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Grammar is simply the way we combine words together so that other people can understand us. - Ola Zur

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How to Learn Grammar and Teach it as well 
Hello! I found your website through Really Learn English. Well I am English this is the thing, and I live in Spain and over the pass few years I …

Grammar- double negative 
Hi Ola, I wanted to know if the sentence below is grammatically correct? The sentence is from a song by Johnny Cash. "Everybody won't be treated …

'Bob and I' or 'Bob and me'? 
I posted a picture on facebook of me and my boyfriend. I wrote - Me and Bob. I received so many posts stating that was not grammatically correct. …

Kelly and I? or Me and Kelly? 
when I say-Kelly and I went to the movies should I say Me and Kelly or Kelly and I? Hello, In this case you would need to say 'I' because you are the …

Choosing whether to use "fewer" or "less" 
I hear both these words used and sometimes it just doesn't sound right to me. For example I think it sounds better to say: I have fewer dollars ..... instead …

Differences in meaning- ed vs ing 
Is there a meaning difference between "relating to" and "related to". I do not feel any difference in them. Also, can I also say "I am starved" in stead …

Explaining the difference between a doubt and a question 
How to explain the difference between a doubt and a question. Is a question a doubt or is a doubt a question?

compound sentence - how to determine predicate pronoun form 
In following sentence: "I told him that you would confirm a time for ___ and ___ to meet tomorrow." (him and me or he and I) Do you take your cue …

Comma 
Didn’t we take them to the play, yesterday? Does comma go between play and yesterday? I think it does, but I'm just checking. Also, if you have …

Grammer Tenses (past) 
My son brought home the following Sentence from school. "Chris didn't be my teacher 10 years ago". I think it should have read: "Chris, wasn't my …

GERUNDS 
What is the gerund/gerund phrase for the following sentence: "My not answering her question quickly enough made it look as if I had not studied the material." …

Loss , losses, loss's 
This is the first year in which profits exceeded ________ (loss, losses or loss's) My question is, Which Loss is the correct one for the above sentence? …

usage of close and nearby 
Is it ok to say 'I sent Tom to a close grocery store to buy some milk.'? Or should it be 'I sent Tom to a nearby grocery store to buy some milk.'? …

proper use of could 
What are the proper uses of the word could? Can I say "I wish I could help you" or should it be "I wish I can help you"? Knowing the situations when …

The Use of 'Was' vs 'Were' 
I read a sentence today, 'This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today.' Shouldn't this …

Correct expression 
Hi Ola, What is the correct expression for a short way of asking "Did you find what you needed?! Is it : Found what you needed? or : Find what you …

You and your daughter... 
I am writing an email and I can't quite figure out which is correct. I'm asking if someone is still in need of a product and am using "if you and your …

Relative pronoun and verbs 
Hey Ola, how are you doing? I hope you don't mind answering my question. A) Which one is correct and why? 1. Mahatma Gandhi whom is considered .... …

Grammar Usage: Use of to following "help" 
Which is correct: Lifepoint’s LPI Web Provider Portal can help labs, hospitals, ACOs and all healthcare organizations to meet the demand for connectivity …

Use of apostrophes and the possessive 
Is it correct to write 'It was my husband's and my first visit to California' ? And is it accurate to write 'It was my husband's, Oscar, and my first visit....' …

What is the preposition we have to use before "Post lunch"?  
What is the preposition we have to use before "Post lunch"? Eg., Will catch you at post lunch (or) on post lunch? Hi Heartwin, Could you clarify …

Prepositions: In vs On 
My question is about the difference between in and on. Why is it that you are IN a car and ON almost any other method of transport?

Indirect and Direct objects 
What is the indirect and direct object in the following sentence: "I am buying this for my kitchen," she said. Could you explain what indirect and direct …

Grammatical use of "want" and "would like" 
Could you explain and provide examples for the grammatical use of "want" and "would like"? Thanks.

