Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Must not vs. Don't have to

Both must ________(base verb) and have to _______(base verb) are used for important obligations.  They mean the same thing when used in the positive.

Don't have to ____(base verb) = no obligation -- The situation is not important.  You can, but it's not necessary.

Must not ______(base verb) means DON'T DO IT.  You have an important obligation NOT to do it.

Mustn't = must not.  Mustn't is very common in British English.  In the USA, must not is usually two words

To Learn English website quiz

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Friday, May 31, 2019

Adjectives that end with --ing or --ed

Sometimes we add ed or ing to the end of a verb and use it as an adjective.  Sometimes we use the same verb base for the adjectives:  bored/boring  confused/confusing  tired/tiring  relieved/relieving exhausted/exhausting  interested/interesting  relaxed/relaxing

Use ____ING for the cause of a feeling              Use ______ed for feeling (experiencing)

 the feeling








Saturday, March 30, 2019

Practice Using Irregular Verbs

Practice Irregular Verbs

Common Irregular Verbs Set 1 on Quizlet 


80 Irregular Verbs on Quizlet

In Low Intermediate, we use some irregular verbs in simple past.  Simple past is usually the second column of an irregular verbs list.  

  •  Do not use "was" or "were" before another verb when you use simple past.  
  • Use the past form in positive sentences.  Do not use it in negative sentences or questions   
  • Examples:  I drove to school.  She didn't drive to school.  Did you drive to school?
  • Use base form with Did or didn't  Use the  past form in positive sentences.
  • Examples: Did you go to school?  He didn't go to school.  We went to school.

Sometimes we use the third column or an -ed form of a verb as an adjective in low intermediate.

She is tired.  I am bored.  The window is broken.  The table leg is bent.




In high intermediate, we need a lot of irregular verbs.  We use have or has + a past participle for the present perfect tense.  The past participle is usually in the third column.  
Many online exercises that practice irregular verbs mix up simple past and present perfect.  
  • If there's a have or a has, use the third column word.  I have driven.  He has driven.  
  • If there's no have or has, use the second column.  I drove.  He drove too.
Video songs for memorizing lists:  (Scroll down for exercises to practice)
















The British accent doesn't change the words...









Monday, March 5, 2018

AND, BUT or OR








Conjunctions and using commas....
(or one reason why I often talk about the differences between phrases, clauses, and sentences 
when I talk about conjunctions)