Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #73 - 10 Ways to Invite Someone to Something

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Excuse me!

Rob keeps saying 'excuse me' but what does he really mean? You and Feifei are about to find out the many uses of this phrase

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05lkpfz

I ____ her yet.

New Entry: 'I ____ her yet.' has just been added to the Language Polls area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/poll/1192.html

Verbs and Infinitives in Everyday Speech

  The 1977 movie Star Wars is an American classic, with many memorable​ lines and characters. At one point in the film, the character C-3PO says the following words:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life." Today, we are going to explore that statement. We are not talking about the meaning behind the statement. Instead, we will study the sentence's grammar. In particular, we are going to explore verb + infinitive combinations. "Seem to be" -- the words you heard in the movie -- is one such example. Let's begin with some definitions. Infinitives and Gerunds An infinitive is the basic form of the verb. Sometimes it has the word "to" in front of it. In the sentence "I like to study grammar," the words "to study" are an infinitive. A gerund is the form of a verb that ends in –ing. It acts like a noun. For example, in the sentence "Learning English is fun," the word "learning" is a gerund. Why are we talking about infinitives and gerunds? Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund. Knowing when to use an infinitive and when to use a gerund is difficult. However, the good news is this: verb + infinitive combinations are more common than verb + gerund combinations.* Moreover, in everyday speech, verbs from four basic groups are often followed by infinitives. These basic patterns can help you learn the hundreds of specific verb + infinitive combinations. We will now give you examples of three of these basic meaning groups. We will tell you the most common verbs from these groups that you will hear in everyday speech. We will also give you famous examples from American popular culture. #1 Expressing want or need Infinitives commonly follow verbs that express want or need. Common examples include the verbs want, like, hope, need and wish. What do these verb + infinitive combinations sound like in everyday situations? Let's listen to the following conversation: 1: Do you want to see a movie this afternoon? 2: I would like to see a movie, but I don't want to be indoors this afternoon – it's so beautiful outside. 1: How about this evening? 2: That sounds great. I can't stay up late, though, because I need to get up early tomorrow morning. In the conversation, you heard several examples of verb + an infinitive: "want to see," "like to be," and "need to get up." American popular culture also gives you more examples of how these structures sound. The 1997 romantic comedy film As Good As It Gets gives you one example: "You make me want to be a better man." Here, actor Jack Nicholson uses the infinitive "to be" after the verb "want." #2 Expressing Effort Infinitives often follow verbs that suggest effort. Common examples include the verbs attempt, fail, manage and try. You can hear examples of these structures in the following conversation about school. Imagine you hear two students speaking with each other. One student did well on a test, and the other student did not do very well: 1: I managed to get an A on the test! 2.  Well, I tried to pass the test... 1: Oh! I'm sorry, you didn't do well? 2: Don't worry about it – I'll do better next time. Hey, do you want to play videogames tomorrow? Here, the speakers used many past tense verbs, "managed" and "tried," for example. Even though the speakers used the past tense, they still used infinitives after the main verb. We hope you do not play videogames instead of studying! American popular culture has many examples of try + an infinitive. Consider these lines from the classic American horror film, The Silence of the Lambs. Here, the fictional Dr. Lecter talks about killing a person: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." In the example, Dr. Lecter uses the infinitive "to test" after the verb "tried." #3 "Seem" verbs Infinitives also often follow verbs that are similar to the verb "seem." Common examples include the verbs seem, appear, and tend. Let's listen to how speakers use these verbs in an everyday situation. Imagine a happy spouse returns home from a day at the office: 1: You seem to be happy with yourself! 2: I tend to smile when I get good news... 1: Really? What's the news? 2: I got a promotion! You just heard two examples of a verb + infinitive combination: "seem to be" and "tend to smile." You might have also noticed that the words from the film Star Wars also fit into this group:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life."  What can you do? The next time you are watching TV or speaking with an American, try to listen for examples of verb + infinitive. Ask yourself the basic meaning of the verb. Does it fit into one of the groups we talked about today? Gerunds and infinitives are difficult to learn. But with study and practice, you will master them. How can you do this? Try to use them as often as you can. I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   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. *Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber "Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English" Pearson Education. 2009. P.97 ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   lot in life – expression a person's situation in life especially as decided by chance combination – n. a result or product of combining two or more things or people conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people: the act of talking in an informal way manage – v. to succeed in doing (something) Chianti – n.  a dry red wine from Italy promotion – n.  the act of moving someone to a higher or more important position or rank in an organization

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-verbs-and-infinitives/4085937.html

Lesson 8: Are You Busy?

Summary Anna wants to apologize to her co-workers. She learns what they do at the same time every day.   Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn to talk about three times of the day. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn how Americans make hesitation noises, like um, to give themselves more time to think of an answer. You can also learn how to use emphasis when you apologize and accept an apology. Conversation Anna: Hello, everyone. Here I am at my new job! Yesterday at my first day of work … Well, let’s not talk about yesterday. Today is a new day! Today I want to apologize to my co-workers. Anna: Hi, Anne. Are you busy? Anne: Hi, Anna. Yes. At 10 a.m. I am writing. Every day I do my morning show. Sorry! Anna: Okay. See you later, maybe. Anne: Maybe I’ll see you later. Anna: Hi, Jonathan. Are you busy? Jonathan: Yes, I’m busy. When the studio light is on, I am recording my evening show. Anna: Right. Sorry about yesterday. Jonathan: No worries. Anna: May I see the studio? Jonathan: Um, maybe another time? Right now I am busy. Anna: Sure. Okay, ’bye. Jonathan: ‘Bye. Anna: Hi, Amelia! Are you busy? Amelia: I’m a little busy. Anna: I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday. Amelia: It’s okay, Anna. Anna: Well, I am sorry. Amelia: It’s okay, Anna. Come by this afternoon. Anna: Okay. Caty: Anna. Anna: Yes, Ms. Weaver. Caty: Are you busy? Anna: Yes, Ms. Weaver. I am busy.  Caty: My office. 5:00 p.m. Anna: 5:00 p.m. Caty: Come in. Co-Workers: Surprise! Anna: A party! Awesome! And I still have my job! Phew!* Until next time! * Phew! is a sound used to show that you are relieved, tired, or hot   Writing What do you do every morning? You can see some examples in the Activity Sheet. Click on the image to download it, and practice talking with a friend about when you are busy. Write to us in the Comments section. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Use What You Know. We have knowledge about the world we use when learning a new language or a new skill. Here is an example. In this lesson's video, Anna learns that her co-workers do things at the same time each day. She understands this idea because she also has to do work at the same time every day. She uses what she knows and remembers not to bother her co-workers at the times they are busy.  How do you use what you know 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 afternoon - n. the middle part of the day : the part of the day between noon and evening apologize - v. to express regret for doing or saying something wrong : to give or make an apology evening - n. the last part of the day and early part of the night job - n. the work that a person does regularly in order to earn money later - adj. happening near the end of a process, activity, series, life, etc. light - n. a source of light (such as an electric lamp) maybe - adv. possibly but not certainly morning - n. the early part of the day : the time of day from sunrise until noon now - adv. at the present time studio - n. the building or room where an artist works surprise - n. an unexpected event, piece of information, etc. yesterday - n. the day before today ______________________________________________________________ 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: BE - Short answers; simple present tense to describe routine activities Topics: Times of day: morning, evening, afternoon​ Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Times of day; regular activities; hesitation noise "um;" apologizing with stress or intonation ______________________________________________________________ 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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Everyday Grammar: Because of & Due to

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News #215 - Do You Have These Top 4 English Learning Fears? We’ll Tell You How To Beat Them

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English Vocab Builder #120 - Restaurant

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Colour Word Search Games

New Entry: 'Colour Word Search Games' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-colour-word-search-games/

Video News #7 - Free English Gifts of the Month - October 2017

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Verbs and Infinitives in Everyday Speech

