Welcome to your personalized grammar resource page! This special section has been carefully curated just for you, based on the improvements and progress we've observed throughout our lessons together. Here, you'll find tailored explanations and guidance on the grammar points that are most relevant to your learning journey. Each entry includes a clear explanation of a specific grammar concept, accompanied by examples that illustrate the correct usage. Our goal is to make your learning experience as effective and enjoyable as possible, by providing you with resources that are directly aligned with your needs. Happy learning!

Subject-verb Agreement has vs. have:

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject (who or what the sentence is about) and the verb (the action word or state of being) must both be singular or both be plural. In other words, if your subject is one person, place, or thing, the verb should show just one action. If your subject is more than one person, place, or thing, the verb should show that it's about more than one.

"Remember, when we talk about 'has' and 'have,' we are choosing the right word based on who or what we are talking about. If you are talking about one person or thing, like 'he,' 'she,' or 'it,' use 'has.' For example, 'She has a cat.' But if you are talking about more than one person or thing, or if you're using 'I' or 'you,' we use 'have.' For example, 'They have a dog' or 'I have a book.' Think of 'has' for one person or thing, and 'have' for more than one or when talking about yourself with 'I' or directly to someone with 'you.'"

Examples:

• Ella has a strong interest in returning to the slopes once she recovers from her illness.

• Ella and her friends have plans to celebrate her recovery with a day of skiing and sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace.

Idiomatic usage don’t have vs. haven’t:

In American English, we typically use the structure "I don't have" instead of "I haven't" when expressing lack of possession. For example, "I don't have a book" is the preferred way to say you're without a book. This small adjustment will make your speech sound more natural to American listeners.

Examples:

• Since I fell ill, I haven't been able to hit the slopes or enjoy my hot cocoa by the fire, and I miss it more each day.

• I don't have any plans for skiing until I fully recover from this illness, and it's been tough watching the snowfall from inside.

Preposition “to”:

The preposition "to" is used to show direction, destination, or purpose. It links one idea to another in a sentence, helping to show where something or someone is going, who something is for, or why something is done. For example, in "She goes to school," "to" connects "goes" with "school" to show direction.

Using "to" helps us understand where something is going or why it's happening. If we don't use "to" when we need it, people might get confused about what we mean. For example, saying "I'm going to the store" makes it clear where I'm going. If I just say "I'm going the store," it sounds strange and unclear.

Verb choice take vs. get:

In English, we use "I take" instead of "I get" when referring to the act of consuming or using something, like medication, because "take" more accurately describes the action of consumption or usage. "I take medicine" specifically means that you are consuming medicine, which is the intended action. On the other hand, "I get medicine" implies the action of obtaining or acquiring the medicine, such as buying it from a pharmacy or receiving it from someone, without indicating that you are consuming it.

The verb "take" is used to convey the idea of ingestion, application, or following a course of treatment, making it the appropriate choice when talking about medicine, advice, or instructions you are following. It highlights the personal action of using or consuming something for a particular purpose or benefit.

Choosing the correct verb based on the action you want to express is crucial for clear and precise communication, especially in contexts like healthcare, where understanding and clarity are paramount.

Pronoun “they”:

The word "they" is used to talk about more than one person or someone whose gender we don't know or is not just male or female. It's a way to include everyone and can be used in different parts of a sentence. Experts agree this use is good because it helps us speak more kindly and fairly about others.

Examples:

• They are going to the movie tonight.

• My friends said they would help me move next weekend.

Contraction choice - You’re vs. You’ll:

Contractions are shorter ways of saying words or phrases by leaving out some letters. For example, "you'll" is short for "you will," and "you're" means "you are." They help us speak and write more easily and are common in everyday language.

• You're going to: A contraction of "you are going to," used to indicate a future action or occurrence that is planned, intended, or expected.

• You'll go: A contraction of "you will go," expressing a simple future action or occurrence, often with an implication of certainty or intent.

Subject-verb agreement is vs. are:

Subject-verb agreement is when the verb in a sentence matches the subject in being either singular or plural. If you're talking about one person or thing, the verb should sound like it's for one, as in "Who is poor?" This means you're asking about one person. If you're talking about many people, the verb should match that too, like in "Who are poor?" Here, you're asking about more than one person. This rule makes sure sentences make sense.

• Singular: "The person who is poor needs help."

• Plural: "The people who are poor need help."

Choosing "Make" or "Get" in Negotiations:

"I want to make a deal" is the more traditionally correct phrase, especially in contexts involving negotiation or agreement. "Make a deal" is an idiomatic expression widely recognized for entering into an agreement or negotiation.

• "I want to make a deal" is a common way to say you want to agree on something with someone, like trading or making an agreement.

  "I want to get a deal" might sound like you're talking about finding a good price or special offer, more like shopping, not making an agreement.

Subject-verb agreement Person vs. People:

Person is singular and used to refer to one individual. People, on the other hand, is the plural form, used when referring to multiple individuals or a group collectively.

Examples:

• Person:

  • A person is waiting for the bus.

  • Every person has their own story.

• People:

  • People are gathering for the concert.

  • Many people enjoy playing sports.

Modal Verb “must”:

Modal verbs in English (like must, can, should) do not require "to" before the base form of the verb that follows them.

• Correct: You must make it.

• Incorrect: You must to make it.

Verb Choice Go vs. Take:

The verb "go" is used to describe when the speaker is moving or traveling alone. It doesn't suggest that the speaker is bringing someone with them. On the other hand, the verb "take" is specifically used to indicate that the speaker is responsible for transporting another person (in this context, 'her') to a specific location.

• Alone: I go to her kindergarten.

• Transporting someone: I take her to kindergarten

Singular and Plural Demonstratives:

We use "this" when we're talking about one thing close to us. We use "these" when we're talking about many things close to us.

• This: "This phone is new." (Referring to one phone that is close to the speaker.)

• These: "These cookies taste great." (Referring to several cookies close to the speaker.)

Verb “am”:

"Am" is a form of the verb "to be," specifically the first person singular present tense. It is a verb used with "I" to describe what someone is or is doing right now.

• "I am checking my emails first thing every morning to prioritize my day's work."

• "I am starting my day with a brisk walk to energize myself for the tasks ahead."

Its - Possessive Pronoun or Contraction:

Possessive pronoun: "Its" is a possessive pronoun used to show that something belongs to or is part of something else, like in "The cat licked its paw," where "its" tells us the paw belongs to the cat.

Contraction: "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has," used in sentences like "It's raining" or "It's been great," where "it's" stands for "it is" or "it has."

"When you say "its depends on," it's incorrect because "its" is used for ownership, like "its color." The correct phrase is "it depends on," where "it" is the right choice for subjects or situations. Remember:

• Incorrect: "Its depends on" – "Its" is for when something owns something.

• Correct: "It depends on" – Use "it" when talking about conditions or reasons.