Learn about the difference between “going to” and “will”
Future simple tense (“Going to” vs “Will”)
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Monthly Archives: February 2013
Learn about the word “enough”
Do you think you know enough English? I hope you have enough time to stop and watch this video. You can never learn enough!
Phrasal verb: ask out
- ask someone out
Transitive, Separable
Meaning: invite on a date
Example: Dan asked Diane out to dinner and a movie.
In the United States, like most other countries in the world, it is normal for a man to ask a woman out.
Did you know that it is against the law to date in Iran? Teenagers are separated until they are of marrying age when their parents introduce them to one another.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Since it’s Valentine’s Day, here’s some advice about how to ask out an American girl: http://www.wikihow.com/Ask-a-Girl-Out
Phrasal verb: rip off
rip (someone) off
Transitive, Inseparable
Meaning: to charge an excess amount for something
Example: I can’t believe I paid so much for that bag. The salesperson ripped me off!
Sometimes when travelling, taxi drivers will try to rip you off. To avoid being ripped off by a taxi driver you should: ask a reliable local how the taxi system works, find out if the taxis use meters or if they have flat rates,and be aware of how much it should cost to reach your destination. Sometimes walking five minutes away from the tourist hot spot will also help prevent taxi drivers from charging you extra. And of course, smiling and being polite always helps!
Phrasal verb: go without
- go without something
Transitive, Inseparable
Meaning: suffer from lack of, be deprived of
Example: My family went without electricity for one week after the hurricane.
In 1977, Maureen Weston of the UK went without sleep for 449 hours (18.7 days). She began to hallucinate towards the end but experienced no long-term effects of her sleep deprivation.
It is impossible to beat this world record because Guinness World Records will no longer recognize it. Long-term sleep deprivation can cause serious health risks, both physically and mentally. So, don’t try it!
Phrasal verb: go over
- go over something
Transitive, Inseparable
Meaning: review
Example: You should always go over your test before you hand it in (another phrasal verb!) to the teacher.
There are three types of learners- visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Visual learners benefit by underlining, highlighting, using colored markers, drawing pictures, symbols or graphs. Auditory learners like to listen to lectures a few times and repeat the information in their minds. Kinesthetic learners are very hands-on and like to use their sense of touch.
I prefer to go over information in a visual way, but I like to use a mix of all three methods when I teach!
Bring vs Take
Learn about the difference between “bring” and “take.”
Conjunctions of Contrast
Although you might speak English well, your English can always improve.
Despite writing well, you can always write better.
You might be able to understand basic English. However, there is much more you can learn!
Learn about conjunctions of contrast (although, despite, however)
Verb + gerund/infinitive (stop, remember, forget)
Do you remember studying English for hours in high school and still being confused? How can you forget staying up all night trying to understand gerunds and infinitives? Well, stop struggling! Today, stop whatever you’re doing to watch an easy to understand video about gerunds and infinitives:
And remember to check Teacher Diane’s blog daily for new posts!
Phrasal verb: stand by
stand by
Intransitive
Meaning: to wait
Example: Please stand by for a few minutes. I’ll be back as quickly as possible!
My father works for an airline, so when I fly I have a discounted fee. However, I must fly standby which means that I must go to the airport and stand by to see if there is extra space on the flights before I can get on. It’s often stressful, but saves me a lot of money! This week I will be flying standby to Ecuador. Wish me luck!