Lesson 293--using prefer

Prefer is a great verb to use because it can be followed by so many things and it can make some great sentences

Prefer + gerund

I prefer walking.

I prefer flying.

Prefer + nouns

I prefer the Playstation.

I prefer pizza.

Of course, the best thing is that you can make longer sentences using the comparative preposition "to"

I prefer flying to driving.

I prefer pizza to any other food.

You can also use infinitives, but you should not use the preposition "to" because it is very confusing.

I prefer to walk

I prefer to eat pizza.

When using would, the infinitive is prefered.

I'd prefer to walk home tonight.

I would prefer to watch the new Xmen movie.

Lesson 233--Using the Present Simple

 

 

The present simple (or simple present) is a useful tense.  We can use it to talk about routine things that happen usually, or with some regularity, or that are facts.

examples

He works at EC Toronto.

Jane lives in Toronto.

The sun rises in the east.

Margaret goes to the gym three times a week.

Another, perhaps more interesting use of the present perfect is when we use it to talk about the future.  Whenever we talk about a scheduled event (like an airplane departure time, or arrival time) we can use the simple present to talk about it.

examples

John's flight leaves at 9 pm.

The game starts at 7:15.

I have to wake up early because my train leaves early.

Lesson 172--Getting Even

 

One of my favourite expressions with get is the interesting phrase

get even

It has the same meaning as another get phrase

get revenge

If someone has done something bad, you might want to get even with them.

examples

After his sister stole his chocolate bar, Paul promised to get even.

To get even with Marcia, Jimmy stole her Barbie doll.

Don't get mad.  Get even!

Pamela scratched her ex-boyfriend's car to get even with him.

Lesson 163--Point (part two)

 

There's no point.

There's no point in doing that.

I don't see any point in that.

It is pointless.

This is used when the situation is futile or useless, or when any action you take will have no effect.

To point out something.

To point something out.

This means to indicate something the person might not have seen, or that you would like them to focus on.  This can be visual, or can be an idea.

Examples: I would like to point out that there are 163 lessons in this blog so far.

                  Jane pointed out that it was too late for lunch, but too early for supper.

                  Bob's hobby was pointing out mistakes in movies.

Lesson 159--Brave the elements

Because we seem to be in the middle of a rather harsh winter, we should learn some vocabulary to compliment it.  Here is one expression you might see in movies and on TV when someone has to go out in bad weather.

 

To brave the elements

meaning: to go outside when the weather is bad.  This can be wind, rain, snow or pretty much anything else.  This is usually said because that person does not want to go outside or the person has just come from the outside and is happy to be inside.

examples

 

To get to the boxing day sale he had to brave the elements for three blocks from the bus stop to the store.

Maria braved the elements to meet her boyfriend at a coffee shop.

Lesson 130--Whatever

Whatever

 

Whatever has more than one use, but the basic idea is that it means, it doesn't matter what.  Though it can be used as an answer to a question very informally, it often joins clauses in a sentence.

examples

I will do whatever you want.

Whatever he says, don't answer.

He spends his money on whatever he wants.

as a answer

A: What do you want to eat for dinner?

B: Whatever.(informal: be careful with your voice tone as this can sound rude)

or

B: Whatever you would like. (more polite)

as complete disregard for what someone says.

A: You can't eat hear.

B: Whatever. (usually accompanied by a gesture indicating you are not listening or a rather sarcastic voice)

Lesson 127--Using the verb pay

to pay

 

This is a useful verb, but seems to cause a lot of confusion amongst my students.  The meaning is clear, but some of the combinations are not.

He paid for dinner.  =  He bought dinner.

He paid for my dinner. = He paid for my dinner.

He paid me to do fix his computer. = I fixed his computer for a small fee.

He was paid to design a new logo. = He designed a new logo and charged the company some money.

He paid a high price.  =  This might mean is was expensive, or it might be an idiom indicating that the result required some sacrifice (He scored a goal, but was injured in the play.)

Lesson 61--Get on with something

Phrasal Verb

Get on with something = to start doing something you should do.

i.e.       I have to get on with my homework.

            After dinner, I got on with my project.

