Michael
My name is Michael and I am a native New Yorker. I have been helping language students for over 20 years here in New York and all over the world including Japan. I started out as a music teacher here in the 1980′s and then began helping international students with English in 1989. I began my formal language teaching career in Sendai, Japan in 1994. Since then, I have worked in the ESL field as an instructor, a teacher trainer, an academic director, and a language school manager. I have a Bachelor of Music Degree from a local college, and in 2004 I earned my MBA. I am a native English speaker and have been studying and speaking Japanese since 1990.
Homepage: http://blog.myhappyenglish.com
Posts by Michael
One-Point English Lesson: Using Reason With For & Why
May 13th
What is his reason for being late?
Hi English Language fans! How’s your week going? Today I want to show you how to use for and why with the noun reason.
You can use reason + for.
- What is his reason for being late?
- Did you tell your teacher your reason for missing class yesterday?
You can also use for + reason
- I like pizza for two reasons. It’s delicious and reasonable.
- I asked you to come here for a reason.
You can also use reason + why/that + S + V
- The reason why he was late was unusual.
- I heard the reason that she missed class.
In casual English it’s also possible to use reason + S + V (without why or that)
- The reason he was late was unusual.
- I heard the reason she missed class.
Now it’s your turn. How about trying to write an original sentence using some of the above patterns. Use the comment box below!
English Lesson: Confusing Vocabulary – Convenience vs. Convenient
May 10th
Good morning from Happy English in NYC! I love the convenience of living in the Big Apple, and this city has many conveniences like the transportation, and huge number of restaurants. How about your town?
Today, I want to teach you the difference between convenience and convenient. A lot of students have trouble with these words. How about you? Are you using them correctly? Have a look at the lessongraphic below and find out!
Now it’s your turn. Using the comment box below, write a sentence using convenience and convenient and let us now about your town!
If you know anyone who has trouble with this English language point, why not help them out! Just share this lesson with them.
Thanks for studying today!
One-Point English Lesson: Using Do For Emphasis
May 9th
I do love pizza!
Hi English Language fans! I want you all to know that I really do appreciate your comments and emails. Did you notice that I used do in that sentence? Today I’m going to show you how to use do to emphasize the verb.
Usually, a sentence has one and only one main verb. For example:
- I like pizza.
- Jack works at ABC Company.
- Tom lives in Brooklyn.
There are times however when we need to emphasize the verb, when there is some doubt about the situation. Take a look at these example conversations:
- Chris: You are eating pizza? That’s unusual. I thought you don’t like pizza.
- Michael: No, I do like pizza. I eat it all the time.
- Chris: Jack still works at ABC Company? I thought he retired.
- Michael: No, he does work there.
- Chris: Tom lives in Brooklyn? I didn’t know that.
- Michael: Yes, he does live in Brooklyn. He moved there six years ago.
In each of the above three conversations, Michael tries to clear up the doubts Chris has by using do before the main verb of the sentence. This is how we use do for emphasis in a conversation. We only use do this way in a positive sentence. We do not use do for emphasis in a negative sentence:
- Chris: You don’t like pizza? I thought you did.
- Michael: No, I don’t like pizza. Not: No, I do don’t like pizza.
So, there you have it. This is how we use do for emphasis. Thanks for studying today. Feel free to leave me a comment below.
If you know anyone who has trouble with this English language point, why not help them out! Just share this lesson with them.
Thanks for studying today!
