Combining Different Tenses: Past Simple and Past Continuous
I was recently asked for some basic rules regarding how we can combine two different tenses in one sentence – for example which tenses can or cannot be used together. I’m not aware a comparison of the tenses being readily available in this way; my instinct is that...
What does it mean to “be of help”?
The phrase “to be of help” is a construction roughly synonymous with “helpful”. “Of help” is particularly common in formal settings, and has a subtly different meaning and application to the adjective “helpful”. I briefly touched on such “noun of noun” constructions...The Gift of Time – Christmas English Tenses Exercise
It’s that time of the year again where we put lights in the windows and try to bring good cheer, so I’ve got a new Christmas-themed exercise for you. In the style of the popular Christmas Mess exercise I shared before, the following is a short Christmas...27 English Tenses Exercises
Having been asked frequently for exercises to go with The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide, I compiled this list to share all the tenses exercises on this site together. I’ve since also produced The English Tenses Exercise Book to add over 150 more...
How to Add Emphasis in Writing
Emphasis is when a particular stress or importance is given to something. Many exceptions to grammatical rules in English relate to emphasising particular words or ideas, making it a very important and also very broad topic. Structure, word order, vocabulary choice,...Want to Master English?
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