This is the most asked question by the English Learners around the world.question by the English Learners around the world.
English is the world’s lingua franca, a common language that people with different native languages use to exchange ideas.
Thanks a lot to English, people from completely different native languages—maybe Hindi, French and Japanese—can come together and have a great conversation with each other.
English is now spread across countries and various cultures, and the ability to speak this language well provides many opportunities for your career and for your social life.
The more fluent you are in English, the more interesting, exciting and insightful conversations you can make with the people around.
It adds more ability in your life-enriching experiences like traveling, studying and working abroad, not only in English Speaking Countries but also in many other countries where English is widely used.
The world is your oyster (the world is yours) and English is the language of the world. So, learn English.
The good news is that you can easily improve English speaking skills without a classroom partner or stressful lessons. It’s totally possible to have fun and master speaking a language at the same time.
Pronouncing the words correctly is the key to expression, but it is not everything you need. This article will take you ahead of the initial aspects to reach communicative ability.
How to Improve Your English-Speaking Skills
Make a Strong Base
In order to articulate yourself powerfully in English, you need a broad variety of glossary and the correct articulation.
Develop your vocabulary
Learn New Words Every Day with Suniltams
Learning new words a day in, day out is a good way to extend your word power. Commit to a fitting goal: it can be three daily words or it can be ten daily words. But, You should learn new words daily.
Even if you only have time to learn one new word per day, it is still worth trying. By learning one word every day, after one year you will have learned 365 new English words. Isn’t it?
Write the number down to remind yourself often. If you have a learning associate, share it with her/him so that she/he can check on your advancement.
Some good resources for words are the news, songs and TV shows, depending on your daily habits. If you love listening to music, pay attention to the lyrics and take note of the words you do not know. Songs often contain a lot of useful vocabularies, phrases, and expressions, hence, they are great for learning English. You can do the same thing with Suniltams Videos.
Learn Words in Phrases and Chunks
It is significant that you learn words in groups. For example, you refer to beverages as a glass of wine, a pint of beer, a cup of tea, a pot of coffee, etc. It is better to learn those phrases than merely wine, beer, tea and so on.
You can also benefit from learning words that are connected. The moon has four phases during a lunar month: crescent, gibbon, waxing and waning. It is more competent to learn all four words at the same time.
Improve your accent
You might know a lot of words, but if you fail to say them correctly, you will not be understood. That seems like a waste of the time spent on remembering words, right?
When using online dictionaries such as Macmillan and Merriam-Webster, make use of the little speaker symbol to check the pronunciation of any word that you are not sure about. There are English pronunciation tutorials on YouTube or podcasts like English Pronunciation Pod or American English Pronunciation to teach you the many aspects of American English pronunciation.
When you are ready for something more challenging, try out tongue twisters. Some examples are available here. Personally, I love the Fork handles sketch from the show “The Two Ronnies.” It might not be a typical example of everyday conversation, but it shows you the richness of spoken English. Besides, you will have a good laugh.
Learn the natural flow of English
Being able to say individual words correctly is great, but the secret of speaking fluently lies in the flow of sentences. Whenever you read a piece of poetry, listen to a melodic song or watch a hilarious sitcom, pay attention to the following:
Notice how native speakers link words together: joining two sounds, making a sound to disappear or changing a sound for a better flow.
Contractions are abridged forms of two words. For example:
I + am =I’m
he + will =he’ll
they + have =they’ve
do + not = don’t
There are stressed syllables in a word and stressed words in a sentence.
The rhythm is the overall result of stress, contractions, and linking. It is the ups and downs, the musical feature of English.
Techniques to Improve English Speaking Skills
Now that you have a strong foundation, you can apply some techniques to hone (improve) your English speaking skills.
Speech Shadowing
In a nutshell, this technique is about imitation. You listen to how a native speaker says something and try to copy it.
Pick your favorite video with subtitles.Make sure that it is something you enjoy watching because you will…
Listen to it many times.Listen to the video once and read the subtitles to get a good grasp of the general content and flow. While you are playing it again, complete the next step.
Imitate the narrator sentence by sentence. Listen. Pause. Speak. Record (optional). Copy the speech pattern as best as you can. If you choose to record your practice, you can compare yours and the original. Or else, just listen to your own sound and be critical of the difference or similarity. Repeat this step until the end of the video.
Self-talk
Talk to yourself in English loudly. It can be anything from a suggestion like, “Shall we go get a glass of water?” or a reminder, “I need to do a load of laundry today.”
Alternatively, pick up a book and read a couple of pages out loud. This exercise might slow down your reading, but it will speed up your speaking skills.
You can also record yourself, listen to the recording and watch out for any wrong pronunciations. If it is possible, ask for feedback from a native speaker.
Think in English
If you already think in English, it takes less time to produce or respond in everyday conversations. No translation needed!
A good way to start rethinking is to keep a diary where you express your daily thoughts in English. It does not have to be perfect, it is more about getting out thoughts in English with less and less effort.
Rephrase a story in English
Take the challenge a step further by retelling a story. You retrace other people’s line of thoughts in your own words.
I would start with a familiar story from your civilization. Your translation needs to convey not only the meaning of words but all rhetorical and cultural nuances.
On the other hand, you can choose different words to retell a simple story in English. Start from the basics, reading something like a fairy tale or a fable. Either way will be beneficial to your English communication skills.
Frequently Practice to Improve Your English Speaking Skills
Practice makes perfect, so do speak English in plenty. Some people think that they do not have the opportunity to practice speaking because they do not live in the US or another English-speaking country. They might also be discouraged because English is not used at their workplace, or they do not know any native speakers.
There is some validity in those excuses, but do not let them hinder your learning. Thanks to the growth of globalization and technology, you have more chances than ever to practice speaking English. You’ll find many ideas below.
Participate in public speaking events
Big universities, theaters and culture societies organize events like open debates, spoken word readings, and improvised storytelling gatherings. These are places where you can come and mingle with like-minded people and practice speaking English.
Many cities are now hosting TED or TEDx talks where you can register to participate and share your innovative ideas. Check the events page of your local university to see if there are any available. It might be a nerve-racking experience, but it would be great for your English!
Go to language Clubs
If public speaking terrifies you (and I know it does for many), you can opt for language cafes. Those cafes create a friendly and relaxing atmosphere for people who want to practice and exchange languages.
You can find language cafes through local universities or the Meetup groups available in your cities.
Using apps
Another option is to use an app to talk to native speakers online, in the comfort of your own home. Some popular apps are HelloTalk, Tandem, WeSpeke. Basically, you register for an account, introduce yourself, your native language and your hobbies. The app will find you some matches—the people who speak English and want to practice the language you know well. All you need to do is to press a few buttons and start talking.
Chat with Siri
I find chatting with Siri is a great way to force myself to speak more clearly. As Siri is a machine, you cannot rely on environmental clues and facial gestures to get your ideas across. Your words are the only tool you have to make yourself understood. Thus, you need to speak as clearly and precisely as you could.
Another plus point of using Siri is that she is always available (as long as your phone is charged and connected to a WiFi network). Just press the home button and start asking questions.
If you own an Android smartphone, you can practice speaking with Google Now.
