Language? As T.S. Eliot put it, “I gotta use words when I talk to you.” I’ve tried everything else, from bananas to quasars, and I’m bound to say he got it right. We’ve got words, and we’ve got the way the words get put together. And then there’s the way we actually say them when we’re speaking.
I’ve put a few things together here, especially on the way words get put together (aka grammar), and I’m generally quite a good bet if you’re looking for a clear explanation for any particular problems you’re having.
Check out the carousel, and the posts table below it, and, if all else fails, try asking me directly!

Pick Something off the Carousel
09 June 2026
"If I knew, I would tell you" or "I would have told you"? Mixed conditionals | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Introduces mixed conditionals — constructions that combine elements from different time frames —...
09 June 2026
"Some" or "any"? The rule your textbook gets wrong 20% of the time | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Explains why the standard rule for "some" and "any" — some for positive statements, any for questions...
09 June 2026
I'll do what she tells me vs I'll tell you what she'll do | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Explains why 'will' appears once in 'I'll do what she tells me' but twice in 'I'll tell you what she'll...
09 June 2026
The passive voice: knowing how to make it is not enough | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Explains why teaching only how to form the passive voice is insufficient. Introduces the principle that...
09 June 2026
She answered every question correctly and still failed the test | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
A listening comprehension exercise in which a student answers every question correctly and still fails...
09 June 2026
You cannot say may you | or can you? Good and bad language teaching | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Uses the example of 'may you' to illustrate good and bad language teaching practice. Explains the correct...
09 June 2026
And or so? Why your student's wrong answer might be right | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Uses a classroom quiz question about "and" vs "so" to illustrate how unspecified context leads teachers...
09 June 2026
Have studied or have been studying? Why your textbook may be wrong | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Examines a group of verbs (live, work, study, teach, speak) for which the present perfect simple and...
09 June 2026
Do you go or will you go? Zero vs first conditional | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Explores the overlap between the zero and first conditional, showing that the zero conditional can be...
09 June 2026
Gone to or been to? What most textbooks get wrong | ENGLISH IN CONTEXT
Corrects the widespread textbook misconception that 'been to' always means 'gone and come back'. Explains...
