Feb 18

Understanding Clauses in English

Your Guide to Building Better Sentences

When you’re learning English, you might hear a lot about clauses. But what exactly are they, and why are they important? This guide will break down the basics of clauses and show you how they help make sentences complete and interesting. Let’s get started!

What is a Clause?

A clause is a group of words that includes a subject (the “who” or “what” of the sentence) and a verb (the action or state). Clauses are the building blocks of sentences, and understanding them is key to creating complex sentences that express complete thoughts.

Some clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, while others need to be connected to an independent clause to make sense. Here’s why understanding clauses will help you in both writing and speaking English:

  • They let you form longer, more descriptive sentences.
  • They help you link ideas together smoothly.
  • They make your sentences sound more natural and fluent.

Types of Clauses

Let’s break down the two main types of clauses in English: independent clauses and dependent clauses.

1. Independent Clauses

An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It expresses a complete thought, so it doesn’t need any extra information to make sense.

Examples:

  • “She walked to the store.”
  • “I enjoy reading.”

Each example can stand alone as a sentence because it’s a complete idea.

2. Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses

A dependent clause also has a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought. This means it cannot stand alone as a sentence; it needs an independent clause to make sense. Dependent clauses often start with words like because, when, if, although, and since.

Examples:

  • “because it was raining”
  • “when he arrived”
  • “if she calls”

These clauses need more information to form a complete thought. For example:

  • “She stayed home because it was raining.”
  • “Let me know if she calls.”

Types of Dependent Clauses

Now, let’s look at some different types of dependent clauses and their functions.

Adverbial Clauses

An adverbial clause provides more information about the verb in the main clause, often explaining when, why, where, or how something happened. These clauses start with words like because, although, if, when, since, and while.

Example: “She stayed home because she felt sick.”

Here, the clause “because she felt sick” explains why she stayed home.

Adjective (Relative) Clauses

An adjective clause (also called a relative clause) describes a noun. These clauses usually start with who, whom, whose, that, or which.

Example: “The book that I borrowed was fascinating.”

The clause “that I borrowed” gives more information about the book.

Noun Clauses

A noun clause acts as a noun in the sentence. It can be the subject, object, or complement and often starts with words like what, whatever, who, whoever, that, etc.

Example: “What she said surprised everyone.”

In this example, “What she said” is a noun clause acting as the subject of the sentence.

How to Identify Clauses in Sentences

To start identifying clauses in sentences, follow these steps:

  1. Look for a Subject and Verb: Identify any group of words with both a subject and a verb.
  2. Check if It’s a Complete Thought: If the clause can stand alone as a sentence, it’s independent. If it needs more information, it’s dependent.
  3. Notice Clause Markers: Many dependent clauses start with words like because, when, who, that, if, although, etc.

Example: In the sentence, “I’ll go to the park if it’s sunny,” the clause “if it’s sunny” is a dependent (adverbial) clause, explaining when the main action will happen.

Why Clauses Matter in English Writing and Speaking

Clauses give you the tools to create complex sentences. With them, you can:

  • Link Ideas: Instead of many short sentences, you can connect ideas smoothly.
  • Express More Detail: Clauses let you add extra information to your sentences without sounding repetitive.
  • Sound More Natural: Using different types of clauses helps make your English sound more fluent and natural.

Practice: Try Identifying and Using Clauses!

Here are a couple of exercises to help you get comfortable with clauses:

  1. Identify the Clause Type: Look at the following clauses and decide if they are independent or dependent.
    • “While she was studying”
    • “He finished his homework”
    • “Although it was late”
  2. Combine Sentences Using Clauses: Practice combining short sentences with conjunctions and clause markers to make complex sentences.
    • Example: “She was tired. She stayed up late.” → “Although she was tired, she stayed up late.”

Final Thoughts

Understanding clauses is a major step in improving your English skills. Start paying attention to clauses in sentences you read and hear in English, and practice using different types of clauses in your own sentences. The more you practice, the more natural your sentences will sound!

Feb 17

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Jan 20

GRAMMAR – Figures of Speech

Figures of speech are words or expressions used in a non-literal, creative way to make language more vivid and expressive.
Writers and speakers use them to create imagery, add emotion, and make ideas easier to remember.

They’re common in stories, songs, poetry, and everyday conversation.

Literal: She is very smart.
Figure of speech: She’s a walking dictionary.

Metaphor

Definition: A metaphor compares two unlike things by saying one thing is another, to create a strong image or meaning.

Examples:

  • Her voice is music to my ears.
  • Time is a thief.

Simile

Definition: A simile compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as” to show similarity.

Examples:

  • He runs like the wind.
  • She was as busy as a bee.

Hyperbole

Definition: Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration used to emphasize a feeling or create humor. It is not meant to be taken literally.

Examples:

  • I waited a million years for the bus.
  • I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Personification

Definition: Personification gives human actions, feelings, or qualities to animals, objects, or ideas.

Examples:

  • The sun smiled down at us.
  • The leaves danced in the wind.

Oxymoron

Definition: An oxymoron combines two opposite or contradictory words to create a meaningful or poetic effect.

Examples:

  • Bittersweet memory
  • Deafening silence

Irony

Definition: Irony is when the opposite of what is expected happens, often to create humor or highlight contrast.

Examples:

  • A fire station burns down.
  • The plumber’s house has leaking pipes.

Pun

Definition: A pun is a play on words that uses multiple meanings or similar sounds to create humor.

Examples:

  • Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
  • I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.

Alliteration

Definition: Alliteration is the repetition of the same beginning sound in nearby words, often used for rhythm or emphasis.

Examples:

  • Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
  • Busy bees buzzed by the barn.

Paradox

Definition: A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but actually expresses truth when you think about it more deeply.

Examples:

  • Less is more.
  • You must lose yourself to find yourself.

Litotes

Definition: Litotes is understatement using negative wording to express a positive meaning.

Examples:

  • Not bad at all (meaning: very good)
  • She’s no ordinary singer (meaning: she’s exceptional)

Jan 10

CONFUSING WORDS – Quit – Quiet – Quite

QUIT 

“Quit” is a verb that means to stop or cease doing something. When someone quits an activity, job, or habit, they discontinue or give up that particular action or commitment. “Quit” can also imply resignation or abandonment of a task or responsibility. It is often used in contexts related to work, sports, studies, or habits. For example, “He decided to quit his job and pursue a new career” or “She quit smoking last year.”

Examples:
She decided to quit her job and start her own business.
He couldn’t quit eating chocolate even though he knew it wasn’t good for him.
After years of struggling with the habit, he finally decided to quit smoking for good.

QUIET 

“Quiet” is an adjective that describes the absence of noise or disturbance, creating a peaceful or calm environment. It refers to a state of tranquility or minimal sound. Additionally, “quiet” can also be used as a verb, meaning to make something or someone become silent or less noisy. For example, “The library is a quiet place for studying,” or “Please quiet down so we can hear the speaker.”

Examples:

The baby finally fell asleep, and the house became quiet.
Please keep your voice down and try to be quiet during the movie.
The students were quiet in the classroom.

QUITE

“Quite” as an adverb that is used to intensify the meaning of an adjective or adverb. It often indicates a degree or extent that is significant or noticeable. “Quite” can suggest a level of completeness, emphasis, or extent beyond what is expected. It can also indicate agreement or confirmation in response to a statement. For example, “She was quite tired after the long day” or “It’s quite hot outside today.”

Examples:

The hike was quite challenging, but we made it to the top.
She found the movie quite entertaining and watched it twice.
He was quite surprised when he received the award for his work.

Jan 09

GRAMMAR – Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns are two categories used to classify nouns based on whether they can be counted or not.

Countable Nouns:
Countable nouns refer to objects or entities that can be counted as discrete units.
They have both singular and plural forms.
They can be preceded by numbers (one, two, three, etc.) and quantifying words (a, an, many, few, etc.).

Examples:
Singular: cat, book, table, car
Plural: cats, books, tables, cars

Countable nouns can be counted individually or as a group.

Uncountable Nouns (Mass Nouns):
Uncountable nouns refer to substances, concepts, or qualities that cannot be counted as individual units.
They usually don’t have a plural form or can’t be pluralized without changing their meaning.
They cannot be preceded by numbers or quantifying words like “a” or “an.”

Examples:
water, rice, information, furniture

Uncountable nouns are often measured or quantified by using units of measurement, containers, or other quantifying expressions:
a bottle of water, a cup of rice, a piece of information

Here’s a comparison to illustrate the difference:

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS ARE OFTEN:
Abstract Ideas: love, freedom, education, luck, help, music, beauty
Made of small parts: rice, sugar, sand, flour, dirt, dust, traffic, grass, spaghetti
Some food: bread, fish, cheese, chocolate, ham, bacon, food, meat
Liquids and Gases: water, coffee, milk, oil, rain, soup, air, smoke, fog, blood
Materials: wood, glass, paper, gold, silver, ice, steel, cotton, wool

Countable: “I have three cats.”
Here, “cats” is countable because you can count each individual cat.

Uncountable: “I need some advice.”
“Advice” is uncountable because you can’t count it as individual pieces of advice; it’s a concept rather than a physical object.

Remember, some nouns can be both countable and uncountable depending on context. For example, “fruit” is usually uncountable (as in “I like fruit”), but it can be countable when referring to specific types of fruit (as in “I bought three fruits: an apple, a banana, and an orange”).

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Jan 08

GRAMMAR – Both – Either – Neither

Both … and
Two things together
Mom is going to the cinema. Dad is going to the cinema.
Both Mom and Dad are going to the cinema.
They bought potatoes. They bought meat.
They bought both potatoes and meat.
There are two shirts. You can have both this one and that one..

Either … or
One of two things
Mom and Dad have one ticket for the concert. Maybe dad will go. Maybe mom will go.
Either Mom or Dad will go to the concert.
Bread is $2.00 and butter is also $2.00 but I only have $3.00.
I can buy either bread or butter.
There are two shirts. You can have either one or the other.

Neither … nor
None of two things
Mom is not going to the cinema. Dad is not going to the cinema.
Neither Mom nor Dad are going to the cinema.
I did not buy bread. I did not buy butter.
I bought neither bread nor butter.
There are two small shirts. Neither one nor the other will fit you.

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Jan 07

Adjectives + Prepositions (ABOUT)

Let’s continue our dive into the fascinating world of adjectives paired with prepositions! In English, certain adjectives are commonly followed by specific prepositions to express various relationships, attitudes, and qualities. Understanding these combinations can greatly enhance our language skills and enrich our expressions. Join me as we explore some examples of adjectives paired with prepositions and discover how they bring depth and nuance to our communication.

Prepositions + ABOUT

Angry about: Feeling or showing strong displeasure or resentment concerning something.
Example: “She was angry about the way he treated her during the meeting.”

Anxious about: Feeling nervous or worried about something that may happen.
Example: “He’s anxious about his upcoming job interview.”

Enthusiastic about: Showing great excitement and interest in something.
Example: “The students were enthusiastic about the upcoming school trip.”

Excited about: Feeling eager, thrilled, or joyful about something.
Example: “She was excited about the news of her promotion.”

Furious about: Extremely angry or enraged about something.
Example: “He was furious about the company’s decision to cut his department’s budget.”

Happy about: Feeling pleased or content about something.
Example: “They were happy about the arrival of their new baby.”

Mad about: Feeling strongly passionate or enthusiastic about something.
Example: “She’s mad about classic cars and owns a vintage collection.”

Nervous about: Feeling uneasy or apprehensive about something.
Example: “He’s nervous about giving a speech in front of a large audience.”

Pessimistic about: Tending to see the worst aspect of things; feeling negative or doubtful about the future.
Example: “She’s pessimistic about the outcome of the project due to recent setbacks.”

Sad about: Feeling sorrowful or unhappy about something.
Example: “They were sad about the news of their friend’s illness.”

Serious about: Showing sincere intent or commitment towards something.
Example: “He’s serious about pursuing a career in medicine.”

Upset about: Feeling disturbed, troubled, or emotionally unsettled about something.
Example: “She’s upset about not being invited to the party.”

Worried about: Feeling anxious or troubled about potential problems or uncertainties.
Example: “She’s worried about her son’s performance in school.”

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Jan 05

Understanding Clauses in English Grammar

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. Clauses are essential building blocks of sentences, and understanding them can help you improve your writing and speaking skills.

Diagram explaining independent and dependent clauses in English grammar

Types of Clauses

Clauses can be divided into two main types:

  • Independent Clauses: These can stand alone as complete sentences.
  • Dependent Clauses: These cannot stand alone and need an independent clause to make sense.

What is an Independent Clause?

An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can function as a sentence by itself.

Examples:

  • She runs every morning.
  • I love learning English.
  • They went to the park.
  • He finished his homework.

Independent Clauses in Longer Sentences

Independent clauses can be combined with other independent clauses using coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Example:

  • I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining.
    (Two independent clauses joined by “but.”)
Diagram explaining independent and dependent clauses in English grammar

What is a Dependent Clause?

A dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone. It depends on an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Examples:

  • Because it’s raining…
  • After the movie ended…

Dependent Clauses in Sentences:

  • I stayed home because it was raining.
  • We went out after the movie ended.

Types of Dependent Clauses

Dependent clauses can function as adverbial, adjective, or noun clauses in a sentence.

1. Adverbial Clauses (Modify a verb, adjective, or adverb)

These answer questions like when, why, how, or under what conditions something happens.

Common subordinating conjunctions: because, although, since, when, if, while, after, before.

Examples:
  • She stayed inside because it was cold. (Answers “why?”)
  • I will call you when I arrive. (Answers “when?”)

2. Adjective Clauses (Modify a noun or pronoun)

These describe or give more information about a noun. They usually begin with who, whom, whose, which, or that.

Examples:
  • The book that I borrowed was great.
  • She met the teacher who helped her prepare for the exam.

3. Noun Clauses (Act as a noun in the sentence)

Noun clauses often start with what, that, who, or whom.

Examples:
  • What she said surprised everyone. (The entire clause functions as the subject)
  • I don’t know where he went. (The clause functions as the object)
Diagram explaining independent and dependent clauses in English grammar

Combining Independent and Dependent Clauses

Dependent clauses often appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

Examples:

  • Because she was late, she missed the bus.
  • She missed the bus because she was late.
  • The book that I borrowed was very interesting.

Tip: If a dependent clause comes first, use a comma after it. If it comes after the independent clause, no comma is needed.

Understanding how clauses work will help you construct better sentences and express your ideas more clearly. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using clauses effortlessly!

Diagram explaining independent and dependent clauses in English grammar

Clauses – A deeper look:

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE: An adjective clause is a type of clause that gives information about the noun or pronoun that it modifies. An adjective clause will generally start off with words like who, whom, whose, when, where, which, that, and why. An adjective clause is always a dependent clause, which means that by itself it would not form a complete sentence.

ADJECTIVE PHRASE: An adjective phrase, like we might expect, gives us information about the noun that it’s modifying. An adjective phrase contains a head word that is an adjective, and an intensifier, or basically just a chain of adjectives. An example of an adjective phrase would be, “very tall” or, “incredibly loud.” Now, an adjective phrase can be placed before the noun that it is modifying or after the noun that it is modifying.

NOUN PHRASE: A noun phrase is a word or group of words that functions in a sentence as subject, object, or prepositional object. (e.g. The glistening snow covered the field)

ADVERB PHRASE: An adverb phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb. An adverbial phrase of time states when something happens or how often. An adverbial phrase of place states where something happens. An adverbial phrase of manner states how something is done. An adverbial phrase of reason states why something is done. There are three common formats for adverbial phrases: a prepositional phrase, an infinitive phrase, and an adverb with an intensifier. 

Let’s try a quiz:

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Jan 04

Adjective + Preposition Combinations

Mastering adjective + preposition combinations is an important step toward sounding natural and confident in English. These expressions—like interested in, good at, or afraid of—are common in everyday conversation, but they don’t always follow clear rules. That’s why it helps to learn them in groups. Below, you’ll find examples organized by preposition to help you understand how they work and remember them more easily.

Adjective + at

  • good at – She’s good at playing the piano.
  • bad at – I’m bad at remembering names.
  • brilliant at – He’s brilliant at solving puzzles.
  • terrible at – They’re terrible at cooking.

Adjective + for

  • famous for – Italy is famous for its food.
  • responsible for – He’s responsible for the project.
  • suitable for – This movie isn’t suitable for children.
  • known for – She’s known for her kindness.
  • ready for – Are you ready for the test?

Adjective + of

  • afraid of – He’s afraid of spiders.
  • proud of – I’m proud of my students.
  • aware of – She’s aware of the risks.
  • jealous of – They’re jealous of his success.
  • capable of – She’s capable of great things.

Adjective + about

  • excited about – I’m excited about the trip.
  • worried about – She’s worried about her job.
  • angry about – He’s angry about the delay.
  • nervous about – They’re nervous about the interview.
  • curious about – The kids are curious about space.

Adjective + to

  • nice to – She’s nice to everyone.
  • kind to – Be kind to your sister.
  • rude to – Don’t be rude to the waiter.
  • similar to – This shirt is similar to the one I bought.
  • married to – She’s married to a doctor.

Adjective + with

  • angry with – I’m angry with my brother.
  • bored with – He’s bored with the class.
  • pleased with – She’s pleased with the results.
  • satisfied with – We’re satisfied with the service.
  • fed up with – I’m fed up with the noise.

Adjective + in

  • interested in – I’m interested in history.
  • involved in – She’s involved in several projects.
  • successful in – He was successful in finding a job.
  • experienced in – They’re experienced in design.
  • skilled in – She’s skilled in graphic design.

Adjective + from

  • different from – This car is different from mine.
  • safe from – The animals are safe from hunters.
  • free from – The air here is free from pollution.
  • absent from – Two students were absent from class today.
  • protected from – The windows are protected from the wind by shutters.

Adjective + on

  • dependent on – Many people are dependent on their phones.
  • keen on – She’s keen on photography.
  • based on – The movie is based on a true story.
  • focused on – He’s focused on his career right now.
  • intent on – She’s intent on finishing her degree this year.

Adjective + by

  • impressed by – We were impressed by her performance.
  • shocked by – He was shocked by the news.
  • surprised by – They were surprised by the results.
  • inspired by – The artist was inspired by nature.
  • frightened by – The children were frightened by the loud thunder.

Jan 03

The Causative Form

The causative form is a grammatical structure used when one person causes another person to do something. It’s a common form in English and is often used to indicate that someone has arranged for an action to be done by someone else.

Structure of the Causative Form

There are two main ways to form the causative in English:

  1. Have + Object + Base Verb (have something done)
    This structure is used to indicate that someone arranges for someone else to do something.
    Examples:
    • I had my car washed. (I arranged for someone to wash my car)
    • She had her house cleaned. (She arranged for someone to clean her house)
  2. Get + Object + Past Participle (get something done)
    This structure also indicates that someone arranges for someone else to do something, but it often implies a bit more effort or persuasion.
    Examples:
    • He got his watch fixed. (He arranged for someone to fix his watch)
    • They got their lawn mowed. (They arranged for someone to mow their lawn)
  3. Have someone do something (have + person + infinitive)
    This structure also indicates that someone arranges for someone else to do something, but it often implies a bit more effort or persuasion.
    Examples:
    • He got his watch fixed. (He arranged for someone to fix his watch.)
    • They got their lawn mowed. (They arranged for someone to mow their lawn.)
  4. Get someone to do something (get + person + to + infinitive)
    This structure usually means “to convince to do something” or “to trick someone into doing something.”
    • Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible. (She tricked him into taking it.)
    • How can parents get their children to read more? (How can they convince them to read more?)
  5. Let someone do something (let + person + verb)
    This structure means “to allow someone to do something.”
    Examples:
    • John let me drive his new car. (John allowed him to drive the car.)
    • Will your parents let you go to the party? (Will they allow you to go?)
  6. Make someone do something (make + person + verb)
    This structure means “to force someone to do something.”
    Examples:
    • My teacher made me apologize for what I had said. (She forced me to say sorry.)
    • She made her children do their homework. (She forced them to do their homework.)

When to Use the Causative Form

The causative form is typically used in the following situations:

  • Services: When you pay or arrange for a service.
    Example: She got her nails done.
  • Tasks: When you arrange for someone to complete a task.
    Example: They had their documents translated.

Examples in Context

Let’s look at some more examples to understand how the causative form is used in different contexts:

  • Education:
    The teacher had the students write an essay. (The teacher made the students write an essay)
  • Healthcare:
    He got his blood pressure checked. (He arranged for someone to check his blood pressure)
  • Daily Life:
    We had our groceries delivered. (We arranged for someone to deliver our groceries)

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