Regular verb forms in English

English verbs have up to five different forms. These are: the base form, e.g. pull the 3rd person singular, present simple tense, e.g. pulls the past simple tense, e.g. pulled the past participle, e.g. pulled the present participle, e.g. pulling Regular verbs are all formed in the same way, by building… Read More

Spanish words of the week: gorro or gorra?

A new year brings a new opportunity to uncover the meanings of two superficially similar Spanish nouns that mean slightly different things. This week’s words are gorro (masculine) and gorra (feminine). Read More

French word of the week: penser

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 'penser'. Read More

Contractions of auxiliary verbs in English

Auxiliary verbs very often used in contracted forms. Contracted forms are more informal than full forms. They are therefore more common in spoken English. Full forms are usually preferred in formal written English. In the case of be and have, the contracted form can involve linking the subject and the auxiliary verb into… Read More

Spanish words of the week: plaza or plazo?

Here is another instalment in our series on pairs of Spanish nouns that, while similar in form, have very different meanings. This week’s pair are plazo and plaza. Read More

French word of the week: lui

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 pronoun 'lui'. Read More

Auxiliary verbs in English

An auxiliary verb is a verb that is used together with a main verb to show time and continuity. Be and have are the primary auxiliaries. A primary auxiliary is used to construct compound tenses. Be is used to make present continuous and past continuous tenses. I am working. Rob is using the computer. Kevin was teaching in America in… Read More

Spanish words of the week: mota or moto?

Time to brush up your knowledge of the commonest meanings of more nouns that, while similar in form, have very different meanings. This week’s pair are 'moto' and 'mota'. Read More

French word of the week: croire

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 'croire'. Read More