Marcelo Raffaelli Cesar
Marcelo Raffaelli Cesar
ENG-P105-4: Stepping Out
PRS-P141-2: Exploring Training and Career Options
PRS-P121-1: Rights and Responsibilities at Work
Contact information!
marcelo.raffaelli.cesar@
514-998-0744
marceloenglish. – Class website!
Useful websites!
– Grammar website #1
– Grammar website #2
– Listening to news.
– Watching videos with simple(r) English.
– Free readings and audiobooks.
– Online English dictionary with pronunciations for every word you search.
Tutoring
Eric in room 202, Tuesdays, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
September 2, 2014
- Discussion questions:
o Who do you talk to in your family when you have a problem?
o When you were a young child, how did you feel about school?
o In your culture, is it OK to visit a friend without calling them first?
- Writing questions:
o Explain a little about yourself. Who are you? Where did you come from? How and why did you come to live in Canada?
o What do you want to get out of this class? What are your expectations?
- Homesickness (noun): Having nostalgia, thinking a lot about, or missing your old home, country, etc.
September 3, 2014
- To bargain (verb): To negotiate a price, or a deal. To barter.
- To blow (verb): To expel air from one’s mouth or nose.
- Often (adverb): Usually, frequently, normally.
- Teenager (noun): A young person who has 13-17 years of age.
- To go out on a date: To have a romantic time with someone you consider a partner or love interest.
- A helping of food, second/third/fourth/etc. helping: A serving of a meal.
- To earn (verb): To receive compensation for effort. Usually used with how much money is made in work.
- Housewarming party (noun): A party to celebrate a new home, held in the new home.
- Splitting (to split) the bill (idiom): To divide the bill in equal parts for all diners.
- Going Dutch / To go Dutch (idiom): To divide a bill between a couple.
- Curfew (noun): A time limit when you can stay outdoors at night.
- Culture shock (noun): Changing cultures by moving to another country, and experiencing difficulty adjusting to the new culture.
September 4, 2014
- Extended family (noun): A family where relatives of many generations live together.
- Nuclear family (noun): A family where only the parents and their children live together.
- Single-parent family (noun): A family where only one parent is present to raise their child(ren).
- Bicultural family (noun): A family where there are two cultures, religions, ethnicities, etc. present.
- Only child (noun): A child who doesn’t have any siblings.
- Monogamy (noun): A marriage between two people.
- Polygamy (noun): A marriage (or arrangement) where many spouses are present.
- Strict (adjective): Someone or something that is very disciplinarian and expects all rules to be followed.
- Lenient (adjective): Someone or something that is relaxed and doesn’t demand all rules to be followed, or is flexible.
- Frank (adjective): Honest, open, forthright.
- Obedient (adjective): Follows the rules. Opposite is “disobedient”.
- Stubborn (adjective): Not wanting to change one’s mind or refuses to follow a rule.
- To follow in one’s footsteps (idiom): To do the same things, make the same choices, etc. as someone else.
September 8, 2014
- To rank (verb): To assign to a particular position, station, class, etc.
- Reference (noun): A person you can use to help you find a job, or who can tell employers about your experience.
- Scam (noun): A confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, a swindle or cheat.
- To rule out (phrasal verb): To ignore, to dismiss, to negate.
- To rely [on] (verb): To depend on, to count on.
- Frustrating (adjective): Something that makes you nervous, upset, angry, etc.
- Counselor (noun): Adviser, someone who works with you to find an answer.
- Enormous (adjective): Very large, very big.
- Landed (adjective): Having arrived in a new land.
- Translated (adjective): Having text or speech transformed from one language to another.
- Prospective (adjective): Potential, possible, etc.
- To scout (verb): To reconnaissance, to investigate, to explore.
- Initiative (noun): Perseverance, motivation, willingness to start.
- To beware (verb): To be careful of, take notice of, etc.
- To hunt (verb): To track, to pursue, to go after.
- To point out (phrasal verb): To indicate, to note.
- Dry-cleaner (noun): Someone who dries your clothes.
- To warn (verb): To caution someone else.
- Neatly (adverb): Clean, tidy, organized.
- Dynamics (noun): The rules, the changing situations, the framework, the standards, etc.
- Eventually (adverb): In time, in the future, etc.
Writing questions:
1) What is your current job, or what was your last job if you are currently unemployed? What do (or did) you do in your job?
2) How did you get that job? If someone helped you get it, who was that person?
3) What advice would you give to someone looking for work in Canada?
September 9, 2014
- Eager (adjective): Excited, energetic, ready to get started.
- Irresponsible (adjective): Someone who is not a responsible person.
- To entail (verb): To be a part of something, the responsibilities or components of a task.
- To badmouth (verb): To talk badly about others.
- Stuff (noun): 1. Thing(s); 2. The innards, the core.
- Anchor (noun): A tool used by ships to keep them in place.
- To tumble (verb): To fall in a rolling motion.
- To stumble (verb): To trip while walking.
- To pour (verb): To transfer liquid from a container.
- Ambition (noun): Desire, want, wish to succeed.
- Devotion (noun): Loyalty, faith in something.
- To get by (phrasal verb): To make enough money to survive.
- Ladder (noun): A device used for climbing up.
- To yawn (verb): To express tiredness by blowing out air from your mouth.
- To stretch (verb): To extend your muscles.
- Folks (noun): People.
- Barely (adverb): Almost not.
- To shatter (verb): To break into many small pieces.
- Out to get someone (idiom): Attempting to make someone’s life difficult.
- Code (noun): A system used for secret communication.
- Ritual (noun): Pattern of behaviour regularly performed in a ceremony.
- Society (noun): A group that meets together regularly because of common interests.
- Secret (adjective): Kept hidden from others.
- Speculation (noun): Guesses about something that is unknown.
- Proof (noun): A way to show that something is true.
- To reveal (verb): To make something known.
- Forgery (noun): A false copy to deceive others.
- Conspiracy (noun): A secret plan by a group of people, usually meant to harm or deceive others.
- Mystery (noun): Something that is not known.
- Hoax (noun): Acts meant to trick or deceive.
- Theory (noun): An opinion or guess about something.
- Ancient (adjective): Very old.
- Archeology (noun): The study of bones, tools, and artifacts of ancient peoples.
- Excavation (noun): Hole dug to uncover old artifacts, organized digging.
- Glimpse (noun): A small look, a peek.
- Bath (noun): An area to wash oneself with water and become clean.
September 10, 2014
- Discount (noun): An offer for a lower price for an item in a store (50% off, -20%, etc.).
- Tusk (noun): A long, pointed, or protruding tooth. Found in certain animals like boars, elephants, and walruses.
- Horn (noun): A protruding hollow bone coming out from the head of certain animals like goats, sheep, and cattle.
Writing questions:
1) Who is the article from the Ontario Reader talking about? Where are they from?
2) Where do they work? What do they do?
3) Why did this person succeed? What steps did they take to get there?
September 11, 2014
- Extinct (adjective): A species that is completely dead, never to exist again. Something that is extinct existed in the past, but something happened that made it disappear forever.
Possessive adjectives vs. possessive pronouns
When you want to talk about objects belonging to people, you can use possessive adjectives and pronouns to describe who owns what.
Possessive adjectives always name the noun of the object. Possessive pronouns do not.
