Modal Verbs (Part One: Present Forms)

What are modal verbs?

• Common modal verbs are: can, could, may, might, will, would, must, shall, should, ought to 
• (Please click on each link to view more online information about each modal verb)
  

How are they different from other verbs?

• They are helping verbs (or "auxiliary verbs") that carry special meaning.

There are a few things to remember about modal verbs:

1. They are always accompanied by a main verb (never alone)
2. They do not change in the third person singular form (no "s" is added as it would be to a verb like walk/walks)
3. Most can't be used in the past tenses or future tenses (as we would do with a verb like stop/stopped or go/went)
   
4. We add "not" to make one negative (should becomes should not, or shouldn't)
   
5. We do not use "do/does/did" with these to make a question (You should go. becomes Should you go?)
   

How should we use them and what do they all mean?

• For a general summary, please visit this helpful page from the Danish Englisch-Hilfen.

CAN/COULD: to show ability (or lack of it)

    I can ski, but my sister could ski when she was only three.

•     For more information, visit this Perfect Grammar explanation.
•     You can also find examples on this page from Learn English Online.
  
•     To practice with these, try these (easy) exercises from Learn English Online: Practice 1, Practice 2
  

CAN/COULD: to show option/ indicate a choice

   You can either play hockey or ski this winter, if you are looking for a fun winter sport.


CAN/COULD/MAY: to show permission/ make a request

  Can I borrow your pencil? (Informal)
  Could I open the window? (More formal)
  May I open the window? (Most formal)
  

•    For more information, visit this explanation page from Learn English Online, or this one from English Language Centres.
•    This simple EngVid video explanation is also helpful.
•    For practice, try these exercises: Practice 3 (from Advanced English Grammar), or Practice 4 (from UsingEnglish.com)
  

CAN: to show opportunity

  We can get some great apples in Maine at this time of year.


SHOULD/OUGHT TO (and HAD BETTER): to show advisability/ advice

   You should stop smoking.
   You ought to study more.

•    Find more information from Learn English Online here or here, from the University of Victoria.
• Or check out this video from My English. (animated and very simple)
•    To get some practice, try this: Practice 5 (from the University of Victoria)
  

SHOULD/OUGHT TO: to show expectation

   The bus should arrive soon. The schedule indicates that it will be here in 10 minutes.

•    For practice (and to get familiar with this use), try these: Practice 6 (easy), or Practice 7 (easy) (both from English Club)
  

SHOULD/COULD/MIGHT/SHALL: for suggestions

   Shouldn't we close the window? It's getting cold.
   You might want to study more.
   Shall we go out to dinner tonight?

•    For more information, read this very informative page (from Grammaring).
  

  
WOULD LIKE: to show desire

   I would like to go to Florida this winter.
   Would you like to have some iced tea with your lunch?

•    For more information and examples, visit this Cambridge page.
•   For some basic practice, try this easy but useful exercise: Practice 8 (from To Learn English).
  

MUST: to show an assumption/inference

   It must be cold outside today. There is frost on my window.


MUST (and HAVE TO): to show necessity/obligation/prohibition

  We must complete the bonus exercises before the test in order to earn the points.
  You mustn't be late for class.
  We have to study for the test.

• For more information, check out this page   (from Learn English Online).
• This practice activity may be helpful: Practice 9 (from the English Language Centres).
  

WILL: to show a general truth, promise, or prediction (see "FUTURE FORMS" post for more information)

MAY/MIGHT/COULD: to show possibility
 
   She might visit us tomorrow, if she has time.
   You could finish your homework if you hurry and stay focused.
   We may have pizza for dinner. We haven't decided, yet.

•    For more information, visit this Learn English Online explanation and example page, or this one from Perfect English Grammar.
  
•    To practice, try these exercises: Practice 10 (from Learn English Onine), Practice 11 (from Auto English).
  

  

Where can I find more practice with all of these?

