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Search this topicUse the past continuous for the action already in progress and the past simple for the event that occurred during it: We were painting the kitchen when the power failed. Build the continuous form with was or were plus an -ing verb. The choice shows how you view the events, not simply which action lasted the most minutes.
In an ordinary past-simple question, did carries the past-tense marking, so the main verb uses its base form. Write Did you finish the shelf? or Did she bring the keys? The same pattern applies after did not: She did not bring them. Do not add a second past form to the main verb in these constructions.
As a starting point, use in for an enclosed or larger area, on for a surface, and at for an exact point or activity location. Compare keys in a drawer, paint on a wall and someone waiting at the entrance. These are useful patterns rather than a rule for every expression, so learn common location phrases as whole units.
English normally uses on for travel aboard buses, trains and planes, but in for cars and taxis. For example, I left my scarf on the train, but My bag is in the taxi. Treat these as common transport expressions. Do not apply the pattern to a literal object on a car roof, where on describes an actual surface.
Use at with a clock time, on with a day or date, and in with a month, year or longer period. For example, The meeting starts at 8:15 on Tuesday in October. Specific expressions have their own patterns, such as at night. Practice a whole appointment sentence rather than trying to memorize the prepositions without context.
Both are used, with a regional difference. At the weekend is common in British English, while on the weekend and on weekends are common in American English. Match the variety expected by your reader or course and stay consistent. This is a usage difference, not evidence that one speaker has misunderstood when the weekend happens.
In an ordinary positive present-simple statement, add the appropriate ending with he, she, it or a singular noun: The timer beeps, but The timers beep. Some verbs need es or a spelling change, as in watches and studies. Do not carry that ending into the base verb after does: Does the timer beep?
Use does not with he, she, it and ordinary singular-noun subjects; use do not with I, you, we and they. The following main verb stays in its base form: The drawer does not close, but These drawers do not close. The contractions are doesn’t and don’t. This pattern does not replace am not, is not or are not.
When talking about possession, these usually express the same meaning. Have got is especially common in speech and is less formal in many contexts. For example, We have got enough chairs and We have enough chairs both describe what is available. Keep the grammar pattern consistent rather than adding got to every use of the verb have.
Move have or has before the subject for a question: Have you got a spare cable? Put not after have or has for a negative: We haven’t got a spare cable. With plain have, use the separate do pattern instead: Do you have one? Avoid mixing the two into Do you have got one?
Place the form of be before the subject: The room is ready becomes Is the room ready? Use am with I, is with he, she or it, and are with you, we or they. Add a question word first when needed: Why is the room cold? You do not add do to these ordinary be questions.
Both refer to a small number, but their emphasis differs. A few usually means some are available: We have a few spare tiles. Few often stresses that the number is limited or insufficient: Few tiles survived the move. Decide whether you want to emphasize the useful amount you have or the shortage, rather than treating the article as optional.
Use a few with plural countable nouns and a little with uncountable nouns. Compare a few screws with a little glue. The words describe a small amount, but the noun determines the form. If you change to a countable unit, the expression changes too: a few bottles of glue, even though glue itself remains uncountable here.
When who is the subject of the question, it already occupies the subject position, so an ordinary question does not need the usual do-support. Compare Who repaired the gate? with Who did you call? In the second sentence, you is the subject and who is the object. Identify the person doing the action before deciding the word order.
Put the modal before the subject and keep the main verb in its base form: Can this shelf hold the books? or When will the delivery arrive? A question word, if needed, comes first. Do not add do or does alongside the modal in these ordinary questions; Can she help? already has the necessary question structure.
Use there is with a singular noun or an uncountable amount, and there are with plural nouns: There is a ladder outside; there is some paint left; there are three brushes. In questions, reverse the order to Is there or Are there. Informal speech sometimes uses there’s more broadly, but the number-matching pattern is the safer choice for formal writing.
The first verb often determines the pattern. For example, enjoy takes an -ing form, as in I enjoy restoring chairs, while decide takes a to-infinitive, as in I decided to restore one. Learn the full pattern with each new verb. Some verbs allow both forms, sometimes with a meaning change, so avoid treating one rule as universal.
Use have or has followed by the verb’s past participle: I have repaired the shelf; she has written the note. The participle is not always the simple past form. Use this construction when connecting past experience or an event with the present, rather than merely naming a finished past time.
Yesterday identifies a finished past time, so use the simple past: I finished yesterday. Present perfect connects a past event with the present without that finished-time marker. Compare I have finished, meaning the task is complete now, with I finished yesterday, which states when it happened.
For a visit, has been normally means the person went and returned; has gone means they have not returned yet. Lena has been to the library describes a completed visit. Lena has gone to the library explains her current absence. Choose the form that matches the situation.
Put used to before the base verb: We used to rent a smaller apartment. This describes a former situation that has changed. It can also describe repeated past actions. Do not confuse it with being used to something, which means being familiar or comfortable with it.
In be used to, to belongs to the expression meaning accustomed to, so a following verb takes the -ing form. I am used to working early means the routine is familiar. I used to work early describes a former habit and has a different grammatical structure.
It describes the process of becoming familiar with something. I am getting used to the new keyboard means it is becoming easier through experience. Follow it with a noun, pronoun, or -ing form, as in getting used to typing. Be used to describes the resulting familiar state.
In a defining relative clause, you can omit the relative pronoun when it is the object: the chair that I repaired becomes the chair I repaired. Keep it when it is the subject, as in the chair that wobbles. Identify its job in the clause before removing it.
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