely unlikely

ready

prepared

unwilling

willing

nfortunately I was unable to work for over a week.

I am really tired. I$m read" to go to bed.

e often use the toBinfinitive with these adAectives after it to give opinions:

difficult

easy

possible

impossible

hard

right

wrong

kind

nice

clever silly

foolish

It$s eas" to pla" the piano, but it$s very diffi#ult to pla" well.

!e spoke so 6uickly it was impossible to understand him.

e use the prepositionfor to show who these adAectives refer to:

difficult

easy

possible

impossible

hard

It was diffi#ult for us to hear what she was saying.

It is eas" for you to #riti#ise other people.

e use the preposition of with other adAectives:

It$s kind of "outo help.

It would be sill" of him to spend all his money.

(D


19/139

G s a postmodifier seenoun phrases after abstract nouns like:

ability

desire

need

wish attempt

failure

opportunity

chance

intention

I have no desire to be ri#h.

They gave him an opportunity to es#ape.

/he was annoyed by her failure to answer the uestion #orre#tl".

G e often use a toBinfinitive as a postmodifier after an indefinite pronoun /ee

indefinite pronouns:

hen I am travelling I always take something to read.

I was all alone. I had no one to talk to.

There is hardly an"thing to do in most of these small towns.

2ing forms

backne't

e can use the -ingform of the verb:

G as a noun:

I love swimming.

Swimming is very good for your health.

+ou can get fit by swimming regularly.

-ingnouns are nearly always un#ount nouns

as an ad&e#tive:JKLMNO

The main problem today is risingprices.

That programme was really boring.

!e saw a woman l"ing on the floor.

&ecause the -ingnoun or adAective is formed from a verbit can have any of the

patterns which follow a verb, for e'ample:

... an ob&e#t:

(3
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1336/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1336/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1294/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/infinitivehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-presenthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-presenthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1336/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/node/1294/http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/infinitivehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-present


20/139

I like pla"ing tennis.

I saw a dog #hasing a #at.

... or an adverbial:

+ou can earn a lot of money b" working hard.There were several people waiting for the bus.

... or a #lause:

I heard someone sa"ing that.

The -ingnoun can be used:

as the subAect of a verb:

@earning Englishis not easy.

as the obAect of a verb:

e enAoy learning English.

;ommon verbs followed by an -ingobAect are:

admit like hate start avoid

suggest enAoy dislike begin finish

as the obAect of a preposition

/ome people are not interested in learningEnglish.

The -ingadAective can come:

in front of a noun:

I read an interesting article in the newspaper today.e saw a really e(#iting match on /unday.

The commonest ing adAectives used in front of the noun are

amusing interesting worrying shocking disappointing

boring surprising e'citing terrifying frightening

tiring annoying

0*


21/139

after a noun:

ho is that man standing over there7

The bo" talking to ngela is her younger brother.

and especially after verbs like see, watch, hear, smell etc.

I heard someone pla"ing the piano.

I can smell something burning.

talking about the present

backne't

1. +e use the present simple:

to talk about something happening regularl" in the present:

The children #ome home from school at about four.

e often see your brother at work.

to talk about something happening #ontinuall" in the present:

They live ne't door to us.!e works for the Post Qffice.

to talk about things which are generall" true:

ater boils at (** degrees ;elsius.

The ?ile is the longest river in frica.

. +e use the present #ontinuous:

to show that something in the present is temporar":

e are living in a rented flat at present.

"y wife usually goes in to the office, but she is working at home today.

for something happening regularl" in the present before and after a given

time:

Im usuall" gettingready for work at eight o$clock.

hen I see =eorge hes alwa"s reading his newspaper.

for something happening before and after the moment of speaking:

0(
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs-ing-formshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-pasthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-pasthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs-ing-formshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-past


22/139

I can$t hear you. Im listeningto my iPod.

&e 6uiet. The children are sleeping.

A. +e use modal verbs

to talk about the present when we are not sure of something:

I don$t know where !enry is. !e might be pla"ing tennis.

ho$s knocking at the door7 I don$t know. It #ould bethe police.

talking about the past

backne't

1 Talking about past events and situations:

e use the past simple:

when we are talking about an event that happened at a parti#ular time in the

past

e arrived home before dark

The film started at seven thirty.

when we are talking about something that #ontinued for some time in the

past

Everybody worked hard through the winter.

e sta"ed with our friends in %ondon.

hen we are talking about something that happened several times in the past we use

the past simple:

"ost evenings we sta"ed at home and watched #R#s.

/ometimes they went out for a meal.

F or used to

"ost evenings we used to stay at home and watch #R#s.

e used to go for a swim every morning.

... or would

"ost evenings he would take the dog for a walk.

They would often visit friends in Europe.

9?I?=: e do not normally use would with stative verbs.

00
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-presenthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-futurehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-futurehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-presenthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-future


23/139

e use the past #ontinuous:

when we are talking about something which happened before and after a

given time in the past

It was Aust after ten. I was wat#hing the news on TR.t halfBtime we were losing (B*.

when we are talking about something happening before and after another

a#tion in the past:

!e broke his leg when he was pla"ing rugby.

/he saw 8im as he was driving away.

The past in the past

hen we are looking ba#k from a point in the past to something earlier in the past

we use the past perfe#t:

!elen suddenly remembered she had left her keys in the car.

hen we had done all our shopping we caught the bus home.

They wanted to buy a new computer, but they hadnt saved enough money.

They would have bought a new computer if they had saved enough money.

A The past and the present:

e use the present perfe#t:

when we are talking about the effe#ts in the present of something that

happened in the past:

I can$t open the door. Ive leftmy keys in the car.

8enny has found a new Aob. /he works in a supermarket now.

hen we are talking about something that startedin the past and still goes

on:

e have lived here since 0**). and we still live hereI have been working at the university for over ten years.

B The future in the past

hen we talk about the future from a time in the past we use:

would as the past tense of will

!e thought he would bu" one the ne't day.

Everyone was e'cited. The party would be fun.

02


24/139

wasCwere going to

8ohn was going to drive and "ary was going to follow on her bicycle.

It was >riday. e were going to set off the ne't day.

the past #ontinuous:

It was /eptember. "ary was starting school the ne't week.

e were very busy. The shop was opening in two weeks time.

talking about the future

backne't

(. hen we know about the future we normally use the present tense.

e use the present simplefor something s#heduled or arranged:

+e have a lesson ne't "onday.

The train arrives at 1.2* in the morning.

The holida"s start ne't week.

It is m" birthda" tomorrow.

e can use the present #ontinuousfor plans or arrangements:

Im pla"ing football tomorrow.

The" are #oming to see us tomorrow.

+ere having a party at ;hristmas.

0. e use will to talk about the future:

hen we make predi#tions:

It will be a nice day tomorrow.

I think %raDil will win the orld ;up.

I$m sure "ou will en&o" the film.

To mean want to or be willing to:

I hope "ou will #ome to my party.

=eorge says he will help us.

To make offers and promises:

I*ll seeyou tomorrow.

+e*ll sendyou an email.

To talk about offers and promises:

04
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-pasthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/verbs-time-clauses-and-if-clauseshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/verbs-time-clauses-and-if-clauseshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-pasthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/verbs-time-clauses-and-if-clauses


25/139

Tim will be at the meeting.

ar" will help with the cooking.

2. e use (be going to:

To talk about plans and intentions:

Im going to drive to work today.

The" are going to move to "anchester.

hen we can see that something is likel" to happen:

&e carefulS Fou are going to fall.

%ook at those black clouds. I think its going to rain.

4. e often use verbs like would like,plan, want, mean, hope, expectto talk about

the future:

hat are you going to do ne't year7 Id like to go to niversity.

+e plan to go to >rance for our holidays.

=eorge wants to bu" a new car.

5. e use modals may, might, and could when we are not sure about the future:

I might sta" at home tonight, or I might go to the cinema.

+e #ould see "ary at the meeting. /he sometimes goes.

1. e can use should if we think something is likel" to happen:

+e should be home in time for tea.

The game should be over by eight o$clock.

). ;lauses with time words:

In clauses with time words like when, after, and until we often use a present tense

formto talk about the future:

I$ll come home when I finish work.

+ou must wait here until "our father #omes.

They are coming after the" have had dinner.

D. ;lauses with if:

In clauses with ifwe often use a present tense form to talk about the future:

e won$t be able to go out if it rains.

If %ar#elona win tomorrow they will be champions.

+,NIN-: e do not normally use will in clauses with ifor withtime words:

05


26/139

I$ll come home when I willfinish work.

e won$t be able to go out if it will rainrains.

%ut we can use will if it means a promise or offer:

I will be very happy if "ou will #ome to my party.e should finish the Aob early if -eorge will help us.

3. e can use the future #ontinuous instead of the present continuous or going to for

emphasis when we are talking about plans, arrangements and intentions:

The"ll be #oming to see us ne't week.

I will be drivingto work tomorrow.

personal pronouns

backne't

Pronouns are words we use in the place of a full noun.

e have both sub&e#t and ob&e#tpronouns:

e use he/him to refer to men, and she/her to refer to women. hen we are not sure

if we are talking about a man or a woman we use they/them.

This is 8ack. !e$s my brother. I don$t think you have met him.

This is ngela. /he$s my sister. !ave you met herbefore7

Talk to a friend. sk them to help you.

+ou could go to a doctor. The" might help you.

Sub&e#t pronouns

e use subAect pronouns as sub&e#t of the verb:

Sub&e#t ?b&e#t

I me

you you

he him

she her

it it

we us

you youthey them

01
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/it-and-therehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/it-and-therehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/it-and-there


27/139

Ilike your dress.

Fouare late.

)e is my friend

It is raining

She is on holiday

+e live in England.The" come from %ondon.

+arning

9emember: English clauses alwa"s have a subAect:

!is father has Aust retired. as a teacher. C )e was a teacher.

I$m waiting for my wife. Is late. C She is late.

If there is no other subAect we use it or there. e call this a dumm"

sub&e#t.

?b&e#t pronouns

e use obAect pronouns:

G as the obAect of the verb:

;an you help meplease7

I can see "ou.

/he doesn$t like him.

I saw her in town today.

e saw them in town yesterday, but they didn$t see us.

G after prepositions:

/he is waiting for me.

I$ll get it for "ou.

=ive it to him.

hy are you looking at her7

#on$t take it from us.

I$ll speak to them.

it and there

backne't

English clauses alwa"s have a subAect:

!is father has Aust retired. as a teacher. C )ewas a teacher.

I$m waiting for my wife. Is late. C Sheis late.%ook at the timeS Is half past two.C It$s half past two.

0)
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/personal-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/you-and-theyhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/you-and-theyhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/personal-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/you-and-they


28/139

e'cept for the imperative 5see more>

-o away.

Pla" it again please.

If we have no other subAect we use thereor it.

there

e use there as a dumm" sub&e#twith part of the verb befollowed by a noun

phrase. see ;lauses, sentences and phrases:

G to introdu#e a new topi#:

There is a meeting this evening. It will start at seven.

There has been an accident. I hope no one is hurt.

G with numbers or uantities:

There was a lot ofrain last night.

There must have been more than five hundredin the audience.

G to say where something is:

There used to bea playground at the end of the street.

There are fairies at the bottom of the garden.

I wonder if there will be anyone at home.

G with an indefinite pronoun or e'pressions of uantit" and the toBinfinitive:

There isnothing to do in the village.

There wasplenty to read in the apartment

There wasnothing to watch on television.

There isa lot of work to do

If we want to show the subAect of the toBinfinitive we usefor:

There is nothingfor the children to doin the village.There was plent"for us to read in the apartment

There was nothingfor them to wat#hon television.

There is a lotof work for you to do.

G with an indefinite pronoun or e'pressions of uantit" and an -ingverb:

There issomeone waiting to see you.

There werea lot of people shouting and waving.

e use a singular verb if the noun phrase is singular:

0D


29/139

There isa meeting this evening. It will start at seven.

There was a lot of rain last night.

There is someone waiting to see you.

e use a plural verb if the noun phrase is plural:

There are more than twenty people waiting to see you.

There were some biscuits in the cupboard.

There were a lot of people shouting and waving.

!t

e use itto talk about:

G times and dates:

It$s nearly one o$clock.

It$s my birthday.

G weather:

It$s raining.

It$s a lovely day.

Itwas getting cold.

G to give an opinion about a place:

Its ver" #oldin here.

It will be ni#ewhen we get home.

Its ver" #omfortablein my new apartment.

G to give an opinion followed by to2infinitive:

Its ni#eto meet you.

It will be greatto go on holiday.

It was interestingto meet your brother at last.

G to give an opinion followed by an -ingverb:

Its greatliving in /pain.

Its awfuldriving in this heavy traffic.

It #an be hard worklooking after young children.

!sing GitG to talk about people

e use itto talk about ourselves:

03


30/139

G on the telephone:

!ello. It$s =eorge.

G when people cannot see us:

"ary knocks on doorU It$s me. It$s "ary.

e use it to talk about other people:

G when we point them out for the first time:

%ook. Its/ir Paul "c;artney.

ho$s that7 I think its8ohn$s brother.

G when we cannot see them and we ask them for their name:

telephone rings, we pick it upU !ello. ho is it7

someone knocks on door. e say:U ho is it7

"ou and the"

backne't

e useyou to talk about people in generalincluding the speaker and the hearer:

Fou can buy this book anywhere C This book is on sale everywhere.

Fou can$t park here C Parking is not allowed here.

They don$t let "ou smoke in here C ?o smoking here

e use they or them to talk about people in general:

The" serve good food here.

sk them for a cheaper ticket.

F especially about the government and the authorities:

The" don$t let you smoke in here.

The" are going to increase ta'es.

The" are building a new motorway.

The" say it$s going to rain tomorrow.

hisH thatH these and those

backne't

2*
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/it-and-therehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/possessive-pronouns-see-possessives-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/possessive-pronouns-see-possessives-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/possessive-pronouns-see-possessives-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/one-and-oneshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/one-and-oneshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/it-and-therehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/possessive-pronouns-see-possessives-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/possessive-pronouns-see-possessives-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/one-and-ones


31/139

+h" do we use this and these

e use this singular and these plural as pronouns:

B to talk about people or things near us:

This is a nice cup of tea.

hose shoes are these7

B to introdu#e people:

This is 8anet.

These are my friends, 8ohn and "ichael.

9?I?=:

e don$t say hese are !ohn and "ichael.

e say his is !ohn and this is "ichael.

B to introduce ourselves to begin a conversation on the phone:

!ello, this is #avid, ;an I speak to /ally7

+h" do we use that and those

e use that singular and those plural:

B to talk about things that are not nearus:

hat$s that7

This is our house, and that$s 9ebecca$s house over there.

Those are very e'pensive shoes.

