[Tip] would rather

* Use [S+ would rather + the past participle of the verb ] to express your desires in the present or future.


Examples

I'd rather you stopped making all this noise.
I'd rather he left before making everyone angry with his comments.
I'd rather they did their homework.



* See more about "Prefer and Would Rather" here: http://www.eslmonster.com/article/prefer-and-would-rather

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Yours, Mine and Ours

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[Idiom] Lose your train of thought

To forget what you were saying or thinking about.

e.g. " Your interruption made me lose my train of thought. What was I talking about again?"

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[Tip] Reflexive Pronouns

Some verbs are immediatly followed by a reflexive pronoun.

Examples

I have to give myself more time.
She hurt herself when she was cooking.

* See more about reflexive pronouns here:http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/330/grammar/reflex.htm

Quiz- Reflexive pronouns:http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/reflexive_pronouns/quiz429.html

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Common Mistakes in English

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[Idiom] In one ear and out the other

Meas that some information is heard, but it's easily forgotten, or it's being ignored.

e.g. "I keep telling him about the importance of studying, but I think it goes in one ear and out the other"

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Stupidity

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[Tip] Suppose

To begin a sentence introducing a hypothetical situation, use "suppose".

Examples

Suppose she'll miss the test! What would happen then?
Suppose they'll get angry when they know what we are doing.

* See more about how "suppose" can be used here: http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/suppose2/menu.php

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English Vocabulary: SEEM

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[Idiom] Bear something in mind

To remember something because it's important.

e.g. " Bear in mind that they won't accept any applications after the deadline, so try to send yours as soon as possible"

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[Tip] Imperative Form

Use "could" with the imperative form when you want to request that someone do something.

Examples

Could you close the window, please?
Could you tell me what time it is, please?

* See more about Imperative Sentences here: http://www.coolavenues.com/mbasp/englishmantra_1a.php

Quiz - Imperative Forms: http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/bl_bgimperative.htm

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English vocabulary: Fruit and Vegetables

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[Idiom] Spill the beans

To give away a secret or a surprise.

e.g. " You've been acting very weird lately. Come on, John, spill the beans. What are you hiding from me?"

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iPod

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[Tip] Future Perfect

Use the future perfect to talk about what will have been done up to a specific point in the future.

Future perfect forms:

* Will + have + the past participle of the verb.

* Be + going to + have + the past participle of the verb.

Examples

We'll have finished our work by the time you arrive.

He'll have bought a new car by the end of next month.

I'm going to have visited most of my friends by the time my vacation ends.

* See more here: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureperfect.html

Quiz -future perfect multiple choice: http://esl.lbcc.cc.ca.us/eesllessons/futperfmc/futperm.htm

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Telling Time

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[Idiom] The apple of your eye.

You use it to talk about a person who is so special and dear to you heart.

e.g. " My daughter is the apple of my eye"

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[Tip] Adjective + Infinitive

* Use the infinitive form of the verb when it follows an adjective.


Examples

It is weird to see them acting this way.
It's normal to make mistakes.
It's difficult to explain something you don't understand.


See more here: http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_infinitive-ing.htm


Quiz - Infinitive or -ing Quiz:http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_infinitive-ing_quiz.htm

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Order of Adjectives in English

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[Idiom] Go the extra mile

To try harder and make more effort than is expected of you to reach a goal.

e.g. "They're always willing to go the extra mile to do things right."

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English teachers' spirits

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[Tip] Adverb + 'ing' form

* When an adverb is followed by a verb, the verb takes the 'ing' form.

Examples

Hopefully relaxing this weekend will help him get better.
They caused problems by carelessly gossiping about others.


Quiz - Adverbs Quiz:http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/interestsentences/adverbs/quiz.shtml

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English Vocabulary for Beginners

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[Idiom] Get one's act together

To organize your affairs/activities better than you have done previously so that you manage to deal with things more efficiently.

e.g. "He's got to get his act together and start getting his work done."

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[Tip] Future Continuous

* Use the future continuous to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a specific point in time in the future.


Examples

* We'll be enjoying our vacation in two weeks time.

* They will be having dinner when you get there.


Quiz - FUTURE PROGRESSIVE TENSE: http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/will-be-ing01.html

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Although & Even though

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[Idiom] Bite someone's head off

To scold or speak very angrily to someone, or criticize them strongly or unfairly.

e.g. "I can't tell him he is not good at doing his job, he'd bite my head off! "

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Grammatical errors can be lethal!

kkk

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[Tip] Look forward to

* Use "Look forward to" with the "ing" form of the verb.

Examples

* He looked forward to visiting his friends.

* I'm looking forward to showing them my work.

* He looks forward to meeting you soon.


Quiz - Gerunds Quiz: http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-gerunds_quiz.htm

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Question Tags

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[Idiom] Go bananas

Means to go mildly crazy and start acting in a weird manner, or to become very emotional over something.
e.g. "She went bananas when she couldn't find her car"

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[Tip] Stop doing vs. Stop to do

* Use "Stop doing" when you mean "quitting", or to finish an activity

* Use "Stop to do" when you mean pause in order to do something else.


Examples

*He stopped drinking last year.

* I stopped to ask for the directions to your house every two seconds.

Quiz - Gerund or Infinitive: http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_verbform1.htm

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Hope and Wish

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[Idiom] In inverted commas

You use this idiom to indicate that the word/sentence that is in inverted commas is not quite true or appropriate.

e.g. "She looked very "happy", in inverted commas, to see us in the party."

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Comma abuse

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[Tip] on time vs. in time/ in the end vs. at the end

* "On time": at the planned time; neither late nor early.

* "In time" : with enough time to spare; before the last moment.

* "In the end": finally, after a long time.

* "At the end": at the point where something stops.
ExampleS

*Peter wants the meeting to start exactly on time.

*He would have died if they hadn’t got him to the hospital in time.

*In the end, I got a visa for Russia.

*I think the film’s a bit weak at the end. p. 450

Quiz - Prepositions- Time: http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/230.html

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Everyday vs. Every Day

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[Idiom] Act of God

Some natural event like an earthquake or lightening taht human beings cannot prevent or control, and for which no person is responsible.

e.g. " Since the damage was caused by an act of God, the insurance company refused to pay for it"

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