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We don’t use ‘Shall’ very frequently in modern English, particularly in American English. It is used to make offers and suggestions and to ask for advice. What time shall we meet? Shall we vote on it now? What dress shall I wear? Shall I open the window? You only really need to know that about…

We use the active form to say what the subject does. For example: I speak English every day at work. I repaired the flat tire on the car. We use the passive form to say what happens to people and things, to say what is done to them. For example: English is spoken here. The…

We can use the imperative to give a direct order. Take that chewing gum out of your mouth. Stand up straight. Give me the details. We can use the imperative to give instructions. Open your book. Take two tablets every evening. Take a left and then a right. We can use the imperative to make…

The –ing form can be used like a noun, like an adjective or like a verb. Smoking is forbidden. I have a long working day. I don’t like dancing. When it is used like a noun it may or may not have an article before it. Marketing is a very inexact science.  The marketing of…

Can you do that? I can’t manage to do that. You can leave your car in that parking space. You cannot smoke in here. Notice that there are two negative forms: ‘can’t’ and ‘cannot’. These mean exactly the same thing. When we are speaking, we usually say ‘can’t’. We use ‘can’ to talk about ‘ability’….

‘Could’ is used to make polite requests. We can also use ‘can’ for these but ‘could’ is more polite.  Could you help me, please? Could you lend me some money? Could I have a lift? Could I bother you for a moment? If we use ‘could’ in reply to these requests, it suggests that we…

We can use ‘may’ to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English May I borrow your pen? May we think about it? May I go now? We use ‘may’ to suggest something is possible It may rain later today. I may not have time to…