Experience English: Vocabulary and Expressions

Showing posts with label Vocabulary and Expressions. Show all posts

The Future: Making Predictions Using Will, Could, And Might

When you make predictions in English, we generally use WILL, COULD, and MIGHT to express probability. However, it is easy to confuse the use of will, could, and might with the present continuous for the future to talk about future actions and plans.

Please click on the image below to see how we use will, could, and might to make predictions:

Here is an example of how we express probability using will, could, and might:

Journalist: What do you think will happen to the economy next year?

Economist: I think the economy will improve around the world. (The person thinks the economy is sure to improve.)

Journalist: Do you think there will be a recession before the economy improves?

Economist: Some countries in Europe could experience a recession. (There is a possibility.) However, the US economy will pick up (improve).

Journalist: What do you think will happen to the eurozone?

Economist: The eurozone might break up (separate) because of weak economies in certain countries. (The break up is not probable and the economist does not know if it will happen. The economist is not sure.)

Now, let's compare making predictions and the use of the present continuous for the future:

Julie: Hey Terry, what are you doing this weekend? (Use the present continuous to ask about someone's plans.)

Terry: I am going on vacation. We are going to Los Angeles to see my parents! (Terry made plans to go to Los Angeles and bought his plane tickets. That is why we use the present continuous to talk about future plans and actions. He is not expressing probability or possibility about a future action or event.)

Julie: Really? That is great! When are you leaving?

Terry: We are leaving on Saturday morning. I think our flight will be on time, so we will have time in the afternoon to go to the beach and enjoy the sun.

Julie: What are you going to do in Los Angeles?

Terry: I am going to a barbecue at my uncle's house on June 29. I am also having lunch with my friend, Mike, at his parents' house on June 30. (Going to a barbecue and having lunch are future plans and actions.) I might go bicycling with him in the afternoon, but I am not sure yet (I have not decided yet). I know I am going to eat a lot of food, so I am going to run three days a week. I could also go bicycling and walking in the Santa Monica Mountains. (Bicycling and walking are future possibilities.)

Julie: Have a wonderful trip!

To sum up (summarize, recapitulate), we use WILL, COULD, and MIGHT to make predictions and express probability:

- Subject + Will / Could / Might + Verb (Infinitive)

- Will is the most probable and expresses a sure prediction about future events and actions.

- Could expresses a future possibility (or different possibilities) about future events and actions.

- Might is the least certain and probable. We use might when you are not sure or you do not know what will happen in the future.

- Always use the present continuous when you talk about a future plan and action. We only use will, could, and might to make predictions and talk about probability.

What is the difference between might and may?

We generally use might in conversation and may in more formal writing and business contexts.

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Look at the photo below:

- What do you think will happen to the plane and the people on the beach?

Use will, could, and might to make predictions and answer the question.

Tell me by leaving a comment below or in a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".

Picture Discussion: The Big Terry Burger

While I was in Los Angeles to visit my family and friends, I was invited to a BBQ (barbecue) at my uncle's house.

I took advantage of (used the opportunity) the occasion to create a "Big T" burger. Big T stands for (represents) Big Terry.

In my opinion, the burger was yummy for the tummy (delicious)!

What do you think?

The Big T burger consists of two meat patties (round pieces of meat), ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, tomatoes, two slices of cheese, and pickles (a cucumber that is preserved in vinegar).

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

When was the last time you created something that you were proud of?

When did you last make something that was yummy for the tummy for lunch or dinner?

Play Scrabble Sprint

To help you think in English when you are under pressure or when there are time constraints, play Scrabble Sprint! Scrabble Sprint is a fast and fun word game. The object of the game is to create words from the letters you have on the screen.

To play Scrabble Sprint, please follow the instructions on the screen:

Click on the letters you see on your screen (or type the letters on your keyboard) to create a word.
After you create your word, Do not forget to click on PLAY or press ENTER to play your word. The more words you create, the more time you have to play.
Click here to play Scrabble Sprint!

Have fun and think in English!

Tell me your best scores by leaving a comment below or in a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".

Expression: To Take A Hit

TO TAKE A HIT

IN FRENCH = PRENDRE UN COUP

Examples:

- Over (for, during a period of) the past 12 months, the Buffalo Niagara Falls region lost 800 jobs in the service industry. The region also took a hit in retail trade, losing 600 jobs.

- Facebook Inc.'s stock took a hit Monday after an article in the financial magazine Barron's said it is "still too pricey (expensive)" despite a sharp decline (decrease) since its initial public offering.

- "The capacity of Britain's economy to produce goods and services has taken a hit," Bank of England's Paul Fisher said on Tuesday.

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Can you think of an example to use this expression in a sentence?

Leave your example in a comment below or send me an example by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

Source: English For Business

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".

Listening And Writing: Satisfaction At Work

Job satisfaction is an important part of a person's life. A person often spends a lot of time and dedicates a lot of energy at work.

A recent survey (questionnaire) between April 16 and May 15 asked 411 workers in the US and Canada if they were satisfied with their jobs. The findings (results) were that 19% said they were satisfied with their jobs while the majority said they were not happy at work. (Click here to read the article on Forbes.com.)

The article says that the message to employers is that a lot of unhappy workers are not able to change jobs at the moment. Workers feel stuck (not capable of moving) because of the economic situation and financial crises around the world. The article also suggests that employers offer more training and opportunities to develop a career in their companies to help employees feel more satisfied.

Listening Activity on ESL Podcast

Click on the link below to read and listen to a dialog. Please click on the "Listen" button at the top of the page.

Working in a Dead End Job (having a job that cannot develop or transform into something better)

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Are you satisfied with your job and your work?
What are the challenges and rewards (benefits, gains) of your work?
If you could make changes in your job to improve your work experience, what would you change?

Tell me by leaving a comment below or in a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

Expression: "To Turn Up (For Something)"

TO TURN UP (FOR) = TO ARRIVE, TO APPEAR

IN FRENCH = VENIR, ARRIVER, SE POINTER

Examples:

- Not a lot of people turned up for the meeting, so we had to schedule (plan) another one next month.

- He just turned up without an appointment and expected to see the CEO (president of the company).

- I turned up 20 minutes late for the presentation, and I forgot to take some important documents with me to give to my colleagues!

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Can you think of an example to use this expression in a sentence?

Leave your example in a comment below or send me an example by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

Source: English For Business

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".

Video Discussion: Smile

When you smile, an entire chemical change happens in your mind and body. Research shows that smiling can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and reduce your blood pressure. Moreover, research finds that smiling changes the perception of how other people see you. When you smile, people can perceive you to be good-looking, competent, likable, and courteous.

In the video below, Nat King Cole sings a lovely song called Smile. Here are the lyrics to read before you watch the video:

Smile though your heart is aching (suffering, in pain, hurting)
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by (manage, survive)
If you smile through your fear and sorrow (sadness)
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness (happiness)
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on (continue) trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile (important, beneficial, advantageous)
If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Here is a touching video about smiling:

Source: Smile on Vimeo

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

"Nothing is permanent in this wicked (severe, mean) world - not even our troubles."

What does the quote above mean to you?

When was the last time your smile helped a person or made a difference?

Tell me by leaving a comment below or in a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

American English Slang: The Use Of Awesome And Suck

If you listen to songs and watch American movies or TV series, you have probably heard people use the words awesome and suck. These two words are common in American English slang. As you will see below, the words have completely different meanings.

In a nutshell (to sum up, in brief), someone or something is awesome. Awesome means:

Remarkable
Outstanding (excellent)
Amazing
Wonderful
Superb
Marvelous
Sublime
Exciting

On the contrary, suck has a different meaning. Similar to how we use awesome, someone or something sucks. Suck means:

Horrible
Awful
Terrible

We also use suck as a phrasal verb:

To suck it up means to deal with a difficult situation without complaining or creating problems.

For example, "Despite my anger during the meeting, I sucked it up because I did not want to insult my colleagues or cause any problems.

To suck up to someone means to agree with someone because of his or her position or power (and for his or her approval).

For example, "Being married for 17 years has taught me when to suck up to my wife. I know exactly when to agree with her and when to suck it up."

The video below provides awesome explanations of how to use suck in English.

Source: engVid

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

When was the last time you had to suck it up?

Have you ever sucked up to a person to get his or her approval?

When was the last time you saw an awesome movie or read an awesome book?

When did you go on a holiday that sucked?

Video Discussion And Vocabulary: "What The Hell" And Other Expressions

In everyday English, we often use the word, "hell", to express surprise, anger, and frustration. The expression we typically use to intensify, or maximize, our surprise or anger is: "What the hell . . . ?"

For example, if something happens that surprises you, shocks you, or makes you angry, you can say:

"What the hell is happening?"
"What the hell is going on?"

In simple language, "What the hell?" is enough. In the past, you would say, "What the hell happened?"

Here are some common expressions we use with "hell":

A cold day in hell: An event that will never happen. For example, "It will be a cold day in hell before you get a raise (an increase in salary)."
All hell broke loose: A great disaster or chaos happened. For example, "All hell broke loose after the bomb exploded in the street."
For the hell of it: To do something for no particular reason, just because it is fun or amusing. For example, "The weather is nice today. Let's go running for the hell of it."
Go through hell: To have a miserable (horrible) experience. For example, "I went through hell during my holiday because my kids were terrible!"
Raise hell: To cause big problems or trouble. For example, "I am going to raise hell if I do not get my raise this year!"
When hell freezes over: Never; not in your life; not a chance.

The following video explains how we use "hell" in different expressions:

Source - engVid

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

What are the expressions you use in your language to express surprise and anger?

Picture Discussion and Writing: How Has Technology Changed Your Life?

Technology has progressed significantly in the last two decades (20 years).

When I was in school, I remember going to the public library to use dictionaries and encyclopedias to get information. Moreover, I typed my documents on a typewriter before I gave them to my teachers.

I remember using pay phones and coins to call people when I was outside, on the street. I also played outside with my friends and we created fun adventures and games with our imagination.

Today, there are computers, cell phones (cellular phones, mobile phones), MP3 players, Smartphones, robots, Internet and 3D Televisions, interactive video games, and websites in our lives.

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

What are your thoughts and feelings when you look at the image above?

How has technology changed your life?

Are we communicating better, thanks to technology?

How will technology change our lives in the future?

Expression: To Throw In The Towel

TO THROW IN THE TOWEL = To quit or to admit failure

IN FRENCH = JETER L'ÉPONGE

- McGraw-Hill was ready to throw in the towel, and they were trying to get a magazine sold. Fortunately, Bloomberg has been able to turn around (improve, make better) the magazine in a pretty quick time frame (period of time).

- Independent oil and gas explorer Hyperdynamics seems to have thrown in the towel. What's worse is that the company seems to be heading for (going to have, going towards) some legal trouble as well.

- "We weren't going to throw in the towel with four minutes left (remaining). We still wanted to play and we weren't going to go down (lose, be beaten) without a fight." - Kevin Gardner

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

When was the last time you threw in the towel? What happened?
Why is it sometimes necessary to throw in the towel?
Can throwing in the towel lead to (result in, cause, provoke) better things or a better situation?

Tell me in a comment below or send me a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

Source: English For Business

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".

Music Discussion And Vocabulary: "Nothing Else Matters"

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, I had a dream come true. My dream became reality when I saw Metallica in concert in France. Metallica was on tour in Europe to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Black Album.

On their album, there is a unique song. A song that is different from all their other songs. The title of the song is "Nothing Else Matters."

This activity consists of vocabulary points and a music discussion of Nothing Else Matters, followed by the music video.

Vocabulary Points

Dictionary.com defines matter as

the substance or substances of which any physical object consists or is composed of
(For example, the matter of which the earth is made.); and
a situation, state, affair, or business.
(For example, in the human resources department, we have many important matters to deal with at the moment.)

As a verb, to matter means to be of importance or to signify. For example, it does not matter if you drink tea or coffee during your break. (It is not important or it makes no difference if you drink tea or coffee.)

We also use the word matter in the following expressions:

A matter of life and death means that there is something of vital or crucial importance. For example, "Giving up smoking could be a matter of life and death."
As a matter of fact means the same as in fact, in reality, or actually. For example, "As a matter of fact, I am not working on the computer project at the moment because we have no budget for it."
For that matter means as far as that is concerned or as for that. For example, "For that matter, I cannot go swimming with you on Sunday because I am going running."
No matter means that it is not important or it makes no difference. For example, "No matter what you do, I will always love you." "I do not have any apples for the pie. No matter, we have some pears that we can use."

In the song, "Nothing Else Matters" means that "nothing else is important."

Song Lyrics

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters

Trust I seek (look for, search for) and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters

never cared for (never liked) what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters

never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us, something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters

never cared for what they say
never cared for games they play
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
and I know

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters

Music Video

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

What is the most important thing to you? Something so important that nothing else matters?

Tell me by leaving a comment below or in a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".

Suggestion Of The Day: Making Appointments

Making appointments is typical in everyday English. Here is a list of expressions that you can use if you have to make plans in your personal or professional life:

Are you free / available on Tuesday, May 15 at 2 PM?
I would like to make an appointment with you next Friday, if possible.
May I suggest next Wednesday, the 16th, at 3 PM?
We should set up (plan, schedule) a meeting / an appointment / a conference call on the 10th of May.
What about / How about Friday at 11 AM?
Would Monday at 9 AM suit you?
Does next Thursday suit you?
Is Wednesday at 6 PM fine / okay with you?

In addition, here are some verbs that we use to make plans and arrangements:

You plan / schedule / reschedule / cancel a meeting, lunch, dinner, a conference call, etc.
You postpone (put off) something until another day and time.

To listen to making appointments by phone, please click on the link below. You will learn more expressions and hear a dialog about a man who wishes to make an appointment with a woman to discuss investment possibilities.

Telephoning: Making an Appointment, from Business English Pod

Best Practices: Describing Trends, Graphs, And Changes

In business and everyday English, you sometimes have to describe changes in trends (movement or tendency), graphs, and diagrams.

In the business context, you may have to describe trends in reports, meetings, and presentations. In everyday life, you could describe changes in any subject because things change all the time!

Describing changes and trends generally consists of three parts:

Use a verb (or an adjective and a noun) to describe movement
Describe the speed or size of the movement
Explain the reason or consequence of the change

You can also view it this way: Verb + Speed or Size + Result/Reason/Consequence

Example

In 2011, Samsung's profits increased considerably thanks to its successful Galaxy S series.

Part 1

Here are some verbs you can use to describe change and movement.

Upward Movement

To climb

To rise

To go up

To improve

To pick up

To recover

To increase

To reach a peak

Downward Movement

To fall

To decline

To bottom out

To decrease

To drop

To plummet

To deteriorate

To hit a low

To slip back

To go down

Horizontal Movement

To even out

To remain stable

To stabilize

Part 2

Here are some adjectives and adverbs you can use to describe the speed and size of change.

Speed of Change

Rapid - Rapidly

Slow - Slowly

Sudden - Suddenly

Sharp - Sharply

Steady - Steadily

Gradual - Gradually

Fast - Quickly

Size of Change

Noticeable - Noticeably

Substantial - Substantially

Considerable - Considerably

Slight - Slightly

Significant - Significantly

Dramatic - Dramatically

Negligible - Negligibly

Part 3

Here are some expressions you can use to express reason, consequence, and result:

As a result of
Due to
Because of
Was the reason for
Caused
Resulted in
Explains
Accounts for
That is why
Consequently
So
Thanks to

Time Expressions You Can Use

In January / In 2011
In Q1 / Q2 / Q3 / Q4 (In the first quarter / second quarter / third quarter / fourth quarter)
From January to March

Examples

Apple's sales increased significantly due to the launch of the iPhone 4.
[verb + adverb construction]

There was a significant increase in Apple's sales due to the launch of the iPhone 4.
[adjective + noun (word) construction]

Our turnover remained stable in January and February. However, in March and April, it dropped suddenly as a result of the financial crisis.
[verb + adverb construction]

In March and April, there was a sudden drop in our turnover as a result of the financial crisis.
[adjective + noun (word) construction]

The following video shows how to describe trends in a meeting and presentation context. Listen to the language and vocabulary the people use in the video.

