Active and passive voice exercise

Sentences are given in the active voice. Change them into the passive voice.
1. He teaches English.
2. The child is eating bananas.
3. She is writing a letter.
4. The master punished the servant.
5. He was writing a book.
6. Who wrote this letter?
7. Somebody cooks meal every day.
8. He wore a blue shirt.
9. May God bless you with happiness!
10. They are building a house.
11. I have finished the job.
12. I sent the report yesterday.
13. She bought a diamond necklace.
14. Somebody had stolen my purse.
Answers
1. English is taught by him.
2. Bananas are being eaten by the child.
3. A letter is being written by her.
4. The servant was punished by the master.
5. A book was being written by him.
6. By whom was this letter written?
7. Meal is cooked by someone every day.
8. A blue shirt was worn by him.
9. May you be blessed with happiness!
10. A house is being built by them.

Active and passive voice worksheet

Sentences are given in the active voice. Change them into the passive.
1. John won the first prize.
2. They have appointed them as their monitor.
3. She has written two books.
4. I sent the parcel in the morning.
5. They made the boy drink the milk.
6. They asked him to wait.
7. They have invited me to their party.
8. They have called off their wedding.
9. Positive hydrogen atoms attract negative oxygen atoms.
10. They took the child to the doctor.
11. The abductors tortured the boy.
12. They hanged the criminal.
13. The masons are building the house.
Answers
1. The first prize was won by John.
2. He has been appointed as their monitor.
3. Two books have been written by her.
4. The parcel was sent in the morning.
5. The boy was made to drink the milk.
6. I was asked to wait.
7. I have been invited to their party.
8. Their wedding has been called off.
9. Negative oxygen atoms are attracted to positive hydrogen atoms.
10. The child was taken to the doctor.
11. The boy was tortured by his abductors.
Adjective or adverb exercise
Complete the following sentences using appropriate adjectives or adverbs.
1. I feel ………………………. (unhappy / unhappily)
2. I will get the car ……………………. (ready / readily)
3. She is too ……………….. a person to refuse. (polite / politely)
4. We will have to think ………………….. (quick / quickly)
5. She danced …………………….. into the room. (happy / happily)
6. She sang …………………. (bad / badly)
7. I remember him very ……………………. (good / well)
8. Cyanide is a …………………… poison. (dead / deadly)
9. This steak is very ………………….. cooked. (bad / badly)
10. He was ……………………. in love with her. (mad / madly)
11. They were playing …………………… fast. (unusual / unusually)
12. I …………………….. believed that you wanted to help me. (wrong / wrongly)
Answers
1. I feel unhappy.
2. I will get the car ready.
3. She is too polite a person to refuse.
4. We will have to think quickly.
5. She danced happily into the room.
6. She sang badly.
7. I remember him very well.
8. Cyanide is a deadly poison.
9. This steak is very badly cooked.
10. He was madly in love with her.
11. They were playing unusually fast.
12. I wrongly believed that you wanted to help me.

Adjectives exercise
Complete the following sentences using the appropriate form of the adjective given in the brackets.
1. He is ………………….. than his neighbors. (rich)
2. The brides were much ……………….. than the grooms. (young)
3. He is too ……………………. to be taught. (intelligent)
4. He is ………………… than I thought him to be. (clever)
5. When the old woman became ……………………., she began to move about. (strong)
6. He is much …………………. now. (good)
7. The offer was too ………………… to be true. (good)
8. He fished with ……………………. success than I do. (great)
9. Shakespeare is the …………………… playwright in English. (great)
10. The pain was ……………………. than he could bear. (much)
11. The ………………….. thing of all was that his son was rude to him. (bad)
12. Jane was the …………………. player of the two. (good)
Answers
1. He is richer than his neighbors.
2. The brides were much younger than the grooms.
3. He is too intelligent to be taught.
4. He is cleverer than I thought him to be.
5. When the old woman became stronger, she began to move about.
6. He is much better now.
7. The offer was too good to be true.
8. He fished with greater success than I do.
9. Shakespeare is the greatest playwright in English.
10. The pain was more than he could bear.
11. The worst thing of all was that his son was rude to him.
12. Jane was the better player of the two.
Adjectives exercise
Complete the following sentences using appropriate adjectives.
1. The society has ……………………. concern for the poor. (little / a little / the little)
2. ……………………. knowledge is a dangerous thing. (little / a little / the little)
3. I have drunk ………………………. milk there was in the jug. (little / a little / the little)
4. Only ……………………… students attended the class today. (few / a few / the few)
5. …………………….. men understand philosophy. (Few / A few / The few)
6. Can you please lend me …………………. money? (some / any)
7. I have not got …………………. money with me. (some / any)
8. ……………………. of the six boys was given a prize. (Each / Every)
9. You are …………………… than I. (older / elder)
10. This is the ………………….. tree in the village. (oldest / eldest)
Answers
1. The society has little concern for the poor.
2. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
3. I have drunk the little milk there was in the jug.
4. Only a few students attended the class today.
5. Few men understand philosophy.
6. Can you please lend me some money?
7. I have not got any money with me.
8. Each of the six boys was given a prize.
9. You are older than I.
10. This is the oldest tree in the village.
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Adjectives that take the preposition of

A large number of adjectives take the preposition ‘of’ after them.
Here is a quick list of them.
Accused of
She accused me of killing her cat.
Acquitted of
The jury acquitted him of the murder.
Afraid of
I am afraid of spiders.
Apprehensive of
I am apprehensive of the risks.
Apprised of
He has not been apprised of the death of his brother.
Assured of
We are assured of his help.
Aware of
I am not aware of the latest developments.
Bereft of
The refugees are bereft of their happiness.
Cautious of
He was cautious of the danger he faced.
Certain of
He is certain of success.
Characteristic of
What are the characteristic colors of autumn?
Composed of
Water is composed of oxygen and hydrogen.
Adjectives used as nouns
In many sentences, adjectives are used to perform the purpose of nouns.
Examples are given below.
The English are proud of their sense of humor.
Adjectives can be used with the article ‘the’. These expressions are plural. Examples are given below: the rich,
the poor, the jobless, the unemployed, the deaf, the blind etc.
The rich should help the poor.
The unemployed are losing hope.
The government should do something for the jobless.
The adjective cannot be used without the article ‘the’ in these expressions. In some cases, these expressions
can have a singular meaning. Examples are: the accused, the injured, the diseased etc.
The diseased is survived by his wife.
Some adjectives stand for persons. They can also be used as nouns.
We should respect our elders.
We should be kind to our inferiors.
The seniors should not torment their juniors.
The rights of minors should be protected.
Adjectives can form part of certain phrases.
In short, you must behave well.
The long and short of this is that he has lost his credibility.
I shall stand by you through thick and thin.
At best, I can arrange lodging for two more nights.
Nouns are commonly used as adjectives.
She is a book worm. (Here the noun book acts as an adjective modifying the noun worm.)
You lack table manners.
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Agreement of the verb with the subject