So, off you go! Choose your favored method to enlarge your vocabulary, correct your articulation, and improve your English speaking with the methods that are right for you.
Do not forget to practice as much as possible.
Please comment, how did you like our
Showing posts with label Spoken English Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spoken English Tips. Show all posts
Self-confidence the turning point
Believe yourself, Colorful words on blackboard
It’s no wonder that everyone is looking for
something worthy, something that makes the one appear remarkable among people,
and most of us want to get ahead and do spectacularly well in life with a
complete conviction that our future must be bright. In fact, words are not
always enough, and success, even though we have ideas upheld by strong and
plain plans, will never come true unless we possess a special quality, it’s the
so-called self-confidence.
Self-confidence is a quality that let people
believe in themselves, skills and competencies to build their own future, and
face the upcoming challenges boldly. Those who possess this value have to be
certain that their life will be driven to something special, which will be a
major turning point in their life.
We have to bear in mind that any successful
project is built not only on having a clear vision, but also on having the
capacity to press ahead while you are facing welter of hindrances standing
against your own desire for reaching your dreams.
Moreover, being a self-confident person means
also to eradicate all kinds of worries that most of people have about future,
and what’s so important is to always expect the good to happen. I know you may
be going through unpleasant moments, but it doesn’t surprise me, because life
is a room where great people are always coping with struggles and is not meant
for the lazy to join in this battle.
Self-confidence as a very added value to our
life, resides also in the capacity of resisting all kinds of lures and
temptation that if anyone followed would be driven to a dark future. Try always
to keep yourself away from things that may mar your concentration, whenever you
meet the dreams killers, try to listen to yourself, your inner part and say
“yes I can do, I am determined and no one in the world is able to prevent me
from doing what I want”.
But the question that may raise is, how can we
build a self-confident spirit? In fact, there are many paths to follow, for
instance, the one will require experience, which is considered an inevitable
key, besides, reading is another feature likely to help us in building a
self-confident personality.
In addition to what it is already mentioned ,
keep in mind to never succumb to any strange voices whose aim, is to spoil your
ability to bear hard times, believe in your abilities and make any possible
efforts to enhance your skills and acquire new ones. However, avoid to
overestimate yourself or to put yourself on airs, on account of thinking you
know everything, don’t be a snooty person.
How to build a strong personality
Having a
strong personality, nowadays, is of essence. It’s the ability to stand
steadfast in the face of life and its vicissitudes during one’s lifetime. Yet,
it stands to reason that we should point out the bare-bones of steps one should
follow to reach this aim.
In my book,
each person may have a particular strategy or perception regarding how to shape
a sturdy personality.
Personally, I
believe that reading tops the league, as the main step to start with in a bid
to build up a strong personality, due to its effectiveness of shaping one’s
mindset. With no a scintilla of doubt, the more books you read, the more stable
and logical you grow, therefore provided with tremendous ideas and logical
evidence, which are the most critical
weapons required in this present-day
era, marked by the unstoppable flow of information launched every day. At this
stage, through reading, we can surround ourselves by shields to protect our
minds from any foreign potential attempts of hegemony over our thoughts. This high
capacity plays an important role in dealing easily with conversations.
Furthermore, I rank experience second, as another
essential tool, whose impact emerges as having great outcomes on the way we
think and act. As a matter of fact, being sociable, leading a daily life marked
by meeting people from different realms, will apparently affect how one could
respond to certain situations, as follows, daily challenges, taking swift and
down-to-earth decisions, as well as developing the way to understand and deal
with people.
Having said that, we have to know that, the most
important thing is that our moves in life should all be around a straight and
plain aim. The effectiveness of having a clear vision imparts self-confidence to
individuals, the quality people need to build their own future, and face the
upcoming challenges boldly. What we should bear in mind is that we don’t live
alone, by definition we belong to a society, hence we are sometimes forced us to
swim against the tide to overcome some social and mental barriers, it’s a question
of having the ability to resist and keep the focus on our idealistic purpose in
life without showing any pinch of surrender. Having this stamina will pave the
way for building an unbreakable personality.
Spoken English Part 19
Some tips for effective learning:
From the outset of our existence we have been dragging into the process of learning. It starts from learning how to walk to how to speak, both of which are necessary for discovering our surrounding in order to be able to tie a relationship with its parts. Thus, it is undeniable that every single move we make is based on the keyword; knowledge.
For instance, while studying, try to choose
a calm place, and if possible with attractive decoration inciting productivity.
Whenever boredom starts surging and striking hard, then you have to realise
it’s time for a change, look for another spot where you recharge your battery
and think clearly.
From the outset of our existence we have been dragging into the process of learning. It starts from learning how to walk to how to speak, both of which are necessary for discovering our surrounding in order to be able to tie a relationship with its parts. Thus, it is undeniable that every single move we make is based on the keyword; knowledge.
Knowledge should be the core and pivot of
our moves, the point on which the young should base their attempts while making
future plans. But the present-day students are finding themselves in a daze,
surrounded by avalanches of troubles resulting in having a gloomy vision about
what they want, which even affects their academic career.
Here are some tips I think are necessary
for students to follow to face up their upcoming challenges:
Do what you love, love what you do:
The grave mistake that some students make
is the random choice of their field of study, whether done due to lack of
foreknowledge or sometimes as a result of misguidance. In order not to be
another victim, the best advice to follow is to make a quite free choice based
on inner admiration towards the chosen field, which I believe to be the
sure-fire likely to lead to a bright future.
Be self-taught:
A special quality that every student needs
is self-teaching. Apart from the usual programme and materials scheduled by
schools and universities, it’s utterly important to adopt a strategy based on
leading one’s personal research and make tremendous efforts to broaden knowledge.
The best skills we acquire are those we learn on our own. This method not only bears
fruits, but it teaches students how to deal with different situations, as well
as instils in them the necessary tools they need throughout their professional
careers such as sense of responsibility, working with methodology,
perseverance and self-motivation.
Self-confidence: you can do it!
To keep focus on one’s aim is a challenge itself;
it’s a question of resisting all kinds of lures and temptation to only keep
ahead.
Self-confidence as a very added value is
what you need. Having the capacity of trusting your abilities, eradicating fear
and all things that may mar your concentration, and whenever you meet the
dreams killers, try to listen to yourself, your inner part and say “yes I can
do, I am determined and no one in the world is able to hold me back to prevent
me from doing what I want”.
A comfortable place is the best option:
During their academic career, students
should grasp that their emotional state has a significant effect on their
productivity. Among the things they should be careful about is the place they choose
for their studies.
Spoken English Part 18
British English and American English
British people and American people can always understand each other – but there are a few notable differences between British English and American English
Grammar
Americans use the present perfect tense less than speakers of British English and a British teacher might mark wrong some things that an American teacher would say are correct.
US Did you do your homework yet?
Brit. Have you done your homework yet?
US I already ate.
Brit. I’ve already eaten.
In British English, ‘have got’ is often used for the possessive sense of ‘have’ and ‘have got to’ is informally used for ‘have to’. This is much less common in American English.
Brit. I’ve got two sisters.
US I have two sisters.
Brit. I’ve got to go now.
US I have to go now.
There are a number of other minor grammatical differences.
Vocabulary
There are a lot of examples of different words being used in British and American English. Here are a few of the commonest.
angry (Brit.) = mad (US)
autumn = fall
boot (of a car) = trunk
chemist’s = drug store
cupboard = closet
flat = apartment
lift = elevator
nappy = diaper
pavement = sidewalk
petrol = gas/gasoline
rubbish = trash
tap = faucet
trousers = pants
There are British words which many Americans will not understand and vice versa. There are also words
which exist in both British and American English but have very different meanings.
Spelling
There are also a number of different spelling rules between British English and American English.
1 Some words that end in ‘-tre’ in British English end in ‘-ter’ in American English.
US theater, center
Brit. theatre, centre
2 Some words that end in ‘-our’ in British English end in ‘-or’ in American English.
US color, labor
Brit. colour, labour
3 Some words are shorter in American English than in British English.
US catalog, program
Brit. catalogue, programme
There are other minor spelling differences between British and American English.
British people and American people can always understand each other – but there are a few notable differences between British English and American English
Grammar
Americans use the present perfect tense less than speakers of British English and a British teacher might mark wrong some things that an American teacher would say are correct.
US Did you do your homework yet?
Brit. Have you done your homework yet?
US I already ate.
Brit. I’ve already eaten.
In British English, ‘have got’ is often used for the possessive sense of ‘have’ and ‘have got to’ is informally used for ‘have to’. This is much less common in American English.
Brit. I’ve got two sisters.
US I have two sisters.
Brit. I’ve got to go now.
US I have to go now.
There are a number of other minor grammatical differences.
Vocabulary
There are a lot of examples of different words being used in British and American English. Here are a few of the commonest.
angry (Brit.) = mad (US)
autumn = fall
boot (of a car) = trunk
chemist’s = drug store
cupboard = closet
flat = apartment
lift = elevator
nappy = diaper
pavement = sidewalk
petrol = gas/gasoline
rubbish = trash
tap = faucet
trousers = pants
There are British words which many Americans will not understand and vice versa. There are also words
which exist in both British and American English but have very different meanings.
Spelling
There are also a number of different spelling rules between British English and American English.
1 Some words that end in ‘-tre’ in British English end in ‘-ter’ in American English.
US theater, center
Brit. theatre, centre
2 Some words that end in ‘-our’ in British English end in ‘-or’ in American English.
US color, labor
Brit. colour, labour
3 Some words are shorter in American English than in British English.
US catalog, program
Brit. catalogue, programme
There are other minor spelling differences between British and American English.
Spoken English Part 17
A and AN
We use A/AN (articles) with singular countable nouns.
My brother has a dog and my sister has a cat.
There is an accident on the corner.
A is used when the next word starts with a consonant sound.
A book
A guitar
A friend
A university (The start of the word university sounds like YOU, a consonant sound).
AN is used when the next word starts with a vowel sound.
An apple
An ice-cream
An orange
An hour (the letter H in this word is silent so it sounds like it starts with a vowel).
Some and Any
We use SOME and ANY with plural nouns and uncountable nouns.
Some is generally used in positive sentences.
Any is generally used in negative sentences.
I have some information for you about flights to Paris.
(Positive - Uncountable)
I don't have any information for you about flights to Paris.
(Negative - Uncountable)
We met some friends for drinks after work yesterday.
(Positive - Plural Countable)
I didn't see any friends there on Thursday.
(Negative - Plural Countable)
I think he will have some time to speak to you today.
(Positive - Uncountable)
I don't think he will have any time to speak to you today.
(Negative - Uncountable)
You can also use SOME and ANY in a sentence without a noun if the meaning of the sentence is clear.
I didn't eat any salad but Peter ate some. (salad)
Sean took lots of photos of the mountains but Emma didn't take any. (photos)
We use A/AN (articles) with singular countable nouns.
My brother has a dog and my sister has a cat.
There is an accident on the corner.
A is used when the next word starts with a consonant sound.
A book
A guitar
A friend
A university (The start of the word university sounds like YOU, a consonant sound).
AN is used when the next word starts with a vowel sound.
An apple
An ice-cream
An orange
An hour (the letter H in this word is silent so it sounds like it starts with a vowel).
Some and Any
We use SOME and ANY with plural nouns and uncountable nouns.
Some is generally used in positive sentences.
Any is generally used in negative sentences.
I have some information for you about flights to Paris.
(Positive - Uncountable)
I don't have any information for you about flights to Paris.
(Negative - Uncountable)
We met some friends for drinks after work yesterday.
(Positive - Plural Countable)
I didn't see any friends there on Thursday.
(Negative - Plural Countable)
I think he will have some time to speak to you today.
(Positive - Uncountable)
I don't think he will have any time to speak to you today.
(Negative - Uncountable)
You can also use SOME and ANY in a sentence without a noun if the meaning of the sentence is clear.
I didn't eat any salad but Peter ate some. (salad)
Sean took lots of photos of the mountains but Emma didn't take any. (photos)
100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections
They often seem disreputable, like sullen idlers loitering in a
public thoroughfare, but they actually do a lot of hard work and are
usually persnickety about the tasks to which they are put. They are
interjections — one class of them, anyway: those lacking etymological
origins but packed with meaning.
But how do you know how to distinguish similar ones — or spell them, for that matter? Here’s an incomplete inventory of interjections (not including variations of actual words such as yeah for yes or onomatopoeic echoes of externally produced sounds like boom):
Ack communicates disgust or dismissal.
Ah can denote positive emotions like relief or delight (generally, pronounced with a long a).
Aha signals triumph or surprise, or perhaps derision.
Ahem is employed to gain attention.
Argh, often drawn out with additional h’s, is all about frustration.
Aw can be dismissive or indicative of disappointment, or, when drawn out, expressive of sympathy or adoration.
Aye denotes agreement.
Bah is dismissive.
Blah communicates boredom or disappointment.
Blech (or bleah or bleh) implies nausea.
Boo is an exclamation to provoke fright.
Boo-hoo is imitative of crying and is derisive.
Boo-ya (with several spelling variants) is a cry of triumph.
Bwah-hah-hah (variously spelled, including mwah-hah-hah) facetiously mimics the stereotypical archvillain’s triumphant laugh.
D’oh is the spelling for the muttering accompanying Homer Simpson’s trademark head-slapping self-abuse.
Duh derides someone who seems dense.
Eek indicates an unpleasant surprise.
Eh, with a question mark, is a request for repetition or confirmation of what was just said; without, it is dismissive.
Er (sometimes erm) plays for time.
Ew denotes disgust, intensified by the addition of one or more e’s and/or w’s.
Feh (and its cousin meh) is an indication of feeling underwhelmed or disappointed.
Gak is an expression of disgust or distaste.
Ha expresses joy or surprise, or perhaps triumph.
Ha-ha (with possible redoubling) communicates laughter or derision.
Hamana-hamana, variously spelled, and duplicated as needed, implies speechless embarrassment.
Hardy-har-har, or har-har repeated as needed, communicates mock amusement.
Hee-hee is a mischievous laugh, while its variants heh and heh-heh (and so on) can have a more derisive connotation.
Hey can express surprise or exultation, or can be used to request repetition or call for attention.
Hist signals the desire for silence.
