She met him in France Lisa is from Canterbury, England. Sam is from Paris, France. While vacationing in Paris, Lisa met Sam at the Opéra Garnier. They had both gone alone, but their seats were next to each other. He loved the music. She loved the drama. And, at the end of the last scene,… Continue reading Miss the boat, a story
Tag: Intermediate
Everyday Conversation
Learning English for social situations Many of my students want to learn or improve their English for work or school. However, I also have students who simply want to sound more natural and fluid in social situations: Everyday English expressions, idioms, and phrasal verbs Learning – and using – a new English expression every week… Continue reading Everyday Conversation
Once in a blue moon
Once in a blue moon I… look through old photo albums that are sitting on my bedroom bookshelf. Are you old enough to have real, physical photos? When I was growing up, digital cameras didn’t exist. We used film cameras – with 35mm film on which we could take 24 or 36 photos. I have… Continue reading Once in a blue moon
My advice? Learn a new phrasal verb every week
What are Phrasal Verbs? A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (such as prepositions or adverbs) that together create a new meaning that is different from the original verb. Example:“give” (verb) means to provide, to supply, to let someone have“give up” (phrasal verb) means to quit Why study Phrasal Verbs?… Continue reading My advice? Learn a new phrasal verb every week
It’s “a long shot”, but I’ll ask!
What’s the meaning of “a long shot”? What do you imagine when you hear the words; “a long shot”? It’s another English expression that might not be easy to understand on its own. If you’ve never heard this idiom before, I suggest you do the following: Were you right? How did you do? Were you… Continue reading It’s “a long shot”, but I’ll ask!
Hotel terms for when you travel
Using English when you travel Traveling offers excellent opportunities to practice your English! Of course this is true when you’re traveling to English-speaking countries, but it’s also true when traveling to many other countries that don’t speak your language. Why? Because English is a very common second-language for people all over the world. Whether you’re… Continue reading Hotel terms for when you travel
Do you cut corners?
The Story of Nadège, who cut corners at work Nadège, eager to impress her boss with a quick turnaround, cut corners while preparing the financial report. Rushing through calculations and overlooking details, she submitted it ahead of schedule. However, her haste led to errors. When the discrepancies were discovered during a crucial meeting, her credibility… Continue reading Do you cut corners?
The Difference between “Lose” and “Loose”
Some English words are tricky, especially when they sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. Two such words are “lose” and “loose.” Let’s break down their differences to help you use them correctly every time. “Lose” (pronounced “looz”) is a verb, meaning to be deprived of something or to fail to win. For example:… Continue reading The Difference between “Lose” and “Loose”
“Less” or “Fewer”
Let’s look at a grammar point that many people – including native English speakers – often get wrong. And that is when to use the word “less” versus when to use the word “fewer”. The answer depends on whether the noun we’re referring to is countable or not. Less If the noun we’re describing cannot… Continue reading “Less” or “Fewer”