Simple past: finished actions and past states
Use the simple past for finished events or states at a past time. Most verbs use -ed or a special past form; be uses was or were.
Hear the word boundaries
Listen once without typing. On the second play, decide where one word ends and the next begins. Replay the whole phrase to check.
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Verbs: actions, states, and sentence patterns
A verb can name an action or event. It can also describe a state, while a helper builds the main verb form.
Advice or advise: noun or verb?
Advice is a noun for helpful suggestions; advise is the verb for giving them. In everyday English, ask for some advice or a piece of advice, never an advice.
Could, would, or should: choose the meaning
Use could for possibility, would for imagined results, and should for advice. When another verb follows, use its base form.
Either or neither: choose between two possibilities
For two choices, either means one or the other is possible; neither rules out both. To reject both in standard English, say I want neither or I don't want either.
Ad hoc: meaning, spelling, and use
Ad hoc means made or arranged for one particular need outside the regular plan. Write it as two words.
Amicable: meaning and common combinations
Use amicable for friendly, peaceful relations or for an agreement reached without an argument. It is formal, so it is more common in careful speech and writing.
Cynical: meaning, tone, and examples
The word cynical describes believing people act only out of selfishness. It also describes actions that take unfair advantage of others.
Facetious: meaning, tone, and use
Facetious means joking or not speaking seriously, often when a serious response would fit better. It can sound critical, but it doesn't always mean rude.
Finite and non-finite verbs: find what changes
In a verb group, find the finite verb that carries grammatical tense or agreement. Infinitives and participles stay fixed; a core modal can be finite without changing form.
Nostalgic: meaning and how to use it
Nostalgic means looking back fondly on the past, often with some sadness. It can stand alone or take about or for to name the memories; these patterns overlap.
Ostentatious: meaning, tone, and examples
Ostentatious means showy in a way that tries to attract notice or admiration. It usually suggests excessive display, often of wealth or status, but actions and knowledge can be ostentatious too.