The phrase “at a time” means during any one period or in each instance. Here are some examples and explanations: I can only do one thing at a time. This means I cannot multitask or focus on more than one task in each moment. She reads two books at a time. This means she reads two books […]
(number) noun + AT A TIME Read More »
Here is an example of B2 focus with a singular noun phrase at the front of a sentence: The problem is that she wants a bottle of red wine. listen It is easy to find information about singular noun phrases + that clauses on the internet: We use a noun + that-clause to express opinions and feelings, often about certainty and possibility. We
plural noun phrase + ARE + THAT clause Read More »
One could argue that being able to front the following ‘indefinite’ time phrases shows evidence of a higher CEFR level. A search in iWeb corpus for: . _II _NNT2 , 1 . AT TIMES, 11672 C1 → C2 She still misses him at times, but we all do. listen Kit accused me of only being along for the ride while at times I wished he‘d fall in the river and drown, so I could watch. At times, I actually like it. listen 2 . WITHIN
prepositon + plural time Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile: values = B2 the beliefs people have about what is right and wrong and what is most important in life, which control their behaviour A search in NOW corpus for: _JJ values_N 1 DEMOCRATIC VALUES 11972 Give a full and detailed account of who supports you, where your arms and supplies come from and that your aim is the overthrow of established democratic values. listen 2 SHARED VALUES 10229 3 MORAL VALUES 8609 4 CULTURAL VALUES
adjective + VALUES Read More »
A search in NOW corpus for: _I _AP _JJ _NN2 1 TO OUR DIGITAL EDITIONS 31898 2 ON YOUR MOBILE PHONES 31713 3 TO OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES 15863 4 OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AUTHORS 12218 5 BY THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS 10188 6 OF THEIR LOVED ONES 9585 7 OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS 7876 8 TO OUR
preposition + possessive adjective + adjective + plural noun Read More »
Here’s an example of the plural only noun ‘pants’ agreeing with the determiner ‘these’ and the verb ‘are’ These pants are lycra. Listen to this sentence. Here’s a student example: His jeans were too tight. PELIC Korean female level 5 listening class. A2 point 16 in the category of NOUNS is defined: NOUNS ONLY USED IN THE PLURAL with plural
nouns only in the plural (agreement) Read More »
In English grammar, “there is” and “there are” are commonly used to indicate the existence or presence of something.
“There is” is used when the noun following it is singular. For example, “There is a book on the table.”
“There are” is used when the noun following it is plural. For example, “There are many books on the shelf.”
These phrases can be used in various tenses by adjusting the form of the verb “be”. For instance, you could say “There was a time when I was everything to you,” using the past tense. However, this usage is typically considered more advanced and may be classified as A2 level in some learning resources.
THERE + is | are | was | were Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 44 in the category of DETERMINERS is defined as: ‘S after irregular plural nouns to indicate possession. Here’s an expert example: Women‘s organizations were active participants from the beginning. (Listen to this sentence) A search in iWeb for: _NN2 _GE _NN We removed those that are not irregular. 1 CHILDREN ‘S HOSPITAL 34865 2 MEN ‘S
irregular plural noun + ‘s + noun Read More »
In negative contexts, “much” and “many” denote a small amount or number of uncountable and countable nouns respectively. “Any” implies the absence of something, applicable to both countable and uncountable nouns. For instance, “Not many companies can build planes” implies a small number of such companies. “There’s not much difference between them” suggests a minimal difference. “I don’t have any apples” means zero apples are present.
not + any | many | much + NOUN Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 15 in the category of VERBS is defined: ‘there is’ and ‘there are’ + ‘a lot of’ + plural noun iWeb doesn’t allow for longer than 5 token searches: _EX _VB a lot of 1 THERE ARE A LOT OF 145235 2 THERE IS A LOT OF 69785
There is | are + a lot of + NOUN Read More »
B1 ‘THE OTHER’ with a singular noun to refer to the second or the opposite of two things, and with a plural noun to refer to one of a set of things.
The English Grammar Profile, B1 point 47 in the category of DETERMINERS/articles.
Interrogative determiners like “many” are useful in gathering information, quantifying objects or concepts, and framing questions about the quantity of things.
many + PLURAL NOUN ? Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 39 in the category of DETERMINERS is defined as: wide range of quantifying determiners with plural nouns (‘several’, ‘millions of’, ‘a few of’). *Note that if ‘millions of’ is used as hyperbole, then it is a C1 point. TLC, Speaking test examples: There are very few sports cars in Sri Lanka. We don’t
several | a few of Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, there are two almost identical B1 grammar points for ‘those’ in the category of PRONOUNS/demonstratives Point 46 is defined as: ‘those’ as a pronoun with plural reference. Point 62: ‘those’ as a pronoun to refer to things which have already been mentioned. An iWeb search for: * * * those
‘Either’ can mean “the one or the other.” ‘Neither’ can mean “not the one and not the other” or “not either.” C1 English Grammar Profile point 63 in DETERMINERS/quantity is defined as: ‘either’ and ‘neither’ + ‘of’ with plural noun phrases or pronouns. For example: Neither of these men is Chaney. (note the subject-verb agreement!) listen I don’t think
neither | either + of + PLURAL NOUN PHRASE Read More »
The grammar “one | some + of the + SUPERLATIVE + PLURAL NOUN” is used to describe something that is among the best or most extreme of its kind. The word “one” or “some” can be used to indicate that the thing being described is only one of a few, while the word “of” indicates that the thing is part of a larger group. The superlative adjective is used to compare the thing being described to all other things of its kind, and the plural noun indicates that the thing is more than one.
(one of | some of | among ) the + SUPERLATIVE + PLURAL NOUN Read More »
From Google/Oxford, the suffix: s’ denotes possession in plural nouns and sometimes in singular nouns having a final s. For example: “the girls’ dormitories” Girls is plural. Usually, the possessive singular noun takes ‘s regardless if it ends in s or not. (Many English users get this wrong.) You are the boss‘s son. (A2 grammar) listen Boss is singular.
singular noun ending in S + possessive ‘ (-s’) Read More »
Here are two points in the English Grammar Profile based on spelling. A2 point 19 in NOUNS is defined as: plurals by adding ‘-es’ to countable nouns ending in ‘-o’, ‘-ch’, ‘-s’, ‘-sh’, ‘-x’ or ‘-z’. A2 point 28 in NOUNS: ‘-IES’ plurals of countable nouns ending in a consonant plus ‘-y’, by changing the
plural nouns inflected -ES or -IES Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, A2 points 16 & 17 in the category of DETERMINERS/demonstratives is about the use of ‘these’ and ‘those’ with plural nouns.
THESE | THOSE + plural noun Read More »
‘All’ and ‘both’ are predeterminers, meaning they come before other determiners. For example: “All the things”, “both our children” In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 22 in DETERMINERS is defined as: increasing range of quantifying determiners with plural nouns ‘all’, ‘both’, ‘a few’ In the English Vocabulary Profile: a few = A2 some, or
all | both | a few + PLURAL NOUN Read More »
