by Phil Williams | Feb 20, 2018 | Grammar
Sentences that start with an “only” adverbial, usually referring a particular time or condition, have a curious structure as they typically require an auxiliary verb and an inversion. These sentences can come in many tenses, and are usually emphatic. Here’s few...
by Phil Williams | Jan 23, 2018 | Definitions, Exercises, General English, Grammar, Prepositions
The verb “to be” can be used in descriptive clauses or as an auxiliary verb to create certain grammatical structures, such as the continuous tenses and the passive voice. This can lead to confusion when a verb or verb form follows the verb “to be” – how do you...
by Phil Williams | Jan 16, 2018 | Books, Definitions, Vocabulary
When I’m not writing about the English language, I’m busy writing and editing creative fiction (if you’d like to see my books, check here). Reading fiction is a great way to learn English, if you can find an area that engages and entertains you. And it’s possible to...
by Phil Williams | Dec 19, 2017 | Entertainment, General English
Advent is always a fun time here in the UK, and I like to celebrate it in a small way on this website with some Christmas learning. We have a whole culture of books, films and traditions that can make English more fun – some of which I’ve covered here...
by Phil Williams | Nov 7, 2017 | General English
As I continue work on my upcoming book on writing skills, I’d like to start sharing some of the lessons I’m preparing for the books. The first, and perhaps the most important, is such a general concept it works like an introduction – the idea of...