Many students confuse these six adverbs, so here is an explanation of how to use them.

Very means a lot.  It is used before adjectives and adverbs to make them stronger.  It is the opposite of a little.

Examples:
I know he’s going to be very tired after his long trip.  (He’s going to be much more than a little tired.)
We are both very interested in science.  (We’re much more than a little interested.)
She learns very quickly.  (She learns more quickly than normal.)

In the negative very doesn’t mean a lot.  It means nothing, but people like to use it anyway.

Examples:
She doesn’t know him very well.  (She doesn’t know him well.)
They don’t have very much money.  (They don’t have much money.)
I’m not a very good singer.  (I’m not a good singer.)

Also, you can say very very, which makes it even stronger.

Examples:
She knows me very very well.
I’m very very proud of you.

Really has the same meaning as very, but really can be used before an adjective, an adverb and a verb.

Examples:
She was really tired, so she went to bed.
He walked home really slowly.
I really like this city.

NOTE:  You cannot say:  I very like this city.  Very cannot be used before a verb but only before an adjective or an adverb.

Also, you can say really really, which makes it even stronger.

Examples:
She is a really really good athlete.
I was really really sad to hear the bad news.

Quite is also strong and means the same thing as very and really.  Like really, it is used before adjectives, adverbs and verbs.

Examples:
I’ve been quite tired these past couple days.
She sings quite beautifully.
We quite like that painting, so we’re going to hang it in the living room.

Pretty is a little less strong than very.  It is used before adjectives and adverbs but not before verbs.

Examples:
This soup tastes pretty bad.  (which is not as bad as very bad)
I think she sings pretty well.  (which is not as well as very well)
I’m pretty tired after a long day of skiing.  (which is not as tired as very tired)

So is stronger than very.  Use it when very isn’t strong enough.  It is used before adjectives, adverbs but not before verbs.

Examples:
I’m so tired of hearing the neighbors argue.  (more than very tired)
She talks so fast that sometimes I don’t understand what she says.  (more than very fast)
We’re so glad you decided to come work for us.  (more than very glad)

Also, use so (adjective/adverb) that when a reason or a result is stated.  You can drop that if you want to.

Examples:
They were so grateful that we had helped them.  (Our helping them was the reason they were grateful.)
She sang so beautifully people in the audience started to cry.  (People starting to cry was the result of her singing.)
You were so excited that you had won the contest.  (Your winning the contest was the reason you were excited.)

Too is the strongest, and is used when something cannot be done.  The thing that cannot be done starts with to.  You don’t have to state what cannot be done, however, if it was stated earlier.  It is used before adjectives, adverbs but not before verbs.

Examples:
They were too tired to play another game.  (Playing another game could not be done.)
They were walking too slowly to get to school on time.  (Getting to school on time could not be done.)
It’s too late to do anything about it.  (Nothing can be done.)

BUT NOT:  The team was too excited about their win.  (Nothing cannot be done.)
CORRECT:  The team was very/really/so excited about their win.

So let’s review:

Very goes before an adjective or an adverb but NOT a verb.  It is strong.

Really can go before an adjective, an adverb or a verb.  It is just as strong as very.

Quite can go before an adjective, an adverb or a verb.  It is just as strong as very.

Pretty can go only before an adjective or an adverb.  Use it to make the word a little stronger.  It is the weakest of the six words.

So is used when very isn’t strong enough.  It is used before an adjective or an adverb.  It’s also used when a reason or result follows.

Too is used when something cannot be done.  That thing starts with to.  It is used before an adjective or an adverb.

Study this page and when you’re ready, do the exercise below.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

There are 4 ways you can use adjectives and adverbs to compare 2 things.

1.  The first way is to add “-er” to the end of one-syllable adjectives or adverbs.  Also put than right before the second thing you’re comparing.

The pattern is:  A [verb] _____er than B 

Examples:
My brother is stronger than you think.
His sister falls asleep faster than he does.
The house on the corner is older than yours.

• If the second thing being compared is not stated afterwards, do not use than.

Examples:
I know your father is tall, but mine is taller.  (There’s no than your father after taller.)
(BUT:  My father is taller than your father.)
He works hard, but his brother works harder. (There’s no than he works after harder.)
(BUT:  His brother works harder than he works.)

