English Grammar Rules

English Grammar Rules
www.grammar.cl
BASIC English Grammar
Adverbs of Frequency (Always, Often, Never, Seldom etc.)
Adverbs Spelling -LY
Can - Cannot
Do vs. Does - How to make questions in the Present Tense with
Do and Does
Don't vs. Doesn't - How to make negative sentences with don't
and doesn't
Genitive Case - When to use the apostrophe and the S ('s)
Have Has Go Goes - To Have and To Go in Affirmative, Negative
and Questions
Noun + To Be + Noun
Past Tense - How to use the simple past tense - sentences and
questions.
Past Tense Irregular Verbs - A list of verbs that are irregular in the
Past Tense
Present Tense Verbs - Third Person - Conjugation of He, She, it in
Present Tense
Present Tense vs. Progressive Tense
Present vs. Progressive vs. Past Tense - Comparing these three
tenses.
Plural Nouns - Regular & irregular nouns in plural form
Possessive Adjectives - My, your, his, her, its, our, their.
Possessive Pronouns - Mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs.
Object Pronouns - Me, you, him, her, it, us, them
Question Words (Who, When, Why, What, Which, How)
Short Answers - Past Tense
Short Answers - Present Tense
Short Answers - To Be (Present Tense)
Simple Present Tense - How to make basic sentences in English
Spelling - Words ending in ED - Verbs, Adjectives and other words
ending in ED
Spelling - Words ending in ING - Both present participles and
gerunds
Subject Pronouns - I, You, He, She, It, We, You, They
There is / There are
There vs Their vs They're - The difference between these words
This That These Those - Demonstrative Pronouns
To Be (Past Tense)
To Be (Present Tense) - Using the verb To Be in the Present
Tense
Where + To Be
Your vs You're - The difference between Your and You're in
English
Adverbs of Frequency
We use some adverbs to describe how frequently we do an activity.
These are called adverbs of frequency and include:
Frequency Adverb of Frequency Example Sentence

100% always I always go to bed before 11pm.
90% usually I usually have cereal for breakfast.
80% normally / generally I normally go to the gym.
70% often* / frequently I often surf the internet.
I sometimes forget my wife's

50% sometimes
birthday.
30% occasionally I occasionally eat junk food.
10% seldom I seldom read the newspaper.
5% hardly ever / rarely I hardly ever drink alcohol.
0% never I never swim in the sea.
* Some people pronounce the 'T' in often but many others do not.
The Position of the Adverb in a Sentence

An adverb of frequency goes before a main verb (except with To Be).
Subject + adverb + main verb
I always remember to do my homework.
He normally gets good marks in exams.
An adverb of frequency goes after the verb To Be.

Subject + to be + adverb
They are never pleased to see me.
She isn't usually bad tempered.
When we use an auxiliary verb (have, will, must, might, could,

would, can, etc.), the adverb is placed between the auxiliary and the
main verb. This is also true for to be.
Subject + auxiliary + adverb + main verb
She can sometimes beat me in a race.
I would hardly ever be unkind to someone.
They might never see each other again.
They could occasionally be heard laughing.
We can also use the following adverbs at the start of a sentence:
Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally
Occasionally, I like to eat Thai food.
BUT we cannot use the following at the beginning of a sentence:
Always, seldom, rarely, hardly, ever, never.
We use hardly ever and never with positive, not negative verbs:
She hardly ever comes to my parties.
They never say 'thank you'.
We use ever in questions and negative statements:
Have you ever been to New Zealand?

I haven't ever been to Switzerland. (The same as 'I have never
been Switzerland').
We can also use the following expressions when we want to

be more specific about the frequency:
- every day - once a month - twice a year - four times a day - every
other week
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Adverbs Spelling -LY

English Grammar Notes
Adjective vs. Adverb Review
Adjectives describe nouns (things).
My dog is slow.
Slow is an adjective since it describes the subject (my dog).
How is my dog? Slow
Adverbs describe verbs (actions).
My dog eats slowly.
Slowly is an adverb since it describes the way my dog eats.
How does my dog eat? Slowly.
For details see our page about Adjectives vs Adverbs.
Adverbs -LY
Adverbs are normally formed by adding -LY to the end of an adjective.
E.g. Quick - Quickly
For adjectives that end in -l or -e, we simply add -ly:

special + ly = specially
terminal + ly = terminally
literal + ly = literally
nice + ly = nicely
polite + ly = politely
There are of course some exceptions:

true truly
whole wholly
due duly
full fully
Adverbs ending in -Y
For adjectives that end in -y, we remove the -y and add -ily:
crazy crazily
happy happily
Adverbs ending in -LE

For adjectives that end in a consonant + le we remove the -e and add -
y:
terrible terribly
horrible horribly
noble nobly
idle idly
Adverbs ending in -IC
If the adjective ends in -ic, we add -ally:
ironic ironically
enthusiastic enthusiastically
realistic realistically
Except: public - publicly
Irregular Adverbs
Some adverbs are irregular:
Adjective Adverb Example
fast fast The man drives very fast (quickly).
good well You speak English very well.
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Can - Cannot - Can't

Can is a modal verb.
Can is used to express ability or to say that something is possible.
Can is the same for all subjects. We don't add an 'S' in the third person
(like other verbs)
The verb that comes after Can is in the infinitive without to:
I can speak Spanish. (= it is possible for me to speak Spanish = I

have the ability to speak Spanish)
He can swim well.
We can see my neighbour in the garden.
They can play the guitar.
Negative
To form the negative we add "not" after can to form one word: cannot.
We can also contract the negative to form can't. (can't = cannot)
I cannot play the piano. We can't go to the cinema tonight.

She cannot speak French very well. He can't drive a car.
Questions
To from the question we change the position of the subject and the
auxiliary verb.
The main verb is still in the infinitive without to.
Where can I buy an ice-cream?

Can I go to the party, please?
Can you speak Japanese?
What can we do on Saturday?
Remember that you can use short answers:
Can I sit here please? Yes, you can.

Can you speak Chinese? No, I can't.
Impersonal Can
Sometimes You can and Can you? are impersonal and refer to
people in general.
You can see many stars at night from here. (= people in general
can see many stars)
It doesn't necessarily refer to you but people in general.
You can't run naked in the middle of the street.
Not necessarily saying YOU can't run naked in the middle of the street
but in general it is not possible for anyone.
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Do vs. Does
To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It is
normally put at the beginning of the question.
Affirmative: You speak Spanish.

Question: Do you speak Spanish?
You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence
to make it a question. We useDo when the subject is I, you, we or they.
Affirmative: He speaks Spanish.
Question: Does he speak Spanish?
When the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to
make the affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the
end of the verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person)
disappears in the question. We will see the reason why below.
We DON'T use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To

Be or Modal Verbs (can, must, might, should etc.)
Word Order of Questions with Do and Does

The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English
using Do or Does.
Do/Does Subject Verb* The Rest of the sentence
Do I / you / we / they have / buy

cereal for breakfast?
Does he / she / it eat / like etc.
*Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The
infinitive without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is
just the have part.
Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated

(changed) and it begins with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to
live, to speak etc.
Examples of Questions with Do and Does:
Do you speak English?

Does John speak French?
Do we have time for a quick drink?
Does it rain a lot in the South?
Do they want to come with me?
Does she like chocolate?
Short Answers with Do and Does

In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to
direct questions as follows:
Short Answer Short Answer

Sample Questions
(Affirmative) (Negative)
Do you speak English? Yes, I do. No, I don't.
Do I need a dictionary? Yes, you do. No, you don't.
Do you both speak English? Yes, we do. No, we don't.
Do they speak English? Yes, they do. No, they don't.
Does he speak English? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.
Does she speak English? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.
Does it have four legs? Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.
However, if a question word such

as who, when, where, why, which or how is used in the question, you
can not use the short answers above to respond to the question.
Question Words with Do and Does

The order for making sentences with Questions words is the following:
Question Word Do/Does Subject Verb
What do you have for breakfast?
What does she have for breakfast?
Where do you live?
When do you study?
How do you spell your name?