We have already learned that a singular noun takes a singular verb.
John likes science fiction. (Here the singular verb ‘likes’ agrees with the singular subject John.)
A plural subject requires a plural verb.
My children like video games.
Notes
A verb becomes singular when we add –s to it. Study the examples given below.
I enjoy classic music.
My son enjoys classic music. (By adding –s to the verb enjoy, we make it singular.)
Many students find this rule confusing because in the case of nouns –s is added to the plural. For example, the
noun ‘boy’ is singular whereas ‘boys’ is plural.
My son enjoys singing and dancing. (Here the singular noun ‘son’ takes the singular verb ‘enjoys’.)
My sons enjoy singing and dancing. (Here the plural noun ‘sons’ requires the plural verb ‘enjoy’.)
The pronouns I and you are unusual. They take plural verbs although they are singular in number. Note that the
pronoun ‘you’ can also be plural.
I like to paint. (NOT I likes to paint.)
You play cricket. (NOT You plays cricket.)
This means that only a subject in the third person singular requires a singular verb.
The pronoun I is in the first person. The pronoun you is in the second person.
I speak English.
You speak English.
He speaks English.
She speaks French.

Owe

org)
Use of the simple past and present perfect tenses
In British English, only the present perfect can be used to talk about past actions which have an effect on the
present moment. In American English, both simple past and present perfect tenses are possible with similar
meanings.
Compare:
He has just gone out. OR He just went out. (US)
He has just gone out. (GB)
Do you have a question? OR Have you got a question? (US)
Have you got a question? (GB)
The past participle form of get
In American English, the past participle form of get is gotten. In British English, it is got.
I haven’t gotten an answer. (US)
I haven’t got an answer. (GB)
Collective nouns
In American English, collective nouns (e.g. committee, team, army, family, jury etc) are always followed by
singular verbs. In British English, both singular and plural verbs are possible.
Singular verbs are used when we are talking of the group as a whole. Plural verbs are used when we are talking
about individuals within the group.
The committee meets next week. (US)
The committee meet next week. OR The committee meets next week. (GB)
The indefinite pronoun one
In American English, the pronouns he, him and his can be used to refer back to one. In British English, this is
not
possible.
One should know his neighbors. (US)
One should know one’s neighbours. (GB)

Analysis of simple sentences

A sentence is a group of words which makes complete sense. It has a subject and a predicate.
When we analyze a simple sentence, we have to divide it into two main parts – the subject and the predicate.
Examples are given below.
Subject Predicate
Dogs bark.
Heats expands bodies
The sun gives heat and light.
Birds live in nests.
The fire burns.
The milk has turned sour.
My mother bought me a dress.
The subject denotes the person or thing we are talking about. The predicate is what is said about the subject.
The subject may consist of one word or several words.
The predicate may also consist of one word or several words. When the predicate consists of just one word, that
word has to be a verb.
Separate the subject and the predicate in the following sentences.
1. The cackling of geese saved Rome.
2. The sun rises in the east.
3. Buds bloom into flowers.
4. We cannot see air.
5. Moving air is called wind.
6. Parents take care of their children.
7. No man can serve two masters.
8. The shepherd heard a barking sound.
9. The boy stood on the burning deck.
10. Smoking is injurious to health.
Answers
1. Subject – the cackling of geese; predicate – saved Rome
2. Subject – the sun; predicate – rises in the east
3. Subject – buds; predicate – bloom into flowers
4. Subject – we; predicate – cannot see air
5. Subject – moving air; predicate – is called wind
6. Subject – parents; predicate – take care of their children
7. Subject – no man; predicate – can serve two masters
8. Subject – the shepherd; predicate – heard a barking sound
9. Subject – the boy; predicate – stood on the burning deck
10. Subject – smoking; predicate – is injurious to health
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Articles exercise
Complete the following sentences using appropriate articles. In some cases, no articles are needed.
1. ………………….. man is mortal.
2. I am …………………. university student.
3. She goes to the temple in ……………….. mornings.
4. Kiran is …………………. best student in the class.
5. ………………….. camel is the ship of the desert.
6. This book has won ………………….. Booker prize.
7. Harishchandra was …………………. honest king.
8. I am fond of ………………. classical music.
9. I met …………………… boy in ……………….. store.
10. Gold is …………………….. precious metal.
11. She returned after ………………….. hour.
12. There is ………………………. institution for …………………….. blind in this city.
13. ………………….. sun rises in the east.
14. He works at ……………….. factory.
15. He is …………………. oldest member of the club.
16. I like to watch ………………….. football.
Answers
1. Man is mortal. (No article is needed.)
2. I am a university student.
3. She goes to temple in the mornings.
4. Kiran is the best student in the class.
5. The camel is the ship of the desert.
6. This book has won the Booker prize.
7. Harishchandra was an honest king.
8. I am fond of classical music. (No article is needed.)

Auxiliary verbs exercise

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate auxiliary verb.
1. The police officer warned the crowd that he ……………… order shooting, if they created trouble.
could
would
might
2. Passengers ……………… not smoke inside the bus.
will
should
must
3. ………………. I have a word with you?
will
may
can
Either ‘can’ or ‘may’
4. Parents ……………….. not accompany their children to the school.
must
can
would
5. There was a time when I ……………… stay up late, but these days I go to bed early.
used to
ought to
should
6. The Principal said that candidates without hall tickets ………………. not be permitted inside the examination
hall.
could
would
should
7. You ………………….. tell me. I know everything.
must not
need not
cannot
8. Even if he had come a little earlier , he ………………… have got a seat in the front row.
should not
might not
would not
9. ………………. I tell you what happened?

