Englishforeveryone

Author: Noreen Rashid

  • Past Perfect Continuous Tense

    Past Perfect Continuous Tense

    Definition:
    The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started in the past, continued for some time, and was still in progress up until another specific point in the past. It emphasizes the duration of the action that was ongoing before a past event.

    Usage of “For” and “Since”:

    • For is used with a period of time (e.g., two hours, five days, a long time).
    • Since is used with a specific point in time (e.g., morning, 2010, Monday).

    1. Affirmative Sentence
    Structure: Subject + had been + verb(-ing) + object.

    • She had been studying English for three years before she moved to London.
    • He had been living here since 2010 until he got a new job last month.
    • They had been playing soccer for an hour when it started to rain.
    • I had been working on the project all morning before you called.

    2. Negative Sentence
    Structure: Subject + had not been + verb(-ing) + object.

    • He had not been working since morning; he had just arrived.
    • She had not been sleeping well before the exam.
    • We had not been traveling for long when the car broke down.
    • They had not been waiting long before the bus finally came.

    3. Interrogative Sentence
    Structure: Had + subject + been + verb(-ing) + object?

    • Had they been playing football for an hour before the referee stopped the game?
    • Had she been waiting since noon before her appointment at 4 PM?
    • Had he been working on that assignment before he decided to ask for help?
    • Had you been feeling unwell before you fainted?

    4. Negative Interrogative Sentence
    Structure: Had + subject + not been + verb(-ing) + object?

    • Had she not been waiting since yesterday for those results?
    • Had you not been studying for three hours before you took the break?
    • Had he not been attending the meetings
    • before he was removed from the project?
    • Had they not been cleaning the house for hours before the guests arrived?

    Read more

    Present Indefinite Tense (Simple Present Tense)

    Present continuous tense

    Present Perfect Tense

    Present Perfect Continuous Tense

    The Past Indefinite Tense

    Past Continuous Tense

    Past Perfect Tense

    More lessons

    Daily use english sentences

    Online Everyday English Conversation Practice Tool

    Improve Your English Speaking with Simple Passages

  • Past Perfect Tense

    Past Perfect Tense

    Definition:

    The Past Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action or a specific time in the past. It helps to clarify the order of two past events. It is formed using “had” + the past participle (third form of the verb).

    Sentence Structures & Examples

    1. Affirmative Sentence (Positive Statement)

    Structure: Subject + had + past participle (third form of verb) + object.
    Examples:

    • She had finished her homework before the movie started.
    • They had traveled to Japan once before they moved there.
    • I had already read that book, so I knew the ending.
    • We had cleaned the entire house by the time the guests arrived.
    • He had written a letter to his friend long before email existed.

    2. Negative Sentence

    Structure: Subject + had + not + past participle (third form of verb) + object.
    Examples:

    • I had not eaten sushi before I visited Japan last year.
    • They had not visited the new museum until last weekend.
    • She had not finished her project when the deadline passed.
    • We had not received the package, so we called the company.

    3. Interrogative Sentence (Yes/No Question)

    Structure: Had + subject + past participle (third form of verb) + object?
    Examples:

    • Had you visited Paris before your trip last summer?
    • Had she cooked dinner before everyone got home?
    • Had they started the meeting by the time you joined?
    • Had we met before that conference?
    • Had you finished your work when the power went out?

    4. Interrogative Negative Sentence

    Structure: Had + subject + not + past participle (third form of verb) + object?
    (Note: The contracted form “Hadn’t” is more common in spoken English.)
    Examples:

    • Had she not completed her work by the deadline?
    • Had they not arrived at the airport when you called?
    • Had the teacher not graded the tests before the holiday break?
    • Hadn’t they invited you to the party? (Common Contraction)
    • Had you not seen my keys before I found them?

    The Past Indefinite Tense

    Past Continuous Tense

  • Past Continuous Tense

    Past Continuous Tense

    Definition:

     The past continuous describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It is often used for an action that was interrupted by another event or for two simultaneous actions in the past.

    Sentence structures

    1. Affirmative sentences

    Structure: Subject + was/were + verb+ing

    Example sentences:

    •  She was reading a book at 9 o’clock.

    •  They were playing football when it started to rain.• While I was cooking dinner, he was setting the table.

    2. Negative sentence

    Structure: Subject + was/were + not + verb + ing

    Example sentences:

    •  They were not watching TV when I arrived.

    •  I wasn’t listening

    •  He wasn’t feeling well during the party.

    3. Interrogative sentence

    Structure: Was/Were + subject + verb+ing?

    Example sentences:

    •  Were you sleeping when I called last night?

    •  What were they discussing before the meeting?

    •  Was the sun shining when you left for work?

    4. Negative Interrogative sentence

    Structure: Wasn’t/Weren’t + subject + verb

    Example sentences:+ing?

    •  Wasn’t she working on the project yesterday?

    •  Weren’t you waiting for the bus?

    •  Wasn’t it raining just a few minutes ago?

    The Past Indefinite Tense

  • My Favourite Way to Learn New Things

    My Favourite Way to Learn New Things

    Alright, so my favourite way to learn new things? I’m a huge fan of just diving right in. Hands-on experience, you know? I can read a manual or watch a hundred videos. But I don’t really get it until I try it myself.

    Like when I wanted to learn gardening. I just bought some seeds and soil. And I planted them. Made a lot of mistakes, of course. Killed few plants, sadly. But you learn so much from that. More than you would from just reading about it, right?

    It’s the same with language. You gotta try speaking. Even if the grammar isn’t perfect. That’s how it becomes real. How it sticks in your brain. For me, that’s the best way. A bit messy, but so much more fun.

