Monday, December 29, 2014

Lesson 292--Talking About Winter


 
For many of my students, experiencing winter in Canada was one interesting experience that they will probably never forget.  I would just like to give them some phrases they can use when talking about the cold weather and winter in general.

When you enter a house or apartment and you want to explain it was snowing outside,  use this phrase.

It's really coming down out here/there!


If you want to make friends at the bus stop, use this phrase.

It's so cold I can see my breath.

My feet are freezing!

I can't wait for summer.

I wish I were on a beach somewhere.....anywhere but here.

I can't feel my toes.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Lesson 291--two expressions using speak


Are they speaking ill or highly of someone?
I hope everyone did well on the quiz from Monday's lesson.  Don't be shy about posting your scores.  Remember to check your answers (The stats show that nobody did) because there were some tricks.

Today's lesson involves the word speak and two useful, though very different uses of the word.

1.  Speak ill of = talk badly about someone.

examples

Even though it was quite rude, John spoke ill of his former roommate.

It is impolite to speak ill of the dead.

Whenever she had the chance Margaret spoke ill of her ex-boyfriend.

 

2. Speak highly of = to speak positively about someone/something.
                               = to praise someone/something.
examples

Dennis was hired because his ex-boss spoke so highly of him.

The hotel was very popular and all the guests spoke very highly of it.

If her father hadn't spoken so highly of the doctor, Maria wouldn't have made an appointment to see her.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Lesson 290--December 2014 Quiz


For today's post, I have decided that a test would be a good thing.  The test will have two parts.  The first part will be a fix the mistake section and the second part will be a fill in the preposition part.

Part A

In this part of the test, please correct the mistakes in the sentences.  Please check your answers (there is at least one tricky one) by clicking on the test answer link in the top right corner.


  1. I haven't been to the mall yesterday.
  2. Greg is married with Maria.
  3. If I were being taller, I would be a basketball player.
  4. It's time I buy a new television.
  5. It was too cold that I decided to stay home.
  6. Daniel lives near to the library that has the biggest book collection.
  7. Being the tallest building in Toronto, I went there.
  8. Janine was very exhausted and fell asleep immediately after getting home.

Part B

In this part of the test, please choose the correct preposition to fit in the blank.  Please check your answers (there is at least one tricky one) by clicking on the test answer link in the top right corner.

  1. Timothy is looking forward ___ the movie.
  2. Matthew is very protective___ his sister.
  3. Alonso's father was very disappointed ___ him.
  4. The teacher was very pleased ___ her student's work.
  5. Brad Pitt is divorced ___ Jennifer Aniston.
  6. All of the workers were too engaged ___ their work to notice the argument in the office.
  7. Julia was fond ___ writing long letters to her friends and family.
  8. John and Cindy rescued several dogs ___ the fire at the farmhouse.
  9. The Smiths do not approve ___ their son's choice for a bride.
  10. Let's discuss ___ the problem.
Check your answers here
 

Friday, December 12, 2014

Lesson 289--Dealing with salesclerks


 
One experience everyone has in English is dealing with a salesclerk.  They always appear in front of you (or behind you) and ask "Can I help you?" or "May I help you?"  Sometimes they modify that with, "Can I help you find something?" I would like to give you some expressions to deal with them.  I have put them in two categories:  expressions for when you don't want any help and expressions for when you would like some help.

When you don't want help.

No thanks.  I'm just looking.

I'm good right now, thanks.

Not right now, thank you.

I'm okay right now.  I'll call you if I need anything.

Not at this moment, thank you.

I'm okay for now.

When you want help.

Yes, I'm looking for a PS4.

Do you have the iPhone6S?

Have you got an electronic dictionary?

I was wondering if you have the Galaxy Note?

Could you show me some digital cameras?

I want a nice outfit for a party.

I'm interested in a new car.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Lesson 288--to conk out


She conked out while eating

Learning useful idioms is an important thing for all of my students.  Today we will look at the idiom to conk out.  It is special because it has a different meaning for people and machines.

The car conked out...obviously
for machines: to stop working

for people: to fall asleep

examples

The car seemed to be working well, but conked out while Peter was driving.

Mary hated her motorcycle because it conked out whenever it rained.

The city had to send a repair crew when all the traffic lights downtown conked out.

Jim was so tired that he conked out while watching TV.

Alana wanted to stay awake, but she conked out anyway.

Philip drank seven cups of coffee so he wouldn't conk out while working the night shift.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Thank You


 
The blog has hit 30,000 page views.  Thanks everyone for taking a look at it.  I hope it is helping you learn English and giving you confidence when dealing with English speakers.

Here are the statistics that blogger has compiled.

United States  8063
Canada           7235
Brazil              1877
Japan             1840
South Korea   1549
Germany        1513
Switzerland    1074
Poland             547
Mexico             489
Turkey              309

Thanks again everyone for your support.  See you again when we reach 50,000 (hopefully tomorrow)

Monday, December 8, 2014

Lesson 287--Pull Your Socks Up



The English language is full of interesting idioms.  This is one of my favourites.  I think it is because my parents and teachers often used this phrase when urging me to study more or do more homework.

meaning

To put more effort into doing something.  Usually this meant studying or doing your work.  If you are a teacher or a boss (or a parent) you should be able to use this one a lot.

examples

Jim's grades were slipping.  His teacher told him to pull up his socks.

If he pulls his socks up, maybe they can win.
If she wanted to graduate early, Martina would really need to pull up her socks.

With the deadline approaching, Theresa and her team pulled their socks up and got the job done.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Lesson 286--New Words with the Prefix "less"


 
Most students get exposed to words like worthless and priceless, but there are other words that end in  "less" that are not as well known, but are equally useful.  I would like to introduce a handful of them.

speechless--it is used to describe someone who cannot speak, usually through shock, or the presence of beauty.

When Dan saw his wife in her new dress he was speechless.

After watching his son make a fantastic play, Carl was completely speechless.

timeless--it is used to describe something that is a classic.  Things like designs, music and movies can be described this way.
 
The movie Miracle on 34th Street is timeless. 

ageless--it is often used to describe people who do not seem to age.

Dick Clark has hardly changed in fifty years.  He appears ageless.

painless--it is used to describe something without pain.

The doctor assured Kelly that the procedure would be painless.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Lesson 285--some more eating related vocabulary


 
When thinking about food, I would like to teach people some useful vocabulary

eating out:  going out to eat in a restaurant.  This includes fast food as well as elegant dining.

eating in:  staying home and eating.

takeout: this describes food bought at a restaurant and taken home, or taken some other place to eat.

takeout menu: some restaurants have a different menu for takeout items than they do for sit down menus.  Sometimes this includes specials, or discount meals meant for more than one person.

refills: some restaurants offer free drink refills, meaning you can drink as much or as many of the drinks you ordered.  This does not usually include alcohol.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Lesson 284--Idioms about co-ordination


 
English has some great idioms.  Today, I want to teach you some that describe people as uncoordinated or clumsy.

two left feet

If a person cannot dance well, or has trouble running or doing set motions with their feet we use this idiom.

examples

Johnny wanted to learn to tango, but everyone said he had two left feet and he should give up this dream.

Pablo gave up trying to teach Isabella how to dance.  He didn't want to insult her, but he had to tell her that she had two left feet.

all thumbs

If a person doesn't use their hands well, drops things, or just has trouble coordinating their hand movements we use this idiom.

examples

Daniel tried to assemble the game, but he was all thumbs.

Everyone could paint well except for Marvin, who was all thumbs.