Archive for 'English Vocabulary'
Household issues in English Posted by carol on May 30, 2019
Hello to all readers! How has the month of May been treating you? Moving or spending some time in a new country can be a great source of joy and excitement as a new world opens up and you become part of another culture that is often not similar to yours. However, it is common…
The Many Possibilities of English Vocabulary Posted by Gary Locke on May 16, 2019
Many of us understand that homonyms are words with the same spelling or pronunciation but have different meanings and origins. We encounter homonyms every day. We also deal with polysemous words, or polysemes, which are words which can be used to express different meanings but have similar origins. The difference between homonymy and polysemy is…
Words to use instead of ‘very’ – Part II Posted by carol on Apr 30, 2019
Good afternoon to all readers! How have you been? In the previous post we went over some words in English that can be used instead of ‘very’ to avoid its excessive use, in addition to diversifying and boosting your vocabulary. So here are a couple of more suggestions for you. Enjoy: eager or thrilled instead…
Words to use instead of ‘very’ in English Posted by carol on Mar 31, 2019
Hello to all readers! How are you doing today? Very well? The word ‘very’ in English is, naturally, very important. It is an adverb that we use to emphasize or intensify adjectives: very nice, very big, very good. Using if frequently seems hard to avoid. But can we, though? As an English teacher, I feel…
Do You Speak Legalese? Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 28, 2019
Language which was once exclusively reserved for television courtroom dramas is now being used by everybody on Twitter. Experts who appear on talk shows to explain legal decisions are now as famous as professional athletes. Legal terms and phrases are now common elements of daily English conversation. If you want to understand, or at least…
English Spring Phrases Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 21, 2019
In the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins on March 21st and continues until June 21. It is the season of renewal. Daylight increases, warmth gradually returns, and birds and animals reappear. Spring, in the words of the late comedian Robin Williams, is Nature’s way of saying “Let’s Party!” One of the first signs of spring in…
Using ‘too’, ‘also’ and ‘as well’ Posted by carol on Feb 28, 2019
Good evening to all! The year is going by too fast, don’t you think so? Me too! The three terms too, also and as well in English are very similar, since they all express the idea of addition. But there are some nuances and differences that need to be taken into consideration when adopting each one…