B e also use thatto refer back to something someone said or did:

B /hall we go to the cinema7

B +es, that$s a good idea.

B I$ve got a new Aob.

B That$s great. B I$m very tired.

B hy is that7

thisH theseH that, those with nouns

e also use this, these, that and those with nounsto show pro'imity

e use this and these for people or things near us:

e have lived in thishouse for twenty years.!ave you read all of thesebooks7

2(


32/139

F and that and those for things that are not near us:

ho lives in thathouse7

ho are thosepeople7

one and ones

backne't

e use one singularand ones plural to avoid unne#essar" repetition.

/ee those two girls7 !elen is the tall one and 8ane is the short one.

hich is your car, the red one or the blue one7

"y trousers are torn. I need some new ones.

/ee those two girls. !elen is the one on the left.%et$s look at the photographs. The ones you took in Paris.

e often use them after "hich ### in 6uestions:

+ou can borrow a book. hich one do you want7

There are lots of books here. hich ones are yours7

uestions

backne't

+hi#h uestion word to use

e use who to ask 6uestions about people:

+ho is that7

+ho lives here7

+ho did you see7

e use whose to ask about possession:

+hose coat is this7 orU +hose is this coat7

+hosebook is that7 orU +hose is that book7

+hosebags are those7 orU +hose are those bags7

e use what to ask 6uestions about things:

+hat is that7

+hat do you want7

e use which to ask someone to choose something:

20
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/that-these-and-thosehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/questionshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/questionshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/one-and-oneshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reflexive-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reflexive-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/that-these-and-thosehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/questionshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/one-and-oneshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reflexive-pronouns


33/139

+hi#h came first, the chicken or the egg7

I$ve got two books. +hi#h do you want7

e can also use what and which with nouns:

+hat sub&e#ts did you study at school7+hat newspaper do you read7

+hi#h newspaper do you read the Times or the =uardian7

+hi#h bookdo you want7

+hi#h one is yours7

$uestions with prepositions:

uestions ending in prepositions are very common in English. fter "ho, "hich or

"hat we often have a preposition at the end of the sentence:

+ho does this book belong to7

+hat are you looking for7

+hi#h university did you go to7

+hat country do you come from7

refle(ive pronouns

backne't

The refle'ive pronouns are:

Singular: myself - yourself - himself - herself - itself

Plural: ourselves - yourselves - themselves

+hen we use a refle(ive pronoun

e use a refle'ive pronoun:

G as a dire#t ob&e#t when the ob&e#t is the same as the sub&e#t of the verb:

Iam teaching m"self to play the piano.

&e careful with that knife. Fou might cut "ourself.

e can use a refle'ive pronoun as direct obAect with most transitive verbs, but these

are the most common:

amuse blame cut dry enAoy help

hurt introduce kill prepare satisfy teach

22
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/questionshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reciprocal-pronouns-each-other-and-one-anotherhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reciprocal-pronouns-each-other-and-one-anotherhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/questionshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reciprocal-pronouns-each-other-and-one-another


34/139

/ome verbs #hange their meaning slightly when they have a refle'ive pronoun as

direct obAect:

ould you like to help yourself to another drink7

< Would you like to take another drink. I wish the children would behave themselves.


35/139

+arning

/he had a few friends with her.

e use a refle'ive with the preposition by...

G when we want to show that someone did something alone and-or without an" help:

!e lived b" himself in an enormous house.

/he walked home b" herself.

The children got dressed b" themselves.

I prepared the whole meal b" m"self.

G to emphasise the person or thing we are referring to:

Jendal itself is 6uite a small town.

especially if we are talking about someone very famous:

Sir Paul #'artne" himself sang the final song.

e often put the refle'ive pronoun at the end of the clause when we are using it for

emphasis:

Ibaked the bread m"self.She mended the car herself

re#ipro#al pronouns: ea#h other and one

another

backne't

e use the reciprocal pronouns each other and one anotherwhen two or morepeople do the same thing. Traditionally, each other refers to two people and one

another refers to more than two people, but this distinction is disappearing in modern

English.

Peter and "ary helped one another.


36/139

They helped to look after ea#h otherschildren.

e often stayed in one anothershouses.

N?TE: e do not use reciprocal pronouns as the sub&e#t of a clause.

indefinite pronouns

backne't

The indefinite pronouns are:

somebod" someone something

anybody anyone anything

nobody no one nothing

everybody everyone everything

e use indefinite pronouns to refer to people or things without saying e'actly who or

what they are. e use pronouns ending in -bodyor -onefor people, and pronouns

ending in -thingfor things:

Ever"bod" enAoyed the concert.

I opened the door but there was no one at home.

It was a very clear day. e could see ever"thing.

e use a singular verb after an indefinite pronoun:

Everybody loves /ally.

Everything was ready for the party.

hen we refer ba#k to an indefinite pronoun we normally use a plural pronoun:

Ever"bod" enAoyed the concert. The" stood up and clapped.

I will tell somebod" that dinner is ready. The" have been waiting a long time.

e can add -$sto an indefinite pronoun to make a possessive.

