Friday, March 20, 2020

Example Sentences Using Irregular Verbs in All Tenses

Example Sentences Using Irregular Verbs in All Tenses For an English language learner, regular verbs are consistent and easier to learn than irregular verbs. The main difference between regular and irregular verbs is in the past participle and past simple. For regular verbs, you just have to add -ed for both the past participle and past simple: I visited my friends in Milan. (past simple)Shes visited her friends in Milan throughout the years. (present perfect)   Irregular verbs, on the other hand, are more complicated and often need to be studied individually because they dont follow a single pattern. The following example sentences in all tenses will help students learn irregular verb forms in context. Example Sentences Using Irregular Verbs Click on one of the irregular verbs listed below for example sentences using the verbs in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. To help you choose the verb you need, each verb includes three example sentences  to get you started. be  / was / were / been Tom was in New York yesterday.Ive been at this job for a long time.Shell be at the party next weekend. beat /  beat / beaten We beat the home team yesterday.Ive never beaten Tom at chess.Do you think you could beat him? become  / became / become Jason has become an excellent doctor.Ill become your friend if you move here.The situation became a problem for Bob. begin  / began / begun They havent begun the play yet.I began to work early this morning.Shell begin to explain in a moment. bend  / bent / bent He bent the branch until it broke.The flag poll bends in the wind.Ive bent the nail in the board.   break  / broke / broken My boy has broken three windows this week!I broke that window last week.She usually breaks the egg over the sink.   buy  / bought / bought Janice bought a new watch last week.I usually buy my vegetables at a country stand.Hes bought more than 10 cars in his life.   come  / came / come We came home earlier yesterday.He comes to class on time every day.Hes come across that song before.   cut  / cut / cut How many  pieces have you cut?I cut my finger on a glass yesterday.The boy never cuts his own steak. draw  / drew / drawn She drew a beautiful picture in class.Jackie has drawn a few clowns this week.Shell draw the money from the account tomorrow.   drink / drank / drunk I was so thirsty I drank two bottles of water.Have you drunk any water yet?Ill drink something when I get there.   drive  /  drove / driven Have you ever driven across the U.S.?I drove to the basketball game after work.Hes going to drive to the airport this evening.   eat /  ate / eaten We ate lunch early today.Have you eaten already?Where did you eat dinner yesterday? find  / found / found Have you found him yet?I found this book on that table over there.Ill find him, dont worry! fly /  flew / flown Cheryl flew to Brazil last month.Have you ever flown around the world?Hes going to fly a commercial airliner someday. forget  / forgot / forgotten (U.S.)  - forgot (UK) Have you forgotten that you had an appointment?I forgot my pen at home. Can I borrow yours?Youll have forgotten by the time you get home.   give /  gave / given   They gave us an early appointment.Hes given up on trying to learn Japanese.Ill give you a call next week.   go  / went / gone Have you ever gone on vacation alone?Shes going to ride the bus to work today.I went to the party last week.   grow /  grew / grown   She grew up very poor.The plants have all grown.Did you grow that plant? have  / had / had I had some toast for breakfast.Ive had some extra free time this week.Shell have the package ready when you come.   hit /  hit / hit Hes hit me three times!Bob hit the ball out of the park last night.He usually hits his nine iron well. hold  / held / held   She held on tightly and entered the tunnel.Ive held her hand before.Hold on for a few more minutes.   keep /  kept / kept Have you kept your word to Peter?John kept the door open for his mother.Ill keep your secret. know  / knew / known I knew that once ...Ive known my best friend for more than 40 years.Peter will know the answer.   learn /  learned (learnt UK) / learned (learnt UK) Have you learnt (learned) anything yet?He learned his lesson last week.This has been learned for ages.   leave  / left / left   We left the book at home.Hes left the house early this morning.Well leave as soon as you get home.   lose  / lost / lost I lost my watch yesterday.Shes never lost her purse.Theyll lose patience if you dont hurry up.   make / made / made I made the bed before I left.Ive made some tea. Would you like some?Will he make the meeting next week? meet / met / met Have you met Jack?Were going to meet at 3 oclock next week.He met his wife in Hawaii.   pay  / paid / paid He paid by credit card.Ill pay the bill and we can leave.Janet is paid by the hour.   put  / put / put She put on a CD and relaxed for the afternoon.Ive put in for a new job.Shell put him up for the night.   ride  / rode / ridden Mary rode the bus to work.Ive ridden a bike all my life.Shell ride with Tim to the party.   run  / ran / run I ran four miles yesterday.Weve run out of milk, so Ill go to the store.David usually runs two miles a day. see  / saw / seen Have you seen Angie yet?I saw the film last week.Shes going to see her friend next weekend.   If youd like to check your knowledge, take this  English irregular verbs quiz.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Battle of York in the War of 1812

