Up next in English Grammar Basics (12 videos)
Polish your English language skills with the English grammar basics in this Howcast video series. You'll learn how to avoid 10 common grammar mistakes; how to know when to use subject or object pronouns; how to use an apostrophe, a semicolon, and a comma; how to avoid run-on sentences; how to know when to capitalize a word; and much more.
You Will Need
- Memorization skills
Remember "I" before "E"
Remember that the letter "I" comes before "E" except after "C" or when sounding like "A" as in neighbor or weigh.
Learn when to double
Double the final consonant before adding an ending if the root word is: One syllable long and ends in a consonant preceded by a vowel; Or stressed on the last syllable
Know when not to double
Don't double the final consonant if the root word is: One syllable long and ends in either two vowels followed by a consonant, or two consonants. Stress is on the first syllable.
Know when to drop the "e"
Drop the "e" at the end of a word if you're adding an ending that begins with a vowel. If the ending starts with a consonant, keep the "e."
If you're adding an ending to a word that ends in "y", only change the "y" to "i" if a consonant comes before the "y."
Obey pluralization rules
To make words plural, add "-es" to words ending in "ss" "sh" "ch" and "x." Otherwise, just add an "s." If the word ends in a consonant and then a "y", change the "y" to "I" before adding an "es."
Know when to pick "-ick"
Spell a word that ends with the sound "-ick" with an i-c-k if it's one syllable, and with i-c if it's two syllables. The exception is compound words – a word made by joining two words. They always end in i-c-k.