Verbs

Verb To Be (am-is-are)

Was / were - usage and explanation.
The verb 'was/were' is used as the past form of 'to be'. It is used to talk about a past quality of a person or thing.
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<td style="height: 19.6px;">&nbsp;am/is/are</td>
<td style="height: 19.6px;">&nbsp;was/were</td>
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<td style="height: 19.6px;">I'm at home now.</td>
<td style="height: 19.6px;">I was at home an hour ago. </td>
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<td style="height: 39.2px;">The weather is cold today.</td>
<td style="height: 39.2px;">The weather was cold yesterday.</td>
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<h4>Affirmative </h4>
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">I He She It </td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">was</td>
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&bull; I was sick.
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); height: 58.8px;">You We They</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">were&nbsp; </td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); height: 58.8px; vertical-align: middle;">&bull; They were sick.</td>
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<h4>Negative </h4>
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">I He She It </td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle;">was + not </td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">&bull; I was not sick. &bull; I wasn't sick.</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">You We They</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle;">were + not </td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">&bull; They were not sick. &bull; They weren't sick.</td>
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<h2>Example Sentences </h2>
&bull; I was so tired. 
&bull; It was rainy yesterday. 
&bull; He was here 5 minutes ago. 
&bull; She was in Paris last year. 
&bull; The weather wasn't cold&nbsp;this morning. 
&bull; I was so nervous&nbsp;before the interview. 
&bull; We were very tired&nbsp;after the trip. 
&bull; I was a bit late for the meeting. 
&bull; Tom and Mary weren't at the party. 
&bull; When I was a child, I was so shy. 
&bull; This time last year I was in London. 
&bull; The presentation was boring, and it wasn't short. 
&bull; The food was delicious, but it was expensive. 
&bull; The party&nbsp;was fun, but the food wasn't very good. 
&bull; He&nbsp;wasn't at work yesterday because he was sick. 
<h4>Question </h4>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">Was</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">I He She It</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">&bull; Was he sick? </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">Were</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">You We They</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">&bull; Were you sick? </td>
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<h4>Negative Question </h4>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">Wasn't</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">I He She It</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">&bull; Wasn't he sick? </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">Weren't</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">You We They</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">&bull; Weren't you sick? </td>
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<h2>Question-Answer Examples </h2>
&bull; Was he a doctor? 
&nbsp;&nbsp; - No, he was a teacher. 
&bull; Was your car expensive? 
&nbsp;&nbsp; - Yes, it was very expensive. 
&bull; Where were you yesterday? 
&nbsp;&nbsp; - I was at home yesterday. 
&bull; Why wasn't he at work last week? 
&nbsp;&nbsp; - Because, he was sick last week. 
&bull; What was it? 
&nbsp;&nbsp; - It was just a cat. 
&bull; How was the party? 
&nbsp;&nbsp; - It was boring. 
<h4>Short Answer </h4>
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<td style="background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); border-width: 1px; width: 28.0418%; height: 39.2px;" rowspan="2">Yes,</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">I/he/she/it was.</td>
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<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">you/we/they were.</td>
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<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">I/he/she/it wasn't.</td>
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<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">you/we/they weren't.</td>
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<h2>Short Answer Examples </h2>
&bull; Were you angry? - Yes, I was. 
&bull; Was he at work? - No, he wasn't. 
&bull; Was it cold yesterday? - No, it wasn't. 
&bull; Were we late for the meeting? - Yes, we were. 
&bull; Were they in the garden? - No, they weren't.

