Conjunctions or prepositions

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate conjunction or preposition. 1. …………………. I had a headache, I enjoyed the movie. (Although / Even if) 2. We were late …………………. the rain. (because / because of) 3. We managed to reach on time ……………………. the rain. (because of / in spite of) 4. She went to work ……………………… her illness. (despite / because) 5. …………………… his best efforts, he could not pass the test. (In spite of / Because of) 6.......

Read more »

Mistakes with prepositions

Incorrect: He is going to home. Correct: He is going home. The preposition ‘to’ is not normally used with ‘home’. Incorrect: The children have been playing since two hours. Correct: The children have been playing for two hours. We use ‘for’ to indicate duration. ‘Since’ is used with the starting point of action. Incorrect: An ordinary man’s life is different from a minister. Correct: An ordinary man’s life is different from that of a minister. Do......

Read more »

Adjective clauses used as co-ordinate clauses

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause which serves the same purpose as an adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. Adjective clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun or relative adverb. Examples are given below. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. (Here the adjective clause ‘that wears the crown’ modifies the noun head.) Winston Churchill was a great statesman who also wrote many books. (Here the adjective......

Read more »

When to use some and any

The words some and any are determiners. They are used to modify nouns. Some and any can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. They show an indefinite quantity or number. There are some mangoes on the tree. (We don’t mention the exact number of mangoes on the tree.) I haven’t got any money. She has some friends in Hong Kong. Some and any can be used with both singular and plural nouns. Have you got any friends? (Here ‘any’ is......

Read more »

Common similes

A simile is a figure of speech in which one thing is compared with another things. Here are some common similes in English. As crooked as a dog’s hind leg If somebody is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, they are dishonest. No one will trust you if you are as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. As fat as a pig If somebody is as fat as a pig, they are very fat. I must start dieting. I am as fat as a pig. As gentle as a lamb If somebody is as gentle......

Read more »