Basic English Grammar Lessons Archives

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Form PositiveSubject + had been + Verb-INGShe had been cooking in the kitchen for hours when I got home.NegativeSubject + had not been + Verb-INGShe had not been cooking in the kitchen for hours when I got home.Question Had + Subject + been Verb-ING?Had she been cooking in the kitchen for hours when you got […]

Past Continuous Tense

Form PositiveSubject + was/ were + Verb-ING She was cooking when I came.NegativeSubject + was/ were + not + Verb-ING She wasn’t cooking when I came.Question Was/ were + Subject + Verb-ING? Was she cooking when you came?Usages To talk about an incomplete action at a specific in the pastMax was playing games yesterday afternoon. […]

Simple Future Tense

Simple Future Tense with WILL Form PositiveSubject + will + Bare infinitive Will = ‘ll My mom will go shopping tomorrow.NegativeSubject + will not + Bare infinitive Will not = won’t My mom won’t go shopping tomorrow.Question Will + Subject + Bare infinitive? Will your mom go shopping tomorrow?Usages To talk about a predictionI am sure he’ll come […]

Reported speech

Reported speech is used when you want to tell someone else what a person said before. The tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech. I/ you/ we/ theyHe/ she/ it/ JamesPresent simple Ex: “I go shopping every Friday”, my mom said.Past simple Ex: My mom said (that) she […]

Relative clause

Relative clause helps define or give us extra/ additional information about things or people we’re talking about. Relative clause starts with relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose, whom) or relative adverbs (where, when, why). Relative pronouns/ adverbsMeaningswhoRefer to people which Refer to things or animalsthatRefer to people, animals or things (can replace which or who, informal)whoseRefer […]

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives – List and Example Sentences

One-syllable adjectivesAdjectivesComparative formsSuperlative formsAA-ERA-ESTtalltallertallestshortshortershortestfastfasterfastestslowslowerslowestbigbiggerbiggestsmallsmallersmalleststrongstrongerstrongestweakweakerweakestoldolderoldestyoungyoungeryoungest Harry is tall, but Jane is taller, and Jack is the tallest in class.I am strong, but my brother is stronger, and my dad is the strongest in my family.Kyo is faster than Jane, but Jane is stronger (than Kyo).The biggest mistake in my life is to tell him my secret. […]

Conditionals

Conditional typeUsagesFormsExamplesIF CLAUSEMAIN CLAUSEZero conditionalUsed to talk about the general truths/ things that are always truePresent simplePresent simple- If you heat ice, it melts. – If it rains, everything gets wet. – Your heart beats faster if you’re worried.First conditional Used to talk about real or possible situationsPresent simpleWILL + Verb-bare-If I win the game, I’ll get some […]

Passive voice

Difference between active and passive voice: Active voice: describe the subject doing the action Passive voice: used when the focus is on the action. The one doing the action is not important.Active: Marry cleaned the classroom.Passive: The classroom was cleaned (by Marry). FormsExamplesPositiveSubject + Tobe + Verb – past participleA rose is sent to her […]

Question tags

Are questions at the end of the statement Used in spoken language Used for confirming information or asking for someone’s agreement or disagreement Form: Question tag = Auxiliary + Subject A POSITIVE STATEMENT, A NEGATIVE QUESTION TAG?A POSITIVE STATEMENTA NEGATIVE QUESTION TAG You are (a doctor) aren’t you? She is (a doctor) isn’t she? They were (doctors) weren’t they? She was (a […]

Past Perfect Tense

Form PositiveSubject + had + Past Participle She had done her homework when I came.NegativeSubject + had + not + Past Participle Had not = hadn’t She hadn’t done her homework when I came.Question Had + Subject + Past Participle? Had she done her homework when you came?Usages The past perfect and present perfect are […]

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