Simple Past vs Past Continuous

1. Past simple vs Past continuous 1

2. Past simple vs Past continuous 2
3. Past simple vs Past continuous 3

FOUR TENSES REVISION

Difference between if I was and if I were

 

I was

PAST

We use “I was” or “If I was” when we talk about real things that actually happened in the past.

Examples:

1.  When I was 10 years old, I used to play soccer every day.
2.  I was really happy to hear that you passed your test yesterday.
3.  My high school teachers would give me extra homework if I was late for class.
4.  I apologize if I was rude. I didn’t mean it.
5.  I’m very sorry if I wasn’t clear enough.

I were

HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS & WISHES

We use the phrase “If I were” when we want to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations (second conditional). We also use it when we are wishing for something. It’s called the subjunctive mood.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

1. If I were rich, I would buy a house in Dubai.
2. If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.
3. I wouldn’t work every day if I weren’t a police officer.
4. I would be more active if I were younger.
5. If he were taller, he could play basketball.

NOTE: with he, she and it we can use was (instead of were) in informal speaking. 

Example: If she was here, she’d know what to do.

WISH

1.  I wish I were able to run 20 km
2.  I wish I were a doctor.
3.  I wish I were 20 years old again.
4.  She wishes she were a top model.
5.  He wishes he were richer.

Second Conditional

We use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations in the present or future.

In the if-clause we use simple past or past continuous.

In the other clause (consequence/result), we can use would, could or might.

Form: IF + SUBJECT + PAST SIMPLE,  WOULD + INFINITIVE VERB

 "IF   I    WON    A FREE PLANE TICKET, I WOULD   GO TO JAPAN"

-Negative: IF + SUBJECT + DIDN'T + INFINITIVE, WOULD(N'T) + INFINITIVE VERB

   "IF I DIDN'T WORK SO MUCH, I WOULDN'T BE SO TIRED"

-Questions: IF + SUBJECT PAST SIMPLE, (QUESTION WORD) WOULD + SUBJECT + INFINITVE

   "IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?"

‍

For the verb be, we usually start our sentence with If + subject + were

For examples:

If I were rich, I’d buy a Ferrari

If he were/ was rich, he’d buy a Porsche.

When we want to give advice, we always use If I were …

Examples:

If I were you, I wouldn’t go there.

If I were you, I’d travel to Brazil instead of Australia.

Things to note!

-Past simple ALWAYS follows 'IF'

-You can change the order of the clauses e.g.

"I would go to Japan if I won a free plane ticket"

-'COULD' can replace 'WOULD' to make the situation less probable

Ex. 1

Ex. 2

Ex. 3

First Conditional

Do these exercises:

Exercise 1: Match the condition and the results to create conditional sentences.

Exercise 2: Read the sentences and choose the best option.

Exercise 3: Fill in the gaps with the right option.

Exercise 4: Choose the right option.

Exercise 5: Complete the sentences using FUTURE or PRESENT SIMPLE.

Exercise 6: Complete the sentences using FUTURE or PRESENT SIMPLE.

Exercise 7: Complete the sentences using PRESENT SIMPLE and FUTURE.-

Happy international Women's Day

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Passive voice

1. Identify the subject, verb, direct object and indirect object of the active sentence.

2. Make the first object (or the second one!) the subject of the passive sentence.

3. Which is the verbal tense of the verb in the active voice? --> Put this tense in the verb to be.

4. Write the verb of the active voice in past participle.

5. The rest of the sentence continues the same.

6. Add by + the active subject (if it's relevant!).

* Take care with subject pronouns and object pronouns!

READY TO PRACTICE? :)

Activity 1: Present simple and past simple passive.

Activity 2: Present simple, past simple, future simple and present perfect passive

Activity 3: Rewrite the sentences from active to passive.

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Still, yet & already

 

Do you already know how to use these words? Or don’t you know yet? Are they still confusing for you? Maybe this chart will help.

Position of STILL in a sentence

 

Still is used before a verb or adjective

Be + still + adjective

• The baby is still asleep.
• I’m still tired.

Still + main verb

• I still want to go.
• Does he still live with his parents?

Auxiliary + still + main verb

If the verb has two parts, still goes in the middle between the auxiliary and the verb.

• We are still trying to finish the assignment.
• Are you still waiting for him?

BUT if the sentence is negative, still goes before the negative auxiliary verb.

• He still hasn’t quit his job despite complaining about it every day.
• My phone still isn’t working after I dropped it.

Position of YET in a sentence

Verb + (object) + yet

• She hasn’t finished yet. (verb + yet)
• She hasn’t finished her meal yet. (verb + object + yet)
• Have you been to Spain yet?

Adjective + yet

• Fortunately, they aren’t bored yet.
• Is your friend ready yet?

You can see that YET mostly comes at the end of sentence or question. But there is an exception:

YET is sometimes used in affirmative sentences in formal English though it is not common to hear it. In this case, it is not placed at the end of the sentence but after the verb to be.

• We are yet to find a solution.
• The best is yet to come.

Position of ALREADY in a sentence

Already is used before a verb or adjective.

Be + already

• After only 15 minutes, he is already frustrated.
• We are already at the restaurant.

In spoken English, already can be at the end of a sentence for greater emphasis (or to show surprise)

• Has he finished? (No surprise)
• Has he finished already? (I’m surprised)

Now, following word order for YET depends on whether American English or British English is used.

already + main verb

In American English, the word order is already + main verb. This main verb is in the Past simple tense.

• I already ate.
• He already finished the task.

auxiliary verb + already + verb

In British English, the word order is auxiliary verb + already + verb. This verb is a past participle in a Perfect tense.

• I have already eaten.
• He has already finished the task.

Still = continues longer than expected.
Already = sooner than expected.
Yet = it is expected but has not happened.

Ex. 1

Ex. 2

Ex. 3

Ex. 4