In English grammar, an infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by the word “to”. It looks like a verb, but it can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb—depending on how it’s used in a sentence. For example:“She loves to read before bed.”Here, to read is the infinitive, and it acts […]
What Is An Infinitive? Definition, Types, and Usage with Examples Read More »
Participles are verb forms that often act like adjectives or help build verb phrases in English. They belong to a group of forms known as verbals, words derived from verbs that don’t function as main verbs in a sentence. Even though participles come from verbs, they don’t always show action. Instead, they describe things or
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In English grammar, not every verb acts like a verb. Sometimes, verbs step outside their usual role and function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. These are called verbals—words that look like verbs but don’t act as the main verb in a sentence. Instead, they take on different grammatical jobs, often adding variety and clarity to
Verbals in Grammar: Gerunds, Participles, & Infinitives Explained Read More »
Participial phrases help add detail and variety to your writing, allowing you to combine actions and descriptions smoothly. Built around present or past participles, these phrases act like adjectives, modifying a noun or pronoun in the sentence. In this guide, you’ll learn what participial phrases are, how they work, and how to use them with
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Dynamic verbs describe actions, processes, or events that involve movement, change, or activity. They are also called action verbs because they show what someone does rather than what someone is or feels. For example, in They build houses, the verb build shows a clear action happening. Dynamic verbs are essential in English because they allow
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Some sentences don’t describe what someone does—they describe what someone is. That’s where predicate adjectives come in. A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and gives more detail about the subject’s qualities or condition. For example, ‘The soup smells delicious.”→ “Delicious” is a predicate adjective—it describes soup and follows the linking verb smells. In this
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Parentheses, brackets, and braces all belong to the same family, but each one plays a different role in writing. They help organize information, clarify meaning, and add structure. Used correctly, these marks can make your sentences more precise and readable. Used carelessly, they can confuse the reader or interrupt the flow. This guide explains what
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Participial adjectives are adjectives formed from verbs—usually ending in -ed or -ing—and they help us describe how someone feels or what causes a feeling. They’re often used to make writing more specific and expressive. For example, “interested” and “interesting” both come from the verb “interest,” but they don’t mean the same thing. We say “She
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Colons and semicolons are often confused, but they serve very different purposes in writing. While they look similar, each has a unique role in connecting ideas or organizing information. A colon is used to introduce something: a list, an explanation, or a quote. A semicolon, on the other hand, links two closely related sentences or
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When a sentence tells us more about the subject, not through an action, but through a definition or identity, it often uses a predicate nominative. This structure helps connect the subject to a noun or pronoun that renames or identifies it, giving the sentence more meaning and clarity. In this article, you’ll learn what a
Predicate Nominative in English Grammar: Definition, Examples, and Usage Read More »
In every sentence, the subject needs something to complete the thought—something that tells us what the subject does or what it is. That part is called the predicate, and at the center of it is the simple predicate. This article will explain what a simple predicate is, how to identify it, and how it differs
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A sentence doesn’t just need a subject—it also needs something that tells us what the subject does, says, feels, or is. That’s the role of the predicate. When we look beyond the verb alone, we get the complete predicate. The complete predicate includes the main verb or verb phrase and everything that adds to it:
