So, let’s investigate how to combine adjectives in the English language like a pro!

Basic adjective order

In real life, we don’t often use more than 2-3 adjectives in a row. However, it’s still important to put them in the right order. And if you’re taking an examination, you can well be asked to place three or more adjectives in the correct order in a sample sentence. This is where you’ll need to recall the general adjective sequence, which goes as follows:

Examples:

• We saw beautiful gigantic ancient sequoias in the national park. (opinion, size, age)
• She gave me this weird red Japanese plastic device. (opinion, color, origin, material)
• Have you seen my favorite big dotted coffee cup? (opinion, size, color, purpose)

If two or more adjectives in a sentence happen to be from the same group, they are usually separated with a comma, the last one typically being connected with an “and”:

• There were lots of tiny blue, red and yellow flowers in the garden.
• This was the first glass and concrete building in our town.

Specific cases

In the examples above, all adjectives are positioned before the noun, but there are also cases when we use them after a linking verb (such as be, seem, become, feel, etc.):

• The house was old and derelict.

Or, we can put it another way:

• It was an old and derelict house.

Please note that certain adjectives are only used after a linking verb. These are called predicative adjectives. Often, they start with a prefix a-, with a few exceptions. Here are some examples:

• afraid
• alike
• alive
• awake
• ill
• well

Incorrect: We found an afraid little boy in the kitchen. 

Correct: We found a frightened little boy in the kitchen. 

Correct: The little boy we found in the kitchen was afraid.

Incorrect: I saw an ill old dog.

Correct: I saw a sick old dog.

Correct: The dog I saw was ill and old.

***

As you can see, mastering adjective order in English is not rocket science, although it might require some training to memorize the sequence. 

The post Mastering Adjective Order in English appeared first on Linguix Blog.

Today, we’ll share a few methods of how you can improve your writing skills. Off we go!

Practice smart reading 

Reading is often listed as one of the best ways to develop excellent writing skills, refine one’s style and build up vocabulary. However, plain passive reading will hardly bring you this far—it’s crucial that you treat it as a helpful practice rather than mere leisure. Through reading, we can learn a wide range of expressive means authors use to convey their thoughts and ideas, so it’s important to take an analytical approach. 

For example, you can take notes while you’re reading and put down artistic means or specific phrases that catch your attention. Analyze the writing style, word choice, and phrasing the author uses to produce the desired effect. So, your primary focus here would be on “how” rather than on “what” is written. Later you might use these notes to adopt certain elements of the author’s style to develop your own one. 

Another suitable method is to combine reading with your writing exercises by summarizing what you’ve just read in a couple of paragraphs or writing a review after you finish the book. 

Try freewriting

Freewriting is an effective technique to unleash your creativity, allowing thoughts and ideas to emerge without any restrictions. The method itself is quite simple: set a timer for 3-5-10 minutes, and start putting down anything that pops up in your mind. 

One important thing: you shouldn’t stop for more than a few seconds and edit or rewrite the text during the session (although you might want to edit it afterward.) It doesn’t need to be thoughtful or coherent—after all, it’s not intended to be read by anyone else. The main idea here is to let your imagination rather than logic guide you. It is also an excellent technique that helps overcome writer’s block or brainstorm on a set topic.

Edit more

Editing is an indispensable part of the writing process. However, for some reason, it’s often overlooked as being a method of improving your writing. When editing your own or someone else’s texts, you learn to more critically assess the wording, style, and logical structure, let alone eliminate grammar and punctuation mistakes. 

For example, you can offer your friend or colleague to send some of their texts to you so that you can practice editing, while they will get a free proofreading service. Or, you can pick a random blog post on the internet—perhaps, written by someone who’s not a professional author—and use it for your practice. 

Editing your own texts might be more tricky since you need to be critical of your creation. Take a while before getting down to editing so that you can review your text with a fresh look.  

Start a blog

It goes without saying that to advance your writing, you actually need to write texts on a regular basis (surprise!). But what if you don’t get enough practice at work or in class? Many of us are active in social media and post regularly—but this format has its limitations, such as the requirement to be concise (which is a good practice on its own.) 

To refine your writing skills on a larger scale, you can start a blog on your favorite topic(s)—be it gardening, fixing cars, traveling, cultivating new habits, or your professional interests. Apart from the obvious joy of developing your themes and sharing them with others, you will also have a chance to constantly practice and improve your writing skills.   