Subject Possessive adjective Possessive pronoun
I My _____ Mine
You Your _____ Yours
He/She/It His/Her/Its _____ His/Hers
We Our _____ Ours
You Your _____ Yours
They Their _____ Theirs
If you want to ask who owns something, use the word “whose” at the beginning of the question.
If you want to name the person or animal the object belongs to, you use an apostrophe after their name with an S. However, if the object belongs to multiple people, do not put an S.
Whose + noun + be + this/that/these/those?
It/They + be + possessive adjective/pronoun.
Who + do/does + this/that/these/those + noun + belong to?
Examples:
“Whose book is this?” -> “It’s my book.”
“Who does this book belong to?” -> “It’s mine.”
“This is her class.” OR “This class is hers.”
“Is this Alice’s car?” -> “Yes, this is Alice’s car.”
“Who found Tarik’s phone?” -> “I found it.”
“It is Robert’s job to help you.”
“This is my parents’ house.”
“The student’s homework is here.”
“The students’ teacher arrived late.”
September 15, 2014
- To arise (verb): To occur, happen, or appear.
- To be (verb): To exist, to have the quality of.
- To beat (verb): 1. To defeat or win against; 2. To hit repeatedly.
- To become (verb): To change, to transform.
- To begin (verb): To start.
- To bend (verb): To curve or warp something that is straight. When we have paper or clothes, we fold.
- To bet (verb): To gamble, to make a guess with an element of chance.
- To bite (verb): To use your teeth and press down on something between them. When we eat food, after we bite a piece, we chew it.
- To bleed (verb): To lose blood due to injury or wounds.
- To blow (verb): To expel air from our lungs.
- To pant (verb): To hyperventilate or breathe heavily after intense physical activity.
- Anthem (noun): A song about the country, sung in front of a flag.
- Heritage (noun): The values, ideas, thoughts, culture, traditions, etc. that you receive from your ancestors, country, and family history. Heritage is a concept rather than a physical object.
- Inheritance (noun): Money or something else of value passed from one generation to the next after the death of the owner.
- Heirloom (noun): An object owned and passed down from generation to generation in a family.
Which is used for options and choice.
“Which color do you prefer: blue or red?”
Whom is used to ask questions about the object of a sentence. Only used with people.
“Who loves you?” (subject question)
“_____ loves me.”
“Who talked to you?”
“_____ talked to me.”
“Whom do you love?” (object question)
“I love _____.”
“Whom did you talk to?”
“I talked to _____.”
September 16, 2014
- To break (verb): 1. To destroy or separate something whole into pieces; 2. To make something not function.
- To breed (verb): To reproduce, or make other things reproduce.
- To bring (verb): To take with to a new destination.
- To broadcast (verb): To produce a signal to be captured by antennas or dishes.
- To burst (verb): To explode due to inner pressure.
- To buy (verb): To purchase.
- To catch (verb): To grab something in motion.
- To choose (verb): To decide or pick an option.
- To cling (verb): To hold on very tightly.
- To come (verb): To move and arrive at the destination.
- To estimate (verb): To make an educated guess.
- Mood (noun): Emotional state.
- To present (verb): To show or exhibit.
- To slaughter (verb): To kill.
- To slit (verb): To cut (superficially).
- To skin (verb): To remove the skin of an animal.
- To shear (verb): To cut or clip with a sharp instrument, as in sheep for wool.
- Insight (noun): Wisdom, experience, intelligent thoughts.
- Several (adjective): Many (5-7).
- Aboriginal (adjective): Original people who lived in the land before the colonizers.
- Foreign (adjective): From another country.
- Colony (noun): A settlement or territory owned by a mother nation or empire.
- Francophone (noun): A French speaker.
- Anglophone (noun): An English speaker.
- Allophone (noun): A speaker of another language.
- Recognition (noun): Acknowledgement, something accepted as true, legitimate, or real by people or the authorities.
- To inhabit (verb): To live in an area.
- Settler (noun): A person that moves to an uninhabited or wild area to make a living.
- Shield (noun): A barrier or piece of armor meant to protect.
- Subsoil (noun): A layer of land under the topsoil.
- Fur (noun): Animal pelts, made of thick and warm hair to keep the animal warm.
- Trapping (noun): Hunting of animals by setting traps to catch them.
- Vast (adjective): Large, wide, expansive.
- Lowlands (noun): Flat lands under sea level.
- Further/Farther (adjective): Comparative form of the adjective “far”, distant.
- Mountain range (noun): A line or chain of mountainous terrain.
- Brief (adjective): Short in duration.
- To blossom (verb): To bloom, to have life appear in spring or summer, to mature.
- Totem pole (noun): A piece of Aboriginal art, carved with representations of animals and nature to symbolize different ideas, concepts, and people.
- Railroad/Railway (noun): Train tracks.
- Stretch (of land) (noun): A wide expanse of land.
- Wheat (noun): A cereal used to make bread.
- Resource (noun): The natural gifts or useable materials from the land.
- Bog (noun): A swamp, a marsh, hot and humid terrain.
- Tobogganing (noun): A sport where one uses a toboggan or sled to ride down snow-covered hills.
- Subarctic (adjective): Climate or land that is cold, but not so cold as to be called arctic.
- Rugged (adjective): Edged, rocky, not smooth.
- Tide (noun): The ocean’s currents and height.
- Lighthouse (noun): A building with a torch meant to guide ships.
- Iceberg (noun): A large mountain of ice in arctic lands.
September 17, 2014
- To cost (verb): To have a price.
- To creep (verb): To move slowly towards something.
- To cut (verb): To use a sharp tool to divide or slice.
- To deal (verb): 1. To negotiate; 2. To distribute; 3. To solve or fix; 4. To tolerate.
- To dig (verb): To unearth, to excavate, make a hole.
- To do (verb): To perform, to act.
- To draw (verb): 1. To make a picture with pen or pencil, to sketch; 2. To take one from a pile.
- To drink (verb): To consume liquids.
- To drive (verb): To maneuver or conduct a vehicle.
- To eat (verb): To consume solid foods.
- To bury (verb): To dig a hole and cover something with the earth.
- Pun / Play on words (noun): A joke where language is used and twisted to make double entendres or multiple meanings.
- Shadow (noun): The dark silhouette/shape you make when light hits you or an object.
- Shade (noun): Shadow that you use to cool down.
- To lack (verb): To not have enough of something.
- To doodle (verb): To draw a small, non-detailed drawing, usually not with concentration.
- Pamphlet (noun): A flier, a “menu” of information.
- Picturesque (adjective): Something that is beautiful and worthy of a picture.
Why is six afraid of seven?
Because seven ate nine.
Writing questions:
1) What region, province, or city in Canada do you want to visit next? Why?
2) If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go, and why?
September 18, 2014
- To fall (verb): To drop from a height (intransitive).
- To feed (verb): To give food or nutrition to another.
- To feel (verb): To have emotion, to have a nervous reaction.
- To fight (verb): To go against another; combat.
- To find (verb): To discover, to see what was lost.
- To flee (verb): To run away from something/one.
- To fly (verb): To move at will through the air.
- To forbid (verb): To prohibit, to not allow or permit.
- To forget (verb): To not recall, to not have information in one’s memory anymore.
- To forgive (verb): To accept an apology, to pardon.
