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.

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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)