We use reported/indirect speech when someone said something and we need to tell it to others.

We use common reporting verbs such as ‘say’ and ‘tell’ or ‘ask’ if the direct speech is in a form of a question. Since we are talking about something that happened in the past, we use the past tense of the reporting verbs such as ‘said’, ‘told’, ‘asked’, etc.

It is optional to use the conjunction ‘that’ in a reported speech.

In reported speech, we usually use a tense that is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech.

Examples:

However, when Past Perfect is used in the direct speech, no verb change is needed.

 If what was said is still true, it’s not always needed to change the tense.

Must and Have to are modal verbs that show necessity, obligation and prohibition. They have little differences in their usage.

‘Must’ is used to imply that the obligation is personal. It is an obligation the speaker sets for himself. We can only use this form in the present and in the future.

Basic sentence structure:

subject + auxiliary verb must + main verb base

Examples:

I must finish this task. (Finishing the task is an obligation the speaker took on himself)

I must go.  (obligation set by the speaker)

I must learn how to drive. (obligation set by the speaker)

‘Have to’ also implies obligation. However, this obligation is something external. It is something someone else asked the speaker to do and the speaker cannot change it. We can use this form in the past, the present and the future.

Basic sentence structure:

subject + auxiliary verb + have + to-infinitive

Examples:

I have to send the report as soon as possible. (Sending the report is a duty given to the speaker.)

They had to stay there longer. (They were required to stay longer)

I have to leave now. (Leaving now is required of the speaker)

For the question form, it is more common to use “have to’ than ‘must’. It is used to ask if something is required or an obligation.

Why do you have to go?    – more common

Why must you go?             – less common

Does he have to drive?      – more common

Must he drive?                    – less common

What do we have to say?   – more common

What must we say?            – less common

The negative forms of these two have different meanings.

The negative form of ‘must’ is ‘must not’. It shows that something is not allowed.

He mustn’t sleep at work.

You must not leave the house.

They must not stay outside.

The negative form of ‘have to’ is ‘don’t have to’. It shows that something is not necessary but you can do it if you want to.

You don’t have to attend the meeting.

They didn’t have to join the club.

She doesn’t have to wear the dress.

Would is a slightly more formal way of expressing repeated past habits that we no longer do. These past actions do not take place anymore.

The sentence construction usually starts with a subject followed by would and then the base form of the verb. Consequently, for the negative we use the same formula but we replace would with would not or the shorter form wouldn’t.

Subject + would/wouldn’t + base form of the verb

Examples:

Every weekend, I would go hiking.

When we were young, our parents would take us to the park every Sunday.

My teacher would give me after-school exercises everyday.

On rainy days, we wouldn’t go out.

When I was a child, my father wouldn’t give me the time of the day.

My next-door neighbor wouldn’t bat an eye whenever he heard noises from my apartment.

Would can also be used with always, often, constantly etc. when talking about repeated past actions.

As a teenager, I would always sneak out of our house at night.

I would constantly correct my colleagues and they didn’t like it.

Back in college, I would often go to concerts.

In English, if an action only happened once, we do not use would + base form of the verb. Furthermore, don’t use it to talk about past states.

Examples:

I moved to Madrid in 2010. –(action that happened only once)
I would move to Madrid in 2010. – incorrect

I used to be a writer. –(past state)
I would be a painter. – incorrect

Both want and would like, as verbs, mean to desire or wish for something.

Want suggests a demand.

Would like is a more polite and formal way of expressing what you want.

Examples:

I want a soda. (could be urgent)
I would like to have a soda. (more polite)

I want to have dinner with you. (could be demanding)
I would like to have dinner with you. (more polite)

I want to speak to you. (could be urgent and demanding)
I would like to speak to you. (more polite)

Want is always followed by a complement to have a complete thought. It could be a noun or pronoun as an object, a to-infinitive form of the verb or an object + verb.

Examples:

Do you want cookies? (noun object)

I don’t want them. (pronoun object)

Do you want to eat them? (to-infinitive)

The host wants him to try the cookies. (object + to-infinitive)

Would like is usually followed by verbs in the the to + infinitive form or an object.

Examples:

I would like to try them. (to try is an infinitive)

I would like to eat it. (to eat is an infinitive)

I would like to have pasta. (to have is an infinitive)

I would like a cup of coffee. (coffee is an object)

I would like a tour. (tour is an object)

I would like an orange juice. (orange juice is an object)

The short form of would like is ‘d like.