Because and so
Because is a subordinating conjunction. It shows the cause. So is a coordinating conjunction. It shows the
effect.
We can combine two clauses using because and so.
Study the example given below.
Susie didn’t attend the party. She was not invited.
We can combine these two clauses in two different ways.
Susie didn’t attend the party because she was not invited.
Susie was not invited, so she did not attend the party.
Combine the following sentences using because and so.
1. He was lazy. He did not study well.
2. He was busy. I could not talk to him.
3. He was ill. He did not attend school for a week.
4. They took him to hospital. He was sick.
5. The teacher asked him to go out. He misbehaved in the class.
6. It was warm. We left the windows open.
Answers
1. He was lazy so he did not study well. / He did not study well because he was lazy.
2. He was busy so I could not talk to him. / I could not talk to him because he was busy.
3. He was ill so he did not attend school for a week. / He did not attend school for a week because he was ill.
4. They took him to hospital because he was sick. / He was sick so they took him to hospital.
5. The teacher asked him to go out because he misbehaved in the class. / He misbehaved in the class so the
teacher asked him to go out.
6. It was warm so we left the windows open. / We left the windows open because it was warm.
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Change affirmative sentences into negative sentences

Change the following affirmative sentences into negative sentences.
1. Shyam passed the test.
2. He gave me a glass of milk.
3. The contractor finished the work in one day.
4. He goes to office at 9 o’clock.
5. She speaks English fluently.
6. They arrived in the morning.
7. He calls his mother every day.
8. My father reads a lot.
9. She knows how to knit.
10. He dared to challenge me.
11. They have promised to pay higher wages.
12. My mother and grandmother go to the temple every day.
13. My friend writes short stories.
14. He looked at the pictures on the wall.
15. Her performance in that movie won her many awards.
Answers
1. Shyam did not pass the test.
2. He did not give me a glass of milk.
3. The contractor did not finish the work in one day.
4. He does not go to office at 9 o’clock.
5. She does not speak English fluently.
6. They did not arrive in the morning.
7. He does not call his mother every day.
8. My father does not read much.
9. She does not know how to knit.

Change into active voice

Sentences are given in the passive voice. You have to change them into the active voice.
1. This portrait was painted by my grandmother.
2. The injured boy was taken to the hospital.
3. She has been sacked.
4. I have been invited to their party.
5. She has been promoted.
6. The dog was beaten by its master.
7. He was run over by a speeding car.
8. The flowers have been plucked by the children.
9. My pen has been stolen.
10. The house is being built by the masons.
11. Short stories are written by her.
12. The thief has been arrested by the police.
13. Shoes are mended by cobblers.
14. Furniture is made by carpenters.
15. The mouse was being chased by the cat.
Answers
1. My grandmother painted this portrait.
2. They took the injured boy to the hospital.
3. They have sacked her.
4. They have invited me to their party.
5. They have promoted her.
6. The master beat the dog.
7. A speeding car ran over him.
8. The children have plucked the flowers.
9. Somebody has stolen my pen.

Change into past tense

In the following sentences change the verbs to the past tense.
1. He writes to his mother every week.
2. He walks fast.
3. The castle stands on the hill.
4. He gets up at six o’clock.
5. He spends his time in idle pursuits.
6. Mark studies very well.
7. He earns 200 dollars a week.
8. What strikes me is the generosity of the offer.
9. He sows the seeds of dissension.
10. She leaves her things on the table.
11. They all tell the same story.
12. People mistake him for an American.
13. He throws cold water on my plans.
14. Trees shed their leaves in the autumn.
Answers
1. He wrote to his mother every week.
2. He walked fast.
3. The castle stood on the hill.
4. He got up at six o’clock.
5. He spent his time in idle pursuits.
6. Mark studied very well.
7. He earned 200 dollars a week.
8. What struck me was the generosity of the offer.
9. He sowed the seeds of dissension.
10. She left her things on the table.

Change statement into questions

A sentence that tells us something is a statement. One way it can be changed into a question is to use do, does
or did as the first word.
An example is given below.
My sister enjoys playing tennis. (Statement)
Does my sister enjoy playing tennis? (Question)
Make question sentences from the following statements using do, does or did.
1. My mother makes delicious cakes.
2. My sister works at a bank.
3. He spends a lot of time working on his computer.
4. My father goes to office by car.
5. The children practice the piano every morning.
6. Our team played well yesterday.
7. I met your dad yesterday.
8. He wants to go abroad.
9. Susie sings well.
10. Maya bought a new car last week.
Answers
1. Does my mother make delicious cakes?
2. Does my sister work at a bank?
3. Does he spend a lot of time working on his computer?
4. Does my father go to office by car?
5. Do the children practise the piano every morning?
6. Did our team play well yesterday?
7. Did I meet your dad yesterday?
8. Does he want to go abroad?
9. Does Susie sing well?
10. Did Maya buy a new car last week?

Change the voice

Sentences are given in the active voice. Change them into the passive voice.
1. I have completed the work.
2. Somebody has let the cat in.
3. We may win the match.
4. Do not insult the weak.
5. The nurse is looking after the patient.
6. The boy is feeding the sparrows.
7. Our army has defeated the enemy.
8. One should keep one’s promises.
9. They offered me a job.
10. The engineers located the fault in the machine.
11. Nobody could do anything.
12. I was surprised at his behavior.
13. Open the door.
14. His enemies killed him.
Answers
1. The work has been completed by me.
2. The cat has been let in.
3. The match may be won by us.
4. Let the weak not be insulted.
5. The patient is being looked after by the nurse.
6. The sparrows are being fed by the boy.
7. The enemy has been defeated by our army.
8. One’s promises should be kept.
9. I was offered a job by them.
10. The fault in the machine was located by the engineers.

Change the voice

When we change imperative sentences into the passive voice, we begin with ‘let’.
An example is given below.
Open the door. (Active voice)
Let the door be opened. (Passive voice)
Exercise
Change the voice.
1. Close the door.
2. Translate this into French.
3. Invite him to the party.
4. Do not invite her to the party.
5. Do not disturb him.
6. Do it soon.
7. Feed the cat.
8. Tell the truth.
9. Do not tell the truth.
10. Release the captive.
11. Call him.
12. Repair it.
13. Do cats attack snakes?
14. Did the noise frighten you?
15. Will the government build a bridge?
16. When will they announce the results?
Answers
1. Let the door be closed.
2. Let this be translated into French.
3. Let him be invited to the party.
4. Let her not be invited to the party.

