https://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Screen-Shot-2015-01-23-at-3.37.34-PM-1.png179428Jessicahttp://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SE4U2-2-4.jpgJessica2015-01-23 16:08:002015-01-23 16:08:00Common Marriage Phrases
Non-continuous verbs are verbs that we do not normally use with continuous tenses. These “stative” verbs are about state, not action, and they cannot express the continuous or progressive aspect. Here are some of the most common non-continuous verbs:
feeling: hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
senses: appear, feel, hear, see, seem, smell, sound, taste
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
https://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Screen-Shot-2015-01-09-at-2.47.56-PM-1.png279655Lindahttp://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SE4U2-2-4.jpgLinda2015-01-09 15:18:292015-01-09 15:18:29‘a little’ and ‘little’ & ‘a few’ and ‘few’
Do you know about the verb tenses? What’s the difference between the present perfect and the past simple? Are you sure? How about the past perfect?
Many students have problems with verb tenses. But they aren’t really very difficult, I promise. Here you’ll find really clear examples and explanations, so you can easily review all the English tenses – firstly how to make them (the ‘form’), secondly, how to use them (the ‘use’)
WHO and WHOM are two very commonly confused words. To be honest, most native speakers don’t even know how to use them properly 😀 I think this is a great info/comic explaining the proper usage of WHOM (and WHO). > http://theoatmeal.com/comics/who_vs_whom Enjoy and laugh a little!
Many of my IELTS students make a point of studying their idioms and phrasal verbs, mostly as it’s a clear cut way to show fluency and develop a more natural and advanced way of speaking English. However, there is something else which can also help here. This is the use of colloquial pairs. You will surely all now about ‘pros and cons’ from learning how to speak about advantages and disadvantages, and this is indeed a colloquial pair, however what about others?
What is a colloquial pair? Well these are pairs of words that have a special significance, such as idioms or slang. You must take care not to put them in the wrong order however, as while these pairs may be understood in a reversed order, they will sound incorrect to a native speaker.
prim and proper
to and fro
odds and ends
hard and fast
tooth and nail
pros and cons
by and large
down and out
length and breadth
safe and sound
So, can I give you some examples? Well, I’m very ‘prim and proper’ about my colloquialpairs so I must make sure I use them correctly! I believe that ‘by and large’ these are phrases which are essential to add to your vocabulary if you want to speak like a native, and there is nothing we can do to change that! I’m afraid these rules are set ‘hard and fast’ and we can’t make any exceptions.
Why not look the other pairs up online and see if you can use them?
https://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Screen-Shot-2014-11-18-at-8.04.59-PM-1.png183422Jessicahttp://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SE4U2-2-4.jpgJessica2014-12-01 21:31:592014-12-01 21:31:59Do you know your colloquial pairs?
Pronouns are words which replace a noun: I, me, she, we, they, who, that, yours, his, her,etc.
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Pronouns should only be used if the name of the person (or group of people), place (or places), or thing (or things) has been previously mentioned in the paragraph. If it’s not clear which thing the pronoun is modifying, the reader can get quite confused.
Uses of Pronouns
We use pronouns so we don’t have to repeat the noun; it makes it sound a little better when we’re talking about one subject for several sentences.
When Michael first started Michael’s new job, Michael was a little apprehensive. After all, Michael had just finished Michael’s post-secondary education, and Michael suddenly felt Michael hadn’t learned anything about the real world.
When Michael first started his new job, he was a little apprehensive. After all, he had just finished his post-secondary education, and he suddenly felt he hadn’t learned anything about the real world.
You can see how the use of pronouns makes the paragraph sound less repetitive. Notice, though, that Michael’s name has to be mentioned at the beginning of the paragraph; otherwise, we wouldn’t know which man was being discussed.
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Pronouns can be subjects or objects, or show possession.
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Pronouns can also be used to name something unknown or unspecified: someone, something, anyone, anything, etc.
https://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pronouns-1.jpg370670Rihamhttp://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SE4U2-2-4.jpgRiham2014-11-20 11:15:392014-11-20 11:15:39What are Pronouns?
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:
Choose your subject pronoun
Choose your verb, always in the infinitive (without ‘to’) after a modal verb.
Choose the possibility factor and insert the appropriate modal between the subject pronoun and the verb.
I COULD go to the party (35% possibility factor… probably won’t go as I can’t borrow the car that night!)
I MAY go to the party (50% possibility factor… probably depends on whether their best friend goes too!)
I HAVE TO go to the party (75% possibility factor… as it’s my parents’ anniversary!)
I MUST go to the party (90% possibility factor… because it has been organised especially for me to celebrate my 40th birthday!)
I SHOULD go the party (because my girlfriend will be upset if I don’t!)
“Good” and “well” are often misused. “Good” is an adjective (and a noun in some cases); “well” is used as an adverb unless used as an adjective meaning “healthy“. If we need a word to describe noun or pronoun we use “good“. If we need a word to describe verb (or sometimes adjective or other adverb) we use “well“. For example:Kate is a good piano player. (correct) Kate is a well piano player. (incorrect!)Kate plays the piano well. (correct) Kate plays the piano good. (incorrect!)
Brian speaks good English, but he doesn’t speak Spanish very well. (correct) Brian speaks well English, but he doesn’t speak Spanish very good. (incorrect)
My brother did well on the English test. (correct) My brother did good on the English test. (incorrect!)
Do you think I’m doing well at school? (correct) Do you think I’m doing good at school? (incorrect!)
After linking verbs such as be, taste, sound, smell, look, seem, appear we use the adjective “good” as we are describing the subject of the sentence, not the action of the verb:
The concert last night wasn’t very good. If the food tastes good, children will eat it. Your idea sounds good and if it works would be great. It always smells good after the rain. The house looks good outside.
After the linking verbs “be“, “feel“, “look” we can also use “well” as an adjective meaning “healthy“:
I am well. / I feel well. / I’m feeling well. (refers to physical state, health) I am good. / I feel good. / I’m feeling good. (refers rather to emotional than physical state) Jane didn’t look well last night. (well = refers to heath) The new dress looks really good on you. (good = refers to appearance)
Note: In the USA (conversational English) you can hear a lot of people answer “I’m good.” in response to “How are you?” and it is very popular among young generation.
English Grammar and Writing Tips: Using “Good” and “Well” Correctly
https://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/good-vs-well1-1.jpg450962Rihamhttp://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SE4U2-2-4.jpgRiham2014-11-17 21:42:302014-11-17 21:42:30Good / Well
https://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Screen-Shot-2014-11-11-at-9.19.17-AM-1.png177560Lindahttp://skypenglish4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SE4U2-2-4.jpgLinda2014-11-11 09:52:332014-11-11 09:52:33For / To
