Past Continuous Tense

The Past Continuous Tense or Progressive is used when you are describing an action that was happening in the past, but not anymore. It's formed by verb to be in the past simple tense + the action verb in the continuous tense. Examples:
When I woke up on that day, my sister was having breakfast.
They were playing soccer when it started to rain. 
He was reading a book when the lights went out.

Very often, the Past Continuous Tense is used with the Past Simple. Even if you change the order of the actions, the meaning is the same. Examples:
My sister was having breakfast when I woke up. 
When it started to rain, they were playing soccer.
When the lights went out, he was reading a book.


For activities on line, click on Perfect English Grammar, Ego4U/positive sentences and  negative sentences, plus English Page. So, you all have a lot of work to do. Work on them! ;-)

Some and Any

This is a basic information about the use of some and any:
Some is used in affirmative sentences:
- There are some apples. We can do a delicious pie with them!
- She had been waiting for some minutes.

But any is used in negative and interrogative sentences: 
- There isn't any eggs in the fridge.
- I didn't like his new album, there isn't any nice song! 
- Is there any piece of cake for us tonight?
- Are there any tomatoes to make a salad?


Some is also used when you offering things and ask something. Examples:
- Would you like some coffee? - You are offering some cookies.
- Can you lend some money?  - You are asking for something.


For more explanations and exercises on line, click on Englisch-Hilfen, Better English, and Ego4U.
So that's it!
** I've found another site about the use of SOME, AN, A, check it out on Esl About.

Be Going To - Simple Future

I've just finished teaching an intemediate class and I've noticed that some students were mixed up about Simple Future (Be Going To) and Present Continuous (Be + Verb + ing). Well, I had posted about this subject in May 2009, but it's about time to updated it:
Simple Future is used when you have made a decision, you have taken a plan, you have an intention. It's formed as follows:
Verb to be + going to + verb in its infinitive form
I'm going to correct a lot of tests this afternoon.
She's going to have dance classes on Monday night.
They're going to do their homework.

In their negative form, you have:
I'm not going to correct a lot of tests this afternoon.
She's not going to have dance classes on Monday night.
They're not going to do their homework.

And in their interrogative form:
Am I going to correct a lot of tests this afternoon?
Is She not going to have dance classes on Monday night?
Are they not going to do their homework?

I've twitted some good tips to my Inter level students and here you have the links: http://www.colegioweb.com.br/ingles/be-going-to-future and http://www.inglesonline.com.br/gramatica-basica-resumida/futuro-be-going-to . On these two links you find more explanations, but on the English-Hilfen, English4U and Web2 (just click on the words) you can do exercises on line. Well, I'm sure that I've helped you. Enjoy!

Do and Does

Basic students: watch out! For today, I have a good explanation for Do and Does. 
When we don't have the verb to be (I am/ you are/ he is/ she is/ it is/ we are/ you are/ they are), and we need to formulate questions and negative sentences, we have to use this auxiliary Do/Does. 
Examples below:

Affirmative: I have a pencil.
Question: Do I have a pencil? - Negative: I don't have a pencil.
Affirmative: You have a pencil.
Question: Do you have a pencil? - Negative: You don't have a pencil.
Affirmative: He/She/It has a pencil.
Question: Does he/she/it have a pencil? - Negative: He/she/it doesn't have a pencil.
Affirmative: We have a pencil. 
Question: Do we have a pencil? - Negative: We don't have a pencil.
Affirmative: They have a pencil. 
Question: Do they have a pencil? - Negative: They don't have a pencil. 


Here, I leave you these links (Better-English and Englisch-Hilfen) to do some exercises online, ok? Hope to have helped you. =)

English Experts / Lend and Borrow

More sources for all those students who study English through Portuguese. I was browsing on web and I've found English Experts, a good site full of good tips, it's really worthy to check it out!
One nice thing, for example, the difference between borrow and lend. 
Where I work, we teach "can you lend me a pen?", at the first class, but, further on, these students will face a "can I borrow your cell phone?" and, certainly, they'll ask the difference. Well, borrow means to take something from someone, with permission and with the intention of giving it back. You usually say: I borrowed this pen drive from my sister.
On the other hand, you say lend to give something to someone, with the expectation that s/he will return it, as: can you lend me a pencil, please? 
So, that's it for today. I'll tweet this, where you can follow me, ok?