If you have any question about English grammar, vocabulary, writing, idioms,etc; just post it as a comment here (you can be anonymous), and wait for the answer.
Posted in: QuestionsSaturday, December 25, 2010
Questions
If you have any question about English grammar, vocabulary, writing, idioms,etc; just post it as a comment here (you can be anonymous), and wait for the answer.
Posted in: Questions[Quote] Smile
"Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to."
~Author Unknown
Posted in: Beautiful Quotes
Thursday, December 16, 2010
[Idiom] On the hook
If someone is on the hook, it means that they are responsible for something
e.g. " Oh no!! You aren't gonna blame anyone for this mistake. You are on the hook this time and everyone knows it"
Posted in: Idioms
Friday, November 26, 2010
[Proverb] Silence
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool that to speak and remove all doubt.
Posted in: Proverbs
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
[Idiom] In the hot seat
It means to be in a difficult position where you are responsible for important or difficult things.
e.g. " He suddenly found himself in the hot seat, facing angry residents who wanted him to resign."
Posted in: Idioms
Friday, October 15, 2010
[Tip] Discreet or discrete
* Discreet is an adjective. It means prudent or judicious in one’s conduct.
* Discrete is also an adjective. It means separate or distinct.
Examples:
He kept what he knew to himself, thinking that it was to his advantage to be discreet.
She's very discreet and loyal.
It's a government with three discrete divisions.
When writing a scientific manuscript, you need to include five discrete sections: introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions.
Quiz: Words easily confused.
Posted in: Tip of the dayReal Friends
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
--Walter Winchell--
Posted in: Beautiful Quotes
Sunday, October 3, 2010
[Tip] like vs. Alike
* Like is usually used as a preposition. It means possessing the characteristics of; resembling closely; similar to.
* Alike is used as an adjective or and adverb. It means having close resemblance; in the same manner or to the same degree.
Examples:
I feel like running away.
She looks like her older sister.
They dress and walk alike.
All politicians are alike.
Quiz: confusing words quiz.
Posted in: Tip of the day
Friday, September 24, 2010
Have vs. Have got
* When talking about possession, it is usually possible to replace have with have got.
* When talking about actions or experiences, it is not possible to use have got instead of have.
Examples:
I have a great idea. OR I have got a great idea.
They have a great house. OR They have got a great house.
He is having a bad day. NOT He is having got a bad day.
We are going to have a meeting next week. NOT We are going to have got a meeting next week.
For further explanation click here.
Quiz: Have and Have Got.
Posted in: Tip of the dayLearning
Monday, September 6, 2010
[Tip] remember doing vs. remember to do
*Remember doing means to recall knowledge from memory for doing an action.
*Remember to do means to do an action you should do.
Examples:
I remembered locking the door.
Remember to call me when you get there.
Remember to take your high blood pressure medicine.
* See more about Verbs That Change in Meaning
Posted in: Tip of the day[Idiom] Chinese whispers
It's used when a piece of information becomes less reliable each time it is told by one person to another.
Posted in: Idioms
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Since & For
* Since is used with the present perfect to express that something has happened 'from' a certain point in time.
* For is used with the present perfect to express that something has lasted 'for' a certain period of time.
Examples:
I've lived with them for 5 years.
I've known him since I was 10.
He has lived in Bangkok for a long time.
He has been here since 9:00 A.M.
For further explanation about since & for click here.
Posted in: Tip of the day
Friday, August 20, 2010
[Tip] Borrow vs. Lend
* Borrow means to take or receive (something) on loan with the promise or understanding of returning it.
* Lend means to give or allow the use of (something ) temporarily on the condition that the same thing will be returned.
Examples:
May I borrow your book?
I will lend you my car.
She borrowed $100 from her father.
Can you lend me your Camera?
Quiz: What's the Opposite?
Posted in: Tip of the day
Sunday, August 15, 2010
[Idiom] Oldest trick in the book
Used to describe a a well-known and much-used way of deceiving people which is still effective although it has been used a lot before.
Posted in: Idioms
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Questions
1- Explain this idiom: "make ends meet" . Give us an example.
2- Explain the meaning of this proverb: "Don't bite off more than you can chew."
3- Explain the difference between "remember" and "remind". Give examples.
4- Explain the difference between "much", "many", and "a lot". Give examples.
5- Answer this riddle: What can you catch but can’t throw?
Be the first to answer most of these questions correctly to be the winner of this week's game.
Posted in: Games[Tip] Into vs. In To
1)* "into": it's a preposition that's used to expresses motion to a point on, or within, something; to expresses a change of state; or to express you love for something or someone.
2)* "in to": is the adverb "in" followed by the preposition to.
Examples:
1)
He drove the car into the garage.
Turn ice into water.
She's into rock music.
2)
They turned their paper in to the teacher.
The administrators wouldn’t give in to the demands of the protesters.
I’m going to turn the wallet I found in to the police.
Click here for more examples.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Proverb] The best things in life are free
It means that we don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship, happiness, etc.
Posted in: Proverbs
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Questions
1- Explain this idiom: "black and blue". Give us an example.
2- Explain the meaning of this proverb: "Let bygones be bygones"
3- Explain the difference between "hard" and "hardly". Give examples.
4- Explain the difference between "I think" and "I'm thinking". Give examples.
5- Answer this riddle: The more of them you take, the more you leave behind. What are they?
Be the first to answer most of these questions correctly to be the winner of this week's game.
Posted in: Games[Tip] How to Pronounce "the" in English
* "the" is normally pronounced with a short sound (like "thuh"). However, when "the" comes before a vowel sound, we pronounce it as a long "thee".
Examples:
The (thee) apple.
The (thee) ice-cream.
The (thuh) house.
The (thuh) door.
*Note: it is the sound that matters, not the letter used in writing a word. Therefore, we use a long "thee" before a vowel sound, not necessarily before a vowel.
Example:
The (thee) hour.
The (thee) MP3 player.
Here's a free online Talking Dictionary of English Pronunciation: howjsay.com
Posted in: Tip of the day[Idiom] Down to earth
Someone who is down to earth is realistic; not fake; not pretending; easy to talk to.
e.g. "He's great, isn't he? He's so down to earth"
Posted in: Idioms
Monday, July 19, 2010
[Tip] Neither/Nor & Either/Or
* either .. or: is a construction we use to show there is a choice between two different things, but you can only choose one, not both. It means one or the other, but not both.
* neither...nor: is a construction we use to show that two or more things are not true or possible. It means not the first object and not the second object are behaving in a certain way. see more here
Examples:
Her hair was neither long nor short.
I could neither laugh nor cry.
You either pass or fail your test.
There's no third option, you know.
He did not find the key either on or under the mat.
Quiz- Both ... and, neither ... nor, either ... or.
Posted in: Tip of the day
