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Modal verbs are used for ideas and possibilities. Modal verbs in English are auxiliaries: we put them with other verbs.She can speak three languages.It could rain tomorrow.I must go.In these sentences, we put can with speak, could with rain, and must with go. The three most common functions for modal verbs are ability, probability, andContinue reading “Modal auxiliary”

An auxiliary verb is a verb which we put with another verb. We use (do) as a finite auxiliary for questions and for emphasis. Do is followed by an infinitive.Where did she go?I do play tennis, but I do not play squash.Note that we use “do” with most verbs, but never with forms of “be”.Continue reading “Auxiliary verb”

The present participle of a verb always ends with “-ing”. The “-ing” form is not finite: it does not change for different people or different times.I was swimming.She is swimming.They are swimming.

The past participle of a verb can end with many forms, including “-en” (or “-ne”), “-ed”, or “-t”.eaten, done, finished, learnt The “-en/ed/t” form is not finite: it does not change for different people or different times.I was seen.They were seen.She is seen. The past participle is not a verb by itself. Instead, it isContinue reading “Past participle (-en/ed/t)”

The infinitive of a verb is not finite: it does not change for different times or different people.I want to try.She wants to try.They wanted to try.

Every English verb has “finite forms”. These are the forms which change for different people or different times.I like coffee.She likes coffee.He liked coffee when he was young.We only use like for the past, not for the past, and only with I or you or we or they, or with a plural noun subject. WeContinue reading “Finite forms”

A verb shows an action or state, what something does or what something is. Most English verbs have four parts:1. finite forms, which change for different times or different people (e.g., am, is, are, was, were);2. infinitive forms, which do not change for different times or different people (e.g., be);3. -ing forms, which always endContinue reading “Verb”

A noun is a name for something. cat, desk, disappointment, France We can replace a noun with a pronoun.Can you see my phone? I need it. Sam is here. Yes, there she is. In a clause, a noun can be the subject, or the object of a verb, or the (object of a preposition). The three main groupsContinue reading “Noun”

We use an uncountable noun when we want to talk generally about something, and not about one particular example. As a result, we use uncountable nouns for groups.I have found all of the equipment: a net, two racquets, and several balls.Because so many people buy cars, there is too much traffic on the streets. WeContinue reading “Uncountable Noun”

Countable nouns are things which we can separate:This pen is not the same as that pen.Quick, give me a phone! Any phone is okay! If a countable noun is singular (i.e. just one), we must put a [determiner] before it:my phone, her phone, this phone, that phone, each phone, every phoneCountable, singular nouns are theContinue reading “Countable Noun”