Expression: To Cut Corners

TO CUT CORNERS = To do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often reducing the quality of your work.

IN FRENCH = FAIRE DES RACCOURCIS, LÉSINER

- "BP has a history of cutting corners to save money," he remarked. "Not only financial corners, but safety corners. And we see that has resulted in the deaths of American citizens; of hardworking individuals and families."

- “When it comes to education and safety, there are no ways to cut corners; we cannot afford to cut any corners.”

- We can't cut corners on this project if we want to win the contract. If we make the mistake of cutting corners in an effort to reduce costs, we'll lose a big contract and a lot of money.

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

When was the last time you bought something of bad quality or used a service that cut corners?

Tell me in a comment below or send me a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

Source: English For Business

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".

Expression: "To Be Snowed Under"

TO BE SNOWED UNDER (WITH SOMETHING) = TO HAVE A LOT OF WORK, TO BE BOMBARDED WITH SOMETHING, TO BE OVERWHELMED (WITH SOMETHING)

IN FRENCH = ÊTRE DÉBORDÉ

Examples:

- Snowed under with requests for mobile and social apps, IT finds itself juggling priorities to give business what it wants -- now.

- I would like to help you, but I’m snowed under because of these computer issues (problems).

- Ever wonder why you find yourself reaching for a bag of crisps or some chocolate when you’re snowed under at work or dealing with some problems? Research has found the answer. Apparently stress is the biggest cause of overeating for more than half of the country’s adults.

- I am snowed under at the moment because my manager wants me to make a presentation about our banking services.

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Best Practices: Communicate Ideas That Influence, Inspire, And Motivate People

Have you ever listened to a person during a presentation or speech who inspired you? Or a speaker who influenced you and motivated you to change?

In Chip and Dan Heath's book, "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die," the writers talk about a strategy to communicate ideas and messages.

"Made to Stick" in this context means that an idea or message is "adhesive" and it remains or stays with you. The idea influences you, inspires you, and motivates you. To stick is to be adhesive, like glue.

What do ‘sticky ideas’ mean? According to the authors, it means that “your ideas are understood and remembered, and have a lasting (durable) impact — they change your audience’s opinions or behavior”.

The formula is in the acronym, SUCCES:

Simplicity: What is the essential message of the idea?

Unexpected: Does the idea get people’s attention?

Concrete: Is the idea clear and can it be easily remembered?

Credible: Will people believe the idea?

Emotional: Do people see the importance of the idea?

Story: Does the idea inspire and motivate people? You inspire people by giving examples and telling stories.

As Chip Heath says, "Effective ideas are simple." The formula emphasizes (stresses) that important point. Moreover, effective ideas make an emotional connection with people.

The strategy is simple and powerful; in addition, you can use it in any situation that necessitates influence, persuasion, and change. In business, it can be in E-mail, during meetings, negotiations, presentations, or conference calls. In our personal lives, it can be in relationships.

Here is a video with Dan Heath, who describes the meaning of SUCCES:

The bottom line is (the final result is) if you want people to use your ideas, you have to communicate your ideas effectively (persuasively, productively) and connect with people emotionally.

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Have you ever had to communicate an idea to influence or persuade someone?
How did you do it? Were you successful?
How can you use this strategy in the future to communicate your ideas?

Best Practices: How to understand native speakers' questions in English

Native English speakers generally speak fast and eat their words. Moreover, they speak as if they have chewing gum in their mouth.

Here are some examples of words we contract in conversation when we speak too fast. You can hear these words in music, movies, and business meetings:

Gonna = going to
Wanna = want to
Lemme = let me
Gimme = give me
Donno = don't know
Gotta = must, have to

The challenge is to understand what native speakers say when they speak fast and eat their words.

