Slang is a type of language consisting of words and phrases that:
- are considered to be very informal
- are more common in speech than in writing
- are typically restricted to a particular group of people or context
A
abortion
Meaning: a total failure
For example:
The government's housing project was a complete abortion. It cost millions and it didn't help anyone.
The election ended up being a total abortion thanks to vote buying.
abs
Meaning: abdominal or stomach muscles
For example:
If I do 100 sit-ups a day my abs should be rippling in a couple of months.
Your chest and your arms look good, but your abs need a bit of work.
Origin: short for "abdominals"
ace (1)
Meaning: very skillful, very good at something
For example:
My little brother was never interested in sports when he was young, but now he's an ace basketball player.
If you want to be an ace fighter, you should learn hand-to-hand combat skills like karate or Muay Thai.
ace (2)
Meaning: to easily pass an exam or a test
For example:
Jill was up all night studying, and the next day she aced her history exam.
Even though he was nervous, Simon aced his driving test and got his driver's licence.
acid
Meaning: the potent hallucinogenic drug lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD
For example:
The first time Virginia took a tab of acid, she went a bit crazy and thought she could fly. She was in hospital for three months after jumping off a building.
Acid is a very powerful drug, and it can be very dangerous.
Quick Quiz:
The rehearsal of our play was a complete abortion because
no-one had learned their lines
it went really well
it started a few minutes late
If someone says you've got nice abs, they've been looking at
your exam results
your medical records
your midsection or midriff
Louis is an ace driver on the Formula One circuit, so he's
very good at driving golf balls
highly skilled at racing fast cars
an average Formula One driver
If a student aces an exam, they'll feel
very happy
very disappointed
very nervous
If someone takes a tab of acid, they will probably
Look like he want to be alone..... and chances are he will be....
Next time you have extra time try stacking your coins
I guess can cats read after all
This is not as comfy as I thought it would be.
Is the sign is really necessary?
Don't try this at home...
This water is so clear the boat seems to be floating on air..
I'm sorry........I don't know you were coming back....
You may not be happy with dinner but you are going to eat it anyway!
Cool Mailboxes
Bye Bye freeway.......Mother nature had another idea..
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tenses
The English Tense System
The links below are to lessons for each of the 12 basic tenses. In each lesson we look at two aspects of the tense:
Structure: How do we make the tense?
Use: When and why do we use the tense?
Some lessons look at additional aspects, and most of them finish with a quiz to check your understanding.
Simple Present Tense
I sing
How do we make the Simple Present Tense?
subject
+
auxiliary verb
+
main verb
do
base
There are three important exceptions:
For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.
Look at these examples with the main verb like:
subject
auxiliary verb
main verb
+
I, you, we, they
like
coffee.
He, she, it
likes
coffee.
-
I, you, we, they
do
not
like
coffee.
He, she, it
does
not
like
coffee.
?
Do
I, you, we, they
like
coffee?
Does
he, she, it
like
coffee?
Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:
subject
main verb
+
I
am
French.
You, we, they
are
French.
He, she, it
is
French.
-
I
am
not
old.
You, we, they
are
not
old.
He, she, it
is
not
old.
?
Am
I
late?
Are
you, we, they
late?
Is
he, she, it
late?
How do we use the Simple Present Tense?
We use the simple present tense when:
the action is general
the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
the action is not only happening now
the statement is always true
John drives a taxi.
past
present
future
It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future.
Look at these examples:
I live in New York.
The Moon goes round the Earth.
John drives a taxi.
He does not drive a bus.
We meet every Thursday.
We do not work at night.
Do you play football?
Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not general. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the simple present tense - some of them are general, some of them are now:
Am I right?
Tara is not at home.
You are happy.
past
present
future
The situation is now.
I am not fat.
Why are you so beautiful?
Ram is tall.
past
present
future
The situation is general. Past, present and future.
Now check your understanding »
Simple Present Tense Quiz
1
Do you chocolate milk?
2
He not want to come to the movies.
3
we too late to catch the bus?
4
It a beautiful day today.
5
Sorry, Lisa not here at the moment.
6
I correct?
