Learn English Grammar and Vocabulary
English Grammar Tips
Avoid run-on sentences
Oct 4th
A run-on sentence is a very common mistake. It is really two separate sentences which have been joined with a comma instead of a colon, a full stop or a conjunction / relative pronoun. An example of a run-on sentence is given below: Columbus was a great navigator, he knew the world was round. This [...]
Make your sentences simple
Oct 4th
Many long and complex phrases have simple alternatives. For example, instead of the wordy phrase ‘owing to the fact that’ we can use ‘because’. More examples are given below: Concerning the matter of (use ‘about’) By means of (use ‘by’) Regardless of the fact that (use ‘although’) In this day and age (use ‘today’) Rewrite [...]
Parallel construction
Oct 4th
Your writing will be clearer if you use parallel construction. When you list items, they should be in similar form. For example, if the first item is a noun the following items should also be nouns. Study the following examples Alice is tall, beautiful and intelligence. (NOT Parallel because tall and beautiful are adjectives but [...]
Making one sentence from two, using whom and whose and a preposition
Oct 4th
Two sentences can be combined into one by using whom or whose with a preposition. Study the following examples. I played tennis with a tall guy. He was a good player. The tall guy with whom I played tennis was a good player. The boy is very handsome. We stayed in his house. The boy, [...]
Shall or will
Oct 4th
To talk about simple future use shall with I and we; use will with he, she, it, they and you. I shall come. He will come. They will come. To express determination use will with I and we; use shall with you, she, it, he and they. Examples We shall be going on holidays next [...]
Absolute adjectives
Oct 3rd
The following adjectives are absolute and cannot be compared. Entirely Unique Round Square Perfect Opposite Empty Dead Nothing can be more perfect or more round. Incorrect: She has a very perfect diamond ring. Correct: She has a perfect diamond ring. Incorrect: This plot of land of extremely square. Correct: This plot of land is square.
Preposition at the end of clauses
Sep 24th
When a preposition governs a question word like who, which and what, it is usually placed at the end of the sentence. This is common in spoken English. What you are looking for? (More natural than ‘For what are you looking?’) Who were you speaking to? Which picture are you talking about? What is this [...]
The joining words who, which and that
Sep 18th
We use who when referring to people. We use which or that when referring to things or to animals. Alice sings well. She has won a prize. Alice, who sings well, has won a prize. The airplane was grounded. It had engine trouble. The airplane, which had engine trouble, was grounded. The dress was bought [...]
Avoid words that repeat an idea
Sep 18th
Look at the groups of words given below: Up until Fall down Free gift Blue in color Refer back Continue on Followed after In all of the expressions given above, the word or words in italics can be left out because they are not necessary. Incorrect: The company offered him a free gift. Correct: The [...]
Changing statements into questions
Sep 18th
A sentence that tells us something is a statement. If the sentence is in the simple present or simple past tense, it can be changed into a question by using do, does or did as the first word. John likes painting. (Statement) Does John like painting? (Question) I make models from clay. (Statement) Do I [...]