Rephrase and translate

As an Italian author and philosopher, Umberto Eco wrote, to translate means to “say almost the same thing.” Translation, indeed, requires the skill to rephrase sentences to avoid the blind copying of the syntactic structures of the original text, which can often result in awkward constructions in the target language. 

This skill of paraphrasing is actually extremely helpful when writing in your own language, too. There are many ways to express the same idea, and the more ways you can come up with, the richer your expressive toolkit is. Translation is a more profound practice where you also improve your knowledge of the foreign language while training writing skills. 

Take part in writing marathons and contests

There are plenty of opportunities nowadays for novice authors of both fiction and non-fiction texts to develop their writing skills. For example, you might want to take part in a writing marathon where you need to write something every day and then get your texts reviewed by peer participants and/or a mentor. Such an activity can be a real challenge for those who want to quickly boost their writing skills and get feedback.

A more serious challenge is to take part in one of the writing contests for professional or semi-professional authors or journalists. Participation in such a contest might inspire you to show your best, and even if you don’t win, it’ll certainly be a valuable experience.

The post 6 Exercises to Improve Your Writing Skills appeared first on Linguix Blog.

You can learn words and collocations in a context. Memorizing words is crucial for enhancing your vocabulary, but without a real-life context, they’ll probably be stored in your passive vocabulary. It means that you won’t be able to use them during a conversation or while writing. Films help you learn how and when to use new words.

You can listen to the real pronunciation. There are so many words to learn and you probably don’t have the time to memorize the pronunciation of every one of them. Movies are a great way to listen to the correct way of saying words. Besides, movies can help you choose what accent is your favorite: British or American. Textbooks, on the other hand, rarely focus on English accents.

You find out what is real native English. Learning grammar and vocabulary from textbooks is great, but it’s less efficient than listening to real native speakers. The natural way of speaking in movies is much closer to the one you desire to achieve than academic and a little bit “artificial” English in textbooks. By observing how actors communicate, you may sound like a native speaker far sooner. 

Best Movies for Learning English

Let’s look at the list of films that in our opinion help you learn the language by displaying the natural way of speaking and contain some rich vocabulary:

The Theory of Everything (2014)

The Theory of Everything tells the story of Stephen Hawking – one of the most famous physicists of our time. The movie is focused on his relationship with Jane Wilde and his fatal illness (ALS) diagnosed in his early twenties. 

If you love the British accent this film is the right choice for you. Many of the actors speak “the Queen’s”, which is considered upper-class, correct and clear English. The characters use difficult scientific words. Watch this movie if you already speak English well enough to make it more advanced. 

Great Gatsby (2013)

The Great Gatsby is a historical romantic drama movie based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. A Wall Street trader, Nick Carraway finds himself captivated by the past and lifestyle of his extremely wealthy neighbor, Jay Gatsby. After being a part of his life for some time, Nick figures out the dark and ugly background behind Jay’s rich existence.

The movie is good for language learners who want to learn more about America in the 1920s. The characters’ slow dialogues and the amazing soundtrack are perfect for enjoyable English learning. 

Harry Potter (2001-2011)

Most probably, you’re familiar with the story of Harry Potter, an orphaned wizard, created by British author Joanne Rowling. The movies are about Harry’s magical adventures. All the main characters go to a magic school called Hogwarts. 

If you’re new to watching movies in English, Harry Potter is a good choice to start. The first two movies were made for a young audience, so the dialogues are slow and easy to understand.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The Shawshank Redemption has been voted as one of the best films ever made and is based on a book by Stephen King. A formerly successful banker was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of a crime he didn’t commit. Over many years, he gets closer to another prisoner, they both find solace in their tragic situations.

Not surprisingly, the dialogues in the movie are full of difficult legal words as well as lots of American slang. 

Little Women (2019)

The movie tells the story of the lives of four sisters, growing up in New England during the Civil War. It shows their feelings, dreams, illnesses, and life lessons from childhood to young adulthood. The film is based on a novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott and is considered an autobiographical piece.

Little Women is a great choice for English learners because of clear dialogues and the story that makes people empathize with their family’s feelings. 

Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump, who is played by Tom Hanks, is a kind man with a low IQ. The film follows his entire extraordinary life and is narrated by Forrest himself. He accidentally takes part in some important moments in history without realizing it. The movie is funny and will make you feel good.

