The future is now? Or not?

Let’s talk about certainty and  probability 

 

We often use the probable form to state opinions and give our thoughts.  They may or may not be factual.

 

                             certain to/ (n. certainty)                 

The Swiss government is certain to follow suit with the EU on E-mobility legislation.            

The certainty of following  suit with the EU on E-mobility is assured.

 

likely to /unlikely to / (n. likelihood)

It is likely to affect employment in that sector. 

The likelihood of effects on employment is high.

 

probable that / improbable that (n. probability)

It is probable that we will get self-driven cars sooner.

The probability of getting* self-driven cars sooner is high.

 

will definitely be / not be

(In my opinion) The recycling of batteries will definitely not be solved overnight.

Hop over here to study up a bit with the British Council

Why straight out ask a question....

 ...when you can be indirect?

Let's compare:

Where does she play tennis?                      direct question

Can you tell me where she plays tennis?     indirect question 

Do they work in Canada?                direct question

Can you tell me if they work in Canada?    indirect question

 Give it a GO HERE

Grammar alert: verb patterns - to +infinitive or -ing

 

 In order to remember verb patterns in English we have to memorise the usage,  which means to say: 

...see it 

...say it 

...use it

...write it

.......and put it into our brain forever.

Why?

Look at these examples to see how these verb patterns work.

The bus stopped picking up the children.
The bus stopped to pick up the children. 

I want to try studying with a friend to see if it helps us stay more motivated.
I'm trying to study but it's impossible with all this noise.

Let's give it a go.  At the bottom of the explanations there is an exercise

Thank you British Council

Question Tags....

......are the short questions that we put on the end of sentences – particularly in spoken English. There are lots of different question tags but the rules are not difficult to learn.

Positive or negative?

If the main part of the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative ….

• He’s a doctor, isn’t he?
• You work in a bank, don’t you?

... and if the main part of the sentence is negative, the question tag is positive.

• You haven’t met him, have you?
• She isn’t coming, is she?

With auxiliary verbs

The question tag uses the same verb as the main part of the sentence. If this is an auxiliary verb (‘have’, ‘be’) then the question tag is made with the auxiliary verb.

• They’ve gone away for a few days, haven’t they?
• They weren’t here, were they?
• He had met him before, hadn’t he?
• This isn’t working, is it?

Without auxiliary verbs

If the main part of the sentence doesn’t have an auxiliary verb, the question tag uses an appropriate form of ‘do’.

• I said that, didn’t I?
• You don’t recognise me, do you?
• She eats meat, doesn’t she?

With modal verbs

If there is a modal verb in the main part of the sentence the question tag uses the same modal verb.

• They couldn’t hear me, could they?
• You won’t tell anyone, will you?

With ‘I am’

Be careful with question tags with sentences that start ‘I am’. The question tag for ‘I am’ is ‘aren’t I?’

• I’m the fastest, aren’t I?

Intonation

Question tags can either be ‘real’ questions where you want to know the answer or simply asking for agreement when we already know the answer.

If the question tag is a real question we use rising intonation. Our tone of voice rises.
If we already know the answer we use falling intonation. Our tone of voice falls.

Practice

1. You wanted that, .......... ?
a) would you
b) didn't you
c) wouldn't you
d) do you

2. He saw that .......... ?
a) is he
b) won't he
c) didn't he
d) doesn't he

3. You know that's right .......... ?
a) would you
b) wouldn't you
c) don't you
d) didn't you

4. He will be coming .......... ?
a) is he
b) did he
c) doesn't he
d) won't he

5. After all this time you'd think he'd have forgotten .......... ?
a) didn't you
b) wouldn't you
c) don't you
d) do you

6. The amount he is suffering from hay fever he needs to see a doctor .......... ?
a) doesn't he
b) did he
c) won't he
d) is he

