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Can/ Could I? Can/Could you?

2011-04-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

1.- We form questions with can, may and could like this:

Questions

Can
May --------> I/He/She/It/We (etc.) wait?
Could

2.- We use can, may and could to ask for things:

Can etc. + I/we + have ...?

Can I have a coffe?

Example

Could we have two tickets,please?
Can I have some sugar?

3.- We use can, may or could to ask for permission. Could I and May I are more formal and polite than Can I:

Can/May/ Could + I/We + INFINITIVE...?

Example:

Could we look at your map, please?
Can I borrow your tennis racquet, please?

We use can or may to give permission:
You can leave your bag here. (Or... may leave...)

If we talk about what is allowed in general, rather than by a particular person, we use can:

People can drive on the roads when they are seventeen.

But official notices often use may:
BAGS MAY BE LEFT HERE.

4.- We use Can you, Could you and Would you (but not May you) when we ask someone to do something. Could and would are more formal and polite than can.

Can/ Could/ Would + you + INFINITIVE ...?
Could you help me?

Example:

Could you buy me a newspaper?

A: I'm cold. Can you close the windows?
B: Yes, of course.

Ability: can, can't, could, couldn't

2010-12-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

We form sentences with can like this:

can+ infinitive

I can ski.

Positive

I/He/She/It/We/You/They can ski

Negative Full Short
Form Form

I/He/She/It/We/You/They cannot ski can't ski.

Questions

Can I/He/She/It/We/You/They (etc) ski?

In spoken English cannot is possible, but we normally use can't:

He can't swim

2.- We use can and can't to talk about things we are able to do generally.

She can speak Japanese. (= She is able to speak Japanese)
He can't ski. (= He isn't able to ski.)

We also use can and can't to talk about things we are able to do at the moment:
I can see the moon. (= I am able yo see it now).

3.- We form sentences with could like this:

could + infinitive

I could swim

Positive

I/He/She/It/We/You/They. could ski.

Negative Full Short

Form Form

I/He/She/It/We/You/They could not ski. couldn't ski.

We use could to talk about things we were able to do generally in the past:

I could run 100 metres in 12 seconds when i was young

Susan could read when she was three years old.

4.- We do not normally use could for something that happened on an particular occasion in the past. We use was able to or managed to:

The boat was in difficulties, but in the end it managed to reach the port. (Or... it was able to reach...; Not... it could reach...)

5.- When we talk about person's ability to do something in the future, we use will be able to.

The baby will be able to talk soon.

So am I, I am too, Neither am I, etc

2010-08-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

Look at this.

She is saying that she is also tired.

2.- Here are some more examples:

He was very angry. ----> So was I

My flat's quite small. -->So is mine.
They were waiting --> So was she.
I'm going to have tea --> So am I
Ann has finished her work and so has Mary.
They've been waiting. --> So has she.
I work in an office. --> So do I.
I enjoyed the film.--> So did I.
Philip will pass the exam and so will you.
He can drive. --> So can she.

Note:

----> we use so after a positive statements;
----> the verb we use after so depends on the verb used in the positive statement.

3.- Instead of so am I, we can say I am too, with the same meaning. Here are some examples:

I'm tired. ---> I am too.
We've got a small flat. ---> We have too.
I work in an office. ---> I do too.
Bill enjoyed the film and I did too.

4.- We can use expression like neither am I to reply to a negative statement:

I'm not tired. ----> Neither am I (= and I'm not tired.)
I haven't seen that film.---> Neither have I
I don't like this pleace. ---> Neither do I
I didn't see that play. ---> Neither did I
His sister can't drive and neither can he.

5.- We can say I'm not either to mean the same as neither am I:

I'm not tired. ---> I'm not either. (= And I'm not tired.)

I haven't seen that film. ---> I haven't either.
I don't like this place . ---> I don't either.
I didn't see that play. ---> I didn't either.
His sister can't drive and he can't either.

Short answers

2010-04-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Look at this example:

Question + Short Answer

Is he at work? -- Yes, he is.
Can I come? -- No, you can't.
Do you like it? -- Yes, I do.
Does she live here? -- No, she doesn't.

We call these 'short answer' because they are not 'full' answers:

Is she sick? --> Yes, she is sick. (full answer)
--> Yes, she is. (short answer)

We use short answers to reply to 'yes/ no' questions.

Are you coming? --> Yes, I am
--> No, I'm not

2. We form short answers by not using the main verb from the question:

Have they gone? -->Yes, they have gone.
Did he go to Paris? --> Yes, he did go.
Is she waiting? --> Yes, she is waiting.

When the main verb is be, we use be:

Are you tired? --> Yes, I am.

When use answer No, we use a negative verb:

Will they win? -->No, they won't.
Did Paul come? -->No, he didn't.
Are you cold? --> No, I'm not.

We never use positive short forms in short answers:

Are you tired? --> Yes, I am. ( not Yes, I'm.)
Is he happy?--> Yes, he is. ( not Yes, he's.)

3. We can also use short answers to reply 'yes' or 'no' to statements:

Statement + Reply

He's working hard --> Yes, he is.
She's at work. --> No, She isn't.
She loves films. --> Yes, she does.

Note that with Present Simple or Past Simple verbs, we use do, does or did in the reply:

She loves films -->Yes, she does.
He liked the book --> Yes, he did.

4. When we write, we normally put a 'comma' (,) after Yes or No in short answers:

He lives in London. -->No, her doesn't

Question tags

2010-01-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

A question tag is a short question (e.g. isn't it? haven't we?) that we can add at the end of a statement:

Henry: We've met before, haven't we?
Jeff: Yes, we have.

2. Look at this part of a conversation:

Anna: Sandra is Swiss.
David: No, she's French, isn't she?

(= I thought she was French, but am I wrong?)

When tag question really are questions, like David's the voice up at the end.

but when tag questions are not really questions, the voice goes down at the end:

That was a boring programme, wasn't it?
(=I think that was a boring programme.)

3. Note that the verb we use in the tag depends on the verb used in the statement:

Verb + Tag

be: You're French aren't you?

verbs: He plays golf doesn't he?

auxiliary verb: It has arrived hasn't it?

Thus, most verbs use do/does, while be and auxiliary verbs use the same verb in the question tag.

4. A positive statement has a negative tag:

Positive + Negative

I'm right aren't I?
(Not am't I?)
You're 18, aren't you?
They're getting tired, aren't they?
They were friendly, weren't they?
He lives in France, doesn't he?
You speak Spanish, don't you?
You passed your exams, didn't you?
She has left, hasn't she?
You can drive, can't you?
The bus will come soon, won't it?

5. A negative statement has a positive tag:

Negative + Positive

It isn't very cheap, is it?

