Key Concepts in English Language

Modal Verbs

• Necessity: When something is needed (e.g., need to)
• Obligation: When something is obligatory (e.g., must, have to)
• Lack of Obligation: When something is not necessary (e.g., don't have to, needn't)
• Prohibition: When something is not allowed (e.g., mustn't, can't)
• Advice: Giving a suggestion (e.g., should(n't), ought (not) to)

Talking About Habits

Structures used for present and past habits:

• Used to (past habits)
• Always (present or past habits)
• Present Simple (present habits/routines)
• Present Continuous (annoying present habits, often with always)
• Past Simple (past habits/routines)

Using Be/Get Used To

• Used to + base verb: Refers to a past habit or state that no longer exists.
• Be used to + -ing/noun: Means to be accustomed to something.
• Get used to + -ing/noun: Means to become accustomed to something.

Examples:

• I'm used to the noise.
• They weren't used to the heat.
• You'll get used to it.
• She hasn't gotten used to the new system.
• We have become used to the changes.

Future Tenses Explained

• Present Simple: For schedules and timetables.
• Present Continuous: For fixed plans and arrangements.
• Going To: For future plans/intentions and predictions based on present evidence.
• Will: For predictions, spontaneous decisions, offers, promises, requests.
• Be About To: For actions happening very soon.
• Future Continuous: For actions in progress at a specific time in the future, planned events, or actions that will be happening regularly in the future (will + be + -ing).
• Future Perfect: For actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future (will + have + past participle).
• Future Perfect Continuous: For actions that will be in progress up to a specific time in the future, emphasizing duration (will + have + been + -ing).

Narrative Tenses

• Past Simple: For completed actions in the past.
• Past Perfect: For an action completed before another action or time in the past (had + past participle).
• Past Perfect Continuous: For an action in progress before another action or time in the past, emphasizing duration (had + been + -ing).

Adjectives and Prepositions

• About: bothered, cautious, decisive, mean
• At: hopeless
• By: impressed
• Of: critical, jealous, aware
• To: loyal, addicted
• With: adventurous

Word Formation: Suffixes

Noun Suffixes:

• -ity: responsibility, majority, personality
• -ment: enjoyment, encouragement
• -ship: friendship, relationship
• -tion: satisfaction, competition

Adjective Suffixes:

• -able: valuable, remarkable
• -al: beneficial, emotional, practical
• -ive: active, effective

Common English Collocations

• Achieve your goals
• Go wrong
• Have strengths and weaknesses
• Have a go
• Look bright
• Make the most of
• Make a difference
• Make the best of
• Put an end to
• See the best in
• See the worst in
• Take every opportunity

Phrases with Prepositions

• In touch
• At your best
• Out of fashion
• By heart
• In common
• In public

Literary Terms & Vocabulary

• Solemn: Very serious
• Askew: Twisted or crooked
• Legitimately: Legally
• Resolute: Firm and determined
• Muted: Quiet or soft
• Setting: The time and place in which the action occurs
• Historical Fiction: Stories set in the past, including real places and events
• Imagery: Language appealing to the five senses
• Symbol: A person, place, or object representing something else
• Allusion: A reference to a famous person, place, or event