The phrase “to have to” is a common construction in English that expresses obligation, necessity, or requirement. Let’s break down 3 examples: I‘m going to have to get a job. listen In this sentence, “going to” indicates a future action. “Have to” means that the speaker is obliged or required to do something. It implies that getting a job is necessary […]
TO HAVE TO (infinitive form) Read More »
Here’s a student example of ‘present perfect simple negative‘: Today I can play very well with someone, even when I haven’t played for a long time. PELIC Portuguese female level 3 writing. A2 point 5 in the category of NEGATION/AUXILIARY VERBS is defined: negative statements of main verbs in the present continuous and present perfect with ‘be’ and ‘have’ + ‘not/n’t’. A2 point 13 in the category of PAST is
present perfect simple negative (YET) Read More »
In general, the word “just” can be used to add emphasis or to indicate the recency of an event or state. When it is used with the present perfect simple, it means that the event or state happened a very short time ago, and it is still relevant to the present moment.
present perfect simple + JUST Read More »
There is no listing in the English Grammar Profile for a ‘wide‘ range of main verbs with present perfect simple. So, here’s an expert example of present perfect simple using academic collocation: In the course of my professional life, I have acquired knowledge and manual skill. (linotype.com) Here are some general range points in the English Grammar Profile in the category of
present perfect simple (range) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 31 in the category of PAST is defined: present perfect continuous: QUESTIONS with a limited range of verbs. Note that questions are generally low frequency in the CLC probably due to lack of spoken data. *Also note that there are no other entries for ‘range of verbs’ PELIC
present perfect continuous questions Read More »
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 »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 22 in the category of PAST is defined as: present perfect simple with ‘already’ to emphasise that something is done, often before the expected time. FOR EXAMPLE: He is the most joyful person that I have ever met, and in just over a year, he has already made the world a better place. A search in iWeb for: _VHZ already _VVN 1 HAS ALREADY BEGUN 7505 2
present perfect simple + ALREADY Read More »
Might is a modal verb that can express possibility, permission, suggestion or condition. In phrases like “as you might know”, “as you might expect”, “as you might imagine”, etc., it is used to focus the reader on shared knowledge or common sense, and to show respect or politeness by not assuming what the reader knows or thinks.
as you might (SHARED KNOWLEDGE) 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 »
C1 MODALITY
‘might or may + not have’ + ‘-ed’ to talk about possibility with a past reference
English Grammar Profile
might | may + not have + PAST PARTICIPLE (past possibility) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 205 in MODALITY is defined as: PAST, NEGATIVE: ‘needn’t have’ + ‘-ed It means that somebody did something, but it was not necessary. Also, note that uncontracted ‘not’ is possible. Here are two examples: You needn’t have come so far, Asgardian. listen In fact, she need not have hurried. TED Well, we needn’t have worried. A search in iWeb:
need not have | needn’t have + PAST PARTICPLE Read More »
C1 English Grammar Profile point 61 in FUTURE is defined as: future perfect simple with adverbs in the normal mid-position For example: Something somewhere will always have changed. An iWeb search for: will _R have _VVN 1 WILL PROBABLY HAVE NOTICED 102 Forbes How To Make This E-Commerce Holiday Season Your Best Yet Anyone shopping in-store will probably have noticed the first few holiday decorations being put up. 2 WILL
will + ADVERB + have + PAST PARTICIPLE Read More »
C1 point 112 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: Conditional subordinate clauses with ‘if’ + the past perfect simple and modal verb + ‘have’ + ‘-ed’ in the main clause, to talk about imagined situations in the past, often with regret. *Note the same definition with ‘would‘ is listed at B1! Basically, this means that for
if + PAST PERFECT + MODAL VERBS Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 211 in MODALITY is defined as:
‘must not have been’ (especially with ‘easy’).
must not have been Read More »
Example: “Will you have achieved your goals by the end of the year?” The future perfect simple is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will” followed by the subject, then “have” and the past participle of the main verb. In this case, the main verb is “achieved,” which is the past participle form of “achieve.”
future perfect simple question Read More »
‘were it not for’ + noun phrase expresses that someone or something prevented something from happening. For example: Were it not for the cataclysmic events which overtook them, it’s entirely possible that raptors, rather than humans, would have become the dominant species on this planet. Listen C2 point 132 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: ‘Were it not for’ + noun phrase to introduce conditions in formal contexts. *The big corpora do not
B1 past modality
English Grammar Profile
might | should + have + past participle Read More »
This post is another one where the English Grammar Profile has clashing proficiency levels associated with a point and in the examples. Here we are looking at the category of QUESTIONS. It is understandable that usage is what is different, but the examples could be better selected: B2 Point 29: ‘wh-‘words + the negative form
WH – negative question Read More »
The landscape can get muddy when it has been raining.
present perfect continuous Read More »
‘never + inversion‘ is B2 with or without past perfect. The following examples use present perfect simple + inversion: Never before has man possessed so much power. listen Never before have so many people risen so far so fast, on so many different dimensions. listen Here’s an example with past perfect inversion without ‘before’: Never had I felt such an incomprehensible emptiness within myself. listen In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 68 in PAST is defined as: past perfect
NEVER BEFORE + perfect inversion Read More »