• Practice 12 (from English Page)
  
• Practice 13 (easier- from FIS EDU)
  
• Practice 14 (from My English Pages)
  
• Practice 15 (from English 4 U)
  
• Practice 16 (easier- from Learn English Online)
  
• Practice 17 (challenging- from Grammar Quizzes)
  
• Practice 18 (from Oxford University Press)
  

3 Types of Sentences

Writers use three main types of correct sentences: Simple, Compound and Complex.

What are these?

For more information and examples, see this clear explanation.
You could also watch this clear, helpful video that explains them.

 

 

Compound Sentences are...

Two independent clauses joined by a FANBOY (or "Coordinating Conjunction")
For a whole list of examples, visit this page.

Complex Sentences are...

Two clauses joined by a subordinate conjunction, AKA one dependent and one independent clause joined together. (Check out this earlier blog post for more information on Complex sentences with subordinate conjunctions)

Are you ready to practice?

Practice One: Compound or Complex
Practice Two: Three types
Practice Three: Three types quiz
Practice Four: Three types, quiz 2

Sentence Errors: Fragments, Run ons and Comma-splice errors

What are these tricky types of errors that are so common in written English?

1) A fragment is an incomplete sentence- it is missing either its subject or its verb, or does not express a complete idea.

EXAMPLES: Is beautiful today. Because the temperature has risen slightly. (Both fragments! Can you see what is missing in each?)

For more information about fragment errors (and how to avoid them)  from Chomp Chomp, click here.


 

For practice finding and fixing fragments errors, try these, from the Purdue Owl, Chomp Chomp, and other popular grammar/writing sites:

• Practice One (finding fragments)
• Practice Two (fragment or not?)

2) A run-on is when two or more sentences (or "independent clauses" are put together without proper division (no conjunction, period, or semicolon).

EXAMPLE: It is a beautiful today because the temperature has risen slightly finally it isn't snowing and icy outside. (This is a run on- can you find where there should be a period?)

For more information about run on errors (and how to avoid them) from Chomp Chomp, click here.

For practice finding and fixing run-on errors, try these, from the Purdue Owl, Bristol University, and other popular grammar/writing sites:

• Practice One (Is it correct or a run-on?)
• Practice Two (Are they correct or run on errors?)
• Practice Three (Fix the run-on error)

3) A comma-splice error is like a run on...except here, a comma is "trying to do the job of a period" and divide the independent clauses all by itself. (NOTE: it can't!)

EXAMPLE: It is a beautiful today, the temperature has risen slightly finally, it isn't snowing and icy outside. (This contains two comma splice errors! YIKES!)

For more information about comma-splice errors (and how to avoid them)  from the Purdue Owl, click here.

For practice finding and fixing comma-splice errors, try these, from the Purdue Owl, Bristol University, and other popular grammar/writing sites:

• Practice One (correct...or comma splice error?)
• Khan Academy short practice
• Printable practice from Suffolk University
  

If you are now ready to try to practice with all three types of sentence errors... try these:

Practice (challenging!)

 

Past Perfect

The good news: the past perfect is not as commonly used as the present perfect in English.

More good news: the past perfect is not *quite* as complicated as the present perfect.

Of course, I wouldn't call it "easy,' either!

What does it look like?

• HAD+ past participle

• Example: He had studied English before he came to the US.
• Example: He had left the house before Bob.

For a helpful chart of forms and a few examples, visit this edufind page.

I've forgotten the past participle forms. Where can I find a list?

• Here is a good list of irregular verbs from MYENGLISHTEACHER.net. The past participle forms are written in orange.

• For regular verbs, the past participle is the same as the past simple: just add "ED"

What are the rules for using past perfect?

• Typically, past perfect is used to refer to an action or event that happened before another past action or event.

• Example: I had studied English before I came to the US. (I studied first; then, I came.)

• It can also be used to talk about something that happened for a period of time, but ended at a specific past time.

• Example: I had lived in Germany until 1999.

For one helpful, clear explanation and more examples, visit English Page.com  here.

For another (longer) explanation, you may also visit this British Council page here. 