My Grammar 
Question On Grammer!!? I just posted this quote on my FaceBook "Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, …

the use of "had had" in sentences 
Below, you can find sentences with the use of "had had". However, I am still finding it difficult to apply it in my daily conversation. Would you …

Grammar 
Should I use "an" in the following sentence? This can be mentioned as example, or This can be mentioned as an example?

use of "by" and "with" interchangeably 
Dear Ola, I was wondering if we can use "by" and "with" interchangeably. For example, is it correct to say "I learned the language with reading newspapers" …

the use of "than" at the end of a sentence 
I understand that it is not correct with classic grammar to end a sentence with a preposition, but given commonly used speech, which is the correct word …

Using "to" after verb, before object 
I would like to know why we, English speakers, use the word "to" after a verb such as: "Can you explain to me...?" And not after other verbs such as: …

Did you went to the airport? 
I have a question that relates to the past tense and the use of axillary verbs. Is "Did you went to the airport?" correct or should I say "Did you go …

Are vs Were 
A young lady that I know said "You wish you are me." I frowned in embarrassment for her. Isn't it correct to say, "You wish you were me." Also, the contraction, …

about two verbs in a sentence to describe the past 
I am confused about a problem. I often see some sentences like: 1.I began to notice her at other times. 2.I saw him run up to the banker. 3.I …

there is or there are 
Why is "There is a bedroom and a bathroom", not "There are a bedroom and a bathroom" whereas "a man and a boy are in the room"?

When we use the subject after the question word in affirmative form? 
When should we use the subject after the question word in affirmative form? Why is Ahmed using a pen? (Active) Answer …

My question is about grammar. 
Please tell me if this sentence is grammatically correct? "THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATE." It is confusing because of the words "THERE IS" means it has, and …

The Predicate 
I'm confused about the predicate. What is the predicate in this sentence? "Public transportation in Rome is provided by an elaborate bus system".

use of the word 'rest' when the subject of a sentence 
Which is grammatically correct? The rest is things that must have happened. or The rest are things that must have happened.

need, needed 
"I thought I need" or "I thought I needed" which one is correct? and why?

What's on your mind? 
I want to know which of the following sentences are grammatically correct? 1.What's on your mind? 2.What's in your mind? 3.What's going on in your …

How to Write the Date and Date in English 
What is the grammatically correct way to write the day and date? (Thursday, September 29th, 2011)?

Adverb phrases: Also 
I would like to know more about the placement of "also" within a sentence. Are there specific rules that can help me know where to place "also"? Which …

Grammar Correction: How to see mistakes? 
I am preparing for mba-cet 2012 in which there is a section for grammar correction (10 marks) and I am pathetic at finding grammar mistakes. I want …

Proper use of the preposition 'with'. 
Is the word 'with' needed in the following sentence in order to show the relation between the subject and the object? Providing your child with the …

Past simple: use of "to do" in a sentence 
Is the sentence "I did what you said" grammatically incorrect?

Puncuation with the Saxon Genitive 
How would you write the following sentence? "Jessica's and Josh's harmonizing was amazing!" Is the punctuation correct? How would you punctuate their …

About the tense after the word 'while' 
Hello! I've got a question about the tense usage after the word 'while.' There is a sentence in my textbook, 'Medical practice would be revolutionized …

Pronouns: Me vs I 
I'm having a dispute with a friend. He wrote "the people who are playing golf are Frank and me, so far." That seems incorrect since he is talking …

English Idioms 
I have a question to ask you about an English problem that actually troubles not only beginners but also long-time learners of English. I'm referring …

me and Ann or Ann and I ? 
I know it is suppose to be Ann and I. Where can I find an explanation as to why this is true, so that I can explain it to someone else who needs to …

Using words correctly in context 
"subsequent to the discussion" Is that a correct sentence or expression?

Difference between making a statement and asking a question 
If you say, Your Mother got her check. That is a statement If you say, Your mother got her check, didn't she? That is a question, correct?

