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.
shadow
Noun
—
A shadow is the dark area that is made when something blocks light, and that is shaped like the thing blocking the light.
I saw your shadow against the wall.
The shadows got long as the sun set.
—
The darkness that is in a shadow.
The room filled with shadow as the night came.
shadow
Verb
—
If you shadow someone you follow them closely without their knowing it.
The detective shadowed the thief.
—
If something is being shadowed it is being covered in shadow or made dark.
The curtains shadowed the room.
of
Preposition
—
Made using.
It is a house of cards.
his
Pronoun
—
If you say something is his thing, you mean it belongs to a particular man or boy.
It is his book, not mine.
—
His is used, instead of the name of an object, to refer to something belonging to a man or boy.
It isn't my book, it is his.
former
Adjective
—
A former mathx/math (e.g., president, country, wife) used to be the mathx/math but is not anymore.
Former president Clinton was giving a speech at the school.
—
The former is the first of two things that have already been talked about.
I've taught in high school and university. The former (i.e., high school) is more exciting, but university is less stressful.
self
Noun
—
Your self is the type of person you are, particularly the way you usually act, look or feel.
He looked so happy compared to his usual down self that Walter wondered if something was wrong.
—
Someone's self is their personality or character that makes them individual.
As the baby grows older, it begins to develop a sense of self.
—
Self is used to refer to a person.
Please bring your wife and your good self.