The English teachers voice

  There are a total of 12 English  verb tenses . This can make it difficult for students and ESL learners to use verbs correctly. Simple definitions and examples of the different tenses can help you make sense of using verbs properly. Three Main Verb Tenses The simplest place to start in learning about verb tenses is to explore the three main types of verbs: past, present, and future. Verb tenses can change the entire meaning of sentences, so it’s important to get them right. Take a look at this verb tense chart to see the past, present, and future tenses of over 100 regular verbs. International Exams and Grammar: The Essential Grammar Rules You Need to Know Past Tense Verbs A  past tense verb  is a word that tells you what the subject has already done. Just as the name implies, you use it to describe something that happened in the past. For example, “He  walked  to the store.” uses the past tense version of “walk” and tells you that “he” al...

  What is a collocation? A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers , who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". Look at these examples: natural English ... unnatural English ... the fast train fast food the  quick  train quick  food a quick shower a quick meal a  fast  shower a  fast  meal Why learn collocations? Your language will be more natural and more easily understood. You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself. It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks rather than as single words. How to learn collocations Be  aware  of collocations, and try to  recognize  them when you see or hear them. Treat collocations as  single blocks  of language. Think of them as individual blocks or chunks, and learn  strongly supp...