Hm, extended as needed, suggests curiosity, confusion, consternation, or skepticism.
Hmph (also hrmph or humph) indicates displeasure or indignation.
Ho-ho is expressive of mirth, or (along with its variant oh-ho) can indicate triumph of discovery.
Ho-hum signals indifference or boredom.
Hubba-hubba is the vocal equivalent of a leer.
Huh (or hunh) is a sign of disbelief, confusion, or surprise, or, with a question mark, is a request for repetition.
Hup, from the sound-off a military cadence chant, signals beginning an exerting task.
Hurrah (also hoorah, hooray, and hurray, and even huzzah) is an exclamation of triumph or happiness.
Ick signals disgust.
Lah-de-dah denotes nonchalance or dismissal, or derision about pretension.
Mm-hmm, variously spelled, is an affirmative or corroborating response.
Mmm, extended as needed, conveys palatable or palpable pleasure.
Mwah is suggestive of a kiss, often implying unctuous or exaggerated affection.
Neener-neener, often uttered in a series of three repetitions, is a taunt.
Now (often repeated “Now, now”) is uttered as an admonition.
Oh is among the most versatile of interjections. Use it to indicate comprehension or acknowledgment (or, with a question mark, a request for verification), to preface direct address (“Oh, sir!”), as a sign of approximation or example (“Oh, about three days”), or to express emotion or serves as a response to a pain or pleasure. (Ooh is a variant useful for the last two purposes.)
Oh-oh (or alternatives in which oh is followed by various words) is a warning response to something that will have negative repercussions.
Olé, with an accent mark over the e, is borrowed from Spanish and is a vocal flourish to celebrate a deft or adroit maneuver.
Ooh, with o’s repeated as needed, conveys interest or admiration, or, alternatively, disdain.
Ooh-la-la is a response to an attempt to impress or gently mocks pretension or finery.
Oops (and the jocular diminutive variation oopsie or oopsy and the variant whoops) calls attention to an error or fault.
Ouch (or ow, extended as needed) signals pain or is a response to a harsh word or action.
Oy, part of Yiddish expressions such as oy gevalt (equivalent to “Uh-oh”), is a lament of frustration, concern, or self-pity.
Pff, extended as needed, expresses disappointment, disdain, or annoyance.
Pfft, or phfft, communicates abrupt ending or departure or is a sardonic dismissal akin to pff.
Phew, or pew, communicates disgust, fatigue, or relief. (Phooey, also spelled pfui, is a signal for disgust, too, and can denote dismissal as well. PU and P.U. are also variants.)
Poof is imitative of a sudden disappearance, as if by magic.
Pooh is a contemptuous exclamation.
Pshaw denotes disbelief, disapproval, or irritation or, alternatively, communicates facetious self-consciousness.
Psst calls for quiet.
Rah, perhaps repeated, signals triumph.
Shh (extended as necessary) is an imperative for silence.
Sis boom bah is an outdated encouraging cry, most likely to be used mockingly now.
Tchah communicates annoyance.
Tsk-tsk and its even snootier variant tut-tut are condemnations or scoldings; the related sound tch is the teeth-and-tongue click of disapproval.
Ugh is an exclamation of disgust.
Uh is an expression of skepticism or a delaying tactic.
Uh-huh indicates affirmation or agreement.
Uh-oh signals concern or dismay.
Uh-uh is the sound of negation or refusal.
Um is a placeholder for a pause but also denotes skepticism.
Va-va-voom is an old-fashioned exclamation denoting admiration of physical attractiveness.
Whee is an exclamation of excitement or delight.
Whew is a variant of phew but can also express amazement.
Whoa is a call to halt or an exclamation of surprise or relief.
Whoop-de-doo and its many variants convey mocking reaction to something meant to impress.
Woo and woo-hoo (and variations like yahoo, yee-haw, and yippee) indicate excitement. (Woot, also spelled w00t among an online in-crowd, is a probably ephemeral variant.)
Wow expresses surprise.
Yay is a congratulatory exclamation. (Not to be confused with yeah, a variant of yes.)
Yikes is an expression of fear or concern, often used facetiously.
Yo-ho-ho is the traditional pirates’ refrain.
Yoo-hoo attracts attention.
Yow, or yowza, is an exclamation of surprise or conveys being impressed.
Yuck (also spelled yech or yecch) signals disgust. (Not to be confused with yuk, a laugh.)
Yum, or yummy, is a response to the taste of something delicious and, by extension, the sight of an attractive person.
Zoinks is an expression of surprise or amazement popularized by the cartoon character Shaggy, of Scooby Doo fame.
Zowie, often in combination following wowie, a variant of wow, expresses admiration or astonishment.
But how do you know how to distinguish similar ones — or spell them, for that matter? Here’s an incomplete inventory of interjections (not including variations of actual words such as yeah for yes or onomatopoeic echoes of externally produced sounds like boom):
Ack communicates disgust or dismissal.
Ah can denote positive emotions like relief or delight (generally, pronounced with a long a).
Aha signals triumph or surprise, or perhaps derision.
Ahem is employed to gain attention.
Argh, often drawn out with additional h’s, is all about frustration.
Aw can be dismissive or indicative of disappointment, or, when drawn out, expressive of sympathy or adoration.
Aye denotes agreement.
Bah is dismissive.
Blah communicates boredom or disappointment.
Blech (or bleah or bleh) implies nausea.
Boo is an exclamation to provoke fright.
Boo-hoo is imitative of crying and is derisive.
Boo-ya (with several spelling variants) is a cry of triumph.
Bwah-hah-hah (variously spelled, including mwah-hah-hah) facetiously mimics the stereotypical archvillain’s triumphant laugh.
D’oh is the spelling for the muttering accompanying Homer Simpson’s trademark head-slapping self-abuse.
Duh derides someone who seems dense.
Eek indicates an unpleasant surprise.
Eh, with a question mark, is a request for repetition or confirmation of what was just said; without, it is dismissive.
Er (sometimes erm) plays for time.
Ew denotes disgust, intensified by the addition of one or more e’s and/or w’s.
Feh (and its cousin meh) is an indication of feeling underwhelmed or disappointed.
Gak is an expression of disgust or distaste.
Ha expresses joy or surprise, or perhaps triumph.
Ha-ha (with possible redoubling) communicates laughter or derision.
Hamana-hamana, variously spelled, and duplicated as needed, implies speechless embarrassment.
Hardy-har-har, or har-har repeated as needed, communicates mock amusement.
Hee-hee is a mischievous laugh, while its variants heh and heh-heh (and so on) can have a more derisive connotation.
Hey can express surprise or exultation, or can be used to request repetition or call for attention.
Hist signals the desire for silence.
Hm, extended as needed, suggests curiosity, confusion, consternation, or skepticism.
Hmph (also hrmph or humph) indicates displeasure or indignation.
Ho-ho is expressive of mirth, or (along with its variant oh-ho) can indicate triumph of discovery.
Ho-hum signals indifference or boredom.
Hubba-hubba is the vocal equivalent of a leer.
Huh (or hunh) is a sign of disbelief, confusion, or surprise, or, with a question mark, is a request for repetition.
Hup, from the sound-off a military cadence chant, signals beginning an exerting task.
