Grammar Guru: This has to be done until/ by Friday
Last week’s options were I especially like Indian summer. (7 votes) I like especially Indian summer. (0 votes) All votes were correct – so my students weren’t voting ;). Adverb placement is one of the trickiest issues in English grammar. As a rule of thumb, place them before the verb, but after an auxiliary verb […]
Grammar Guru: I especially like/ I like especially
Last week the Grammar Guru question was: Which two are correct? Many emails are written needlessly. (100%, 9 Votes) = correct Many emails are needless. (67%, 6 Votes) = correct Many emails are written needless. (0%, 0 Votes) = incorrect Many emails are needlessly. (0%, 0 Votes) = incorrect Why didn’t everybody choose “Many emails […]
Grammar Guru: Needless or needlessly?
Last week, 9 out of 11 chose “take a break” over “make a break”. In German “Let’s take a break” is “Machen wir doch mal eine Pause.” When pairs of words in different languages are very similar but have different meanings, they are called “false friends”. Similar collocations (or word partnerships) don’t always mean the […]
Grammar Guru: make/take a break
Every single visitor who did the “used to” poll last week got it right – congratulations! “I’m used to getting up at 6. And you?” (talking about my habits) is sometimes confused with: “I used to get up at 5, but now I sleep until 6″. So I used to do something that I don’t […]
Grammar Guru: I’m used to…
Last week the Grammar Guru poll result was I’m looking forward to seeing you = 4 I’m looking forward to see you = 2 The majority got it right.The other choice is an error. This week’s poll is also about a typical error. For a good way to practice the correct phrase, see http://annehodgson.de/2008/10/28/im-looking-forward-to-hearing-from-you But […]
Grammar Guru: Vote for the grammar of your choice!
Democracy now! A new grammar quiz each Saturday. Join the fun. This week: I’m looking forward to see/seeing you.
