PRESENTThere are four present tenses in English. Use the present tense to talk about something that is going on now or that is true now and any time. Simple present to express habits and general truths. Present continuous to talk about an action happening now. Present perfect for repeated actions actions where the time is not important and actions that began in the past but are not finished yet. Present perfect continuous to talk about ongoing actions where both the process and the result areimportant.NOUNSUsing nouns correctly in English is relatively simple, with standard rules and only a few exceptions. Use these pages to learn about the English grammar rules for gender, plurals, countable and uncountable nouns, compound nouns, capitalization, nationalities, and forming the possessive.NOUNS IN ENGLISH endered nouns Singular and plural nouns including irregular plural nouns !ountable and uncountable nouns "efinite pronouns #ndefinite pronouns !ompound nouns !apitalization rules for nouns Nationalities in English $orming the possessiveNOUN EN"E%Nouns answer the &uestions "What is it?" and "Who is it?" 'hey give names to things, people, and places.EXAMPLES dog bicycle (ary girl beauty $rance world#n general there is no distinction between masculine, feminine in English nouns. )owever, gender is sometimes shown by different forms or different words when referring to people or animals.EXAMPLESMasculine Feminine Gender neutralman woman personfather mother parentboy girl childuncle aunthusband wife spouseactor actressMasculine Feminine Gender neutralprince princesswaiter waitress serverrooster hen chickenstallion mare horse(any nouns that refer to people*s roles and +obs can be used for either a masculine or a feminine sub+ect,li,e for example cousin, teenager, teacher, doctor, student, friend, colleagueEXAMPLES (ary is my friend. She is a doctor. -eter is my cousin. )e is a doctor. .rthur is my friend. )e is a student. /ane is my cousin. She is a student.#t is possible to ma,e the distinction for these neutral words by adding the words male or female.EXAMPLES Sam is a female doctor. No, he is not my boyfriend, he is +ust a male friend. # have three female cousins and two male cousins.#nfre&uently, nouns describing things without a gender are referred to with a gendered pronoun to show familiarity. #t is also correct to use the gender0neutral pronoun 1it2.EXAMPLES # love my car. She 1the car2 is my greatest passion. $rance is popular with her 1$rance*s2 neighbours at the moment. # travelled from England to New 3or, on the 4ueen Elizabeth5 she 1the 4ueen Elizabeth2 is a great ship.S#NU6.% .N" -6U%.6 NOUNS%EU6.% NOUNS(ost singular nouns form the plural by adding -s.EXAMPLESSingular Pluralboat boatshouse housescat catsriver rivers. singular noun ending in s, x, z, ch, sh ma,es the plural by adding-es.EXAMPLESSingular Pluralbus buseswish wishesSingular Pluralpitch pitchesbox boxes. singular noun ending in a consonant and then y ma,es the plural by dropping the y and adding-ies.EXAMPLESSingular Pluralpenny penniesspy spiesbaby babiescity citiesdaisy daisies#%%EU6.% NOUNS'here are some irregular noun plurals. 'he most common ones are listed below.EXAMPLESSingular Pluralwoman womenman menchild childrentooth teethfoot feetperson peopleleaf leavesmouse micegoose geesehalf halvesknife kniveswife wiveslife liveself elvesSingular Pluralloaf loavespotato potatoestomato tomatoescactus cactifocus focifungus funginucleus nucleisyllabus syllabi/syllabusesanalysis analysesdiagnosis diagnosesoasis oasesthesis thesescrisis crisesphenomenon phenomenacriterion criteriaSingular Pluraldatum dataSome nouns have the same form in the singular and the plural.EXAMPLESSingular Pluralsheep sheepfsh fshdeer deerspecies speciesaircraft aircraft#%%EU6.% 7E%89NOUN .%EE(EN'Some nouns have a plural form but ta,e a singular verb.Plural nouns used with a singular verb Sentencenews The news is at 6.30 p.m.athletics thletics is good for young people.Plural nouns used with a singular verb Sentencelinguistics !inguistics is the study of language.darts "arts is a popular game in #ngland.billiards $illiards is played all over the world.Some nouns have a fixed plural form and ta,e a plural verb. 'hey are not used in the singular, or they have a different meaning in the singular. Nouns li,e this include: trousers, jeans, glasses, savings, thanks, steps, stairs, customs, congratulations, tropics, wages, spectacles, outskirts, goods, witsPlural noun with plural verb Sentencetrousers %y trousers are too tight.