"Having Said that..." 
Could you please explain how the expression "Having said that" is used? What does it mean? Please explain it with a few examples. Thank you

How to rewrite a sentence without using "I" 
Here is the sentence that I need to rewrite, without using "I". How can I do this and still have a grammatically correct sentence? Once completion …

Correct usage: SHE vs HER 
Which sentence is correct and could you explain how and when to use SHE vs HER? She reports that whenever it is just she and her husband, they get along …

Use of Would 
Would you give me an appointment this week please? Is that sentence grammatically right? Also, when should we use "would" and what does it generally …

Sentence Correction 
Is following sentence correct? Roni's mother absolutely hated nicknames and always calls her by her full name. I think this is wrong. Please let …

Where do I put comma's in a sentence? 
I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about how to use commas in English. How do I know when and where to use them. For example, where do …

Prefix Differences 
Could you tell me the difference between un-,dis- and non-?

subject and possessive agreement 
See this sentence: "First, ask the patient their name." This is common usage, but "their" is plural and "patient" is singular. Is the sentence …

asking 
I need to know what the difference between 1* I have been working 2* I have worked I am looking forward to hearing your answer.

Past Continous 
When do we use the past continuous? Please & thank you!

Punctuation 
1) Should there be a comma (or no comma, or a fullstop) at the end of each item in a BULLETED list? 2) When referring to titles of books in running …

3 verbs in a sentence? 
I watched a cartoon yesterday. One of the characters said "all you have to do is report to me". It seems like there are 3 verbs in this sentence(have, …

Can vs Could Question 
I have a question about "Can" and "Could". Is there a way that I could understand these two words better? I easily get confused with that area. Thanks …

Punctuation 
I am writing an essay on climate change, and I am wondering how to punctuate this sentence. - Then why, do you ask, is nothing being done about the amount …

Grammar Explination: Conditional 
what is the difference between : •If she were to be rich, she would be horribly obnoxious. •If she were rich, she would be horribly obnoxious. …

subject verb and pronoun antecedent agreement 
Incorrect- Either your children or your spouse have left a mess in the kitchen. I think it should read... Either your children or your spouse has left …

Luck of the Draw 
Is it correct to say: draw of the luck? The expression you are looking for is "luck of the draw". It means that the results are random and sort of like …

was in the second conditional 
Is it possible to use "was" instead of "were" with (I/he/she/it) in second conditional? Some examples and a brief explanation of the second conditional …

Difference between this and that 
What is the main different between "this" and "that"?

Grammar Tenses 
When can/should I use the words begin, began and begun? I guess I am looking for an explanation on the tenses and what situations I can use the verb begin …

made or is making 
While I was studying, my mom made (make)a cake. or While I was studying, my mom was making (make) a cake. Which is the correct answer and could …

Indirect speech; 
Hi Ola, I got this question in exam to change into the indirect speech; "I don't know how much it costs" she said My answer was: she said that …

The position of "here" 
Could you explain where I need to place "here" in a sentence? Would I say, "is it in london here" or "here in london"? I am not sure how to know where …

Reporter's On-Air Grammar Mistake 
A CNN anchor said today "My guest does not speak very good English." This did not sound grammatically correct. I would have said "My guest doesn't speak …

Verb Usage 
Which one is correct, to help clean or to help cleaning? e.g We came to her house to help cleaning her bedroom or the other way round? Is there a particular …

indirect speech 
Hi Ola I got this question in exam to change into the indirect speech; "I don't know how much it costs" she said My answer was: she said that …

Difference between "answer to..." and "answer a" 
Is "Answer to a question" correct or should it be "answer a question". Could you please explain this? I have a feeling that you can use both in difference …

commas 
I want to know if the sentences below are correct in comma placement or if it's not needed according to AP Style. Thanks! At last, I have found …

The use of -ing in this case 
"In the end; I hope you to achieve great success in your life hoping Allah giving you peace of mind." Is the sentence correct and the use of -ing …

Grammar 
Which of the following sentences is correct and why? Could you please help provide the same? or Could you please help providing the same?

Grammar: Might vs Must? 
Could you explain the difference between the use of "might" and "must"? How do you use them in context?

Grammar: "s" at the end of certain years 
What does the "s" stand for at the end of a year, for example 1990s?

the use of "ing" 
Is it correct to say...Thank you for helping to locate the car..or Thank you for helping locate the car.

Tenses When Writing an Exam 
What tense is best applicable in an exam situation, when writing an answer for a question? Is it present, past, or progressive?

Grammar: When corrected do thoughts flow better? 
I have a question. If your grammar is corrected and the thought flows, does that mean the rest of the information will sound better and will make more …

Passive voice 
How can I use the passive voice for the future? When do I have to use will, should, could and must(for future)? What's the diference between these words? …

were vs. was 
Which is the proper way to say the following: "that's where we just were" or "that's where we just was"?

