In the Intermediate Cozy Grammar Course, Marie and I help students develop their ability to look at any sentence and SEE what’s going on in it grammatically. While filming one of the new videos for the course this summer, we took time to make a quick and easy guide to getting started identifying the parts of a sentence.
Arcix from Australia asks, “Can you help me analyze the clauses in this sentence?” Here Thomas walks us through a complicated and interesting sentence.
Here’s how to use a dash in a sentence—and why! Dashes can be one of the most confusing punctuation marks in the English language. Not even the experts agree on how to use them. This, however, is a good thing. It shows how the English language is constantly evolving. And there are some simple ways to use them.
Let’s explore how to use apostrophes in contractions. Apostrophes are different from other kinds of punctuation marks. Unlike periods, commas, or question marks, for instance, an apostrophe becomes part of a word and can change its meaning dramatically.
Liam W. asks, “How do you tell the difference between a gerund and a verb?” Here’s simple and clear answer from Thomas.
Konica M. from Mumbai asks, “What is the Difference between the Simple Past Tense and the Past Perfect Tense?” Here’s how to use the simple past and the past perfect or pluperfect tense.
Something students often find confusing is how to use an ellipsis in a sentence. We may see it employed all around us . . . and yet be uncertain how to use it ourselves. In the Basic Cozy Punctuation Course, Marie explores how to use the ellipsis as one of the four ways a period is used within a sentence.
Cozy Grammar recently offered a workshop for teachers on how to teach transitive and intransitive verbs in creative and playful ways. Hosted by Digi Phonics in India, this complete workshop explores the hidden power of intransitive verbs and answers questions from teachers.
In the Basic Cozy Punctuation Course, one of the topics both Marie and I explore is how to use a semicolon in a compound sentence. Semicolons have a way of confusing young learners (and not-so-young learners) because their appearance can seem a bit confusing, but there’s a simple way to remember what they do.
Natasha W. asks,” What are run-on sentences and comma splices?” Here are three tips from Thomas on how to identify these issues and fix them easily.
A student recently asked, “How do we rewrite a sentence without changing the meaning?” Here Thomas shares three simple tips for how to rewrite a sentence without changing the meaning but making it stronger at the same time.
What is a dangling participle? Or modifier? Or participial phrase? These terms can appear quite confusing, but there’s a simple way to think about them. A dangling participle, modifier, participial phrase is simply a piece of description that isn’t clearly connected to what it’s describing.
Jonathon C. asks, “How to we use the word however?” As Thomas explains, there are some simple rules to make sure your sentences are clear.
Enid in Toronto asks, “What is a palindrome?” Here Thomas not only explains what it is, but shows how it can make studying English more fun.
Billy from Ireland asks, “Can we use “But” or “And” at the Beginning of a Sentence?” Here’s what Thomas has to say.
Join Marie and Thomas for an exploration of sentences and sense. In an except from Lesson 1 of the Basic Cozy Punctuation Course, Marie shows us how to use periods at the ends of sentences. Then, in a supplementary video from the Basic Cozy Punctuation Course, Thomas shows the importance of periods in seeing the sense of our sentences.