    I’m not gonna remember every single step from a book. But I’ll always remember the lesson from something I did. Or something I felt. That’s the real goal, I think. To have that personal connection to the knowledge. Makes all the difference.

    How I stay organised

    A Goal I’m Working Towards

  • A Goal I’m Working Towards

    A Goal I’m Working Towards

    So, my main goal right now is definitely improving my English. It’s a continuous journey, you know? I’m still pretty new to it, so everything feels a bit challenging.

    I’m really focusing on expanding my vocabulary these days. I try to learn couple new words every week. And actually use them. In a real sentence. It feels a bit awkward sometimes. But that’s how it sticks, right?

    I also make a point to consume more media in English. Like listening to English-language podcasts on my commute. Or reading news articles online. It’s tough, but so helpful for reading skills. You pick up on how sentences are built. The formal style, the casual style, everything.

    The biggest challenge is overcoming the fear of making error. Everyone feels that pressure. But you just gotta push through it. The more you speak, the more confident you become. It’s all about practice and not being too hard on yourself. We’re all learning, after all.

    my favourite type of technology

    How I stay organised

  • How I stay organised

    How I stay organised

    Alright, so staying organized. It’s something I really have to work at. My brain can get a bit messy, you know? So I rely on a few simple tricks.

    My number one tool is my phone’s calendar. I put everything in there. Every appointment, every deadline. Even time for coffee with a friend. If it’s not in the calendar, it basically doesn’t exist for me. I’m gonna forget it for sure. I also love making lists. There’s something so satisfying about crossing things off. Really keeps me on track.

    For my stuff, I try to follow a simple rule. “Don’t put it down, put it away.” It sounds easy, right? But it makes a huge difference. No more piles of paper on the desk. No more searching for my keys. Just a little habit.

    And honestly? I don’t always get it perfect. Sometimes life gets busy. But having these little habits helps reduce the stress so much. It gives me a sense of control. What about you? What’s your best organizing tip?

    How I Spend My Weekend

    my favourite type of technology

  • my favourite type of technology

    my favourite type of technology

    Okay, so my favorite technology? Definitely has to be my AirPods. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them. They’re just so convenient, you know?

    Think about all the noise in a busy day. So many distractions. With my AirPods, I just pop them in. Instant quiet. It’s like a magic trick. I’m gonna use them on the bus. Or when I  wanna concentrate in a noisy office. They create my own personal space.

    I use them for podcasts all the time. The audio is so clear. It feels like the host is right there having a conversation with me. Perfect for learning new things.

    And the best part is they’re wireless. No more tangled cords! So easy to carry around. Taking calls is a breeze, too. People say the sound quality is great. It’s such a clever piece of technology. A bit pricey, but totally worth it for the freedom. What about you? Are you a fan of wireless earbuds?

    My favourite type of clothing

    How I Spend My Weekend

  • How I Spend My Weekend

    How I Spend My Weekend

    Alright, so let’s talk about weekends. My ideal weekend is all about balance. I need a mix of getting things done and also just relaxing. You know how it is.

    On Saturday morning, I like to be productive. I do some cleaning around the house. Maybe run a few errands. I’m gonna go to the grocery store and the post office. It feels good to get that stuff out of the way. Then, the afternoon is for me. I might meet a friend for coffee. Or just read a book at home. Pure relaxation, right?

    Sunday is much slower. I sleep in a little. Then I often make a big breakfast. Pancakes are my favorite. My family comes over for lunch later. It’s always a bit noisy but wonderful. We talk and laugh for hours.

    By Sunday evening, I start to think about the week ahead. I’ll plan some meals and maybe choose my clothes. I just wanna feel prepared. It’s a simple routine. But it recharges me perfectly. Hope that gives you some ideas for your own weekend

    A memorable gift I received

    My favourite type of clothing

  • My favourite type of clothing

    My favourite type of clothing

    OOkay, so my favourite type of clothing has to be a good hoodie. Honestly, I think it’s the perfect piece of clothing.

    You can wear it almost anywhere. It’s just so comfortable. I’m always gonna choose comfort over style. But a hoodie gives you both,

    you know?

    You can throw it on with jeans. Or even wear it over a dress for a casual look. It’s incredibly versatile.

    I’ve had my favorite grey hoodie for years. It’s a bit faded now. The cuffs are a little worn. But that just means it’s broken in perfectly. It feels like a second skin. I wear it during the autumn. It’s perfect for a chilly morning. Or a cozy evening at home.

    For me, it’s more than just a piece of cloths. It’s a feeling. A feeling of ease and being yourself. It’s not trying too hard, right? Just simple, reliable comfort. Everyone should have a go-to hoodie. It makes everything better.

    my favorite type of exercise

    A memorable gift I received

  • A memorable gift I received

    Ammemorable gift I received

    Alright, so the most memorable gift I ever received wasn’t expensive. It wasn’t big either. It was a small, leather-bound journal. My best friend gave it to me before I moved away.

    She knows I love to write. My thoughts, my dreams. Just little things. She said, “I want you to remember everything.” It was such a simple gesture, you know? But it meant the world. I was gonna miss her so much.

    I still have that journal, of, course. Filled it cover to cover. It’s like a map of my life during that time. A real treasure. Sometimes the best gifts aren’t about money, right? They’re about the thought and the connection. It showed me she really *got* me. She understood what I needed.

    Even now, when I look at it, I remember that feeling. The feeling of being truly seen. It’s a powerful thing, isn’t it? A gift that keeps on giving, for real

    A Challenge I’ve Overcome

    my favorite type of exercise