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What are modal auxiliary verbs? The verbs can, could, may, might, will, would, shall (mainly British English), should, must and ought are called ‘modal auxiliary verbs’. We can use them before the infinitives of other verbs and add certain kinds of meaning connected with certainty, or with obligation and freedom to act (see next section). […]
Discourse means ‘pieces of language longer than a sentence’. Some words and expressions are used to show how discourse is constructed. They can show the connection between what a speaker is saying and what has already been said or what is going to be said; they can help to make clear the structure of what […]
1 two meanings “After all” can mean ‘in spite of what was said before’ or ‘contrary to what was expected’. Position: usually at the end of a clause. I’m sorry. I know I said I would help you, but I can’t after all. I expected to fail the exam, but I passed after all. Another […]
1- future, present, and past; simple, progressive and perfect English verbs can refer to future, present or past time, and for each kind of time, there are three possibilities with most verbs: simple, progressive (be + -ing) and perfect (have + past participle) simple present: I start present progressive: I am starting present perfect: I […]
on/to the other side of (line): across and overAcross and over can both be used to mean ‘on or to the other side of a line, river, road, bridge, etc’.His village is just across/over the border.See if you can jump across/over the stream. high things: over preferredWe prefer over to say ‘on/to the other side […]
Before an infinitive, we usually use agree, not accept.I agreed to meet them here. (More normal than I accepted to meet…) For more information consult a good dictionary like Langman, Oxford, Merriam Webster, or Collins.
1 ‘higher than’: above or over Above and over can both mean ‘higher than’. Above is more common with this meaning.The water came up above/over our knees.Can you see the helicopter above/over the palace? 2 ‘not directly over’: above We use above when one thing is not directly over another.We’ve got a little house above […]
About + infinitive (with to) means ‘going to very soon’; ‘just going to’.Don’t go out now – we’re about to have lunch.I was about to go to bed when the telephone rang.Not about tocan mean ‘unwilling to’.I’m not about to pay 100 dollars for that dress.about to• see adverb position 5: emphasizing adverbs For more […]
Compare: a book for children about Africa and its people./a textbook on African history. a conversation about money./a lecture on economics. We use “about” to talk about ordinary, more general kinds of communication. “On” suggests that a book, talk, etc is more serious, suitable for specialists.
We use “able” especially in the structure be able + infinitive. This often has the same meaning as can. There is a negative form unable. Some people are able to / can walk on their hands. I am unable to / can’t understand what she wants. “Can” is preferred in the sense of ‘know how […]