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Oct 15

Compound Adjectives

15 de October de 2025

Understanding Compound Adjectives in English

Compound adjectives are a fascinating aspect of English grammar that allow us to express detailed ideas about nouns in a concise and efficient way. As the name suggests, a compound adjective is made up of two or more words that work together as a single unit to describe a noun. These words are typically joined with a hyphen and placed directly before the noun they modify. By doing this, compound adjectives create a singular, unified description of the noun.

How Compound Adjectives Work

Compound adjectives combine words in a variety of patterns to convey specific meanings. Below are common structures of compound adjectives, along with examples to help clarify their usage.

1. Number + Noun

When a number and a noun combine to describe a specific quantity or measurement, they form a compound adjective:

A three-day weekend
A four-year-old boy
A five-star hotel

Note: The noun in the compound adjective is always singular, even if the number indicates plurality.

2. Adjective + Noun

An adjective and a noun can team up to describe a noun:

A last-minute decision
A first-class ticket
A high-speed train

3. Adjective + Gerund (-ing form)

An adjective combined with a gerund often describes the nature or effect of the noun:

A long-lasting relationship
A tight-fitting sweater
A slow-moving vehicle

4. Noun + Gerund (-ing form)

A noun and a gerund together often indicate a function or characteristic:

An Oscar-winning movie
An English-speaking country
A record-breaking performance

5. Noun + Adjective

A noun and an adjective can combine to describe a noun in a unique way:

A world-famous actor
A thirst-quenching drink
A sugar-free dessert

6. Noun + Past Participle

A noun and a past participle often indicate what the noun is made of or its defining characteristic:

An electric-powered car
A homemade meal
A sun-dried tomato

7. Adjective + Past Participle

An adjective combined with a past participle describes the state or condition of the noun:

A closely-watched election
A well-lit room
A highly-respected professor

8. Adverb + Past Participle

When an adverb modifies a past participle, it gives additional nuance to the description:

A short-lived romance
A long-established tradition
A fully-equipped kitchen

Important Notes on Compound Adjectives

Hyphenation Matters: The hyphen is essential in compound adjectives. Without it, the meaning can become unclear or entirely different. For example:
- A small-business owner (a person who owns a small business)
- A small business owner (a short person who owns a business)
Placement in a Sentence: Compound adjectives are typically placed before the noun they modify. When placed after the noun, they often lose the hyphenation and become part of a predicate.
- Before the noun: A well-known artist
- After the noun: The artist is well known.
Not All Need Hyphens: If the compound adjective uses an adverb ending in -ly, the hyphen is not used:
- A beautifully designed room
- A carefully prepared presentation

Additional Examples

A cold-blooded animal (Adjective + Past Participle)
A two-story house (Number + Noun)
A hand-painted vase (Noun + Past Participle)
A quick-thinking detective (Adjective + Gerund)

Conclusion

Compound adjectives are a powerful tool for adding precision and variety to your writing. By understanding the structures and rules that govern their formation, you can use them effectively to convey specific and vivid ideas. With practice, you’ll find that compound adjectives are not only practical but also an enjoyable aspect of English to explore and master!

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Oct 14

GRAMMAR – Adverbs of frequency

14 de October de 2025

Adverbs of frequency describe how often something occurs

100% – always – I always come to work on time.
~90% – usually – I usually wake up before 7 am.
~80% – normally – I normally have breakfast at home.
~80% – generally – I generally walk to work.
~70% – often – I often have lunch near my office.
~70% – frequently – I frequently meet friends for lunch.
~50% – sometimes – I sometimes take a break in the afternoon.
~30% – occasionally – I occasionally go for a beer after work.
~10% – seldom – I seldom stay out late.
~5% – rarely – I rarely drink whiskey.
~5% – hardly ever – I go out without my phone.
0% – never – I am never late to class.

Placement of adverbs of frequency
BEFORE the main verb (but NOT the verb BE).
I always study in the library when I have an exam.
I never arrive late for class.
AFTER the verb BE.
I am always tired after tennis.
She is never late for class.

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Oct 11

GRAMMAR – Comparatives & Superlatives

11 de October de 2025

Comparative and superlative adjectives are essential tools in English grammar for comparing and expressing degrees of qualities or characteristics. This post will clarify these concepts with clear definitions, examples, and practical applications.

GRAMMAR – Comparatives & Superlatives

Comparative Adjectives

Definition: Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things or people and indicate which has a higher degree of a particular quality.

Formation:

For most adjectives: add “-er” to the adjective (for short adjectives) or use “more” before the adjective (for longer adjectives).
For adjectives ending in “y”: change the “y” to “i” and add “-er” (e.g., happy → happier).
For irregular adjectives: use completely different words (e.g., good → better, bad → worse).

Examples:

Short adjective: fast → faster
- The cheetah is faster than the lion.
Long adjective: beautiful → more beautiful
- Paris is more beautiful than London.
Adjective ending in “y”: happy → happier
- She seems happier today.
Irregular adjectives: good → better, bad → worse
- Her performance was better than expected.
- The weather today is worse than yesterday.

Superlative Adjectives

Definition: Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more things or people and indicate which has the highest degree of a particular quality.

Formation:

For most adjectives: add “-est” to the adjective (for short adjectives) or use “most” before the adjective (for longer adjectives).
For adjectives ending in “y”: change the “y” to “i” and add “-est” (e.g., happy → happiest).
For irregular adjectives: use completely different words (e.g., good → best, bad → worst).

Examples:

Short adjective: fast → fastest
- The cheetah is the fastest animal on land.
Long adjective: beautiful → most beautiful
- Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Adjective ending in “y”: happy → happiest
- She is the happiest person I know.
Irregular adjectives: good → best, bad → worst
- This is the best restaurant in town.
- That was the worst movie I’ve ever seen.

Key Differences

Comparative: Used to compare two things or people.
Superlative: Used to compare three or more things or people.
Formation: Follow specific rules based on adjective length and irregular forms.

Practical Applications

Use comparative adjectives to indicate differences between two items.
Use superlative adjectives to highlight the highest degree of a quality among a group.

Conclusion: Understanding how to use comparative and superlative adjectives effectively allows you to express comparisons clearly and accurately in English. Practice using these forms in sentences to improve your language skills and communicate with precision.

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Oct 09

COLORS

9 de October de 2025

What’s your favorite color? Who knew there were so many colors? And this is only a small sample.

Here is a list of the colors shown in the image:

Black
Gray
Lavender
Lilac
Maroon
Navy Blue
Blue
Baby Blue
Turquoise
Indigo
Pink
Brown
Dark Green
Green
Teal
Fuchsia
Red
Orange
Yellow
White

If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.

Follow me on Instagram: @englishyourwaybr
or look for the hashtag #LearnEnglishWithCarlo

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Oct 08

Understanding Ability in English: CAN, COULD, and WILL BE ABLE TO

8 de October de 2025

In English, we use different forms to express someone’s ability to do something, whether in the present, past, or future. Let’s explore how CAN, COULD, and WILL BE ABLE TO are used to talk about ability.

1. CAN – Ability in the Present

We use CAN to show that someone has the ability to do something now.

Examples:
- I can play the piano.
- Can you speak English?
- They can’t play football very well.

CAN is used for general abilities and skills someone possesses at the moment.

2. COULD – Ability in the Past

COULD is the past form of CAN. It is used to show that someone had the ability to do something in the past.

Examples:
- I could play the piano when I was a child.
- Could you speak English when you were a teenager?
- They couldn’t play football very well last year.

Use COULD when talking about abilities that existed at an earlier time, but not necessarily in the present.

3. WILL BE ABLE TO – Ability in the Future

To express future ability, we use WILL BE ABLE TO. This shows that someone will have the ability to do something in the future.

Examples:
- I will be able to play the piano when I finish this course.
- Will you be able to speak English when you move to the USA?
- They won’t be able to play football if they don’t practice.

