Many times in a conversation you find yourself in a situation where you do not have any words

to say. This may happen when you haven't understood the person or you are not able to
express yourself or there is nothing more left to say. Under these circumstances it is important
that you need not give the impression that you are not interested. Try to avoid being silent.

There are many words you can use to avoid this situation. You can also use transitional
phrases to make the conversation more impressive and to avoid any awkward gaps.

Sample Usage

When you haven't understood what a person has said you can say

"I am sorry, I didn’t understand"

"Sorry, could you please repeat that?"

When you are not finding the words to say anything and you need some seconds to think then
you can use words like

"Well..."
"OK..."
"So..."

Another way could be make some noises like "Hmmm...", "OH...", etc.

When you intend to agree with a person

"That's right", "True", "Right", "I agree" etc.

You can also change the subject by using these words

"Well... as I said earlier..."

"Well...back to..."

"Anyway..."

"So what were we discussing..."

Some Transitional phrases

"I certainly understand that..."

"I can understand your concern..."

"Had I been in your place I would have felt the same..."

"Of course I..."

Verbs which don't change: :Some verbs don't change when the tense changes.Here are
some verbs which are alike:

1.hurt/hurt/hurt. 2.set/set/set 3.put/put/put 4.quit/quit/quit 5.let/let/let.

6.shut/shut/shut 7.shed/shed/shed 8.spread/spread/spread 9.cut/cut/cut 10.hit/hit/hit.
Some people say "This pen costed ten rupees". The correct way is "This pen cost ten
rupees".Mary hitted the dog. (Incorrect) Mary hit the dog (Correct)

Sample Usage

Please put the bag on the table. Mary put the bag on the table. Mary has put the bag on the
table.

Please don't hit the child. Mary hit her naughty child when it broke the window pane.

Fat people need to shed the extra flesh> Mary shed some weight last month.

Mary looks smart . She has shed a few pounds of fat.

Common mistakes while communicating: I find some people committing very simple
errors in English. I would like to explain these with example in detail.
I seen the movie last week. Here, there are two mistakes. First, the verb seen is used only
with have, has, had in the Active voice and am, is, are, was, were,has been, have been, will
be, shall be, can be, could be, may be, might be, must be, used to be, ought to be in the
Passive Voice

The verbs such as seen, spoken, written, given should never be used without the above
auxiliary verbs. If you use them alone it is a major mistake.

For example: I have written a letter.(Active voice}

A letter has been written by me.(Passive voice)
Raj was given a gift. He will be given a gift.

While using the passive voice, we should always use the third part of the verb and also when
we use the present perfect and the past perfect tenses, we should follow the same rule.

Sample Usage

Raj had spoken with me about Rani when I went to his office.
A monkey was seen on the roof of the house.
The mail must be written without spelling mistake.
The essay should written in paragraphs.
The student used to be given some awards every year by the college

Let the cat out of the bag : This idiom means to disclose a secret suddenly. Imagine only
you know the date of engagement fixed by another friend of yours. He has requested you not
to disclose the matter to anyone else. However, if you tell this to your other friends in a
gathering in front of who is going to be engaged, you have let the cat out of the bag, much
to the embarrassment of your friend.

For example: Rani left the cat out of the bag when she told me about her boy friend.

Sample Usage

Raj didn't like his friend's smoking habit. His friend's mother didn't know about it. Raj told his
friends mother about this. Thereby he has let the cat out of the bag.

The reason is that : Some people use this phrase in a wrong manner.
If you say: I could not attend the party yesterday.The reason is because I was busy, it is
considered as redundant. Redundant means repeating the same word twice.

In the above sentence reason itself is similar to because. So, never say' the reason is
because'.

The correct way is: I could not attend the party yesterday. The reason is that I was busy.

Sample Usage

Raj resigned from the job. The reason is that he was not satisfied with the salary he was
getting.

The company will not function from next month. The reason is that it has undergone a heavy
loss.

Difference between 'demise' and 'death'

Author: pamela Member Level: Gold Points: 3 (Rs 3)

Both the words mean ‘end or ending of life’.

‘Demise’ is mostly used in formal contexts to refer to the death of someone or something very

important or well known.

‘Death’ is a much more general term and unlike ‘demise’, it can be used with things and

animals.

Sample Usage

The sudden demise of the Prime Minister created a political vacuum.

The word can also be used to indicate the failure of an enterprise.

Example- The demise of the well-known company made many investors worried.

Example- Niki became very upset when she heard about the death of her puppy.

Lock horns

Author: Puja Rana Member Level: Silver Points: 3 (Rs 3)

To lock horns is an idiom which means to argue or fight in a very determined way. It is based

on the literal meaning of two fighting animals such as deer whose horns lock together while

fighting. Deer, as they fight, invariably lock horns.

