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By Rob Lane In a previous article, we looked at the narrative tenses: past simple, past continuous, and past perfect. Although these tenses are not very difficult in theory, in practice, learners have difficulty using them fluently in conversation. In this article, we will look at how these tenses are typically combined using linking words to form more complex sentences. Before reading this article, I recommend that you read the article entitled The Past – Which Tense. To review, past simple i [...]

By Rob Lane In this post, we will look the structures could have done, should have done, and the third conditional. All three are past hypothetical structures. These structures are typically used to comment on the past. That can include appraisals, commenting on past situations, and expressing regret. Past modals, and more specifically, modal perfect can be difficult to use correctly and learners often avoid using it. This is a shame because similar structures are used in many other languages, [...]

By Rob Lane The words enough and plenty are often misused, particularly at Intermediate level. They are very common words and learners should take care to use them correctly. Both words can be used to express quantity. Enough means a sufficient amount whereas plenty means enough and potentially more. Do we have enough time? Don't worry, my friend. We have plenty of time. Enough Enough can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a pronoun, and an interjection. Use enough before a noun but after an [...]

By Rob Lane In a previous article, we saw an overview of phrasal verbs outlining how to study and use them. If you have not read the introduction, you should go back and do so before reading this. In this article, we will see some of the most common phrasal verbs along with a brief explanation and example for each. Remember that there are often a number of different possible meanings for each phrasal verbs. In the list below I have included only the most common for each verb. Note that with ea [...]

By Rob Lane Lexical Collocations The concept of collocation is, unfortunately, only introduced to learners in most textbooks at upper-intermediate and advanced level. However, everybody uses them every day and most of the time they work. But, sometimes they don't. Have you ever heard someone say they made a party? Have you ever heard a native speaker say it? Has the speaker made or done a mistake? If two words are a collocation, that means that it is common for native speakers to use them toge [...]

By Rob Lane Learners often have difficulty with putting adverbs in the correct position in sentences. In this article, I will give an overview of the types of adverbs and where they go in sentences. Generally, there are three positions: front, middle, and end. The types of adverb we will see are manner, place, time, frequency, degree, and comment. Readers should remember that this article is designed as an overview and a lot of other things are possible.   Adverbs of Manner e.g. carefully [...]

By Rob Lane Much, many and a lot of are quantifiers which are used to indicate the amount or quantity of a countable or uncountable noun. Other examples of quantifiers include a little, a few, some, all and enough. In this article, I will focus on many, much and a lot of as these can be particularly confusing for learners. I will outline some of the fundamental rules first in a way that should allow learners to use them with minimal risk of error. Then, I will deal with some of the exceptions [...]

  By Rob Lane Introduction In the last post, we looked at Future Continuous. Another tense that we see frequently with this is Future Perfect. In the previous article, I gave an example of this. A. Can we meet at 2 pm tomorrow? B. Unfortunately, I’ll be having lunch with a client at 2. But, we’ll have finished by 2.30 so I can come to your office then. Although both Future Continuous and Future Perfect have limited application, you should be familiar with them. Typically, you will focus o [...]

  By Rob Lane In a previous article we saw that four key tenses are used for future: present simple for schedules, future simple (will) for reactions or new decisions, going to when you have intention, and present continuous when the future is arranged. There are many other ways in which we can express future ideas. One of these structures is future continuous.   A. Can we meet at 2 pm tomorrow? B. Unfortunately, I'll be having (1) lunch with a client at 2. But, we'll have finished ( [...]

By Rob Lane Phrasal verbs are often frightening for learners. While they are commonly used by native speakers, learners have difficulty understanding and using them. A phrasal verb is a verb comprised of a verb and one or two propositions. James picked Sam up from the station. Joan is looking forward to her vacation. In the classroom, dictionaries, and textbooks, a broad definition of phrasal verbs is used. A more restricted definition does not include phrasal verbs that have a literal sense. [...]