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Don't vs. Doesn't

To make a negative sentence in English we normally
use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal
verbs (Can, might, should etc.).
Affirmative: You speak Spanish.

Negative: You don't speak Spanish.
You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb. We
use Don't when the subject is I,you, we or they.
Affirmative: He speaks Spanish.

Negative: He doesn't speak Spanish.
When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject
and the verb to make a negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the
disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the reason why below.
Contractions
Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not
I don't like fish = I do not like fish.
There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions

in spoken English.
Word Order of Negative Sentences

The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in
English in the Present Tense using Don't or Doesn't.
Subject don't/doesn't Verb* The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we /
don't have / buy
they cereal for breakfast
eat / like etc.
he / she / it doesn't
just the have part.

live, to speak etc.
Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:
You don't speak Russian.

John doesn't speak French.
We don't have time for a quick drink.
It doesn't rain much in summer.
They don't want to come with us.
She doesn't like meat.
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The Apostrophe S - ('S)

Possessive Case - Genitive Case
Also called the possessive case, the genitive case is when we add
apostrophe S (s) to show possession, that something belongs to
another or a type of relationship between things.
e.g. Woodwards house, Your brothers friend
The meaning of Xs Y is:

= The Y of X
= The Y belonging to X (Y is normally a thing)
= The Y which has some relation with X (Y is often a person)
The Rules:
We normally use the s with people, animals though it can also be used
with places, organizations and companies (which suggest a group of
people).
It is not common to use the s with non-living things.
1. Singular nouns
add 's (apostrophe S)
My mothers house is next to the beach. (= the house of my

mother)
Jasons car was stolen last night. (= the car of Jason)
Tomorrow, were all going to see the museums new art exhibit.
2. Plural nouns ending in s

only add the apostrophe ' (without the S)
The two sisters house is next to mine. (= the house of the two
sisters)
The plumbers tools were rusty. (= the tools of the plumbers)
The players boots were dirty and smelly after the game. (= the
boots of the players)
Notice that the pronunciation is the same for certain possessives:
My friends house = the house of my friend = 1 friend

My friends house = the house of my friends = 2 or more friends
You can usually distinguish whether the speaker is referring to one or

two friends by listening to the context of what the speaker says.
3. Plural nouns not ending in s:

add 's
Be careful not to trip over the childrens toys. (= the toys of the
children)
The womens bathroom is currently flooded with water.
The presidential candidate is often called the peoples favorite
politician.
4. Singular noun ending in s:

It depends
a. Most names: add 's (apostrophe S)
They had a really good time at Jamess barbecue last Friday.

We spent the day admiring Francess new car.
b. Classical or religious names: add ' (only the apostrophe)
Jesus disciples carried out the teachings of Jesus.

Sophocles plays are still performed today.
5. Possessive nouns as part of a phrase
Sometimes more than one word/noun is a possessive. The same rules
as above are still valid:
The King of Spartas wife was called Helen.

The President of Chiles speech was very long.
I accidentally took someone elses bag home by mistake.
I had to give my boss three weeks notice that I was leaving the
company.
If there are two owners of something, we add 's to the final name:
Rick and Steves car is quite old.
But, if each person owns a car, then add 's to both names:
Ricks and Steves cars are quite old.
Notice how the verb is in plural form.
6. No Noun
If the meaning is clear, we can use the possessive without a noun after
it.
Her hair is longer than Jills. (= Jills hair)

We ate at Billys last night. (= Billys Diner or Billys house)
Whose bag is this? Its Janes. (= Janes bag)
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Have - Has - Go - Goes
Simple Present Tense
Conjugation of Have and Go
To Have = To show possession / a quality
To Go = to show movement (travel) in a specific direction
Subject To Have The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they have an old bike.
he / she / it has a new car.
Subject To Go The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they go to class every day.
he / she / it goes to the movies on Friday.
Usually we only add 'S' to a verb when we conjugate it in the third

person but notice how To Have andTo Go are slightly irregular (though
they still both end in S).
Have and Go in Negative Sentences

To make a negative sentence in English with To Have and To Go we
use Don't or Doesn't followed by Have or Go (never Has or Goes).
Affirmative: You have a pen.

Negative: You don't have a pen.
Affirmative: He has a pencil.

Negative: He doesn't have a pencil.
and the verb to make a negative sentence. Notice that we don't use the
normal third person conjugation (has, goes) in negative sentences. We
use the base form of the infinitive as seen below.

Subject don't/doesn't To Have* The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we /
don't
they have cereal for lunch.
Subject don't/doesn't To Go* The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they don't

go to classes every day.
* Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The
just the have part.
live, to speak etc.
Examples of Negative Sentences with Have:
You don't have a clue.

John doesn't have many friends.
We don't have time for a rest.
It doesn't have four wheels.
They don't have the correct answers.
She doesn't have a nice dress.
Examples of Negative Sentences with Go:
You don't go to university.

John doesn't go to parties.
We don't go to work on the weekend.
It doesn't go fast.
They don't go to the beach.
She doesn't go to church.
Questions with Have and Go

To make a question in English with To Have and To Go, we normally
use Do or Does at the beginning of the question.
Affirmative: You have a girlfriend.

Question: Do you have a girlfriend?
Affirmative: She has a boyfriend.

Question: Does she have a boyfriend?
make the affirmative sentence a question. Notice that we don't use the
normal third person conjugation (has, goes) in questions. We use the
base form of the infinitive as seen below.

using Do or Does.
Do I / you / we / they
have a new bike?
Does he / she / it
Do I / you / we / they
go to school?
Does he / she / it
just the have part.

live, to speak etc.
Examples of Questions with Have and Go:
Do you have a dictionary?

Does Mary have a dictionary?
Do we go to all the meetings?
Does she go to all the meetings?
Short Answers with Have and Go


Sample Questions
Do you have a car?

Yes, I do. No, I don't.
Do you go to church?
Do I have time?
Yes, you do. No, you don't.
Do I go to work today?
Do you both have time?

Yes, we do. No, we don't.
Do you both go to school?
Do they have a car?

Yes, they do. No, they don't.
Do they go to the pub?
Does he have a car?

Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.
Does he go to university?
Does she have a car?

Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.
Does she go to the gym?
Does it have four wheels?

Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.
Does it go slow?
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Noun + To Be + Noun
Nouns are words that name things. Some common nouns include those
used for animals, countries, food, languages, cities and countries.
When we are explaining things, we use Noun + To Be + Noun:
English is a language. (Noun + To Be + Noun)

A chicken is a bird. (Noun + To Be + Noun)
Singular Noun + IS + Singular Noun

We use IS between the two singular nouns.
Champagne is a drink.
Paris is a city.
France is a country.
French is a language.
Europe is a continent.
Note that we normally use an article (A / AN) before a singular noun.

Articles + Nouns
'A' or 'AN' are articles. In English we normally use articles before
singular nouns.
A is used before a word that begins with a consonant.