Hurrah (also hoorah, hooray, and hurray, and even huzzah) is an exclamation of triumph or happiness.
Ick signals disgust.
Lah-de-dah denotes nonchalance or dismissal, or derision about pretension.
Mm-hmm, variously spelled, is an affirmative or corroborating response.
Mmm, extended as needed, conveys palatable or palpable pleasure.
Mwah is suggestive of a kiss, often implying unctuous or exaggerated affection.
Neener-neener, often uttered in a series of three repetitions, is a taunt.
Now (often repeated “Now, now”) is uttered as an admonition.
Oh is among the most versatile of interjections. Use it to indicate comprehension or acknowledgment (or, with a question mark, a request for verification), to preface direct address (“Oh, sir!”), as a sign of approximation or example (“Oh, about three days”), or to express emotion or serves as a response to a pain or pleasure. (Ooh is a variant useful for the last two purposes.)
Oh-oh (or alternatives in which oh is followed by various words) is a warning response to something that will have negative repercussions.
Olé, with an accent mark over the e, is borrowed from Spanish and is a vocal flourish to celebrate a deft or adroit maneuver.
Ooh, with o’s repeated as needed, conveys interest or admiration, or, alternatively, disdain.
Ooh-la-la is a response to an attempt to impress or gently mocks pretension or finery.
Oops (and the jocular diminutive variation oopsie or oopsy and the variant whoops) calls attention to an error or fault.
Ouch (or ow, extended as needed) signals pain or is a response to a harsh word or action.
Oy, part of Yiddish expressions such as oy gevalt (equivalent to “Uh-oh”), is a lament of frustration, concern, or self-pity.
Pff, extended as needed, expresses disappointment, disdain, or annoyance.
Pfft, or phfft, communicates abrupt ending or departure or is a sardonic dismissal akin to pff.
Phew, or pew, communicates disgust, fatigue, or relief. (Phooey, also spelled pfui, is a signal for disgust, too, and can denote dismissal as well. PU and P.U. are also variants.)
Poof is imitative of a sudden disappearance, as if by magic.
Pooh is a contemptuous exclamation.
Pshaw denotes disbelief, disapproval, or irritation or, alternatively, communicates facetious self-consciousness.
Psst calls for quiet.
Rah, perhaps repeated, signals triumph.
Shh (extended as necessary) is an imperative for silence.
Sis boom bah is an outdated encouraging cry, most likely to be used mockingly now.
Tchah communicates annoyance.
Tsk-tsk and its even snootier variant tut-tut are condemnations or scoldings; the related sound tch is the teeth-and-tongue click of disapproval.
Ugh is an exclamation of disgust.
Uh is an expression of skepticism or a delaying tactic.
Uh-huh indicates affirmation or agreement.
Uh-oh signals concern or dismay.
Uh-uh is the sound of negation or refusal.
Um is a placeholder for a pause but also denotes skepticism.
Va-va-voom is an old-fashioned exclamation denoting admiration of physical attractiveness.
Whee is an exclamation of excitement or delight.
Whew is a variant of phew but can also express amazement.
Whoa is a call to halt or an exclamation of surprise or relief.
Whoop-de-doo and its many variants convey mocking reaction to something meant to impress.
Woo and woo-hoo (and variations like yahoo, yee-haw, and yippee) indicate excitement. (Woot, also spelled w00t among an online in-crowd, is a probably ephemeral variant.)
Wow expresses surprise.
Yay is a congratulatory exclamation. (Not to be confused with yeah, a variant of yes.)
Yikes is an expression of fear or concern, often used facetiously.
Yo-ho-ho is the traditional pirates’ refrain.
Yoo-hoo attracts attention.
Yow, or yowza, is an exclamation of surprise or conveys being impressed.
Yuck (also spelled yech or yecch) signals disgust. (Not to be confused with yuk, a laugh.)
Yum, or yummy, is a response to the taste of something delicious and, by extension, the sight of an attractive person.
Zoinks is an expression of surprise or amazement popularized by the cartoon character Shaggy, of Scooby Doo fame.
Zowie, often in combination following wowie, a variant of wow, expresses admiration or astonishment.
100 Beautiful and Ugly Words
One of the many fascinating features of our language is how often
words with pleasant associations are also quite pleasing on the tongue
and even to the eye, and how many words, by contrast, acoustically and
visually corroborate their disagreeable nature — look no further than
the heading for this post.
Enrich the poetry of your prose by applying words that provide precise connotation while also evoking emotional responses. (Note the proportion of beautiful words to ugly ones in the compilation below; it’s easier to conjure the former than the latter, though I omitted words associated with bodily functions, as well as onomatopoeic terms.)
Notice how often attractive words present themselves to define other beautiful ones, and note also how many of them are interrelated, and what kind of sensations, impressions, and emotions they have in common. Also, try enunciating beautiful words as if they were ugly, or vice versa. Are their sounds suggestive of their quality, or does their meaning wholly determine their effect on us?
Beguile: deceive
Caprice: impulse
Cascade: steep waterfall
Cashmere: fine, delicate wool
Chrysalis: protective covering
Cinnamon: an aromatic spice; its soft brown color
Coalesce: unite, or fuse
Crepuscular: dim, or twilit
Crystalline: clear, or sparkling
Desultory: half-hearted, meandering
Diaphanous: gauzy
Dulcet: sweet
Ebullient: enthusiastic
Effervescent: bubbly
Elision: omission
Enchanted: charmed
Encompass: surround
Enrapture: delighted
Ephemeral: fleeting
Epiphany: revelation
Epitome: embodiment of the ideal
Ethereal: celestial, unworldly, immaterial
Etiquette: proper conduct
Evanescent: fleeting
Evocative: suggestive
Exuberant: abundant, unrestrained, outsize
Felicity: happiness, pleasantness
Filament: thread, strand
Halcyon: care-free
Idyllic: contentedly pleasing
Incorporeal: without form
Incandescent: glowing, radiant, brilliant, zealous
Ineffable: indescribable, unspeakable
Inexorable: relentless
Insouciance: nonchalance
Iridescent: luster
Languid: slow, listless
Lassitude: fatigue
Lilt: cheerful or buoyant song or movement
Lithe: flexible, graceful
Lullaby: soothing song
Luminescence: dim chemical or organic light
Mellifluous: smooth, sweet
Mist: cloudy moisture, or similar literal or virtual obstacle
Murmur: soothing sound
Myriad: great number
Nebulous: indistinct
Opulent: ostentatious
Penumbra: shade, shroud, fringe
Plethora: abundance
Quiescent: peaceful
Quintessential: most purely representative or typical
Radiant: glowing
Redolent: aromatic, evocative
Resonant: echoing, evocative
Resplendent: shining
Rhapsodic: intensely emotional
Sapphire: rich, deep bluish purple
Scintilla: trace
Serendipitous: chance
Serene: peaceful
Somnolent: drowsy, sleep inducing
Sonorous: loud, impressive, imposing
Spherical: ball-like, globular
Sublime: exalted, transcendent
Succulent: juicy, tasty, rich
Suffuse: flushed, full
Susurration: whispering
Symphony: harmonious assemblage
Talisman: charm, magical device
Tessellated: checkered in pattern
Tranquility: peacefulness
Vestige: trace
Zenith: highest point
Cataclysm: flood, catastrophe, upheaval
Chafe: irritate, abrade
Coarse: common, crude, rough, harsh
Cynical: distrustful, self-interested
Decrepit: worn-out, run-down
Disgust: aversion, distaste
Grimace: expression of disgust or pain
Grotesque: distorted, bizarre
Harangue: rant
Hirsute: hairy
Hoarse: harsh, grating
Leech: parasite,
Maladroit: clumsy
Mediocre: ordinary, of low quality
Obstreperous: noisy, unruly
Rancid: offensive, smelly
Repugnant: distasteful
Repulsive: disgusting
Shriek: sharp, screeching sound
Shrill: high-pitched sound
Shun: avoid, ostracize
Slaughter: butcher, carnage
Unctuous: smug, ingratiating
Visceral: crude, anatomically graphic
Enrich the poetry of your prose by applying words that provide precise connotation while also evoking emotional responses. (Note the proportion of beautiful words to ugly ones in the compilation below; it’s easier to conjure the former than the latter, though I omitted words associated with bodily functions, as well as onomatopoeic terms.)
