I haven't added any new posts for a long time because I couldn't get into this site! For some reason it works today, so I plan to add some new material as soon as I can.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I love to please :)
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Friday, June 19, 2015
Conditionals
If you have trouble writing conditional sentences, maybe these examples will help you get started.
There are different types of conditionals based on the verb tenses in each clause:
1) If (present simple), (present simple)
If you wear your coat, it keeps you warm.
If it rains often, the grass grows too fast.
2) If (present simple), (will)
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.
If I study hard, I will pass my exam.
If you cheat, you will get caught.
3) If (past simple), (would)
If I were a rich man, I would travel to every country where I have online friends.
If I had more time, I would study Polish every day.
If I took my medicine, I would feel better by now.
4) If (past perfect), (would have, past participle)
If I had gone to bed early, I would have felt better today.
If I had studied more, I would have made a better grade on my exam.
If I had taken my medicine, I would have gotten well a week ago.
If you practice writing conditionals, you will soon improve your English.
There are different types of conditionals based on the verb tenses in each clause:
1) If (present simple), (present simple)
If you wear your coat, it keeps you warm.
If it rains often, the grass grows too fast.
2) If (present simple), (will)
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.
If I study hard, I will pass my exam.
If you cheat, you will get caught.
3) If (past simple), (would)
If I were a rich man, I would travel to every country where I have online friends.
If I had more time, I would study Polish every day.
If I took my medicine, I would feel better by now.
4) If (past perfect), (would have, past participle)
If I had gone to bed early, I would have felt better today.
If I had studied more, I would have made a better grade on my exam.
If I had taken my medicine, I would have gotten well a week ago.
If you practice writing conditionals, you will soon improve your English.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
It's high time!
Success!!
Finally, I managed to overcome the security obstacles and now I can post new entries here! What a frustrating experience! I couldn't post to my own blog. I felt like an outsider. It's high time we take up where we left off. You can also say "It's about time!" to express your impatience.
It's high time we stopped killing each other.
It's high time we learned to love.
It's high time we listened to music and to each other.
Do you have time?
Finally, I managed to overcome the security obstacles and now I can post new entries here! What a frustrating experience! I couldn't post to my own blog. I felt like an outsider. It's high time we take up where we left off. You can also say "It's about time!" to express your impatience.
It's high time we stopped killing each other.
It's high time we learned to love.
It's high time we listened to music and to each other.
Do you have time?
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Regret
We use the word 'regret' in some distinctly different situations.
Sometimes regret is used in a rather formal apology because you expect someone else to be disappointed by your absence:
I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend the reception.
(Another less formal way to say this is "I'm sorry I will not be able to attend the reception.")
In more serious situations, it can be used as a threat:
If you do that to me again, you'll regret it!
Other times regret can be devastating. Did you ever say something or do something that damaged or destroyed a relationship? Did you feel that nagging ache inside, the empty feeling of loneliness? Did you hear "If only" echoing endlessly in your mind as you wished with all your heart that you could take back what you said, undo what you did?
Last year was a year of regret for me, the devastating regret of this last example. I hope you can avoid this kind of regret.
Sometimes regret is used in a rather formal apology because you expect someone else to be disappointed by your absence:
I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend the reception.
(Another less formal way to say this is "I'm sorry I will not be able to attend the reception.")
In more serious situations, it can be used as a threat:
If you do that to me again, you'll regret it!
Other times regret can be devastating. Did you ever say something or do something that damaged or destroyed a relationship? Did you feel that nagging ache inside, the empty feeling of loneliness? Did you hear "If only" echoing endlessly in your mind as you wished with all your heart that you could take back what you said, undo what you did?
Last year was a year of regret for me, the devastating regret of this last example. I hope you can avoid this kind of regret.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Cost, host, post, lost
Similar words with different forms in the past tense:
Cost:
How much did that cost?
It cost 3 dollars.
Lost:
I lost my keys!
When?
I lost them when I got home from work.
Post:
Do you like to post photos on Facebook?
Yes, I posted 3 yesterday.
Host:
Would you like to host our meeting this week?
No, I hosted it 2 weeks ago.
Did you notice that cost and lost rhyme and they have the same form in past tense? Post and host also rhyme and they have the same form in past tense. Maybe that will help you remember.
Cost:
How much did that cost?
It cost 3 dollars.
Lost:
I lost my keys!
When?
I lost them when I got home from work.
Post:
Do you like to post photos on Facebook?
Yes, I posted 3 yesterday.
Host:
Would you like to host our meeting this week?
No, I hosted it 2 weeks ago.
Did you notice that cost and lost rhyme and they have the same form in past tense? Post and host also rhyme and they have the same form in past tense. Maybe that will help you remember.
Monday, July 11, 2011
All/whole
The words 'all' and 'whole' sometimes mean the same thing, but they aren't used exactly the same way. You have to watch those pesky prepositions! Sometimes 'all' is combined with 'of' but 'whole' doesn't work that way.
You can say:
All my life, or
All of my life,
and you can say:
My whole life,
but not:
whole of my life
Example sentences:
I have lived in the US all my life.
I have lived in the US all of my life.
I have lived in the US my whole life.
It was the best time I’ve had in my whole life.
My whole life has been an adventure.
I spent the whole day talking online.
I spend almost all my time alone.
I spend almost all of my time alone.
This whole exercise is about 'whole' and 'all'. I hope all of it, the whole thing, is helpful to you.
That's all!
You can say:
All my life, or
All of my life,
and you can say:
My whole life,
but not:
whole of my life
Example sentences:
I have lived in the US all my life.
I have lived in the US all of my life.
I have lived in the US my whole life.
It was the best time I’ve had in my whole life.
My whole life has been an adventure.
I spent the whole day talking online.
I spend almost all my time alone.
I spend almost all of my time alone.
This whole exercise is about 'whole' and 'all'. I hope all of it, the whole thing, is helpful to you.
That's all!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Have/have got
From an American English point of view, here are some examples of correct use of 'have' and 'have got'.
Example 1:
What have you got there, John?
I've got a new watch.
OR
What do you have there, John?
I have a new watch.
Example 2:
I have got to get a new job.
OR
I have to get a new job.
Example 3:
I haven't got a clue.
OR
I don't have a clue.
(Here the Brits might say, "I haven't a clue.")
Have you got any suggestions or questions?
Do you have any suggestions or questions?
Example 1:
What have you got there, John?
I've got a new watch.
OR
What do you have there, John?
I have a new watch.
Example 2:
I have got to get a new job.
OR
I have to get a new job.
Example 3:
I haven't got a clue.
OR
I don't have a clue.
(Here the Brits might say, "I haven't a clue.")
Have you got any suggestions or questions?
Do you have any suggestions or questions?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
