1 05, 2013

One Point English Lesson: How to Use Sorry

Sometimes things go wrong and you need to apologize. In English, we generally say I’m sorry when we apologize. Today, I am going to teach you four basic grammar patterns you can use when you say, I’m sorry. I hope you find these English phrases useful, but at the same time I hope you never have to use them!

happy-english-im-sorry-for

 

Now it’s your turn. Try using one of these phrases in an original sentence. