Improve Your English Grammar in ONE HOUR | Advanced English Grammar

Welcome to this one hour English lesson. In  this lesson we're going to review Advanced  

Grammar topic, so you can learn and correct some  of the most common grammar mistakes that advanced  

students make. Now because this is a long lesson  is divided into individual sections where you'll  

first review a grammar concept, and then you'll  complete a quiz to make sure you understand that  

concept. Welcome back to JForrest English  training. Of course I'm Jennifer and this  

is your place to become a fluent confident  English speaker. Let's get started. First,  

let's talk about the difference between a bin and  being both of these are simply different forms of  

the verb to be. So Bin is the past participle and  being is the present participle. Now when you use  

one or the other simply depends on the verb tense  but the sentence requires and how do you know  

which verb tenses sentence requires? Well, you  need to look at your time reference and understand  

where you are on a timeline. And if you're talking  about the past, the present or the future and how  

those actions interact with one another, okay,  so we use then in the present perfect verb tense.  

For example, how have you been the question? How  have you been? This is in the present perfect,  

and then your answer could also be in the present  perfect. I've been busy. I have as a contraction,  

I've, I've been busy. So your key here to know  when to use Ben or Bing is that Ben is used with  

the auxiliary for have remember that have can be  conjugated as has with he or she. So it will be  

she has been busy. I have been busy. So when you  see the verb have or has, you know your sentence  

needs been. And that's the present perfect verb  tense. Now another time we use been is in the  

past perfect. So for example, I have been there I  had been there. Here your key is that then is used  

with had so had is just the past form of the verb  ha. So again, you can just memorize when you see  

have even if it's in a different conjugation or  in the past, you need Ben. Being on the other hand  

is used with completely different verb tenses.  Being is the present participle. So it's used  

in the continuous form. It's the verb in ing in  that sense, it's used in the present continuous.  

I could say she's being difficult. She is she's  being difficult. So here your key as that being is  

used with the auxiliary verb TO BE she is is is a  form of the verb to be, it would be you are being  

difficult are is an auxilary of the verb to be.  So when you have the verb to be, you know you need  

being we also use being in the past continuous.  I could say she was being difficult, or they  

were being difficult. So again, we're using the  auxiliary verb to be but it's just conjugated  

in the past as was or work. So your clue for  being is when it's used with the verb to be in  

a present form conjugated with the subject or in  the past form, which is either was or were. Now  

being can also be used as a gerund verb. So that's  the verb and ing, but it's actually being used as  

the subject of a sentence. So simply put, I can  start my sentence with a gerund verb, and this  

is to make a general statement that applies to a  general situation so I could say being difficult  

is not a good personality trait. Okay, it's just  a general statement that applies most of the time.  

Being difficult is not a good personality trait.  So notice my sentence starts with the verb being  

because of that the gerund verb, so that's a more  advanced way to use the verb being. So that's to  

summarize when you're going to use been or being  remember that they're just different forms of the  

verb to be and when you use them depends on  the verb tense, but the sentence requires,  

and the sentence requires a specific verb tense,  depending on the time reference and if you're in  

the past, present, or future, so now this is  a lot of information, the best way to truly  

understand this information is to practice it.  So you have a lot of work to do. I want you to  

leave five sentences in the comment, one with the  present perfect, past perfect, present continuous,  

past continuous and bonus points. If you can get a  Geron statement. Remember, all of these are using  

been or being so get to where you're going to have  to review this lesson again, because there's a lot  

of information in here so just take it slow. Are  you ready for your quiz? Here are your questions  

hit pause, take as much time as you need and  when you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Now let's talk about the difference between  Ben two and Ben. And so here are two example  

sentences. I've been to Paris five times.  I've been in Paris for five weeks. What's  

the difference between these sentences? Well,  let's talk about the first one. I've been to  