7. You may think you know the answer but you don't .......... ?
a) don't you
b) would you
c) wouldn't you
d) do you

8. After working so hard he didn't deserve to fail the exam .......... ?
a) doesn't he
b) did he
c) won't he
d) is he

9. You wouldn't report me, .......... ?
a) don't you
b) would you
c) wouldn't you
d) do you

10. He isn't going to like this, .......... ?
a) didn't he
b) did he
c) won't he
d) is he

Answers

1. You wanted that, .......... ?
b) didn't you

2. He saw that .......... ?
c) didn't he

3. You know that's right .......... ?
c) don't you

4. He will be coming .......... ?
d) won't he

5. After all this time you'd think he'd have forgotten .......... ?
b) wouldn't you

6. The amount he is suffering from hay fever he needs to see a doctor .......... ?
a) doesn't he

7. You may think you know the answer but you don't .......... ?
d) do you

8. After working so hard he didn't deserve to fail the exam .......... ?
a) doesn't he

9. You wouldn't report me, .......... ?
b) would you

10. He isn't going to like this, .......... ?
c) won't he

What's the difference? Present Perfect and Past Simple

Present Perfect Simple	Past Simple
Unfinished actions that started in the past and continue to the present: I've known Julie for ten years (and I still know her).	Finished actions: I knew Julie for ten years (but then she moved away and we lost touch).
A finished action in someone's life (when the person is still alive: life experience): My brother has been to Mexico three times.	A finished action in someone's life (when the person is dead): My great-grandmother went to Mexico three times.
A finished action with a result in the present: I've lost my keys! (The result is that I can't get into my house now).	A finished action with no result in the present: I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there is no result. I got new keys yesterday).
With an unfinished time word (this week, this month, today): I've seen John this week.	With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday): I saw John last week.

Remember:

1. We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the present.
2. We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still happening now OR for finished actions which have a connection to the present.
3. We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word:
   • NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday.

• Present perfect or past simple exercise 1
• Present perfect or past simple exercise 2
• Present perfect or past simple exercise 3
• Present perfect or past simple exercise 4

credit to Seonid. Thank you!

Need to refresh?

I know how hard it is to live in a non-English-speaking
country and continue to keep your personal English skills
from disappearing from your head.

Luckily I know of a place you can sit down to for a few minutes over the holidays to go over what you know.
No matter what your level HERE you will find some exercises for you.


Thank you kindly ego4U. 

Both, Either, Neither, Nor and So

Wendung	Übersetzung	Beispiel
both … and …	sowohl … als auch …	I like both cats and dogs.
so	auch	Jane likes cats. So do I.
not … either	auch nicht	Jane doesn't like cats. I don't like cats either.
either … or …	entweder … oder …	Jane either has a cat or a dog.
neither/nor	auch nicht	Jane doesn't like cats. Neither do I./Nor do I.
neither … nor …	weder … noch …	I like neither cats nor dogs.

Exercise

Find out why some parents think that their teenage sons or daughters have a lot in common with cats. (Don't take it too seriously, though.) ;o)

1. BothEitherNeitherNorSo cats andbotheitherneithernororso teenagers turn their heads when you call them.
2. You would hardly ever see a cat walking outside of the house with its master. BothEitherNeitherNorSo would you see a teenager in public with his or her parents very often.
3. A cat doesn't share your taste in music. A teenager doesn't andbotheitherneithernororso
4. BothEitherNeitherNorSo cats andbotheitherneithernororso teenagers can lie on the sofa for hours on end without moving.
5. Cats expect you to prepare the food for them. AndBothEitherNeitherNorSo do teenagers.
6. If you tell a joke, botheitherneithernorso your cat andbotheitherneithernororso your teen will laugh about it.
7. If you make a sudden move in their direction, botheitherneithernorso cats andbotheitherneithernororso teenagers get frightened.
8. Cats do not improve your furniture. Teenagers don't andbotheitherneithernororso
9. Cats roam outside and often come home very late at night. AndBothEitherNeitherNorOrSo do teenagers.
10. Conclusion: no matter if you botheitherneithernorso have a cat andbotheitherneithernororso a teenager at home - it's all the same.

falsche Eingaben markieren  Lösung für falsche Eingaben anzeigen  Lösung für alle Felder anzeigen

Review and practice : verb senses

Put on your thinking cap and here we GO

Present Simple: in the Present

Uses: Facts, routines, habits
To give instruction or directions

Signal Words: every day/week/month; twice a day/week/month, often, usually, sometimes,never

I watch the news every day.

I read; He /She reads I study; He /She studies

Negatives: ‘do’; ‘don’t’; ‘does’ & ‘doesn’t’

Present Continuous: in the Present- action

Uses: To describe an action that is going on at the moment

To describe a temporary event of situation

With always, forever, constantly to describe and emphasize a continuing
series of repeated actions

Signal words: at the moment, right now, still, just, while

I am watching a good film at the moment

Form: Root verb + (–ing) end study studying
[am / is/ are] + [verb + -ing]

Note: Non-continuous verbs (State) verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses.

She is wanting a drink of coffee now. = Not Correct

She wants a drink of coffee now. = Correct

Present Perfect Simple: Has occurred relative to the Present

A bridge between the past and now at some unspecified time

Uses: A present situation that started in the past

A past event that caused a present situation

A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past & now

As a conversation opener, in order to establish the topic of conversation or
to introduce a story; for example:

Have you ever been to Scotland?

Have I ever told you about the time I went.....

Used to locate an action in time up to now

Signal words: up to now; until now; so far; since; often, yet, already, before, ever, just
Form: [has/have] + [past participle verb form]
She has worked at HTW since 1998.
Time expressions:
Present perfect is never used with definite time expressions; i.e. time expressions which describe
fixed points in the past (finished time).
In 1999; when I was five; yesterday; before I left school; last week; at 7am; two minutes ago; last term; at Christmas – Use past simple

Present perfect can be used with some indefinite time expressions which describe time up-to-now:

this year; since I was six; this week; recently; ever; yet; for the last few days; within the last week.

Present Perfect Continuous:

Continuous action or condition that has been occurring relative to the present

Creates an unbroken bridge between the past and now at some unspecified time


Uses: It refers to an unspecified time between before now and now
To describe the process as well as the result, and thus the process may
still be going on, or may have just finished – thus highlighting the process
Can reflect continuity within the link
Signal words: since; for
Form: [has/have been] + [Present participle verb]
She has been working at HTW for six months.

Past Simple:  in the Past

Uses: Is used to talk about a completed action at a time before now, duration is
not important, the time of the action can be in the recent or distant past.
Used when it was some event or incident in the past and you have moved
on and are no longer interested.
You always use the simple past when you say when (a definite point in
time) something happened, so it is associated with certain past time
expressions:
Frequency: often, sometimes, always,
A definite point in time: last week, yesterday, six weeks ago
An indefinite point of time: ages ago, along time ago
(It happened a long time ago; that was ages ago!)
Chronological order: The door opened slowly and a man came in...
Form: [VERB + ed] Regular or Irregular past form of the verb
Three years ago, I studied German in Berlin.
When the phone rang, I washed my hair.
Details: When we want to give or receive (ask for) details involving the past, we
use the past simple. (WHEN; WHERE; WHO; WHY)

Past Continuous: Was occurring in the Past

Uses: To describe something; which was in progress when the main events in the
story happened
To describe an unfinished action interrupted by another event or action
I was sitting at home watching the television, when my brother walked in the
door.
To describe the background in a story written in the past tense
It was late summer. People were sitting in street cafes, enjoying the sunshine
and watching the world go by.
As he was skiing down the slopes, he hit a stone and broke his leg in two places.
To answer questions initiated by: What were you doing?
Form: [WAS/WERE] + [VERB + ing]
When the phone rang, I was in the middle of washing my hair.

Past Perfect:  relative to the Past

Uses: To make clear that one event happened before another in the past
She had already eaten when I arrived.
To refer to actions completed before another in the past
When the phone rang, I had already washed my hair.
Form: [HAD] + [past participle]
I had studied a little German before I moved to Switzerland.
Time Reference: Past Perfect can refers to a time earlier than before now
‘Just’ is used with the Past Perfect to refer to an event that was only a short time
earlier than before now.
I had just tried to call her, when she knocked on the door.