• If a one-syllable adjective ends in one vowel and one consonant, then double the consonant when adding –er.  If a 2-syllable adjective ends in one vowel and one consonant, and the accent is on the last syllable, then double the consonant when adding –er.

Examples:
They live in a bigger house than we do.  (big:  i (vowel) + g (consonant))
Susan is fatter than her sister.  (fat:  a (vowel) + t (consonant))
I need to be thinner to fit into those pants.  (… thinner than I am to fit …)  (thin:  i (vowel) + n (consonant))

• There are 3 irregular adjectives: good, bad, and far.  The comparative forms are better, worse, and farther (or further.)
• There are 3 irregular adverbs:  well, badly and far.  The comparative forms are better, worse, and farther (or further.)

Examples:
This is a better book than the last one.
This restaurant is worse than the last one we ate at.
Nepal is a farther (further) destination than Egypt.
She’s feeling better today than she did yesterday.
He did worse on his exam than you did.
They live farther (further) away than we do.

• If an adjective has 2 syllables ending with a y, change the y to i and then add –er.

Examples:
The driving test is easier than you think.
Her parents are friendlier than his are.
His brother is lazier than he is.

2. The second way to make a comparison is with “more.”

The pattern is:  A [verb] more _____ than B

• Most 2-syllable adjectives take more.

Examples:
Sandra was always more mature than her sister.
He’s already more skillful than he was before.
I’ve always been more honest with you than you’ve been with me.

• However, the following 2-syllable adjectives use –er or more but not both at the same time.

able        angry        clever       common       cruel        friendly       gentle        handsome       narrow       pleasant       polite       quiet       simple       sour

Examples:
He keeps getting more handsome every time I see him.  (…more handsome than he was before…)
He keeps getting handsomer every time I see him.
Tattoos are more common nowadays than they used to be.
Tattoos are commoner nowadays than they used to be.
Life was more simple in those days.  (…than life these days.)
Life was simpler in those days.

• All other 2-syllable adjectives take more.

Examples:
I want you to be more careful than you usually are.
He needs to learn to be more social if he wants to make friends.  (… more social than he is now…)
The students were more nervous before this test than before any of the others they’ve taken.

• All adjectives with 3 or more syllables use more.

Examples:
He was more intelligent than his older brother.
That toothpaste is more effective than the other one.
The film about penguins was more interesting than anything else we saw.

• Exception:  The adjective fun can be used 2 different ways:

Fun as an adjective:
This is a more fun way to do the job.
This is a funner way to do the job.

Fun as a noun can only be used one way:
This is more fun than we’ve had in years.

• All adverbs with -ly  use more.

Examples:
She learns more quickly than anyone else in the class.
He makes friends more easily than I do.
They drive more carefully when the children are in the car.

• Exception:  Although early ends in -ly, it’s not like other -ly adverbs.
My brother gets up earlier than I do.  (NOT: more early than…)

• To give more information about how big the difference is, use much, a lot, or far to say the difference is big.  Use a little, a bit, or a little bit to say the difference is little.

Examples:
I was much more hard-working at your age than you are.
She’s a lot easier to talk to than your mother.
Vancouver is far bigger than Victoria.
I’m a little more confident this time than last time.
She’s a bit taller than her twin sister.
His friend is a little bit more experienced than he is.

• You can also use more alone with no adverb.

Examples:
She loves him more than me.
My uncle gave my sister more than he gave me.
I got a better mark because I studied more than you did.

• With the verbs BE and DO, there is an educated and an informal way to state the second thing that is compared.

Examples:
He’s very organized, but she’s more organized than he is. (educated)
He’s very organized, but she’s more organized than him. (informal)
NOT:  He’s very organized, but she’s more organized than he. (too formal)
She’s not cleverer than I am. (educated)
She’s not cleverer than me. (informal)
NOT:  She’s not cleverer than I.  (too formal)
We were more afraid of losing than they were.  (educated)
We were more afraid of losing than them.  (informal)
NOT:  We were more afraid of losing than they.  (too formal)
They did better at bowling than we did.  (educated)
They did better at bowling than us.  (informal)
NOT:  They did better at bowling than we.  (too formal)

3. The third way to make a comparison is with “less.”

The pattern is:  A [verb] less _____ than B

Examples:
The new model was less popular than the old one.
She uses bad language less often than her brother does.
Your muffins were far less tasty than last time.   (…than your muffins last time.)

