Evaluations and comparisons

Video about  too and enough 

Click here to see a video about Comparatives As As

Exercise 1:  Grammar Exercise - Too or Enough

Exercise 2: Complete with too or enough.

Exercise 3:  Comparison of Adjectives

Exercise 4: Comparisons with nouns

Wish + past tense to refer to present wishes

Wish + Past Verb

In English, we use wish + past form verb when we want something now or in the future to be different e.g. I wish I had more money.

the main use of 'wish' is to say that we would like things to be different from what they are, that we have regrets about the present situation.

I wish I was rich.

He wishes he lived in Paris.

They wish they'd chosen a different leader.

Exercise 1: Wish + Past simple

Exercise 2: Wish 

Indirect questions from WH-questions

We  use indirect questions when I'm asking for help in the street, because they are very polite. Indirect questions start with a phrase like 'could you tell me...' or 'do you know...'. For example: 

Direct question: Where is the bank?Indirect question: Could you tell me where the bank is?

Notice that in the indirect question I put the verb ('is') after the subject ('the bank'), in the same way as I do with a normal positive sentence ('the bank is over there'), but in the direct question I put the verb 'is' before the subject 'the bank'. 

This is called inversion, and it is used to make direct questions in many verb tenses in English, but we don't use inversion in indirect questions. This is very similar to the grammar of reported questions. 

However, we use indirect questions in a different way from reported questions. Indirect questions are a way of being polite. They are very, very common in English, especially when you're talking to someone you don't know.

Wh' Questions

In the same way as with reported 'wh' questions, we use the question word and the word order of a normal positive sentence to make indirect 'wh' questions. We don't need to use inversion. Again, we also don't usually need to 'backshift' (change the tense of the verb) as we do with reported questions.

To change a direct question to an indirect question for tenses that make questions using inversion, you just add 'if' and change the word order back to a normal positive sentence.

Wh' questions for tenses with 'do / does / did':

Sometimes you want to make an indirect 'wh' question using the present simple of any verb except 'be' or the past simple of any verb except 'be'. Usually these tenses make questions by using 'do / does / did'. However, when we want to make indirect 'wh' questions using these tenses, we don't need 'do / does / did'. Instead, we use a question word and then normal positive sentence word order.

Verb Tense	Direct Question	Indirect Question
Present simple with any verb except 'be'	Where does David live?	Can you tell me where David lives?
Past simple with any verb except 'be'	Why did Amanda call John yesterday?	Can you tell me why Amanda called John yesterday?

Click here to see a video about  Indirect Questions from Wh - Questions

Exercise 1: Indirect Questions  (Present Simple Tense)

Exercise 2: Indirect question

Past tense

Simple Past Tense

The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in English.

In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a definite time in the past.

The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in the past tense. 

For example: The past tense of the verb want is wanted.
Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.

• I wanted
• You wanted
• He wanted
• She wanted
• It wanted
• We wanted
• They wanted

So you just have to learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In this case we just needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used for all subjects (or people).

Past Tense Regular Verbs

To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add –ED to the end of the verb.

• play – played
• cook – cooked
• rain – rained
• wait – waited

Negative sentences in the Past Tense

We use didn't (did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)

Compare the following:

Present: They don't live in Canada.
Past: They didn't live in Canada.

Questions in the Past Tense

We use did to make a question in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)

Compare the questions in the examples below:

Present: Do you need a doctor?
Past: Did you need a doctor?

Present: Do you ride your bike to work?
Past: Did you ride your bike to work?

We can also use a question word (Who, What, Why etc.) before DID to ask for more information.

• Did you study? – Yes, I did.
• When did you study? – I studied last night.
• Where did you study? – I studied at the library.

Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense

Irregular verbs are ONLY irregular in affirmative/positive sentences.
(An exception to this is with the verb TO BE in the Past Tense).

For example: The past tense of GO is WENT.
It does not end in –ED so it is considered irregular.

The word went is used for all subjects – I, you, we, they, he, she, it.

• I went to the beach
• He went to the park.
• She went to the zoo.
• They went to the library.

Another example with an irregular verb.
The past of EAT is ATE.

• You ate my cake.
• You didn't eat my cake.
• Did you eat my cake?

Click here to see a video about the simple past tense

Exercise 1: Sentences and questions in the Simple Past

Exercise 2:  Past Tense 

Exercise 3: Past Simple - 'Wh' Questions

Exercise 4: Make the past simple - positive, negative or question

Used to

How to use "used to" in English

Exercise 1:  used to

Exercise 2: affirmative sentence, negative sentence or question using‘used to + infinitive

Exercise3: used to exercises 

Expressions of quantity

Count and Noncount Nouns: Basic Rules

Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

The Basic Rules: Count and Noncount Nouns

A count noun is one that can be expressed in plural form, usually with an "s." For example, "cat—cats," "season—seasons," "student—students."

A noncount noun is one that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. For example, "milk," "water," "air," "money," "food." Usually, you can't say, "He had many moneys."

Much/Many: 

Much modifies only uncountable nouns. 

Many modifies only countable nouns.

• "We don't have much time to get this done."
• "Many Americans travel to Europe."

