Grammar of phrasal verbs – Type 3 and 4 Phrasal verbs can be: Type 3 Form – verb + preposition + object Examples: break into, pick on, turn into, get over Phrasal verbs are an important part of English grammar using the same grammatical structures. With this type of phrasal verbs in English Grammar it is not possible to separate the preposition from the verb. John Wilkins picked on little Mary John Wilkins picked on her But not John Wilkins picked little Mary on John Wilkins picked her on Type 4 Form – verb + adverb + preposition + object Examples: put up with, do away with, come out in, come up against The phrasal verbs in this category have 2 particles. They cannot be separated from the verb. The government want to do away with tax on children’s food Fred came up against a serious problem of hacking on his computer She can’t put up with the students arriving late to class She can’t put up with them arriving late to class [...] Read more...
The grammar of phrasal verbs – types 1 and 2
The grammar of phrasal verbs – Type 1 and 2 Phrasal verbs can be: Type 1 Form – verb + adverb (with no object) Examples: Cut back, end up, go off, run out With this type, the verb and adverb cannot be separated. We can say: We have run out of eggs But not: We have run eggs out Type 2 Form – Verb + adverb + object Verb + object + adverb Examples: find out, give away, put off, try on If the object is a noun, the adverb can go before the noun: She wants to try on the dress Or after the noun: She wants to try the dress on If the object is a pronoun (it, them, her etc) the verb + adverb cannot be separated, the adverb comes after the object: She wants to try it on is possible, but: She wants to try on it is not possible It is important to practise understanding and using Phrasal verbs. Sometimes an alternative to the phrasal verb may sound [...] Read more...
Get used to compared with be used to
Get used to + gerund This part of the English language is used to talk about the process of change, the period of adaptation to a new situation. Example situation: In 2010 I was used to taking sugar in my tea and coffee. My doctor told me I should reduce the sugar I consumed. At first I wasn’t used to tea and coffee without sugar but slowly I got used to not putting sugar in my drinks. Now I am used to tea and coffee with no sugar but slowly I got used to not putting sugar in my drinks ……. This explains that there was a process of adaptation from taking sugar in my drinks to not taking sugar. Anne decided to get up early and do exercise before breakfast. At first it was difficult but she soon got used to it. When you are accustomed to doing something you say that you are used to doing something .When it was an habitual action in the past that is no longer true now I used [...] Read more...
“used to + infinitive” for past habits
Used to + infinitive Go to grammar EXERCISE for used to + infinitive here Used to is a form of English Grammar that we use to talk about an habitual action in the past that we don’t do now. The structure uses the past of the verb “to use”so questions and negatives are formed using “did” I used to live in London (now I don’t live in London) John used to play rugby every weekend (now he doesn’t play because he has serious knee problems) Mary didn’t use to speak French (but now she speaks French very well because she has lived in Toulouse for 5 years) Did you use to have a lot of homework when you went to Primary school? Compare with other uses of “use” in the English language: use be used to and gerund correctly Difference between use, used to, be used to Go to English grammar lessons Read more...
How about …..? for suggestions
“How about ……. ? for suggestions. There are different ways we can make suggestions in the English language. “How about …?” is one of these. Its form is: How about + gerund form of the verb It is a question but does not require an answer. Examples: Stan : How about going to the cinema? Lydia: Not today, I’m too tired. Why not tomorrow? Stan : Fine. Alica and Tanya are walking in the mountains. After two hours: Alice : How about having a rest? I’m quite tired. Tanya: Yeh, I’m tired too. Let’s sit on those rocks over there. Neil and Rebecca’s children are on school holiday next week. Rebecca: How about taking a day off next week? Neil : Yes, it would be great to be with the kids. I have meetings on Monday and Tuesday but I should be able to take Wednesday off. Is that OK with you? Rebecca: Wednesday? Yes, perfect! Other ways of making suggestions are Let\’s …… for suggestions Why don’t we ……..? why [...] Read more...