now that
conjunction

📌 "Now that" is used to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship between two events or situations. It is typically used to explain that something is happening or has become possible in the present because of a recent change, condition, or event.


📌 Meaning:
"Now that" implies that a particular action, event, or circumstance in the present is a consequence or result of something that happened or changed in the past.


📌 Usage:
To use "now that" in a sentence, you generally follow this structure: "Now that + clause with a past event or condition, main clause indicating the current result or action."


📌 For example:
1- "Now that I have a driver's license, I can drive to work." (Past event: Obtaining a driver's license, Current result: Ability to drive to work)

2- "Now that the rain has stopped, we can go for a walk." (Past event: Rain stopping, Current result: Opportunity to go for a walk)

3- "Now that the exam is over, I can relax and enjoy my weekend." (Past event: Completion of the exam, Current result: Ability to relax and enjoy the weekend)


In each of these examples, "now that" is used to connect a past event or condition with a present result or action, showing the cause-and-effect relationship between them. It has the same meaning of: as a consequence of the fact that; since; inasmuch as.

More examples:
4- Now that I live only a few blocks from work, I walk to work and enjoy it.

5- Of course, now that she's eighteen, she can make these decisions for herself.

6- We don't see much of Elliot now that he's in London.

7- Now that you're here, you might as well stay for dinner.

8- All right, now that I'm full in the picture (thoroughly understand the issue), what can I do for you?


https://www.tg-me.com/English_Grammar_in_Use_5th

#Unit-32 Exercises || Answered

[ insure ] or [ ensure ] or [ assure ]

1️⃣ ✅ ensure: to make sure that something will happen [ event or condition ] / make certain that something will occur

2️⃣ ✅ assure: to remove doubt or fear from [ a person ] / to convince or give confidence to someone

3️⃣ ✅ insure: protect against loss, damage, or injury / provide or obtain insurance on / to provide financial protection against loss.


For example:
🔸 Before the trip, I wanted to assure my family of my safety, ensure all preparations were complete, and insure my belongings against loss.

🔸 The manager assured the team of their capabilities, ensured all resources were in place, and insured the equipment against damage.

1- ensure: Emma set her alarm for 6 a.m., ensuring she wouldn’t sleep in.

2- assure: I assure you that I’ll be on my best behavior.

3- insure: If you don’t insure your car, you can’t drive it!


https://www.tg-me.com/English_Skills_Plus

#Unit-33 Should 1

The last poll we posted was as follows:

She acts as if she ________ everything.
A- knows
B- knew
C- both 'A' and 'B'

How can we decide which is the correct answer? 🤔

🔸 The phrase "as if she ______ everything" is a subordinate clause that is a part of bigger sentence "She acts......" . This subordinate clause depends on the main clause ["She acts"] to make sense.


🔸 The expression "as if" introduces a condition that is hypothetical (unreal). It often triggers the use of the subjunctive mood, which deals with wishes, or conditions contrary to reality or fact.

🔸 The subjunctive mood in such contexts is usually formed using the past tense for, of the verb, even when the main verb is in the present tense.
👉 "He talks as if he were a king."
"He talks" = indicative mood (reality)
"he were a king" = subjunctive mood (not real / contrary to fact)


Back to our example:
A- "knows" [ indicative mood - closer to fact ]
She acts as someone who actually knows everything.

B- "knew" [ subjunctive mood - contrary to fact ]
She imagines / thinks she knows everything.

Grammatically, "knew" is more appropriate after "as if" but, in everyday English, the indicative mood is commonly used.

🔸 People often say things like: "He acts as if he owns the place."
🤔 Since he doesn't actually own the place, it should be subjunctive mood verb [owned], but the common use after "as if" nowadays is the indicative mood verb [owns], especially for real-world comparisons.


Thus, both 'A' and 'B' are correct here. There is a slight grammatical difference between the two in terms of their formality.

A- knows ✅
B- knew ✅

Kudos to those who chose "C- both 'A' and 'B'".


https://www.tg-me.com/English_Skills_Plus

#Unit-33 Exercises || Answered

#Unit-34 Should 2