We talk about news every day. Sometimes there’s good news, sometimes there’s bad news, and when it’s significant, we often call it “big news.” But have you ever wondered whether it is correct to say “a big news”? It’s not correct to say “a big news” because “news” is a mass noun which means we …
Susan Parker
As you learn more about the English Language, you may wonder what the distinction is between “desert island” and “deserted island” or if there is one. We often see both of these terms, and it’s helpful to know the difference. “Desert island” is the more recognizable of the two terms and refers to an uninhabited …
Some writers incorrectly treat “desert” and “deserted” as exchangeable words. Students learning English can also get confused with the different meanings and uses of the two. So the question arises: what is the difference between “desert” and “deserted”? You can use “desert” as a noun or verb, while “deserted” is only the past tense and …
In any language, it’s essential to know how to address people. However, when talking to groups of people, it can sometimes be challenging to know what greetings to choose, so how about the greeting “Good afternoon, all”? Is it grammatically correct, and when can we use it appropriately? It’s correct to say “Good afternoon all” …
As you learn more about the English language, you will often hear expressions that might be confusing. For example, “Have a good one” is a popular expression in North America and increasingly around the English-speaking world. Still, you may well wonder whether it is polite to use and, if so, what exactly it means. It’s …
English tenses can be very confusing, but they’re very important because getting them wrong can result in misunderstanding. Verb tenses tell you when something happens, which is simple when we’re just referring to past, present, and future. However, when we’re linking the past with the present by using present perfect, then we may wonder if …