Modals of obligation, permission and prohibition (present & past time)PermissionWe use can + infinitive and is/are allowed to + infinitive to talk about permission in the present.You can vote in Morocco when you are eighteen.The children are allowed to watch TV until ten o'clock.We use could + infinitive and was / were allowed to + infinitive to talk about permission in the past.Many years ago people could smoke anywhere.He was allowed to stay out until twelve o'clock.ObligationWe use must + infinitive and has / have to to talk about obligation...
Thursday, 23 April 2009
MINI-GRAMMAR LESSON: THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PRESENT PERFECT
THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PRESENT PERFECTWhen we talk about past actions, we can sometimes choose between the past simple and the present perfect.We use the past simple:• when we ask when the event happened (with when).When did she arrive at Rabat?When did you last see Ikrame?• when we say when the event happened (with time expressions like yesterday, last week, one night, that indicate a finished time).She got there two weeks ago.He gave up his job last year.We use the present perfect:• when the time is not stated. The event happened in the past,...
MINI-GRAMMAR LESSON: THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUSWe use the present simple:•to talk about facts (things that are always true) and permanent situations.He lives in a small flat.The sun always rises in the east.•to talk about habits and actions that happen regularly.He drives the kids to school every day.We use the present continuous:•to talk about actions that are happening at the moment of speaking.He's trying to explain a problem to them.Look! It is raining .•to talk about temporary situations and activities.She's going through a lot of troubles these...
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