French word of the week: recevoir

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French verb 'recevoir'. Read More

Phrasal verbs: verb + adverb

Some verb + adverb phrasal verbs have no object, i.e. they are intransitive, for example, get up, go away, hold on: Mary went away. Helen sat down. The students came back. Others do require an object, i.e. they are transitive, for example, blow something up, close something down, pick someone up: We could make out a figure in the distance. Read More

Spanish words of the week: copo or copa?

This week’s masculine and feminine pair are copo and copa. Read More

French word of the week: trop

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French adverb 'trop'. Read More

Spanish words of the week: fruta or fruto?

This week it’s time to get the juice on the meaning differences between two more Spanish nouns that are identical in form apart from their last letter and their gender: fruta and fruto Read More

Modal verbs

The most common modal verbs in English are: can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, and must. Modal verbs are a particular kind of auxiliary. Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can. Can I use your phone? – Of course you can. Do you think she will come? – I’m sure she will. I must get… Read More

French word of the week: suivre

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French verb 'suivre'. Read More

Spanish words of the week: pimiento or pimienta?

Another pair of Spanish nouns meaning very different things despite differing only in ending and gender. This week it’s the turn of masculine 'pimiento' and feminine 'pimienta'. Read More

Parts of speech

A verb tells us about an action or a state of being. Ordinary verbs are called main verbs. A main verb is sometimes called a ‘doing word’. come go think want economize believe  A special group of verbs are called auxiliary verbs. These can be put together with main verbs to form different tenses. I am thinking. She has seen the film already. Read More