Present Continuous Tense. Use #2: Longer Actions than in Progress Now “Now” means not only “this second”, but it can also mean “today”, “this week”, “this month”, “this century”, etc. We use the present continuous to express the process of doing a longer actions that is in progress. We should note, however, that the action…
Present Continuous Tense. Use #1: Something Happening Now We use the present continuous to express the idea that something is happening at this moment. Also to show that things are not happening at this moment. Example: I’m drinking coffee.– Я пью кофе. Example: I’m not sleeping.– Я не сплю.
Present Simple Tense. Use #4: Now (Non-Continuous Verbs) Speakers sometimes use the present simple to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with non-continuous verbs and certain (определённый) mixed verbs. Pay attention to which verbs can be used in this way: Example: I am…
Present Simple Tense. Use #3: Scheduled Events in the Near Future Speakers occasionally use present simple to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well. It can be a little confusing to grasp (суметь…
Present Simple Tense. Use #2: Facts or Generalisations The present simple can also indicate that the speaker believes that a fact was true in the past, in the present, and will be true in the future. We must remember that it is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. The present simple…
Present Simple Tense. Use 1: Repeated Actions We use the present simple to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event, or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not…
Either/or and Neither/nor Either/or and neither/nor connect two balanced words, clauses or phrases. They are called correlative conjunctions (cоотносительные союзы). Singular or plural verb? When two singular subjects are connected by either/or or neither/nor, use a singular verb. Example: Either Sally or Peter is invited. Example: Neither Sally nor Peter is invited. If one of…
“A Number of People Is” or “A Number of People Are”? Although the expression “a number” is strictly (строго) singular, the phrase “a number of”’ is used with plural nouns (as what grammarians (грамматист) call a determiner (or determiner)). The verb should therefore be plural: Example: A number of people are waiting for the bus.…
What Is the “Oxford Comma”? The “Oxford comma” is an optional (необязательный) comma before the word “and” at the end of a list: Example: We sell books, videos, and magazines. It’s known as the Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press. Not all writers and publishers…
What Is the Origin of the Term ‘Pros and Cons’? The phrase ‘pros and cons’ is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase pro et contra, ‘for and against’, and has been in use in the abbreviated (сокращённый) form since the 16th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.‘Pros and cons’ is a well-established (устойчивый) standard…