&eans 'er &eans are black.glasses Those glasses are his.!OUN'.86E .N" UN!OUN'.86E NOUNS#t*s important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns in English because their usage is different in regards to both determiners and verbs.!OUN'.86E NOUNS!ountable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. 'hey have a singular and a plural form. 'hesingular form can use the determiner ;a; or ;an;. #f you want to as, about the &uantity of a countable noun, you as, ;)ow manyeith is loo,ing for so!ewhere to live. 'here is "owhere as beautiful as -aris.Any and the indefinite pronouns formed with it can also be used in affirmative sentences with a meaning that is close to every: whichever person, whichever place, whichever thing, etc.EXAMPLES 'hey can choose a"ythi"g from the menu. 3ou may invite a"ybody you want to your birthday party. =e can go a"ywhere you*d li,e this summer. )e would give a"ythi"g to get into Oxford. $ido would follow you a"ywhere.NE.'#7E SEN'EN!ESNegative sentences can only be formed with the indefinite pronouns that include any.EXAMPLES # don*t have a"ythi"g to eat. She didn*t go a"ywhere last wee,. # can*t find a"yo"e to come with me.(any negative sentences that include an indefinite pronoun with any can be turned into affirmative sentences with a negative meaning by using an indefinite pronoun with no. )owever, there is a change in meaning with this transformation: the sentence that includes an indefinite pronoun withno is stronger, and can imply emotional content such as definsiveness, hopelessness, anger, etc.EXAMPLES # don*t ,now a"ythi"g about it. F neutral # ,now "othi"g about it. F defensive # don*t have a"ybody to tal, to. F neutral # have "obody to tal, to. F hopeless 'here wasn*t a"ythi"g we could do. F neutral 'here was "othi"g we could do. F defensive9angryNE.'#7E 4UES'#ONS#ndefinite pronouns with every, some, and any can be used to form negative &uestions. 'hese &uestions can usually be answered with a ;yes; or a ;no;-ronouns formed with anyand every are used to form true &uestions, while those with some generally imply a &uestion to which we already ,now or suspect the answer.EXAMPLES #s there a"ythi"g to eat< "id you go a"ywhere last night< #s e%eryo"e here< )ave you loo,ed e%erywhere and & still do.( 3n action performed during a period that has not yet finished. &hehas beento the cinema twice this week '> and the week isn%t o$er yet.( 3 repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. 1e have visited 2ortugal several times. 3n action that was completed in the $ery recent past expressed by !/ust!. ! have just finished my work. 3n action when the time is not important. He has read "1ar and 2eace". '> the result of his reading is important(*ote: 4hen we want to gi$e or ask details about when where who we use the simple past. Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses."+,$-'% %,"*,&D $' ,1& )"%, "'D +-',$'0$'5 $' ,1& )*&%&', They haven't lived here for years. She has worked in the bank for fi$e years. 4e have had the same car for ten years. 1ave you played the piano since you were a child*#1&' ,1& ,$.& )&*$-D *&3&**&D ,- 1"% '-, 3$'$%1&D $ have worked hard this week. &t has rained a lot this year. 4e haven't seen her today."+,$-'% *&)&",&D $' "' 0'%)&+$3$&D )&*$-D 4&,#&&' ,1& )"%, "'D '-#. They have seen that film six times &t has happened se$eral times already. She has visited them fre!uently. 4e have eaten at that restaurant many times."+,$-'% +-.)/&,&D $' ,1& 6&*! *&+&', )"%, (+20%,) 1ave you just finished work* & have just eaten. 4e have just seen her. 1as he just left*#1&' ,1& )*&+$%& ,$.& -3 ,1& "+,$-' $% '-, $.)-*,"', -* '-, 7'-#' Someone has eaten my soupE 1ave you seen % 4hen the police !uestioned him Fohn told them he had been working late in the office that night.;6R,&N< T+E P3ST PER;EBT B6NT&NU6USThe past perfect continuous is composed of two elements A the past perfect of the $erb to be (6had been ? the present participle (base+ing.#ub/ect had been verb + ing& had been walking)ffirmativeShe had been trying*egativeShe hadn%t been sleepingInterrogative+ad you been eating*Interrogative negative+adn%t they been li$ing*'2 %3Y, .)#' .,0F,1' 12*'I*323#)ffirmative *egative InterrogativeI had been buying & hadn%t been buying +ad & been buyingYou had been buying /ou hadn%t been buying +ad you been buying#he had been buying She hadn%t been buying +ad she been buying(e had been buying 4e hadn%t been buying +ad we been buying'hey had been buying They hadn%t been buying +ad they been buying;UTUREThere are a number of different ways of referring to the future in English. &t is important to remember thatwe are expressing more than simply the time of the action or e$ent. 6b$iously any %future% tense will always refer to a time %later than now% but it may also express our attitude to the future e$ent.3ll of the following ideas can be expressed using different tenses" Simple prediction" There will be snow in many areas tomorrow. 