Course for beginners II (A1/A2)

Let’s start with the verbs to do and to make. They are often confused, so let’s learn how to use them correctly.

Do usually refers to the action, while make generally refers to the result.

You can for example do homework, do the shopping, or do yoga, but you make lunch, make plans, or make friends.

You've already learned the Future tense GOING TO. Now let's take a look at the Futur Simple tense, often called the will tense.

Will is used for things that we decide to do now. (Rapid Decisions)
Going to is used to refer to events that have been previously planned.

The structure of the Future Simple tense is subject + WILL + main verb
e.g.: You will open the door.

In negative sentences, we contract with won't: will not = won't
e.g.: She won't do it.

For question sentences, we exchange the subject and WILL.
e.g.: Will you open the door?

Remember, the modal auxiliary will is invariable, which means it doesn't change its form by the person.

Be used to means be familiar with or be accustomed to.

The structure of the sentence is: subject + main verb BE + used to + object

I am used to hard work.
Are you used to fast food?

Note that if the object involves a verb, we use the -ing form.

I'm used to speaking in public.
He's used to getting up early.
Are you used to eating spicy food?

There's a difference between be used to and used to. We use used to + infinitive to talk about a repeated action or state in the past that is no longer true.

I used to come here as a child.
Did you use to come here as a child?
She used to eat meat, but now she's a vegetarian.

We use adverbs of frequency to say how often we do things, or how often things happen.

always
usually
often
sometimes
occasionally
hardly ever
never

They are usually before the main verb, or between the auxiliary and the main verb. But they come after the verb to be. We can use some adverbs of frequency at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis.

He is always smiling.
Sometimes I stay up late.
I cook Indian occasionally.

In, on, and at are all examples of prepositions that serve multiple purposes. They are capable of showing a relationship to both time and place, depending on how you use them.

First let's look at these three prepositions as prepositions of time.

In is usually used to represent an unspecific amount of time or a more general time period that isn’t specific.

e.g.: I like to swim in the summer.

On refers to a specific date.

e. g.: I’ll be home on Sunday.

At indicates a specific time.

e. g.: The movie starts at 7.

In, on and at as prepositions of place:

In usually refers to something being inside an enclosed space of some kind, or in a larger space.
in the car
in France
in the center

On usually indicates that something is situated on top of something else, or somewhere more specific in a larger area.
on the table
on Main Street

At can be used to show a certain point. It is the most specific of the three prepositions to indicate a specific place.
at the library
at the store

We can use past simple questions to ask about the past. Use did and the verb, but don't change the verb to the past form. This is because did already shows the past, so the main verb stays in its infinitive form.

Did you have a nice weekend?
Did they finish their homework?

We can make past tense questions by using the question word + did.

What did you do?
Where did he go?

Something and anything has the same meaning and refer to some thing/inanimate object, but one is used in positive sentences and the other in negative.

Something means a thing that is unknown. It is used in positive sentences.
Anything means a thing of any kind. Use it in questions and negative sentences. It can also be used to mean I don't mind.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Let's learn some useful words to describe your (or someone else's) personality!

Stative verbs are used for activities that we (or objects) cannot actively perform (by moving the body, etc.). Stative verbs do not change their states.

Some of the stative verbs are: know, like, seem, love, have, want, see

With the verb like there are two ways of putting a verb after it.

LIKE + to + infinitive
I like to sleep.

LIKE + verb + ing
I like sleeping.

In general there isn’t a difference in meaning, though we sometimes use the infinitive ( TO + VERB) to talk about habits or choices. However, using a VERB+ ING is more common than using an infinitive.

I speak English well.

Well is an adverb. Use well to describe a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

Let's learn some useful adverbs!

Sometimes, a single letter can change the meaning completely! A little means some but when you just say little (without an a), it has a negative meaning.

Look at this example:
Have you got any money?
A: Yes, a little. (I have some money, a small amount.)
B: No, very little. (not much/almost nothing)

The same rule goes for the word few. We use a little with singular uncountable nouns. We use a few with plural countable nouns.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. It's used for general truths and unchangeable facts. In zero conditional sentences, the tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present.

Here are some examples:
If people eat too much, they get fat.
If babies are hungry, they cry.
If it rains, the grass gets wet.

The past simple of can is could so you can say: I could swim when I was five.
The past simple of can't is couldn't like in this example: I couldn’t sing as a child.

Besides, you can use could and couldn't to make polite requests.
For example: Could you help me carry these bags?

The word by is very common in English. It can be used in lots of different situations and contexts.

Here are some examples:

1. by + place: The house stands by the river.
2. by + method of transport: I go to work by car.
3. by + method of communication: Please confirm the order by email.
4. by + -ing verb: Turn on the radio by pressing the button.