Examples:

I’d like a cup of coffee.

I’d like to try them.

I’d like to eat it.

Be mindful of the use of gerund with would like as it may change the meaning of the sentence.

Example:

I would like to dance. (This means right now I want/wish/desire to dance.)

I’d like dancing if I could. ( This means I would like to dance but I don’t know if I have a chance to actually dance or if I have the skills to dance. )

There are often confusions on using used to + infinitive and be/get used to + gerund. These two are used in absolutely different context.

USED TO

We use used to to say that something existed or occurred repeatedly in the past that is no longer true.

Sentence structure:

Subject + used to + infinitive(base verb or simple form of the verb)

Examples:

I used to drive on the left side of the road.

She used to live in a big city.

They used to work long hours.

We use ‘did not use to’ to express it in the negative form. There is no need to add ‘d’ to use as did is already in the past tense.

I didn’t use to drive on the left side of the road.

BE USED TO

We use be used to indicate familiarity with something or a habit. Being used to something means it is not something strange or new to you.

Sentence structure:

subject + be +used to + gerund

Examples:

I am used to driving on the left side of the road.

She is used to living in a big city.

They are used to working long hours.

The negative for be used to is ‘be not used to’.

I am not used to driving on the left side of the road.

GET USED TO

This is related to ‘be used to’. However, ‘get used to‘ talks about the process of the subject becoming familiar with or getting accustomed to something. It could mean that the subject has just started doing something and is expected to it regularly/more often in the future.

Sentence structure:

subject + get + used to + gerund

Examples:

I am getting used to driving on the left side of the road.

She is getting used to living in a big city.

They are getting used to working long hours.

We use ‘not get used to’ to say it in the negative form.

I am not getting used to driving on the left side of the road.

Make and Do are two very common and quite similar verbs that we use. It can be confusing to know which one to use.

Remember:

We use Make when building, creating or producing something. It focuses on the result or product of an action.

Examples:

Make a plan.

Did you make that dress?

They made a decision.

We use DO when we talk about actions, tasks or general activities. It focuses on the act itself.

Examples:

I am doing some housework.

We will do some shopping tomorrow.

I did well in the interview.

We usually use things, everything, nothing, something, anything etc. when we use DO to talk about general activities.

Examples:

She does everything for me.

I did not do anything to help her.

They are doing nothing.

Below are some expressions with ‘ do‘ and ‘make‘.

Do

Make

There are many standard expressions with ‘make’ and sometimes using ‘do’ makes more sense.

Please make your bed.

Making the bed means to arrange your pillows and sheets after you slept in it. It may make more sense to use do because you are doing the action of arranging your bed.

I will make a call to the client.

Make a call simply means to call someone. Again, it may seem that using do is a better choice because we are talking about the action of calling someone over the telephone.

Imperatives tell people what to do.

The root form of the verb alone can sometimes create imperative sentences.

Examples:
“Stop!”
“Shoot!”
“Fire!”

To make the imperative, use the root form of the verb.

Examples:
“Stay right there!”
“Take out the trash.”
“Pass me the salt, please.”

Negative imperative simply adds “do not” before the verb.

Examples:
“Don’t go there.”
“Don’t jump!”
“Don’t stay up late.”

If the speaker is included in the imperative, you can use “let’s” or “let us” before the verb.

Examples:
“Let’s dance.”
“Let’s go now.”
“Let us do it.”

Determining Imperative Sentences

Most imperative sentences end with a period or an exclamation mark.

Usually, command/imperative verbs are at the start of the sentences.

Examples:
“Take care!”
“Be brave.”
“Listen to me.”

Imperative sentences generally do not have a grammatical subject because it always take the second person (you) for the subject.

Imperatives are used for many different reasons.

1. To give orders or commands.

Examples:
“Get out!”
“Stay where you are.”
“Do not make a sound.”

2. To give warnings or instructions.

Examples:
“Watch out!”
“Keep going straight.”
“Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.”

3. To give advice.

Examples:
“You don’t look well. Go see a doctor.”
“Make sure to settle your bills on time.”
“Don’t worry about her.“

4. Making a request or wish.

Examples:
“Please wait outside.”
“Please follow the rules.”
“Have fun at the party!“

Special Cases of Imperative

With “do”

We add “do” before the imperative to make the sentence more polite.

Examples:
“Do make yourself at home.”
“Do understand the situation.”
“Do let go.”

With never, ever, always

Just like “do”, the words never, ever and always come before imperatives.

