How to speak correct English?: Recent Episodes
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Lessons in English grammar to help you speak and write correct English and avoid common mistakes in English. Visit us at www.BodhiSutra.com or call at +91-11-41170801/41170802 to speak fluent English through one on one speaking classes on phone.
Non-action verb or stative verbs Verbs which don’t talk about action are called non-action verbs. Let’s take few examples to understand it.
Examples:
· My mother is cooking food (here, your mother is performing an action of cooking food so, cook is an action-verb)
· My mother doesn’t like milk (here, like is a desire not an action, so ‘like’ is an non-action verb)
Note:We don’t use non-action verbs in the progressive tenses.
Non-action verbs talk about state, sense, desire, possession, or opinion.
The most common non-action verbs are:
Look
Smell
Sound
Taste
feel
Want
Prefer
Like
Love
Have
own
possess
belong
Consider, think, believe
Think
Believe
seem
appear
Know
Forget
Remember
Sometimes some verbs have both action and non-action meanings. It depends on the situation whether the action or non-action form of the verb is used.
Verbs. Used as non action verb. Used as action verb
Look. She looks beautiful. She is looking at me
Think. She thinks, it’s a great idea. She is thinking about her upcoming movie.
Have. I have a house in Noida. I am having my lunch (having means eating)
Be form (is) He is a naughty boy. He is being naughty today
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Form
if + Past Perfect, + would + have + Past Participle
Use
Conditional Sentences Type 3 refer to situations in the past. They express hypothetical results to past given situations.
Example:
- If he had been careful, he wouldn't have had the accident.
Sometimes in the past, he was careless. He drove so fast. So he had an accident
Things to remember
- The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.
Examples:
"Hydrogen combines with Oxygen to form water."
" I will send her an invitation if you want to invite her."
" I would travel around the world if I had a lot of money." "He wouldn't have had that accident if he had been careful."
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What is unfinished past action?
Actions which started in past and still continuing in present are called unfinished past actions.
Examples:
How long have you known Ms Paramita?
I have known her since my childhood.
How long have been married?
I have been married for 19 years.
Structure of the sentence:
When you ask question, use the following structure:
How long+ have/has+ subject+ third participle + other words
When you answer the question, use the following structure:
Subject+have/have+third participle +other words+ for/since +time
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Should with first participle We use "should+first participle" when we have to give suggestions to others.
Structure of the sentence:
Subject + should +first participle(verb first form)+ other words
Examples:
· You should sleep now
· She should wear sari.
· She should study hard.
Should have with third participle
We use "Should have + third participle (verb 3rd form)" to talk about things we regret.
Examples:
· You should have studied harder. (= you didn't study very hard and so you failed the exam.)
· I should have gone to bed early. (= I didn't go to bed early and now I'm tired).
· She shouldn't have eaten so much cake. (= She did eat a lot of cake and now she doesn’t feel good.)
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We use "will” and “going to” for the future tense. There usage is quite close to each other.
When we are certain about our decision in future we use "will".
Examples:
I'll come to your home tomorrow.
She will attend dance classes soon.
"Be going to" is used when we want to emphasise our decision or the evidence in the present:
Examples:
I won the lottery last week. Now, I'm going to buy a car.
I 'm going to go to my village on next Monday.
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NARRATOR
Madan and Mohan are friends. They work in the same company. Today is Friday. They are sitting in the balcony in Mohan's flat and talking.
MADAN
I tell you, Pan Singh Tomar is an awesome movie. You should see it.
MOHAN
I am planning to go tomorrow. It's been long since I saw a movie.
MADAN
You shouldn't work so hard. You should have some fun in life.
MOHAN
Actually, this new project that I am working on. It's a very exciting project - on a new technology. I volunteered for this group.
MADAN
That's fine. But you should have some time for yourself. Some time for friends.
MOHAN
Hmmmm. Perhaps you are right. I shouldn't spend so much time in the office. What are your plans for the weekend?
MADAN
No plans as such. My room mate Nitin is sick - I need to take him to the hospital.
