▪ To express the present result Examples: I’ve lost my keys. John has missed the bus, so he’ll be late. Time Adverbs in Present Perfect Tense The present perfect tense is commonly used with the indefinite time adverbs (time expressions): ▪ Just ▪ Already ▪ Yet ▪ For ▪ Since ▪ Never ▪ Ever ▪ Still ▪ … Final thoughts This article covers a lot of ground relating to one specific verb tenses that describe actions occurring starting in the past that ended already but have some continued effect on the present time. This may be the most difficult to use verb form since it is not actually used to describe actions occurring in the present time. The simple form sometimes gets confused with the present progressive and may require a bit more active concentration to identify when it is appropriate to use which form. It is still fairly common in speech to hear some confusion between the simple form and the present progressive form. The present progressive is used particularly often; many speakers, however, do not specifically understand when or why to use this form since it was originally learned through habit rather than study. Just as with any other language, whether it is a primary or a secondary tongue, both speaking and writing the words as well as keeping a dictionary and thesaurus handy is imperative to become truly fluent. Finally, the best way to cement and maintain an understanding of these verb forms is to read much and focus on why specific verb forms are used in the text; not all at once, but one verb form at a time.
Present Perfect Tense Chart | Picture Adapted from https://7esl.com/present-perfect-tense/
Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples Present Perfect Continuous! When we are talking in the present perfect continuous tense (also known as the present perfect progressive tense) we are talking about an action which has begun in the past and is continuing in the present, for example ‘I have been walking down this road all day.’ You might think of this tense as a fusion of the present perfect and the present continuous tenses. In this section, we are going to be looking at how we must use the present perfect continuous tense and the rules that we must following when using it. This will enable you to create grammatically correct sentences which are easy to understand. Present Perfect Continuous Tense What Is the Present Perfect Continuous Tense? The present perfect continuous verb tense, also known as the present perfect progressive, is used to describe an action that first started in the past and is still happening in the present, or is still relevant to other events happening in the present. The present perfect continuous tense is typically used for the following two general cases: 1. Starting in the past and occurring until now with an adverb modifier that indicates the approximate duration 2. An action occurring until lately’ or recently’ with some relevant effect continuing into the present. This verb tense is formed with a passive variant of the verb to have + the present participle (verb form ending in -ing). These verbs can also take adverb modifiers to talk about the activity when in the past this activity started (e.g. two hours ago’, last Fall’). Additionally, present perfect continuous verb forms are most commonly going to be found in the wild using dynamic verbs’ that describe: ▪ an activity (e.g. learn, listen, read) ▪ a process (e.g. change, grow, shrink) ▪ a bodily sensation (e.g. ache, feel, hurt) ▪ a transitional event (e.g. arrive, leave) ▪ a momentary occurrence (e.g. hit, jump, kick).
The other type of verb, which is not generally seen with present perfect continuous verb forms, is known as stative, and the reason it is not used here is that stative verbs describe actions that are done and over with and do not continue into the future at all (e.g. astonish, see, smell). In the next section are ten examples to demonstrate the various use cases described above. After that are several exercises to provide practice identifying the different forms of the present perfect continuous verb tense. As always, a good way to continually reinforce this information is to try and identify this type of verb while reading and always, always, always keep a dictionary or google search window handy. Present Perfect Continuous Tense Structure The structure of the Present Perfect Continuous tense is: have/has + been + V-ing (present participle) Examples: ▪ They have been learning English. ▪ I have been waiting for one hour. Present Perfect Continuous Contractions: The subject and the first auxiliary are often contracted when using the Present Perfect Continuous tense in speaking and in informal writing. Have = ‘ve Has = ‘s Examples: ▪ I‘ve been writing. ▪ The car‘s been giving trouble. Examples of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense 1. My daughter has been watching cartoons for the last two hours since arriving home from school. 2. The driver has been stopping to stretch his legs every forty-five minutes during this ten-hour drive from Detroit to Washington D.C. 3. You have been sleeping too long and missing breakfast. 4. My company has been monitoring my Internet usage. 5. For the last two weeks, I have been reading The Lord of the Rings books from dawn until dusk. 6. I have been picking strawberries from my garden and eating them right away! 7. Whenever the dog has been chasing the cat, I can always find tufts of fur on the floor. 8. I can always tell when my son has been playing too many video games because his right eye droops with exhaustion.
