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

ALTHOUGH - DESPITE

ALTHOUGH - DESPITE

(Although - even though / Despite - in spite of)

Meaning and use in English.

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Although/even though and despite/in spite of are used to combine or link two contrasting statements.

• Although/even though are followed by a subject and a verb.
  
  Even though is a slightly stronger form of 'although'.
  
  Although and though have the same meaning and are interchangeable in most cases.
  
  
  • Although/even though it was raining, she walked to the station.
  • Although/even though he had enough money, he refused to buy a new car.
  • Although/even though Amy was wearing glasses, she couldn't read the notice.
  Although/even though he disapproved, he said nothing.
  • Although/even though Jack had worked hard, he failed the exam.
    
• Despite/in spite of are followed by a noun, a pronoun or a verb ending in -ing.
  (The gerund, a verb ending in -ing,  is the 'noun' form of a verb.)
  
  N.B. Despite/in spite of  have the same meaning, but despite is used without 'of'.
  
  
  • Despite/in spite of the rain he walked to the station.
  • He noticed the rain but he walked to the station in spite of it.
  • Despite being wet and tired, he walked to the station.
  • He decided to go sailing despite/in spite of the bad weather conditions.
    

Example:
He had enough money. He refused to buy a new car.

The above two statements can be combined as follows :

• Although/even though he had enough money, he refused to buy a new car.
• Despite/in spite of having enough money he refused to buy a new car.
• He had enough money, but despite/in spite of that he refused to buy a new car.

English Tongue Twisters

English Tongue Twisters: Peter Piper

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Phrasal Verb Of The Day: Ask Around

Phrasal Verb Of The Day: Ask Around


ask around

 meaning: ask many people the same question


 example sentence


I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.

Phrasal Verb Of The Day: Ask Out

Phrasal Verb Of The Day: Ask Out

ask somebody out

meaning: invite on a date

example sentence

  Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.

Idiom For The Day: A Drop in the Bucket

Idiom For The Day: A Drop in the Bucket

A Drop in the Bucket: 
 
A very small part of something big or whole.

American Slang Of The Day: BLING

American Slang Of The Day: BLING

Meaning

flashy jewellery worn to create the impression of wealth

For example

• Check out all the bling around that guy's neck. It must weigh a ton!
• Most people have gold bling or silver bling, but they don't usually mix it up.

Note:
"bling-bling" means the same thing Origin: Originally used in U.S. hip-hop and rap culture, and possibly derived from the sound of heavy necklaces hitting one another.

Variety

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

Quick Quiz

If someone wears a lot of bling, they want to
a. look rich

b. smell good

c. feel warm

ALREADY - STILL - ALWAYS - YET

ALREADY - STILL - ALWAYS - YET

Already, still, always and yet are words that are often used incorrectly by learners of English. 

ALREADY

• Already is used to say that something has happened earlier than expected or
  earlier than it might have happened :
  • Hurry up Susan. Breakfast is ready!
  • I've already had breakfast thanks. I woke up early.

STILL

• Still is used to refer to continuing situations.
  • They've been married for 40 years and they still love each other.
  • I moved to this town five years ago and I'm still living here.
  • Are you still smoking? I thought you had stopped!

ALWAYS

• Always is used to refer to something that happens regularly, very frequently
  or forever.
  • I always send cards at Christmas.
  • Sue always takes the 8 o'clock train to work.
  • Alex is always complaining about his job.
  • I will always love you.

YET

• Yet is used to ask if something expected has happened, and in negative sentences.
  Questions:
  • Has the postman arrived yet?
  • Have you finished the book yet?
  
  
• Negative sentences:
  To say that something hasn't happened so far, or up until the present .
  • The book I ordered hasn't arrived yet.
  • We have yet to find out the cause of the delay.
    (=We still haven't found out the cause.)
    
• Yet can also be used to link two clauses or contrasting ideas
  (in the same way as, for example, 'nevertheless' or 'nonetheless').
  • She was offered an interesting job with good pay. Yet she refused it.
  • He felt alone in the world, yet he was surrounded by friends.
  • He was a strict yet fair teacher.

Idiom For The Day

Idiom For The Day: A doubting Thomas

A Doubting Thomas: 
 
A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.

American Slang Of The Day

American Slang Of The Day: Blast

Meaning

a great experience, a very enjoyable time

For example

• You should have come to Neil's birthday party. It was a blast!
• The Sydney Gay Mardi Gras was such a blast that we're going again next year, for sure.

Variety

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

Quick Quiz

Everyone agreed that New Year's Eve in Rio was a total blast. Everyone had


a. a fairly pleasant time

b. a wild time together

c. a nice, quiet time

A LOT OF - MUCH - MANY

A LOT OF -  MUCH  - MANY

A lot of, much and many are used to talk about quantities, amounts and degree.

A LOT OF :

A lot of can be used in all sentences: affirmative, negative and interrogative, with both countable and uncountable nouns.

• We learned a lot of  new English words.
• We didn't learn a lot of  grammar.
• Did you learn a lot of  English expressions?

There is hardly any difference between a lot of and lots of.  Lots of is slightly more informal.

• The new owner made a lot of money on the stock market.
• Charlie's got lots of money and he's generous with it.

A lot (without of) means a great deal. A lot is not followed by a noun.

• Tom knows a lot of vocabulary.
• Charlie is talkative. He talks a lot.

MUCH :

Much is used with singular uncountable nouns (for example: 'much English')

• I don't know much English yet.
• Do you get much homework to do?

MANY :

Many is used with plural countable nouns (for example: 'many words')

• I don't know many words yet.
• Do you get many exercises to do?

Much and many are more commonly used in negative and interrogative sentences. They are rarely used in affirmative sentences, except:

• If they begin a sentence:
  • Many people believe all they hear.
  • Much of what was said was confusing.
    
• If they are preceded by ‘so’, ‘as’ and ‘too’ and in some expressions with ‘very’:
  • There was much noise.
  • There was so much noise that I couldn’t hear very well.
  • We ate many cherries.
  • You can eat as many cherries as you like.
  • They gave us much information.
  • They gave us too much information.
  • I enjoyed the film very much.
    
• In formal or written English.
  In affirmative sentences much and many are more often used in formal or written English, whereas a lot of / lots of  are more common in informal conversation.
  In newspaper reports and headlines, for example, much and many are generally used.

Although much and many are less frequently used in affirmative sentences, they can however be used:

• The results of the elections led to much concern.
• There are many books available on the subject.

MUCH and MANY + OF:

Before articles (a/an, the), demonstratives (this, that), possessives (my, your) or pronouns (her, them), we need to use of with much and many:

• Much of his life was devoted to humanitarian causes.
• Not many of the witnesses could describe the attacker.

TO SUM UP:

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
We learn a lot of English.	I don't know a lot of English.	Do you learn a lot of English?
She spends much time on her homework.. She spends a lot of time on her homework.	She doesn't spend much/a lot of time on her homework.	Does she spend much/a lot of time on her homework?
Sam watches many domentaries on TV. Sam watches a lot of documentaries on TV.	Sam doesn't watch many/a lot of films on TV.	Does Sam watch many/a lot of news reports on TV?
But: Much effort went into the preparation. Many people drive too fast.	It doesn't require much/a lot of preparation. We don't meet many/a lot of people.	Does it require much/a lot of preparation? Do you meet many/a lot of people?

Idiom For The Day

Idiom For The Day: A dime a dozen

A Dime A Dozen: 
 
Anything that is common and easy to get.

American Slang Of The Day

American Slang Of The Day: Beat Box

Meaning

to create rhythmic percussive sounds with your mouth, especially when accompanying rhymes or rapping

For example

• Last year there was a guy on American Idol who was really good at beat boxing.
  
• You do the beat box stuff and I'll bust some rhymes.
  

Origin: Originally "beat box" meant an electronic drum machine of the sort used to create percussive sounds in rap and hip-hop music. Musicians then began creating similar "click" and "pop" sounds with their mouths, and these musicians were called "human beat boxes". The word "beat box" then came to mean the act of creating these sounds to provide a rhythmic accompaniment to vocal artists who're reciting rhymes or rapping.

Variety

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

Quick Quiz

If someone is beat boxing, they are


a. making music

b. fighting

c. exercising

AFFECT - EFFECT

AFFECT - EFFECT The difference between 'affect' and 'effect'

Many people are confused about the difference between affect and effect.
Before going any further, remember that “affect” is almost always a verb,
whereas “effect” is more commonly used as a noun.

Affect and effect are used as follows :

• AFFECT :
  Affect is most often used as a verb meaning ‘to have an impact’, ‘to change’ or 'to alter'.
  
  • Nutrition affects our health.
  • His attitude affected the atmosphere in the office.
  • Severe flooding affected many regions.
  • The snow storm affected air traffic.
  • Public protests did not affect the government's decision.
  • Thousands of people will be affected by the proposed changes.
  • Living in such a dark place affected his eyesight.
  
  
  Affect also has another, less-used, meaning: ‘to put on a false show of’ or 'to pretend':
  • She affected indifference although she was very upset.
    (= she pretended that she did not care)

• EFFECT :
  Effect is most often used as a noun meaning ‘a result’, ‘a consequence’ or ‘an influence’.
  The expression ‘have an effect on’ is often used.
  
  • His words produced the desired effect.
  • Her warning had no effect on the children.
  • The effect on the economy was disastrous.
  • The medication will not have an immediate effect.
  • Music often has a soothing effect on people.
    