3rrangements" I!m meeting Fim at the airport. Plans and intentions" (e!re going to spend the summer abroad. TimeAtabled e$ents" The plane takes off at L a.m. Prediction based on present e$idence" & think it!s going to rainE 4illingness" (e!ll give you a lift to the cinema. 3n action in progress in the future" This time next week I!ll be sun+bathing. 3n action or e$ent that is a matter of routine" You!ll be seeing Fohn in the office tomorrow won%t you* 6bligation" /ou are to travel directly to -ondon. 3n action or e$ent that will take place immediately or $ery soon" The train is about to leave. Pro#ecting oursel$es into the future and looking back at a completed action" 3 month from now he will have finished all his exams.&t is clear from these examples that se$eral tenses are used to express the future. The future tense section shows the form and function of each of these uses of future tenses.There are four future $erb tenses in English. Simple future tense ;uture continuous tense ;uture perfect tense ;uture perfect continuous tenseThere are also se$eral other ways to talk about the future without using a future $erb tense. Using the present continuous to talk about future arrangements Using the simple present to talk about scheduled e$ents Using CgoingC to talk about the future ;uture obligations The immediate future5)%B!# :@T@8# T#45#;UNBT&6NS 6; T+E S&,P-E ;UTURE TENSEThe simple future refers to a time later than now and expresses facts or certainty. &n this case there is no %attitude%.'he simple future is used: To predict a future e$ent"&t will rain tomorrow. 4ith & or 4e to express a spontaneous decision"I!ll pay for the tickets by credit card. To express willingness" I!ll do the washingAup.e!ll carry your bag for you. &n the negati$e form to express unwillingness"The baby won!t eat his soup.& won!t leave until &%$e seen the managerE 4ith & in the interrogati$e form using CshallC to make an offer"#hall I open the window* 4ith we in the interrogati$e form using CshallC to make a suggestion"#hall we go to the cinema tonight* 4ith & in the interrogati$e form using CshallC to ask for ad$ice or instructions"4hat shall I tell the boss about this money* 4ith you to gi$e orders"/ou will do exactly as & say. 4ith you in the interrogati$e form to gi$e an in$itation"(ill you come to the dance with me*(ill you marry me**ote:&n modern English will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly used with I and we to make an offer or suggestion or to ask for ad$ice 'see examples abo$e(. 4ith the other persons 'you he she they( shall is only used in literary or poetic situations e.g. )1ith rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, &he shall have music wherever she goes.);6R,&N< T+E S&,P-E ;UTUREThe simple future tense is composed of two parts" will 4 shall ? the infiniti$e without to#ub/ect will infinitive without to)ffirmative& will go& shall go*egativeThey will not seeThey won%t seeInterrogative4ill she ask*Interrogative negative4on%t they try*+-',*"+,$-'%& will > &%ll4e will > we%ll/ou will > you%ll+e will > he%llShe will > she%llThey will > they%ll4ill not > won%tThe form Cit willC is not normally shortened.T6 SEE" S&,P-E ;UTURE TENSE)ffirmative *egative Interrogative Interrogative *egativeI will see & won%t see 4ill & see* 4on%t & see*DI shall see DShall & see*You will see /ou won%t see 4ill you see* 4on%t you see*e will see +e won%t see 4ill he see* 4on%t he see*(e will see 4e won%t see 4ill we see* 4on%t we see*D(e shall see DShall we see*'hey will see They won%t see 4ill they see* 4on%t they see*:@T@8# 3A4T)4@A@5;6R,The future continuous is made up of two elements"the simple future of the verb !to be! + the present participle 9base+ing:#ub/ect simple future of the verb !to be! present participle/ou will be watching& will be staying,- %,"!, 30,0*& +-',$'0-0%)ffirmative *egative Interrogative *egative Interrogative& will be staying. & won%t be staying. 4ill & be staying* 4on%t & be staying*/ou will be staying. /ou won%t be staying. 4ill you be staying* 4on%t you be staying*+e will be staying. +e won%t be staying. 4ill he be staying* 4on%t he be staying*She will be staying. She won%t be staying. 4ill she be staying* 4on%t she be staying*&t will be staying. &t won%t be staying. 4ill it be staying* 4on%t it be staying*4e will be staying. 4e won%t be staying. 4ill we be staying* 4on%t we be staying*They will be staying. They won%t be staying. 