9. My flight has been circling the airport for thirty minutes because the weather is too dangerous for a landing to take place. 10.Recently, my daughter has been practicing her dance routine instead of her piano exercises. How to Use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense? Learn how and when to use the Present Perfect Continuous tense in English with useful grammar rules and example sentences. The Present Perfect Continuous tense is used to: Express long actions that started in the past and continue until now Examples: ▪ I‘ve been living in Ireland for almost 4 years. ▪ I‘ve been studying all day and I’m absolutely exhausted now. Express recent actions that have clear evidence or results now Examples: ▪ You’ve lost a lot of weight. Have you been going to the gym? ▪ Her eyes are red because she‘s been crying all evening. Typically used for shorter, more temporary situations Example: ▪ Have they been learning English this week? Note: Always use the present perfect simple (not continuous) with the verbs believe, know, understand, like/dislike, belong, own: Examples: ▪ We‘ve known each other since we were kids. ▪ I‘ve never understood math very well. ▪ He‘s always liked sports.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Chart | Picture Adapted from https://7esl.com/present-perfect-continuous-tense/
Past Simple Tense (Simple Past): Definition, Rules and Useful Examples Past Simple Tense! When talking about an action which has happened in the past, you will need to use the past simple tense. However, before you can begin confidently using this tense, it is important to learn the rules which surround it. As with any part of English grammar, the rules of the past simple tense should be applied each time it is used in order to ensure that you are forming grammatically correct sentences. In this section, we are going to show you how to do this effectively. Learn useful grammar rules to use the Simple Past Tense in English with example sentences. Past Simple Tense In English grammar, the Simple Past (or Past Simple) is the basic form of the past tense. It is used principally to describe events in the past, although it also has some other uses. What is the Past Simple Tense? The simple past tense shows that an action started and completed in the past and has no relevance to the present time at all. It can also be used to describe how someone felt, what their emotional condition was, at a point in the past. There are no forms of the verb to be’ or to have’ with this tense as there are with others (e.g. walked). The simple past can be used with adverbs to describe a time already in the past (e.g. I walked to the market last Saturday) or discussing a specific point in time (e.g. I studied today). In the section below are several examples illustrating some ways in which the simple present tense can be used. In the final section are several practice questions that will give some focus to how you can identify the simple past verb tense looks like when used correctly. It is always highly recommended to refer to a thesaurus or dictionary when becoming more familiar with not just a second language but one’s primary language as well.
Simple Past Tense Structure Simple Past Tense with “TO BE” (was/were) Note: I/She/He/It + was We/You/They + were Was not = Wasn’t Were not = Weren’t Positive Sentence: S + was/were + … Example: They were friends. Negative Sentence: S + was not/were not + … Example: They weren’t friends. Question form: Was/Were + S + …? Example: Were they friends? Simple Past Tense with Regular Verbs Regular English verbs form the simple past in –ed; however, there are a few hundred irregular verbs with different forms. Positive Sentence: S + verb-ed + … Example: She worked yesterday. Negative Sentence: S + did not/didn’t + verb (in base form) + … Example:
Question form: Did + S + verb (in base form)? Example: Did she work yesterday? Past Simple Tense with Irregular Verbs There are a few hundred irregular verbs with different forms. Positive Sentence: S + irregular verb + … Example: They went to Spain for their holidays. Negative Sentence: S + did not/didn’t + verb (in base form) + … Example: They didn’t go to Spain for their holidays? Question Form: Did + S + (verb in base form)? Example: Did they go to Spain for their holidays? Examples of the Past Simple Tense 1. My teacher taught me about the planets, moon, and stars in the third grade. 2. Our local high school held a car wash to raise money for the band. 3. I felt scared when the power went out during the thunderstorm last night. 4. My boss called me into the office to help with an outage on Sunday night. 5. I really appreciate when you gave me half your lunch yesterday. 6. While I was sleeping, the cat yowled very loudly all night long. 7. My team had a potluck’ last week but forgot to send out the invitations! 8. My mom picked me up after school all week long when I had to stay for an extra practice session. 9. Dad took me to the movies and out for pizza for my birthday. 10.I was so proud the day my oldest child graduated from college with honors.
