Idiomatic Expression - Let The Cat Out Of The Bag

Idiomatic Expression - Let The Cat Out Of The Bag

Meaning: Accidentally told a secret

Example:

Be careful not to let our cat out of the bag.

The principal let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party for the teachers.

Infinitives and Gerunds

What is a gerund?

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

• Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence
• Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence
• I enjoy reading. object of sentence

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

• He enjoys not working.
• The best thing for your health is not smoking.

What is an infinitive?

2. An infinitive is the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

• To learn is important. subject of sentence
• The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence
• He wants to learn. object of sentence

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

• I decided not to go.
• The most important thing is not to give up.

Use a gerund or an infinitive?

3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

• Learning is important. normal subject
• To learn is important. abstract subject - less common
• The most important thing is learning. normal complement
• The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement - less common

4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

Examples:

• He enjoys swimming. "Enjoy" requires a gerund.
• He wants to swim. "Want" requires an infinitive.

5. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects. List of Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Examples:

• She suggested going to a movie.
• Mary keeps talking about her problems.

6. Some verbs are followed by infinitives. List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Examples:

• She wants to go to a movie.
• Mary needs to talk about her problems.

 

Source: https://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/part_1.htm 

Parts Of A Plant

Plants typically have six basic parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.

The roots take nutrients and water from the ground to the body of the plant.

The stem carries out the nutrients and water from the root to the leaves of the plant.

The leaves make food using the process of photosynthesis for the plant. The leaves need water, air, and sunlight to process food.

The flower is the reproductive organ of the plant. Some flowers become fruits where there are seeds in it ready to grow to a new plant!

 

Idiom For The Day: A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted

Idiom For The Day: A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted

A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted: 
 
It's easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money.

American Slang For The Day: Blow

American Slang For The Day: Blow

Meaning

cocaine

For example

• She'd snorted so much blow that she had to have an operation to repair the lining of her nose.
  
• After he got hooked on blow, Terry lost his job, his girlfriend, his apartment and his car.
  

Variety

This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz

If someone says, "Hey, you wanna score some blow?" they're trying to sell you some
a. pornography

b. marijuana

c. cocaine