MOHAN
He smokes a lot. He mustn't smoke so much.
MADAN
I told him so. But he doesn't listen.
MOHAN
Hmmmmm.
MADAN
But I am actually worried about him. Don't know what should I do? I mean, he is my best friend.
MOHAN
Hmmmm. Possibly his current sickness will work as a wake-up call
MADAN
I hope so. He is a bright boy. He must not waste himself like this.
MOHAN
You're right. It's a pity that he is behaving like this.
NARRATOR
Why is Madan worried about Nitin? How is Madan trying to help him?
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We use 'should have' or ‘should not have’ with ‘past participle’ to talk about past regrets or past event that did not happen.
Examples:
• You got very less marks in exams. You should have studied hard.
• He should not have argued with his mother.
• You should have remembered that my mother doesn’t like fish curry.
We can also use 'should have' with past participle to speculate about events that may or may not have happened.
Examples:
• She should have explained him everything. Let’s work on our next plan.
• He should have reached home by this time. Let me call him. We use should + 1st verb to give suggestions.
Examples:
• You should not give him pocket money as he doesn’t use it at right place.
• He should come on time.
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Would: Desire or inclination (would+verb 1st form)
Examples:
· I'd love to live in India.
· Would you like some coffee?
· What I'd really like is ice-cream.
Would: Polite requests and questions (would+verb 1st form)
Examples:
· Would you give me a glass of water, please? (more polite than: give me a
glass of water, please.)
· Would you come with me? (more polite than: Will you come with me?)
Would: Opinion or hope (would+verb 1st form)
Examples:
· I suppose some people would admire it.
· Since you ask me I'd say the red one is best.
· I would love to fly.
· I would have to agree. ·
Would: Wish (would+verb 1st form)
Use would with wish when you expect a change in current situation
Example:
· I wish it would rain today (there is no sign of clouds still you expect rain)
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Since/for are used to talk about time.
Since: We use 'since' when we specify the starting time of any event.
Example: I have been working in BodhiSutra since 2009. (2009 is a starting time of my career in BodhiSutra)
For: We use 'for' when we talk about amount of time.
Example: I have been working in BodhiSutra for 10 years (10 years- duration or amount of time)
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Countable/uncountable, Few/A few, Little/A little
Countable noun: Noun which can be counted called countable noun.
Examples: Two mangoes, three pens, seven chairs etc.
Uncountable noun: Noun which can’t be counted.
Examples: Water, money, knowledge, etc.
A little means some but not much:
There is a little water in glass. (Means there is some water in glass)
Little means nothing
She has little knowledge about astrology. (Means she has no knowledge about astrology)
Few / a few
We use a few and few with a plural countable noun. Example: few books, few friends, a few boxes, a few dresses A few means something: (A few is used for positive idea)
I have a few friends in my school. We still have a few computers in our office. Few means almost nothing: (Few is used for negative idea) We were upset after watching match because India team scored few runs. I was sad: I had few books for my exam preparation.
Little / a little A little is more than little. We use a little and little with an uncountable noun.
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Difference between unless and until?
Unless is used while specifying a condition simply . And this condition has nothing to do with time.
For example-"You will fail in exam unless you study
Until is used when a condition that is related with time is to be specified.
For example- "I will continue doing the work until it gets finished."
Until is strictly used with time related condition.
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. Usage of ‘at’ or ‘in’ with night
. You must have heard people saying, I work in night or I work at night.
. Do you know the difference in these two sentences? Let us discuss these two sentences one by one:
. 1. “in night”- We say in the night when we are talking about a short time during the night: Examples:
· I heard them talking in night.
· I watched a movie in night.
· I woke up twice in night.
- "At night"-at night.
· In many BPOs people work at night.
We use ‘at’ before night when we are talking about all of the night: Examples:
· When there is no moon it is very dark at night.
· Mohan sleeps during the day and works at night.
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Who and whom
Who and whom in formal English
The usage of who and whom sometimes leads to confusion. The basic rules are as follows:
Remember that in formal English ‘who’ is used in place of a subject and ‘whom’ is used in place of an object.