  Effect can also be used as a verb meaning ‘to bring about’, ‘to make something happen'
  or 'to put into operation'. The use of effect as a verb is usually found in formal contexts.
  • The firm effected the transition to computerised accounting last month.
  • The bank was requested to effect the transfer of funds immediately.
  
  
  Effects [plural] can also mean 'personal property or possessions'.
  •  Personal effects should be packed separately.

In most everyday contexts it is safe to remember that 'to affect' =  'to have an effect on'.
Affect is related to action whereas effect is related to consequence or result.

Idiom For The Day

Idiom For The Day: A chip on your shoulder

A Chip On Your Shoulder: 
 
Being upset for something that happened in the past.

American Slang Of The Day

American Slang Of The Day: Ass-kicker

Meaning

someone who says nice things to someone in order to get something from them

For example

• Kenny thinks that being an ass-kisser helps him get promotions in his job.
  
• Bosses say they don't like ass-kissers, but I'm sure some of them quite enjoy being told how clever and wonderful they are.
  

Note:
The equivalent slang in British English is "arse-licker". Warning! This is very bad language. If you are a non-native speaker, you are advised not to use it. (You could cause resentment or anger if you use it inappropriately.)

Variety

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

Quick Quiz

Which of these statements would be said by an ass-kisser to his boss if he's trying to get a promotion?


a. "I really think I've earned this promotion."

b. "I promise I'll work much harder in future."

c. "This is the best-run company I've ever worked for."

ADVERBS : Formation and Position of Adverbs

ADVERBS : Formation and Position of Adverbs

Adverbs are used to say how, how often, where or in what manner we do something. • She danced very gracefully. • They were all chatting happily when we arrived. • He drove carefully along the icy road. • The technician explained the problem very clearly. • Tom often travels by train. • The children are playing outside. • Jane really likes that band.
Formation of adverbs	Adjective	Adverb
Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the adjective :	slow careful	slowly carefully
For adjectives ending in -y, -e, -ic, the adverbs are formed as follows :	happy humble historic	happily humbly historically
Some exceptions:	good hard fast early late daily straight	well hard fast early late daily straight
N.B.  Although they end in -ly, the following words are adjectives, NOT adverbs : friendly, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly  for example : a friendly person, a silly remark, an ugly duckling, and so on ...

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Position of Adverbs
Different types of adverbs go in different positions.

"

Type	Position	Example
manner	These adverbs usually go after the verb. They go after the object. If the object is long, the adverb can go before the verb.	He spoke clearly. He read the instructions carefully. He read carefully the instructions. He slowly moved the newspaper and picked up the book.
frequency	They go after the verb ‘be’. They go before all other verbs. Between two verbs if there are two. After the first verb if there are more than two. Before two verbs if the second verb is an infinitive. Frequency phrases (e.g. once a week) go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.	Tom is often late. Eva sometimes takes the bus. You can always change it later. I would never have found the way. We generally try to eat healthy food. Every so often Anna goes to the library. She plays tennis once a week.
place	Here, there, inside,etc. usually go at the end of a sentence.	Come and sit here. They are waiting inside.
degree	Really, quite,etc.usually go before the verb. If there are two verbs they go between. A lot, very much, etc. go at the end.	I really love that dress. I would just like a glass of water. He watches television a lot.

Idiom For The Day

Idiom For The Day: A blessing in disguise

A Blessing In Disguise: 
 
Something good that isn't recognized at first.

American Slang Of The Day

American Slang Of The Day: Antsy

Meaning

restless, impatient, unsettled

For example

• While he waited for the guy to get back with the dope, Greg was feeling antsy. He kept rubbing his hands and he couldn't sit still.
  
• Many of the students were getting antsy as the exams got nearer.
  

Variety

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

Quick Quiz

Someone who's feeling antsy will find it difficult to

a. talk

b. walk

c. relax

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives


Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things or people to each other.

• A bus is bigger than a car.
• Bill is older than Harry.

Superlative adjectives are used to compare one member of a group to the whole group.

• The Nile is the longest river in the world.
• In our class Maria is the oldest and Charlie is the youngest.

 Formation of comparative and superlative forms of adjectives  

Form	Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
One syllable Add : -er / -est to the adjective.	long nice hot	longer than nicer than hotter than	the longest the nicest the hottest
Two or more syllables Add: more-less or most-least before the adjective.	interesting practical	more interesting than less practical than	the most interesting the least interesting
Two syllables ending in -y The 'y' becomes 'i' before -er/-est	funny easy happy	funnier than easier than happier than	the funniest the easiest the happiest
Irregular Adjectives	good bad much/many little far	better than worse than more than less than farther/further than	the best the worst the most the least the farthest/furthest
Please note: 1) Some two-syllable adjectives have two possible forms of comparison, for example: commoner/more common likelier/more likely politer/more polite simpler/more simple stupider/more stupid subtler/more subtle
2) Adjectives ending with a vowel and a consonant double the consonant, for example: big  bigger  biggest except when the consonant is 'w'or 'y' : new   newer   newest Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Idiom For The Day

Idiom For The Day

A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:


Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.

