Suffixes are letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or grammatical function. When words end in ‘ized‘ they are past simple verbs, past participle verbs or adjectives. If we look at the clearly tagged words below: (jj): 22 adjectives (vvn): 17 past participles (vvd): 9 past simple Here are iWeb […]
At B1, in the English Vocabulary Profile, IT + BE + time + TO infinitive clause = something should happen: Is it time to go home yet? listen It was time to get back to work. listen Similarly, at C1, ‘time‘ can be premodified: I think it’s about time to make a deal. listen I think it is high time for me to get out of my house while I‘m still alive. Insidious: Chapter 3 At
would rather | it’s time + CLAUSE Read More »
‘Willingness‘ = being prepared to do something (readiness). In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 105 in the category of MODALITY is defined: negative forms of ‘would’ to talk about willingness in the past. For example: Dad wanted him buried in the family plot in St Louis, but Pete wouldn’t allow it. Philomena Helen, come on! She wouldn’t wait for you. Edward Scissorhands The EGP examples include the bare infinitives ‘wait’ and ‘allow’. This is incredibly
WOULDN’T (past willingness) 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 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 »
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 »
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
The following two B1 points are only different in the order. Point 4 in REPORTED SPEECH is defined as: DIRECT SPEECH, REPORTING CLAUSE, INITIAL POSITION: report speech and thought directly, using the reporting verb before the reporting clause Point 9 is END POSITION: report speech and thought directly using the reporting verb after the reporting
DIRECT SPEECH (initial or end position) Read More »
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 »
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 »
English Grammar Profile C1 point 80 in the category of PAST is defined as: past simple ‘I thought’ as a politeness structure to sound less direct. However, there is no way to formally decide if this is actually a politeness construction. If it is not, it might still contain B2 modal passive or B1 reporting structures. For
I thought… (polite) Read More »
The past simple affirmative is used to describe completed actions or events in the past. Its usage varies with proficiency level, starting with a limited range of regular and irregular verbs at A1 level, increasing at A2 level, and covering a wide range of verbs at B1 level. The most common verbs used in the past simple tense are also listed, providing a useful reference for English language learners.
past simple affirmative Read More »
Point 15 in the category of REPORTED SPEECH / DIRECT SPEECH is defined as: the reporting verb in the mid position of the reported clause. Here’s a list of the 10 most common B2 reporting verbs found in the mid position: claimed, commented, muttered, observed, recalled, remarked, responded, sighed, stated, whispered This is a very
reporting clause (mid position) Read More »
Point 75 in the category of PAST is defined as: Past perfect simple to report statements, where the main verb in the reporting clause is in the past simple. *This point overlaps B1. So we might surmise that ‘said’ and ‘told’ are B1 and other reporting verbs might be B2 within this structure. A search
past perfect simple (report of statements) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 62 in category of PAST is defined as: a range of time adjuncts with the past simple. This is quite ambiguous as to what constitutes this in the EGP exactly. The examples all include a past simple verb and a time word but often with lots of words
Past simple + time adjuncts Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, there are two points that overlap. B2 point 55 is defined as: PAST simple after ‘if’ as a politeness structure, especially in letters and emails. B2 point 72 is defined as: the past simple with a range of subordinating conjunctions, including ‘as soon as’, ‘before’, ‘if’, ‘once’, ‘since’, ‘so’, ‘until’,
conjunction + past simple Read More »
1 SPLIT (VVN) 88303 2 SPLIT (VVI) 85577 6 SPLIT (NN1) 26531 7 SPLIT (JJ) 17450 12 SPLIT (VVD) 9537 16 SPLIT (VV0) 7780
It is very possible to have a noun after a past participle. 1 TAKEN (VVN) PLACE (NN1) 57019 2 TAKEN (VVN) CARE (NN1) 52472 3 TAKEN (VVN) ADVANTAGE (NN1) 15507 4 MADE (VVN) PUBLIC (NN1_JJ_RR@) 14502 5 ELECTED (VVN_JJ@) PRESIDENT (NN1) 10852 6 TAKEN (VVN) PART (NN1) 9235 7 BUILT (VVN) ENVIRONMENT (NN1) 7734 8
past + singular noun Read More »
1 LEFT (VVN) 825113 2 LEFT (JJ) 812850 3 LEFT (VVD) 655523 11 LEFT (RL) 75837 15 LEFT (NN1) 38688
Grammar examples from B1 to C2 of this structure.
used to (semi modal) Read More »