  The 1977 movie Star Wars is an American classic, with many memorable lines and characters. At one point in the film, the character C-3PO says the following words:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life." Today, we are going to explore that statement. We are not talking about the meaning behind the statement. Instead, we will study the sentence's grammar. In particular, we are going to explore verb + infinitive combinations. "Seem to be" -- the words you heard in the movie -- is one such example. Let's begin with some definitions. Infinitives and Gerunds An infinitive is the basic form of the verb. Sometimes it has the word "to" in front of it. In the sentence "I like to study grammar," the words "to study" are an infinitive. A gerund is the form of a verb that ends in –ing. It acts like a noun. For example, in the sentence "Learning English is fun," the word "learning" is a gerund. Why are we talking about infinitives and gerunds? Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund. Knowing when to use an infinitive and when to use a gerund is difficult. However, the good news is this: verb + infinitive combinations are more common than verb + gerund combinations.* Moreover, in everyday speech, verbs from four basic groups are often followed by infinitives. These basic patterns can help you learn the hundreds of specific verb + infinitive combinations. We will now give you examples of three of these basic meaning groups. We will tell you the most common verbs from these groups that you will hear in everyday speech. We will also give you famous examples from American popular culture. #1 Expressing want or need Infinitives commonly follow verbs that express want or need. Common examples include the verbs want, like, hope, need and wish. What do these verb + infinitive combinations sound like in everyday situations? Let's listen to the following conversation: 1: Do you want to see a movie this afternoon? 2: I would like to see a movie, but I don't want to be indoors this afternoon – it's so beautiful outside. 1: How about this evening? 2: That sounds great. I can't stay up late, though, because I need to get up early tomorrow morning. In the conversation, you heard several examples of verb + an infinitive: "want to see," "like to be," and "need to get up." American popular culture also gives you more examples of how these structures sound. The 1997 romantic comedy film As Good As It Gets gives you one example: "You make me want to be a better man." Here, actor Jack Nicholson uses the infinitive "to be" after the verb "want." #2 Expressing Effort Infinitives often follow verbs that suggest effort. Common examples include the verbs attempt, fail, manage and try. You can hear examples of these structures in the following conversation about school. Imagine you hear two students speaking with each other. One student did well on a test, and the other student did not do very well: 1: I managed to get an A on the test! 2.  Well, I tried to pass the test... 1: Oh! I'm sorry, you didn't do well? 2: Don't worry about it – I'll do better next time. Hey, do you want to play videogames tomorrow? Here, the speakers used many past tense verbs, "managed" and "tried," for example. Even though the speakers used the past tense, they still used infinitives after the main verb. We hope you do not play videogames instead of studying! American popular culture has many examples of try + an infinitive. Consider these lines from the classic American horror film, The Silence of the Lambs. Here, the fictional Dr. Lecter talks about killing a person: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." In the example, Dr. Lecter uses the infinitive "to test" after the verb "tried." #3 "Seem" verbs Infinitives also often follow verbs that are similar to the verb "seem." Common examples include the verbs seem, appear, and tend. Let's listen to how speakers use these verbs in an everyday situation. Imagine a happy spouse returns home from a day at the office: 1: You seem to be happy with yourself! 2: I tend to smile when I get good news... 1: Really? What's the news? 2: I got a promotion! You just heard two examples of a verb + infinitive combination: "seem to be" and "tend to smile." You might have also noticed that the words from the film Star Wars also fit into this group:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life."  What can you do? The next time you are watching TV or speaking with an American, try to listen for examples of verb + infinitive. Ask yourself the basic meaning of the verb. Does it fit into one of the groups we talked about today? Gerunds and infinitives are difficult to learn. But with study and practice, you will master them. How can you do this? Try to use them as often as you can. I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   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. *Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber "Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English" Pearson Education. 2009. P.97 ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   lot in life – expression a person's situation in life especially as decided by chance combination – n. a result or product of combining two or more things or people conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people: the act of talking in an informal way manage – v. to succeed in doing (something) Chianti – n.  a dry red wine from Italy promotion – n.  the act of moving someone to a higher or more important position or rank in an organization

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-verbs-and-infinitives/4085937.html

Verbs and Infinitives in Everyday Speech

  The 1977 movie Star Wars is an American classic, with many memorable lines and characters. At one point in the film, the character C-3PO says the following words:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life." Today, we are going to explore that statement. We are not talking about the meaning behind the statement. Instead, we will study the sentence's grammar. In particular, we are going to explore verb + infinitive combinations. "Seem to be" -- the words you heard in the movie -- is one such example. Let's begin with some definitions. Infinitives and Gerunds An infinitive is the basic form of the verb. Sometimes it has the word "to" in front of it. In the sentence "I like to study grammar," the words "to study" are an infinitive. A gerund is the form of a verb that ends in –ing. It acts like a noun. For example, in the sentence "Learning English is fun," the word "learning" is a gerund. Why are we talking about infinitives and gerunds? Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund. Knowing when to use an infinitive and when to use a gerund is difficult. However, the good news is this: verb + infinitive combinations are more common than verb + gerund combinations.* Moreover, in everyday speech, verbs from four basic groups are often followed by infinitives. These basic patterns can help you learn the hundreds of specific verb + infinitive combinations. We will now give you examples of three of these basic meaning groups. We will tell you the most common verbs from these groups that you will hear in everyday speech. We will also give you famous examples from American popular culture. #1 Expressing want or need Infinitives commonly follow verbs that express want or need. Common examples include the verbs want, like, hope, need and wish. What do these verb + infinitive combinations sound like in everyday situations? Let's listen to the following conversation: 1: Do you want to see a movie this afternoon? 2: I would like to see a movie, but I don't want to be indoors this afternoon – it's so beautiful outside. 1: How about this evening? 2: That sounds great. I can't stay up late, though, because I need to get up early tomorrow morning. In the conversation, you heard several examples of verb + an infinitive: "want to see," "like to be," and "need to get up." American popular culture also gives you more examples of how these structures sound. The 1997 romantic comedy film As Good As It Gets gives you one example: "You make me want to be a better man." Here, actor Jack Nicholson uses the infinitive "to be" after the verb "want." #2 Expressing Effort Infinitives often follow verbs that suggest effort. Common examples include the verbs attempt, fail, manage and try. You can hear examples of these structures in the following conversation about school. Imagine you hear two students speaking with each other. One student did well on a test, and the other student did not do very well: 1: I managed to get an A on the test! 2.  Well, I tried to pass the test... 1: Oh! I'm sorry, you didn't do well? 2: Don't worry about it – I'll do better next time. Hey, do you want to play videogames tomorrow? Here, the speakers used many past tense verbs, "managed" and "tried," for example. Even though the speakers used the past tense, they still used infinitives after the main verb. We hope you do not play videogames instead of studying! American popular culture has many examples of try + an infinitive. Consider these lines from the classic American horror film, The Silence of the Lambs. Here, the fictional Dr. Lecter talks about killing a person: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." In the example, Dr. Lecter uses the infinitive "to test" after the verb "tried." #3 "Seem" verbs Infinitives also often follow verbs that are similar to the verb "seem." Common examples include the verbs seem, appear, and tend. Let's listen to how speakers use these verbs in an everyday situation. Imagine a happy spouse returns home from a day at the office: 1: You seem to be happy with yourself! 2: I tend to smile when I get good news... 1: Really? What's the news? 2: I got a promotion! You just heard two examples of a verb + infinitive combination: "seem to be" and "tend to smile." You might have also noticed that the words from the film Star Wars also fit into this group:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life."  What can you do? The next time you are watching TV or speaking with an American, try to listen for examples of verb + infinitive. Ask yourself the basic meaning of the verb. Does it fit into one of the groups we talked about today? Gerunds and infinitives are difficult to learn. But with study and practice, you will master them. How can you do this? Try to use them as often as you can. I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   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. *Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber "Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English" Pearson Education. 2009. P.97 ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   lot in life – expression a person's situation in life especially as decided by chance combination – n. a result or product of combining two or more things or people conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people: the act of talking in an informal way manage – v. to succeed in doing (something) Chianti – n.  a dry red wine from Italy promotion – n.  the act of moving someone to a higher or more important position or rank in an organization

