Here's a quick reminder of the rules of using past simple and past continuous together.
In this sentence there are two verbs:
I was watching television when he arrived.
The first action is a long action - it lasted for a period of time. We therefore use the past continuous.
The second action is a short action that has interrupted the first. So for this we need past simple!
Here is a quick practice exercise to see how much you remember about common verb-preposition combinations. Think carefully before you decide on the correct answer!
Lesson by Caroline Devane
A conditional consist of two clauses: the condition or if-clause and the main or result clause. Depending on the meaning we try to convey we have many different conditionals at our exposal to express ourselves clearly. We are going to look at two mixed conditionals that express unreal situations.
How well do you remember how to form the correct verb tense?
In each sentence below, change the highlighted verb for the correct tense.
Only use one word per sentence. If the tense is already correct, still type in the verb shown.
Think about present simple, past simple, present continuous and past participle in your answers.
Lesson by Caroline Devane
Sometimes, it's the small and most used words in English that students make the most mistakes with, so it can be good to remind yourself of when to use them.
This lesson focuses on 'I, my and me'. In each sentence you need one of these words to complete the gap.
Please tell us how you get on? Also let me know if there are any other 'small' words that you sometimes get confused with.
Good luck!
Caroline
How many friends will you have spoken to by this time next week?
Which TV shows will you have watched by this time tomorrow?
Where will you have lived by the time you retire?
All these questions ask what 'will have' happened by some future time. Use the future perfect tense to talks about the past in the future.
Subject + will have + past participle + object
Here is an intermediate level challenge that will be familiar to regular visitors of the site.
Decide which word is needed in each sentence to make it correct.
The sentences are examples of common mistakes English teachers hear in lesson.
Good luck!
Lesson by Caroline Devane
A noun can be a person, thing or place: 'I live in a house.'
A verb shows an action, It is a 'doing' word: 'I play tennis with my brother.'
An adjective is used to decribe or give us more information about a noun: 'A big dog.'
Before they started appearing in court, most people _1_ London's rioters and looters were unemployed young people with no hope and no future.
Yet among those arrested _2_ a graphic designer, a postal employee, a dental assistant, a teaching aide, a forklift driver and a youth worker.
How much do you remember about when to use the articles, 'the, an, a'?
Read this letter from me and try and decide which article you need in each gap.
Some of the gaps don't need an article at all; can you work out which ones these are?
Lesson by Caroline
I've had lots of different jobs and careers in my life and I'd like to tell you about some of them.
I got my first job when I was thirteen, as _1_ dog walker.