7
Robert not go to my school.
8
My parents in a 2 bedroom apartment.
9
We European.
10
You so happy today!
Present Continuous Tense
I am singing
We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple present tense, both in structure and in use.
How do we make the Present Continuous Tense?
The structure of the present continuous tense is:
subject
+
auxiliary verb
+
main verb
be
base + ing
Look at these examples:
subject
auxiliary verb
main verb
+
I
am
speaking
to you.
+
You
are
reading
this.
-
She
is
not
staying
in London.
-
We
are
not
playing
football.
?
Is
he
watching
TV?
?
Are
they
waiting
for John?
Use of Present Continuous Tense »
How do we use the Present Continuous Tense?
We use the present continuous tense to talk about:
action happening now
action in the future
Present continuous tense for action happening now
a) for action happening exactly now
I am eating my lunch.
past
present
future
The action is happening now.
Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...
...the pages are turning.
...the candle is burning.
...the numbers are spinning.
b) for action happening around now
The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.
John is going out with Mary.
past
present
future
The action is happening around now.
Look at these examples:
Muriel is learning to drive.
I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.
Present continuous tense for the future
We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future - if we add a future word!! We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. "Future words" include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking.
I am taking my exam next month.
past
present
future
!!!
A firm plan or programme exists now.
The action is in the future.
Look at these examples:
We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table..
They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
When are you starting your new job?
In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking. The decision and plan were made before speaking.
Spelling of Present Continuous Tense »
How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense?
We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb. Normally it's simple - we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense.
Basic rule
Just add -ing to the base verb:
work
>
working
play
>
playing
assist
>
assisting
see
>
seeing
be
>
being
Exception 1
If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter:
s
t
o
p
consonant
stressed
vowel
consonant
(vowels = a, e, i, o, u)
stop
>
stopping
run
>
running
begin
>
beginning
Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed:
open
>
opening
Exception 2
If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:
lie
>
lying
die
>
dying
Exception 3
If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:
come
>
coming
mistake
>
mistaking
Now check your understanding »
Present Perfect Tense
I have sung
The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English.
How do we make the Present Perfect Tense?
The structure of the present perfect tense is:
subject
+
auxiliary verb
+
main verb
have
past participle
Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:
subject
auxiliary verb
main verb
+
I
have
seen
ET.
+
You
have
eaten
mine.
-
She
has
not
been
to Rome.
-
We
have
not
played
football.
?
Have
you
finished?
?
Have
they
done
it?
Contractions with the present perfect tense
When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this when we write.
I have
I've
You have
You've
He has
She has
It has
John has
The car has
He's
She's
It's
John's
The car's
We have
We've
They have
They've
Here are some examples:
I've finished my work.
John's seen ET.
They've gone home.
How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?
This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense:
experience
change
continuing situation
1. Present perfect tense for experience
We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it:
I have seen ET.
He has lived in Bangkok.
Have you been there?
We have never eaten caviar.
past
present
future
!!!
The action or state was in the past.
In my head, I have a memory now.
Connection with past: the event was in the past. Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have experience of it.
2. Present perfect tense for change
We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information:
I have bought a car.
past
present
future
-
+
Last week I didn't have a car.
Now I have a car.
John has broken his leg.
past
present
future
+
-
Yesterday John had a good leg.
Now he has a bad leg.
Has the price gone up?
past
present
future
+
-
Was the price $1.50 yesterday?
Is the price $1.70 today?
The police have arrested the killer.
past
present
future
-
+
Yesterday the killer was free.
Now he is in prison.
Connection with past: the past is the opposite of the present. Connection with present: the present is the opposite of the past.
Americans do not use the present perfect tense so much as British speakers. Americans often use the past tense instead. An American might say "Did you have lunch?", where a British person would say "Have you had lunch?"
3. Present perfect tense for continuing situation
We often use the present perfect tense to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a state (not an action). We usually use for or since with this structure.
I have worked here since June.
He has been ill for 2 days.
How long have you known Tara?
past
present
future
The situation started in the past.
It continues up to now.
(It will probably continue into the future.)
Connection with past: the situation started in the past. Connection with present: the situation continues in the present.