• You can also use less with no adjective or adverb.

Examples:
Her commuting time is a lot less than it used to be.
My brother studied a little less than I did.
That number was less than I thought.

• Don’t use less with one-syllable adjectives.  Instead, use not as _____ as.

(See one-syllable adjective examples below.)

• Use less for things that are singular (uncountable), but use fewer for things that are plural (countable.)  If you want to sound educated, learn when to use less and when to use fewer.  You’ll speak English with better grammar than many native speakers who have forgotten the difference.

Examples:
He has less hair than he used to have.  (“hair” is uncountable.  You cannot say “hairs.”)
They made fewer mistakes than last time.  (“mistakes” is countable because it is plural.)
NOT:  They made less mistakes than last time.  (Although many people say this, it is still considered incorrect.)
I used to have a lot of patience, but now I have less.  (“patience” is uncountable.  You cannot say “patiences.”)
She prefers frozen yogurt because it has fewer calories than ice cream.  (“calories” is countable because it is plural.)
NOT:  She prefers frozen yogurt because it has less calories.

4. The fourth way to make a comparison is with as ____ as

The pattern is:  A [verb] as _____ as B.  

Examples:
His uncle is as strong as a horse.
He gets up in the morning as early as I do.
This knife is as sharp as a razor.

• In the negative  A [verb] not as _____ as B  means that A is less _____ than B, and you can make the comparison both ways.

Examples:
I’m not as energized today as I was yesterday.
I’m less energized today than I was yesterday
This book wasn’t as interesting as the one I read last week.
This book was less interesting than the one I read last week.
Her present boss is not as demanding as her former boss.
Her present boss is less demanding than her former boss.

• However, with one-syllable adjectives, most English speakers use not as _____ as

Examples:
He was not as far out to sea as he thought.
(NOT often used:  He was less far out to sea than he thought.)
He didn’t do as well  as he thought he would.
(NOT often used:  He did less well than he thought he would.)
Our cookies are not as sweet as our competitor’s.
(NOT often used:  Our cookies are less sweet than our competitor’s.)

• You can drop the last as if the second part of the comparison doesn’t follow.

Examples:
Now that she lives near the school, she doesn’t have to walk as far.  (…as far as she used to walk.)
I know you paid over $65,000 for your car, but my car was not as expensive.  (…not as expensive as your car.)
I really enjoyed this movie.  The last one we saw wasn’t as good.  (… wasn’t as good as this movie.)

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

The conditional is used when a result depends on something else to happen first, when something else is required before a result can happen.  There are 4 conditionals – a  general, a future, a present, and a past.  To learn this grammar, you need to memorize a pattern first.  You will see this pattern in the examples below.

The general conditional:

This conditional is used when the same action always produces the same result.

The pattern in the present is:  present simple or present continuous in the if (dependent) clause, and the present simple in the main (independent) clause.

Examples in the present:
If it is raining, I always take my umbrella.  (Every time it rains, I take my umbrella.)
If it’s Tuesday, it’s my turn to make dinner. (I always make dinner on Tuesdays.)
If water freezes, it expands  (This is a scientific fact, so it always happens.)
If she is going for a walk, she always takes her dog.  (Every time she goes for a walk, she takes her dog.)

Examples in the past:
If I brought flowers to my wife, she was happy.  (She was always happy when I brought her flowers.)
If she cheated on a test, she felt guilty.  (Every time she cheated, she felt guilty.)

Note:  All these examples can also use when in place of if (but then it’s no longer a conditional sentence.)

Example:
When it’s raining, I always take my umbrella.
When it’s Tuesday, it’s my turn to make dinner.
When I brought flowers to my wife, she was happy.
When she cheated on a test, she felt guilty.

The future conditional, also known as conditional I or the future possible:

This conditional is used when the result is a real possibility in the future.

The pattern is:  simple present in the if clause, and one of the future tenses in the main clause.  The future can be expressed by will, going to, the present continuous, or the future continuous.

