Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Suffixes are the letter/s which are added at the end of a stem to make new words. The affixes used in the suffixed words are different from the affixes used in the prefixed words, and they make different kinds of words. Most of the affixes that are used in the suffixed words have no meaning of…

Prefixes are the letter/s which sit before a stem to make new words. These letters are also called affixes. Affixes generally have no meaning by their own but can form meaningful words by sitting before/after the stems. In the case of prefixed words, affixes sit before the stems of the words.   “A prefix is an affix which is placed before…

What is a Clause A clause is comprised of a group of words that include a subject and a finite verb. It contains only one subject and one verb. The subject of a clause can be mentioned or hidden, but the verb must be apparent and distinguishable. A clause is “a group of words containing a subject and predicate and functioning…

The subject and verb are the most important elements of a sentence. The relation between the subject and verb depends on two issues: person and number. The verb of a sentence must be in agreement with the subject in regard to person and number. The number of the subject can be singular and plural. The verb must be singular if the subject is singular and…

Modal verbs are a kind of auxiliary verb. They facilitate the main verb for suggesting potential, expectation, permission, ability, possibility, and obligation. When used with the main verb, modal verbs do not end with –s for the third-person singular.  Modal auxiliary verbs never change form, but they have a different form for past tense. The modal auxiliaries…

In grammar, the number refers to the count of a noun or pronoun.Example:   Boy-boys, wife-wives, my-our, ox-oxen, it-they, etc. Types of Number: Two types exist Singular Number Plural Number Singular Number It refers to the count of only one of a noun or pronoun. Example: pen, table, aunt, father, goose, etc. Plural Number It refers to the count…

What is Phrase? Phrases and clauses are the most important elements of English grammar. Phrase and clause cover everything a sentence has. Clauses are the center of sentences and phrases strengthen the sentences to become meaningful. If the clauses are the pillars of a building, the phrases are the bricks. A phrase usually is always present within a clause, but…

The verbs are the most variable element of the sentences. The right form of verb encompasses most of the grammatical rules of English language. Every element of a sentence eventually relates to the verb. The verbs appear differently in a sentence on the basis of their subjects (subject-verb agreement), tenses, moods, voices, different structures, modals, etc. Forms of Verbs: BasePastPast ParticiplePresent ParticipleGerund (noun)Infinitive Do,…

Narration: Reported to Reporting Speech David said, “I’m baking a chocolate cake for you.’’ David said that he was baking a chocolate cake for me. If we consider these two sentences, we might notice that both of them convey the same message, but there is a difference if we look closely. In the first sentence,…