WILL BE ABLE TO is necessary because we don’t use CAN directly for the future tense.

Summary:

CAN = Present ability
COULD = Past ability
WILL BE ABLE TO = Future ability

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Oct 01

GRAMMAR – COMMON CONTRACTIONS

1 de October de 2025

GRAMMAR – COMMON CONTRACTIONS

We use contractions (I’m, we’re) in everyday speech and informal writing. Contractions, which are sometimes called ‘short forms’, commonly combine a pronoun or noun and a verb, or a verb and not, in a shorter form. Contractions are usually not appropriate in formal writing. We make contractions with auxiliary verbs, and also with be and have when they are not auxiliary verbs. When we make a contraction, we commonly put an apostrophe in place of a missing letter.

The following are the most common contractions with examples:

Is not – isn’t
- He isn’t coming to the party.
Are not – aren’t
- They aren’t ready yet.
Was not – wasn’t
- She wasn’t feeling well yesterday.
Were not – weren’t
- We weren’t aware of the change in plans.
Do not – don’t
- I don’t like mushrooms.
Does not – doesn’t
- She doesn’t know the answer.
Did not – didn’t
- He didn’t see the movie.
Have not – haven’t
- I haven’t finished my homework.
Has not – hasn’t
- She hasn’t called me back.
Had not – hadn’t
- They hadn’t expected such a large crowd.
Will not – won’t
- He won’t be able to join us.
Might not – mightn’t
- She mightn’t come to the meeting.
Must not – mustn’t
- You mustn’t touch the painting.
I am – I’m
- I’m going to the store.
I have – I’ve
- I’ve already eaten lunch.
I will – I’ll
- I’ll see you tomorrow.
I would – I’d
- I’d love to visit Paris someday.
You are – you’re
- You’re very kind.
You have – you’ve
- You’ve done a great job.
You will – you’ll
- You’ll enjoy the concert.
You would – you’d
- You’d be surprised by how much you can learn.
You had – you’d
- You’d better leave early to avoid traffic.
She is – she’s
- She’s coming over for dinner.
She has – she’s
- She’s finished her project.
He is – he’s
- He’s the new manager.
He has – he’s
- He’s completed the assignment.
It is – it’s
- It’s raining outside.
It has – it’s
- It’s been a long day.
It will – it’ll
- It’ll be fun to see everyone at the reunion.

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Oct 01

GRAMMAR – Telling the Time

1 de October de 2025

GRAMMAR – Telling the Time

There are two ways to tell the time in English.

The TRADITIONAL British way and the NEWER American way.

In the traditional British way, we say the minutes, or portion of an hour (quarter or half), followed by a preposition (past, or to) and then the hour.

The US method is more direct and often easier for English learners to grasp. We say the time as if we were reading a digital clock.

So, for example, 09:20 would be “twenty past nine” in the traditional method, and “nine twenty” in the new method.

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Sep 29

GRAMMAR – Collocations with MAKE & DO

29 de September de 2025

Collocations are words that go together naturally in English.
Learning collocations is essential for making your English sound fluent and natural!

LET’S LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAKE & DO:
Use DO for actions, obligations, and repetitive tasks.
Use MAKE for creating or producing something, and for actions you choose to do.

DO generally refers to the action itself, and MAKE usually refers to the result.

For example, if you make breakfast, the result is an omelet! If you make a suggestion, you have created a recommendation.
Make arrangements
Make an attempt
Make your bed
Make believe
Make a change
Make change
Make a choice
Make a comment
Make a commitment
Make a complaint
Make a decision
Make a demand
Make a difference
Make an effort
Make an exception
Make an excuse
Make an inquiry
Make a fool of yourself
Make a fortune
Make friends
Make a fuss
Make a mess

Do your nails
Do your best
Do good
Do harm
Do someone a favor
Do your chores
Do the right thing
Do things well / badly
Do something
Do your best
Do your hair
Do the dishes
Do an exercise
Do the laundry
Do the ironing
Do the shopping
Do your work
Do (your) homework
Do housework
Do your job
Do business
Do your hair

