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When a sentence begins with “A number of,” should the verb that follows be singular, or plural? Compare the following sentences: A number of students were late for class. The number of students in this class is ten. In sentence 1, ‘A number of’ is an expression of quantity meaning ‘a lot of.’ The subject … Continue reading
spooky creepy eerie bloodcurdling spine-chilling spine-tingling stomach-churning hair-raising bone-chilling gut-twisting gory (specifically used for something that is bloody) horrific ghastly (used mostly for appearances) ghoulish (a ghoul, in stories, is an evil spirit that open graves and eats the dead bodies in them. This word can be used disapprovingly for a person who takes a … Continue reading
If you are confused regarding which to use, here’s a tip (click on the slide below):
Names of political or cultural periods or events are capitalized in their original connotations but should be in lower case when used in a generic (general) sense. Example: The arts and sciences flourished during the Renaissance. [Referring specifically to the period of cultural movement called Renaissance in Italy, hence capital] BUT There are lots of … Continue reading
To put your feet up and to let your hair down both means to relax. Example: I like nothing better than putting my feet up after a hard day’s work, with a drink and a book. Don’t worry about tomorrow. It’s time to let your hair down and enjoy the evening.
When you have an adverb ending in ly, followed by a participle or an adjective, do not hyphenate it, whether you are using it before or after a noun. Example: a highly paid banker he was mildly amusing BUT For adverbs not ending in ly + participle or adjective, use a hyphen before a noun, … Continue reading
Some time (with two stresses) means quite a long time. Example: She has lived in China for quite some time, so she speaks Mandarin quite well. Sometime refers to an indefinite time, usually in the future; it means one day. Example: Why don’t we meet for a drink after work sometime next week? Sometimes is … Continue reading
Having a yellow streak is being cowardly. Example: 1. I went rock climbing, but my friend backed off. He has a mile-wide yellow streak running down his back. **NOTE** ‘mile-wide’ simply means long. It’s just the way we use it in conversational English. A ‘streak’ is basically a long, thin mark that is different in … Continue reading
At is used to talk about position at a point. Example: It is very hot at the center of the earth. (Center of the earth=position at a point) Sometimes we use at with a larger place, if we just think of it as a point: a stage on a journey or a meeting place, for … Continue reading
To come to terms with someone means to agree on some matter, to come to terms with something means to accept an undesired state of things. To make peace with someone is to let go of old grievances, to make peace with something is to accept an unpleasant reality and let it go. Compare: I … Continue reading
English Notes 