4ill they be staying* 4on%t they be staying*;UNBT&6NSThe future continuous refers to an unfinished action or e$ent that will be in progress at a time later than now. The future continuous is used for !uite a few different purposes.The future continuous can be used to pro#ect oursel$es into the future.,-)M.L,# This time next week I will be sun+bathing in 9ali. 9y Bhristmas I will be skiing like a pro. Fust think next ,onday you will be working in your new #ob.The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about future e$ents.,-)M.L,# e!ll be coming to the meeting & expect. & guess you!ll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun. You!ll be missing the sunshine once you%re back in England.&n the interrogati$e form the future continuous can be used to ask politely for information about the future.,-)M.L,# (ill you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight* (ill ;im be coming with us* (ill she be going to the party tonight* (ill I be sleeping in this room*The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous e$ents that we expect to happen in the future.,-)M.L,# &%ll be seeing Fim at the conference next week. 4hen he is in 3ustralia he will be staying with friends. I!ll be eating with Fane this e$ening so & can tell her.4hen combined with still the future continuous refers to e$ents that are already happening now and that we expect to continue some time into the future.,-)M.L,# &n an hour I!ll still be ironing my clothes. Tomorrow he!ll still be suffering from his cold. Next year will she still be wearing a si5e six* (on!t stock prices still be falling in the morning* Unfortunately sea levels will still be rising in :0 years.:@T@8# B#8:#3T;6R,The future perfect is composed of two elementsthe simple future of the verb They laughed as they went out into the snow. 4ropping the gun she put her hands in the air. > She dropped the gun and put her hands in the air. .utting on his coat he left the house. > +e put on his coat and left the house.,1& )*&%&', )"*,$+$)/& ,- &:)/"$' " *&"%-'The present participle can be used instead of a phrase starting with as, since or because. &n this usage the participial phrase explains the cause or reason for an action.,-)M.L,# Feeling hungry he went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. %eing poor he didn%t spend much on clothes. 6nowing that his mother was coming he cleaned the flat. +e whispered thinking his brother was still asleep.;#8@4"The gerund looks exactly the same as a present participle but it is useful to understand the difference between the two. The gerund always has the same function as a noun 'although it looks like a $erb(. Someuses of the gerund are co$ered on this page. 3 separate page deals with $erbs that are followed by the gerund.,1& 5&*0'D "% ,1& %042&+, -3 ,1& %&',&'+&,-)M.L,# ,ating people is wrong. unting tigers is dangerous. Flying makes me ner$ous. %rushing your teeth is important. #moking causes lung cancer.,1& 5&*0'D "% ,1& +-.)/&.&', -3 ,1& 6&*4 ',- 4&',-)M.L,# 6ne of his duties is attending meetings. The hardest thing about learning English is understanding the gerund. 6ne of life%s pleasures is having breakfast in bed.,1& 5&*0'D "3,&* )*&)-%$,$-'%The gerund must be used when a $erb comes after a preposition. This is also true of certain expressions ending in a preposition for example the expressions in spite of K there"s no point in.,-)M.L,# Ban you snee5e without opening your mouth* She is good at painting. She a$oided him by walking on the opposite side of the road. 4e arri$ed in ,adrid after driving all night. ,y father decided against postponing his trip to +ungary. There%s no point in waiting. &n spite of missing the train we arri$ed on time.,1& 5&*0'D "3,&* )1*"%"/ 6&*4%Phrasal $erbs are composed of a verb + preposition or adverb.,-)M.L,# 4hen will you give up smoking* She always puts off going to the dentist. +e kept on asking for money. Fim ended up buying a new T@ after his old one broke.There are some phrasal $erbs that include the word CtoC as a preposition for example to look forward to, to take to, to be accustomed to, to get around to, 8 to be used to. &t is important to recognise that the wordCtoC is a preposition in these cases because it must be followed by a gerund. &t is not part of the infiniti$e form of the $erb. /ou can check whether CtoC is a preposition or part of the infiniti$e. &f you can put the pronoun CitC after the word CtoC and form a meaningful sentence then the word CtoC is a preposition and must be followed by a gerund.,-)M.L,# & look forward to hearing from you soon. & look forward to it. & am used to waiting for buses. & am used to it. She didn%t really take to studying English. She didn%t really take to it. 4hen will you get around to mowing the grass* 4hen will you get around to it*,1& 5&*0'D $' +-.)