English Teaching and Learning: Grammar

Example: Community colleges and universities are similar because they offer courses in sciences and humanities. The independent clause has a subject, they, and a verb, offer.

When describing experience, many job seekers use a bullet list of three to five lines. There is no punctuation at the end because these are not complete sentences.

https://www.coursera.org/learn/careerdevelopment/lecture/lvF0h/language-focus-present-perfect-vs-past-tense

https://www.coursera.org/learn/careerdevelopment/lecture/gbsF8/language-focus-using-modal-verbs-to-write-politely

Hi Mary, or Hi Mr. Smith to Dear Mr. Smith, Dear Ms. Smith, Dear Sir or Madam

Bye or Take care or Goodbye to Sincerely or Yours sincerely

I'm, you're (contractions ) to I am, you are

Dear Ms. Smith, I was very interested to read your advertisement for the position of receptionist in the Seattle Herald dated May 6th 2011. I would like to be considered for this job.

Language Focus - Comparative Structures

https://www.coursera.org/learn/business/lecture/zAXsh/language-focus-comparative-structures-video-11-part-1

Amy is always on time. however, her sister is not. (ok)

or Amy is always on time; however, her sister is not. (ok)

You can use a semicolon or a period at the end of the first independent clause. Then, start the next independent clause with a sentence connector. Follow it with a comma, and then the next independent clause.

Subordinating conjunctions:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/business/lecture/ZrCam/language-focus-comparative-structures-video-11-part-2

Amy is always on time while her sister is not. (ok)

While her sister is not, Amy is always on time. (ok)

When the sentence starts with the subordinate clause, use a comma between the two clauses. When the sentence starts with the main clause no comma is needed.

correlative conjunctions

https://www.coursera.org/learn/business/lecture/fm6LL/language-focus-comparative-structures-video-11-part-3

Both Amy and her brother are always on time. (should change to is??)

Neither Amy nor her brother are late for meetings. (should change to is??)

Notice that the verb in the sentence must agree with the second noun in the pair.

Degree Complements

Comparatives are one type of degree complement. They are Adjectives that compare two or more things. You can use a superlative adjective to talk about the one that is bigger than all of them. Intensifiers: "very, much, even" These are adverbs that make adjectives sound stronger.

If you think that a comparison might surprise or impress your readers, You can add even before the comparison. Even can be used to strengthen verbs or or adjectives. Remember that writers usually use even when they think their reader might be surprised or impressed by an idea.