Paris five times. Notice that this sentence is in  the present perfect. The structure of the present  

perfect is subject have or has conjugated with the  subject, the participle form of the verb. The verb  

here is the verb to be. So the past participle of  the verb to be is been, we use been with all the  

subjects and then the rest of your sentence. I've  been to Paris five times. So why is this sentence  

in the present perfect? Well, it's because we use  the present perfect for life experience. And we  

use it for life experience, because our life  is an ongoing timeline. And because of that,  

we're talking about actions that started in the  past such as traveling to Paris, but it's an  

unfinished timeline, so I can continue doing this  action in the future. So I've been to Paris five  

times until now, and it's possible for me to go to  Paris again. So maybe next year I'll say I've been  

to Paris six times. Because of that the sentence  is in the present perfect when we use the present  

perfect with the verb to be to as our preposition  and a location such as I've been to Paris, Paris  

is the location five times. So we do this to talk  about places we've traveled, or places we haven't  

traveled. Because things we haven't done is also  part of our life experience so we can put things  

we haven't done in the present perfect as well.  So for example, I could say I've been to Thailand  

once, but I haven't been to Myanmar. Now let's  compare this to I've been in Paris for five weeks.  

Now here this sentence is also in the present  perfect, but the reason why this sentence  

is in the present perfect is different.  We're not talking about life experience,  

per se. We're talking about an action that started  in the past and continues on till now. So notice  

I said I've been in Paris for five weeks. So what  this means is five weeks ago, I arrived in Paris.  

That action started in the past, but here's  the important thing. I'm in Paris, right now,  

if I say I've been in Paris for five weeks,  I'm currently in Paris. Okay? That's the  

very important thing to keep in mind. So when we  use the present perfect with the verb to be the  

preposition in, and then a location. This is used  to talk about where we are now. And that action  

started in the past, but it continues until now.  For example, I could say my flight was canceled,  

so I've been in Texas for three days. So right  now I'm in Texas. Maybe I'm not supposed to be  

in Texas. I'm supposed to be in Paris, but my  flight was canceled, so I'm stuck in Texas.  

The action started in the past three days ago,  and it continues until now. I've been in Texas  

for three days. So now you know how to use the  present perfect with the verb to be I've been to  

or I've been in and a location. So it's your turn  to practice. I want you to leave two examples and  

why not try different subjects? So you can  practice conjugating your verb have or have  

with your subject. So put those in the comments  below. Are you ready for your quiz? Here are your  

questions hit pause take as much time as you need  and when you're ready, hit play to see the answers  

now let's talk about the difference between have  thought and was gone. So first you need to see  

these in sentences to understand the full context.  She's already gone home. Notice that contraction  

she's in this case the as represent had she has  already gone home. She's already gone home or  

I could say she was gone when I got home. So  what's the difference between these two? Well,  

they're different verb tenses. Has Gone is the  present perfect verb tense. We form the present  

perfect with the subject has or have, depending  on the subject, and the third form of the verb the  

past participle. So in our sentence, she's already  gone home. Our main verb in this sentence is the  

verb to go. And that we're taking that verb go  and we're conjugating it in the present perfect,  

because our subject is she we need have as our  auxiliary verb, and then I take my verb go and  

I put it in the third form the past participle  and that's gone. Go winds gone. She's already  

gone home. And this sentence is in the present  perfect because it's a completed past action,  

but it has a present consequence. Now let's talk  about was gone. This sentence structure is to be  

gone. So in this case, gone is being used as an  adjective, and our main verb is B. Now because of  

that, we need to conjugate our main verb in the  past, present or future and in this case, was is  

the past simple conjugation of the verb to be. And  it's the past simple with the subject. She she was  

gone when I got home in terms of meaning when I  say she was gone when I got home all I'm saying  

is that she's no longer here now. So now you can  see we have two different sentence structures in  

the first one we have the verb to go conjugated  in the present perfect. In the second one, we  

have the sentence structure to be gone conjugated  in the past simple. Now you might be wondering,  

when do we use to go and when do we use to be  gone? Well, we use the verb to go when we're  

talking about movement, and we use the verb TO BE  GONE simply to mean no longer here, so we want to  

emphasize the options of something or someone not  necessarily their movements. Another difference is  

that to go talking about movement, this is used in  an everyday context is the most commonly used the  

most natural when we used to be gone talking about  the absence. This is used more in a narrative. So  

when perhaps you're telling a story, it could  be a story to a friend, it could be in a book,  

