English Twist Blog Learning Language

English with a Twist ..............................................................................................................
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A Blog About Learning The English Language.............................................................................3
How to be romantic in English 10 English Love Idioms ...................................................... 3 Confucius says: 10 Quotes to celebrate Chinese New Year ..................................................... 6 10 More Homophones that will make you laugh .................................................................... 9 How to talk about books in English. .................................................................................... 12 English Grammar Pill: 6 Common Phrasal Verbs and their different meanings ................... 16 Lets Go Skiing Some Useful Skiing Vocabulary in English .............................................. 20 10 Idiomatic Expressions with the modal verb cant. ........................................................ 23 Lets Talk Winter English Winter Vocabulary and Idioms................................................. 27 10 Homophones that will make you laugh ........................................................................... 30 Newsflash: 2013s English Word of the Year is..Selfie! ................................................. 33
English with a Twist ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

A Blog About Learning The English Language...................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
TA G A R C H IVE S : VOC A B ULA RY .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. The Story Behind the Guy Fawkes Mask ............................................................................. 34 10 Idioms with a Halloween Theme ..................................................................................... 37 10 British Slang Expressions You Will Hear When Visiting London .................................... 40 10 Idioms Linked To The Vocabulary of Autumn ................................................................ 43 Tis The Season of Autumn Lets Share Some Autumn Vocabulary .................................. 46 10 Cooking Idioms and Phrasal Verbs That You Can Use -Whats Cooking in the Kitchen? Part 3 .................................................................................................................................. 49 Whats Cooking in the Kitchen? Part 2 Some British English Expressions Youll Hear from Jamie Oliver ........................................................................................................................ 52
Whats Cooking in the Kitchen? Some Cooking Verbs in English Part 1 ........................... 54 Hello September Some School and Office Vocabulary You Can Use This Autumn. ........... 58 How is your Food and Restaurant Vocabulary in English? .................................................. 61
English with a Twist

A Blog About Learning The English Language
How to be romantic in English 10 English Love Idioms

Posted on February 11, 2014
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To celebrate Valentines Day this Friday, I thought Id explore some English love idioms that you could use with the person you love. If your partner is a native-speaker of English, you will certainly impress them with these expressions.
Lord Byron
We might not have Cyrano de Bergerac in English Literature but I would staunchly defend the English Languages right to be considered one of the Romantic Languages. After all, we had Lord Byron who left a trail of love-sick ladies behind him. Here are 10 romantic English love phrases you could use this Valentines Da y: 1. A match made in heaven - two people who are extremely compatible and will have a great life together Ex: We are a match made in heaven. Lets get married.
2. To fall head over heels in love - to fall completely in love Ex. He has fallen head over heels in love with Jane.
3. To be smitten with someone - to be completely captivated by someone and feel immense joy Ex. Sally is smitten with this Gary chap she met the other day. She cant stop talking about him.
4. To be the apple of someones eye - to be loved and treasured by someone, normally a parent Ex. Yasmin can do no wrong. She is the apple of her fathers eye.
5. To be a soul mate - to be someone who understands and accepts the other person completely Ex. My husband is my best friend and my soul mate. 6. To take ones breath away - when you are so in love with that person that you find it difficult to breathe Ex. You are so beautiful that you take my breath away (To be extra romantic you could play Take my Breath Away by Berlin!) 7. To be someones one and only - to be unique to the other person Ex You will always be my one and only love
Love in London Photo: blog.mtrip.com
8. To have a crush on someone - an informal idiomatic expression that describes young romantic infatuation Ex. Sally has had a crush on James since they were at university together. He doesnt realise this. 9. To fancy someone (British English) to find someone very attractivE Ex. My friend really fancies you. 10. To love someone with all of ones heart and soul - to love someone completely Ex. John loves Leslie with all his heart and soul. These are just a few English love expressions. There are plenty more. Do you know any others? Have you ever used them? Which one will you be using this Valentines Day? If you liked this post, please share it and dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts. Ciao for now. Shanthi
Confucius says: 10 Quotes to celebrate Chinese New Year

Posted on January 31, 2014
Today is the start of Chinese New Year. This weekend there will be spectacular and colourful events all around London to welcome in the Year of the Horse. London has the largest Chinese community outside Asia so its no wonder that there will be plenty to see. If youd like to know more about Chinese New Year, take a look here.
Ang Pow
When I was growing up in Malaysia, Chinese New Year was my and my siblings (brother and sister) favourite religious festival. (The Chinese are the second largest community in Malaysia.) What we especially loved were the red packets angpow that my parents friends would give us when we visited them. These red packets always had money in them and some of my parents friends were extremely generous. Our piggy banks would positively swell under the weight of all those ang pow! Among the many fabulous things the Chinese have given us over the centuries rice, paper, pasta, porcelain, printing, holistic medicine, tea - the teachings of the philosopher and
teacher, Confucius has had a lasting impact on not only Asian life and values but also the Western world.
Photo: www.chinaculture.org
Confucius, whose name literally means Master Kong, lived in 551-479 BC. He presented himself as a transmitter who invented nothing and he really pointed out the importance of learning, which is one reason he is seen by the Chinese as The Greatest Master. One of the best known sources of Confucius are The Analects, a collection of his teachings, which was compiled many years after his death. A fountain of profoundly wise quotes can be found in this collection. Many of them are universal and timeless in their beautiful and simple truth and they are as valid today as in Confuciuss time. . Confucius is so well-known that often when people are about to say something philosophical they start with the expression: Confucius says.This is often said in jest (as a joke). Jokes apart, I would like to share here with you 10 of my favourite quotes from Confucius.
Photo: Wikimedia
1. Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. 2. It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. 3. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do. 4. What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others. 5. Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practises it will have neighbours. 6. Real knowledge is to know the extent of ones ignorance. 7. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember I do and I understand. 8. Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. 9. When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, dont adjust the goals, steps. 10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. 2014 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac. I was born in this year so I am thrilled to say that 2014 will be my year. I wonder what 2014 has in store for me. Whatever it is, I intend to enjoy it to the fullest. There are different ways to say Happy New Year in Chinese depending on whether you speak Cantonese or Mandarin or the other dialects. I will use the expression Ive always used in Malaysia, so to al l my Chinese followers and readers, Kong Hee Fatt Choy. If you liked this post, please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts. adjust the action
10 More Homophones that will make you laugh
The last time I posted an infographic showing 10 funny homophones, it was viewed over 11,000 times in one day alone!!!! The wonderful illustration by Kaplan clearly captured your imagination. So I thought I would share with you 10 more hilarious homophones beautifully illustrated in the infographic below. Homophones are those confusing words in the English language that sound the same but have different meanings and spelling. I know its extremely annoying, but what can you do..
Kaplan International Vocabulary mussels a small shellfish with a soft body inside a hard black or green shell, often cooked and eaten as food; knight in the past, a European soldier who wore a suit of armour and rode a horse. current happening or existing now; currant a small round fruit that may be red, black, or white; bald with little or no hair on your head bawled to cry loudly hare an animal similar to a rabbit Are there any new words youve discovered? Do you know other homophones? If you like this post please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss any of my posts.
How to talk about books in English.

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Photo: www.oakconsult.co.k
I have been an avid reader ever since I was little. I would safely call myself a bookworm. I remember spending hours in my room reading all sorts of books. My favourite books at the time were the Famous Five, Mallory Towers, the Naughtiest Girl, basically anything written by the legendary Enid Blyton. I also loved the Nancy Drew mysteries.
Photo: The Bright Old Oak
The love of reading and books has never left me. To this day, I absolutely adore visiting bookshops, walking past all those bookshelves and leafing throughnew books. I am always on the lookout for new authors and books to read. So, it is only natural for me to talk about my love of books and reading with my clients. Now, not all my clients are readers but I have spent some wonderful lessons with those who are discussing the latest book weve read or are reading and making recommendations to each other on what to read next. I have two clients in particular with whom I can happily spend hours talking about books Roberta and Elzbieta. From these chats, the vocabulary of books is explored and learned and that is what I want to do with you here explore this rich vocabulary. What are you reading at the moment?
Photo: www.bubblecow.net
The question is swiftly followed by an enthusiastic exchange of news. When I ask this question, I normally want to know what type of book the person is reading. In English, we use the French word genre to mean type of book. There are many different genres in the world of books. The genres can be split between fiction and non-fiction. Genres In the non-fiction category, you will find genres like biography, art, photography, history,travel, food and wine, cookbooks, politics, business and finance and many more. In the fiction category, you will come across genres like thriller, crime, childrens, fantasy,science fiction, contemporary, literary, chick lit, horror and many more.
Photo: www.jennifercobum.com
What is chick lit, I hear you say? Well, chick is an informal word in American English to refer to women and lit is the abbreviation of literature. Chick Lit as a genre became popular in the mid 1990s and addresses modern womanhood in a humorous and light-hearted way. Some well-known authors (writers) associated with chick lit areSophie Kinsella (Confessions of a Shopaholic),Helen Fielding (Bridget Joness Diary) andCandace Bushnell (Sex and The City). For a longer list of the different genres you can find in a bookshop, take a look here. I myself am a fan of contemporary fiction. I rarely read non-fiction. I have also started reading morecrime fiction. I really enjoy the Scandinavian authors like Jo Nesbo, Stieg Larsson and Karin Fossum.
The Plot and Characters Roberta, Elzbieta and I will then discuss the plot ( the events that make up a story) of the book were reading. Is it realistic, gripping, well-developed, fast-paced (positive) or is itpredictable, plodding, sketchy (negative)? We will also talk about the characters in the book, whether they are likeable, believable,wellrounded (positive) or stereotyped, unbelievable or undeveloped (negative).
What was/is the book like? Positive comments: The book is/was action-packed, brilliant, easy to read, complex, heartbreaking, poignant, a page-turner, riveting, thrilling, scary, gripping, spine-tingling. Negative comments: The book was/is boring, predictable, nonsensical, erratic, confusing, rubbish. Finally we will say whether we would recommend the book were reading or have read to each other. I have discovered many new authors through my chats/lessons with Roberta and Elzbieta and other friends. My most recent discovery was Kathleen MacMahon and her book This is how it Ends. It was heart-breaking and so poignant. Thank you, Elzbieta. Finally, how do you like your books? In paper or digital format? I have to admit that I LOVE my Kindle and have become an addict of e-books. How about you? It took me a while to get used to having an e-reader, but now I wouldnt be without my Kindle. What are you reading at the moment? Would you recommend it to me? Id love to hear from you. If you liked this post, please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts.
English Grammar Pill: 6 Common Phrasal Verbs and their different meanings
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As a lot of you know, I think that infographics are a great, visual way of communicating grammar points or vocabulary chunks to learners. In todays post, Id like to share with you this inforgraphic by Grammar.net to introduce verbs + prepositions and those dreaded phrasal verbs! Take a look at this:
[Infographic provided by Grammar.net]
Are you familiar with these phrasal verbs and those verb + preposition combinations or verb phrases? Verb Phrases Here are some example sentences for those verb phrases: agree with I have to agree with Martin on this one. If we dont act fast, we will lose the contract. look forward to I look forward to meeting your family next week (following verb in the +ing form ) I am looking forward to my holiday next week (noun) concentrate on Could I have some quiet, please? I need to concentrate on this email. (noun) I am finding it really hard to concentrate on writing this dra ft contract. (following verb in the +ing form ) Phrasal Verbs And now for some example sentences for the phrasal verbs. The infographic gives you some of the different meanings of each phrasal verb. I have decided to add more meanings to some of the phrasal verbs so that you can see the variety of ways these phrasal verbs can be used. work out
to solve a problem by considering the facts I cant work out what to do with this situation. to solve a problem by doing a calculation I was born in 1956, you work out my age. to exercise I love working out in the mornings. to be successful - I am sure that everything will work out in the end. to decide or agree on something We have worked out when to start our course. used for saying what the actual cost or value is when you calculate it Taking the Eurostar works out more expensive than travelling with EasyJet.
turn down

to refuse She turned down their job offer to reduce the volume - Can you turn down the TV, please?
to ready the bed for sleeping - Sir, would you like me to turn down the beds? (This is an old use of the expression but you can still hear it in 5-star or 6-star hotels where this service is still offered)
break down

cease to function - The washing machine has broken down again. separate into sections The task can be broken down in smaller, manageable sections. relationships or discussion - The Economic Talks in Beijing broke down after two days. become upset, especially in public People broke down and cried when they heard the news. make a door or wall fall - The police had to break down the door in order to enter the flat.
use up
to consume all of something - Have you used up all the eggs? (NB: I have never heard of the other example of the use of this phrasal verb as shown in the infographic)
bring up
a topic of conversation OK, everyone. Id like to bring up the topic of waste disposal. raise a child (often used in the passive voice)- We were brought up to respect our elders. vomit - During the car journey, she brought up all her lunch! It was disgusting!
turn up
increase power/sound Its so hot in here. Could you please turn up the air conditioning? arrive (often unexpectedly or with no prior arrangement) Look who justturned up? You dont have to make a reservation. You can just turn up. to find (by accident) Hey, look what just turned up? I have been looking for these documents everywhere. to happen unexpectedly- Dont worry. Another job offer will turn up when you least expect it.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to learn the different uses of these phrasal verbs in the context of a sentence and not in isolation. Many of my clients think they need to memorise the uses but I always tell them that to do so is pointless and in fact, meaningless. If there is no context, there is no meaning and therefore will be impossible to remember. I hope you found this post helpful. Please share it if you did. And please subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts.
Lets Go Skiing Some Useful Skiing Vocabulary in English

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Lets Go Skiing_zazzle.com
During the months of January through to early April, my client, Maurizio often takes days off to go skiing with friends. I know this because we often talk about these fun days in our online classes. Maurizio absolutely loves skiing and will grab any opportunity he can tohead off to the Italian or French Alps. Last week he did just that and later that week he spent our first lesson of the year telling me all about it. As we were chatting I thought that I would share Maurizios day with you and at the same time introduce you to some skiing vocabulary. Maurizio sets off very early in the morning (about 5am) for the mountains. He normally drives himself or gets a lift with a friend. When travelling to the mountains in winter, it is very important to ensure that the wheels to your car have snow chains.
Clothing And of course, you want to make sure that you have all the right clothes. Its very important you have many layers on rather than one big, thick jumper. So lets see you would need:

the base layer (thermal is best), a fleece, a ski jacket, ski pants or a pair of salopettes, a hat or a buff (neck warmer), gloves or mitts a pair of snow boots to walk in with some warm socks
Skiing Equipment Now for the actual skiing equipment or gear. As I am sure you would have heard recently on the news, Michael Schumachers medical team said that he would definitely have died if he had not been wearing a ski helmet when he went skiing off-piste. Off-piste skiing is when you ski on unmarked or unpatrolled slopes just outside a ski resorts boundaries. I am still so surprised by the number of people who ski without helmets, especially those experienced and fast skiers. In fact, Maurizio admitted that he doesnt wear a helmet. He claims he is not a fast skier and never skis off-piste but I still say more people should wear helmets. Better safe than sorry Whilst the helmet may be optional, the following equipment is essential:
a pair of skis and ski boots (many people can hire them at the resort or buy their own) a pair of poles a pair of ski goggles
Photo: Daily Mail
When you arrive at the ski resort, you will need a ski pass that allows you to ski on the slopes for the day. You need to use a ski lift to reach the top of the slopes. This can be in the form of a chair lift or a ski tow. The ski lift is mainly used for downhill or alpine skiing. You are not likely to need to go very high if you are cross-country skiing.
Cross Country Skiing
So, Maurizio spends the first few hours skiing (he is a downhill skier). Around mid-morning, he and his friends stop for a break at the resorts caf. (Maurizio uses the Italian word rifugio which can be roughly translated as caf as the English word refuge has a different meaning.) They often stop to enjoy a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate. There is more skiing before lunch beckons. I dont know about you but after a mornings skiing I would be starving or ravenous and so ready for a good lunch.
After lunch, you can normally fit in a couple more hours of skiing before its time to go either home or back to the chalet where youre staying at the resort for a good soak in the bath and a well-earned rest.
Apres-Ski Photo: schetsjes.nl
I am not a skier and prefer the sea to the snow, but the few times I have spent a few days at a ski resort my favourite time of day has always been the aprs-ski!!! This is where all the socialising happens after a days skiing, usually around a bar. (The word is French and literally means after skiing but the English language has adopted the word and it is used idiomatically.) There is something magical and cosy about the aprs-ski with the cold outside and roaring fires and hot drinks inside that makes me feel all snug and warm. It makes me want to join Maurizio on one of his next skiing trips. Any room for me in the car? Do you ski? Are you a downhill or cross-country skier? What is your favourite part of a day trip skiing? If youre planning a skiing holiday soon, I wish you tremendous fun but please stay safe. Thank you, Maurizio for allowing me to mention you and share your day with my readers. If you liked this post please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on any of my posts.
10 Idiomatic Expressions with the modal verb cant.

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Yesterday evening I posted the following 10 expressions with the modal verb cant on my Facebook Page and thought that it would be a good idea to share them here with you. In English grammar the modal verb can and its opposite cannot or cant is explained as a verb that we use to describe ability or the lack of it. For example, I can play tennis or Icannot swim. In question form it can be used to ask permission, for example, Can I leave early today?or as a challenge Why cant I have another biscuit? Cant (or cannot) is also used with some verbs to create idiomatic expressions and are widely used by native English speakers. Here are the 10 expressions I posted yesterday: 1. cant wait to be excited about something
Photo: www.explodingdog.com
Ex: I cant wait to see my friends next week. Its going to be wonderful. 2. cant stand to strongly dislike something Ex: I cant stand the traffic in London.
3. cant bear to strongly dislike something because it makes you unhappy Ex: She cant bear to be away from her family longer than a week. 4. cant take it cannot tolerate something Ex: I cant take his constant shouting anymore. I have to leave. 5. cant be bothered to have no interest in something
Photo: Punch Cartoons
Ex: I know I should go for a run but I cant be bothered tonight. 6. cant take my eyes off her/him to be attracted to someone Ex: Simon cant seem to take his eyes off the new Marketing assistant. 7. cant win life is difficult Ex: Sometimes no matter what you do in life, you cant win. 8. cant help it to have no control over something
Ex: I cant help it, I find chocolate digestives irresistible! 9. cant think straight cannot concentrate Ex: I am so tired that I cant think straight. 10. cant hear myself think cannot concentrate
Photo: Cartoonstock
Ex: There is so much noise here that I cant hear myself think. Do you know any other idiomatic expressions with cant that Ive missed out? Do you have similar expressions in your language? Try using these expressions in your written and spoken English. I hope you found the post useful. Please share it if you did. Dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts. Ciao for now. Shanthi STOP PRESS: I have just been given another idiomatic expression by another trainer (thanks Liz Martin). 11. Cant for the life of me + verb - not at all Ex: I cant for the life of me remember where I put the keys to the car. AND here are two more idiomatic expressions courtesy of another reader, Valentina Altman. 12. Cant get you out of my mind/head cant stop thinking about you Ex: I just cant get you out of my head as sung by Kylie Minogue 13. Cant get enough of something or someone you want more of something or someone Ex: I love this champagne! I cant get enough of it.
Lets Talk Winter English Winter Vocabulary and Idioms

