When To Use A and When To Use The
In some situations, you can use either the indefinite article (a/an) or the definite article (the). Note that there is a difference of meaning between the two structures. The definite article is used when...
Category: Grammar
Dare As An Ordinary Verb And An Auxiliary Verb
Dare as an ordinary verb As an ordinary verb, dare is followed by the infinitive with to. She doesn’t dare to go out at night. I dare you to hit me! She didn’t dare...
Could Have + Past Participle
The structure could have + past participle is used to say that somebody was capable of doing something, but didn’t try to do it. He could have become the President if he had contested...
Correlative Conjunctions
When the correlatives either—or, neither—nor, both—and, not only—but also are used, you must see that they are placed before words of the same part of speech. Read the sentence given below. The car either...
The Pronunciation Of Article The
The word the has three pronunciations. When it is followed by a word that begins with a vowel sound, the e in the is pronounced like the I in words like pit and sit....
Cool Down vs. Cool Off
There is little difference between the expressions cool down and cool off. When things cool down / cool off, their temperature drops a bit. When your interest in something / someone cools down /...
Comparative vs. Superlative
The comparative (e.g. taller, sharper, stronger, heavier, shorter etc.) is used to compare one person or thing with another person or thing. John is taller than Peter. Alice is cleverer than Mary. The superlative...
A Common Error In The Use Of Comparatives
In comparative sentences be careful to compare the same part of two things. That of, these of and those of are necessary words that are often omitted. Incorrect: His teaching was like Jesus Christ....
Come What May | How Come | Come To
We use come for movements nearer to the position of the speaker or a point (in space or time) or a result. Come here. Come to me. They came at six o’clock. We argued...
Close vs. Shut
Close and shut can often be used with the same meaning. She closed/shut her eyes against the light. All the shops were closed/shut, so I couldn’t buy anything. The shop closes/shuts at seven o’clock....