The correct answers are:
- I finished the essay on time; however, my dog literally ate my laptop.
- Though I finished the essay on time, my dog literally ate my laptop.
- I finished the essay on time. My dog literally ate my laptop, though.
However is used with a semicolon (or a period) and a comma to link two independent ideas.
Though can act as a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the clause (just like "although") AND as an adverb at the end of a sentence.
"Although" cannot be followed immediately by a comma to start a new sentence (that creates a sentence fragment), and "however" cannot be squeezed between two commas to join two full sentences (that creates a comma splice).
Sentence and structures
Sentence and structures vs parts of speech: parts of speech label individual words (noun, verb, adjective). Sentence and structures covers how those words combine into phrases, clauses, and sentences. It's the difference between knowing the bricks and knowing the architecture.
Sentence and structures is the umbrella for syntax: phrases, clauses, sentences, word order, inversion, coordination, negation, indirect speech.
Diagnostic: struggling with individual word forms (-ed, -ing, -s)? → morphology/parts of speech. Struggling with how words fit together in the sentence? → sentence and structures.
Conjunction
Coordinating vs subordinating conjunction: coordinating (and, but, or) joins two elements of equal rank — clause + clause, noun + noun. Subordinating (because, although, if) makes one clause depend on the other. The test: remove the conjunction. If both halves still feel complete → coordinating. If one half collapses → subordinating.
Conjunctions are connecting words for clauses, phrases, and words. The choice between coordinating and subordinating determines whether you're building a compound or complex sentence.
Diagnostic: does the conjunction create a dependent clause? Yes → subordinating. Does it link equals? → coordinating.
Punctuation
Punctuation vs grammar: grammar governs word forms and order. Punctuation governs how you mark the structure on paper. You can have perfect grammar with wrong punctuation (comma splices in otherwise correct sentences), and you can have correct punctuation with broken grammar. They're parallel systems.
Punctuation = the system of marks that make written sentence structure visible: periods, commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, dashes, and quotation marks.
Diagnostic: if your grammar is correct but readers misparse your sentences → punctuation problem. If punctuation is fine but word forms/order are wrong → grammar problem.
Adverb
Adverb vs adjective: adjectives describe things; adverbs describe actions, qualities, or degrees. The mix-up usually happens after action verbs — she sings beautiful (wrong) vs she sings beautifully (right).
An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb: incredibly fast, she spoke softly, we go often.
Diagnostic: ask what word is this describing? If it's a verb (an action) → adverb. If it's a noun (a thing) → adjective. Exception: linking verbs (be, seem, taste) take adjectives, not adverbs.
Semicolon
Semicolon vs colon vs period: semicolon = "these two independent thoughts are closely related" (I left; she stayed). Colon = "here's what I mean" — introduces (She had one goal: win). Period = complete separation. All three go between complete thoughts; the choice signals the relationship.
The semicolon (;) joins related independent clauses without a conjunction. Both halves must stand alone as sentences.
Diagnostic: are both sides independent clauses? AND are they closely related in meaning? Yes to both → semicolon. Is one explaining the other? → colon. No close relationship? → period.
B1 | Intermediate
B1 vs B2: B1 handles standard everyday communication and simple opinions. B2 handles abstract topics, sustained arguments, and nuanced register. If you can chat about your life but struggle to debate an issue or write a formal essay, you're B1.
B1 is the intermediate CEFR level: independent handling of familiar topics, second conditional, basic passive, reported speech, and linking words for cause and contrast.
Diagnostic: can you read a newspaper article on a familiar topic and summarise the argument? Comfortably → B2. Struggle with abstractions → still B1.
Medium
Medium vs Easy: Easy has one obviously correct answer and clearly wrong distractors. Medium has one correct answer but plausible distractors — you need to actually know the rule, not just guess from sound.
The Medium tag filters for A2–B1 challenges with realistic difficulty: one rule per question, plausible alternatives, everyday contexts.
Diagnostic: if you're scoring 90%+ on Easy, move here. If you're below 60% on Medium, go back to Easy for that topic. Target 70–80% accuracy for maximum learning.