-0'D '-0'%&n compound nouns using the gerund it is clear that the meaning is that of a noun not of a continuous $erb. ;or example with the word Cswimming poolC it is a pool for swimming in it is not a pool that is swimming.,-)M.L,# & am gi$ing Sally a driving lesson. They ha$e a swimming pool in their back yard. & bought some new running shoes.,1& 5&*0'D "3,&* %-.& &:)*&%%$-'%The gerund is necessary after the expressions can"t help, can"t stand, to be worth, 8 it"s no use.,-)M.L,# She couldn!t help falling in lo$e with him. & can!t stand being stuck in traffic #ams. &t%s no use trying to escape. &t might be worth phoning the station to check the time of the train.)4:)4)T)C#;6R,&N< T+E &N;&N&T&@EThe infiniti$e is the base form of a $erb. &n English when we talk about the infiniti$e we are usually referring to the present infiniti$e which is the most common. There are howe$er four other forms of the infinititi$e" the perfect infiniti$e the perfect continuous infiniti$e the continuous infiniti$e K the passi$einfiniti$e.The infiniti$e has two forms" the to+infinitive > to ? base the =ero infinitive > baseThe present infiniti$e base is the $erb form you will find in a dictionary.'o+infinitive >ero infinitiveto sit sitto eat eatto ha$e ha$eto remember rememberThe negati$e infiniti$e is formed by putting not in front of any form of the infiniti$e.,-)M.L,# & decided not to go to -ondon. +e asked me not to be late. &%d like you not to sing so loudly. &%d rather not eat meat. & might not come$;UNBT&6NS 6; T+E T6A&N;&N&T&@EThe toAinfiniti$e is used in many sentence constructions often expressing the purpose of something or someone%s opinion about something. The toAinfiniti$e is used following a large collection of different $erbs as well. See this page about $erbs followed by infiniti$es.,1& ,-;$'3$'$,$6& ,- $'D$+",& ,1& )0*)-%& -* $',&',$-' -3 "' "+,$-'&n this case to has the same meaning as in order to or so as to.,-)M.L,# She came to collect her pay che!ue. The three bears went to find firewood. & am calling to ask you about dad. /ou sister has gone to finish her homework.,1& ,-;$'3$'$,$6& "% ,1& %042&+, -3 ,1& %&',&'+&This is a formal usage and is far more common in written English than spoken,-)M.L,# 'o be or not to be that is the !uestion. 'o know her is to lo$e her. 'o visit the CTo be bornC is an passi$e form and is most commonly used in the past tense. +owe$er in some cases the present or future tense is appropriate.,-)M.L,# & was born in 81J7. 4here were you born* 3round 800 babies are born in this hospital e$ery week. 4e don%t know on exactly which day the baby will be born.Sometimes the passi$e is formed using the $erb to get or to have instead of the $erb to be. 3 separate pagedeals with these alternati$e ways to form the passi$e $oice!T#84T)C# DF5 TA :A8% T'# B55)C# CA)3#/ou can form sentences that are passi$e in meaning but not in form by using the $erbto get or the $erb tohave in place of the $erb to be. These constructions often describe situations where we want someone elseto do something for us or where we are going to hire someone else to do something for us. The sub#ect is acti$e but he is only doing the CgettingC. &t is the unnamed person who is gotten who will perform the action of the main $erb in the sentence. That second person is not explicit in the sentence when the sentence has a passi$e meaning. 4e are more interested in the result of the acti$ity than in the person that performs the acti$ity.,-)M.L,# & must get my hair cut$ & must have my hair cut. 4hen are you going to get that window mended* 4e%re having the house painted.This type of construction can refer to the completion of an acti$ity especially if a time expression is used.,-)M.L,# 4e%ll get the work done as soon as possible. &%ll get those letters typed before lunchtime. She said she%d have my lunch delivered by noon. /ou should have your roof repaired before next winter.&f the $erb refers to something unwanted it has the same meaning as a passi$e sentence.,-)M.L,# Fim had his car stolen last night. Fim%s car was stolen. They had their roof blown off in the storm. Their roof was blown off in the storm.0%$'5 >,- '&&D> $' )"%%$6& +-'%,*0+,$-'%/ou can also use the $erb to need followed by the gerund in an acti$e construction with a passi$e meaning. The important thing in our minds in these sentences is the person or thing that will experience the action not the person performing the action.,-)M.L,# The ceiling needs painting. The ceiling needs to be painted. ,y hair needs cutting. ,y hair needs to be cut. That faucet needs fi"ing. That faucet needs to be fi"ed.