A lot of verbs are often followed by a clause. Especially verbs connected to speech and thought. But what is a clause?
Here you have a list of verbs related to speech and thought 👇
Example:
Student A: “I think it will rain tomorrow.”
Student B: “Why do you think that?”
Student A: “The weather forecast said so.”
We use the present perfect (Have you ever + past participle) to ask about life experiences. We can answer these questions using a range of structures.
Unjumble the questions.
Write the correct sentences in your notebook.
Take turns asking questions starting with “Have you ever …?”
Answer each question using any of the alternative answers that you’ve learned in class.
Student A
Student B
Example:
Student A: Have you ever lost your wallet or cell phone?
Student B: Yes, I’ve lost my cell phone 3 times. Luckily, last time, someone found it and gave it back to me. What about you?
There are several ways to talk about past habits in English:
| Tense | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple past | Talk about a single action that happened in the past. | I went to the park yesterday. She played tennis last week. |
| Adverb of frequency + simple past | Talk about a past habit or state that is no longer true. It implies a repeated action in the past. | When I was a child, I often played in the park. He always drank coffee in the morning |
| Used to | Talk about a past habit or state that is no longer true. It implies a repeated action. | I used to smoke, but I quit. I used to be very shy. |
| Would | Talk about repeated actions in the past. It implies a habitual or repeated action. | When I was a child, I would play with my toys every day. |
| Simple past | Talk about a past state that is no longer true. | I was very shy when I was a child. They were very active when they were younger. I lived on a farm when I was a child. |
🎲 Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their piece on the board.
🛑 When a student lands on a square, they answer the question using the correct tense.
🗣️ Example: “I used to go to the country side on holiday.”
👂 The other players listen and decide if the answer is right or wrong.
✅ If the answer is right, the student stays on that square.
❌ If the answer is wrong, they go back to their previous square.
🏆 The first student to reach the finish square wins the game!
💪 To make the game more challenging answer your questions with other alternatives such as would or usually + simple past
How was your life when you were growing up? Write a short paragraph.
In English, there are many ways to talk about actions that happen in the present. From habits to routines, we use different words and phrases to describe how often or how regularly something occurs.
Here there is a list of different expressions to say how often things happen.
| Phrase | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tend to do something (tend + infinitive) | Something happens frequently, but not all the time. | I tend to eat breakfast around 8 am. |
| As a rule (As a rule, + SVO) | Something usually happens, but there may be exceptions. | As a rule, I go to bed at 10 pm, but sometimes I stay up later. |
| On the whole (On the whole, +SVO) | Something generally happens. | On the whole, I enjoy studying English. |
| Regularly | Something happens at fixed intervals or at certain times. | I regularly go to the gym on Mondays and Thursdays. |
| Frequently | Something happens often. | I frequently check my email throughout the day. |
| From time to time (From time to time, + SVO) | Something happens occasionally, but not on a regular basis. | From time to time, I like to try new foods. |
| Every now and then (Every now and then, +SVO) (SVO + every now and then) | Something happens occasionally, but not on a regular basis. | Every now and then, I like to go for a walk. |
| Every now and again (Every now and again, +SVO) (SVO + every now and again) | Something happens occasionally, but not on a regular basis. | Every now and again, I watch a movie on the weekend. |
| Has/Have the habit of + gerund | Someone often does a certain action. | She has the habit of biting her nails when she’s nervous. |
| Always + present continuous | We use this form to talk about positive things that happen a lot or annoying things | She is always smiling. She’s always coming to my office and asking annoying questions |
| Constantly + present continuous | Someone is doing something continuously. | She is constantly checking her phone. |
Exercise 1: Read the interview questions with an English student.
Questions:
Exercise 2: These are the answers of the student. Put the words in the correct order. Copy the sentences in your notebook.
Answers:
Work in pairs. Ask and answer the questions in Exercise 1.
For High-Intermediate students
🎲 Board Game Instructions:
6. Finish: 🏆 The first player to reach the finish wins the challenge!
The simple present tense is used to describe actions that are habitual or routine, as well as facts that are always true. We use the simple present tense to talk about things that happen regularly, frequently or all the time.
Stative verbs are a specific type of verb that describe states or conditions rather than actions. These verbs express how someone feels, what they think, or what something is like. Unlike action verbs that show physical movement or activity, stative verbs describe a person’s state of being or the qualities of something.
