Tag Archives: grammar
Using the Gerund (-ing) in English?
Knowing when to use gerunds in English can be difficult. In this blog, we will explore the occasions when it is necessary to use the gerund form.
When a verb ends in “-ing”, it may be a gerund or a present participle. It is important to understand that they are not the same.
When we use a verb in the “-ing” form more like a noun, it is usually a gerund:
Example: Fishing is fun.
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Learning Prepositions – The Human Way
Understanding the complex meaning of English prepositions
Anyone who has learned English as far as intermediate level will know that English owes at least some of its global success to its relatively simple verb structure and word order. Those who have made it beyond B1 level soon realise that English is, perhaps, more complicated than they thought.
The 2nd (second) Conditional
The second conditional is an extremely common and useful structure used in English to talk about hypothetical situations. While the 1st conditional refers to probable situations, the 2nd conditional is more philosophical in as much as it allows us to talk about how we would react or what would happen if certain conditions (however improbable) were met. Knowledge of the second conditional is expected of students from level B1 onwards and students with level B2 (CEF) should be able to use the structure reasonably accurately. You would be tested on your knowledge of the second conditional in the FCE, CAE, CPE and IELTS exams.
0 (zero) and 1st (First) Conditionals
The Structure and usage of basic conditionals in English is relatively straightforward and can be easily explained. Today’s grammar blog deals with the zero and first conditionals which are the most basic of all the conditionals.
The zero conditional is actually not considered to be a true conditional structure as there is no condition. It is simply a matter of fact. Structurally, however, it can be grouped in with the conditionals as it functions in a similar way.
Uses of “get”
In English, “get” is an informal word and is used more often when speaking rather than when writing. It is very common and can have many different meanings. In this blog, I will explain some of the key uses of “get” and also teach you some common fixed expressions.
“Get”, or its past form “got” are extremely useful words when used correctly and can be used to replace a variety of other verbs such as “buy”, “obtain”, “receive” or, broadly speaking, “acquire”. “Get” is one of the most common verbs in the English language but has no equivalent in most other languages so try to pay special attention to how it is used.
Passive Voice
The passive voice is a grammatical structure that enables us to emphasise the object of a sentence, rather than the subject. From First Certificate in English level onwards, you will be expected to be able to understand and use the passive voice correctly and may be graded on your use of it in both the Writing and Use of English papers.
In English, the subject usually appears before the verb and it is this primacy that gives the subject a sense of importance. The subject is usually the agent (i.e. the thing that does the verb) where the object receives the effect of the verb. To make it clear, have a look at the following example:
“The lion ate the zookeeper!”
Which or That? The grammar rules
In certain phrases in English, you can use “which” or “that” such as, “Monday is the day that/which I hate the most!” However, sometimes you can only use “which”. For example: “I’m from Moscow, which is the capital of Russia.”
The good news is that you can always use “which”, although most native English speakers prefer to use “that” whenever it’s possible. In this blog, we’re going to examine the grammar rules that govern the use of these annoying little words that cause so much confusion for students.
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