Online Class Notes (Joe)

Grammar

The verb tenses in English do not follow universal rules. There are always exceptions.
Sometimes, the same structure for the present tense is used to give instructions OR make statements.
Sometimes, the same structure for the present tense is used to talk about the past (e.g. I hear the lockdown is over – means I heard it before)
Sometimes, the verbs do not follow the rules you will expect. So, it’s important to experiment with different verbs in class to find out how they are used.
You should also note that action verbs (e.g., run) do not follow the same rules as state verbs (e.g., think).
The same rules do not apply for all verbs. Here are some basic explanations of using the verb ‘wear’ in different ways.

You wear a blue t-shirt (this can be a statement about what usually happens or an instruction about what to do)

You are wearing a blue t-shirt (this can be a statement about what is happening now or a statement about what will happen in the near future)

You were wearing a blue t-shirt (this is a statement about something that continued to happen OR something that was interrupted by something else)

You wore a blue t-shirt (this is about a time which you consider to be finished – e.g., yesterday, this morning, an hour ago)

You have worn a blue t-shirt (this is about a finished action at a time which you consider unfinished OR a a time in your life OR recently) (can also be used with since/for)

You have been wearing a blue t-shirt (this is about an unfinished action OR an action which finished recently and impacts the present)

Vocabulary

initial (adj) – first
My initial thought was to throw it away, but then I realized I want to keep it

initiative (noun) – the ability to assess/start things without instruction / the ability to act before others
David took the initiative and called the clients

apartment – a home in an apartment building
I live in a small apartment

department – a part of a company
I work in the sales department