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-verbs-and-infinitives/4085937.html

Verbs and Infinitives in Everyday Speech

  The 1977 movie Star Wars is an American classic, with many memorable lines and characters. At one point in the film, the character C-3PO says the following words:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life." Today, we are going to explore that statement. We are not talking about the meaning behind the statement. Instead, we will study the sentence's grammar. In particular, we are going to explore verb + infinitive combinations. "Seem to be" -- the words you heard in the movie -- is one such example. Let's begin with some definitions. Infinitives and Gerunds An infinitive is the basic form of the verb. Sometimes it has the word "to" in front of it. In the sentence "I like to study grammar," the words "to study" are an infinitive. A gerund is the form of a verb that ends in –ing. It acts like a noun. For example, in the sentence "Learning English is fun," the word "learning" is a gerund. Why are we talking about infinitives and gerunds? Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund. Knowing when to use an infinitive and when to use a gerund is difficult. However, the good news is this: verb + infinitive combinations are more common than verb + gerund combinations.* Moreover, in everyday speech, verbs from four basic groups are often followed by infinitives. These basic patterns can help you learn the hundreds of specific verb + infinitive combinations. We will now give you examples of three of these basic meaning groups. We will tell you the most common verbs from these groups that you will hear in everyday speech. We will also give you famous examples from American popular culture. #1 Expressing want or need Infinitives commonly follow verbs that express want or need. Common examples include the verbs want, like, hope, need and wish. What do these verb + infinitive combinations sound like in everyday situations? Let's listen to the following conversation: 1: Do you want to see a movie this afternoon? 2: I would like to see a movie, but I don't want to be indoors this afternoon – it's so beautiful outside. 1: How about this evening? 2: That sounds great. I can't stay up late, though, because I need to get up early tomorrow morning. In the conversation, you heard several examples of verb + an infinitive: "want to see," "like to be," and "need to get up." American popular culture also gives you more examples of how these structures sound. The 1997 romantic comedy film As Good As It Gets gives you one example: "You make me want to be a better man." Here, actor Jack Nicholson uses the infinitive "to be" after the verb "want." #2 Expressing Effort Infinitives often follow verbs that suggest effort. Common examples include the verbs attempt, fail, manage and try. You can hear examples of these structures in the following conversation about school. Imagine you hear two students speaking with each other. One student did well on a test, and the other student did not do very well: 1: I managed to get an A on the test! 2.  Well, I tried to pass the test... 1: Oh! I'm sorry, you didn't do well? 2: Don't worry about it – I'll do better next time. Hey, do you want to play videogames tomorrow? Here, the speakers used many past tense verbs, "managed" and "tried," for example. Even though the speakers used the past tense, they still used infinitives after the main verb. We hope you do not play videogames instead of studying! American popular culture has many examples of try + an infinitive. Consider these lines from the classic American horror film, The Silence of the Lambs. Here, the fictional Dr. Lecter talks about killing a person: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." In the example, Dr. Lecter uses the infinitive "to test" after the verb "tried." #3 "Seem" verbs Infinitives also often follow verbs that are similar to the verb "seem." Common examples include the verbs seem, appear, and tend. Let's listen to how speakers use these verbs in an everyday situation. Imagine a happy spouse returns home from a day at the office: 1: You seem to be happy with yourself! 2: I tend to smile when I get good news... 1: Really? What's the news? 2: I got a promotion! You just heard two examples of a verb + infinitive combination: "seem to be" and "tend to smile." You might have also noticed that the words from the film Star Wars also fit into this group:  "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life."  What can you do? The next time you are watching TV or speaking with an American, try to listen for examples of verb + infinitive. Ask yourself the basic meaning of the verb. Does it fit into one of the groups we talked about today? Gerunds and infinitives are difficult to learn. But with study and practice, you will master them. How can you do this? Try to use them as often as you can. I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   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. *Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber "Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English" Pearson Education. 2009. P.97 ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   lot in life – expression a person's situation in life especially as decided by chance combination – n. a result or product of combining two or more things or people conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people: the act of talking in an informal way manage – v. to succeed in doing (something) Chianti – n.  a dry red wine from Italy promotion – n.  the act of moving someone to a higher or more important position or rank in an organization

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-verbs-and-infinitives/4085937.html

Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #83 - 10 Horror Movie Words

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Too much sugar

Are you aware of how much of the sweet stuff you eat? Neil and Rob talk about sugar and teach you some tempting new vocabulary

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05l1l5l

Learn English in Three Minutes #3 - Asking about Hobbies

Learn common English conversation topics with EnglishClass101.com’s English in Three Minutes series! In the US, manners are important, and this step-by-step video teaches you some of the basics you need to be polite while speaking English. A native English teacher will explain the simple phrases necessary. In this lesson, you’ll learn how [...]

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Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #101 - Top 10 English Language Learning Strategies

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Lesson 7: What Are You Doing?

Summary Anna is starting her work at The News. She goes around the office meeting her co-workers. She learns they are all busy. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Also, learn how to use the Present Continuous tense and ask questions to clarify. You can also download the worksheet and practice with a friend. Pronunciation In this video, you  learn about how Americans shorten verbs in the Present Continuous tense. You will also learn a shorter for of the question phrase, "What are you doing?" Conversation Caty: Come in.  Caty: Well, Anna, welcome. Anna: Thank you. Caty: I am your boss, Caty Weaver. But, please call me Caty. Anna: Thank you, Ms. Weaver.  Caty: Just Caty. Anna: Sure thing, Ms. Weaver. Caty: Okay then. Are you excited? Anna: Yes, I am excited! Caty: So sorry, but I am busy. Please meet your co-workers. But remember, they are busy working. Anna: Sure. Thanks, Ms. Weaver. Anna: Hi there! I’m Anna. Anne: Hi, Anna. I’m Anne. Anna: Nice to meet you. What are you doing? Anne: Um, I’m writing. Anna: You are writing! You are writing a lot! Anna: (Spills papers) Oh! Oh dear. Anne: No! No! That's okay.  Anna: I am sorry! Anne: That’s okay. Really. Anna: I am sorry! Anne: Please. Please. Please stop. Please. Anna: Sorry. Sorry. Jonathan: (in the studio) “and people all around the world are waiting to hear news about the next president…” Anna: Jonathan, hi! Remember me? I live in your building. Jonathan: Oh. Uh. Hi, Anna. Anna: What are you doing? Jonathan: I am doing my show! Anna: Oh, sorry. Are you recording? Jonathan: Yes! And, now I have to record again! Anna: Sorry. Have a good show. Jonathan: Thank you. Anna: Sorry. Amelia: The word of the day is social. Social - Anna: Oh! Hi! Amelia: - is an adjective. Anna: Hi! I’m Anna! Amelia: Hi. I’m Amelia. Anna: Nice to meet you! Anna: What are you doing? Amelia: I’m reading. Anna: Are you reading the news? Hi! Amelia: No, I’m reading for my show. Amelia: (to camera person) Can I read again? Anna: Sorry. Anna: This day is not going well. Caty: Anna! Hi! What’re you doing? Anna: I am bothering people, Ms. Weaver. Caty: Let’s go to my office and talk. Anna: I like to talk with you, Ms. Weaver. Caty: It’s Caty. Anna: Right. Thanks ... Ms. Weaver   Writing What are you doing now? What are your friends doing? Here is an example: "I am reading and my friends are listening to music." Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section. You can also download the worksheet. Practice writing the activity words. 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 to Clarify. In the video you see Anna ask Amelia: "What are you doing?" Amelia answers, "I’m reading." Then Anna asks a question to clarify: "Are you reading the news?  Asking a question to clarify is a very useful learning strategy, because it helps you get more information. You can also learn new words when someone explains more about what they said. Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about how you ask questions to clarify what you want to know. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Listening Quiz See how well you understand the lesson by taking this quiz. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer. (If the quiz does not work for you here please see the side column or use this link.) New Words boss – n. the person whose job is to tell other workers what to do  bother – v.  to annoy someone or to cause someone to feel annoyed busy – adj. actively doing something  excited – adj. very enthusiastic and eager about something  nervous – adj. having or showing feelings of being worried and afraid about what might happen  news – n. information that is reported in a newspaper, magazine, or a television news program  office – n. a building or room in which people work at desks doing business or professional activities  read – v. to look at and understand the meaning of letters, words, symbols, etc.  record – v. to store (something, such as sounds, music, images, etc.) on tape or on a disk so that it can be heard or seen later  show – n. a television or radio program  work – v. to do things as part of your job  write – v. to create (a book, poem, story, etc.) by writing words on paper or on a computer  ______________________________________________________________ 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 writing and using action verbs in the Present Continuous tense.   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: Present continuous tense; Questions for clarification Topics: Everyday activities; Checking understanding Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Asking questions to clarify; Shortened form of Present Continuous verbs. _______________________________________________________________ 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-7-what-are-you-doing/3240468.html