I understand now (I think). Where can I get some practice?

Here are some exercises to try!

• Practice 1 (past simple and past perfect- English Pages)
• Practice 2 (from perfect English Grammar)
• Practice 3 (from Really Learn English)
• Practice 4 (past simple,, past perfect, and present perfect- English pages)
• Practice 5 (from Really Learn English)

Idioms

Are you feeling under the weather?

Are you a night owl?

Do you have a bucket list?

Those are examples of idioms.

(Idioms are one of our favorite aspects of English!)

But they can be challenging to master. They are not a piece of cake!

What is an idiom?

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, it is:

• "an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own"
• "a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area and that uses some of its own words, grammar, and pronunciations"

The more sophisticated Oxford dictionary definition is:

• "a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and dogs, see the light)."

What are some other examples of American English idioms?

• Here is a cute animated video discussing some common idioms
• And here is another animated video on idioms from "Learn English"
• This is a video lesson that focuses on workplace idioms and slang
• Rachel's English has some helpful videos, too- with a special focus on pronunciation:
• Video relating to HORSE idioms
• More American Idioms
• Hot Weather Idioms

 

• Check out this yourdictionary list for some simple definitions of some common idioms
• And this list from ESL Mania
• And here is a short reading on the importance of learning idioms...along with another list

Where can you find the meaning of idioms that you hear?

•  If you can't find your idioms on the above lists, you can try this idiom dictionary (just enter your idiom in the search bar)
• And there is an APP for that, too!

Are you ready to practice?

• Try this one from English Media Lab
• Here are TONS OF practice quizzes with idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang (a4esl)
• English Club also has lots of practice quizzes
• Here is one more from English-test.net

 

Making Writing More Academic

The language we speak with friends and the language we use in academic/formal writing may be quite different. Being aware of these two different types of language ("register") is a key to strong and sophisticated college writing.

 How do we learn how to make our writing more academic? 

A few easy tips are:

1) Avoid contractions (can't--- cannot)
2) Avoid the informal "YOU" pronoun (use a specific noun to indicate whom you are referring to)
3) Avoid informal expressions, such as "guy," "kid," "really," and "stuff."
4) Avoid starting sentences with FANBOYS such as BUT, AND, SO. Instead, use clear transition words to link ideas (however, thus, therefore, in addition)

For more suggestions, visit these helpful sites:

English Grammar page
University of Surrey (a helpful printable reference page!)
UNC Writing Center (information on word choices)


For practice with this skill, you might try these online activities:

Practice 1
Practice 2 (word choice)
Practice 3 (word choice)
Practice 4 (word choice)


Looking for more? Check out these more advanced articles on how to become a better writer!

Article 1 (Oxford Royale Academy: 13 Ways to Make Your Writing More Interesting to Read)
Article 2 (Austin, K.: 5 Reliable Ways to Make Academic Writing More Interesting)
Article 3 (Mackay, J.: 10 Tips for ESL/EFL Academic Writers)

Word Forms

Some of the most common mistakes for ESOL students are related to word forms.

These can include verb form mistakes, subject-verb agreement errors, or singular-plural form errors.
They also often include errors related to parts of speech.

How can we improve our skills in this area?

First, we can study what nouns, verbs and adjectives often look like (and what they do in a sentence).
For more information on this, and tips about common endings, visit this helpful page.
 
These activities ask you to identify which type of word would fit in each sentence (noun, verb adjective, etc.), or what part of speech a specific word is:

Practice 1 (Quia)
Practice 2 (a4esl)
Practice 3 (McGraw Hill)
Practice 4 (challenging but fun...and involves cartoon gorillas)
Practice 5 (Grammar Bytes)


We can also try these activities, which ask us to figure out which word form (Illustrate? Illustration? Illustrative?) fit best in each sentence:

• Practice 6 (a4esl) (* requires Adobe Flash player)
• Practice 7 (a4esl)
• Practice 8 (ESL Café)
• Practice 9 (about.com)
• A challenge! Practice 10