Lesson 36--Irregular Plurals (part 2)

Another group of irregular plurals is this group of words that end in "f" and its plural is formed by adding "ves" to the stem.  Once again, these are worth remembering.

Singular                       Plural

calf                              calves

half                              halves

knife                            knives

leaf                              leaves

life                               lives

loaf                              loaves

self                              selves

shelf                            shelves

thief                             thieves

wife                             wives

wolf                             wolves

Lesson 35--Irregular Plurals (part 1)

There are a few irregular plural words in English.  They are definitely worth remembering.

Singular                       Plural

child                            children

foot                             feet

goose                           geese

louse                            lice

man                             men

mouse                          mice

ox                                oxen

person                          people

tooth                            teeth

woman                        women

lesson 34--Phrasal Verb: go up

Go up (intransitive = no object)

meaning: to rise, to increase  (usually used for prices and costs)*

e.g.      The price of gasoline is going up.

            The cost of a TTC Metropass goes up every year.

            Since I've been in Toronto the cost of beer has gone up by 20 percent.

* (the price goes up, you can't say the went up the price)

Go down (intransitive = no object)

meaning: to fall, to decrease (also used for prices and costs)

e.g.      The price of tablet PCs is going down.

            The cost of gasoline never goes down on Friday.

            The TV I want is on sale.  The price has gone down by $200.

Transitive verb sentences (there is an object): raise, lowered

e.g.      The gas company raised the price of gasoline by 3 cents a litre.

            After Christmas most stores lower their prices.

Lesson 33--Useful Telephone Vocabulary

Below are a list of telephone words.  They have been grouped in four categories: answering, talking , finishing, and some phrasal verbs.  In each category the phrases have almost identical meanings.  If you regularly use one of these phrases, try a different one next time.

Answering the phone 

"Could you answer the phone?"

picking up the phone

"Pick up the phone please."

getting the phone     

"Get the phone!"

Talk on the phone      

"I am talking on the phone.  Ask me later."

Be on the phone         

"I am on the phone.  Stop bothering me."

Have a phone conversation

"I am having a phone conversation."

Be in the middle of a call     

"Don't make so much noise when I am in the middle of a call."

Hang up the phone

"Hang up the phone and come to dinner."

Put the phone down

"Put the phone down and call her back later."

Get cut off

"I got cut off when I drove through a tunnel."

Lesson 32 Anxious

1)         anxious for = eager, wanting to have

e.g.      I am anxious for summer to begin.

            I am anxious for the new Adele CD.

            I am anxious for the release of the Blackberry.

2)         anxious about = worried, nervous

e.g.      I am anxious about the mid term test.

            I am anxious about my medical check-up.

note: when we use the noun form, anxiety, we talking about this definition.

Lesson 31--Take a Chance

Take a chance on something/someone

 

This is a phrase used to emphasize that the actions you are taking are not necessarily considered wise, typical, or in the normal way something is done.  It can also be used to express that your actions are contrary to someone's opinion, and that success is far from guaranteed.

 

e.g.      I took a chance in hiring Janet for the job.  Fortunately, it worked out well.

            I took a big chance when I asked my boss for her opinion. 

                     If she didn't like it, I might have lost my job.

            I took a chance that you might be home and came over without calling.

 

synonyms

take a risk

e.g.      I took a risk in hiring Janet for the job.

            I took a big risk on that project.

To risk something (verb)

e.g.      I risked my job when I refused the transfer to Vancouver.

Lesson 30--hangover, and hung-over

As the weather is getting warmer, and some of my students will take advantage of the weather to enjoy a few cold drinks on the patio, I need to impart some key words.

hangover vs. hung-over

hangover (noun)

e.g.      I have a hangover.

            Those drinks gave me a terrible hangover.

hung-over (adjective)

e.g.      I am really hung-over.

            I am so hung-over that I can't study today.

Good luck, and please try to use them correctly.

Lesson 29--Restaurant Collocations

In Today's English Chunks, I would like to look at some useful restaurant collocations, and point out some phrases that my students make incorrectly.  If you have any questions about these phrases, please don't hesitate to ask.  You can leave a comment in the comment section.

1)  pay for dinner--my students often use phrases like "pay the dinner" but these are not correct.

2) pay the bill--we don't say pay the money, or pay the dinner.

3) buy someone dinner--we don't say pay him a dinner.

4) leave a tip--we don't say pay the tip.  We either leave a tip, or use the verb form: tip the waiter.

Lesson 28--Laugh (and its prepositions)

 

Laugh at someone

e.g.      The audience laughed at him and his unusual costume.

            It isn't polite to laugh at people.

            Maria laughed at the comedian's jokes.

Laugh about something

e.g.      Greg laughed about his problems because they were too big to handle.

            I can laugh about it now, but at the time I could only cry.

Lesson 27--Phrasal Verb: To Take Up (a new hobby, sport, pastime)

 

take up             start, begin a new hobby, sport or pastime

 

e.g.                  Philip took up tai chi to lose weight.

                        Ellen wants to take up karate to improve her confidence.

                        Taking up stamp collecting might be a good idea.

question you can ask people

                     What sport would you like to take up?
                      Have you thought about taking up painting.  It's very relaxing.
                      When did you take up smoking?

Lesson 26: To Turn Something Down

Phrasal Verb:   turn down

 

Meaning:         to refuse and offer, to reject an offer

                        (separable phrasal verb)

 

e.g.                  Maria turned down the job offer because the salary was too low.

                        Greg turned down his bosses request to change his position.

                        She turned his invitation to dinner down.

 

Usefulness Factor       8/10  Used in all situations to say no.

Lesson 25 Review Quiz

Review Quiz

It's time to review the past 24 lessons.  Fill in the blanks with suitable words.  When finished, check your answers by clicking on the quiz answers link in the top left corner of this blog.  Good luck.

 

1. Whether I go or not depends ______ the weather.
2. I bumped ______ an old friend the other day outside of Tim Horton's.
3. I was all set to propose when I suddenly _____ ______ ____.
4. I spent three hours arguing _____my sisters yesterday.
5. It's raining and cold, you'd better _____ _____your jacket.
6. Sheila wanted to have a surprise party for her brother, but her brother's girlfriend spoiled it by ______ _______ ____ _____ _______ ______ _____.
7. His mother got angry and told him that it _____time he____ his homework.
8. The couple got ____ the subway at Union Station and got _____ at Eglinton.
9. Melanie always got the ______ on her Christmas shopping and was usually finished by September.
10. Greg was very indecisive and had trouble _____ ___ his_____.
11. The guidance councillor asked him what kind of job he was interested ____.
12. Her hard work couldn't ____ _____ ______ her laziness in the early part of the semester.
13. The politician thought he could _____ ____ _____ taking bribes from some rich citizens in exchange for voting against some unpopular legislation.
14. Amanda excelled ____ the arts.
15. Due to a lack____ time, he skipped breakfast.
16. The teacher ___ ____ marking the papers to watch the hockey game.
17. If you want a good job, you should apply ____ Microsoft.
18. The teacher congratulated the students ____ finishing the quiz.
19. Luckily for the students the teacher had ______ minutes to talk. 
20. a) few              b) a few
21. She had very _______ time to waste worrying about her past mistakes.
22. a) little             b) a little