A sting in the tail

Rob's become a bee keeper but there's something more unpleasant to this hobby than being stung. Find out how a sting in the tail doesn't just come from bees!

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05kt24k

English Grammar Made Easy #4 - Basic Adjective Comparisons

Lesson Video Download Video

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-grammar-made-easy-4-basic-adjective-comparisons/

Prototype Lessons #10 - English Word Association: Transportation

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/prototype-lessons-10-english-word-association-transportation/

At every turn

New Entry: 'At every turn' has just been added to the Idioms area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/at+every+turn.html

As good as your word

New Entry: 'As good as your word' has just been added to the Idioms area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/as+good+as+your+word.html

Business English Vocabulary- Ask & Tell

New Entry: 'Business English Vocabulary- Ask & Tell' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-business-english-vocabulary-ask-tell/

American Business English for Beginners #9 - The Last Day Before a Holiday in an American Office

  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 what to say when you [...]

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/american-business-english-for-beginners-9-the-last-day-before-a-holiday-in-an-american-office/

Lesson 7: What Are You Doing?

Summary Anna is starting her work at The News. She goes around the office meeting her co-workers. She learns they are all busy. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Also, learn how to use the Present Continuous tense and ask questions to clarify. You can also download the worksheet and practice with a friend. Pronunciation In this video, you  learn about how Americans shorten verbs in the Present Continuous tense. You will also learn a shorter for of the question phrase, "What are you doing?" Conversation Caty: Come in.  Caty: Well, Anna, welcome. Anna: Thank you. Caty: I am your boss, Caty Weaver. But, please call me Caty. Anna: Thank you, Ms. Weaver.  Caty: Just Caty. Anna: Sure thing, Ms. Weaver. Caty: Okay then. Are you excited? Anna: Yes, I am excited! Caty: So sorry, but I am busy. Please meet your co-workers. But remember, they are busy working. Anna: Sure. Thanks, Ms. Weaver. Anna: Hi there! I’m Anna. Anne: Hi, Anna. I’m Anne. Anna: Nice to meet you. What are you doing? Anne: Um, I’m writing. Anna: You are writing! You are writing a lot! Anna: (Spills papers) Oh! Oh dear. Anne: No! No! That's okay.  Anna: I am sorry! Anne: That’s okay. Really. Anna: I am sorry! Anne: Please. Please. Please stop. Please. Anna: Sorry. Sorry. Jonathan: (in the studio) “and people all around the world are waiting to hear news about the next president…” Anna: Jonathan, hi! Remember me? I live in your building. Jonathan: Oh. Uh. Hi, Anna. Anna: What are you doing? Jonathan: I am doing my show! Anna: Oh, sorry. Are you recording? Jonathan: Yes! And, now I have to record again! Anna: Sorry. Have a good show. Jonathan: Thank you. Anna: Sorry. Amelia: The word of the day is social. Social - Anna: Oh! Hi! Amelia: - is an adjective. Anna: Hi! I’m Anna! Amelia: Hi. I’m Amelia. Anna: Nice to meet you! Anna: What are you doing? Amelia: I’m reading. Anna: Are you reading the news? Hi! Amelia: No, I’m reading for my show. Amelia: (to camera person) Can I read again? Anna: Sorry. Anna: This day is not going well. Caty: Anna! Hi! What’re you doing? Anna: I am bothering people, Ms. Weaver. Caty: Let’s go to my office and talk. Anna: I like to talk with you, Ms. Weaver. Caty: It’s Caty. Anna: Right. Thanks ... Ms. Weaver   Writing What are you doing now? What are your friends doing? Here is an example: "I am reading and my friends are listening to music." Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section. You can also download the worksheet. Practice writing the activity words. 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 to Clarify. In the video you see Anna ask Amelia: "What are you doing?" Amelia answers, "I’m reading." Then Anna asks a question to clarify: "Are you reading the news?  Asking a question to clarify is a very useful learning strategy, because it helps you get more information. You can also learn new words when someone explains more about what they said. Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about how you ask questions to clarify what you want to know. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Listening Quiz See how well you understand the lesson by taking this quiz. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer. (If the quiz does not work for you here please see the side column or use this link.) New Words boss – n. the person whose job is to tell other workers what to do  bother – v.  to annoy someone or to cause someone to feel annoyed busy – adj. actively doing something  excited – adj. very enthusiastic and eager about something  nervous – adj. having or showing feelings of being worried and afraid about what might happen  news – n. information that is reported in a newspaper, magazine, or a television news program  office – n. a building or room in which people work at desks doing business or professional activities  read – v. to look at and understand the meaning of letters, words, symbols, etc.  record – v. to store (something, such as sounds, music, images, etc.) on tape or on a disk so that it can be heard or seen later  show – n. a television or radio program  work – v. to do things as part of your job  write – v. to create (a book, poem, story, etc.) by writing words on paper or on a computer  ______________________________________________________________ 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 writing and using action verbs in the Present Continuous tense.   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: Present continuous tense; Questions for clarification Topics: Everyday activities; Checking understanding Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Asking questions to clarify; Shortened form of Present Continuous verbs. _______________________________________________________________ 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-7-what-are-you-doing/3240468.html

Everyday Grammar: Anyone vs. Everybody

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-anyone-vs-everybody/4054370.html

English Vocab Builder #119 - Position / Direction

Lesson Audio Download MP3

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-vocab-builder-119-position-direction/

