future 3: going to
1 a present tense This structure is really a present tense (the present progressive of go). We use it to talk about future actions and events that...
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tense simplification in subordinate clauses
reasons for tense simplification If the main verb of a sentence makes it clear what kind of time the speaker is talking about, it is not always...
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if 3: special structures with past tenses and would
If I knew her name, I would tell you. What would you do if you lost your job? 1 unreal situations We use special structures with if when we are...
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prepositions (6): before conjunctions
Prepositions can be followed by conjunctions in some cases but not in others.indirect speech: prepositions dropped before thatPrepositions are not...
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-ing forms 7
Some verbs and adjectives can be followed by either -ing forms (‘gerunds’) or infinitives. I started playing / to play the violin when I was 10...
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about to
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...
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used + infinitive
9 meaning We use used + infinitive to talk about past habits and states which are now finished. I used to smoke, but now I’ve stopped, (NOT I was...
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participles 3: details
an interesting book used as adjectives before nouns, or after be and other a lost dog The upstairs toilet window is broken. His idea seems...
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Common Collocations
Common Collocations On this page, you can find a few short lists of common collocations to give you more of an idea about them. Many good...
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future 10: future progressive
shall/will + be + .. .ing 1 events in progress in the future We can use the future progressive to say that something will be in progress (going...
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