English Grammar and Writing Guide
Phrasal Verbs
Be through: To finish, to end.
Go on: To continue.
Fill in: To complete (a form).
Take off: To depart (airplane).
Stay out: To go out, to spend the night away.
Speak up: To talk louder.
Go off: To leave, to ring (alarm).
Put off: To delay, to postpone.
See off: To say goodbye, to run towards someone.
Take off: To remove clothing.
Turn off: To switch off.
Carry on: To continue.
Get on: To have a good relationship with someone.
Hold on: To endure, to resist, to wait.
Put on: To wear something.
Try on: To try on clothes.
Give up: To quit a habit, to abandon, to surrender.
Hang up: To hang up the phone.
Look up to: To admire, to look up in the dictionary.
Wash up: To wash the dishes.
Work out: To exercise, to solve a problem.
Get up: To get out of bed.
Set off: To leave, to depart, to start a journey.
Pick up: To take, to collect.
Hang on: To wait.
Get in: To enter.
Get over: To recover.
Put up with: To endure, to tolerate (negative).
Regret: To feel sorry for.
Grammar
Present Simple
Subject – Verb (infinitive). In interrogative and negative: use “do”. Example: She doesn’t like tennis. Do you like music?
Present Continuous
Subject – Verb “to be” – ing. Examples: I’m writing now. I’m not writing now. Am I writing now?
Past Simple
Subject – Verb -ed. Example: I went to the university. Negative: Verb – did – not – verb (infinitive). Example: I didn’t sing. Interrogative: Did – subject – verb (infinitive). Example: Did I sing?
Past Continuous
Subject – Verb “to be” – verb -ing. Examples: I was talking. He wasn’t talking. They weren’t talking. Interrogative: Were you talking? Was he eating?
Present Perfect
Subject – Verb “to have” – Verb -ed. (Used for past actions that have importance in the present) Examples: She has gone to work. I have talked to Peter. Negative: Subject – haven’t/hasn’t – ed. Example: I haven’t talked to Peter. Interrogative: Have you talked to Peter?
Present Perfect Continuous
Subject – have been – ing. Examples: They have been talking for 3 hours. She has been… Negative: Subject – haven’t/hasn’t been – ing. Interrogative: Have they been talking for a long time?
Past Perfect
Subject – had – verb -ed. Example: I had visited the Louvre before… They had studied English before they went to London. (Used for actions that started in the past and are prior to another past action. Followed by the past simple) Negative: He hadn’t studied English before they went to London.
Past Perfect Continuous
Subject – had been – ing. Example: I had been studying English for 2 years when I went to London. (Used for an action that we had been doing but was interrupted by something)
Future Simple
Subject – will – main verb. Subject – going to – verb.
Future Continuous
Subject – will be – ing. Example: I will be talking (I will be talking) (Used and then another sentence with present is always added)
Passive Voice
He catches the thief — the thief is caught (by him)
He is catching the thief — the thief is being caught
He caught the thief — the thief was caught
He will catch the thief — the thief will be caught
He is going to catch the thief — the thief is going to be caught
He has caught the thief — the thief has been caught
He had caught the thief — the thief had been caught
He would catch the thief if.. — the thief would be caught if..
He would have caught the thief if… — the thief would have been caught if..
Article
Structure
Title
Introduction
Two or three paragraphs
Conclusion
Introduction
Just imagine, have you ever been.. (have you ever been…), how would you feel..
Paragraphs
I was absolutely terrified when I realized, It was the most amazing experience I have ever had, let’s start with, another advantage, On top of that,
Conclusion
In my opinion, I think that…
Formal Letter
Salutation
If you don’t know the name: Dear (Sir, Madam)
If you know the name: Dear – Dr, Mr, Ms, Mrs.
Introduction
With reference to your email/letter of 12 January, further to our discussion last week, I am writing on behalf of (I am writing on behalf of..), I am writing to complain about, I am looking for a …, I would like to apply for, I am delighted to confirm that (I am delighted to confirm that), you will be pleased to hear that..
Paragraphs
- I’d be grateful if you could (I would be grateful if you could), could you please
- I am writing to enquire about… (I am writing to inquire about)
- I am writing to express my annoyance with…, I am not happy about, I was delighted to hear that (I was delighted to hear that), I was very happy to learn that..
After the paragraph
Thank you kindly
I can’t thank you enough
Closing
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I look forward to receiving your reply.
Yours sincerely (when you know the recipient), Yours faithfully (when you don’t)
Linking Words
In spite of: Despite
Despite: Despite
Although: Although
However: But, however
Whereas: While
Because of: Due to
In order to: To (followed by a phrase with a verb in the infinitive)
So as to: To (followed by a phrase with a verb in the infinitive)
Therefore: Therefore/so/for that reason
Such as: For example
Since: Because/as
Because of: Because of
So that: So that
Due to: Due to
In addition: In addition to
Unless: Unless
As long as: Only if, as long as
Providing that: As long as
Even if: Even if, even though
Nevertheless: Nevertheless
Unlike: Unlike
While: While
Reported Speech
Tense Changes
Present simple: “I’m about 100 km from Australia” — Past simple: He said (that) he was about 100 km..
Present continuous: “The sun is shining” — Past continuous: She stated the sun was shining.
Past simple: “He decided to learn a new language” — Past perfect: He said he had decided to learn a new language.
Present perfect: “They have done research on the topic” — Past perfect: They said they had done research on the topic.
Going to: “She is going to book the flight tickets” — Going to: She said that she was going to …
Time and Place Changes
Yesterday — the day before
Today — that day
Tomorrow — the next day
Next week — the following week
Now — then
Here — there
This — that