AN is used before a word that begins with a vowel.
Vowels: A, E, I, O, U.
Consonants: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z.
For example:
Chile is a country. (A before consonant)

Santiago is a city. (A before consonant)
An apple is a fruit (A before consonant)
A dog is an animal. (AN before vowel)
A mosquito is an insect. (AN before vowel)
Qantas is an airline. (AN before vowel)
Plural Noun + Are + Plural Noun

Singular Noun + IS + Singular Noun
Plural Noun + ARE + Plural Noun
Note that we do not use an article (A / AN) with a plural noun.
For example:
A dog is an animal. (singular)

Dogs are animals. (plural)
Spanish is a language. (singular)
Spanish and Italian are languages. (plural)
Cities are places. (plural)
Countries are states. (plural)
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Simple Past Tense

English Grammar
The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to
use in English.
If you already know how to use the Present Tense, then the Past
Tense will be easy.
In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started
and finished at a definite time in the past.
How to form the Past Tense in English

The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of
it in the past tense.
(The exception is the Past tense of To Be, which has two
forms: was and were)
This is totally different from other languages such as Spanish, French,

Italian etc. where you change the verb ending for every subject.
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
There are some exceptions with a slight change in spelling which you
can see here:
Spelling of words ending in ED.
Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the

past tense
Last night I played my guitar loudly and the
neighbors complained.
She kissed me on the cheek.
It rained yesterday.
Angela watched TV all night.
John wanted to go to the museum.
Note: There are three different ways of pronouncing the ed at the end
of a verb in the past tense.
We recommend reading our guide about the pronunciation of ED at the
end of words.
Negative sentences in the Past Tense
We use didnt (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 dont live in Canada.

Past: They didnt live in Canada.
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the
infinitive). The auxiliary DIDNTshows that the sentence is negative AND
in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a negative sentence in the

present tense and a negative sentence in the past tense is the change
in the auxiliary verb.
Both dont and doesnt in the present tense become didnt in the past
tense.
Compare the negative sentences in the examples below:
Present: You dont need a mechanic.

Past: You didnt need a mechanic.
Present: You dont walk to work.

Past: You didnt walk to work.
Present: He doesnt speak Japanese.

Past: He didnt speak Japanese.
Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense

I didnt want to go to the dentist.
She didnt have time.
You didnt close the door.
He didnt come to my party.
They didnt study so they didnt pass the test.
We didnt sleep well last night.
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 following:
Present: Do they live in France?

Past: Did they live in France?
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the
infinitive). The auxiliary DID shows that the question is in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a question in the present tense

and a question in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both Do and Does in present tense questions become Didnt in past
tense questions.
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?
Present: Does he live in Italy?

Past: Did he live in Italy?
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.
Read more about short answers in the past tense.
Examples of Questions in the Past Tense

Did you go to work yesterday?
Did they arrive on time?
Did she like the surprise?
Where did she go?
What did you do yesterday?
What did you say? - I didnt say anything.
Why did we have to come?
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.
BUT, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went) in

sentences that are affirmative/positive.
Compare the following using GO in the past tense.
They went to the beach

They didnt go to the beach --- Didnt shows that we are talking in
the past tense.
Did they go to the beach? --- Did shows that we are talking in the
past tense.
Another example with an irregular verb.

The past of EAT is ATE.
You ate my cake.

You didnt eat my cake.
Did you eat my cake?
Present vs Past Tense Summary Chart
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Past Tense Irregular Verbs

List
Part One
The following is a list of Irregular Verbs in English:
Verb Past Simple Past Participle
arise arose arisen
babysit babysat babysat
be was / were been
beat beat beaten
become became become
bend bent bent
begin began begun
bet bet bet
bind bound bound
bite bit bitten
bleed bled bled
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
bring brought brought
broadcast broadcast broadcast
build built built
buy bought bought

catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
come came come
cost cost cost
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
dig dug dug
do did done
draw drew drawn
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
fly flew flown
forbid forbade forbidden
forget forgot forgotten
forgive forgave forgiven

freeze froze frozen
get got gotten
give gave given
go went gone
grow grew grown
hang* hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie ** lay lain
light lit lit

lose lost lost
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
pay paid paid
put put put
quit quit quit
read *** read read
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
say said said
see saw seen
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
shake shook shaken
shine shone shone
shoot shot shot
show showed shown

shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
speak spoke spoken
spend spent spent
spin spun spun
spread spread spread
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
strike struck struck
swear swore sworn
sweep swept swept
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught

tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
understand understood understood
wake woke woken
wear wore worn
win won won
withdraw withdrew withdrawn
write wrote written
* HANG - Hang has two different meanings. The first is "to attach (or
hang) something in a high position" (e.g. on the wall or on a hook). In
this case we use the above verbs Hang-Hung-Hung.
BUT when Hang means "to kill someone by putting a rope around
someone's neck and leaving them in a high position without any
support", we use different verbs: Hang-Hanged-hanged. This verb is
typical of public executions in the past. (e.g. They hanged him in the
main square.)
** LIE - Lie has two meanings. When it means "to put your body in a
horizontal position" (normally on a bed) it uses the Lie-Lay-Lain verbs.
BUT it is regular Lie-Lied-Lied when it has the other meaning of "not to

say the truth".
*** READ - Even though they are written the same, the pronunciation is
different in the Past Tense and Past Participle form.
Part Two
The following verbs can be regular or irregular:
burn burned OR burnt burned OR burnt
dream dreamed OR dreamt dreamed OR dreamt
learn learned OR learnt learned OR learnt
smell smelled OR smelt smelled OR smelt
The second form (burnt, dreamt etc.) is more common in British English.
Part Three
Verbs that have the same form in Present, Past and Past Participle
form:
bet bet bet
broadcast broadcast broadcast
cut cut cut
hit hit hit
hurt hurt hurt
let let let
put put put

quit quit quit
read read read
set set set
shut shut shut
spread spread spread
All of the verbs above are written and pronounced the same in the three
forms EXCEPT for Readwhich is written the same but pronounced
differently.
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Present Tense - Third Person

Normally in the present tense we add S to the end of the verb in the
3rd person (He, She, It).
Verb 3rd Person
Speak Speaks
Play Plays
Give Gives
Make Makes
He speaks three languages.

She drinks coffee every morning.
My dog hates my cat.
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs in English in the present tense follow very simple rules.
The only change that is made to these verbs is in the third person for
He, She or It.
1. If the verb ends in SS, X, CH, SH or the letter O, we add + ES in the

third person.
Verb 3rd Person
Kiss Kisses
Fix Fixes
Watch Watches
Crash Crashes
Go Goes
A mechanic fixes cars.

She watches soap operas every afternoon.
He kisses his wife before he goes to work.
2. If the verb ends in a Consonant + Y, we remove the Y and + IES in

the third person.
Verb 3rd Person
Carry Carries
Hurry Hurries
Study Studies
Deny Denies
Isabel studies every night.

The baby cries all the time.
He denies all responsibility.
Negative Sentence
To form the negative we use the auxiliary do not. Again, the only
variation occurs in the 3rd person where we use does not.
Positive Negative
I talk I do not talk
She talks She does not talk
You sleep You do not sleep
He sleeps He does not sleep
Carol studies Carol does not study
We study We do not study
In the negative, the main verb is always in the bare infinitive (without
TO). It doesn't change for the third person. We don't put an S on the end
of the verb in the negative form. In the examples above - talk, sleep and
study do not change in the 3rd person.
He speaks Italian
He doesn't speak Italian.
Remember: Do not can be abbreviated to Don't and Does not can be

abbreviated to Doesn't.
==============================================
======================
Present Tense vs Progressive

Tense
We use the simple present tense:
1. For facts
Whales live in the ocean.

Aconcagua is the highest mountain in Latin America.
The flight from Chile to Australia is thirteen hours.
2. For repeated or regular actions
Flights to Buenos Aires leave every hour.

I eat breakfast at the table.
We work every day of the week.
3. For habits
I brush my teeth three times a day.

He only drinks Martinis.
We celebrate Christmas on the twenty-fifth of December.
4. For things that are generally true in the present time period:
Boca Juniors is the best team in Argentina at the moment.

She is my girlfriend.
We study English.
Present Progressive Tense

We use the present progressive tense:
1. When somebody is doing something at this moment.
Sarah is changing her clothes right now.

Her boyfriend is waiting for her.
We are learning the progressive tense in English.
2. When something is happening at this moment. When the action has

started but hasn't finished.
It is snowing at the moment.

The economy is growing at an exponential rate.
The children are sleeping, so please be quiet.
3. To talk about something that is happening around the time of

speaking but not necessarily at that exact moment.
Alfredo is studying a lot for his exam.

I'm reading a great book. (not necessary right at this moment)
We are planning a trip to Jamaica.
Present vs. Progressive Tense

A significant difference between these two tenses is we use the simple
present tense for things that are permanent or are in general and
the present progressive tense for things that may change or are
temporary.
Compare:
Permanent Temporary
Simon lives in Birmingham. Simon is living with his friends for now.
James smokes. James is smoking in the kitchen.
We walk to work. We're walking in the park.
I speak English. I am speaking English right now.
Verbs that we don't use in the Progressive Tense

Another difference is that there are some verbs in English that we don't
use in the progressive tense. These include:
Belong - Cost - Hate - Have (possession) - Hear - Know - Like - Love -

Need - Own - Remember - Seem - Smell - Understand - Want
Different Meanings
In questions the same verb can change the meaning depending on if it
is in the present or the present progressive tense.
Differences in meaning of verb
Statement Meaning
What do you do? What is your job?

What are you doing? What are you doing at the moment?
What do you read? What do you like to read?
What are you reading? What are you reading right now?
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========================
Present vs Progressive vs
Past Tense
Present Tense
We use the present tense:
1. For facts.
A square has four equal sides.

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark.
2. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.
Flights to Buenos Aires leave every thirty minutes.

The bells of the town clock ring every hour.
3. For habits
I brush my teeth every morning.

He goes to the gym after work.
4. For things that are generally true in the present time period.
Manchester United is the best team in European football at the

moment.
My friend lives in San Francisco.
We use the present tense when the beginning or ending of an action,
event or condition is unknown or unimportant to the meaning of the
sentence.
Progressive Tense
We use the present progressive tense:
1. When somebody is doing something at the moment.
Carla is washing her hair.

Christian is playing table-tennis.
2. When something is happening at the moment.
It is snowing at the moment.

The Christmas sales are happening as we speak.
3. To talk about something that is happening around the time of

speaking but not necessarily at that exact moment.
My brother is learning how to play the violin at school.

Computers are becoming smaller and faster all the time.
A sentence in the Present Continuous indicates that the action, event or

condition is ongoing. It is happening at this point in time and
emphasizing the continuing nature of an act, event or condition.
Past Tense
The Past Tense is used:
1. To indicate that an action, event or condition has started and

finished. It can be included with a time reference (for more
information) or without.
They went to the beach.
Peter slept for ten hours.
2. To talk about something which was true in the past.
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for 1100 years.

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
3. When we are talking about a particular time in the past.
I visited Egypt in 2000.

Marta spoke to her sister last night.
It can be included with a time reference (for more information) or

without it.
Comparing the Tenses

A sentence in the Present Continuous indicates that the action, event or
condition is ongoing. It is happening at this point in time and
emphasizing the continuing nature of an act, event or condition.
A significant difference between the simple present tense and

the Progressive Tense is:
We use the Simple Present Tense for things that are permanent
We use the Present Progressive for things that may change (are
temporary).
Compare:
Simon lives in Birmingham. (Permanent)

Simon is living in Birmingham for six months. (Temporary)
It rains a lot in winter (Permanent)
It is raining outside (temporary)
Present I live in Chile Right now - Permanent
Progressive I am living in Chile For the moment - Temporary
Past I lived in Chile Happened in the past (not now)
Affirmative Negative Question
Present I live in Peru. I don't live in Peru. Do you live in Peru?
I'm living in I'm not living in Are you living in

Progressive
Peru Peru. Peru?
Past I lived in Peru. I didn't live in Peru. Did you live in Peru?
==============================================
========================
Plural Nouns
In general the plural of a noun is formed by adding -S to the noun.
Singular Plural
car cars
house houses
book books
bird birds
pencil pencils
However:
1. When the noun ends in SS, SH, CH or X, we add -ES to the noun.
Singular Plural
kiss kisses
wish wishes
match matches
box boxes
fox foxes
I have a box in my bedroom.

I have three boxes in my bedroom.
2. When the noun ends in a VOWEL + Y, we add -S to the noun.
Singular Plural
boy boys
holiday holidays
key keys
guy guys
3. When the noun ends in a CONSONANT + Y, we remove Y and add
-IES to the noun.
Singular Plural
party parties
lady ladies
story stories
nanny nannies
city cities
4. If the noun ends in F or FE, we remove the F/FE and add -VES to the
noun.
Singular Plural
life lives
leaf leaves
thief thieves
wife wives
5. If the noun ends in IS, we change it to ES.
Singular Plural
analysis analyses
basis bases
crisis crises
6. There are a number of nouns that don't follow these rules. They are
irregular and you need to learn them individually because they don't
normally have an S on the end.
Singular Plural
man men
woman women
child children
foot feet
tooth teeth
goose geese
mouse mice
There is a child in the park.

There are many children in the park.
7. There are some nouns in English that are the same in the singular
and the plural.
Singular Plural
fish fish
sheep sheep
deer deer
moose moose
aircraft aircraft
I can see a sheep in the field.

I can see ten sheep in the field.
Sometimes you will hear the word fishes (especially in songs) though it
is grammatically incorrect.
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======================
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are used to show possession or ownership of
something. While we use them when we refer to people, it is more in
the sense of relationship than ownership.
The possessive adjectives in English are as follows:
Possessive
Subject
Adjective
I My
You Your
He His
She Her
It Its
We Our
You (pl) Your
They Their
The possessive adjective needs to agree with the possessor and not
with the thing that is possessed.
Examples
My car is very old.

Her boyfriend is very friendly.
Our dog is black.
Their homework is on the table.
Like all adjectives in English, they are always located directly in front of
the noun they refer to. (Possessive Adjective + Noun)
We do not include an S to the adjective when the noun is plural like in

many other languages.
Examples:
Our cars are expensive. (Correct)

Ours cars are expensive. (Incorrect)
However, the verb that is used needs to be in agreement with the noun -
if the noun is singular then the verb is singular; if the noun is plural then
the verb is plural.
Examples:
My pen is black. (Singular)

My pens are black. (Plural)
Our child is intelligent. (Singular)
Our children are intelligent. (Plural)
Its vs. It's
Be careful not to confuse its and it's.
Its = The possessive adjective for It.

It's = a contraction of it is.
==============================================
=========================
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are used to show possession or ownership of
something. While we use them when we refer to people, it is more in
the sense of relationship than ownership.
The possessive adjectives in English are as follows:
Possessive
Subject
Adjective
I My
You Your
He His
She Her
It Its
We Our
You (pl) Your
They Their
The possessive adjective needs to agree with the possessor and not
with the thing that is possessed.
Examples
My car is very old.

Her boyfriend is very friendly.
Our dog is black.
Their homework is on the table.
Like all adjectives in English, they are always located directly in front of
the noun they refer to. (Possessive Adjective + Noun)
We do not include an S to the adjective when the noun is plural like in

many other languages.
Examples:
Our cars are expensive. (Correct)

Ours cars are expensive. (Incorrect)
However, the verb that is used needs to be in agreement with the noun -
if the noun is singular then the verb is singular; if the noun is plural then
the verb is plural.
Examples:
My pen is black. (Singular)

My pens are black. (Plural)
Our child is intelligent. (Singular)
Our children are intelligent. (Plural)
Its vs. It's

Be careful not to confuse its and it's.
Its = The possessive adjective for It.

It's = a contraction of it is.
==============================================
=========================
Object Pronouns
The seven basic pronouns have one form when they are used as
subjects and another form when they are used as objects.
Subjects are what the sentence is about. (See more about Subject
Pronouns)
Objects are what is affected by the action of the subject.
I like whisky. (I is the subject).

I read books. (Books is the object as it is receiving the action).
PRONOUNS
Subject
Object Pronoun
Pronoun
I Me
You You
He Him
She Her
It It
We Us
You (plural) You
They Them
Object pronouns are used instead of nouns, usually because we already
know what the object is. It makes the sentence easier to read and
understand and avoids repetition. We normally use object pronouns
after a verb or a preposition.
Examples
I like horses. Subject Pronoun
Horses don't like me. Object Pronoun
We talk to our neighbour. Subject Pronoun
She talks to us. Object Pronoun
They listen to the teacher. Subject Pronoun
Listen to me carefully. Object Pronoun
You speak very quickly. Subject Pronoun
We watch them on TV. Object Pronoun
The Object Pronoun - it

Be careful when using 'it' as an object pronoun because it is only in the
correct context that it has meaning. It needs to have already been
mentioned or obvious to the listener what you are referring to. Compare;
You are sitting on it! (The listener probably doesn't know what the
speaker refers to).
The letter is on the sofa. You are sitting on it! (It is obvious in the
second sentence that the reference is to the letter)
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=======================
Question Words
English Teachers: If you would like to use this Question Words wall
chart in your classroom, then you can purchase a copy here: Question
Words Wall Chart and Flash Cards.
The most common question words in English are the following:
WHO
WHO is only used when referring to people. (= I want to know the
person)
Who is the best football player in the world?

Who are your best friends?
Who is that strange guy over there?
WHERE
WHERE is used when referring to a place or location. (= I want to know
the place)
Where is the library?

Where do you live?
Where are my shoes?
WHEN
WHEN is used to refer to a time or an occasion. (= I want to know the
time)
When do the shops open?

When is his birthday?
When are we going to finish?
WHY
WHY is used to obtain an explanation or a reason. (= I want to know the
reason)
Why do we need a nanny?

Why are they always late?
Why does he complain all the time?
Normally the response begins with "Because..."
WHAT
WHAT is used to refer to specific information. (= I want to know the
thing)
What is your name?

What is her favourite colour?
What is the time?
WHICH
WHICH is used when a choice needs to be made. (= I want to know the
thing between alternatives)
Which drink did you order the rum or the beer?

Which day do you prefer for a meeting today or tomorrow?
Which is better - this one or that one?
HOW
HOW is used to describe the manner that something is done. (= I want
to know the way)
How do you cook paella?

How does he know the answer?
How can I learn English quickly?
With HOW there are a number of other expressions that are used in
questions:
How much refers to a quantity or a price (uncountable nouns)
How much time do you have to finish the test?

How much is the jacket on display in the window?
How much money will I need?
How many refers to a quantity (countable nouns)
How many days are there in April?

How many people live in this city?
How many brothers and sister do you have?
How often refers to frequency
How often do you visit your grandmother?

How often does she study?
How often are you sick?
How far refers to distance
How far is the university from your house?

How far is the bus stop from here?
==============================================
==========================
Past Tense - Short Answers

As is the case with any verb tense in English, it is generally possible to
give short answers to a question. This is certainly the case for questions
in the past tense.
If the question commences with one of the traditional question words

such as WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, WHAT, WHICH or HOW, it
requires a more detailed answer and it is not possible to give a short
answer.
Examples of long answers
What did you do on the weekend?

- I went to a party with my friends.
(It is not possible to give a short answer to this question like 'Yes, I did').
Why did you call him?

- Because I needed to borrow his computer.
However, if the question is more direct, and commences with a verb or

Did, then it is generally possible to give a short or a long answer to the
question.
Examples
Was Chris at the party last night?

- Yes, he was. (short answer)
- Yes, Chris was at the party last night. (long answer)
Did you see Julie on the weekend?

- No, I didn't. (short answer)
- No, I didn't see Julie on the weekend. (long answer)
Could they speak Japanese?

- Yes, they could. (short answer)
- Yes, they could speak Japanese. (long answer)
As you can see, long answers usually sound repetitive and are not
commonly used.
Short Answers with DID

Remember that if the question starts with DID, you can give a short
answer using DID. It is not necessary to use the main verb in the
answer.
Examples
Did you sleep well last night?

Yes, I did / No, I didn't.
Did the airplane arrive on time?

Yes, it did / No, it didn't.
Did they remember your birthday?

Yes, they did / No, they did not.
Did your parents ring you last week?

Yes, they did / No, they didn't.
Did you lose your dog?

Yes, I did / No, I did not.
In questions that use DID it is possible to give short answers as follows:

Sample Questions
Did I pass the test? Yes, you did. No, you didn't.
Did you need a dictionary? Yes, I did. No, I didn't.
Did you both like the movie? Yes, we did. No, we didn't.
Did they finish their homework? Yes, they did. No, they didn't.
Did he have a good time? Yes, he did. No, he didn't.
Did she want to leave early? Yes, she did. No, she didn't.
Did it have blue buttons? Yes, it did. No, it didn't.

Short Answers with Was / Were
In questions that use Was or Were it is possible to give short answers
as follows:

Sample Questions
Was I correct? Yes, you were. No, you weren't.
Were you busy yesterday? Yes, I was. No, I wasn't.
Were you both embarrassed? Yes, we were. No, we weren't.
Were they hungry? Yes, they were. No, they weren't.
Was he late again? Yes, he was. No, he wasn't.
Was she a good student? Yes, she was. No, she wasn't.
Was it ready? Yes, it was. No, it wasn't.

==============================================
==============================
Present Tense - Short

Answers
In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers, to

Sample Questions
Do I need a ticket? Yes, you do. No, you don't.

Do you need a dictionary? Yes, I do. No, I don't.
Do you both speak English? Yes, we do. No, we don't.
Do they need help? Yes, they do. No, they don't.
Does he like chocolate? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.
Does she want to come? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.
Does it have four legs? Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.
Short Answers with To Be

In questions that use Is or Are it is possible to give short answers as
follows:

Sample Questions
Am I early? Yes, you are. No, you aren't.
Are you busy now? Yes, I am. No, I'm not.
Are you both surprised? Yes, we are. No, we aren't.
Are they hungry? Yes, they are. No, they aren't.
Is he late again? Yes, he is. No, he isn't.
Is she a good student? Yes, she is. No, she isn't.
Is it ready? Yes, it is. No, it isn't.

In most cases, it is possible to give a short answer or a long answer to a
question in English. In casual conversation, short answers are much
more common than long answers. Long answers are for more formal
conversations or if you want to give more information in your response.
Examples
Do you like seafood?

- Yes, I do
- No, I don't.
Can you speak German?
- Yes, I can
- No, I can't.
Is there a hotel in this street?
- Yes, there is
- No, there isn't.
Are they coming to the movies?
- Yes, they are
- No, they aren't.
If you look at the examples above you will notice that the answer uses
the first verb in the question (even if it is an auxiliary verb). This is a
common characteristic of short answers in English. Contrast that to long
answers to each of those questions:
Do you like seafood?

- Yes, I like seafood.
- No, I don't like seafood.
Can you speak German?
- Yes, I can speak German.
- No, I can't speak German.
Is there a hotel in this street?
- Yes, there is a hotel at the end of this street.
- No, there isn't a hotel in this street.
Are they coming to the movies?
- Yes, they are coming to the movies.
- No, they are not coming to the movies.
You will notice that long answers often sound repetitive. A long answer
to one of these questions would be considered very formal in English,
and in most cases, unnecessary.
Remember, when you are accepting or refusing something to say 'yes,

please' or 'no, thank you'. It is much more common to give short
answers to questions like these:
Would you like a beer?

