• exclamation
    English Language Lessons

    How to use an exclamation

    April 28, 2023 - By 

    As a noun, an exclamation is a sudden cry or remark expressing surprise, strong emotion, or pain.”an exclamation of amazement.

    The plural noun is exclamations

    An exclamation can either be a word or a phrase.


    It ends with an exclamation point! For example: That is extremely impolite!

    Examples

    Hi! Hey! Hello!
    Goodbye! Bye!
    OK! Great!
    Thanks!

    Examples of exclamation sentences

    • Oh, That is perfect!
    • I have no idea what they think of us this time!
    • You were really amazing at the concert!
    • H not doing it right!
    • You did a really good job!
    • Wow! I really cannot believe we did that!
    • My goodness! Those are some wonderfully great decorations.
    • How does she do it!

    How to make exclamatory sentences.

    For example

    Wow! That is a beautiful dress.

    Oh, that is sad!

    • Exclamation sentences usually start with exclamatory pronouns like ‘how’ or ‘what’ to give emphasis on the noun or object in the sentence. For example: What a calm place!
    • Finally, focusing on your tone, inflection and the stress you give to certain words can change the meaning of the sentence completely.

    Practical Exercise

    Convert the following declarative sentences into exclamatory sentences.

    Example:

    Declarative Sentence: This is a big dog.

    Exclamatory Sentence: What a big dog it is!

    Use the following sentences.

    1. It was very unusual.

    2. I really love her.

    3. You have made a mistake!.

    4. Your daughter is so adorable.

    5. I miss high school.

    6. You have really white teeth.

    7. That is awesome news.

    8. It was a pleasant surprise.

    9. It was an interesting movie.

    10. I enjoyed reading the book.

    Answers

    1. How very unusual it was!

    2. How I love her!

    3. What a mistake you have made!

    4. How adorable your daughter is!

    5. Oh, how I miss high school!

    6. You have really white teeth!

    7. Wow, that is awesome news!

    8. What a pleasant surprise!

    9. It was an interesting movie!

    10. How I enjoyed reading the book!

    If you are interested in doing more practical English exercises, click here.

  • dependent and independent clause
    English Language Lessons

    Dependent and Independent Clause

    April 15, 2023 - By 

    Dependent and independent clause markers connect ideas. They can be used in two different ways. First to connect 2 independent clauses, such as ‘however’ and ‘therefore.’ Others connect an independent clause and a dependent clause, such as ‘before’ and ‘because.’

    Similarly, conjunctive adverbs can connect 2 independent clauses.

    Example

    Paul studied a lot; however, he did not pass the exam.

    Rule: You can use this pattern: independent clause; conjunctive adverb, independent clause.

    Subordinating conjunctions can connect a dependent clause to an independent clause.

    Pattern 1: subordinating conjunction + dependent clause, independent clause.

    “Because she is a graduate, Sally can teach undergraduates.”

    With the above pattern, use a comma.

    Dependent clauses can go before or after independent clauses.

    Pattern 2: independent clause + subordinating conjunction + dependent clause.

    “Sally can teach undergraduates because she is a graduate.”

    With this second pattern, do not use a comma.

    Examples of dependent and independent clauses

    Dependent clause

    At the wedding ceremony today the couple left after the sermon.

    Peter is taller than Joan although Joan is older.

    Penti City is as big as the capital city.

    The hungry lion caught and ate the deer as if it had never eaten.

    They came back home early because they were thirsty.

    I called her before we left the house.

    We could still drive even though it was stormy.

    I run in the rain even if I think it is heavy.

    I can cook for you if you are very tired.

    She came back to town early in order to help her sick grandma.

    Next month, we will travel to Japan though we are not sure of the exact date.

    She hasn’t been found guilty unless she confesses at the trial.

    I will not come back home until I finish this project in Singapore.

    My mum advised me that whatever I do, I should be consistent.

    I will call you whenever I arrive.

    She was singing while dancing in the choir yesterday evening.

    You can call me when you are ready to talk.

    I am not sure whether to cook rice or potatoes today.

    Independent Clause

    Examples

    I enjoy sitting by the lake and reading.

    Waiting to have my car’s oil changed is boring.

    She wants to travel the world and see wonderful sights.

    Our planets revolve around the sun.

    The professor always comes to class fully prepared.

    Exercise

    Use the following to make sentences

    after

    although

    as

    as if

    because

    before

    even if

    even though

    if

    in order to

    since

    though

    unless

    until

    whatever

    when

    whenever

    whether

    while

    Do you want to do more English grammar exercises, go here.

  • Lady moving away reflecting the past perfect progressive
    English Language Lessons

    Past Perfect Progressive

    March 23, 2022 - By 

    The Past Perfect Continuous is also the Past Perfect Progressive 

    Definition: It is used to say that something had been happening before something else happened.

    All the actions are completed.

    Typical examples

    1. They had been working in Egypt for 4 years before we traveled there.

    2. Paul complained of headaches because he had been staying awake too late.

    3. The flight arrived at 3 pm. They had not been waiting for it until 5 pm.

    past perfect progressive

    Exception: We can use the time expressions of ‘for’ and ‘since’ when making sentences in this tense.

    The past perfect progressive can be used in the following situations.

    1. We can use it to discuss past actions that were not completed when another action happened.

    Example

    We had been working in the new company for 5 weeks before we met the Manager.

    They had been running for 4hours every day last year before they applied for the marathon.

    My uncle had been teaching in Europe before he met his wife.

    1. We can use it to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.

    Example

    We had been studying for 30 mins before they joined us.

    My sister had been cooking since morning because of the birthday party.

    The Past Perfect Continuous tense shows cause and effect

    Example

    We were in danger, so we had not been hunting in the forest.

    Past Perfect Progressive Tense Exception

    The (be+ing) and know verbs are exceptions in continuous forms.

    Examples

    Know

    Before their wedding, they had known each other for 10 years.

    Be

    Two months ago, Ronan stopped coming to school. We were surprised because she’d always had the best grades in our class. 

    Past perfect progressive exercises

    1. We (play)…… …. for 2 hours before our parents came back home.

    2. How long (live/she) …….  abroad?

    3. We took Elizebeth to the park because she (cry) ……to play.

    4. Finally, the train came, we (wait) ……. for  15 minutes.  

    5. John is out of breath because he (run)…….. swimming for 1hour. 

    6. My Dad was very exhausted yesterday. He (work)……….all day.

    7. The chefs at the restaurant(cook)…….. all evening because of the wedding.

    8. The airline canceled my flight 2hours ago. I(look)………forward to enjoying my Miami trip.

    9. The football tournament just ended. Many people (watch)……..  the matches expectantly.

    10. The students in front of the administrative building have been unhappy. The principal (delay)…………… to paste the examination results on the notice board.

    11. The players (wait)……. for 5 mins before the Referee blew the final whistle.

    12. The date between Peter and Mary ended sadly because of Mary (wait)…….  for over 40 mins at the restaurant.

    13. When the cricket game began everyone was quiet. For 5 mins after the first goal, a fan (shout) ……… as he cheered his team.

    Practice making your own sentences with the following verbs

    Travel

    Look

    Run

    Sell

    Sit

    Sleep

    Keep

    Walk

    Go

    Give

    Call

    Meet

    More articles on the Past Simple, Past Progressive and Past Perfect tenses is here.