Category Archives: Grammar

Where’s the Monkey?

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  In, on, under…   these small words are used to describe where someone or something is.

  • In the first picture, the ball is in the box.
  • In the second picture, the ball is on the box.

Here’s a silly, short kids’ video that can help you remember which word to use.

And here’s a little lesson on these words – called “prepositions of place”.

Finally, here is a description of many more prepositions of place,  and a quiz.

How Often

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  • Think of a question that starts with “How often should …“.  For example:
    • How often should I wash my car?
    • How often should I take a shower?
    • How often should my husband help me clean?
  • Then, spin the wheel, and see the answer!

The choices on the wheel are called “Adverbs of Frequency“.  Here’s a chart (some meanings are approximate).

What Does This Mean?

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Don’t say: 
– What it means?
– What this means?
– What means this?
– What means [xx]? (such as What means hyperbole? or What means doodle?)

Say this:
– What does it mean?
– What does this mean?
– What does [xx] mean?  such as…
– What does hyperbole mean?
– What does doodle mean?

Remember:

  • When you don’t understand what something means and you want to ask someone about it, start your question with What does...
  • What does this emoji mean?  
  • What does sibling mean?

There, Their, or They’re?

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These groups of words sound the same, or similar to each other.  It can be confusing to know which one to use when you write.  Examples:

  • I’m going to Boston.
  • I’m hungry and she is too.
  • There is too much snow.
  • I have two daughters.
  • She bought some groceries and then she went home.
  • My car is older than your car.
  • Plum Island is a pretty place and I’m going there tomorrow.
  • They’re very excited kids.
  • Their car is in front of my car.
  • Can I use your phone?
  • You’re my best friend.
  • They were at the beach yesterday.
  • We’re happy that you can come to visit us.
  • Where are you going?

There are many more commonly confused words.

— Thanks to Pat for suggesting this article —

Regular Verbs and Their Spelling

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Most English verbs are regular.  The past tense and the past participle of all regular verbs end in -ed.

Work (base/infinitive form of the verb) – I work in Boston.
Worked (past tense) – Yesterday I worked in Boston.
Worked (past participle) – I have worked in Boston for three years.

Play – Played – Played
Cry – Cried – Cried
Stop – Stopped – Stopped

Here’s a long list of 600 common regular English verbs.  For all of these verbs, the past tense form (and the past participle) ends with the letters “ed“.

Here is more detail for the spelling rules for regular verbs.

Yes/No Questions with ‘Does’

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Don’t Say Say This
Does she has a car?
 Does she have a car?
Does your father has an appointment? Does your father have an appointment?
Does he goes to Boston every Tuesday? Does he go to Boston every Tuesday?
Does the milk smells ok? Does the milk smell ok?
Does she likes pizza? Does she like pizza?

Remember

  • Present Tense – Use when something happens in the present in a usual/regular way.
  • Base Form of a verb – Same as the infinitive, without the ‘to’
    • Examples of base verbs: go (not – goes, going, went); like, have, do, eat, work, play
  • For he/she/it in present tense – Pronounce the sound of the S at the end of most verbs
    • He cooks every night.  She goes there often.  It looks good.
  • BUT – for questions, use the base form of the main verb
    • So… She has a new dress.    But… Does she have a new dress?
    • She goes to school every Tuesday.    But…  Does she go to school every Tuesday?
  • Answering these yes/no questions
    • Does she have a car?
      • Yes she does.  (or – Yes, she has a car.)
      • No she doesn’t.  (or – No, she doesn’t have a car.)
    • Does she like pizza?
      • Yes she does.  (or – Yes, she likes pizza)
      • No she doesn’t.  (or – No, she doesn’t like pizza.)
      • Don’t Say:  Yes, she like. or – Yes, she likes.

Here’s another good explanation from Woodward English: