Quick Answer The past tense of sit is sat. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” the form is also sat. Every day: I sit by the window. Yesterday: I sat by the window. Many times: I have sat by the window before. Sit, Sat, Sat — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the…
At first glance, sympathy and empathy may seem interchangeable, yet they are distinct in their emotional reach and expressive responses. For example, expressions of sympathy often manifest as feelings of pity or concern for another’s plight, possibly accompanied by supportive actions. Empathy, however, is more introspective and involves a profound personal understanding of another’s feelings…
Quick Answer The past tense of swear is swore. With “have” or “has,” use sworn. Every day: I swear to tell the truth. Yesterday: I swore to tell the truth. Many times: I have sworn to tell the truth many times. Swear, Swore, Sworn — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the…
Quick Answer Apart (one word) means separated or away from each other. A part (two words) means a piece or a member of something bigger. ✓ She is a part of the team. (= a member) ✗ She is apart of the team. Apart vs A Part — See the Difference Look at these sentences….
Quick Answer An aisle is a path you walk through — like between shelves in a shop or seats on a plane. An isle is a small island. “She walked down the aisle at the supermarket.” “They visited a beautiful isle in the sea.” Aisle and Isle — See the Difference These two words sound…
Quick Answer The Oxford comma is the comma you put before “and” or “or” in a list of three or more things. It makes your sentence clearer. Without: I love my parents, Batman and Superman. With: I love my parents, Batman, and Superman. With and Without the Oxford Comma — See the Difference Look at…
Quick Answer A pun is a joke that plays with words. It works because one word has two meanings, or because two words sound the same. For example: “I used to be a baker because I kneaded dough” — “kneaded” sounds like “needed.” What Is a Pun? See How It Works A pun makes you…
Quick Answer A portmanteau is a word made by mixing parts of two words together. The new word has a meaning from both words. br(eakfast) + (l)unch = brunch (a late morning meal) Breakfast + Lunch = Brunch — See How Portmanteaus Work Look at these words. Can you see how they are made? Did…
Quick Answer A participle is a word made from a verb. There are two types. The present participle ends in -ing (like running). The past participle ends in -ed (like played) or has a special form (like broken). Running, Broken, Playing — What Are Participles? Look at these sentences. The blue words are all participles:…
Quick Answer Hyperbole is when you exaggerate on purpose to make a strong point. It is not meant to be true — it is meant to show how you feel. Example: “I am so hungry I could eat a horse.” (You are not really going to eat a horse. You are just very hungry.) What…