Examples:
If I win the lottery, I will travel around the world first class.
If Maria studies hard, she’s going to pass.
If we finish our project, we’re eating out tonight.
If he wins the game, he‘ll be celebrating all night.

In the main clause, in addition to will (and the other futures) you can also use can for ability, may for possibility, should for advice, and must (or have to) for necessity.

Examples:
If I earn enough money this summer, I can travel to Europe in the fall.  (I will have the ability to travel to Europe.)
If he drives all day, he may be too tired to go out with us.  (There is the possibility that he will be tired.)
If Alicia’s tooth continues to hurt, she should see her dentist.  (Advice for Alicia.)
If you see this missing girl anywhere, you must call the police immediately.  (It is necessary to call the police if you see her.)

The present conditional, also known as conditional II or the present unreal:

This conditional is used for a result you can only imagine because the action that could produce that result is not real.

The pattern is:  simple past in the if clause, and would + simple verb form in the main clause.

Examples:
If I had more money, I would live in a better apartment.  (But I don’t have more money.)
If they visited us more often, they would get to know us better.  (But they don’t visit us very often.
If Peter stopped smoking, he would have more energy.  (But Peter isn’t going to stop smoking.)
If he lost his wedding ring, his wife would never forgive him.  (But he hasn’t lost his ring.)

In the main clause, in addition to would you can also use could for ability, might for possibility, should for advice and would have to for necessity.

Examples;
If I got a second job, I could earn enough money to buy a car.  (I will have the ability to earn enough money.)
If she started wearing makeup, she might look prettier.  (There is a possibility of looking prettier.)
If Bryan hurt his knee, he should go to the nurse’s office.  (Advice for Bryan.)
If we arrived late, we would have to report to the office before going to class.  (When we were late, it was necessary to report to the office.)

Note:  If the verb in the main clause is be, then was changes to were.

Examples:
If I were you, I would tell him the truth.
If my father were here, he would know what to do.
If your boyfriend were serious, he would ask you to marry him.

One last thing about all these conditionals.  In all the examples above, the If clause is before the main clause, and there’s a comma ( , ) at the end of that clause.  You can also state the conditional with the if clause after the main clause with no comma used.

Examples:
I always take my umbrella if it’s raining.
I’ll travel around the world first class if I win the lottery.
I would live in a better apartment if I had more money.

Here is a summary of the 3 patterns:

General conditional  (Conditional O):

If it rains, I always take my umbrella.

Future conditional  (Conditional I):

If it rains tomorrow, I’ll take my umbrella.

Present conditional  (Conditional II):

If it rained, I would take my umbrella.

Review these 3 conditionals, and then do the exercises below.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

The imperative is a verb that has no subject.  The verb is always in the simple form.  You can be talking to one person or more than one person, but the verb doesn’t change.  To make it negative, put don’t or do not before the verb.  If you need to be clear about whether you’re talking to one person or more than one, add you guys, people, you two, you three, etc.

The imperative is used in five ways:

1. To give an order:

•  Wait here for me, you two.

•  Don’t forget to lock the door.

•  Go away, you guys.

You can make orders more polite by adding please.

•  Please don’t make all that noise.  I’m trying to study.

•  Close the window, please.  I’m cold.

•  Please wait for me while I open an account.

2. On signs that give orders:

•  Don’t walk

•  Insert the correct change

•  Do not use this exit

3. To give instructions:

•  Don’t open the test booklet until I say so.

•  Go three blocks north and then turn left onto Georgia Street.

•  Squeeze the sides of the cap as you unscrew it.

4. To make an invitation:

•  Drop by tomorrow afternoon, and we’ll go for coffee.

•  Please join us for dinner.

•  Make yourself comfortable.

5. To give advice:

•  Go home and be with your family.

•  Get some sleep and we’ll talk tomorrow.

•  Speak to your husband, and tell him how you feel.

There are three ways to use used to: used to, be used to, and get used to.  Used to is the simplest and indicates an action that was continuously or repeatedly done in the past, but has not been done since then.

Used to

After used to use the simple form of the verb.