it could be in a movie in a newspaper article  for example. But you would expect to hear that  

sentence structure more in a narrative form. So  now you know the difference between has gone and  

was gone. So it's your turn to practice. I want  you to lead to Example one with has gone and one  

with was gone in the comments. Below. Are you  ready for your quiz? Here are your questions,  

hit pause take as much time as you need and  when you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Now let's talk about how to use the sentence  structure having plus past participle the past  

participle is your third form of the verb.  Now we use this structure when the action  

is complete. So whenever the action is if the  structure having plus past participle is used,  

you know that the person has done that  action. Now as for sentence structure,  

this is commonly used to start a sentence. So in  my case, notice your sentence starts with the verb  

having it doesn't start with a subject. It starts  with having and it's just implied that whoever is  

talking is the subject so for example, one of the  most common ways to use this if having said that,  

having said that, so said of course is the  third form of the verb shed. Having said that,  

now, when somebody uses this expression, they're  letting you know that they're going to reference  

something that they've previously said  in this expression. Having said that,  

the that is the words that the person previously  set. Now normally they just said it, it was the  

what they just said. It is possible that it could  be something they said a while ago, but generally  

it's they just sent it. So for example, you could  be in a meeting and your boss is praising everyone  

saying Awesome job, guys. We really did a great  job this week. Our sales are up our performances  

up. And those are the words now he wants to  transition. And he could say having said that,  

so he's referencing the words he just  said, Remember the words he just said  

were positive. Okay. So you can say having  said that, we still have a lot of work to do.  

So he's giving you all this praise, but he wants  you to keep in mind but there's still work to do.  

So he's balancing it out. Having said that, we  still have a lot of work to do. So that's a very  

common way to use this expression. But you don't  have to only use it with the verb stay. You can  

use this with pretty much any verb but remember is  to show that the action is complete. Let's say my  

friend and I are talking about marathons, and my  friend wants to run a marathon is talking about  

training for this marathon. Now I could say having  run a marathon, having run a marathon, I can give  

you some tips. So I'm letting my friend know that  this option of running a marathon is complete  

for me. I've done it. I've run a marathon,  having run a marathon I can give us some tips.  

So we commonly use ones just to show the  experiences that we've had that are complete  

for us in order to educate or in order to inform  or maybe even in order to show sympathy or empathy  

for someone to show that you understand their  situation, because you've experienced that as  

well. Now I talked about how most commonly it's  used to start a sentence. This isn't the only  

location you can use it as the second part of a  sentence, and it's going to follow a comma. So  

for example, I could say New York City is known  for its busy street and having lived there I  

can confirm that this is true. So notice it starts  the next part of a sentence after a comma. And I'm  

just using and to show that connection between the  two ideas. Of course, I can divide these into two  

separate sentences and say New York City is known  for its busy street period. Having lived there,  

I can confirm that it's true. So the choice is  yours. It doesn't really matter. It probably  

just depends on the sentence. But you will see  this most commonly at the start of a sentence.  

And the important thing to remember is that the  action is complete. So now you know how to use  

this advanced sentence structure. Of course, it's  your turn to practice. So I want you to leave  

three different examples using three different  verbs. So you also really get comfortable with  

the past participle because you need the third  form of the verb which is the least common verb  

use. So I want you to get comfortable with that  as well. So leave three different examples in the  

comments below. Are you ready for your quiz? Here  are your questions hit pause, take as much time as  

you need and when you're ready, hit play to see  the answers. Now let's talk about the different  

ways you can use the verb appreciate. So our  first sentence structure that we can use is  

you can appreciate plus a now so this is the  sentence structure you would have obviously  

subject and then your verb appreciate conjugated  with your subject time reference and add subject  

as well. And then followed by the word appreciate  you have a noun and noun is either a something or  

someone. So you can say I appreciate your time.  So most likely, that's what we need to do here  

is just get rid of those word devoting and just  put I appreciate something. I appreciate your  

time. I appreciate your help. You can also  just appreciate someone I appreciate you.  

Or you can use it in the negative my boss  doesn't appreciate everything I do for  

this company. So this is probably the most  common sentence structure with appreciate.  