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Happy New Year, everyone! I sincerely hope that 2014 will bring you much joy, prosperity and happiness.
A frozen Lake Michigan in Chicago_Getty Images
While the UK has been battered by rain and gale force winds, Ive been thinking about our poor American cousins on the East Coast of the US who have been suffering polar freezing temperatures. I think the temperature recorded in Indianapolis yesterday was -56!!! As Ive been snuggled up in my warm house, Ive been thinking of the abundance of winter words and expressions we have in the English Language that you could use during this cold period. Lets have a look at some of them. Winter Vocabulary a cold snap (n) a sudden short period of very cold weather Ex. The UK is experiencing a very cold snap at the moment.
to hibernate (v) to sleep through the winter months (also used metaphorically) Ex. We dont see our neighbours during the winter as we all love to hibernate in the warmth of our homes. wind chill (n) when the wind makes the air temperature feel colder Ex. It might be zero degrees on the thermometer, but the wind chill makes it feel like -3 degrees. slush (n) snow that is starting to melt and become dirt Ex. I dont like it when the snow turns to slush. Its so ugly. snowbound (adj) in a situation in which snow makes travelling impossible Ex. Many flights at Heathrow airport were cancelled as it was snowbound over the last week. sleet (n) a mixture of snow and rain Ex. Oh no, its not snow but sleet. I dont like sleet. snowfall (n) the amount of snow that falls during a period of time Ex. Weve had 8cm of snowfall overnight.
Winter Phrases and Idiomatic Expressions A lot of the expressions we have often have nothing to do with winter which can be confusing. Using some of these expressions will certainly add a sparkle to your English! Here are a few of my favourites:
to have a snowballs chance in hell (informal) - to have no chance of doing or having something Ex. You have a snowballs chance in hell of winning the lottery.
snowed under - with too much work to deal with Ex. Were snowed under with applications for the job. put something on ice (informal) to delay something Ex. The negotiations were put on ice when the market fell sharply. to break the ice - to make people feel less nervous in a social situation Ex. He told a few jokes to break the ice.

Photo: Jeffrey Hill_The English Blog
on thin ice - at risk of annoying someone Ex. Im warning you, youre on thin ice.
to get cold feet - to suddenly get too scared to do something planned Ex. She cancelled the wedding because she got cold feet. pure as the driven snow - to be completely innocent (often used to suggest the opposite) Ex. I dont think she is as pure as the driven snow.
in the cold light of day - to think about something clearly, without emotions, and often feel shame afterwards Ex. The next morning, in the cold light of day, Emma realised what an idiot she had been.
to break into a cold sweat - to become scared about something Ex. Kevin broke into a cold sweat when he realised the losses he had made.
Do you know any of these expressions? Have you used them? Do you know any others? Please do share them. Try them out with English speakers and let us know how you get on. In the meantime, if its winter where you are please stay warm! If you liked this post, please share it. Dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts.
10 Homophones that will make you laugh

Posted on December 6, 2013
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Photo: www.theclassroomcreative.com
As a lot of you learners will know, we have many words in English that sound the same but are spelt differently and have different meanings. These words can cause a lot of confusion not just to language learners but native speakers, too. In this entertaining infographic by Kaplan, there are ten homophones with an animal theme to them.
Kaplan International Colleges Vocabulary Grizzly a large North American brown bear. Grisly something that causes horror or disgust. Guerrilla a member of a small independent group, which typically fights against larger forces. Gorilla a great ape found in the forests of central Africa. It is the largest living primate. Soul a style of popular music, combining elements of gospel and rhythm and blues. Sole a European flatfish. Flee to run away. Flea a small wingless jumping insect. Dear used as an affectionate or friendly form of address. Deer a hoofed animal with bony antlers. What other homophones do you know? If you liked this post, please share it. Dont forget to subscribe to my post if you dont want to miss out on my posts.
Newsflash: 2013s English Word of the Year is..Selfie!

Posted on November 19, 2013
Photo: UPI/Ron Sachs/Pool
Yes, indeed. The word selfie has been selected English Word of the Year 2013 by Oxford Dictionaries. The Oxford Dictionary defines the selfie as a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.
The word was first used in Australia in 2002, but its use in the last year has increased by over 17,000%! The word does not have to have been introduced in the last 12 months to qualify so long as it was frequently used in the last year. I guess a 17,000% increase would qualify! The Word of the Year award celebrates the inventiveness of English speakers when confronted with social, political or technological change (BBC News). I have to say that when it comes to inventiveness English speakers win hands down. Have you ever taken a selfie? Do you agree with this award? Id love to know what you think. If you like this post, please share it and dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts.
The Story Behind the Guy Fawkes Mask

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Do you recognise this mask? Its called the Guy Fawkes mask. It first appeared around the world in the filmV for Vendetta. Since then, it has become the symbol of the anti-government and anti-establishment movements around the world. But why is it called the Guy Fawkes mask? Who was Guy Fawkes? And why do the British celebrate Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night on 5 November?
Bonfire Night is an important event for the English as it commemorates the day theGunpowder Plot of 1605 was foiled (stopped).
407 years ago, thirteen young English Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, threatened to blow up the Houses of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder. Why?
Throughout Queen Elizabeth 1s reign the Catholics had been persecuted for their beliefs. When James 1 acceded to the throne, the Catholics hoped the situation would improve, but they were to be disappointed. In fact, James 1 introduced even more stringent lawsagainst the Catholics making their lives intolerable. This situation led the group of 13 young men headed by Robert Catesby to plot to kill the king and blow up the Houses of Parliament. The plot was simple. The next time that Parliament was opened by the King, they would blow it and him up with gunpowder. They bought the house next to Parliament that had a cellar which went under the Parliament building. The idea was to place 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar and blow the building up.
The Real Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes was given the task of guarding the cellar andlighting the fuse when the time came. However, in the early hours of the morning of 5 November, the Kings soldiers seized him and the fuse was never lit. Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured and executed after confessing.
In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England light a bonfire on the night of 5 November.
Ever since then, 5 November has become known as Bonfire Night when huge bonfires are lit, elaborate firework displays are organised andeffigies of Guy Fawkes are thrown onto the fire. Sometimes, children make effigies of the Guy and walk around the neighbourhood asking for a Penny for the Guy. The Gunpowder Plot is so entrenched in British culture that it is immortalised in a childrens nursery rhyme:
Remember, remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason, why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, guy, twas his intent To blow up king and parliament. Three score barrels were laid below To prove old Englands overthrow.
By Gods mercy he was catchd With a darkened lantern and burning match. So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring. Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king. And what shall we do with him? Burn him! The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to fight the existing rulers at the time and Guy Fawkes , his mask to be precise, has a become a powerful symbol of the anti-establishment movement. If you happen to be in the UK today, do check out the nearest venue that will be hosting a Bonfire Night event. Stay warm, though. It is always bitterly cold on Guy Fawkes Night! Happy Guy Fawkes Day! If you enjoyed this post, please share it. And if you dont want to miss out on my future posts, be sure to subscribe to my blog.
10 Idioms with a Halloween Theme

Posted on October 31, 2013
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Unless youve been living in a separate galaxy in the last few weeks, you will have noticed that many people, including English Language Trainers, have been preparing for Halloween. So not wanting to feel left out I thought I would join the crowd and make my own contribution towards this pagan feast. What better way than to share with you 10 idioms with a Halloween theme! Halloween is associated with scary and spooky images like witches, black cats, blood, skeletons, ghosts, bats, weapons
(knives, daggers) as well as less scary images like pumpkins and owls. Im sure you can think of others. Ive chosen 10 idioms with some of these Halloween images. I hope you enjoy them.
1. Not a cat in hells chance no chance at all Ex: We didnt have a cat in hells chance of winning that contract. 2. Stick the knife in to do or say something very unpleasant or unkind to someone Ex: The Sales Director really stuck the knife in when he told Tom that his sales pitch was the worst hed ever seen. 3. Stab in the back to stab someone in the back means to betray them Ex: After all I did for him, he stabbed me in the back when he told all those lies about me.
4. Skeleton in the Cupboard a scandal that is kept secret Ex: James has a few skeletons in his cupboardand is terrified that he will be found out. 5. Skeleton staff the fewest number of people needed in an office Ex: We always operate with a skeleton staffover the Christmas period.
Photo by Ruthanne Reid
6. Scared Stiff so scared that you cannot move Ex. I am scared stiff of walking on ice. 7. Scare the pants off someone to frighten someone a lot Ex: The film Nightmare on Elm Street scared the pants off me. 8. Make the blood run cold to totally scare you Ex: The screams in the woods made my blood run cold. 9. In cold blood to act in cold blood is to do something without any emotion and deliberately Ex: The victim was shot in cold blood.
10. A witch hunt an investigation carried out under the pretext of uncovering illegal activity but is actually used to harass people with different views. Ex: The Government has been accused of carrying out a witch-hunton small businesses. Happy Halloween, everyone. I hope you have lots of spooky fun. If you liked this post, please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss my future posts. All you have to do is to add your email address to the box headed Subscribe to my Blog on the right hand side of the Home Page.
10 British Slang Expressions You Will Hear When Visiting London