- Coat (of paint) (noun): Layer of paint.
- Intentional / On purpose (adjective): Meant to be done, premeditated.
- To hold a grudge (idiom): To maintain anger, ill will, resentment, or distrust against another after being wounded by that person.
- Repeat offender (noun): Used in law, means a person commits the same type of crime repeatedly.
The passive voice
The passive voice is used to describe an action, but rearranges the order of the subject and object of the sentence. It’s used if the object of the sentence is more important, or the focus of the speaker.
Usually, we speak in the active voice:
Subject + verb + object
The passive voice has a different grammatical setup:
Object + be + past participle verb (+ by + agent/subject)
The “be” of the passive voice is conjugated depending on the tense.
The agent/subject of the sentence is optional to include. If the subject of the sentence has an accompanying noun, it is also optional to include.
Examples:
Active: “The dog chased the car.”
Passive: “The car was chased (by the dog).”
Active: “A criminal shot a man with a gun.”
Passive: “A man was shot (with a gun) (by a criminal).” OR “A man was shot (by a criminal) (with a gun).”
Active: “The students visited the teacher in the hospital.”
Passive: “The teacher was visited in the hospital (by the students).” OR “The teacher was visited (by the students) in the hospital.”
Homework: Choose 9 grammar tenses. Write an active voice and a passive voice sentence for each (total 18 sentences).
September 22, 2014
- To freeze (verb): 1. To lower something’s temperature so ice forms around it; 2. To paralyze or not move.
- To get (verb): To take or receive something.
- To give (verb): To hand something to someone, to change ownership by allowing someone else to have the object.
- To go (verb): To move to another place.
- To grind (verb): To crush something in a rotational motion so it breaks into small pieces.
- To grow (verb): 1. To become bigger or mature; 2. To make something else become bigger or mature.
- To hang (verb): To suspend something above the ground.
- To have (verb): To own, to possess.
- To hear (verb): To be able to receive sound, your hearing works properly.
- To hide (verb): To conceal, to make something not visible.
- To raise (verb): 1. To make something rise; 2. To “grow” or take care of a person or animal until they are mature.
- Leftovers (noun): Food that is not eaten after a meal is made and consumed. Usually, it is saved for later consumption.
- To refrigerate (verb): To put something in a refrigerator so it cools.
- Proverb (noun): A saying in a culture or country that acts as a piece of wisdom.
- Deaf (adjective): Someone who cannot hear.
- Blind (adjective): Someone who cannot see.
- Mute (adjective): Someone who cannot speak.
- Skewer (noun): The wooden or steel stick used to spear through meat and vegetables so you can eat them like a kebab.
- To skew (verb): To tilt, to not be straight.
- Exempt (adjective): Excluded, not applied, free or out of the agreement or contract.
- To be grandfathered in (idiom): To be exempt from a new law because the condition existed before the law was passed.
- To have bags under your eyes (noun): To look physically tired and have sagging eye sockets.
Writing question:
1) Imagine that you found a genie’s lamp and had three wishes. What would you wish for, and why?
September 23, 2014
- To hit (verb): To collide with or strike another object.
- To hold (verb): To keep in your hands, or in your possession.
- To hurt (verb): To injure, to wound, to damage. Only used with living objects.
- To keep (verb): To maintain possession.
- To know (verb): To have the information in your mind.
- To lay (verb): 1. To recline another; 2. To put on a surface.
- To lead (verb): To guide, to have others follow, to be a leader, to influence.
- To lend (verb): To give something away temporarily. The other person is borrowing.
- To let (verb): To allow, to give permission.
- To lie (verb): 1. (irregular) To recline oneself; 2. (regular) To not tell the truth.
- Lead (noun): Highly toxic metal used in chemistry and engineering. Chemical symbol Pb.
- Bristle (noun): 1. Stiff hair; 2. Hair that has barbs, usually used for an animal’s self-defense.
- Souvenir (noun): A physical memento or object to remind a person of a trip or vacation.
- Keychain (noun): A carabineer or metal hoop used to keep keys together in one place.
- Dialect (noun): A regional or social variant of a language. For example, Quebecois French is a dialect of French.
- To bribe (verb): To pay off someone “under the table” or illegally in order to do something prohibited or unethical without being stopped.
- Medicine (noun): Pills, capsules, aspirin, etc. that you take when you feel sick.
- Medication (noun): Prescribed medicine. A doctor has given you specific medicine to be taken at certain times.
- Remedy (noun): A cure or treatment in medicine form, a medical solution.
- Drug (noun): 1. Medicine; 2. A substance that alters the chemical composition of your body.
- Fenderbender (expression): A minor car accident.
Writing assignment:
Write a summary about the short film that you watched. Don’t forget to answer the five W questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why.
September 24, 2014
- To light (verb): To set fire to, to illuminate.
- To lose (verb): 1. To not win, to be defeated; 2. To misplace; 3. To not have anymore.
- To make (verb): To create, to do (as in prepare), to invent.
- To mean (verb): To signify, to represent.
- To meet (verb): To encounter, to make acquaintances.
- To pay (verb): To give money or some form of payment for a good or service.
- To put (verb): To place something somewhere.
- To quit (verb): To stop doing, to leave something.
- To read (verb): To view and draw meaning from letters, sentences, and phrases on physical media.
- To ride (verb): To move on the back of a vehicle, animal, or take public transportation.
- To rid (verb): To remove, to eliminate, to discard, to throw away. Usually we say “get rid of”.
- To screw (verb): To use a screwdriver and tighten something in a rotating motion.
- To screw up (phrasal verb): To make a mistake or an error.
- To blame (verb): To accuse and put responsibility for a problem on someone or something.
- To take place (verb): To happen, to occur.
- To loosen (verb): To make less tight, to make more lax, loose.
- Mean (adjective): Bad, not nice.
- Means (noun): 1. Methods; 2. Procedure.
- “The ends justify the means” (saying): The results matter more than how you got them; the methods are forgiven or acceptable because of the results.
- Quiet (adjective): Not making noise.
- Quite (adverb): Very, significant.
- To mint (verb): To make a coin. Paper money uses the verb “to print”.
- Mint (adjective): Near-new, in great quality.
- Blackout (noun): A complete loss of electricity.
- Brownout (noun): A minor loss of electricity, lower energy output from the power plant.
- Hands-on (adjective): Involving or offering active participation, use of the hands.
- Anemic (adjective): Weak, lacking in iron.
Foresta Lumina field trip
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 (we leave at 5:30 PM)
$20, first come first served
September 25, 2014
- To ring (verb): To make a sound with a bell.
- To rise (verb): To move upwards.
- To run (verb): To move quickly, faster than walking.
- To say (verb): To speak, to communicate orally.
- To see (verb): To be able to view something, to be able to use your eyes.
- To seek (verb): To search for.
- To sell (verb): To give something to another for money or an exchange of equal value.
- To send (verb): To transport over a network, mail, courier, or post.
- To set (verb): To put.
- To shake (verb): To cause or to move back and forth with jerky movements.
- Shooting star (noun): A falling meteor or space debris that burns in the atmosphere of the planet.
September 29, 2014
- To shine (verb): 1. To emit light; 2. To reflect light.
- To shoot (verb): To throw or fire a projectile.
- To show (verb): To exhibit.
