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English Language

7 Dec 2025

80

6 pages

Essential A-Level English Grammar Linguistic Techniques

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John Joyce @johnjoyce4535

Grammar might seem like a maze of rules, but it's actually the toolkit that makes your writing powerful... Show more

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Core Grammar Building Blocks

Adjectives are your descriptive powerhouses, and they come in three forms that you'll use constantly. The base form is your starting point (big, interesting), whilst the comparative helps you make comparisons using '-er' or 'more/less' (bigger, more interesting). The superlative declares something the ultimate using '-est' or 'most/least' (biggest, most interesting).

Adverbs give your writing extra punch by describing how actions happen or intensifying adjectives. Most end in '-ly' (quickly, beautifully), but watch out for sneaky ones like 'very' that don't follow this pattern. They can appear before what they're describing (pre-modifier) or after it (post-modifier).

Apostrophes in contractions are shortcuts that make your writing flow naturally. Think of them as bridges connecting words 'He would' becomes 'He'd', 'They are' becomes 'They're'. Master these, and your writing will sound much more natural.

Top Tip When checking contractions, expand them back to the full form - if it makes sense, your apostrophe is correct!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Connecting Words and Describing Things

Coordinating conjunctions follow the handy FANBOYS acronym (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) and link equal parts of compound sentences. Subordinating conjunctions like 'because', 'although', and 'however' create more complex relationships between ideas in your sentences.

Determiners are the unsung heroes that sit before nouns and make your meaning crystal clear. Definite articles ('the') point to specific things, whilst indefinite articles ('a', 'an') refer to general items. Demonstratives ('this', 'that', 'these', 'those') help you point things out precisely.

Quantifiers tell you how much or how many ('few', 'many', 'some'), and distributives explain how things are shared or divided ('all', 'both', 'each'). These small words pack a massive punch in making your writing precise.

Remember Getting determiners right instantly makes your writing sound more polished and professional!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Nouns, Prepositions, and Sentence Types

Proper nouns always wear capital letters because they're specific names (John, Liverpool, Keith), whilst collective nouns group things together (herd of cows, school of fish). Abstract nouns describe feelings you can't touch (happiness, democracy), and concrete nouns are physical objects (table, cat). Pronouns prevent repetitive writing by replacing nouns (I, you, he, she, they).

Prepositions are your location and relationship words, showing where things are or how they connect (under, above, between, during, from). They're essential for creating clear, specific descriptions.

Sentence types give you different tools for different jobs. Simple sentences contain one main clause, compound sentences join equal clauses, and complex sentences combine main and subordinate clauses. Minor sentences break grammar rules intentionally for effect ('Whatever!').

Sentences also have moods interrogatives ask questions, declaratives make statements, and imperatives give commands.

Quick Check If you can't identify your sentence type, you might be making it too complicated - try breaking it down!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Mastering Verbs and Tenses

Dynamic verbs show physical actions (run, eat, write), whilst stative verbs describe states of being (be, have, like). Modal auxiliary verbs (could, would, should, must) express possibility and necessity - they're crucial for sophisticated writing.

Progressive verbs show ongoing actions using 'to be' plus '-ing' endings (swimming, driving, living). Copular verbs act as bridges, linking subjects to descriptions (is, seem, taste, become).

Verb tenses anchor your writing in time. Past tense uses 'was/were', present uses 'am/is/are', and future uses 'will'. The infinitive form always starts with 'to' followed by the base verb.

Voice changes your sentence focus dramatically. Active voice puts the subject doing the action first ('Kevin hit the ball'), whilst passive voice puts the action's target first ('The ball was hit by Kevin'). Active voice usually creates stronger, clearer writing.

Pro Tip When in doubt, choose active voice - it's almost always more engaging and direct!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Word Relationships and Sound Patterns

Homophones sound identical but look different steak/stake,to/too/two,were/wheresteak/stake, to/too/two, were/where - they're spelling test favourites, so memorise the common ones. Homonyms are trickier because they look and sound the same but mean different things ('bank' as in river bank versus money bank).

Homographs look identical but sound different, like 'bow' (to bend) versus 'bow' (weapon), or 'coordinates' (numbers) versus 'coordinates' (organises). Context is everything with these tricky words.

These word relationships aren't just academic curiosities - they're the source of puns, wordplay, and common spelling mistakes. Understanding them helps you avoid embarrassing errors and appreciate clever writing techniques.

Memory Trick Phone = sound, so homophones sound the same. Graph = writing, so homographs are written the same!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

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iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

English Language

80

7 Dec 2025

6 pages

Essential A-Level English Grammar Linguistic Techniques

user profile picture

John Joyce

@johnjoyce4535

Grammar might seem like a maze of rules, but it's actually the toolkit that makes your writing powerful and clear. Understanding these fundamental concepts will boost your confidence in essays, exams, and everyday communication.

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

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Core Grammar Building Blocks

Adjectives are your descriptive powerhouses, and they come in three forms that you'll use constantly. The base form is your starting point (big, interesting), whilst the comparative helps you make comparisons using '-er' or 'more/less' (bigger, more interesting). The superlative declares something the ultimate using '-est' or 'most/least' (biggest, most interesting).

Adverbs give your writing extra punch by describing how actions happen or intensifying adjectives. Most end in '-ly' (quickly, beautifully), but watch out for sneaky ones like 'very' that don't follow this pattern. They can appear before what they're describing (pre-modifier) or after it (post-modifier).

Apostrophes in contractions are shortcuts that make your writing flow naturally. Think of them as bridges connecting words: 'He would' becomes 'He'd', 'They are' becomes 'They're'. Master these, and your writing will sound much more natural.

Top Tip: When checking contractions, expand them back to the full form - if it makes sense, your apostrophe is correct!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

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Improve your grades

Join milions of students

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Connecting Words and Describing Things

Coordinating conjunctions follow the handy FANBOYS acronym (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) and link equal parts of compound sentences. Subordinating conjunctions like 'because', 'although', and 'however' create more complex relationships between ideas in your sentences.

Determiners are the unsung heroes that sit before nouns and make your meaning crystal clear. Definite articles ('the') point to specific things, whilst indefinite articles ('a', 'an') refer to general items. Demonstratives ('this', 'that', 'these', 'those') help you point things out precisely.

Quantifiers tell you how much or how many ('few', 'many', 'some'), and distributives explain how things are shared or divided ('all', 'both', 'each'). These small words pack a massive punch in making your writing precise.

Remember: Getting determiners right instantly makes your writing sound more polished and professional!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Nouns, Prepositions, and Sentence Types

Proper nouns always wear capital letters because they're specific names (John, Liverpool, Keith), whilst collective nouns group things together (herd of cows, school of fish). Abstract nouns describe feelings you can't touch (happiness, democracy), and concrete nouns are physical objects (table, cat). Pronouns prevent repetitive writing by replacing nouns (I, you, he, she, they).

Prepositions are your location and relationship words, showing where things are or how they connect (under, above, between, during, from). They're essential for creating clear, specific descriptions.

Sentence types give you different tools for different jobs. Simple sentences contain one main clause, compound sentences join equal clauses, and complex sentences combine main and subordinate clauses. Minor sentences break grammar rules intentionally for effect ('Whatever!').

Sentences also have moods: interrogatives ask questions, declaratives make statements, and imperatives give commands.

Quick Check: If you can't identify your sentence type, you might be making it too complicated - try breaking it down!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

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Improve your grades

Join milions of students

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Mastering Verbs and Tenses

Dynamic verbs show physical actions (run, eat, write), whilst stative verbs describe states of being (be, have, like). Modal auxiliary verbs (could, would, should, must) express possibility and necessity - they're crucial for sophisticated writing.

Progressive verbs show ongoing actions using 'to be' plus '-ing' endings (swimming, driving, living). Copular verbs act as bridges, linking subjects to descriptions (is, seem, taste, become).

Verb tenses anchor your writing in time. Past tense uses 'was/were', present uses 'am/is/are', and future uses 'will'. The infinitive form always starts with 'to' followed by the base verb.

Voice changes your sentence focus dramatically. Active voice puts the subject doing the action first ('Kevin hit the ball'), whilst passive voice puts the action's target first ('The ball was hit by Kevin'). Active voice usually creates stronger, clearer writing.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, choose active voice - it's almost always more engaging and direct!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Word Relationships and Sound Patterns

Homophones sound identical but look different steak/stake,to/too/two,were/wheresteak/stake, to/too/two, were/where - they're spelling test favourites, so memorise the common ones. Homonyms are trickier because they look and sound the same but mean different things ('bank' as in river bank versus money bank).

Homographs look identical but sound different, like 'bow' (to bend) versus 'bow' (weapon), or 'coordinates' (numbers) versus 'coordinates' (organises). Context is everything with these tricky words.

These word relationships aren't just academic curiosities - they're the source of puns, wordplay, and common spelling mistakes. Understanding them helps you avoid embarrassing errors and appreciate clever writing techniques.

Memory Trick: Phone = sound, so homophones sound the same. Graph = writing, so homographs are written the same!

Adjectives:
Grammar Terminology:
Base
Comparative
Superlative
Basic form of an A form used to compare A form used to suggest the best or
adj

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

1

Smart Tools NEW

Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines

Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay

Most popular content: Functions of Language

Most popular content in English Language

Most popular content

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user