The Word 'That' in Everyday American English

  The 1994 crime film "Pulp Fiction" tells the story of a gunman, played by Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, the gunman is growing tired of his life of crime. Near the end of the movie, he gives two other criminals a chance to leave a bad situation. -“The truth is, you're the weak and I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd. Go." - "I think we should be leaving now." - "Yeah. That's probably a good idea." In this program, we explore the meaning of a word you heard in the recording: the pronoun “that”. And we will look at how Americans use this word in everyday speech. You might be surprised how often Americans use it for different purposes! The word "that" On another Everyday Grammar program, we explored the many uses of the word "that." That belongs to a group of words called demonstratives. Sometimes demonstratives act as pronouns. When acting as pronouns, they suggest that nouns are either close to the speaker or far away.* In American English, speakers use the word "that" to mean people or objects that are at a distance. But they also use it in other ways.  For example, English speakers often use the word "that" to give an opinion about something or to repeat the main points of a conversation. We will now look at each of these uses in greater detail. #1 Evaluating an idea or situation Speakers often use the word "that" in sentences that give an opinion about  an idea or situation. They do this by using the structure, that's + an adjective, or that's + a noun phrase. This audio from the 1996 film "Fargo" gives an example of the first structure: - "They announced it." - "They announced it?" - "Yah." - "So?" - "Three-cent stamp." - "Your mallard?" - "Yah." - "Oh, that's terrific." The term "that's terrific" is an example of that's + an adjective. Here, the word "that" means the idea or situation presented; in other words, the new stamp. The adjective "terrific" gives the speakers positive or good opinion about the stamp. There are any number of adjectives that speakers use to express their opinion. A few other examples are "that's cool" or "that's awesome," two common expressions among younger Americans. English speakers also use the that's + a noun clause structure to give an opinion about a situation or idea. Think back to the lines you heard at the beginning of this program. - "I think we should be leaving now." - "Yeah. That's probably a good idea." Here, the word "that" means the idea that came in the earlier sentence "I think we should be leaving now." The speaker gives his opinion about the idea by using the noun phrase "a good idea." The word "probably" changes the force of his statement. #2 Summarizing the main point of earlier statements The second common structure in everyday speech is that's + a wh- clause. A wh- clause suggests a group of words beginning with the letters w and h, such as why or what. Speakers use this structure when they are noting the main points of earlier statements in a conversation. The comedy film "Clerks" has an example of how speakers use this structure in everyday speech. Here, the actors are having a debate about the best "Star Wars" movie: “Empire had the better ending. I mean, Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader's his father, Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. It ends on such a down note. I mean, that's what life is, a series of down endings." The main speaker makes several statements and then closes with the words "that's what life is – a series of down endings." The word "that" means the ideas presented earlier: namely, a series of bad events. Hopefully, you do not agree with the speaker's opinions of life! What can you do? Instead of giving you a down ending – such as in the line from the film Clerks – we are going to end on a positive note. Learning and understanding the uses of pronouns such as "that" can be difficult. But, you will be successful if you take a few simple steps. The next time you are watching a film or talking with English speakers, try to listen for examples of the word "that." Ask yourself the following questions: Do the speakers use it to give their opinion? Do they use it to summarize the conversation? Then, find a person to practice with. Try to use the word "that" when speaking to them.   Let us know if you have any questions – we are always happy to help! I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. *The word "that" can also introduce adjective clauses. These types of clauses are beyond the scope of this story. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   demonstrative – n. a word (such as “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those”) that tells who or what is being spoken about conversation – n. a talk involving two people or a small group of people; a discussion phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence clause – n. grammar a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb tyranny – n. an oppressive power pronoun – n. a word that is used instead of a noun stamp – n. a small piece of paper placed on something to show that a payment has been made mallard – n. a common duck comedy – adj. something that is meant to make people laugh practice – v. to perform repeatedly; to train  

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-the-word-that/4076521.html

Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #35 - Top 10 Tourist Attractions in United States

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-35-top-10-tourist-attractions-in-united-states/

The Word 'That' in Everyday American English

  The 1994 crime film "Pulp Fiction" tells the story of a gunman, played by Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, the gunman is growing tired of his life of crime. Near the end of the movie, he gives two other criminals a chance to leave a bad situation. -“The truth is, you're the weak and I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd. Go." - "I think we should be leaving now." - "Yeah. That's probably a good idea." In this program, we explore the meaning of a word you heard in the recording: the pronoun “that”. And we will look at how Americans use this word in everyday speech. You might be surprised how often Americans use it for different purposes! The word "that" On another Everyday Grammar program, we explored the many uses of the word "that." That belongs to a group of words called demonstratives. Sometimes demonstratives act as pronouns. When acting as pronouns, they suggest that nouns are either close to the speaker or far away.* In American English, speakers use the word "that" to mean people or objects that are at a distance. But they also use it in other ways.  For example, English speakers often use the word "that" to give an opinion about something or to repeat the main points of a conversation. We will now look at each of these uses in greater detail. #1 Evaluating an idea or situation Speakers often use the word "that" in sentences that give an opinion about  an idea or situation. They do this by using the structure, that's + an adjective, or that's + a noun phrase. This audio from the 1996 film "Fargo" gives an example of the first structure: - "They announced it." - "They announced it?" - "Yah." - "So?" - "Three-cent stamp." - "Your mallard?" - "Yah." - "Oh, that's terrific." The term "that's terrific" is an example of that's + an adjective. Here, the word "that" means the idea or situation presented; in other words, the new stamp. The adjective "terrific" gives the speakers positive or good opinion about the stamp. There are any number of adjectives that speakers use to express their opinion. A few other examples are "that's cool" or "that's awesome," two common expressions among younger Americans. English speakers also use the that's + a noun clause structure to give an opinion about a situation or idea. Think back to the lines you heard at the beginning of this program. - "I think we should be leaving now." - "Yeah. That's probably a good idea." Here, the word "that" means the idea that came in the earlier sentence "I think we should be leaving now." The speaker gives his opinion about the idea by using the noun phrase "a good idea." The word "probably" changes the force of his statement. #2 Summarizing the main point of earlier statements The second common structure in everyday speech is that's + a wh- clause. A wh- clause suggests a group of words beginning with the letters w and h, such as why or what. Speakers use this structure when they are noting the main points of earlier statements in a conversation. The comedy film "Clerks" has an example of how speakers use this structure in everyday speech. Here, the actors are having a debate about the best "Star Wars" movie: “Empire had the better ending. I mean, Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader's his father, Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. It ends on such a down note. I mean, that's what life is, a series of down endings." The main speaker makes several statements and then closes with the words "that's what life is – a series of down endings." The word "that" means the ideas presented earlier: namely, a series of bad events. Hopefully, you do not agree with the speaker's opinions of life! What can you do? Instead of giving you a down ending – such as in the line from the film Clerks – we are going to end on a positive note. Learning and understanding the uses of pronouns such as "that" can be difficult. But, you will be successful if you take a few simple steps. The next time you are watching a film or talking with English speakers, try to listen for examples of the word "that." Ask yourself the following questions: Do the speakers use it to give their opinion? Do they use it to summarize the conversation? Then, find a person to practice with. Try to use the word "that" when speaking to them.   Let us know if you have any questions – we are always happy to help! I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. *The word "that" can also introduce adjective clauses. These types of clauses are beyond the scope of this story. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   demonstrative – n. a word (such as “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those”) that tells who or what is being spoken about conversation – n. a talk involving two people or a small group of people; a discussion phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence clause – n. grammar a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb tyranny – n. an oppressive power pronoun – n. a word that is used instead of a noun stamp – n. a small piece of paper placed on something to show that a payment has been made mallard – n. a common duck comedy – adj. something that is meant to make people laugh practice – v. to perform repeatedly; to train  

