EnglishGrammarinExamples.doc

English Grammar in Examples from English for the Real World
edited by Wai-lun Ho
Past, present and future progressive tense
They are also called continuous tenses. Use them when you want to talk about something that is happening right now, or something that was happening or will be happening over a period of time.
Examples
Mr. Tang speaks English. (In general.)
Mrs. Tang is speaking English. (Right now, but perhaps she can speak Chinese.)
I ate dinner last night at 7:30 (Just a statement about the past.)
I was eating dinner when the phone rang. (My dinner was interrupted by the phone.)
I was eating dinner last night at 7:30. (When 7:30 came around, I had already started but had not yet finished my dinner.)
John reads at the library. (In general. But maybe he’s home right now.)
John is reading at the library. (Right now he’s at the library.)
Expression mon verbs
Expressions that mon verbs. They are often called phrasal verbs.
Examples
To get
He got a letter from an old friend.
You have to buy a ticket before you get on the train.
We’re going to get off the subway at the next stop, so get ready.
How do I get to the Anderson Theater?
I get up every morning at 6:30 and go running before breakfast.
He’s moving to Seoul next year, so if he wants to get by he’ll need to learn Korean.
To turn
He turned red with anger.
At the intersection, turn on to Main Street.
Turn on the lights so I can see what I’m doing!
Turn off the music; it’s too loud!
Can you turn up the volume on the TV? I can’t hear what the reporter is saying.
In fairy tales, people often turn into monsters.
The parking lot was full, so the attendant turned us away.
We turned down the wrong road and got lost.
Turn back! This is the wrong way.
You cooked for a lot of people last night! How did the meal turn out?
Bad breath turns me off – I’d never date a guy who didn’t use mouthwash.
To look
You look beautiful tonight.
Don’t look at me like that!
I don’t like your glasses a