Another sentence structure when you want to talk  about someone else is what we needed here is a  

someone else. So with that most likely you're  going to use appreciate plus bat and then a  

clause. Now a cause you need a subject, a verb and  a lot of the times an object but at least you need  

a subject and a verb. So you can say I appreciate  that you spent your weekend helping me move.  

Now this really means the same thing as I  appreciate I appreciated your help this weekend.  

Or weekend going to say I appreciate I appreciate  now even though you helped the weekend,  

it is already done or it could be a future  as well. I appreciate your help this weekend.  

So another sentence structure is we're just  gonna add the two words the fact when we do this,  

the meaning does not change between this one. I  appreciate that and clause when we add both fact.  

To me, it sounds more emphasized making  it a little bit more dramatic, stronger. I  

appreciate the fact that you spent your weekend  helping me both, again, just emphasizing it.  

Again, we can just simply say I appreciate  something your help this weekend.  

Now, this is a sentence structure that most  likely many students are using or they're  

not using correctly and they're not using it  correctly because of what happens after the W  

H. So we have appreciate then w h which is who  what when, why where or how we consider how a  

W H and then we still need a clause so you have  a subject for an object. So we don't have a verb  

besides the w h we have a subject okay. So you  could say I appreciate who they are as people.  

So who is our W H and then we have a  clause they are subject for Now honestly,  

this really just means I appreciate. It's just  another way of saying it really and that's what I  

want you to understand from this is that there  are many different ways in English to say the  

same thing. And they're all correct. They're  just simply different grammatical structures.  

And when you feel really confident with  your English is because you're able to  

use different structures and understand how to  use them use them correctly. And understand when  

the meaning changes and when the  meaning doesn't change as well.  

You could say I appreciate everyone who sent in  a question or questions who sent in a question.  

I appreciate what you're trying to say.  

I appreciate what you do for this company. I  appreciate when you submit your questions. I  

appreciate where you're trying to take this  company or I appreciate why you feel you  

deserve a promotion. Now how a lot of times when  we use how you're going to see much I appreciate  

how much you do for this company. So this is a  more advanced sentence structure, but I really  

encourage you to get comfortable with it. But make  sure you pay attention that the W H plus a subject  

a final sentence structure that you can use is  appreciate and then a pronoun and then a gerund.  

This is also a more advanced structure. You can  say I appreciate you helping me today. So here  

this is exactly the same as I appreciate your help  today. Or I appreciate the fact that you helped me  

today. I appreciate how much you helped me today.  Ultimately, they're saying the same thing. They're  

just really different. Sentence Structures. Are  you ready for your quiz? Here are your questions  

hit pause take as much time as you need and  when you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Now let's talk about the difference between the  verb wonder and wondering what's the difference  

between I wonder I'm wondering and I was  wondering, let's look at all three in an  

example sentence. I wonder what time the  store opens. I'm wondering what time the  

store opens. I was wondering what time the store  opens. What's the difference between all three?  

Ultimately there's a very subtle difference and  you can use any one of the three and it will be  

grammatically correct. It will sound natural  and there'll be a very minor difference in  

meaning the difference is quite insignificant. So  don't overthink this. If that explanation is too  

complicated for you just know that anyone will  do the trick. Now let's look at the difference  

between them a little bit more. Well, you've  probably noticed that the verb tense is different.  

Now that's really it. The verb tense is different,  but ultimately the meaning is the same. So of  

course I wonder what time the store opens. What  room tensions best. The Present Simple we use  

the verb wonder in the present simple mainly  when it's an in general situation. So the fact  

that we're wondering isn't really limited to this  moment in time. It's just taking place in general.  

And we also use I wonder more when we're thinking  oh, wow, I wonder I wonder I wonder what I should  

have for lunch today. But as we're thinking  out loud, we don't always want an answer or  

expect an answer. So let's imagine that you're  my coworker and you're standing right beside me.  

We're in the kitchen at work and I say out loud.  I wonder what I should have for lunch today.  

I don't necessarily want you to reply. I'm just  thinking out loud. But if you as my coworker if  

you did reply, and you suggested something I  should have for lunch. I wouldn't be offended  

by it. I would gladly accept it. But the  purpose of saying it isn't to get a reply.