Past Perfect Continuous:

Reference: Had been occurring relative to the past
Uses: To give a chronological order to past events
Refers to an action that began before another action in the past and was
continuing at the moment of the other action
Form: [HAD] + [BEEN] + [present participle of the verb]
I had been studying German for five years before I moved to Switzerland.

Future Simple: Will occur in the future

Uses: To express a voluntary action
• Offers to do something for someone else
• To respond to someone else’s complaint or request for help
To express a promise
I will call you back as soon as possible
To express an instant decision
What would you like to drink? - I‘ll have a large orange juice
To indicate or announce a definite future decision
To express a prediction
When making a general prediction about the future
Form: [WILL] + [VERB] I will help him later; I will never help him
When using a verb tense with more than one part (will help), adverbs (never);
adverbs come between the 1st and 2nd. part.
Time Reference: No future form in time clauses
Like all future forms, the future simple cannot be used in clauses beginning with
‘when’, ‘while’, ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘by the time’, ‘as soon as’, ‘if’ and ‘unless’
When you arrive tonight, we will watch a film. – CORRECT
When you will arrive tonight, we will study English. – WRONG
A specific time can be used to show the time that an action will begin.

Future Continuous: Will be in the future

I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.
Use of a specific time as an interruption
Tonight at 7pm, I will still be working. i.e. the specific time only interrupts
the action ( I will start earlier and I will be in the process of working at 7pm)
To use two actions in the same sentence to express the idea that both
actions will be happening at the same time
Tonight, we will be studying English, discussing the use of tenses, and having a
good time.
To describe atmosphere in the future and as a polite form
To refer to actions which are arranged or expected to happen
We’ll be introducing more and more new product lines.
Form: [WILL BE] + [VERB + ing]

Future Perfect: Will relative to the future

It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the
future.

By next November, I will have covered most of the grammar in our text book.
To refer to actions completed by a certain time in the future
By the end of the year we’ll have reduced our paper invoices from 5million to
zero.

With non-continuous verbs - to show that something will continue up until
another action in the future

I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
Form: [WILL HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
I will have studied every tense by the time I finish this course.

Future Perfect Continuous:

Will be action in the future
Uses: To show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in future 

Durations such as “For five minutes”, “For two weeks” and “since Friday”
can be used. Note this is related to the (present and past) perfect continuous,
however the duration stops in the future.
They will have been working for over an hour by the time Peter arrives
She will have been working at that company for five years when it closes.
Cause of something in the future. It can be used to show ‘cause and effect’.
Sara will be tired when she gets home because she will have been working for
over nine hours.

Form: [WILL HAVE BEEN] + [VERB + ing]

I will have been reading for an hour when my children return. = (meaning - The
reading will stop just before my children return)

A look at should, supposed to, ought to.

Have to is the same as must. It implies that you don't have a choice.

John has to go to work everyday.
The students have to study tonight.

To be supposed to means an obligation. It is something that you should do, or something that another person expects you to do. Don't forget to use the verb be in front of supposed to.

Sally is supposed to meet her friend tonight.
All of the employees are supposed to attend today's meeting.

Ought to means a suggestion. You should do something but you don't have to do it.

We ought to clean the house tonight.
Phillip ought to help you with your homework.

(Notice that all of these words are modals. They are followed by a verb.) 

***

You may feel confused about the slight differences between these words. Just think about what the speaker is implying.

I have to do my homework.  (If I don't, will be in trouble.)
I am supposed to do my homework. (If I don't, my teacher will notice that I didn't do it.)
I ought to do my homework. (I don't have to if I don't want to, but I feel I should do it because I want to do well in the class.)

Check Your Understanding

Choose the best answer.


