My Battle With Grammar
Belarus
April 30, 2008
How do we usually make suggestions using modal verbs?
It's pretty easy.
Part 1
We use must when we're absolutely sure about something:
He has passed this difficult exam - he must be very clever!
We use could/may/might when we suppose that some statement is true:
It might/may/could rain tomorrow.
And finally, we use can't when we're absolutely sure that something isn't true:
I don't believe it - you can't be here!
! remember after modals we use only infinitives
Part 2
(more complicated part)
A little bit about different tenses:
Previous part was about Present Simple tense.
Other tenses:
Present Continious:
He is sleeping. - He must be sleeping.
Future Simple:
It will rain tomorrow. - It might rain tomorrow.
Past Simple:
He left. - He must have left.
And so on
It's pretty easy.
Part 1
We use must when we're absolutely sure about something:
He has passed this difficult exam - he must be very clever!
We use could/may/might when we suppose that some statement is true:
It might/may/could rain tomorrow.
And finally, we use can't when we're absolutely sure that something isn't true:
I don't believe it - you can't be here!
! remember after modals we use only infinitives
Part 2
(more complicated part)
A little bit about different tenses:
Previous part was about Present Simple tense.
Other tenses:
Present Continious:
He is sleeping. - He must be sleeping.
Future Simple:
It will rain tomorrow. - It might rain tomorrow.
Past Simple:
He left. - He must have left.
And so on
April 9, 2008
This time I write about Conditional Sentences..
This topic isn't complicated, and I'm very surprised and frustrated that very few people actually build these sentences properly
I was also inspired by a forum thread "What will be if..." in Ask English!
So, Conditional sentences are also known as IF-sentences.
There are 3 types of them:
Type I (or First Conditional)
We use it when we talk about something that is possible or very likely to be fulfilled.
If I study hard, I will know English well.
Note the tenses that are used:
If+Present Simple, Future Simple
! Here comma is also needed. But when we use if-part on the second place - we don't put the comma.
I will know English well if I study hard.
Type II (or 2nd)
When something is very unlikely to happen
If I were a princess, I would wait to my prince Charming.
If+Past Simple, Future in the Past
Type III
We use it when condition refers to the Past:
If I had taken an umbrella yesterday, I wouldn't have been soaked.
If+Past Simple, Future in the Past Perfect
As you see, it's simple. Just 3 examples.
There are very few exceptions.
I will write about them later if you are interested
This topic isn't complicated, and I'm very surprised and frustrated that very few people actually build these sentences properly
I was also inspired by a forum thread "What will be if..." in Ask English!
So, Conditional sentences are also known as IF-sentences.
There are 3 types of them:
Type I (or First Conditional)
We use it when we talk about something that is possible or very likely to be fulfilled.
If I study hard, I will know English well.
Note the tenses that are used:
If+Present Simple, Future Simple
! Here comma is also needed. But when we use if-part on the second place - we don't put the comma.
I will know English well if I study hard.
Type II (or 2nd)
When something is very unlikely to happen
If I were a princess, I would wait to my prince Charming.
If+Past Simple, Future in the Past
Type III
We use it when condition refers to the Past:
If I had taken an umbrella yesterday, I wouldn't have been soaked.
If+Past Simple, Future in the Past Perfect
As you see, it's simple. Just 3 examples.
There are very few exceptions.
I will write about them later if you are interested
- 2 Comments
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06:56 AM Apr 13 2008 |
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Pavlionka
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haihaibs, you're very welcome  I do my best learning English grammar, but I see that most of the information I try to memorize just slips through my brain sometimes not leaving even the slightest trace... That's why I write it all here. And I'm really glad to know that someone else might find it useful too. Thank you for your thoughtful comment and stay tuned  You can always count on me |
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06:29 AM Apr 13 2008 |
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haihaibs
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April 6, 2008
Today I drill myself on quantifiers.
These are some points that I find important:
few/a few
Few refers to countable nouns. Few or very few emphasises a small number:
I know few English words so I can't understand you.
A few and quite a few emphasises positive meaning:
I know quite a few English words therefore I can teach you some of them.
little/a little
Little refers to uncountable nouns. And as in case with few little and a little have negative (small quantity) and positive meaning, respectively:
We have little bread left. You must buy some.
and
We have a little bread left. You don't need to go to the store.
! We cannot say quite a little. To emphasise the positive we use quite a bit!
There's quite a bit time left. We can do some sightseeing.
These are some points that I find important:
few/a few
Few refers to countable nouns. Few or very few emphasises a small number:
I know few English words so I can't understand you.
A few and quite a few emphasises positive meaning:
I know quite a few English words therefore I can teach you some of them.
little/a little
Little refers to uncountable nouns. And as in case with few little and a little have negative (small quantity) and positive meaning, respectively:
We have little bread left. You must buy some.
and
We have a little bread left. You don't need to go to the store.
! We cannot say quite a little. To emphasise the positive we use quite a bit!
There's quite a bit time left. We can do some sightseeing.
