2016-12-16 The Mystery of the Disappearing “That”
From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today, we are going to explore a mysterious word in English that seems to appear and disappear at will! If you are…
2016-12-09 Introducing English Verb Tenses
Editors note: This is the first of a four-part series on verb tenses. Click here for part two. For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we are going…
2016-12-02 Getting to Know the Verb ‘Get’
From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. So, Alice, what did you do last night? Well, I was at home, getting ready to go to the movies. I was…
2016-11-25 What Can Thanksgiving Teach You About English Grammar?
Every year around the Thanksgiving holiday, a strange ceremony happens in Washington, DC. The president stands outside the White House, gives a brief speech and then officially pardons a turkey.…
2016-11-18 Understanding Adverbs: Always
The film “Casablanca“ is one of the most famous American movies of all time. At the end of the film, the actor Humphrey Bogart says a heartbreaking farewell to the…
2016-11-10 Are you in the Mood to Learn the Subjunctive?
For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today, we’re going to talk about using the subjunctive. English speakers use the subjunctive to express a wide variety of unreal or…
2016-11-04 Grammar and US Presidential Elections: Part Two
When politicians give speeches, they talk about any number of things, such as their beliefs, personal history, or opinions on major issues. Politicians have to be careful about how they…
2016-10-28 Grammar and Presidential Elections: Part One
Political candidates like to use one or more grammatical structures when they speak. They use grammatical structures because they can have a rhetorical effect. In other words, the order of…
2016-10-21 Improving Your Grammar and Pronunciation
When you listen to music or read books in English, you will often hear and see how English speakers use different grammatical structures to change the sound of a sentence.…
2016-10-14 The Music of Movable Phrases
From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars” is widely considered to be one of the best rock…
2016-10-07 Learning Participial Phrases with Famous Songs
From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. “Don’t Stop Believing” is one of the most popular karaoke songs in the world. You have probably heard the rock group Journey…
2016-09-30 The Excitement of Three-Part Phrasal Verbs
Popular music can teach you a lot about the English language. You may not realize it, but musicians are actually teaching you about English grammar in each song they perform.…
2016-09-23 Adventures with Adverbials: Part 2
Many American western movies use a common plot element: A mysterious man appears in a small, dusty town. He speaks to people in a short, purposeful way. He shows confidence…
2016-09-16 Adventures with Adverbials: Part 1
From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. The 1954 American film On the Waterfront helped make actor Marlon Brando a star. Brando played the main character, a dockworker named…
2016-09-09 Common Sentence Patterns: Part 4
English has many patterns. Learning and mastering these patterns can help you improve your writing and speaking skills. They can also help you do better on your next grammar test!…