They were staying in somebod"s house.

Is this an"bod"s coat7

e use indefinite pronouns with no-as the sub&e#t in negative #lauses not pronouns

with any.

nybody didn$t come CC Nobod"came.

e do not use another negative in a clause with nobody, no one or nothing:

21
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reciprocal-pronouns-each-other-and-one-anotherhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/relative-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/relative-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/reciprocal-pronouns-each-other-and-one-anotherhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/relative-pronouns


37/139

?obody came.

?othing happened.

e use else after indefinite pronouns to refer to people or things in addition tothe

ones we already mentioned.

ll the family came, but no one else.

If "ichael can$t come we$ll ask somebody else.

/o thatVs eggs, peas and chips. #o you want anything else7

relative pronouns

backne't

The relative pronouns are:

Sub&e#t ?b&e#t Possessive

who whom whose

which which whose

that that

e use who and whom for people, and which for things.

Qr we can use that for people or things.

e use relative pronouns:

G after a noun, to make it #lear which person or thing we are talking about:

the house that 8ack built

the woman who discovered radium

an eightByearBold boy who attempted to rob a sweet shop

G in relative #lauses to tell us more about a person or thing:

"y mother, who was born overseas , has always been a great traveller.

%ord Thompson, who is )1, has Aust retired.

e had fish and chips, whi#h is my favourite meal .

&ut we do not use that as a sub&e#t in relative clauses.

e use whose as the possessive form of who:

This is =eorge, whosebrother went to school with me.

e sometimes use whom as the ob&e#t of a verb or preposition:

2)
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/indefinite-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/indefinite-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers


38/139

This is =eorge, whom you met at our house last year.

This is =eorge$s brother, with whom I went to school.

&ut nowada"s we normally use who:

This is =eorge, who you met at our house last year.This is =eorge$s brother, who I went to school with.

hen whom or which have a preposition the preposition can come at the beginning

of the clause...

I had an uncle in =ermany, from whomU I inherited a bit of money.

e bought a chainsaw, with which we cut up all the wood.

F or at the end of the clause:

I had an uncle in =ermany whomU I inherited a bit of money from.e bought a chainsaw, which we cut all the wood up with.

e can use that at the beginning of the clause:

I had an uncle in =ermany, that I inherited a bit of money from.

e bought a chainsaw, that we cut all the wood up with.

0eterminers and uantifiers

backne't

-eneral and spe#ifi# determiners

0eterminers are words which come at the beginning of the noun phrase.

They tell us whether the noun phrase is specific or general.

#eterminers are either spe#ifi# or general

Spe#ifi# determiners:

The specific determiners are:

the definite article: the

possessives: my,your, his, her, its@ our, their, whose

demonstratives: this, that, these, those

interrogatives: which

e use a specific determiner when we believe the listenerCreader knows e'actly

what we are referring to:

2D
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/relative-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/interrogative-determiners-which-and-whathttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/interrogative-determiners-which-and-whathttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/pronouns/relative-pronounshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/interrogative-determiners-which-and-what


39/139

;an you pass me the salt please7

%ook at those lovely flowers.

Thank you very much for "our letter.

+hose coat is this7

-eneral determiners:

The general determiners are:

a; an; any; another; other; what

hen we are talking about things in general and the listener-reader does not know

e'actly what we are referring to, we can use a un#ount nounor a plural noun with

no determiner:

ilk is very good for you. < uncount noun

)ealth and edu#ation are very important. < 0 uncount nouns

-irls normally do better in school than bo"s. < plural nouns with no determiner

F or you can use a singular noun with the indefinite article a or an:

woman was lifted to safety by a heli#opter.

man climbing nearby saw the accident.

e use the general determiner anywith a singular noun or an uncount noun when we

are talking about all of those people or things:

It$s very easy. n" child can do it. < ll children can do it

ith a full licence you are allowed to drive an" car.

I like beef, lamb, pork B an" meat.

e use the general determiner anotherto talk about an additionalperson or thing:

ould you like another glass of wine7

The plural form of another is other:

I spoke to 8ohn, !elen and a few other friends.

uantifiers

e use 6uantifiers when we want to give someone information about the number of

something: how much or how many.

interrogative determiners: whi#h and

what

23


40/139

backne't

e use Hwhi#hH as a determiner to ask a 6uestion about a spe#ifi# group of people or

things:

hich restaurant did you go to7

hich countries in /outh merica have you visited7

hen we are asking a general 6uestion we use HwhatH as a determiner:

hat films do you like7

hat university did you go to7

backne't

indefinite arti#le: a and an

backne't

(. e use the indefinite article, a-an, with #ount nounswhen the hearerCreader does

not knowe'actly which one we are referring to:

Police are searching for a(4 yearBold girl.

0. e also use it to show the person or thing is one of a group:

/he is apupil at %ondon 9oad /chool.

Police have been searching for a (4 yearBold girl who has been

missing since >riday.

8enny &rown, a pupil at %ondon 9oad /chool, is described as (.1

metres tall with short blonde hair.

