Point 33 in the category of PAST is defined as: present perfect simple + ‘since’ to talk about duration. PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: I have read a lot of books about cooking since then. Chinese male, level 3 writing class. We have been friends since we were high-school students. Korean female, level 3 writing class. An iWeb search for: _VH _VVN since *we removed ‘had’ 1 HAS CHANGED SINCE 11097 […]
present perfect simple + SINCE Read More »
Point 35 in the category of PAST is defined: past simple to order sequences of events in the past, in the context of narratives. PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: I looked at the sheet and thought about it and then I continued following my sheet. When I noticed that I should have arrived, I called my brother and he told me that I had the wrong directions. Arabic male, level 5 grammar class. Two of the EGP examples use ‘and then’ while one only uses ‘and’ to connect past
ordering past events Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 37 in the category of PAST/continuous is defined: give a reason for something, often with ‘because’ PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: I could not focus on my reading at all, after a while because I was sweating hard. Chinese male, level 5, writing class An iWeb search for: because * _VBD _VVG 1 BECAUSE I WAS TRYING 1574 I only got you those bloody business cards because I was trying to be cute. listen
BECAUSE + past continuous Read More »
B1 Point 41 in the category of PAST is defined as: present perfect simple WITH SUPERLATIVE to talk about a unique experience. This point will clash with superlatives followed by clauses at B2. And it overlaps Point 33 B1 clauses with a present perfect or past perfect as a superlative noun phrase complement, to talk
superlative + present pefect simple Read More »
We use present perfect simple negative questions to ask about actions that have not happened in the recent past.
Haven’t you finished your homework yet?
Hasn’t she seen the new movie?
Why haven’t they called us back?
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In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 21 in the category of PAST is defined as: past simple with ‘wish (that)’ to express regret that things are not different. TLC STUDENT SPEAKING TEST EXAMPLE: I listen to music a lot and sometimes I wish that my life was a musical. male Spain C2 EXPERT EXAMPLES: I wish I never called. TED There were many moments growing up where I wished that I was white. TED *Note that past perfect is also possible with
WISH + past simple Read More »
Point 24 in the category of PAST perfect simple: negative forms. PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: At that time, I had not found my job and I had a lot of free time. Chinese male, level 3 writing class. A search on iWeb for: _VHD _XX _VVN 1 HAD N’T SEEN 10519 2 HAD NOT SEEN 8370 3 HAD N’T HEARD 6433 4 HAD N’T THOUGHT 5405 5
had not + PAST PARTICIPLE Read More »
Habitual states or actions are regular occurrences that can be physical, mental, or emotional. The Past Simple tense in English often expresses these habitual states or actions that occurred in the past but may no longer happen in the present. Learn more about how language can indicate habitual states or actions and how they are defined in the English Grammar Profile.
ALWAYS + PAST SIMPLE ( habitual past ) Read More »
Point 27 in the category of PAST is defined as: past perfect continuous: an action or event which began before a point in the past and was still continuing up to that point, often with ‘for’ or ‘since’, to give background information. Point 32 in the PAST is defined as: past perfect continuous: background action
had been + VERBing Read More »
B1 Point 6 in the category of PASSIVES is defined as: past simple passive with a limited range of verbs needing two objects, putting the indirect object in subject position. *There is more information about this grammar at B2 TLC SPEAKING TEST EXAMPLE: I was given a big horse. female Russia B1 PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: When my husband was given a blow to the head in Oakland last year, I got frightened.
was | were + PAST PARTICIPLE + NOUN PHRASE Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 42 in the category of DETERMINERS/demonstratives is defined as: ‘this’ with time and date words to refer to the past. Speaking test example: When did you go to London? I went this year. TLC, Male, Italy, B1 A search in iWeb for: _VVD this_D _NNT1 1 SAID THIS WEEK 5943 2 ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK 3344
There are two similar and slightly overlapping grammar points dealing with the future in the past. B1 Point 3 in the category of report speech is defined as: about events in the future with and without backshifts for words relating to time. B1 point 39 in the category of FUTURE is defined as: ‘WOULD’ future
TEMPORAL SHIFTS – FUTURE Read More »
Here is another post of some overlapping and clashing grammar points from different categories in the English Grammar Profile. B1 point 72 clashes with the general definition at C1. B1 Point 42 in the category of CLAUSES is defined as: ‘IF’ + PAST SIMPLE + WOULD, FUTURE, (SECOND CONDITIONAL) imagined situation, often in the context
second & third conditonal Read More »
Here are examples of past perfect simple affirmative: Instead, the Ryans had decided to take a more old-fashioned route. context I must say I‘d hoped for better. listen In the English Grammar Profile, B1 points 34 in the category of PAST are defined as: past perfect simple: a time before another time in the past. and B1 point 38 in the category of PAST is defined as: past perfect
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In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 86 in the category of PAST is defined as: past simple to order sequences of events in the past in a complex way. *What constitutes ‘complex ordering’ is not clearly explained in the grammar description. The English Grammar Profile examples are: Following advice from a friend, I purchased
complex ordering of past events Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 85 in the category of PAST is defined as: invert the subject and affirmative auxiliary verb to talk about imagined situations in the past, often with regret, in formal contexts *although a following modal verb ‘could’ or ‘would’ is not mentioned in the description above, they do follow in the
past perfect simple (inversion) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 84 in the category of PAST: present perfect simple with the full negative forms with a wide range of verbs, often in formal contexts. An iWeb search for: _N have|has not _VVN 1 POLICE HAVE NOT RELEASED 590 2 GOD HAS NOT GIVEN 328 3 CANCER HAS NOT SPREAD
present perfect simple negative (wide range of verbs) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 83 in PAST is defined as: ‘NOT ONLY … BUT ALSO’ the inverted form of the past simple with auxiliary ‘do’ *Note that any type of inversion with ‘not only but also’ is C1. Our example: Sportskeeda Not only did this affect his reputation with the fans, but also
Not only did + but also Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 82 in the category of PAST is defined as: the past simple with ‘did’ for emphasis A search in iWeb corpus for: _N did _VVI 1 STUDY DID FIND 301 2 THINGS DID GET 205 3 RESEARCHERS DID FIND 159 4 THINGS DID HAPPEN 159 5 STUDY DID SHOW 114
English Grammar Profile C1 point 81 in the category of PAST/simple is defined as: ‘yes/no’, ‘wh-‘, tag and negative question forms with a wide range of verbs. *This is more about vocabulary than grammar. We have tried to cover this same topic also here. However, we’ll attempt to focus on what is C1 in this
past simple questions (with a wide range of verbs) Read More »