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-the-word-that/4076521.html

The Word "That" in Everyday American English

  The 1994 crime film "Pulp Fiction" tells the story of a gunman, played by Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, the gunman is growing tired of his life of crime. Near the end of the movie, he gives two other criminals a chance to leave a bad situation. -“The truth is, you're the weak and I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd. Go." - "I think we should be leaving now." - "Yeah. That's probably a good idea." In this program, we explore the meaning of a word you heard in the recording: the pronoun “that”. And we will look at how Americans use this word in everyday speech. You might be surprised how often Americans use it for different purposes! The word "that" On another Everyday Grammar program, we explored the many uses of the word "that." That belongs to a group of words called demonstratives. Sometimes demonstratives act as pronouns. When acting as pronouns, they suggest that nouns are either close to the speaker or far away.* In American English, speakers use the word "that" to mean people or objects that are at a distance. But they also use it in other ways.  For example, English speakers often use the word "that" to give an opinion about something or to repeat the main points of a conversation. We will now look at each of these uses in greater detail. #1 Evaluating an idea or situation Speakers often use the word "that" in sentences that give an opinion about  an idea or situation. They do this by using the structure, that's + an adjective, or that's + a noun phrase. This audio from the 1996 film "Fargo" gives an example of the first structure: - "They announced it." - "They announced it?" - "Yah." - "So?" - "Three-cent stamp." - "Your mallard?" - "Yah." - "Oh, that's terrific." The term "that's terrific" is an example of that's + an adjective. Here, the word "that" means the idea or situation presented; in other words, the new stamp. The adjective "terrific" gives the speakers positive or good opinion about the stamp. There are any number of adjectives that speakers use to express their opinion. A few other examples are "that's cool" or "that's awesome," two common expressions among younger Americans. English speakers also use the that's + a noun clause structure to give an opinion about a situation or idea. Think back to the lines you heard at the beginning of this program. - "I think we should be leaving now." - "Yeah. That's probably a good idea." Here, the word "that" means the idea that came in the earlier sentence "I think we should be leaving now." The speaker gives his opinion about the idea by using the noun phrase "a good idea." The word "probably" changes the force of his statement. #2 Summarizing the main point of earlier statements The second common structure in everyday speech is that's + a wh- clause. A wh- clause suggests a group of words beginning with the letters w and h, such as why or what. Speakers use this structure when they are noting the main points of earlier statements in a conversation. The comedy film "Clerks" has an example of how speakers use this structure in everyday speech. Here, the actors are having a debate about the best "Star Wars" movie: “Empire had the better ending. I mean, Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader's his father, Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. It ends on such a down note. I mean, that's what life is, a series of down endings." The main speaker makes several statements and then closes with the words "that's what life is – a series of down endings." The word "that" means the ideas presented earlier: namely, a series of bad events. Hopefully, you do not agree with the speaker's opinions of life! What can you do? Instead of giving you a down ending – such as in the line from the film Clerks – we are going to end on a positive note. Learning and understanding the uses of pronouns such as "that" can be difficult. But, you will be successful if you take a few simple steps. The next time you are watching a film or talking with English speakers, try to listen for examples of the word "that." Ask yourself the following questions: Do the speakers use it to give their opinion? Do they use it to summarize the conversation? Then, find a person to practice with. Try to use the word "that" when speaking to them.   Let us know if you have any questions – we are always happy to help! I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. *The word "that" can also introduce adjective clauses. These types of clauses are beyond the scope of this story. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   demonstrative – n. a word (such as “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those”) that tells who or what is being spoken about conversation – n. a talk involving two people or a small group of people; a discussion phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence clause – n. grammar a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb tyranny – n. an oppressive power pronoun – n. a word that is used instead of a noun stamp – n. a small piece of paper placed on something to show that a payment has been made mallard – n. a common duck comedy – adj. something that is meant to make people laugh practice – v. to perform repeatedly; to train  

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-the-word-that/4076521.html

What's wetiquette?

How do you behave in a swimming pool? Do you respect other swimmers or do you end up in their way? Rob and Neil talk about 'wetiquette' and teach you other new vocabulary

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05kdbxm

How to teach comparative and superlative adjectives

New Entry: 'How to teach comparative and superlative adjectives' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-teach-comparative-superlative-adjectives.html

Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #31 - 10 “Gamer Speak” Words

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-31-10-gamer-speak-words/

So done with

Are you doing something very boring? We have just the phrase for you!

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05k61ml

Prototype Lessons #9 - English Word Association: Pets

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/prototype-lessons-9-english-word-association-pets/

Everyday Grammar: Be Like, Be All

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-be-like-be-all/4054367.html

Love and Relationships Vocabulary

New Entry: 'Love and Relationships Vocabulary' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-love-and-relationships-vocabulary/

News #214 - Top 5 Ways to Learn New English Words, Phrases And Speak More English

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/news-214-top-5-ways-to-learn-new-english-words-phrases-and-speak-more-english/

English Vocab Builder #118 - School

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-vocab-builder-118-school/

Lesson 6: Where Is the Gym?

Summary Anna is looking for the gym in her new apartment building. She meets Pete and he gives her directions. Anna finds many different places in the apartment building. Finally, she finds the gym.   Speaking Watch the video and practice the new words and learn about using prepositions. You can also download the worksheet and practice with a friend. Pronunciation In this video, you ​learn about how Americans greet each other in informal situations. You will also learn how to ask clarification questions by beginning your sentence with a statement, then making your voice go up at the end of the sentence to form a question.  Conversation   Anna: Hi there! I’m Anna and I live in Washington, D.C. Every day I learn more about this great city. People in Washington like to work out! Oh, hi, Pete. How’s it going? Pete: Hi, Anna. It’s going great. How’s it going with you? Anna: Things are awesome! Pete, I want to work out. Where is the gym? Pete: The gym is across from the lounge. It’s next to the mailroom. Go that way. Anna: Thanks, Pete! (Anna walks away) Pete: No, Anna! Not that way! Go that way!  (In the mailroom) Anna: Oh, Pete. This is not the gym. Pete: That’s right, Anna. This is the mailroom. Anna: The gym is across from … what? Pete: The gym is across from the lounge. Anna: Across from the lounge. Right. Thanks!  (In the lounge) Anna: Pete! This is not the gym! Pete: The gym is across from the lounge. It is behind the lobby. Anna: Right. Right. See you. Pete: See you, Anna! Anna: See you. Pete: See you, Anna. (In the garage) Anna: This is not the gym. This is a parking garage. Anna: Hello? Pete? (On the rooftop) Anna: This is not a gym. This is a rooftop. (In the gym) Anna: Pete! Pete? Pete: I want to work out too! Join me! Anna: I’m good.   Writing What are some of the rooms in your house? Write to us in the Comments section. Tell us what you do in the rooms.  You can also download the worksheet. Practice writing the names of rooms in an apartment building.​   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 to Clarify. In the video you see Anna ask Pete about the gym. She uses a statement and a question word together to clarify Pete's directions to the gym. Pete says,"The gym is across from the lounge." Later, Anna asks him, "The gym is across from … what?"  Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about how you ask questions to clarify what you want to know. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Listening Quiz See how well you understand the lesson by taking this quiz. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer. New Words across from – prep. on the opposite side from (someone or something)  behind - prep. in or to a place at the back of or to the rear of (someone or something)​ elevator – n. a machine used for carrying people and things to different levels in a building  every – adj. used to describe how often some repeated activity or event happens or is done  gym – n. a room or building that has equipment for sports activities or exercise  lobby – n. a large open area inside and near the entrance of a public building (such as a hotel or theater)  lounge – n. a room with comfortable furniture for relaxing   mailroom – n. a room in which mail is processed and sorted  next to – prep. at the side of (someone or something)  parking garage – n.  a building in which people usually pay to park their cars, trucks, etc.  rooftop – n. the cover or top of a building or vehicle  work out – phrasal verb to perform athletic exercises in order to improve your health or physical fitness  ______________________________________________________________ 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 talk about the location of rooms in an apartment building. 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: next to, behind, across from Topics: Informal greetings; Asking questions and clarifying information about location; Naming places; Rooms and services in an apartment Learning Strategy: Ask Questions to Clarify Speaking & Pronunciation focus: using prepositions, asking for clarifying information; informal greetings _______________________________________________________________ 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-6-where-is-the-gym/3225958.html

The Many Reasons for the Word 'The'