Question Regarding Prepositions 
Can we say, "I was on the bus"? If yes, why cant we say "I was on the car"?

Using "the" 
From school I remember I can say "I am going to the moon" but for some reason I think I cannot say "I am going to the mars" . The second one just …

How to Use the Term "Want" 
I am totally confused whether or not to use the word "want" in some situations. Like when I am speaking on the phone with my client and she says "I …

usage of words like 'meets', 'eats' 
'two boys meets one evening and plays scrabble all night' is this phrase grammatically incorrect? Could you explain why it is wrong?

Editing a Sentence 
Hi there, Ola!! Please help me correct my sentence to see if it is grammatically correct. "Driver is taking the wrong way out". What I mean for that …

The word "today" and past tense of verb "to be" 
Since "today" implies the present, can that word ever be used in conjunction with the past tense of the verb "to be?" Consider the following: "John …

Grammar 
I was wondering if you could help me out with a multipul choice question. Here are the three options: A We shouldn't have an easy test like this one …

have been ,has been, had been 
Hello. Could you tell me when and where to use have been, has been, had been ? I'd really appreciate it if you could give me a couple of examples for …

Correct usage of "what" or "where", when asking for an address 
I'd like to know how to form a question correctly regarding someone's address. Should I ask, "What is your address?" or "Where is your address?"

When do I Use 'Whom' vs 'Who'? 
I'd like to know when I should use "whom" vs "who"? For example, is the following phrase correct? "the inventor to whom this credit belongs" …

Tenses and "to be" Verbs 
Dear Ola, I have two questions and would be sincerely thankful if answered. 1. We know that Auxiliary verbs ('be', 'have' and 'do') can also act as …

Subject Verb Agreement 
Every boys and every girls are good in our class. Is this grammatically correct? If it isn't could you explain why?

Preposition 
I'm a little confused by this sentence "On my way at lunch I saw a rabbit." Should it be at lunch or to lunch?

subjunctive mood 
This question is about the subjunctive mood. Which statement is correct and why. "If it weren't important, he wouldn't have given it to me." Or …

Difference between what and that 
Do we say "the book that I need" or "the book what I need"?

Grammatical correction 
Basically I wanted to know if the following line "At night we are asleep" is grammatically correct or not. Since I’ve never used the line personally in …

Grammar tenses  
I want to know if we can use "I promise..." with the simple present or with future only.

Participle and Relative Clauses 
Dear Ola, Please explain how to use participle instead of relative clauses? Also, could you tell me if the following sentences are correct or wrong? Does …

Can have... 
I have found the following follwing sentence pattern many time, "I don't want these books. You can have it". Could you explain what the meaning of …

In versus At Continued... 
Thanks a lot Ola! You don't know how much confused I was. However, things started to be clear after your answer. I'm really grateful to you, thanks …

me or my 
Which is correct? I hope you don't mind me dropping in like this. OR I hope you don't mind my dropping in like this.

Grammar Question 
1. Here is a news article from newspaper, in it one sentence I don't understand the meaning. Please help me. He was 74. Nelson, who was battling complications …

Past Gerunds and infinitives in the passive mood. 
Dear Diana, I do enjoy your site very much. I was wondering if your site covers this subject "Past Gerunds and infinitives in the passive mood". As you …

Prepositions: at vs in 
What is the difference between at and in? I've already read your comment but it isn't enough for me. Please, I want a complete explanation so I can understand …

Difference between "part of" and "a part of"? 
When should we use "part of" and "a part of"?

Auxiliary 
What is the meaning of "She don't care?" Why isn't it written "She doesn't care?". You are actually correct. Grammatically speaking we should say "she …

Appropriate use of articles 
"I have to send mail to him for approval". Is this sentence correct? This looks correct, although I might suggest being more specific and saying "send …

Tenses  
I saw following things in a article. Wafaa Bilal had a tiny camera implanted into the back of his head. The camera will take a photograph every single …

Past Simple Questions 
What's the difference between the two uses of the past simple e.g. What did you do? and what you did?

ing and ed 
How should I use ING and ED in a writing?

Active and Passive Voice 
Active Voice: The train left the station quickly. What will be the passive voice of the above sentence?

Grammar Question 
In this question "What makes you think that?" the subject is "you", then why is the verb in singular form? Thank you and I look forward to your answer. …

Past or Past Continuous 
In an exam the following sentence needed to be corrected: Mary (arrive) arrived to the station ,she (get) got off the train, her friends (wait) …

Grammar: "Last" vs "To Last" 
What is difference between last, the last?

The Verb "To be" 
Could you explain the use of "to be"?

Possessive pronouns 
How come it's not yours', but yours? Also, when can I use "me, I, myself, mine"? -Thanks!

Business English Sentences 
I'd like to know if the following sentences dealing with business English are correct. 1. I have to send mail to him for approval. 2. I would like …

Correct Usage of "For" 
"___________ the new computer, passagers at the offices of the CAAC can now buy their aeroplane tickets much faster." Fill in the blank with the correct …

Choosing the Right Verb Tense 
Hello Ola, I had a question in my exam regarding the correction of verbs. The question asked, "choose the correct form:" He had a book in his hand …

Be Rest Assured vs Rest Assured? 
Which of the following is correct, "Be rest assured" or "Rest assured"?

Sentence Correction 
Is the following sentence grammatically incorrect? 'I saw a galloping horse down the hill' If so, could you explain why it is wrong and maybe give me …

wont , won't 
Would you please explain the different between wont and won't? Could you please provide us some examples with as much detail as possible? We appreciate …

No smoking permitted in this area/on behalf of  
I came across a sign "No smoking permitted in this area" , which to me is incorrect. I understand there are many ways to convey the same message such …

Using the Verb "to be" 
The verb "to BE" (am, is) , have the past forms (was + were) But, the verb "to BE" is sometimes conjugated as been, being . Could you please explain …

Preposition Tricks and Advice 
Can you tell me a way/trick that my ADHD 13 year old son can use to learn/memorize the prepositions? Like a song or something? He is in 7th grade private …

Correct Grammar 
Is the statement: "I do fine" correct?

un, dis, in and non prefixes 
How do we use: un, dis, in, non (etc)? Are there any more words that are similar to these sort of prefixes? Also, which ones use a hyphen often? Does …

Grammar: I appreciate something 
Is it awkward or incorrect to say "I appreciate it that you wrote"? I am concerned about the "it". Thanks, R Hi R, You are correct. Remove "it". …

-ise vs -ize 
Realise, realize Analyse, analyze Color, colour When we say these words, the listener won't know exactly which one we're saying. The difference …

It's, Its and Its' 
It's, its and its' ...I only know the first one, it is(it's), but I don't know the rest how to use the rest of them. I'd really appreciate it if you …

Choosing What Tense to Use 
How do you determine what tense should be used when you write? When do you use the past, present and future tense? I'm really confused by this. When …

Moreover, In addition, Besides, On the Contrary, However and Hence 
What kind of grammar structures must I use with the following words; moreover, in addition, besides, contrary, however, hence etc? How often should …

Difference Between: Maybe, Likely, Possibly & Probably 
Maybe: Image Source Can you tell me the difference between: likely, possibly, probably and maybe? I'm unsure when to use each word in a sentence …

Prepositions and a Wallet 
I'd like to know which prepositions I should be using when I talk about my wallet. I'd not sure which expression is correct, "another addition to my wallet" …

Construction of a Sentence 
Is the following sentence written correctly? I am not sure about using 'was' or 'were'? Research, attention to detail and documentation was required …

Most Common Grammar Mistakes 
I'm just curious to know what common grammar mistakes we English learners make the most? Also, does it depend on where you are from (China vs Germany …

Basic English Grammar 
I would like to know what basic English grammar points I should teach my daughter first. She is 7 years old and has some knowledge of English but she …

Are Written English Grammar Exercises Useful? 
Hi Ola. Thank you for helping us answer our grammar questions. My question is about English grammar exercises. I am currently studying by myself at …

Grammar Check Software 
I've been thinking about buying some grammar check software for a while but I am not sure if I should. Do these programs really help correct your grammar? …

What Tense to Use Following "While"? 
Hi Diana, please I need a quick answer, as this came in the test and I lost a mark and I think I am not wrong: The question was correcting the verbs: …