For & Since with Present Perfect Tense
We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.
We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.
for
since
a period of time
a point in past time
x------------
20 minutes
6.15pm
three days
Monday
6 months
January
4 years
1994
2 centuries
1800
a long time
I left school
ever
the beginning of time
etc
etc
Here are some examples:
I have been here for 20 minutes.
I have been here since 9 o'clock.
John hasn't called for 6 months.
John hasn't called since February.
He has worked in New York for a long time.
He has worked in New York since he left school.
Present Perfect Tense Quiz
1
Lindsay not been to France.
2
you finished your homework?
3
They gone to a rock concert.
4
you been to Japan?
5
We never eaten Mexican food.
6
Andrea has her umbrella.
7
the sun come up?
8
The children the lost puppy.
9
How long have you a vegetarian?
10
I haven't worked last December.
Tips
He's or he's??? Be careful! The 's contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs have and be. For example, "It's eaten" can mean:
It has eaten. [present perfect tense, active voice]
It is eaten. [present tense, passive voice]
It is usually clear from the context.
For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
I have been singing
How do we make the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is:
subject
+
auxiliary verb
+
auxiliary verb
+
main verb
have
has
been
base + ing
Here are some examples of the present perfect continuous tense:
subject
auxiliary verb
auxiliary verb
main verb
+
I
have
been
waiting
for one hour.
+
You
have
been
talking
too much.
-
It
has
not
been
raining.
-
We
have
not
been
playing
football.
?
Have
you
been
seeing
her?
?
Have
they
been
doing
their homework?
Contractions
When we use the present perfect continuous tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and the first auxiliary. We also sometimes do this in informal writing.
I have been
I've been
You have been
You've been
He has been
She has been
It has been
John has been
The car has been
He's been
She's been
It's been
John's been
The car's been
We have been
We've been
They have been
They've been
Here are some examples:
I've been reading.
The car's been giving trouble.
We've been playing tennis for two hours.
How do we use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
This tense is called the present perfect continuous tense. There is usually a connection with the present or now. There are basically two uses for the present perfect continuous tense:
We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now. This is often used with for or since.
I have been reading for 2 hours.
past
present
future
Action started in past.
Action is continuing now.
I have been reading for 2 hours. [I am still reading now.]
We've been studying since 9 o'clock. [We're still studying now.]
How long have you been learning English? [You are still learning now.]
We have not been smoking. [And we are not smoking now.]
For and Since with Present Perfect Continuous Tense
We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.
We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.
for
since
a period of time
a point in past time
x
20 minutes
6.15pm
three days
Monday
6 months
January
4 years
1994
2 centuries
1800
a long time
I left school
ever
the beginning of time
etc
etc
Here are some examples:
I have been studying for 3 hours.
I have been watching TV since 7pm.
Tara hasn't been feeling well for 2 weeks.
Tara hasn't been visiting us since March.
He has been playing football for a long time.
He has been living in Bangkok since he left school.
Tip
For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Quiz
1
It has snowing a lot this week.
2
your brother and sister been getting along?
3
Rick been studying hard this semester.
4
I'm tired because I been working out.
5
Julie living in Italy since May.
6
How long have you been German.
7
We have been watching TV 3 hours.
8
You have too hard today.
9
Has it raining since you arrived?
10
My brother has been travelling he finished school.
Ref: http://www.englishclub.com
Verb Forms
English verbs come in several forms. For example, the verb to sing can be: to sing, sing, sang, sung, singing or sings. This is a total of 6 forms. Not many, considering that some languages (French, for example) have more than 30 forms for an individual verb. English tenses may be quite complicated, but the forms that we use to make the tenses are actually very simple! With the exception of the verb to be, English main verbs have only 4, 5 or 6 forms. To be has 9 forms. Do not confuse verb forms with tenses. We use the different verb forms to make the tenses, but they are not the same thing.
Forms of Main Verbs
Main verbs are also called "lexical verbs".
Main verbs (except the verb "be") have only 4, 5 or 6 forms. "Be" has 9 forms.