- To shrink (verb): To become smaller.
- To shut (verb): To close.
- To sing (verb): To make melodies with your voice.
- To sit (verb): To rest on a chair.
- To sleep (verb): To lose consciousness and rest.
- To slide (verb): To glide over a surface with little friction.
- To slit (verb): To cut apart or over a line, to make a long cut in.
- Aim (noun): Precision, accuracy.
- Target (noun): Goal, objective, place to shoot.
- Bull’s-eye (noun): The center of a target.
- “Don’t shoot the messenger” (idiom): Don’t be angry with the person who is giving the message.
- Let something slide (idiom): 1. To allow something that shouldn’t be allowed; 2. To accidentally say something you shouldn’t (to let something slip).
- To take something with a grain of salt (idiom): To accept something as mostly true, but be skeptical or doubtful of the details (because they could be exaggerated, because of the source of the information, etc.).
- To slouch (verb): To sit in a relaxed way, with bad posture.
- To sing along (phrasal verb): To sing at the same time as the singer, or to sing with the music.
- Bullet (noun): The projectile of a gun.
- To ricochet (verb): To bounce off a surface.
- To hum (verb): To make a noise with your throat, but with your mouth closed.
- To sing in tune (adjective): To match the pitch or key of the melody. If you don’t sing in tune, you have a tin ear.
- Layover (noun): A temporary stop in a place while traveling, e.g. an airport that isn’t your destination.
- To snore (verb): To make loud breathing noises when you sleep.
- To whisper (verb): To speak in a very low voice.
- To mumble (verb): To not speak clearly, speaking under your breath.
Writing question:
Think about your own skills, abilities, and personality. List three jobs you think you’d be good in, and why.
September 30, 2014
- To speak (verb): To communicate orally with language.
- To spend (verb): To consume or use a limited resource (e.g. time, energy, money, etc.).
- To split (verb): To separate, to divide.
- To spread (verb): To distribute over a large area.
- To stand (verb): 1. To be on your feet; 2. To tolerate, resist (withstand).
- To steal (verb): To take illegally or without permission.
- To stick (verb): 1. To glue or adhere to; 2. To stay together; 3. To continue doing something.
- To sting (verb): To perforate with a point, as in an insect with a pointed tail.
- To stink (verb): To smell bad.
- To strike (verb): To hit, to collide with.
- To devise (verb): To plan.
- Spread the word (idiom): Tell others about the news.
- Spread evenly/equally (adverb): Distribute in identical amounts.
- To be on strike (verb): To protest working conditions (e.g. refuse to work, not wear a uniform, show solidarity, work slowly).
- To get a ride/lift (idiom): To have someone drive you somewhere.
- To pick up (phrasal verb): To take and transport something or someone with you.
- To drop off (phrasal verb): To leave something or someone somewhere after transporting them.
- Custom (noun): Tradition, routine.
- Custom (adjective): Made specially.
- Customs (noun): Border control, immigration, and import/export control.
- Fingerprint (noun): The identifying marks on your fingers; they are taken by customs or police to establish and verify identities.
- The names of thieves and how they steal:
i. Thief (to thieve): The regular name for someone who steals.
ii. Burglar (to burgle): A thief who steals from property or homes when the owners are asleep or out of the house.
iii. Robber (to rob): A thief who steals from property or homes with violence.
iv. Mugger (to mug): A thief who steals with violence or intimidating threats.
v. Pickpocket (to pickpocket): A thief who steals out of pockets or bags with agility.
vi. Con artist/swindler/scammer (to con/swindle/scam): A thief who steals by attempting to confuse or lie to people by pretending to be honest.
vii. Cheater (to cheat): A thief who steals by attempting to subvert or circumvent the rules.
viii. Hacker (to hack): A thief who steals by using computers or programming.
Used to vs. To be used to
Used to: Something that was done regularly in the past, but not anymore. Use an infinitive verb after “used to”.
To be used to: To be accustomed to, to have a habit of. You can use adjectives, nouns, and progressive or passive verb forms after “be used to”. You can’t use the infinitive.
Examples:
“I used to study French. I don’t have time now.”
“They used to eat out a lot before they learned to cook.”
“You used to love that man. What happened?”
“I am used to high temperatures. I grew up in Ecuador.”
“Don’t worry about her, she’s used to working late.”
“Dogs aren’t used to being ignored for a long time.”
October 1, 2014
- To swear (verb): 1. To promise; 2. To curse.
- To sweep (verb): To make a horizontal motion with a limb.
- To swim (verb): To move at will through water.
- To swing (verb): To move back and forth in a pendulum motion.
- To take (verb): To obtain with your hands.
- To teach (verb): To instruct, to demonstrate, to give examples, to train, etc.
- To tear (verb): To rip apart.
- To tell (verb): To say to someone.
- To think (verb): To use your mind, to concentrate.
- To throw (verb): To pitch, to launch.
- Through (adverb): Move past something via the center.
- Throne (noun): The special seat or chair of a king, queen, emperor, etc.
- To cry crocodile tears (idiom): To fake sympathy.
- To cry bloody murder (idiom): To scream or yell very, very loudly for some time.
- To cry over spilled milk (idiom): To be sad about something that was lost or that happened in the past. When people say “don’t cry over spilled milk,” they mean to say “what is done can’t be undone, but don’t be upset.”
- Premises (noun): Land and buildings that together form a property.
- Premise (noun): 1. An assumption that something is true; 2. The essence, the objective, the reason of being.
- To premise (verb): To base an argument or a theory on something.
Prepositions: Of, To, and For
Of
Used for belonging to, relating to, or connected with:
• The secret of this game is that you can’t ever win.
• The highlight of the show is at the end.
• The first page of the book describes the author.
• Don’t touch it. That’s the bag of my friend’s sister.
• I always dreamed of being rich and famous.
Used to indicate reference:
• I got married in the summer of 2000.
• This is a picture of my family.
• I got a discount of 10 percent on the purchase.
Used to indicate an amount or number:
• I drank three cups of milk.
• A large number of people gathered to protest.
• I had only four hours of sleep during the last two days.
• He got a perfect score of 5 on his writing assignment.
To
Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward, or the direction of something:
• I am heading to the entrance of the building.
• The package was mailed to Mr. Kim yesterday.
• All of us went to the movie theater.
• Please send it back to me.
Used to indicate a limit or an ending point:
• The snow was piled up to the roof.
• The stock prices rose up to 100 dollars.
Used to indicate relationship:
• This letter is very important to your admission.
• My answer to your question is in this envelope.
• Do not respond to every little thing in your life.
Used to indicate a time or a period:
• I work nine to six, Monday to Friday.
• It is now 10 to five. (In other words, it is 4:50.)
For
Used to indicate the use of something:
• This place is for exhibitions and shows.
• I baked a cake for your birthday.
• I put a note on the door for privacy.
• She has been studying hard for the final exam.
Used to mean because of:
• I am so happy for you.
• We feel deeply sorry for your loss.
• For this reason, I’ve decided to quit this job.
Used to indicate time or duration:
• He’s been famous for many decades.
• I attended the university for one year only.
• This is all I have for today.
October 2, 2014
- To understand (verb): To comprehend.
- To upset (verb): 1. To make someone or something sad, angry, anxious, etc.; 2. To spill or upend.