It's just thinking out loud, I'm wondering is  of course in the present continuous, the Present  

Continuous is used for actions taking place  right now. So in this case when I use the present  

continuous I'm putting emphasis on the fact that  I'm wondering right now this is taking place right  

now. We generally use I'm a wondering in the  present continuous to ask an indirect question.  

For example, I might say, I'm wondering if you  could help me move tonight. I'm wondering if you  

could help me move tonight. Now it's an indirect  question because I'm not saying directly Can you  

help me move tonight, which would be a direct  question. It's an indirect question. But in this  

case, I do expect you to reply back and give me an  answer. I was wondering is the past continuous? In  

this case, we're putting emphasis on the fact  that the action I was wondering the action of  

wandering took place in the past. But here's  what you need to know. Even though the action  

of wandering happened in the past. I can still ask  you an indirect question. Now. I was wondering if  

you can help me move tonight. So in this case,  there really is no difference in meaning between  

the present continuous and the past continuous, I  can still use it. To ask an indirect question now  

is just whether I was contemplating wondering  that now or in the past. So that's the very  

subtle difference in meaning, but remember what  I said at the beginning that ultimately all three  

can be used to make a statement in the present,  even though they use completely different verb  

tenses. So the grammar is different. And there  is a subtle difference in meaning. However,  

ultimately, all three are acceptable forms. So now  it's your turn. To practice. I want you to leave  

three different examples using the Present Simple  Present Continuous and past continuous of the verb  

wonder. So leave those in the comments below. Are  you ready for your quiz? Here are your questions  

hit pause take as much time as you need and  when you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Now let's talk about how to use the advanced  sentence structure not only x, but also why we use  

the expression not only x, but also y to identify  two characteristics, traits or points. This is a  

formal expression. You can use it in a business  presentation, or in a formal report or an academic  

essay. It will help you sound very advanced. Now  we have x and y. The thing to keep in mind is  

that x and y are both going to be positive points,  or they're both going to be negative points, but  

we're not making a contrast with x and y so they  have to match. For example, I could say Paul's  

not only intelligent, but also funny. So here are  x and y is intelligent and funny. Now notice in  

the second part of our sentence, but also funny,  notice how I didn't repeat this subject and verb  

I didn't repeat but he is also funny. Die, subject  and verb is going to apply for both parts of the  

sentence. So if you say it in part one, you don't  have to repeat it in part two is the exact same  

subject and verb. Now we use this structure not  only x but also why to add emphasis to her two  

points, because let's compare this to just a very  simple statement. And I can say Paul's intelligent  

and funny, Paul's intelligent and funny. Both of  these expressions have the exact same meaning.  

I would say just using not only but also I'm  emphasizing those two traits and characteristics,  

plus it sounds a lot more advanced. Now in  this example, both of our traits are positive  

intelligent is positive and funny is positive.  But I could also use an example where both the  

traits are negative. For example, I could say,  Petras, not only lazy but also irresponsible.  

So notice both my traits my x and  y, they notch they're both negative.  

Let's look at another example. I improved  not only my speaking, but also my writing  

now notice here I improved. My verb is in  the past. If this was an action in progress,  

I could say I'm improving. I'm improving not  only but also now notice in the second part,  

I still don't repeat the subject and the verb  because it's the same for the first part and the  

second part so it's not necessary. Now let's look  at one more example where I'm going to change the  

structure just a little bit. I can say not only  does she speak German, she also speaks Dutch.  

Now notice I'm beginning with not only in this  specific case, when I begin with not only I have  

to include do as an auxiliary verb and of course  do is going to be conjugated in the present simple  

or the past simple or whatever time reference  you have. So here not only does she speak German,  

but of course in a normal sentence.  I would simply say she speaks German,  

I wouldn't use the auxiliary verb do.  I'm using it in this case, only because  

I'm starting with not only you can think of  this just as a grammar rule that you need to  

apply to this specific structure when you begin  with not only not only does she speak German,  

she also speaks Dutch. Now notice in the second  part, I'm not repeating the auxiliary verb does.  

