Grammar – LearnEnglishLanguageWell

When do we add ‘s’, ‘es’ and ‘ies’? reader’s question

admin — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 21:57:55 +0000

Reader’s question

Add ‘s’ – exceptions?

Kay sent us this comment and question on our article about adding ‘s’, ‘es, and ‘ies’ in the third person singular of the present simple:

Verbs with “s”, “es” and “ies” in Present Simple

Thanks for your kind gesture! Please (1) are there words that (2) don’t have s in third person and (3 and 4) are there verbs that don’t need s in future tenses ? Thanks once more.

This is the answer we gave her:

Thanks for your comment and questions Kay.
You will see that I have numbered your questions:

I suppose that you mean verbs and not words. All verbs that have an infinitive with “to” (to have, to go, to like, to study etc) need to add an ‘s’ form in the third person singular affirmative. In negatives and questions we add an ‘s’ to the verb ‘do’ which is used as an auxiliary:
– Does John live in London?
– Mary doesn’t study at university
Other auxiliary (modals) that don’t have an infinitive with “to” do NOT add an ‘s’:
– My dog can swim
– Patricia would like to visit Amsterdam
– James should train harder if he wants to run faster
We ONLY add an ‘s’ to verb forms in the future when we use present tenses (simple, continuous, perfect) to indicate the idea of “future”:
– My mother is coming to visit us in December.
– Max works night shift next week.
– When Dad has arrived, we’ll start to eat
If we use modal verbs like ‘will’,’must’ etc for the future we do NOT use an ‘s’:
– I think that my teacher will be in a meeting at 10.00
– Your dog must be on a lead in the children’s festival tomorrow

I hope that answers your question.

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admin — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 06:35:36 +0000

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“Some” in questions

Is grammar important? Yes, but …… it is not everything

admin — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 04:18:03 +0000

It is not impossible to communicate in English without studying English grammar.

Millions of native English speakers are testament to this fact. If you are not a native English speaker and do not have regular contact with good English speakers it is difficult to get a good model for communication using English. In this case it is extremely important to get as much contact as possible with the English language through internet, TV, radio, podcasts, books, newspapers, magazines etc.

In addition to this daily contact with “real English” if we want to speak English well , understand English well, write English well it is necessary to find out how to understand English grammar. How we use English verb forms (tenses) is essential to developing good communication in English. Effective use of the English language is the key to good communication.

We are preparing a series of master classes about how we use English grammar correctly. I am not going to talk about how we construct the verb form but I want to give the basic concepts of how these grammatical forms are used by native English speakers.

Sometimes people try and complicate English grammar. English grammar has evolved over many hundreds of years to become a simplified version of what went before. The basic rules of verb forms (tenses) are very simple, they are perhaps different from your own language but they are not difficult.

After learning and using correctly the basic verb forms then English becomes more complicated because it is difficult to find rules to follow. It is at this stage that it is essential to have regular, daily, contact with the language.

Go to Grammar section: here

If + will or If +present

admin — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 22:52:26 +0000

Is “If + will…” possible?

An answer to a reader’s question

I want to thank Dhritishankar Sen very much for sending us this question:

“A – If you will not buy me an ice cream I will not go to school.

B – If you do not buy me an ice cream I will not go to school.

Which sentence is correct and why? please help”

Our answer:

“B” is, in most situations, the correct sentence. We use a present tense after words such as if, when, before, after and most other conjunctions when the phrase has a future meaning:

After you read this, let me know what you think.
When you arrive, can you phone me, please?
If you like my answer, will you tell your friends?

We can also use the Present continuous or Present perfect

After you have finished the document, come to my office.
When you are parking your car, can you send me a message, please?

The structure of the sentence you have used in B is also commonly known as the First conditional

If + will is possible in certain situations:

If you will come with me, I’ll introduce you to my boss (used to make a polite request)
I’ll give you some money if it will help you to visit your mother in hospital (this is not a condition, it means the help is a result) Compare with:
I’ll give you some money if you visit your mother in hospital. (this means: on the condition that you visit her)

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Ask your grammar questions

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 18:23:13 +0000

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Using First Conditionals

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:11:04 +0000

Real conditionals – First conditional sentences

The First conditional normally has two parts (clauses)

One part (clause) which usually starts with “if” gives a condition, the other part gives us a result if that condition is true.

Example:

If it rains (conditional clause), I will take an umbrella (result clause)

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The First Conditional is a Real conditional to show a situation that is possible:

If she studies well, she’ll get a good grade for university.

The Form is usually If + present tense, will + basic infinitive

If it rains, I will take an umbrella or I will take an umbrella if it rains

The result is possible if the “condition” in the if clause is met.

If I see him, I’ll give him your message. (I want to give him your message but first I need to see him)
He’ll be more relaxed if he meditates. (It’s very likely that he’ll be more relaxed but first he needs to meditate)
If Jenny studies well, she’ll get a place at Harvard. (She is capable of getting a place at Harvard, but first she needs to study hard)
If they have extra money at the end of the month, they’ll give it to charity. (They want to give some money to charity, but it depends on having money left at the end of the month)

Note:

1- In this type of conditional it is not possible to substitute “if” for “when, whenever or every time”

2- It is possible, in the first conditional, to use will in both parts (clauses) of the sentence. Will in the if clause shows willingness (volition) to do something and not future time:

If you’ll help me, I’ll be very grateful (= if you’re willing to help me)
If she’ll study hard, she’ll get a place at Harvard. (= if she’s willing to study hard)
If he’ll meditate, he’ll be able to concentrate more. (= if he is willing to meditate)

3- Will cannot be used in if clauses when it doesn’t show willingness

If they’ll have extra money, they’ll put in a special account. Is not possible, it is illogical.
If I’ll see him, I’ll tell him what you said Is not possible, it is illogical.

4- May and Might instead of Will can also be used in this type of conditional sentence: