grammar

Keyword Must

We use must in several different ways: to give commands or strong advice: You must never take lifts from strangers. You must never hit a superior officer. to show necessity: We must go now. You must put on your socks before your shoes.to show logical certainty in general, the past and the present:It must be awful to break one's leg in three places. It must have been very tiring for you to drive so far. He must be upstairs. to show something which is not allowed: You must not forget your homework. You must not fight in the classroom.

Keyword used to

We use used to in two different situations. The first talks about the present and something we are familiar with, the other about a past situation which no longer happens: I am used to driving long distances. I used to drive long distances. This is used for situations in the present which we are familiar with; they cause us no problems:{be} + {used to} + {noun phrase}

They are used to walking; they go walking in the mountains every year. I was used to living on my own when I was young; I left home at sixteen. Don't worry about the new job, you'll get used to it in no time. This is used for situations and habits which were true in the past, but do not happen now: {used to} + {infinitive}

I used to cry when I was a baby, but I don't now. We use the present simple to talk about habits now; habits from the past which are no longer true use used to: She smokes 20 cigarettes a day. She smoked 20 cigarettes a day when she was twenty. She used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day when she was twenty. Past actions which only happened once use the past simple: I used to cycle to school every day but once I took a taxi. We can make the negative in two ways: I didn 't used to...I used not to...The first is more common.

Keyword might

We use might as a modal verb to show possibility in the present & future: It may rain. He may have gone home, I don't know.The contraction of might not is unusual: He might not be here.He mightn't be here.It is also unusual to see might as a question: Might it be time to leave?

Keyword Will

We use will as amodal verb. We use will in several different ways: for certain predictions for the future, present and past in future: Arsenal will lose again. He will be on the plane by now. for events that will be completed at a time in the future: {will} + {have} + {past participle} This time next month we will have been married ten years. when we use it for prediction, we talk about events we cannot influence. We often use it for the distant future: In the year 2500 mankind will rely entirely on machines.{will} + {be} + {present participle}

We use this form to talk about fairly certain events in the future - it is almost the same as the present continuous used to talk about the future. He will be leaving tomorrow at six. We also use it to talk about continuous events in the future: We will be lying on the beach next week. to show intention: You stay there, I'll do it. I'll carry your bags if you like. to ask for something: Will you give me a hand? What will I do? to show refusal: He won't co me out of his room.

It will not work. to make promises & threats: I will always love you. I will kill you! making decisions on the spur of the moment: Is that the phone? - I'll get it. I think I'll have the roast beef. to give orders: You will do what I say. You will be a good boy from now on.to make invitations: Will you sit down, please.Won't you sit down, please.In informal writing, we often we abbreviate the verb will with an apostrophe: she will = she'll. The short form of the negative is won't: I will not leave yet. I won't leave yet. No, I won't is usually considered impolite. A politer way of refusing is to say: I'm afraid I can't.

Keyword on the other hand

When we join two clauses: {main clause} + {sub-clause + on the other hand} Jack could not eat fat, his wife could not eat lean meat on the other hand. We often use this phrase to begin a contrasting paragraph; unlike while and whereas we do not use very often as a simple conjunction.

When and While

When & While

We use these words when we talk about things happening at the same time. I was talking on the phone when you knocked on the door. I was working while you were watching television.But... what's the difference between when and while? While Two long actions at the same time: I painted the fence while you made something to eat. When Two short actions at the same time: I laughed when you told a joke.

In Grammar

A simple way to check which word to use is like this: if you are talking about an action in the past continuous and another one in the simple past, use when: I was eating breakfast when the doorbell rang. if you have two actions in the past continuous then use while: I was eating breakfast while my brother was having a shower.

Keyword have

The verb have is very important. It is a lexical verb and an auxiliary verb. It is irregular and it is very useful to learn the different forms thoroughly.The table shows the form of the verb have in the present and past:

	person	present	past
singular	I/you	have	had
singular	he/she/it	has	had
plural	we/you/they	have	had

When we speak and in informal writing, we use have got rather than have. I've got no money. She's got a large house in the country. The form is identFree-ESL to have but with the particle got: {have} + {got} Questions are either: Do you have...or Have you got...

We use the verb have [got]: to talk abo ut possession: I have two sisters. She has a headache. They had a Porsche but it was stolen. to show necessity: You have got to go now. Have you got to make such a noise? to show lack of necessity: You don't have to see the doctor today. We don't have to pay to get in. to order food & then eat or drink: I'll have a sandwich, what will you have? to describe an experience: Are you having a good time? We had a real laugh last night.have a...: Did you have a go? He had a look and didn't like what he saw. Causative form: He's having his stairs repainted. When we make questions or negatives with have as a lexical verb, we can use inversion or do:

{have} + {subject}

{do} + {subject} + {have}

It is more common to use do.

