By: Musaadah
LATER (adj, adv), LATTER (pron, adj), LAST (adj)
Later is the comparative form of late; Latter refers to the second of two persons or things named; Last refers to the final person of thing.
Examples:
The movie began later than we expected.
Both Frank and Philip are likeable, but the latter is the more intelligent.
December is the last month of the year.
LAY, LIE (v)
Verb Lay, which means to put or place, can be active or passive and take an object. The verb Lie, which it means to repose, is never passive and never followed by an object.
Examples:
Lay (lay, laid, lying) He laid the book aside.
Lie (lay, lied, lying) He lay down on the bed.
LIE, LIE (v)
The verb Lie meaning to repose has differ to principal parts form the verb lie which means not to tell the truth.
Lie (lay, lain, lying) He lies in the bed until noon.
Lie (lied, lied lying) He lies, cheats, and steals.
LIKE (prep), SUCH AS (prep), AS IF (conj)
Like, which is followed by an object, means resembling; Such as means for example; as if means as though and introduces an adverb clause of manner.
Examples:
He looks like his father. (Resemblance = like +noun).
Fruits such as oranges and grapefruit grow in Texas. (Example = such as + noun).
He looks as if he is tired. (Manner = as if + clause).
LOOSE (adj), LOSE (v), LOSS (n), LOOSEN (v)
Examples:
I need a screwdriver to tighten the loose screws.
He is losing weight very quickly.
She was saddened by the loss of her wedding ring.
I am loosening the screws.
MAYBE (adv), MAY BE (v)
Maybe means possible or perhaps; may be is a verb form indicating that is possibility exists.
Examples:
Maybe you will find the wallet you lost.
She may be late.
Related Topics:
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (F-K)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (C-D)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)
The Kinds of Verbs (Part 2)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (L-M)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (F-K)
By: Musaadah
FARTHER, FURTHER (adj, adj/adv)
Farther/further refers to distance; only further is used to mean more time, degree, or quantity.
Examples:
Chicago is farther/further north than Austin
I will give you further information later.
FEWER, LESS (adj, pron)
Fewer is used with countable items; Less is used with non-count items.
Examples:
He spend fewer hour studying for the exam.
FORMER, FIRST (n, adj)
Former refers to the first of two persons or things named. First refers to the first three or more persons or things named.
Examples:
Both Mary and Michael were invited, but only the former came.
Anna, Jane, and Della are sisters, but the first was adopted.
FORMERLY, FORMALLY (adv)
Formerly means previously or earlier; Formally means in a formal manner.
Examples:
Elizabeth was formerly called Betty.
You are too formally dressed for an outdoor picnic.
FORTH (adv) FOURTH (adj)
Forth means in a forward direction; Fourth refers to the place in numerical order coming after third.
Examples:
She rocked the baby back and forth until he fell asleep.
You are the fourth person to ask that question.
HAD BETTER, WOULD RATHER (v)
Had better expresses advisability preference.
Examples:
I had better study tonight.
I would rather watch television than study.
ITS (adj), IT’S (pron + v)
Examples:
The snake is shedding its skin.
It’s time to go home.
KIND, SORT, TYPE (n)
These words may be singular or plural, when the word is singular, it is modified by this or that; when it is plural, it is modified by these or those.
Examples:
I like this kind of cookie.
I like these kinds of cookies.
We always buy that sort of shoe.
We always buys those sorts of shoes.
They enjoy reading type of book
They enjoy those that types of books.
Related Topic:
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (C-D)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (C-D)
By: Musaadah
CAPITAL, CAPITOL (n, adj)
Capital can means either a person’s wealth or the city which houses the government. Capitol refers to the specific building that is the center of the government.
Examples:
He invested a lot of his capital in the project.
The capitol building is near the downtown shopping area.
CLOTHES (n), CLOTHE (v), CLOSE (adj, prep, v)
Examples:
The man was wearing old, dirty clothes.
She lives close to the university.
The lawyer clothed his argument in pompous phraseology.
The store closes at midnight.