- To wake (verb): To rouse from sleep.
- To wear (verb): 1. To use on your body; 2. To use up, to use until it’s old or down to the bare minimum.
- To weave (verb): 1. To make baskets, blankets, or other objects out of stiff material. Use of hands and maybe a machine, rope is tied around itself; 2. To move or snake around objects in an S-shape.
- To weep (verb): To cry, to shed tears.
- To win (verb): To triumph over, to defeat.
- To wind (verb): To rotate an object around itself, or to rotate a spring or coil-loaded mechanism.
- To withdraw (verb): 1. To retreat; 2. To take back; 3. To take out of a safe, bank, container.
- To write (verb): To use a pen, paper, or other utensil and put words down on a surface.
- To sew (verb): Use of a needle and thread, or a sewing machine.
- To knit (verb): Use of croquet needles and wool.
Prepositions: On, In, and At
On
Used to express a surface of something:
• I put an egg on the kitchen table.
• The paper is on my desk.
Used to specify days and dates:
• The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.
• I was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.
Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a phone or computer:
• He is on the phone right now.
• She has been on the computer since this morning.
• My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.
Used to indicate a part of the body:
• The stick hit me on my shoulder.
• He kissed me on my cheek.
• I wear a ring on my finger.
Used to indicate the state of something:
• Everything in this store is on sale.
• The building is on fire.
At
Used to point out specific time:
• I will meet you at 12 p.m.
• The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.
Used to indicate a place:
• There is a party at the club house.
• There were hundreds of people at the park.
• We saw a baseball game at the stadium.
Used to indicate an email address:
• Please email me at abc@.
Used to indicate an activity:
• He laughed at my acting.
• I am good at drawing a portrait.
In
Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, year:
• She always reads newspapers in the morning.
• In the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.
• The new semester will start in March.
Used to indicate a location or place:
• She looked me directly in the eyes.
• I am currently staying in a hotel.
• My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.
Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:
• This painting is mostly in blue.
• The students stood in a circle.
• This jacket comes in four different sizes.
Used to express while doing something:
• In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone three times.
• A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.
Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling:
• I believe in the next life.
• We are not interested in gambling.
October 6, 2014
- Irritated (adjective): Angry, annoyed, upset.
- To cope (verb): To accept and live with a problem, to tolerate in spite of an issue.
- Instinct (noun): A subconscious, natural reaction.
- Intuition (noun): The ability to understand something immediately, without logic or reason; a thing someone knows instinctively without needing to think consciously about it.
- Impulse (noun): A sudden, strong desire to act.
- Task (noun): Job, responsibility.
- Every cloud has a silver lining (idiom): Every negative or bad situation has some positive aspect or advantage to it.
- To daydream (verb): To think pleasant thoughts that distract you from the present, while awake.
- To despair (verb): To lose all hope, to become very pessimistic.
- Messiness (noun): Not being clean, disorganization, not being tidy.
- To bother (verb): To upset, to irritate, to annoy.
- Creativity (noun): Having imagination, artistic thinking.
- Efficiency (noun): Being able to do something with little waste of resources or time.
- Empathy (noun): Having sympathy or emotional support to give to others.
- Extraversion (noun): Being outgoing, social, open.
- Flexibility (noun): Being able to adapt easily.
- Curiosity (noun): Having thoughts about how things work or about new experiences.
- Optimism (noun): Having a positive outlook on life.
- Perseverance (noun): Not giving up, trying over and over even after failure.
- Self-confidence (noun): Having good thoughts about oneself, knowing oneself can be good.
- Self-control (noun): Having control over emotional responses or having willpower.
- Independence (noun): Being able to do things alone without requiring outside help.
- To ask someone out (phrasal verb): To ask someone to go on a date.
- To ask around (phrasal verb): To ask the same question to many people.
- To add up to (phrasal verb): To equal.
- To back someone up (phrasal verb): To support.
- To blow up (phrasal verb): To explode.
- To break down (phrasal verb): To stop functioning.
- To break something down (phrasal verb): To break into small pieces.
- To break up with someone (phrasal verb): To stop being romantically involved with someone.
- To break out (phrasal verb): To escape.
- To flirt (verb): To make small gestures or conversation to show romantic interest.
- The black sheep (idiom): The member of a family who “doesn’t belong” or who isn’t like the rest of the family.
- To tell a white lie (idiom): To tell a minor, non-harmful lie that isn’t serious.
Phrasal verbs: About them, and their rules of use
Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with a preposition. They normally have different meanings from the base form of the verb they use, and they usually don’t have a directly opposite form with the opposing preposition.
For example, the verb “shut” means close. The phrasal verb “shut up” means to (rudely) tell someone to be quiet. The phrasal verb “shut down” means to turn off an electronic device.
When you use phrasal verbs, pronouns always go between the verb and the preposition, but named nouns can go inside the phrasal verb or after it.
For example, you say, “I asked her out to dinner” (the pronoun “her” goes between “ask” and “out”). But if you name the person, you can say, “I asked Gloria out to dinner”, or “I asked out Gloria to dinner”.
Another example, you say, “We broke it down to finish it on time”, but you can say “We broke the project down to finish it on time”, or “We broke down the project to finish it on time”.
October 7, 2014
- Condolences (noun): Sympathies, pities, apologies.
- To bring someone down (phrasal verb): To make unhappy.
- To bring someone up (phrasal verb): To raise a child.
- To bring something up (phrasal verb): To start talking about a subject.
- To call around (phrasal verb): To call many people or places.
- To call someone back (phrasal verb): To return a phone call.
- To call something off (phrasal verb): To cancel.
- To call on someone (phrasal verb): Ask someone for an answer or opinion.
- To calm down (phrasal verb): To relax after being angry.
- To not care for someone/something (phrasal verb): To not like someone/something.
- To catch up (phrasal verb): To get to the same point or place as someone/something else.
- To get on one’s nerves (idiom): To annoy, bother, or irritate someone.
- To not be a fan of someone/something (idiom): To not like or enjoy someone/something.
- To care about something (verb): To find something important or significant.
- To not care about something (verb): To not find something important or significant.
- “I don’t care.” (expression): “It’s not important to me.”
- “Who cares?” (expression): A very dismissive and insulting way of saying “I really don’t care about it.” Similar to “Who gives a damn?” and worse swear words.
- To be frustrated (verb): To be very annoyed or upset.
October 8, 2014
- Ambition (noun): Having big dreams, wanting to achieve or get more.
- Attentiveness (noun): Having focus, concentration, paying attention to something.
- Cheerfulness (noun): Having happiness, being naturally happy or content.
- Compassion (noun): Having a big heart, helping those in need.
- Dedication (noun): Having the drive or desire to succeed in something you’ve started.
- Diligence (noun): Having the energy and effort to work hard and succeed in something, being careful to detail.
- Enthusiasm (noun): Having interest or excitement in something you do.
- Honesty (noun): Telling the truth, doing the right thing.
- Loyalty (noun): Having faithfulness, belief, true honor in someone or something.
- Meticulousness (noun): Being careful of the details, being neat and organized.
- Patience (noun): Being able to wait for something.
- Punctuality (noun): Being able to appear or do something on time.
- Reliability (noun): Having trustworthiness, dependability, doing something you said you’d do.
- Resourcefulness (noun): Having the ability to use tools or materials on hand to complete a task.