Change the voice

Change the voice
1. James broke another window.
2. I know the answer.
3. She did not accept the invitation.
4. They have sold their house.
5. Ancient Indians knew the science of ship-building.
6. She showed me a nice portrait.
7. My mother knits sweaters.
8. He bought some land and two horses.
9. We will not tolerate this.
10. She has written two books.
11. They made a lot of profit.
12. He owns six apartments.
13. He donated all his money to charities.
14. He has won a jackpot.
15. The police have arrested the smugglers.
Answers
1. Another window was broken by James.
2. The answer is known to me.
3. The invitation was not accepted by her.
4. Their house has been sold by them.
5. The science of ship-building was known to ancient Indians.
6. I was shown a nice portrait by her.
7. Sweaters are knitted by my mother.
8. Some land and two horses were bought by him.
9. This will not be tolerated by us. Changing imperative sentences into the
passive
Sentences expressing ideas such as request, order, advice, suggestion and prohibition are called imperative
sentences. Such sentences are changed into the passive voice in the following manner.
Active: Please lend me your book.
Passive: You are requested to lend me your book.
Active: Please finish this job first.
Passive: You are requested to finish this job first.
Active: Fetch me a glass of water.
Passive: You are ordered to fetch me a glass of water.
Active: Work hard to get good marks in the examination.
Passive: You are advised to work hard to get good marks in the examination.
Active: Do not pluck flowers.
Passive: You are forbidden from plucking flowers. OR Let the flowers not be plucked.
Active: Do it.
Passive: Let it be done. OR You are ordered to do it.
Active: Let him do it.
Passive: Let him be allowed to do it.
Active: Consult a doctor.
Passive: You are advised to consult a doctor.
Use of modals
Sentences that use the modal auxiliary verb are changed into passive in the following manner.
Active: You ought to respect your elders.
Passive: Your elders ought to be respected by you.
Active: You should learn your lesson.
Passive: Your lesson should be learnt by you.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Changing imperative sentences into the passive
An imperative sentence does not normally have a subject. It is used to express a command or request.
Please bring me a glass of open.
Open the door.
The imperative sentence in the passive voice takes the following form:
Let + object + be + past participle
When the active voice is in the negative, the passive voice takes the following form:
Let not + object + be + past participle
Help him. (Active Voice)
Let him be helped. (Passive Voice)
Finish the job at once. (Active Voice)
Let the job be finished at once. (Passive Voice)
Carry him home. (Active Voice)
Let him be carried home. (Passive Voice)
Do not beat the dog. (Active Voice)
Let the dog not be beaten. OR Let not the dog be beaten. (Passive Voice)
Close the window. (Active voice)
Let the window be closed. (Passive voice)
Sometimes we want to begin the sentence with you so that the emphasis is on the person addressed. In such
cases, the passive voice takes the following form:
Help him. (Active Voice)
You are requested to help him. (Passive Voice)
Don’t touch it. (Active Voice)
Let it not be touched. (Passive Voice)
You are warned not to touch it. (Passive Voice)
Learn your lessons. (Active voice)
You are required to learn your lessons. (Passive voice)
The passive form has to begin with you, when the object of the verb in the active voice is not given.
Work hard. (No object) (Active Voice)
You are advised to work hard. (Passive Voice)
Get out. (No object) (Active Voice)
You are ordered to get out. (Passive Voice)
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Changing interrogative sentences into the passive
Read the following sentences.
Active voice: Did she recognize you?
Passive voice: Were you recognized by her?
Active voice: Can anybody cure it?
Passive voice: Can it be cured (by anybody)?
Active voice: Who wrote this book?
Passive voice: By whom was this book written?
Active voice: Have you finished work?
Passive voice: Has the work been finished by you?
Active voice: When will they announce the results?
Passive voice: When will the results be announced (by them)?
Notes
The primary auxiliary verbs do, does or did does not appear in the passive form.
The verbs has, have, had, will, shall, can, may etc., do not change their position at the beginning of the
sentence when the active voice is changed to the passive voice.
Active voice: Have you invited them?
Passive voice: Have they been invited by you?
Active voice: Will you help him?
Passive voice: Will he be helped by you?
The question words when, why, where, how or what does not change their position at the beginning of the
sentence when the active voice is changed into the passive voice. Note that who changes to by whom
and whom into who.
What did he say? (Active Voice)
What was said by him? (Passive Voice)
Whom did you invite? (Active Voice)
Who was invited by you? (Passive Voice)
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Collective nouns
A collective noun denotes a collection of people, things, animals, emotions or concepts considered as a single
whole.
A collective noun is usually treated as singular.
Consider the expression ‘a committee of members’
There can be several members but only one committee. In this case, ‘members’ is a common noun whereas
‘committee’ is a collective noun.
More examples of collective nouns are given below.
A bunch of grapes or keys
A gang of bandits
A class of students
An army of soldiers
A hive of bees
A fleet of ships
A constellation of stars or galaxy
An archipelago of islands
A bevy of girls
A crowd of people
A mob of people
A swarm of flies
A jury of judges
A herd of cattle
A flock of sheep
A team of players
Examples are given below.
This class consists of fifty students.
The jury was unanimous in its decision.
The crowd was too large to be controlled by the police.
The mob attacked the police station.
The Australian cricket team is scheduled to visit India in July.
A bevy of girls entered the garden.
A bunch of keys was lying on the table.
You can find a swarm of flies hovering over uncovered trays of sweets.
The crew of sailors controlled the ship in the stormy sea.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Collective nouns exercise
The verb has to agree with the subject in number and person. Complete the following sentences using a verb
form that agrees with the subject.
1. Our audience …………….. always been the affluent urban elite.
has
have
2. The audience at the open-air stadium …………………… not as large as had been expected.
was
were
3. The audience ……………………. enthralled by her performance.
was
were
4. Audiences throughout the world ……………….. been captivated by Chaplin’s films.
have
has
5. The public ………………….. stringent laws to deal with terrorists.
want
wants
6. The public …………….. not satisfied with the relief measures taken during the floods.
was
were
7. The team ………………… practising at the stadium.
was
were
8. The team ………………. for Australia tomorrow.
is leaving
are leaving
9. A family with four children ………………. next door.
live
lives
10. My family …………………. going to be there.
is
are Combine using conjunctions
