Everyday Grammar: Sign up, Sign in

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Fazed

New Entry: 'Fazed' has just been added to the Slang area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.

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Eyelash

New Entry: 'Eyelash' has just been added to the Cockney Rhyming Slang area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.

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English Vocab Builder #129 - Travel

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Video News #9 - Free English Gifts of the Month - December 2017

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Comparing Places- Comparatives

New Entry: 'Comparing Places- Comparatives' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Learn 10 Separable Phrasal Verbs

Welcome back to Everyday Grammar from VOA Learning English. Today we return to a very common verb form in English – phrasal verbs. You will find one phrasal verb in every 192 words of written English. They will make your English sound more natural once you begin using them correctly. In an earlier program, we explained how and why English speakers use them. Today we look at some often-used phrasal verbs. This type of phrasal verb allows a direct object to come between the verb and the preposition or adverb. As you will hear, there is a special rule that learners should know about when using these 10 phrasal verbs. The structure of phrasal verbs As you know, a phrasal verb is a phrase with two or more words: a verb and a preposition or adverb or both. We call the preposition or adverb a particle when it combines with a verb. Here are two examples:        "Please put the lamp on the desk."        "I think you're putting me on." In the first sentence, on is a preposition showing the position of the lamp. In the second sentence, on is an adverbial particle. Put on is a phrasal verb meaning "fool" or "trick" in this sentence. An important point is that a regular verb+preposition combination has two meanings. A phrasal verb, that is, a verb+particle, has a single meaning within a sentence. Many phrasal verbs have a number of different meanings in different situations. Yet the meaning of the verb+particle can usually be expressed with a single Latin-based verb. Here are two sentences with the same meaning: "They tore down the old building." "They demolished the old building." The verb tear has its own meaning, and so does the preposition down. They can combine with other words when they are alone. But as a phrasal verb, tear down, they have one meaning: "destroy." In 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan visited West Germany. He told a crowd in the divided city of Berlin, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Separable phrasal verbs Now for the tricky part. You know that some verbs are transitive, which means they have a direct object. When such verbs appear as phrasal verbs, an object can either separate the phrase or follow it. Here’s an example.        "I decided to throw out my old jeans."        "I decided to throw my old jeans out." Both of these sentences are correct. The object of the phrasal verb throw out is jeans. You can use a pronoun instead of jeans and ask,        "Are you sure you want to throw them out?" However, you cannot ask, "Are you sure you want to throw out them?" Here, the pronoun them must appear between the verb and the particle. Finding the frequent phrasal verbs In recent years, language experts began to use computers to examine a large collection, or corpus, of written and spoken language. When researchers look for phrasal verbs, they find that many deal with an activity. They also find a few verbs combine with many particles. Among the most common verbs are come, put, get, go, pick, sit and take. These combine with the adverb particles up, out, in, on, off, and down to make up a group of very useful phrasal verbs. Now, let’s look at transitive phrasal verbs. See the list at the end of the article. The verb get is part of many phrasal verbs. For example, we use get up to mean "to wake oneself up" or "to awaken someone." For example: "My son loves to sleep late. I got him up on time to catch the bus this morning." Remember, the pronoun has to come between the verb and the adverb, so we cannot say, "I got up him." Notice how the Norwegian group A-ha uses a separable phrasal verb two ways in their song, "Take On Me." Which one is correct in formal grammar? I'll be coming for your love, OK? Take on me, (take on me) Take me on, (take on me) I'll be gone In a day or two Remember, singers and poets have the right to use language as they please. For Learning English Everyday Grammar, I’m Jill Robbins. And I’m John Russell. Now it’s your turn. Write a sentence that uses a separable phrasal verb and we will give you feedback in the Comments Section.   Dr. Jill Robbins and Adam Brock wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   transitive - grammar, of a verb. having or taking a direct object adverb – grammar. a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree preposition – grammar. a word or group of words that is used with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object object - grammar. a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that receives the action of a verb or completes the meaning of a preposition corpus – n. a collection of writings, conversations, speeches, etc., that people use to study and describe a language   Here’s our list of 10 useful phrasal verbs: Phrasal Verb Meanings Example put on wear, produce, fool, pretend That cannot be true. You must be putting me on. put off postpone, disturb The report is due today. Stop putting it off and turn it in. put down criticize, write Her boss was always putting her down so she resigned. give up surrender, stop trying Your singing is beautiful – don’t give it up. give away give, offer That radio station gives turkeys away for Thanksgiving. give back return, restore I got so much help from the town, I want to give something back. get off leave, finish, send Please get the letter off to them today. get up awaken, rise Mom had to get us up every day for school. pick up collect, lift, learn, bring, clean I picked the living room up before our guests arrived. take on assume, fight The union took on the huge oil company.

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #80 - 10 Words to Describe Your Feelings in English

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All that jazz

We love slang, idioms, phrases and all that jazz! Learn a new phrase with us

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Comparative Adjectives Reversi Memory Games

New Entry: 'Comparative Adjectives Reversi Memory Games' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Everyday Grammar: How to Show You are Not Sure

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Quick & Easy English Review for Beginners #7 - Three Ways to Say “Bye” in English

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English Vocab Builder #128 - Religion

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Ask Alisha: Your English Questions Answered #6 - How Can You Learn English Alone? Self-Study Plan!

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #81 - 10 Must-Know Verbs for the Kitchen

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #50 - Top 10 Marriage Proposal Lines

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! In your home country, there are some phrases that are so common you use them or hear them every day. The same is true in USA too, so why not give your English an instant boost by learning them in this video lesson? With Alisha’s help, you’ll be sounding like a [...]

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Grammar and Christmas

Many Americans experience surprise (or disappointment) when they wake up on Christmas Day. They might be surprised or disappointed by a family member's actions. They might be happy or unhappy about a Christmas gift. Imagine a child expects to get an Xbox or PlayStation for Christmas. On Christmas morning, they quickly open their gift …. Inside is an English grammar book. They might feel disappointed. The Everyday Grammar team would prefer the new English grammar book. But if you are like most young people, you would probably rather have a new videogame system. Today, we are going to explore those feelings – feelings of surprise and disappointment. In other words, we are going to explore how speakers show that reality was better or worse than their expectations. Counter expectation Many languages use words to express expectation. Speakers also use words to express how events are not happening as expected. This idea is known as "counter expectation."* Do not worry about the term. Just remember that it means that speakers use words to show that reality is going against (or countering) their expectations. English has many words that serve this purpose. Three of the most common are the words "even," "still," and "actually." You will often hear them in casual, everyday speech. Speakers use these words to show surprise or disappointment. The pitch of their voice tells you what they mean. Let's study examples of each word. #1 Even Speakers often use the word "even" to show disappointment or surprise. Imagine a young child that expects a phone call from a family member – perhaps an uncle or grandparent. The phone call never comes. The child might say the following: "What's wrong with him? He didn't even call me on Christmas day."​ ​   Here, the child is expressing disappointment. She could have expressed the same idea in a much longer statement, such as: "I was expecting him to call on Christmas Day, but I didn't hear from him. Why didn’t he give me a call?" "Even" highlights the child's disappointment because it emphasizes that the family member did not try to call. "Even" does not always have a sad meaning. It can have a happy meaning too. Imagine a man named Ted. Ted is a forgetful man. He forgets to send letters or gifts to his parents. Ted's parents might have the following talk after they get a Christmas letter from him: "Did you see Ted's letter? Yeah – he even sent us a gift!" Here, the word "even" shows a pleasant surprise. Ted's mother did not expect a gift from him. By saying "he even sent us a gift" she is suggesting that Ted has gone beyond her expectations. #2 Still Americans sometimes use "still" for showing how reality does not quite meet their expectations. Consider this example, from the 1986 film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. At the end of the film, Ferris says the following lines. A different speaker might say similar lines after a lengthy, tiring, and disagreeable family Christmas party: You're still here? It's over! Go home. Go!" In the film, you can see the surprised look on Ferris' face. When he says, "You're still here," you can tell he did not expect people to still be around.  He is a little disappointed.   Now, imagine a different situation. A family is having a Christmas dinner. They are looking for one family member, Uncle Bob. They wonder if he left without saying goodbye. "-Have you seen Uncle Bob? -No. Did he leave?  Wait! There he is! He's still here!" The way the final speaker says "still" shows that she is surprised to learn he was still at the dinner. She expected otherwise. #3 Actually A third common word that shows surprise or disappointment is "actually." "Actually" suggests something is true – even when it differs from what might have been thought or expected. Remember Uncle Bob? Bob has always been a nice guy. Imagine Uncle Bob sees a Christmas present he likes, and then runs away with it. A speaker might say: "I can't believe it! Uncle Bob actually stole her Christmas gift." Here, the speaker uses “actually” to emphasize the unexpectedness of a happening – Uncle Bob stealing the present. She does not sound very happy! Speakers can use "actually" to show positive feelings, too. Think back to our character Ted – the guy who always forgets to give gifts for Christmas. His parents could have shown their surprise at receiving a gift from Ted by saying the following: "Ted actually gave us a gift!" Here, the word "actually" shows that they are pleasantly surprised at this strange happening: Ted remembered Christmas! What can you do? The next time you are listening to an English speaker, try to find examples of words that show "counter expectation." Is the speaker expressing surprise or disappointment? How does the speaker change the pitch of their voice? By answering these questions, you will start to learn how English speakers communicate emotions in subtle ways. -"Excuse me, John, are you still recording your show?" -"Yes!" -"You're still recording? We have to go to the Christmas party!" -"Oh no! I had actually forgotten about that! And that's Everyday Grammar." I'm John Russell. I'm Anna Mateo. And I'm Ashley Thompson.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. *John McWhorter. Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally). Picador. 2016 pgs. 37-41 _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prefer – v. to like (someone or something) better than someone or something else​ rather – adv. used to indicate what you want or prefer to do, have, etc.​ pitch – n. the highness or lowness of a sound​ emphasize – v. to give special attention to (something) : to place emphasis on (something)​ disappointment – n. a feeling of sadness or displeasure when one's hopes or expectations are not fulfilled casual – adj. not formal positive – adj. thinking about the good qualities of someone or something : thinking that a good result will happen: hopeful or optimistic​ subtle – adj. hard to notice or see : not obvious

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The perfect Santa

A popular job at this time of year is playing the part of Santa. But what does it take to be the perfect Father Christmas?

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05rpvvz

English Vocab Builder #49 - Father’s Day

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! Our English vocabulary lists are listener favorites, and now we’ve made it even better! In each lesson, you’ll hear the English words and phrases from the English vocabulary lists. Join us for English Vocab Builder! In this lesson, you’ll learn words and phrases for Father’s Day. Click here to make your own [...]

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Formal and Informal Functional Language Dominoes

New Entry: 'Formal and Informal Functional Language Dominoes' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

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She's skating ____ thin ice.

New Entry: 'She's skating ____ thin ice.' has just been added to the Language Polls area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Take for

New Entry: 'Take for' has just been added to the Phrasal Verbs area of UsingEnglish.com.

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English Grammar Made Easy #8 - Common Prefixes

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Not gonna lie

A phrase to use when you're being brutally honest

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Quick & Easy English Review for Beginners #6 - How Do People Celebrate Christmas in the U.S.?

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American Business English for Beginners #13 - How to Ask For a Specific Person on the Phone in English

Learn Business English with EnglishClass101.com! Whether you’ve just started working for an American company or started doing business with one, you’ll need some polished and professional English words and phrases to make a good impression. And that’s exactly where this new Business English series comes in! In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for a [...]

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Everyday Grammar: Both...and, Not only...but also

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Lesson 14: How About This?

Summary Anna is going to the theater with her friends. She does not know what to wear. She looks in a magazine to get help and gets a surprise. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn two ways to make a suggestion. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about clothes with a friend. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about describing clothing with color words. Conversation Anna: Hi, there! In Washington, D.C. people do many things in the evening. They go listen to music. They eat at a restaurant. They go to the theater. Anna: Tonight I am going to the theater with my friends. But I don’t know what clothes to wear. Maybe this magazine can help. Anna: Her clothes are beautiful! I really want a friend like her to help me. Anna: Who are you? Genie: I am Genie! You want help. I am here to help you find the right clothes! Anna: Awesome! How about jeans and a t-shirt? Genie: No! Jeans and a t-shirt are too casual. How about something more formal? Anna: Sure! Anna: Wow! Genie, this dress is beautiful. But it’s not the right size. It’s too small. Genie: Yes, it is too small. But green looks great on you. Anna: Thanks. Genie: Take off the green dress. Let’s try a green shirt and a skirt. Anna: Oh, Genie! This green shirt is too large and this orange skirt is too orange. Genie: Yes, the right size for you is medium. Let’s try again. Anna: Oh, I don’t like this outfit. Genie: No. That does not match. Anna: Nothing. Anna: These clothes are formal: a suit jacket, a dress shirt and a tie! They look great! Genie: Those clothes look great … for a man! Something is wrong. Anna: Let me see. Anna: There. Now try. Genie: Oh. Thanks! Now these clothes look great on you! Anna: They do! Um, Genie, can you put on a gold belt? Genie: Sure! Genie: That looks great. Anna: Can you put on a jacket? Genie: Why not? Anna: I love the jacket! How about a hat? Genie: Why not? Genie: Mm, take off the hat. That’s better. Anna: Genie, these clothes look and feel great! Let’s go to the theater! Genie: Sorry, Anna. I have to help other friends. Go to the magazine if you want me to help again. Anna: Thanks, Genie. Sure thing. Goodbye! Genie: Goodbye! Anna: There are many places in DC to go for a great evening out!  And it’s nice to have a friend to help me look my best. Until next time! Bye!      Writing What do you like to wear to go out in the evening?  What are you wearing today? Send us an email ​about your clothes and their colors and sizes or write in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend.     Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Personalize. Learning English is easier when you think about how what you learn relates to yourself. Here is an example. Meilin is learning about clothing words. She looks at her own clothes and says to herself, "My sweater is green. I am wearing blue jeans." Meilin looks at her English lesson. She sees a photo of a woman in black jeans. She says to her classmate, "I don't like black jeans. Do you?" Meilin is using the strategy "personalize" because she is speaking English to tell about herself and her own likes or dislikes. Tomorrow she will remember the words better, because she is thinking about herself when she says them.  How do you personalize in studying English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Quiz Test your understanding by taking this listening quiz. Play the video, then choose the best answer. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words casual - adj. designed for or permitting ordinary dress, behavior, etc clothes - n. the things that people wear to cover their bodies and that are usually made from cloth formal - adj. requiring or using serious and proper clothes and manners large -  adj. great in size or amount magazine - n. a type of thin book with a paper cover that contains stories, essays, pictures, etc. man - n. an adult male human being match – v.to be suited to (someone or something); to go well with (someone or something) medium - n. something that is sold in a medium size; something that is the middle size when compared with things that are larger and smaller music - n. sounds that are sung by voices or played on musical instruments nothing -pron. not anything; not a thing outfit - n. a set of clothes that are worn together put on -  phrasal verb to dress yourself in (clothing) restaurant - n. a place where you can buy and eat a meal size - n. one of a series of standard measurements in which clothing, shoes, etc., are made take off - phrasal verb to remove (something) theater - n. a building where plays, shows, etc., are performed on a stage too - adv. usually used at the end of a sentence or clause; in addition; also wear – v. to use or have (something) as clothing; to have (a shirt, pants, etc.) over part of your body ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about clothing and colors with a friend.   For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Position of adjectives before nouns; use of two phrasal verbs: put on and take off Topics: Describing clothing colors and sizes; making a suggestion and giving compliments Learning Strategy: Personalize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Making a suggestion; using color adjectives with nouns ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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News #220 - Your BIG, Secret EnglishClass101 Deal to Mark the End of The Countdown

