Transitive and Intransitive Verbs In English, verbs can be followed by two different kinds of objects, depending on the type of verb we are using. These are either direct objects or indirect objects. Transitive verbs are able to take a direct object, whereas intransitive verbs cannot. Here are some examples of both (the direct objects Read More
Category: Self-Help
Easy English: Time Clauses
We use time clauses in English to express that an action or event is based on a certain period of time. Most often, these clauses are introduced by conjunctions such as “before,” “after,” “until,” “while,” “when,” or “whenever.” We can also use phrases such as “the minute,” “the moment,” or “as soon as” to serve Read More
Adjectives: Easy English Grammar
Adjectives are used to add description to our language. This can cause a bit of confusion for English learners when it comes to choosing the correct one to use in a sentence and deciding where to actually place it. Luckily, the rules for adjectives are rather easy to learn and remember. To help you along, Read More
The Chinese Idiom Dictionary: Vol. 1
A Resource for Learning Chengyu The Chinese Idiom Dictionary by Mei Li and Maki Hayasaka is a massive collection of traditional chengyu, carefully organized for easy reference. Each idiom is provided in its traditional form, with both Pinyin and English translations accompanying them. In addition, every expression has a detailed note of its traditional source Read More
Let’s Learn Chengyu!
What are chengyu? Chengyu are a form of traditional Chinese idiom. Most of them consist of four characters and convey a wide range of nuanced meanings. Learners of Chinese will usually encounter them early on in their studies, although the sheer number of them can be intimidating for new and experienced speakers alike. The precise Read More
English Grammar
Easy English! All the Rules, Plain and Simple by Alex Shepard Easy English! is your key to writing with style and confidence. Whether you need a slight refresher on getting your commas and colons right, or a step-by-step guide to help you tackle tricky hyphens in compound adjectives, Easy English! has got you covered! Written Read More
Tricky English Phrases: Mistakes to Avoid
Every language is difficult to master, even for its native speakers. When it comes to English, the situation is no different. In fact, there are plenty of tricky English phrases that cause trouble for everyone, regardless of whether they’re new to learning the language or if they’ve been speaking it their entire lives. Fortunately, most Read More
Common English Mistakes: Tricky Phrases
English has a wide range of phrases and idioms that pop up frequently in day-to-day conversations. Yet many of these expressions are responsible for some very common English mistakes in both their written and spoken forms. This is usually because of tricky homophones that cause trouble for the writer or speaker (homophones are words that Read More
10 Handy Proofreading Tips
Proofreading is a very slow and meticulous process. It demands a whole lot of patience and concentration. Very often, the proofreader is the last person to check a text for any errors, so if they overlook a typo or grammatical mistake, that error is likely to end up being published to thousands—if not millions—of readers. Read More
How Long Is the Average Novel?
When it comes to getting a novel published, many new writers are unaware of just how important the word count of their manuscript is to publishing houses (not to mention their potential readers). There are several important reasons for this, so it’s worth being mindful of the standard word counts for books that publishers like Read More