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English Grammar


English streucture

kota zo
User since 2006
Posts: 9

11 Dec. 2006

Hi,


Since my first language is french, i did not carry about english structure specially in using the following words within sentences:
1) could
2) should
3) would
4) had better


Therefore, should you attend to my rescue, you will need to give me more examples in this regard.


many wishes

5 comments

  • User since 2005
    Posts: 113

    11 Dec. 2006

    Hello Kota Zo,


    I will give you a short and simple answer. If you want to learn the structure more extensively, just tell me.


    1) COULD


    A. It expresses a (permanent) ability in the past.
    EX. I could swim when I was 2.


    B.It is used in a request, a question to ask for something (Pourrais-tu...?)
    EX. Could you pass me the salt, please?


    C. It is also used to criticise someone (Tu pourrais...)
    EX. You could help the elderly lady. Don't you see that her bag is heavy?


    2) SHOULD is mainly used to give a piece of advice
    EX. You should help the elderly lady.(Present)= tu devrais...
    You should have helped the elderly lady. (Past)= tu aurais dû...


    3) WOULD is used for the conditonal present or perfect
    EX. He would come if he had time
    He would have come if he had had time.


    4) HAD BETTER is used like should but it is a bit more insistant or urgent
    You'd better tell him as soon as possible (=Tu ferais bien de...)


    If you know this, it's a good beginning!
  • User since 2006
    Posts: 9

    14 Dec. 2006

    Hello my dear,


    Thank you for your help.
    If you can help me go far ahead as you requested it we be more helpful for me


    regards


    kota zo
  • User since 2006
    Posts: 9

    14 Dec. 2006

    From kota zo:
    Hello my dear,


    Thank you for your help.
    If you can help me go far ahead as you requested it will be more helpful for me


    regards


    kota zo

     
  • User since 2007
    Posts: 3

    24 Feb. 2007

    To Silky


    Hello, I am seeing your answer to kota zo. Could you help me about "to get". How and when I have to use it ?..


    thank you


    I am a beginner


    zazie
  • User since 2005
    Posts: 113

    25 Feb. 2007

    Hello Zazie,
    I'll try to tell you just a few uses of GET. There are whole pages of them in dictionaries but as you say you are a beginner, first things first!
    1)It can mean receive, obtain, acquire or fetch when it is used with a noun or a pronoun as a direct object.
    EX. I got very good marks for my Gymglish test
    I got my goldfish from the petshop down the road.
    Could you get me peanuts from the supermarket?


    2)It can mean become when it suggests some sort of change or movement: to get old, hungry, dark, tired, wet, ill etc...
    EX. Willy got married last week.I hope he won't get divorced...
    As he got older, he got grumpier and grumpier.
    It is getting warmer and warmer, isn't it?
    BUT don't use it with a noun when it means to become
    DON'T SAY: she got a beauty queen last Saturday.
    SAY: she became a beauty queen last Saturday.


    3)Get to can also replace arrive at/in
    EX. We got to the station at 8 a. m.= We arrived at the station at 8


    4) In British English, it may mean to possess
    EX.They have got/ they haven't got/ have they a got car of their own


    5) It can be used with a particle or preposition but the list is far too long. You should look them up in a dictionary. Just a few to show you what I mean
    EX.To get out/up/ down; to get on/off the bus; to get out/into a car


    I could go on and on but I think it is enough for today.
    Feel free to ask other uses later. Good luck and don't forget that learning a foreign language is a matter of patience, regular, daily repetition and OPTIMISM!

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