How to Use the Simple Past Tense The Simple Past Tense Usage The Simple Past is used: ▪ To express completed action in the past Example: I saw a ghost last Friday. ▪ To describe a series of completed actions in the past Example: I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim. ▪ To express habits in the past Example: When I was young, I watched lots of television every day after school. ▪ For stative verbs, which are verbs that do not express an action, but a state of mind or being E.g. have (own), be, think (believe), know, dislike, need, owe, understand, wish Example: He had a small cottage in the woods. Time Expressions with Past Simple Tense ▪ Yesterday ▪ Ago ▪ Last month ▪ Last week ▪ Last year ▪ In 2003 ▪ In 2007
The Past Simple Tense | Picture Adapted from https://7esl.com/past-simple-tense/
Past Continuous Tense: Definition, Useful Rules and Examples Past Continuous Tense! In this section, we are going to be looking at the function of the past continuous tense as well as the rules which we must follow when using it. Learn how and when to use the Past Continuous Tense (or Past Progressive) in English with useful grammar rules and example sentences. Past Continuous Tense What is the Past Continuous Tense? The past continuous tense is one which is used very frequently in the English language and is made up of an -ing verb preceded by the past tense of the verb ‘to be.’ For example ‘the animals were running gracefully through the field.’ This is an easy concept to understand and once you have mastered it, you will be able to speak much more freely about the past. The past continuous, or past progressive, tense describes an action or situation that began in the past and is still going on in the present time. The past continuous is easily formed by pairing up the verb to be’ with a verb ending in -ed’ instead of -ing’ (e.g. was talking). The second section below has some great examples of how to use the past continuous tense in actual conversation. After studying those samples, continue reading to the end for some practice choosing the correct form of this verb tense to complete a sentence. When reading a book or article, it is often a great idea to keep a dictionary or thesaurus at hand, especially when encountering unfamiliar or irregular verbs. Past Continuous Tense Structure The Past Continuous is used to describe actions that began in the past and often continued for a short period of time after the action started. The structure of the Past Continuous Tense is: Was/were + V-ing (Present Participle) Example: At three o’clock yesterday, I was working in the garden.
Examples of the Past Continuous Tense 1. My kids were playing basketball together for hours yesterday. 2. My daughter was planning to join the school band but chose the choir instead. 3. I was talking to my neighbor when she told me about the fire that started across the street. 4. Our school was holding a pep rally when the fire alarm went off. 5. I was not giving to charity last year, but then I received a raise and started contributing to the local animal shelter. 6. While I was getting ready for bed, I turned on the news to see what had happened during the day. 7. My team was holding an offsite lunch n learn but discontinued it when people stopped showing up. 8. My brother was dropping me off at school every morning so I didn’t have to wait in the cold for the bus. 9. I was hanging more and more elaborate Christmas lights every year until I realized I couldn’t do anything bigger this year so I stopped. 10.My friend was sleeping over every Friday for three months during the Summer but then we had to stop when school started. How to Use the Past Continuous Tense The Past Continuous Tense Usage The past continuous is used: To describe parallel actions The past continuous is often used to denote an action that was interrupted by an event, or for two actions taking place in parallel. Examples: ▪ While I was washing the dishes, I heard a loud noise. ▪ While you were washing the dishes, Sue was walking the dog. To express specific Time as an Interruption
To describe what someone was doing at a particular point in time Example: I was working in the garden all day yesterday. That could also be expressed using the simple past, as I worked…, which implies that the action is viewed as a unitary event (although the effective meaning is not very different). To express interrupted action in the past Often the past continuous is mixed with the past simple to show what was happening when something happened. Examples: ▪ I was driving to work when I crashed my car. ▪ I watched a movie while I was flying to Dubai. To describe repetition and irritation Example: He was always complaining in class. Note For stative verbs that do not use the continuous aspect, the simple past is used instead. Example: At three o’clock yesterday we were in the garden. Time Expressions Used with the Past Continuous Tense ▪ When ▪ While ▪ Always ▪ Constantly ▪ At that time ▪ In those days ▪ All day
▪ All evening ▪ For hours… Past Continuous Tense Charts | Picture
Adapted from https://7esl.com/past-continuous-tense/
Past Perfect Tense: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples Past Perfect Tense! The past perfect tense might also be referred to as the pluperfect tense and is something which is commonly used in spoken and written English. This tense is used in order to talk about an event which has taken place before a certain point in the past. This might sound complicated but it certainly isn’t. In this section, we are going to be taking a look at the past perfect tense in much more detail and the rules that surround its use. This will enable you to create much more detailed and complex sentences when talking about the past. Past Perfect Tense What is the Past Perfect Tense? The past perfect tense keeps the past “in the past” as they say. The verbs that are placed in this tense have to happen AND complete BEFORE a related action can occur. This past participle tense takes the past form of the verb to have’ as a modifier (e.g. had talked). The past perfect form has a couple of different functions that it can perform: 1. It can describe an action that occurred in the past that is related to another action that occurred in the past after the first action (e.g. I had driven to Pittsburgh before driving on to Detroit). 2. It can describe two non-continuous actions that occurred in sequence (e.g. I had driven to Florida and then boarded a cruise two days later.) These two functions are very similar but the nuances between them are a bit different in terms of what information is conveyed to the listener/reader. The exercise section below includes several really good samples that demonstrate how to use the past perfect tense in real conversation. After looking through these examples, keep reading until the very end for some additional practice questions concerning how to choose the right form of this verb tense to complete a sentence. When reading newspapers, magazines, Wikipedia pages, or novels, it is highly recommended to have a lookup webpage at hand that will show synonyms, definitions, and grammar usage, especially when reading words that are new and unfamiliar.
Past Perfect Tense Structure The Past Perfect is used to talk about actions that were completed before some point in the past. The Past Perfect is formed by combining had with the past participle of the main verb. Positive Sentence: S + had + past participle + … Example: She had finished the test. Negative Sentence: S + had not/hadn’t + past participle + … Example: She hadn’t finished the test. Question form: Example: Had she finished the test?
Examples of the Past Perfect Tense 1. My kids were really exhausted and ready for sleep because they had both played soccer for hours that afternoon. 2. My daughter had won the two previous spelling bees which made her feel very disappointed when she lost this year to another student. 3. I had just arrived at the airport gate when I saw the attendant closing the gate. 4. My teacher thought she had sent out letters to all the parents about the upcoming field trip until she found all the papers sitting in the copy tray. 5. I had paid my son an allowance last year but asked him to get a job this year instead. 6. My son had volunteered to help me in the garden all summer until he realized how much work it actually was. 7. Had you concentrated harder on learning your ABCs in elementary school, these reports would not be as difficult for you to write now that you have an office job. 8. Can you tell me how much money you had saved up before your student loan became due? 9. I had played a trick on my neighbors this past Halloween, but then they called the police and reported me. 10.My friend had slept over at my house for the last two weeks and then I spent the next two weekends at his place. How to Use the Past Perfect Tense? Learn how and when to use the Past Perfect Tense in English with helpful grammar rules, example sentences and ESL printable worksheets. The Past Perfect Tense Usage The Past Perfect Tense is used: 1. To describe an action finished before another past action Example: ▪ Richard had gone out when his wife arrived in the office. 2. To describe an action that happened before a specific time in the past Example: ▪ Christine had never been to an opera before last night.
3. To describe cause and effect (combine with Past Simple) Example: ▪ I got stuck in traffic because there had been an accident. 4. To emphasize the result of activity in the past Example: ▪ I had been to London twice by the time I got a job in New York. Time Expressions Used with the Past Perfect Tense ▪ Already ▪ Yet ▪ For ▪ Since ▪ Just ▪ After ▪ Before ▪ Until ▪ The moment that The Past Perfect Chart | Picture
Adapted from https://7esl.com/past-perfect-tense/
Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples Past Perfect Continuous Tense! In this section, we are going to be looking at how the past perfect continuous tense works and what rules we must follow when using it. This will provide you with the knowledge you need to create much more grammatically correct sentences. Past Perfect Continuous Tense You might hear this tense being referred to as the past perfect progressive tense but this is not as complicated as it might first appear. The past perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an event which began in the past and continued in the past. This is a similar concept to the present perfect continuous tense. The Past Perfect Continuous tense combines perfect progressive aspect with past tense. It is formed by combining had (the past tense of auxiliary have), been (the past participle of be), and the present participle of the main verb. Positive Sentence: S + had + been + V-ing (present participle) +… Example: They had been playing tennis. Negative Sentence: S + had not/ hadn’t + been +V-ing (present participle) +… Example: They hadn’t been playing tennis. Question Form: Had + S + been + V-ing (present participle)? Example: Had they been playing tennis?
How to Use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense? Learn how and when to use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense (Past Perfect Progressive) in English with helpful grammar rules, examples and ESL worksheets. The Past Perfect Continuous is used: ▪ To describe a past action, already started and continued up to another action or time in the past Example: The boys had been playing soccer for about an hour when it started to rain. ▪ To express the duration before something in the past Example: Richard needed a holiday because he had been working hard for six months. ▪ To describe the cause of something in the past Example: He was tired because he had been jogging. Adverbs of Time ▪ When ▪ Before ▪ By the time ▪ For ▪ Since…
Past Perfect Continuous Tense Chart | Image
Adapted from https://7esl.com/past-perfect-continuous-tense/
Simple Future Tense: Definition, Rules and Examples Simple Future Tense! In this section, we will be looking at the various rules surrounding the use of the simple future tense and delving into much greater detail. Simple Future Tense If you wish to speak about an event that will happen in the future then you will need to use the simple future tense. This is a great way of adding knowledge of the English language which will enable you to talk in much more detail about things such as your future plans or things that you know are coming up. The simple future tense indicates that an action is in the future relative to the speaker or writer. There are no inflected forms for the future in English (nothing like those –ed or -s endings in the other tenses). The formula for the future simple is will + V(Base form). Positive Sentence S + will + V(Base form) + object… Example: I will go to Thailand. Negative Sentence S + will not/won’t + V(Base form) + object… Example: I will not go to Thailand. Question form Will + S + V(Base form) +…? Example: Will you go to Thailand?
How to Use the Simple Future Tense Learn how and when to use the future simple tense in English with helpful grammar rules, example sentences, videos and ESL worksheets. The future simple tense is used: For Actions Decided at the moment of Speech Example: I have a toothache. I‘ll take a medicine. For Unplanned Future Actions Example: Winter will come soon. For Offering, Asking for a Request Promising, Ordering, Threatening Example: I’m afraid we will get wet. For Unpreventable Actions in Future Example: Summer will come soon. With Conditional, Time and Purpose Clauses Example: When I arrive at home, I will call you. For Thoughts, Predictions, Assumptions, Sureness, Fears about Future Example: I promise I won’t tell this anyone.
Simple Future Tense Chart | Picture
Adapted from https://7esl.com/simple-future-tense/
Future Perfect Tense: Definition, Rules and Examples Future Perfect Tense! In this section, we are going to be looking at how to use the future perfect tense as well as a selection examples to give you a better understanding of how it functions. This will give you the opportunity to speak about and write about events in the future in much more detail. Future Perfect Tense When you want to talk about an action that will happen before a certain point in the future, you will need to use the future perfect tense. There are certain rules surrounding the use of the future perfect tense and it is important that you follow these rules in order to create a grammatically correct sentence. The future perfect is a verb form or construction used to describe an event that is expected or planned to happen before a time of reference in the future. In English, the future perfect construction consists of the auxiliary verb “will” (shall) to mark the future, the auxiliary verb “have” to mark the perfect, and the past participle of the main verb. Positive Sentence: • S + will + have + past participle + … Example: I will have finished my report by the end of this month. Negative Sentence: • S + will + not + have + past participle + … Example: He will not have done it by this evening.
