There are two kinds of conditional sentences: real and unreal. Real Conditional describes real-life situations. Unreal Conditional describes unreal, imaginary situations. Although the various conditional forms might seem quite abstract at first, they are actually some of the most useful structures in English and are commonly included in daily conversations.
Lesson by Tristan, teacher at EC Malta English school
Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive, but with a difference in meaning.
Sarah remembered seeing the concert last year. (Sarah has a memory of – Sarah ‘recalls’ – seeing the concert.
Peter remembered to call Sarah on her birthday. (Peter did not forget to call Sarah)
Gerunds can often be modified with possessive forms such as his, her, its, your, their, our, John's, Mary's, the machine's, etc. This makes it clearer who or what is performing the action.
I enjoyed their singing. (They were singing)
She understood his refusing the offer. (He refused the offer)
She resented David coming late to the dinner. (David came late)
A gerund is a noun made by adding '-ing' to a verb. The gerund of the verb 'read' is 'reading'. The gerund can be used as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
Reading helps you improve your vocabulary. (subject)
Her favourite hobby is reading. (complement)
I enjoy reading. (object)
Gerunds are made negative by adding 'not'.
The best thing for your health is not drinking.
When we are writing it is very easy to get confused by 'it's' or 'its'. Here is an explanation that may help avoid confusion:
'It's' is short for 'it is' or 'it has' and this is the rule. If you can't expand 'it's' to 'it is' or 'it has' then you're using 'its' when you shouldn't and that is wrong.
It's been raining all week and now it's starting to snow. (it has – it is)
It's been a very difficult year for me. (It has)
There is a difference between present perfect and past simple, is it a completed action in the past or is there some connection to now? In the sentences below see if you can choose the correct tense from the options. Remember to put have or has if it is in the present perfect tense!
By Jean, teacher at EC Cape Town English school
Choose the correct missing words:
Linking words in English are words that are used to combine or link sentences, two statements presenting contrast, comparison, condition, supposition, purpose, etc. Here are some examples of some linking words.
You can take my car as long as/provided (that)/providing
you don't damage it.
(I will lend you my car on condition that you don't damage it.)
Here is an overview of the use of the quantifiers a lot of, much and many.
A lot of’ can be used in all sentences; affirmative, negative and interrogative.
We made a lot of mistakes during our first test.
I don't have a lot of friends who live next to me.
Did you do a lot of shopping in London?