Forrest’s speech is slow and easy to understand, therefore it’s the right choice for English beginners. However, he often uses a lot of American slang, so it’s great for advanced learners as well.

The Social Network (2010)

This movie follows the story of Mark Zuckerberg, a genius Harvard student, who developed a revolutionary global social network in his dorm room. The network then has entirely changed the way we communicate with other people. Zuckerberg becomes famous and the youngest billionaire in history, but money and fame lead to personal and legal issues.

Aaron Sorkin, who has written the script, is well-known for his natural dialogues and funny lines, so the movie is enjoyable to watch and is easy to follow. You’ll find many advanced words related to computers, technology and social networks.

Final Thoughts

Your English learning won’t be boring for you from now on. Use subtitles if you wish. However, we recommend avoiding pausing to look for translation in the dictionary as it may stop you from enjoying the movies. Don’t forget to memorize new words and practice using them in real life. Have fun!

The post 7 Best Movies to Learn English appeared first on Linguix Blog.

You now have a great opportunity to memorize new exquisite words with Linguix. Make sure you add them to your active vocabulary by using them as frequently as possible. Let’s begin!

Felicity /fɪˈlɪsɪti/ 

Meaning: a state of feeling intense happiness

Synonyms: bliss, delight, happiness

Example: My mom and her sister always say that giving birth gave them a felicity they had never known.

Ineffable /ɪnˈɛfəb(ə)l/

Meaning: too great or extreme to be described in words

Synonyms: indescribable, unutterable

Example: The beauty of nature in Switzerland is ineffable.

Mellifluous /mɛˈlɪflʊəs/

Meaning: smooth, gentle and pleasant to listen to (voice or piece of music)

Synonyms: dulcet, melodious

Example: Her mellifluous voice is giving me goosebumps.

Plethora /ˈplɛθ(ə)rə/

Meaning: a great or excessive amount of something

Synonyms: plenty, overabundance

Example: The English language has a plethora of beautiful words that allow us to express meanings and ideas in multiple ways.

Succinct /səkˈsɪŋ(k)t/

Meaning: said or written in a clear and brief manner

Synonyms: laconic, concise

Example: Make sure your essay is succinct and coherent.

Elation /ɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/

Meaning: a state of being filled with joy, happiness and exhilaration

Synonyms: euphoria, excitement

Example: She experienced great elation and relief after finally achieving her most desired goal.

Catharsis /kəˈθɑːsɪs/

Meaning: the process of releasing strong or repressed emotions

Synonyms: purification, emotional release

Example: We feel relieved and relaxed after experiencing catharsis.

Ebullient /ɪˈbʌljənt,ɪˈbʊljənt/

Meaning: cheerful and full of energy

Synonyms: enthusiastic, bouncy

Example: My father is known for his ebullient personality.

That’s it! Make sure to add these powerful words to your regular English vocabulary and think of situations where you can properly use them. 

The post 8 Exquisite English Words to Enrich Your Vocabulary appeared first on Linguix Blog.

You’ll definitely encounter difficulties on your way to fluency in English, but it doesn’t mean you can’t learn it. Just look at millions of English learners who have overcome the same obstacles. So can you.

Let’s debunk the most common myths about learning English together, so you’ll realize that they shouldn’t stop you from achieving your goals.

Myth 1: Native Speakers Can Teach You Better

Have you noticed that most language learners prefer lessons with native English speakers? It’s common disbelief, however, that native speakers are better teachers. Why?

First of all, native speakers didn’t have the experience of learning the language as adults. Therefore, they may not be able to understand and empathize with most struggles non-natives adults face. 

Moreover, they can often use English grammar correctly without knowing why. It implies that they speak or write accurately but they can’t explain or teach it.

On the contrary, non-native teachers can be more helpful than a native speaker.

It doesn’t mean there are no excellent native teachers, but it’s important to pay attention to skills and qualifications your teacher possesses in the first place.

Myth 2: You Need to Live in an English-speaking Country to Learn the Language 

Many non-natives believe that after living in the US, for example, they’ll become fluent in English. Unfortunately, going to one of the English speaking countries isn’t equal to mastering the language. Without learning grammar first, for instance, you won’t be able to improve it. You’ll probably be able to use simple phrases while buying groceries or looking for a restaurant, but that’s far from fluency.

In the Internet era you don’t need to travel around the globe to learn the language. Instead, look for learning opportunities where you are. Create an environment in which your mind always has to use English. Change the language on your smartphone and laptop, watch movies and read books in English, find offline or online friends who are native English speakers and so on. 

