Learning English as a second language

Consider the following situation: You are talking to a man at a meeting that you have never met. However, you know his name and also that this man knows a colleague named Jack. You turn to him and ask:

Where is Jack?

The man seems a little bothered and says he doesn't know. He isn't very friendly. You wonder why he seems bothered...

	Pronunciation:  before consonants usu thə, before vowels usu thē, sometime before vowels also thə; for emphasis before titles and names or to suggest uniqueness often 'thē
	Function:  definite article
	Etymology:  Middle English, from Old English thē, masculine demonstrative pronoun & definite article, alteration (influenced by oblique cases — as thæs, genitive — & neuter, thæt) of sē; akin to Greek ho, masculine demonstrative pronoun & definite article ― more at THAT
	Date:  before 12th century

Origin

OE se, sēo, thæt, ult. superseded by forms from Northumbrian and North Mercian thē, of Gmc origin.

1 a ― used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is definite or has been previously specified by context or by circumstance the cat out> b ― used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is a unique or a particular member of its class <the President> <the Lord> c ― used as a function word before nouns that designate natural phenomena or points of the compass <the night is cold> d ― used as a function word before a noun denoting time to indicate reference to what is present or immediate or is under consideration the future> e ― used as a function word before names of some parts of the body or of the clothing as an equivalent of a possessive adjective the arm today> f ― used as a function word before the name of a branch of human endeavor or proficiency <the law> g ― used as a function word in prepositional phrases to indicate that the noun in the phrase serves as a basis for computation the dozen> h ― used as a function word before a proper name (as of a ship or a well-known building) <the Mayflower> i ― used as a function word before a proper name to indicate the distinctive characteristics of a person or thing <the John Doe that we know wouldn't lie> j ― used as a function word before the plural form of a surname to indicate all the members of a family <the Johnsons> k ― used as a functon word before the plural form of a numeral that is a multiple of ten to denote a particular decade of a century or of a person's life the twenties> l ― used as a function word before the name of a commodity or any familiar appurtenance of daily life to indicate reference to the individual thing, part, or supply thought of as at hand the telephone> m ― used as a function word to designate one of a class as the best, most typical, best known, or most worth singling out the life> <the pill> ― sometimes used before a personal name to denote the most prominent bearer of that name 
2 a (1) ― used as a function word with a noun modified by an adjective or by an attributive noun to limit the application of the modified noun to that specified by the adjective or by the attributive noun <the right answer> the Great> (2) ― used as a function word before an absolute adjective or an ordinal number the best> the first> b (1) ― used as a function word before a noun to limit its application to that specified by a succeeding element in the sentence <the poet Wordsworth> <the days of our youth> the time to write> (2) ― used as a function word after a person's name to indicate a characteristic trait or notorious activity specified by the succeeding noun the Ripper>
3 a ― used as a function word before a singular noun to indicate that the noun is to be understood generically <the dog is a domestic animal> b ― used as a function word before a singular substantivized adjective to indicate an abstract idea the sublime>
4 ― used as a function word before a noun or a substantivized adjective to indicate reference to a group as a whole <the elite>  FINISH 

در بخش گرامر فقط مطالبی که درکشان سختتر است و یا پر کاربرد ترند گفته می شود.

Causative Verbs 

Jack had his house painted.

This sentence is similar in meaning to: Someone painted Jack's house. OR Jack's house was painted by someone. Causative verbs express the idea of someone causing something to take place. Causative verbs can be similar in meaning to passive verbs.

Examples:

My hair was cut. (passive)
I had my hair cut. (causative)

Both 'make' and 'have' can be used as causative verbs.

Make

'Make' as a causative verb expresses the idea that the person requires another person to do something.

Construction Chart

Subject + Make + Person + Base Form of Verb

Examples:

Peter made her do her homework.
The teacher made the students stay after class.

Have

'Have' as a causative verb expresses the idea that the person wants something to be done for them. This causative verb is often used when speaking about various services. There are two forms of the causative verb 'have'.

Construction Chart: Use 1

Subject + Have + Person + Base Form of Verb

Examples:

They had John arrive early.
She had her children cook dinner for her.

Construction Chart: Use 2 Subject + Have + Object + Past Participle

Examples:

I had my hair cut last Saturday.
She had the car washed at the weekend.

Note: This form is similar in meaning to the passive.

Comparatives and Superlatives

Adjectives and adverbs have comparative and superlative forms. Use the comparative to compare one item with another. Use the superlative to compare more than two items.

Comparative: She is smarter than he is.
Superlative: She is the smartest student in the room.

A comparative can also compare one item with a class of things. If the item is a part of the class, add else or other to make this relationship clear.

The motorcycle sped faster than any sports car.
But: The British import sped faster than any other sports car.

However, if each item in the class is considered separately, use a superlative instead.

The British import sped the fastest of all the sports cars.

Note that, as in the above example, the word all, not any, accompanies the superlative.

Forming Comparatives and Superlatives

Most adjectives of one syllable and some of two syllables end in er in their comparative form and est in their superlative form. Other adjectives and most adverbs are preceded by more or less as comparatives and most or least as superlatives.

Do not use more or less with a comparative with an er ending. Likewise, do not use most or least with a superlative formed with est.

Incorrect: less healthier plant; most prettiest baby
Correct: less healthy plant; prettiest baby

Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparatives and superlatives. If in doubt, consult a dictionary to determine the correct forms.

Comparatives and Superlatives in Series

In a string of comparatives formed with more or less or of superlatives formed with most or least, the word denoting degree must appear before only the first item.

Rex is the most loving, loyal, and obedient dog in the world.

For emphasis, though, you may choose to repeat the word before each modifier.

Rex is the most loving, most loyal, and most obedient dog in the world.

If you include an er comparative or est superlative in such a series, list it first to avoid misreading.

Incorrect: Rex is more loving and friendlier than my neighbor’s dog. [can be read: Rex is more loving and more friendlier…]
Correct: Rex is friendlier and more loving than my neighbor’s dog.

Illogical Comparisons

The items in a comparison should be things that logically can be compared.

Incorrect: James’s enthusiasm was greater than any other student.

In this example, enthusiasm and student are such dissimilar items that it does not make sense to compare them. You can often correct this type of error by adding the words that of where needed.

Correct: James’s enthusiasm was greater than that of any other student.