A2 point 1 and the only point in the category of FOCUS / FRONTING is defined as: ‘a prepositional phrases in the front position for focus.’
“At the time, I had a girlfriend, so I didn’t talk to her.” This is an example of putting a prepositional phrase at the start of a sentence which is what pre-intermediate students can do.
fronted prepositional phrase Read More »
A subordinating conjunction connects a sentence’s main clause and a subordinate clause. The subordinate clause (also known as an adverb clause) provides additional information explaining the when, where, how, or why of the main clause. “If, when & while” are sometimes interchangeable. In the sentence “It’s hard to have a girlfriend when you don’t have a
if | when | while | so + SUBORDINATE CLAUSE Read More »
The phrases “on the one hand” and “on the other hand” are used to introduce two contrasting points of view or arguments. They are often used in formal writing and in spoken English. On the one hand is used to introduce the first point of view or argument. On the other hand is used to introduce the
organising contrast Read More »
The English Vocabulary Profile entry: be at/on the point of doing sth = B2 to be going to do something very soon The English Grammar Profile B2 Point 57 in the category of FUTURE in the past is defined as: ‘simple past form of ‘be’ + ‘on the point of’ + ‘-ing’ to talk about
on the point of VERBing Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 5 in the category of FOCUS is defined as: ‘The thing, fact, point, problem, or reason + is (that)’ for focus. For example: The fact is I can’t take any more of your money unless I raise the rates on you. listen However, we believe the structure should not be limited to just the article ‘the’. For example: My point
The + thing | fact | point | problem | reason + is (FOCUS) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 Point 4 in the category of FOCUS is defined as ‘The reason (that)’, ‘The place (which)’ + clause as subject + ‘be’ for focus. Expert examples: The reason you‘re alive today is because of those changes in our brains that took place in Africa. TED But the reason that a lot of his fans are in the stands is because of another video. listen Student in speaking
the reason that | the place which + CLAUSE Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 10 in DISCOURSE MARKERS in writing is defined as: a range of phrases as discourse markers to introduce a comparison. There are three examples of these in the English Grammar Profile. 1. Similarly For Hitler to fail at Stalingrad would be an enormous blow to the Nazi myth. It would be an enormous blow to the war itself. Similarly, Josef Stalin was unrelenting. He would not tolerate defeat. WWII from Space Collocates of ‘Similarly‘ (word ranking: 2809)
introduce a comparison Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 56 in the category of DETERMINERS and articles is defined as “the” in comparative phrases ‘more’, ‘less’, ‘worse’, ‘better’ * the more’, ‘less’, ‘worse’ * to talk about one thing that is affected by another. comparative clauses For example: The broader the sentiment across business, the more influence and power there is to make change. timesnewsgroup.com.au The more guns there are here, the more likely there is to
THE + comparative phrases ‘The more you have, the better it is.’ Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 101 in CLAUSES & comparatives is defined as ‘THE SAME’ (+ NOUN) + ‘AS’ + CLAUSE In the following example ‘way’ can be removed: I want to be around as many people as possible who feel the same way as I do. listen But Alan says none of us are the same as we were a moment ago and we shouldn’t try to be. listen Sadly there is no mention of whether this is only finite clauses because
the same (NOUN) as + CLAUSE Read More »
Let’s explain what a ‘superlative clause’ is with this example: It’s the best car that you can buy. the best is the superlative adjective. that you can buy is the relative clause We can rewrite this as two sentences: It is the best car. You can buy it. Here the object it is replaced with the
superlative + THAT clause ‘the best you can’ Read More »
A search on iWeb corpus for 3 part subordinating conjunctions reveals the following frequency: They point to another group of multiple overlapping points on the English Grammar Profile. B2 point 91 in CLAUSES & conditional is defined as: conditional subordinate clauses with a range of conjunctions ‘as long as’, ‘provided’ + present simple or present
conditional subordinate clauses & range of complex conjunctions Read More »
Superlatives and infinitives for upper-intermediate students.
superlative adjective + noun + to infinitive Read More »
B2 premodifer ‘by far’ to make a superlative adjective stronger
Point 62 in the category of adjectives in the English Grammar Profile.
BY FAR + superlative adjective Read More »
Which superlative adjective should we learn at higher levels?
superlative adjective without a following noun Read More »
By the time is a phrase that is used to connect two actions that happen at different times. It means not later than or when. You can use the present simple with by the time to refer to a future action that will happen before another future action. For example:
By the time we arrive, the movie will have started. (We will arrive in the future, but the movie will start before that.)
By the time you read this, I will be gone. (You will read this in the future, but I will leave before that.)
By the time + present (future meaning) Read More »