Examples:

George used to go to this school when he was young.  (George went to this school earlier in his life but hasn’t studied there since he left.)

I used to have a teddy bear named Pooh.  (When I was young, I had a teddy bear named Pooh, but I haven’t had that toy since that time.)

My uncle used to take us to the movies all the time when we were kids.  (My uncle often took us to the movies when we were kids, but he hasn’t done that since we grew up.)

Aaron used to be a taxi driver when he lived in Toronto.  (Aaron was a taxi driver when he lived in Toronto but hasn’t been a taxi driver since he moved away from that city.)

NOTE:  In the negative or interrogative (with did), drop the ‘d’ from used.

Examples:

She didn’t use to be so mean, but now she is.  (She was a nice girl, but now she’s mean.)

Did you use to smoke when you were a teenager?  (You don’t smoke now, but did you when you were a teenager?)

Study this first section, and when you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

Be used to

Be used to indicates that someone is comfortable doing an action because they have done it enough times that it doesn’t seem at all strange now.  It is a description not an action.  Use a noun (or a gerund if it’s a verb) after be used to.  Be used to can be in the simple present (I am used to,) the simple past (I was used to,) or the present perfect (I‘ve been used to.)

Examples:

Peter is used to being a leader.  He’s done it many times before.  (Peter has been a leader so many times before that it is comfortable for him now.)

Julie was used to going shopping on Saturday mornings.  (Saturday mornings were Julie’s most comfortable times to shop.)

Frank has been used to cold weather since he moved to Alaska.  (When Frank moved to Alaska, he was immediately comfortable with the cold weather there.)

In the negative not be used to means that an action is not comfortable.  It still feels strange because the person hasn’t done the action much before.

Examples:

Ryan comes from Australia, so he’s not used to driving on the right side of the road.  (Ryan hasn’t had enough practice driving on the right side of the road, so he’s uncomfortable driving on that side.)

When Maryam first came here, she wasn’t used to all the rain, but now she’s okay with it.  (In the beginning Maryam was uncomfortable with all the rain here, but now it doesn’t bother her anymore.  She’s  comfortable with it.)

Sarah isn’t used to living alone.  (Sarah just started living alone, and she’s not yet comfortable with it.)

Get used to

Get used to indicates the movement from being uncomfortable with something to being okay with it.  It is an action not a description.  Use a noun (or a gerund if it’s a verb) after get used to.  Get used to can be in the simple present (I get used to,) the present continuous (I‘m getting used to,) the simple past (I got used to,) the past continuous (I was getting used to,) the present perfect (I‘ve gotten used to,) and the future (I will get used to.) 

Examples:

Although Marcus already spoke the language, it took him weeks to get used to the new culture.  (Over two weeks Marcus went from being uncomfortable to being comfortable with the new culture.)

Don’t worry.  You’ll get used to the rain in Vancouver.  (Now you don’t like all the rain, but after some time has passed, you’ll be comfortable with it.)

They won the lottery, but they haven’t gotten used to spending large amounts of money.  (Although they’re rich, they are uncomforrtable spending lots of money.  They haven’t yet made that move from being uncomfortable to being comfortable with lots of money.)

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

There is a group of expressions of quantity that can be singular or plural depending on the prepositional phrase that follows.  These words are: plenty, lots, a lot, all, some, most, a great deal, none, (fractions) and (percentages.)  If the noun in the prepositional phrase is a countable word that is plural, then the expression of quantity is plural and the verb is also plural.  If the noun in the prepositional phrase is an uncountable word, which cannot be made plural, then the expression of quantity is singular and the verb is also singular.  Look at these examples:

Plenty of   

Plenty of patience is required for this job..
(‘patience‘ is uncountable, which makes plenty singular, so the verb is singular.)

Plenty of spare parts are kept in the garage.
(‘spare parts‘ is countable, which makes plenty plural, so the verb is plural.)

Plenty of the food I have eaten was unhealthy.
(‘food’ is uncountable, which makes plenty singular, so the verb is singular.)

Plenty of my friends know it’s my birthday.
(‘friends’ is countable, which makes plenty plural, so the verb is plural.)

(WRONG:  Plenty food …)

Lots of / A lot of   

Lots (A lot) of money changes hands at a market.  (‘money’ is uncountable.)

