Pronunciation and Process
Hi Jonathan, “Any school that does not is either relying on the student to know that it is necessary and that the student is responsible for it, or is providing entertainment, not education. ” This sentence is from your blog. Is “does not is” a new grammar pattern? It looks […]
Hi Jonathan, A question about the uses of the simple past and the past continuous: 1. I watched TV an hour ago. vs. I was watching TV an hour ago. 2. I watched TV when/while my mom was vacuuming the floor. vs. I was watching TV when/while my mom was […]
Hi Jonathan, I wore out my running shoes from running a marathon. Running a marathon wore out my running shoes. My running shoes wore out from/after a marathon. Are these sentences all correct and commonly used? Let’s take them one at a time … #1. “I wore out my running […]
Learning vocabulary is a tedious, but necessary, part of learning a language. The belief used to be that just 3000 words was all you needed to adequately understand most things you read in English. But recent research suggests that the number is closer to 8000, with some estimates going as high […]
The study of language can be broken down into many areas of interest or fields. Syntax is about how words fit together, most of which we consider grammar rules. Semantics builds on syntax. Semantics focuses (among other things) on the meaning conveyed by the words themselves and word selection, particularly […]
Hi Jonathan, Today when we were practicing sentences in class, you said that you couldn’t use “cozy” in place of “comfortable”. Why not? This is one of those times when the difference is best felt and understood by checking both words in Google Images. Look for the common things, and […]
There are many phrases and sentences in English that have subtle differences in meaning, but which are often used (even by native English speakers) as if they mean the same thing. Consider these two sentences: I don’t read much. I seldom read. These may look like they mean the same […]
Hi Jonathan, Can you help me understand the use of the phrase “so many” using some other word or phrase? Could you give me some example sentences? There are many bathrooms in the gym, so many people take a shower in the gym after exercising. There were so many guests […]
Hi Jonathan, Here is another sentence from Blinktrainer: “His grandfather has been dead for two years.” If I rewrite this as “His grandfather had been dead for two years,” is the sentence right? And what is the difference between the two sentences? The first sentence is correct. It simply means […]
Hi Jonathan, In the sentence, “There are many street vendors near the entrance to the night market.”, are the street vendors near the night market but outside the night market? There’s not really a grammar rule to tell us; it’s more about context and state of mind. If we’re inside […]