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Telling the time in English: past, to, and digital times
A receptionist says, "Your appointment is at quarter to three." Your phone shows 2:45. These are the same time. The phrase tells you to look forward to the next hour.
Open lessonThe: when to use the definite article
I bought a lamp yesterday. The lamp is beside the sofa. The second sentence tells us which lamp the speaker means.
Open lessonThen or than: time, sequence, or comparison?
Use then for time, next steps, and results; use than to compare two things.
Open lessonThere is and there are: introduce people and things
You arrive at a new office and want to describe what you can see. Start with there is for one thing and there are for more than one. These short forms help your listener picture the place.
Open lessonThere, their, and they're: understand the difference
The bags are over there. Their owners say they're ready to leave. The three words sound alike, but each one has a different job.
Open lessonThere, their, or they're: place, possession, or they are?
There names a place or helps say that something exists. Their shows who owns something. They're is short for they are.
Open lessonThis, that, these, and those: choose by distance and number
When you point to something, English gives you two quick choices: is it one thing or more than one, and is it near or farther away? This, that, these, and those answer both questions.
Open lessonThrew or through: action or movement?
Threw is the past of throw. Through can show a path inside a place, a period of time, or a finished task.
Open lessonTo, too, or two: direction, also, or the number?
To can point toward a place or person and can come before a verb. Too means also or more than you want. Two means 2.
Open lessonToo and enough: form, meaning, and examples
You want to wear a jacket, but it is too warm outside. Later, you need a larger bag because this one is not big enough. Both words talk about an amount, yet they give different messages.
Open lessonUsed to: past habits and states
You see an old photo of your street. You can say, "We used to live there." Used to connects a past situation with the different situation now.
Open lessonVerbs exercises: find the verb and choose the right form
A verb tells the reader what happens, what someone does, or what a person or thing is. Find that word first, then use the subject and time words to choose its form.
Open lessonVerbs: actions, states, and sentence patterns
A verb can name an action, event, or state. A main verb carries the central meaning of its group.
Open lessonVery and very much: understand the difference
I am very tired, but I enjoyed the concert very much. The two phrases both add emphasis, yet they sit in different places in a sentence.
Open lessonWait vs weight: hear and use the right word
Wait and weight share the same final sound, but they do different jobs. One describes time. The other names how heavy something is.
Open lessonWh questions: ask for precise information
You need one detail, not a yes-or-no answer. Choose a wh word that asks for that detail, then build the rest of the question around it.
Open lessonWh-questions: question words and word order
You know a friend is late. To ask for a reason, start with why and then put the helper verb before the subject: Why are you late?
Open lessonWhere, were, or wear: choose by meaning
Where points to a place. Were is a past form of be. Wear can describe clothes on your body.
Open lessonYes no questions: form and intonation
You are waiting outside a room and need to know if anyone is inside. Ask, "Is anyone in there?" The answer can begin with yes or no.
Open lessonYour or you're: possession and the short form of you are
The two words sound alike, so your and you're are easy to confuse in writing. One small check usually gives you the answer: can you replace the word with you are?
Open lessonYour, you're, or yours: what is the difference?
Your name is on the list. You're next in line. Is this coat yours? The three words sound similar, but each one has a different job.
Open lessonA dime a dozen: meaning and use in English
At a market, Sam sees a table covered with ordinary souvenir magnets. He says, 'Magnets like these are a dime a dozen here.' He means that there are many similar magnets and they are easy to find. He is not giving their exact price.
Open lessonA person of few words: meaning and use in English
At a team lunch, Omar listens carefully and speaks only when he has something to add. Later, a colleague says, 'He is a man of few words.' The colleague means that Omar does not talk much. The phrase does not mean that he knows only a small number of English words.
Open lessonA shot in the dark: meaning and use in English
A teammate cannot remember a visitor's name and says, "Is it Nadia? That is a shot in the dark." The teammate means it is a guess without enough information to support it.
Open lessonWhat you will find here
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