Notice how often attractive words present themselves to define other beautiful ones, and note also how many of them are interrelated, and what kind of sensations, impressions, and emotions they have in common. Also, try enunciating beautiful words as if they were ugly, or vice versa. Are their sounds suggestive of their quality, or does their meaning wholly determine their effect on us?
Beautiful Words
Amorphous: indefinite, shapelessBeguile: deceive
Caprice: impulse
Cascade: steep waterfall
Cashmere: fine, delicate wool
Chrysalis: protective covering
Cinnamon: an aromatic spice; its soft brown color
Coalesce: unite, or fuse
Crepuscular: dim, or twilit
Crystalline: clear, or sparkling
Desultory: half-hearted, meandering
Diaphanous: gauzy
Dulcet: sweet
Ebullient: enthusiastic
Effervescent: bubbly
Elision: omission
Enchanted: charmed
Encompass: surround
Enrapture: delighted
Ephemeral: fleeting
Epiphany: revelation
Epitome: embodiment of the ideal
Ethereal: celestial, unworldly, immaterial
Etiquette: proper conduct
Evanescent: fleeting
Evocative: suggestive
Exuberant: abundant, unrestrained, outsize
Felicity: happiness, pleasantness
Filament: thread, strand
Halcyon: care-free
Idyllic: contentedly pleasing
Incorporeal: without form
Incandescent: glowing, radiant, brilliant, zealous
Ineffable: indescribable, unspeakable
Inexorable: relentless
Insouciance: nonchalance
Iridescent: luster
Languid: slow, listless
Lassitude: fatigue
Lilt: cheerful or buoyant song or movement
Lithe: flexible, graceful
Lullaby: soothing song
Luminescence: dim chemical or organic light
Mellifluous: smooth, sweet
Mist: cloudy moisture, or similar literal or virtual obstacle
Murmur: soothing sound
Myriad: great number
Nebulous: indistinct
Opulent: ostentatious
Penumbra: shade, shroud, fringe
Plethora: abundance
Quiescent: peaceful
Quintessential: most purely representative or typical
Radiant: glowing
Redolent: aromatic, evocative
Resonant: echoing, evocative
Resplendent: shining
Rhapsodic: intensely emotional
Sapphire: rich, deep bluish purple
Scintilla: trace
Serendipitous: chance
Serene: peaceful
Somnolent: drowsy, sleep inducing
Sonorous: loud, impressive, imposing
Spherical: ball-like, globular
Sublime: exalted, transcendent
Succulent: juicy, tasty, rich
Suffuse: flushed, full
Susurration: whispering
Symphony: harmonious assemblage
Talisman: charm, magical device
Tessellated: checkered in pattern
Tranquility: peacefulness
Vestige: trace
Zenith: highest point
Ugly Words
Cacophony: confused noiseCataclysm: flood, catastrophe, upheaval
Chafe: irritate, abrade
Coarse: common, crude, rough, harsh
Cynical: distrustful, self-interested
Decrepit: worn-out, run-down
Disgust: aversion, distaste
Grimace: expression of disgust or pain
Grotesque: distorted, bizarre
Harangue: rant
Hirsute: hairy
Hoarse: harsh, grating
Leech: parasite,
Maladroit: clumsy
Mediocre: ordinary, of low quality
Obstreperous: noisy, unruly
Rancid: offensive, smelly
Repugnant: distasteful
Repulsive: disgusting
Shriek: sharp, screeching sound
Shrill: high-pitched sound
Shun: avoid, ostracize
Slaughter: butcher, carnage
Unctuous: smug, ingratiating
Visceral: crude, anatomically graphic
Spoken English Part 16
The difference between being nice and being kind
The difference between “niceness” and “kindness” is night and day, yet people often use these two words interchangeably, assuming that they’re “basically the same thing.” Well, I hope that I can help clear up that misconception with this article.
A little preview: Kindness is rooted in love, niceness is rooted in fear. But more on that later!
So let’s start with some definitions! Here’s the best set I could find on the Internet:
The difference between “niceness” and “kindness” is night and day, yet people often use these two words interchangeably, assuming that they’re “basically the same thing.” Well, I hope that I can help clear up that misconception with this article.
A little preview: Kindness is rooted in love, niceness is rooted in fear. But more on that later!
So let’s start with some definitions! Here’s the best set I could find on the Internet:
Nice: adj; pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance; socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
Kind: adj; having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior; characterized by mercy, and compassion
A “nice” person is one who conforms his behavior to what he believes society sees as “nice.” A “kind” person doesn’t necessarily care about what “society” thinks of him; he acts out of a deep-rooted love for his fellow living beings.
On the surface, this might not seem to be a very important distinction. However, when we look deeper at the roots of these two behavior patterns, we see two very different human beings.
The nice person is focused on himself – he does nice things in order to be perceived (by others and by himself) as a “nice person.”
The kind person is focused on others – all he wants is to relieve the suffering of the living, conscious creature in front of him.
When we dig deeper into these two “personalities,” we will find that they are often diametrically opposed.
The kind person is strong. The nice person is weak.
The kind person is selfless. The nice person is selfish.
The kind person feels empathy. The nice person is narcissistic.
The kind person is happy. The nice person does not know happiness.
Ultimately: The core of a “kind person” is love. The core of a “nice person” is fear.
This is something I realized several years ago, and it really changed the way I look at people.
Now, before you accuse me of ridiculous, rampant hyperbole, let’s look deeper into the roots of these behaviors.
Where do niceness and kindness come from?
This is very deep psychology, and has its roots in the natural selection process of our evolution.
Kind: adj; having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior; characterized by mercy, and compassion
A “nice” person is one who conforms his behavior to what he believes society sees as “nice.” A “kind” person doesn’t necessarily care about what “society” thinks of him; he acts out of a deep-rooted love for his fellow living beings.
On the surface, this might not seem to be a very important distinction. However, when we look deeper at the roots of these two behavior patterns, we see two very different human beings.
The nice person is focused on himself – he does nice things in order to be perceived (by others and by himself) as a “nice person.”