Combine the following sentences using the conjunctions given in the brackets.
1. He will not spend his money. He will not invest it. (neither…nor)
2. John is a doctor. His wife is a doctor. (both…and)
3. He is very ill. The doctors do not expect him to recover. (so…that)
4. Tom was down with flu. He could not attend the class. (because / as)
5. Iron is found in India. Coal is also found in India. (as well as)
6. I had no ticket. Still I was able to get in. (although)
7. John did not work hard. So he failed in the examination. (if)
8. He left home early. Still he arrived late. (although)
9. He is very fat. He cannot walk fast. (too)
10. He has to come in time. Otherwise, he will not be able to see me. (if / unless)
Answers
1. He will neither spend his money nor invest it.
2. Both John and his wife are doctors.
3. He is so ill that doctors do not expect him to recover.
4. As Tom was down with flu, he could not attend the class. / Tom could not attend the class because he was
down with flu.
5. Iron as well as coal is found in India.
6. Although I had no ticket, I was able to get in.
7. If John worked hard, he would not fail in the examination.
8. Although he left home early, he arrived late.
9. He is too fat to walk fast.
10. If he does not come on time, he will not be able to see me. / Unless he comes on time, he will not be able to
see me.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Combine using relative pronouns
Combine the following sentences using appropriate relative pronouns.
1. I saw a castle. It was very beautiful.
2. I have a friend. I like him very much.
3. The boy teased another boy. He was punished by the teacher.
4. A leader is sincere. He is loved by his followers.
5. We met a traveler. He told us many interesting stories.
6. Air is essential for life. It is present everywhere.
7. Those students failed their test. They had been wasting their time over trifles.
8. This is the house. I purchased it from Mathews.
9. This is the woman. We were talking about her.
10. He is an author. His books are so popular.
Answers
1. I saw a castle which was very beautiful.
2. I have a friend whom I like very much.
3. The boy who teased another boy was punished by the teacher.
4. A leader who is sincere is loved by his followers.
5. We met a traveler who told us many interesting stories. / The traveler that we met told us many interesting
stories.
6. Air which is essential for life is present everywhere. / Air which is present everywhere is essential for life.
7. Those students who had been wasting their time over trifles failed their test.
8. This is the house that / which I purchased from Mathews.
9. This is the woman whom we were talking about.
10. He is an author whose books are so popular.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Common expressions without articles
In some common fixed expressions of place, time and movement countable nouns are normally treated as
uncountables, without articles. Here are the most common expressions of this kind:
To school / at school / in school / from school
To university / at university / from university (GB)
To university / in university / from university (US)
To / at / in / into / from church
To / in / into / out of bed / prison
To / at sea
To / in / from town
At / from home
Leave home / school / university / college
Start school / university / college
Enter school / university / college
To / in / into / out of hospital
To / at / from work
By car / by bus / by bicycle / by plane / by train / by boat
On foot
By radio / phone / letter / mail
In some cases, place nouns are used with articles. There is usually a difference of meaning. For example, when
we say at the university, we are referring to the building, not to the activities going on there.
Compare:
John has to go to hospital. He has got heart problems. (as a patient.)
I went to the hospital to see James. (Here we are referring to the bricks and mortar structure.)
Notes
In American English, the words hospital and I are always used with articles.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Common mistakes with adverbs
Correct the following sentences.
1. He came here before two months.
2. He comes often to our house.
3. Though John worked very hardly, he failed.
4. He comes to see me seldom.
5. I have wanted to meet him always.
6. I have never seen such a man; he is too noble.
7. Alice is so tall as Peter.
Answers
1. He came here two months ago. (Ago is used to date back from the time of speaking. Before is used to date
back from a point of time in the past.)
2. He often comes to our house. (Adverbs like always, before, never and often are placed before the verb.
When the verb consists of an auxiliary and a principal verb, the adverb is placed between the two; if there are
two
auxiliaries, the adverb is placed after the first auxiliary.)
3. Though John worked very hard, he failed.
4. He seldom comes to see me. (Seldom is an adverb of frequency. It is placed before the verb.)
5. I have always wanted to meet him.
6. I have never seen such a man; he is very noble. (Too has a negative meaning. It means ‘more than is good
or desirable or necessary for a specific purpose’. It is not used in the general sense of very or much.)
7. Alice is as tall as Peter. (We prefer as in affirmative sentences and so in negative sentences.)
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Common mistakes with nouns
In this article, we will explain some common mistakes in the use of nouns.
Incorrect: I would like to buy some furnitures.
Correct: I would like to buy some furniture.
Incorrect: Have you got any informations?
Correct: Have you got any information?
Incorrect: Have you packed your luggages?
Correct: Have you packed your luggage?
Incorrect: Is there any breads?
Correct: Is there any bread? OR Are there any loaves?
Explanation: Nouns like scenery, furniture, news, information, luggage and bread are always used in the
singular. They do not have a plural form.
Incorrect: He told these news to me.
Correct: He told me this news.
Explanation: The noun news is only used in the singular. So, we cannot use these before news. When a verb
(e.g.
told) takes two objects, we prefer to put the indirect object (e.g. me) before the direct object (e.g. this news).
Note
that the indirect object is usually a person as in the above example.
Incorrect: The government should pay attention to the problems of the poors.
Correct: The government should pay attention to the problems of the poor.
Incorrect: He provided the blinds with food.
Correct: He provided the blind with food.
Explanation: Expressions like the poor, the dead, the blind, the unemployed are always plural. You don’t
have
to say the poors or the blinds
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Common phrasal verbs
Here is a list of phrasal verbs with their meaning.
Ward off
To ward something off is to prevent it from happening.
Wear off
When something wears off, it disappears gradually.
Walk off
To walk something off is to get rid of it by walking.
Make off
To make off is to leave a place in a hurry.
Put off
To put off is to postpone.
Make after
To make after somebody is to chase them.
Make away
To make away is to escape.
Make out
To make out is to pretend that something is true.
Make off
To make off is to leave a place in a hurry.
Make up
To make up is to invent something.