/he was last seen wearing a blue Aacket, a blue and white blouse anddark blue Aeans and blue shoes.

nyone who has information should contact the local police on

*D**243)D(.

2. e do not use an indefinite article with plural nounsand un#ount nouns:

/he was wearing blue shoes. < plural noun

/he has short blonde hair. < uncount noun

4*
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/interrogative-determiners-which-and-whathttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/definite-articlehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/definite-articlehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/interrogative-determiners-which-and-whathttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/definite-article


41/139

Police have been searching for a (4 yearBold girl who has been

missing since >riday.

8enny &rown, a pupil at %ondon 9oad /chool, is described as (.1

metres tall with short blonde hair.

/he was last seen wearing a blue Aacket, a blue and white blouse and

dark blue Aeans and blue shoes.

nyone who has information should contact the local police on

*D**243)D(.

4. e use a-an to say what someone is or what&ob they do:

"y brother is a do#tor.

=eorge is a student.

5. e use a-an with a singular noun to say something about all things of that kind:

man needs friends. < ll men need friends

dog likes to eat meat. < ll dogs like to eat meat

definite arti#le: the

backne't

The definite article the is the most fre6uent word in English.

e use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the hearerCreader

knows e'actly what we are referring to.

G because there is onl" one:

The Popeis visiting 9ussia.

The moonis very bright tonight.

The Shah of Iranwas deposed in (3)3.

This is why we use the definite article with a superlative adAective:

!e is the tallest bo"in the class.

It is the oldest buildingin the town.

G because there is onl" one in that pla#eor in those surroundings:

4(
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/quantifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/indefinite-article-andhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-and-quantifiers/quantifiers


42/139

e live in a small village ne't to the

church.or e'ample we use the intensifier

highly with the adAectives successful, intelligent, likely and unlikely:

!e was highl" intelligent.

/he$s a highl" su##essfulbusinesswoman

55


56/139

+arningQ

F but we do not say:

e had a highly tasty meal.That is a highly good idea.

e use the intensifier bitterly with the adAectives disappointed, unhappy and cold:

I was bitterl" unhapp"at school.

e were bitterl" disappointedto lose the match.

It can get bitterl" #oldin winter.

+ou need to use your dictionary to find what sort of nouns these intensifiers go with.

Intensifiers with #omparatives and superlatives:

e use these words and phrases as intensifiers with #omparative ad&e#tives:

much - far - a lot - uite a lot - a great deal - a good deal - a good bit - a fair bit

!e is mu#holder than me.

?ew +ork is a lotbigger than &oston.

e use much andfar as intensifiers with #omparative ad&e#tives in front of a noun:

>rance is a mu#hbigger country than &ritain.

!e is a farbetter player than 9onaldo.

e use these words as intensifiers with superlatives:

easil" 2 b" far 2 far

The blue whale is easil"the biggest animal in the world.

This car was b" farthe most e'pensive.

mitigators

backne't

"itigators are the opposite of intensifiers. hen we want to make an adAective less

strong we use these words:

fairly - rather - uite

&y the end of the day we were rather tired.

51
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/intensifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/noun-modifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/noun-modifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/intensifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/noun-modifiers


57/139

The film wasn$t great but it was uite e'citing.

and in informal English:pretty

e had a prett" good time at the party.

e call these words mitigators.

+arning

uite

hen we use uite with a strong ad&e#tive it means the same as

absolutely:

The food was uiteawful. < The food was absolutely awful.

s a child he was uitebrilliant. < s a child he was absolutely

brilliant.

itigators with #omparatives:

e use these words and phrases as mitigators:

a bit - just a bit - a little - a little bit - just a little bit - rather - slightly

/he$s a bityounger than I am.

It takes two hours on the train but it is a little bitlonger by roadThis one is ratherbigger.

e use slightly and rather as mitigators with #omparative ad&e#tives in front of a

noun:

This is a slightl" more e(pensivemodel than that.

This is rather biggerone than that.

d&e#tives as intensifiers:

e use some adAectives as intensifiers:

absolute

total - complete

utter - perfect

real

e say:

!e$s a #omplete idiot.

They were talking utter nonsense.

5)


58/139

F but we do not say:

The idiot was complete.

The nonsense they were talking was utter.

noun modifiers

backne't

e often use two nouns together to show that one thing is a part of something else:

the village #hur#h@ the #ar door@ the kit#hen window@ the #hair leg@

my #oat po#ket@ @ondon residents

+arning

e do not use a possessive form for these things. e do not talk

about:

The car$s door@ the kitchen$s window@ the chair$s leg

e can use noun modifiers to show what something is made of:

a gold watch@ a leatherpurse@ a metalbo'

e often use noun modifiers with nouns ending in -erand -ing:

an office worker@ a Aewellery maker@ a potato peeler@ a shopping list@ a swimming

lesson@ a walking holiday.

e use measurements, age or value as noun modifiers:

a thirt" kilogram suitcase@ a two minute rest@ a five thousand europlatinum watch@

a fift" kilometreAourney@

e often put two nouns together and readersClisteners have work outwhat theymean. /o:

an ice bucket < a bucket to keep ice in

an ice cube < a cube made of ice

an ice breaker < a ship which breaks ice

the ice age < the time when much of the Earth was covered in ice.

