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Sentence structure

Average: 3.8 (16 votes)

We can make a sentence longer by adding more information about the person, thing or action in the sentence. With the following sentences we cannot divide them into two parts and make two sentences.

Finite and non-finite verbs

Average: 3.3 (109 votes)

Verbs express an action or make a statement about a person or thing.

John gave Sarah a present.
Sarah was very surprised.

A finite verb is a 'working' verb with a subject; it can be any tense. A non-finite verb which is also called in infinitive verb has no subject and can't be in all the tenses.

A non-finite verb can be:

Verb and subject agreement

Average: 4.4 (7 votes)

In English the verb must always agree with the subject in a sentence.

Relative pronouns

Average: 4.2 (21 votes)

Relative pronouns are used to link two statements about a person or thing.

Relative pronouns as subjects of the verb.

I know the girl. She lives next door to you.
I know the girl who lives next door to you.

This is the shop. I bought my laptop from there.
This is the shop which I bought my laptop from.

The relative pronouns are:
Who, that, which, whose, and whom.

Possessive and demonstrative pronouns

Average: 3.7 (24 votes)

These are the possessive pronouns. They replace a noun and another word. We never put an apostrophe on a possessive pronoun.

Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

Average: 3.3 (68 votes)

We usually form Comparative/Superlative adjectives by adding –er/the + -est or    more/the most to the adjective:

The Nile is longer than the Amazon.
The Nile is the longest river in the world.

That flower is more beautiful than this one.
She is the most beautiful girl in the world!

However, there are some adjectives which take irregular forms:

Interrogative pronouns

Average: 3.5 (15 votes)

These pronouns are used to start questions:

Who did you invite to your party?
Whose pen is this?
Whom did you speak to?
What are they doing in the garden?
Which of these do you like?

Lesson by Tristan, English teacher at EC Malta English school

Choose one of the interrogative pronouns for the following:

Personal pronouns

Average: 4 (9 votes)

Pronouns are used to replace a noun. These are the personal pronouns:

Personal pronouns as the subject: I, he, she, it, we, you, they
Personal pronouns as the object or after a preposition: me, him, her, it, us, you, them

Use an object pronoun after a preposition:
Between you and me, I don't like the new manager.
This present is from John and me.

Spelling – plurals

Average: 3.6 (10 votes)

There are different ways that the plurals of nouns are formed in English.

Add 's' (pronounced /s/ as in 'so')
shop - shops 
cat – cats
book – books

Add 's' (pronounced /z/ as in zoo)
girl – girls
boy – boys
door – doors

Add 'es' (pronounced /iz/)
race – races
box – boxes
dish – dishes

Spelling – double consonants

Average: 3.9 (14 votes)

It is important to distinguish between a short or long vowel with regard to doubling a consonant.

Short vowels – He wanted to stop driving for a break.

Long vowels – He hoped the weather would be good.

When we add -ed or -ing to a word, we double the consonant if a short vowel comes before it. We do not double a consonant if a long vowel comes before it.