Hold back
To hold something back is to keep it secret.
Hold up
To hold something up is to delay it.
Hold down Commonly confused expressions
Here is a quick overview of some phrases and expressions that are commonly confused.
Supposed to / used to
You are not supposed to break the rules. (NOT You are not suppose to break the rules.)
I am used to living alone. (NOT I am use to living alone.)
It is wrong to drop the ‘d’ in supposed and used. However, this is a mistake that many people make.
Beside the point
If something is beside the point, it is not relevant to the point. It is wrong to write ‘besides the point’.
Beside means ‘next to’ or ‘at the side of’. Besides means ‘in addition to.
Couldn’t care less
The expression ‘I could care less’ is always wrong.
I couldn’t care less means ‘I don’t care at all’. However, ‘I could care less’ does not mean that you care a lot.
Whet your appetite
To whet your appetite is to sharpen your appetite. Even mouth-watering delicacies can’t ‘wet your appetite’. The
correct expression is ‘whet your appetite’.
Nip it in the bud
To nip something in the bud is to prevent it from growing into something bigger.
Don’t nip it in the butt. That will not solve your problem.
Toe the line
To toe the line is to adhere to a standard or rule. Don’t write ‘tow the line’.
For all intents and purposes
‘For all intents and purposes’ means ‘pretty much’ or ‘almost completely’. It is wrong to write ‘for all intensive
purposes’.
Bald-faced lie
A bald-faced lie is an audacious lie. The person who tells a bald-faced lie does not make any attempt to disguise
it
as truth. However, this does not make it a ‘bold-faced lie’.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Complete the given passage
Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks.
India ………………………… (stud) with many historical places and monuments. Agra ……………. (occupy) an
important place
among them. The famous Taj Mahal ………………. (immortal) this city. It ………………. (be) my long cherished
dream to visit
Taj Mahal and it …………………… (fulfill) last month when the school …………………… (organize) a trip to
Agra. Taj Mahal
…………………….. (be) one of the most famous buildings in the world. It …………………… (be) situated on the
River Yamuna. four minarets, the tombs and the white marble ……………………. (make) it the most beautiful
building in the world. Poets
…………………… (praise) it. Common people …………………… (adore) it. Lovers of art from all over the world
visit it. It is a undying love. It is a symbol of culture.
Answers
India is studded with many historical places and monuments. Agra occupies an important place among them.
The famous Taj Mahal has immortalized this city. It was my long cherished dream to visit Taj Mahal and it was
fulfilled last month when the school organized a trip to Agra. Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in
the world. It is situated on the River Yamuna. Its four minarets, the tombs and the white marble make it the
most
beautiful building in the world. Poets have praised it. Common people adore it. Lovers of art from all over the
world visit it. It is a sign of undying love. It is a symbol of culture.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Complete the given sentences
1. He attributed his good health to his ……………………. with nature.
a) communion
b) company
c) commitment
d) communication
2. She is ……………………. a career in writing.
a) keen on building
b) keen at building
c) keen for building
d) keen to building
3. They ………………………. him to prison for five years.
a) sent
b) are sent
c) send
d) were sent
4. Sometimes I wish ……………………….
a) I had never been born
b) I have never born
c) I was never been born
d) I had never born
5. What …………………….. if the train had been late?
a) would you do
b) will you do
c) would you have did
d) would you have done
6. He …………………… understood.
a) was not able to be
b) can’t be
c) won’t be
d) is not able to
7. After marching through the foothill for two days, we found ourselves …………………………….. proper.
a) at the bottom of the mountain
b) under the mountain
c) beneath the mountain
d) at the base of the mountain
8. She smiled ……………………….
a) in a friendly wayConfusing pairs exercise
Words like their and there, its and it’s are often confused. This exercise tests your understanding of similar
word
pairs.
Complete the given sentences.
1. …………………. knowledge is a dangerous thing.
(A little / little)
2. ……………………. children are innocent.
(A little / little)
3. …………………….. children are interested in reading. (A few / few)
4. He has ………………….. buildings of his own.
(Much / many)
5. The …………………. half of the film is more interesting than the former. (later / latter)
6. My …………………. brother works abroad. (elder / older)
7. Trains run ……………….. five minutes. (every / each)
8. …………………… bag is this? (Whose / who’s)
9. The dog has had ………………….. breakfast. (its / it’s)
10. …………………… is something wrong with this computer. (There / their)
Answers
1. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
2. Little children are innocent.
3. Few children are interested in reading.
4. He has many buildings of his own.
5. The latter half of the film is more interesting than the former.
6. My elder brother works abroad.
7. Trains run every five minutes.
8. Whose bag is this?
9. The dog has had its breakfast.
10. There is something wrong with this computer. Confusing words exercise
1. I am …………………. happy with my performance. (quiet / quite)
2. I am tired of listening to ………………… (advise / advice)
3. He was ………………….. for driving his car recklessly. (prosecuted / petitioned)
4. Prolonged use of powerful drugs will …………………… our health. (affect / effect)
5. We ………………….. at the success of our team. (rejoiced / renounced)
6. …………………. can occur at any time. (Accidents / Incidents)
7. One of the passengers ………………. injured in the accident. (was / were)
8. You must not ………………… important facts from your doctor / lawyer. (conceal / console)
9. The man lives in the hut ………………….. the river. (beside / besides)
10. After finishing his work, he ………………….. down to rest. (lay / lied)
Answers
1. I am quite happy with my performance.
2. I am tired of listening to advice.
3. He was prosecuted for driving his car recklessly.
4. Prolonged use of powerful drugs will affect our health.
5. We rejoiced at the success of our team.
6. Accidents can occur at any time.
7. One of the passengers was injured in the accident.
8. You must not conceal important facts from your doctor / lawyer.
9. The man lives in a hut beside the river.
10. After finishing his work, he lay down to rest.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Confusing words exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate word.
1. His …………………………. nature made him popular. (ingenuous / ingenious)
2. He has invented an ………………….. device for making sugar from coal. (ingenuous / ingenious)
3. India’s ………………….. development in recent years has been remarkable. (industrial / industrious)
4. He is very ………………….. (industrial / industrious)
5. Celebrities live ………………….. lives. (luxurious / luxuriant)
6. The robber ……………………… a pistol and threatened the traveler. (waved / waived)
7. I will never ………………….. my right to this house. (wave / waive)
8. At this …………………. I cannot give you any such guarantee. (junction / juncture)
9. He gave a …………………. analysis of the situation. (masterful / masterly)
