Second Conditional
24 May 2014 by Diane
The Second Conditional is used to talk about a present or future hypothetical situation.
IF + SUBJECT + VERB (PAST) , SUBJECT + WOULD (COULD / MAY / MIGHT) + BASE VERB
ex. If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car.
I would forgive him if he apologized to me.
Remember: Use “WERE” with I/HE/SHE/IT if the situation is IMPOSSIBLE or VERY UNLIKELY.
ex. If I were able to fly, I would travel all around the world. (This is impossible!)
If I were a millionaire, I would quit my job. (This is very unlikely!)
Here’s a second conditional joke...
Adjectives with ED and ING endings
10 May 2014 by Diane
When describing feelings the -ED form of the adjective is used.
Example:
I felt bored when I watch the news.
I was really excited during the volleyball game.
NOT
I felt boring when I watched the news.
I was really exciting during the soccer match.
When describing things the -ING form of the adjective is used.
More CORRECT examples:
Documentaries are really interesting. | The sickness is worrying. |
The news is depressing. | The test was confusing. I was confused when I was taking the test. |
Some common adjectives that can be used in both an -ED and an -ING form:
annoyed | annoying | amused | amusing |
bored | boring | challenged | challenging |
confused | confusing | depressed | depressing |
dissapointed | disappointing | disgusted | disgusting |
encouraged | encouraging | embarrassed | embarrassing |
entertained | entertaining | excited | exciting |
fascinated | fascinating | frightened | frightening |
frustrated | frustrating | interested | interesting |
irritated | irritating | overwhelmed | overwhelming |
relaxed | relaxing | satisfied | satisfying |
shocked | shocking | surprised | surprising |
surprised | surprising | tired | tiring |
terrified | terrifying | worried | worrying |
Little or a little? Few or a few?
07 May 2014 by Diane
LITTLE / A LITTLE used with non-countable nouns
+ a little = some (positive meaning) - little = hardly any (negative meaning)
ex. I need a little money. (I need some money.)
I need little money. (I need hardly any money.)
FEW / A FEW used with countable nouns
+ a few = some (positive meaning) - few = hardly any (negative meaning)
ex. A few friends visited me. (Some friends visited me.)
Few friends visited me. (Hardly any friends visited me.)
Agree Like a Native Speaker
01 May 2014 by Diane
To agree with a positive statement:
SO + AUXILIARY / MODAL VERB + PRONOUN
*Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs (BE, DO, HAVE & modal verbs)
ex. I am hungry. | Agree: So am I. |
If there is no auxiliary verb, we must use do.
ex. I like to play soccer. | Agree: So do I. |
Past tense
ex. I was hungry. | Agree: So was he. |
*We can also say, “ME TOO!”
To agree with a negative statement:
NEITHER + AUXILIARY / MODAL VERB + PRONOUN
ex. I’m not from here. | Agree: Neither is she. |
Past tense
ex. I wasn’t there. | Agree: Neither was I. |
*We can also say, “ME NEITHER!”
To disagree with a positive statement:
PRONOUN + AUXILIARY / MODAL VERB + NOT
ex. I like tea without sugar. I’m tired. They can sing well. | Disagree: She does not (doesn’t). |
Past tense
ex. She was happy. They ate pizza. | Disagree: I wasn’t. |
To disagree with a negative statement:
PRONOUN + AUXILIARY / MODAL VERB
ex. She doesn’t want to go. They’re not going to the party. He won’t drive. He can’t dance. | Disagree: I do. |
Past tense
ex. He wasn’t there. She didn’t call him. | Disagree: She was. |
ALL vs EVERY
28 April 2014 by Diane
ALL and EVERY have similar meanings but are used in different structures.
ALL + PLURAL NOUN | EVERY + SINGULAR NOUN |
ex. All children should go to school. | ex. Every child should go to school. |
All vegetables are healthy. | Every vegetable is healthy. |
ALL can be used before a determiner (ex. the, this/that, these/those, my...)
ex. All the items in the store were on sale!
I sent an email to all my friends.
ALL can be used with uncountable nouns.
ex. I like all music.
In the future I hope that all poverty is gone!
*Often if the noun is uncountable, we use the article “the” after ALL.
ex. He finished all (of) the work.
He reviewed all (of) the documents.
ALL is used to describe the duration of an activity, meaning the complete amount.
For example, let’s look at the difference between the following two sentences:
1. She has been at work ALL day.
Meaning: from the beginning of the day until the end of the day / from morning until night
2. She worked EVERY day this week.
Meaning: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
And another example:
1. I can’t believe he ate ALL the cake.
Meaning: There is one cake. He ate the whole thing!
2. I can’t believe he ate EVERY cake.
Meaning: There are many cakes. He ate every cake.
