A1 Foundation English

The verb be is irregular. In the present simple it changes according to the subject.

Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.

name · surname · country · nationality · city · address · phone number · email · student · teacher · engineer · nurse · manager · waiter/waitress · unemployed · retired

Use the present simple for routines, repeated actions, permanent situations and general facts.

Frequency: always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never. These normally go before the main verb but after be: I usually walk. / She is usually early.

I get up at seven o'clock on weekdays. I usually have coffee and toast for breakfast. I leave home at eight and take the bus to work. I start work at half past eight. I have lunch at one. In the evening, I sometimes go to the gym, but I usually stay at home and read.

Use there is with singular nouns and there are with plural nouns: There is a pharmacy near my house. There are two parks in my area.

Negative: There isn't… / There aren't…. Questions: Is there…? / Are there…?

Prepositions of place: in, on, under, next to, between, opposite, behind, in front of, near.

Countable: an apple / two apples. Uncountable: water, rice, bread, information. We do not normally say an information or two breads when talking about the substance.

Use some mainly in affirmative sentences and offers/requests; any mainly in negatives and questions. Use many with countable plurals and much with uncountable nouns, especially in questions/negatives.

Form: be + verb-ing: I am working. She is studying. They are waiting.

Use it for actions happening now or around now and for temporary situations. Compare: I work in a bank (regular/permanent) vs I'm working from home this week (temporary).

Spelling: make → making; run → running; lie → lying.

Use the past simple for completed actions at a finished time. Regular verbs take -ed; common irregular verbs must be learned: go→went, have→had, see→saw, buy→bought, make→made, come→came.

Negative: didn't + base verb. Question: Did + subject + base verb? After did, do not use the past form: Did you go?, not Did you went?

Can expresses present ability and informal permission: I can swim. Can I sit here? It is followed by the base form without to.

Could can express past general ability or make a more polite request: I could read when I was four. Could you help me, please?

Use be going to for plans already decided and predictions based on present evidence: I'm going to study tonight. Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.

Use will for spontaneous decisions, offers and simple predictions: I'll answer the phone. I'll help you.