In the video below, you will hear a short lesson on how to understand native speakers' questions in English.

Listen to how we contract specific words and form questions.

Source: engVid

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

When was the last time you heard people who spoke too fast in English?
How did you manage the situation?
What strategies or expressions did you use to help your comprehension?

Video Discussion: Who is your hero and why?

In the following video, you will hear two words we often use in everyday English:

To look up to someone means to admire a person. For example, "I look up to my father because he works hard and takes care of his family."
To overcome something is to surmount a challenge or difficulty. It also means to get better during a difficult time or defeat someone or something that causes trouble or difficulty. For example, "After fighting cancer for three years, she finally overcame it and got better so that she could travel again."

Another word you will hear in familiar English is 'cos. 'Cos and 'cause are abbreviations of because.

Heroes

Source: Express English - Heroes

These questions touched me. I am going to answer them and share my hero with you.

First of all, I think you can have many different heroes in your life. It depends on the period of your life and the people and things you experience.

I will explain who my hero is now.

I have two daughters, Alexia and Flora. My current (present) hero is their mother, Emmanuelle. Why is she a hero? I think Emmanuelle is a hero because she has all of the qualities of a hero. She has strong convictions (beliefs) and she stands up for (defends) her beliefs and her children. She does not stop fighting for the things and people she believes in. She perseveres.

Moreover, Emmanuelle is a strong person, even though (despite the fact that) she does not think she is!

To sum up (to recapitulate, to summarize), I think a hero must have strong beliefs and defend them.

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Who is your hero and why?
What qualities do you think a hero should have?

Best Practices: Phrasal Verbs And Vocabulary To Know And Use

English vocabulary consists of many phrasal verbs. You can find them in conversation, business English, movies, songs, books, and virtually everywhere people communicate in English!

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a prepositional particle. Typical phrasal verbs are to get up, sit down, deal with, and look forward to.

As the image shows above, fluent speakers use phrasal verbs. The challenge is that phrasal verbs can be literal in meaning or figurative in meaning. For example, "Look up at the sky" literally means to move your head up and look at the sky. However, "Look up the address of the restaurant in the phone book" figuratively means to search for and find (the address) in a reference book (phone book or dictionary).

Give up means to stop
making an effort or to
stop doing something.

In addition, phrasal verbs have different meanings that depend on the context. Always remember that meanings of phrasal verbs are contextual and they depend on the context.

In general, phrasal verbs follow specific grammar constructions:

You give up something (verb + ing). For example, I gave up smoking in 1995.
You give something up. For example, I gave it up in 1995.

You cannot say, "I gave up it in 1995."

Pronouns, such as YOU, HIM, HER, THEM, US, and IT go between the verb and the prepositional particle.

More examples:

I picked up my parents at the airport. I picked them up at the airport.
(I went to the airport to get or collect my parents.)
If a phrasal verb consists of two particles, such as look forward to, pronouns go after the last particle.

I am looking forward to my holiday. I am looking forward to it.
(I am anticipating and excited about my future holiday.)

Be careful, because there are many exceptions. For example, the phrasal verb deal with only has one particle, but pronouns go after with and not between deal and with.

I have to deal with customers who have bad attitudes. I have to deal with them.

Make up means to reconcile and to stop a dispute. It
also means to put makeup or cosmetics on your face.

Please click on the image below to see the 15 most useful phrasal verbs in the English language.

Click on the image to see it.

Click here to download a list of about 200 useful phrasal verbs with meanings and examples.

If you have difficulty downloading the documents:

Right-click on the document (cliquer à droite)
Choose "save as . . . " (choisir "enregistrer sous . . .")

PRACTICE AND THINK IN ENGLISH

Look at the image above and choose five phrasal verbs. Create a story with them.

Tell me your story by leaving a comment below or in a message by E-mail at kaufman.terry@gmail.com, if you like.

To learn how to leave a comment, please click for instructions in English or click for instructions in French. It is not necessary to have a Google account. After you type your comment, click on the menu, "Comment as" ("choisir une identité") and choose "Name" or "Anonymous".