Author: Manjusha Nambiar

Since | English Grammar

In sentences with since, we normally use present perfect and past perfect tenses in the main clause. I met him ten years ago and have admired him ever since. We haven’t met since her marriage. They have known each other since 1975. We had been friends since university days. Present and...

Should In Subordinate Clauses

In formal British English, should is often used in that-clauses after certain nouns and adjectives. Examples of such nouns and adjectives are: important, necessary, vital, essential, eager, anxious, concerned and wish. As you may have noticed, most of them refer to...

Shade vs. Shadow

The noun shade refers to the partly dark area sheltered from direct rays of light. I am hot. Let’s sit in the shade. Plants don’t grow well in the shade. Shadow Shadow is the dark shape thrown on...

What Is A Sentence?

A sentence is a group of words that makes complete sense. In English a sentence always contains a subject and a verb. The subject has to be a noun or pronoun. Examples are: Ram, boy, bird, sun, child, we, people etc....

Sensible vs. Sensitive

Sensible means having or showing good sense. A sensible person does not make stupid decisions. She is very sensible. It was a sensible answer. ‘Let’s get married in Las Vegas.’ ‘Be sensible, honey. We haven’t got that much money.’...

Seem | English Usage

Seem Seem is a copular verb. It is followed by adjectives, not adverbs. He seems angry about something. (NOT He seems angrily about something.) She seems depressed. Seem to be Seem is often followed by to be. In general, seem to be is preferred when...

See vs. Look At vs. Watch

To see is to use your eyes in order to recognize things. We can see things even if we are not paying attention. Suddenly I saw a strange sight. I couldn’t see anything. See can also mean understand. Did you see what I mean? (=...

See | English Usage

See means perceive with one’s eye. It can also mean understand. With these meanings it is not used in the progressive form. I can see a ship. I see (NOT am seeing) from his letters that he has worked here before....

Say vs. Tell

Say refers to any kind of speech. It is most often used without a personal object. She said that she would be late. (NOT She said me that …) If we want to put a personal object...