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Academy Award Vocab Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 1, 2018
We go to the movies to have experiences that we can’t have anywhere else, and to share that experience with strangers in the dark. It really is an odd kind of pleasure, but we have been doing it for over 100 years and there are no signs that we will stop anytime soon. The box…
Story of an English Meal – Fish ‘N Chips Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 22, 2018
Warning: This blog may induce extreme hunger! Imagine a meal which is a national institution in one country yet is eaten all over the world and owes its origin to several diverse cultures. How you eat it, serve it, and even select one of the principle ingredients is determined by where you live. Yet, essentially…
Driving in England and the U.S. Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 15, 2018
By now you probably know that drivers in the U.S. drive on the right-hand side of the road, but in the U.K., they drive on the left. As someone who has driven in both countries, believe me when I say that it is not an easy adjustment to make. Everything just looks wrong, not least…
The English Non Sequitur Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 9, 2018
If you are learning a new language, then you know that it is common to make a mistake when trying to make conversation. You might use the wrong tense, or make a word plural when it should be singular. Those are very typical errors for English learners. Don’t worry about it. But, conversation also means…
10 English Words Borrowed from Indigenous Americans Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 2, 2018
A surprising number of words in our English vocabulary can be traced back to the indigenous tribes of the Americas. These are the inhabitants of North and South America before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Close to 85% of all English words are originally derived from just three other language sources. According to surveys cited…
Shakespeare’s Cursed Play Posted by Gary Locke on Jan 25, 2018
Imagine actors and stagehands working on a play with such a history of misfortune that they won’t even speak the play’s name. In fact, it is such a source of superstitious dread, that to even utter the play’s name in many theaters can get you banished from the building. Perhaps this would not matter so…
What If…? The If Clauses in English Posted by Gary Locke on Jan 18, 2018
From early childhood we dream of possibilities. We ask ourselves, and others, questions which begin with words like, “If only…” or “What if…”, each time considering a future with uncertainty, curiosity, and wonder. Every time we do this, we are employing what’s known in English as a conditional clause. A conditional clause is a type…