Style Guide

Verbs not used in progressive forms

March 9, 2011

Some verbs are not used in progressive forms. I love you. (NOT I am loving you.) I like this color. (NOT I am liking this color.) I rang her up because I wanted to speak. (NOT I rang her up because I was wanting to speak.) Many of these non-progressive verbs refer to states rather [...]

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Singular and plural nouns

November 29, 2010

The label number refers to the grammatical category which relates to the number of countable objects in the world. In English, number is important with nouns. An English noun exhibits a two-way distinction of number: a singular form and a plural form. The singular form denotes one of something. Examples are: tree, cat, flower, girl, [...]

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Uses of the participle – part II

October 6, 2010

Participles are also used in absolute phrases with a noun or pronoun going before them. God willing, we shall meet again. The fog having lifted, the plane took off. Notes: Each of these absolute phrases can be transformed into a subordinate clause. If God is willing, we shall meet again. When the fog had lifted, [...]

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Uses of the verb have

October 1, 2010

The verb have is used in a number of ways in English. It can be used as an auxiliary verb. It can also be used as an ordinary verb. As an ordinary verb have indicates ideas such as possession of objects, individual characteristics, relationships etc. Examples: He has a brother in Germany. She has long [...]

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