grammar in use

Free English Grammar e-Book

in Grammar

  Enter your name and e-mail to get the free book: [ois skin="EE4"] This free grammar e-book is beginner-level. I will publish intermediate and advanced level grammar books in the future – so sign up for the Espresso English e-mails to get news about books, courses, and other products. I hope you enjoy the free [...]

Present Perfect or Past Simple?

in Grammar

Rule 1: Use the present perfect to talk about a general experience in the past. Use the past simple to talk about a specific moment in the past. “Have you seen the new Mission Impossible film?” “Yes, I have.” “When did you see it?” “I saw it last week.”   Use the present perfect for “unspecified” [...]

Grammar in use: Present perfect + ever/never

in Grammar

Welcome to Part 2 of the Present Perfect series! Click here for Part 1 – learning how to make the Present Perfect. Use the present perfect + ever to ask questions about experiences in someone’s life. “Have you ever taken dance classes?” “Yes, I have. I took 6 weeks of lessons before my wedding!” “Has [...]

First Conditional: When, As Soon As, Unless

in Grammar

Click here to review the First Conditional. It is possible to use other words instead of if in first conditional sentences:   ALTERNATIVE TO “IF” WHY USE IT? EXAMPLE When When the “condition” will definitely happen. When I die, I’ll leave all my money to charity. As soon as To emphasize immediacy This situation is very urgent. [...]

Grammar in use: “will/won’t” vs. “going to”

in Grammar

There are two ways to talk about the future in English: will/won’t and going to. Use “going to” for plans and arrangements: On my next vacation, I”m going to stay in a nice hotel in Paris. Her current contract ends in December, so she’s going to look for a new job. David’s going to meet me [...]

Have: Simple or Continuous?

in Confusing Words, Grammar

Some words are never used in the continuous form. For example: like, want, need, believe, know: I’m knowing how to cook. I know how to cook. [warning]The word have is a special case. Sometimes it can be continuous, and sometimes it can’t.[/warning] Have for possession is never continuous I’m having a car now. I have [...]

Future: Will / Won’t – Part 1

in Grammar

You can use will / won’t for future predictions. Example: The world’s population will reach 10 billion in the year 2050. Positive / Negative I You He She It We They will (+)won’t (-) have Examples: Predictions for the year 2050. In the year 2050, we will have flying cars. In the year 2050, there [...]

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