Here are some common stative verbs:
The present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or in progress at the time of speaking. We use the present continuous tense to talk about actions that are temporary or incomplete, as well as trends that are currently happening.
We use the present continuous tense to talk about actions that were started in the past but have not yet been completed.
Example:
Choose the correct sentence.
🎲 Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their piece on the board.
🛑 When a student lands on a square, they answer the question using the correct tense.
🗣️ Example: “I go to the cinema once every month.”
👂 The other players listen and decide if the answer is right or wrong.
✅ If the answer is right, the student stays on that square.
❌ If the answer is wrong, they go back to their previous square.
🏆 The first student to reach the finish square wins the game!
Relative clauses can be essential (defining) or nonessential (non-defining) to the meaning of a sentence.
Essential relative clauses (defining relative clauses) provide information that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence.
Nonessential relative clauses (Non-defining relative clauses) provide additional information that is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.
Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between essential and nonessential relative clauses:
| Type of Clause | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Relative Clause | The book that I borrowed from the library was very interesting. | This relative clause is essential because it provides crucial information about which book is being referred to. |
| Nonessential Relative Clause | John’s car, which is a red convertible, is parked outside. | This relative clause is nonessential because it provides additional information about John’s car, but it is not necessary to understand which car is being referred to. |
| Essential Relative Clause | The woman who won the award gave a speech. | This relative clause is essential because it specifies which woman is being referred to. Without this information, the sentence would be incomplete and the meaning would be unclear. |
| Nonessential Relative Clause | My neighbour, who is a doctor, is very kind. | This relative clause is nonessential because it provides additional information about the neighbour, but it is not necessary to understand who the neighbour is. The sentence would still make sense without this clause. |
When we use relative clauses in English, sometimes we need to separate them from the rest of the sentence with commas, and other times we don’t. This all depends on whether the information in the clause is necessary or not. If it’s necessary, we don’t use commas; if it’s just extra information, we do use commas.
Understanding the difference between essential and nonessential relative clauses is important for clear and effective communication in writing and speaking.
Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence using a non-defining relative clause.
Write some of your own sentences about where you grew up, things you’ve done recently and people you know. Use non-defining relative clauses to add extra information.
I grew up in … I recently … I have a friend called …
First, let’s review what comparatives are.
Comparatives are used to compare two things and show the difference between them.
For example:
The blue car is faster than the red car.
Now, let’s talk about how to modify comparatives. Modifying comparatives means adding words that change or emphasize the comparison being made. Here are some common ways to modify comparatives:
When you want to show a big difference between two things, you can use modifying words such as “much”, “far”, “miles”, and “too”. These words can be used with a comparative adjective (e.g. “better”) or an adverb (e.g. “much better”) to emphasize the difference. Make sure you use the correct modifying word for the situation and place it in the right place in the sentence.
Simple comparative: The blue car is faster than the red car.
Modifying comparative: The blue car is much faster than the red car.
These words can be used with a comparative adjective (e.g. “better”) or an adverb (e.g. “much better”) to emphasize the difference.
These words can be used with a comparative adjective (e.g. “better”) or an adverb (e.g. “much better”) to emphasize the difference. Make sure you use the correct modifying word for the situation and place it in the right place in the sentence.
Examples:
If you want to show a small difference between two things, you can use modifying words such as “nearly”, “not enough”, “a bit”, and “slightly”.
Simple comparative: The blue car is faster than the red car.
Modifying comparative: The blue car is slightly faster than the red car.
These words can be used with a comparative adjective (e.g. “better”), an adverb (e.g. “slightly better”), or a preposition (e.g. “not quite as good as”) to indicate the degree of difference. Remember to be mindful of the context and use the correct type of modifying comparison for the situation.
Examples:
Sometimes, you may want to make a surprising comparison to add emphasis or reveal unexpected information. Modifying words such as “even”, “actually”, and “surprisingly” can help you achieve this. For example, “Speaking is even more difficult” or “Listening is actually not as difficult as speaking”. These words can be used to challenge assumptions or add emphasis to the degree of difference. However, be careful of the tone and only use surprising comparisons when it adds value to your message.
Simple comparative: The blue car is faster than the red car.
Modifying comparative: The blue car is actually faster than the red car.