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If youre planning on visiting London in the future, you might just want to familiarise yourself with some British Slang expressions that are very commonly used by the British. They will be very useful particularly if youre likely to be socialising with Londoners.
1. Mind The Gap
This famous expression is always used on trains and the London Underground (Tube). The gap refers to the space, often wide, between the train and the platform. Be sure you take a big step when getting off the train or tube or you could hurt yourself! 2. All Right, Mate? Mate is British Slang used to refer to men. A lot of English people, especially in the pub, use it instead of How are you?. They dont always expect an answer, but you could just respond: Yes, Thank You. 3. Naff If something is naff, it is very uncool. That jumper is so naff. There is no way Im wearing it. 4. The Full Monty This British Slang word is not to be confused with the film of the same title where the main characters removed all their clothes for a striptease act. It actually means the whole thing. You can often hear it when the English are asked at breakfast what they would like to have and they answer: The Full Monty meaning the Full English Breakfast (sausages, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, fried bread and black pudding) 5. Grub
The literal meaning is larva, but it is also another word for food. Some English will say: Whats for grub? meaning Whats for dinner or lunch?. Sometimes, you will see the word Pub Grub referring to Pub Food outside pubs. 6. Moreish I love Pringle Crisps. They are so moreish. This comes from more and simply means that something is so good that it makes you want to eat more of it. 7. Not My Cup of Tea
When the English dont like something, but dont want to be rude they will say: Im afraid that going to nightclubs is not my cup of tea. 8. Quid
This is another British slang word for the UK currency, the pound. You will often hear people use this word instead of pounds. Example: I paid ten quid for that shirt. 9. Spend a Penny or Loo This is not as commonly used as the other British slang words but I love it so I thought Id add it here. It means to go to the bathroom. Its often used in situations where people dont really know each other well, for example, in a business meeting. In that case, they might say: I need to spend a penny. The other word commonly used is the loo to refer to toilet or lavatory. Where is the loo? 10. Ta This basically means thank you. Do you know any other British Slang words or expressions? What are your favourites? If you enjoyed this post, please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss my future posts. All you have to do is to add your email address to the box headed Subscribe to my Blog on the right hand side of the Home Page.
10 Idioms Linked To The Vocabulary of Autumn

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In my last blog post, I wrote about some of the vocabulary that we associate with the season of autumn. Words like apples, leaves, pumpkin, nuts, squirrels, trees, orange, red, soup, casserole, golden, chestnuts, mist and plenty more. In this post, Id like to share with you 10 idioms that Ive found related to some of the words above. So lets start with the word autumn itself. 1. Autumn years it is often used to refer to the later years in someones life In his autumn years, Peter was able to enjoy his garden a lot more
2. Apple of my eye someone who is cherished above everyone Even though Frank has three children, his youngest has always been the apple of his eye. 3. Old chestnut it refers to a story or a joke that has been told so many times that it becomes uninteresting. Ted: The best years of your life are when youre a child. Sue: Not that old chestnut again!
4. Golden handshake Used in Business English to refer to a large sum of money that is given to an employee (normally high level) when they leave. The CEO was given early retirement and a golden handshake of 800,000 when the company was restructured. 5. Turn over a new leaf to reform and begin again He has learned his lesson and has turned over a new leaf.
6. Take a leaf out of someones book to follow someones example Alex has really done well to turn his life around. You shouldtake a leaf out of his book. 7. Lost in the mists of time means that something has been forgotten because it happened a long time ago The true significance of these traditions have been lost in the mists of time. 8. To drive someone nuts to make someone go crazy That noise is driving me nuts. Please stop at once!
9. To be nuts about someone or something to be obsessed with someone or something I am nuts about that girl. Id do anything for her.
10. To squirrel something away to hide or store something like a squirrel Lisa squirreled away a lot of money while she was working and now she can enjoy her retirement. Thats it folks! If you liked this post please share it.
Tis The Season of Autumn Lets Share Some Autumn Vocabulary

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I cannot believe that were already in mid-October. It only seems like yesterday that I was writing aboutSummer Idioms. I must be getting old as time seems to be flying quicker and quicker these days!
Knitting
Anyway, October is a lovely month as it welcomes theautumn (Fall in American English) season. I recently asked my Facebook fans what words came to their mind when they thought of the month of October. These were some of the words: romance, falling leaves, golden trees, hot chocolate, knitting.
For me, the month of October is when I start looking at my garden and preparing it for the winter. Some trees needpruning, the falling leaves need raking and the spring bulbs are planted.
This is also the time when the squirrels run around my garden looking for good places to store their nuts for the winter.
Autumn is a spectacularly colourful time of year when the leaves on the trees turn into the warmest colours of orange, red, yellow and gold.
Autumn is the apple season when a most wonderful variety of apples are available such as Golden Delicious, Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Jazz, Egremont Russet, Cox, Bramley (especially good for cooking) and Braeburn to name the most popular varieties. With the apple season comes a typical British dessert called Apple Crumble that can be served warm or cold and is eaten with custard. Its wonderful to eat it on those chilly autumn nights. I start thinking of making warming dishes like casseroles with beef, lamb and/or sausages. Its also the time when I prepare wholesome soups with lentils and vegetables.
However, lets not forget Halloween! What started as an American tradition has really taken off around the world. The shops are full of Halloween childrens
costumes and goodies. On Halloween, we are always visited by the children in our area who are out trick or treating. My husband and I always have a big box of sweets and chocolates to distribute to them when they ring our door. Their costumes are nothing, though, compared to what my American nephews wear on Halloween. They look completely the part with beautifully carved pumpkins in their garden. (Watch out for a future post when I will talk more about the language around Halloween.) For those of you who have four seasons in a year, what does autumn mean for you? What words or expressions would you associate with it? In my next post, Ill share with you some idioms linked to autumn. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed reading this piece. If you did please share it. Dont miss my posts. Why not subscribe to my blog via email?
10 Cooking Idioms and Phrasal Verbs That You Can Use -Whats Cooking in the Kitchen? Part 3
Posted on September 27, 2013
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I couldnt possibly finish my Whats Cooking in the Kitchen series without sharing some cooking idioms with you! So here are some idioms (and phrasal verbs) that are often used in General and Business English. 1. To cook the books to record false information in the accounts of an organisation.
When the company went bankrupt, it was discovered that one of the directors had beencooking the books for years.
2. To go from/get/jump out of the frying pan into the fire to go from a bad situation to a worse one
She had always had problems with her Sales Manager, so was relieved when he was sacked. However, she went from the frying into the fire with the new Sales Manager! 3. Too many cooks spoil the broth too many people managing a job can actually create more problems
Look, we need to decide once and for all who is managing this project because we have a situation of too many cooks spoiling the broth at the moment. 4. To Cook Something Up* to organise something Leave the organisational details of the party to me. I will cook something up and it will be fantastic. Youll see. *It is also used literally to mean to cook a meal. 5. To grill someone -to question someone without stopping
The police grilled the suspect for seven hours and still couldnt get a confession out of him. 6. To boil over (phrasal verb) when someone cannot control their anger and start to argue or fight The situation was so tense in the boardroom that peoples tempers were boiling over by the end of the meeting.
7. To simmer down (phrasal verb) to become calm Hey, simmer down and relax. Getting angry wont change things. 8. To Simmer with rage/anger to be filled with negative emotions like rage and anger Susan simmered with rage when she saw the disaster the builders had caused to the extension 9. To stew(v) or to be in a stew(noun) to be mentally agitated After the interrogation, the police let Tom stew for a few hours before releasing him.
10. Half-baked ideas (informal) ideas that have not been thought out enough James is always coming to me with his half-baked ideas on how we can increase sales. He is so annoying.
Whats Cooking in the Kitchen? Part 2 Some British English Expressions Youll Hear from Jamie Oliver
Welcome to Part 2 of my Whats Cooking in the Kitchen series. In my previous post, I mentioned that the British Chef, Jamie Oliver is extremely popular with my Russian, Swiss and German clients. His programmes are televised in those countries and he has a huge international fan base.
Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver uses a lot of colloquial British English expressions in his programmes that can often leave non-native speakers of English very confused. Unless, youve lived in the UK for a period of time, you are unlikely to understand what hes saying. You could simply ignore those expressions and concentrate on the cooking, but that would be a shame. His use of colloquial British English is what makes his programmes so interesting and has made cooking so accessible to a wide British audience. So, what I thought I would do is to show you one of Jamie Olivers videos and highlight some of the British English colloquial expressions he uses. As this post is also about cooking vocabulary, I will list the related expressions and words as well. Here are some of the cooking and food vocabulary you will hear. Tick them off as you hear them.

oven-roasted potatoes pour in some olive oil smother (cover completely) your meat rub the chopped fat into the meat brush it (the meat) with a little fat cover with foil and a couple of tea towel let it (the meat) rest wedges of potatoes that have been parboiling carve a bit of meat slice into inch chunks toss this in itself
three heaped teaspoons of horseradish
Here are some of the typical British English colloquial expressions Jamie Oliver used in the video:

spuds British English for potatoes geezer British slang word for a man. wallop hit something hard me Mum the British often use me instead of my. It is informal and only heard in the UK. a swig of vinegar normally used when you take a large swallow of a drink
Have you watched Jamie Olivers food programmes? If you have, what other expressions have you heard him use that youve never heard before or that you find strange? Pl ease share them here with us. One of my clients mentioned that he often uses expressions like my vegetables are steaming away, the sauce is simmering away. She cannot understand why he uses the word away. The word is used idiomatically in English. It is not used in a literal sense. In the next post, I will share with you some cooking idioms that we use in the English Language. Until then, I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Please share it if you did.
Whats Cooking in the Kitchen? Some Cooking Verbs in English Part 1

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Photo: Fiona Sherlock
Many people often think that as a half Italian and half Sri Lankan woman, my life is spent in the kitchen, as judging by my DNA make-up I must absolutely LOVE cooking! I hate to shatter anyones illusions, but a few years ago I would have been in the kitchen fo r the exact time needed to cook a meal and then escaped as quickly as I could.
However, as I have got older and married a man who really appreciates his food I have become much more interested in cooking. So much so that I now absolutely love exploring new recipes, reading cookbooksand trying out different dishes. Every week I go through all my cookbooks and recipes online and prepare my menu for the week. Yes, I know that sounds super organised but believe me, its the only way I can manage my hectic teaching schedule and ensure that I am still preparing freshly-cooked meals. I also like to have variety in my menu so a pre-prepared menu allows me to create this variety. Ive noticed that many of my clients who stay with us appreciate this diversity and have taken a real interest in my menus. So much so that I often include a cooking lesson in my course for those who share my passion.
Like listening to music, watching films and reading books, a passion for cooking is a great way for learners to improve their English vocabulary. Not only does it help you with your reading skills (recipes), but it also helps you improve your listening skills especially if you enjoy watching cooking programmes.
The Great British Bake Off Photo: Independent
Here in the UK, we have a huge number of cooking programmes such as The Great British Bake Off, Caribbean Food Made Easy, Indian Food Made Easy and so the list continues. We also have a number of well-known chefs on television, for example, Nigella Lawson, Delia Smith, Gordon Ramsay, Raymond Blanc and of course, Jamie Oliver. I know from a number of my German, Swiss and Russian clients that Jamie Oliver is particularly famous in these countries. In fact, one of my Russian clients told me that she has learned a lot of her English by watching Jamie Olivers programmes. Indeed, she was the one who gave me the idea for this post. Thank you, Tania. I plan to dedicate the next few posts to the theme of cooking and baking. I will be giving you some vocabulary and expressions related to food preparation and cooking, some cooking idioms and I will be exploring some of the expressions that are used in spoken British English. Jamie Oliver uses a lot of these in his programmes and they often confuse non-native speakers.
Lets start with some basic verbs related to food preparation and cooking.
Food Preparation Before you start cooking, you need to prepare the food. This could be anything from:

washing vegetables like spinach, broccoli,cabbage slicing thinly or thickly onions, carrots, celery peeling carrots, potatoes chopping finely or coarsely or into chunks onions, garlic, ginger, carrots shredding cabbage, cucumber marinating meat whisking the eggs or cream grating cheese
Cooking
After you have prepared the food for cooking you might need to:

melt some butter in a pan bring to the boil simmer gently steam some vegetables or fish fry some mushrooms grill the tomatoes roast the vegetables or meat stir-fry some chicken scramble the eggs
While youre cooking You will need to:
stir gently, constantly or occasionally whisk the hollandaise sauce turn the meat over season with salt and pepper sprinkle some herbs or spices
Context To really understand the meaning of these verbs, you need to see them in context. The best way to do this is to take a look at a recipe in English. You can find all sorts of delicious recipes online from these websites:

BBC Good Food Jamie Oliver Nigella Lawson Delia Online
Make a list of all the cooking verbs you find and check their meaning in the dictionary. In the next post, I shall explore some cooking programmes and pick out some expressions that are commonly used in British English. In the meantime, happy searching and please do share with me any delicious and mouth-watering recipes that you find. If you enjoyed this post, please share it. And if youd like to receive my posts directly into your Inbox, why not subscribe to my blog?
Hello September Some School and Office Vocabulary You Can Use This Autumn.
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September has arrived. For many people this signals the end of the summer holidays and the return to the daily grind ( the everyday work/school routine). What does this daily grind mean to people? Well, it means different things to different people. Lets take a look at what it means for children and adults.
Children September brings in a new academic year where children will be moving class, meeting new classmates and teachers.
In the UK, schoolchildren wear school uniforms with their schools badge sewn on their blazer or jumper. Every year parents have to buy new uniforms (children have a habit of growing out of their uniforms with lightning speed!). Most of these uniforms consist of a blazer (jacket), a pair of trousers or shorts (boys), skirts (girls),shirts, jumpers, cardigans, socks and shoes. Every school has a different uniform with specific colours.
Then there is the school stationery to buy, for example, exercise books, pencils, sharpeners, pens, rulers, erasers, scissors, highlighter pens, pencil sharpeners and pencil cases. Anything else Ive forgotten?
The start of school sees an increase in traffic on the roads especially with parents doing the school run in their cars. Some children walk to school accompanied by their parents, normally mothers, when they are in junior school. As soon as they reach secondary school (13 years old), they do NOT want to be seen any where near a parent!
Adults As for us adults, September can be extremely welcome. If you ask my friends who are parents, the start of the new school year is a moment of great celebration. They can finally have a break from their children! No more having to find different ways of entertaining their bored offspring (children). However, before the celebration really starts lets take a look at what September really means for the grown-ups:
For those who work in an office, theres the daily commute. If you are a commuter, you have a daily journey from your home to the office. This could be in a car, on a train, tube or bus. There could be traffic jams on the roads, train or tube delays, crowded train carriages with no place to sit. We have an idiomatic expression for this called the Rat Race.
Its good to be back at work there could be new targets and projects to look forward to. There might be deadlines to meet, long hours to work, client meetings toarrange, business trips to go onand business plans to prepare. Lets not forget all those client lunches or working lunchesthat you could have and after-work drinks with your colleagues.
Then there are those adults who dont have children or whose children are grown-up for whom September means going on holiday outside the peak season and enjoying cooler temperatures. Whatever September means for you, I hope the return to work and school goes smoothly and that you have fun. As for me, September means taking a well-earned rest from an extremely busy and rewarding summer teaching schedule.
How is your Food and Restaurant Vocabulary in English?

Posted on August 9, 2013
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Federico is staying with us for 5 weeks. He arrived on Sunday from Tuscany. His parents are my former students. In October he will be going to university to study Law. Before then, he has decided to spend 5 weeks in the UK to learn and improve his English by working. He is a delightful, hardworking 19 year old and we are thrilled to have him with us.
He has a lot of bar and restaurant experience so it seems only logical that he look for work as a bartender or waiter. We went out together yesterday and the first restaurant we visited was so impressed with him that they decided to give him a try out the following day. As I write this post, Federico has already worked a 10 3pm shift and is currently working his next shift of 5 10pm! Federicos level of English is Elementary to Pre-Intermediate. Like many learners at that level, he lacks a lot of vocabulary. I wanted to make his first day at work go as smoothly as possible by giving him some of the vocabulary he will need as a waiter. So, we had an hours lesson this morning at 8 going over some key food and restaurant words and expressions. As I was going over the vocabulary, I realised that many of my students, even at higher levels, often lack food and restaurant expressions. So, I thought that I would share my lesson here with you.
The first thing I did with Federico was to go through the main FOOD GROUPS with some examples that you would find on a restaurant menu.

Red Meat Beef (Cow), Lamb, Pork (Pig), Sausages, Liver White Meat (Poultry)- Chicken, Turkey Fish Cod, Haddock, Halibut, Salmon, Sardines, Whitebait, Tuna, Swordfish Shellfish Crab, Prawns (British)/Shrimps (American), Lobster, Mussels Vegetables Spinach, Courgettes (British)/Zucchini (American), Carrots, Potatoes, Broccoli, Mangetouts, Peas, Green Beans
How would you like your meat, sir?
If someone wants a steak, they may ask for it to be cooked rare, medium-rare, mediumor welldone. How is the food cooked?