We aren't going to be late, are we?

She wasn't angry, was she?
You don't like this, do you?
She didn't win, did she?
She hasn't visited Ireland, has she?
She can't drive, can she?
It won't rain today, will it?

Whose is this? - It's John's

2009-11-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

's and'

We use the apostrophe ( ' ) to talk about possesion:

This is Mike's house. ( = The house belongs to Mike.)

Here are the rules:

---> Singular noun ( e.g. Mary) +'s:
Where is Tom's bike?

---> Irregular plural noun ( e. g. men) + ' s:
Have you got the children's books?

---> Regular plural noun ( e. g. teachers) + ' :
We have eight children. This is the boys' bedroom, and this is the girls' bedroom.

2. We use the apostrophe for people, but not normally for things. We use of for things:
The boys' room. ( Not The room of the boys.)
The end of the film. ( Not the film's end.)

We say:

I'm going to the newsagent's, the baker's the butcher's. . . .
because we mean "the newsagent's shop/ the baker's shop/ the butcher's shop.

3. We use whose to ask about possesion:

A:Whose car is that? (= Who does that car belong to? )

B: It's John's. (= It belongs to John.)

A: Whose shoes are those?

B:They're mine. (=They belong to me.)

The word whose does not change:

Whose book is that?
Whose books are those?

We often use this, that, these and those in our questions. We often use mine, yours, his, etc. in our answers:

Whose watch is that ? --->It's Steven's.
---> It's his.

( We don't need to say: It's Steven's watch.)

4. Whose sounds the same as who's but it is different in meaning:

Whose coat is this? (= Who does this coat belong to?)
Who's coming? (=Who is coming?)
Who's finished? (=Who has finished?)

Who and what : subject and object

2009-10-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

Compare these examples:

Ann: Who told you?
Mary: James told me

who -----> Subject

This is a subject question.

Ann: Who did you tell?
Mary: I told Bill.

Who ----->Object

This is an object question

2. Compare subject and object questions with who:

in the sentence Who told you? Who is the subject. Here is another example:

Who -----> Subject

Ann: Who wrote Hamlet?
(= Somebody wrote Hamlet. Who?)

Mary: Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.

When who is the subject, the order of the word is the same as in a statement:

Who is going to come with me?
Who lives in that old house?
Who wants some more coffee?

In the sentence Who did you tell? Who is the object. Here is another example:

Who -----> Object

Ann: Who did you meet last night?
(=You met somebody. Who?)

Mary: I met a couple of friends.

When who is the object, we use an auxiliary ( be, do, have, etc.) before the subject:

Who are you going to invite?
Who did Laura ask for help?
Who have you told about this?

3. Compare subject and object questions with what:

What -----> Subject

What is in this dish?
(= Something is in it. What?)

What -----> Object

What did you buy at the shops?
(= You bought something. What?)

What ... like?

2009-09-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

Look at this questions and answer:

A: What's Julie like?
B: She's very pretty and she's very kind, but she's not very clever.

We use What ... like? to ask about person's physical appareance ( tall, short, pretty, etc.) or character (interesting, boring, friendly, unfriendly, etc).

We can also use What ... like? to ask about places, books, films and events (e.g. a party, a football match):

A:What's Rio de Janeiro like?
B: Well, the beaches are wonderfull but the traffic is awful.

A:What's Spielberg's latest film like?
B: It's excellent.

2. We use look like? to talk about someone's appearance:

A:What does Julie look like?
B: She's tall with brown hair.

We can also use like with taste, feel, sound and smell:

A:What does that taste like?
B: It taste like cheese.

A: What is this material?
B: I don't know. It looks like wool but it feels like cotton.

3. We can also use like, with the question word Who and in statements, to mean "similar to":

A: Who's Julie like- her father or her mother?
B: She's like her mother. (= she is similar to her mother.)

Rio de Janeiro is like Buenos Aires. (= Rio is similar to Buenos Aires.)

4. The word like in What's she like? is a preposition; it is not the verb like. Here is an example of like used as a verb:

A: What music does Julie like?
B: She likes rock music.

5. We usually use How?, not What ... like?, when we ask about someone's health or temporary state:

A: How's your brother today?
B: He's feeling much better.

A: How was your boss today?
B: He was very friendly today!

How long/far/often...?

2009-07-28T15:03:00.001-07:00

We use How long...? to ask about a period of time:

How long have you been waiting?- About twenty minutes.

How long will the journey take?- Three hours.

We use from... to or from... until to talk about a period of time:

She was a student from 1995 to 2000

Tomorrow I'm working from 8.30 until 6.

2. We use How far...? to ask about the distance from one place to another. We can use from and to with the places we are asking about:

How far is it from Amsterdam to Paris? 475 kilometres.

How far are the shops from here?- Not far.

3. We use How often...? to ask about the number of times something happens. We can use phrases like every day, once a week, etc. In the answer:

How often do the buses run?- Every hour.

How often do you play squash?- Twice a week.

4. We can use How much...? to ask about the price of something:

How much is a return ticket to Florence?

How much did you pay for this car?

5. We use How much...?with an uncountable noun to ask about the amount of something.

An uncountable noun cannot be plural beacuse it describes something that cannot be counted (e.g. bread, work, weather, money, music,meat,milk, cheese.)

How much bread is there in the cupboard?

How much work have you done today?

6.We use How many...? with a plural noun to ask about numbers:

How many student are in your class?- Fifteen.

How many people went to the party?- Ten.

7. We use How old...? to ask about someone's age:

How old are you?- I'm 19.

Note that we say:

I am 19, or:19. (not I have 19.)

We can also say: I'm 19 years ols. But we cannot say: I'm 19 years.

How long/far/often...?

2009-07-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Who, what, which

2009-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

We use who to ask about people:

who are you going to visit?
I'm going to visit my sister
who did Jane invite to her party?

2. We use what and which to ask about things:

What film did you see at the cinema?
Which newspaper do you want, The Times or the Daily Telegraph?

We normally use what when there are many possible answers:

We normally use which when there is a small number of possible answers:

3. When we form questions, we normally put a form of be or an auxiliary verb (e.g. can, will, do) after who, what and which?

Who is the President of Peru?
Who can speak Chinese?
Who did you meet at the party?
What's the capital of India?- New Delhi
What's she doing?
What was the name of your teacher?
What does your father do?
Which car will you buy, the Fiat or the Ford?
Which shirt do you prefer, the red one or the blue one?

Where, when, why, how

2009-04-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

Where, when, why and how are question words. We use them like this:

---> Where
We use Where to ask about places:
Where is Mike? He´s at home

---> When
We use When to ask about times and dates:
When will you phone? At six o´clock.

