Recent Newsletters
Grammar and Beauty
Just as it may seem strange at first to talk about grammar and gratitude, it may also seem strange to talk about grammar and beauty. But as Marie and Thomas explain in Lesson 14 of The Basic Cozy Grammar Course, beauty and grammar go together.
Gratitude and Grammar
What could be more surprising and helpful than talking about grammar and gratitude? We tend to think of grammar as dry and even lifeless, but properly taught, grammar can be an extraordinary and powerful tool for increasing awareness, unleashing creativity, and fostering true success.
The Power of Pronouns
Despite their humble appearance, pronouns are one of a writer’s most useful tools and can even unleash great comedy. To show you what I mean—and to prepare you for a fun activity with language—take a peek at this month’s free excerpts. Just so you know, you may find yourself laughing!
Grammar, Love, and Colloquial Language
As we embrace the new year, we wanted to share a helpful rule from Marie about colloquial language and good grammar. Although it makes a simple and easy-to-follow point, her rule also speaks to the love that lies behind all of Marie’s courses.
A Secret About Adjectives
As the year draws to a close, we wanted to offer two video excerpts on adjectives. How to describe the delights of the season vividly and memorably? That’s what both of our videos address. We also have a creative writing exercise and a holiday gift to share. Read on to learn more!
What Are Adverbs?
This month we wanted to offer two video excerpts on adverbs and a writing activity. The topic of adverbs can sometimes seem confusing, but as Marie points out, adverbs are simply words that describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. And of these uses, the most important by far is describing verbs. You can see it in the word itself: ad-VERB!
Subjects, Predicates & Spooky Tales
As the leaves start to turn our thoughts often turn to the coziness of a fire and the warmth of our homes. It’s a great time for getting back to basics. This month we wanted to share how getting back to grammatical basics and understanding main subjects and main predicates can help us in our storytelling.
Plural Verbs and the Pronoun You
Two video excerpts from Marie about plural verbs, as well as a companion video about why we use the plural verb “are” with the pronoun “you,” even if there’s only one of you. Both videos give a sense not only of Marie’s way of clarifying the basics of grammar, but also of how Marie and Thomas take those points into other realms of life. Take a peek!
What Are Conjunctions?
This month we wanted to share a video excerpt from Marie about conjunctions, as well as a companion video from Thomas about clauses. Both videos are set on Marie’s favorite Eagle Rock and give a sense for how the sea and the natural world around Marie’s Cozy Beach Cottage form an important part of Marie’s lessons.
How Auxiliary or Helping Verbs Help
This month we wanted to share two video excerpts about auxiliary or helping verbs, and two special announcements about Free 7-Day Previews and Complimentary Family Sub-Accounts. Although the term might seem intimidating, as Marie points out, auxiliary verbs are simply verbs that help other verbs.
What are the Three Degrees of Comparison?
This month we wanted to share two video excerpts from The Basic Cozy Grammar Course on the three degrees of comparison and make two special announcements about several new features that make Cozy Grammar easier to use, even more interactive, and even more affordable. Read on to learn more!
Verbs of Action and a Writing Activity
This month we wanted to share two video excerpts about verbs from Lesson 7 of The Basic Cozy Grammar Course. In this first video excerpt, Marie introduces three things that verbs express—action, possession, and existence—and gives us four examples of verbs of action.
A Free and Cozy Way to Learn Spelling
We’re delighted to reopen Marie’s Free Cozy Spelling Course. Over the past five weeks, we’ve been hard at work redesigning and revamping this time-tested course for our new website. Watch Cozy Grammar’s producer and director David Mielke describe the features of this comprehensive and popular free course.
How to Remember Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Here’s a handy trick from Marie for remembering the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. This tip also doubles as a quick and easy introduction to the topic, so it’s helpful even to people who aren’t sure what transitive and intransitive verbs are in the first place. Watch this month’s excerpt to learn more.
What are Subjects and Predicates?
Last month we shared an excerpt from The Basic Cozy Grammar Course in which Marie showed how we can make our writing more interesting by changing the order of the subject and the predicate in our sentences. This month we wanted to share an excerpt that clarifies what, exactly, subjects and predicates are. Take a peek!
What Makes Writing Interesting
One of the reasons Marie wanted to make The Basic Cozy Grammar Course was to show how grammar—the technique of speaking and writing—can enhance creativity. We wanted to start the New Year by sharing an excerpt from The Basic Cozy Grammar Course in which Marie shows how knowledge of grammar can help make our sentences more interesting.