 

Get on with something = after taking a break, to do what you were previously doing.

i.e.       After getting the new software, I got on with the design project.

            I got on with work after studying for nine weeks.

similar to get back to

i.e.       I got back to work after studying for nine weeks.

Lesson 55--A chance for you to participate

 

 

After 54 lessons, I want to turn the blog over to you for a day.  I want you to participate in teaching something.

Do you have a favourite expression?  Is there something you have learned that you want to share with other people?  I am inviting you to type your ideas and send them in to the comments box below.  This is a chance for you to teach each other.  I am looking forward to your ideas.

Lesson 43--Run

 

 

The word "run" has many meanings.  My dictionary lists 25 different meanings/uses of the word run, followed by numerous phrasal verbs.  I can't list them all, but I thought I should highlight a few important ones for you.  There will be more on Wednesday.

run = moving swiftly on your feet

i.e.       He is running in a race on Friday.

run = operating

i.e.       She runs her own business from home.

run = to travel from point to point

i.e.       The bus runs from 6 am to 6 pm.

            The bus runs from Eglinton East station to Eglinton West station.

run = flowing/ in operation

i.e.       The water is running.  Please shut off the tap.

            The car engine is running.

run = be a candidate in an election

i.e.       Marcia is running for School President.

Lesson 23--Maybe versus May be

Maybe             adverb, often used at the beginning of a sentence or end, to indicate                                               how likely and possible it is.

 

e.g.                  Maybe, he is at home.

                        I will talk to her later, maybe.

                        Maybe, the weather will be bad tomorrow.

                        Maybe he took the bus home.

 

May be            modal verb, often used after the subject of a sentence, to indicate how                 

                        likely and possible it is.

e.g.                  I may be late for work tomorrow.

                        I may be too tired to do my homework.

                        She may be spending time with her friends.

Lesson 20--Using the word lack

meaning                       do not have

1) verb                         to lack something means not to have it.

e.g.                             I lack the money to buy a Playstation3.

                                   I lack the courage to confront her.

                                   He lacks the energy to do his homework.

 

2) noun                      There is a lack means that this doesn't exist.

e.g.                             There is a lack of time for this project.

                                   There is a lack of cooperation on the staff.

                                   A lack of money prevents me from buying a new car.

 

3) gerund     

             

e.g.                             Lacking time, he ate a restaurant.

                                   Lacking proper manners, he never pushed in his chair.

Synonyms include verbs: need, require,
                               nouns: a need*, a want*, deficiency, shortage

* yes, you can use these words as nouns.

Lesson 18: To Get Away With Something

 

Meaning:  to succeed in doing something wrong or illegal and not suffer any punishment.

e.g.      Robert got away with cheating on his girlfriend because nobody saw him.

            "You won't get away with it, " she screamed!  "The police will catch you!"

            The politician got away with taking bribes because nobody would testify against him.

Related idiom:              to get away with murder

Meaning:      emphasizing that someone got away with doing something very wrong.

 

e.g.      Jeannie was upset because her brother was allowed to do things that she
             hadn't been allowed  to do.  "You let him get away with murder," she complained bitterly.

Usefulness Factor:      8/10  You should find many opportunities to use this one..

Lesson 16: Sorry....What does it mean?

One of the readers asked me to write something about the word sorry.  Such a simple word, is actually full of complexity.  It will take more than one post.  Check back on Wednesday for more about sorry.

 

Sorry               Used as an apology when you've done something wrong
                        (like stepping on my foot on the subway)

Sorry               Used when you haven't heard what someone said, much
                        like the word pardon.

Sorry               Used when you want to show sympathy or pity with someone
                        else.

 

Sorry               Used when you're not sorry at all.  (sarcastically)

Notice the uses in the following dialogues

John:                Did you drink my last beer?

Adam:             Yes, I did. Sorry.

Marcia:            Has anyone seen my umbrella?

Patricia:           Sorry.  What are you looking for?

Marcia:            My umbrella.  Have you seen it?

Patricia:           No, I am afraid not.

Tammy:           What's wrong Jim?  You look so sad.

Jim:                  My dog died yesterday?

Tammy:           I'm sorry.