10. You will have to prove your ………………… if you want to get the promotion. (mettle / meddle)
Answers
1. His ingenuous nature made him popular.
2. He has invented an ingenious device for making sugar from coal.
3. India’s industrial development in recent years has been remarkable.
4. He is very industrious.
5. Celebrities live luxurious lives.
6. The robber waved a pistol and threatened the traveler.
7. I will never waive my right to this house.
8. At this juncture I cannot give you any such guarantee.
9. He gave a masterly analysis of the situation.
10. You will have to prove your mettle if you want to get the promotion.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Confusing words exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate word or phrase. Choose your answers from the given
options.
1. He is a …………………………. Catholic.
a) devote
b) devout
2. She has ……………………… her life to helping the poor and the sick.
a) devoted
b) devouted
3. God is very …………………………..
a) graceful
b) gracious
4. You can eat carrots cooked or ……………………………..
a) raw
b) row
5. He ……………………………….. in sports.
a) excels
b) exciles
6. His good works need to be ……………………………….
a) commented
b) commended
7. The mother ………………………. the weeping child.
a) consoled
b) concealed
8. English literature is full of …………………………… to Greek and Latin authors.
a) illusions
b) allusions
9. Though he is sixteen, he is very …………………………… Confusing words exercise
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase:
1. She is …………………….. of her success.
(a) confident
(b) confidant
(c) confessor
2. I don’t want any ……………………… explanation.
(a) farther
(b) further
(c) farthest
3. Is there ………………………. in the class?
(a) anyone
(b) no one
(c) some one
4. The doctor …………………. the patients to quit smoking.
(a) advised
(b) advices
(c) told
5. He says he is enjoying his ……………………………… job.
(a) later
(b) latest
(c) latter
6. All students should have ………………………….. to a good library.
(a) access
(b) axis
(c) excess
7. ………………………… football, he plays cricket.
(a) Beside
(b) Besides
(c) Till
8. ………………………… knowledge is a dangerous thing.
(a) A little
(b) Little
(c) The little
9. He is my ……………………… brother. Conjunctions exercise
Complete the following sentences using appropriate conjunctions.
1. He asked me …………………. I would like to accompany him.
2. James ran very fast ………………….. he could not catch up with Mike.
3. Two ……………….. two make four.
4. I work hard ………………. I may pass.
5. …………………. you work hard, you will pass.
6. She is older ………………… her husband.
7. They left the town …………………. the epidemic had spread there.
8. Go ………………. you like.
9. ………………… a borrower ……………….. a lender be.
10. Look ……………… you leap.
11. He asked me ……………… I wanted.
12. It has been a long time ………………… I last met him.
13. ……………….. you focus on your work, you will not succeed.
14. We eat …………………. we may live.
Answers
1. He asked me whether I would like to accompany him.
2. James ran very fast but he could not catch up with Mike.
3. Two and two make four.
4. I work hard that I may pass.
5. If you work hard, you will pass.
6. She is older than her husband.
7. They left the town before the epidemic had spread there.
8. Go where you like.
9. Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
10. Look before you leap. Conjunctions exercise
Combine the following sentences using appropriate conjunctions.
1. He was tired. He had been working for a long time.
2. You will win the first prize. You have to work hard.
3. He took out his brush. He began to paint.
4. Hurry up. You will be late.
5. She may be poor. She will not take anything that does not belong to her.
6. Something must have fallen. I heard a sound.
7. They must have fallen asleep. There is no light in their room.
8. The train had left. I reached the station later.
9. He was tired. He decided to get some rest.
10. I waited for him. He arrived.
11. He was angry. Somebody had stolen his bicycle.
12. It was raining. We went out.
Answers
1. He was tired because he had been working for a long time.
2. You will win the first prize if you work hard.
3. He took out his brush and began to paint.
4. Hurry up or you will be late.
5. She may be poor but she will not take anything that does not belong to her.
6. Something must have fallen for I heard a sound.
7. They must have fallen asleep for there is no light in their room.
8. The train had left before I reached the station.
9. He was tired so he decided to get some rest.
10. I waited for him until he arrived.
11. He was angry because somebody had stolen his bicycle.
12. It was raining but we went out. / Though it was raining we went out.Conjunctions exercise
Conjunctions are words used to connect clauses. They not only connect clauses but also express the
relationship between them. This exercise tests your knowledge of conjunctions.
Fill in the blanks with suitable conjunctions.
1. Though she studied well ………………… she failed.
2. She is ………………. beautiful ……………… her mother.
3. She is not ………………….. brilliant ……………….. her sister.
4. He was busy …………………. he was on tour.
5. Shakespeare was ………………… a poet ……………………. also a dramatist.
6. He fell asleep ………………….. he was reading the book.
7. I would like to go ………………… I am too busy.
8. You can …………………. walk ……………….. go by bus.
9. He tried his best ………………… failed.
10. She is ………………. Sita ………………… Radha.
Answers
1. Though she studied well yet she failed.
2. She is as beautiful as her mother.
3. She is not as brilliant as her sister.
4. He was busy when he was on tour.
5. Shakespeare was not only a poet but also a dramatist.
6. He fell asleep while he was reading the book.
7. I would like to go because I am too busy.
8. You can either walk or go by bus.
9. He tried his best but failed.
10. She is either Sita or Radha. / She is neither Sita nor Radha.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Conjunctions exercise
Fill in the blanks using suitable conjunctions:
1. This is a small ………………….. interesting story.
2. Manu and Anu help ……………………..
3. ……………………… I was a child, I lived in Dubai.
4. Make hay ……………………. the sun shines.
5. We will visit Paris ………………….. Rome during the summer.
6. Let us wait here ……………….. the rain stops.
7. …………………. he worked hard he failed.
8. I regard my mother ……………….. my best friend.
9. ………………… I was suffering from fever I couldn’t attend the class.
10. My sister is not ……………….. intelligent ……………….. my brother.
11. He is ……………….. tall ……………….. his father.
12. Do your duty ……………….. you live.
13. He was treated ………………….. a guest.
Answers
1. This is a small but interesting story.
2. Manu and Anu help each other.
3. When I was a child, I lived in Dubai.
4. Make hay while the sun shines.
5. We will visit Paris or Rome during the summer.
6. Let us wait here until the rain stops.
7. Though he worked hard he failed.
8. I regard my mother as my best friend.
9. As I was suffering from fever I couldn’t attend the class.
10. My sister is not so intelligent as my brother.
11. He is as tall as his father. Conjunctions exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate subordinating conjunction.
1. People ran for shelter, …………………… the storm broke out.
when
as
because
2. The audience left the hall ……………… the performance was over. (time)
when
as
since
3. Go …………………… you like. (place)
where
there
Either could be used here
4. The accident occurred ……………….. the four roads meet. (place)