It's not necessary. This is a little more of an  advanced structure. If it's too advanced for you,  

then you don't need it because you can  simply say she speaks not only German,  

but also Dutch. The meaning is exactly the same.  I just wanted to give you the opportunity to take  

it a little more advanced as well. Are you  ready for your quiz? Here are your questions,  

hit pause, take as much time as you need and  when you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Now let's talk about the difference between over  and during. So what's the difference between  

saying we went to the beach over the weekend we  went to the beach during the weekend. Hmm. Now in  

this context over and during have the exact  same naming. However, we only use them in  

the same way in very specific expressions. This  isn't something we do all the time. You can use  

over or during and there's no different when  you're talking about the weekend, holidays,  

seasons, vacation or meals. For example, you  could say let's discuss this over lunch. Let's  

discuss this during lunch. Once is a meal and  remember I said we can use over or during for  

meals. Now generally native speakers will use over  ordering without any difference. But there is a  

subtle difference. In meaning. And that's when  we use over. It sounds like it's the entire time  

from start to finish. So if I say let's talk about  this over lunch, to me, it sounds like the entire  

lunch from start to finish. We'll be discussing  the project. So let's discuss the project over  

lunch. That's the only thing we're doing. But  if I say let's discuss the project during lunch,  

to me that sounds like at one specific point.  During lunch, it could be at the beginning of  

lunch. It could be at the middle of lunch, it  could be at the end of one, but at one specific  

point. We'll discuss the project, but we'll do  other things as well. So that's the difference,  

although it's subtle, and most native speakers  will just use one or the other without thinking  

about that difference. Now just remember that  we only use over and during interchangeably in  

that very specific context of weekends holidays  vacation meal and sees them outside of those  

specific categories. They have different meanings,  and they're not interchangeable. So for example, I  

have to say nobody talked during the presentation.  I can't say nobody talks over the presentation.  

That doesn't sound right because the presentation  is not one of the categories I gave you.  

Or for example the presentation when for over  three hours. And when this case over means more  

than it went for more than three hours. It went  for over three hours. So I can't change it to  

during and I can't say the presentation went  for during three hours. That doesn't work. So  

most of the time they don't have the same meaning.  Again, just remember those categories the weekend,  

holidays, vacation seasons and meals. You can  use either one I cleaned the garage over the  

weekend. I clean the garage during the weekend.  So now it's your turn to practice. I want you to  

leave two examples, both using over and during.  So make sure you choose one of those categories  

and lead to examples in the comments below. Are  you ready for your quiz? Here are your questions  

hit pause take as much time as you need and  when you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Now let's talk about the difference between  the past simple and the present. Perfect. And  

specifically we're looking at the two sentences I  already ate and I've already eaten. Now of course  

you need to notice the structure. So you need to  know how to form a passion bowl and the present  

perfect. So just keep that in mind. And let's  talk about the meaning of these two. So we use  

the past simple with a completed past action right  this action is complete. I already ate that is a  

finished completed action in the past. Now let's  talk about the present perfect. Here's what you  

need to keep in mind. The Present Perfect has a  many different uses, depending on the context.  

In this lesson. We're specifically talking about  comparing these two sentences. So in this specific  

context, the present perfect can be used for a  past action with a present consequence. Okay,  

there are other ways we use the present  perfect. We're not going to discuss those.  

We're specifically talking about this one meaning  a past action with a present consequence. I've  

already eaten so as you can see just from their  definitions that they can both be used with a  

completed past action. The difference is the  present perfect present. There is a connection  

to the present. Okay, so keep that as your memory  aid present perfect. Present connection to the  

present with a passion for that connection to the  present, isn't there. One other thing you need to  

keep in mind is that a native English speaker is  not a grammar expert. A native English speaker is  

going to use these two sentences in this specific  context. They're going to use these two sentences  

interchangeably and there's not going to be a  difference in meaning. So when a native speaker  

says I already ate or I've already eaten, there  is no difference at all. If you asked them, Why  

did you say this one and not this one? They're not  going to know because they don't study grammar,  

okay, and they're both acceptable. So just keep  that in mind. A native speaker is going to use  

them interchangeably with no difference in meaning  but let's talk about that subtle difference in  

meaning when we say that the present perfect can  be used with a past action that has a present  

consequence. What does that mean a present  consequence. So let's just think about that  

I already ate in the past simple. Just remember  completed past action. It's done. It's over I  

already ate. Now when I say I've already eaten.  There's our connection to the present. So you can  

always think of it in your head as I've already  eaten. So now, okay, I've already eaten. So now  

because connection to the present. I've already  eaten. So now I'm not hungry. So now I don't want  

a piece of cake. So now I don't want to go to that  restaurant. With you. Okay, I've already eaten.  

