In a recent TED Talk, Phuc Tran talks about his love for grammar, particularly the use of the subjunctive and indicative. He uses these two types of verbal moods as a tool to look at the world and one ...

One of the most fascinating things about language is that we can use it so well, so expertly, without understanding how we do it. The following two sentences are perfect examples. If the burglar was ...

In "Fiddler on the Roof," the poor but patriarchal Tevye muses upon pleasures beyond his reach. "If I were a rich man," he sings. Today's profoundly perplexing question is: Should the beloved fiddler ...

IT won't be surprising at all if this basic grammar question still stumps not just a few English writers and speakers among us: "How do you know if a sentence that uses 'were' is indicative or ...

For grammar bullies “the subjunctive” is sacred ground. Reforms proposed for the British national curriculum in 2012 required teaching use of the subjunctive not later than sixth grade. People seem to ...

Because of the extended Covid-19 lockdown, there should be time aplenty for everyone to internalize the answer to this grammar question that I know still stumps many English learners and even ...