Question form: • Will + S + have + past participle + … Example: Will you have written me a letter? How to Use the Future Perfect Tense The Future Perfect is used: To talk about an action that will finish before a certain time in the future Example: ▪ By eight o’clock tomorrow, I will have taken off for Japan. To talk about an action that will be completed before another event takes place Example: ▪ She will have learnt Chinese before she moves to China. To express conviction that something happened in the near past Example: ▪ The guests will have arrived at the hotel by now. (I’m sure the guests have arrived at the hotel.) Time Expressions Used with Future Perfect Tense ▪ By + … ▪ By the time ▪ Before ▪ Until/till ▪ By then ▪ By the end of + … ▪ By tomorrow
Future Perfect Tense Examples & Picture
Future Continuous Tense: Definition, Rules and Examples Future Continuous Tense! In this section, we are going to show you how to correctly use the future continuous tense and the rules which must be followed in order to make sure that the sentences you are forming are grammatically correct. Future Continuous Tense To use the future continuous tense you will need to use the phrase ‘will be’ along with the present participle of the verb (the -ing version.) Using this tense will show that an action is going to take place in future and will continue for a certain period of time rather than in one moment like the simple future tense. The Future Continuous tense is a verb tense that indicates that something will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time. It is formed using the construction will + be + V-ing (present participle). Positive Sentence: S + will + be + V-ing (present participle) Example: I will be singing in the concert tomorrow. Negative Sentence: S + will + not + be + V-ing (present participle) Example: I will not be singing in the concert tomorrow. Question Form: Will + S + be + V-ing? (present participle) Example: Will you be singing in the concert tomorrow? How to Use the Future Continuous Tense The Future Continuous Tense is used: • To describe interrupted actions in the future Example: When you come tomorrow, they will be playing tennis. • To express actions in progress at a specific time in the future Example: At 12 o’clock tomorrow, we will be having lunch at school.
▪ To refer to actions that are happening now and expected to continue some time in the future Note: combined with “still” Example: Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years. ▪ To ask a question politely about the future Example: Will you be bringing your friend to the party tonight? ▪ To emphasize future plans and intentions Example: He‘ll be coming to visit us next week. ▪ To describe atmosphere in the future Example: When I arrive at the party everybody will be celebrating, some will be dancing, other will be talking. ▪ To express parallel actions or series of parallel actions in the future Example: She will be watching TV, and he will be cooking dinner. Time Expressions with The Future Continuous Tense ▪ In the future ▪ Next week ▪ Next time ▪ Next year ▪ At this moment next year ▪ At this time tomorrow ▪ At 5 p.m tomorrow…
The Future Continuous Tense Chart | Picture
Adapted from https://7esl.com/future-continuous-tense/
Future Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Rules and Examples Future Perfect Continuous Tense! In this section, we are going to be looking at the future perfect continuous tense in a much more detailed manner as well as the rules we must follow when using it. This will give you a clearer understanding of what it is used for and enable you to form sentences that are grammatically correct and precise. Future Perfect Continuous Tense When we are talking about an action that will happen and continue in the future, we must employ the use of the future perfect continuous tense. Whilst the name of this tense might seem long and complicated, its use and rules are quite easy to understand. The Future Perfect Continuous is a verb form or construction used to describe actions that will continue up until a point in the future. In English, the Future Perfect Continuous is formed by combining the modal “will“, the auxiliary verb “have“, “been“, and the present participle of the main verb (with an -ing ending). Positive Sentence: • S + will + have + been + V-ing (present participle) +… Example: We will have been living in this house for 10 years by next month. Negative Sentence: • S + will + not + have + been + V-ing (present participle) +… Example: I won’t have been travelling to New York for 2 years by the end of October.
Question form: • Will + S + have + been + V-ing (present participle) +… ? Example: Will you have been eating vegetables for three months? How to Use the Future Perfect Continuous Tense The Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used: To show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future Example: ▪ James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia. To talk about something that finishes just before another time or action (in this case, in the future) Example: ▪ I will be tired when I get home because I will have been walking for over an hour. Time Expressions Used with Future Perfect Continuous ▪ By + this year/ month/ week ▪ Next year/ month/ week ▪ For + an hour, for 5 years ▪ By then ▪ Since morning, since 1995 ▪ By tomorrow
Future Perfect Continuous Examples & Picture Adapted from https://7esl.com/future-perfect-continuous-tense/
Conjunction: Definition, Rules, Examples English conjunctions! When studying English grammar you are likely to come across the conjunction, but what is its purpose? In this article, we are going to take a look at what exactly a conjunction is and how it can be used within a sentence. We are also going to take a look at some examples of conjunctions being used in a sentence as a way to gain a greater understanding of their function. What is a Conjunction? A conjunction is a word which is used to link thoughts and ideas within a sentence. You might think of them as being ‘the glue’ of the phrase. Without the use of a conjunction, you would not be able to express your thoughts and ideas in a manner which flows. Your sentences would be forced into being simple and concise. Let’s take a look at an example. Consider the following sentence. ▪ The girl is pretty and kind. She has blonde hair with green eyes and she is wearing a blue jacket on top of a white t-shirt. You can see how the words highlighted in bold (the conjunctions) bring each of the ideas together to create a flowing sentence. Without the use of a conjunction, the wording would be much more different. ▪ The girl is pretty. The girl is kind. She has blonde hair. She has green eyes. She is wearing a blue jacket. She is wearing a white t-shirt. This does not sound as audibly appealing and uses far too many words and sentences, making it impractical. It is important to make sure that when you are using conjunctions that you make sure that they are consistent, for example: ▪ He runs quickly and gracefully ▪ He runs quickly and graceful. The first sentence is consistent and therefore correct, the second sentence is not. Generally, what is a conjunction? In grammar, English conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, phrases or clauses together. You can use a conjunction to link words, phrases, and clauses, as in the following examples: ▪ The park is empty now, but it will be filled with children after school. ▪ You can stay on the bus until you reach London. Types of Conjunctions There are three types of conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunctions, Correlative Conjunctions and Subordinating Conjunctions.
