Browsing category
Introduction One way of describing a person or thing is by saying that they have more of a particular quality than someone or something else. To do this, we use comparative adjectives, which are formed either by adding -er at the end of the adjective, or placing more before it, e.g. She’s more intelligent than her sister. […]
Common Collocations On this page, you can find a few short lists of common collocations to give you more of an idea about them. Many good learners’ dictionaries show collocations associated with specific words. There are also dictionaries of collocations, though these are more difficult to find. Verb collocations have do make have a bath […]
In English, if you want to follow a verb with another action, you must use a gerund or infinitive. For example: We resumed talking. (gerund – verb + ing) I want to see a movie. (infinitive – to + base verb) There are certain verbs that can only be followed by one or the other, and these verbs must […]
Comma after so When so is used to mean therefore, it is a transitional adverb. So, it should be followed by a comma. I was not feeling well. So, I decided to consult a doctor. Semicolon before And A coordinating conjunction that merges two clauses into one is usually preceded by a comma. However, the comma can be left out when the clauses […]
Using a wide range of vocabulary will help you speak more comprehendible and look more natural. Don’t fear: you don’t have to learn all of these phrases. Just choose a few that you like and practice using them in your writing. Listing Giving examples Generalizing firstly, secondly, thirdly for example in general first, furthermore, finally for […]
Thinking about the past and present together We use the present perfect if we are thinking about the past and present together. We do not use the present perfect if we are not thinking about the present. Compare: My sister has learnt French. (She can speak French now.) Shakespeare probably learnt Italian, (NOT Shakespeare has […]
Discourse means ‘pieces of language longer than a sentence’. Some words and expressions are used to show how discourse is constructed. They can show the connection between what a speaker is saying and what has already been said or what is going to be said; they can help to make clear the structure of what […]
1 two meanings “After all” can mean ‘in spite of what was said before’ or ‘contrary to what was expected’. Position: usually at the end of a clause. I’m sorry. I know I said I would help you, but I can’t after all. I expected to fail the exam, but I passed after all. Another […]
1- future, present, and past; simple, progressive and perfect English verbs can refer to future, present or past time, and for each kind of time, there are three possibilities with most verbs: simple, progressive (be + -ing) and perfect (have + past participle) simple present: I start present progressive: I am starting present perfect: I […]
1 ‘higher than’: above or over Above and over can both mean ‘higher than’. Above is more common with this meaning.The water came up above/over our knees.Can you see the helicopter above/over the palace? 2 ‘not directly over’: above We use above when one thing is not directly over another.We’ve got a little house above […]