When we address people, we use certain conventions of style called Titles. These come before a person’s name when we are talking about them (or to them). They are usually used in formal situations or when we are being polite. General Titles These are general titles for men and women […]
Continue ReadingTill vs Until vs ‘Til
Till and Until are synonyms. They are both prepositions of time and refer to a period of time leading up to a specific time. I worked for the bank from 1989 until 1994. We were happily married till I discovered she was having an affair. In both these examples we […]
Continue ReadingThey’re vs Their vs There
These three are often confused by learners of English: they’re their there These words are homophones (that is, they sound the same) but with very different meanings. This article looks at the differences between these three and then how to teach them to your class. Differences they’re they’re = they […]
Continue ReadingSince… Ago…
Since and Ago are often confused and used wrongly by learners of English in the TEFL class. But there are some simple rules which show how they should be used. Since The usage is quite simple: since is followed by a specific time. since + specific time I’ve been waiting […]
Continue ReadingShould Of
The following are errors in English: * I should of known better. * They could of beaten us. * He must of left by now. * an asterisk in front of a sentence denotes an ungrammatical sentence. In good, grammatical English we say instead: I should have known better. They […]
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