Tag Archives: writing
Affect or Effect?
The difference between these two words, though quite simple, is something that often confuses even native speakers. One cause of such confusion is that, in spoken English, there is no distinction in the way the words are pronounced [əˈfɛkt] since the word stress is on the second syllable.
The basic fact is that “affect”, in everyday English, is a verb, whereas “effect” is a noun*. Both are fairly formal in register.
0 (zero) and 1st (First) Conditionals
The Structure and usage of basic conditionals in English is relatively straightforward and can be easily explained. Today’s grammar blog deals with the zero and first conditionals which are the most basic of all the conditionals.
The zero conditional is actually not considered to be a true conditional structure as there is no condition. It is simply a matter of fact. Structurally, however, it can be grouped in with the conditionals as it functions in a similar way.
Passive Voice
The passive voice is a grammatical structure that enables us to emphasise the object of a sentence, rather than the subject. From First Certificate in English level onwards, you will be expected to be able to understand and use the passive voice correctly and may be graded on your use of it in both the Writing and Use of English papers.
In English, the subject usually appears before the verb and it is this primacy that gives the subject a sense of importance. The subject is usually the agent (i.e. the thing that does the verb) where the object receives the effect of the verb. To make it clear, have a look at the following example:
“The lion ate the zookeeper!”
Which or That? The grammar rules
In certain phrases in English, you can use “which” or “that” such as, “Monday is the day that/which I hate the most!” However, sometimes you can only use “which”. For example: “I’m from Moscow, which is the capital of Russia.”
The good news is that you can always use “which”, although most native English speakers prefer to use “that” whenever it’s possible. In this blog, we’re going to examine the grammar rules that govern the use of these annoying little words that cause so much confusion for students.
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