Category: Verb

English tenses · ESL grammar · Grammar · tenses · Verb

We were drinking coffee when the phone rang: Past Progressive – How and When to Use it

Jacqueline4 Comments

How to make the Past Progressive To make the past progressive you use “was” or “were” + a verb with –ing. Examples: was drinking were playing   When to use: 1 Past progressive is used to tell at what time something happened. Examples: At 9 o’clock Mary was having breakfast. Albrecht was playing badminton between… Continue reading We were drinking coffee when the phone rang: Past Progressive – How and When to Use it

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Uncategorized · Verb

Pronunciation Tricks: Stress Differences in Nouns and Verbs

Jacqueline3 Comments

The word “project” can be a noun and it can be a verb. But did you know that they are pronounced differently? Now you do. Project (noun) has the stress on the first syllable (“pro”). Project (verb) has the stress on the second syllable (“ject”). (If you don’t know what a noun or a verb… Continue reading Pronunciation Tricks: Stress Differences in Nouns and Verbs

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Uncategorized · Verb

How to Recognize the Basic Form of a Verb

Jacqueline6 Comments

by Jacqueline Schaalje In another article we talked about Present Simple. Here is the link: https://englishwithasmile.org/2013/06/04/simpler-than-thou-english-tense-basics-present-simple/ I said then that Present Simple uses the basic form of the verb, or the infinitive. One bright reader then wrote to me asking how you can recognize the infinitive. He was right of course. Only when you can… Continue reading How to Recognize the Basic Form of a Verb

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Modal verb · tenses · Verb

Feeling Regrets? – Modal Perfect Tense.

Jacqueline1 Comment

It’s been a while since we talked about tenses. I have a beautiful tense for you to sink your teeth into:  The modal perfect tense. No need to panic, although this subject is suitable for more advanced learners of English. Perfect Tense with Would I’d like to talk especially about perfect tenses with would. Here… Continue reading Feeling Regrets? – Modal Perfect Tense.

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ESL grammar · Grammar · Verb

I Love Dancing = I Love to Dance

lufian20131 Comment

Choosing Between Participle or “to” with an Infinitive Quite a number of readers of this newsletters have asked me to explain how you can know when to use “to” and the infinitive or a participle with “-ing.” Jfyi, in technical terms the -ing construction is called gerund. If you look up this problem in a grammar book… Continue reading I Love Dancing = I Love to Dance

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