Learn English Grammar and Vocabulary
ESL Lessons
This user hasn't shared any biographical information
Posts by ESL Lessons
Uses of the definite article
April 29, 2011 - 11:51 am
Tags: article, articles, definite article, the
Posted in English Grammar | Comments Off
We use the before a noun when our listener or reader knows which particular person or thing we are talking about. Have you fed the cats? (The listener knows which cats are meant.) I am going to the library. (The listener knows which library I am talking about.) The can be used to refer to [...]
Articles with countable and uncountable nouns
April 28, 2011 - 7:03 am
Tags: article, articles, countable noun, indefinite article, uncountable noun
Posted in English Grammar | Comments Off
Countable nouns are the names of separate people or things which we can count. Examples are: dog, cow, tree, book, pen, student, ball etc. Uncountable nouns are the names of materials, liquids and other things which we do not usually see as separate objects. Examples are: water, rice, milk, sand, wool, energy, weather etc. A [...]
What are articles?
April 27, 2011 - 7:02 am
Tags: a, an, article, articles, definite article, indefinite article, the
Posted in English Grammar | Comments Off
Articles are words like a/an and the. They belong to a group of words called determiners. A/an is called the indefinite article. The is called the definite article. Articles are used to show whether we are talking about things that are known both to the speaker and to the listener, or that are not known [...]
Correct use of the past perfect tense
April 26, 2011 - 11:37 am
Tags: past perfect tense, simple past tense
Posted in tenses | Comments Off
The past perfect tense is used to talk about an action completed some time in the past before another past action or event started. The visitors had left by the time I reached home. The patient had died before the doctor arrived. The train had left before I reached the station. The rebels had been [...]
Common mistakes in the use of the present perfect tense
April 25, 2011 - 11:29 am
Tags: perfect tense, present perfect tense
Posted in tenses | Comments Off
The present perfect tense is a present tense. That means it cannot be used with adverbs of past time like yesterday and last year. However, a period of time extending up to the time of speaking (e.g. for two years, since Monday etc) can be mentioned. Adverbs like just, recently, ever, never, already, today, this [...]
Position of adverbs # 2
April 24, 2011 - 9:18 am
Tags: adverb, adverbs, position of adverbs
Posted in English Grammar | Comments Off
Adverbs like always, before, never and often usually go before the verb. If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb goes after the auxiliary verb. If there are two auxiliaries, the adverb goes between them. I am seldom late for office. I often visit my grandparents. He never admitted his fault. I have always wanted [...]
Position of adverbs # 1
April 23, 2011 - 9:14 am
Tags: adverb, adverbs, position of adverbs
Posted in English Grammar | Comments Off
Different kinds of adverbs go in different positions in a sentence. Here are some general rules. An adverb cannot go between a verb and its object. I often get headaches. (NOT I get often headaches.) She speaks English fluently. (NOT She speaks fluently English.) She solved the problem quickly. OR She quickly solved the problem. [...]
Interrogative adverbs
April 22, 2011 - 6:18 am
Tags: adverb, interrogative adverb, interrogative adverbs, relative adverb, relative adverbs
Posted in English Grammar | Comments Off
Interrogative adverbs Adverbs which are used for asking questions are called interrogative adverbs. Examples are: when, how, where, why etc. Where are my keys? How long have you been waiting here? How long do you intend to stay? Why did you do it? How far did you do go? How much did you pay? How [...]
Kinds of Adverbs
April 21, 2011 - 6:16 am
Tags: adverb, adverbs, adverbs of degree, adverbs of manner, adverbs of reason
Posted in English Grammar | Comments Off
Adverbs of number and frequency Adverbs of number and frequency answer the question How often? or In what order? Examples are: always, often, once, again, firstly, secondly, lastly, doubly etc. You are always welcome. I have seen him only once. He is often late for office. You are never on time. Secondly, I can’t afford [...]