The kind person is focused on others – all he wants is to relieve the suffering of the living, conscious creature in front of him.
When we dig deeper into these two “personalities,” we will find that they are often diametrically opposed.
The kind person is strong. The nice person is weak.
The kind person is selfless. The nice person is selfish.
The kind person feels empathy. The nice person is narcissistic.
The kind person is happy. The nice person does not know happiness.
Ultimately: The core of a “kind person” is love. The core of a “nice person” is fear.
This is something I realized several years ago, and it really changed the way I look at people.
Now, before you accuse me of ridiculous, rampant hyperbole, let’s look deeper into the roots of these behaviors.
Where do niceness and kindness come from?
This is very deep psychology, and has its roots in the natural selection process of our evolution.
Spoken English Part 15
The difference between: [can you], [could you] and [would you]
► In terms of formality, “can you” is the most casual, “could you” is more polite and “would you” is the most formal and polite. There is no major difference in meaning between “can you” and “could you” except that “could you” is more polite. However, there is a difference in nuance between “could you” and “would you”. The words “could you” focus on the ability to do something, but the words “would you” focus on the willingness to do
something. For example:
- Can you help me with my homework later? (said to a friend or family member)
- Could you tell me how to get to the train station from here? (said to a stranger on the street)
- Would you lend me your car this weekend? (said to a friend or family member, but in a very polite way because you want something from them)
► Sometimes people get confused between the difference between “could you” and “would you” but there is one example sentence which usually helps people to understand. If a man is asking someone to marry him, he would say:
- Would you marry me? .. ✔ ..
But he would NEVER say:
- Could you marry me? .. ✘ ..
▼ By saying, “Would you marry me?” he is asking “Are you willing to marry me?” but if he said “Could you marry me?” it sounds like “Do you have the ability to marry me?” (which sounds quite strange and VERY unromantic.) Here are some other examples for you to study:
- Can you drive me to work today? My car isn’t working now.
- Could you tell me how long I’ll have to wait until I can see the doctor?
- Would you please stop tapping your foot? I’m trying to study.
• So I hope this helps YOU to understand the difference between these words.
► In terms of formality, “can you” is the most casual, “could you” is more polite and “would you” is the most formal and polite. There is no major difference in meaning between “can you” and “could you” except that “could you” is more polite. However, there is a difference in nuance between “could you” and “would you”. The words “could you” focus on the ability to do something, but the words “would you” focus on the willingness to do
something. For example:
- Can you help me with my homework later? (said to a friend or family member)
- Could you tell me how to get to the train station from here? (said to a stranger on the street)
- Would you lend me your car this weekend? (said to a friend or family member, but in a very polite way because you want something from them)
► Sometimes people get confused between the difference between “could you” and “would you” but there is one example sentence which usually helps people to understand. If a man is asking someone to marry him, he would say:
- Would you marry me? .. ✔ ..
But he would NEVER say:
- Could you marry me? .. ✘ ..
▼ By saying, “Would you marry me?” he is asking “Are you willing to marry me?” but if he said “Could you marry me?” it sounds like “Do you have the ability to marry me?” (which sounds quite strange and VERY unromantic.) Here are some other examples for you to study:
- Can you drive me to work today? My car isn’t working now.
- Could you tell me how long I’ll have to wait until I can see the doctor?
- Would you please stop tapping your foot? I’m trying to study.
• So I hope this helps YOU to understand the difference between these words.
Spoken English Part 14
Everyone learns English at their own speed, but as you navigate
toward your future goals, we are here to help guide you to success as
quickly as possible. Here are five secrets that can help you learn
English a little bit faster:
Listen as much as you can
------------------------------------
Listening to conversations in English is one of the most effective ways to build your vocabulary and speaking skills. For quick tips to work listening into your preparation time, check out English videos on youtube.
Listen as much as you can
------------------------------------
Listening to conversations in English is one of the most effective ways to build your vocabulary and speaking skills. For quick tips to work listening into your preparation time, check out English videos on youtube.
Practice English with a partner
-----------------------------------------
Study partners can help each other understand different topics, talk through questions, and practice English skills. Find others in your area who are learning English.
Read children’s books and comic books in English
----------------------------------------------------------------
Reading illustrated children’s books and comic books in English helps to put words into context and make learning fun—especially when you’re just starting out. For a quick tip about reading watch this video.
Take advantage of free online media
--------------------------------------------------
There are a wide range of free podcasts and available applications online that can help you learn English quickly. To get started, check out learn English websites and grammar videos on internet.
Believe in yourself
--------------------------
Confidence in yourself is one of your greatest assets toward achieving your goals. Take risks and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are simply opportunities to learn! Before you know it, you will be speaking English with total confidence.
-----------------------------------------
Study partners can help each other understand different topics, talk through questions, and practice English skills. Find others in your area who are learning English.
Read children’s books and comic books in English
----------------------------------------------------------------
Reading illustrated children’s books and comic books in English helps to put words into context and make learning fun—especially when you’re just starting out. For a quick tip about reading watch this video.
Take advantage of free online media
--------------------------------------------------
There are a wide range of free podcasts and available applications online that can help you learn English quickly. To get started, check out learn English websites and grammar videos on internet.
Believe in yourself
--------------------------
Confidence in yourself is one of your greatest assets toward achieving your goals. Take risks and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are simply opportunities to learn! Before you know it, you will be speaking English with total confidence.
Spoken English Part 13
Grammar Mistakes
Writing can be really no-win. It’s not fair, but it’s true.
If you obsess over every grammatical and structural point, you can come across as stiff. But if you’re lax and make a bunch of simple errors, you’ll come across as stupid.
Writing can be really no-win. It’s not fair, but it’s true.
If you obsess over every grammatical and structural point, you can come across as stiff. But if you’re lax and make a bunch of simple errors, you’ll come across as stupid.
You
make one mistake and a lot of people will let it go. Two and you’re
making them suspicious. Keep that up, with your intelligence taking hits
at each turn, and your reader will decide that you’re actually a
chimpanzee — and not one of the smart ones, either.
1. Improper use of “myself”
This is one that people make because they think that complicating the language needlessly will make them sound smart.
(It’s the same principle as a barely literate inner-city tenant telling me haughtily that her brother is “presently incarcerated in a corrections facility.”)
Unfortunately, misuse of “myself” isn’t just needlessly complicated. It’s also wrong.
Here’s a typical incorrect use:
“The committee will consist of Bob, Mr. Parsons, and myself.”
In this circumstance, “me” is the right choice. In general, “myself” is a word you shouldn’t find much use for, so if you’re using it a lot, you’re probably using it wrong. “Myself” should only be used reflexively, to refer back to the subject.
For example:
“I did the job myself.”
2. Subject/predicate disagreement
This is extremely common, and I can almost forgive it because the correct structure is cumbersome. Here’s an example of a disagreement:
“Clearly, this person didn’t know what they were doing.”
The problem is “this person” (singular) being used together with the pronoun “they” (plural). “These people didn’t know what they were doing” is correct, and so is “This person didn’t know what he or she was doing.” In each of those cases, the number (singular or plural) in the subject agrees with the number in the predicate.
Number disagreements are irritating to solve, because if you have a bunch of them and are writing about a hypothetical or unknown person, your copy ends up being overrun with awkward “he or she’s.”
