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...

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...

ordinary verb: Everybody needs to rest Need most often has ordinary verb forms: the third person singular has -s, and questions and negatives are...

This entry deals with the simple present perfect. For the present perfect progressive, see present perfect 4 forms have/has + past participle I...

1 use When we join two or more grammatically similar expressions, we usually put and before the last. bread and cheese We drank, talked and...

1 articles and prepositions No article is used in the expression at home (meaning ‘in one’s own place’). Is anybody at home? (not … at...

6 forms Would, the past form of will, is a modal auxiliary verb (see modal auxiliary verbs: introduction-354). Questions and negatives are made...

1 knowledge, skill, strength etc: I can read Italian We use can to say what people and things are able (or unable) to do because of their...

non-progressive verbs Some verbs are not used in progressive forms (see progressive 2: non-progressive verbs), even if the meaning is one for...