Grammar

English verbs can be categorized into three different types: normal verbs, stative verbs, and mixed verbs. Normal Verbs Also known as “event verbs” or “actions verbs,” these are words for actions that we mean to take and usually have very visible results. Verbs like “run,” “swim,” “jump,” “break,” “eat,” “read,” […]

Stative Verbs

Like the present perfect tense, the present perfect continuous tense (also known as the present progressive) can refer to either the present or the past time. Generally, it refers to actions that happened over a period of time and recently stopped. Sometimes it can be used interchangeably with the Present […]

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense, also known as the present progressive, is most often used to talk about actions that are happening right now, temporary situations, and annoying habits. Like the simple present, it can also be used to talk about definite future plans. It is formed by using the present […]

The Present Continuous Tense

Generally, the present perfect tense talks about actions that happened at an unspecified past time and uncompleted actions or events in the present time. It can be tricky because it refers to present time in some contexts, and past time in others. Unlike the simple past tense, the present perfect tense […]

Present Perfect Tense

Every time you use a noun, you have to decide if you also use an article (a, an, or the), and if so, which one to use. For many learners, using articles correctly is one of the most frustrating aspects of English. You have to take into account a number […]

Articles: General Rules

On the General Rules for Articles page, you learned how “a,” “an,” and “the” are often used in sentences, and what meaning they convey. The trouble is that there are many exceptions to these rules, and specific cases which follow different rules. Many of these exceptions are idiomatic, and some are […]

Articles: Advanced Usage