where
there
when
5. The train cannot start …………………. the signal is given.
when
after
before
6. His wife fainted ………………….. she heard the news. (time)
when
as
while
7. We eat ………………… we may live.
that
so
such that
8. He wore a coat ………………… that he may not catch cold.
such that
so that
in order that
Either ‘so that’ or ‘in order that’
9. ……………………. I finish this book, I will begin another. Conjunctions worksheet
A conjunction is a word which joins sentences or clauses together. A conjunction is merely a connecting word.
It
performs no other function in the sentence.
There are two types of conjunctions – coordinating and subordinating. A coordinating conjunction joins two
clauses of equal importance. Examples are: and, but, as well as, both…and, yet, or, either…or, for, so etc. A
subordinating conjunction joins a main clause with a subordinating clause. Examples are: whether, if, while,
when, though, since, before etc.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate conjunctions.
1. We started early …………………………. we might not miss the show.
a) because
b) so
c) so that
d) on condition that
2. I can help you …………………….. you tell me the truth.
a) unless
b) provided
c) so
3. He is both scholarly ………………………. cultured.
a) and
b) also
c) as well
d) none of these
4. He looks ……………………….. he is ill.
a) as if
b) like
c) as
d) though
5. You must apologize; …………………………. you will be punished.
a) otherwise
b) unless
c) whether
d) but
Answers
1. We started early so that we might not miss the show.
2. I can help you provided you tell me the truth.
3. He is both scholarly and cultured. Correct the following sentences
Correct the following sentences
1. I have seen him yesterday.
2. We had gone to the movies last night.
3. I had spoken to them about my holiday.
4. You must attend your teacher’s instructions.
5. The hen has lain six eggs.
6. I have seen him a moment ago.
7. They discussed about the whole matter.
8. We are playing tennis every day.
9. He is sleeping for two hours.
10. Neither of the boys have returned.
Answers
1. I saw him yesterday. (We do not use the present perfect tense with past time expressions.)
2. We went to the movies last night.
3. I spoke to them about my holiday. (The past perfect tense is not used to say that something happened in the
past. It is used to indicate the earlier of the two past actions.)
4. You must listen to your teacher’s instructions.
5. The hen has laid six eggs.
6. I saw him a moment ago.
7. They discussed the whole matter. (The verb discuss does not take a preposition.)
8. We play tennis every day. (We use the simple present tense to talk about our habits and general facts.)
9. He has been sleeping for two hours. (We use the present perfect continuous tense to show duration.)
10. Neither of the boys has returned. (After ‘either’ and ‘neither’ we use a singular verb.)
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Countable and uncountable nouns
Countable nouns are the words for things that we can count. Countable nouns have singular and plural forms.
Examples are: boy, boys, girl, girls, flower, flowers, book, books, chair, chairs, student, students etc.
A singular countable noun requires an article or another determiner (e.g. the, my, this etc.) with it.
I ate an orange. (NOT I ate orange.)
She put the book on the table. (NOT She put book on table.)
Would you like a piece of cake?
Where shall I put my coat?
Uncountable nouns are the words for things that cannot be counted. Uncountable nouns cannot be used
with a/an. Also, they do not have plural forms.
I would like some advice. (NOT I would like some advices.)
Have you got any information? (NOT Have you got any informations?)
Mix the water with the flour.
Here are some examples of common uncountable nouns: advice, air, anger, beauty, behavior, damage,
furniture,
happiness, homework, information, meat, luggage, progress, safety, money, knowledge, water and work.
You have to be careful with uncountable nouns because they can be countable in your language. Remember
that
uncountable nouns are considered as singular and hence they should be followed by singular verbs.
The meat has to be cooked properly.
The information that we received from him was not correct.
Your rude behavior upsets everyone.
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Degrees of comparison
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate adjective. Choose your answers from the options given
in
the brackets.
1. Delhi is …………….. than Mumbai. (hot / hotter / hottest)
2. …………….. youngest brother serves in the army. (My / me / mine)
3. We had ………………. most interesting experience during the picnic. (a / the)
4. Mr. Ramesh is ……………….. most popular lecturer in our college. (a / the)
5. I am satisfied only with ………………… best. (a / the)
6. Kodaikanal is one of the ……………… hill stations in South India. (lovely / lovelier / loveliest)
7. The ………………… of the two brothers is getting married next month. (younger / youngest)
8. This is ……………….. most useful book on the subject. (the / a)
9. I have not seen ………………… better film than this. (a / the)
10. Only the ………………. member can be elected the President. (old / older / oldest)
11. This is ……………….. worst accident in recent times. (the / a)
12. ………………. Charles seemed to be covered with hair. (The most of / Most of)
Answers
1. Delhi is hotter than Mumbai.
2. My youngest brother serves in the army.
3. We had a most interesting experience during the picnic.
4. Mr. Ramesh is the most popular lecturer in our college.
5. I am satisfied only with the best.
6. Kodaikanal is one of the loveliest hill stations in South India.
7. The younger of the two brothers is getting married next month.
8. This is the most useful book on the subject.
9. I have not seen a better film than this.
10. Only the oldest member can be elected the President.
11. This is the worst accident in recent times.
12. Most of Charles seemed to be covered with hair. Difference between present
perfect and present perfect
continuous tense
The present perfect tense and present perfect continuous tense have very similar use. They can both be
used to talk about actions and situations that started in the past and have continued up to the present.
Present perfect tense form: Subject + has/have + past participle form of the verb.
We have lived in this city for ten years.
I have taught English for twenty years.
Present perfect continuous tense form: Subject + has / have + been + -ing form of the verb
We have been living in this city for ten years.
I have been teaching English for twenty years.
I have been working since morning.
It has been snowing since yesterday.
The baby has been sleeping for two hours.
She has been knitting for hours.
Difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses
Both present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses can be used to talk about actions and events that
started in the past and have continued up to the present.
I have worked with them for ten years.
I have been working with them for ten years.
The present perfect tense can be used to talk about finished events.
The present perfect continuous tense cannot be used to talk about finished events.
Compare:
I have finished the job. (I have finished that job. I am free now.) (NOT I have been finishing the job.)
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