How to find the complement of a copula verb
Thomas shares a trick for finding the subjective complement of copula verbs such as is, are, and am. Simply answer the question WHAT.
Category: Verbs
What are Transitive Verbs?
In the Basic Cozy Grammar Course, Marie gives a handy trick for remembering what a transitive verb is: TRANSITive verbs are like TRANSIT systems. Take a peek to see why!
What is the Present Tense?
In the Basic Cozy Grammar Course, Marie gives a simple introduction to tenses. Tense is simply a change in the form of a verb to show whether the time being discussed is the past, present, or future.
Do we use “was” or “were” when talking about decades?
Mark K. recently shared a sentence, asking whether it was correct say “were the heyday” or “was the heyday” about a period of time. Take a peek at his example & our answer about verb agreement.
SAT Tips and Tricks: One of the Students IS or ARE Studying?
Here’s a handy tip for choosing between “One of the students IS studying” vs “One of the students ARE studying.” Now you’ll never get confused!
When to use IS or ARE with prepositional phrases?
Mark K. asks, “When to use IS or ARE with prepositional phrases?” Here’s some guidance from Thomas about prepositions and verb agreement.
Is it correct to use “their” with “one of those who”?
Joy L. asks, “Is it correct to use ‘their’ in the sentence ‘Jane is one of the graduate students who have finished their master’s degree’? Here’s some guidance from Thomas. Take a listen!
The Difference Between Subjects and Objects
During a classroom visit, Thomas answered a question about what part of speech the word “dog” is in the sentence “The boy holds the dog.”
What are Plural Verbs?
One of the key concepts of grammar is agreement of verbs. That may sound awfully technical, but as Marie shows in these two excerpts from the Basic Cozy Grammar Course, we make verbs agree all the time!
Do We Say “One Of Those Who Is” or “One Of Those Who Are?”
When we use the phrase “one of those who,” do we say “one of those who ARE” or “one of those who IS”? How are they different?
What Are Auxiliary or Helping Verbs?
One of my favorite kinds of verbs are helping verbs (also known as auxiliary verbs). As the name suggests, helping verbs help—they help other verbs, known as principal verbs, to do their job.
What is the subjunctive mood and is it similar to a conditional?
During a recent live Ask Cozy Grammar session, Thomas answered a question from JT in the United States about subjunctives and how they relate to conditionals.
What Are Verbs of Action?
In the Basic Cozy Grammar Course, Marie and I help students explore the fundamentals of grammar: the eight parts of speech and how understanding them can enhance creativity.
What Ever Happened to I Shall and We Shall?
Colleen B. asks, “What happened to I SHALL and WE SHALL?” She’s referring to the distinction that was once taught between the first person use of SHALL and the second and third person use of WILL for the future tense. Here’s what Thomas has to say!
How to teach have gone vs have went?
Leamon M. from New Orleans asks, “Can I use a plural and a singular together to express an understanding?” Here Thomas explores subject verb agreement, pronoun antecedent agreement, and using the singular and plural together.
Can I use a plural and a singular together?
Leamon M. from New Orleans asks, “Can I use a plural and a singular together to express an understanding?” Here Thomas explores subject verb agreement, pronoun antecedent agreement, and using the singular and plural together.