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English Vocab Builder #127 - Vehicles

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Ask Alisha: Your English Questions Answered #5 - How to Improve Your English Speaking Skills?

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What Do You Know About 'You Know?'

  In the film Caddyshack, American actor Bill Murray plays a golf caddy. He carries golf clubs for other people and offers them advice on how to play the sport. At one point in the film, Murray tells an outrageous story. He claims to have traveled to the Himalayas and helped the Dalai Lama play golf. After one game, Murray says he asked the Tibetan spiritual leader for money. Here are a few lines from the movie. "So we finish 18 and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, 'Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something? You know, for the effort, you know.’ And he says, 'Oh, uh, there won't be any money. But when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.'" Today, we will not explore the world of golf. Instead, we will consider the meaning of two words: you know. You heard them used twice in our example. We will show you how and why Americans use this expression. You might be surprised to learn how "you know" has many uses. Acknowledgement markers If you listen to Americans as they speak, you will often hear them say "you know" in strange places in a sentence. You might hear it at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. When Americans say "you know," they might mean it in a literal sense, as in the following: "Do you know that person?" "Yes, I know him." However, today we are talking about how English speakers use "you know" in other ways. These include social uses, such as saying "you know" to soften the meaning of a statement.   Language experts have a term for such an expression: an "acknowledgement marker."* You do not need to worry about the term now. Just remember that English speakers choose some words for social uses. They mean more than the individual words suggest. Do not fear: we will clarify these points by giving you examples from popular culture. "You know" in social situations "You know" gives other people the idea that you have some kind of shared knowledge with them. People use it to show that they have a common understanding. Sometimes people use an acknowledgment marker because they want to know if you agree with them. Other times, they use it as a way to fill spaces in a conversation or discussion. Saying "you know" gives the speaker time to think of what to say next.   The context tells you which of these purposes "you know" serves. Example #1 Let's study an example. Think back to the line from Caddyshack: “And I say, 'Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something? You know, for the effort, you know.’” Here, Murray is asking for a tip – a small payment. When Murray says "you know" before and after the words "for the effort," he is suggesting that the Dalai Lama knows he has worked hard.  Murray uses "you know" to offer a suggestion. He does not want to ask for money directly. He wants to improve his chances of getting the tip by using indirect language. Murray's caddy could have simply said, "Can you give me a tip for helping you?" Such a direct question would be considered disrespectful in American culture. Example #2 Let's look at another example. Consider this exchange from the 1994 film, Leon The Professional. - "My parents died in a car accident four weeks ago. It was terrible." - "You know, we didn't have the time to get to know one another when you first came here. But I want you to know that I'm not the kind of woman who'd let down a child, whatever her situation, whatever her mistake. Here, the second speaker begins her sentence with "you know." In this situation, she wants to gain the trust of the young girl. She begins her sentence with "you know" so that it gives the girl the idea that they have a connection. She wants to give her new information, but she also wants to make her words sound familiar. She also wants to improve her chances of a positive response from the young girl. Example #3 Here is one final example. Imagine two people are staying late at work. One person might tell another person they need to go. She might say: "Hey, Jane, you know, the last train leaves in 15 minutes!" Here the speaker is presenting information about the train, as if it is known information. Jane probably does not know that the train is leaving soon. But her coworker wants to soften the statement by using language that suggests she does know that the train is leaving. History and "you know" The term "you know" is not a new form of slang. "You know" has a long history, according to John McWhorter, a language expert. He says that English speakers have long used words and expressions such as "you know." McWhorter points to lines in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales as an example. Chaucer wrote the now famous work in the 14th century. In the Knight's Tale, the character Emily says the words "thou woost." The word "thou" later became "you" as the English language changed over time. "Woost" is the verb that eventually became "know." McWhorter notes that "thou woost" was the 14th century version of the modern-day "you know."* What can you do? The next time you are listening to an English speaker, try to find examples of "you know." How often does the person use those words? Why do you think they are using them? You should be careful about using "you know." Sometimes English learners become nervous and use "you know" too often. This overuse of "you know" means that they do not practice using other expressions or vocabulary. The point of today's story was to show you how English speakers use certain words and expressions for social uses. There are many others – which we can explore in another Everyday Grammar program. -"You know, I think we should end our report now." -"Ok – I think you are right." I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. *McWhorter, John. Words on the Move: Why English Won't – and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally). Henry Holt and Co. 2016. Pg. 34 We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   outrageous – adj. very strange or unusual going to stiff (someone) – expression – to not pay someone the amount of money that you should pay them; to fail to pay a tip consciousness – n. the condition of being conscious; the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you literal – adj. involving the ordinary or usual meaning of a word context – n. the words that are used with a certain word or phrase and that help to explain its meaning slang – n. words that are not considered part of the standard vocabulary of a language and that are used very informally in speech especially by a particular group of people practice – n. to do something again and again in order to become better at it

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Should schoolchildren have jobs?

The number of schoolchildren with doing part-time jobs in the UK has fallen. Is that a good thing? Neil and Dan discuss the pros and cons of working while you're still at school

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05r3900

Deck out

New Entry: 'Deck out' has just been added to the Phrasal Verbs area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Shopping Dialogue- Jigsaw Text

New Entry: 'Shopping Dialogue- Jigsaw Text' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

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English Prepositions Made Easy #18 - Changing Your American Insurance Plan

Learn American English with EnglishClass101.com! Prepositions are an essential part of the English language because they identify the spatial (space), directional, and temporal (time) relationships between things and people. In this series, you will learn the subtle differences in usage between the different prepositions. You’ll be sounding like a native English speaker in no time! In [...]