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Sep 28

GRAMMAR – MAYBE vs MAY BE

28 de September de 2025

MAYBE vs MAY BE

Even though the two words contain the same letters, the space between those letters makes a difference because maybe is an adverb while may be is a verb. As such, their definitions are different and one can never be used in the place of the other. Look:

MAY BE (Verb Phrase)

Definition: May be is a verb phrase that uses the auxiliary/modal verb may followed by the verb be.
Usage: May be suggests possibility and is often used to say that something might happen, might be true, or might exist.
Examples:
- “She may be the one calling you later.” (There is a possibility she will call.)
- “It may be a good idea to wait until tomorrow.” (There’s a chance waiting until tomorrow is a good idea.)

Tip: You can often replace may be with might be in a sentence, and the meaning remains the same.

MAYBE (Adverb)

Definition: Maybe is an adverb that means perhaps or possibly.
Usage: Maybe is often used at the beginning of a sentence to suggest a possible idea or outcome. It can also be used to answer questions with uncertainty or to introduce a suggestion.
Examples:
- “Maybe we should go to the park.” (Perhaps we should go to the park.)
- “Are you coming to the meeting?” “Maybe.” (Possibly, but uncertain.)

Tip: Think of maybe as being similar to other adverbs like perhaps or possibly, used to indicate an unsure or tentative suggestion.

Key Differences

May Be	Maybe
Verb phrase (may + be)	Adverb
Describes a possibility about a situation, action, or condition	Suggests uncertainty or possibility on its own, similar to perhaps
Example: “He may be at home.”	Example: “Maybe he is at home.”

Remember: If you can substitute perhaps or possibly in the sentence, maybe is likely correct. If you’re discussing the possibility of something being or happening, may be is likely correct.

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Sep 26

GRAMMAR – AT THE END vs IN THE END

26 de September de 2025

GRAMMAR – AT THE END vs IN THE END

English learners often confuse the phrases at the end and in the end because they sound similar. However, their meanings and usage are distinct. Let’s break them down and look at some examples to help you use these phrases correctly.

What Does AT THE END Mean?

At the end refers to a specific time, place, or point. You use it when you’re talking about something that happens at the conclusion of a particular event, period, or location.

Common Structures:

At the end of + noun (e.g., at the end of the day)
At the end + location (e.g., at the end of the road)

Examples of AT THE END:

At the end of the day, we went home.
(Specific time: the conclusion of the day.)
We scored a goal at the end of the game, and we won.
(Specific time: the final moments of the game.)
I’m going on holiday at the end of the week.
(Specific time: the last part of the week.)
At the end of his life, he had no regrets.
(Specific point: the conclusion of his life.)
The shop is at the end of the street.
(Specific place: the farthest point of the street.)

What Does IN THE END Mean?

In the end is an idiomatic expression that means finally, after a long time, or after considering everything. It’s often used to summarize the outcome of a situation or to explain what happened after some effort, waiting, or deliberation.

Common Uses:

To indicate a conclusion after a process.
To show that something happened despite earlier uncertainty or effort.

Examples of IN THE END:

In the end, everyone was happy with the decision.
(Finally: after discussions, a positive result.)
We worked hard, and in the end, we achieved our goal.
(After a long time: persistence led to success.)
In the end, what really matters in a friendship is trust.
(All things considered: trust is the most important aspect.)
We waited for her for over an hour, and in the end, we went without her.
(Finally: after waiting a long time, they left.)
He was reluctant to try sushi at first, but in the end, he loved it.
(Finally: despite initial hesitation, he enjoyed it.)

How to Remember the Difference

Here’s a simple way to keep them straight:

Use at the end when you’re talking about specific points in time or space.
Use in the end when you’re talking about conclusions, results, or final outcomes.

Quick Tip:

If you can replace the phrase with “finally”, use in the end. If not, you likely need at the end.

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