Useful: help for a purpose

The idea

Use useful before a noun or after be: a useful map; the map is useful. Say useful for learning to name a purpose.

Examples

• This map is useful.
• This guide provides useful information.
• A dictionary is useful for learning words.
• His advice was useful to me.
• That is a useful example.
• The guide offers useful details for visitors.

Watch out

Say a useful example: the word begins with a consonant sound /j/, even though its first letter is a vowel.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the article before the consonant sound in useful. That is ___ useful example. (a / an)

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   a

   A precedes the consonant sound at the beginning of useful.

2. Choose the preposition introducing the purpose. A dictionary is useful ___ learning words. (for / under)

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   for

   For introduces the purpose of learning.

3. Choose the adjective before the noun information. The guide provides ___ information. (useful / usefully)

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   useful

   Useful describes the noun information.

Use it today

Describe a useful tool and say what it is useful for.