Battle of York in the War of 1812 The Battle of York was fought April 27, 1813, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). In 1813, American commanders around Lake Ontario elected to move against York (present-day Toronto), the capital of Upper Canada. Though lacking in strategic value, York presented an easier target than the main British base on the lake at Kingston. Landing on April 27, American forces were able to overwhelm Yorks defenders and captured the town, though promising young commander Brigadier General Zebulon Pike was lost in the process. In the wake of the battle, American troops looted and burned the town. Background In the wake of the failed campaigns of 1812, newly re-elected President James Madison was forced to reassess the strategic situation along the Canadian border. As a result, it was decided to focus American efforts for 1813 on achieving victory on Lake Ontario and the Niagara frontier. Success on this front also required control of the lake. To this end, Captain Isaac Chauncey had been dispatched to Sackets Harbor, NY in 1812 for the purpose of constructing a fleet on Lake Ontario. It was believed that victory in and around Lake Ontario would cut off Upper Canada and open the way for an attack on Montreal. In preparation for the main American push at Lake Ontario, Major General Henry Dearborn was ordered to position 3,000 men at Buffalo for a strike against Forts Erie and George as well as 4,000 men at Sackets Harbor. This second force was to attack Kingston at the upper outlet of the lake. Success on both fronts would sever the lake from Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River. At Sackets Harbor, Chauncey had rapidly constructed a fleet that had wrested naval superiority away from the British. Meeting at Sackets Harbor, Dearborn and Chauncey began to have misgivings about the Kingston operation despite the fact that the objective was only thirty miles away. While Chauncey fretted about possible ice around Kingston, Dearborn was concerned about the size of the British garrison. Instead of striking at Kingston, the two commanders instead elected to conduct a raid against York, Ontario (present-day Toronto). Though of minimal strategic value, York was the capital of Upper Canada and Chauncey had intelligence that two brigs were under construction there. Battle of York Conflict: War of 1812Dates: April 27, 1813Armies Commanders:AmericansMajor General Henry DearbornBrigadier General Zebulon PikeCommodore Isaac Chauncey1,700 men, 14 shipsBritishMajor General Roger Hale Sheaffe700 regulars, militia, and Native AmericansCasualties:Americans: 55 killed, 265 woundedBritish: 82 killed, 112 wounded, 274 captured, 7 missing The Americans Land Departing on April 25, Chaunceys ships carried Dearborns troops across the lake to York. The town itself was defended by a fort on the west side as well as a nearby Government House Battery mounting two guns. Further west was the small Western Battery which possessed two 18-pdr guns. At the time of the American attack, the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe was in York to conduct business. The victor of the Battle of Queenston Heights, Sheaffe possessed three companies of regulars, as well as around 300 militia and as many as 100 Native Americans. Having crossed the lake, American forces began landing approximately three miles west of York on April 27. A reluctant, hands-off commander, Dearborn delegated operational control Brigadier General Zebulon Pike. A famed explorer who had traversed the American West, Pikes first wave was led by Major Benjamin Forsyth and a company of the 1st US Rifle Regiment. Coming ashore, his men were met by intense fire from a group of Native Americans under James Givins. Sheaffe ordered a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry to support Givins, but they became lost after leaving town. Map of the Battle of York.   Public Domain Fighting Ashore Outflanking Givins, the Americans were able to secure the beachhead with the assistance of Chaunceys guns. Landing with three more companies, Pike began forming his men when they were attacked by the grenadier company of the 8th Regiment of Foot. Outnumbering their attackers, who launched a bayonet charge, they repelled the assault and inflicted heavy losses. Reinforcing his command, Pike began advancing by platoons towards the town. His advance was supported by two 6-pdr guns while Chaunceys ships began a bombardment of the fort and Government House Battery. Directing his men to block the Americans, Sheaffe found that his forces were being steadily driven back. An attempt was made to rally around the Western Battery, but this position collapsed following the accidental detonation of the batterys travelling magazine. Falling back to a ravine near the fort, the British regulars joined with the militia to make a stand. Outnumbered on land and taking fire from the water, Sheaffes resolve gave way and he concluded that the battle was lost. Instructing the militia to make the best terms possible with the Americans, Sheaffe and regulars retreated east, burning the shipyard as they departed. As the withdrawal began, Captain Tito LeLià ¨vre was sent to blow up the forts magazine to prevent its capture. Unaware that the British were departing, Pike was preparing to assault the fort. He was approximately 200 yards away interrogating a prisoner when LeLià ¨vre detonated the magazine. In the resulting explosion, Pikes prisoner was killed instantly by debris while the general was mortally wounded in the head and shoulder. In addition, 38 Americans were killed and over 200 wounded. With Pike dead, Colonel Cromwell Pearce took command and re-formed the American forces. A Breakdown of Discipline Learning that the British wished to surrender, Pearce sent Lieutenant Colonel George Mitchell and Major William King to negotiate. As talks began, the Americans were annoyed at having to deal with the militia rather than Sheaffe and the situation worsened when it became clear that the shipyard was burning. As talks moved forward, the British wounded were gathered in the fort and largely left unattended as Sheaffe had taken the surgeons. That night the situation deteriorated with American soldiers vandalizing and looting the town, despite earlier orders from Pike to respect private property. In the days fighting, the American force lost 55 killed and 265 wounded, mostly as a result of the magazine explosion. British losses totaled 82 killed, 112 wounded, and 274 captured. The next day, Dearborn and Chauncey came ashore. After prolonged talks, a surrender agreement was produced on April 28 and the remaining British forces paroled. While war material was confiscated, Dearborn ordered the 21st Regiment into the town to maintain order. Searching the shipyard, Chaunceys sailors were able to refloat the aged schooner Duke of Gloucester, but were unable to salvage the sloop of war Sir Isaac Brock which had been under construction. Despite the ratification of the surrender terms, the situation in York did not improve and soldiers continued to loot private homes, as well as public buildings such as the town library and St. James Church. The situation came to a head when the Parliament buildings burned. Aftermath On April 30, Dearborn returned control to the local authorities and ordered his men to re-embark. Before doing so, he ordered other government and military buildings in the town, including the Governors Residence, deliberately burned. Due to foul winds, the American force unable to depart the harbor until May 8. Though a victory for American forces, the attack on York cost them a promising commander and did little to alter the strategic situation on Lake Ontario. The looting and burning of the town led to calls for revenge across Upper Canada and set the precedent for subsequent burnings, including that of Washington, DC in 1814.