One of the first things you need to learn when studying English is how to join words together to form sentences. This may seem daunting, but it’s actually not that difficult once you understand the basics. In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the common ways to join words together in English. At the end, you should be able to put together simple sentences on your own!
Learn the Structure
There are three main ways to join words together in English: using conjunctions, prepositions, and articles. Let’s take a close look at each one.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words like “and”, “but”, “or”, and “so”. They can be used to join two independent clauses together (a clause if a group of words with a subject and a verb). For example, when you join “I’m studying English” and “English is important”, you’ll get “I’m studying English and English is important”.
You can also use a conjunction to connect two ideas within the same clause. For example, “I’m studying hard for good grades” will become “I’m studying hard so that I can get good grades”. Just remember that you can’t use a comma to connect two independent clauses. This is called a comma splice and is considered a major no-no in formal writing.
Prepositions
Prepositions are words that show the relationship between two nouns or pronouns in a sentence. They usually come before a noun or pronoun and tell you when, where, why, how, and under what conditions something is happening. Prepositions can also indicate an amount or duration of time. Examples of prepositions include: “at”, “on”, “in”, “of”, “to”, “with”, “for”,” between”, “around”, and “among”.
Prepositions are important in expressing the relationships between ideas and help make a sentence clear and meaningful. When used correctly, they can add clarity and depth to your writing. They should be used carefully as they are often misused or misunderstood. To ensure proper usage of prepositions, it is important to understand how they function in a sentence and the context of the sentence. Furthermore, having an understanding of grammar rules can help you to use them correctly.
Articles
An article is a type of adjective which is used before nouns – and sometimes also before adjectives. There are only three articles in English: “a”, “an”, and “the”.
The definite article is used when referring to a specific person or thing, while the indefinite article is used when referring to any member of a group or class. For example, saying “the dog” means a specific dog, while saying “a dog” could mean any dog. Knowing when to use the different articles is an important part of mastering English grammar.
English Classes to Speak Like a Native
Now that you understand conjunctions, prepositions, and articles, you’re one step closer to being able to put words together and form sentences in English. However, there are more layers to learning the language than simply combining words to make a phrase. It requires a mastery of grammar, syntax and pronunciation that can take years to develop. Furthermore, understanding the nuances of how words are used in various contexts can also be difficult.
It may sound challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. At United Language Centre, we break down the complexities of the English language and make it easy to learn and understand for our students. For one, our Essential English class brings beginners on a learning journey from the basics of English to the advanced stage of expressing themselves fluently and effortlessly. We also offer English courses for working adults in Singapore, as well as private lessons for those who need even more support.
The fastest way to master English is to keep practising. Start learning this internationally recognised language with us by contacting us today.