---> Why
We use Why to ask about the reason for something:
Why is Mary taking a taxi? Because her car isn´t working

---> How
We use how to ask "in what way?":
How did he get to Brighton? He wen by train.

We also use how to ask about people´s health or happiness:

Hello. how are you? I´m fine, thanks.

2. We form questions with where, when , why and how like this:

---> In questions with be, we put the subjects after be:

be+ subject

Why is Paul angry?
Where are they?
Why is he here?

---> In questions with an auxiliary verb (will, is, are, can, must, etc.), we put the subject after the auxiliary verb:

verb + subject + verb

Why are they leaving?
How will she get there?
When will you phone ?

--->In questions with a Present Simple or Past Simple verb, we put a form of do before the subject:

do + subject + verb

Where does she live?
Why did you phone the police?
Where did he live?

"Yes/ No" Questions

2009-02-16T07:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some "yes/ no" questions:

Are you hungry?

Shall I answer the phone?

Did you enjoy the film?

We call them "yes/no" questions because the answer either "yes" or" no":

Are you hungry? Yes, I am

No, I'm not.

2. We form 'yes/ no' questions like this:

---> We put the verb be before the subject:

be + Subject

Are they busy?

Is he ready?

Was she here?

Or, we put an auxiliary verb (be, have, will, shall, can, may, etc.) before the subject:

Auxiliary + Subject + Verb

Is Mark leaving?

Have they gone?

Will they win?

Can you sing?

---> With the Present Simple verbs, we put do or does before the subject:

Do + subject + verb

Does she work in Paris?

Do they live in New York?

Do you play tennis?

Does he like ice- cream?

Note that we say:

Does she play tennis?

not (Does she plays tenis)

--->With Past Simple verbs, we put did before the subject:

Did + subject + verb

Did she visit Paris?

Did he go to Spain?

3. Here are all the forms of do questions:

Present Simple

Do I/ you/ we/ they ---> work?

Does He/ she/ it ------> work?

Past Simple

Did I/ you/ he/ she/ it/ we/ you/ they ---> work?

Word order: subject, verb, obejct

2009-01-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

In English, the order of words in a statement is subject + verb+ object:

Subject + Verb + Object

I enjoy good food

Peter is watching Tv.

She drank a cup of coffee

2. Some verbs (e.g. like) always need an object:

Subject + Verb + Object

I like music

She wants a drink

3. After the verb be, we can use an object or an adjective:

She is a doctor--------> object

Mary is tired---------> adjective

We can also put adjectives after the verbs look, seem and feel.

Mary looks tired

4. now look at this example:

John gave Mary an apple.

John gave her an apple.

After some verbs (e.g. give, send, bring), we can talk about a person (Mary, her) and an object:

Verb + Person + Object

He sent Jane a book

Ann made Tom a cup of tea

Ann brought him a cup of tea.

He left them some money

She wrote him a letter

5. We usually put information about times or places at the end of the sentence:

I had a holiday in Spain----->Place

They gave their son a watch yesterday----->time

Nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.

2009-01-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Look at this

Steven bought an expensive new car on Friday

Steven--->Noun
bought --------> verb
expensive -----------> adjective
new----> adjective
car-------> noun
friday------->noun

He drove it carefully to Manchester

He, it ----> pronouns
carefully -----> adverbs
to, on -------> preposition
Manchester -----> noun

2. Nouns describe things or people or animals

Butter car woman dog problem

Some nouns (proper nouns) are the names of people, places and things. We begin proper nouns with capital letters ( A, B...):

Jane, Paris, Oxford Street, June, a Rolls- Royce, the Tower London.

3. Verbs describe actions or situations:

Work, play, live, meet, stay, see

They work hard (work= verb)

I saw Peter (Saw= verb)

4. We use auxiliary verbs (be, have, do, will, can, may, must, etc.)
before another verb:

They are working hard. (are= auxiliary)

I have seen Peter. (have = auxiliary)

I must go now. (must= auxiliary)

5. We put adjectives (e.g wonderful) before nouns:

We had a wonderful day

We can also use adjectives after the verbs be, look, seem, feel:

He's hungry She looks tired.

Sometimes we put very before adjectives:

It's very hot today.

he bought a very expensive car

6. We normally use adverbs to describe verbs:

She walked quickly. He sings well

7. We use pronouns (I, you, he, she,etc.) to replace nouns:

David has a new job.
He is enojoying it

8. We use prepositions (in, on, at, etc.) when we are talking about places and times:

Place: She's at home
It's in the box

Time: I'll see you on monday
They went on holiday in June

Future

2008-11-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

We can talk about future time with different verb forms, for example:

-----> Will: I'll Come with you

-----> Be going to: he's going to come with us.

-----> Present Continuous
We're coming tomorrow.

-----> Present Simple
When he arrives, we'll have dinner.

2. When we talk about events in the future that we expect to happen but are not in our control, we can use will or be going to:

Ann will be (or is going to be) 12 next week.

We won't see (or aren't going to see) those birds again until next spring.

Will they finish (or Are they going to finish) the building soon?

3. When we talk about events in the future that are in our control (i.e. we use will defferently from be going to. We use will at the time we decide what to do; use be going to after we have decided what to do. Look at these examples:

Johnn: Can somebody help me, please?
Helen: Yes, I'll help you.
(Here Helen decided after Johnn asked.)

Now compare:

Carol: Johnn needs some help.
Helen: I know. I'm going to help him.
(Here Helen had decided before Carol spoke.)

4. Look at these examples:

If it rains, they'll stay (or they're going to stay) at home.
We'll have (or we're going to have) lunch after the programme finishes.

When the sentences has two parts that refer to the future, we use the Present Simple after the if, when, before,after,as soon as and until, and in the other part of the sentence we use will or be going to:

When/ Simple Will
after etc

After + it finishes + we'll have lunch

5. We use the Present Continuous to talk about a future arrangment that we have made with someone else:

A: Can you come and see us this evening?
B: I can't. I'm playing squash with Sam.

Peter can't come to the cinema with us tonight because he's meeting Jane for dinner.

Present tense: when, before, after, until, etc.

2008-11-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

Look at this sentence:

When the programme ends, I'll do the washing- up.

To talk about an event in the future, we usually use the Present Simple (e.g. ends) after when, before, after, until and as soon as. We do not use will:

I'm going to finish this work before I go.

(Not ... before I will go)

Wait here until I get back.

I'll phone you as soon as I arrive.

2. We can use when + Present Simple to referto a time when something will happen:

I'll buy an ice - cream when I'm in the newsagent's

now -------------------------------------------------> future

in the newsagent's

buy an ice- cream

When you see her, give her my message.