/ometimes we find more than two nounstogether:

%ondon office workers@ grammar practice e'ercises

5D
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/mitigatorshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/mitigatorshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials


59/139

Position of noun modifiers

?oun modifiers come after ad&e#tives:

The old newspaper seller tiring fifty kilometre Aourney

dverbials

backne't

+h" do we use adverbials

e use adverbs to give more information about the verb.

e use adverbials of mannerto say how something happens or how something is

done:

The children were playing happil".

!e was driving as fast as possible.

e use adverbials of pla#e to say where something happens:

I saw him there.

e met in @ondon.

e use adverbials of time to say when or how often something happens:

They start work at si( thirt".

They usuall" go to work by bus.

e use adverbials of probabilit" to show how #ertain we are about something.

Perhaps the weather will be fine.

!e is #ertainl"coming to the party.

how we make adverbials

53
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/noun-modifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/how-we-make-adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/how-we-make-adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/noun-modifiershttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/how-we-make-adverbials


60/139

backne't

n adverbial can be an adverb:

!e spoke angril".They live here.

e will be back soon.

or an adverb with an intensifier:

!e spoke reall" angril".

They live&ust here.

e will go uite soon.

e will go as soon as possible.

or a phrase with a preposition:

!e spoke in an angr" voi#e.

They live in @ondon.

e will go in a few minutes.

where the" go in a senten#e

backne't

+here do adverbials go in a senten#e

e normally put adverbials after the verb:

!e spoke angril".

They live&ust here.

e will go in a few minutes.

or after the ob&e#t or #omplement:

!e opened the door uietl".

/he left the money on the table.

e saw our friends last night.

+ou are looking tired tonight.

&ut adverbials of freuen#" how often usually come in front of the main verb:

e usuall" spent our holidays with our grandparents.

I have never seen illiam at work.

&ut if we want to emphasise an adverbial we can put it at the beginning of a clause:

1*
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/where-they-go-sentencehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/where-they-go-sentencehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/how-we-make-adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbs-mannerhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbs-mannerhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/where-they-go-sentencehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/how-we-make-adverbialshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbs-manner


61/139

@ast night we saw our friends.

In a few minutes we will go.

Rer" uietl" he opened the door.

If we want to emphasise an adverb of manner we can put it in front of the main

verb:

!e uietl" opened the door.

/he had #arefull"put the glass on the shelf.

adverbs of manner

backne't

dverbs of manner are usually formed from ad&e#tivesby adding.ly:

bad C badl"@ 6uiet C uietl"@ recent C re#entl"@ sudden C suddenl"

but there are sometimes changes in spelling:

easy C easil"@ gentle C gentl"

If an adAective ends in.lywe use the phrase in a %# wayto e'press manner:

/illy C !e behaved in a sill" wa".>riendly C /he spoke in a friendl" wa".

few adverbs of manner have the same form as the ad&e#tive:

They all worked hard.

/he usually arrives late.

I hate driving fast.

ote- hardly and lately have different meanings:

!e could hardl" walk < It was diffi#ult for him to walk.

I haven$t seen 8ohn latel" < I haven$t seen 8ohn re#entl".

e often use phrases with like as adverbials of manner:

/he slept like a baby.

!e ran like a rabbit.

dverbs of manner and link verbs

e very often use adverbials with like after link verbs:

1(
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/where-they-go-sentencehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-placehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-placehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/where-they-go-sentencehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place


62/139

!er hands felt likeice.

It smells likefresh bread.

&ut we do not use other adverbials of manner after link verbs. e use ad&e#tives

instead:

They looked happily happ".

That bread smells deliciously deli#ious.

adverbials of pla#e

backne't

+e use adverbials of pla#e to des#ribe:

@o#ation

e use prepositions to talk about where someone or something is.

&amples:

!e was standing b" the table.

+ou$ll find it in the #upboard. /ign your name here at the bottom of the page.

0ire#tion

e use adverbials to to talk about the dire#tion where someone or something is

moving.

&amples:

alk past the bankand keep going to the end of the street.

The car door is very small so it$s difficult to get into.

0istan#e

e use adverbials to show how far things are:

&amples-

&irmingham is 05* kilometres from %ondon.

e were in %ondon. &irmingham was 05* kilometres awa".

10
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbs-mannerhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-locationhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-locationhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbs-mannerhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-location


63/139

adverbials of lo#ation

backne't

@o#ation

e use prepositions to talk about where someone or something is:

above among at behind below beneath

beside between by in in between inside

near ne't to on opposite outside over

round through under underneath

!e was standing b" the table.

/he lives in a village near -lasgow.

+ou$ll find it in the #upboard.

e use phrases with of as prepositions:

at the back of at the top of at the bottom of at the end of

on top of at the front of in front of in the middle of

There were some flowers in the middle of the table.

/ign your name here at the bottom of the page.

