How to use the article THE – Grammar

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Irregular verbs

It’s since a while that I am not uploading posts on grammar. In my opinion, for a beginner is not so easy to memorize irregular verbs, that’s why I decided to make mind maps and other resources on this topic. I hope you’ll find it useful.
Irregular verbs in English - mind map

You can download this mind map on Biggerplate (imx file). If you don’t have the possibility to open this kind of file, just download the image from Free English Materials’ Facebook Page (Album: Mind maps)

Since there are a lot of irregular verbs I decided to make smaller mind maps for each single group. In this way, it will be easier for you to read them.

Group one - one word

GROUP 1 – ONE WORD

  • cut
  • cost
  • hit
  • hurt
  • let
  • put
  • shut

Group two- two words

GROUP 2 – TWO WORDS

  • WITH ‘T’

    build/built
    – dream/dreamt
    – get/got
    – keep/kept
    – lend/lent
    – shoot/shot
    – send/sent
    – sit/sat
    – sleep/slept
    – spell/spelt
    – spend/spent

  • WITH ‘GHT’

    bring/brought
    – buy/bought
    – catch/caught
    – fight/fought
    – teach/taught
    – think/thought

  • WITH ‘D’

    – find/found
    – have/had
    – hear/heard
    – hold/held
    – make/made
    – pay/paid
    – read/read
    – say/said
    – stand/stood
    – tell/ told

  • SAME FORM FOR INFINITIVE AND PAST PARTICIPLE

    become/became
    – come/came
    – run/ran

English Irregular Verbs - Group 3.png
GROUP 3 – THREE WORDS

  • WITH ‘EN’

    – be/was-were/been
    beat/beat/beaten
    – bite/bit/bitten
    – break/broke/broken
    – choose/chose/chosen
    – drive/drove/driven
    – eat/ate/eaten
    – forget/forgot/forgotten
    – give/gave/given
    – hide/hid/hidden
    – ride/rode/ridden
    – rise/rose/risen
    – see/saw/seen
    – speak/spoke/spoken
    – steal/stole/stolen
    – take/took/taken
    – wake/woke/woken
    – write/wrote/written 
  • WITH ‘E’ – ‘WN’

    – blow/blew/blown
    draw/drew/drawn

    – fly/flew/flown
    – grow/grew/grown
    – know/knew/known
    – show/showed/shown
    – throw/threw/thrown 
  • WITH ‘I’- ‘A’- ‘U’

    begin/began/begun
    – drink/drank/drunk
    – ring/rang/rung
    – sing/sang/sung
    – swim/swam/swum

I’ll upload soon some quizzes on this topic. 😉

Difference between SUIT and FIT

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You can download this mind map (IMX file) here: Biggerplate

I don’t know why but I couldn’t upload the image like I usually do. That’s why it results so small and you can’t get the full-size version by clicking on it :-(. I’ll upload it on Facebook, so if you want to take a look, click on this link: Mind Maps .

Collocations with ‘journey’

I made this mind map because students often confuse these collocations. In this way, I hope it will be easier for you to remember the most common verbs you can use with this word.

Collocations with 'journey'

Download the pdf version of this mind map: Verbs + journey or the imx file available on Biggerplate.

These are the most common collocations with ‘journey’ + adjective or adjective + ‘journey’:

collocations with journey 2

You can download this mind map (imx file) on Biggerplate.

Example sentences from the web with some of these collocations:

  • The train journey, which I’ve taken from Pyongyang to the border, takes about five hours.
  • In the evening, five days after leaving Irkutsk, the train arrived in the Russian-administered city of Harbin. Here my grandfather decided to end his long railway journey.
  • Rebecca was exhausted, jet-lagged, hot, still shaking from the hour-long bumper car journey from the airport.
  • The Yellow River’s epic journey across northern China is a prism through which to see the country’s unfolding water crisis.
  • I traded in my luxury car and briefcase for a pair of walking shoes and a backpack and started a cross-country journey from Times Square.
  • It was the worst possible scenario on the best of all trips: a sentimental journey into the finest elk country in the West.
  • I chose not to call him to wish him a safe journey.
  • In a long, hazardous journey west, G. reached Portugal in mid-1941, and later went to London.
  • Achieving a representative form of government has been a long and tortuous journey, and the search for equity and justice has been an ongoing attempt to find or fashion a world that recognizes and respects all of those who live in it.

Do you know the difference between “to shout to somebody” and “to shout at somebody”?

Difference_between_shout_to_and_shout_at
TO SHOUT AT (somebody) => When you are angry.
TO SHOUT TO (somebody) => When you want  people to hear you.

Example sentences:

  • Look, I am not some college student you can shout at.
  • He shouted to me from the other side of the street.

If you want you can download this mind map as imx file here: Biggerplate.

