the moment = immediately

Use 'the moment (that) to mean immediately.

I'll call you the moment I know the news.

She told me she would inform me the moment she heard.

Alike and like

Use 'alike' to mean 'like each other'. Use 'like' to mean 'like someone else'.

We are very much alike.

Tom looks like Peter.

"at your English Tips 6"

Preposition + Verb
Always use the gerund when the verb is the object of a preposition
What shall we do? - How about visiting Tom!
I looked into purchasing a new computer.

Interested In
The correct usage of showing interest is a passive infinitive "to be interested in".
They are interested in geography.
Was he interested in coming to the presentation?

Good and Bad
The comparative form for "good" is "better". The superlative form is "the best". The comparative form for "bad" is "worse". THe superlative form is "the worst".
She is the worst tennis player on the team.
He's better at math than Jack, but worse at geography.

The Basics of "At"
Use "at" with times of the day and places in a city.
I'll meet you at three o'clock.
Let's meet at the bank.

Ask
The verb "ask" plus an object is constructed "S + ask + person being asked + infinitive with to".
She asked him to repeat the question.
My friend asked me to come early to the meeting.


On
Use "on" with days of the week. However, in British English use "at the weekend".
I'll see you on Tuesday.
Let's meet on Sunday.



Since
Use the present perfect (continuous) with the time expression "since" when using a specific date or time.
He's lived in that house since 1998.
They've been playing golf since ten this morning.

"at your English Tips 5"

Unless
Use "unless" to mean "if not" in the first conditional.

Unless you come, we won't be able to make a decision.

She will give up unless she has some success soon.

Would Like vs. Do You Like
We Use the form "Would you like to ..." when inviting someone to do something specific. Use the form "Do you like to ..." when asking a general question.

Would you like to come over this weekend?

Do you like playing golf?

Question Tags
Question tags are formed by the auxiliary verb in the opposite sense of the main statement (here negative because the principle phrase is positive) followed by the subject.

You're leaving town soon, aren't you?

She hasn't seen him in a long time, has she?nam

As ... As

Use "as ... as" to express comparative equality. Do not use the comparative form of the adjective (i.e. hotter, more difficult, etc.

This test is as difficult as the test last week.

London is as expensive as Tokyo.

Indirect Questions

- require the question phrase be put into regular statement order. Direct questions are inverted. Indirect questions begin with phrases such as "Do you know if..., Would you mind if..., Do you think that..."

Would you mind if I sat down?

Do you think that he is going to attend the conference?

Reported Speech

In reported speech go one step back into the past and change the time signifier as well as the pronoun.

"I'm going to the supermarket.: BECOMES He said he was going to the supermarket.

"She's seeing him tomorrow." BECOMES She said she was seeing him the next day.

Should or Shouldn't
Use "should" or "shouldn't" as a modal verb to give advice.

He should get a check up soon. He doesn't look too well.

His mother told him he shouldn't worry about the test.

"at your English Tips 4"

His
The possessive pronoun form of he is "his" - both when followed by a noun and by itself - It is his book. The book is his.

I think that's his car.

That house over there is his.

 to mind
The verb "mind" is followed by the gerund -( ing) - form of the verb.

He doesn't mind working late.

Would you mind giving me a hand?

First Conditional
In the first conditional, use the simple present in the if clause and the future with will in the result clause.

If you finish that book, we'll get you a new one.

She'll move to Oregon if she gets a new job.

Present Perfect with "For"
Use the present perfect with the time expression "for" to express a period of time up to the present moment.

She's played tennis for ten years.

I've known him for many years.

Had to -  is the past of both "have to" and "must".

John had to get up early to catch the train last week.

He said he had to leave.

'at your English Tips 3'

Useful review tips for intermediate learners

If he were ... Use "were" in the second conditional if clause for all subjects.
If he were the boss, we'd all have more to do.
I would change my position if I were you.


when using a verb of purpose - I do something to do another thing. - use "to + verb".
She bought the computer to get more work done at home.
Hans visited the branch to speak with the manager.


The passive voice simple past is formed: Passive Subject + to be (was/were) + participle

One thousand units were produced last month.

The application form was completed and submitted to the administration.

Say and Tell
We use "say" without an indirect object. "Tell" on the other hand takes an indirect object - i.e. He told me.
I told her to hurry up.
I said I was coming soon.


Shall - Use "shall" with "we" when asking for suggestions for a group.

Where shall we go tonight?

When shall we meet?

More Important than Grammar

Most American native speakers won't care about your grammatically correct sentences. They would care more on how you say them or the words you actually use. Understanding their culture will help you more than you think.
http://esl.about.com/od/britishamerican/a/american_english.htm

at your English Tips 2

Using a Verb as a Noun
     We use the gerund form of the verb (verb+ing) when we use the verb as a noun.

Playing golf is my favorite pastime.

She said that driving was very difficult for her.

Future Time Clauses

In a future time clause use the present simple - the construction is the same as for the first conditional.

We'll begin the meeting as soon as she arrives.

She'll finish after she receives the notes.

At the Moment Decisions

     We use the future with "will" for spontaneous reactions. In other words, decisions that we make at that moment.

I'm hungry. - I'll make you a sandwich.

It's raining. - I'll get an umbrella.

Few and A Few

We use "few" in a negative sense. Use "a few" in a positive sense.

I have few friends in Los Angeles.

I have a few friends in New York.

The Use of Well

"Well" is the adverb form of the adjective "good"

He plays golf very well.

She speaks German well.

at your English Tips 1

Expressing Age
We use the verb "to be" to express age in English. There are two possibilities: He is eight. OR He is eight years old.

Tom is twenty-two.

My brother is thirty-six years old.

Already and Yet
Use "already" in positive sentences to express something done recently. Use "yet" in the question and negative forms.

Have you finished that report yet?

He's already talked with Bob.

Short Answers

When answering yes/no questions, use the auxiliary verb to reply.

Did he come last week? - Yes, he did. (Past Simple)

Have you lived here long? - No, I haven't. (Present Perfect)

Do you like him? - Yes, I do. (Present Simple)

Asking about Experience

Use the present perfect to inquire about life experiences.

Have you ever seen a play by Shakespeare?

Has she ever visited France?

Past Continuous for Interrupted Actions

Use the past continuous to express an interrupted action in the past.

She was talking on the phone when he arrived.

What was she doing when you asked her the question?

Tips to Teaching Collocation

http://busyteacher.org/6061-10-tips-to-teach-collocations.html