We use until + Present Simple to mean from now to a time in the future:

We'll sit outside until it gets dark. ( = We'll sit outside from now to when it gets dark.)

We use as soon as + Present Simple with the meaning "inmediatly after":

They'll start playing as soon as it stops raining. (= They'll start playin inmediatly after the rain stops.)

3. We use when + Present Perfect (e.g I have done) to talk about an action that must, or will, happen before the next action can happen:

When I've found a job, I'll book for a place to live. (= First I will find a job; then i will look for a place to live.)

now ------------------------------------------------------------ future

find a job look for a flat

When Simon has saved enough money, he'll buy a car. (= First Simon must save the money; then he can buy a car.)

4. With after we can use either the Present Simple or the Present perfect with no difference in meaning:

After she takes/ has taken the course, she'll be qualified teacher. (= When she has done her course, she'll be qualified teacher.)

Present Continuous for the future

2008-11-05T14:23:00.000-08:00

Look at these examples:

I'm flying home tomorrow
He's starting a new job on Monday
Tony and Ann are coming at the weekend.

In each example, we are using the Present Continouous, but we are talking about the future, not the present.

2. Look at this example:

You bought a plane ticket last week.
You can now say:

I'm flying home next week.

past -------> now ------->future
last week next week

We use the Present Continuous to talk about things we have arranged in the past to do in the future.

Here are some more examples:

A bank wrote to Steven and asked hin to start work next week.
We can now say:

He's starting a new job next week.

John said Tony and Ann:

Would you like to come for dinner on Sunday?

Tony and Ann said: Yes
John now says:

Tony and Ann are coming on Sunday.

3. The important part of a Present Continuous for the future sentence is iften a time or day (e.g. next week, in july, tomorrow, on Sunday):

PRESENT: I'm leaving now.
FUTURE: I'm leaving tomorrow
PRESENT: We're having a party at the moment. Can I phone you tomorrow?
FUTURE: We're having a party in July.

4. We do not use the Present Continuous for future events that we cannot arrange or have not arranged:

NOT the sun is shinning tomorrow.
(The sun will shine...)

NOT The irish team are winning next week.
( The Irish team will win next week.)

Will or be going to

2008-10-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Compare will and be going to:

We use will with an infinitive (do, go, be arrive, etc.):

INFINITIVE

John will arrive tomorrow.

2. We use will for actions that we decide to do Now, at the moment of speakking:

past ---------------------------> now
speaking
decision

I like this coat. I think I'll buy it.

A: What would you like to eat?
B: I'll have a pizza , please.

We can use will for offers and promises:

I'll carry your case for you. (OFFER)
I won't forget your birthday again (PROMISE)

3. We use will to talk about things that we think or believe will happen in the future:

I'm sure you'll enjoy the film.
I'm sure it won't rain tomorrow. It'll be another beautiful, sunny day.

We use be going with to + infinitive ( to do, to be, to rain, etc.):

to + INFINITIVE

It's going to rain soon.
My friends are going to come tonight.
It isn't going to rain today.
What are you going to do on Sunday?

We use be going to for actions that we have decided to do BEFORE we speak:

past ---------------------------------> now
decision speaking

I'm going to clean my room this afternoon.
( I decided to clean it this morning.)

We can ask questions about people's plans:

Are you going to take the three o'clock train?
(=Have you decided to take the three o'clock train?)

We use be going to for something that we expect to happen, because the situation now indicates that it is going to happen:

He's running towards the goal, and he's going to score.

Will and Shall

2008-10-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

1.- We use will to talk about the future. Look at this example:

It's now five o'clock. I'll stop work at six

2.- We make sentences with will like this

Will + Infinitive

I will stop

We use I will, or I'll and I will not or I won't.

We usually use the short forms (I'll, he'll, I won't, he won't) when we speak.

Positive Full form Short form

I/he/she/it/we/you/ they will go 'll go

Negative Full Form Short form

I/he/she/it/we/you/they will not go won't go

Questions

Will I/he/she/it/we/you/they go?

3.- We use will to talk about future facts, and things that we think will happen in the future:

My father will be fifty years old tomorrow.

Jane will love your new dress

He's a good manager. He won't make any mistakes.

We also use will to ask about the future:

Will they win this game?

4.- We use I'll when we make a decision to do something. For example, when the telephone rings, we say:

I'll answer it

Here is another example:

A: Does anyone want to come withme tonight?

B: Yes, I'll come

5.- We use Shall I...? or I'll... when we want to do things for other people:

Offer: Shall I make you a cup of coffee?

Offer: I'll make you a cup of coffee.

We use Shall we ...? to suggest things that we can do:

Suggestion: Shall we see a film tonight?

Be going to

2008-09-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

1.- We form with be going to like this:

be going + to + Infinitive

It going to snow

Positive

I am

He/she/it is ---------------> going to leave

We/you/they are

Negative

I am
He/she/it is -------------------> not going to leave
We/you/they are

Questions

Am I
Is he/she/it --------------------> going to start?
Are we/you/they

2.- Note that we usually use the short form of be (I'm, he/she/it's, we/you/they're):

They're going to leave
He's going to spend a week by the sea.

3.- The negative short form is I'm not going to:

I'm not going to play tennis today.

With he,she and it, there are also two negative short forms:

He/she/it isn't going to come.
He/she/it's not going to come.

With you, we and they, there are also two negative short forms:

You/we/they aren't going to come.
You/we/they're not going to come.

4.- We use be going to for the future. We use it:

----> to talk about things we have decided to do in the future:

A: What are you going to do tomorrow?

B: I'm going to visit Paul in Brighton

A: Are you going to drive?

B: No, I'm going to take the train.

----> to predict the future, using information we know now:

Look at that blue sky! It's going to be hot.

I've eaten too much. I'm going to be ill.

Look at the time. It's two o' clock. They aren't going to come now.

Used to

2008-09-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

1.- We can use the Present Simple to talk about present situation or habits:

----> Situations:
My sister works as a translator.
Andrew lives in London.

----> Habits:

Peter usually wears jeans.
I oftent eat a sandwich for lunch.
Mike doesn't smoke anymore.
Does John drive to work every day?

2.- Look at these sentences with the Past Simple:

----> Situation:
Henry lived in France for many years.

---->habit:
When I was young. I ran three miles every day.

The verbs are in the Past Simple and the sentences are about past situations or habits.

3.- Look at these sentences with used to:

Jill used to live in Ireland
Many people used to make their own bread
My husband used to work at home

We use used to to talk about a past situation or habit that continued for months or years, and to emphasize that the situation today is different:

Jill doesn't live in Ireland now.
Nowadays people usually buy bread from a shop.
My husband doesn't work at home now

Compare the Past Simple and used to:

----> Past Simple:

When he was young, he ran three miles every day. ( He may or may not run three miles every day now.)

