Author: Manjusha Nambiar

Its vs. It’s

These two words are often confused by foreign learners of English. Its is a possessive word like my or your. Every country has its traditions. Its colour was deep red. It’s is the contracted...

Is, Am, Are

The forms is, am and are are used in the present tense; was and were are used in the past tense. Is Use is when the subject is a singular noun or a third...

Inversion Of Subject And Verb

When the first word of the sentence is a negative, the main verb comes before the subject, as in a direct question. Common negative expressions are: never, hardly, no sooner, scarcely etc. Incorrect: Never...

In Spite Of

In spite of means notwithstanding. It is used as a preposition. In spite of + noun means more or less the same as although + clause. They went out in spite of the rain....

In Case vs. If

In case is used to talk about things which we do in order to be ready for possible future situations. I always take an umbrella in case it rains. (= because it might rain.)...

Feel vs. Sick

In British English, ill means unwell. Ill is most common in predicative position. She couldn’t come because she was ill. Before a noun, many British people prefer to use sick. She spent years looking...