Different ways of saying “I like it”

  • Different_ways_of_saying__I_like_it_I’m really into it.
    This means you’re interested in an activity or a subject.
    Ex. I’m really into gardening, but these squirrels keep messing with my tomatoes.
  • I’m fond of it.
    This means you have liked something for a long time or may have an emotional attachment with something.
    Ex. He is fond of this kind of music.
  • I’m keen on it.
    This just means that you’re interested in something and you want to learn more about it.
    Ex. I’m keen on learning English.
  • I’m mad about it.
    I love doing something and I do it a lot.
    Ex. It’s a real tragedy, I love this woman, I’m mad about her.
  • I’m crazy about it.
    This is the same as “I’m mad about it”.
    Ex. Finnish women are crazy about cars.
  • I can’t get enough of …
    This means that I love doing it and I don’t want to stop.
    Ex. Yeah, I can’t get enough of new wave.
  • I have got a soft spot for …
    You like someone a little more than other people.
    Ex. No, don’t tell me you’ve got a soft spot for this guy.
  • I fancy him/her
    You think that he/she is attractive, good looking.
    Ex. I mean, she may fancy him, but she’d never act on it.
  • It appeals to me.
    It sounds/ looks great. I like the idea of it.
    Ex. In his report, Mr Szejna has opted for a wide approach, which appeals to me.
  • It goes down well. (With people)
    This means that other people like something that you do.
    Ex. The presentation went down really well with the class.
  • It’s to my liking.
    A very formal way to sai “I like it”.
    Ex. The colour of the paint is just to my liking!
  • I’m partial to it.
    It means that I like to eat or drink something, maybe too much.
    Ex. I like all the food here, but I’m particularly partial to the fried chicken.
  • I’m attached to it/you/him/her/them.
    I like it a lot, and if I lost it, I would be sad.
    Ex. Giovanna, I admit that I’m very attached to you.
  • I’m addicted to …
    It means that I like it so much that I can’t stop doing it.
    She looks nice enough, but she lies on her taxes and she’s addicted to painkillers.
  • I have grown to like …
    I didn’t like it at first, but now I do.
    Ex. I’ve grown to like the music of Radiohead.
  • I am passionate about it.
    This means I’m really interested and excited about it.
    Ex. Julia runs the selection committee, and she’s very passionate about the candidates.

You can download this mind map on Biggerplate.

To go – Phrasal verbs

go_pv_mind_map

You can download this mind map (imx. file) on Biggerplate.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES FROM THE WEB:

  • GO FOR
    1) To be attracted to; to have an interest in.
    You and me … We go for the bad boys.
    – He tends to go for girls like her.
    2) To attack.
     The neighbour’s dog went for the postman and bit him.
    – He is known to go for the jugular in arguments.
    3) To seek to obtain; to choose.
    – I think they would go for that kind of centralization.
    – I could really go for some hot wings.
  • GO THROUGH
    1) To bear; to experience a difficult/unpleasant situation.
    – Nobody would want to go through something like that.
    – In Malta, my fellow workers are going through disastrous changes.
    2) To examine the contents of something carefully.
    – We need to go through every message and assess the damage.
     That subpoena gives us the right to go through your files.
  • GO IN FOR
    1) To occupy oneself with; to engage in
    She goes in for volleyball.
    We have responded more to the will of our citizens and have been that much less inclined to go in for big events.
    – This will enable our students to go in for a three-year degree, in Italian, directly from Cairo and also take the exams in Egypt.
    2) To have or show an interest in or liking for.
    I thought you didn’t go in for those kinds of shenanigans.
    I don’t go in for those modern things.
    3) To enter a competition or to take an examination.
    My brother decided to cheer himself up by going in for a competition. The prize was a luxury holiday in the Caribbean.
    – He went in for the photography prize but didn’t win.
    – His school had suggested he go in for the Young Musician of the Year competition.
  • GO WITHOUT
    To be denied or deprived of something
    If you don’t like your tea, you can go without.
    She has had to go without a holiday for several years now.
    There were days I knew he went without food to buy music paper.
  • GO ABOUT
    1) To occupy oneself with; to perform
    – Meanwhile, the unsuspecting citizens of Coruscant go about their daily lives.
    – The shoemaker goes about his work with a smile.
    2) To begin to do
    We went about getting evidence of what was going on.
    How can I go about getting a good idea?
  • GO THROUGH WITH
    To stay with (something) to the end even if it’s something unpleasant or difficult.
    She went through with the divorce.
    We’re going to use him to go through with the transaction.
    Now you won’t have to go through with all that mess.
  • GO OFF
    1) To explode, or to make a loud noise.
    The bomb could go off at any moment.
    – The Hulk is a bomb waiting to go off.
    2) To leave suddenly.
    John went off with the money.
    Brian is going off to Milan and we’re throwing him a farewell party.
    3) To become angry quickly.
    He went off in a flash when he heard the news. I’ve never seen him so upset.
    4) To cease to be available, running, or functioning (of a light, electricity, or heating); to stop.
    The generator went off and we can’t get it started again.
    – The lights go off every six minutes, you know, to save electricity and stuff.

