Verb Patterns

"Verb patterns" play a very important role in the formation of correct sentences in English. Some verbs fit well in a particular sentence structure, but you must not assume that it applies to all verbs. Other verbs cannot be used in the same structure and it is worth taking note of them. Here are some examples:

The verbs TELL and SHOW can be used in the following structure:

Please tell me the meaning.
Please show me the way.

However, it is not correct to use the verb EXPLAIN in the same structure:
Please explain me the meaning. (Incorrect).The correct structure for EXPLAIN is:
Please explain the meaning to me.

Other examples:
I asked him to come.
I told him to come.
I wanted him to come.
I proposed him to come. (Incorrect). I proposed that he should come. (Correct).
I suggested him to come. (Incorrect). I suggested that he should come. (Correct).

When GH = F

Often in English the "gh" combination is pronounced "f". Here are some examples:

ENOUGH

COUGH
Rhymes with: OFF

ROUGH
Rhymes with: CUFF, STUFF

TOUGH
Rhymes with: ROUGH, STUFF

The Silent L

There are a number of words in English which contain the letter "l", but which is not pronounced. Here are a few examples:

FOLK
The pronunciation is /fouk/.

Other words with silent L:

WALK
Rhymes with: SOCK, ROCK

TALK
Rhymes with: WALK

CHALK
Rhymes with: WALK, TALK

SALMON
Rhymes with: FAMINE

BALM
Rhymes with: TOM, BOMB

CALM
Rhymes with: BALM

YOLK
Rhymes with: FOLK, BROKE

STOCKHOLM (capital of Sweden)

HOLMES (Sherlock Holmes)

The Silent B

A number of words in English contain a letter "b" which is not pronounced. Here are a few examples:

DEBT: means financial commitment or amount of money due - as in NATIONAL DEBT; PUBLIC DEBT; FAMILY DEBT.
The pronunciaton is /det/.
DEBTOR: one who owes money.
DEBTLESS: to be free from debt.


OTHER WORDS WITH A SILENT 'B':

COMB
Rhymes with: DOME, FOAM

DUMB
Rhymes with: BUM, GUM

WOMB
Rhymes with: TOMB, DOOM

PLUMBER
Rhymes with: HUMMER, DRUMMER

Great and Entertaining Stories first written in English

Everybody loves a good story and the English language has some of the most thrilling and enjoyable known around the world. Here's a selection of some of the most popular.

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
by Mark Twain, USA, 1835-1910

ALICE IN WONDERLAND
by Lewis Carroll, England, 1832-1898

ANIMAL FARM
by George Orwell, England, 1903-1950

DON JUAN
by George Gordon, Lord Byron, England, 1788-1824

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
by Robert Louis Stevenson, Scotland, 1850-1894

DRACULA
by Bram Stoker, Ireland, 1847-1912

FRANKENSTEIN
by Mary Shelley, England, 1797-1851

THE GREAT GATSBY
by F.Scott Fitzgerald, USA, 1896-1940

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS
by Jonathan Swift, Ireland, 1667-1745

HARRY POTTER (series of fantasy stories)
by JK Rowling, England, 1965-?

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
by Oscar Wilde, Ireland, 1854-1900

THE INVISIBLE MAN
by H.G.Wells, England, 1866-1946

IVANHOE
by Walter Scott, Scotland, 1771-1832

THE JUNGLE BOOK
by Rudyard Kipling, India/England, 1865-1936

THE LORD OF THE RINGS (trilogy)
by J.R.R. Tolkien, England, 1892-1973

MACBETH
by William Shakespeare, England, 1564-1616
Link to Shakespeare Globe Theatre and Museum

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by William Shakespeare, England, 1564-1616
Link to Shakespeare Globe Theatre and Museum

MOBY DICK
by Hermann Melville, USA, 1819-1891

OLIVER TWIST
by Charles Dickens, England, 1812-1870
Link to Dickens House Museum

PETER PAN
by J.M.Barrie, Scotland, 1860-1937

ROBINSON CRUSOE
by Daniel Defoe, England, 1660-1731

ROMEO AND JULIET
by William Shakespeare, England, 1564-1616
Link to Shakespeare Globe Theatre and Museum

SHERLOCK HOLMES (detective stories)
by Arthur Conan Doyle, England, 1859-1930
Link to Sherlock Holmes Museum

TREASURE ISLAND
by Robert Louis Stevenson, Scotland, 1850-1894

THE WIZARD OF OZ
by L.Frank Baum, USA, 1856-1919