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Stubborn meaning: use, tone, and helpful alternatives
The wind will not move a stuck window, even when you push it. The window is stubborn. When a person refuses to change their mind after a useful discussion, stubborn can describe that too.
Open lessonSubject and object questions: understand the difference
Ask who does the action first. If who is the subject, the question keeps statement order: Who sent the message? If who receives the action, use normal question order: Who did you message?
Open lessonSubject verb agreement: make subjects and verbs match
A long subject can make a simple sentence feel difficult. Find who or what does the action first, then choose the verb that matches that word.
Open lessonSubordinating conjunctions: show relationships between ideas
I took the bus because it was raining. Although it was raining, my neighbour walked. The weather is the same, but because gives a reason and although gives an unexpected contrast.
Open lessonSuch and such a: use these forms correctly
That was such a useful suggestion. The word such makes the speaker's reaction stronger, but its position changes when a singular countable noun follows.
Open lessonSuggestions and advice: should, could, and why not
Your friend has missed the last bus. You can say, ‘You should call a taxi,’ or ‘Why not call a taxi?’ Both sentences offer help, but they sound a little different.
Open lessonSuit or suite: clothing, fit, and connected rooms
A guest can wear a dark suit to a meeting, then stay in a hotel suite. The spellings look similar, but the words have different sounds and meanings.
Open lessonSuppose or supposed: which form fits?
I suppose the train is late again. We were supposed to meet at nine, so the different forms change the meaning of the sentence.
Open lessonSynonyms exercise: choose the closest meaning in context
A friend may say that a film was funny, while a review calls it amusing. Both words point to laughter, but a word that fits one sentence may sound too formal, too strong, or simply wrong in another.
Open lessonSynonyms quiz: test meaning with short English contexts
A notice says that the lift is out of order. You may know that broken is close in meaning, but out of order is the usual phrase for a machine or service that is not working. A good quiz question asks for the word that fits this particular situation.
Open lessonSynonyms: choose a similar word that fits the sentence
A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in the same language.
Open lessonTag questions: check information in natural conversation
The room is on this floor, isn't it? The short question at the end checks a detail and makes the statement part of a conversation.
Open lessonTelephone English: clear calls
Phone calls move quickly. A few prepared phrases can give you time to say who you are, explain why you are calling, and check that you understood the important detail.
Open lessonTell or say: choosing the right reporting verb
Priya told her brother that the shop was closed. Later, she said that she would go back tomorrow. Both verbs report words, but the sentence pattern changes with the listener and the kind of message.
Open lessonTell or say: choosing the right reporting verb
Maya told her colleague that the meeting had moved. Later, she said that she would send a new invitation. Both verbs report words, but the pattern changes with the listener and the message.
Open lessonTerrible at or terrible on: choose the natural phrase
After missing several turns, Sam says, "I am terrible at reading maps." The phrase tells us that Sam has difficulty with that skill. Terrible on reading maps is not the usual English pattern.
Open lessonThat, which, and who in relative clauses
The files that need signatures are in this folder. The annual report, which is already signed, is on the desk. Commas change the job of the clause.
Open lessonThe bare infinitive: use the verb without to
You can leave now, but you do not have to leave now. Both sentences use the base verb leave. The first follows can, while the second uses the fixed phrase have to.
Open lessonTherefore, hence, and thus: what is the difference?
The train was canceled, so Mia worked from home. In a report, she might write: The train was canceled; therefore, Mia worked from home. The same result can be expressed with hence or thus, but the choice changes the tone and sometimes the sentence pattern.
Open lessonThough vs although: meaning, position, and examples
Although the bus was late, we reached the cinema before the film began. The result may be surprising, but the sentence connects the two ideas. Though can do the same job, and it has one useful extra position at the end of a sentence.
Open lessonTill or until: meaning, form, and sentence position
Your train leaves at six, and you have to stay at work until five. One short word tells us where that waiting period ends.
Open lessonTire or tyre: choose the American or British spelling
A shop in London may advertise new tyres, while a shop in Chicago advertises new tires. The objects are the same. The spelling changes with the variety of English.
Open lessonTitles and names in English writing
You are writing to a new client called Dr. Mei Chen. A small detail matters: write Dr. Mei Chen, not dr mei chen. Capitals and punctuation help a reader see where a name and title begin.
Open lessonToo, too much, and too many
Your suitcase is too heavy, it contains too much clothing, and you packed too many pairs of shoes. These forms all show excess, but the noun after them determines which form you need.
Open lessonWhat you will find here
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