1. Willy needs money to pay for his food and house. If he doesn't go to work, he won't have money. He must work.

Willy ___ go to work.

a. ought to
b. has to
c. is supposed to

2. Johnny should help his mother with the housework. His mother would be happy if he did. But if he didn't help her, his mother wouldn't feel bad.

Johnny ___ help his mother.

a. ought to
b. has to
c. is supposed to

3. Joan want to be a nurse. To become a nurse it is necessary to go to nursing school.

Joan ___ go to nursing school if she wants to be a nurse.

a. has to
b. is supposed to
c. ought to

4. Tom's friend is waiting for him at the gym. They made plans to meet at 6:00. His friend will be upset if Tom doesn't go.

Tom ___ meet his friend.

a. ought to
b. has to
c. is supposed to

5. Lisa tells Nathan that he would be a good manager. She suggests that he apply for a job as a manager. Nathan is going to think about that.

Lisa thinks Nathan ___ be a manager

a. ought to
b. is supposed to
c. has to




Answers
1.b
2.a
3.a
4.c
5.a

Quick Grammar Reference

Go over the basic questions of grammar.  Improve your grammar!

Begin here

During, for, or since?

The prepositions during, for, since and while are often used with time expressions; they are used to say how long something took. However, we use them with different time words. Let's take a look at the difference in usage between the prepositions.


How to use during

During is a preposition, which is used before a noun (during + noun) to say when something happens. Sometimes it means for all the time, and sometimes it means for just a part of the time. It does not tell us how long it happened.

For example:

· "Nobody spoke during the presentation."

· "We get plenty of snow here during the winter."

· “My grandmother worked in the USA during the war.”

· “I heard a strange noise during the night.”


How to use while

When is used to talk about two things that are happening at the same time. The length of time is not important. Remember that while is used with a subject and a verb (while + subject + verb).

For example:

· "The phone rang while I was watching TV."

· "I met him while we were studying in the library."


How to use for
For is a preposition which is used with a period to say how long something goes on. This preposition is mainly used when we say the number of hours, days, months, etc. We also use it in expressions like “for ages” and “for a long time”.

For example:

· "Simon has been sleeping for 8 hours."

· "We waited for 30 minutes outside your house."

· “I’m going to live in France for 2 years.”

· “I sat down for 5 minutes.”

· “I’ve worked here for 3 months.”



How to use since
We use since when we say when something started (for instance when stating the starting point: Tuesday, 2008, midnight). We only use since with perfect tenses – when something started in the past and is still true now.

For example:

· I've lived here since October.

· I'd known Sam since 1999.

· I’ve been working here for 6 years.

· I’ve been working here since I left university.



Practice
Read and correct those sentences with mistakes:

1. We were waiting during five hours.

2. What are you doing in the weekend?

3. I’ve been whiling my time away.

4. It’s so beautiful in the park on summer.

5. We woke up on dawn because of all the mosquitoes!

6. I always go out Friday nights, for its the weekend.

7. During the holidays I’ll likely forget what I’ve learned since I won’t be studying.

8. It’s very noisy on the night in this street.

9. I’ll see you next Friday, in the festival.

10. What in the world is that for?



Choose the best preposition to complete these sentences:

1. I've been meaning to call you ___ some time.



2. He fell asleep ___ the meeting.



3.We all stayed inside ___ the storm.



4. Someone stole my bag ___ I was riding on the train.



5. The dog was barking ___ she was trying to watch TV.



6. Please don't smoke ___ I'm eating.



7. Bats sleep ___ the day.



8.They've been out of the office ___ ages.

9. He kept talking to me ___ I was trying to read.



10. His mobile-phone rang twice ___ the film.



11. I’m going to get my hair but ___ the summer holidays.



12. I’m going on holiday ___ two weeks.



13.I’ve been studying English ___ 4 years.



14. I’ve been studying Japanese ___ 2009.



15. I slept ___ the film.



16. I slept ___ 7 hours last night.



17. I’ve known Sarah ___ last September.



18.I’ve known Sarah ___ a long time.



