Lesson 158--Interesting English

 

 

As English teachers we often try to make something slightly complicated much easier for students to understand.  This is not always a good thing.  My students often quote their teacher and tell me that a comes before countable nouns that start with a consonant and an before countable nouns that start with a vowel.

This sounds like a good rule, but isn't.  It isn't starting with a vowel, but starting with a vowel sound.  The following are some examples which prove this.

a university

a uniform

Despite starting with a vowel, the starting sound is a consonant sound.

an hour

an honour

an MBA

an NBA player

an FBI agent

Despite starting with a consonant, the starting sound in a vowel sound.

Lesson 157--In spite of and although (and their friends)

Taking a look at some connectors.

 

Learning how to use connectors is vital (very important) in English.  This lesson, like the last one, will tackle some of these.  Today's are

 

despite, in spite of	+ noun/gerund
even though, though, although	+ clause

 

All of these words connect a contrast, or unexpected connection.

examples

despite and in spite of function the same.

Despite the weather, I wasn't cold.

In spite of the weather, I wasn't cold.

notice a change in punctuation when the clauses are reversed (the meaning has not changed).

I wasn't cold despite the weather.

I wasn't cold in spite of the weather.

For the most part although, though, and even though function the same.

 

Although it was raining, I didn't get wet.

Even though it was raining, I didn't get wet.

Though it was raining, I didn't get wet.

notice a change in punctuation when the clauses are reversed (the meaning has not changed).

I didn't get wet although it was raining.

I didn't get wet even though it was raining.

I didn't get wet though it was raining.

Lesson 156--Because vs Because of

Taking a look at some connectors.

 

Learning how to use connectors is vital (very important) in English.  The next couple of lessons will tackle some of these.

The first is because and because of (and due to).  While they look very similar, and they both explain a cause or reason, they function very differently.

Because + clause           

Because of + noun/gerund.

Due to + noun/gerund.

 

Note the different punctuation when the clauses are reversed.

I was late because there was a delay on the subway.

Because there was a delay on the subway, I was late.

I was late because of a subway delay.

Because of a subway delay, I was late.

I was late due to a subway delay.

Due to a subway delay, I was late.

 

Quiz

Make equivalent sentences.  Click on the text marked quiz answers to access the site with the answers.

 

Because of the rain, I got really wet.

I got soaked_______________it was raining.

 

I was late because I overslept.

____________ to my oversleeping, I was late.

 

I skipped breakfast because I felt sick.

I skipped breakfast ______of my sick feeling.

 

Because I got good marks, my father bought me a car.

My father bought me a car____________my _____________.

Lesson 155--Describing probability

 

There are lots of ways of saying something may or may not happen.  In today's lesson, we will look at several of them.  I have indicated both strong and weak probability in the sentences.  Pay attention to the differences in singular and plural.

 

The chances of that happening are low/high.

The chance of that happening is low/high.

The odds of that happening are low/high.

The probability of that happening is low/high.

The possibility of that happening is low/high

The likelihood of that happening is low/high.

That will/won't likely happen.

That is/isn't likely to happen.

examples

The chances of Jim winning the lottery are low.

The odds of Maria being home are low.

Lesson 154--Stalling for Time (part two)

 

 

Sometimes, when you want to ask something, but need a little bit of time to get it right, you can employ some stalling tactics.  Most of you already know the popular "er, uhmmm, well, and other noises.  The second lesson in this series is focused on longer sentences--which will give you more time to think about what you want to ask.  I hope you find them useful.  Use these sentences before you ask your question if you need time to form your question.

 

Pre Questions

Let me ask you something.

Let me ask you one thing.

I've got a question.

I've got a few questions.

There's one question I've got to ask.

Let me just ask you a few questions.

Let me get this straight.

There's something I want to know (first).

There are a few things that I want to know.

What I want to know is......

What I would like to ask you is.....

Lesson 153--Stalling for Time (part one)

 

Sometimes, when you want to say something, but need a little bit of time to get it right, you can employ some stalling tactics.  Most of you already know the popular "er, uhmmm, well, and other noises.  We call them filler words.  Today's lesson is focused on longer sentences--which will give you even more time to think about what you want to say.

Use the following sentences while you are thinking about what you want to say.

Statements

Let me tell you something.

Let me tell you one thing.

Let's just get this straight.

Let me explain something to you.

Let me just make one thing clear.

Let me just make something clear.

Let me make something perfectly clear.

I've got something to say.

I've got something to tell you.

Listen to what I am going to tell you.

Confusion

I think my statistics counter is not working.  It says nobody checked their results from the quiz.  Is that true?  Did you have difficulty finding them?  Let me know so I can correct the problem.

If you didn't do the quiz, take some time to try it.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to put them in the comment box.