Examples:

“Never do that again.”
“Don’t ever talk back to your parents.”
“Always remember that.”

Imperative with subject

Sometimes imperative clearly includes the subject.

Examples:
“Somebody answer the door!”
“You stay out of it!”
“Everybody run!”

When and How Long ask for different things.

When usually asks for a specific point in time.

How long asks for duration of time, with a beginning to an end point.

When and how long often use different tenses and different verbs.

We can use the present perfect tense when talking about the connection of the present to the past. This tense is used to talk about actions that started in the past and is still ongoing and is most likely to continue in the future. For “how long” we usually use the present perfect tense.

There are “action” verbs that refer to actions or events that occur at a particular time, normally only once. In this context, these “action” verbs cannot be used with “how long” or expressing duration and should only be used with “when”. In this case, we use “status” verbs to show condition existing over a period time.

Examples:

Some common action/status pairs are as follows:

Using an “action” verb to indicate something that takes place over a period of time is a usual error.

Examples:

How long have you found out about his infidelity? X

How long have you known about his infidelity?

How long has she fell asleep? X

How long has she been sleeping?

How long have you bought the truck? X

How long have you had that truck?

Notice that all the statements above are using the present perfect tense which implies an ongoing occurrence. In the last sentence, it is talking about “still owning the truck”. Therefore, you have to use a “status” verb. In this case, instead of “buy” we use “have”.

( “Buy ” is an action verb therefore it cannot indicate something that has been happening over a period of time.)

We can also use “how long” to talk about events/situations that transpired completely in the past.

Examples:

Aside from length of time, “how long” can also be used to answer measured length of something.

Examples:

How long do you want your hair to be?

How long was the skirt she was wearing at the party?

How long is the bridge?

Even if you have been writing your whole life, a grammar checker can still prove very handy. With the growing number of assistive writing tools, we need to consider which one best meets our needs, and more so which can be relied upon? Of course, if you want a quick answer, most people will cite Grammarly. In this article, we will consider a few online contenders.

Ed tech, or educational technology, isn’t really new. Teacher and students alike rely on a plethora of tools to reinforce learning. In recent months, this reality has come front and center, as educational systems the world over have had to offer education remotely. Now more than ever, educators and learners are reaping the benefits of using different applications and platforms. Thanks to technology, education whether face-to-face or asynchronous, is bridging the gap in spite of adverse conditions.

The same boon of decades of technological advancement make a difference in upgrading competencies, soft skills included, particularly when the preferred mode of learning is of the independent sort. What if writing isn’t one of our strong suits? How do we know if we have written well? This is where grammar checkers come in. Writing becomes a breeze as errors are detected, misspellings are corrected, and sentence construction is improved.

The low-down on a grammar checker

Confidence in the application of a language is akin to becoming proficient. Grammar remains an ambiguous, tedious quagmire of rules unless otherwise applied. Your prowess in the use of grammar may have well been tested by a university paper you had to submit, or that pesky email you had to compose. You may have also found it daunting to prepare your resume. Not everybody has the time nor the drive to scour various grammar websites to look up some obscure reference on the use of the present perfect tense or the virtues of the semicolon for a one-time specific context.

Before test-driving any grammar checker, try to take into account the following aspects so that your text is well composed:

Orthography (spelling). Misspellings in a document or email can have a jarring effect on reading. Although English is your everyday language, it is important to investigate the spelling when you are not sure of a term. It is one of those nitty-gritty habits leading to mastery that simply cannot be done without. Words in English are tricky as sometimes just one misplaced or erroneously included letter changes the meaning of not just the word but an entire sentence, sometimes to a comedic extent.

Punctuation. Whereas misspellings can be eyesores, erratic punctuation, or lack of punctuation altogether results in amateurish writing. We must be circumspect in the use of punctuation. Misplacing a comma alters the phrasing of words and may read differently as ideas get chunked the wrong way. We can thus say that punctuation plays to the ears, not just to the eyes.

Verb tenses. Since writing gives us the luxury of introspection and time to compose, it is imperative that we are surefooted in this temporal aspect of verbs, or risk losing our readers to time anomalies and anachronistic narrative.

Prepositions. These parts of speech are notorious speedbumps in navigating the writing process. While they are generally just two letters long, they are nonetheless important carriers of meaning. Repetition is key in remembering which preposition goes with which context, and as with other elements of a language, it takes trial and error in addition to research, to get a handle on correct usage.

Singular and plural words. A singular subject complements a singular verb. This may require laying out what we want to say mentally to avoid incorrect subject-verb agreement based on number.

