English verbs

http://www.uefap.com/accuracy/proof/verbexs.htm

So educational.

Semicolon and Colon

The Semicolon

• Has the stopping strength of a period but indicates relation between two clauses like a comma does.  It's stronger than a comma but weaker than a period.

• Tells the reader that something still needs to be added to the previous independent clause.

• Serves three purposes
• To separate independent clauses of equal emphasis.
• To separate items in a list when each item contains a comma.
• To separate items in a list for clarity when the items are long.

• Use semicolons if you have similar ideas in several short sentences.  Make sure that your semicolon connects logically related ideas.
• The clause following a semicolon often restates or expands on an idea expressed in the first clause.  It can also present a contrast.

The Colon

• The colon is the equivalent of the phrase "THAT IS."
• It introduces explanations or predicted elements.  The difference between a colon and a semicolon is that the colon points to what's next.
• Colons can also be used between two independent clauses when the second amplifies or restates the first.  Colons signify a stronger relationship between clauses than do semicolons.

"Based on" vs. "On the basis of"

The phrases based on and on the basis of are often used interchangeably but should not be, because based on is a participle (a verbal adjective), which can define a noun, pronoun and noun phrase (but not a verb) whereas on the basis of is a prepositional phrase, which can define a verb. Examples of the different information transmitted by their correct usage are [The administration sent a document based on your suggestion] and [The administration sent a document on the basis of your suggestion]. In the former, based on rightly describes the nearest noun (a document) and so tells us that you had something to do with the content of the document; in the latter, on the basis of describes the verb (to send) and tells us that the idea of sending the document (rather than perhaps taking it in person) was yours.


http://www.asiaandro.com/ec/EC4.pdf

Grammar: Articles

http://www.eslbase.com/grammar/articles

I had difficulty in writing correct articles in right positions.