But keep in mind that so now we don't realize it.  We don't say it out loud. It's just implied in  

the context. Okay, so let's take a look at a few  more examples. I could say I talked to my boss,  

just a completed past action. Or I  could say I've talked to my boss.  

So what's the connection to the present? Maybe  I've talked to my boss. So now I'm going to  

leave. Maybe that's just the connection to the  President. It could be anything again, we don't  

verbalize that. It's just implied. How about this  one? I checked the mail is completed past action.  

I checked the mail or I've checked the mail in  the present. Perfect. I've checked the mail.  

What's the connection to the prison? I have  checked the mail so you don't have to. That  

can be the connection to the President. One more  example. I booked the hotel completed past action.  

Or I can say I've booked the hotel in the present  perfect. I've booked the hotel. So now we're going  

on vacation, maybe knowledge the connection  to the present. So now I'm excited. Remember,  

we don't specifically say it is just implied.  And also in all of these examples in this  

specific context, a native English speaker is  going to use them interchangeably without a  

difference in meaning. Are you ready for  your quiz? Here are your questions hit  

pause take as much time as you need and when  you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Now let's talk about how you can  correctly use three very common  

verbs recommend suggest and advise.  So let's say you're at a restaurant,  

you're looking for the menu and then you  ask your server. What would you recommend me  

or you're discussing a problem with your  boss and you ask what would you suggest me?  

What do you think about these sentences? Are these  sentences grammatically correct or incorrect? What  

do you think? Well, these sentences are wrong. You  can't say what would you recommend me for just me  

yet? I'm hearing it every single day. In fact, I  hear this so much from students that it's starting  

to sound normal, just because I hear it every  single day and I have to remember that's not  

correct. And the reason why this is incorrect  is because the sentence structure is incorrect.  

Following the verb recommend suggests we do not  want an object pronoun me is an object pronoun.  

The good news is there's a very easy way to fix  this. So don't say me. If you're at a restaurant,  

say what would you recommend? If you're talking to  your boss say, what do you suggest? That's all you  

need to do? Because grammatically from a sentence  structure, we don't want the object pronoun.  

Now let's take a look at this example I saw on  you blush. The example is I recommend you find  

150 books. Now this is where students get  confused because they see you i recommend  

you So why can I say what would you recommend  me? Because this you is not an object pronoun.  

It's tricky because you is both the subject  pronoun I, you he she it we they and you is  

also the object pronoun Me, you, him or her. But  in this sentence, the U is a subject pronoun.  

Now you'll notice here we have our verb recommend.  And then following the verb recommend we have a  

clause. A clause is a subject, a verb and an  object. I recommend you is the subject find is  

the verb 150 books is the object. Now, in written  English, you can use that to connect recommend  

and the clause. I recommend that I suggest  that it's optional and in written English,  

it's most commonly included, but in spoken  English, it's most commonly left out. So based  

on what I just said, What do you think about this  sentence the doctor suggested me to lose weight.  

Is this sentence correct? or incorrect? What do  you think? The doctor suggested me to lose weight?  

It's wrong. You can't say this. Because me is  an object pronoun and we do have a verb but  

the verb isn't even conjugated with anything  is just in the infinitive form. So remember,  

we need recommend suggest plus a clause a  clause is a subject, a verb and an object.  

So how can we fix this sentence? We can say  the doctor recommended that I lose weight.  

I is our subject is our verb notice the verb is  conjugated with the subject, and our object is  

weight. Remember that if optional, most likely  I'll keep it in with written English and I'll  

leave it out with spoken English. The doctor  recommended I lose weight another quiz for  

you. What do you think about this sentence?  Would you recommend me for the promotion?  