Now that we’ve had a look at the specifics of language, which commonly leave us fumbling with word choice, lets talk about grammar checkers, particularly options that have been known to bolster good writing.

Ready?

Best free English grammar checkers

Don’t have a penny to your name to splurge on a grammar checker?

Not a problem. Free alternatives abound to help you assess the quality of text that you write. No checker is infallible so it’s your responsibility to give each one a try and get a better idea of each program’s capabilities. Here are our recommendations.

Scribens. With an eye to simplification, this free online grammar checker sniffs out annoying writing errors with just a few clicks of the mouse. Feature-rich, it offers not just grammar and spelling corrections, but also suggests improvements by way of pointing out redundancies, language register, awkward sentences, and verbiage.  The clever use of color makes it easy to spot corrections of a certain type, and a cursory glance at the statistics tab reveals information on reading time, speaking time, words per sentence, and readability just to name a few.

SpellCheckPlus. With a clean, minimalist interface, this corrector gets the job done by providing a summary of possible errors as well as a general rating of linguistic ability. The “Plus” in the site’s name doesn’t feel like it’s there just for effect; rather the site delivers in ways that other grammar checkers do not. Not only does it spot errors and gives corrections, but it goes the extra mile by explaining succinctly, and even providing examples. Thus, each visit to SpellCheckPlus is also a teaching moment that generates invaluable insight as to common writing missteps and how best to avoid them. Moreover, ticking the “Anglophone” box on the homepage enables the site to make recommendations specifically for native speakers.

Reverso. More than a grammar checker, the site has a handy set of tools every proofreader needs: definitions, synonyms, conjugations, and grammar are all at your fingertips. Reverso seems geared toward the independent learner who wants to hone their writing skills, and browse through multiple tabs that elaborate on relevant content.

LanguageTool. This grammar checker boasts ease of use, and gives you the option to choose the regional variant of English that suits your proofreading needs. American, Aussie, Canadian, Kiwi, or South African English – LanguageTool has got you covered. Like any good grammar checker, it recommends possible improvements that you can make. Add to the mix grammar examples, correction of typographical errors, lessons for each error, and correction of conjugations, and you’ve got yourself an excellent tool to make your text stand out.

Ginger. Another site with a clutter-free interface, Ginger makes the grade because of some useful options. Located to the right of the grammar checker there is a sidebar with links to topics in English that are sure to add polish to your writing. Here you can brush up on grammar rules including the parts of speech, often interchanged words, and some notorious “spelling demons.” The free version allows you to correct 300-character texts following the conventions of either American English or British English.

Virtual Writing Tutor. This site offers both a free version that allows you to check 500 words at a time and a membership tier that extends this capability to a whopping 3,000 words. Scrolling down the length of the homepage reveals the gamut of features at one’s disposal. In addition to correcting grammatical and spelling errors, it also keeps a keen eye on vocabulary and paraphrase. It helps you choose the best words according to the case, whether academic or colloquial, and it even tells you if you are using standard words. This checker also takes a fresh approach to honing writing skills by gamifying grammar practice. As if that weren’t enough, you can also put your grammar chops to the test with some online writing exercises.

RECOMENDED: Grammarly. It has a pretty good free version that corrects grammar, spelling and punctuation. You can also add it to your browser as an extension. We talk in more detail about its paid version below.

Hemingway Editor. With its considerable use of white space, this site is a breath of fresh air in a sea of busy bells and whistles. Form reflects function as readability is the name of the game with this editor, which bears the same appellation as a literary great. The online app points out which sentences in your text are too complex to read, as well as any superfluous use of adverbs and the passive voice, among other things. It rounds out our list of free sites, and is a great complement to any of the aforementioned grammar checkers.

It’s your turn! Try each of our recommendations, and choose the ones that meet your needs. Each has something unique to offer. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the same applies to writing.

Best paid grammar checkers

If you’re not scraping by and if the bulk of your work or school tasks involve writing reports, emails, or essays, then investing in a paid grammar checker might be the way to go. As with the list of free sites, the following paid programs can give you a leg up on the competition.  

RECOMENDED: Grammarly. A fan favorite and byword for effective writing, this proofreader harnesses the power of AI to give you the best assistance possible. This includes the option of defining a goal for the proofreading task before placing your text in. That is, do you need to tell a story, describe, or report? Is the audience general, or are they experts on a topic? Do you have to write formally or informally? The program helps you meet all these requirements for 139 USD a year.

