English Grammar Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

36 English Grammar Demystifi ed

There is one more combination you should know about, and that is the linking

verb combined with not. Notice that in such a case, the word not is contracted.

are not  aren’t

is not  isn’t

was not  wasn’t

were not  weren’t

COMMON ERRORS

Note the following incorrect linking verb combinations and their corrections:

Incorrect: The bird built it’s nest with twigs.
Correct: The bird built its nest with twigs.

Incorrect: James ain’t leaving until the very end.
Correct: James isn’t leaving until the very end.

Incorrect: There’s two answers to that question.
Correct:There are two answers to that question.

Incorrect: Your one of the fi nal candidates.
Correct:You’re one of the fi nal candidates

Adjectives

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns, adding color and clarity to sentences. For

the most part, you will fi nd an adjective placed in front of the noun it modifi es or

describes:

Aplayful beagle won the competition. Playful is the adjective that describes the

noun, beagle.