‘Subject’ is what does the action mentioned in the sentence and ‘object’ is what takes the effect of the action.
Who
‘Who’ is a subjective pronoun.
Examples:
. 1) Lisa is a teacher (subject = Lisa)
a. Who is the teacher?
b. Lisa, who is a teacher is a very strong lady
. 2) Virat Kohli hit a century (subject = Virat Kohli)
a. Virat Kohli who is a Delhi boy hit a century in Australia.
b. Who hit the century?
c. Virat Kohli is the only player who hit a century.
Whom
Whom is used to replace an object.
Examples:
. 1) You have met Sachin. -- (Sachin is the object of the sentence.)
a. Whom have you met?
b. This is Sachin, whom I believe you have already met.
. 2) Manisha can ask her husband for help . -- (her husband is the object of the sentence.)
a. Whom can she ask for advice if not her husband?
b. Her husband whom she fought with yesterday is on a tour.
Who and whom in informal English
In modern usage in non-formal English the distinction of subjective and objective pronoun is ignored and who is used in both cases.
Examples: 1) Who do you think will marry the princess?
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These are simple questions which can be answered in a “yes” or “no”. Such questions are simply made by interchanging the place of the subject and the first verb.
- He can drive a car – Can he drive a car?
- She has got a car – Has she got a car?
Let's take some more examples:
- She will come tomorrow – Will she come tomorrow?
- I don't know English - Do I know English?
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Either and neither are used to describe a situation where something doesn't hold true for both the people in question.
For example:
- Neither Sunil nor Sushil like cricket.
- Sushil doesn't like cricket. Sunil doesn't like it either.
There is another usage of either where we use it to express that we are unsure about which of these two does something hold for.
Examples:
- Either Sushil or Sunil likes cricket.
- Either you or Subhadra broke the glass.
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When something is true for two people or things, we use 'so' or 'too' to signify that.
For example:
- I like cricket and so does my brother.
- I like cricket and my brother likes it too.
- I am going to Bangalore and so is my boss.
- He skipped lunch and his wife skipped it too.
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'So that' connects a reason to an effect. It is a nice way to explain how one thing connects with the other.
For example:
- Finish your work in time so that the teacher doesn't scold in you in class.
- We must work hard so that we may succeed.
- She exercises daily so that she could look good.
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Question tags are a nice way to add emphasis to what you are saying, to stress your point or to show interest in what the other person is saying.
Check out the following examples:
- A: I am an engineer.
- B: Are you? I am one too.
- A: You are en electrical engineer. Aren't you?
In sentence 2, B uses the question tag to show interest in what A is saying while in sentence 3, A adds emphasis to what he is saying about B being an electrical engineer.
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It is a good practice to use as few words while saying or writing something as possible. It forces you to think to find the best way to say something and it also keeps
Look at the following sentences. In both these sentences, the part in the brackets (like cricket or go jogging) is important but not required to expressly stated. It is largely understood. In such situations, you'd omit the word or group of words which are being repeated unless it creates unnecessary confusion.
- I like cricket but my brother doesn't (like cricket).
- Sushil goes jogging but his wife doesn't (go jogging).
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'It' can be used to tell the day, date, time or make a comment about the weather. It is also used to describe the nature of the situation (it is risky).
Check out the following examples:
- It is a hot day today.
- It is 3 o'clock now.
- It is Monday today.
- It is very crowded in the mall.
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'There is' or 'there are' is used to signify the presence of something in a particular setting. It means something exists.
For example:
- There are seven days in a week.
- There is a tree near my house.
- There is a cat in my cupboard.
- There is an ant in my food.
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When we offer someone something, we use 'would you like to'. It's a polite way of asking if someone wants something.
For example:
- Would you like a cup of coffee?
- Would you like to come for a walk?
- Would you like to catch a movie?
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"Has/Have to" or "Had to" means you have to do something and you have no choice. You cannot choose to not do it. It is compulsory.
It can also mean a firm plan (I have to reach Mumbai on Monday.)
