What is the difference between started to do and started doing?  For example        I started to run a few months ago.   I started running a few months ago.      Does the second sentence mean that I run every day/ 3 times a week and I never stopped doing that?  Does the first sentence imply that I  do not run every day or certain times a week and I must have stopped/ stopped for a period during this period of time (a few months)?  I can see there are explanations for "start to do" and "start doing" but my question involves tense.
91029
Why do we use:        to start laughing      instead of,        to start to laugh      And what is the construction verb + (verb + ing) called?
102228
How can I understand the sentence 1b?   1 a When I last went to Moscow, they had renovated St Basil's Cathedral.    b When I last went to Moscow, they had been renovating St Basil's Cathedral  The explanation to 1b is: “they are still renovating the cathedral when I went to Moscow”, but as far as l know “had been doing” can also mean “had just finished something”, why does the answer give only one possibility? If it does mean “still doing”, is there any difference with “was doing”?
182
What is the difference in meaning and / or use between:     I will have worked here for two years by this time next year.   and     I will have been working here for two years by this time next year.    This is often a point of confusion for students and even 'experts' alike. There could be a number of reasons why a speaker chooses to use either construction:   The rest of the conversation was talking about the future using one form or the other, and to maintain consistency, or even because the speaker had been 'primed' by preceding language The attitude of the speaker reflects their attitude. The use of the progressive could indicate that the speaker feels it's more of a temporary solution.    So, is there a difference in meaning and use? Which one of the above (1 or 2) is more likely? Or is there a third I've not considered?
66036
"These days" express the period around now. Then, I wonder, why is used the Present Simple in the following sentence?:   These days I travel a lot.  I’m spending more and more time away from home. (Considering the rule given above, I would say: These days I am travelling a lot.)   I've also come across the sentence where both  tenses are considered correct:   These days, more and more people prefer / are preferring to retire    early.   So, is it optional whether we use present simple or continuous with "these days"?
92915
I want to know, is there any difference between "stop + v.(ing)" and "stopped to + v.". These are example sentences.     I stop working for a month. vs I stopped to work for a month.   I stop watching movies. vs I stopped to watch movies.   I stop cooking for a year. vs I stopped to cook.   I read  but I still don't understand what is the difference or when and how to use them.
54756
Where did you go last night?   Where went you last night?   Is there a reason we say the first of the previous two sentences as opposed to the last one?   I know the second sentence is ungrammatical. I was just wondering if there was more of a rule than just "asking questions in the simple past needs 'did' + verb in the present tense."
104508
When one uses simple past tense for some action, does it imply that the action is complete?  For instance, when you say “I wrote my article yesterday,” does this imply that at this moment you have a finished article or not? So it’s      I wrote a bit of my article yesterday, but I still have to finish it.   vs.      I started and finished writing my article yesterday and now I have a finished work, so I can publish it.   What about present perfect? Does it imply completeness? If you say “I have watched this film,” does this mean that you have actually watched it from start to end?  If both these tenses imply that the action was completed, do I have to use past continuous to emphasize the incompleteness of action? For instance, “I was watching this film,” so that the implied meaning is that I started watching it, but it’s not certain that I finished it.
101879
I have just finished my homework.   I just finished my homework.      I think there must be a difference in meaning. Could anyone tell me the difference in meaning sentence 1 and sentence 2?
32516
For various such sentences in many cases I get confused, it seems different for different cases. I want to know if someone left doing something for permanantly then what should be used? Also give some examples for different cases. Suppose... "I left my bag" means "I forgot my bag". but If I want to say the same for permanentaly "I left bringing my bag". Where should we use "stop" and "quit" then?
36538
I have been learning English for 7 years now, and I have read so many grammar books with rules, telling the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple and I still find it hard to distinguish them.   On paper, it is easy, if it is not a certain (exact) time in the past without any time markers (yesterday, a month ago, etc) it is past simple. Yes, but outside the classroom it is really harder than this . I have heard many people speaking how they want to, mixing the tenses.   So, I will give these sentences which i have heard to be constructed differently, please, if someone can explain the difference to me.     Have you enjoyed the party? / Did you enjoy the party?      I have given the documents today. / I gave the documents today.      I have done this when I have revised it. / I did it when I revised it      What did you do today? / What have you done today ?   Is it possible to use past simple without mentioning a definite time in the past  (without the time markers)?     It has been 3 years since we moved house. / It has been 3 years since we have moved house.      I know him since we met each other/ I know him since we have met each other   Correct me if some of the sentences are grammatically wrong!
16807
This question may seem to be very simple, but something I get confused whenever I want to speak.  I read a book entitled "re-start your English", and saw a sentence.     This is a leg. It is part of your body.      This is a neck. It is 'a' part of your body.   Why didn't they use 'a' in the first sentence? And why did they use one in the second one?  I'm not a native, so I hope you will please understand,  even if there's something awkward about my question.
114538
This is a question about American English usage of the word "already". As a UK resident I don't completely understand when I hear Americans give commands like "Stop it already!" In the UK the word already is not normally used in the imperative mood and the sentence I've just quoted would leave an English person thinking "If you're saying I've already stopped it why are you asking me to stop it again?"
113209
The simple past tense indicates that an activity or situation began   and ended at a particular time in the past.      The present perfect expresses the idea that something happened (or   never happened) before now, at an unspecified time in the past.The   exact time it happened is not important. It also expresses the   repetition of an activity before now. The exact time of each   repetition is not important.   Even though I understand the explanation above, I can't figure out: If the present perfect states the idea that something happened in the past, why not use the simple past?  For example, would you please explain the following sentence to tell the difference between these two tenses?         The plane crashed there.    The plane has crashed there.      What is the biggest difference between them?
69461
Is it grammatically correct to use the word "do" twice in a row? Examples: We do do what you are talking about. instead of... We do what you are talking about.  or  Our process does do what you are talking about. instead of... Our process does what you are talking about.  Is the meaning any different?
98825
Until I went into the army, I (had been / used to be / was ) an introverted person. And after I I finished army service, I became more confident.   I think all of these are possible.  As for had been, I'm referring to the state of me being introverted before the accident that happened in the past. So, I think I can use had been.  And at the same time I feel I can use used to be and was.. If I don't want to emphasize the time gap between two accident, I feel I don't need to use past perfect. So I think this problem depends on how I'm going to say something.   which one is preferable? and what is the difference?
80550
First sentence:     I contribute to projects I love.   Second sentence:     I contribute to projects that I love.   I used to use the first one, but I am not sure if it is right or wrong when omitting "that".
106396
I have question about using this phrase. For example my doctor told me to take 1 pill every day. Then after 3 days he asked me: how long have you been taking these meds?  I was taking them the 1st day, 2nd, 3rd and today 4th day I took them too in the morning and doctor asked me on 4th day how long have you been taking them. I said     I have been taking them for 3 days    but I am not sure since I took the pill today too so shouldnt have I said 4 days?  Should I count the on-going day or still not until its fully finished?