"Is", "are": use in English

Knowledge of English opens a lot of doors. That is why it is actively studied in almost all countries of the world. Currently around the planet, about 2 million people use this language on an ongoing basis. This number includes those for whom English is native, as well as those who use it as a foreign language: for contacts with business partners, communication with foreign friends, entertainment of various kinds and, in fact, studies. In general, the study of any of the foreign languages increases mental activity, logical and abstract thinking, as well as the ability to navigate in unexpected situations.

How to learn English grammar

For many students of English language a certain difficulty is represented by its grammatical structure. In fact, there is nothing complicated (especially if you compare, for example, with the Russian language!), It is enough to understand important regularities once and remember the basic forms well. However, memorization comes in the process of practice: doing exercises, reading, writing letters or writing, verbal communication. The best way to learn English grammar is to do it naturally.

Often it happens that a person knows the rule, but can not apply it in his speech. Such difficulties are eliminated by practice - and the more it is more diverse (writing, reading, speaking, listening), the faster and better the result.

Remember that every person has his own, especially individual, rates of mastering new knowledge and the ability to apply them in the practice of his own speech. For example, if you are in a group where some students learn grammar rules faster and more correctly than you do, do not lose heart. No doubt, you too will one day begin to speak English confidently and without error. The main thing - keep training.

Verb forms "is" / "are": use in speech

If you have recently started to learn English, then you are familiar with this situation: you want to say something, but the fear of making a mistake prevents, causes timidity. To avoid this, try to understand the rule and, most importantly, practice more in the exercises.

One of the frequent grammatical difficulties arises when the "is" / "are" verbs are confused. The use of these forms of the verb to be depends entirely on the person of the pronoun in each particular case. It is a pronoun that performs the function of a subject. For example:

I am a student. - I'm a student (student).

If the subject is a noun or a proper name, then you need to mentally replace it with a corresponding pronoun. Then you have to remember the conjugation scheme, including the connecting verbs "is" / "are", the use of which often causes difficulties.

Kate (?) A student -> She is a student.

To be absolutely sure which of the forms of the verb to put, you must firmly remember the principle of conjugation.

Conjugation of the verb to be (in the present tense)

Statement

Negation

Question

Such cases as the use of "is" in English usually refer to descriptive situations. When we want to characterize something that is in the singular (can be replaced by the pronoun it), or someone acting as "he" or "she" - then, without a doubt, we need to use the "is" form. Examples:

It is great. - (It is perfectly.

He is old. - He is old.

She is a doctor. - She is a doctor.

The main thing that must be firmly understood is: "am", "is", "are", the use of which sometimes causes difficulties, are not three different verbs, but the same - the verb to be (be).

Conjugation of the verb to be (in the past tense)

Now let us dwell on the following question, which causes difficulties for some English learners, namely, the rules of "was" / "were." This is also the same verb, and not at all two different. Moreover, these two verb forms are directly related to "am", "is", "are". Can you guess why? That's right, it's all the same verb to be.

And now more about these correspondences. The form of the past tense "was" is used only in the singular and corresponds to the pronouns: I, it, he, she. The form "were" is used with the pronouns you, we, they and is most often used in the plural. For example:

I was at home. - I was at home.

It was hot. - It was hot.

They were happy. - They were happy.

There are only two situations where the verb-predicate "were" in the sentence can refer to the subject in the singular. The first case: when the pronoun "you" means the translation "you" or "you" (that is, one person). The second case: the so-called Conditional sentences, in which the form "if I were" is possible.

And you've been to ...

In communication between people, there are often situations when you need to ask a person about his past experience: where he was, what he was doing, whether he had finished the job. In such cases, use a special construction of the forms of two verbs: to have (have) + a semantic verb.

Often the semantic verb is already well known to us to be. Depending on the used subject (and what kind of pronoun it can be replaced), there are two varieties: "have been" and "has been". The first is used with the pronouns you, we, they, the second - with I, it, he, she. For example:

Have you been to Europe? - Have you been to Europe?

She has been on the excursion. - She was on an excursion.

Usually, the use has been associated with such situations, when it means:

• A certain experience;
• Completeness or result of some business;
• The importance of the fact that the action was completed (while the time of its commission does not have much significance);
• The need to emphasize how long this action takes place.

In the latter situation, we will dwell in more detail.

How long (How long) ...?

In such cases, the Present Perfect Continuous time is used. It is formed according to the scheme: have (has) + been + Ving, where V is a semantic verb. For example:

I have been studying English for 3 months. - I've been studying English for 3 months (that is, I began to study in the past and continue until now for a certain period of time).

He has not been riding a bike for a long time. - He did not ride a bicycle for a long time (that is, stopped traveling once in the past, did not go for a long time and still did not get on the bike).

I am going to do...

In English, in addition to the usual future tense, the "to be going to" design is actively used. The use of this grammatical construction refers to situations where you plan or know exactly what you will do. Often this design is used to predict what (in your opinion) should happen soon: it will rain, there will be a traffic jam on the road, someone will like it or not like it. "Intend", "assemble" - this is the most commonly translated "to be going to". Its use in the sentence is associated with a change to be on "am", "is", "are".

For example:

I am going to learn English next month. - I intend to learn English from next month.

We are going to visit the granny at the weekend. - We are going to visit my grandmother on weekends.

It's going to rain. - It's going to rain.

I am used to...

In conclusion, let us examine the use of "be used to". This stable design is often used in colloquial speech. Its meaning is "get used to something". For example:

He is used to Russian winter. - He is accustomed to the Russian winter.

He is used to living in winter cold. - He is accustomed to live in the winter cold.

However, you need to watch and listen carefully, so as not to confuse "be used to" with a very similar "use to" construction (and the corresponding form of past tense - "used to").

What is the difference between these two expressions? First, in the meaning: "be used to" - "get used", "use to" - "doing something in the past, but now no" (analogue of Past Simple). This is best understood by examples.

Be used to

I'm used to my work hours. - I'm used to my work day.

He is used to TV noise. - He was used to the noise of the TV.

Use to:

I used to live here before. - I lived here before (but I do not live anymore).

I did not use to have a mobile phone 10 years ago. - I did not have a mobile phone 10 years ago (but now there is).

Of the examples, the second difference of these two structures, at first sight very similar, is obvious. The one that is translated "get used to" is equipped with the verb to be (am, is, are). And the other, respectively, no. Simple mindfulness, little practice - and you will easily learn to distinguish between these two "insidious" formulations.

The same applies to any grammatical rules of the English language. Understand the essence and practice more often: in exercises, reading, writing or verbal communication. As the English say: "Practice makes perfect". In Russian it can be translated as: "The Master's case is afraid". So let the most difficult and cunning grammatical rules are afraid of your purpose. Have a good work!