I LOVE THIS SITE! Daily Writing Tips
I’d say this site features some advanced vocabulary, but that doesn’t mean that a beginner should stay away. There are many useful points and posts that show mistakes that most native speakers commonly make.
The site has the posts helpfully categorized for easy access. Some helpful categories for students are Grammar, Vocabulary, and for those interested, Business Writing.
Marriage. A timeless conversation topic. People talk about it before it happens, when it is happening and after it happens.
In the English language we commonly use the word GET before the word married.
The moment you say ‘I do’ (or actually sign the document) that is the moment you get married.
Phrases speaking about it happening in the FUTURE
Some little girls dream of getting married.
I want to get married on the beach.
I never want to get married.
I’m getting married!
We will get married next year.
Phrases speaking about it happening in the PAST
We got married in May.
They got married in Mexico.
He never got married.
The actual marriage ceremony is the wedding (celebration)
The marriage ceremony will be at a church.
The wedding will be in New York.
The marriage ceremony was lovely.
Kim’s wedding was the best I have ever been to.
Once you get married (sign the document) you are married
I am married.
James is married.
They are not married.
And FINALLY the word MARRIAGE (which is a noun)
I have a great marriage.
Their marriage was bad.
When friends get together, they often talk about their marriages.
Google announced their ‘Phrasebook’ in 2013 > Official Release Statement
I was very excited by this because I am not only a language teacher, but also a language learner. I am at a very beginner level, slowly and steadily learning Greek. Taking my own advice that I give to my students, “you must have English in your life everyday if you want to improve…” I’ve decided to start a journal writing very simple phrases in Greek. Using my active vocabulary, each day I’ll write a few things down.
I wanted to check a few words using Google Translate (I know, I know, it’s not always correct, but for simple basic words, usually it is ok- and I am at that simple basic level!) and I remembered about phrasebook. Happy times! It is so simple to use and I think VERY useful for helping language learners review vocabulary.
First you just type in the word or phrase in your language using Google Translate
Here I actually searched for the phrase first in English-> Greek and then switched it because I want my phrasebook to have the Greek words first, but either way works.
Next you just click on the little star below the phrase or word and you will see a little notification pop up in the upper left-hand corner showing that a word has been added. That is your phrasebook icon!
Click on that little star-book icon and you will see all of the words/phrases that you have previously saved.
As I mentioned earlier, I have mine with the Greek phrase first, but you can sort by language and by the date you added it.
You can even export it to a spreadsheet by clicking on that icon under the search tool.
Today I want to talk about the difference between 3 very similar words: impeding, impending, and imposing. This time, it wasn’t a question from a student, but a problem that *I* had when trying to write a message to a friend! Even as a native English speaker, I couldn’t remember the difference between these words without using a dictionary (don’t laugh at me 😉 So, here it is for your quick reference:
[im-pohz]
We use ‘a/an’ with several quantifiers:
• a little
• a few
• a lot (of)
We also use ‘no article’ with several:
• little
• few
• lots (of)
In many situations, we can choose to use ‘a little’ or ‘little’ (when using an
uncountable noun) or ‘a few’ or ‘few’ (when using a plural countable noun). They
have slightly different meanings. (‘A lot’ and ‘lots’ aren’t like this. ‘A lot’ means the
same as ‘lots’).
When we say ‘a little’ or ‘a few’ we mean a small amount, but it’s enough:
• John: Let’s go out tonight.
• Lucy: Okay. I have a little money, enough for the cinema at least.
On the other hand, ‘little’ or ‘few’ usually give us a different impression. These also
mean a small amount, but this time the amount is almost nothing. If the noun is
something that we want (like money or friends) then using ‘little’ or ‘few’ means that
we don’t have enough:
• John: Let’s go out tonight.
• Lucy: Sorry, I have little money. I really can’t afford to go out.
Of course, if we use ‘few’ or ‘little’ with a noun that we don’t want, then the sentence
can have a positive meaning. It’s good to have nearly no problems, for example:
• There have been few problems with the new system, thankfully!
• Luckily, there is little crime in my town.
• I’m so pleased that I have few arguments with my family.
• It’s great that there’s been very little bad weather this month.
Get the book “A and The Explained” > http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/a-and-the-explained.html
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Some of my students have a particularly hard time understanding modal verbs. Since I teach a lot of Italians I have become familiar with some language work for Italian students of English, specifically that of John Peter Sloan. However, he explains his ‘methods’ in Italian, obviously! So for the purpose of all other students, who don’t speak Italian, here is the translation. It’s not my idea, it’s his. I want to make that clear, but it’s a very good idea indeed and works wonders for making modals easier to understand and use.
The idea is that you think of modal verbs with percentages that show to what degree the action is likely, possible or probable. Then you simply use the relevant modal according to the result.
For example:
could 35%
may / might 50%
have to 75%
must 90%
should = the only exception, no percentage here as it is a matter of advice… think of someone with a wagging finger, tutting at you when you use this… ‘You SHOULD stop smoking!’
So… the process:
Try it… it works!
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Contact Rachel today > http://www.italki.com/teacher/1394345
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History of Halloween
Halloween falls on October 31st each year in North America and other parts of the world. What do you know about Halloween? Do you celebrate it in your country? Here is a little history about it. Vocabulary
to evolve (v)– to change little by little
spirit (n)– ghost, some people believe the spirit and body separate when a person dies
holy (adj)– sacred, very good, related to religion. Hallow comes from the word holy.
saint (n)– an honored, holy person
evil (adj)– very, very bad
lantern (n)– lamp or enclosed light that can be carried around
turnip (n)– a purple and white vegetable that grows in the ground
Like many other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history. Over 2,000 years ago people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France. November 1 was their New Year’s Day. They believed that the night before the New Year (October 31) was a time when the living and the dead came together.
More than a thousand years ago the Christian church named November 1 All Saints Day (also called All Hallows.) This was a special holy day to honor the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve. Later the name was changed to Halloween.
Like the Celts, the Europeans of that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween. They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them. So on that night people wore costumes that looked like ghosts or other evil creatures. They thought if they dressed like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.
The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans. Some of the traditions changed a little, though. For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry lanterns made from turnips. In America, pumpkins were more common. So people began putting candles inside them and using them as lanterns. That is why you see Jack ‘o lanterns today.
These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It is primarily a fun day for children. Children dress up in costumes like people did a thousand years ago. But instead of worrying about evil spirits, they go from house to house. They knock on doors and say “trick or treat.” The owner of each house gives candy or something special to each trick or treater.
Happy Halloween!