PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We mainly use the present progressive or present continuous to talk about events that are taking place at the time of speaking so we can infer that the action is not finished yet.

         The structure of the present progressive or present progressive is as follows:

subject/pronoun + be + verb-ing + complement 

                                                               am, is are

The kids are playing in the park.

Joe and his friends are watching a movie in the living room.

Maria is making a chocolate cake.

We also use the present continuous or present progressive to talk about temporary events or situations.

Steve teaches History at school on weekends. (simple present)

This weekend he is  teaching English. (Present continuous)

I usually work in my office in the morning. (simple present)

This week I am working at home. (present continuous)

We can use the adverbs "always, forever, and constantly" to emphaze a series of repeated events or actions.

My parents are always arguing.

The new secretary is constantly leaving the office early in the afternoon.

Rules that we have to consider when we add "ing" to verbs in the present contonuous or presengt progressive.

A. All verbs will add "ing" when used in the present progressive or present continuous.

Walk  -  Walking

Run  -  Running

Swim  -  Swimming

Paint  -  Painting 

B. Verbs ending in a silent "e" will drop it out and will add "ing".

Dance  -  Dancing

Write  -  Writing

Arrive  -  Arriving

Chase  -  Chasing

C. One syllable verbs that end in a consonant - vowel - consonant will duplicate their last consonant and will add "ing"

Get  -  Getting

Stop  -  Stopping

Run  -  Running

Spin  -  Spinning

D. A small group of verbs will not add "ing" becaue of their meaning, we call them stative verbs. feel, agree, love, like, adore, belong, believe, prefer, see, taste, doubt, sound, need, think, appreciate, cost.

The manager is not agreeing with us. (incorrect!)

The manager does not agree with us. 

She is believing our story. (incorrect!)

She believes our story. 

The food is smelling delicious.

The food smells delicious.

the secretary is needing a new computer. (incorretct!)

The secretary needs a new computer.

PLURAL NOUNS

Most nouns including those ending in a silent "e" will be cjanged to their pplural form by adding "s".

Book      -   Books

Brake     -   Brakes

Pencil     -   Pencils

Person    -  Persons

Actor       -   Actors

Runner   -   Runners

Nouns ending in "ch", "tch", "sh", "x", "z", "zz", "s", "ss", are made plural by adding "es"

Gas  -  Gases

Box  -  Boxes

Buzz  -  Buzzes

Lunch  -  Lunches

Watch  -  Watches  

Kiss  -  Kisses

Nouns ending in "y" precedeed by a consonant are made plural by changing the "y" for an "i" and adding "es".

Baby  -  Babies

City  -  Cities

Story  -  Stories

Democracy  -  Democracies

Proper nouns ending in a final "y" are made plural by adding "s"

Kennedy  -  Kennedys

Zeivy  -  Zeivys

Levy  -  Levys

Bromley  -  Bromleys

When  a "y" is preceded by a vowel (ay, ey, oy, uy)

Day  -  Days

Key  -  Keys

Guy  -  Guys

Boy  -  Boys 

Some nouns ending in "f" or "fe" are made plural by changing the "f" for a "v" and then add "es".

Life  -  Lives

Leaf  -  Leaves

Knife  -  Knives

Wife  -  Wives

Shelf  -  Shelves

Wolf  -  Wolves

Some nouns ending in "f" or "fe" only add "s".

Gulf  -  Gulfs

Safe  -  Safes

Roof  -  Roofs

Chief  - Chiefs

Some Nouns that end in "o" preceded by a consonant are made plural by adding "es". 

Echo  - Echoes

Hero  -  Heroes

Mosquito  -  Mosquitoes

Embargo  -  Embargoes

Other noun ending in "o" proceded by a consonant are made plural by adding "s".

Casino  -  Casinos

Torso  -  Torsos

Dynamo  -  Dynamos

Ego  -  Egos

There is a small group of nouns ending in "o" that are made plural by adding either "s" or "es".

Buffalo  -  Buffalloes  -  Buffalos

Volcano  -  Volcanoes  -  Volcanos

Halo  -  Haloes  -  Halos

Zero  -  Zeroes  -  Zeros

Tornado  -  Tornadoes  -  Tornados

Nouns ending in "o" prceded by a vowel and most muscical instruments ending in "o" are made plural by adding "s".

Folio  -  Folios

Bamboo  -  Bamboos

Radio  -  Radios

Piano  -  Pianos

Sopranos  -  Sopranos

Banjio  -  Banjios

Compound nouns are usually made plural by making the principal noun plural.

Mother-in- law  -  Mothers-in-law

Notebook  -  Notebooks

Horseman  -  Horsemen

Music lesson  -  Music lessons

Compound nouns mad of two nouns of equal importance are made them plural by making both nouns plural.

Woman driver  -  Women drivers

Manservant  -  Menservants

Some nouns do not change forms from singular to plural.

Deer  -  Deer

Sheep  -  Sheep

Fish  -  Fish

Chinese  -  Chinese

Series  -  Series

Forceps  -  Forceps 

Some nouns are only used in the plural form.

Clothes

Goods

Scissors

Measles

Pants

SOME AND ANY

Some and any are used with plural nouns and uncountable nouns

We use some mainly with affirmative sentences.

We use any with negative sentences and questions.

• I have some yogurt in the refrigerator. (affirmative/uncountable noun)

• I guess we don’t have any yogurt left in the refrigerator. (negative/uncountabe noun)

• We bought some books at the book fair. (affirmatve/countable noun)

• Joan doesn't have any plates for breakfast. (negative/countable plural noun)

• Do we need any cheese for the sandwiches? (question/uncountable noun)

• Does Samantha want any apples for desert? (question/plural noun)

Questions with some and any

In most questions we use "ANY"

• Have you met any famous singers?

• Does George have any Children?

We can use "some" in the following circumstances.

A. When we make an offering.

• Would you like some cake with your coffee?

• Do you want some cookies for desert? 

B. When we ask someone for something.

• Could I have some sugar, please?

• Can you get me some chips for may sandwich, please?

C. When we give suggestions.

• Why don'y you buy some cheese for the sandwiches?
• You should buy some jeans for your trip.

We can use Any and Some without a noun following them if the meaning is clear or stated. 

• We didn't eat any cake at the party, but steve had some. (cake)

• I didn't buy any souvenirs on my trip but my wife bought some. (souvenirs)