COMPLEMENT, COMPLIMENT (v, n)
A complement is something that completes something else. A compliment is a statement of approval or congratulation the related verbs have the same sense.
Examples:
A subject complement follows the verb “to be”
She got many compliments on her new ring.
The brown walls complement the generally dark effect of the room.
She complimented him on his cooking.
COSTUME, CUSTOM, CUSTOMS (n)
Costume refers to clothing; Custom refers to a traditional practice or habit; Customs means the agency for collecting duties imposed by a country on imports or exports.
Examples:
She wore a beautiful costume to the party.
You must pass through customs when you enter a country.
COUNCIL (n), COUNSEL (v, n)
A Council is an official group. Counsel means to give advice. The noun counsel means advice.
Examples:
The city council meets every week.
His doctor counseled him to stop smoking.
His counsel was useful to us.
DESERT (n, v) DESSERT (n)
Examples:
It is very hot and dry in the desert.
The camp was deserted
Her favorite dessert is chocolate ice cream.
DIFFER (v), (DIFFERENT (adj)
Both the words are followed by form and not them.
Examples:
My current teacher differs in method from my last one.
The ending of the book was different from what I expected.
Related Topic:
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)
Kinds of Verbs (Part 2)
Kinds of Adverb (Part 2)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)
By: Musaadah
A, AN (art)
Before consonant sounds, use a; before vowel sounds use an.
Examples:
They left an hour ago.
I will attend a university next semester.
ACCEPT (v), EXCEPT
Examples:
They accepted my invitation.
Everyone except me attended.
ADVICE (n), ADVISE (v)
His advice was very useful.
I advised him to buy a car.
AFFECT (v), EFFECT (n,v)
The verb affect means to influence; the verb effect means to cause to happen
Examples:
Arbitrations have affects a settlement of the dispute.
Pollution affect means the result.
ALMOST (adv), MOST (adj, pron)
The verb almost is used with verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs to mean nearly but not completely. Most means the mayority or greatest part.
Examples:
Almost all student work very hard.
Most students work very hard.
ALREADY (adv), ALL READY (adj)
Already means before the time specific; All ready means completely prepared.
Examples:
The movie had already begun by the time we arrived.
Th president was all ready to go on vacation.
AMOUNT, NUMBER (n)
Amount refers to non-count items; Number refers to countable items.
Examples:
The amount of money you have is not enough.
The number of students in the program is increasing.
BARELY, HARDLY, SCARCELY (adv)
These words have a negative connotation and cannot be used with other negative words.
Examples:
I could barely see him.
Scarcely had the picnic begun when the rain started.
BESIDE, BESIDES (prep)
Beside means next to; Besides means in addition to.
Examples:
He sat beside the pretty girl.
He has a bicycle besides a car.
BETWEEN, AMONG (prep)
Between refers to only two persons or thing; Among refers to three or more persons or things.
Examples:
There is little difference between the two ideas.
There is little difference among the three ideas.
Related Topics:
Kinds of Verbs (Part 2)
Kinds of Adverb (Part 2)
About Perfect Tenses
This article will explain about the meaning of all perfect tense verbs—including the future perfect. Use the Perfect Tense to express a relationship between two times, two states or two actions.
Examples:
Past perfect: When I had eaten, I went to garden.
First: I ate Second: I went to garden
Present perfect: We have been in the Indonesia since 2000.
First: Before 2000 Second: 2000 to the present
Present perfect: We have never eaten Indonesian food.
First: All the time before now Second: Now
Compare the sentences above with a sentence in the simple past.
Last night We had Indonesian food.
(In this case, we are only concerned with one time - last night)
English Tenses
By: Musaadah
Present Tense
This tense used for scientific facts, for habitual or customary actions. The Simple Present Tense is used for something that is always true or is a fact, habit, or happens in the present.
Examples:
Facts:
The earth is round.
The earth is smaller than the Jupiter.
Habit:
I buy my favorite magazine twice a week.
He gets up at nine.
Present Progressive
Present Progressive is used to
- Express annoyance with something that someone always does.
