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Another and other: add or distinguish
You have finished one cup of tea, but you would like one more. You say, "Can I have another cup?" Later, you choose a different drink and say, "I will try the other drink." The words are close in meaning, but the noun after them tells you which one to choose.
Open lessonAntonyms quiz: test opposite meanings with short contexts
A hotel room can be clean or dirty. That pair is easy when the objects are visible. In a quiz, the sentence gives the clue instead: a crowded platform needs the opposite of empty, while a polite message needs the opposite of rude.
Open lessonAntonyms: choose the opposite that fits the meaning
An antonym gives an opposite meaning. The same word can have different antonyms in different situations.
Open lessonApostrophes: possession, contractions, and common errors
A small apostrophe can change the job of a word. In the manager's office, it shows who owns the office. In don't, it shows letters that are missing. The same mark does not make a normal plural.
Open lessonAppetizer or starter: what is the difference?
You may see soup first on one menu and a starter on another. The dish can be similar, while the word reflects the restaurant's regional English.
Open lessonArticles before nouns: when to use a, an, and the
I bought a notebook on Monday. The notebook is now on my desk. I also need paper. The noun has changed in each sentence, and the small word before it tells the listener how to understand it.
Open lessonArticles exercise: choose a, an, the, or no article
A short email can contain several article choices: I need a meeting room, an hour to prepare, and the notes from yesterday. Each small word tells the reader something about the noun. This exercise helps you choose it for a reason.
Open lessonArticles for general and specific meaning
Compare these two notices: Bikes are not allowed in the hall. The bikes outside the hall belong to the staff. The first sentence gives a rule about bikes as a class. The second points to one visible group.
Open lessonArticles with geographical names
You can travel to Spain, sail on the Mediterranean, and hike in the Pyrenees. All three are place names, but they do not use the same article pattern. The useful first step is to notice what kind of name you are using.
Open lessonArticles with institutions and places
Compare these two messages: Maya is at school. Maya's father is at the school. The first can describe Maya as a student. The second tells us where her father is, at a particular school building.
Open lessonArticles with transport and media
You can go to work by bus, wait for the bus at your stop, listen to the radio, and watch television. The nouns are familiar, but each phrase follows its own article pattern.
Open lessonAs ... as comparisons
Two bags may cost the same. One walk may be shorter than another. English can show both ideas with as ... as: This bag is as expensive as that one. The walk is not as long as we expected.
Open lessonAt the office or at office: which is correct?
When you describe someone's usual workplace, standard English normally says at the office. The small word the shows that the speaker and listener can identify the workplace from the situation.
Open lessonAuxiliary verbs: use be, do, and have
Be, do, and have are primary auxiliary verbs, often called helping verbs. They help form questions, negatives, tenses, and passives. Modal verbs such as can and should are auxiliaries too.
Open lessonAwesome meaning: everyday praise and formal alternatives
After a good meal, a friend may say, That was awesome. The word sounds friendly and enthusiastic, but a note to a manager often needs a word that explains what was good.
Open lessonBackchanneling: show that you are listening
When someone tells you about a busy morning, complete silence can make them wonder whether you are following. A quiet mm-hm, a nod, or I see can show that you are with them while they continue speaking.
Open lessonBass and base: pronounce and use two different words
A menu can offer grilled bass, but a band can have a loud bass line. The fish is said /bæs/. The musical word is said /beɪs/, exactly like base. Meaning tells you which pronunciation to use.
Open lessonBazaar and bizarre: understand the difference
We bought spices at the bazaar, but the seller's purple umbrella was bizarre. One word names a place; the other describes something strange.
Open lessonBe used to and get used to
Rosa is used to working late on Thursdays. Her new colleague is still getting used to the same schedule. The work is familiar for Rosa, while her colleague is in the process of adapting.
Open lessonBegin and start: understand the difference
A meeting can begin at nine, and it can start at nine. In that sentence, the meaning is almost the same. The choice changes when you talk about a car, a new job, or the tone of what you are saying.
Open lessonBeside and besides: understand the difference
The folder beside the printer has a location. Besides the folder, you may need the signed form. The extra s changes the meaning.
Open lessonBeside or besides: place, addition, and sentence position
A bag beside the chair has a physical position. Besides the bag, you may need a coat as well. One final s changes the job of the word.
Open lessonBeware of: use this warning phrase correctly
Beware of the wet floor. This short warning tells someone what to watch for before a problem happens.
Open lessonBody-part idioms in English: figurative meaning in context
If a friend says a concert ticket cost an arm and a leg, the friend still has both arms and legs. The phrase tells you that the ticket was very expensive.
Open lessonWhat you will find here
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