be able
We use “able” especially in the structure be able + infinitive. This often has the same meaning as can. There is a negative form...
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abbreviations and acronyms
1 punctuation We usually write abbreviations without full stops in modem British English. Full stops (AmE ‘periods’) are normal in American...
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Comma before and after conjunctions
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...
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present perfect (5): simple or progressive?
non-progressive verbsSome verbs are not used in progressive forms (see progressive 2: non-progressive verbs), even if the meaning is one for which...
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discourse markers
Discourse means ‘pieces of language longer than a sentence’. Some words and expressions are used to show how discourse is constructed. They can...
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