- Actions which are in progress at the moment of speaking and happening right now.
I am reading a newsletter.
I am checking my email.
We are eating at home
The liquid nitrogen is boiling over.
Past Tense
In English, the simple past talks about an activity that began and ended at a particular time in the past. This is in contrast to the present perfect tense that we will go over in a few pages. Use this tense to show actions that happened before the present moment.
Examples:
First it started raining. Then I got a little wet.
Castaway Carl walked the plank.
Future Tense
Use this tense to show actions that will happen in the future.
Examples:
You will explore animism in John Keats' Ode on a Grecian Urn.
We will be back
Nothing will work unless you
Present Perfect Tense
Use the Present Perfect tense to show that the action of the verb has been completed in the past but is linked to the present.
Examples:
He has called the doctor.
You have seen that movie twenty times.
Past Perfect
Use the Past Perfect tense to show an action that was completed prior to another action that took place in the past.
Examples:
President Obama had attended the theatre regularly before his assassination.
We had studied English Tenses before we moved to London.
Future Perfect
Use the Future Perfect tense to show an action that will be completed prior to another action that will take place in the future.
Examples:
The student will have begun his studies before the other student arrive.
We will have designed the poster in three days.
Related Topic:
Perfect Tense
Perfect Tense
By: Musaadah
The perfect tenses are often used to show which of two actions happened first. The present tense the past tense, and future tense are used to express a single action which has been, or is about to be, completed. It is built using some form of the auxiliary to have (have, had, has, shall, will have) plus the past participle.
Example:
Past perfect:
I had answered your letter before you called me.
Because this is the past perfect, it uses had, the past form of to have as its auxiliary. It is easy to see that the action happened in the past, but also notice that the answering took place before the calling.
Present perfect :
Barrack Husein Obama has completed his assignment.
She has finished her homework.
Despite its name, this present perfect verb tense tells about actions that happened in the past, but the actions happened more recently (closer to the present) than if the past perfect tense were used. The two sentences below to understand the difference in meaning between the two tenses.
Present Perfect :
The car has delivered the load of topsoil.
Past Perfect:
The car had delivered the washing machine
Which action happened farthest in the past? Which action happened most recently? You can see that the present perfect refers to action that happened more recently.
The third form of the perfect tense is the future perfect.
Examples:
She will have launched the boat before the storm hits.
You shall have showered before I arrive.
Here the time frame is a little more difficult to see, but it is clear that the boat launching will definitely take place before the arrival of the storm. The future perfect uses the future form of the verb to have (shall have or will have). Here all the action definitely takes place in the future, but see how one action (launching and showering) takes place closer to the present than the other.
English Grammar - Clause
There are many kinds of clauses such as: subordinate (or dependent) clauses, adverbial clause, principal (or main) clauses, relative clause, finite and non finite clause.
Subordinate Clause
Subordinate is a group of words which includes a non-finite or finite verb but doesn’t make a statement which stands by itself.
Examples:
As soon as the Green Knight entered the room all were astounded.
She said that the Green Knight was really black.
The school, which stands on the hill, is full.
Subordinate clauses can be classified according to their function
Adverbial Clause
Example:
As soon as the Green Knight entered the room, all were astounded.
In this sentence the clause fulfills the same function as an adverb such as immediately in the sentence immediately all were astounded.
Principal Clauses
What is Principal Clause? Principal clause is a group of words which includes a finite verb and a subject, and makes a complete statement.
Examples:
You are a man.
The school stands on the hill.
When I come home, I will let the dog in.
The following aren’t principal clauses because they don’t make a complete statement which can stand by itself:
Which is a problem
That the school is standing on the hill
The school which stands on the hill
When I come home
Noun Clause
The clause fulfills the same function as a noun such as the words in She said the Words.
Example:
She said that the Green Knight was really black.
Relative Clause
What is relative clause? Relative clauses are adjectival in nature. The clause fulfills the same role as an adjective such as high-placed in the sentence “The high-placed school is full”. Clauses can also be classified by whether they contain a finite verb.
