Latest Articles from ELB
What’s the difference between “if” and “in case”
It is important not to confuse “if” and “in case”. They can be used in similar sentences, but they have different meanings. Consider the following examples: I will take a coat if it rains. I will take a coat in case it rains. Here, “if” is used to present a...
The English Tenses: Practical Grammar Guide
"The most realistic approach to aide in understanding the English tenses." - Meg, Amazon review Want to know why we say "I am reading this book now", but not "I am being happy now"? What about "We're going to the park" or "We will be going to the park"? "I had...
Exercises to test the uses of “even”
The following exercises will test your use of ‘even’ in sentences. First, this will practice your use of word order – remember that even is used as an adverb, so it follows adverb word order rules. Usually, it comes before the word that it is changing, so try to place...
How to use the word “even”
“Even” is an interesting word. It can be used for a variety of specific meanings that may be hard to generalise, and can raise particular confusion when it comes to its place in a sentence. It can add emphasis to examples (“I don’t like ducks – not even small ones.”)...
Pictures worth a thousand words – textbook illustration examples
In place of a lesson, today, I have some exciting new images for my upcoming grammar guide, The English Tenses. I enlisted the help of a local artist to produce these, following suggestions from a number of beta readers - and I am sure you will agree these pictures...
How to write formal sentences using the passive voice
Formal, or polite, sentences often use the passive voice because it sounds more impersonal and neutral. Active sentences, on the other hand, can seem personal, or direct, which can sound too casual or too aggressive. Consider the following active sentences, and how...
May Day – traditions and celebrations in England
May Day is the festival of the Spring, popular across the Northern Hemisphere as a time for various traditions. It is celebrated on the 1st of May, and in many countries coincides with International Workers’ Day. In the UK, the focus is on Spring fertility, with...
Should you say “on foot” or “by foot”?
When we talk about walking, we can say you go on foot or by foot, as a mode of transport. Which preposition is correct? Technically, on is more accurate, and common, and in exams you may be marked incorrect for using by foot. But why is by foot a mistake? Or is it a...
Writing email subject lines – exercise
This exercise will test your use of the tips offered in the previous lesson, Writing Informative Email Subject Lines. Below, I have given you 9 possible email summaries, explaining the contents of a complete email. These become increasingly complicated. For each email...