----> used to

When I was young, I used to run three miles every day. I don't do that know.
(I don't run three miles every day now.)

We make negative sentences and questions with did + use to:

Sue didn't use to like black coffee.
Paul didn't use to smoke a pipe.
Did Alan use to cycle to school?
Did your parents use to read to you?

4.- We do not use to for present situations or habits; we use the Present Simple:

Ann sings in a band. ( Not Ann uses to sing in a band) X
Joe doesn't cycle to school. (Not... doesn't use to cycle...) X

These songs are dedicated for my best friends

Past Perfect

2008-08-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

1.- We form the Past Perfect with had and the past participle of a verb (e.g. started, taken):

full and short form

I/you/he/she/it had started or ´d started
We/they

I had taken it. or I´d taken it

2.- Look at this

A year ago:

Jenny is flying to Rome. She thinks, I have never been on a plane before now.

Now:

Jenny flew to Rome last year. she had never been on a plane before that.

When we talk about an event or situation in past time we use the Past Simple (e.g. flew);
if we talk about an event before that time, we use the Past perfect (e.g. had been). Here
is another example:

Last Saturday at the cinema:

Mary: We don't need to queue because I've already bought the tickets.

Now talking about last Saturday

Mary: We didn't need to a queue because I had already bought the tickets.

Note that we can use never and already before the past participle (e.g. been bought).

3.- If we talk a series of past events in order, we use the Past Simple:

A: I saw a beautiful bird in my garden.
B: I went to get my camera.
C: The bird flew away
D: I returned with my camera

A B C D
-------------> now

We need the Past Perfect to talk make it clear that one use of the events is not in order:

D: I returned with my camera.
C: The bird had already flown away.
(The bird had gone before I returned.)

Also, compare these sentences using when:

Past Simple: When I returned with my camera, the bird flew away.

( It went after I returned.)

Past Perfect: When I returned with my camera, the bird had flown away.

( It went before I returned.)

4.- The Past Perfect is used in reported speech:

I have suffered from asthma for many years. She told the doctor that she had suffered
from asthma for many years.

Present Perfect Simple or Continuous

2008-08-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

Compare the Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous:

1.- We use the Present Perfect Simple
( have painted) to talk about a past activity
that is now completed:

We've painted the rooms. (= The rooms are now painted.)
Anna's mended her bike. (= She can ride it now.)

We use the Present Perfect Continuous ( have been painting)
to emphasize the activity itself, which may or may not be completed:

We've been painting the flat. That's why it smells
We still have three rooms to paint.
Anna's hands are dirty because she's been mending her bike.

2.- We use the Present Perfect Simple to ask and answer How many?
and How much?:

A: How many rooms have you painted?
B: We've painted three of them.

We usually use the Present Perfect Continuous to ask How long?, and
with since and for:

I have been travelling for six months

A: How long have you been waiting? Have you been queuing for a long time?
B: Yes, I've been waiting since two o'clock.

3.- Note that usually use the Present Perfect Simple (not the Continuous):

----> to talk about short actions with have, stop, break, etc.

Tony has had an accident on his bike.

----> with verbs of thinking (e.g. know, decide, forget, notice):

I'm sorry. I've forgotten your name

----> to talk about the last time that something happened:

I haven't eaten meat for two years.
(= I last ate meat two years ago.)

Note that we can use the Present Perfect Simple or the Continuous with
work, teach and live, with no difference in meaning:

I have tought here for two years.
or I have been teaching here for two years.

"Come Undone"

So unimpressed, but so in awe
Such a saint, but such a whore
So self-aware, so full of shit
So indecisive, so adamant
I'm contemplating, thinkin' about thinkin'
It's overrated, just get another drink and

Watch me come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone
I come undone

So rock 'n' roll, so corporate suit
So damn ugly, so damn cute
So well-trained, so animal
So need your love, so fuck you all
I'm not scared of dying, I just don't want to
If I stop lying, I'll just disappoint you

Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone

So write another ballad, mix it on a Wednesday
Sell it on a Thursday buy a yacht on Saturday
It's a love song, a love song
Do another interview, sing a bunch of lies
Tell about celebrities that I despise
And sing love songs, we sing love songs so sincere

So sincere

Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
The young pretend you're in the clouds above the sea
I come undone
I am scum
Love your son
You've gotta love your son
Come undone
You've gotta love you son
Come undone

Love your son
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum

Present Perfect Continuous

2008-08-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

1.- We form the Present Perfect Continuous like this:

Positive

Full Form and Short Form

I/you/we/ they have or 've

been cooking.

She/he/it Has or 's

been cooking.

Negative

Full Form and Short Form

I/you/we/they Have not or haven't

been cooking.

She/he/it Has not or hasn't

been cooking

Question

Have I/you/we/they been cooking?
Has She/he/it been cooking?

2.- We use the Present Perfect Continuous for an action or situation that began
in the past continues until now:

You're late! I've been waiting for you.

We often use for and since Present Perfect Continuous. We use for a period of
time, and since with a point in time:

I've been waiting for you for two hours
I've been waiting for you since six o' clock

3.- Here are some more examples:

Julia has been talking on the phone for an hour
(= She started talking on the phone an hour ago and she is still talking.)

You've been sitting there since one o' clock
( = You started sitting there at one o' clock and you are still sitting there.)

4.- We use the Present Perfect Continuous for an actions that are done many times
in a period of time from the past until now:

She's been having driving lessons for a couple of months.
(= she started a couple of months ago; she is still having lessons.)

I've been playing tennis since I was a small child.

5.- We can use How long ...? with the Present Perfect Continuous:

How long have been living here?
I living here for three years.

these songs are dedicated some special's friends

Past Simple or Present Perfect

2008-07-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Compare the Past Simple and the Present Perfect:

1.- we use the Past Simple to talk about something that happened at a particular time
in the past:

I met John at four o´clock.
When did Jane go to India? .- In June
Martin bought a new car last week.

2.- We use the Past Simple for situations or actions during a period of time that Ended
in the past:

I worked there for two years. I left last year

past ----------------------------------------> now

I worked there for two years.

We lived in that house for a long time; then we moved to this one.
Our company opened two new shops last summer.

3.- Notice how we often move from the Present Perfect to the Past Simple:

Peter: Have you ever played this game before?
Maria: Yes, I played it once when I was in England
Peter: Did you win?
Maria: No, I lost.

We use the Present Perfect to talk about the past, but not about when things happened:

I've met John's girlfriend. She's nice.
Have you ever been to India? .- Yes, I have.
I have never bought a new car.

