Welcome to the blog Speaking English. We are providing for you some tips and tricks that will help you to improve your English.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

[Proverb] A stumble may prevent a fall.


It means that a small mistake may help you avoid making a bigger one.

[Idiom] Hold your horses


To be patient and to wait; to slow down and not rush into further action.

e.g.
"Hold your horses! It's a big decision. Don't just say the first thing that comes to your mind without giving it careful thought."

Friday, May 7, 2010

[Tip] Must not/ don't have to


Must not and don't have to don't have the same meaning. Use mustn't to talk about prohibitions, and use don't have to to talk about something that is not required.


Examples:


You mustn't leave your trash here.

You don't have to lie to me. You can tell me anything.

She mustn't let her children play outside unobserved.

He doesn't have to work that hard. I don't understand why he does it.


Quiz-
mustn't / don't have to: http://www.better-english.com/grammar/mustnt.htm

[Idiom] With eyes wide open


To be totally aware of what's going on around you.

e.g. " I started with eyes wide open but never expected this to happen"

Motivation

Thursday, May 6, 2010

[Proverb] The road to hell is paved with good intentions.


People my believe they are doing good when they are in reality doing bad; it's not enough to intend to do something good, you must actually do it; there is no value in simply planning to do good if you don't do it.

[Idioms] In two minds


To be unable to decide about something; to have difficulty deciding what to do.

e.g.
"
She was in two minds whether or not to tell on her friends"

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

[Proverb] A stitch in time saves nine.


It means that it's better to deal with your problems when they occur than wait, because if you wait , things may get worse, and it will take you much longer to deal with them.

Meetings Fun

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

[Proverb] Where there's a will, there's a way.


It means that perseverance will lead to success. All you need is to be determined and a solution to your difficulty will usually appear.

[Idiom] Keep someone on their toes.


To make someone stay alert and ready for action at any time; to force someone to continue giving all their attention and energy to what they are doing

e.g. " I gave them some extra things to do just to keep them on their toes."

Honesty

Monday, May 3, 2010

[Proverb] Still waters run deep


means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality; A quiet person can have much knowledge or wisdom.

[Idiom] Watch your step


Be careful how you behave or speak in order to avoid getting into trouble; to act with care and caution so as not to make a mistake or offend someone.

e.g. "He'd better watch his step if he wants to carry on working here."

Sunday, May 2, 2010

[Proverb] It is always darkest before the dawn


It means things always seem to get worse before they get better, so hang in there and don't despair.

[Idiom] See eye to eye with someone


To agree with someone.

e.g. "
They see eye to eye with each other on most important issues."

Apostrophe

[Tip] Present perfect continuous


* Use the present perfect continuous tense [ have/ has + been+ Verb+ ing] to talk about an action that started in the past and continued until recently or that continue into the future.

Examples:

She has been complaining about her job for years.


Have you been taking good care of your health? You don't look okay.


*
See more here: http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/presentperfectcontinuous/menu.php

Quiz-
Present perfect continuous: http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=present-perfect-continuous-quiz-one

Speak the same language


To have similar beliefs, opinions, ideas.... etc

e.g. "Environmentalists and developers don't speak the same language."

Semicolons


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