Example:
The school, which stands on the hill, is full.
Finite Clause
A finite clause contains a finite verb and, usually, a subject. It can be a principal clause or a subordinate clause.
Examples:
They say nice things about Michael. (principal clause)
When they say nice things about Michael they aren’t lying.
(subordinate clause)
Non-Finite Clause
A non-finite clause contains a non-finite verb but doesn’t contain a finite verb and can’t stand alone. A non-finite clause can’t be a principal clause. Non-finite verbs include participles and infinitives.
Examples:
Singing and dancing, she moved slowly up the aisle.
She gave you an invitation to bring me to the party.
Having eaten all the cakes, she began to consume the biscuits and and the chocolates.
Filled with joy, she left the room.
Related Topics:
Kinds of Verbs (Part 2)
Kinds of Adverbs (Part 2)
Kinds of Adverbs (Part 1)
7 Great Tips To Create An Awesome Poetry
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By: Musaadah
Do you wanna be great poet? Why poetry? The interest in writing poetry has never faded completely, although—maybe—I have left my puberty time behind for a very long time. There are many websites about poetry. Yup, the basic desire to express personal thoughts in an intense and intimate writing style called poetry is universal. There are many forms of poetry, but some forms—such as free verse or light verse—are still popular with many readers. Anyway, poetry should never be limited to what is current or popular, but what is most effective for the particular effect a poet wishes to have on his audience. Before starting to write poetry, you should develop a true appreciation for all the forms, meaning you must read, the more “experience” you have got about poetry. So….how to create a good free verse poem yourself? Here are some tips:
1. All good poems start with good inspiration. What is motivating you to create a poem? Is it Love? Nature? Loss? Whatever the inspiration for our poem, be prepared to dig under the surface for the best material. Write about how all of these things affected you, or how you would like a reader OUT THERE somewhere to interpret your feelings. But remember, good poetry requires a balancing of talent, study and skill to craft a poem. Emotions or inspirations alone are never enough.
2. Free verse poetry depends on tension and release. Find the words that carry the weight of the poem and give them a stronger position by breaking them off from previous statements. A line that runs from margin to margin has very little tension by the end. This may be for more lyrical poems, but if you’re trying to express anger or other strong emotion you need to break your lines short bites.
3. Decided on your intended mood for better control of the language. Once you have examined your topic thoroughly and have hang-up some word on the framework, you need to concentrate on tone and mood. This is strictly up to your own interpretation of the subject. A poem about birds and butterflies does not have to be light in tone, nor does a poem about death need to be serious and somber.
4. Get much feedback as you can before beginning any rewrites. When a poem is brought to any public forum it immediately invites reader participation. Reading poetry is a process between author and reader. Find out all you can about the reader’s reaction to the work as it stands before doing any major editing. Where can I get such as feedback? I can get by sending yours to certain site to get rated. Or else, you can read yours in front of your friends to invite their reaction. Why doing this? Because the feedbacks I’ve got can be used to do rewrites or editing. Remember, all good literature of any genre’ must be thoroughly edited.
5. If you want to write better poetry yourself, read everything you can by established poets. If you want to learn how to improve your own craft, study from the master. Doing this, you will be familiar with those who have gone before, and you will see what is being published currently.
6. Writing poetry is a matter of compressing language to what is most essential. Limit the number of articles and other fillers. Use adjectives sparingly, because overuse can become jarring to the reader. When in doubt, cut it out. Try to avoid ‘telling’ a story; poetry is not a prose. Do not fear using stronger language or more intense imagery in order to get your point across to the reader. A poem that sells usually has a strong voice that is very much different from anyone else’s.
7. Use the languages as creatively as you can. Saying “I love you more than words can express” is neither unique nor is it our own. The images must jump off page, fresh and original and offer the readers just he detailing needed to participate and truly experience the poem. Use the language in such an away that is come that it comes alive as new and fresh, in a way it had never been spoken before.
So, you’ve got the tips. No, take your pen and start writing. Just write. Don’t think. Just get what you’ve got inside out. Yup, you’re a great poet now! :)