"Did + Infinitive" vs "The Past Simple" 
When do you write “did + the infinitive” or simply “the past simple”. -1- He did repair his car. -2- He repaired his car. Thanks a lot, Danielle …

Do I Capitalize all Words in a Title? 
Do I capitalize all the words of a book title in a sentence? This depends on the "style" that you are using. For example...if you are writing an …

Use of who and whom 
I get confused regarding the use of who and whom. When are you supposed to use each. Also, which is correct: It depends on whom or who you ask? I …

Longest Word in English 
What is the longest English word and what does it mean? Good question. Wikipedia to the rescue. I had no idea what the longest English word was and …

Either vs Neither. 
Could you tell me when I should use EITHER and NEITHER? What is the difference between these two words? Thanks in advance and congratulations on your …

How to write the date in English? 
Do we write "of" between the date and day? It depends on where you are from. For example: today is the 27th of March or today is March 27th. The first …

Use of "Always" 
The sentence "He always has been and always will be" is correct, although at school I learnt that "always" had to be put before the auxiliary: "He has …

How to ask for a person's name? 
Which of the following questions is correct? "May I please have your name in order to address you?" OR "May I please know your name in order to address …

Apostrophe usage 
I understand how to use the apostrophe in cases such as "it's", "don't", "she'll", etc. What I want to know is if you can use it for nouns? e.g. The …

I want to know how to write report with correct grammar. 
I got confused when reading the following short article. Usually, the tense within the same sentence should be the same as told by my teacher. Can I use …

When to use has, had and have? 
I always have problems thinking about the use of has, have, had in a sentence. Could you please help me with this? Thanks - Nick Hi Nick. The difference …

after post lunch 
I will get back to you after post lunch.. is it correct sentence? You do not need to say post. It is redundant. All you need to say is, I will get back …

Past Perfect or Simple Past 
Is the past perfect needed in the following sentence? The man was arrested because he stole a car. Do you have to use /had stolen/? Does the word …

use of "would like you" 
I want to know the meaning of "I would like you to concentrate on vocabulary." Does it mean that "I want to advice you to concentrate on vocabulary"? …

Is it, "He did less work than me or than I?"  
Is man the superior one or woman? This question is everlasting because it isn’t able to have a correct answer. Most women think they are superior and men …

Enough Usage 
Dear Diana, Is this sentence correct grammatically and logically? There is enough teacher. Sorry...but it isn't. You could say "There are enough teachers" …

how I can draw 
which is right to say?: I would like to know how I can draw. Or I would like to know how can I draw. The first is correct. The second is combining …

Present Continuous Sentence 
Hi Diana, I would like to know if this sentence is grammaticly correct or not. The postman knocking at the door. I saw this sentence written like …

Indefinite and Possessive Pronouns 
I'm always a bit uncertain when I use an indefinite pronoun, what the correct corresponding possessive would be. As an example: "ONE should know, what …

Your "given" name  
Is this the right way of asking someone what their name is? "What is your good name?" I am assuming that you want to know how to ask someone what their …

Especially vs Specially and Particularly 
Could you please tell me whether "especially, specially and particularly" can be used interchangeably in the following sentences Here are some notes …

Is "were" or "was" correct? 
Which is correct? An Alert and Investigative Summary Report (were) (was) placed in the inmate's record. I see why you might be confused. It depends …

What did you say......? 
Which is the correct form in the following case and why? what did you say your name is/was? or What did you say is your name? (it sounds odd to …

Most "correct" title for an essay 
What difference is there between "Me and my computer" and "My computer and I" as a title for an essay. The first is incorrect and the second is grammatically …

How to write this sentence correctly? 
What is the mistake in the following sentence? When I reached the station, the train left. This depends on a couple things Swetha. If you are trying …

Asking Politely 
Am I using correct grammar in this sentence: "I ask that you please review and reply to me with updates." Looking at your sentence we could change a …

What is Grammar? 
What is grammar? Well Carley, grammar is a field of linguistics that involves all the various things that make up the rules of language. That is the …

What tense is this? 
What grammatical tense is the following sentence in? I mustn't speak so fast . This is the simple present. If you take away the modal verb and make …

Difference Wish and Hope 
I would like to know the shortest answer for the difference between hope and wish, when we cannot use wish? Hi Daud, You are in luck. I wrote an article …

Why Learn English Grammar? 
"Why do you need to learn grammar?" is a common question and one that has many answers for different people. Generally speaking we much learn grammar …

"Will" versus "going to" 
How are "will" and "going to" similar? Hi Saif, I answered a question similar to yours previously which I think will show you how they are similar and …

fall back asleep vs. fall back to sleep 
Which is correct: I fell back asleep or I fell back to sleep? Hi Fitz, In this case we would use "asleep" because "to fall asleep" is an expression. …

Some Clarification 
Hi Diana, I saw this sentence "What if you had to work today" , I would like you to help me to understand why this sentence is made like this. …

What follows "rather than"? 
What kind of verb can we use after "rather than"? Do we use the Gerund or To+verb? Thank you very much in advance. Have a nice day/night, Nafis Hi …

Eating Healthy? 
I often see the term 'eating healthy' on the internet. Shouldn't it be 'eating healthily'? I think that there are many options here, because people have …

What are Demonstrative Adjectives? 
I don't understand demonstrative adjectives, or what the difference is between them and demonstrative pronouns. Hi Zahida, Here is the difference between …

"Up to" or "down to"? 
Some people seem to think that " down to me " is a trendy way of saying " up to me ". I often hear expressions such as, "It's down to us to win the …

Present Perfect Progressive 
Why do we use the active voice in the following sentence, even though the subject can't do the action? I'd like to know why the following sentence is …

Being Taught...what tense or voice is this? 
In the sentence below I don't get the part," being taught" is that the object of the verb "Do" and if it is, is it in the passive voice? Is it a gerund …

Can we use "the" with the word Taliban? 
Can we use "the" with the word Taliban? I think we can not because we know Taliban and it is a known noun. Is this true or not? Thanks a lot in advance. …

Difference between "other" and "another" 
I have a problem when I use other and another. What's the difference? Hi Nelson, This is a good question. Many people have difficulty with these two …

Difference between characteristic, character, personality and trait 
What is the difference between characteristic, character, personality and trait? Ok, lets look at the definitions and then we can look at using them in …

Make a Living 
Hi Diana, Please could you correct me. We say: What do you do for a living , Or what do you do for living . Thanks a lot. Have a good day. Hi Abdou, …

"How come" , "How did you come to" , "How " 
Could you explain to me the difference between the following sentences? -How come you broke your leg? -How did you come to break your leg? -How did …

get - become 
Can I say: The distance between rich and poor is getting /becoming wider? Fair trade is getting/ becoming more and more popular? Thanks for your …

Usage of "there" 
(1) "There is a dog and 2 cats." In this sentence, what kind of subject-verb agreement is this? Or it is just an elliptical construction! (2) "There …

"looking forward to"..... 
Is it appropriate to say: "I would look forward to seeing you, etc..." If you say "would" it sounds as if you are speaking hypothetically or that you are …

"on the verge of" vs "to be about to" 
Would you please tell me some sentences in which one of the following expressions is preferred over the other. (On the verge of...to be about to). Take …

Need versus needs 
Someone asks for a list of features in a PC. I recommend a product based on the feature list. I offer a recommendation using one of the two following …

Change to the Past. 
I received the following sentences and from the title I am going to assume that Sunil wants me to put them into the past. We mustn't take our jackets …

to not play vs. not to play 
What is the difference between "Mom asked John not to play the piano at night." and "Mom asked John to not play the piano at night."? Good question …

How to ask for someones' name 
Is it right to ask "What's your good name?" Hi Ana, Unfortunately no. Here are some examples of how you could ask for someone’s name. :) What …

irritating me and myself... 
what exactly do these words mean? "Irritating me and myself..." Hi sing khan khai, these words might have different meanings depending on the context …

English Grammar Tenses 
I am trying to teach a gal, at my dentist's office the tenses we have in English. She gets confused about past, present and future tenses as to when to …

"I" vs "Me" English Grammar 
We say: My husband and I went to the movie or Me and my husband went to the movie. Why do we use I in one sentence and me in the other ? Please help me …