A good compromise is to pick a gender and run with it. The standard used to be to assume any unknown person was a man (e.g. “This person didn’t know what he was doing”), but it’s more common today to use “she” as the universal pronoun. Alternatively, you can alternate “she” and “he” in different instances throughout your copy.
(If you’re confused on this, try substituting a person’s name in the subject. This tends to make things more obvious. Using the initial example, you’d come up with, “Clearly, Bob didn’t know what they were doing.” Assuming you know that “they” is supposed to refer to Bob and not to another group, this becomes obviously wrong.)
3. “An historic”
I always get argument on this one, but I’m going to put my foot down anyway. Not only is putting “an” in front of a word with an audible H grammatically incorrect, it’s also uncommonly annoying.
1. Improper use of “myself”
This is one that people make because they think that complicating the language needlessly will make them sound smart.
(It’s the same principle as a barely literate inner-city tenant telling me haughtily that her brother is “presently incarcerated in a corrections facility.”)
Unfortunately, misuse of “myself” isn’t just needlessly complicated. It’s also wrong.
Here’s a typical incorrect use:
“The committee will consist of Bob, Mr. Parsons, and myself.”
In this circumstance, “me” is the right choice. In general, “myself” is a word you shouldn’t find much use for, so if you’re using it a lot, you’re probably using it wrong. “Myself” should only be used reflexively, to refer back to the subject.
For example:
“I did the job myself.”
2. Subject/predicate disagreement
This is extremely common, and I can almost forgive it because the correct structure is cumbersome. Here’s an example of a disagreement:
“Clearly, this person didn’t know what they were doing.”
The problem is “this person” (singular) being used together with the pronoun “they” (plural). “These people didn’t know what they were doing” is correct, and so is “This person didn’t know what he or she was doing.” In each of those cases, the number (singular or plural) in the subject agrees with the number in the predicate.
Number disagreements are irritating to solve, because if you have a bunch of them and are writing about a hypothetical or unknown person, your copy ends up being overrun with awkward “he or she’s.”
A good compromise is to pick a gender and run with it. The standard used to be to assume any unknown person was a man (e.g. “This person didn’t know what he was doing”), but it’s more common today to use “she” as the universal pronoun. Alternatively, you can alternate “she” and “he” in different instances throughout your copy.
(If you’re confused on this, try substituting a person’s name in the subject. This tends to make things more obvious. Using the initial example, you’d come up with, “Clearly, Bob didn’t know what they were doing.” Assuming you know that “they” is supposed to refer to Bob and not to another group, this becomes obviously wrong.)
3. “An historic”
I always get argument on this one, but I’m going to put my foot down anyway. Not only is putting “an” in front of a word with an audible H grammatically incorrect, it’s also uncommonly annoying.
Chalk this one up to
trying to sound intelligent, like the “myself” rule above. Somehow,
users feel that the use of “an” in this clunky way makes them sound
distinguished, kind of like adding ye olde in front of tanning parlor,
or saying indubitably with an English accent.
If you’re bristling at this one, ask yourself if you’d say, “an horse” or “an house.” What would people think if you went into the store and said, “I’ll have an half gallon of milk, please”?
You can and should use “an” if the H is silent and the word starts with a phonetic vowel, like “an hour.” Otherwise, go with “a” as the article.
4. Was vs. were
Everyone makes this mistake, so don’t beat yourself up if you do. But you should also fix it.
Here’s the incorrect use:
“If I was rich, I’d buy lots and lots of pants.”
However, the correct choice here would be were, not was.
Were here would be correctly used in the subjunctive mood — a case in which what you’re saying is hypothetical. If you’ve used “if,” that’s a pretty good indicator that were is appropriate:
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
(You’re not me, so it’s subjunctive)
or
“If I were at work right now, I’d be eating a waffle.”
Remember, you use “were” because you’re actually not at work right now. But if you were writing about an actual past event, you’d use “was” (e.g. “When I was at work”).
If you’re bristling at this one, ask yourself if you’d say, “an horse” or “an house.” What would people think if you went into the store and said, “I’ll have an half gallon of milk, please”?
You can and should use “an” if the H is silent and the word starts with a phonetic vowel, like “an hour.” Otherwise, go with “a” as the article.
4. Was vs. were
Everyone makes this mistake, so don’t beat yourself up if you do. But you should also fix it.
Here’s the incorrect use:
“If I was rich, I’d buy lots and lots of pants.”
However, the correct choice here would be were, not was.
Were here would be correctly used in the subjunctive mood — a case in which what you’re saying is hypothetical. If you’ve used “if,” that’s a pretty good indicator that were is appropriate:
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
(You’re not me, so it’s subjunctive)
or
“If I were at work right now, I’d be eating a waffle.”
Remember, you use “were” because you’re actually not at work right now. But if you were writing about an actual past event, you’d use “was” (e.g. “When I was at work”).
Spoken English Part 12
Why to Study English Grammar
In the world of technological advancement, it has been very necessary to learn English for everyone especially youngsters in order to get success in the future. The purpose of learning English is not only to get understanding of a new language however to have proper understanding of it as a human language.
We all have almost the same capacity of learning so we should not be hopeless while learning English and continue our learning with full patience. We can understand properly by taking an example of a new born child. A new born child knows nothing when he/she born however slowly learn the languages what he/she hears in his/her surrounding. If he/she hears English, learns the same and if hears Hindi, learns Hindi and same is true for other languages.
It helps in getting capable to put words together in systematic and reasonable manner to make a sentence and write some paragraphs, story, poem, letter, essay, etc. Learning English grammar helps one to face all the challenges in other countries. Grammar is the base to learn, write and speak English.
It explores the creative ability and solves many problems of a person. It creates a potential within us which is controlled by grammar rules. Its makes us more aware about things going on by providing us strength and flexibility. It makes us able to speak and write English language more effectively and skillfully.
Basic English Grammar
Basics of English Learning
Parts of Speech
Noun
Adjective
Pronoun
Verb
Adverb
Preposition
Conjunction
Interjection
Determiner
In the world of technological advancement, it has been very necessary to learn English for everyone especially youngsters in order to get success in the future. The purpose of learning English is not only to get understanding of a new language however to have proper understanding of it as a human language.
We all have almost the same capacity of learning so we should not be hopeless while learning English and continue our learning with full patience. We can understand properly by taking an example of a new born child. A new born child knows nothing when he/she born however slowly learn the languages what he/she hears in his/her surrounding. If he/she hears English, learns the same and if hears Hindi, learns Hindi and same is true for other languages.
It helps in getting capable to put words together in systematic and reasonable manner to make a sentence and write some paragraphs, story, poem, letter, essay, etc. Learning English grammar helps one to face all the challenges in other countries. Grammar is the base to learn, write and speak English.
It explores the creative ability and solves many problems of a person. It creates a potential within us which is controlled by grammar rules. Its makes us more aware about things going on by providing us strength and flexibility. It makes us able to speak and write English language more effectively and skillfully.
Basic English Grammar
Basics of English Learning
Parts of Speech
Noun
Adjective
Pronoun
Verb
Adverb
Preposition
Conjunction
Interjection
Determiner
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