Native speakers usually use contractions especially when speaking. We make contractions by connecting two or more words together. One or more letters are removed from the words when they are connected.
I am → I'm →"I'm older than you."
I had →I'd → "I'd better do my homework."
I have → I've → "I've always liked sushi."
When should we use the present simple and the present continuous tenses?
Use the present simple tense for actions that are habitual or repeating. When we talk about something we always do, we use this tense.
Elena loves English.
I read English books every evening.
I go to English class on Tuesday.
Is the structure of this sentence correct?
"My hometown it is very big."
What is it in this sentence?
Often when we are talking about present situations, we use unless instead of if...not.
Unless means except if or simply it means if...not.
Both of these examples have the same meaning and refer to the present time.
Using an and a does not depend on the spelling of the word it comes before, it depends on the pronunciation of the word. In most cases though, an is used before words that begin with vowels (a, e, i, o u.):
an apple
an elephant
an igloo
an oven
an umbrella
If a word starts with a consonant sound, use a.
a ball
a car
a doll
Generally, we use at, in and on when we talk about the location of things.
What do the prepostions in these three things tell us about the locations?
"Meet Simon at the end of the road."
"You left your glasses in the bathroom."
"Is that a spider on the wall?"
It might be because the words are pronounced similarly that then and than are often confused by English learners. Let's take a look at the difference.
Then is used either as a time expression, as a consequence or with a sequence of events.
As a time expression - Sorry I missed your call last night, I was already sleeping then.
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Do and does are used when we want to ask yes/no questions.
We use do or does depending on the subject. Below are two sentences with two different subjects, she and you.
Does she like sport? Yes, she does.
English learners get confused about when to use bring and take. It is important to know that they do NOT have the same meaning.
To show you how confusing it can be, take a look at these two sentences, both of them are correct:
Relative clauses are used to give extra information about something in a sentence.
There are two types of relative clauses, defining and non-defining.
A defining relative clause gives information about the noun it modifies.
The boy who lives next door loves tennis.