Was / Were

Elementary English grammar for beginners: Have / have got.&nbsp; 
Have is a verb used to indicate possession. 'Have' is used with singular and plural pronouns (I, you, we, they) and 'has' with the 3rd person singular&nbsp;pronouns (he, she, it).&nbsp;'Have got' and 'have' mean the same thing. 'Have got' is more commonly used in British English. 
<h4>Affirmative </h4>
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">I You We They </td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">have have got </td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); height: 58.8px;">&bull; I have money. &bull; I have got money. &bull; I've got money. </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); height: 58.8px;">He She It</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">has has got </td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); height: 58.8px;">&bull; He has money. &bull; He has got money. &bull; He's got money. </td>
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<h4>Negative </h4>
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I You We They
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle;">do + not + have have + not + got </td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">&bull; I do not have money. &bull; I have not got money. &bull; I don't have money. &bull; I haven't got money. </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">
He She It
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<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); vertical-align: middle;">does + not + have has + not + got </td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">&bull; He does not have money. &bull; He has not got money. &bull; He doesn't have money. &bull; He hasn't got money </td>
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<h2>Example Sentences </h2>
&bull; I&nbsp;have a cat. 
&bull; He has got a dog. 
&bull; We don't have a cat. 
&bull; She hasn't got a dog. 
&bull; He has a sister. 
&bull; John has got a car. 
&bull; I don't have a job now. 
&bull; I have got a lot of work to do today. 
&bull; The house has a swimming pool. 
&bull; The cat has beautiful eyes. 
&bull; She has got a talent for drawing. 
&bull; She has got a lot of friends. 
&bull; We have got a problem with the printer. 
<h4>Question </h4>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 78.4px;">Do</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); height: 78.4px;">I You We They</td>
<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 78.4px;">have</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 78.4px;">&bull; Do you have money? </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">Does</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); height: 58.8px;">He She It</td>
<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">have</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle; height: 58.8px;">&bull; Does he have money? </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">Have</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">I You We They</td>
<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">got</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">&bull; Have you got money? </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">Has</td>
<td style="text-align: center; border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241);">He She It</td>
<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">got</td>
<td style="border-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(236, 240, 241); vertical-align: middle;">&bull; Has he got money? </td>
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<h2>Question-Answer Examples </h2>
&bull; Do you have money
&nbsp; - Yes, I have money. 
&bull; Have you got a car? 
&nbsp; - No, I haven't got a car. 
&bull; Has he got a ticket for the concert? 
&nbsp; - Yes, he has got a ticket. 
&bull; Have you got any plans for the weekend? 
&nbsp; - No, I haven't got any plans. 
&bull; Do you have any questions about the project? 
&nbsp; - Yes, I have a few questions. 
&bull; How many children do you have? 
&nbsp; - We have two children
&bull; How much money have you got on you? 
&nbsp; - I haven't got much money on me. 
<h4>Short Answer </h4>
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<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">I/you/we/they do. I/you/we/they have. </td>
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<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">he/she/it does. he/she/it has. </td>
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<td style="background-color: rgb(245, 249, 250); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); border-width: 1px; width: 28.0418%; height: 39.2px;" rowspan="2">No,</td>
<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">I/you/we/they don't. I/you/we/they haven't. </td>
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<td style="border-color: rgb(221, 225, 235); text-align: center; border-width: 1px; width: 71.9582%; height: 19.6px;">he/she/it doesn't. he/she/it hasn't. </td>
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<h2>Short Answer Examples </h2>
&bull; Have you got a dog? - Yes, I have. 
&bull; Do you have a car? - Yes, I do. 
&bull; Has she got a sister? - No, she hasn't. 
&bull; Does he have a job? - No, he doesn't. 
&bull; Has Tom got a house? - Yes, he has.

Have / Have Got

In English, stative verbs are used to indicate a state, not an action. These verbs are often used to talk about a state of mind, emotion, perception, or possession. Stative verbs are not usually used in the progressive form (with -ing) because they do not indicate an action. 
<h4>Most Used Stative Verbs </h4>
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<td style="border-width: 0px;">&nbsp;</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px;">Mental states: understand, know, believe, desire, doubt, remember, wish, realize, recognize, suppose, prefer Emotional states: love, like, dislike, hate, fear, need, want, astonish, care, envy, mind, please, surprise Possession: have, belong, owe, own, possess Senses: feel, taste, smell, see, hear, look, appear, seem Others: be, contain, cost, deserve, equal, exist, involve, lack, matter, perceive, promise, resemble &nbsp;</td>
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<h2>Non-Progressive Usage </h2>
Since most stative verbs do not have the '-ing' suffix, the simple present tense is used to talk about a situation at the moment of speaking, not the present continuous tense. 
✓ I know John. ✗ <del>I&rsquo;m knowing</del> John. 
✓&nbsp;I want to drink water. ✗ <del>I&rsquo;m wanting</del> to drink water. 
✓ I don't understand you. ✗ <del>I&rsquo;m not understanding</del> you. 
✓ I will be there, I promise.&nbsp; ✗ I will be there,&nbsp;<del>I&rsquo;m promise.</del> 
✓ I agree with you. ✗ I <s>am agreing</s> with you. 
<h2>Progressive and&nbsp;Non-Progressive Usage </h2>
In English, some verbs can be used to indicate both an action and a state. Generally, the meanings of these verbs are different from each other. Stative meaning is used in non-progressive form, and active meaning is used in progressive form. 
<h3>Have</h3>
Here are some usages where have indicates both action and state. 
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<td style="height: 19.6px;">State </td>
<td style="height: 19.6px;">Action </td>
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<td style="height: 215.6px;">have a car have a house have money have a friend have black hair have a right have a chance</td>
<td style="height: 215.6px;">have breakfast have tea have a shower have a holiday have a break have a word have a good time</td>
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When the verb 'have' indicates possession, it is not used in the progressive form. 
&bull; I have a red car. 
&bull; I don't have any money. 
 When the verb 'have' indicates&nbsp;an action, it can be used in the progressive form. 
&bull; We're having breakfast now. 
&bull; I'm having a good time here. 
<h3>Be</h3>
The structure 'be + adjective' is used to describe a person. 
&bull; She is very lazy. 
&bull; He is a rude man. 
 The structure 'being + adjective' is used to indicate the behavior of a person at the moment of speaking. 
&bull; She is being lazy. 
&bull; He is being rude to me. 
 Some adjectives are not used in the 'being + adjective' structure as they will not change regardless of the moment of speaking. 
✓ He is old.&nbsp; ✗ <del>He is being old.</del> 
<h3>Think</h3>
If 'think' is used in the non-progressive form, it indicates that the person has an idea or belief - a state; if it is used in the progressive form, it indicates the process of thinking - an action.
&bull; I think you are right. 
&bull; I am thinking of you. 
<h3>Taste</h3>
If 'taste' is used in the non-progressive form, it indicates that something has a taste - a state; if it is used in the progressive form, it indicates&nbsp;the process of&nbsp;tasting something - an action. 
&bull; The food tastes delicious. 
&bull; He is tasting the food. 
<h3>Smell</h3>
If 'smell' is used in the&nbsp;non-progressive form, it indicates that something has a smell - a state; if it is used in the&nbsp;progressive form, it indicates&nbsp;the process of smelling something - an action. 
&bull; The rose smells nice. 
&bull; She is smelling the rose. 
<h3>See</h3>
If 'see' is used in the non-progressive form, it indicates understanding or seeing something - a state, if it is used in the&nbsp;progressive form, it indicates meeting someone - an action. 
&bull; I see what you mean. 
&bull; I'm seeing my friend tomorrow. 
<h3>Look&amp;Feel</h3>
The verbs 'look' and 'feel' can be used in both non-progressive and progressive forms. Although the meanings are the same, if the the progressive form is used, the moment of speaking is emphasized. 
&bull; You look awful.&nbsp; &bull; You're looking awful. 
&bull; I feel sick.&nbsp; &bull; I'm feeling sick.