I can$t see. +ou$re standing in front of me.

e can use right as an intensifier with some of these prepositions:

!e was standing right ne't to the table.

There were some flowers right in the middle of the table.

There$s a wood rightbehind our house.

adverbials of dire#tion

backne't

0ire#tion

e also use prepositional phrases to talk about dire#tion:

12
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-placehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-directionhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-directionhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-locationhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-distancehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-distancehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-placehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-directionhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-locationhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-distance


64/139

across along back back to down into

onto out of past through to towards

/he ran out of the house.

alk past the bankand keep going to the end of the street.

e also use adverbs and adverb phrases for pla#e and dire#tion:

abroad away anywhere downstairs downwards

everywhere here indoors inside nowhere

outdoors outside somewhere there upstairs

I would love to see Paris. I$ve never been there.

The bedroom is upstairs.

It was so cold that we stayed indoors.

e often have a preposition at the end of a #lause:

This is the room we have our meals in.

The car door is very small so it$s difficult to get into.

I lifted the carpet and looked underneath.

adverbials of distan#e

backne't

0istan#e

e use adverbials to show how far things are:

&irmingham is 05* kilometres from %ondon.

&irmingham is 05* kilometres awa" from %ondon.It is 05* kilometres from &irmingham to %ondon.

/ometimes we use a preposition at the end of a clause:

e were in %ondon. &irmingham was 05* kilometres awa".

&irmingham was 05* kilometres off.

adverbials of time

backne't

14
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-directionhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-timehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-timehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-distancehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/time-and-dateshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/time-and-dateshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-directionhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-timehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-place/adverbials-distancehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/time-and-dates


65/139

Adverbials of time

e use adverbials of time to say:

G when something happened:

I saw "ary "esterda".

/he was born in 1O.

I will see you later.

There was a storm during the night.

G for how long :

e waited all da".

They have lived here sin#e B.

e will be on holiday from Lul" 1st until ugust Ard.

G how often fre6uency:

They usuall" watched television in the evening.

e sometimes went to work by car.

e often use a noun phrase as a time adverbial:

yesterdaylast

week-month-year

one

day-week-monthlast /aturday

tomorrowne't

week-month-year

the day after

tomorrowne't >riday

todaythis

week-month-year

the day before

yesterday

the other

day-week-month

time and dates

backne't

e use phrases with prepositions as time adverbials:

G e use at with:

#lo#k times: at seven o$clock B at nine thirty B at fifteen hundred hours

mealtimes: at breakfast B at lunchtime B at teatime

F and in these phrases:

at night 2 at the weekend 2 at 'hristmas 2 at Easter

15
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-timehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/how-longhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/how-longhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-timehttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/how-long


66/139

G e use in with:

seasons of the "ear: in spring-summer-autumn-winter B in the spring

-summer-autumn-winter

"ears and #enturies: in 0**3 Bin (33D B in the twentieth century

months: in 8anuary->ebruary-"arch etc.parts of the da": in the morning B in the afternoon B in the evening.

G e use on with:

da"s: on "onday-Tuesday-ednesday etc B on ;hristmas day B on my birthday.

dates: on the thirty first of 8uly B on 8une (5th

?ote: e say at nightwhen we are talking about all of the night:

hen there is no moon it is very dark at night.

!e sleeps during the day and works at night.

but we say in the night when we are talking about a short time during the night:

!e woke up twice in the night.

I heard a funny noise in the night.

e use the adverb ago with the past simple to say how long before the time of

speaking something happened:

I saw 8im about three weeks ago.e arrived a few minutes ago.

e can put time phrases together:

e will meet ne(t weekat si( o#lo#kon onda".

I heard a funny noise at about eleven o#lo#klast night.

It happened last weekat seven o#lo#kon onda" night.

how long

backne't

e usefor to say how long:

e have been waiting for twent" minutes.

They lived in "anchester for fifteen "ears.

e use since with the present perfect or the past perfect to say when something

started:

11
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/time-and-dateshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/how-oftenhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/how-oftenhttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/time-and-dateshttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adverbials/adverbials-time/how-often


67/139

I have worked here sin#e 0e#ember.

They had been watching sin#e seven o#lo#k in the morning.

e usefrom %to/untilto say when something starts and finishes:

They stayed with us from onda" to /rida".e will be on holiday from the si(teenth until the twentieth.

how often

backne't

The commonest adverbials of fre6uency are:

always never normally occasionally often

rarely seldom sometimes usually

e usually put adverbials of fre6uency in front of the main verb:

e often spend ;hristmas with friends.

I have never enAoyed myself so much.

but they usually come after the verb be:

!e was alwa"stired in the evening.

e are never late for work.

e use the adverbial a lotto mean often or freuentl". It comes at the end of the

clause:

e go to the cinema a lot.

but before another time adverbial:

e go to the cinema a lot at the weekend.

e use much with a negative to mean not often:

e dontgo out mu#h. < e don$t go out often

e

English Grammar (British Council)

Documents

Transcript of English Grammar (British Council)