Qualitative Adjectives
Adjectives: Adjectives describe the world around us: things and people (list is not exhaustive) Qualitative adjectives: Describe: colour, dimension, shape and the quality of an object Colour: red, blue, black, white, green, orange, yellow, mauve, purple, grey, brown, pink, violet, scarlet, crimson, lemon, gold, silver, bronze, greenish, bluish, opaque, transparent , striped, spotted, mottled, cream, dark, light Size / Weight : light , heavy, big, small, large, little, tall, short, fat, thick, thin, high, low, narrow, broad, tiny, slim, wide, enormous, huge, vast, gigantic, miniscule, microscopic, dense, weighty, hefty, giant, fat, obese, plump Shape : round, square, trctangular, triangular, oval, oblong, circular, flat, spherical, straight, wavy, cylindrical, elliptical, crooked, oblique Emotion and personality: happy, sad, funny, cheerful, lonely, friendly, friendless, scared, excited, frightened, jolly, grumpy, adventurous, arduous Speed : quick, fast, slow, swift, hasty, speedy, rapid, Temperature : hot, cold, tepid, freezing, frozen, chilly, burning, fiery, steaming, icy, wintry, frosty, Material : wooden, iron, metallic, fabric, cotton, plastic, glass, leather, metal, cloth, concrete, steel, plastic, paper, liquid, sulphurous, wet, dry Age : old, young, ancient, modern, antique, new, elderly youthful, recent, old-fashioned Taste : sweet, savory, bitter, sour, salty, delicious, tasty, bland, tasteless, spicy, acidic Quantity : one, two, three, four, few, many, little, several, all, some, every, each, no, Opinion : good, bad, not bad, not good, mediocre, better, best, worse, worst, rich, poor, lovely, difficult, important, unimportant, clean, dirty, pretty, ugly, clever, brave, courageous, smart, intelligent, expensive, cheap, nice, attractive, unattractive, beautiful, attentiveinterestingamusing, amazing, surprising, usual, unusual, wonderful, awful, fantastic, comfortable, uncomfortable, important, unimportant, useful, useless, horrible, terrible, evil, hot Sound : soft, loud, silent, quiet, noisy, mellifluous Touch : soft, hard, smooth, coarse, rough, glossy Smell : smelly, burnt, aromatic, fragrant, perfumed, delicate Distance : long, short, close, far, nearby, distant, remote Brightness : bright, dim, light, dark, shiny, dull, luminous Origin : English, French, Irish, Celtic, Greek Roman, Australian, Spanish, northern, Islamic, European, Antipoidean, South American, oceanic, Martian, Romulan...
Read MoreWhy Learn to Speak English?
In school there may be no choice but to learn a foreign language and the options will be limited by the knowledge and ability of teaching staff. As English is one of the most widely spoken languages, it is likely that English may be one of the options. Although it may not be our favourite subject, if we start learning another language as children it is easier for our brains to accept and adjust to the new information, making it easier to absorb. As an adult we may decide to challenge ourselves by enrolling on a foreign language course. As we have become very used to our own language, learning languages as an adult may take more effort, however when you get the opportunity to put your skills to the test, it can be highly rewarding. When adults are selecting a language to learn, you can sign up for a course to study any language of the world. English is still a popular choice primarily because it is widely used in business. If you select English as your language to master, you are not along. According to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) statistics there are around 359million people who speak English as their first language. In addition 375 million people have English as a second language and they use it almost every day. Finally there are around 750 million people who use English to communicate on a less regular basis and many more people around the globe who are learning the language, either as beginners or improvers. Beyond stretching your academic abilities there can be many other advantages to learning a foreign language. Gaining an understanding of these can help you to get motivated to learn to speak English. If you are motivated, you are more likely to put in the time and effort required to build knowledge and confidence. Employment Opportunities English is widely used in business. It is known as the ‘lingua franca’ which means it is used in business communications even when none of the business representatives have English as their first language. Individuals who are fluent in English are therefore more desirable during company recruitment campaigns, so have a greater chance to secure their ideal job. They are also more likely to get paid a higher salary than non-English speakers. In these ways learning English can support your career progression. Travel, Study and Volunteering English is the first language in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and many small island nations. It is also widely spoken in parts of India and Africa. If you have a desire to travel and explore the world, either for business or pleasure, knowledge of the English language will make it less daunting and more accessible. Many signs in global airports are translated into English, so from the moment you arrive in a country, you can feel clearer about where to go. Many people also like the idea of studying in another country, particularly America, Canada and the UK. The courses in these countries will be taught in English, so understanding the language is essential if you want to learn your chosen subject. A qualification from one of these institutions may have greater worth in helping you to fulfil your career aspirations. Volunteering can be a great way to do something you are passionate about. You may want to support a good cause, or develop skills in a new area. Volunteering is also a good way to meet like-minded people. Again a knowledge and understanding of English will open up a greater number of opportunities. Resources to help you...
Read MoreSpeaking the Lingo
Around the world many people chose to learn a language in addition to their native language. In some countries it is common for all children to be brought up with multi lingual skills and if your parents speak a different language to that which is commonly spoken in the country you live in, it is natural that you learn to be proficient in both. Many of us are also taught a language in school, but our enthusiasm and success in the classroom can be limited. Learning a new language as part of our studies, for business, to open up new opportunities for our future, to travel or because we plan to move to another country, can be a challenge. However, you can be sure of a warmer welcome in any country if you have a go at speaking at least a few words in their language. Try it next time you are on holiday; learn a few pleasant greetings and some commonly used phrases and put them to the test! Multi-Sensory Learning Learning a language when you are surrounded by people speaking it can be daunting at first, but it is often the quickest and easiest way to learn. The reason is that we are constantly being reminded of what we have learnt so far, as well as being exposed to new vocabulary, word combinations and pronunciations. We can hear the words, as well as read them on signs, packaging, menus, posters and other documents. We also build up words in association with tastes, smells, sounds and other sensory experiences. We are fully immersed in the language and it isn’t so easy to default into our native tongue. A month trying to learn a language in another country can progress you further than a year of study in the classroom and the reason is that we are being constantly engaged in multi-sensory learning. Every one of us experiences life using all of our senses. Our knowledge is formed through experience and our understanding of that experience is shaped by what we hear, smell, taste, touch and see, as well as our emotional connection to the events. Traditional classroom teaching can focus too heavily on verbal learning, particularly written words and this can hinder the progress of many students. Getting to Grips with English As English is widely spoken, it is one of the more popular languages to learn. In some respects English may be considered easier than other languages, but it becomes complicated because there are many exceptions to every English grammar rule. Even those who have learnt English as their first language regularly make grammatical mistakes. In addition to the challenges of English grammar, the language has borrowed words from many other countries, so there is an extensive vocabulary to learn. Add in a wide selection of accents, slang, colloquial phrases and it can be confusing. Then consider the multiple spellings and meanings for words which sound identical and it can feel like a minefield. If you are learning English and can’t afford the time or cost of travelling to a country where it is commonly spoken, then there are a variety of resources that can build on your classroom learning. CDs, DVDs and online videos can give you experience of hearing the English language being spoken in a range of scenarios. Vocabulary flash cards and English grammar posters http://englishgrammarmap.co.uk/english-grammar-posters-shop/ can be used to create displays in prominent places, so you are constantly reminded of your learning. Many supermarkets have products from around the world, so you can read the English information and ingredients on packaging. English music,...
Read MoreGrammar Tenses
Learn English Grammar Tenses Online Click for the list of contents Present Simple: BE (is am are) Present Simple: DO / Verbs Present Simple: DO / Verbs 2 Present Continuous: am / is / are doing Present Simple for the future Present Continuous: for the future Now: at this time Can / May: Possibility Permission Want to / Would like Past Simple: Was / Were Past Simple: DID / Verbs Used to and Would: Past historical Facts Contrasting Past and Present Perfect: Future Simple: Will and ’ll Future Simple: Shall: I / we shall Future: Will and Going to: intention Present Perfect: Have been Been and Gone: Present Perfect: Have Done / verb recently lately and just: Until now ever and never: (in your life) yet and already: In my life / until now Must and Have to: Obligation Had to: Obligation before now Should and Ought to: Advisability 1st Conditional: If I do… I will… Past Simple Continuous: Action when Future Continuous: I will be doing 2nd Conditional: If I did.. I would 2nd Conditional: If I were you I would Present Perfect Continuous: been -ing Past Perfect: had done Past Perfect Continuous: had been doing Future Perfect: will have done Future Perfect Continuous: been -ing 3rd Conditional: If I had.. I would 3rd Conditional: If I had.. I should must have / should have / could have Present Simple: be (is am are) I am you / we / they are he / she / it is Present Facts – Describing things is is used for the 3rd person singular and object is may be contracted to ‘s with he, she and it Hello, my name is Mark, I am a Doctor. Where’s the cat? He’s / She‘s / It‘s up on the garage roof. Is your car blue? No, my car isn‘t blue, it’s black. The negative is not and may be contracted to n’t Are you English? No, I’m not. I am / I’m Welsh. Excuse me, is that my pen? No, sorry, it isn’t. Oh! I’m not hungry, are you? No, we aren’t, we’re thirsty. am (first person singular) I am may be