  The 1995 film Dead Man has a strange opening scene. Actor Johnny Depp is sitting on a train. A man sits down across from Depp’s character, and speaks to him: "Look out the window. And doesn't this remind you of when you were in the boat, and then later that night, you were lying, looking up at the ceiling, and the water in your head was not dissimilar from the landscape…" Today we will explore the word 'the.' Yes, the word 'the.' You heard it many times in the audio from the movie. English speakers use this word for several reasons – some of which we will discuss in this program. Today, we will show you how Americans use 'the' in everyday speech, writing, and even in the arts, such as literature or movies. But first, we need to give you a few definitions. What are articles? Articles are words that go before nouns. They tell if the noun is general or specific. When an article is specific, it is called a definite article. The word 'the' is a definite article. English speakers use 'the' when both the speaker and the listener know what is being referred to. They can have this shared understanding for any number of reasons. Sometimes the noun is already known, for example. Sometimes the speakers are referring to nouns that are unique. At other times, the situation makes it clear what the noun refers to. #1 Thing being referred to is known from the context One of the main reasons Americans use the word 'the' when they are speaking is because the noun being referred to is clearly understood. The noun could be something seen or heard in an area around the speakers, or it could be a part of their daily lives. Let's listen to an example. You can hear the speakers use 'the' in an everyday situation – at the dinner table. 1: The pasta turned out great! 2: Thank you! 1: Would you mind passing me the butter? 2: Sure thing! 1: Oh, I just remembered I forgot to let the dog outside! I'll be right back. In the example, you heard the speakers use the word 'the' three times: 'the pasta;' 'the butter;' and 'the dog.' The reason the speakers used 'the' is because the nouns they were referring to were clear in the context – in this case, the dinner table. The speakers all understood that they were eating pasta, and that there was butter nearby. The meaning of 'the dog' is clear to them because the animal is a part of their daily lives. Even if it is not in the room at the time, both speakers know what 'the dog' is referring to. #2 Modifiers of the noun specify the thing being referred to One of the common reasons you will see the word 'the' in writing is because modifiers of the noun specify what is being referred to. The modifiers of the noun change it from a general noun to a specific noun. Although more common in writing, you can hear examples in films. Let's listen to this example from the 1955 film Seven Year Itch. "The island of Manhattan derives its name from its earliest inhabitants - the Manhattan Indians." In the film, the speaker said 'the island of Manhattan' because the modifier, the words “of Manhattan”, gives information about the noun 'island.' The word 'island' could be a general or specific noun, but when it is modified it becomes a specific noun – the island of Manhattan. In the example you heard, the modifier came after the noun. However, sometimes the modifier can come before the noun. For example, you might see a story about buildings in the United States. The story might say, "Chicago has the tallest building in America." Here, 'tallest' modifies the noun 'building.' This is a specific noun because only one building can be the tallest. #3 Presenting something as familiar The last reason speakers and writers use the word 'the' is for stylistic purposes. This is most common in fiction writing and movies. By using the article 'the', the writer or speaker is able to make the reader or listener more interested in the story. People are likely to show an interest because the writer or speaker is presenting information as if it is understood - even if it is not! Let's listen again to the opening lines from Dead Man.  "Look out the window. And doesn't this remind you of when you were in the boat, and then later that night, you were lying, looking up at the ceiling, and the water in your head was not dissimilar from the landscape…" In the film, the strange man uses specific language – the boat, the ceiling, and so on. This language is not understood by those of us watching. Viewers start asking themselves questions like ‘Which boat is the man talking about?’ And, ‘Which ceiling?’ In other words, the viewer or listener is more curious about the story because they do not know what the man is talking about. This is a common technique you will see often in films and books, such as thrillers and mystery stories. What can you do? The next time you are watching films or talking with an English speaker, try to listen for examples of the word 'the'. Ask yourself why the speaker is using 'the' instead of a different article – such as ‘a’ or ‘an’. The process of recognizing and understanding articles can be a difficult one. However, with time and effort, you will use them with no trouble. And we will be here to help! I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story   scene – n. a part of a play, movie, story, etc., in which a particular action or activity occurs refer – v. to have a direct connection or relationship to (something)    often + to modifier – n. grammar : a word (such as an adjective or adverb) or phrase that describes another word or group of words derive – v. to take or get (something) from (something else) stylistic – adj. of or relating to an artistic way of doing things fiction – n. something invented by the intention; written stories that are not real thriller – n. a very exciting book or movie

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-the-reasons-for-the-word-the/4066317.html

Why pay for bottled water?

Have drinks manufacturers persuaded us that bottled water is better than tap water?

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05jrm4q

Lyric Lab #2 - Danny Boy

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! Welcome to the Lyric Lab, a great way to improve your English and discover new music at the same time! Learn the song’s key words and phrases, then add it to your playlist to master it 100%. By listening over and over, you’ll reinforce your learning in the most sweet-sounding way! In [...]

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/lyric-lab-2-danny-boy/

Absolute Beginner American English for Every Day #99 - How to Curse Like a English Native Speaker

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/absolute-beginner-american-english-for-every-day-99-how-to-curse-like-a-english-native-speaker/

Superlative Adjectives- Classroom Activities

New Entry: 'Superlative Adjectives- Classroom Activities' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/superlative-adjectives-classroom-activities.html

English Grammar Made Easy #3 - How to Make Simple Future Tense Statements

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Prototype Lessons #8 - English Word Association: Weather

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/prototype-lessons-8-english-word-association-weather/

lolz

You might know the slang expression ‘LOL’, but do you know about ‘lolz’?

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05jk6yc

Like & don’t like- coin games

New Entry: 'Like & don’t like- coin games' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-like-dont-like-coin-games/

American Business English for Beginners #8 - Leaving Your Office at the End of the Day

  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 what to say when you [...]

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/american-business-english-for-beginners-8-leaving-your-office-at-the-end-of-the-day/

Everyday Grammar: Thing

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-thing/4054373.html

Review of Lessons 1 - 5

Congratulations! You are learning English with Let's Learn English! We hope you are having fun and learning to speak and listen well in English. Try to review the lessons often, and you will remember the new words better. Listening Quiz Take this quiz to review the lessons from 1 to 5.  Lesson Review Here are the lessons and learning points. Write to us in the Comments section to let us know which you like best. Lesson 1: Welcome! (Meeting People) Verb BE + name in introductions BE + location Meeting people Personal information Learning the Alphabet Learning the Numbers 1-20 Pronouncing linked sounds Lesson 2: Hello! I'm Anna! (Introductions) BE + noun; BE + location Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, we, they Welcoming & Leave-taking Spelling names aloud Contractions with the verb "be" Saying your address Lesson 3: I'm Here! (Apologizing and Phone Conversation) Numbers in Addresses & Phone numbers Place pronouns: here, there Calling someone on the phone Polite telephone expressions Lesson 4: What Is It? (Everyday Things) Greeting people To Have + Object To Not Have + Object To Be + Object Saying quickly "and" as "n" Lesson 5: Where Are You? (Rooms in a House) To Be + Location Asking about locations Listening for information about people’s locations Naming places and activities What do you think? How are you using "Let's Learn English?" Is it helping you to learn English? Please write to us in the comments section or send us an email. Take the poll to let us know the most helpful part of each lesson. Thank you for coming to learn English with us!