Fish, meat and vegetables can be pan-fried, grilled, roasted, sauteed and baked Fish and Vegetables can be steamed Vegetables can be sauteed, boiled Potatoes can be fried, baked, boiled and mashed
DRINKS Would you like some mineral water, sir?
The customer has the choice of still or sparkling water. A lot of people now ask for a jugof tap water instead of bottled water. Here is the menu. Would madam like to see the wine list? We have some excellent redand white wines. However, our house wines are particularly good. After an exceptionally good meal, the customer might finish their meal with coffee andliquors like brandy, whiskey and so on. MENU How is the menu divided?
Some people like to begin their meal with a starter followed by a main course with sideorders of vegetables and potatoes and often finish off with dessert. Most people find that a three-course meal is enough for them. However, on special occasions its great to have a five-course meal with cold starter, soup, main course, cheese and biscuitsand dessert. THE TABLE SETTING Whats on the table?
The typical table setting in a restaurant would have a fork, a knife (steak, fish, bread or standard), a spoon (soup, standard, dessert), glasses (water, red and white wine) and atable napkin (made of cloth). There might also be a side plate for the bread. The main plate will arrive normally with food. Of course a bowl would be better if youre having soup and a pasta bowl that is wider and flatter is recommended. Could we have the bill, please? If the customers are particularly happy with the service they received they will often leave atip. Federico isnt back yet from his first day at work. I feel like a mother waiting for her little boy to come home! I do hope his first day went well and that the vocabulary and expressions he learned this morning were of help. Have you ever worked in a bar or restaurant in the Uk or in English? How was the experience? Please do share it with me here.
If you found this post useful, please share it. And if youd like to receive my posts via email, why not subscribe to my blog?
10 Idioms That Have a Summer Theme Posted on July 26, 2013 19
The school holidays have just started here in the UK. Within the next few days, thousands of British families will be heading off on their summer holidays. When most people think of summer the following words spring to mind: beach, water, sea, swimming, sun, sunshine, hot, ocean. So, it only seemed natural that I introduce you to some idioms that are associated to these words. 1. Like a Fish Out of Water to feel completely out of place
Bob always feels like a fish out of water when he is at his girlfriends office party. 2. Like Water off a Ducks Back no effect on a person Terry never gets upset when he is criticised. Its like water off a ducks back. 3. A Drop in the Ocean a very small amount compared to the amount needed A few thousand pounds is a drop in the ocean when you think about the millions that will be spent on this project. 4. Thrown in at the Deep End to make someone do something,especially a job, without preparing them for it or helping them On my first day in this job, I was asked to give a presentation to the board of directors. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end! 5. Swim Against the Tide to go against the general trend Every now and again in business you have to take a risk and swim against the tide. 6. Make a Splash to get a lot of public attention
If you want your book to be successful, youve got to make a splash by having a book launch and throwing lots of parties. 7. To make hay while the sun shines make the most of your opportunities while you have the chance
Well, I have a few more days before I have to return my Ferrari, so I may as well make hay while the sun shines and drive it as much as possible. 8. Come Rain or Shine (or whatever the weather) I go running every day, come rain or shine. 9. To take a shine to someone to be attracted to or like someone (normally when you meet new people) My dog has really taken a shine to you. 10. Hot Off the Press freshly printed
The news about the CEOs resignation is hot off the press. Can you think of other idioms with a Summer theme to them? Are you going on a summer holiday? If you are, I hope you have a wonderful time. As for me, the summer is the busiest time for an English Language Trainer in London so no holidays yet. Instead, I will be welcoming some lovely new clients to my home and blogging away over the next month If you liked this post, please share it and if youd like to receive my posts via email, you can always subscribe to my blog. A Perfect Day Learning English Through Music Posted on July 22, 2013 2
What is your perfect day? I was thinking about this the other day. And as the brain cells were working this wonderful song came to me: A Perfect Day by Lou Reed. He first recorded it in 1972. In 1997, the BBC released a new version with Lou Reed and other famous singers like David Bowie, Bono and Boyzone. This is the version Ive added here. I absolutely love this song. Id love to know what you think. This is what Id like you to do: 1. Listen to the song first and enjoy the melody. 2. Listen to it again and this time follow it with the lyrics. 3. Listen again and this time try to do the gap fill exercise. 4. Ive given you some help by writing the missing words in bold below the lyrics. 5. Check your answers, listen again and think of what your perfect day would be. Lyrics Just a perfect day drink _________ in the park And then later when it gets _______, we go home
Just a perfect day feed ________ in the zoo Then later a movie, too, and then ______ Oh, its such a perfect day Im glad I ________ it with you Oh, such a perfect day You just keep me _______ ___ You just keep me _______ ___ Just a perfect day ________ all left alone Weekenders on our own its such fun Just a perfect day you made me ______ myself I thought I was someone else, someone ______ Oh, its such a perfect day Im glad I spent it with you Oh, such a perfect day You just keep me hanging on You just keep me hanging on Youre going to reap just what you sow Youre going to reap just what you sow Youre going to reap just what you so w Youre going to reap just what you sow hanging on / spent / forget / problems / good / animals / home The complete lyrics are here. What is or has been your perfect day? Share it here with us. If you liked this post, please share it. And if youd like to receive my posts via email, why not subscribe to my blog? 10 More Confusing Words in English Part 2 Posted on July 19, 2013 10
When I wrote Part 1 of this blog post a few weeks ago, I received some lovely comments from teachers and students alike who also shared other confusing words to English language learners. Id like to share those words and add a few more of these confusing words to the list. 1. Compliment v Complement
2. Learn v Teach I love to learn new English expressions. to teach me how to make wooden cars. 3. Fun v Funny
My father likes
4. Intelligent v Intellectual Tom is a very intelligent boy. (clever) Tom has the intellectual capacity of a seventeen-year-old. (ability to think in an intelligent way) 5. Immigrant v Emigrant At the beginning of the 19th century, the United States welcomed thousands of immigrants into the country. (people who arrive in a new country to live there permanently) There are more emigrants than immigrants in this country. (people who leave their country permanently) 6. Lose (verb) v Loose (Adjective) I am always losing my car keys. I have lost a lot of weight. This skirt is really loose. 7. Advice (noun) v Advise (verb) (British English)
8. Briefly v Shortly The chairman spoke briefly at the beginning of the conference. (for a short time) Good Morning. The chairman will open the conference shortly. (in a few minutes) 9. Principal (noun + adjective) v Principle (noun) The School Principal has given the pupils permission to go out today. (Head of the school) Our company has very high principles. (values) The principal issue we have here is that this project will not finish on time. (the most important) 10. Lie v Lay (Present Tense) I was so tired that I had to lie down for 30 minutes. (No direct object) The baby is tired so I shall lay her down for her nap. (Direct Object = baby)
Thank you so much to my fellow teachers who shared these confusing words with me on the comments page. If you can think of other confusing words (there are many more!), please share them with me. Im sure there will be a Part 3 of this blog post at some point in the future. If you found this post useful, please share it. And if youd like to receive my posts directly to your Inbox, why not subscribe to my blog? Happy Fourth of July Celebrating the Difference between British and American English Posted on July 4, 2013
Today (Fourth of July) is the day back in 1776 when America declared itsIndependence from Great Britain and the United States of America was officially born. The day is a national holiday which allows Americans to celebrate the Fourth of July with firework displays and parties.
Territory and sovereignty were not the only things that Americans fought hard for to be independent of Great Britain. Right from when the Pilgrim Fathers landed on American soil in 1620, the new settlers looked to establish their own identity that would separate them from the old land that was Great Britain. And this included the language.
Throughout the world in different cultures and times, language has evolved and adapted to the people using it and the times in which they have lived. This was very much the case for the English Language spoken in this new land that was America. Over time it evolved and changed introducing many differences between British English and American English. Indeed, it was Oscar Wilde who famously said: We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language. In this blog post, Id like to celebrate this difference by sharing with you a list of commonly used British and American words and also 5 American idioms, some of which have their origins from the Pilgrim Fathers.
5 American Idioms 1. Keep your nose to the grindstone to work hard and consistently
Ex: If you want to pass your exams, you need to keep your nose to the grindstone.
2. Armed to the Teeth heavily armed were armed to the teeth when they robbed the bank.
Ex: The burglars
3. Busting Someones Chops give someone a hard time Ex: Look, I worked really hard on this project so theres no need to bust my chops over the slight delay. 4. Cant Hold a Candle to Someone cannot be equal to someone Ex: Old Flames (boyfriends) cant hold a candle to you. 5. Dressed to the Nines to dress up in fancy clothing
Ex: She was dressed to the nines when she went out last night. Do you know any other American idioms? Or words that are totally different in British English and American English? If you do, please share them here. Id like to wish my American family and friends a very Happy Fourth of July. I h ope you have a wonderful day. And remember, its good to be different! If you liked this post, please share it. And if youd like to receive my posts via email, why not subscribe to my blog? How to enjoy Wimbledon and Tennis in English. Posted on June 23, 2013 7
I just wrote the following blog post on my Language and the City Website and I thought Id share it here with you. Anyone for Tennis? How to Discuss and Follow a Tennis Match in English.
Are you a tennis lover? Will you be watching Wimbledon? I hope you enjoy this post. If you do, please share it. False Friends: 12 English Italian Words That Are Often Confused. Posted on June 14, 2013 1 The English Language has borrowed many words and expressions from other languages over the centuries. If youd like to see a funny video depicting the History of the English Language, take a look at this.
Those same words have themselves evolved over time and ended up with totally different meanings. These have in turn created what we call false friends, words that are similar in two languages but actually have a totally different meaning that can be misunderstood
In this blog post, Id like to highlight the false friends that exist between English and Italian. I will be covering false friends between English and French and English and Spanish in future posts. Im not a German speaker and dont, therefore, feel qualified to write about their differences. Perhaps some of you readers out there could help me with German? ENGLISH Actually ITALIAN In Realt FALSE FRIEND* Attualmente
Camera Comprehensive To Confront Educated Library Magazine To Pretend Parent Sensible Sympathetic Fastidious
Macchina Fotografica Completo Affrontare Istruito/Colto Biblioteca Rivista Fare Finta Genitore Ragionevole Comprensivo Pignolo
Camera Comprensivo Confrontare Educato Libreria Magazzino Pretendere Parente Sensibile Simpatico Fastidioso
The actual meanings in English of those False Friends are highlighted here: ITALIAN* Attualmente Comprensivo Confrontare Educato Libreria Magazzino Parente Pretendere Simpatico Fastidioso ENGLISH Currently Understanding (Adj) To Compare Polite Bookshop Warehouse Relative To Expect Likeable Annoying
Can you think of other false friends between English and Italian? Please share them here with me. I hope you found this post useful and if you did, please share it. 10 Confusing Words in English Posted on June 7, 2013 31
There are some words in English that often confuse my clients. Indeed, they are often confusing to native speakers, too. This can mean that these confusing words can be used incorrectly in written and spoken English. In this blog post Id like to share 10 confusing words and show you how to use them accurately:
1. Affect (Verb) / Effect (Noun) weather affect your summer holiday? rates been on this years sales? 2. Borrow/ Lend from my bank. 3. Controlled/Inspected are controlled by a central computer system. a day by our staff.(checked) 4. Interested/Interesting homeopathy.
Did the bad What has the effect of high interest I need to borrow 2,000 My bank has agreed to lend me 2,000. Our machines The cash machines are inspected once I am interested in I find homeopathy very interesting.
5. Journey (Noun)/Travel (Verb) have a long journey to work. work. 6. Raise/Rise has raised interest rates. (Raise takes an object) (Rise does not take an object) 7. Receipt/Recipe Can I have a receipt for it? me the recipe? 8. Remember/Remind my tennis racket tomorrow. (I remember)
Some people Some people have to travel far to get to The Bank of England Interest Rates have risen in the last few years. How much is this baguette? I love this bread. How did you make it? Can you give
I must remember to take
Could you please remind me to take my tennis racket tomorrow. (You remind me)
9. Sensible/Sensitive Gill always saves a part of her salary every month. She is very sensible. Gill is very sensitive to any type of criticism. 10. Stationary/Stationery The traffic was stationary all the way from the airport. need to do a stationery order this week. I am so sorry Im late. We have run out of envelopes and paper. We
10 Idioms for Communication you can use with Native Speakers of English Posted on May 31, 2013 32
When we communicate with people in any language we like to ensure that we understand them and that they understand us. So, speaking clearly and using simple language is crucial. It is especially so when you need to communicate with people in a language that is not your own. Idioms are prevalent in all languages and are mainly used by native speakers. As you have already seen in previous posts that Ive written, native speakers of English use a lot of idioms to describe different situations. So, it should come as no surprise if we also have idioms for the art of communication! The 10 idioms I want to share here with you are very common especially in Business English. You may have heard of some of them, or indeed, have similar expressions in your own language.
1. In a nutshell to summarise briefly Ex: Its a complicated system, but in a nutshell it works like a kettle.
2. To get straight to the point to talk about the most important thing to the point. Im afraid were going to have to make some budget cuts. 3. To put you in the picture to give the latest information important decisions were taken at yesterdays meeting. Let me put you in the picture. 4. To get the wrong end of the stick to misunderstand our biggest problem is our distribution channels, youve got the wrong end of the stick. 5. To be on the same wavelength to share similar opinions and idea. things. Were very lucky that we are on the same wavelength.
Ex: Ok, Ill get straight Ex: Some very Ex: If you think that Ex: We agree on most
Hear it on the Grapevine 6. To hear it on the grapevine to hear about something passed from one person to another Ex: I hear on the grapevine that the CEO is planning to resign. Is that true? 7. Cant make head or tail of it to fail to understand anything no sense. I cant make head or tail of it. 8. To talk at cross purposes to misunderstand talking at cross purposes. I meant the figures for June not July. 9. To beat about the bush to delay talking about something you a straight answer. They always beat about the bush.
Ex: This report makes Ex: I think were Ex: Politicians never give
10. To get our wires crossed to misunderstand Ex: Everyone arrived at different times for the meeting. We must have got our wires crossed.
Have you heard or used any of these idioms before? Knowing them would certainly help you understand spoken English better, especially when dealing with native speakers of English. I Drove All Night Learning English Through Music Posted on April 26, 2013 3
This week was Shakespeares birthday (23 April). However, I was reminded by a Facebook fan (thanks, Lee) that it was also the singer and songwriter Roy Orbisons birthday, too. Roy Orbison was born in 1936. He wrote many wonderful songs of which Pretty Woman is perhaps the most famous. Not only do I love the song, I love the film with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. However, I thought Id share this song, I Drove All Night instead. I find this song so romantic and when I was younger I dreamed of someone driving all night to get to me. Sadly,it never happened. Roy Orbison recorded the song in 1987 but it was not released until 1992 after Cyndi Lauper had made it a hit first in 1989. Celine Dion later made a cover version of it in 2003. Why Songs in English? Songs are a wonderful way of practising your listening skills. They also help you appreciate the poetry of the words and collocations used in the English Language, for example, your arms open wide. Chunks of language are much easier to learn through songs. Why not: listen first to the song without the lyrics listen to it again this time with the lyrics sing along to the song most important of all, enjoy it! Lyrics I had to escape, the city was sticky and cruel Maybe I should have called you first But I was dying to get to you I was dreaming while I drove The long straight road ahead Uh-huh, yeah Could taste your sweet kisses, your arms open wide This fever for you was just burning me up inside I drove all night to get to you Is that all right? I drove all night, crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep to make love to you Is that all right? I drove all night What in this world keeps us from falling apart? No matter where I go I hear the beating of our one heart I think about you when the night is cold and dark Uh-huh, yeah No one can move me the way that you do Nothing erases this feeling between me and you I drove all night to get to you Is that all right? I drove all night, crept in your room Woke you from your sleep to make love to you Is that all right? I drove all night Could taste your sweet kisses, your arms open wide This fever for you was just burning me up inside I drove all night to get to you Is that all right? I drove all night, crept in your room Is that all right? I drove all night Have you ever driven all night to get to a loved one? 10 Business Idioms Using Cats and Dogs Posted on April 15, 2013 17 The business world is full of animal idioms like fat cats, loan sharks and other animals.
Indeed, the business idiom fat catshas been widely used in the last few years to describe all those bankers who have earned huge bonuses during the credit crunch. As an English Language Learner, if you want your English to sound more natural especially when dealing with native speakers, using some of these business idioms in the correct way would certainly help.
In this blog post, Id like to concentrate on our two favourite domestic animals, the cat and dog. Ive selected just ten, but there are plenty more out there, so please feel free to share any others that you know and have used.
1. Let sleeping dogs lie do not make trouble if you dont have to. Ex: Theres absolutely no point pursuing this issue.We should just let sleeping dogs lie. 2. Not enough room to swing a cat not enough space. Ex: You should see my new office, its tiny. Theres not enough room to swing a cat! (In old English, a cat was a whip not a real cat!) 3. To be dog tired to be exhausted Ex: I have worked 70 hours this week. I am dog tired. 4. Let the cat out of the bag to reveal a secret Ex: Great! George in Finance knows about our new product. Thats all we need. Who let the cat out of the bag? 5. Go to the dogs not as successful as in the past (usually used in the continuous tense) Ex: That company will go bankrupt if its not careful. Its going to the dogs.
6. To put the cat among the pigeons to cause trouble Ex: Sending the most unpopular manager to talk to the team was like putting the cat among the pigeons. 7. A dogs dinner or dogs breakfast to make a mess Ex: They made a real dogs dinner of the website. Its terrible. 8. To fight like cats and dogs to argue and fight with someone Ex: Its a miracle how Sally and John manage this company. Theyre always fighting like cats and dogs. 9. Top dog the most important person in an organisation Ex: If you want a decision on that, youre going to have to get it approved by the top dog. 10. More than one way to skin a cat more than one way to do something Ex: No problem. If we cannot get our proposal through this way, well try something else. Theres more than one way to skin a cat.
12 Weather Idioms you can use in English