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What Do You Know About "You Know?"

source https://av.voanews.com/clips/VLE/2017/12/13/4d9fa3ef-e99c-4f28-8276-dd70d2153b23_hq.mp3

Contronyms Are "Literally" The Best

source https://av.voanews.com/clips/VLE/2017/12/06/83484021-1344-41e5-a065-da2c8bd26b06_hq.mp3

Up your game

Don't know which one to use? You need to up your emoji game

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05qwgpy

Spin around

New Entry: 'Spin around' has just been added to the Phrasal Verbs area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Blood-lust

New Entry: 'Blood-lust' has just been added to the Idioms area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Colours Brainstorming Games

New Entry: 'Colours Brainstorming Games' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Lesson 13: Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

Summary It's a Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C. Anna is bored. She finds something interesting to do when she hears music playing.    Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn to talk about cause and effect. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about your usual - and unusual - activities. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about what happens when two words with same sound come together.​ Conversation   Anna: Hello! In Washington D.C. there are many things to do on a Sunday afternoon. I like to exercise. I like to shop. I like to garden. But today I feel bored. When I feel bored I always look for something unusual to do! I hear music. Let’s go see! What is going on here? Rebecca: It’s a big birthday party for the writer William Shakespeare. Anna: This is a party for William Shakespeare? Rebecca: Yes! Anna: Awesome! Rebecca: Awesome! Anna: This is a drum band. I never listen to a drum band. But today I am listening to a drum band because it’s Shakespeare’s birthday! Anna: This is a puppet show.  I never watch puppet shows. But today I am watching a puppet show because it’s Shakespeare’s birthday! Anna: My clothes are usual. His clothes are unusual. Anna: In Washington, D.C. seeing a politician or even the President is usual. Seeing the Queen of England is very unusual! Your majesty! Anna: This is sword fighting. I never sword fight. But today I am sword fighting because it’s Shakespeare’s birthday! Anna: There are many things to do on a Sunday in Washington, D.C. -- some usual, some unusual. Anna: Today, I am not bored because … it is William Shakespeare’s birthday!   Writing What do you usually do on a Sunday afternoon? (Or on your day off.)​ Send us an email or write about how frequently you do different activities in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Make an Inference. Learning English is easier when you can make an inference about meaning. Here is an example. Rory is traveling. At the airport, he is looking for his airline when he walks into a woman by mistake. She yells at him, "Hey, don't be so inconsiderate! Watch where you're going!" Rory does not know the word "inconsiderate." But the woman's angry face and loud voice help him to understand that she is angry. He makes the inference that "inconsiderate" means "rude," or "impolite," and he quickly apologizes. "Oh, I'm very sorry! I am looking for the airline desk."  The woman says, "Okay, but be more careful." How do you make inferences in studying English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Quiz Test your understanding by taking this listening quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words   band – n. a usually small group of musicians who play popular music together because – conj. for the reason that birthday - n. the day when someone was born or the anniversary of that day bored – adj. tired and annoyed by too much of the same thing; not interested drum - n. a musical instrument that is made with a thin layer of skin or plastic stretched over the end of a round frame and that is played by hitting the skin or plastic with sticks or with your hands exercise – v. physical activity that is done in order to become stronger and healthier fight - v. to use weapons or physical force to try to hurt someone, to defeat an enemy, etc. or to struggle in battle or physical combat party - n. a social event in which entertainment, food, and drinks are provided politician - n. someone who is active in government usually as an elected official President - n. the head of the government in some countries puppet - n. a doll that is moved by putting your hand inside it or by pulling strings or wires that are attached to it Queen -  n. a woman who rules a country and who usually inherits her position and rules for life shop – v. to visit places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things show - n. a performance in a theater that usually includes singing and dancing sword - n. a weapon with a long metal blade that has a sharp point and edge unusual - adj. different or strange in a way that attracts attention usual – adj. done, found, or used most of the time or in most cases, or normal or regular watch -  v. to look at (someone or something) for an amount of time and pay attention to what is happening   ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using frequency adverbs to talk about      For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Frequency adverbs, cause and effect phrases Topics: Usual and unusual activities Learning Strategy: Make an Inference Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using frequency adverbs to talk about cause and effect; blended sounds ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-13-happy-birthday-william-shakespeare/3312239.html

Everyday Grammar: Euphemistic Adjectives & Nouns

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News #219 - Final Week! The Last 5 English Deals of the Holiday Countdown Start Now!

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English Vocab Builder #126 - School Subjects

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Ask Alisha: Your English Questions Answered #4 - Can You Learn English Through Songs?

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Contronyms Are 'Literally' The Best

  The American television series "Seinfeld" was famous for its unusual and often strange conversations. These conversations often took place in a diner - a kind of small, informal restaurant. In one program, the character George is sad about where he is in life. George feels that he has made poor choices. He wants to change his life around by doing the opposite of what he has done. He would like to eat different foods, be willing to talk to strangers, and so on. Let's listen to a few lines from the show. "Well, here's your chance to try the opposite. Instead of tuna salad and being intimidated by women... chicken salad and going right up to them.”  “Yeah, I should do the opposite, I should.” “If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right." Today, we will explore the idea of opposites. Namely, we will look at words that have at least two meanings: one meaning and an opposite meaning. We will also explore disputes around these words, like one involving the word "literally". Contronyms English has a number of words with opposite meanings. They are called contronyms. You will hear contronyms in the news, official speeches, and everyday conversation. You will even see them in writing. Consider the word "sanction." A sanction can be a kind of punishment for disobeying a law, especially an international law. Imagine you hear a news story about the United Nations Security Council. The story might begin with the words, "Security Council votes to impose sanctions."* If you follow the news, you are probably familiar with this expression. However, the word "sanction" can have an opposite meaning: an official approval for an action. For example, you might read a news story about a legal dispute. The story might say, "Critics say the policy lacked legal sanction." In this case, the critics are saying that the policy did not have official approval. Because "sanction" has a second, opposite meaning, it is a contronym. Here's another example of a contronym: the word “bill”. You can have a $50 bill, or you can receive a $50 bill for medical services. In the first example, "bill" means a piece of paper money. In the second case, "bill" suggests a document that tells you how much money you owe. ​Disputes over language Americans sometimes dispute the use of a contronym. Consider the word "literally." On the internet, many stories and videos are sharply critical of this word. "A lot of you out there who say 'literally' don't seem to understand what 'literally' means." Literally, in its traditional meaning, means "by the letter". It later took on the meaning "with the meaning of each word given exactly."** Americans often use it in a completely different way. Imagine you hear the following conversation: “Did you hear Tom's story?” “Yes, I was literally dying of laughter. It was so funny!” Here, the second speaker does not mean that she is dying. When she says "literally", she means "figuratively". The word "literally" is like the character George from Seinfeld. "Literally", like George, spent time doing one thing. Now it is looking for a change. Naturally, the word itself is not making this decision to change. English speakers are using the word in different ways. There is nothing new or strange about this change. Many words change over time – just like people and societies. Social uses of words John McWhorter is an expert on languages. He notes that English speakers use some words for what he calls common, social uses. He refers to these uses by the acronym “FACE”. Do not worry about all of the terms. The one we are interested in is the letter "F" in FACE. It means "factuality." McWhorter notes that English speakers use words to show how truthful or exact their statements are. In other words, they include words to show how "factual" their statements are. "Literally" has become a word that shows factuality. It shows that the speaker is using an overstatement or exaggerated language. So, when a person says "I was literally dying of laughter," they are using the word "literally" to show that they are using exaggerated language. If you compare this use of "literally" with the first definition of "literally," you will notice that "literally" has become a contronym. McWhorter notes that this is a natural progression for the word. There is nothing wrong or incorrect about this change, he adds. What can you do? The next time you are listening to an English speaker or reading a document in English, look for examples of contronyms. If you are having trouble understanding a sentence, it might be because the speaker or writer is using a less common meaning of a word. Try to think about the word's context. Sometimes you can understand a contronym's meaning by thinking about the other words that come in the sentence with it. Contronyms are a strange, fun part of language. They are literally the easiest thing about the English language. “I think you are you exaggerating…” I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. * The beginning of a news story is often called a headline. ** McWhorter, John. Words on the Move. Henry Holt and Co. 2016. Pgs. 22-28 _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people; the act of talking in an informal way character – n. a person in a play or story intimidated - adj. to be afraid instinct - n. a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is not learned; a natural desire or tendency that makes you want to act in a particular way impose – v. to establish; to bring about as if by force figuratively – adj. Expressing one thing normally while talking about another refer – v. to think of; to send for treatment factuality – n. The quality of being actual or factual: actuality, fact, factualness, reality, truth. exaggerated - adj. to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is context – n. the situation in which something happens