Myth 3: To be Fluent You Have to Make no Mistakes

Some learners believe that they’ll become fluent only if they observe and correct all mistakes in their speech or writing. It doesn’t work this way as fluent English isn’t only about accuracy. 

It’s actually the other way around: focusing mainly on accuracy negatively impacts your fluency and ability to speak naturally and rapidly. Additionally, by constantly eliminating errors or being afraid of making them, you may avoid using complex sentences with sophisticated vocabulary and structure. Not surprisingly, this complexity also adds to your fluency level.

Therefore, try to balance accuracy and complexity and remember that accuracy isn’t everything. Mistakes are totally acceptable and even necessary.

Myth 4: You’re too Old to Learn English at a Sufficient Level

Let’s rely on the studies of respected universities. For example, MIT scientists proved that adults learn language to fluency nearly as well as children.

Instead of limiting yourself by believing that you’re too old to learn English, think of exact difficulties that make you procrastinate? What are you afraid of? Maybe you don’t like offline lessons or learning methods are too tough?

Find what really stops you and modify your learning practice, so that it’s enjoyable and easy. Test different methods with your teacher or by yourself.

Myth 5: Learning English is Boring

If you still believe that English is boring, the problem lies in the chosen learning method, not the language itself! 

To increase your motivation, change your learning strategies. Do something new, challenging and exciting. Find situations that force you to use your English skills.

Stop reading boring textbooks. Instead, 

• Listen to favorite podcasts; 
• Learn songs’ lyrics and sing them using correct pronunciation; 
• Follow bloggers whose English you like;
• Video chat with study buddies, who are also interested in learning English.

These are just a few examples of how to make your learning more colorful and engaging. Find what excites and challenges you, and believe us, you’ll love the process.

Myth 6: After Learning All Grammar Rules You’ll Become Fluent

It’s another limiting belief that delays your ability to sound fluent. Many learners believe that when they have learned enough English grammar, the fluency automatically comes into play.

Yes, you’ll eventually be able to use complex, sophisticated structure in your sentences with hard work, but you don’t have to wait until you’ve learned every grammar rule. Take small steps towards fluency everyday from now on. Learned rules should be practised, otherwise you’ll forget it later. Think about every grammar lesson you learn as something you will apply the next day. Cultivate habits that will enhance your fluency on a daily basis and you’ll see the results much sooner.

Myth 7: Once You’re Fluent, You’re Always Fluent

Most people learn the language, spending a lot of time and money, but end up forgetting everything they’ve learned. The reason is that without creating an environment contributing to lifelong learning, the chances to forget the language are too high. Bad news, you have to literally insert English in your life if you want to maintain fluency. 

Good news, however, is that you can learn to enjoy the process. Remember to apply methods that you like, experiment with video, audio and other ways of learning, dedicate some time every day and keep the language fresh.

Good luck in your English journey!

The post 7 Myths About the English Language appeared first on Linguix Blog.

The problem is that too many words used when describing food just don’t really describe anything at all. Or else they are just too cliché, or in the worst-case scenario, put people right off the food that you should in fact be encouraging them to eat.

Here is a list of some of the words that just don’t cut it when talking about food, along with some alternatives that will hit the spot just that much better.

Tasty

The problem with the word ‘tasty’ is that it really tells us nothing. All food, almost without exception, has a taste of something (anyone with an imagination can, therefore, describe it), so using this word, which has really come to mean that something tastes ‘good’, really gives us no detail at all. It’s a bit like saying something tastes ‘good’!

Alternatives: Absolutely any description of the food that reveals in detail why the taste is positive.

Spicy

The problem with this word is it is now used to mean something which is laden with chili, when in fact its connotation is that it is full of spices, which of course can include anything (and perhaps no chili whatsoever).

Alternatives: Why not actually mention the spices that are prevalent in the taste, or if it is full of chili, then say that. ‘Hot’ definitely doesn’t hit the mark either, because you could just as easily be talking about the temperature.

Delicious

This word is useless because not only is it subjective (something that is delicious for one person may absolutely not be for another) but it is now so ubiquitous that it has become practically meaningless.

Alternatives: Talk about the blend of flavors, and if it really is something that you would recommend, then be specific as to why.

Moist

Did you know that the word ‘moist’ is regularly voted as one of the most hated words in the English language? The problem is the sound of the word (for some people), and also the word’s connotation (for others). You see, it has become somewhat connected to bodily fluids.