- Sense of responsibility (noun): Being responsible, knowing what you do has consequences.
- Modesty (noun): Being able to be humble, to not take pride or be overly proud of what you can do well.
- To cheer up (phrasal verb): 1. To become happier; 2. To make someone become happier.
- To clean up (phrasal verb): To clean, tidy, organize.
- To come from (phrasal verb): To originate in.
- To count on someone/something (phrasal verb): To depend on, or rely on, someone/something. To trust that person/thing.
- To cut back on something (phrasal verb): To limit the use, consumption, or activity of.
- To do something over (phrasal verb): To do something again.
- To dress up (phrasal verb): To dress nicely, formally, well.
- To drop someone/something off (phrasal verb): To take someone/something somewhere, and leave them there.
- To drop out (phrasal verb): To quit or abandon a class, course, school, etc.
- To eat out (phrasal verb): To eat at a restaurant or some other place outside your home.
- To be dependent on someone/something (adjective): To need someone/something in order to function or operate.
- To expel (verb): Expulsion, to force someone out of a course, place, event, etc.
- Every other day: One day yes, one day no, one day yes, one day no…
October 14, 2014
- To classify (verb): To assign a definition or place of organization to something or someone.
- Jack-of-all-trades (idiom): Someone who can do a little bit of everything. A very resourceful person.
- Renaissance man (idiom): A person with many talents or areas of knowledge.
- “Jack of all trades, master of none” (expression): Someone who can do many things, but none of them very well.
- Backhanded compliment (idiom): A compliment that has a negative side to it.
- Charismatic (adjective): Someone who has a magnetic personality, they’re able to make many friends and acquaintances easily.
- Attractive/Handsome (adjective): Someone who is physically beautiful in some way.
- To tinker, to cobble together (verb): To work on something in your own way, not necessarily with professionalism or organization.
- To fall apart (phrasal verb): To break into pieces by itself (intransitive verb).
- To fall out (phrasal verb): To exit from a container accidentally.
- To figure out (phrasal verb): To find a solution to a problem.
- To fill out (phrasal verb): To complete a form or blank spaces in a form.
- To fill up (phrasal verb): To increase the volume within a container.
- To find out (phrasal verb): To discover; to discover information about.
- To get something across (phrasal verb): To successfully communicate and understand a message, idea, etc.
- To get along (phrasal verb): To have a good relationship with.
- To get around (phrasal verb): To move around, to have mobility.
- To get away (phrasal verb): To escape, to flee, to run away.
- To get away with something (phrasal verb): To do something bad, but escape being punished.
- Mischief (noun): Behavior or activity that causes trouble or annoyance, but isn’t meant to cause serious harm or damage.
- Patch (noun): A piece of cloth sewed over a hole in clothing.
- For someone to be on your back (idiom): For someone to be constantly hounding you, always wondering what you are doing.
- “Get off my back!” (expression): “Leave me alone and stop pestering me!”
- “Get away from me.” (phrasal verb): Stay away, move away from me.
- Grave (noun): Burial ground, usually containing a coffin where the body rests and a gravestone to mark the name of the deceased.
- Mischievous (adjective): Someone who is likely to cause mischief and trouble.
- To tease (verb): To verbally insult someone lightly, not meant to be serious or harmful to feelings.
October 15, 2014
- To cremate (verb): To reduce something to ashes by fire.
- Urn (noun): A vase where you keep the ashes of a cremated person.
- To overwhelm (verb): To engulf, to cover totally, to overcome all resistance.
- To get back (phrasal verb): To return.
- To get something back (phrasal verb): To receive something after lending it beforehand.
- To get back at someone (phrasal verb): To get revenge on someone.
- To get back into something (phrasal verb): To be interested in doing something again.
- To get on (phrasal verb): To enter a form of transportation or prepare to ride something.
- To get over (phrasal verb): To overcome, to complete, to survive a challenge or difficulty.
- To get together (phrasal verb): To meet and spend time together.
- To give away (phrasal verb): To give to other people.
- To give back (phrasal verb): To return something.
- To give in (phrasal verb): To stop resisting an external force or factor and give up.
- “An eye for an eye, [a tooth for a tooth].” (expression): A punishment for or revenge against someone must be the exact same thing they committed against another person.
- “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” (saying): Revenge is most effective when the target has forgotten what they did to you and don’t expect revenge.
- Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior (noun): The four names of the grades in high school and university.
- “Get over it.” (expression): Sorry you feel bad about something, but it’s your problem. Don’t bother me about it.
- “Do as I say, not as I do.” (expression): Follow the rules that I tell you, and ignore the actions I perform, even if they contradict the rules.
October 19, 2014
- Asset (noun): Advantage, benefit, bonus that isn’t necessary.
- Whether (conjunction): Alternatively, if or not.
- Trait (noun): Characteristic, element.
- Skill (noun): Something you know how to do.
- Task (noun): Job, responsibility.
- To infer (verb): To make a logical guess, to deduce without being told exactly.
- Explicit (adjective): Stated exactly and outright.
- Implicit (adjective): Not stated, but still clear and inferable.
- Anxiety (noun): Nervousness.
- Desirable (adjective): Wanted, coveted.
- Time-management skills (noun): Being good and efficient at using your time to complete the tasks you have promptly.
- Rehabilitation center (noun): A place you go to in order to restore yourself to normal and be a part of society again; if you’re addicted to drugs, have been to jail, or have suffered a debilitating injury, different types of rehabilitation centers exist to help you recover. The abbreviation is “rehab”.
- To fundraise (verb): To hold a special event for a cause with the goal to get money for it through donations.
- To defray (verb): To lower, to alleviate, to manage.
- Almighty (adjective): All-powerful, having all the power.
- To struggle (verb): To fight, to resist.
- To treat someone well/badly (verb): To behave and interact with someone well/badly.
- To give out (phrasal verb): To give to many people.
- To give up (phrasal verb): To desist, to abandon, to quit.
- To go after (phrasal verb): To pursue, to chase, to follow.
- To go ahead (phrasal verb): To proceed, to begin.
- To go out (phrasal verb): To leave where you are and go somewhere.
- To go without (phrasal verb): To lack, to not have anymore.
- To grow apart (phrasal verb): To have a relationship deteriorate or weaken with time.
- To grow up (phrasal verb): To mature, to become an adult.
- To hand down (phrasal verb) To pass from generation to generation.
- To hang out (phrasal verb): To spend time somewhere and relax.
October 20, 2014
- To hold back (phrasal verb): To prevent from going forward, to prevent action.
- To hold on (phrasal verb): To wait.
- To hold onto something (phrasal verb): To maintain a physical grip or hold around something.
- To hold up (phrasal verb): To mug, to steal from in a robbery.
- To keep something from someone (phrasal verb): To keep secret.
- To keep out (phrasal verb): To prevent access or remain away from an area.
- To let down (phrasal verb): To disappoint.
- To let in (phrasal verb): To allow entry.
- To look after someone/something (phrasal verb): To take care of someone/something.
- To look down on/at someone (phrasal verb): To view as inferior.
October 21, 2014
- Fart (noun): Expelled gas from the anus.
- Burp (noun): Expelled gas from the mouth.
- Snooty (adjective): Someone who often looks down on things because they’re not up to high standards.