We use the Present Perfect for situations or actions during a period of time from the
past to now:

He has worked here for two years
(He still works here)

past -------------------------------> now

He has worked here for two years.

We've lived in this flat since we got married.
( we still live in it.)

We opened two shops last summer. Since then
(= since that time), we have opened two more.

Kiss,kiss,kiss

Leave
I'm not gonna stop you (stop you)
But before you go
Hurt me so I can't forget you

Say it wasn't love
Say I was a fool
Anything to tear me apart
Why do you care?
Why do you smile?
Why are you holding me now?

Kiss kiss kiss
Kissing you one more time before
You walk out that door
Wishing behind these lips oh baby please stay (please stay)

Now you know I'm me
Looking down the street
Thought I could handle this moment
But your love was good
So so so good
And it's too much to lose

Miss miss miss
Missing you as you turn around
Walking out that door
My heart is crying out oh baby don't go (don't go)

No
I won't tell you so
Or that I love you (no, oh)
I've gotta let you go
(goodbye)

Present Perfect (3)

2008-07-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

1.- We use Just with the Present Perfect to talk about things that happened a short time before now:

Have + just + Past Participle

It has just finished

Could I speak to Jane, please? - I'm afraid
She has just left.
(= She left a short time ago)

Is that a good book? - I've just started it
(= I started it a short time before now.)

2.- Look at this example with already:

Do you want something to eat? - No thanks, I've already eaten

(= I ate before now.)

We use already with the Present Perfect to emphasize that something happened before
now, or before it was expected to happen. we use already like this:

Have + already + Past Participle
I've already heard that story.

Here is another example:

Nicola: Is Sarah going to phone you later?
Robert: No. She's (= She has) already phoned me.
(= Sarah phoned before Nicola expected her to phone.)

3.- We use yet with a negative verb to say that something has not happened, but we think that it will happen:

I haven't escaped yet.

The post hasn't arrived yet.
(= The post has not arrived, but it probably will arrive.)

I haven't finished this work yet.
(= I haven't finished this work, but I will finish it.)

They haven't replied to my letter yet.

We use yet in questions to ask whether something that we expect to happen has happened:

Have you paid the bill yet?
(= Perhaps you have not paid the bill, but you are going to pay it soon.)

Has it stopped raining yet?
(= Perhaps is has not stopped raining, but it will stop raining soon.)

Have you found a job yet?

Notice that we usually put yet at the end of a negative statement or question:

They haven't replied to my letter yet. Have you found a job yet?

Present Perfect (2)

2008-06-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

1.- We use the Present Perfect to talk about something that happened in the past, but we do not say exactly when it happened:

I've seen this film before (before = now)

We often use the Present Perfect in this way for things that happened in the past, and that have a result now:

I've seen this film before. I don't want to see it again now.
She's left the company. she doesn't work there now.

We often use the Present Perfect with ever ( = at any time) and never ( at no time):

Have you ever met a famous person?
He has never worked in a factory.

2.- We can use the Present Perfect with for and since , to talk about situations
or actions in a period of time from the past until now. We use for with a period of time (e.g three months), and since with a point in time (e.g tuesday):

past -------------------------------------> now
for six months

We've lived here for six months.

past Monday Tuesday Wednesday now

-----------------------> now

I haven't seen Tom since Tuesday.

3.- Gone and Been

Look at the difference between these two sentences:

He's been to Paris ( = He is now at home again.)
He's gone to Paris ( = He is in Paris now.)

He's been means "he has finished his trip".
He's gone means " he has begun his trip".

"Something Stupid"

I know I stand in line

Until you think you have the time
To spend an evening with me
And if we go someplace to dance
I know that there's a chance
You won't be leaving with me

Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place
And have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you

I can see it in your eyes
You still despise the same old lines
You heard the night before
And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
And never seemed so right before

I practice every day to find some clever
lines to say
To make the meaning come true
But then I think I'll wait until the evening
gets late
And I'm alone with you

The time is right
Your perfume fills my head
The stars get red
And oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I love you...

Present Perfect 1

2008-06-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

1.-we form the Present Perfect using the present tense of have + a participle:

Positive

Full Form

I/you have arrived
He/she/it has arrived
we/you/they have arrived

Short Form

I've arrived
he's arrived
we've arrived

Negative

Full Form

I/you have not arrived
he/she/it has not arrived
we/you/they have not arrived

Short Form

I /you haven't
she/he/it hasn't
we/you/they haven't

Questionns

Have I/you arrived?
Has he/she/it arrived?
Have we/you/they arrived?

2.-Regular past participles ending ed or d:

Many past participles are irregular:

Buy ---> bought go ---> gone
make ---> made

3.- we use the Present Perfect:

---> to talk about recent actions:

At 18.00, Anne arrived home
At 18.01, we can say:

Anne has arrived home.

From 18.30 to 19.00. Anne ate her dinner.
At 19.01, we can say:

She's eaten her dinner

---> to talk about our lives:

I've sailed across the atlantic.

I've seen gorillaz in Africa.
I haven't danced the Flamenco.

4.- when we ask people about their lives, we often use ever ( = at the time):

Have you ever been to Australia?

When people talk about their lives, they sometimes use never ( = not at any time):

I've never learnt French.

Note: that ever and never come before the past participle

Past Simple or Past Continuous

2008-06-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

1.- Compare the Past Simple and the Past Continuous:

Past simple

He talked to her last week.
I didn't talk to her yesterday.
Did you talk to your sister?

2.- we use the Past Simple to talk about a complete action even in the past:

Last Saturday morning. Paul played football in the park.

Paul played football

Here are some more examples:

On Sunday I made a cake.
It rained a lot on Saturday morning.

Past Continuous

He was talking to her when I saw him.
I wasn't talking to anyone, I was watching the tv.
Were you talking to her before I came?

We use the Past Continuous to talk about an action that was in progress, when something else
happened:

Last Saturday, Paul was playing football in the park when he saw Jane

Paul was playing football
He saw Jane.

Here are some more examples:

The phone rang while I was making a cake.
It was raining when we left home.

In a story we often use the Past Continuousto say what was in progress, when something
happened:

The sun was shining. People were sitting under the trees or walking around the park.
Suddenly a car drove into the park ...........

Past Continuous

2008-05-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

- We form the Past Continuous like this:

Positive

I/he/she/it ---> was
----> waiting
You/we/they ---> were

Negative Full Form

I/he/she/he/it ---> was not waiting
You/we/they ---> were not waiting
Short Form
I/he/she/it ---> wasn't waiting
You/we/they ---> weren't waiting

Questions

Was I/he/she/it
----> waiting?
Were You/we/they

2.- Look at this example: A: What were you doing at seven o' clock last night?
B: I was driving h
ome from work
Driving
-------------------->

6.30 7.00 7.15

I was living in Japan in 2001. ( I lived there from 1999 to 2003)

We use the Past Continuous for an action or situation that was in progress at a particular time
in the past ( e.g. at seven p.m., in 2001).