It’s not really a bad word to use if truth be told. A cake that is soft and ‘liquidy’ really should be described as ‘moist’, but for this irrational dislike that people have for the word. It’s probably best avoided, which is a shame really because for accurate descriptions it really should be a winner.

Oh, and it’s synonym ‘soggy’ should never be used! Never.

Alternatives: juicy, rich with liquid.

Moorish

This invented word has come to mean something that entices you to eat (or drink) more. That can really be applied to so many things that it again becomes a redundant term. A synonym is addictive, but this word has too many negative connotations to be considered a worthy alternative too.

Alternatives: Enchanting, bewitching, beguiling.

Organic

Where do we even start with this word? Organic has become a buzzword for anything and everything that goes against the mass-produced norm, but the irony is that organic has become so prevalent that it itself has become mass-produced.

Of course, the principle is a good one. It is the right one. The problem really is that the word has become so ubiquitous on a vast range of products that we have lost sight of what it actually means.

Alternative: Talk specifically about the food journey involved with the product so readers get a real sense of where it came from

Foodie

A foodie has come to represent some sort of special class of people who really cares about food and understands it. But really, when you think about it, with a few exceptions, we are all foodies (not least because without it, we wouldn’t last very long). The problem with a foodie is that it is exclusive like it’s a club that not everyone can be a member of, and when it comes to food, that’s just not the case.

We all have foods that we are enthusiastic about, and we have our own way of preparing and enjoying the food that we eat. We are all foodies, so the word itself is really a redundant expression.

Alternatives: Chefs, professional cooks, or just avoid the term completely.

Yummy

This word is cute when you are five years old. Anything older and it is simply a bit immature and, a bit like ‘tasty’ and ‘delicious’, not really descriptive at all. Yummy (which has also found itself attached to the word ‘mummy’ in recent times to describe something else equally as poorly, not to mention in a way that is very un PC too) is juvenile and gives no real description to the food you are applying it too. So, find something else.

Alternatives: Again, absolutely any description of the food that reveals in detail why the taste is positive.

Nosh

This is an old slang word simply meaning ‘food’. The problem is that it makes food sound really unappetizing, so it really shouldn’t be used at all. It’s a lazy term that harks back to a time when people really didn’t put the time and effort into cooking that the activity deserves. Nosh is from a bygone age, therefore, and really needs to be replaced.

Alternatives: Cuisine, food, dish.

Gastro

Gastro is a shortened version of the very scientific-sounding word ‘gastronomy’, which means the preparation and enjoyment of food. But there are two problems with the word gastro. The first is that it sounds like some sort of medical problem. The second is that it is way too scientific and clinical for something that really should be much more passionate, heartfelt, natural and accessible. Plus, for many British people, in particular, it represents a craze that has somewhat seen the demise of the classic English pub: the dreaded gastro-pub. It’s either a restaurant or a pub. Make up your mind!

Alternatives: Again, what’s wrong with ‘food’? 

The post Words to Avoid When Writing About Food appeared first on Linguix Blog.

So, here is all you need to know about using indefinite articles in English.

The difference between ‘a’ and ‘an’

The first thing to establish is exactly what is the difference between ‘a’ and ‘an’ because there are some misconceptions about this.

The first thing to say is that ‘a’ and ‘an’ represent exactly the same thing, meaning that they are used in the same situations.

The decision to use ‘a’ or ‘an’ only comes with what the next word is, be that the noun or adjective that is following the article.

And contrary to popular belief, it is not decided on spelling, but on pronunciation.

‘A’ is used when the following word begins with a consonant sound. ‘An’ is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound. In most cases this is self-evident, except:

A university (not ‘an’). University begins with a ‘y’ sound, which is a consonant.

A European country (not ‘an’. Again, European begins with a ‘y’ sound.

An hour (not ‘a’). Hour begins with a silent ‘h’, so is, therefore, a vowel sound.

An honest person (not ‘a’). Again, the ‘h’ is silent.

A one-legged man (not ‘an’). One begins with a ‘w’ sound, which is a consonant.

It is therefore important to remember that using ‘a’ or ‘an’ depends on sound, not spelling.

It is important to note that, when speaking, it should be easy to identify when to use these articles as the sounds should connect easily, which is exactly why the rule exists. ‘An’ + consonant sound, or ‘a’ + vowel sound will mean gymnastics for your mouth!