- Snob (adjective): Someone who looks down on many people/things because they think they’re above them. Usually about sense of taste.
- Hiccup/Hiccough (noun): Involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and closing of the vocal chords.
- To look for (phrasal verb): To search, to seek.
- To look forward to (phrasal verb): To anticipate or be excited for something.
- To look into (phrasal verb): To investigate.
- To look something up (phrasal verb): To search information on the internet, a book, or a database.
- To look up to someone (phrasal verb): To admire someone or think of them as a model to follow.
- To make up (phrasal verb): 1. To invent, to create; 2. To reconcile, to forgive each other after a fight.
- To pass away (phrasal verb): To die.
- To pass out (phrasal verb): To lose consciousness or faint, but remember what you were doing.
- To pass up (phrasal verb): To reject or forego an opportunity in favor of another.
- To black out (phrasal verb): To lose consciousness or faint and not remember what you were doing.
- Craving (noun): Desire, very big want of something.
October 22, 2014
- A minute on the lips, an eternity on the hips (expression): Food spends just a moment in your mouth, but a long time as fat around your stomach.
- To pay for (phrasal verb): To be punished or get revenge.
- To pick out (phrasal verb): To choose, select.
- To point out (phrasal verb): To indicate with a finger.
- To put down (phrasal verb): 1. To put on a surface; 2. To insult someone and make them feel stupid; 3. To euthanize a pet or animal.
- To put off (phrasal verb): To procrastinate, postpone, delay.
- To put out (phrasal verb): 1. To extinguish a fire; 2. To put something outside of a room.
- To put on (phrasal verb): To wear.
- To run into (phrasal verb): To meet unexpectedly.
- To run away (phrasal verb): To flee from something.
October 23, 2014
- To run out (phrasal verb): To not have any more of.
- To send back (phrasal verb): To mail back or reply.
- To set up (phrasal verb): To prepare, to plan, to organize.
- To shop around (phrasal verb): To compare two or more options before purchasing.
- To show off (phrasal verb): To exhibit or demonstrate skill, an object, etc.
- To show up (phrasal verb): To appear.
- To sleep over (phrasal verb): To sleep someplace other than one’s home.
- To sort out (phrasal verb): To solve a problem, to tidy, to put in order.
- To stick to something (phrasal verb): To continue doing something.
- To switch off (phrasal verb): To turn off a switch.
- To take after (phrasal verb): To have similarities to, resemble, or to be like one’s ancestors or family members. We only use this phrasal verb with family or relatives.
- Evocative (adjective): Bringing strong images, thoughts, memories, or feelings to mind.
- Tithe (noun): A monetary contribution to a church, usually mandatory or required.
October 28, 2014
- To take apart (phrasal verb): To dismantle or disassemble.
- To take back (phrasal verb): To return something to a store in person.
- To take off (phrasal verb): 1. To remove; 2. For a bird, plane, helicopter, etc. to take flight.
- To take out (phrasal verb): 1. To take outside; 2. To invite and pay for an outing.
- To think back on (phrasal verb): To think about something in the past.
- To think over (phrasal verb): To reconsider or think hard about a decision before taking it.
- To throw away (phrasal verb): To discard.
- To turn down (phrasal verb): 1. To lower the intensity, as in volume, heat, energy, etc.; 2. To politely refuse an offer.
- To turn on/off (phrasal verb): To activate or deactivate an electric device.
- To turn up (phrasal verb): 1. To raise the intensity, as in volume, heat, energy, etc.; 2. To appear.
- Slippers (noun): A type of indoor footwear that you put on your feet after taking off your outdoor shoes.
- Barefoot (adjective): Not wearing shoes or socks.
- To fine (verb): To punish with a monetary fee.
- Jaywalking (noun): To walk across a road, but not over a legal pedestrial crossing.
- Quota (noun): A minimum requirement to fulfill.
- Dumpster (noun): Large garbage deposit unit.
- Bin (noun): A plastic container for recycling and garbage.
October 29, 2014
- Strength (noun): Power or ability, good points.
- Weakness (noun): Lack of power or ability, bad points.
- Accomplishment (noun): Notable, relevant, or important things you have done.
- Wrinkles (noun): Age lines on the skin.
- To leave (verb): To quit, to stop an activity/job.
- Leaf (noun): A part of the branches of the tree.
- To try on (phrasal verb): To check if something fits.
- To try out (phrasal verb): To test.
- To use up (phrasal verb): To use all of a resource until you have no more of it.
- To warm up (phrasal verb): 1. To become warmer; 2. To stretch and heat muscles before exercising.
- To wear off (phrasal verb): To lose effect.
- To work out (phrasal verb): 1. To exercise; 2. To have a positive outcome or result in a situation; 3. To solve a problem.
November 3, 2014
The top ten job interview questions
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why should we hire you?
3. What is your greatest strength?
4. What is your greatest weakness?
5. Why do you want to work here?
6. Why did you leave your last job?
7. What is your greatest accomplishment?
8. Describe a difficult work situation and what you did to overcome it.
9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
10. Do you have any questions for me [the interviewer]?
- Harvest (noun): Crops and food from farms that are gathered and collected.
- Flaw (noun): Weakness or defect.
- Etiquette (noun): Proper behavior in a situation.
- To fidget (verb): To not be still, to move habitually.
- “In one ear and out the other.” (idiom): You say something, but the message is not received because the person isn’t paying attention.
- “Who knows?” (idiom): Nobody knows.
- Rollercoaster (noun): An attraction in a theme park where carts follow elevated tracks at high speeds.
- Twitch (noun): An involuntary muscle contraction.
Using conditional sentences: if clause and main clause
We use conditional sentences to indicate a possible result or action that can only happen (or cannot happen) if another result or action happens. There are two parts to a conditional sentence: the if clause, and the main clause.
Depending on when the condition happens and if the condition is real, we use different forms.
Zero conditional (condition always happens)
In this conditional, the situations will always, 100% of the time, happen. It’s automatic. For this conditional, we use the simple present.
• If you press this button, the computer turns on.
• If you heat water, it boils.
• If you receive a check, you cash it in a bank.
First conditional (real present or future)
In this conditional, the main clause is possible, and could happen. We use the present tense in the if-clause, and the future in the main clause.
• If you work hard, you will be successful.
• If you open the door, the room will be cold.
Second conditional (unreal/imaginary present or future)
In this conditional, the present or future action is impossible and cannot happen in reality. We use the past tense grammatically to talk about the action happening.
• If I didn’t have to work today, we could go on a trip.
• If I were a woman, my mother would have a daughter.
• If I won the lottery, I would go to Asia.
Third conditional (unreal/imaginary past)
In this conditional, we talk about changing the past and doing different actions in the past. This is impossible, and because we’re changing a past action, we use the participle form for the grammar of the main clause.
• If I had the time, I would have helped you.
• I would have gotten to the airport on time if the taxi had picked me up.
• I would have dressed up for Halloween if I celebrated the holiday.
November 4, 2014
- Drought (noun): A time when there is a lack of rain.
- Flood (noun): A time when there is excessive rain, inundation of rivers, cities, etc.
- To be right around the corner (idiom): To be very close, or happening very soon.
- Elderly (noun): Older people.
- To see eye to eye (idiom): To share the same opinions or have the same views.
