English

A great simile will make the writing more interesting and easier to understand if it has been used well. To make an effective simile, one can follow these steps:

• Avoid clichés and craft original comparisons. A simile should compare two things that have something obvious in common
• Be specific and vivid so that the sentence with simile could create detailed mental images
• Select meaningful subjects for comparison

In simple words, a Simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by using the words like 'as' or 'like'. A simile is easy to spot and here is how one can do it:

• Look for words 'as' or 'like'
• Since a simile always compares two unlike things to show a shared quality. So, check if there are two different things being compared
• Also, see if the sentence is creating an imagery or describing emotions
• Common simile patterns: as + adjective + as (as brave as a lion) | verb + like + noun (sings like an angel)

A Simile and Metaphor are both figures of speech that compare two different things, but they do in different ways. A Simile uses the words like 'as' or 'like' whereas, a Metaphor directly equates two things without using the words 'as' or 'like'. A Metaphor makes an implicit comparison by stating one thing is another thing without using 'like' or 'as'. Examples are:

• Simile: His hands were cold as ice
• Metaphor: The world is a stage

A simile is a literary device that compares two things using the words like 'as' or 'like'. These are used to create imagery and make surprising connections between the two unrelated things. Similes are commonly used in literature, speeches, storytelling, and more. Some of Simile examples are given below:

• Raymond is as stubborn as a mule
• Her tongue is sharper than a sword
• She ran like the wind
• The package that got delivered yesterday was as light as a feather
• She sings like an angel

Proper nouns are usually not used with articles. For example: I live in Delhi, He works at Google. However, exceptions apply in cases when the article is a part of the name.

For instance:

The University of Delhi has many colleges affiliated to it.

 The Times of India is a prominent English-language newspaper in India.

Proper adjectives are adjectives derived from a proper noun and describes a noun by relating it to a specific person, place or thing.

Example:

I love American culture. (derived from America)

She enjoys Indian cuisine. (derived from India)

Yes, certain proper nouns are plural like the Himalayas, the Ahujas. In these cases, no apostrophe is used.

Example:

The Smiths moved in our block yesterday. (Family or Dynasty names)

The Lord of the Rings books are a good read. (Series Titles)

This song is sung by the Beatles. (Musical/Performance group)

No, seasons are not capitalized because they are common nouns.

For example: I love spring because of the flowers.

My exams are in winters.

However, in some cases, the seasons can be capitalized only if they a part of a formal name.

Example:

“Summer of '69'” is her favourite song.

I participated in Spring Festival Committee.

Proper nouns refer to some specific or unique person, place, animal, object or idea like Paris, PM Modi, etc. while common nouns are used generally like dog, city, etc. Some example of proper and common nouns are given below:

Proper noun –

Mr. Ravi is my Hindi teacher.

Her favourite holiday was in China.

Common noun –

The dog is going for a walk in the city.

I love eating an ice-cream in the evening.