American Slang Of The Day

American Slang Of The Day:  ankle-biter

Meaning

a child

For example

• Diana loves kids. She's always happy if there are lots of ankle-biters around.
  
• Richard's such a big guy now that it's hard to imagine him when he was a little ankle-biter running around in short pants.
  

Variety

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

Quick Quiz

Cathy loves being around ankle-biters, so she'd be happy working as a

a. kindergarten teacher

b. underwater photographer

c. zoo-keeper

A - AN - THE Definite and Indefinite articles

A  -  AN  -  THE Definite and Indefinite articles

A - AN :

A and an are indefinite articles used to refer to a singular countable noun.
An indefinite article means that we do not know which one, or it is not important to know it.

Which one to use:  'a' or 'an'?

The rule states that “a” should be used before words that begin with consonants (b, c ,d etc.), while “an” should be used before words that begin with vowels (a,e,i, etc.).

It should be noted, however, that the usage is determined by the pronunciation and not by the spelling, and this includes abbreviations and acronyms.

To simplify, one uses 'a' before a word that begins with a consonant SOUND, and 'an' before a word that begins with a vowel SOUND.

A is used before :

• a consonant (b, c, d, f, g, etc.) :	a car /a hotel / a game
• a vowel that is pronounced like "yu" :	a European /a university
• the vowel 'o' when it has a "w" sound :	a one-way street

An is used before :

• a vowel  (a, e, i, o, u, etc.) :	an animal / an elevator / an only child
• an unaspirated 'h' :	an hour/an honest man
• an abbreviation starting with a vowel sound :	an MBA ('em' sound)

THE :

The is a definite article used to talk about something specific.

• The town where Julie lives is very big.
• What book is Julie reading? She's reading the book Tom gave her.

The is also used to refer to:

• Rivers, seas, oceans :
  • the Mississippi river, the Mediterranean sea, the Atlantic ocean
    
• Nationalities :
  • the British, the Americans, the Japanese, the Chinese, etc.
    
    

NO ARTICLE :

No article is used in generalisations:

• I like music
• I watch television but I listen to the radio and I go to the cinema.
• I don't play tennis but I play the piano, the guitar, etc.

No article is used for place names (towns, countries, mountains) :

• London, Spain, Mount Everest
  
  
Except if plural :
• The Greek islands, The United States, The Alps, The Himalayas ...

A  -  AN  -  THE Definite and Indefinite articles

Complete the following sentences with A, AN or THE:


1. Danny wanted _____ new bicycle for Christmas.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

2. Jennifer tasted _____ birthday cake her mother had made.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

3. The children have _____ new teacher called Mr. Green.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

4. All pupils must obey _____ rules.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

5. Dad turned on _____ radio to listen to _____ news.
a) A/A
b) A/THE
c) THE/THE

6. Alex is in Boston studying for _____ MBA.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

7. The teacher read _____ interesting article from the newspaper.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

8. There was _____ huge crowd of people outside the church.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

9. Julie talked for _____ hour about her school project.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

10. _____ European expert was invited to speak to the committee.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

11. The Mississippi river is in _____ United States of America.
a) No article
b) AN
c) THE

12. It would help us if you gave _____ honest opinion.
a) A
b) AN
c) THE

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----------Answers----------

1. (a)   2. (c)   3. (a)   4. (c)   5. (c)   6. (b)   7. (b)   8. (a)   9. (b)   10. (a)   11. (c)   12. (b)

American Slang For The Day

American Slang For The Day

Hickey

- a mark on the neck or face or any part of the body by a person biting or sucking the skin ; love bite


My History professor came to class with a hickey on his neck.

Simple Present

Simple Present

FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

• You speak English.
• Do you speak English?
• You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

• I play tennis.
• She does not play tennis.
• Does he play tennis?
• The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
• The train does not leave at 9 AM.
• When does the train usually leave?
• She always forgets her purse.
• He never forgets his wallet.
• Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
• Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

• Cats like milk.
• Birds do not like milk.
• Do pigs like milk?
• California is in America.
• California is not in the United Kingdom.
• Windows are made of glass.
• Windows are not made of wood.
• New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

• The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
• The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
• When do we board the plane?
• The party starts at 8 o'clock.
• When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

• I am here now.
• She is not here now.
• He needs help right now.
• He does not need help now.
• He has his passport in his hand.
• Do you have your passport with you?