Category: Grammar

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Intensifiers are words used to add force or emphasis in a sentence. Intensifiers can be adverbs, adjectives, or adverbial phrases.

Here are some of the common intensifiers:

Really
Example:
The movie is really boring.
I am really interested in going with you.

Very
Example:
You are a very smart boy!
The house is very big.

Too
Example: It’s too hot outside!
She goes out too often.

So
Example: You gave me so much!
You are so kind.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

A comparative adjective is used to compare two things.

If an adjective ends in –e, we add –r:
Example:
simple–simpler
fine–finer

If an adjective ends in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –i and add –er:
Example:
bumpy–bumpier
heavy–heavier

We use more to make comparatives for most two-syllable adjectives and for all adjectives with three or more syllables:
Example:
careful–more careful
interesting–more interesting

A superlative adjective is used when you compare three or more things.

If an adjective ends in –e, we add –st:
Example:
quick–quickest
short–shortest

If an adjective ends in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –i and add -est:
shiny–shiniest
tiny–tiniest

We use most to make superlatives for most two-syllable adjectives and for all adjectives with three or more syllables:
Example:
beautiful–most beautiful
colorful–most colorful

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Although, even though, in spite of and despite are words that are often used to connect two contrasting ideas or to express that one statement makes the other surprising. They are often found either at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.

The way they are used differ depending on the different structures they are used with.

although / even though

Although and even though are followed by a subject and a verb. The only difference of even though from although is that it is a little stronger and more emphatic.

They liked the cake, although she would have loved more cream filling in it.
Although they loved each other very much, they decided to end their relationship.
Even though he gave her everything, she still left him.
The students didn’t get the answer correctly, even though their teacher gave them all the clues they needed to solve the problem.

though

Though and although can be used interchangeably.

Though Meghan is not a royal, Prince Harry married her. = Although Meghan is not a royal, Prince Harry married her.

Though can also be placed at the end of the second phrase. This structure is more commonly used in spoken English.

We were so exhausted as we had to hike all day to reach the top of the mountain. The view was so worth it, though.

in spite of / despite

In spite of and despite are followed by either a noun, gerund, or pronoun.

They didn’t win the match, in spite of their impressive play during the game.
In spite of the hardship, the team remained unfazed.
Despite being sick, she had a great holiday.
The food was terrible. In spite of that, we had a great time.

In spite of and despite are also often followed by the fact that + subject + verb.

In spite of the fact that it rained very heavily, the wildfires weren’t extinguished.
Despite the fact that it was only the beginning of July, it was very hot when we arrived in Sevilla.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

A proper noun is any person, place or thing. A proper noun refers to anything or concept that is particular or specific.

A proper noun has two distinctive features:
1) it will name a specific item
2) it will begin with a capital letter

Common Noun                                    Proper Nouns
Person                                             Barack Obama, Mary
Website                                             Google, Facebook
Animal / Pet                                                  Snoopy
Food                                                              Oreo
Nationality                                       Chinese, Japanese, African
Place                                         University of Ohio, McDonald’s

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

A coordinating conjunction joins parts of a sentence that are grammatically equal or similar. Also known as coordinators, coordinating conjunctions are used to give equal emphasis to a pair of main clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions are:

for
Example:
I go to the mall, for I love to shop.

and
Example:
The bowl of stew is hot and delicious.

nor
Example:

but
Example:
I took the bus, but there was a delay.

or
Example:
You can eat it with a spoon or fork.

yet
Example:
This chicken is hard on the outside, yet soft on the inside.

so
Example:
I want to go to bed, so I am putting on my pajamas.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

A common noun is any person, place, or thing, but not the particular names of those people, places, or things. These nouns refer to anything that is not specific.

Examples:
People: mother, father, child, toddler, teacher, student, teacher, grandmother, woman, man
Animals: wolf, lion, tiger, dog, cat, bird, crocodile, bear
Things: table, truck, book, pencil, computer, coat, boots,
Places: city, state, country, continent, shop, restaurant, park, zoo

>>>Common nouns are not capitalized (unless they begin a sentence).