Sample Usage

1. The BJP and the Samajwadi party locked horns over the recent price hike in petrol.

2. In her new movie she is playing the role of a student who locks horns with her professor.

3. Both the ministers locked horns over the plans for the new road.

4. Deepika Padukon locks horn with Katrina Kaif for number one position.

5. Let's settle this peacefully. I don't want to lock horns with anyone

Learn & Improve Your English

Meaning and Usage of Eschew

Author: Rajesh Rana Member Level: Gold Points: 3 (Rs 3)

Eschew - Pronounced as (\es-CHOO\,)

Meaning - To avoid, To Shun, Have nothing to do with, Abstain from.

Sample Usage

1. People should eschew evil and love mankind.

2. The corrupt politicians are eschewed by the public.

3. Mahatma Gandhi was loved by people because he eschewed violence.

4. Indians eschew terrorism.

Many of you must be thinking that the word "sweet tooth" must be related to tooth. But let me
tell you this has nothing to do with tooth/teeth.

There are people who have strong urge to eat something sweet like chocolates, ice-creams,
pastries, sweets, cakes, toffees or any other food item that is sweet in taste. This urge is even
stronger at times after having lunch or dinner. I am sure, some of you must have experienced
this! This strong appetite for sweet food is called "Sweet tooth".

The word sweet tooth is a noun. Refer to the examples given below for sample usage.

Sample Usage

1. I always keep toffees with me as I have a sweet tooth.

2. Those who have family history of diabeties and who have sweet tooth too, should be
careful.
3. Since he has a sweet tooth, he went to the cafetaria to eat pastry.
4. I have a really strong sweet tooth, and I almost have to follow every meal with some type
of sweet.
5. James has a sweet tooth. He is overweight now.

The words breath and breathe convey different meaning.

Breath is a noun and breathe is a verb.

For example: Please take a deep breath.

Rani was unable to breathe steadily. So, she was hospitalized.

Sample Usage

In order to breathe properly, we should do Yoga.

Raj was panting for breath after running very fast.

Possessive adjectives and Possessive Pronouns: They denote that someone owns
something. However, possessive adjectives are followed by nouns while possessive pronouns
act as nouns.

Let us look at the difference in detail:-

Possessive adjectives - my , our, your, his, her ,their, its.

For example: My car is red. This is our dog. I know your brother. His bag is heavier than her
bag. Her mother is a lawyer. Their garden is very well maintained. The dog is wagging its tail.

Possessive pronouns: mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs, its.

For example: The red car is mine. The barking dog is ours. The leather bag is yours. The black
bike is his. The well-maintained garden is hers. The shop next to my house is theirs.

Sample Usage

Please don't spoil my new pen.

Our dog is very friendly. It never harms anyone.
Your fried has come.
His uncle stays in Mumbai.
Her hair is curly.
Their mother cooks very well.
The brother of mine is very affectionate.
This clinic is ours.
The responsibility of hosting the party is yours.
The new mobile phone lying on the table is his.
Participle adjectives: We all know that adjectives tell us more about the noun. They are
preceded by the noun.

Participles have two forms: The present participle and the past participle. Verbs that end with
'ing' are present participles.

For example:
Barking, jumping. The third form of the verbs are Past participles.
For example : burnt, swollen, hidden.

When the present participles and past participles are placed before a noun to describe the
noun, they are called participle adjectives.

The barking dog chased the thief. 'Barking' here is an adjective. My swollen feet is paining a
lot. 'Swollen' is an adjective.

They are called participle because they are partly a verb and partly an adjective.

Sample Usage

My mother gave some food to the crying baby.

You should control your wavering mind.
The burnt clothes were thrown away by Rani.
I know the hidden secret.

Introducing Yourself in English - How to greet people

Author: Rajesh Rana Member Level: Gold Points: 8 (Rs 8)

You have joined a new company and it is your first day or you are meeting your clients or

customers for the first time or you have been asked to introduce your colleague to others you

need to be smart enough to introduce yourself efficiently with great expressions.

First impression is always the last impression. Here are some tips to give right expressions.

Sample Usage

Introducing yourself

"I would like to introduce myself. I am Raj from ABC software."

Or
"Let me introduce myself. I am Raj from ABC Company."

If some one is saying these lines to you then your reply could be

"Nice to meet you. I am Tom from XYZ International"

Or

"Pleased to meet you. I am Tom from XYZ International"

Or "How are you doing Raj. I am Tom from XYZ International"

How to introduce other people at work place

"Rahul, have you met my colleague Some?"

"Rahul, I'd Like you to meet my colleague Som."

Rahul's reply could be

"Nice to meet you Som." or Pleased to meet you Som."

Som's reply could be

"Nice to meet you too, Rahul." or "Hello Rahul."

How to introduce Clients

"Mr. Sharma, I'd like to introduce you to my Editor-in-Chief, Mrs. Smita Shah."

Mr. Sharma's reply could be

"Pleased to meet you" or "How do you do?"

Mrs. Smita shah also says "How do you do?" or "Nice to meet you."

The idiom Under false colours means if someone does something under false colours/colors,
they try to show themselves something but they are not in order to betray people so that they
can get success.

Sample Usage

1. If a boat sails under false colours, it uses the flag of another country to cheat people.

2. Rajesh was under false colours, he never told me that he was a journalist.

3. Radha is sailing under false colors, she says that she is a republican, but endorses
democratic legislation.