Category: Grammar

Forward(s), Backward(s), Toward(s)

-ward(s) Words like backward(s), forward(s), northward(s), outward(s) etc. can be used as adjectives or adverbs. Adjectives When they are used as adjectives, they do not have –s. African countries are backward in some ways. He was last seen driving...

Very vs. Too

Very means ‘to a great degree’. It is used with an adjective or another adverb in the positive degree. He is very nice. He is a very nice boy. He did it very nicely. It is very cold. She is very...

Since As An Adverb And Conjunction

Since as an adverb Since is an adverb of time commonly used with the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense. I haven’t seen him since last week. It has been raining since morning. I have been working since lunchtime. I have been...

During

During is a preposition. It means ‘throughout’ or ‘for as long as something lasts’. For example, during the afternoon means ‘throughout the afternoon’ or ‘at some time in the afternoon’. The sun shone during the whole match. The...

Also | Not Only … But Also

Also is an adverb. It is used for adding another fact or idea to what you have already said. Mary writes excellent short stories. She also likes to paint. Bill Gates is one of the richest men in...

Used To

Used to We use used + infinitive to talk about past habits. I used to smoke, but now I have stopped. He used to play football when he was a boy. There used to be a theatre at this corner years ago....

Up And Down

Down means ‘from a higher part to a lower part of something’. The rain came down heavily. We ran down the road. Down can also mean along. She walked down the road. (= She walked along the road.) Note that to pay $10 down is...

Until And Till

These two words mean exactly the same. They can be used both as prepositions and conjunctions. Note that until is more formal than till. I will wait until/till I hear from you. Wait until/till tomorrow. Wait until/till he returns. Until/till and to To can...

Too…To vs. So…That

The structure too…to… is used to talk about undesirable excess. It has a negative meaning. Study the following sentences. He was very nervous. He couldn’t perform well on stage. He was too nervous to perform well on stage. We can...

Too vs. To

Too Too means more than is good or desirable. It is too hot to go out now. The hat is too large for me. You smoke too much. Too can mean ‘also’. It is generally used at the end of a sentence....