There are four groups of words which some speakers and writers have difficulty with. In each case it has to do with the agreements of plurals or plural-looking words with the verbs or other words they go with. Plural-looking Nouns. Some nouns that end in -s look like they are plural, but they really are [...]
Possessive forms. A possessive form of a noun signifies that the noun owns something: A musician’s talent. A woman’s ambition. Possessive forms call for a properly placed apostrophe. The placement is different for singular and plural nouns. For this reason, you must know the correct singular and possessive nouns before you can make them possessive. [...]
Nouns ending in “y” To form the plural of nouns ending in “y”, drop the “y” and add “ies.” Family becomes families. Story becomes stories. Baby becomes babies. Irregular plural forms There are several other irregularities in the plural forms of English nouns. Here are examples: Man becomes men. Woman becomes women. Fungus becomes fungi. [...]
This is the First of a Three Part Study on the correct use of plural and possessive forms. This may seem like a minor issue but among educated persons, however, incorrect forms, especially misuses of apostrophes, stand out like red flags. Let us start by understanding some rules for forming the plural and possessive forms [...]
The past progressive is a past tense which emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action described. WAS/WERE + Verb – ING I was working. He was eating his dinner when the phone rang. The cat was meowing last night while we tried to sleep. If an idea could be expressed with the expression “was in [...]
PAST SIMPLE (PRETERITE) PRETERITE: BE + -ING MAIN USE : past action (dated and definite) SYNTAX Affirmative -> Regular verbs: verb + -ED e.g. Yesterday, I played football. -> Irregular verbs: there is no easy rule; you must learn them by heart e.g. In 1998, I went to Australia. Interrogative & negative: use DID e.g. [...]
The conditional is formed using the modal “would” in front of an infinitive (dropping the word “to”). The conditional is used especially in three contexts: 1) Politeness I would like the menu, please. Would you have a couple of minutes for me? 2) To indicate the “future within the past”: She said she would come [...]
WILL: – predictions (John won’t win the race; the weather will be very bad tomorrow.) – scheduled events (the show will start at 10 tonight). – promises: I will help you to do your homework tonight. Syntax: S + WILL + base form Will you help me? I will help you You will help you [...]
Imperatives are used to issue commands. They use the infinitive of verbs (dropping the word “to”); in the first person plural (“we”), the infinitive is preceded by “let’s” (or: “let us”): * Speak! * Finish your homework! * Let’s eat! * Close the door! The negative imperative is formed by placing “don’t” (or “do not”) [...]
Formation The present participle is formed by adding the ending “–ing” to the infinitive (dropping any silent “e” at the end of the infinitive): to sing –> singing to take –> taking to bake –> baking to be –> being to have –> having Use A. The present participle may often function as an adjective: [...]