Examples:
| Comparison Type | Modifying Words | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Showing Big Differences | a lot, far, miles, not nearly | Indian food is a lot spicier than Canadian food. |
| The traffic in the city is far worse than in the suburbs. | ||
| The hotel room we stayed in last night was miles better than the one we had before. | ||
| My house is not nearly as beautiful as her house. | ||
| The new phone is too expensive for my budget. | ||
| Showing Small Differences | a bit, slightly, not enough, not quite, | The coffee at this café is slightly better than the one at the other place. |
| My new computer is a bit faster than my old one. | ||
| The weather today is not quite as cold as yesterday. | ||
| The new project is not quite as challenging as the previous one. | ||
| Making Surprising Comparisons | even, actually, surprisingly | The food at the vegan restaurant was surprisingly tasty. |
| The film was actually better than I expected it to be. | ||
| The new employee is even more productive than the previous one. | ||
| The exam was surprisingly easy. |
When using modifying comparisons, it’s important to keep in mind some essential grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement and adjective order. Always make sure you use the correct verb tense and adjective order when making comparisons. For instance, “There are far more parks now than before” (using subject-verb agreement correctly). Avoid common mistakes such as using the wrong verb tense or adjective order.
Modifying comparisons are tools you can use to show if something is a little bit better, way better, or even surprising.
By using the right words in the right place, you can make sure you’re expressing yourself accurately. It’s important to pay attention to the situation and use the best type of comparison. You’ll also want to remember grammar rules, so you can use them correctly.
With practice, you’ll get more comfortable using modifying comparisons in your writing and speaking, and you’ll be able to express yourself even better in English!
2. Answer the question using one of the following patterns. Give more details
A noun phrase is a group of words that work together to function as a noun in a sentence.
It typically includes a noun or pronoun and any modifiers or determiners that describe or clarify the noun. Noun phrases are important in the English language because they allow us to express complex ideas and add detail to our sentences.
Common noun phrases and some examples:
| Type of Noun Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| Simple Noun Phrase | the book, a dog, his hat |
| Noun Phrase with Determiner | the blue car, an interesting article, their favorite restaurant |
| Noun Phrase with Adjectives | a tall tree, the happy children, her new dress |
| Noun Phrase with Possessive | John‘s car, the company‘s profits, our family vacation |
| Noun Phrase with Gerund | swimming in the lake, playing basketball, singing a song |
| Noun Phrase with Infinitive | to go home, to study for the exam, to eat breakfast |
| Noun Phrase with Participle | running late, broken glass, excited children |
| Noun Phrase with Prepositional Phrase | the boy in the blue shirt, the house on the corner, the restaurant near the beach |
| Noun Phrase with Relative Clause | the book that I read yesterday, the woman who lives next door, the car which is parked outside |
In this mini lesson, I’ll explain these 3 types of noun phrases:
Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Prepositional phrases are phrases that begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun. They provide additional information about the noun or pronoun in the sentence. For example:
To use prepositional phrases correctly, it’s important to identify the preposition and the noun or pronoun that the phrase modifies.
Infinitive phrases are phrases that begin with the word “to” and are followed by a verb in the base form. They can be used to express a variety of ideas, including purpose. For example:
Infinitive phrases can also be used with adjectives to describe feelings or emotions, or with nouns to describe a specific type of person or thing.
Here are some examples to explain how infinitive phrases can be used with adjectives or nouns:
In these examples, the infinitive phrase (to see her best friend again, to ask his boss for a raise, etc.) is used after an adjective (happy, afraid, excited, etc.) to describe the feeling or emotion that the person is experiencing.
Now let’s take a look at how infinitive phrases can be used with nouns:
In these examples, the infinitive phrase (to work with, to deal with, to learn about history, etc.) is used after a noun (pleasure, person, resource, etc.) to describe a specific type of person or thing. Infinitive phrases can be used in many different ways to add more detail and information to a sentence.