19. I got a phone call ___ the meeting.



20. It rained ___ hours last night.



21. I was born ___ a thunderstorm.



22. I saw 3 film ___ the flight to Poland.



23.I haven’t seen Andrew ___ yesterday.



For answers, scroll on down...no cheating though!





















































































Answer Key
1. We were waiting during five hours. FOR

2. What are you doing in the weekend? FOR

3. I’ve been whiling my time away. CORRECT

4. It’s so beautiful in the park on summer. DURING

5. We woke up on dawn because of all the mosquitoes! DURING

6. I always go out Friday nights, for its the weekend. SINCE

7. During the holidays I’ll likely forget what I’ve learned since I won’t be studying. CORRECT

8. It’s very noisy on the night in this street. DURING

9. I’ll see you next Friday, in for the festival. FOR

10. What in the world is that for? CORRECT



1. I've been meaning to call you FOR some time.

2. He fell asleep DURING the meeting.

3.We all stayed inside DURING the storm.

4. Someone stole my bag WHILE I was riding on the train.

5. The dog was barking WHILE she was trying to watch TV.

6. Please don't smoke WHILE I'm eating.

7. Bats sleep DURING the day.

8.They've been out of the office FOR ages.

9. He kept talking to me WHILE I was trying to read.

10. His mobile-phone rang twice DURING the film.

11. I’m going to get my hair done FOR the summer holidays.

12. I’m going on holiday FOR two weeks.

13.I’ve been studying English FOR 4 years.

14. I’ve been studying Japanese SINCE 2009.

15. I slept DURING the film.

16. I slept FOR 7 hours last night.

17. I’ve known Sarah SINCE last September.

18.I’ve known Sarah FOR a long time.

19. I got a phone call DURING the meeting.

20. It rained FOR hours last night.

21. I was born DURING a thunderstorm.

22. I saw 3 films DURING the flight to Poland.

23.I haven’t seen Andrew SINCE yesterday.

do, go, or play?

We all know the saying:

"Practice makes perfect."

Collocations: do, play or go with sports and other activities

In British English, you can "do sport". In American English you can "play sports".

A typical mistake Spanish speakers make is using the verb practise for sports:

*I love practising sport. This should be: I love sport.

*I usually practise sport every evening. This should be: I usually do sport every evening.

However, in American English you can use the verb practise or practice (as it is spelt there) to mean "to train": The team is practicing for tomorrow's competition.

When other words related to sports are used, we may use other verbs:
"What sports do you do?"
"I play tennis".
Observe these pictures:

Go skiing	Do karate	Play tennis

There are three verbs that collocate with sports and other free time activities: go, do and play, but they are not interchangeable:

• Go is used with activities and sports that end in -ing. The verb go here implies that we go somewhere to practice this sport: go swimming.
• Do is used with recreational activities and with individual, non-team sports or sports in which a ball is not used, like martial arts, for example: do a crossword puzzle, do athletics, do karate.
• Play is generally used with team sports and those sports that need a ball or similar object (puck, disc, shuttlecock...). Also, those activities in which two people or teams compete against each other: play football, play poker, play chess.

In this table there is a list of sports and activities that collocate with these verbs:

Go	Do	Play
riding	aerobics	badminton
jogging	gymnastics	table-tennis
hitch-hiking	taekwondo	football
fishing	judo	basketball
sailing	karate	chess
windsurfing	kung-fu	cricket
skiing	ballet	board games
snowboarding	exercise	snooker
swimming	yoga	hockey
dancing	athletics	baseball
skating	archery	rugby
cycling	a crossword puzzle	volleyball
running	tai chi	squash

Some exceptions to the rules:

• You use do with three activities that end in -ing: do boxing, do body-building and do weight-lifting because they don't imply moving along as the other activities ending in -ing.
• Golf: if there is an idea of competition, you use the verb play. However, you can say go golfing if you do it for pleasure: Tiger Woods plays golf. We'll go golfing at the weekend. 

Tiger Woods
Image

Now try doing these exercises:

• http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/confusing_words/do_go_play.ht
•