V1
V2
V3
infinitive
base
past simple
past participle
present participle
present simple, 3rd person singular
regular
(to) work
work
worked
worked
working
works
irregular
(to) sing
(to) make
(to) cut
sing
make
cut
sang
made
cut
sung
made
cut
singing
making
cutting
sings
makes
cuts
(to) do*
(to) have*
do
have
did
had
done
had
doing
having
does
has
infinitive
base
past simple
past participle
present participle
present simple
(to) be*
be
was, were
been
being
am, are, is
In the above examples:
to cut has 4 forms: to cut, cut, cutting, cuts
to work has 5 forms: to work, work, worked, working, works
to sing has 6 forms: to sing, sing, sang, sung, singing, sings
to be has 9 forms: to be, be, was, were, been, being, am, is, are
The infinitive can be with or without to. For example, to sing and sing are both infinitives. We often call the infinitive without to the "bare infinitive".
At school, students usually learn by heart the base, past simple and past participle (sometimes called V1, V2, V3, meaning Verb 1, Verb 2, Verb 3) for the irregular verbs. They may spend many hours chanting: sing, sang, sung; go, went, gone; have, had, had; etc. They do not learn these for the regular verbs because the past simple and past participle are always the same: they are formed by adding "-ed" to the base. They do not learn the present participle and 3rd person singular present simple by heart - for another very simple reason: they never change. The present participle is always made by adding "-ing" to the base, and the 3rd person singular present simple is always made by adding "s" to the base (though there are some variations in spelling).
* Note that "do", "have" and "be" also function as helping or auxiliary verbs, with exactly the same forms (except that as helping verbs they are never in infinitive form).
Example Sentences
These example sentences use main verbs in different forms.
Infinitive
I want to work
He has to sing.
This exercise is easy to do.
Let him have one.
To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Base - Imperative
Work well!
Make this.
Have a nice day.
Be quiet!
Base - Present simple
(except 3rd person singular)
I work in London.
You sing well.
They have a lot of money.
Base - After modal auxiliary verbs
I can work tomorrow.
You must sing louder.
They might do it.
You could be right.
Past simple
I worked yesterday.
She cut his hair last week.
They had a good time.
They were surprised, but I was not.
Past participle
I have worked here for five years.
He needs a folder made of plastic.
It is done like this.
I have never been so happy.
Present participle
I am working.
Singing well is not easy.
Having finished, he went home.
You are being silly!
3rd person singular, present simple
He works in London.
She sings well.
She has a lot of money.
It is Vietnamese.
Forms of Helping Verbs
All helping verbs are used with a main verb (either expressed or understood*). There are 2 groups of helping verbs:
Primary helping verbs, used mainly to change the tense or voice of the main verb, and in making questions and negatives.
Modal helping verbs, used to change the "mood" of the main verb.
Study the table below. It shows the prinicipal forms and uses of helping verbs, and explains the differences between primary and modal helping verbs.
* Sometimes we make a sentence that has a helping verb and seems to have no main verb. In fact, the main verb is "understood". Look at the following examples:
Question: Can you speak English? (The main verb speak is "expressed".)
Answer: Yes, I can. (The main verb speak is not expressed. It is "understood" from the context. We understand: Yes, I can speak English.
But if somebody walked into the room and said "Hello. I can", we would understand nothing!
Helping Verbs
Primary
Modal
do
(to make simple tenses, and questions and negatives)
can
could
be
(to make continuous tenses, and the passive voice)
may
might
have
(to make perfect tenses)
will
would
shall
should
must
ought (to)
"Do", "be" and "have" as helping verbs have exactly the same forms as when they are main verbs (except that as helping verbs they are never used in infinitive forms).
Modal helping verbs are invariable. They always have the same form.
Primary helping verbs are followed by the main verb in a particular form:
do + V1 (base verb)
be + -ing (present participle)
have + V3 (past participle)
"Ought" is followed by the main verb in infinitive form. Other modal helping verbs are followed by the main verb in its base form (V1).
ought + to... (infinitive)
other modals + V1 (base verb)
"Do", "be" and "have" can also function as main verbs.
Modal helping verbs cannot function as main verbs.