Lots (A lot) of people change their minds.  (‘people’ is countable.)

Lots (A lot) of the information we received was too late.  (‘information is uncountable.)

Lots (A lot) of his jokes were not very funny.  (‘jokes’ is countable.)

(WRONG:  Lots food, A lot food …)

All

All mammals produce milk .  (‘mammals’ is countable.)

All of the work needs to be redone.  (‘work’ is uncountable.)

All of our answers were right.  (‘answers’ is countable)

(WRONG:  All of work …)

Some 

Some students have exams next week.  (‘students’ is countable.)

Some of the time passes quickly.  (‘time’ is uncountable.)

Some of the police cars were parked in the driveway.  (‘police cars’ is countable.)

(WRONG:  Some of vehicles …)

Most

Most people in Europe speak more than one language.  (‘people’ is countable.)

Most of his advice is very good.  (‘advice’ is uncountable.)

Most of the students I know have smart phones.  (‘students’ is countable.)

(WRONG:  Most of people …)

A great deal of 

A great deal of energy gets lost in exercise.  (‘energy’ is uncountable.)

A great deal of hikers get lost in the mountains.  (‘hikers’ is countable.)

A great deal of our time was spent fishing.  (‘time’ is uncountable.)

A great deal of the products we use come from Asia.  (‘products’ is countable.)

None of 

None of the advice is good.  (‘advice’ is uncountable.)

None of his solutions seem to work.  (‘solutions’ is countable.)

(NOTE: In British English, “none” is considered singular no matter what follows.)

(WRONG:  None advice …)  (but “No advice” is correct)

(WRONG:  None of advice …)

Fractions and percentages have the same grammar:

Two thirds of the test was based on the textbook.  (‘test’ is singular.)

Three quarters of the students were prepared for the test.  (‘students’ is plural.)

Sixty percent of the land is desert.  (‘land’ is singular.)

Eighty percent of the towns are located along the coast.  (‘towns’ is plural.)

A way to remember these words is to remember PLASMAN.  This is what the first letters of all these words spell.  P= plenty, L= lots/ a lot, A= all, S= some, M= most, A= a great deal, N= none

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

The Past Continuous

The past continuous (or past progressive) is used for long actions that were already happening at a certain time or when another shorter action happened.  The shorter action or time happens in the middle (or at the end) of the longer action.  It is formed by using was or were and the present participle (-ing).  The shorter-action verb is in the simple past.

Examples:
At eight o’clock last night, she was studying in her bedroom.
(Studying is the long action; eight o’clock is a time in the middle of that action.)

They were swimming in the lake when it started to rain.
(Swimming is the long action; started is the short action in the middle.)

We were having dinner when someone knocked on the door.
(Having dinner is the long action; knocked is the short action in the middle.)

Were you sleeping when the earthquake happened?
(Sleeping is the long action; happened is the short action in the middle.)

When the verb go is used in the past continuous, it means that the action was planned but never happened.

Examples:
I was going to wash the car this weekend, but I was too busy
It was going to be a surprise birthday party, but she found out about it.
We were going to invite you, but you got sick and had to stay home.

When used with always, the past continuous means that the person did the action again and again.

Examples:
My mother was always reading a book.
The boys were always leaving their dirty clothes on the floor.
Her sister was always borrowing her clothes.
My best friend was always doing something crazy.

When making a request or an invitation with wondering, you can also use the past continuous.

Examples:
We were wondering if you’d help us with our applications.   (request)
I was wondering if you’d like to come to a party with me this Saturday night.  (invitation)

A good way to understand the past continuous and how it is different from the simple past is to look at one verb used in both tenses.  Notice that when the verb is used in the simple past, there is only one action.  The action can be long but nothing else happens in the middle or end of it

Examples:
We ate dinner at six o’clock last night.
We were eating dinner when the phone rang.
They lived in Abbottsford five years.
They were living in Abbottsford, when their car broke down.
I studied all night long.
I was studying when I fell asleep.
She had a big party at her parents’ house.
She was having a big party at her parents’ house when someone started a fire.

The use of: when, while, and as.

Use while and as before the past continuous, not the simple past.

Examples:
While his brother was trying to study, John started to play the piano.
As we were getting ready to leave, the police arrived at the door.
Peter washed the car while his wife was making dinner.
I saw a beautiful rainbow as I was walking to work this morning.

Use when before the past continuous or the simple past.

Examples:
When I saw the accident, I was walking home.
I saw the accident when I was walking home.
When she entered the classroom, the teacher was already teaching.
She entered the classroom when the teacher was already teaching.

Sometimes 2 long actions can happen at the same time.  When this happens, use the past continuous for both actions.

Examples:
Her husband was polishing the car while she was doing the dishes.
As his brother was driving the car, he was surfing the Internet on his laptop.

Notice in the above examples, there is a comma ( , ) after adverb clauses (starting with when, while, and as) if they are at the beginning of a sentence but no comma if they are at the end.

If actions are in sequence (1st action, then 2nd action, then 3rd action), then use the simple past only.

Examples:
I got up, made myself some breakfast and sat outside to eat it.
She finished the dishes, watered the plants, and vacuumed the living room carpet.

Because there is usually something else that happens during a long action (the past continuous), verbs that are used this way have to be verbs that take time to happen.  In other words, only long verbs can be used in the past continuous.  Therefore, verbs like drop, stop, begin, start, finish, and end are usually not in the past continuous because they take no time.  They are very fast and short.

Examples:
She began to read the letter from her grandmother.
They dropped me off early at the airport.
We stopped to have coffee on our way home.

There are also some verbs that are not used in the past continuous tense (or any other continuous tense) because they are non-action verbs.  In other words, because there’s no action, the following verbs cannot be used in the past continuous:

be                   believe              belong             exist                forget               hate

have*             hear                  know               like                   love                 need

own                possess            prefer              remember       see                understand       want

* when “have” means “possess,” not when “have” means “experience.”

Examples:
My parents had three children, two boys and a girl. (possessed)
(We were having a wonderful time at the party.) (were experiencing)
I didn’t understand her strong accent.
Do you believe he’ll graduate in three years?
He knows she is not coming over.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Question tags are put at the end of a statement to turn it into a question.  They are mostly used in speaking and are informal.   Here is the rule:

Take the first verb of the sentence,  make it negative, invert it with the subject, and put it at the end of the sentence after a comma.  

Examples:
She is always on time, isn’t she?
They can all come to the party, can‘t they?
We‘ll be there soon, won’t we?
You have already eaten, haven’t you?

If the first verb is negative, make the question tag positive.  

Examples:
You haven’t had your morning coffee, have you?
He doesn’t know the answer, does he?
They shouldn’t be here, should they?
I wasn’t finished, was I?

If the verb is only one word, use do/does (present) or did (past) in the question tag.  

Examples:
She told you the answer, didn’t she?
We have a test tomorrow, don’t we?

If the one verb is BE, then use the same verb in the question tag.  

Examples:
He‘s your brother, isn’t he?
It wasn’t the right answer, was it?

With am use aren’t I as the question tag:  

Examples:
I‘m the winner, aren’t I?
I‘m going first, aren’t I?

However, with the modal have to/ has to/ had to, use do/does (present) or did (past): 

Examples:
She has to go see the doctor, doesn’t she? We don’t have to finish tonight, do we?
They had to correct their mistake, didn’t they?

With used to use did in the question tag.  

Examples:
They used to study all night, didn’t they?
We used to go out every Saturday night, didn’t we?

In formal English commands with let’s, use shall we as the question tag.

Examples:
Let’s get started, shall we?
Let’s go into the living room, shall we?

With the imperative use will you as the question tag.

Examples:
Open that window, will you?
Meet me here after lunch, will you?

Here’s an oral exercise.  Repeat the sentence and add a question tag.  Then repeat the correct answer.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Adverbs of frequency and time list

also                       already          always           ever            hardly          
hardly ever          never             often              rarely          soon          
sometimes           seldom           still                usually        yet

If there’s only one verb, all the above adverbs go before the verb:

We usually play poker on Thursday nights.  (See exception 1)
She sometimes feels a little depressed, especially on holidays. (See exception 2)
In Vancouver we often have rainy weather.
I seldom go to bed before eleven o’clock. (See exception 4)
I hardly ever see my old friends since I started university. (See exception 4)

If the verb is BE, all the above adverbs go after it.

