PELIC – English Grammar Profiler
(PELIC) refers to The University of Pittsburgh English Language Institute Corpus.
If a post refers to any language from this corpus, we tag it PELIC.
A search in iWeb corpus for: _A * CLASS 1 THE WORKING CLASS 20916 Public education is a way to improve and equalize educational opportunity, and a way to bring order and discipline to the working class. PELIC STUDENT: Chinese Male Level 5 Reading class 2 THE MIDDLE CLASS 20686 The Mirabal sisters and their husbands formed the June 14th movement along with many others from the middle class. TED 3 A WORLD CLASS 14222 (*this should probably be a hyphenated adjective) = A WORLD-CLASS + NOUN 4 THE FIRST […]
article * CLASS Read More »
This structure is generally B2 grammar because it often comes with a wide range of general reference nouns without a determiner. However, more detail can be found in the English Vocabulary Profile regarding meaning and level: make fun of sb/sth = B2 to make a joke about someone or something in an unkind way make
MAKE + noun phrase + OF Read More »
At C2 in the English Vocabulary Profile: work out = to understand something or to find the answer to something by thinking about it A search in NOW corpus for which ‘question words’ follow phrasal verbs: work out _*Q 1 WORK OUT HOW 12286 Just give us five minutes, Mr Poirot, and I‘m sure we‘ll be able to work out how you did it. listen 2 WORK OUT WHAT: I
phrasal verb + clause ‘work out how you did it’ Read More »
What can be going through a man‘s mind at this moment? The Right Stuff The verb phrase “can be going” in the sentence above expresses possibility or uncertainty. The speaker is not sure what is going through the man’s mind, but they are asking for possible explanations. The word “going” is a present participle, which is a verb form that is used here to
can be + VERB-ing Read More »
We have an A2 and B1 grammar post about linking adverbs and subordinating conjunctions. However, sometimes in grammar, there are many terms such as ‘conjunctive adverb’ etc. According to Wikipedia: A conjunctive adverb, adverbial conjunction, or subordinating adverb is an adverb that connects two clauses by converting the clause it introduces into an adverbial modifier
conjunctive adverbs Read More »
The noun ‘ambition’ is often followed by an infinitive. Here’s an EXPERT example: I see the people that do the real work and what’s really said, in a way, is that the people that are the most giving, hardworking and capable of making this world better, usually don’t have the ego and ambition to be a leader. listen Student example from PELIC: I believe that you need to associate with positive people who have an ambition to live a happy life. Korean male level 4 writing class Often, the C1 verb ‘fulfil’ takes ‘ambition’ as an object. PELIC student example: Furthermore, children need an educational environment that is prepared and ready to fulfill their ambitions. Arabic male level 4
fulfil ambition TO infinitive Read More »
A1 point 9 in the category of DETERMINERS is defined:
possessive determiners ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘his’, ‘her’ and ‘our’ before nouns.
my | your | his | her | our + NOUN Read More »
Affirmative declarative clauses are statements that express how things are. Modal verbs are verbs that indicate possibility, ability, permission, obligation, etc. Affirmative declarative clauses with modal verbs combine the subject, the modal verb and the bare infinitive of the main verb.
CAN | WILL (affirmative declarative clause) Read More »
There are complex combinations of grammar structures that are not found in the English Grammar Profile. The following is a combination of an ‘adverb in mid position’ but the fact that it is an infinitive + past participle + a prepositional phrase combination should list it at around C1. A search in iWeb for: to
To be + adverb + past participle + preposition Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, A1 point 3 in ADVERBS is defined:
a limited range of adverbs (‘here’, ‘there’) to indicate place.
here | there (place) Read More »
“Late” and “soon” are adverbs of time that describe when an action occurs, typically placed at the end of a sentence. “Late” refers to an action happening after the expected time, while “soon” indicates an action happening in the near future.
In the English Grammar Profile, these adverbs are part of a broader category that includes other time adverbs like “yesterday”, “tomorrow”, “now”, and “later”.
A corpus analysis of sentences ending with “soon” revealed various contexts in which this adverb is used:
Expressions of Future Contact: Phrases indicating an intention to make contact in the near future, e.g., “I will contact you soon.” Statements about Upcoming Events or Changes: Phrases announcing events or changes expected to occur soon, e.g., “The new product will be coming out soon.” Expressions of Hope or Anticipation: Phrases expressing hope or anticipation for something to happen soon, e.g., “Get well soon.” Statements about Continuity or Persistence: Phrases suggesting that a current situation will continue for the foreseeable future, e.g., “Not going anywhere soon.” Expressions of Intent to Repeat an Action: Phrases indicating an intention to repeat an action in the near future, e.g., “Be ordering again soon.”
These categories demonstrate the versatility of the adverb “soon” in conveying different aspects of time in English sentences.
late | soon (end position) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, A1 point 13 in the category of ADVERBS / phrases:
‘very’ to modify common gradable adjectives.
VERY + adjective Read More »
The first point in the English Grammar Profile! A1 point 1 in the category of ADVERBS is defined:
adverbs of degree and time to modify verbs.
really | always | sometimes + VERB Read More »
The phrase “enjoy + ing” is used to describe an activity that someone finds pleasurable. In the sentence “Panda enjoyed reading, building, and solving puzzles,” the word “enjoyed” is in the past tense and is used to describe an action that has already happened. The words “reading,” “building,” and “solving puzzles” are all in the
ENJOY + verb-ING Read More »
Here’s an example of the possessive pronoun ‘yours’ in object position. It’s just like yours. Listen to the pronunciation. A2 point 21 in the category of PRONOUNS: the possessive pronoun ‘yours’, with singular reference, in object positions, and complement positions after ‘be’ and after prepositions A search in iWeb corpus for: * * * yours .
YOURS (object) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, there are two similar points at A2 in the category of PRONOUN/demonstratives: Point 20 is defined as: ‘that’ as a pronoun to refer back to something which has already been mentioned Point 28: ‘that’ as a pronoun with singular reference For example: No, it‘s nowhere near that. listen That‘s why I brought you here. An iWeb search for:
that (pronoun) Read More »
The adverb ‘else’ is only a postmodifier. It follows indefinite pronouns. In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 14 in the category of PRONOUNS: indefinite pronouns with ‘else’ We did a search in iWeb corpus for: _PN1 else 1 SOMEONE ELSE 335976 I would like to choose my sister as a guardian because I can’t imagine someone else. PELIC student: French male level 3 reading
indefinite pronoun + ELSE Read More »
A2 point 20 in the category of PRESENT/simple: indirect questions with ‘Do you know’ + ‘how’, ‘where’, ‘why’, or ‘what’ An iWeb search: 1 DO YOU KNOW HOW TO 6056 2 DO YOU KNOW OF ANY 4276 3 DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE 3051 Do you know what the best way to acquire a new language is? PELIC Arabic male level 4 writing class.
Do you know … (indirect question) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 3 in the category of PREPOSITIONS is defined:
‘JUST’ + to modify prepositions.
JUST + preposition Read More »
The grammar of the past continuous tense is as follows: Subject + was/were + present participle For example: I was becoming more and more tired as the day went on. The plants were growing very quickly in the warm weather. Something strange was happening in the forest. The past continuous tense is used to describe
past continuous affirmative Read More »