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.
Tag: Tips for Teachers
Is HERE an adverb in “Here it is”?
Keri M. writes, “Could you confirm whether HERE or THERE are adverbs in these sentences: “Here it is” or “It is here”? Here’s some guidance from Thomas on expletives in English Grammar.
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.
Do gerunds always end in ING?
Zion asks, “If gerunds end in ING, is ‘singing’ in ‘My mother is singing’ a gerund?” Here’s some guidance from Thomas about gerunds and participles. Take a listen!
A Trick for Listening Actively and Deeply
Thomas shares a surprisingly potent tip for paying attention to a lecture or speech. It has to do with anticipation.
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 category do dates come under?
During a virtual classroom visit, Thomas answered a question about what part of speech a date such as November 5th would be. Take a peek!
How To Punctuate An Interjection
Krista G. asks, “Can an interjection ever end in a period? For example, a person responding yes or no. As in, ‘No.'”
How To Prime Your Mind For Learning English Grammar
Thomas gives a tip for how to prime your mind for learning grammar—or anything else you want to know! The secret is ATTENTION and WONDER.
Why foundations matter
Here’s a thought nugget from Thomas on why foundations are so important in language. If your foundation is sound, you can build any building your heart desires.
The high and low tides of learning
Here’s a thought nugget from Thomas on how sometimes what is hidden to us later becomes clear. Both experiences are essential to learning.
How to learn to spell words in writing in English?
Mary T. from Iron Springs in Alberta, Canada, asks, “How to learn to spell words in writing English?” Here Thomas shares three simple but powerful principles.
How to Memorize Verb Moods in English
Anays R. writes, “How to memorize verbs and moods, such as the conditional, imperative, indicative, interrogative, and subjunctive?” Here’s an answer from Thomas.
Should commas be used to separate days from dates?
Imran K. from Pakistan asks, “Should commas be used to separate days from dates?” Here’s a quick and easy answer from Thomas.