Where and when to use indefinite articles

So, when should I use an indefinite article in English?

Indefinite articles are used with singular, countable nouns, when you are only providing an example of that thing, or when you are introducing that thing for the first time.

Here are examples of both of those situations:

I have always wanted a dog. I think it would be fun. (an example of something, not specific)

I have a dog. His name is Benji. (You are introducing your dog into the conversation for the first time).

Contrasting the indefinite articles with the definite article ‘the’

‘The’, as a definite article, is used to introduce something specific, or something unique. Here are examples:

The dog that lives next door to me is very big. (a specific dog that you are referencing)

Paris is the capital of France. (it is unique in that it is the only capital)

The sun is shining today. (there is only one sun)

Substituting ‘a’ or ‘an’ in any of the examples above would mean that you are talking about one of many. Here are some examples:

A dog that lives next door to me is very big. (there is more than one dog that lives next door).

Paris is a capital of France. (if France had more than one capital, which is doesn’t. You could say ‘Paris is a city in France’, which is, of course, true!)

A sun is shining today. (this just sounds ridiculous, as there is only one sun)

Failing to use any article with these single, countable nouns is always a mistake in English.

The post How to Use the Indefinite Articles ‘A’ and ‘An’ appeared first on Linguix Blog.

‘Been’ is the past participle of the verb ‘to be’, and so, as such, is used in perfect tenses. Here are some examples:

‘I have been very tired recently.’

‘My car has been stolen.’

‘Gone’ is the past participle of the verb ‘to go’, and so is used in perfect tenses to represent this common verb. Again, here are some examples:

‘My brother has gone to Europe.’

‘Where have they gone?’

However, there is one situation when these two participles, which appear to be totally different, are linked. That situation is in movement.

Gone

‘Gone’, as the past participle of ‘to go’, represents when a person of thing has moved to another place, such as in the examples above. Here are some more examples:

‘My colleague Simon has gone home early today.’

‘Where have you gone? We need you back here in the office.’ (A cell phone conversation)

The emphasis in these examples is that the subject of the sentence is no longer in the place where the statement is made, or where the subject began.

‘Been’

‘Been’, as the past participle of ‘to be’, is often used to speak about states, such as emotions and feelings, or to describe a passive action (where ‘to be’ is used as an auxiliary).

However, ‘been’ is also used to speak about movement. In this case, the person or thing moved to another place, but has since returned to the original place. Here are some examples:

‘Have you ever been to Mexico?’

‘Yes, I’ve been to Mexico three times.’

In this instance, the conversation is definitely not taking place in Mexico, so represents a journey that was made and then returned from. In this case, three times.

In this way, ‘been’ is typically used in the present perfect tense to talk about experiences of travel or movement, again such as in the example above.

‘Gone’ Vs ‘Been’

There is, therefore, a fundamental difference between using ‘gone’ and ‘been’ to talk about movement. Note the contrast in these examples:

‘Where have you gone?’ (A cell phone conversation between two people who were in the same place at some stage before the conversation)

‘Where have you been?’ (A face-to-face conversation between two people who are now in the same place, but one of whom was absent for a period).

In the second example above, it would also be acceptable to say ‘Where did you go?’, particularly in the United States. In British English, the present perfect tense with ‘been’ (as in the example above) would be more common.

So, in summary, ‘gone’ is movement in one directions, whereas ‘been’ represents a movement or journey that was returned from.

If you have ‘gone to France’, you haven’t come back (you are still in France).

If you have ‘been to France’, you are definitely not in France now.

Example mistakes

These are examples of typical mistakes when using ‘gone’ and ‘been’:

‘Have you ever gone to Mexico? – ‘been’

‘Yes, I’ve gone to Mexico three times.’ – ‘been’

‘I’ve gone there before.’ – ‘been’

‘Where did you go?’ ‘I’ve just gone to the shop to buy this soda.’ – ‘been’

Generally speaking, it is much more common to make a mistake by using ‘gone’ instead of ‘been’ than vice versa.

The post How to Use the Past Participles ‘Been’ and ‘Gone’ Correctly appeared first on Linguix Blog.

The Linguix AI-powered writing assistant is available to download for free as a browser extension on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Here are just five reasons why you should:

Fix typos and grammar mistakes wherever you are writing on the net

At heart, the Linguix tool is an advanced grammar and style checking tool that goes beyond what you will have come to expect from most simple tools of this kind. The Linguix tool applies 2000+ context-based rules and over 1700+ common patterns developed by Linguists in order to power the algorithm that scans your texts in detail.

The result is stylish and error-free texts that you can be proud of. And the tools apply wherever you write on the web, once you have downloaded the free extension.

Brighten up your writing with suitable synonyms

As well as the correction of grammar, stylistics and spelling mistakes, the Linguix tool provides you with a detailed list of synonyms for whatever word you choose to highlight. As a result, you can peruse the list of options and select the word that is most suitable for the context and your audience. In this way, you are not just creating flawless texts, but you are developing your language skills too.

Enhance your vocabulary with the look up in Linguix feature

Another way in which Linguix educates as well as assists is in the “lookup in Linguix” feature. Once you have downloaded the extension, you now have the ability to click on any word you read on the web and get a definition of that word provided by Linguix, as well as a list of synonyms. In that way, you are benefitting from a powerful education tool that goes beyond just the simple correction of grammar (far beyond!)

Get lightning-fast Google Docs support

In February 2020 Linguix released a support feature for Google Docs, allowing instant grammar and style recommendations for any writing in Google Docs. But development continued and integration was redesigned in order to include document support for pieces of work up to 30 pages long, meaning the full Linguix support package can be applied to college essays, detailed business reports, blog posts or any other larger texts in Google Docs at the expected high level of Linguix performance. In fact, tests have shown that the Linguix tool works faster than most well-known competitors in this regard.

In addition, you can avoid any delays when opening and running documents that you don’t intend to edit by using the “view-only” option. However, if you change your mind as you are browsing, simply hit the “check it” button to start the AI-based algorithm for checking for corrections.

Get advanced statistics related to your writing

Upgrade to become a Premium user with Linguix and avail of the tool’s brand-new feature: advanced statistics. Copy and paste your writing into Linguix, and then move over to where the number of mistakes is accumulated on the side of the screen. Click the diagram icon here and immediately receive a comprehensive list of statistics and a readability score relating to your text.

The statistics included here cover all manner of elements such as document length, the time it will take to read the text, and the average length of words and sentences included in the text. The overall readability score provided is based on the Flesch test, and as a result, you can tailor your language and style to the audience that you intend to reach out to.

These are just some of the main reasons why the Linguix Grammar Checker is one of the best writing tools out there and can help elevate your texts, wherever they feature, to higher levels of quality and suitability.

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Here is all you need to know about when the words should be used, and the difference in meaning.

‘A few’ and ‘a little’

The fundamental difference between the words ‘a few’ and ‘a little’ is that ‘a few’ is used with countable nouns (nouns that can have an ‘s’ added to make the plural) and plural nouns (a noun that always represents more than one of something), whereas ‘a little’ is only used with uncountable nouns (nouns that cannot be counted individually). Here are some examples:

I have a few friends who go to that college. (countable noun)

There are a few people at the party already. (plural noun)

I have a little money left, so we can buy a few more things. (uncountable noun)

But the meaning of ‘a few’ and ‘a little’ is fundamentally the same: some, although not many.

However, it is important to understand that this word also suggests something positive, or at least neutral in nature. That means that as well as giving you numerical information (about how many friends, people or how much money we are speaking about), you can also interpret from the speaker that the situation is something positive, or at least not negative.

The best examples of this concept are in these examples:

There are a few people at the party already.

I have a little money left, so we can buy a few more things.

Here we can understand that the party is starting to come alive (probably a good thing), and in the case of the money, although the amount is not large, it is enough to do something with, which can be interpreted as a small positive.

‘Few’ and ‘little’

Regarding countable, plural and uncountable nouns, the rules for ‘few’ and ‘little’ are exactly the same.

I have few friends who go to that college. (countable noun)

There are few people at the party. (plural noun)

I have little money left, so we can’t buy any more things. (uncountable noun)

As you can see by the way the two last examples have been changed, the connotation (interpretation of the words used) is not different. That is because there is now a negative feeling to what has been said.

So, in the case of the party, it suggests a disappointing party (because not many people have attended). And in the case of the money, the amount is now too small to do anything with.

In the first example, relating to friends, it is the feeling of the speaker that has now changed from something positive (‘a few friends’) to something disappointing (‘few friends’).

So, there you have it, just that tiny indefinite article makes a big difference to the connotation of the speech. Tread carefully with such language to avoid misunderstandings.

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