by Phil Williams | Feb 5, 2019 | Definitions, General English, Words
The phrase “to be of help” is a construction roughly synonymous with “helpful”. “Of help” is particularly common in formal settings, and has a subtly different meaning and application to the adjective “helpful”. I briefly touched on such “noun of noun” constructions...
by Phil Williams | Sep 15, 2015 | Definitions, Grammar, Words
Basic word structure in English shows that a noun either be followed by a verb (when the noun is the subject) or a prepositional phrase or a time (when the noun is an object). However, nouns can be joined by additional information as part of a single grammatical unit....
by Phil Williams | Feb 14, 2013 | Exercises, Grammar
This post discusses correct use of since, after and for in English language. It is followed by a brief exercise to test your skills. Since, after and for are often confused in expressing time, these simple explanations should help you understand the differences. Since...