Video animation contrasting perfect tenses. Includes examples and timelines to illustrate meaning. Continue reading
IELTS
Time around now
Now I am planning to take my masters degree in public health. I prepare for all requirements especially IELTS. I am studying English so that I can improve my skills and can be accepted by an Australia university.
Occasionally it’s difficult to decide between present simple and present continuous tense, even when using a straightforward time expression like now. There are several possibilities: Continue reading
Description(s)
The first paragraph is mostly argument but it also contains some descriptions.
Yet another word that has slightly different meanings in its countable and uncountable forms. I can’t remember ever seeing it causing grammar problems, but as in the above example, the wrong form may be inappropriate in certain situations. Let’s first of all examine correct usage. Continue reading
Take care (of)
Animals in zoos suffer in many ways, but at least they are taken care by vets.
In a passive structure this is a fairly easy mistake to make since the object of care comes before the verb. Let’s take a look at some examples using the featured image for this post as inspiration (crossing the road). Continue reading
The advance of advanced technology
With the advanced of technology, millennials are finding it easier to make friends.
I’m not sure why Indonesian IELTS candidates write ‘advanced’ (with ‘ed’) in this phrase. It’s possibly their confusing it with advanced technology.
Before you use these words (advance, technology) in the same sentence, decide whether you want to focus on the technology or on the advance! Continue reading
Training or trainings?
This problem can be overcome through government policies that improve access to education and trainings.
This is one of the rare occasions when low-band Indonesian IELTS candidates add ‘s’ to a word!
Admittedly you will occasionally see training as a countable noun, but the uncountable form is far more common. Think of training (uncountable) as a synonym for education (aslo uncountable). Continue reading
Experience or experiences?
I think we should employ Tom. He has more experiences than Bill.
Before you continue, can you guess what kind of experience is illustrated in the featured image for this post? Answers in the comments box below!
Instances and examples
There are many alternatives to fossil fuels. For instance wind and solar.
This may appear to be two sentences, but the second ‘sentence’ does not contain a verb and is technically not a sentence. It’s the kind of thing you’ll occasionally hear in spoken English, but not in formal writing. Continue reading
Phonemic Chart
Taking and spending time
Yet, acceptance, the last stage, can spend a lot of time because volunteers must interview participants one by one.
OK so how about this for a basic rule: Continue reading