Lesson 328--Using Even

 

One interesting word in English is even.  This lesson and the next two lessons will focus on using it both positively and negatively.  This lesson will be on the positive.

We use even when we want to explain that someone has done more than we expected or that they have done too much.

examples

Maggie has eaten all the food.  She has even eaten the stale bread.

Garth annoys everyone.  He even annoys his wife.

Dennis is never on time.  He will even be late for his funeral.

Charles wakes up early.  He even wakes up early on his vacation.

position

a) between the auxiliary verb and the main verb

b) after the verb be

c) before other verbs.

Please click below to see a past lesson on how to use get even.
How to use "get even"

Lesson 308--UN vs. Dis

The prefixes un and dis have similar meanings, but sometimes they can both be used as a prefix for the same base word, but with different meanings.

unassembled--it is not together

disassemble--take it apart

uninterested--not be interested

disinterested--have no interest (often used in legal cases)

discoloured--wrongly coloured

uncoloured--having no colour

disable--deprive of some ability

unable--not having the ability

disprove--show that it is wrong

unproven--has not been proven, though it might be

Lesson 307: tangled

Having seen the Disney movie, you might wonder why they used the word tangled.  Tangled is a great word to describe things that are long and slender and somehow mixed up.  I think the pictures say it all.  Things that can get tangled include:

hair

phone cords

USB cables

power cables

rope

extension cords

string

thread

shoelaces

However the word also has some other meanings.  (pay attention to the prepositions)

It can mean become involved with.

example

He's tangled up with that crowd.

Maria got tangled up with the wrong people at school.

It can mean mixed up/confused.

example

Jim hated talking on the phone.  He felt his words got tangled up too easily.

It can mean fought.

example

Tim and Paul tangled a few times.  Mostly they fought over Elizabeth.

Tim tangled with Paul a few times.  Mostly they fought over Elizabeth.

Lesson 306: Splurge!!

 

Today's l  That word is splurge.  It means to spend a lot of money on something.  This can be either buying something or paying for something like a hotel room.  This also means that the person could not usually afford something like this.

esson is about an interesting word.

examples

For his son's graduation, Peter splurged on a limousine.

When Maria and Tom were on their honeymoon they splurged on their hotel room and meals, but saved money on the airfare.

If I had money I would splurge and fly business class everywhere I went.

On his girlfriend's birthday, Mark splurged on dinner at the CN Tower restaurant.

Lesson 244--Error Quiz

You will find fifteen incorrect sentences below.  Please correct them and check your answers by clicking on the words "answer" in the top right corner of this blog.  If you have a different answer that you think is correct, please submit it to me--you might be right.  Also, if you don't know why a question is wrong, please ask for an explanation in the comments box below the quiz.

Good Luck!

1. I am not good at sports.  But, I like to play them.
2. Before I started work I went to the gym.
3. James who works in the marketing department is getting married next week.
4. The more big he gets, the faster he runs.
5. She is the more beautiful woman I know.
6. If she will win the race, she can get a scholarship to a good university.
7. Paul was late for work due to it was raining.
8. Maria slept very late, because she was tired.
9. I have been to the CN Tower last week.
10. Philip goes always to Wal-Mart.
11. It depends of the situation.
12. I am not interested in help you.
13. I want to go to the beach, I want to swim.
14. It was really good the party.
15. Mellissa went to the store for buy some books.

Lesson 218--Rusty and Out of Practice

Two fantastic phrases to use when describing your performance when you haven't done something in a while are rusty and out of practice.  I haven't played tennis since last summer, so I will be using both of these phrases when I finally play a game.

Note, rusty is also the brown oxidation on metal when you leave it outside--hopefully you can see the connection between the two uses.

examples.

My Japanese is rusty.  I haven't spoken in a long time.

My Japanese is not good these days.  I guess I am out of practice.

Since I got a computer, my handwriting skills have become rusty.

I am just a little rusty.  A bit more practice and I will be better.

• What are you out of practice in?  What are you rusty at (note the preposition when using an object)?  Please post your answers in the comment section.

Lesson 196--Hard English

 

I have a lot of sympathy for my students.  Whether they complain about it or not, English can be confusing.  Similar combinations of words often mean very different (or just a little different) things.  Here are some useful examples of that.

Working hard = the person is putting a lot of effort into something.

Maria is working hard on her essay.

Hard at work = the person is quite busy and probably should be disturbed.

Paul is hard at work and can't come to the phone.

Hardly working = the person is doing almost nothing.

Timothy is hardly working since he had the accident at work.

Hard work = this describes the work as being difficult, but not the person.

For Grace, taking care of children was hard work.  She loved it, but it was really hard work.

Lesson 188--"ever" words

Using "ever" words

These words include whenever, whoever, whomever, wherever, whatever and however*

(However is used differently than the conjunction use of however)

These words incorporate the idea of "any" within them.

examples

You can go wherever you want.

You can go anywhere you want.

You can talk to whomever you want.

You can talk to anyone you want.

You dress however you want for the party.

You can dress any way you want for the party.