Yes, please.
Do you need any help?
No, thank you.
==============================================
========================
Short Answers - To Be
Present Tense
Short Answers with To Be
With To Be it is possible to give a short answer or a long answer to a
question in English though in casual conversation, short answers are
much more common than long answers. Long answers are for more
formal conversations or if you want to give more information in your
response.
In questions that use Is or Are it is possible to give short answers as

follows:

Sample Questions
Am I late? Yes, you are. No, you aren't.
Are you tired? Yes, I am. No, I'm not.
Are you both happy? Yes, we are. No, we aren't.
Are they thirsty? Yes, they are. No, they aren't.

Is he sick again? Yes, he is. No, he isn't.
Is she a good teacher? Yes, she is. No, she isn't.
Is it available? Yes, it is. No, it isn't.
Examples
Are you from Chile?

- Yes, I am. (= Yes, I am from Chile)
- No, I'm not. (= No, I am not from Chile)
Is he an engineer?
- Yes, he is. (= Yes, he is an engineer)
- No, he isn't. (= No, he isn't an engineer)
==============================================
=============================

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is
regular, true or normal.
We use the present tense:
1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.
I take the train to the office.

The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.
2. For facts.
The President of The USA lives in The White House.

A dog has four legs.
We come from Switzerland.
3. For habits.
I get up early every day.

Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
They travel to their country house every weekend.
4. For things that are always / generally true.
It rains a lot in winter.

The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
They speak English at work.
Verb Conjugation & Spelling

We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without
the TO).
In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.
Subject Verb The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they speak / learn English at home
he / she / it speaks / learns English at home
The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the
ending of that verb:
1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the
third person.
go goes
catch catches
wash washes
kiss kisses
fix fixes
buzz buzzes
2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -

IES.
marry marries
study studies
carry carries
worry worries
NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.
play plays
enjoy enjoys
say says
Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or
Doesn't with all verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might,
should etc.).
Affirmative: You speak French.

Negative: You don't speak French.
Affirmative: He speaks German.

Negative: He doesn't speak German.
and the verb to make a negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the
disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the reason why below.
Negative Contractions
Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not
I don't like meat = I do not like meat.
There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions

in spoken English.

Subject don't/doesn't Verb* The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we /
don't have / buy
they cereal for breakfast
eat / like etc.
* Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The
just the have part.

live, to speak etc.
Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:
You don't speak Arabic.

John doesn't speak Italian.
We don't have time for a rest.
It doesn't move.
They don't want to go to the party.
She doesn't like fish.
Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no
translation in Spanish though it is essential to show we are making a
question. It is normally put at the beginning of the question.
Affirmative: You speak English.

Question: Do you speak English?
Affirmative: He speaks French.

Question: Does he speak French?
make the affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the
disappears in the question. We will see the reason why below.
We DON'T use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To

Be or Modal Verbs (can, must, might, should etc.)
using Do or Does.
Do I / you / we / they have / need

a new bike?
Does he / she / it want etc.
just the have part.

live, to speak etc.
Examples of Questions with Do and Does:
Do you need a dictionary?

Does Mary need a dictionary?
Do we have a meeting now?
Does it rain a lot in winter?
Do they want to go to the party?
Does he like pizza?

Sample Questions
Do you like chocolate? Yes, I do. No, I don't.
Do I need a pencil? Yes, you do. No, you don't.
Do you both like chocolate? Yes, we do. No, we don't.
Do they like chocolate? Yes, they do. No, they don't.
Does he like chocolate? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.
Does she like chocolate? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.
Does it have four wheels? Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.

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=====================
Spelling -ED Ending Rules

English Grammar
The following is a guide to the correct spelling of words ending -ED.
Remember: Not all words that end in -ED are verbs in the past tense.
Sometimes they are Past Participles or they could even be Adjectives
ending in -ED. For now we will mostly use verbs in the Past Tense as
examples though the same rules apply to all words ending in -ED
The general rule when changing a word (or verb) into its -ED form is just
to add -ED to the end of it.
Infinitive ED form
to play played
to wait waited
to work worked
to rain rained
He played with his dog in the backyard.

I waited for them to invite me.
She worked until late last night.
It rained all day.
Spelling Exceptions
The following exceptions exist when spelling words ending in ED:
1). If a word ends in an E we just add the D to the end.
Infinitive ING form
to live lived
to love loved
to smile smiled
to dance danced
I lived in Japan for two years and then moved to Thailand.

I loved the surprise you had for me.
He smiled when he saw his wife come through the door.
They danced until their feet hurt.
2). If the word ends in a Consonant + Vowel + Consonant, we double

the final consonant and add ED.
Infinitive ING form
to stop stopped
to admit admitted
to plan planned
to refer referred
to commit committed
The policeman stopped the thief from escaping.

He admitted that he was wrong.
We planned a surprise birthday party for our friend.
I referred the students to the website where they could practice
some more.
They committed a serious crime and will end up in jail.
3). If a two-syllable verb ends in a Consonant + Vowel + Consonant,

we DO NOT double the final consonant when the stress is on
the FIRST syllable.
Infinitive ING form
to happen happened
to enter entered
to offer offering
to suffer suffering
What happened?
I entered through the back door.
She was offered a new position with a higher salary.
Many people are suffered from a lack of food and water.
4). BUT, we DO NOT double the final consonant when the word ends
in W, X or Y or when the final syllable is not stressed.
Infinitive ING form
to fix fixed
to enjoy enjoyed
to snow snowed
He fixed his bike.

We enjoyed our time in the North of Chile.
It snowed yesterday.
5). If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the

final L and add ED.
Note: In the United States (US) they DO NOT double the L when the
accent is on the first syllable.
ING form ING form

Infinitive
(UK) (US)
to travel travelled traveled
to marvel marveled marveled
I traveled around South America in 2012.

Her beauty marveled us.
==============================================
===============================
Spelling Rules -ING
The following is a guide to the correct spelling of ing forms of verbs
and gerunds.
The general rule when changing a verb into its -ING form is just to add
-ING to the end of the verb.
Infinitive ING form
to feel feeling
to go going
to work working
to sleep sleeping
She wasn't feeling very well.

He is working on a new project.
The children are sleeping so be quiet.
Spelling exceptions
The following exceptions exist when spelling words ending in ING:
1). If the verb ends in an E we remove the E and add ING.
Infinitive ING form
to live living
to have having
to make making
to take taking
People are living longer now than they were 100 years ago.
We are making a chocolate cake.
He was taking his time to get ready.
2). If the verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the

final consonant and add ING.
Infinitive ING form
to stop stopping
to sit sitting
to plan planning
to get getting
to swim swimming
The policeman is stopping the traffic.

We are planning a surprise party for our teacher.
I think I am getting a cold.
3). If a two-syllable verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant,

we do not double the final consonant when the stress is on the first
syllable.
Infinitive ING form
to happen happening
to enter entering
to offer offering
to suffer suffering
What is happening?
They are offering a discount.
Many people are suffering from a lack of food and water.
4). But, we do not double the final consonant when the verb ends in W,
X or Y or when the final syllable is not emphasized.
Infinitive ING form
to fix fixing
to enjoy enjoying
to snow snowing
He fixing his bike.

We are enjoying this great weather.
It's snowing outside.
5). If the verb ends in IE we change it to YING.
Infinitive ING form
to lie lying
to die dying
to tie tying
I know you are lying to me!

You should water your plant more because I think it is dying.
The little boy is tying his shoelaces.
6). If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the
final L and add ING.
Note: In the United States (US) they do not double the L when the
accent is on the first syllable.
ING form ING form

Infinitive
(UK) (US)
to travel travelling traveling
to marvel marvelling marveling
I have been travelling around South America for 6 months.

