When do we use for, since, ago and before?

• Mom: You have been playing that computer game for five hours, Tim.
• Tim: No, mom. Not that long, surely.
• Mom: You have been playing since lunch. And we finished lunch at one. That was five hours ago.

We use 'for' and 'since' with the present perfect.

We often use 'for' and 'since' with the present perfect to talk about something continuing up to the present.

FOR:

We use 'for' to say how long something has continued.

• I've been waiting for you for two hours.
• We've known about the class for two days.

Michelle has been living here for a year now.

SINCE:

We use 'since' to say when something began.

• I've been waiting since ten past seven.
• We've known about it since Monday.
• Michelle has been living here since last year.

We can also use 'for' with other tenses.

• I'm staying in Greece for a year.
• We played for a long time.

We can often leave out 'for' (but not from some negative sentences).

• We've had this house (for) seven months.
• I haven't seen Dennis for a day or two.

AGO WITH THE PAST:

We can use the adverb 'ago' to talk about a past time measured from the present.

• Eight months ago means eight months before now.
• I passed my driving test four months ago NOT since four months.
• Emma wrote a letter to the authorities weeks ago.
• David first met Clair a long time ago.

BEFORE WITH THE PAST PERFECT:

We use before (not ago) with the past perfect, e.g. had done.

• I bought a car in August. I'd passed my driving test four months before.
• Emma finally received a reply to the letter she had written weeks before.

Why do we always say" Everybody is happy" & not "Everybody are happy"?

Do you ever wonder why a hamburger is called a hamburger if there is not ham in it? Or how could the letters "ough" be pronounced nine different ways in English?! (rough, dough, thoughtful, through, ploughman, slough, coughed, hiccoughed, Scarborough)


Let's look at the words everybody, somebody, anybody and nobody.

In the sentence, “The apple is on the table," we use the singular verb "is" because there is only one apple. 

In the sentence, “The apples are on the table" you will notice we use the verb "are" because there is more than one apple. Easy, right? 

But with words like, everybody, somebody, anybody and nobody, we never use the plural verb "are" even though those words usually means more than one person. 

These words always act as singular not plural. 

That's just a rule you must remember. 

So, you would always say, "everybody is happy" or "somebody is late." Never say, "everybody are happy" or "somebody are late"

Happy Learning!

'Wish' and 'If only'

We use 'I wish' or 'if only' to express a wish.

• Raima wishes she was acknowledged.

'If only' is stronger and more emphatic than wish.

We can use a clause with 'if only' on its own, or we can add another clause.

• 'If only' I wasn't present there.
• 'If only' I were agile, I would be able to play basketball.

Wish---would

Look at these illustrations:

• I wish you would put those shelves up soon.
• Timmy wishes his neighbors wouldn't make so much noise.

If only you'd try to keep the place tidy. Wish /If only....would expresses a wish for something to happen, or to stop happening.

Wish---the past.

Look at the illustrations:

• I wish I lived in a big city. It's so boring in the country.
• We all wish we had more money, don't we?
• If only I was taller, I might be better at basketball.

'Wish' and 'If only' with a past tense verb express a wish for things to be different.

We can use 'were' instead of 'was'

• If only I were taller, I might be better at basketball.

We cannot use 'would' in these sentences, but we can use 'could'.

• I wish I could swing (but I can't).
• I feel so helpless. if only I could speak the language.

Compare 'Wish' with 'would' and with the past.

• I wish something exciting would happen.( I wish for an action in the future.)
• I wish our farm was bigger.( My farm is small).

'Wish'---the past perfect.

We use 'Wish' and 'If only' with the past perfect to express a wish about the past.

• I wish you had told me about the dance performance. I would have gone.
• I wish I'd got up earlier. I am behind with everything today.
• I wish you hadn't lost that dress. It was a really good one.
• If only Jimmie had been a bit careful, he'd have been all right.

We do not use 'would have' for the past, but we can use 'could have'.

• I wish I could have been at the concert, but I wasn't well.

Let's discuss about 'EVERY' and 'EACH'

The differentiation....

'Every' and 'Each' :

We use 'every' and 'each' before a singular noun to talk about a whole group.

• The host thanked every person/each person in the party.
• Every room /Each room has a number.

In many contexts either word is possible, however; there is a difference in meaning.

EVERY:

Every person means 'all the people', 'everyone'.

• Every guest watched as the celebrity entered the hall.