Relative clauses are clauses that are used to provide more information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They begin with a relative pronoun (such as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “that,” or “which“) and provide additional details about the noun or pronoun. For example:
So, to sum up, noun phrases are really useful in English because they help us to describe things in more detail and express complicated ideas.
| Type of Noun Phrase | Example | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Prepositional Phrase | The book on the table | Provides additional information about the location of the book |
| Prepositional Phrase | The girl with the red hat | Provides additional information about the girl’s appearance |
| Infinitive Phrase | I went to the store to buy some milk | Expresses the purpose of an action |
| Infinitive Phrase with Adjective | She was happy to see her best friend again | Describes a feeling or emotion |
| Infinitive Phrase with Noun | She is a pleasure to work with | Describes a specific type of person or thing |
| Relative Clause | The woman who lives next door | Provides additional information about the woman |
By practicing how to use prepositional phrases, infinitive phrases, and relative clauses, you can get better at speaking and writing English clearly and effectively. Remember to keep practicing and don’t worry if you make mistakes – it’s all part of the learning process! And if you ever need help or don’t understand something, just ask – I’m here to help you learn.
Grammar PracticeMake full sentences using the noun phrases.
Speaking Practice1 Order the words to make a noun phrase
2 Complete the questions with the noun phrases. Write the questions in your notebook.
3. Ask and answer each question from exercise 2
Writing PracticeLevel of difficulty: 
Describe what you see in the picture using as many noun phrases as possible. Write your answer in the comments below.
When you ask for opinions about future probability, you usually use will + base form or be going to + base form. However, there are other alternatives that are also common in spoken English.
We use some expressions to talk about how sure we are about something in the future.
Some expressions show high certainty, and others show low probability.
In the table below, you can find a collection of useful phrases and expressions that will help you convey future probabilities with confidence.
| Probability | Expressions | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almost certain (≈99%) | definitely be bound to | Subject + will definitely + verb Subject + be bound to + verb | Canada will definitely win the game. Canada is bound to win the game. |
| Very likely (≈75%) | probably there’s a good chance it’s likely that | Subject + will probably + verb There’s a good chance (that) + subject + will + verb It’s likely that + subject + will + verb | Canada will probably win the game. There’s a good chance Canada will win the game. It’s likely that Canada will win the game. |
| Possible (≈50%) | might (not) there’s a chance | Subject + might (not) + verb There’s a chance (that) + subject + will + verb | Canada might win the game. There’s a chance Canada will win the game. |
| Not very likely (≈25%) | probably won’t there’s a small chance it’s unlikely that | Subject + probably won’t + verb There’s a small chance (that) + subject + will + verb It’s unlikely that + subject + will + verb | Canada probably won’t win the game. It’s unlikely that Canada will win the game. |
| Almost impossible (≈1%) | definitely won’t I doubt | Subject + definitely won’t + verb I doubt + subject + will + verb | Canada definitely won’t win the game. I doubt Canada will win the game. |
1. After modal verbs (might, will), use the base form of the verb.
❌ might wins
❌ will probably arrives
2. “That” is optional in some expressions.
3. “Probably” goes after “will”.
Correct:
Incorrect:
Practice 1
Practice 2
“Have/get something done” is a useful English construction that we use when we want to talk about arranging for someone else to do something for us. It’s a way to emphasize that we didn’t do the action ourselves, but rather someone else did it for us. This English pattern is called the passive causative.
| Usage | Structure | Examples | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services you pay someone else to do for you | get/have + object + past participle | I get my car washed every week. She had her hair cut at a fancy salon. They are getting their house painted next month. | Emphasizes that you pay someone to perform a service for you. |
| Formal situations, arranging for something to be done | have + object + past participle | We had our website redesigned by a professional agency. He had his presentation translated into three languages. We had our legal documents notarized by a certified notary. | Indicates that you arranged for a service to be done by someone else in a formal context. |
| Things that happen to you, often negative experiences | have + object + past participle | She had her purse stolen while she was shopping. We had our flight delayed for several hours due to bad weather. He had his car broken into last night. | Describes events or actions that occur to you, usually negative experiences, without your organization or control. |
| Negative form | did not have/get + object + past participle | I didn’t have my computer repaired. They didn’t get their house cleaned before the guests arrived. She didn’t have her dress altered in time for the event. | Expresses the negative form of arranging or paying for a service to be done. |
| Question form Simple past | Did + subject + have/get + object + past participle? | Did you get your passport renewed? Did he have his car washed? Did they have their house repainted? | Forms a question to inquire about arranging or paying for a service to be done. |
Example: He hasn’t gotten his hair cut yet.