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-lear-english-review-lessons-1-5/4053916.html

English Vocab Builder #117 - Meetings

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-vocab-builder-117-meetings/

Good and Nice: Common Adjectives with Many Uses

  The 2014 film Whiplash tells the story of a young man who wants to be a great jazz musician. He has a music director who often says cruel things to him. At one point in the film, the music director makes this statement to the young man: There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "Good Job.'' Today's report will be much nicer than the lines of the film suggest. We will not be learning about mean music directors (at least, not today). Instead, we will talk about two very common adjectives: the words "nice" and "good." We will show you how Americans use these words in everyday speech. We will also show you how they are used in social situations. But first, we have to give you a few definitions. What are adjectives? Adjectives are words that help describe or provide information about nouns. Speakers generally use adjectives before a noun or after a non-action verb. Such verbs are sometimes called linking verbs. In everyday speech, Americans often use the adjectives "good" and "nice." These words have a positive, but inexact meaning. Here are two examples: She is a good person. He is a nice man. In the examples, the adjectives "good" and "nice" come before a noun – the words "person" and "man." These are pleasant, respectful ways to describe people. Not very good and not very nice Americans use the adjectives "good" and "nice" in other ways. They use them in a few common expressions. Terms like "not very nice" and "not very good" are generally used to describe people and their behavior. These indirect expressions show an undesirable or bad opinion, but they have a softer meaning than direct speech does. Consider our next example. Listen to this exchange that two students might have: 1: Have you finished your math homework? 2: No, I'm not very good at math. 1: Well, the teacher doesn't help much... 2: Yeah, he gave me an F on the last test. He told me my grade in front of the entire class… that wasn't very nice of him... In this example, you heard two uses of not very + an adjective: not very good and not very nice. Americans often use these expressions in place of direct language. Instead of saying "I'm not very good at mathematics," the student could have said, "I'm bad at math." Instead of saying, "that wasn't very nice of him…," the other student could have said, "that was a mean thing to do." The two speakers used "good" and "nice" in indirect expressions because they are considered to be more polite. Social Uses of Good and Nice Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are experts on English grammar. They say English speakers often use "good" and "nice" for social reasons. They use these words to give praise, express approval, and show appreciation. They also use them to show a positive reaction. We are not able to give you examples of all of these uses. However, we can show you how Americans use them in a few situations. #1 Good and nice – Expressions that give compliments on possessions or achievements. Speakers often use "good" and "nice" in expressions that praise people for their possessions or successes. A friend might comment on your new shoes by saying, for example, "Those are nice shoes. Where did you get them?" Or a teacher might congratulate a student by saying, "You did a very good job on the test." Think back to the film Whiplash. You heard the music director tell his student: 'There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "Good Job.'' By saying that the words 'good job' are harmful, the music director means that words of praise are bad. He believes that true artists will never become disheartened – no matter how mean people are to them! #2 Showing approval for ideas Another use of good is to show approval of an idea. One speaker presents an idea and another speaker reacts in an approving way by saying, "Good idea," for example. In an office, a supervisor might tell an employee, "That's a good idea. I like that." Friends eating at a restaurant, for example, might say the following words: 1: Do you want dessert? 2: Sounds good to me! Here, the second speaker is showing approval at the first speaker's idea – getting something to eat after the meal. This is an easy-going, friendly way to agree with another person. What can you do? The next time you are watching a film or listening to music in English, try to find examples of "good" and "nice." Ask yourself how the speakers use these words. Do they have a social use? Are they replacing direct speech that might be considered rude or uncultured? Learning how to use good and nice can be difficult. But with hard work and effort, you will make good progress. I'm John Russell. And I'm Dorothy Gundy. 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. _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story cruel – n. causing or helping to cause suffering : terrible and unfair appreciation – n. an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something : an ability to appreciate something positive – adj.  thinking about the good qualities of someone or something inexact – adj.  not completely correct or precise : not exact polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people grammar – n. the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language dessert – n. sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal rude – adj. not having or showing concern or respect for the rights and feelings of other people : not polite

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-good-and-nice-common-adjectives-many-uses/4056631.html

Good and Nice: Common Adjectives with Many Uses

  The 2014 film Whiplash tells the story of a young man who wants to be a great jazz musician. He has a music director who often says cruel things to him. At one point in the film, the music director makes this statement to the young man: There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "Good Job.'' Today's report will be much nicer than the lines of the film suggest. We will not be learning about mean music directors (at least, not today). Instead, we will talk about two very common adjectives: the words "nice" and "good." We will show you how Americans use these words in everyday speech. We will also show you how they are used in social situations. But first, we have to give you a few definitions. What are adjectives? Adjectives are words that help describe or provide information about nouns. Speakers generally use adjectives before a noun or after a non-action verb. Such verbs are sometimes called linking verbs. In everyday speech, Americans often use the adjectives "good" and "nice." These words have a positive, but inexact meaning. Here are two examples: She is a good person. He is a nice man. In the examples, the adjectives "good" and "nice" come before a noun – the words "person" and "man." These are pleasant, respectful ways to describe people. Not very good and not very nice Americans use the adjectives "good" and "nice" in other ways. They use them in a few common expressions. Terms like "not very nice" and "not very good" are generally used to describe people and their behavior. These indirect expressions show an undesirable or bad opinion, but they have a softer meaning than direct speech does. Consider our next example. Listen to this exchange that two students might have: 1: Have you finished your math homework? 2: No, I'm not very good at math. 1: Well, the teacher doesn't help much... 2: Yeah, he gave me an F on the last test. He told me my grade in front of the entire class… that wasn't very nice of him... In this example, you heard two uses of not very + an adjective: not very good and not very nice. Americans often use these expressions in place of direct language. Instead of saying "I'm not very good at mathematics," the student could have said, "I'm bad at math." Instead of saying, "that wasn't very nice of him…," the other student could have said, "that was a mean thing to do." The two speakers used "good" and "nice" in indirect expressions because they are considered to be more polite. Social Uses of Good and Nice Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are experts on English grammar. They say English speakers often use "good" and "nice" for social reasons. They use these words to give praise, express approval, and show appreciation. They also use them to show a positive reaction. We are not able to give you examples of all of these uses. However, we can show you how Americans use them in a few situations. #1 Good and nice – Expressions that give compliments on possessions or achievements. Speakers often use "good" and "nice" in expressions that praise people for their possessions or successes. A friend might comment on your new shoes by saying, for example, "Those are nice shoes. Where did you get them?" Or a teacher might congratulate a student by saying, "You did a very good job on the test." Think back to the film Whiplash. You heard the music director tell his student: 'There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "Good Job.'' By saying that the words 'good job' are harmful, the music director means that words of praise are bad. He believes that true artists will never become disheartened – no matter how mean people are to them! #2 Showing approval for ideas Another use of good is to show approval of an idea. One speaker presents an idea and another speaker reacts in an approving way by saying, "Good idea," for example. In an office, a supervisor might tell an employee, "That's a good idea. I like that." Friends eating at a restaurant, for example, might say the following words: 1: Do you want dessert? 2: Sounds good to me! Here, the second speaker is showing approval at the first speaker's idea – getting something to eat after the meal. This is an easy-going, friendly way to agree with another person. What can you do? The next time you are watching a film or listening to music in English, try to find examples of "good" and "nice." Ask yourself how the speakers use these words. Do they have a social use? Are they replacing direct speech that might be considered rude or uncultured? Learning how to use good and nice can be difficult. But with hard work and effort, you will make good progress. I'm John Russell. And I'm Dorothy Gundy. 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. _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story cruel – n. causing or helping to cause suffering : terrible and unfair appreciation – n. an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something : an ability to appreciate something positive – adj.  thinking about the good qualities of someone or something inexact – adj.  not completely correct or precise : not exact polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people grammar – n. the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language dessert – n. sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal rude – adj. not having or showing concern or respect for the rights and feelings of other people : not polite

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-good-and-nice-common-adjectives-many-uses/4056631.html

Do adults exercise enough?

Neil and Rob talk about vigorous exercise – and whether adults take enough of it!

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05j3h4t

Listicle

New Entry: 'Listicle' 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=27224

How to teach Latin abbreviations

New Entry: 'How to teach Latin abbreviations' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

source https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-teach-latin-abbreviations.html

Have a go

Poor Neil gets a lot of criticism in the programme. Of course, it’s all to help you learn English!

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05hy2m3

Quick & Easy English Review for Beginners #5 - Most Scary Monsters in the U.S.

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/quick-easy-english-review-for-beginners-5-most-scary-monsters-in-the-us/

Everyday Grammar: The Disappearing That

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-the-disappearing-that/4000832.html