Latest stories

  • in ,

    The Infinitive Marker in English Grammar

    Infinitive markers are function words that distinguish the base forms from the infinitive forms of English verbs. Function words are words that perform definite grammatical functions but that lack definite lexical meaning. Only one grammatical form can perform the grammatical function of particle in the English language: the p-word to. Infinitive Markers Similar in form […] More

  • in ,

    The Verb Phrase Head in English Grammar

    Verb phrase heads are words that function as the heads of verb phrases. A verb phrase consists of a verb plus any modifiers, complements, objects, infinitive markers, particles, operators, progressives, perfects, passive, and modals. Only one grammatical form can perform the function of adverb phrase head in the English language. The one grammatical form that […] More

  • in ,

    Grammatical Functions of English Auxiliary Verbs

    English verbs and verb phrases perform four primary and six nominal functions within English grammar. Auxiliary verbs, however, differ from prototypical verbs in that auxiliary verbs perform a limited set of grammatical functions. The auxiliary verbs in English include the modal verbs and quasi-modal verbs, the do-operator, perfect have, progressive be, and passive be. The […] More

  • in ,

    Nominal Functions of English Verbs and Verb Phrases

    Traditional grammars define verbs as “action or state of being words.” Verb phrases are phrases that consist of a verb plus any modifiers, complements, particles, and auxiliaries. In addition to five primary functions, English verbs and verb phrases also perform seven nominal functions in English grammar. Nominal functions are grammatical functions prototypically performed by nouns, […] More

  • in ,

    The Adjective Phrase Head in English Grammar

    Adjective phrase heads are words that function as the heads of adjective phrases. An adjective phrase consists of an adjective plus any modifiers and complements. Only one grammatical form can perform the function of adjective phrase head in the English language. The one grammatical form that can function as the adjective phrase head is: Adjectives […] More

  • in ,

    Using Noun Clauses as Appositives

    In grammar, a clause is a grammatical structure that consists of a subject and a predicate. A dependent or subordinate clause is a clause that cannot function independently as a complete sentence but that must appear with another independent or main clause. A noun clause is a type of dependent clause that performs a nominal […] More

  • in ,

    Using Noun Clauses as Adjective Phrase Complements

    A clause is a grammatical structure that consists of a subject and a predicate. A dependent or subordinate clause is a clause that cannot function independently as a complete sentence but that must appear with another independent or main clause. A noun clause is a type of dependent clause that performs a nominal function. In […] More

  • in ,

    Using Noun Clauses as Prepositional Complements

    A clause is a grammatical structure that consists of a subject and a predicate. A dependent or subordinate clause is a clause that cannot function independently as a complete sentence but that must appear with another independent or main clause. A noun clause is a type of dependent clause that performs a nominal function. In […] More

  • in ,

    The Simple Present of Irregular Spanish Verbs

    The simple present in Spanish is a verb form that refers to verbs in the present tense, simple aspect, indicative mood, and active voice. Unlike for regular verbs and stem-changing verbs, the conjugations for irregular verbs in the simple present are irregular and unpredictable. The most common irregular Spanish verbs in the simple present are: […] More

  • in ,

    The Noun Phrase Head in English Grammar

    Noun phrase heads are words that function as the heads of noun phrases. A noun phrase consists of a noun or pronoun plus any determiners, modifiers, and complements. Only two grammatical forms can perform the function of noun phrase head in the English language. The two grammatical forms that can function as the noun phrase […] More

  • in ,

    The Simple Present of Stem-Changing Spanish Verbs

    The simple present is a verb form in Spanish that refers to verbs in the present tense, simple aspect, indicative mood, and active voice. Unlike the simple present form of regular Spanish verbs, stem-changing verbs experience a vowel change in the first person singular, second person singular, third person singular, and third person plural forms […] More

  • in ,

    Using Numerals as Determinatives

    Numerals belong to a closed class of words call determiners. Determiners provide information such as familiarity, location, quantity, and number about a noun, pronoun (rarely), or noun phrase. Numerals are counting numbers such as one, two, three, and four that provide information about the amount of a word or phrase. Determiner phrases also contain the […] More

  • in ,

    Spelling Changes of Simple Present Regular Spanish Verbs

    The simple present is a conjugated verb form in the Spanish language that refers to verbs in the present tense, simple aspect, indicative mood, and active voice. Unlike most regular verbs in the simple present, some regular verbs experience a slight spelling change. However, the endings of the regular verbs with spelling change are identical […] More

  • in ,

    Using Quantifiers as Determinatives

    Quantifiers belong to a closed class of words call determiners. Determiners provide information such as familiarity, location, quantity, and number about a noun, pronoun (rarely), or noun phrase. Quantifiers provide information about quantity of another word or phrase. Some common quantifiers include all, any, enough, less, more, most, no, and some. Multipliers such as twice, […] More

  • in ,

    The Simple Present of Regular Spanish Verbs

    The simple present is a verb conjugation in the Spanish language that refers to verbs in the present tense, simple aspect, indicative mood, and active voice. Similar to in English, the simple present in Spanish can be defined as a verb form that expresses a discrete action or event in the present or near future. […] More

  • in ,

    Using Possessive Interrogative Determiners as Determinatives

    Possessive interrogative determiners belong to a closed class of words call determiners. Determiners provide information such as familiarity, location, quantity, and number about a noun, pronoun (rarely), or noun phrase. The only possessive interrogative determiner in English is whose. Whose both (1) expresses possession of or some other relationship to another word or phrase, like […] More

  • in

    English Expressions: Nature Idioms and Sayings in English

    Idioms and proverbs are sayings whose meanings are figurative rather than literal. Such sayings are often peculiar to a language. The English language has many sayings and proverbs that mention nature. The following sections define some common English proverbs and idioms that mention land, water, and sky. Land Sayings The following nature sayings contain references […] More

  • in ,

    Spanish Verbs: Most Frequent Regular Verbs in Spanish

    Because of the sheer quantity of conjugations as compared to English, the Spanish verb system is often the most difficult part of the language for Spanish students to master. If, however, Spanish language learners have a strong vocabulary of Spanish verbs, then learning to conjugate becomes a much easier task. The following sections list, define, […] More

  • in ,

    Using Noun Clauses as Indirect Objects

    Clauses are grammatical structures that consist of a subject and a predicate. Dependent or subordinate clauses are clauses that cannot function independently as complete sentences but that must appear with another independent or main clause. Noun clauses are a type of dependent clause that perform nominal functions. In grammar, an indirect object is word, phrase, […] More

Back to Top