    5) To begin (with alarms, or signals).
    My alarm clock didn’t go off today and that’s why I was late.
    My alarm clock went off at 7:00 a.m.
    – It’s programmed to go off before you do.

    6) To follow the expected or desired course; to occur specified.
    The party went off well.
    7) To go bad; to decay.
    Something has gone off in the fridge, there’s a horrible smell.
    – The food went off very quickly, we had to throw it all.
  • GO ON
    1) To happen or take place.
    What’s going on at school?
    What’s going on outside? All your friends are out in the street carrying placards.
    2) To continue; to proceed; to keep on.
    Please, go on. Don’t let me interrupt you.
    Go on, tell me what happened next.

    3) To start running or functioning (of power, water supply, etc.)
    – The alarm goes on when you close the front door.
    4) To act or behave.
    – Don’t go on like that; stop kicking the dog.
  • GO ALONG WITH
    To agree with someone’s opinion/decision; to support an idea.
    I said it wouldn’t work. I didn’t go along with it from the beginning.
    – She’s still angry with me for going along with your idea.
  • GO TOGETHER
    1) To have a romantic relationship (informal).
    Are Mark and Mary still going together?
    They had been going together for years.
    2) To look or taste good when experienced at the same time (items of clothing, furniture or food).
    – Fish and red wine don’t go together.
    – Drinking and driving don’t go together.

I made this quiz for you :-), it will take you no more than 15 minutes. Try it out to check your knowledge about this topic.

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“Come” – Phrasal verbs

Come_01

Conjugation of “TO COME“. (link)

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB

COME ALONG => Arrive at a place
Go now and I will come along later.
– He decided to give the money to the first stranger who came along.
– Even if another job comes along this summer, I won’t take it.

COME OUT => Disappear or become less strong (of dirt or colour on clothing/material)
– We scrubbed the carpet with soap but the stains still wouldn’t come out.
Let your dress soak overnight and the stain will probably come out.

COME OUT => Become public knowledge after it has been kept secret (of the truth)
The truth is beginning to come out about what happened.
– The news of her death came out last week.

COME OUT OF => Leave after a period in a place (of hospital/prison)
– After three years, she came out of the coma.
– Mandela came out of prison after 27 years of captivity.
– The criminal came out of the house with arms raised.

COME OUT => Be given to people (of results or information)
– When do your exam results come out?
– Elections were held in Albania on 2 July and the results came out on 2 September.

COME APART => Separate into pieces
– It came apart when I tried to lift it off the floor and I had to glue it back together.
– The artery that is bringing blood to your brain, it’s coming apart.
– The doll just came apart when touched.

COME AROUND/ROUND => Become conscious again
– The unconscious patient finally came around.
– My sister was with me when I came round after the operation.

Here you can download the mind map (imx file).


Come2

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB

COME ABOUT => Happen, especially something that is not planned
– How did such a mess come about, anyway?
– How did this quarrel come about?
– I truly believe that the integration of the European Union cannot come about if we do not proceed rapidly to unify rules relating to justice.

COME OFF => Happen successfully, or as planned
I was surprised when the plan came off so easily.
– To everybody’s astonishment, the scheme came off.
– She didn’t come off well in that interview.

COME UP => Mentioned or discussed
Your name came up in conversation.
–  If the subject of Nobel Prizes comes up, maybe you could drop something about my nomination.

COME UP => Happened unexpectedly, usually a problem or difficult situation
– I’ll be late home tonight because something’s come up at work has to be ready for tomorrow morning.
– I’m sorry, but something came up at home and I couldn’t finish my homework.
– I’m the one who promised to take her to the theater, but then something came up.

COME UP=> Become available
– And when the PE vacancy came up, she suggested Jason.
– Now, there had been some rumors that if a vacancy came up on the Supreme Court, that LBJ might appoint me.
– A full-time opening came up, and Jack gave the job to his son.

 

Here you can download this mind map (imx file).

Come_03

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB

COME UP AGAINST => Encountered or have to deal with (a difficult situation)
– The negotiations came up against stumbling blocks on several points.
– I’ve never come up against anything I can’t handle.
– Two years ago, the Amsterdam Council already came up against this problem and did not manage to solve it.

COME TO => Make (a decision about something)
I’ve got to come to a decision.
– Everybody in the school comes to that conclusion?
– In 1992, the French came to a decision on the basis of spurious information.

COME ACROSS => Discover (or met) by chance
–  I came across my old school reports when I was clearing out my desk.
– Recently, I’ve come across some useful information.
– He’s the most brilliant student I’ve come across.

COME DOWN TO => Depend mostly on or be influenced most by
I guess in the end my decision will come down to what my professor recommends.
– It all comes down to a question of who tries hardest.

Here you can download this mind map (imx file).