Essential English Grammar and Vocabulary Reference
British vs. American English Vocabulary
- Biscuit: Cookie
- Mobile phone: Cell phone
- Toilet: Restroom
- Film: Movie
- Cinema: Movie theater
- Secondary school: High school
- Holiday: Vacation
- Rubbish: Garbage
- Car park: Parking lot
- Chips: Fries
- Lift: Elevator
- Sweets: Candy
- Flat: Apartment
- Petrol: Gas
- Queue: Stand in line
- Trainers: Sneakers
- Underground: Subway
- Pavement: Sidewalk
- Tap: Faucet
Verbs Followed by Infinitives (to + verb)
- Be able (to swim)
- Afford (to buy a flat)
- Agree (to help someone)
- Arrange (to meet)
- Choose (to do something)
- Decide (to buy a new computer)
- Expect (to fail an exam)
- Forget (to lock the door)
- Help (to cook dinner)
- Hope (to go to university)
- Learn (to swim)
- Manage (to escape)
- Need (to leave early)
- Offer (to do the washing up)
- Plan (to start a family)
- Pretend (to be someone else)
- Promise (to pay someone back)
- Refuse (to cooperate)
- Remember (to buy a present)
- Seem (to be broken)
- Try (to repair the car)
- Want (to go on holiday)
- Would like (to travel abroad)
Verbs Followed by Gerunds (-ing)
- Admit, Avoid, Can't stand, Deny, Dislike, Enjoy, Feel like, Finish, Hate, Imagine, Keep, Like, Love, Mind, Miss, Practise, Prefer, Recommend, Spend, Stop, Suggest (e.g., suggesting seeing a doctor).
Verb Patterns with Objects
With 'to'
- Advise (me to pay cash)
- Allow (us to leave early)
- Ask (her to help)
- Invite (us to go away)
- Need (you to fill in a form)
- Order (him to sit down)
- Persuade (me to come to the party)
- Teach (me to play the piano)
- Tell (them to be quiet)
- Want (you to explain)
Without 'to'
- Let (me stay up late)
- Make (me tidy my room)
Third Conditional
Structure: If + subject + had + past participle, subject + would/wouldn't have + past participle.
The Passive Voice
- Present Simple: Some historical films aren't based on the facts.
- Present Continuous: The election is being held in May.
- Present Perfect: Has the village been changed by tourism?
- Past Simple: 10,000 soldiers were killed in an hour at Gettysburg.
- Past Continuous: The castle was being renovated so we couldn't go in.
- Past Perfect: The hospital had been opened by the queen three years before.
- Will: When will the new museum be built?
- Going to: We're going to be given the exam results tomorrow.
- Infinitive with 'to': Does the city centre have to be closed to all traffic?
- Infinitive without 'to': The president must be elected by a clear majority.
- Gerund: I hate being woken up by a mosquito.