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-contronyms/4152424.html

What do you buy when you're sad?

Have you ever bought something when you're sad and then regretted it later?

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05qc6sz

They are ____ in love with each other.

New Entry: 'They are ____ in love with each other.' has just been added to the Language Polls area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/poll/1194.html

How to teach Yes/ No questions

New Entry: 'How to teach Yes/ No questions' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Upper Intermediate #5 - Getting Mugged in the US

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! Living in an unfamiliar American city in is a bit scary. You often come home from work late, and it makes you nervous to be alone, so you usually chat with someone on the phone in English so you don’t feel so afraid. If only you had an American friend to [...]

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #61 - 10 Must-know Words to Party in America

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! In your home country, there are some phrases that are so common you use them or hear them every day. The same is true in USA too, so why not give your English an instant boost by learning them in this video lesson? With Alisha’s help, you’ll be sounding like a [...]

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #47 - 10 Gift Ideas You Must Know

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! In your home country, there are some phrases that are so common you use them or hear them every day. The same is true in USA too, so why not give your English an instant boost by learning them in this video lesson? With Alisha’s help, you’ll be sounding like a [...]

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #122 - Top 7 Phrases for Mountain Climbing in Mt. Kilimanjaro

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To shout it from the rooftops

Have you heard the good news? This programme has something to shout about!

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05q4pzm

English Grammar Made Easy #7 - The Differences between “Look,” “Watch,” and “See”

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Ask Alisha: Your English Questions Answered #3 - English Conditionals and If Clauses

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American Business English for Beginners #12 - Asking for Help in a Difficult American Business Situation

Learn Business English with EnglishClass101.com! Whether you’ve just started working for an American company or started doing business with one, you’ll need some polished and professional English words and phrases to make a good impression. And that’s exactly where this new Business English series comes in! In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for help [...]

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Everyday Grammar: Euphemistic Phrasal Verbs

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-euphemistic-phrasal-verbs/4093868.html

Lesson 12: Meet My Family

Summary Anna is feeling homesick. Marsha helps her by listening to her talk about her family.   Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn to ask a friend to talk about a problem. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about your family. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about how Americans pronounce the word "aunt" in different parts of the country. Conversation   Anna: Hello! Washington, D.C. has many beautiful parks. In fact, this park reminds me of my home very far away. Marsha: Anna, here's your coffee. Anna: Thanks, Marsha. Marsha: What's wrong? Anna: I'm thinking about my family. I'm feeling homesick. Marsha: Do you want to talk about it? Anna: Sure! I have some photos. Marsha: Yes. Yes, you do! Anna: Photos really help. Anna: This is my mother and this is my father. They are rodeo clowns. Marsha: What do rodeo clowns do? Anna: They make jokes at a rodeo. They make people laugh. Marsha: That-That';s very different. Marsha: Who is that woman in the picture? Anna: That is my Aunt Lavender. She is my mom's sister. She loves gardening and makes spoons. Marsha: She makes spoons? Anna: Of course. Marsha: That, too, is very different. Anna: Oh! This is my Uncle John. He is my father's brother. Marsha: What does Uncle John do? Anna: He's a chicken farmer. And makes guitars. He's awesome, and I'm his favorite niece. Marsha: Who are they? Anna: They are my cousins. They are my Uncle John's daughter and son. Marsha: What do they do? Anna: They raise sheep and make sweaters. Marsha: Yeah, that's not a surprise. Marsha: Thanks for showing me your family photos. Your family is very different. Anna: I do feel better. Thanks for listening. I have many more photos! Marsha: Yeah. Yeah, you do. Anna: Washington, DC is my new home. But I like remembering my old home, too. Anna's Family Tree This is a family tree. Anna tells Marsha about her parents. Her mother and father are rodeo clowns. Her father's parents are from Italy. These grandparents speak Italian. Anna's mother's parents live in California. These grandparents have a farm and raise horses. Anna's mother's sister is Aunt Lavender. She loves gardening. Anna's father has a brother. His name is John. Uncle John makes guitars. Uncle John has a daughter and a son. They are Anna's cousins. They raise sheep. Anna's brother has two children. They are Anna's niece and nephew.   Writing Are you from a big family or a small family? Write to us to tell us about two people in your family. What do they do? What do they make? Send us an email or write about them in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend.   Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Find Patterns. Learning is easier when you can find and apply patterns. Here is an example. Carlos is learning the names of family members in English. He sees a pattern. Some words change when you talk about the next generation. "Father" changes to "grandfather." When someone is related by marriage, the word "in-law" is used. "Sister" changes to "sister-in-law." Carlos thinks he can use this pattern to help remember the new words in English. How do you find and use patterns in studying English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Quiz See how well you learned the lesson by taking this listening quiz. Play the short video and choose the best answer. ______________________________________________________________ New Words clown - n. someone who often does funny things to make people laugh different - adj. not ordinary or common; unusual feel - v. used to describe or ask about someone's physical or mental state garden – v. to work in a garden; to take care of the plants in a garden guitar - n. a musical instrument that is held against the front of your body and that has usually six strings which are played with your fingers or with a pick homesick - adj. sad because you are away from your family and home joke - n. something said or done to cause laughter laugh - v. to show that you are happy or that you think something is funny by smiling and making a sound from your throat make - v. to build, create, or produce (something) by work or effort park -  n. piece of public land in or near a city that is kept free of houses and other buildings and can be used for pleasure and exercise photo (photograph) -  n. a picture made by a camera raise -  v. to keep and take care of (animals or crops) remind - v. to cause (someone) to remember something rodeo - n. an event in which people compete at riding horses and bulls, catching animals with ropes, etc. sheep - n. an animal with a thick woolly coat that  is often raised for meat or for its wool and skin spoon - n. an eating or cooking tool that has a small shallow bowl attached to a handle sweater - n. a warm usually knitted piece of clothing for the upper part of your body Family Relationships aunt - n. the sister of your father or mother or the wife of your uncle brother - n. a boy or man who has one or both of the same     parents as you cousin - n. a child of your uncle or aunt daughter - n. a female child family - n. a group of people who are related to each other father - n. a male parent mother - n. a female parent nephew - n. the son of your brother or sister niece - n. a daughter of your brother or sister sister - n. a girl or woman who has one or both of the same parents as you son - n. a male child uncle - n. the brother of your father or mother or the husband of your aunt   ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about family members.     For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Auxiliary do and the verb make Topics: Family members​; family relationships Learning Strategy: Find and Apply Patterns Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Ask about a problem; varied ways to pronounce "aunt" ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-12-meet-my-family/3301733.html

