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Elementary Adjectives

Average: 4 (15 votes)

Adjectives give more meaning to nouns.

Adjectives are normally placed in front of the noun.
An exciting film.
An interesting book.
Fast cars.
Red roses.

Elementary Level - Pronouns

Average: 3.8 (14 votes)

Look at this example:

Sarah is a university student. Sarah was born in London but now Sarah lives in Paris where Sarah is studying French. Sarah’s boyfriend is Louis. Louis is French and Louis met Sarah in Paris. Sarah and Louis want to get married. Sarah’s and Louis’ parents are very happy.

Now here is the same example using pronouns:

Possessive Nouns

Average: 4.1 (13 votes)

Possessive nouns show who owns something or who something belongs to.
Possessive nouns are formed with ('s)

Sarah's car.
Peter's lap top.
The school’s headmaster.

When the noun is plural and ends with 's', just add (')
The babies' toys.
My parents' house.

Elementary Level - Countable and Non-countable Nouns

Average: 3.3 (15 votes)

Count nouns are nouns that can have one or more than one.
A pen – three pens, a bottle – six bottles, a television – three televisions, a car – five cars.

Count nouns can be used with;
A few, few, many, some, every, each, these etc.
A few pens, many bottles, a few cars, each television etc.

Count nouns can be used with a/an or the
There is a pen on my desk.
I bought a bottle of Italian wine.
Each television in the flat was a new model.
My family has five cars.

Elementary Level - The verb 'Be'

Average: 4 (22 votes)

The verb 'be' shows a state not an action

I live in Spain. (action)
I like my job. (action)
My brother is a doctor. (state)
You are tired. (state)

Remember that verbs must match subjects
I am Spanish.
You are very tall.
He is a doctor.
We are students.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Average: 3.9 (27 votes)

Being able to identify between countable and uncountable nouns is necessary to use English grammar correctly.

Countable nouns

Most nouns in English are countable:
He has two homes, one in London and one in Spain.
The beer cost six pounds.
I’ve never seen Sarah travel with less than two suitcases.

Nouns

Average: 4 (27 votes)

It is good to know what a noun is to have a good start in a language.

A noun names a person, a place, a thing or an idea.

Nouns are the names of real or abstract things in our lives. A noun that gives a name to a real thing is a 'concrete' noun. 'Happiness' is an idea or concept which is why it is called an abstract noun.

Let Make Have Get

Average: 4.3 (55 votes)

The verbs 'let', 'make, 'have' and 'get' cause a considerable amount of confusion. Here is an overview of their functions and meanings when speaking about allowing, forcing, giving responsibility and convincing people to do things.

Let

'let+person+verb'
Here 'let' is used to mean allow

My dad lets me drive his car.
Will your boss let you leave early tomorrow?
My sister doesn't let us speak about her divorce.

Who Whom Whose

Average: 3.5 (390 votes)

To understand how to use 'who', 'whom' and 'whose' you first have to understand the difference between subjects, objects and possessives.

The subject does the action:
He likes football.
She goes to university.
They enjoy travelling.

How to use Were to

Average: 3.6 (70 votes)

Were to' in the present 'if... were to + verb'

'Were to' is used in the present to place emphasis on the improbability of the condition. It shows that something is highly unlikely or unthinkable. This form is used in the 'if-clause'.

If he were to be my boss, I think I would quit the next day.
If I were to have no friends, I would be terribly lonely.
If she were to be right about that, we’d never hear the end of it.