Can I say "pristine recipes" or "pristine masque" 
I would like to use the word pristine in my natural cosmetic line. Can I say "pristine recipes" or "pristine masque" instead of natural or pure? Thank …

When to Use the Present Perfect 
How to Use Frequency Adverbs Practical English Usage I have a question and it relates with my writing. Please explain the difference between these …

How to Use Frequency Adverbs 
Is there a Grammar rule, to know how to sort adverbs? Example :- I often go by car to school. Could I say : (I go often by car to school.) - Other …

Grammar Questions 
What is the difference between: toward - towards, backward - backwards, while -whilst Do we call U.S.A an abbreviation for the United States of America? …

"Though" vs "Even Though" 
Could you explain what are the differences between "even though" and "though". I've found lots of sentences using these words, but I am still confused …

I always vs I am always 
What is the difference between: 1) I always late for school. 2) I am always late for school. And can you show me some examples where I can choose …

How to Say the Date? 
Which is right: on Feb. 2, 2009 or in Feb. 2, 2009 Hi Waleed, your first option is correct. We always say on a date or day . I was born …

English Grammar- Future Tenses 
I have one question about English grammar. *What are you doing this evening? *What are you going to do this evening? *What you will do in this evening? …

The Difference Between Maybe and Perhaps 
What is the difference between "maybe" and "perhaps". Also, between "city" and "town". Maybe and perhaps mean the same thing. You can use them interchangeably. …

Learn English Grammar: Past Perfect 
Please explain how to use the "had had" tense. Thank you Hi Sassy, Here is a simple explanation to help you understand when and how to use the …

Questions in English 
I need some help. I want to learn how I can ask someone questions. Please suggest some books to help me. If you are looking to learn how to ask questions, …

Difference between "dangerous for" and... 
What's the difference between, "Smoking is dangerous 'to' your health. Vs. Smoking is dangerous 'for' your health"? Hi Uthman, My first …

The Difference Between "Other", "Another" and "Others" 
Hi Diana...thanks alot with for your clear answers. Here i will ask you again is another question ... what's the differen ce between OTHER, OTHERS, …

Are these Words Synonyms? 
Is there a ny difference in between using the following different words to describe the an action? to build / create / foster / cultivate …

Report vs Recount 
I would like to know about "report" as a form of writing. We report something to others by writing them in a paragraph. Sorry. I didn't explain that …

Wish vs. Hope - Possession - Report 
I have a problem with these: 1. What is the difference between 'wish' and 'hope'? Please give me some examples. 2. How to teach possession to elementary …

The difference between HOUSE and HOME 
I want to know the difference between 'House' and 'Home', please. One day, I was asked this question and my answer was, " a house has a physical meaning …

Help with Punctuation 
I recently discovered your website and I think it's brilliant. People, now a days, re having difficulty have at hard time when it comes to English. …

The difference between AT and IN 
I have one question. Sometimes when I speak I wonder how can I can know when to put the correct word of use "AT" " and or "IN". I …

Book tickets...Sell Tickets 
One of my students whose mother tongue is not English asked me," At the bus station ticket counter, there is a sign which says "Tickets booked here". In …

Who verses Whom? 
Question: I get confused using who and whom (we now have to meet someone whom you talked to yesterday). Also, can you explain: at and in? Also I'd …

The use of "Often" 
Here is a question regarding the use of "often" and the "subjunctive" in English. What is the correct way to say the following in English? : - I hope …

English Prepositions 
I have problems with English prepositions. For instance, using 'as’. I need to improve my preposition use. So, please give me a solution for my problem …

English Grammar in Use-2nd Edition DOUBTS 
I am learning English self study/on my own, using "English Grammar in use-2nd edition by Raymond Murphy" . In this book I have a doubt about something. …

The difference between
"can", "could", "might", "should" and "ought"
 
What is the difference between can, could, might should, and ought? The difference depends on the context and situation. I will try to give you a very …

When to Use the Verb "Get"? 
Where can the word "GET" be used? This seems like a very simple question but there is no simple answer. I wish there were. The issue with get is …

Gain, Earn, Win and Get. What's the difference? 
What is the difference between Gain, Earn, win and get? This is a good question and requires a bit of explanation regarding the shades of meaning between …

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