Coordinating Conjunctions The coordinating conjunction is a way of joining phrases, clauses and words together which have an equal rank, grammatically speaking. There are many coordinating conjunctions, let’s take a look at some of the most frequently used ones. ▪ for ▪ not ▪ and ▪ but ▪ yet ▪ so ▪ nor When most people think of a conjunction, these are the words which will spring to mind. Let’s take a look at some examples of these conjunctions being used within a sentence. ▪ I would like a hamburger or a chicken burger for my dinner. ▪ She needed to be somewhere quiet, so she took her bag and went to the park. ▪ My parents never had much money when I was growing up, but they managed somehow. It is worth noting that, as we see in the above examples, when a conjunction is being used to join two independent clauses, a comma is used to before the conjunction.
Subordinating Conjunctions A subordinating conjunction can be used to join dependent and independent clauses. This type of conjunction can be used as a way of showing case and effect relationships between two clauses or a contrast, as well as various other relationships which might occur. Let’s now take a look at some of the most frequently used subordinating conjunctions. ▪ after ▪ until ▪ before ▪ since ▪ because ▪ as ▪ though ▪ although ▪ whereas ▪ while Notice that some of the above examples are adverbs-these can commonly function as a subordinating conjunction as a way of linking the two thoughts. A good example of this is the sentence ‘Cinderella could stay at the ball until the clock struck midnight.’ The independent clause, which is the first part of this sentence could be used as a standalone phrase, however the dependent clause cannot and so the use of the conjunction connects it to the first thought and causes it to make sense. That being said, it is important to remember that when using a subordinating conjunction, it must become a part of the dependent clause, whether that comes before or after the independent clause. Look at the following example where the clauses are switched. The subordinating conjunction still stays with the dependent clause. ▪ Until the clock struck midnight, Cinderella could stay at the ball. ▪ Let’s look at some further examples of this: ▪ Before she leaves, ask her to say goodbye ▪ Ask her to say goodbye before she leaves. You will notice that when the dependent clause starts the sentence, a comma is used to separate the two clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions List: Than, rather than, whether, as much as, whereas, that, whatever, which, whichever, after, as soon as, as long as, before, by the time, now that, once, since, till, until, when, whenever, while, though, although, even though, who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, where, wherever, if, only if, unless, provided that, assuming that, even if, in case (that), lest, how, as though, as if, because, since, so that, in order (that), that, as …
Correlative Conjunctions The correlative conjunction is one which is used in a pair. They are used as a way of relating one sentence to another and one of the golden rules of a correlative conjunction is that they must be equal in a grammatical sense. For example, when using the correlative conjunction of both/and, if a noun comes after the word both, one must also come after the word and. Examples of correlative conjunctions are as follows; ▪ either/or ▪ neither/nor ▪ not only/but also ▪ both/and ▪ not/but ▪ whether/or ▪ just as/so ▪ the/the ▪ as/as ▪ as much/as ▪ no sooner/than ▪ rather/than We are now going to take a look at some examples of correlative conjunctions being used within a sentence. ▪ I do not like either the blue ones or the red ones. ▪ Neither my brother nor my sister live with my parents anymore. ▪ I went not only to China but also to Mongolia. ▪ I’m not sure whether he will become a teacher or a doctor when he is older. Correlative conjunctions consist simply of a coordinating conjunction linked to an adjective or adverb.