- You have to finish this by Monday.
- He had to work in his father's shop as a kid.
- I have to finish my work today.
- I have to go Delhi tomorrow.
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"Should" indicates strong advice. Should means - Do this.
"Shouldn't" indicates that it is advisable not to do something. Shouldn't means - Don't do this.
Both "should" and "shouldn't" are slightly weaker in force than "must" and "mustn't"
- You should work hard.
- He shouldn't take his parents for granted.
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Mustn't indicates that it is necessary that a particular task is NOT done - because if it is done, it can have negative consequences. Mustn't basically means - Don't do it.
Needn't means a particular task is not necessary to be done but if it is done, no negative consequences follow. Needn't means - No need to do it but even if you do, it's ok.
- You mustn't smoke but you needn't exercise for five hours daily.
- Both of you needn't come but you mustn't miss the submission deadline.
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Must and mustn't are used to express necessity or an obligation, something that should be done, something this is compulsory to do.
For example:
- You must work hard.
- People must understand their responsibilities.
- You mustn't smoke.
- The government mustn't become arrogant.
- He has to work 14 hours a day.
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Both 'can' and 'could' are used to express capability, ask for permission or make requests.
But, there are certain differences:
Expressing capability:
While expressing capability, 'can' denotes present capability (I can run 5 kilometers in 10 minutes) while 'could' represents past capability (I could run 5kms in 10 mins).
Examples:
- I can lift 200 kgs. I could lift 500 kgs when I was young.
- She can ride a camel. She could ride an elephant as a kid.
Asking Permissions or Making Requests
While asking for permissions or making requests, 'could' is much more polite than 'can', so while you use 'can' with your peers or those slightly above in social/professional hierarchy, use 'could' when the other person is a boss or someone much higher in social/professional hierarchy.
Examples:
- Could you pass on the water. (Extra polite)
- Can I take your pen? (Polite)
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May is used to ask for permission or denote a possibility of something happening. Might is used to express remote possibility of something happening.
Please note that while both 'may' and 'might' are used to express possibility, there is a difference of degree. When the possibility of something happening is clearly low, we use 'might'.
Examples:
- I may go to Delhi tomorrow.
- It might rain today.
- May I ask a question?
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A significant usage of Present Continuous Tense is to tell about the future plans. For example:
- I am visiting the dentist tomorrow.
- She is going to get married next month.
Normally, Present Continuous Tense talks about actions that are going on right now (I am reading a book), but it can also be used to talk about future - as shown in the examples above.
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Present Perfect Tense is used in passive voice to describe actions that have been completed but the doer was not important.
For example:
- The grounds have been prepared.
- The lunch has been laid out.
Has/have been + verb III form: that's the structure of present perfect tense in passive voice. It is used to talk about actions which are completed and connected to the present but in passive voice - the action more important than the doer.
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Passive voice means the action is important and the doer is not. Passive voice is used with Present Continuous Tense to describe actions that are happening now where the action is important and not the doer.
For example:
- The house is being painted.
- The ground is being prepared for the magic show.
is/are being + verb III form - this is the structure for passive voice sentences in present continuous tense. This is used to describe an action that's happening but with focus firmly on action while doer is either unimportant or not being talked about.
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For current habits, we use present simple tense: He runs fast. He gets up early everyday.
For past habits, we use 'used to', for example: He used to get up early.
Let's take some more examples:
- Sudhir plays cricket vs Sudhir used to play cricket.
- Sanju plays guitar. Sanju used to play Tabla as a child.
- Sushil is a professor now. He used to be a bright student as a child.
Simple Present Tense (Verb I form) = current habits or routine, and, 'Used to + Verb I form' = past habits or routines.
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Passive Voice is used to describe an action where the action is important and the doer is not. In such sentences, the subject is usually the action itself and not the doer.
For example:
This office is cleaned everyday.
The chips are made of potatoes.
This house was built in 1970.
The radar was invented long back.
These are the examples of Passive Voice. In Present Tense, you'd use is/are+III form while in Past Tense, you'd use was/were+III form. You use Passive Voice when the action is more important than the doer.
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Present Perfect Continuous Tense tells us about something that has been happening for a while and is still continuing now.
For example:
He is singing vs He has been singing for 20 minutes.
Hari is cooking rice vs Hari has been cooking rice for half an hour.
Present Perfect Continuous tense essentially conveys two ideas: a) Something is happening, and, b) The duration for which it has been happening. Thus when you want to convey for how long a continuous action has been going on, use has/have been + ing.
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Present Simple Tense talks about how something or someone is while Present Perfect Tense tells you how something has been for a while.
For example:
I am in Simla vs I have been in Simla for a week.
Sushil is the president vs Sushil has been the president for two years.
Simple Present (I am in Simla) states how or what something is while Present Perfect with been (I have been in Simla for a week) states for how long has a situation existed. Usual rules of for (duration of time - for two hours, for a week, for five years) and since (starting point - since 1980, since 2 pm, since school days) apply.
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"Have ever" - is used to ask questions about whether someone has done some activity at anytime in the past till the current moment.
"Have never" is used to state that you have not done something even once at anytime in the past till the current moment.
This episode explains the usage of 'have ever' and 'have never'.
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Yet means till the present moment.
'Yet' is typically used to talk about things that havent been completed (or started) till the present moment.
This episode talks about usage of 'yet' and explains it with simple examples.
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"Already" here, signifies something which has happened before its expected time and is connected to the present.
We use just to talk about things that have happened a little while ago while we use already to talk about things that have happened before someone expected them to. This expectation could either be clearly mentioned or it could be implied and understood in the way conversation is happening.
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We use just with has/have to describe actions that has happened a little while ago. It essentially talks about things that have just completed and you are connecting them to the present.
This episode talks about using just with has/have and explains the usage with easy examples.
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Simple Past is used to talk about an action that was completed at some time in the past.
Past Continuous is used to talk about some action that was in the process of being completed at some point in time in the past.
This episode discusses the usage of Past Simple and Past Continuous with easy examples.
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Past Continuous tense describes actions that were happening at some point in the past. The action wasn't completed at the reference time, it was in progress.
Examples:
- I was sleeping when the thief broke in.
- The dog was running behind a cat when he saw the wolf.
- I was studying when you came.
- Sudha was singing when the fan dropped down.
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Simple Past is used to mention actions that happened in the past - more like a point event. For example:
- I ate breakfast
- He broke his leg
- Sudhir ran out of the class
Present Perfect talks about an action that has been completed and its impact is implied on something in the present moment.
- I have completed three years in this company
- We have never been to Mumbai.
- She has done her degree.
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Present Perfect Tense describes actions which have been completed, or perfect.
The structure of Present Perfect tense is: Has/have + verb III form.
Examples:
- I have finished this book.
- They have finished the homework.
- The cat has scared the mice away.
- We have been through a lot together.
- He hasn't paid the bills.
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Negative Past Simple tense is used to say no about something that happened in the past.
For example:
- I didn't break the window.
- She didn't drink coffee.
- The cat didn't eat the butter.
- A mad dog did not bite my pony.
- The ball did not hit the wicket.
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Interrogative Past Simple Tense asks questions about past.
A lot of these questions can be answered by a simple yes or no, like:
- Did you complete the work?
- Did you break the window?
- Did she withdraw the money?
- Did you paint the wall?
- Did you spill the milk?
Some of these questions can require descriptive answers. Such questions use the question words: who, what, when, where, how etc.
- Who broke the window?
- Where did you put the keys?
- When did you get up?
- What did you eat?
- How did you open the door?
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Past Simple Tense is used to describe how things were in the past.
Let's take a look at some usage examples:
- I was the cricket captain in school.
- Sudhir was happy in school.
- Shyam loved hockey as a kid.
- She liked movies.
- It was easy for all of us.
All these sentences tell us how something was in the past. They are used to describe a past state of something or someone.
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Simple Present tense is used to describe things that you habitually or regularly do, as a matter of routine, or things that are generally true. Present Continuous tense is used to describe things that are true right now.