In informal writing, we often we abbreviate the ver b have with an apostrophe:

I have	=	I've
he has	=	he's
they had	=	they'd

Keyword it's high time

We use the phrase it's high time to say that something should be done now; in fact there is not much time left to do it.It's high time you got your hair cut. It's high time we were leaving, the train goes in twenty minutes.{it's high time} + {subject} + {past simple/continuous}

Keyword may

We use may in several different ways: to give permission: You may leave when you are finished. You may not talk during the exam. possibility in the present & future: It may rain. He may have gone home, I don't know. to ask for something: May I open the window? May I see your passport, please?

Keyword the last time

We use this phrase to talk about the most recent occasion when something happened. We often use it with the present perfect: {the last time} ... {was} + [in] + {date}

{subject} + {present perfect} + {since} + {date}

{subject} + {present perfect} + {for} + {time}

The last time it rained was 1976. It hasn't rained since 1976. It hasn't rained for X years.

Keyword go

We use {go} + {present participle}

to talk about things we go out to do:

go dancing, go fishing

Keyword the first time

We use this phrase to talk about something never done before:

I have never seen Paris; this is the first time I have ever been here.

We often use this phrase with the present perfect:

{it is the first time} + [that] + {subject} + {present perfect} ...

It is the first time [that] I have [ever] done this.

Keyword do

The verb do is very important. It is a lexical verb and an auxiliary verb. It is irregular and it is very useful to learn the different forms thoroughly.The table shows the form of the verb do in the present and past:

	person	present	past
singular	I/you	do	did
singular	he/she/it	does	did
plural	we/you/they	do	did

We use the verb do:

to talk about an action when we do not know what it is or do not want to say what it is:

What did you do last night?

I have done something terrible!

meaning work at, finish:

He's doing marvels in the kitchen.

We've done a lot of work on the house

Keyword could

We use could as amodal verb in several different ways: to talk about ability in the past:I could drive when I was fifteen. Could you hear me properly? to make requests: Could you help me, please? Could I have a light? to talk about ability in the future: Could you swim across this river? Could you lift that weight? to show possibility in the present & future: He could be at work, but I'm not certain. If I were rich, I could go the Bahamas for a holiday.

to make suggestions for the future: We could have a party. You could see your mother and then go out afterwards. to ask politely for something: Could you give me some help here? Could you come here, please? to show permission politely: You could come on Thursday, if you like. The boss said you couldn't leave early. as the pasttense of can: I could r un much faster when I was younger. Women and children could work in the mines in the last century.

Keyword: can

We use can as a modal verb in several different ways to show: ability and opportunity in the present: I can drive. Can you hear me? permission: You can borrow my car if you want. We cannot allow you to behave in such a manner. to show impossibility: He can't have won! You can't be serious! to ask for or offer something: Can you help me? Can you open the window, please? Can I give you a hand?

Keyword be going to

be going to: form; use; going to go; questions; negatives {subject} + {be going to} + {infinitive} I am going to be a lawyer when I leave college. She is going to be a star one day. We use be going to: to talk about our future intentions: I am going to make a cake. He is going to start his own company soon. to talk about predictions which are based on what we see now. Look at those clouds - I think it is going to rain this afternoon. Arsenal are playing very badly - they are going to lose the match. to talk about past intentions or predictions: I was going to call you earlier but I forgot. I thought he was going to start his own company but I was wrong.

When the main verb in the sentence is go, we say: I am going to go on holiday next week. going to go is, however, not very elegant. Instead we often use: I am going on holiday next week. This is using the present continuous with a future meaning. We makequestions in this way: {be} + {subject} + {going to} + {infin itive} Are you going to help me or not? Is she going to apply for that job? We make negatives thus: {subject} + {be} + {not} + {going to} + {infinitive} He is going to win the game.He isn't going to win the game.

Keyword be able to

We use be able to as amodal verb in several different ways:to show ability or opportunity in the present: We are able to use this room. She is able to play the piano. ability or opportunity in the past: I was able to name every American state when I was at school. She was able to play the piano very well when she was ten. to show ability; we can use be able to with verbs of perception: I am able to hear him but I am not able to see him.

Keyword be

The verb be is very important. It is used as a lexical verb and an auxiliary verb. It is irregular and it is very useful to learn the different forms thoroughly.

The table shows the form of the verb be in the present and past:

	person	present	past
singular	I	am	was
singular	you	are	were
singular	he/she/it	is	was
plural	we/you/they	are	were

We use the verb be when we give information about the identity or qualities of a noun:

Eric is a marvelous swimmer.

They are good friends.

Was she here last night?

They weren't very happy with us.

The form is:

infini tive	be
present	am/are/is
present participle	being
gerund	being
past	was/were
past participle	been

In informal writing, we often we abbreviate the verb be with an apostrophe:

I am	=	I'm
you are	=	you're
he is	=	he's
I was not	=	I wasn't
You were not	=	you weren't

Keyword: always

We use always with the present continuoustense to show when something happens too often.

{be} + {always} + {present participle}

He is always asking me to lend him money and I'm getting fed up with it.

She is always complaining! I wish she would stop it!

Are they always fighting? - No, they aren't always arguing, either.