Posted on February 7, 2014
Photo: Huffingtonpost
You may have probably seen in the news that the UK has been experiencing some really bad weather in the last few weeks. We have had record levels of rain andgale force winds. Many parts of the UK, especially the South West, Wales and Somerset have suffered severe floods and continue to do so. January was recorded to be the wettest month in the South of England since records began in 1910! There doesnt seem to be an end to this extreme weather. In fact as I sit at my desk writing this blog, the rain is hitting my window. So, against this backdrop I thought I would share with you some weather idioms linked to the themes of rain, clouds, storms andwind. RAIN 1. it never rains but it pours - this idiom or proverb means that when one bad thing happens, other bad things will inevitably happen at the same time or quickly one after the other. Example: Ive had a horrible week. First I locked myself out of my house, then my car broke down, and today I missed my train to work and was late for an important meeting. It never rains but it pours! 2. take a rain check - if you take a rain check on something you postpone it until another time. (informal English) Example: I am really behind with work today. Can we take a rain check on that drink tonight? CLOUDS 3. every cloud has a silver lining - this idiom means that something good always comes from something bad, and there is always a reason to hope, even in the worst situations. Example: Jane set up her baking school after she lost her job as on office administrator. The school has been a huge success and she has never been happier. I really believe that every cloud has a silver lining.
Have your head in the clouds
4. to have your head in the clouds - to be out of touch with reality: to have ideas and thoughts that are not sensible or practical. Example: I despair of John. He thinks that getting a job without qualifications is easy these days. He really has his head in the clouds.
5. under a cloud - if someone is under a cloud they are suspected of having done something wrong. Example: She left the company under a cloudafter she was suspected of stealing.
6. on cloud nine to be extremely happy Example: Ive just been promoted and received a pay rise. I am on cloud nine!
On cloud nine
STORM 7. storm in a teacup to make a big fuss about something of little importance Example: They had a big argument but it was such a storm in a teacup.
A storm in a teacup
8. the calm before the storm - this is the quiet or peaceful period just before a period of great activity, excitement or arguments. Example: She sat down with a book and a cup of tea enjoying the calm before the stormwhen the children would return from school. WIND 9. sail close to the wind - to do something that is dangerous or only just legal or socially acceptable. Example: Jack is really sailing close to the wind with his comments about the CEO. 10. to get wind of - to find out about something, usually accidentally or from a confidential source. Example: The police got wind of the plot to rob the bank. 11. a windfall - a sum of money that you win or receive from someone unexpectedly or from a bank that floats on the stockmarket. Example: They went on a month-long cruise with the windfall they received from their bank.
under the weather
WEATHER 12. under the weather to be ill or to feel unwell Example: Im feeling under theweather today so I am going to stay in bed.
Do you know other English weather idioms? Do you use them in your conversation? Do you have similar idioms in your native language? Please share them with me. If you liked this post, please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts. Ciao for now Shanthi You might also like:
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10 Quotes by Sherlock Holmes

Photo: www.professorwalter.co.uk
Last week during my online class with Ana, we discussed the latest Sherlock episode she had just watched. She told me that she has always had a passionate interest in Sherlock Holmes. She has read all four novels and some of the short stories and watched the famous BBC series with Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes that was shown in the 1980s. More recently, she has been watching the newseries with the wonderful BenedictCumberbatch. Ana told me that she has been watching the series as a way to also improve her listening skills in English. And I thought, what better way of practising English than to combine it with something that you love doing (the topic of a previous post).
221B Baker Street
Sherlock Holmes is synonymous with all things British and in particular, with London. After all, who hasnt heard of221b Baker Street, London?
Holmes and Watson in Moscow (Wikipedia)
Before writing this post I asked my husband what words came to his mind when he thought of Sherlock Holmes. This is what he said: pipe, deerstalker, my dear Watson, crime, detective, sleuth, martial arts, mystery, logic, intelligence. What words come to your mind when you think of Sherlock Holmes? To me, Sherlock Holmes is the master of the use of forensic science skills in solving crimes, of astute logical reasoning and of disguise. So much has been written about Sherlock Holmes. Indeed, there are some wonderful resources on the web to help English language learners like this one from a wonderfully talented fellow trainer, David Nicholls. Its based on the Sherlock series with Jeremy Brett and there are some great grammar, vocabulary and comprehension exercises you can try. Its suitable for Upper Intermediate level students.
Holmess First Appearance in 1887 (Wikipedia)
What I wanted to do instead is to share with you 10 quotes by Sherlock Holmes given to him by his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These quotes appeared in the various stories. In total there were 56 short stories and 4 novels written from 1887 to 1927.
1. My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people dont know. (The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle) 2. I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection. (The Sign of Four) 3. There is nothing like first-hand evidence. (A Study in Scarlet) 4.The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes. (The Hound of the Baskervilles) 5. You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. (A Scandal in Bohemia)
English Skills: 7 Ways of Expressing Uncertainty