Opposites- Feelings

New Entry: 'Opposites- Feelings' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-opposites-feelings/

English Vocab Builder #125 - Trains

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News #218 - Starts Tonight! 10 Days of the Best English Learning Deals of 2017

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Ask Alisha: Your English Questions Answered #3 - English Conditionals

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Short Sentences in Books, Movies, and Speech

  Ernest Hemingway was a famous American writer. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. One of his most famous books, The Sun Also Rises, ends with the following words:                  "Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?" Today, we are going to consider the grammar behind the sentence: "Isn't it pretty to think so." In this program, we will study how English speakers use shortened sentences. We will hear examples of other short sentences from films, books, and fictional conversations. But first, we will start with some definitions. Shortened clauses         Clauses are groups of words that have a subject and a predicate. A predicate is a group of words that tells something about the subject. When a clause has a period at the end of it, it is a sentence. For example, in the sentence, "I love English grammar," the word "I" is the subject, and "love English grammar" is the predicate. Sometimes, sentences have many clauses. These clauses can begin with the word "that" or a word beginning with the letters “wh-”, such as why, what, where, or when.* For example, in the sentence "We hope that you enjoy learning English grammar," the words "that you enjoy learning English grammar" are a clause. The clause begins with the word "that" – it is an example of a that-clause. When speaking, Americans often shorten clauses that repeat what they have said earlier. In addition, they often shorten clauses that repeat what someone else has said. These short expressions usually occur after certain verbs. We will now explore these verbs and a few shortened clauses they often go with. #1 Know, remember, wonder Speakers often shorten “wh-” clauses, usually after they use the verbs wonder, know, or remember. When speakers shorten the “wh-” clauses, they usually only use the “wh-” word itself. They leave out the rest of the clause. Here is an example. Imagine two friends talking about a third person who apparently went missing the night before. Tom didn't come to the show last night! I wonder why? In the example, the second speaker used a shortened clause. Instead of saying "I wonder why Tom didn't come to the show last night?", the speaker said, "I wonder why?" This is an example of a shortened “wh-” clause after the verb "wonder." The speaker did not want to repeat all of the information discussed earlier. Such lengthy speech would create very long and slow conversations! Now, let’s consider a second example. In the 2004 film Crash, actor Sandra Bullock says the following line: I'm angry all the time, and I don't know why… Carol, I don't know why! Here, Bullock says "I don't know why" instead of "I don't know why I am angry all the time." She uses a shortened “wh-” clause after the verb "know." The two examples we gave you both had the word "why" in them: "I wonder why?" and "I don't know why?" These are two very common uses of a shortened “wh-” clause. Please remember that English speakers will also use other “wh-”  words in shortened clauses. You might hear a person say "…he doesn't remember where," for example. #2 Guess, say, think, hope Now let's turn to a second group of clauses. They are called “that-clauses”. Speakers often shorten “that-clauses”, usually after they use verbs such as guess, say, think, and hope. The word "so" often takes the place of the “that-clause”. This sounds difficult, but we will give you examples to clarify the point! Here is one from the 1991 film The Man in the Moon. - "Maureen? Is it always gonna hurt this bad? Mama says it won't. I hope she's right." - "I hope so." Here, the second speaker says "I hope so" instead of the full sentence, "I hope that she is right." ​In other words, "so" takes the place of an entire that-clause. Now, let’s consider a second example. Remember the lines you heard at the beginning of this report? "Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?" Just before those lines come in Ernest Hemingway's book, two characters, Jake and Brett, are talking about their unfulfilled love for each other. Brett says that she and Jake could have had such a good time together. Jake responds with the famous line: "Isn't it pretty to think so?" Jake could have said "Isn't it pretty to think that we could have had such a good time together?" Such a line would have been much less elegant than Hemingway's ending! What can you do? The next time you are reading a book in English or talking with an English speaker, try listening for examples of shortened clauses. Does the writer or speaker use one of the shortened clauses we talked about today? What verbs does the speaker use with the shortened clause? Try using examples of shortened clauses that you hear. Or try to use some of the examples we told you about. If you practice using shortened clauses, we think that you will make progress. No, we know so. I'm Ashley Thompson. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. *Other words that do not begin with wh-, such as "how," are also in this group. _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story   grammar – n. the study of groups of words and their uses in sentences conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people; the act of talking in an informal way occur – v.  to appear or exist; to be found gonna – short for "going to" respond – v. to say something as an answer to a request character – n. a person in a theatrical production, book or movie       elegant – adj. simple and clever practice – v. to do something again and again in order to become better at it  

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-short-sentences/4142545.html

Do you need to upgrade your phone?

What are the advantages or disadvantages of getting the latest model. Rob and Catherine talk about smartphones and teach you new vocabulary

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05pnrdj

Negative Prefixes- Word Formation Jigsaw

New Entry: 'Negative Prefixes- Word Formation Jigsaw' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-negative-prefixes-word-formation-jigsaw/

Hospitality English for Hotels #11 - Dealing With Turnaways By the Guest

Learn English for the hospitality industry with EnglishClass101.com’s Hospitality English for Hotels series! No matter which part of the hotel you work in, it’s important to be able to communicate with your guests professionally and efficiently. With this series, you’ll learn how to do just that! In [...]

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To blow the cobwebs away

No spiders involved. It's time to get lively and learn a new English phrase

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05pfn61

Ask Alisha: Your English Questions Answered #2 - How to Speak Like a Native English Speaker?

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/ask-alisha-your-english-questions-answered-2-how-to-speak-like-a-native-english-speaker/

Space cadet

New Entry: 'Space cadet' has just been added to the Slang area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/members/idioms/view.php?show=Slang&entry_id=27239

Space out

New Entry: 'Space out' has just been added to the Phrasal Verbs area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/space+out.html

Everyday Grammar: Discovery Verbs (Present Perfect Tense)

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-discover-verbs-present-perfect-tense/4093866.html

