Ron’s ESL Blogs

October 21, 2009

About “Ago”

Filed under: Grammar, How to Teach Grammar, Lee-Grammar, Writing — Administrator @ 4:10 pm

When we use “ago,” we must use the past tense. This is what your grammar teacher told you. Here are a few sentences that you might find confusing.

I have been using this computer since three years ago.

She had done her homework two hours ago.

They should have started using it years ago.

All the above sentences use perfect tense with “ago,” and they are all correct. Why? Well, the first sentence is correct because “since” is used. When we use “since,” we use the perfect tense. When we use both “since” and “ago” in a sentence, “since” is a bigger brother, and we obey the bigger brother. The second sentence is in perfect tense, but it’s past perfect. To be more accurate, “ago” cannot be used with the present perfect tense, but the past perfect tense is okay. In the third sentence, “should” is  a modal verb which has no past form. When we need to express something happened in the past, we have to use “should + perfect tense” form.

“Ago” is  used with the past tense, and above are just a few exceptions.

- Ron Lee

November 29, 2008

Zero infinitives

Filed under: Grammar, How to Learn English, How to Teach Grammar, Lee-Grammar — Administrator @ 4:12 pm

Both infinitives and gerunds can be used, but meanings are different.

Filed under: Grammar, How to Learn English, How to Teach Grammar, Lee-Grammar — Administrator @ 2:33 pm

November 28, 2008

Infinitives & gerunds, which to use?

Filed under: Grammar, How to Learn English, How to Teach Grammar, Lee-Grammar — Administrator @ 12:04 pm

November 27, 2008

The past tense and the present perfect tense

Filed under: Grammar, How to Learn English, How to Teach Grammar, Lee-Grammar — Administrator @ 6:51 pm
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