Englishfor English speakers
a
Determinative
—
A is used when the following word could be any of a certain type.
Compare "A book I saw on the shelf" and "The book I gave you yesterday".
a
Noun
—
A is the first letter of the alphabet.
The letter "a" comes before "b".
—
In some schools, an A is a very high grade.
Ron got an A on his earth science test.
league
Noun
—
A league is a group of sports teams that play against each other.
Rodriguez won the American League most-valuable-player award in 2003 and 2005.
The chances of your son making the National Hockey League are close to zero.
He spent the summer driving around Texas, watching minor league baseball games.
They played in this year's league championship, but lost by six points.
They could win and finish as the best team in the best league.
—
A league is a group of people who have joined together to promote a similar idea.
The League of Conservation Voters is one of the largest and most political environmental groups in the country.
—
If you are not in the same league as somebody else, they are much better than or different from you.
The Toyota Corolla is not even in the same league as the beautiful new Jaguar.
—
If you are out of your league, you're trying something too difficult for you.
—
If you are in league with somebody, you are working with them, usually in secret and for a bad reason.
—
A league is a distance of 4,828 metres on land or 5,556 metres at sea.
of
Preposition
—
Made using.
It is a house of cards.
their
Pronoun
—
If something belongs to them it is their thing.
That's not their car, it's ours.
own
Adjective
—
If something is your own it belongs to you or is about you (often used for emphasis).
I wish I had my own home.
I bought it in my own name.
The toy began to move as though it had a life of its own.
accidents happen, and often in your very own home.
—
If you are on your own, you are by yourself, there is no body else with you. This can also mean there is no one helping you.
I was on my own in the woods.
If you try to do that you're on your own - or at least I won't help you!
own
Verb
—
If you own something it belongs to you, it is yours.
Yes, I own a car.
I plan to build a house on the land I own.
—
If you "own up" to something, you admit you did it.
I had to own up to lying about our relationship.