1. What is "Cross your heart, hope to die?" 2. What is the difference between in the bank and at the bank?

3. What is the difference between because and cause? When can I use them? 4. I keep studying all the lessons you send me and I can't memorize them. I don't know what can I do. 5. Why is English spelling so difficult? 6. How do I use either/ or and neither/ nor? 7. Could you advise me on what I can do to improve my listening comprehension? 8. What do supposed to do and supposed to be mean? 9. Can you let me know how and when I can use no longer and any longer? 10. Could you tell me how I can improve on phrasal verbs? 11. What is the meaning of You are kidding? 12. What is the difference between English speaking and writing? 13. What is the difference between adopt and adapt? 14. I'd like to know how I can improve my vocabulary. I have many vocabulary lists, but the problem is that I don't know how to learn them. 15. What is the difference between might and may?

This is a saying that children use to make a promise. The child draws an X over his heart with his finger and says "Cross my heart, hope to die." He may also add "stick a needle in my eye." to make the promise stronger. It means he is serious about the promise. We use them as almost the same thing. In the bank means inside the bank. At the bank, however, could be inside or outside. You are probably confused because sometimes we say 'cause as a short way to say because. But notice the small ' before the word. It takes the place of the letters that are missing. Please don't worry about memorizing the lessons I send to you. They are only meant to be an introduction if you haven't learned them before, or a review if you have already learned them. There are wonderful classes in your community and online that can help you with your English at your own pace. Think of those classes as your meals and 5 Minute English as a snack. Don't worry if you have a difficult time spelling English. It also takes children whose first language is English a long time to learn spelling. There are some rules, but there is also a lot of memorizing. English is a semi-phonetic language. That means some things are spelled as they sound, and some things are not. For both sets you are talking about two different things, like A and B, or chocolate ice cream and vanilla ice cream, or cats and dogs. Of course the best way to improve anything is to do it a lot. If you could talk with and listen to a native English speaker, that would best. Speaking and listening to a non-native English speaker using English can also be helpful. You also told me you listen to CNN. I think that's good and bad. It's great that you can understand some things, but CNN uses more sophisticated English than many other programs. I don't want you to feel discouraged. Try something easier. Even children's programs are useful. There are also some good tapes and CD's available to people learning English. Supposed to means obligation, or something you should do. So supposed to do means something you should (or have an obligation to) do, and supposed to be means something or somewhere you should be. Here are some examples. Maybe they will help. In fact means actually. Kind of like "so you can see..." I can used it at the beginning of a sentence , like: In fact, he already knew the secret. It always has a comma after it. Sometimes it is used in the middle of a sentence after a be verb, like: He was, in fact, listening behind the door. There is no easy answer for learning phrasal verbs. It is one thing you just have to memorize and listen for. I will try to give you lessons with phrasal verbs from time to time. You are kidding is the same as You are joking or I can't believe it. It shows that the speaker is surprised.

For example:

A: It's raining. B: You're kidding! We have a picnic today. Why does it have to rain today?

or-

A: I got a great job today! B: You're kidding. That's wonderful! English writing is generally more formal. It often uses individual words instead of contractions, like I am instead of I'm. In spoken English we often drop syllables or run words together, like gonna. We need to write the full words out as in going to. Everybody learns differently. Of course the best way to learn anything is to use it in regular life as much as possible. Then it becomes real for you. May and might have the same meaning when used as a modal (or helping verb.) Examples: She may go shopping. She might go shopping. The only difference is may is slightly more formal to some people. Many people use might more often in speaking and may more often in writing. But they can change depending on the person and their mood.