Posted on March 4, 2014
Whenever I ask my clients what areas of English they would like to work on and improve during their course, the same answer comes back to me: I want to be able to have a social conversation in English with my colleagues/friends
In other words, the key objective every learner of English has is to be able to use the English theyve learned (grammar, vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation) in a social context. However, its not enough to have all the words and grammar and know how to put the sentences together correctly. You need to know how to use the language in context and in the appropriate way. This is especially the case for the English language where there are many expressions you can use to mean the same thing. So, in addition to learning words, grammar, pronunciation and so on, an equally important area that language learners need to focus on is in acquiring life skills. These skills could include learning how to express an opinion,how to disagree diplomatically in English, how to ask for information or clarification in a business meeting or in a social context. Ive therefore decided to introduce in my blog a series on English Skills. The idea came to me after reading Macmillan Dictionarys blog. They have introduced their Life Skills series and I think its a brilliant idea. I have unashamedly taken their idea and decided to adapt it to my own series. Thank you, Macmillan. In todays post, I want to look at the different ways we have in English to expressuncertainty.
1. Perhaps/maybe These two words are used for saying that you are not certain about something, or that something may or may not be true. Perhaps is more formal and is used in writing while maybe is used more in spoken English

I wondered if perhaps he had changed his mind about attending the party. When can you give me an answer? I dont know. Maybe tomorrow.
2. Probably/possibly these two words can confuse even native speakers probably is used for saying that something is likely to be true, and possibly that it may be true but you are not certain

If house prices are low, its probably because there is a lack of demand. Would you consider moving to another country for your work? Possibly, Im not sure.
3. Apparently is used when what you are saying is based on what you have heard, not on what you know is true and therefore fact

Apparently, she resigned because she had an argument with her boss. There is, apparently, going to be an announcement about the new CEO tomorrow.
4. As far as I know/ as far as I am aware these two expressions are used when you have partial (incomplete) knowledge of an issue or fact.

No one has complained, as far as I know. As far as I am aware, the invitations to the party have all been sent.
5. To the best of my knowledge This phrase is used for saying that you think something is true, but you are not completely certain. This is quite a formal expression
To the best of my knowledge, no similar book has been published.
6. Not to my knowledge This is used for saying that you think something is not true, although you are not completely certain:
Has the report been sent yet? Not to my knowledge.
7. I imagine/suppose/guess These are used when you think something is probably true, but you cant be sure.Guess is more frequently used in American English, although you can hear it in British English, too. Suppose is more characteristic of British English and is often used in the negative.

I imagine theyve already left for the airport. Its difficult, I imagine, to keep the same enthusiasm for the job after 30 years.
I suppose she must be delighted about getting the job. I dont suppose youd consider staying for another week? I guess he will want to meet all the team members before the conference.
Please do let me know if there are any other expressions that I havent included here. I hope you found this post helpful. If you did, please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts. Ciao for now Shanthi
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English Grammar Pill: How to use whether or if correctly (+ quick conditionals review).
Posted on April 11, 2014
Whether or if that is the question. These two little words can cause a lot of confusion to both learners and fluent speakers of English in both spoken and written English. So, I thought I would clarify the misunderstanding in this post. And to help me, I have this excellent infographic prepared by the team at Grammar.net that clearly shows how to use whether and if correctly. However, before we get to look at the difference between whether and if, there is a brief explanation of the English conditional tenses in the infographic. I am going to go through the visual and show you how to use the tenses correctly before dealing with whether and if. We use if in what we sometimes call in grammar the if clauses that form part of theconditional tenses. The if part of the sentence is the condition whilst the second part of the sentence is the result. If you run too fast (condition), you get out of breath (result) There are four conditional tenses in English the zero, first, second and third. Most learners are familiar with the first and second. Some of my clients get confused with the third conditional and most people dont even know about the zero! Lets take a look at each one in turn.
[Infographic provided by Grammar.net] Compare these sentences.

If sales increase (generally), we make a profit. If sales increase (next quarter), well make a profit. If sales increased (next quarter), we would make a profit. If sales had increased (last quarter), we would have made a profit.
ZERO CONDITIONAL When we talk about things that are always or generally true, we use the zero conditional. Structure: If/when + present tense, present tense

If/when you fly business class, you get more legroom. If you eat too much, you get fat. When we have a lot of orders, we always employ extra staff.
FIRST CONDITIONAL When we talk about future events that will happen or has a real possibility of happening we use the first conditional. Structure: If/when + present, future
If Bob comes over, we will watch the game. (there is a good chance that Bob will come over) If the product is successful in China, we will introduce it into other Asian markets(there is a high chance that the product will be successful) If I have time this afternoon, Ill go for a run.
SECOND CONDITIONAL In this situation we refer to future events that are unlikely to happen or impossible. We also call this imaginary future. We use this tense to imagine and dream of a future thats different to our present. Structure: If + past simple, would/could/might + verb (infinitive)
If I went to the moon, I would know if it is made of cheese. (You are not likely to go to the moon so this situation is not real) If I were a boy, Id roll outta (out of) bed in the morning (lyric from Beyonces songIf I were a boy Reality= I am a girl not a boy) If I won the lottery, Id buy a yacht. ( Reality = I havent won the lottery)
THIRD CONDITIONAL When we talk about past events that are different from what really happened we used the third conditional. This is also known as the imaginary past. This is often used to express regret and sometimes criticism. Structure: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle
If Jill had gone to the zoo, she would have taken pictures. (Reality: Jill didnt go to the zoo, so she didnt take any pictures) If I had known about your problem, I would have helped you. (Reality: I didnt know about your problem so couldnt help) If I had done an MBA, I would have had more opportunities in my career.(Reality: I didnt do the MBA so Ive had few opportunities)
The above examples are about two actions in the past. If the result clause is in the present, we use would + infinitive:
If I had done an MBA, I would be on a higher salary now.
WHETHER or IF These are often interchanged but actually have different uses. Here are a couple of examples how they can be used interchangeably. James didnt know whether Helen would arrive on Friday. James didnt know if Helen would arrive on Friday. In either sentence, Helen may or may not arrive on Friday so the meaning is the same. However, they have different uses in the following situations. Condition When a result depends on a specific condition, we use IF.

We will go for a walk if it doesnt rain. Ill take Buster for a longer walk if I have time. If you finish your dinner, you can have some pudding.
Choices or alternatives Whether shows choices or alternatives and generally requires an or. Or not is often used for yes/no choices. Whether by itself can hint at both positive and negative possibilities.

Tell Rachel whether you want chicken or beef for dinner. Whether or not you are going to the party, please call. Let us know whether the school is open.
So, remember:
Photo: Grammar Girl
Sources: Grammar Girl, Business Grammar Builder, Paul Emmerson (2010), Macmillan
If you liked this post please share it. And dont forget to subscribe to my blog if you dont want to miss out on my posts. Ciao for now Shanthi You might also like:
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How to be romantic in English 10 English Love Idioms

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Confucius says: 10 Quotes to celebrate Chinese New Year

10 More Homophones that will make you laugh

Posted on January 28, 2014

How to talk about books in English.

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[Infographic provided by Grammar.net]

Lets Go Skiing Some Useful Skiing Vocabulary in English

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Cross Country Skiing

Apres-Ski Photo: schetsjes.nl

10 Idiomatic Expressions with the modal verb cant.

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A frozen Lake Michigan in Chicago_Getty Images

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Newsflash: 2013s English Word of the Year is..Selfie!

Photo: UPI/Ron Sachs/Pool

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The Real Guy Fawkes

10 Idioms with a Halloween Theme

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1. Mind The Gap

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Tis The Season of Autumn Lets Share Some Autumn Vocabulary

three heaped teaspoons of horseradish

Whats Cooking in the Kitchen? Some Cooking Verbs in English Part 1

Photo: Fiona Sherlock

The Great British Bake Off Photo: Independent

While youre cooking You will need to:

BBC Good Food Jamie Oliver Nigella Lawson Delia Online

How is your Food and Restaurant Vocabulary in English?

How would you like your meat, sir?

DRINKS Would you like some mineral water, sir?

10 Idioms That Have a Summer Theme Posted on July 26, 2013 19

Ex: The burglars

I must remember to take

12 Weather Idioms you can use in English

Have your head in the clouds

under the weather

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10 Quotes by Sherlock Holmes

221B Baker Street

Holmes and Watson in Moscow (Wikipedia)

Holmess First Appearance in 1887 (Wikipedia)

English Skills: 7 Ways of Expressing Uncertainty

To the best of my knowledge, no similar book has been published.

Has the report been sent yet? Not to my knowledge.

English with a Twist

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[Infographic provided by Grammar.net] Compare these sentences.

If I had done an MBA, I would be on a higher salary now.

Photo: Grammar Girl

10 Idioms with a Halloween Theme

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