Volitive future
Study the following sentence. You shall hear your father’s story. The tense used in the above sentence is not simple future but volitive future. In volitive future, shall takes the place of will and...
Author: Manjusha Nambiar
Using ‘where’ instead of ‘in which’
Study the following sentence. He led me to another room in which I could rest. Instead of ‘in which’, we can use ‘where’ in that sentence. He led me to another room where I...
So am I, so do I etc.
Study the following sentences. He will be safe. And I will be safe. We can express the same idea in another way. He will be safe. And so will I. OR He will be...
Hopeless, penniless, senseless etc
Study the following sentence. He was struck speechless. (= He could not speak.) Speechless means without speech. Likewise, helpless means without help. Complete the following sentences. Clues are given below. Without help, without hope,...
A half, half a or half an
The expressions a half, half a and half an are all completely acceptable. Could I have half a pound of oranges? / Could I have a half pound of oranges? Joe has half an apple....
Hang, hung and hanged
The word hang has two basic meanings. We can hang a picture or another object. It is also possible to hang a man. The past tenses are different for the two meanings. Pictures or drapes...
Although and but
The conjunctions although and but have the same meaning. Note that although and though are subordinating conjunctions; but is a coordinating conjunction. Clauses beginning with though and although have to be attached to another...
Can or be able to
Study the sentence given below. He will be able to solve this problem. We can express the same idea using can. He can solve this problem. ‘Will be able to’ is the simple future...
Combine using so…that…
The subordinating conjunction so…that… is used to indicate result. Study the example given below. He looked very ill. I felt sorry for him. We can combine these two sentences into one. He looked so...
I can’t stand her | English idioms
Smitha is upset with her roommate Aruna because she brings her friends over late night. She talks about these problems during a conversation with her friend Anita. Anita: So, how is your new roommate?...