He was marvelling at her beauty.
7). If the verb ends in a stressed vowel + R, we double the final R and
add ING.
Infinitive ING form
refer referring
defer deferring
Are you referring to this one or that one?

They are thinking of deferring payment of their mortgage.
8). If the verb ends in an unstressed vowel + R, we do not double the

final R and add ING.
Infinitive ING form
to offer offering
to suffer suffering
to whisper whispering
I am offering you a special deal.
He is now suffering the consequences of his actions.
I wonder what he is whispering in her ear.
==============================================
============================
Subject Pronouns
English Grammar
The subject of a sentence is a person or thing that performs the action
of the verb.
Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject (person or thing) of

a verb.
We do NOT normally say:
John is tall and John is intelligent.
Saying the word "John" twice is repetitive and does not sound natural.
We replace the Subject (John) that appears the second time with
a subject pronoun to avoid repetition (and in this case to avoid saying
the name John again.)
So we would say:
John is tall and he is intelligent.
We replace the second "John" with the Subject Pronoun "He".
What are the subject pronouns in English?

These are the subject pronouns we use in English
Subject
Singular or Plural - Who? Masculine or Feminine
Pronoun
I Singular - first person masculine or feminine
You Singular - second person masculine or feminine
He Singular - third person only masculine
She Singular - third person only feminine
It Singular - third person object / thing / animal
We Plural - first person masculine or feminine
You Plural - second person masculine or feminine
They Plural - third person masculine or feminine
When do you use IT?

IT is normally used when we refer to objects, things, animals or ideas
(and not normally people).
The dog is big. It is also hairy. (It = the dog)

My bed is small but it is comfortable. (It = my bed)
Sometimes when we don't know the sex of a baby (we don't know if it is
a boy or girl), then we can useIT.
Their baby is very small. It only weighs 2 kilos. (It = the baby.)
We use IT we when talk about the time, weather or temperature.
It is five o'clock (= the time is five o'clock)

It is cold today. (= the weather is cold today.)
It is 30 outside right now. (= the temperature is 30 outside right
now)
Subject Pronouns Chart

Here is a chart with cartoons showing the different Subject Pronouns we
use in English:
====
=================================
There is - There are

We use there is and there are to say that something exists.
Positive Sentences
We use there is for singular and there are for plural.
There is one table in the classroom.

There are three chairs in the classroom.
There is a spider in the bath.
There are many people at the bus stop.
Contractions
The contraction of there is is there's.
There's a good song on the radio.

There's only one chocolate left in the box.
You cannot contract there are.
There are nine cats on the roof.

There are only five weeks until Christmas.
Negative Form
The negative is formed by putting not after is or are:
There is not a horse in the field.

There are not eight children in the school.
There is not a tree in the garden.
There are not two elephants in the zoo.
The Negative contractions are:
There's not = There isn't
There are not = There aren't
There Are with ANY

When we want to indicate that a zero quantity of something exists we
use there aren't any.
There aren't any people at the party.

There aren't any trees in my street.
We also use this structure with uncountable nouns:
There isn't any water in the swimming pool.

There isn't any sugar in my coffee.
Questions
To form a question we place is / are in front of there.
Again we use any with plural questions or those which use uncountable
nouns.
We also use there is / are in short answers.
Is there a dog in the supermarket? - No, there isn't.

Are there any dogs in the park? - Yes, there are.
Is there a security guard in the shop? - Yes, there is.
Are there any polar bears in Antarctica? - No, there aren't.
Is there any ice-cream in the freezer? - Yes, there is.
How Many with Are There

If we want to find out the number of objects that exist we use How
many in the following form:
How many + plural noun + are there (+ complement).
How many dogs are there in the park?

How many students are there in your class?
How many countries are there in South America?
How many Star Wars films are there?
==============================================
====================
There vs Their vs They're

Common Mistakes - English Grammar
A common mistake not only for students learning English but also for
native speakers is the difference between There, Their and They're in
written English.
This happens because both words sound the same when they are
spoken.
Words that sound the same but have different meanings (and
sometimes spelling) are called homophones.
Therefore they're, their and there are Homophones.
Which words would make the following sentence correct?
Theyre/Their/There playing theyre/their/there video games

over theyre/their/there.
The answer appears at the end of the post so lets learn the rules
meanwhile.
What is the difference between There,

Their and They're?
THERE
There is the opposite of Here. It means in that place not here.
A: Where is my book? B: Its over there.

I will look for a hotel to stay when I arrive there.
There is/There are = to show that something exists.
There is a book on the table

There are many countries in Europe.
THEIR
Their is a possessive adjective which is used before a noun. It shows
possession, that something belongs to them.
Their house is big.

All of their friends were crazy.
The children put their books in their school bags.
THEYRE
Theyre is a contraction of they are.
e.g. Theyre happy = They are happy
Theyre is usually before an adjective or a verb ending in ING.
Theyre very interested in the project.

I personally think theyre crazy!
Theyre singing loudly.
Example sentence...
So now you know the difference lets try the original question:
Theyre/Their/There playing theyre/their/there video games

over theyre/their/there.
The answer is:
Theyre playing their video games over there.
Why?
Theyre playing (theyre is used before a verb ending in -ing making it

the progressive tense)
Their video games (their is a possessive used before a noun to show

possession)
Over there (there because it means not here, in that place)
Here is a chart we have created to show you more about the difference:
==========================================
This - That - These -Those

English Grammar Notes - Demonstrative
Pronouns
Singular Plural
Here This These
Ther
That Those
e
These words are called demonstrative pronouns and they are used to
show the relative distance between the speaker and the noun.
We use this (singular) and these (plural) to refer to something that

is here / near.
Examples:
This is my car. (singular)

These are our children. (plural)
We use that (singular) and those (plural) to refer to something that

is there / far.
Examples:
That is our house. (singular)

Those are my shoes. (plural)
Note that the verb changes (i.e. singular / plural) depending on the
pronoun that you use.
You can also use demonstrative pronouns with a noun.
Examples:
This party is boring. (singular)

That city is busy. (singular)
These chocolates are delicious. (plural)
Those flowers are beautiful. (plural)
If an action is near in time we tend to use this / these.

If an action has finished or is in the past we use that / those.
Examples:
This is a good meal. (at the time of eating)

Those girls we met last night were silly. (an event that happened
in the past).
The expressions this is / that is are also common when you talk on the
phone or you introduce people.
Examples:
"Hello, this is Peter."

Carol, this is my friend Simon. Simon, this is Carol.
==============================================
=====================
==============================================
===============
To Be - Past Tense
To Be - Affirmative
Subject To Be Examples
I was I was tired this morning.
You were You were very good.
He was He was the best in his class.
She was She was late for work.
It was It was a sunny day.
We were We were at home.
You were You were on holiday.
They were They were happy with their test results.
To Be - Negative Sentences
The negative of To Be can be made by adding not after the verb (was
or were).
I was not I was not tired this morning.
You were not You were not crazy.
He was not He was not married.

She was not She was not famous.
It was not It was not hot yesterday.
We were not We were not invited.
You were not You were not at the party.
They were not They were not friends.
To Be - Negative Contractions
The can make negative contractions of the verb To Be in the Past tense
by joining the verb (was or were) and n't (e.g. were not = weren't). We
don't make a contraction of the subject and the verb (e.g. I was).
I was not tired this morning. OR I wasn't tired this morning.
You were not crazy. OR You weren't crazy.
He was not married. OR He wasn't married.
She was not famous. OR She wasn't famous.
It was not hot yesterday. OR It wasn't hot yesterday.
We were not invited. OR We weren't invited.
You were not at the party. OR You weren't at the party.
They were not friends. OR They weren't friends.
* Notice that we don't have contractions for To Be in Past Tense

affirmative sentences.
To Be - Questions
To create questions with To Be, you put the Verb before the Subject.
Affirmative You were happy.
Subject Verb
Question Were you happy?
Verb Subject
Affirmative Question
I was late Was I late?
You were sick. Were you sick?
He was surprised. Was he surprised?
She was from Italy. Was she from Italy?
It was a big house. Was it a big house?
We were ready. Were we ready?
You were early. Were you early?
They were busy. Were they busy?

To Be - Short Answers
In spoken English, we usually give short answers in response to
questions.
Was he from Japan? - Yes, he was (from Japan). The last part (from
Japan) is not necessary. We use shorts answers to avoid repetition,
when the meaning is clear.
Question Short Answers** Short Answers
Was I late? Yes, you were. No, you weren't.
Were you sick? Yes, I was. No, I wasn't.
Was he surprised? Yes, he was. No, he wasn't.
Was she from Italy? Yes, she was. No, she wasn't.
Was it a big house? Yes, it was. No, it wasn't.
Were we ready? Yes, we were. No, we weren't.
Were you early? Yes, we were. No, we weren't.
Were they busy? Yes, they were. No, they weren't.
** With To Be, We don't use contractions in affirmative short answers.

==============================================
===========================
To Be - Present Tense
To Be - Affirmative
I am I am from New Zealand.
You are You are Chilean.
He is He is twenty years old.
She is She is a nurse.
It is It is a big dog.
We are We are intelligent.
You are You are students.
They are They are married.
To Be - Contractions
Contractions of To Be are very frequent when we are speaking.
To Be Contraction Examples
I am I'm I'm from New Zealand.
You are You're You're Chilean.
He is He's He's twenty years old.
She is She's She's a nurse.
It is It's It's a big dog.
We are We're We're intelligent.
You are You're You're students.
They are They're They're married.

To Be - Negative Sentences
The negative of To Be can be made by adding not after the verb.
I am not I am not from Spain.
You are not You are not Australian.
He is not He is not thirty years old.
She is not She is not a secretary.
It is not It is not a small cat.
We are not We are not stupid.
You are not You are not teachers.
They are not They are not single.
To Be - Negative Contractions
There are two ways of forming contractions of To Be in negative
sentences. One is with a contraction of the subject and the verb (e.g. I
am = I'm) OR a contraction of the verb and not (e.g. are not = aren't)
I'm not from Spain. --- --------------*
You're not Australian. OR You aren't Australian.
He's not thirty years old. OR He isn't thirty years old.
She's not a secretary. OR She isn't a secretary.

It's not a small cat. OR It isn't a small cat.
We're not stupid. OR We aren't stupid.
You're not teachers. OR You aren't teachers.
They're not single. OR They aren't single.
* Notice that the only possible contraction for I am not is I'm not.
To Be - Questions
To create questions with To Be, you put the Verb before the Subject.
Affirmative You are happy.
Subject Verb
Question Are you happy?
Verb Subject
Affirmative Question
I am intelligent. Am I intelligent?
You are a student. Are you a student?
He is a pilot. Is he a pilot?
She is from Spain. Is she from Spain?
It is a big house. Is it a big house?

We are ready. Are we ready?
You are doctors. Are you doctors?
They are rich. Are they rich?
To Be - Short Answers
In spoken English, we usually give short answers in response to
questions.
Are you a student? - Yes, I am (a student). The last part (a student) is

not necessary. We use shorts answers to avoid repetition, when the
meaning is clear.
Question Short Answers** Short Answers
Am I intelligent? Yes, you are. No, you aren't.
Are you a student? Yes, I am. No, I am not.
Is he a pilot? Yes, he is. No, he isn't.
Is she from Spain? Yes, she is. No, she isn't.
Is it a big house? Yes, it is. No, it isn't.
Are we ready? Yes, we are. No, we aren't.
Are you doctors? Yes, we are. No, we aren't.
Are they rich? Yes, they are. No, they aren't.
** With To Be, We don't use contractions in affirmative short answers

unless there is additional information after it (in which case they are no
longer considered short answers).
==============================================
===================
Where + To Be
WHERE is a question word that is used to ask about a place or location.

(= I want to know the place, position or location)
The following table shows you the word order of questions

with Where when it is used with To Be.
Where To Be Subject Example Answers
Where am I? You're in the hospital.
Where are you ? I'm at work.
Where is he ? He's at home.
Where is she ? She's in the store.
Where is it ? It's on the table.
Where are we ? You're at my new job
Where are you ? We're at school.
Where are they ? They're at university.
You can also ask where things or places are:
Where To Be Subject Example Answers

Where is my book ? It's on the table.
Where are my books ? They're on the desk.
Remember:
Is + singular word
Are + plural word.
Other examples of Where + To Be

Where is the Statue of Liberty? It's in New York.
Where is the Eiffel Tower? It's in Paris.
Where are your parents right now? They're on holiday.
Where is your favorite restaurant? It's downtown.
==============================================
========================
Your vs You're
English Grammar
A common mistake not only for students learning English but also for
native speakers is the difference between Your and You're in written
English.
This happens because both words sound the same when they are
spoken.
What is the difference between Your and You're?

The most simple explanation is that:
Your = a possessive adjective. It shows possession, that something

belongs to the person you are talking to. e.g. This is not my pen, it
is your pen.
You're = You are. It is a contraction (or short way of writing). e.g. You're
crazy = You are crazy
Here is a chart we have created to show you more about the difference
how to know when you are using the correct one:
===========================XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=======
=====================

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What are adverbs of frequency and how are they used?

What are adverbs of frequency and how are they used?

How do you form questions using the verb 'to be'?

How do you form questions using the verb 'to be'?

English Grammar Rules

These are called adverbs of frequency and include:

Frequency Adverb of Frequency Example Sentence

90% usually I usually have cereal for breakfast.

80% normally / generally I normally go to the gym.

70% often* / frequently I often surf the internet.

I sometimes forget my wife's

30% occasionally I occasionally eat junk food.

10% seldom I seldom read the newspaper.

5% hardly ever / rarely I hardly ever drink alcohol.

0% never I never swim in the sea.

The Position of the Adverb in a Sentence

Subject + adverb + main verb

I always remember to do my homework.

He normally gets good marks in exams.

An adverb of frequency goes after the verb To Be.

They are never pleased to see me.

She isn't usually bad tempered.

When we use an auxiliary verb (have, will, must, might, could,

Subject + auxiliary + adverb + main verb

She can sometimes beat me in a race.

I would hardly ever be unkind to someone.

They might never see each other again.

They could occasionally be heard laughing.

We can also use the following adverbs at the start of a sentence:

Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally

Occasionally, I like to eat Thai food.

BUT we cannot use the following at the beginning of a sentence:

Always, seldom, rarely, hardly, ever, never.

We use ever in questions and negative statements:

Have you ever been to New Zealand?

We can also use the following expressions when we want to

Adverbs Spelling -LY

Slow is an adjective since it describes the subject (my dog).

How is my dog? Slow

Adverbs describe verbs (actions).

My dog eats slowly.

Slowly is an adverb since it describes the way my dog eats.

How does my dog eat? Slowly.

For details see our page about Adjectives vs Adverbs.

E.g. Quick - Quickly

For adjectives that end in -l or -e, we simply add -ly:

There are of course some exceptions:

Adverbs ending in -LE

Except: public - publicly

Adjective Adverb Example

fast fast The man drives very fast (quickly).

good well You speak English very well.

Can - Cannot - Can't

I can speak Spanish. (= it is possible for me to speak Spanish = I

We can also contract the negative to form can't. (can't = cannot)

I cannot play the piano. We can't go to the cinema tonight.

The main verb is still in the infinitive without to.

Where can I buy an ice-cream?