Stative Verbs

Usage of 'like' / 'would like' in English. 
"Like" and "would like" are used to express a preference or desire, but the ways they are used are different. 
<h3>Like</h3>
"Like" is used to express that we love or appreciate something. It expresses a general preference or taste. It is synonymous with the words 'enjoy' and 'love'.
Structure: like + (verb + ing) or (to + verb) or noun (When describing activities, the verb &ldquo;like&rdquo; is usually followed by a verb in the &ldquo;-ing&rdquo; form.) 
・I like pizza.
・I don't like him.
・She likes reading books.
・They like going to the beach.
・I don&rsquo;t like getting up early.
・Do you like traveling by train? 
<h3>Would like</h3>
"Would like" means to ask for or desire something in a polite way. It is usually used to indicate a request, offer or desire. It is synonymous with the word 'want', but has a more polite meaning. It is used in the short form&nbsp;'d like'.
Structure: would like + (to + verb) or noun
・I would like a cup of tea. 
・I&rsquo;d like to learn Spanish.
・Would you like some coffee?
・He would like to travel to Japan. 
・Would he like some water?
・We would like to order dessert now.
・What would you like to do tomorrow? 
Summary
Like is used for general preferences or likes, while would like is used for specific and polite requests, desires or offers.
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<td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 10px;">Like</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 10px;">Would like</td>
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<td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 10px;">General liking I like tea.</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 10px;">Current request I would like a cup of tea.</td>
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<td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 10px;">General liking He likes to travel.</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px; padding: 10px;">Future desire He would like to visit Paris someday.</td>
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'Like' and 'Would like'

Usage of 'prefer' / 'would prefer' in English. 
The verb&nbsp;prefer and the phrase would prefer both refer to choosing one thing rather than another, but they differ in terms of their uses and some nuances.
<h3>Prefer</h3>
"Prefer" is used to express a general preference. It expresses that one situation is generally preferred over another. The verb prefer can be followed by a noun, 'to + verb' or 'verb + -ing'.
Structure: Subject + prefer + (to + verb) or (verb + ing) or noun ('Verb + ing' is used more than 'to + verb'.) 
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・I prefer coffee in the morning.
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・I prefer to drink coffee in the morning.
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・I prefer drinking coffee in the morning.
・He prefers not to work on weekends. 
・Do you prefer classical music or pop music?
 When expressing a choice between two things, 'to' is usually used, although 'rather than' or 'over' can also be used.
・I prefer dogs to cats.
・I prefer summer over winter.
・She prefers reading to watching TV. 
・He prefers working alone rather than in a team.
・Does she prefer to work from home rather than go to the office?
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<h3 data-hook="rcv-block45">Would prefer</h3>
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It is used to show preference in a certain situation. It expresses a preference at the moment of speaking or in the future. It is a more polite expression than the verb 'prefer'. It can be followed by a noun or 'to + verb'.
Structure: Subject + prefer + (to + verb) or noun 
・She would prefer tea. 
・She would prefer&nbsp; to drink tea. 
・I would prefer to stay at home tonight. 
・We would prefer to go by train.
・I would prefer to leave early if possible.
・Would you prefer a red or blue shirt? 
・I would prefer to go to the cinema tonight.
・We would prefer not to make any big decisions today.
 'Rather than' is used when expressing a choice between two things.
・He would prefer coffee rather than tea. 
・They would prefer to visit us tomorrow rather than today.
・She would prefer to walk to work rather than taking the bus. 
 'Instead of' can be used with both.
・I prefer cooking at home instead of eating out.
・I would prefer to read a book instead of watching TV tonight.
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