- Bribery (noun): Paying off someone with authority to commit a crime or illegal activity without being punished or prosecuted.
- To turn a blind eye (idiom): To ignore on purpose.
- Small-scale / Large-scale (adjective): Low level / high level.
- Accountable (adjective): Obligated to explain your actions and decisions to others; accept and justify your responsibilities and choices.
- Consequence (noun): Effect or result of an action.
- Corrupt (adjective): Using power to get personal benefits unfairly and/or illegally.
- Fair (adjective): Applying equally to everyone, giving exceptions within reason.
- Guilt (noun): The feeling of knowing you did something wrong.
- Harmful (adjective): Hurting or dangerous.
- Truthful (adjective): Honest.
- Trustworthy (adjective): Dependable, reliable.
- Legal (adjective): Allowed by the law.
- To lie (verb): To not tell the truth.
- Values (noun): Important principles or beliefs.
- To steal (verb): To take someone’s property without permission.
- Behavior (noun): How you act.
- To cheat (verb): To break the rules.
- “Honesty is the best policy.” (expression): Telling the truth is the best idea or value.
November 5, 2014
- Values (noun): The principles or beliefs you hold.
- Ethics (noun): Your beliefs of what is morally right and wrong.
- Customs (noun): Traditions or actions performed in one’s culture, usually reflecting a value one holds.
- Blunt (adjective): 1. Something that isn’t sharp, or has a dull edge; 2. Telling the truth in a harsh, direct way, sometimes hurting someone’s feelings.
- Tactful (adjective): Saying something in a diplomatic, neutral, or avoiding way without hurting someone’s feelings.
- Hierarchy (noun): The structure of command or authority in an organization, company, army, etc.
- Pecking order (idiom): An informal way to say “hierarchy”.
- Arrogant (adjective): Someone who is overly proud, egotistical, or has an exaggerated sense of their own importance, talents, or abilities.
- Overused (adjective): Used too much.
- Obsessed (adjective): Preoccupied with or thinking about something to a troubling extent.
- Workaholic (noun): Someone who is obsessed with work, or cannot stop working.
- Introverted (adjective): Shy.
- Head start (idiom): A starting advantage, or beginning before the rest of the group.
- Actually (adverb): Changing your expectation… In reality… e.g. “You are very agile. Do you play soccer?” “No, actually, I play basketball.”
- Currently (adverb): At the moment, presently, right now… e.g. “What are you studying?” “I’m currently studying English.”
- Actual (adjective): Present, current. DO NOT CONFUSE “actually” with “actual”.
November 6, 2014
- Feedback (noun): Responses, criticisms, and opinions about one’s performance.
- Common ground (idiom): A shared set of opinions or views between people, even if they disagree on other things.
- To expand (verb): To fill with air (intransitive); to give more details about, to grow.
- Involved (adjective): To have contributed, to have spent effort towards something.
- Included (adjective): To be a part of something.
- Required (adjective): Necessary, vital, essential, obligatory.
- To think outside the box (idiom): To think creatively, differently, or unconventionally.
- Solo (noun): A song or dance performed alone.
- Duet (noun): A song or dance performed by two.
- May-December romance (idiom): A romance between a young person and a much older person.
November 10, 2014
- To be on the same boat (idiom): We share the same set of circumstances or situation.
- Sugar daddy/mommy (idiom): A wealthy older boyfriend or girlfriend who pays for everything in the relationship with a younger person.
- Inimical (adjective): Actively hostile towards someone, opposite of friendly.
- Morale (noun): Mood, spirits, vibe. Used to describe the emotional state of a person or group.
- To be in good spirits (idiom): To have high morale.
- Bossy (adjective): Telling people how they should do their work or how to act.
- Gossip (noun): Rumors, news, or other personal information about people spread amongst others.
- Motor mouth/Chatterbox (idiom): A person who is excessively talkative!
- Tattletale (noun): Someone who denounces others to superiors, usually in the hope of getting appreciation from the superior.
- To tattle (on someone) (verb): To denounce to a superior something that is secret.
- To eavesdrop (verb): To overhear and spy on others’ conversations.
- Petty (adjective): Insignificant, small, pathetic; of little importance, trivial.
- To be too rich for one’s blood (idiom): To be too expensive for one, to cost too much to one.
- To vent (verb): To talk about negative things in order to release stress or pressure.
- To get something off one’s chest (idiom): To talk about something that is worrying, angering, annoying, etc. someone.
November 11, 2014
- Instead (adverb): In place of someone or something, as a substitute or replacement.
- To occur (verb): To happen.
- Peanut gallery (idiom): The crowd or audience at an event, usually used in a derisive or insulting way because this audience is uneducated or unrefined.
- Jargon (noun): Vocabulary specific to a career or job.
- Slang (noun): Vocabulary used informally in a culture, usually not found in a dictionary; “street language”.
- Minimum standards (noun): The basic, or minimum, requirements enforced for something.
- Legislation (noun): Laws of a government.
- Remainder (noun): The rest of something.
- Public holiday (noun): A day of rest and no work mandated by governmental law.
- Parental leave (noun): Time off work allowed due to a new birth in the family.
- Termination notice (noun): A notice informing an employee that his or her services with an employer are not required anymore.
- Excessive (adjective): Exaggerated, too much.
- Regular interval (noun): A time for something to happen in periodic, expected repetitions.
- Wages (noun): Pay for work. Usually used in time payment for day, week, month, year, etc.
- Salary (noun): Wages, or payment, per hour.
- Deduction (noun): A removal of part of one’s pay from one’s wages.
- Notable (adjective): Noticeable, significant, observable.
- Benefits (noun): Guarantees, bonuses, extra pay, etc. that an employee can receive from their employer for their work.
- Entitlements (noun): Rights and benefits ensured to people by the government.
- Day off (idiom): A vacation day from work.
- Jurisdiction (noun): The extent of the power to make legal decisions and judgments.
- Excluded (adjective): Not included.
- Piece rate (noun): Payment for each product made or work completed, rather than payment by time.
- Eligible (adjective): Qualified for something.
- Logger (noun): A person who cuts down trees.
- Home care giver (noun): A person who provides care and attention to the elderly or infirm in their own homes.
- Hazard (noun): A danger.
- Basic (adjective): Minimal, simple, essential.
- Workers compensation (noun): Pay to be given if a worker is injured in their work.
- Physician (noun): Doctor.
- Claim (noun): A demand or request for something considered one’s due.
- Ethnic origin (noun): One’s cultural, racial, and national background.
- Marital status (noun): Your state of relationship (i.e. single, married, divorced, widowed, etc.).
- Disability (noun): A physical or mental handicap that prevents full use of one’s abilities.
- Sexual orientation (noun): One’s gender attraction (i.e. heterosexual, homosexual, etc.).
- The matter (noun): The problem, the situation.
- Territorial (adjective): Relating to a particular area, territory, district, or locality.
- To penalize (verb): To punish for an infraction.
- Public service (noun): A service provided by the government to people living within its jurisdiction.
- Accuracy (noun): Precision, exactness.
- To verify (verb): To certify, to make sure.
November 12, 2014
- To slack off (phrasal verb): To not work or not be responsible about your tasks.
- Forgetful (adjective): Not able to remember, having a faulty memory.
- Like a dream come true (idiom): A situation is perfect and better than expected.
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