Tag Archives: grammar

A word on Grammar: Is there a difference between Can and Be able to?

A word on Grammar, , ,

We use “able” especially in the structure be able +infinitive. This often has the same meaning as can. The negative form is unable.

  • Some people are able/can walk on their hands
  • I am unable/can’t understand what she wants

Can is preferred in the sense of “know how to” and in expressions, like can see, can hear..etc

  • Can you knit? / I can see a ship

Be able is used in cases where can is not grammatically possible (future/present perfect, conditional…)

One day scientists will be able to find a cure for cancer (NOT… will can find)

 

Using jokes to teach Grammar: ESLjokes.net

Funny Stuff, Grammar, Resources, ,

Why the hell (excuse my enthusiasm) does a lesson have to be boring when you can teach grammar using jokes and unbelievably the only thing you have to do is a click away.
ESLJokes.net offers us ready-made lesson for teachers and for students. The jokes are graded as elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper intermediate/advanced and they cover lots of grammar points from present simple to reported speech.


If you are student, you can use them for autonomous learning because it also provides the answers to the exercises and if you are a teacher, then this is just pure heaven! Everything done for you!
I’m planning to use the one about the Penguin (please, see Intermediate) to teach reported speech and I’m sure my students will be glad to have reported speech introduced in this way. Wouldn’t you if you were a student?

A Word on Grammar: The Same

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This has been the most common mistake in my students’ essays this term.

 Gays should have the same opportunities than heterosexual couples.

♥ We use the same as   or the same…+noun+ … as before a noun or pronoun.

Gays couples should have the same opportunities as heterosexual couples.

I’d like to visit Australia one day, just the same as you.

♥ We use the same that before a clause (subject+verb)

He was wearing the same clothes that he’d had on the day before.

I hope it helps you!

A Word on Grammar:Collective nouns

A word on Grammar, , ,

Only last week I had to deal with this issue in class when one of my students asked me.
“Does the word “team” take a singular or a plural verb?” and my answer was: “Both”.

There are some singular words in British English that can take both singular or plural verbs and pronouns depending on what you want to say about them.

Singular forms are used when we see the “team” as one thing, as an impersonal unit.

The team is going to lose

Plural forms are used when the group is considered as a collection of people doing personal things like taking decisions, hoping or wanting .

The team are full of enthusiasm (referring to every member of the team)

Group nouns which can be used with both singular and plural are:
party   school    staff    team   government   jury  family
public     club     class     firm     the BBC    comittee

“police”, on the other hand, is normally used with a plural verb

The police were not able to find anything

A Word on Grammar: Cannot or can not?

A word on Grammar, ,

Many students ask me why the negative of “can” is “cannot ” but the negative of “could” is not “*couldnot”.
In British English, the single form “cannot” is used, while in American English, you can use both “cannot” and “can not”, though “cannot” is more common.
The contraction for both “cannot” and “can not” is “can’t”.
In summary, “cannot” is, by far, more usual and it’s the one I’d recommend you use. Having said that, there some cases when it’s necessary to use the form “can not”. When?

♥ When it’s used for emphasis.
No, you can not go out on New Year’s Eve. You’re only fourteen!

♥ When “not” is part of another construction as in, for example, the rather formal structure,” not only…. but (also)”
She can not only play the piano but also the violin

I hope to have answered your questions!