3.- Now look at this:

When Mary arrived, we were having dinner.

We use the Past Simple (arrived) for a completed action. We use Past Continuous
( were having) for an action in progress in the past.

4.- We can use when/while before the Past Continuous:

I met her when/while we were working for the same company. (when = during the time)

We can only use when ( not while) before the Past Simple:

When I met her, we were working for the same company. (when = at the time)

These songs were dedicated for my friend Mariano

Past Simple

2008-05-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

1.- We form the past Simple of regular verbs by adding -ed to the verb:

walk ---> walked watch ---> watched
open ---> opened ask -----> asked

There are some exceptions:

----> verbs endiong with -e:

+d live ---> lived like ---> liked

----> verbs ending with a consonant and -y:

+ y ---> -ied apply ----> applied
try ------> tried

----> most verbs ending with one vowel and one consonant:

+p --->pped stop ----> stopped
plan ----> planned

2.- Many verbs have an irregular Past Simple form:

do --> did have --> had
take --> took buy --> bought
come --> came stand --> stood
find --> found ring ----> rang
go --> went say ----> said

3.- We form the negative with didn't and the infinitive (e.g. do, take, underestand):

I didn't understand. (Not didn't understood)

We form questions with did and the infinitive (e.g. watch):

Did you watch the film?

4.- We use the Present Simple to talk about an action or situation in the past which is finished. We often say when it happened (e.g. yesterday, last night):

Chris phoned me yesterday. He wanted to ask me something
Did you enjoy the concert last night?

5.- We can use the Past Simple with for to talk about something that continued for a period of time , ended in the past:

I lived in Rome for two years. Then I went to work in Japan.

past ---------------------> now

for 2 years

"The Reason"

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found out a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why i need you to hear

I've found out a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You

and the reason is You [x3]

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found out a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

Be: Past Simple

2008-05-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

1.- We form de the Past Simple of be like this:

Positive

Singular

I was
you were
he/she/it was

Plural

we/you/they were

Negative

Full form

Singular

I was not
you were not
he/she/it was not

Plural

we/you/ they were not

Short form

Singular

I wasn't
you weren't
he/she/it wasn't

Plural

we/you/they weren't.

Questions

Singular

Was I
Were you ---------------> right?
Was he/she /it

Plural

Were we/you/they -----> right?

Here are some examples with was and were:

I was in New York last week.
we were at home yesterday evening.
they weren't late this morning
Was it a good film?

2.- Look at these examples of how we use the Past Simple of be:

----> was/were + facts about the past:

John F. Kennedy was an American president.

Our first house was in the centre of town.

A: Were your answer correct?
B: No, they were all wrong!
Paula wasn't at the party.

----> was/were + place and time

+ Place + Time

We were in Spain in June.
She wasn't at home last night.

George and Joanna weren't in London at the weekend. They were in Brighton Steve and
Mary were here at six o' clock.

----> was/were + adjective (e.g. cold, tired):

It was cold yesterday
They were tired after the journey
The train was late again this morning

A: Were your exams easy?
B: The first exam was easy, but the second one wasn't.

Imperative

2008-04-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

1. These are imperatives:

Go. Help. Come. Wait.

We use the imperative like this:

Come in¡ Have a cup of tea.
Turn left at the post office.
Don't touch¡ It's hot.

Note that sometimes the imperative is one word, but often give more information:

Help¡
Help me¡
Help me with my suitcase.

We can say please after an imperative to be more polite:

Help me with my suitcase, please.
Hurry up, please. We're late
Come here, please.
Listen to me, please.

2. We form the negative like this:

Don't be late
Don't forget your books¡
Don't wait for me.

We normally use the short form Don't

3. We use the imperative:

---> to give instructions:

Turn right at the corner.
Don't forget your passport

---> to give warnings:

Look out! There's a car coming.
Be careful! That box is very heavy.

---> to give advice:

Have a rest. You look tired
Take a coat. It's cold today.
Don't see that film. It's terrible!

---> to ask people to do things:

Come in please, and sit down.
Listen to this song. It's wonderful.
Pass the butter, please.

---> to make offers:

Have another orange juice.
Make yourself a cup of coffee.

---> to "wish" things:

Have a good trip!
Have a nice holiday!

Present Simple or Present Continuous

2008-04-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

Compare the Present Simple and the Present Continuous:

1 we use the Present Simple to talk about facts (thing which are true at any time):

Anna speaks good Spanish.
Journalist write newspaper articles.
I come from Norway. (= I am Norwegian).

2 we use the Present Simple for situations that exist over a long time, and for actions that are repeated ( e.g. people's habits, or events on a timetable):

Mike works for an adversitising company.
He lives in Paris. (= His home is in Paris).

Past ----> now ----> future

He lives in Paris
<--------------------------->

Jane travels a lot in her job.
I do a lot of sport

we can use words like usually, often, every:

we usually go out to dinner at weekends
I often go to football matches on Sundays
The buses leave every hour

3 we use the Present Simple with thinking and feeling verbs ( e.g. know, forget, notice,
understand, recognise, remember, like, love, hate, want, prefer, need):

I don't know which train to catch.

4 we use have in the Present Simple to talk about possession:

I have a new car.

we use think in the Present Simple to express opinions:

I think she's interesting

we use the Present Continuous to talk about action in progress at the time of speaking:

Anna's busy. She's speaking on the phone.
what are you writting? - A letter to Jane.
Look¡ The bus is coming.

we use the Present Continuous for things that continue for a limited period of time around
now ( e.g. holidays, visits, temporary jobs, school or university courses):

Past ----> now ----> future

He's living in New York.

Jane's travelling around Europe for a month
I'm doing a one year course in tourism
we're painting that flat.

we do not usually use the Present Continuous with thinking and feeling verbs

Not: I'm knowing someone who lives in Venice

we use have and think in the Present Continuous to talk about actions:

I'm having fun
he can't come, he's having dinner at the moment.
I am thinking about my work

Present Continuous (2)

2008-04-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

Look at these questions:

Are you enjoying that drink, Ann?
Is he watching tv at the moment?
Are they working hard?

2. We form Present Continuous questions like this:

Questions

Singular

Am I
Are you -------> winning?
Is she/he/it

Plural

Are we
Are you -------> winning?
Are they

3. Here are three common Present Continuous questions. They all mean ¡How are you?¡

How's it going?
How are you getting on?
How are you doing?

4. We do not usually use the Present Continuous to talk about opinions or thoughts:

I like tennis. I know your sister. ( Not I'm liking tennis. I'm knowing your sister.)

