“Steer clear” is one of these expressions when it’s hard to get the meaning simply by guessing. I think I first encountered it in the Friends TV Series and didn’t get the meaning even out of the context. It was in the scene when Ross advises Rachel “not to look too terrific” at her meeting […]
Out of line: meaning and usage
The expression “out of line” can be used in its literal meaning when someone or something is not in line. For instance, one of those books on the shelf is out of line with the others. As an idiom “out of line” has two main meanings: inappropriate or different from what is expected. Merriam Webster […]
Scared VS Be Scared: What’s the Difference
1. When you are scared that means you are afraid of someone or something. The word ‘scared’ is an adjective. So you need the verb ‘be’ to use it as a verb. He is scared of spiders. You can also say ‘He’s afraid of spiders’. 2. When you scare someone that means you make someone […]
Vocabulary Collection: Women in Tech Empower Each Other | with Video and Quizlet [B2]
This post is a vocabulary practice you can use to practice your listening and speaking skills. It best fits strong Upper-Intermediate [B2] students but if you understand the video you can practice with it as well. To get the most out of this practice follow the tasks one by one. 1. Watch the video and […]
21 Verbs With Prepositions For Intermediate Students [Learn Them With The Quiz]
Some English verbs have certain prepositions. So it makes sense to learn them and always use these verbs correctly. FOR waiting / I’m waiting for your call. apply / She applied for the job. ask / It’s okay to ask for help. prepare / I need to prepare for the trip. TO listen / She […]
A Common Mistake English Students Make With Verbs+ED
As we know in the past tense regular verbs end with ED: work-worked dance-danced Although sometimes it’s not clear how to pronounce this suffix. Many students tend to pronounce -ED as ‘eed’ or ‘eet’. So, ‘worked’ sounds like ‘workeet’. In reality, it’s pronounced as ‘ɪd’ only after T or D. ‘guided’ – /gaɪdɪd/ ‘knitted’ /nɪtɪd/ […]
“Bored” vs “Boring”: What’s the Difference
“Bored” and “boring” are both adjectives that describe something that is not interesting or exciting. But they are used differently. ? If you watched a movie that wasn’t interesting, you can call it ‘boring’. ? If you want to describe how you feel about it you can say that you ‘were bored’ or ‘got bored’ […]
‘Hurry’ vs ‘In a Hurry’ and Their Synonyms
If you mix ‘hurry’ and ‘in a hurry’ you’ll find this post helpful. 1. ‘Hurry’ as a verb ‘Hurry’ is a verb that means ‘to do things more quickly than normal’ or ‘make someone do this’. You hurry when you don’t want to be late. If someone hurries, they may forget something. In the past […]
“I agree” vs “I’m agree”: Which One Is Correct
Using “I’m agree” instead of “I agree” is a common mistake among my Elementary and Intermediate students. I decided to write this post to clarify the usage of the verb ‘agree’. 1. “I agree” I agree is the correct usage of the verb ‘agree’ in Present Simple Tense. Agree is a verb that means to […]
9 Common Mistakes My Intermediate Students Make When They Speak English [and How to Fix Them]
Disclaimer: Before we even start speaking about mistakes, I want to clarify two things: 1. It’s okay to make mistakes. You can’t avoid them when you learn something new. 2. Mistakes are the best way to learn anything. If you make a mistake, you’re unlikely to forget the lesson. I list these mistakes to show […]