Grammar Codes
[A] attributive: an adjective that is used only before the noun that it describes: a main road | an indoor swimming pool
[C] countable: a noun that can be counted and has a plural form: This is a dictionary. | There are many dictionaries in the library.
[F] an adjective that is only used after the noun that it describes, usually after be or another verb marked [L]: The children are asleep.
[I] intransitive: a verb that has no direct object: They all came yesterday. | We set off at 7 o'clock.
[L] a verb that is followed by a noun or adjective complement, which refers to the subject of the verb. Be is the most common [L] verb but there are several others: Jane is a doctor. | Her dress was blue. | He became President. | You look very tired. .
[P] plural: a noun that is used only with a plural verb or pronoun, and that has no singular form: These trousers are too tight.
[S] singular: a noun that is used only in the singular, and that has no plural form: There was a babble of voices. | Let me have a think about it.
[T] transitive: a verb that is followed by a direct object, which can be either a noun phrase or a clause: She rides a bicycle to school. | He made up a good excuse. | We decided to leave. | I've given up eating meat.
[U] uncountable: a noun that cannot be counted, and that has no plural form: We drink water with our dinner. | There isn't much milk left. | The book contained some interesting information about the town.
[the] a noun that is the name of an actual place, organization etc, and that is always used with the definite article: the White House | This land belongs to the Crown.
[after n] shows that an adjective, adverb, or noun can follow a noun: a piece of wood three inches thick | the director designate
[no comp.] shows that an adjective or adverb is not used in the comparative or superlative form (with -er/-est, or more/most): a nuclear weapon | a main road
[+to-v] shows that a word can be followed by an infinitive verb with to: I want to leave early today. | an attempt to reach an agreement | We're ready to go.
[+to-v] shows that a verb can be followed by an infinitive verb without to: You must tell the police about this. | I saw him leave early today.
[+v-ing] shows that a verb can be followed by another verb in the -ing form: I like playing football. | We watched them playing football.
[+that] shows that a word can be followed by a clause beginning with that: He read that oil prices were going down.
[+(that)] shows that a word can be followed by a clause beginning with that, but the word that can be left out: He knew he would be late for work. | I'm sorry you failed your exam.
[+wh-] shows that a word can be followed by a word beginning with wh- (such as where, why, or when) or by how: He didn't know what to do/how to do it/where to find her. | the reason why I was so late | I'm not sure where to go.
[+v-ed] shows that a verb can be followed by a past participle: She got trapped. | We're having the car repaired.
[+adv/prep] shows that a word (especially a verb) can be followed by an adverbial or prepositional phrase: She lives abroad. | She lives in the next street. | Put it away. | Put it in the box. | We could see far into the distance.
[+obj(i)+obj(d)] shows that a verb can be followed by an indirect object and then a direct object: Give the teacher your book. | Let me buy you a drink.
[+obj] shows that the direct object of a [T] verb can only be a clause and cannot be a noun or pronoun: [T+that; obj] The court determined that the man was guilty of assault.
[not in progressive forms] shows that a verb is not used in the progressive aspect (i.e. not following the verb be in an -ing form): I hate football. (NOT I am hating football.) | She knows him quite well.
[+sing./pl.v] shows that a noun represents a group. In the singular it can be followed either by a singular verb or (especially in British English) by a plural verb: The football team is/are playing tonight.