Articles & Quantifiers
This article is used when we talk about something specific that both people know.
What is the?
This verb means “to reach the highest point,” often used in graphs or performance.
This idiom means to start a conversation in a relaxed way.
"What is break the ice?"
This grammatical structure reverses subject and auxiliary verb for emphasis,
e.g., “Never have I seen…”
"What is inversion?"
This noun refers to overall happiness, health, and life satisfaction.
"What is well-being?"
We usually use this quantifier with uncountable nouns in negative sentences:
“I don’t have ___ time.”
"What is much?"
This verb means to study something carefully and systematically.
"What is analyse?"
This idiom describes a useless or hopeless search.
"What is a wild goose chase?"
This sentence type emphasises information using “What… is/was…”
Example: “What I need is a break.”
"What is a cleft sentence?"
This phrase means abilities weaken without practice.
What is use it or lose it?
This article is often omitted when making generalisations about plural or uncountable nouns.
"What is the zero article (no article)?"
This verb means to make previously hidden information known.
"What is reveal?"
This idiom expresses relief that someone unpleasant has left.
"What is good riddance?"
This phrase often triggers inversion at the beginning of a sentence: “Only later did I realise.”
What is Only + time/adverbial phrase?
This academic noun refers to a general downward trend in performance or health.
"What is decline?"
This informal quantifier often replaces “much” or “many” in positive spoken English.
"What is a lot of / lots of?"
This verb describes a gradual fall in numbers or quality.
"What is decline?"
This idiom refers to family members or close relatives.
"What is flesh and blood?"
This dramatic structure emphasises intensity: “So loud was the noise that…”
"What is So + adjective + inversion?"
This phrase refers to ordinary people rather than famous or exceptional ones.
"What are lesser mortals?"
This determiner means “it doesn’t matter which one” when used before a singular noun.
What is any?
This verb means to decide something based on evidence after investigation.
"What is conclude?"
This idiom means the most important thing above everything else.
"What is the be-all and end-all?"
This structure emphasises two important points: “Not only did she win, but…”
"What is Not only… but also… inversion?"
This adjective describes long-term illnesses or conditions.
"What is chronic?"