Archive by Author
Parts of Speech in English – Nouns Posted by Gabriele on Jan 9, 2012
In my last post about parts of speech in English we looked at verbs. I mentioned how verbs are perhaps the most important part of speech in English. After all, it is only with verbs that you can have a complete sentence with just one word, for example: “Run!” This is a command and a…
A Review of Parts of Speech in English – Overview and Verbs Posted by Gabriele on Jan 8, 2012
Today I am going to start a 5-post series on parts of speech. In each of my next five posts I am going to review one or two parts of speech and give you the bare bones* information you need to know about each of these parts of speech. These posts will be quick but…
Common Abbreviations in English Posted by Gabriele on Jan 6, 2012
Abbreviated words are everywhere in writing. Abbreviations are so plentiful I thought I’d go over some useful ones here. First though, let us define what an abbreviation is. An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Abbreviations are good to use in writing, to save space and time, but they are essential…
A drive through Boston, Massachusetts Posted by Gabriele on Jan 5, 2012
For this post I’ve selected a short video driving tour of Boston, Massachusetts to share with you. Boston is New England’s largest city. This video will give you a nice glimpse* into what there is to do and see in this city. I have highlighted the different landmarks shown in the video and given you…
The Alphabet of Nations Posted by Gabriele on Jan 3, 2012
Here is a fun video that is a great reminder of the English alphabet and also a number of country names in the English language. This is a children’s song by the group They Might Be Giants (TMBG). TMBG is an American alternative rock band that formed in the 1980’s. They are known for their…
Happy New Year! Posted by Gabriele on Jan 1, 2012
How did you celebrate the coming of the new year last night? Another way I could ask that question is: “How did you ring in the new year?” The expression “to ring in” the new year is a modern expression with an old origin. This expression is connected to the aged custom to ring the…
The End of the Year and the Simple Past Tense Posted by Gabriele on Dec 29, 2011
As the year draws to a close you may find yourself talking about all of the amazing experiences you have had in 2011! For that you will need the past tense. The simple past tense (and past participle) for regular verbs in English is formed by adding -ed to the end of a base verb. …