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 299--Pay in Cash

When using the word pay, special care is needed with the prepositions

Look at the examples below.

pay in cash

pay cash

pay by credit card

pay by debit card

Also, when speaking to a salesclerk you might get one of the following questions.

How would you like to pay for that?

How will you be paying?

Is that cash, credit or debit?

possible answers

I'll pay cash.

I'll pay in cash.

I'll pay by credit card/debit card.

I'll use my credit card/debit card.

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.

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

http://englishchunksquizanswers.blogspot.ca/2014/12/december-2014-quiz-answers.html

 

Lesson 256--house vs. home

a traditional house

 

 

Many students have asked me about this, so it seems like a good topic for today's lesson.

a very modern house

house:  a building where people live.  Not an apartment or condominium.

home:  a place where people live, and where they belong.  This includes a house, an apartment, a condominium, a city, a town, a country, a favourite restaurant or bar.

As you can see, home is more of a feeling.  This affects the grammar as well.

Using "to"

I am going to my house.

I am going to Mary's house.

I am going home. (no preposition)

I am going to my home. (This definitely means where I live and requires a preposition)

Welcome home!

Welcome to my house.

 

Using "at"

I will meet you at my house.

I will meet you at home.

Lesson 247--order of prepositions

 

Prepositions are used for many things.  In today's lesson we look at prepositions of time and place and their order.

We went to the park. (place)

We went in the afternoon. (time)

When we put them together, we put place before time.

We went to the park in the afternoon. (correct)

We went in the afternoon to the park. (incorrect)

However we can rearrange the sentence to put the time at beginning of the sentence.

In the afternoon, we went to the park.

more examples. (All the sentences are correct)

I drove to work on Monday.  However, I took the bus to work on Tuesday.

On Monday, I drove to work.  On Tuesday, however, I took the bus to work.

On Monday I drove to work.  However, on Tuesday, I took the bus to work.

Lesson 243--Like as a Verb and Preposition

 

 

Most of my students are very good at using like as a verb. 

example:          I like chocolate.

                        I liked chocolate when I was a child.

                        I've never liked Jazz music.

However, like is also a preposition.  In the following examples notice that like is a preposition following other verbs.

He looks like a fool.

Maria works like a dog.

Tim and Nancy feel like having hot chocolate.

The party guests were dressed like characters from the Lord of the Rings.

Lesson 164--Pain and Other Similar Words

 

 

Their seems to be some confusion about words relating to pain.  The first thing to keep in mind is that there is more of grammatical difference than a meaning difference.  Some are verbs and some are adjectives.  I think you will find this quite useful.

 

sore (adjective)

My foot is sore.

I have a sore throat.

 

soreness (noun)

There is some soreness in my knees.

 

ache (verb, noun)

My foot aches.

My feet ache.

I have an ache in my back.

I have a toothache.

hurts (verb)

My tooth hurts.

My hands hurt.

 

pain (noun)

There is a pain in my knee.

 

painful (adjective)

That is a painful injury.

 

Lesson 115--Prepositions

 

Using prepositions can be confusing, but with a little practice and repetition, you can gain confidence and start to master them.  Here are some useful combinations and examples.

distinguish ___ from ____

I cannot distinguish the colour mauve from purple.

It is hard to for some people to distinguish Canadian football from American football.

Although they are twins, it is easy to distinguish Cathy from Candace

 

distinguish between ____ and _____

I cannot distinguish between mauve and  purple.

It is easy for me to distinguish between Canadian and American football.

Because they are not fraternal twins, everyone can distinguish between Cathy and Candace.

 

 

Lesson 114--prepositions

 

 

Using prepositions can be confusing, but with a little practice and repetition, you can gain confidence and start to master them.  Here are some useful combinations and examples.

the same as

Rob plays the same sport as Brian.

Marsha works at the same company as Alfred.

Tennis is not the same as badminton.

 The preposition is not used when the subject of the sentence includes both things that are being compared.

Badminton and tennis are not the same.

Marsha and Alfred work at the same company.

 

different from

Tennis is different from badminton.

The food in Japan is different from the food in Canada.

James' house is different from mine in many ways.

The preposition is not used when the subject of the sentence includes both things that are being differentiated.

Tennis and badminton are different.

James' house and my house are quite different.

Lesson 103--Preposition Quiz

 

 

Yes, it's that time again.  Time for you to take a quiz.  How well do you know your prepositions?  Here are fifteen challenging questions.  Once you have answered, click on the quiz answers button in the top right corner.  Don't forget to check your answers, because there are some surprises.

1. He tried to run away____ his problems, but couldn't.
2. Maria put the pen __ the edge ___ the table.
3. Scott apologized ___ eating the last piece ____ cake.
4. His parents couldn't talk him out ___ joining the army.
5. Jennifer couldn't decided___ a colour ___ her living room.
6. The party is going to be held ___ the first Friday __ December.
7. The two sides couldn't agree __ a date for the next meeting.
8. Donald's work suffered when he was ___ a lot __pressure.
9. Pay attention____ your own work.
10. After drinking too much he fell asleep ___ the couch.
11. He couldn't finish what was ______ his plate.
12. Get ____ the subway before it leaves!
13. Hold the handrail when you are walking ____ or _____ the stairs.
14. I will see you____ two weeks.
15. The painting doesn't look _____ a masterpiece.

Lesson 62--Preposition Quiz

Preposition Quiz!

 

 

It's time for everyone's favourite game...Preposition Quiz.  Good luck everyone, and don't forget to check your answers by clicking on the link in the top right corner.  I know you think you know them, but you had better check your answers, because some of them are surprising..... and if you don't check, you might not find out if you are wrong.... and that would be bad.  (Of course, I hope everyone is right, but.... sometimes these can be tricky)

 

1. I am interested ____ having my picture taken.
2. Watch _____!  The bookcase is going to fall!
3. I can't read what is printed ___ the outside of the box.
4. He is looking ___ himself ___ the mirror.
5. She slipped ____ the ice.
6. His mother told him to finish everything ____ his plate.
7. Everything looks bigger ___ the microscope.
8. The women arrived ____ Canada ____ Monday.
9. I am looking forward ____ the new movie.
10. Maria spent a lot of time looking ____ her photo album.



Lesson 41--Wait

Wait has a few interesting constructions worth thinking about

 

Wait+for is used with people and with time.

e.g.      I will wait for you.

            I waited for 10 minutes before I left.

it is also possible to omit for when talking about the amount of time.

e.g.      I waited 10 minutes before I left.

Wait+to is used when waiting for actions

e.g.      I waited to call.

            I waited to hear from him.

We can combine the two of them

e.g.      I waited 10 minutes to call him.

Lesson 40--Preposition Quiz

 

 

Complete the quiz by filling in the blanks with a suitable preposition.  Check your answers by clicking on the link in the top right corner--don't assume you are correct.

1. He was absent _____school because of a cold.
2. The company contributes ______ charity every month.
3. The apartment comes furnished ______ a sofa, a fridge and stove.
4. Although he didn't love her, he was very fond ______ her.
5. The whole class is excited ______ the upcoming test.
6. The school is connected ______ a shopping mall via underground tunnel.
7. Being addicted ______ drugs is a cause for concern.
8. Maria didn't know which candidate to vote ______.
9. After work, he felt _____ having a beer with his friends.
10. All of the students are capable ______ passing the test.

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.