For example:
- I go to school (means I go to school daily) vs I am going to school (means I am going to school right now)
- I eat mangoes vs I am eating a mango.
- I write books vs I am writing an email.
- We play hockey vs We are playing chess.
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We ask questions using is/are/am and -ing to enquire about things happening in the present moment. Such sentences are said to be in the Interrogative Present Continuous Tense.
For example:
- What are you doing?
- Where is she going?
- How is he travelling?
- What are you eating?
- What are you thinking?
- What is he wearing?
We also use such sentences to ask questions about future plans like:
- Are you coming tomorrow?
- Where are you going this weekend?
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Present Continuous Tense talks about action that is happening in the present moment. For example:
- I am eating an apple.
- I am writing a letter.
- He is cooking food.
- The dog is running in the garden.
- The little bird is singing.
But Present Continuous Tense has several other interesting usages also.
It can be used to describe a plan in the near future:
- I am going to Delhi tomorrow.
- She is stepping out in the evening.
- We are going to a movie tonight.
We also use Present continuous to talk about things that are currently being done, things that are currently in the progressive state but you may not be doing that at that precise moment. Like:
- I am learning karate (I may actually not be learning karate at the moment I am saying this).
- I am working on my startup.
- He is completing his degree.
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Questions in simple present tense use the words who, what, which, where, when, why etc. to ask for information about general habits, routines, likes or dislikes.
Look at the following examples:
- When do you get up?
- Which school do you go to?
- Who is your best friend?
- What is your name?
- How do you make an aeroplane?
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We use negative simple present tense when we talk of thing we do not generally do. Things which are not habits or usual practices or routine.
For example: Saying - I don't like coffee - means I don't like coffee but it does not mean I never drink coffee. Just that, it is not a usual practice.
Similarly:
- I don't do yoga everyday.
- I never go to clubs (this of course means you never go to clubs).
- I don't get up early. (I generally don't get up early but I would if I had to catch an early morning train.)
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Simple present tense Usage Simple present tense is used to talk about daily routine, habits and general truths.
For example:
- I get up at 6. I take my breakfast at 7. I reach office at 8. Then I take lunch at 2 and come back from office at 9. (Routine)
- The sun rises in the east. Lion eats deer. Plants release oxygen during the day. Horses run very fast. (General truth)
- He runs five kilometers everyday. (Habit)
Structure of simple present tense Simple present tense are usually formed as:
Subject + verb I form + Object
Thus:
- My bike is a 2001 Yamaha. (Subject: My bike, Verb I form: is, Object: a 2001 Yamaha)
- They are angry with you. (Subject: They, verb I form: are, Object: Angry with you)
- He comes here often
- They never lock the door.
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Interrogative sentences are questions. We use questions when asking for information. Questions can be broadly classified in two categories.
Types of questions Yes No questions These are the questions which can be answered in affirmative or negative. They ask about presence or absence of something. For example:
- Is your father a policeman?
- Are you nuts?
- Am I your partner?
- Are there no brave men here?
Descriptive questions using question-words Question words mean who, which, what, why, how etc. When we make questions using these words, they cannot be answered in a simple yes or no.
In such sentence, the question word usually acts as the subject and is, am or are connect the subject with what is being asked.
For example:
- What is your name?
- Which is your car?
- Where is my bike?
- Who is the owner of this house?
- How is it possible?
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Using Is, Am, Are Simple Present forms of Be verb Is, am and are are simple present forms of the verb -to be.
They are used to describe the state, feeling or condition that something or someone is in. Thus, is, am, are connect the subject to what is being said about the subject.
For example:
- He is impatient
- She is talented
- I am the manager of this restaurant
- They are not here
- The Americans are fond of their hamburgers.
Singular, Plural and Is, am, are Usage varies with whether the subject is plural or singular and also, the person of the noun/pronoun.
Thus,
- Am is used with first person singular (I)
- Is – is used with third person singular (he, she, Ramu, Manisha)
- Are – is used with third person plural (They, Indians, judges)
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