Sports idioms: understand figurative English in context
Sports idioms use language from games or competition to describe ordinary situations. Read the complete phrase and the situation around it. Do not translate each word one by one.
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Stationery or stationary: spelling, meaning, and memory tips
Use stationery for writing materials. Use stationary when something stays in one place and does not move.
Stative verbs: when English verbs do not take -ing
Use the simple present with stative verbs such as know, need, belong, and understand when they describe a state. Use the present continuous when a verb describes an action happening around now. Some verbs can use either form, but the meaning changes.
Stubborn meaning: use, tone, and helpful alternatives
Stubborn means unwilling to change an opinion, plan, or action, even when other people try to persuade you.
Subject and object questions: understand the difference
In a subject question, the question word is the subject, so do not use do, does, or did with an ordinary verb. In an object question, the question word is the object. Use the usual question order: question word, auxiliary verb, subject, and main verb.
Subject verb agreement: make subjects and verbs match
Find the main subject, decide whether it is singular or plural, and choose the verb form that matches it. Ignore extra nouns in phrases that describe the subject.
Subordinating conjunctions: show relationships between ideas
Choose a subordinating conjunction that shows the relationship between your ideas, then join a dependent clause to a main clause. Use a comma when the dependent clause comes first: Because the roads were icy, we stayed at home. Usually do not use a comma when the main clause comes first: We stayed at home because the roads were icy.
Such and such a: use these forms correctly
Use such a or such an before an adjective plus a singular countable noun. Use such before plural nouns and uncountable nouns. Use so before an adjective or adverb when there is no following noun.
Suggestions and advice: should, could, and why not
Use should plus a base verb for advice: ‘You should save the receipt.’ Use could plus a base verb for a possible option: ‘You could ask the shop for help.’ Use why not plus a base verb or how about plus an -ing form to suggest an idea.
Suit or suite: clothing, fit, and connected rooms
Use suit for matching clothes or for something that fits or is suitable. Use suite for connected rooms or a related group of things.
Suppose or supposed: which form fits?
Use suppose as a verb when you mean think, assume, or suggest an idea. Use supposed after be when something is expected or intended. In be supposed to, use a base verb after to.
Synonyms exercise: choose the closest meaning in context
Choose a synonym by reading the whole sentence. Pick the word that keeps the same idea and fits the grammar and tone; do not choose a word only because it appears in a word list beside the target.