Every, here means three or more, usually a large number.

• There were cars parked along every street in town.

EACH:

Each person means all the people seen as individuals, one by one.

• Each guest shook hands with him.
• Each child was given chocolates.
• Each day seemed to pass very slowly.
• There were cars parked along each side of the street.

We can use each(but not every)on its own or with of.

• There are seven flats. Each has its own parking, NOT Every has...

BUT...

We can say Each one/ Every one has its own entrance.

We can also use 'each' in mid position or after a pronoun.

• We've each got our own closet.
• They gave us each a gift.

Sweet-themed English love words

Valentine’s Day is a sweet and love-filled holiday on February 14th!

So it is time to get in the spirit of the holiday with some sweetness of our own. Today we are going to look at some sweet-themed English love words. First, take a look at these lyrics from a popular song from the 1960s. You will find two new “sweet” love words in the second line of this song.

You can also listen to this song being sung, via the YouTube link below.

Oooooooooooooooh!
Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch
You know that I love you
I can’t help myself
I love you and nobody else

Lyrics from the song: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”

“Sugar Pie” and “Honey Bunch” are just two nicknames in English you can use to talk about a person you love. In fact there are many nicknames in English that are related to ‘sugar’ and ‘sweets’ that people use all the time to talk about their loved ones. This is part of the reason that chocolate, candy, and sugary treats are such big part of the Valentine’s Day holiday! The ideas of sweetness and love are very much connected in the English language!

Take a look at this list of sweet-themed nicknames you can use when talking to, or about, the person you love.

• honey
• honeybun or hon’ bun
• honey bunch
• sugar
• sugar pie
• sweetie
• sweet cheeks
• sweetheart

Here are some examples of how these synonyms for “my love” can be used.

“Honey, I can’t wait to see you.”
“Come over here and give me a kiss sweet cheeks.”
“Have you met my sweetheart Carla yet?”
“Sugar, I couldn’t live without you!”

This Valentine’s Day you might try using one of these vocabulary words with your significant other, maybe you will even get something sweet in return if you do.

You might also want to try saying “I love you” in a more original way this Valentine’s Day. “I love you” are words that we all like to hear, but did you know there are many, many more ways to express the same sentiment in English? I've listed 10 different ways you can say “I love you” in English below.

Each of these phrases has its own unique emphasis, but they are all expressing the same sentiment, I love you.

Again, I would encourage you to try out one of these different phrases this Valentine’s Day, to broaden your vocabulary of course, but also to let your loved one know just how much they mean to you.

• I adore you.
• You complete me.
• I’m addicted to you.
• I’m crazy about you.
• You’re my everything.
• I’m mad about you.
• You light up my life.
• You’re all that I need.
• You set my heart on fire.
• You are simply irresistible.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Permission: can, may, could and be allowed to

A. Asking Permission:

We use "can", "could" or "may" to ask for permission.

• Can I use your bike?
• Could I borrow your pen, please? ---Well, you can, I'm not using at the moment.
• May I see the letter? ---Certainly.

"Could" often sounds more polite than "can".

May is rather formal.

B. Giving and refusing permission.

To give permission we use can or may (but not could).

• You can wait in the lobby if you like.
• Could I borrow your car? ---Of course you can.
• You may telephone from here. (Written communication)

May is formal and not often used in speech.

To refuse permission we use "can't" or "may not" (but not couldn't).

• Could we party here? ---I'm sorry. I'm afraid you can't.
• Members may not bring more than three guests into the club. We can also use "must not".
• Kids must not be left unattended.

C. Talking about permission

We sometimes talk about rules made by someone else. To do this we use "can", "could" and "be allowed to".

We use "can" to talk about the present, and we use "could" for the past.

• Present: Each student can talk to the Principal turn wise.
• Past: In the 1920s you could drive without taking a test.

We can also use "be allowed to".

• Present: Students are allowed to talk to the Principal turn wise.
• Future: Will I be allowed to take a nap, please?
• Past: We weren't allowed to have an interaction with the organizers of the show.

For a general permission in the past we use either "could" or "was/were allowed to."

• I was always allowed to drink occasionally.
• I could always drink occasionally.

However, to say that the permission resulted in a particular action, something that really happened, we use was/were allowed to (but not could).

• I was allowed to take her for a drive yesterday.
• We were allowed to meet our idol after the concert.

Happy Learning!!!