Lesson 11: This Is My Neighborhood

Summary Anna has many things to do. She needs to go to the library, post office, bank, and store. Marsha helps her find these places in their neighborhood. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn to thank someone for giving you help. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about the places in your neighborhood. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn to show strong feelings by saying words slower and louder. Conversation   Anna: Hello! DC is a city for walking. In our neighborhood, I can do all my errands. Marsha, before we get ice cream, I need to return three books to the library. Where is the library? Marsha: It is on this street on the corner. Anna: Awesome! Marsha: Let's go! Anna: Marsha, I can return the books here. Marsha: Anna, what are those in the books? Anna: Marsha, these are letters to my family and friends back home … four letters! Is there a post office near here? Marsha: Um, no. The post office is far from here. But there is a mailbox across from the store. Anna: Awesome! Let’s go! (At the mailbox) Anna: Marsha, now I need to buy stamps. Marsha: Do you have cash? Anna: No. Is there a bank near here? Marsha: There is a bank behind you. Anna: Thanks, Marsha. You know our neighborhood so well. Anna: Now I have cash. I can buy stamps. Marsha: That store sells stamps. Anna: Wait here. Anna: I have stamps. Marsha: Wow, you’re fast. Anna: Thank you, thank you letters, for sending my words… my love … to my family and friends -  Marsha: Do you have more cash? Anna: I do! Marsh and Anna: Ice cream!! Anna: I love my new neighborhood! Everything is near our apartment! Even hair salons*, and ice cream! Anna: Until next time! *salon - n. a business that gives customers beauty treatments (such as haircuts) Writing Where do you do errands in your neighborhood? Write to us to tell us about three places you go in your neighborhood. Send us an email or write about them in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend.       Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is ​Ask Questions. When we are learning a language, asking questions helps us practice and get new information. Here is an example. Tatiana is visiting her friend in New York. Her friend goes to work one day and gives Tatiana a map of the city. Tatiana wants to run in Central Park. She walks out of the apartment and sees a woman with two children. Tatiana thinks, "I need help with the map. I do not know where this apartment is on the map." She asks the woman, "Excuse me. Is Central Park near here?" The woman smiles and says, "Yes, walk to the bus station and turn left. It's not far away." Tatiana asks, "Thank you. Can you show me where we are on the map?" The woman shows Tatiana her friend's street on the map. "Have a nice day!" she says as she walks away. Tatiana is happy she can ask questions in English. She soon finds the park and has a great run. How do you ask questions to practice speaking English and learn in English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Listening Quiz Test your understanding by taking this listening quiz. Play the video, then choose the best answer. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words   bank - n. a business where people keep their money, borrow money, etc., or the building where such a business operates buy - v. to get (something) by paying money for it cash - n. money in the form of coins and bills corner - n. the place where two streets or roads meet errand - n. a short journey that you take to do or get something fast - adj. moving or able to move quickly get - v. to obtain (something) ice cream - n. a frozen food containing sweetened and flavored cream library - n. place where books, magazines, and other materials (such as videos and musical recordings) are available for people to use or borrow mailbox - n. a public box in which letters and packages are placed to be collected and sent out post office - n. a building where the mail for a local area is sent and received return - v. to bring, give, send, or take (something) to the place that it came from or the place where it should go sell - v. to exchange (something) for money send - v. to cause (a letter, an e-mail, a package, etc.) to go or to be carried from one place or person to another stamp - n. a small piece of paper that you buy and then stick to an envelope or package to pay the cost of mailing it store - n. a building or room where things are sold ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice a conversation about activities.   For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Prepositions (across from, behind); Cardinal numbers indicating quantity; Singular/Plural introduction Topics: Describing neighborhoods; Asking for information​ Learning Strategy: Ask Questions Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Expressing gratitude, emphasis on words expressing feelings ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-11-this-is-my-neighborhood/3293986.html

News #217 - You Don’t Want To Miss This Massive Update from EnglishClass101

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English Vocab Builder #124 - Technology

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-vocab-builder-124-technology/

Guess the Place- Speculating Practice

New Entry: 'Guess the Place- Speculating Practice' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-guess-the-place-speculating-practice/

Video News #8 - Free English Gifts of the Month - November 2017

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/video-news-8-free-english-gifts-of-the-month-november-2017/

Thanksgiving and English Verbs

  Every year around the Thanksgiving holiday, a strange ceremony happens in Washington, DC. The president stands outside the White House, gives a brief speech and then officially pardons a turkey. A pardon is a declaration that someone will not be punished. In this ceremony, President Donald Trump Thanksgiving promises not to cook and eat a certain turkey, even though turkeys are the traditional Thanksgiving meal. ​You might be asking yourself, "What is the connection between turkeys, Thanksgiving and grammar?" In today's report, we explore what turkeys can teach you about English verbs. In particular, we will show you how Thanksgiving can teach you to use stative verbs. We will also show you the difference between stative and progressive verbs. What is a stative verb?                   The term stative verb refers to a verb that has a stative meaning. In other words, these verbs show or describe conditions or situations that do not do anything but exist. Verbs that commonly have a stative meaning include: verbs that show emotional states, such as love and dislike; verbs that describe sense perceptions, such as smell or taste; verbs that show existence, such as seem or look. In the present tense, a verb with a stative meaning is generally used in its simple form. "I love turkey," or "Americans like turkey" are two examples. Verbs that have stative meanings are generally not used in the progressive tense. So, you will probably not hear a native speaker say, "I am loving turkey," or "Americans are liking turkey." Thanksgiving and stative verbs Do not fear: we can use our Thanksgiving example to make the point clearer. Imagine you are at an American store. You hear a conversation between a customer and a store employee. The customer wants to buy a turkey that weighs 10 pounds, or 4.5 kilograms. Unlike the turkey from the pardoning ceremony, this turkey will have a sad fate: the dinner table. The conversation you hear might go like this: Customer: How much does that turkey weigh? Butcher: It weighs 10 pounds. Customer: How much does it cost? Butcher: It costs 20 dollars. In the dialogue, you can hear two examples of stative verbs: weigh and cost. The butcher said, "The turkey weighs 10 pounds,” and "The turkey costs 20 dollars." In both cases, the verbs have a stative meaning: The butcher is describing a condition or situation that simply exists – the weight and cost of the turkey. Now imagine you are eating Thanksgiving dinner with an American family. You might hear any one of the following sentences: "I love turkey!" "I dislike turkey." "The turkey smells wonderful!" "The food tastes great!" "The turkey seems undercooked." "The turkey looks awful." All these sentences include stative verbs. You might notice that the verbs are also in the simple present form. Why not use a progressive verb? So, why would an English speaker not say, "The turkey is seeming undercooked," or, "I am disliking turkey?" Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are two English grammar experts. They say that, in general, English speakers use the progressive tense only when the subject of the verb actively controls the state or action. In addition, English speakers generally use the progressive only when the verb describes an action or state that happens over an extended period of time. So, you would not hear an English speaker say, "The turkey is seeming undercooked" because the subject of the verb, the turkey, does not control its state – being undercooked. For the same reason, you would not hear an English speaker say, "I am disliking turkey," because the verb's subject, I, probably does not have control over the action of disliking turkey. Now, some verbs can have stative and progressive meanings. Consider these examples: "The food tastes good." "President Trump is tasting the food." In the first sentence, the food does not control whether it is good or bad. As a result, the verb taste has a stative meaning because it simply describes the condition of the food. In the second sentence, "President Trump is tasting the food," the subject of the verb, President Trump, has control over his action. In addition, the action takes place over an extended period of time: Trump must think about tasting food, then raise the food to his mouth, then consider its quality. So, you could say that the verb "taste" in this example has a progressive meaning. What can you do? The next time you are reading or listening to the news, pay special attention to the verbs. Notice when the progressive form is used, and when the simple form is used. Then ask yourself why. Does the verb's subject control the action? Does the action occur over an extended period of time? Or does the verb simply describe a condition that exists? If you are still confused about whether you should use a simple or progressive verb in your own conversations, Conrad and Biber have one tip that might help you. They say that in conversations, English speakers use simple verbs around 120 times in every 1,000 words. Progressive verbs are much less common: they appear fewer than 20 times in every 1,000 words.* I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. * See Conrad, Susan and Biber, Douglas. Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English. Pearson-Longman. 2009. Pgs. 4-6 _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   stative – adj. expressing a state, condition, or relation progressive – adj. of or relating to the progressive tense of a verb dislike – v. to not like (something or someone) undercooked – adj. not cooked enough

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/4130262.html

Why more of us are getting fitter together

Group exercise has become very popular in recent years. Rob and Catherine talk about going to the gym and why gym membership is becoming increasingly popular

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05nz3f0

Upper Intermediate #2 - English Internships for All!