Little/Few: Little modifies only uncountable nouns.

• "He had little food in the house."
• "The doctor had little time to think in the emergency room."

Few modifies only countable nouns.

• "There are few doctors in town."
• "Few students like exams."

Enough: Enough modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

• "There is enough money to buy a car."
• "I have enough books to read."

A lot of vs. Lots of

A lot of and lots of are used to express that there is a large quantity of something.

We use a lot of in positive sentences, negative sentences and questions. This expression can be used withcountable or uncountable nouns.

• There are a lot of dogs in the street. (Countable noun)
• I have a lot of time to answer your questions. (Uncountable noun)
• I saw a lot of people waiting in the queue. (Countable)
• We did have a lot of fun, didn't we? (Uncountable)

We use lots of in positive and negative sentences, however it is more informal. It can be used with countable or uncountable nouns, and occasionally in questions.

• We have lots of time to catch the plane, let's relax. (Uncountable noun)
• There are lots of people in the queue today. (Countable)
• Oh my, you have spent lots of money on clothes! (Uncountable)
• I have lots of questions. (Countable)

She has a lot of money = She has lots of money

Click here to see a video about expressions of  quantity 

Exercise 1: Much - Many - A lot of - Few 

Exercise 2: FEW - LITTLE - SOME - ANY - A/AN - MANY - MUCH

Exercise 3: Fewer & Less

Would and will

Modal verbs: will and would

Would is the past form of will. It's a modal auxiliary verb.

Requests

In requests, would is used as a softer, more polite form of will. Compare the sentences below.

• "Will you send the details to Henry?"
• "Would you send the details to Henry?"

• "Will you let me know when you arrive?"
• "Would you let me know when you arrive?"

Unreal situationsWould is used when we imagine a situation or action. Compare:

• "I'll have lunch now. Things are really quiet." (spontaneous decision, certain)
• "I'd have lunch now, but Sandra's not back yet." (unreal situation)

Exercise 1: Will or Would

Exercise 2: Choose the best modal for each sentence.

Grammar focus

So, Too, Neither and Either

'So do I' and 'neither do I'

I use 'so do I' to say that a positive sentence is also true for me, and I use 'neither do I' to say that a negative sentence is also true for me:

• John: I hate mushrooms.
• Me: So do I (=I also hate mushrooms).

• Lucy: I don't live in London.
• Me: Neither do I (=I also don't live in London. For example, maybe Lucy and I both live in Paris).

This is often used as a reply to someone else in a conversation, but both sentences can also be said by the same person, and even joined together:

• Me: Elizabeth loves coffee. So do I.
• Me: Harry doesn't play the piano and neither do I.

What about 'too' and 'either'?

We can also use 'I do too' and 'I don't either', which mean the same as 'so do I' and 'neither do I':

• John: I hate mushrooms.
• Me: I do too (=I also hate mushrooms).

• Lucy: I don't live in London.
• Me: I don't either (=I also don't live in London).

The verb changes in the same way as with 'so do I' and 'neither do I' (remember you need a negative verb with 'either'):

• Present simple: John's at the office. I am too.
• Present continuous: Luke isn't going out tonight. I'm not either.
• Present perfect: They've been to Colombia. I have too.
• Modal verbs: Emma can't speak Russian. I can't either.

Click here to see a video about so , too, neither,either

Exercise 1: So, Too, Neither, Either 

Exercise 2:  So - Neither - Either

Exercise 3: So / Neither / Either / Too 

Passive voice(simple present)

See the video about passive voice -simple present 

1. Passive – Use

We only use the passive when we are interested in the object or when we do not know who caused the action.

Example: Appointments are required in such cases.

2. Passive – Form

to be + past participle

How to form a passive sentence when an active sentence is given:

• object of the active sentence becomes subject in the passive sentence
• subject of the active sentence becomes object in the passive sentence (or is left out)

We can only form a passive sentence from an active sentence when there is an object in the active sentence.

Exercise 1: Passive sentences in the Simple Present

Exercise 2:  Word orderin Passive
Exercise 3: Passive voice - present
Exercise 4: Passive Voice - Exercises on Form

Health problems

Exercise 1:  HEALTH PROBLEMS AND TREATMENTS

Exercise 2:  sickness exercises > health problems 

Exercise 3: Should’, ‘Shouldn’t’ for Giving Advice on Health Problems

Word Power

Containers and contents

Exercise 1: Containers

Exercise 2: Containers and contents 

Modal Verbs for requests

What are modal verbs?

They are a type of auxiliary verb we use with other verbs to add more meaning to the verb. After modal verbs we use the infinitive form without to.

Modals are not used with the auxiliary verb do; to form the negative, we addnot after the modal. To ask questions, we put the modal in front of the subject.

We use the modal verbs can and could  to offer to do things for people or to invite them to do something. We also use them to make requests or ask permission to do something.

Clic here to see a video about modal verbs can could may for requests

Exercise 1: Choose the right  modal verb

Exercise 2: Can, Could, May and Might

Exercise 3: Fill in the following sentences. Pay attention to the meaning of the modal verbs.