contracted to I’m I am is not contracted with not when we use the negative (amn’t) I’m very tired. It’s very late. I want to go to bed. I’m not the tallest in my family, my Brother is. I’m Irish. My children aren’t, they’re American. are (1st and 2nd person plural and 3rd person and object) are with: we, you (plural), they: may be contracted to ‘re. How are you? I’m fine / well, thanks. How are you? Where are the children? They’re in their bedroom. My shoes are big, I have big feet. Your feet are big too, aren’t they? Are you Canadian? No, we aren’t, I’m Australian and my wife’s from New Zealand. Present Simple: DO / Verbs I / you / we/ they eat / do he / she / it eats / does Present fact / Routine Event Where do you live? I live in York. Alison works for a large company, she commutes to London every day. How often do you eat in a restaurant? We eat out at a restaurant once a week. We love London, there is always something to do, somewhere to go and something to see. The negative is not and may be contracted to don’t We don’t go to the cinema / movies all the time, sometimes we watch DVDs at home. Present Simple: DO / Verbs 2 Present habitual / routine Event These days, people don’t go to libraries anymore, they read books online. Caitlin often / generally / usually shops in town, where there is more choice. Adverbs of frequency are used to describe frequency of events I always / often / occasionally / sometimes go to the gym after I finish work. I like to stay fit. I rarely / never / don’t often go to the gym. Adverbs of frequency always generally / usually / normally often / sometimes / occasionally do not (don’t) often rarely never don’t ever / never / hardly ever Present Continuous: am / is / are doing Present Action – now / at the moment Verb + ING Is it still raining? Yes, it is, look! What are you doing now? I’m going to lunch, are you coming? At the moment I’m working on designs for a new type of computer. Present Simple: for the future Future Event on a...
Read MoreGeneral Grammar
General Grammar Click for the list of contents a an the: Indefinite definite articles Nouns: Words that refer to things Adjectives: Describe people and objects Adjective order: Describing with detail There is and There are: this and that – these and those: Could and Would: Polite questions Prepositions: to in at on off etc Question words: what who where when Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns: Adverbs: how we do things Get: obtain / be / become To have: possess experience and obtain Object Pronoun: me you him etc Question words: how why which etc Make or do something: as, like, alike and the same as Much and Many some and a lot: a lot and plenty and a few etc: some any and none (0) too and enough: excess and sufficiency Comparative adjectives: good better than Superlative adjectives: The best / worst Past: Regular verbs pronunciation: each every all and both: so that / to do / for + ing: reason to say to tell / to speak and talk: recently lately and just: until now yet and already: In my life / until now Phrasal Verbs: Verbs with prepositions Reported speech: direct / indirect speech The gerund: The verb + ING whoever wherever whenever etc Reflexive pronouns: myself yourself etc likely unlikely: Probability Relative pronouns / Relative clauses: Question tags: It is, isn’t it? like, as if and as though: nevertheless even so still and yet: provided that and unless: wish and regret: a, an and the: The indefinite and definite articles Identifying unique and non unique things (nouns) a and an – identify things that are not unique It’s raining. I have a coat but I need an umbrella. The – identifies a unique or specific thing or things The cat smashed the cups and the plates, I broke the glass, sorry. I worked in the dockyards of the north of England. Use a and an with nouns or adjectives that start an with vowels (AEIOU) Would you like a coffee? No, I would prefer an ice cream. Words that start with consonants that make a vowel sound take an, except Uni. My father is an MP (Member of Parliament). I go to a famous university on the east coast of the USA. It is not necessary to use an article for non-specific nouns or those that describe groups if things Children love small animals. Corporations of the past had hierarchical structures, bosses were really kings. Nouns: Words that refer to people, places or things Common Nouns: Singular and plural What is that? It’s a pen. What’s that? It’s a pencil. Where is my cup? It’s on the plate over there on the table. I like the room. There is a picture on the wall and there are flowers in the pot. I have four children, two cars and a big house. We live in Madrid, in Spain. Proper Nouns refer to specific people, places or things and always start with a capital letter I see Mrs. Jones every Friday at the Sydney Opera House. I like France, and especially Paris. There are a lot of things to see there: The Louvre, Notre Dame and The Eiffel Tower. Adjectives: Describe people and objects. Wow! Your car is fast, my car is slow. Our house is big, but we aren’t rich. Adjectives classes: Qualitative Adjectives – describe colour, dimension, shape and the quality of an object Possessive Adjectives – my, your, his, her, it, their, your (plural), our Demonstrative Adjectives – this, that, these, those Interrogative Adjectives – what, which, whose Quantitative Adjectives – 1 (one), 3 (three),...
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