Using A Conjunction To Start A Sentence It is a common misconception that a conjunction cannot be used to start a sentence, but as we have seen, a subordinating conjunction can be used at the start of a sentence provided a comma is used to separate the two clauses. You may also use a coordinating conjunction to begin a sentence. However, it is important to do this sparingly as using too many conjunctions at the start of sentences can make your speech or writing sound weak. A conjunction is a way of linking together two thoughts or ideas in the same sentence. They are a useful device for avoiding the use of repetitive and choppy, short sentences and cause your speech and writing to flow. Adapted from https://7esl.com/english-conjunctions/
Adverb: Definition, Rules and Examples English adverbs! You have more than likely heard about the adverb, but what is its purpose within English grammar? In this article, we are going to find out exactly what an adverb is as well as how it can be used within a sentence. We are going to look at a variety of examples of adverbs being used as a way to further gain an understanding of their function. Learn adverb definition, different adverb types and useful grammar rules to use adverbs in sentences with example sentences What Is An Adverb? The most simple way to describe an adverb is that it is a word which can modify a verb, in other words describe it, for example ‘she runs quickly.’ The verb in this sentence is “runs”, and this has been modified with the adverb quickly. They may also modify an adjective to add further information, such as ‘he is quite fat.” In this sentence, the adjective fat has been modified by the adverb quite. Finally, an adverb can be used to modify an entire sentence, for example ‘Luckily, I had enough money.’ In this example, we see that the adverb luckily modifies the rest of the sentence in its entirety. For the most part, an adverb will end in the letters -ly, however there are some exceptions to this such as the word fast, this appears exactly as the adjective counterpart for the word but serves as an adverb. ▪ This is a fast car ▪ This car can drive fast. In the first sentence, the word fast is being used as an adjective, however in the second, it is being used as an adverb. Let’s take a look at some further examples of adverbs within a sentence. ▪ My sister swims badly. ▪ The soccer match ended quickly. ▪ Fortunately, my friends were not late to my birthday party. Generally, what is an adverb? An adverb is a part of speech used to describe a verb, an adjective or another adverb. It tells us how, where, when, how much and with what frequency.
Adverb Types There are different types of adverbs expressing different meanings. Generally, adverbs tell us how, where, when, how much and with what frequency. Therefore, types of adverbs are classified according to their functions. Here are the different types of adverbs with examples. ▪ Adverb of Frequency: always, sometimes, often/frequently, normally/generally, usually, occasionally, seldom, rarely/hardly ever, never, etc. ▪ Adverb of Manner: cheerfully, efficiently, painfully, secretly, quietly, peacefully, carefully, slowly, badly, closely, easily, well, fast, quickly, etc. ▪ Adverb of Time: now, yesterday, soon, later, tomorrow, yet, already, tonight, today, then, last month/year, etc. ▪ Adverb of Place: off, above, abroad, far, on, away, back, here, out, outside, backwards, behind, in, below, down, indoors, downstairs, etc. ▪ Adverb of Degree: quite, fairly, too, enormously, entirely, very, extremely, rather, almost, absolutely, just, barely, completely, enough, etc. ▪ Adverb of Certainty: apparently, clearly, definitely, doubtfully, doubtlessly, obviously, presumably, probably, undoubtedly, etc. ▪ Adverbs of Attitude: frankly, fortunately, honestly, hopefully, interestingly, luckily, sadly, seriously, surprisingly, unbelievably, etc. ▪ Adverbs of Judgement: bravely, carelessly, fairly, foolishly, generously, kindly, rightly, spitefully, stupidly, unfairly, wisely, wrongly, etc. ▪ Conjunctive Adverb (Linking adverb): besides, comparatively, conversely, equally, further, hence, in comparison, incidentally, namely, next, now, rather, undoubtedly, additionally, anyway, certainly, elsewhere, finally, in addition, in contrast, indeed, moreover, nonetheless, similarly, subsequently, thereafter, yet, also, meanwhile, consequently, nevertheless, etc.