Recent Newsletters
The NEW Basic Cozy Essay Course
We’re thrilled to announce the release of the second edition of The Basic Cozy Essay Course, complete with all-new additional videos filmed in London, England. In this free excerpt from Lesson 1, Marie answers the question What is an Essay?, gives an overview of her basic essay format, and shares some handy advice for getting started.
How to Write an Excellent Essay
One of the topics Marie was most intent on helping her students understand was how to write an essay. As she explains in the introduction to The Basic Cozy Essay Course, if we don’t know how to write an essay, it can be a fearsome assignment. But when we learn how, it can open innumerable doors—as it did for Marie herself.
How Transitive Verbs are like Transit Systems
This month we wanted to take another look at the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. Marie gives us a special memory trick that no one else that I know of has used. We also have an exciting announcement about some new features and an upcoming release. Take a peek at this month’s free videos!
The Gift of the Present Tense
This month we wanted to talk about the hidden gift of the present tense and make a special announcement about our new PDF workbooks. Take a peek at her lesson on the present tense, then I’ll explain what I mean by the hidden gift of the present tense.
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. Take a peek at this month’s free videos to learn more!
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. We’d like to share it with you.
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 a special announcement about Complimentary Family Sub-Accounts. Although the term might seem intimidating, as Marie points out, auxiliary verbs are simply helping verbs. They help other verbs to do their job.
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.