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. We can use the determiner “a” or “an” on singular form. The question “How many?” is used if you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun.

Examples:
He has three birds.
I own a car.
I would like two pens, please.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

All
We can use all + noun to talk about the whole amount (100%). It is used with countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
All cars have wheels.
All my friends live in Madrid.

All of
We can also use all of + object pronoun.
Example:
All of them were at the party.
He invited all of us to lunch.

•We can also use all in mid position. That is before the main verb or after the verb be when it is the main verb. Or after the first auxiliary verb when there are auxiliary verbs.
Example:
We all went.
They were all happy.
We can all be there when she arrives.

Most
We can use most + noun to talk about all people or things in general or most of the/my/etc. + noun to talk about specific people or things.
Example:
Most people trust policemen.
Most of the people at the pub were drinking.

Most of
We can also use most of + object pronoun.
Example:
Most of us come from Madrid.
They fired most of them.

No
We use no + noun in affirmative sentences.
Example:
She has no friends.
There are no cars.

None of
We can use none of + noun/pronoun.
Example:
None of the workers is from Spain.
None of them is from Spain.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Adjectives that end in -ing generally describe the thing that causes the
emotion.

EXAMPLES:

boring
>A boring class makes you feel bored.

annoying
>My brother is so annoying.

amazing
>Your house amazing.

exciting
>This movie is very exciting.

Adjectives that end in -ed generally describe emotions – they tell us how people feel.

EXAMPLE:
bored
>Why do they look bored?

surprised
>She was surprised to see her mother after all those years.

tired
>I was really tired so I went to bed early.

excited
>She feels excited about her new job.

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

The best way to explain the subordinating conjunction is through the conjunction ‘because’. This subordinating conjunction shows the cause and effect between the main clause and the subordinate clause.

A clause beginning with ‘because’ would not have a complete sense.

Because she sprained herself.

This statement has an incomplete thought. Adding an independent clause will make this statement complete.

Mary doesn’t go to ballet lessons anymore.

This is how the sentence looks like when the two clauses are combined by a subordinating clause of cause and effect in a complex sentence:

Mary doesn’t go to ballet lessons anymore because she sprained herself.

In this sentence, “Mary doesn’t go to ballet lessons anymore” is the independent clause. It is a complete sentence and thus can stand alone. The clause that shows a causal relationship “because she sprained herself”, typically called the ‘clause of purpose’ answers the question “Why?” or “For what purpose?”.

Here are other subordinating conjunctions that demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships and function the same way as ‘because’:

because of – There were so many tourists on the beach because of the beautiful weather last weekend.

for – Waiting for the new episode of the series on TV, never being able to watch it, of course, for it is aired very late at night.

as  – The traffic was terrible on Friday evening as everyone expected.

since – They didn’t have to explain the procedures to her again since she understood it right away.

therefore – They were unable to practice a lot and therefore had to improvise during the performance.

hence  – A healthy work environment improves employees’ motivation, and hence productivity.

as a result  –   Jackson missed his scheduled interview; as a result, lost the chance at a job at Google.

consequently – I binge-watched so many episodes and consequently had very few to watch by the end of my holiday.

though – He plays cello quite well, though he has only started learning a year ago.

due to – Many residents got sick due to poor sanitation in their area.

provided that – Some parents let their children work during their holidays provided that it is only for a couple of hours per day.

unless – She normally doesn’t talk much unless you start the conversation with her.  

as a result of – The company’s revenues have decreased as a result of this quarter’s decline in sales.

so – My head started throbbing so I stopped reading.

so that – They’ll go by car so that they can bring more suitcases.

Their ballet routines for the upcoming recital is getting more and more difficult, hence Mary decided not to go to rehearsals anymore after getting sprained.

Since Mary sprained her ankle, her ballet teacher has prohibited her from attending the rehearsals.