Would you recommend me for the promotion?  What do you think? Is this good or bad?  

This is good. Don't be confused. I'm going to  make this very clear for you. Would you recommend  

me for the promotion? In this sentence? I  am not receiving the recommendation. I am  

the recommendation because you can recommend  something. For example, I recommend the duck.  

If you're at a restaurant and you're looking  for different items. There's chicken fish and  

duck. I recommend the duck that's a something  so in this is I m the recommendation. I'm the  

recommendation for the promotion. Think of it like  this. Your boss asks you who should we recommend  

for the promotion Who should we recommend?  We should recommend Jennifer? Of course,  

why wouldn't you? We should recommend  Jennifer I am the recommendation. So  

in my question, remember I asked my colleague  would you recommend me for the promotion?  

This is not the same as saying what would  you recommend me? Because that is incorrect.  

In that case, I'm receiving the recommendation  I am not the recommendation. I'm receiving it.  

And then you don't want an object pronoun. And  you simply say that what would you recommend?  

I recommend the duck. Who would you  recommend? I recommend Jennifer.  

There is another sense of structure you need  to know and that I recommend suggest flash  

Gerrans gerund is your verb and ing. For example,  I recommend drinking eight glasses of water a day.  

I recommend ordering the duck. Now let's talk  about advice. You can say here by signing the  

contract. So what do you notice here? What's the  sentence structure? What do we have right here?  

Well, of course we have advice plus jaren. So  this is a same thing we can do with recommend  

or suggest. And you can also say he had mine but  I find the contract. So what do you notice about  

this sentence structure? Well, it five plus that  which is optional. And then we have our clause,  

subject, verb and then our object. So this is  also the exact same sentence structure you can  

use with recommend or suggest now what about this  sentence? He advised me to sign the contract,  

advise me. He advised me. What do you think?  Is this correct or incorrect? Well, this is  

so with this specific verb advice, you can have a  phone now you can advise someone, but notice what  

comes next we have our infinitive. To plus these  verb he advised me. He advised him he advised her  

he buys you to sign to go to eat to drink, any  infinitive, and then our object though contract.  

So with bind is more flexible. You can use it with  the Jaren the clause and you can even advise me.  

So now let's talk about explain because  I hear this every single day Teacher,  

can you explain me how to use the present perfect.  What do you think about that? Can you explain me?  

Is that correct? or incorrect? Well, you should  know this by now. It's wrong. You don't explain  

someone you explain to someone. This is why I  saved explain for the end but I really wanted  

you to learn it because it's the same thing. We  don't want an object pronoun. Explain me. No.  

Explain to me. That's all you need to do. You need  to add that preposition to because you explain to  

someone. Now most commonly we use restructure,  explain something to someone. Can you explain  

the present perfect to me. Now if it's obvious  that you're the one receiving the explanation  

you don't even have to say it. You don't need to  say to me, to him, to us to them. If it's obvious,  

you can just say can you explain the present  perfect, that's fine. But you don't want to say  

can you explain me? So please take the time to  study and learn what I taught you in this video  

because you will not sound fluent. You will not  sound natural. You will not have your IELTS or  

your language exam. If you can say recommend me,  explain me. That's a beginner mistake. But I hear  

all my students advanced students from every  background, use that sentence structure. So  

take the time watch this video multiple times to  really understand the sentence structure and then  

leave some examples in the comments below because  you really need to practice it the correct way and  

get lots of repetitions with the correct form. Are  you ready for your quiz? Here are your questions  

hit pause take as much time as you need and  when you're ready, hit play to see the answers.  

Amazing job with this lesson think of all the  grammar mistakes that you corrected today.  

What was your favorite section? Share in the  comments below. And how did you do with those  

quizzes? Share your scores in the comments  below. And if you found this video helpful,  

please hit the like button, share it with  your friends and of course subscribe. And  

before you go make sure you head on over  to my website, JForrest english.com and  

download your free speaking Guide. In  this guide I share six tips on how to  

speak English fluently and confidently  and until next time, Happy studying.