Once you have your goals defined, Grammarly will offer:

• grammar and spelling corrections
• tips to improve writing
• a plagiarism checker
• punctuation suggestions
• writing style suggestions
• expert help

Stilus. The site easily stands out with its four levels of revision and a more affordable price. 60 euros per year get you not just a grammar checker, but also suggestions on how to improve spelling and style. Additionally, you can correct 200,000 or even a million words a month depending on which plan you choose. Other advantages include interactive correction; checks for linguistic precision and typography; and alerts for run-on sentences, redundancies and excessive use of words. Not to be missed are plug-ins for WordPress and Microsoft Word.

WhiteSmoke. A grammar checker that offers services for different use cases, it has three different packages: Web, Premium, and Business. The Premium option should suffice the proofreading needs of the average student or entrepreneur. For $79.95 per year you can get a spelling and grammar checker, translator, and plugins. Other features such as the punctuation mark checker, writing style checker, linguistic suggestions, and plagiarism checker will give your writing that professional touch.

So really, when you think about it, there are no excuses not to check your text! We have already shown you the best free and paid options currently out there to give your writing that added boost. Using any one of these suggestions will enhance your ability to spot mistakes and root them out. Furthermore, you’ll learn by applying grammar, which beats learning the same rules by rote any day.

Do you really need a grammar checker?

In the spheres of commerce and education, grammar will always be essential in every way. For as long as we need to put pen to paper, to record thoughts, and thrive and transact globally. There will always arise a need for coherent writing that informs and persuades.

However, let us be clear on this. A grammar checker will not teach you to write. It is designed to support or verify what you have written. Please don’t use any of these sites as a crutch. You should resort to their use after you’ve written down your ideas. Writing precedes editing.

But.. Which is the best grammar checker?

For us, whether you use the free version, or if you want to invest some money and go further, Grammarly hands down trumps other writing assistants in terms of usability and dominant market share. The latter bodes well since they are less likely to abandon development once you have got used to it.

What do you think of this article? Do you have a favourite? We would love to know if you have already used any of the above-mentioned sites. Do you know of any other grammar checkers that we may have missed? Share your experience with us!

Informally, if and whether can be interchanged. However, in formal writing, it pays to know the distinct uses of each. As a general rule, use if in conditional sentences. Use Whether to present two possible alternatives.

Uses of If and When

• We can use If and Whether in indirect questions. Use if or whether for indirect yes-no questions and questions with or. If is more commonly used than whether.

Call the parents and find out if any of them can volunteer for the cleanup drive.

I talked to him and asked if he’d take a taxi or if he’d drive from the airport.

• With or, it is more common to use whether especially when two or more alternatives in the indirect question are available.

After the class, the students asked whether they should take an exam, make a book report, or both.

• In more formal context, we use whether.

The suspect will be asked whether he would confess to his crime.

• From a business meeting, notice whether being used.

Carrie read an article that she’d written and the executives decided whether it should be published.

• Use or not with if and whether when talking about an alternative. Put or not immediately after whether or at the end. With if, only use or not in end position.

They texted Michelle to confirm whether or not she really got sick.

I texted Chase to confirm whether he really got sick or not.

He texted Angel to find out if she really got sick or not.

• To introduce clauses that comes after verbs that express doubts, use if or whether.

She isn’t sure if she can sleep. She’s too excited.

I didn’t study properly so I doubt if I’m going to pass the test.

We’re not sure whether we’ll be able to call you from the village.

Uses of Whether

• To talk about future plans or decisions, use whether before a to-infinitive.

She was thinking whether to study English abroad.

Some household chores, such as cleaning, need to be done by every member. Others, such as whether to iron clothes, can only be done by just one person.

• Use whether after prepositions.

Correct: I don’t think she worries about whether you are happy or not.

Incorrect: I don’t think she worries about if you are happy or not.

Common Mistakes in Using If and Whether

• Using if before a to-infinitive

Correct: He doesn’t know whether to save his money or just save it.

Incorrect: He doesn’t know if to save his money or just save it.

• Using if directly before or not

Correct: Can you tell me whether or not you are available for an interview?

Incorrect: Can you tell me if or not you are available for an interview?

• Using if after prepositions

[talking about a trip to Australia for a year]

Correct: They are not sure about whether they get good jobs after graduation. They just want to finish their degrees as soon as possible.

Incorrect: They are not sure about if they get good jobs after graduation. They just want to finish their degrees as soon as possible.