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! Summer is an exciting time to be in Washington, D.C. Scores of English-speaking students from all over the United States descend upon the city to work in internships. If you take a tour of the U.S. Capitol, you are likely to have an intern guiding you in English; if you ride [...]

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/upper-intermediate-2-english-internships-for-all/

Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #74 - 10 Ways to Give Advice

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #32 - Top 10 Must-Know Vocabulary for the Restaurant

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! In your home country, there are some phrases that are so common you use them or hear them every day. The same is true in USA too, so why not give your English an instant boost by learning them in this video lesson? With Alisha’s help, you’ll be sounding like a [...]

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/absolute-beginner-american-english-for-every-day-32-top-10-mustknow-vocabulary-for-the-restaurant/

UGTR

New Entry: 'UGTR' has just been added to the Chatlish area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/members/idioms/view.php?show=Chatlish&entry_id=27237

Kathy Burke

New Entry: 'Kathy Burke' has just been added to the Cockney Rhyming Slang area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/members/idioms/view.php?show=Cockney&entry_id=27238

Rant and rave

New Entry: 'Rant and rave' has just been added to the Cockney Rhyming Slang area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/members/idioms/view.php?show=Cockney&entry_id=27236

Colours- Make Me Say Yes- Personalised Speaking

New Entry: 'Colours- Make Me Say Yes- Personalised Speaking' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-colours-make-me-say-yes-personalised-speaking/

Ask Alisha: Your English Questions Answered #1 - WOULD, WILL, SHALL Difference Explained!

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Go screensaver

New Entry: 'Go screensaver' has just been added to the Slang area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/members/idioms/view.php?show=Slang&entry_id=27235

____ is the weather like?

New Entry: '____ is the weather like?' has just been added to the Language Polls area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/poll/1193.html

The 250 most useful British abbreviations

New Entry: 'The 250 most useful British abbreviations' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/250-most-useful-british-abbreviations.html

A knees-up

Want to go to a party? This phrase might help you get an invitation

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05nr1x4

English Grammar Made Easy #6 - Introduction to Present Perfect Tense

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-grammar-made-easy-6-introduction-to-present-perfect-tense/

James Bond Can Teach You About English Grammar

  In the 1964 action film Goldfinger, actor Sean Connery plays the British secret agent James Bond. Bond, also called agent 007, is well-known for his drink of choice -- a martini. He always wants his martinis prepared just the right way. Let’s listen to a short exchange from the movie:   Can I do something for you, Mr. Bond?  Just a drink. A martini. Shaken, not stirred.   Today, we will show you how this kind of exchange can teach you something about English grammar. Specifically, it shows you how English speakers use sentence fragments in everyday situations.  We will also use fictional conversations to show two common ways in which English speakers use these fragments. But first, let's start with some definitions.   Complete sentences and incomplete sentences  Complete sentences are sentences that have both a subject and a predicate. A predicate tells something about the subject. For example, in the sentence "James Bond likes to order martinis," the subject is James Bond and the predicate is "likes to order martinis." In this case, the predicate gives us information about Bond.   In writing, you should use complete sentences. However, in conversation, you can use partial or incomplete sentences.   Incomplete sentences are not wrong. In other words, English speakers are not breaking rules when they use them. Instead, speakers leave out parts of sentences because the sentence's full meaning is clear from the setting or context.   Today, we will explore two kinds of incomplete sentences: one group called "Minimal Responses," and another called "Short Answers."   #1 Minimal responses   Minimal responses* are simple words or expressions that speakers use to react to what somebody else has said. These are not complete sentences -  they sometimes lack a subject, verb, or other important part of a sentence.  Americans commonly use minimal responses for two purposes: showing approval and giving a polite or respectful answer. We will now look at examples of both types.   Minimal responses can show approval   Imagine you tell your friend that you received a great grade on a difficult test:  I got an A on my test!   Nice!   Here, your friend uses the adjective "nice" as a way to express approval about your statement. The reason your friend does not use a full subject and predicate is because his or her answer is understood in the context of a conversation.   Some other words and expressions that show approval are "good," "good job," "great," "nice," and "nice work."   All of these terms have similar meanings. However, some are more forceful or less official-sounding than others. Think back to the example you just heard:  I got an A on my test!   Nice!   A speaker could replace the word "nice" with almost any of the other terms we provided. They could say "good job" or "great job," for example. "Great job" is a stronger statement than "good job."  Minimal responses can give a polite response  Americans also limit their responses to make points in a respectful way during a conversation. Some of these are polite, yet informal. The most common examples include “no problem,” “no worries,” “sorry,” and “thanks.”   Imagine someone has just given you directions. You want to thank them before going on your way. The exchange might sound like this:  Thanks.  No problem.   The other person could respond in even more informal way by saying "no worries" instead of "no problem."   In both cases, the speaker's response takes the place of a much longer sentence. For example, the speaker could have said, "I was happy to be able to help you out." "No problem" is a short, polite way to express this same idea.   #2 Short answers:   A second type of incomplete sentence is the short answer. In short answers, speakers leave out subjects, verbs, or predicates. In general, the missing words appeared earlier in the conversation. Speakers do not repeat these words because repetition would make the exchanges much longer.   Let's consider an example. Imagine you are looking for the nearest bank. The person you ask might provide a short answer:  Where is the nearest bank?  Right over there.   In the example, the speaker omits the subject and verb of the sentence. The speaker said, "Right over there" instead of the full sentence, "The nearest bank is right over there."   If the speaker says "right over there," he or she means that the bank is very close to you – probably within eyesight. In many situations, speakers will point with their fingers to show the direction of the bank.   Think back to the lines you heard earlier in this report:  Can I do something for you, Mr. Bond?  Just a drink: A martini. Shaken, not stirred.   In the example, James Bond uses the same type of short answer: an answer that omits the subject and verb. Bond could have said, "I would like a drink: A martini. I want you to shake it, but please do not stir it."  This way of speaking is much more detailed, a lot longer, and polite. It does not fit with James Bond's personality. He is not a very polite, talkative man.  That said, you can still learn from how he uses language!    What can you do?  The next time you are watching a film or with an American, try listening for examples of incomplete sentences. When the speaker uses an incomplete sentence, ask yourself if they used it for one of the reasons we talked about today. Does the sentence leave out important words, such as a subject, verb, or predicate?  If it does … no worries! I'm Jill Robbins.  And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.   *Please see Conrad, Susan, and Biber, Douglas. Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach. Pearson-Longman. 2009 pg. 145  _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story     stir – v. to mix by making circular movements grammar – n. the study of words and their uses in a sentence fragment – n. Grammar : a group of words that is written out as a sentence but that lacks a subject or verb  fictional – adj. conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people :the act of talking in an informal way  response – n. a reaction to something; something that is said or written in answer to something grade – n. a number or letter that shows how a student performed on a test or in class fit – v. to be suitable or appropriate for (someone or something)​

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-james-bond-can-teach-you-about-grammar/4115080.html