Welcome to the Merlin English Academy.
Join us as we explore every aspect of English grammar.
Ep. 009 | What is the subject of a sentence?
In episode 9, we examine what the subject of a sentence is, the three types of subjects that we have in English (simple subject, complete subject and compound subject), we will also look at the different usages for subjects within a sentence and why this is useful to know!
Ep. 008 | Countable vs Uncountable Nouns
In episode 8, join us as we explore the world of countable and uncountable nouns. Discover how to distinguish between nouns that can be counted and those that cannot, and learn about the implications this has on using articles and quantifiers.
Ep. 007 | What is a Plural Noun?
In Episode 7, we will explore the concept of plural nouns. We will discuss various methods for forming plural nouns and how to distinguish between plural and possessive nouns. Additionally, we will look into irregular plural nouns and cover some spelling rules for converting singular nouns into their plural forms.
Ep. 006 | What is a Possessive Noun?
Today, we will explore the concept of possessive nouns. In this discussion, we will learn how to indicate possession in our writing by using both an apostrophe and apostrophe + ‘s’. We will look into the rules, highlighting the distinctions between singular and plural nouns. Additionally, we will explore alternative methods of demonstrating possession, including prepositional phrases, possessive pronouns, and possessive adjectives.
Ep. 005 | What is a Proper Noun?
Join us as we look into what a proper noun is. Today, we will be comparing the differences between common nouns and proper nouns and identifying when capitalisation is needed. We will also be looking over different titles and terms of address, as well as two different types of abbreviations: acronyms and initialisms.
Ep. 004 | What is a Collective Noun?
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of the collective noun. In this episode, we will discuss the concept of a collective noun and explore some interesting examples, from those that represent a gathering of people to the unique names that describe a group of animals. This is also the first look at some slight grammatical differences between using British English (BrE) and American English (AmE) variants.
Ep. 003 | Abstract VS Concrete Nouns
As we look into the first noun subcategories, we will learn how to consistently distinguish the differences between abstract and concrete nouns. Once we can make this distinction, we will unlock the ability to transform nouns into adjectives, enabling us to significantly enhance our vocabulary with minimal effort!
Ep. 002 | What is a Noun?
The first part of speech we will be looking at is the noun. However, the term 'noun' encompasses a wide range of things, from physical objects like a computer to abstract ideas such as consciousness. Join us as we briefly explain the types of nouns we have in English, the functions nouns can have in a sentence, and the special forms nouns can take.
Ep. 001 | The 8 Parts of Speech
In Episode 001 of the Merlin English Academy, we will set the precedent for the English language areas we will be covering over the next few months. By exploring the 8 parts of speech, we will cover every major aspect of grammar that you are likely to encounter during your time as an English speaker.