We were never late for a meeting. (See exception 4)
He’s usually shy around women.
I ‘m not yet ready to tell you my secret. (See exception 3)
Are the children still awake?
You are often late for class. (See exception 1)

If there is a modal, all the above adverbs go after the modal and before the main verb:

She should always remember to lock the door.
My friends and I can often tell if she’s lying.  (See exception 1)
Would you ever lie to your best friend?
She may also be a member of the club. (See exception 1)
They could rarely stay away from a party. (See exception 4)

If there are two-word verb tenses, all the above adverbs go between the two:

He’s soon going to realize his mistake. (See exception 1)
I’ve already seen that movie twice. (see exception 3)
Have you ever met someone famous?
We had never seen a prettier sunset.  (See exception 4)
He hasn’t yet called the police. (See exception 3)
I will still take care of you when you’re old.

Exception 1:

Also, often, soon and usually are not only placed like all the others but are also used at the beginning or at the end of the clause:  

She also wants me to help her on Saturday.
Also, she wants me to help her on Saturday.
She wants me to help her on Saturday, also.

I often skip breakfast because I don’t have time to eat.
Often I skip breakfast because I don’t have time to eat.
I skip breakfast often because I don’t have time to eat.

He soon became the best player on the team. 
Soon he became the best player on the team.
He became the best player on the team soon.

She is usually in bed by this hour.
Usually, she‘s in bed at this hour.
She‘s in bed at this hour usually.

Exception 2:

Sometimes is not only placed like all the others but is also used at the beginning of the clause, end of the clause, or after the verb:

She sometimes feels a little depressed, especially on holidays. 
Sometimes she feels a little depressed, especially on holidays. 
She feels a little depressed sometimes, especially on holidays. 
She feels sometimes a little depressed, especially on holidays.

He sometimes worries about his sister all alone in New York.
Sometimes he worries about his sister all alone in New York.
He worries about his sister all alone in New York, sometimes.
He worries sometimes about his sister all alone in New York.

Exception 3:

Yet and already are not only placed like all the others but are also used at the end of the clause:

I’m not yet ready to tell you my secret.
(OR: I’m not ready yet to tell you my secret.)
I ‘m not ready to tell you my secret yet. 
He has already called the police.
He has called the police already. 

Exception 4:

In very formal English the negative adverbs – hardly ever, never, rarely, and seldom – can be at the beginning of a sentence.  Notice that the subject and verb are inverted.

Hardly ever do I see my old friends since I started university. 

Never were we late for a meeting.

Rarely could they stay away from a party.

Seldom do I go to bed before eleven o’clock.

Study this lesson, and when you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

After go, students often make mistakes with to and to the.  Here is the rule with examples.

Go somewhere (no to, no to the)

You‘re going shopping. (or any other activity with an -ing)

I‘m going home.

They‘re going downtown.

He‘s going there.

She‘s going upstairs.

I‘m going downstairs.

We‘re going inside.

They‘re going outside.

You‘re going abroad. (= to another country)

He‘s going overseas.

I‘m going somewhere.

He‘s not going anywhere.

We‘re going nowhere.

Go to somewhere (no to the)

I‘m going to school.

They‘re going to college / university. (when being general and not naming the institution)

My kids are going to daycare.

We‘re going to work.

She‘s going to church.

You‘re going to bed.

I‘m going to lunch.

He‘s going to dinner.

He‘s going to town.

They‘re going to Stanley Park. (or any other names of places)

We‘re going to Vancouver. (or any other city)

She‘s going to Starbucks. (or any other names of business)

Go to the somewhere

He‘s going to the bank.

We‘re going to the store.

They‘re going to the restaurant.

She‘s going to the beach.

I‘m going to the movies.

You‘re going to the supermarket.

We‘re going to the library.

He‘s going to the hospital.

I‘m going to the dentist. (or any other professional person)

[And every other place not on the first 2 lists.]

You can also say go to a somewhere if it’s not the place you always go to but a place you don’t usually go to.

I’m going to a drug store.

We’re going to a coffee shop.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot