Wordsmyth Blog

Tag: grammar

  • Introducing Grammatical Patterns!

    The Grammatical Patterns feature offers a comprehensive guide to the structural patterns of verbs and is accompanied by a detailed yet easy-to-understand glossary of general grammatical terms that clarifies these concepts for both teachers and students. Future updates to the Grammatical Patterns feature will include pattern data relating to adjectives and nouns as well. Grammatical Patterns is a new subscriber feature. If you’re not currently a subscriber, take a look by signing up for a free 15-day trial.

    Within individual dictionary entries, the grammatical patterns feature provides example sentences illustrating the particular patterns the entry word can be used in, and each example sentence is marked with the name of the pattern. Each pattern is linked to its description in the grammatical patterns guide, which can be accessed under Search Tools. The Grammatical Patterns guide provides a list of patterns that English verbs follow, and clicking on any of the patterns reveals verbs that follow each pattern, detailed descriptions of each of these patterns, and numerous usage examples.  


    The image below shows an example of how the grammatical patterns feature looks within a dictionary entry. The example shows the numerous patterns in which the verb “hope” can be used. The name of each pattern appears in blue after its example sentence. Don’t forget to turn on “Grammatical Patterns” in the display options in order to view the patterns.

    Once again, clicking on the name of a pattern, such as verb + (that) + clause, will take you directly to information about that pattern in the guide. Each pattern description identifies its parts, provides additional example sentences, and lists other verbs following the pattern.


    Grammatical Patterns Glossary

    The Grammatical Patterns Glossary carefully defines all the grammatical terms used in the descriptions of patterns. Some topics covered include individual parts of speech, sentence components (e.g., “subject,” “object,” “clause”), and verb forms (e.g., “infinitive,” “participle”).

    The Glossary can also be used as a stand-alone guide by those interested in refining their understanding or teaching of grammatical terminology. Clicking on any highlighted term in the glossary list brings up a detailed explanation.


    The Grammatical Patterns feature demonstrates how specific words operate in a sentence and clarifies the ways in which English generally constructs sentences.

    Marking of grammatical patterns in entries is a subscriber feature. Subscribing also gives you access to the Word Parts and Word Combinations features, as well as Spanish and Chinese support within entries. You can review all these features with a free 15-day trial. If you’d like information on subscription, click here.

    Want to keep up with all things Wordsmyth? Check out our Facebook, Twitter, and blog. Get in touch with us on our feedback page if you have any questions.


  • Wordsmyth Features: Grammatical Patterns

    Wordsmyth’s Grammatical Patterns feature provides a comprehensive database of grammatical patterns, pattern explanations, and grammar-related definitions. Whether you’re learning the structure of English or teaching it, these tools can help!

    Grammatical Patterns Features

    Grammatical Patterns Glossary

    The Grammatical Patterns Glossary contains definitions and explanations of the terms used in the Grammatical Patterns feature. To view the Glossary in Search Tools:

    1. Click “Grammatical Patterns Glossary” on the left side of the screen.
    2. To read a complete explanation of each term, click the link above its brief definition.

    Grammatical Patterns List and Descriptions

    In Search Tools, you’ll find the list of grammatical patterns that we identify in our dictionary. Clicking on a pattern name will take you to a list of the most common words that follow the pattern.

    Clicking on the provided link to further discussion of the pattern will take you to an explanation of the pattern, example sentences using the pattern, as well as the list of words that follow the pattern.

    In order to fully understand how a Grammatical Pattern works, you may need help in understanding how its parts operate. Large sentence elements, parts of speech, and names of particular grammatical forms identified in a pattern are linked to their definitions in the Glossary. It’s as easy as one click! To learn more about the structural elements within a Grammatical Pattern:

    1. Click any of the underlined terms beneath the introductory example sentence.

    Using Grammatical Patterns Within Dictionary Entries

    All Wordsmyth Grammatical Patterns are integrated within applicable dictionary entries. Want to learn how a particular verb can operate in all of its various senses? Take a look at its marked patterns next to its example sentences and click on the pattern links for more information!

    Grammatical Patterns in Dictionary Entries

    Grammatical Patterns is only available for Wordsmyth subscribers. As it’s a new Wordsmyth feature, you will have to add it to your dictionary display. To activate Grammatical Patterns within an entry:

    1. Under “Display options,” click “Show Grammatical Patterns”
    2. Links to Grammatical Patterns will appear next to each applicable example sentence

    Examples of Grammatical Structure within Dictionary Entries

    To learn more about a particular grammatical pattern attached to a sense of a word, click the bracketed pattern next to an example sentence. You will be taken to the description of the pattern, illustrative example sentences, and the list of words following the particular pattern.

    Access Full List of Grammatical Patterns from Entry Examples

    You can access the full Grammatical Patterns list from an entry example window. Simply scroll down to the bottom of the pop-up window and click “All Grammatical Patterns” to go to the main list.

    Marking of grammatical patterns in entries is a subscriber feature. Subscribing also gives you access to the Word Parts and Word Combinations features, as well as Spanish and Chinese support within entries. You can review all these features with a 15-day free trial. For information on subscription, click here.

    Want to keep up with all things Wordsmyth? check out our Facebook, Twitter, and blog. Get in touch with us on our feedback page if you have any questions.

  • What Are Conjunctive Adverbs?

    Certain adverbs have a meaning that draws a connection between one idea that is being expressed and another idea that comes immediately after. These adverbs are often called “conjunctive adverbs” because of this ability to connect ideas. (The prefix “con-” means “together,” and “junct” means “join.”) For example, the adverb “however” indicates that there is a contrast or a conflict between the first idea being expressed and the idea that comes after it.  (“A severe thunderstorm hit the area last night. However, there was minimal damage.”) The adverbs “furthermore” and “moreover” indicate that there is more to be said than what was just said.  The adverb “consequently” indicates that the second thing being introduced comes later in time than the first thing and is caused by it.  (“The soldiers were not prepared for another attack; consequently, they were unable to adequately defend themselves.”)

    Although conjunctive adverbs link ideas, it’s important to note that they don’t make a grammatical link between clauses. That is, they are still only adverbs, not conjunctions. This means they can’t take the grammatical place of words like “and,” “but,” or “so,” and they are often used together with one or the other of these.  (“The new highway was still under construction, and therefore an alternative route had to be found.”)

    Punctuation

    Conjunctive adverbs often begin new sentences and are usually followed by a comma:  “Meanwhile, the boys were upstairs sleeping.”  “Finally, the passengers were allowed to re-board the plane.”  In addition, conjunctive adverbs may directly follow an independent clause ending with a semicolon, as in some of the examples below.  Note that a comma rather than a semicolon would be incorrect in punctuating these sentences that use semicolons.  This is because a semicolon has the power to link one independent clause with another, while a comma alone does not have that power.  

    Note the examples with “accordingly” below. The last two correct examples are correct because they contain the conjunction “and” after the comma following the word “storm.”  It is that conjunction, not the comma or the conjunctive adverb, that creates the necessary grammatical link between the two clauses.

    When conjunctive adverbs follow a conjunction, they can be set off by commas—one comma after the conjunction and one comma after the adverb—as in the final correct example above with “accordingly.” Alternatively, the commas around the adverb can be omitted as in the example that precedes this example. When commas are inserted, they create pauses in the reading and serve to highlight the adverb.

    Additional examples of conjunctive adverbs

    • furthermore
      All residents are advised to evacuate the building. Furthermore, they are advised not to return to their homes until city officials say it is safe to do so.
    • moreover
      The driver of the car was greatly exceeding the speed limit; moreover, he was intoxicated.
    • therefore
      They had won nearly every game that season; therefore, they were full of confidence as they headed into the championship.
    • however
      They attempted to get into the house through a window. However, the windows were securely locked.
    • subsequently
      He decided to donate all his money to one particular charity; but, subsequently, he changed his mind.
    • consequently
      The fire broke out while the school was closed. Consequently, no children or staff were in the building and no injuries were sustained.

  • Grammar and Usage: “cite” vs. “site”

    “Cite” and “site” sound alike and are spelled almost the same, but their meanings and functions are quite different.  The meanings of “cite” are connected with telling or reporting or documenting. The meanings of “site” are connected with places where things happen.  Another important difference between these words, which you’ll see in the following examples, is that “cite” is a verb and “site” is a noun.

    Do you have questions about words that sound alike? Curious about grammar and usage? Wordsmyth’s happy to help! Contact us through our Facebook, Twitter, or feedback page.

    Until next time, Happy Wordsmything!

  • Grammar and Usage: “connote” vs. “denote”

    Grammar and Usage: denote vs. connote

    The word “denote” refers to what a word literally means. For example, the word “beach” denotes an area next to a large body of water, no more and no less.  A beach can be a cold, rocky, and windswept place. Often, however, the word “beach” conjures up notions of warm sun, sand, pleasure, and relaxation. These latter things are what the word “beach” connotes to most of us in Western society.  Again, the denotation of a word is what it means literally. The connotation of a word refers to the additional images, feelings, or associations we attach to it.

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  • Grammar and Usage: “amount” vs. “number”

    Difference Paragraphs: amount vs. number

    “Number” refers to a quantity of individually countable things, such as “cats,” “books,” “ideas,” and “trees.”  It answers the question of “How many?”

    The word “amount” generally refers to a quantity of some type of thing considered “uncountable,” such as “flour,” “sand,” “time,” and “water.”  It answers the question of “How much?”

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  • Grammar and Usage: “adverse” vs. “averse”

    The adjectives “adverse and “averse” are often confused.  “Adverse” often describes a thing contrary or opposed to what someone wants or plans (“adverse weather,” “adverse circumstances,”  “adverse consequences,” “adverse ruling”). “Adverse” also means “producing harmful effects,” as in “an adverse reaction to a medication.”

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  • Grammar and Usage: “accomplish” vs. “achieve”

    “Accomplish” and “achieve” overlap in meaning.  They both convey the idea of successfully completing something. There is often a certain amount of pride or satisfaction attached to both. The words “aim,” “goal,” “purpose,” and “objective” can be used as objects with both of these verbs.

    However, “accomplish” has a more concrete feeling to it than “achieve.” In many cases,achieving something suggests notions of pride and honor.  If someone asked how someone accomplished a certain goal, their answer would likely include how they actually completed it.

    If someone asked how someone achieved a goal, their answer would likely include notions of persistence, dedication, self-discipline, or effort.  Schools usually boast about helping students achieve their goals rather than helping students accomplish their goals.  Achieving is more abstract and more profound than accomplishing.

    We tend to use “accomplish” for both very large or important things, like passing a new law, and rather everyday things, like doing laundry or mowing the lawn. Note that the word “task” is not normally used with “achieve”—we don’t typically say “achieve a task.” We “accomplish a task.” When you “accomplish” something, you complete it.  When you “achieve” something, you work toward it with dedication and eventually reach your goal.

    In a different, more abstract sense, “achieve” means “to bring about through one’s cumulative efforts.”  In this sense, “achieve” is followed by objects such as “excellence,” “success, “greatness,” “equality,” “perfection,” “peace,” and “fame.”  

    These types of objects are not generally used with “accomplish,” as they are not concrete things one directly achieves. Rather, these tasks that can be accomplished.

    Usage

    Below are some of the words that commonly follow the verbs “accomplish” and “achieve.”  Looking at these, we can see an overlapping but different pattern of use for the two verbs.

    Do you have questions about words that sound alike? Have questions about grammar and usage? We’re happy to help! Contact us through our Facebook, Twitter, or feedback page.

    Until next time, Happy Wordsmything!

  • Grammar and Usage: “attain” vs. “obtain”

    “Obtain” and “attain” have similar pronunciations and meanings, but they do not generally overlap in usage. “Attain” has more the idea of achieving a goal or reaching a level or degree. “Obtain” has more the idea of actually getting something, actually taking possession of it.

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  • Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

    Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

    The terms “transitive” and “intransitive” refer to how verbs operate in a sentence. When we call a verb’s particular meaning “transitive,” we mean that the verb is always followed by a specifically stated direct object. On the other hand, a sense of a verb labeled “intransitive” means that it is never followed by a stated direct object. In the dictionary, all senses (distinct meanings) of a verb are marked as either “transitive” or “intransitive.” Some verbs have only transitive meanings and some have only intransitive meanings, but many verbs have both transitive and intransitive meanings.

    A closer look at transitive verbs

    Stated in a different way, a transitive verb follows the pattern VERB + DIRECT OBJECT, and an intransitive verb follows the pattern VERB + ZERO OBJECT. If someone said “I like very much” (VERB + ZERO OBJECT), most speakers of English would feel that the sentence was missing something. They might think, “Huh?—like WHAT very much??” Unconsciously, English speakers know that the verb “like” operates transitively and requires some kind of object to follow it.*

    Here are some examples of transitive verbs with their direct objects highlighted:

    I like cats.
    I     like cooking, but I don’t like cleaning up.
    What are you     doing?
    They     prevented the fire from spreading.
    We     believe that such behavior is wrong.

    Object or No Object?

    Let’s look at a simple word like “eat.” When “eat” is a transitive verb, it is always followed by its grammatical direct object—“toast” or “dinner,” for example.

    With a transitive verb, one can always ask a question like “What are you eating?” or “What did you eat?” and get an answer—even if the answer is just “nothing.” That answer is the “direct object.” Even in the question, there is a stated object—the word “what”—that takes the grammatical place of the specific thing that is eaten.

    On the other hand, in the sentence “Don’t talk to him while he’s eating,” the verb “eat” is used intransitively. There is nothing following the verb that tells us what this person is eating. Of course, he has to be eating something if he’s actually eating, but the verb “eat” can be used in this way, intransitively, without any statement of what is being consumed. The fact that “eat” can be used either transitively (with a stated object) or intransitively (without a stated object) is an important quality of this particular verb.

    Intransitive Use

    Verbs used intransitively often have no object in real life. You can see this in the following examples that use intransitive verbs. (Note that other words can follow an intransitive verb, but no objects.)

    Here are examples of the use of intransitive verbs:

    The population grew.
    The spark plugs fired.
    The wind blew hard.
    The water is running.
    The baby is sleeping.
    She hesitated for a moment.
    They skate beautifully together.

    Notice, though, that with a change in meaning, some of these same verbs can be used transitively, as shown in the first example for each pair below:

    The boss fired the whole team.
    The spark plugs fired.

    We grew tomatoes last year.
    The population grew.

    His daughter is running the business now.
    The water is running.

    A Difference in Focus

    Let’s look at the verb “eat” again. The actual meaning of the word in the sentence “I’m eating toast” is the same as in the sentence “I’m eating.” There is some activity with food happening in this person’s mouth. However, the focus is different. The transitive sentence focuses on both the action of eating and on the toast being eaten. The intransitive sentence, on the other hand, focuses only on the action and ignores what is actually being consumed. The intransitive sentence answers questions like “What are you doing?” or “Are you busy?” The transitive sentence answers questions such as “What are you eating?” or “Are you eating my donuts again?”

    Compare the following examples of a verb being used transitively versus the same verb, with essentially the same meaning, being used intransitively:

    I only eat toast in the mornings, so I am pretty hungry by lunch time.
    I was eating when he called, so I told him I’d call him back.

    The boss worked the employees hard.
    The boss worked until midnight.

    The wind blew the ship off course.
    The wind blew hard.

    Noting whether a verb follows a transitive pattern or an intransitive pattern is important for learners so that they may avoid using a transitive verb without any kind of object (“I like very much”) or using an object directly after an intransitive verb (“I apologized him”). Moreover, intransitive senses of a verb often differ from transitive senses in the general feeling they convey. Even if the meaning of the verb itself is essentially the same (“eat”), the focus when using a verb intransitively differs from when the same verb is used transitively.

    Finally, although it’s common practice to speak of “transitive verbs” and “intransitive verbs,” it may be more appropriate to speak of transitive and intransitive senses of individual verbs. As stated earlier, many verbs have both transitive and intransitive senses. In addition, verbs historically used as transitives can develop new, intransitive senses and vice versa. Verbs are not inherently transitive or intransitive. They have tendencies to be used in certain ways for different meanings.

    *The verb “like” is typically used transitively, but it does have a less common intransitive sense as in “You can sit here, if you like.”