Challenges with using English

English is an agglomerate language. As well as a basic romance grammar mostly descended from Latin, mixed with a Germanic and French vocabulary, English takes things from every other language it meets. One result of this is English has many words for the same thing, but many of these words mean quite different things. What is the difference between under and beneath? Look, see, and watch? In, at, and on?

Examination Preparation - English Language and English Literature

So you have an examination or an important test coming up and you are not sure you are fully prepared. Or perhaps you have some time and wish to prepare an effective revision schedule. Or the assessment is tomorrow and you have revised and prepared, and want to be sure you won't melt down in the testing center.

Literary Terms

Having trouble confusing your metaphor and your simile? Unsure if you are reading a fable or a myth? What is synesthesia?

Things Fall Apart

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5 I will answer three questions on Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.

The River Between

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5 I will answer three questions on Ngugi wa Thiong'o's The River Between.

The Language of Power

Speakers and writers use language to gain, maintain or increase power over their audience. So what do they do? And how do they do it? A sophisticated audience knows what they are doing and why, and can then make informed decisions.

The Language of Advertising

Advertisers use all kinds of tricks to get you to what they want. Some are visual, some are auditory, and some are linguistic. Effective advertisements also work on an emotional level. A sophisticated audience knows what advertisers are doing and why, and can then make informed decisions.

Her First Ball

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Katherine Mansfield's short story"Her First Ball".

To Kill a Mockingbird

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

Book Reports or Analyses

Having trouble with your book report or book analysis? Don't have a good idea? Have a good idea but can't get started? Have started, but are stuck? Are a good way through. but can't finish?

Expository or Argumentative Essays

Having trouble with your expository or argumentative essay? Don't have a good idea? Have a good idea but can't get started? Have started, but are stuck? Are a good way through. but can't finish?

Shooting an Elephant

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant".

Dissertation / Thesis Help

Having trouble with your dissertation / thesis? Don't have a good idea? Have a good idea but can't get started? Have started, but are stuck? Are a good way through. but can't finish?

Walk Two Moons

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons.

A View from the Bridge

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge.

Extended Essay

The International Baccalaureate Extended Essay is at the centre of the Diploma programme, and for many students is their first piece of real academic research, their first real research paper and/or their first piece of extended writing. An Extended Essay in literature, linguistics or language use / sociolinguistics is quite straightforward, less daunting than it appears and actually quite enjoyable.

A-Level Textual Analysis

A-Level English assessments require students to respond, sometimes in writing and sometimes orally, to a piece of text, sometimes previously seen and sometimes previously unseen, and sometimes complete and sometimes an extract or fragment. A simple framework allows students to unlock even the most initially challenging text.

IB Commentary

International Baccalaureate ("IB") Language A programmes require students to comment, sometimes in writing and sometimes orally, on a piece of text, sometimes previously seen and sometimes previously unseen, and sometimes complete and sometimes an extract or fragment. A simple framework allows you to unlock even the most initially challenging text.

The Subjunctive

The English language is principally an amalgam of Romance languages (Latin, French, Spanish etc) and Germanic languages (German, Dutch, Anglo Saxon etc). Both groups of languages use one form of the verb to describe what is (the "indicative" mood) and another for what  might be, for example a wish or a desire (the "subjunctive" mood). However, English is different.

The Send-off

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Wilfred Owen's "The Send-off".

Anthem for doomed youth

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Wilfred Owen's "Anthem for Doomed Youth".

Death of a Salesman

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.

Master Harold and the Boys

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Athol Fugard's Master Harold and the Boys. 

1984

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on George Orwell's 1984. 

A Hanging

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on George Orwell's essay "A Hanging".

Oedipus the King

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Sophocles' Oedipus the King.

Hamlet

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Romeo and Juliet

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

The Sentry

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Wilfred Owen's "The Sentry". 

Tulips

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Sylvia Plath's "Daddy". 

Daddy

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Sylvia Plath's "Daddy".  

Articles in English

Did you know English has six articles? Definite, Indefinite, singular and plural, Zero and conceptual. What are the different uses of the six articles and when do they mean different things?

The future in English

English has twelve basic tenses covering three times but, strictly speaking, English does not have one future! So what then are the four English future tenses, and how do English speakers manage?

The English Tense System

English has three times and four aspects giving us twelve basic tenses. English also has two voices, giving twenty-four tenses and remnants of a second mood. This is easier than it sounds - just do not confuse time with tense.

A Doll's House

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.

Dulce et Decorum Est

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum est".

A Streetcar named Desire

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Tennessee William's A Streetcar named Desire.

The Great Gatsby

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Animal Farm

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on George Orwell's Animal Farm.

Lord of the Flies

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on William Golding's Lord of the Flies.

Macbeth

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Of Mice and Men

Introductory offer - the first time you contact me, for only USD 5.00 I will answer three questions on John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.

How does it work?

It's simple really. I am like your personal private tutor; you pose questions that trouble you or you have been unable to answer from other sources and I provide suggested answers.

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