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Humanities LibreTexts

5: Help for English Language Learners

  • Page ID
    4267
    • Anonymous
    • LibreTexts
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    • 5.1: Word Order
      If your first language is not English, you will most likely need some extra help when writing in Standard, or formal, English. New students of Standard English often make similar kinds of errors. Even if you have been speaking English for a long time, you may not feel as confident in your written English skills. This chapter covers the most common errors made by English language learners and helps you avoid similar mistakes in your writing.
    • 5.2: Negative Statements
      Negative statements are the opposite of positive statements and are necessary to express an opposing idea.
    • 5.3: Count and Noncount Nouns and Articles
      Nouns are words that name things, places, people, and ideas. Right now, you may be surrounded by desks, computers, and notebooks. These are called count nouns because you can count the exact number of desks, computers, and notebooks—three desks, one computer, and six notebooks, for example.
    • 5.4: Pronouns
      A pronoun is a word that can be used in place of the noun. We use pronouns so we do not have to repeat words. For example, imagine writing the following sentence: Afrah put her scarf on because Afrah was cold. The sentence sounds a bit strange because Afrah is named twice; however, if you use a pronoun, the sentence will be shorter and less repetitive. You might rewrite the sentence to something similar to the following: Afrah put her scarf on because she was cold.
    • 5.5: Verb Tenses
      You must always use a verb in every sentence you write. Verbs are parts of speech that indicate actions or states of being. The most basic sentence structure is a subject followed by a verb.
    • 5.6: Modal Auxiliaries
      We all need to express our moods and emotions, both in writing and in our everyday life. We do this by using modal auxiliaries.
    • 5.7: Prepositions
      A preposition is a word that connects a noun or a pronoun to another word in a sentence. Most prepositions such as above, below, and behind usually indicate a location in the physical world, but some prepositions such as during, after, and until show location in time.
    • 5.8: Slang and Idioms
      Words are the basis of how a reader or listener judges you, the writer and speaker. When you write an academic paper or speak in a business interview, you want to be sure to choose your words carefully. In our casual, everyday talk, we often use a lot of “ums,” “likes,” “yeahs,” and so on. This everyday language is not appropriate for formal contexts, such as academic papers and business interviews.
    • 5.E: Help for English Language Learners (Exercises)

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