We do not usually use these verbs in the Present Continuous:

Like ----> Know ----> hate
Love ---> Understand ---> believe
Mean ---> remember ----> want

5. Think and have :

--> we cannot use think in the Present Continuous to express opinions:

I think he's nice. (Not I'm thinking he's nice.)

--> we can use think in the Present Continuous to talk about an action:

She's thinking about the film.

--> we cannot use have in the Present Continuous to talk about possessions:

I have a ticket. (Not Iam having a ticket.)

--> we can use it to talk about actions:

I'm having breakfast. He's having fun

Present Continous (1)

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1.- we form the Present Continous like this:

be+ -ing form

Here are the forms of the Present Continuos:

Positive

Full Form

I am eating
You are eating
he/she/it is eating
we are eating
you are eating
they are eating

Short Form

I'm eating
You're eating
He's eating
We're eating
They're eating

Negative

Full Form

I am not eating
you are not eating
he/she/it is not eating
we are not eating
they are not eating

Short Form

I'm not eating
you aren't eating
he isn't eating
we aren't eating
you aren't eating
they aren't eating

2.- To make the -ing form, we add -ing to the verb:

listen --> listening play --> playing
work --> working read --> reading

3.- But notice irregular spellings:

win --> winning get --> getting
shop --> shopping sit --> sitting
swim --> swimming travel -->travelling
dance -->dancing write -->writting
shine -->shinning

4.-we use the Present Continuos:
--> to talk about actions and situations in progress now

eg. the bus is coming

--> to talk about action and situations in progress around now, but not exactly at the moment we speak:

eg. what are you doing these days?

A: I'm learning spanish.

Shadows in red song

I see clearly now your face
Something so pure
Something I'm sure will be lost
I'm staring at the shadows in red
Sends me chills now
I see clearly everything except your face
I'm lonely scared to be lonely
Thought until death meant
My fears were safe within now they begin
To be lonely scared of the only
Thing I knew best so I thought I knew everything
Until now I see I'm lost and lonely
Shatters everything in my head consumes me
Blinded by one thing obsessed with the need to be loved
Screams become whispers instead assuming
I know I'm losing all the things closest to me
I'm lonely scared to be lonely
Thought until death meant
My fears were safe within
Now they begin to be lonely
Scared of the only thing I knew best
So I thought I knew everything
Until now I see I'm lost and lonely
Angels swirl around me
So now I know I'm not alone
Only scared to be lonely
Thought until death meant
My fears were safe within now they begin
To be lonely scared of the only
Thing I knew best so I thought I knew everything
Until now I see I'm lost and lonely

Present Simple (2)

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1.- We use the Present Simple:
--> to talk about feelings and opinions:

I like pop music. I don't like classical music.
She loves football¡
Philip wants a cup of tea, thanks.
he feels sick.

--> to talk about thoughts:

I don't think she likes her new job.
I don't know the answer.
He doesn't understand me.

2.- We form Present Simple questions like this:

Questions

Singular

Do I/you --> know?
Does he/she/it --> know?

Plural

Do we --> know?
Do you --> know?
Do they --> know?

Note thet we put do before I/you/we/they:

Do you speak Spanish?
Do you work in the town centre?
Do they know the answer?

We put does before he/she/it:

Does he walk to work?
Does Steve enjoy his job?
Does she play the piano?

Note: that we say:

Does he walk? (not Does he walks)

Present Simple (1)

2008-03-24T11:44:00.002-07:00

1.- We form the Present Simple like this:

Positive

Singular I Know
you know
she/he/ it knows

Plural we know
you know
they know

I know the answer.
She stars work at 9.30.

* We add -s after he/she/it:

I start --> he stars I live --> She lives

* If a verb ends in -ch, -o, -sh or -ss we add -es after he/she/it:

I watch --> he watches you do --> she does
they go --> it goes we wash --> she washes

*If a verb ends in a consonant (b, c, etc.) + y (e.g. study), we use -ies after he/she/it:

I study --> he studies I fly --> it flies

2.- Now look at these examples of the negative:

I don't like that music.
He doesn't listen to his teacher

Negative

Full Form

I do not know
you do not know
he/she/it does not know
we do not know
you do not know
they do not know

Short form

I don't know
you don't know
he doesn't know
we don't know
you don't know
they don't know

* Note that we say:

He does not know. (NOT He does not knows)

3.- We use the Present Simple:

--> to talk about things that happen regurlarly:

He plays golf every day.

--> to talk about facts:

She comes from France. (= she is French)

Greengrocers sell vegetables.

I don't speak Chinese

Be: Present Simple (2)

2008-03-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

1. We use be:

---> to talk about about how we feel:

I'm happy They're sad
we're bored she's tired
he isn't afraid they're cold

---> to greet people:

Bill: Hello. How are you?
Jane: I'm fine thanks . How are you?

---> to apologize:

I'm sorry I'm late.

---> to describe things:

It isn't expensive. It's cheap
It's an old film. It isn't very good

2. We use There + be to talk about the existence of something. There + be can be used to talk about where things are:

Singular: There's a supermarket in this street.
There is a telephone in the flat.

Plural: There are some good cafes in the centre of the town.

We also use there + be to talk about when things happen:

There is a bus to London at six o'clock
There are taxis, but there aren't any buses on Sunday.
There isn't another train to Manchester today.

3 We form questions with be in the Present Simple like this:

Questions

Singular Am I late?
Are you late?
Is he/she/it late?

Plural Are we
Are you late?
Are they

Here are some examples of questions using all the forms of be:

Am I late for the film?
Are you twenty years old?
Is he at home now?
Is she French Or ITalian?
Is it time to go home?
Are we ready to leave?
Are you both at university?
Are they in London today?

Be: Present simple

2008-03-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some examples of Be in the Present Simple:

This is my brother. He's ten years old
I'm a student. These are my books
They aren't at home. They're at the theatre.

2. We form the Present Simple of be like this:

Positive

Full Form Short Form

Singular I am I'm
you're you're
he/she/it is he's/She's/it's

Plural we are we're
you are you're
they are they're

Negative

Singular

Full Form Short form

I am not I'm not
you are not you aren't
he/she/it is not he/she/it isn't

PLural

we are not we aren't
you are not you aren't
they are not they aren't

3. In speech, we usually use the short forms:

She's my sister. He's my brother.

4.We use be:

-----> to say who we are:

I'm Steve and this is my friend Bill. We're from Scotland.

-----> to talk about the weather:

It's cold today

-----> to talk about the time:

It's ten o'clock.

-----> To talk about places and people's ages:

Mylan is in the north of Italy.
My sister is six years old.