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Some and any

2010-09-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

("Some")

Some: is generally used in positive statements: There are some shelves above the desk.

Can also be used in questions and particularly in request and offers: Would you like some biscuits?

Means an unspecified (not large) amount: it would be great to get some money to help with the rent (we do not know how much).

We use some of with other determiners (my, the, these) to refer to a particular group: Some of my students have part-time jobs. (with some of we use plural).

Some of the cricketers are corrupt.

(Some of the + superlative (adj) + plural noun)

Example: Some of the best students, some of the best people.

(Some of + the / your / these +plural noun)

Example: Some of the students are very much intelligent.

("Any")

Any: is usually used in negatives and questions: My desk hasn't got any drawers, has your desk got any drawers?.

Can also be placed in positive statements to me it doesn't meter / who/ which /where/ when: Call me any time if you need further help.

We can also use no+noun to mean the same as not ..... any .......: My desk has got o drawers, my desk hasn't got any drawers,

we use (No) when the noun is a subject: No applicants had the necessary experience for the job.

Words like something / anything / somebody / anybody, (etc). Follow the same rules as Some and Any.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

2010-09-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

("Countable Nouns")

Definition: Countable Nouns Generally have a singular and plural form.

Example: a window, lots of windows,

Some countable nouns only have a plural form.

Example: clothes, trousers, jeans, scissors.

Take a singular and plural verb form.

Example:

1. The window is big.

2. The windows are big.

Can be replaced by a singular or plural Pronoun: I would like that desk; it is better than mine it has got shelves as well.

They are really handy.

Can be measured with weights and measures: Two kilos of potatoes or numbers: it has got three drawers.

Can be used with a, an: a desk, an apple.

("Uncountable Nouns")

Cannot be plural: Advice (Not advices), Furniture (Not Furnitures), data (Not datas), Information (Not informations) and Hair (Not hairs).

Some uncountable nouns look plural but they are not: news, economics, physics, Take only a singular verb form: The natural light is really nice.

Can be replaced by a singular Pronoun: What will we say about the furniture? well, it is not luxurious but it is very comfortable.

Can be measured with weights and measures: Two kilos of sugar.

All with words like a piece of, a cup of, a bit of, a slice of: A piece of information.

Cannot be used with a/an: information (Not informations).

Can,Could,be able to & Manage to

2010-09-30T06:17:00.000-07:00

Can, Could, be able to & Manage to.

We use the following verbs to talk about abilities.

Present: Can, Can't, be able to, manage to.

Past: Could, Couldn't, be able to, manage to.

Perfect: been able to, manage to.

Future: be able to, manage to.

("Can and Could")

It is more common to use "Can/Could " to talk about general ability in the present and past than be able to.

Example:

1. Can you remember much about it? = (Are you able to remember?).

2. He could speak French and Italian, he couldn't remember name.

("Couldn't, was, wasn't, were, weren't and able to")

To talk about ability on one specific occasion in the past we use couldn't, was, wasn't, were, weren't, able to, but not Could.

Example:

1. The police were able to find out that he could speak French and Italian. (Not, The police could find out)

2. He couldn't remember who he was.

("Manage to")

We sometimes use ("Manage to") to show that something is difficult to achieve.

Example:

1. I have finally managed to give up smoking after all these years.

("be able to and Manage to")

We use be able to or Manage to with perfect or future forms.

Example:

1. Apparently he has been able to find his family.

2. Within a year he'll probably manage to remember quite a lot.

How To Learn English

2010-09-29T03:28:00.000-07:00

(How To Learn English?)

You are like a new baby

Babies learn their language slowly.

First they learn to listen.

Then they learn to talk.

Finally, they can read and write.

Listen to English every day

Listen to English radio.

Watch English TV.

Go to English movies.

Use online lessons.

Make an English/ESL friend

Make up conversations.

Practise dialogues.

Use beginner textbooks.

Read English stories

Start with children's storybooks.

Try ESL readers.

Read advertisements, signs and labels.

Write down new words

Start a vocabulary (new word) notebook.

Write words in alphabetical order (A...B...C...).

Make example sentences.

Always use an English-English dictionary first.۔

Keep an English diary

Start with one sentence.

How do you feel?

How is the weather?

What did you do today?

Write another sentence tomorrow.

Visit an English speaking country

Learn English more quickly.

Stay with an English family.

Hear native speakers talk.

Have a fun experience.