PELIC

(PELIC) refers to The University of Pittsburgh English Language Institute Corpus.

If a post refers to any language from this corpus, we tag it PELIC.

article * CLASS

article, C1, NOUNS, phrases

A search in iWeb corpus for: _A * CLASS 1 THE WORKING CLASS 20916 Public education is a way to improve and equalize educational opportunity, and a way to bring order and discipline to the working class. PELIC STUDENT: Chinese Male Level 5 Reading class 2 THE MIDDLE CLASS 20686 The Mirabal sisters and their husbands formed the June 14th movement along with many others from the middle class. TED 3 A WORLD CLASS 14222 (*this should probably be a hyphenated adjective) = A WORLD-CLASS + NOUN 4 THE FIRST …

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MAKE + noun phrase + OF

B2, NOUNS, VERBS

This structure is generally B2 grammar because it often comes with a wide range of general reference nouns without a determiner.  However, more detail can be found in the English Vocabulary Profile regarding meaning and level: make fun of sb/sth = B2 to make a joke about someone or something in an unkind way make …

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phrasal verb + clause ‘work out how you did it’

C2, CLAUSES, phrasal, VERBS

At C2 in the English Vocabulary Profile: work out = to understand something or to find the answer to something by thinking about it A search in NOW corpus for which ‘question words’ follow phrasal verbs: work out _*Q 1 WORK OUT HOW 12286 Just give us five minutes, Mr Poirot, and I‘m sure we‘ll be able to work out how you did it. listen 2 WORK OUT WHAT 11671 …

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can be + VERB-ing

B1, continuous, MODALITY

Although there are a number of similar points in the English Grammar Profile for modal verbs followed by continuous aspect, there is not an entry for ‘CAN + continuous’. We predict that if future continuous affirmative is A2, should + continuous B2, might or may + continuous C1 that ‘can + continuous’ is at least …

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conjunctive adverbs

ADVERBS, CLAUSES, CONJUNCTIONS, subordinate

We have an A2 and B1 grammar post about linking adverbs and subordinating conjunctions. However, sometimes in grammar, there are many terms such as ‘conjunctive adverb’ etc. According to Wikipedia: A conjunctive adverb, adverbial conjunction, or subordinating adverb is an adverb that connects two clauses by converting the clause it introduces into an adverbial modifier …

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fulfil ambition TO infinitive

B1, B2, C1, infinitive, NOUNS

The noun ‘ambition’ is often followed by an infinitive.  Here’s an EXPERT example: I see the people that do the real work and what’s really said, in a way, is that the people that are the most giving,  hardworking and capable of making this world better, usually don’t have the ego and ambition to be a leader. listen Student example from PELIC: I believe that you need to associate with positive people who have an ambition to live a happy life. Korean male level 4 writing class Often, the C1 verb ‘fulfil’ takes ‘ambition’ as an object.  PELIC student example: Furthermore, children need an educational environment that is prepared and ready to fulfill their ambitions. Arabic male level 4 …

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my | your | his | her | our + NOUN

A1, DETERMINERS, NOUNS, phrases, possessive

A1 point 9 in the category of DETERMINERS is defined: possessive determiners ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘his’, ‘her’ and ‘our’ before nouns. A search in iWeb for: my|your|his|her|our _NN 1 YOUR BUSINESS 624027 You need to know a lot of things about how to make your business. TLC STUDENT EXAMPLE male Russia B2 2 YOUR HOME 598828 3 MY LIFE 576086 4 YOUR LIFE 560286 5 YOUR …

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CAN | WILL (affirmative declarative clause)

A1, ability, active, affirmative, CLAUSES, declarative, FUTURE, MODALITY

A1 point 1 in the category of CLAUSES is defined: affirmative declarative clauses with modal verbs. The English Grammar Profile examples include: ‘can’ and ‘will’.  Future simple modality is also covered here. Here are STUDENT EXAMPLES: A lot of farmers can read and write, but they didn’t complete high school. PELIC Chinese female level 3 writing class.   I will go to New York on Thanksgiving day. Korean female level …

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here | there (place)

A1, ADVERBS, places, range

In the English Grammar Profile,  A1 point 3 in ADVERBS is defined: a limited range of adverbs (‘here’, ‘there’) to indicate place. PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: I like to go there to eat food. Chinese female level 3 writing class. An iWeb search for: *many of the following results are not appropriate to this grammar point or A1 level. * * _VV …

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VERY + adjective

A1, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS, gradable, modify

In the English Grammar Profile, A1 point 13 in the category of ADVERBS / phrases: ‘very’ to modify common gradable adjectives. An iWeb search for: very _JJ .   1 VERY GOOD. 54946 He looks very good. PELIC STUDENT: Korean male level 3 writing class. 2 VERY IMPORTANT . 36690 3 VERY HELPFUL . 32475 4 VERY …

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ENJOY + verb-ING

A2, gerund, pattern, VERBS

In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 28 in the category of VERBS/patterns: ‘enjoy’ followed by the ‘-ing’ form. An iWeb search for: ENJOY _VVG 1 ENJOY WORKING 15550 2 ENJOYED READING 12553 3 ENJOY PLAYING 12353 4 ENJOY READING 11886 5 ENJOY WATCHING 11164 6 ENJOY USING 9039 7 ENJOYED WORKING 7176 8 ENJOY …

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YOURS (object)

A2, complements, object, position, possessive, PREPOSITIONS, PRONOUNS, reference, singular

Here’s an example of the possessive pronoun ‘yours’ in object position. It’s just like yours. Listen to the pronunciation. A2 point 21 in the category of PRONOUNS: the possessive pronoun ‘yours’, with singular reference, in object positions, and complement positions after ‘be’ and after prepositions A search in iWeb corpus for: * * * yours .   …

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that (pronoun)

A2, demonstrative, mentioned, PRONOUNS, reference, singular

In the English Grammar Profile, there are two similar points at A2 in the category of PRONOUN/demonstratives: Point 20 is defined as: ‘that’ as a pronoun to refer back to something which has already been mentioned Point 28: ‘that’ as a pronoun with singular reference For example: No, it‘s nowhere near that. listen That‘s why I brought you here. An iWeb search for: …

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indefinite pronoun + ELSE

A2, indefinite, post-modify, PRONOUNS

The adverb ‘else’ is only a postmodifier. It follows indefinite pronouns. In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 14 in the category of PRONOUNS: indefinite pronouns with ‘else’ We did a search in iWeb corpus for: _PN1 else 1 SOMEONE ELSE 335976 I would like to choose my sister as a guardian because I can’t imagine someone else. PELIC student: French male level 3 reading …

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JUST + preposition

A2, ADVERBS, modify, PREPOSITIONS

Here are student examples of ‘just’ pre-modifying a prepositional phrase. I was a shy girl and sometimes I was just like a boy. TLC, speaking test, female China B1 Some successful people are well-known just in their country. PELIC, female Arabic level 4 writing class. In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 3 in the category of PREPOSITIONS is defined: ‘JUST’ + to modify prepositions. An iWeb search for: just_R _II 1 JUST LIKE …

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