Let, make and help: when the infinitive has no to
Use let and make with an object and bare infinitive, restore to in passive be made to, and recognise both help someone do and help someone to do as correct.
Read and practiseAdventure journal
English grammar
Understand English sentence patterns and verb forms with examples, explanations and exercises you can use.
Adventure journal
English grammar
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Negative infinitives: decided not to or did not decide?
Place not with the action you mean to negate. Compare decided not to with have not decided, practise reminders and express a negative purpose with so as not to.
Read and practiseWhether or not: alternatives and uncertainty
A decision may be uncertain, or an action may happen in either case. See how this expression introduces both possibilities.
Read and practiseQuestion tags: isn't it, didn't she and aren't I?
Check information with English question tags. Match the auxiliary and subject, handle nobody and never, and practise the special tag after I am.
Read and practisePolite indirect questions: could you tell me where it is?
Ask for information with could you tell me, do you know and I'd like to know. Use statement word order inside the question and choose suitable punctuation.
Read and practiseNegative questions: didn't you and clear yes/no answers
Understand expectations in negative questions and answer with yes plus an affirmative verb or no plus a negative verb. Practise contracted and full not forms.
Read and practiseOtherwise as a sentence adverb
A warning, a precaution or a past action can lead to a different result; otherwise introduces that alternative outcome.
Read and practiseSo do I and neither do I: sharing the same situation
Say that an affirmative or negative statement also applies to you. Choose so or neither, match the auxiliary and distinguish so do I from so I do.
Read and practiseAlthough and despite: contrast an obstacle with the outcome
Express an unexpected contrast with although, even though, despite and in spite of. Choose a full clause or a noun/ing phrase and avoid despite of.
Read and practiseDespite and in spite of with -ing
A missed train or a surprising result: express contrast between an action and what happens using an -ing phrase.
Read and practiseSo and such with that: degree leading to a result
Connect a strong degree to its result using so icy that, such a tight knot that, so many and so much. Choose the structure that matches the following words.
Read and practiseSo that for purpose: explain what an action is meant to achieve
Explain an intended outcome with so that plus a subject and verb. Use can, could, will or would where appropriate, and recognise purpose without a modal.
Read and practiseFuture time clauses: when, until, once and as soon as
Use present forms for future events after time conjunctions. Practise when, until, once and as soon as, and distinguish a time clause from a direct question.
Read and practiseSo that with can and could: purpose and ability
A receipt, a slow explanation or an early departure can make an intended action possible. Express that purpose with a modal clause.
Read and practiseUntil or by: continuing to a time versus meeting a deadline
Distinguish until for a continuing situation from by for a latest completion time. Interpret return deadlines, staffed hours and instructions with not until.
Read and practiseBefore and after with ing: shorter time clauses with clear subjects
Shorten before and after clauses with ing when the same person performs both actions. Keep a full clause when the subjects differ and preserve the event order.
Read and practiseWhat as a fused relative
A clause with what can name the thing or things involved without a separate noun. See how it works as a subject or object.
Read and practiseSo and therefore: results, decisions and conclusions
Explain results with so and therefore. Practise cause-before-result order, sentence punctuation and the difference between a reason and a conclusion.
Read and practiseEmphatic do, does and did: confirm what is true
Add emphasis with do, does and did plus a base verb. Practise correcting an assumption, confirming past actions and making a warm invitation.
Read and practiseMuch, far and slightly: say how big a difference is
Modify comparisons with much, far, a lot, slightly and a bit. Describe large or small differences, understand even more and avoid very before a comparative.
Read and practiseThat or which in defining relative clauses
A defining clause identifies the thing you mean. Both relative words are possible, although preferences differ across varieties of English.
Read and practiseTwo object patterns: give someone something, buy something for someone
Compare person-first and thing-first patterns with give and buy. Practise to for a recipient, for for a beneficiary, and explain something to someone.
Read and practiseDependent prepositions: interested in, good at and depend on
Learn adjective and verb combinations such as interested in, proud of and depend on. Practise prepositions with nouns and ing forms in useful sentences.
Read and practiseIt and there: subjects for weather, opinions and existence
Choose it or there for weather, time, opinions and things that exist. Practise it's important to and there are, without treating every it as an object reference.
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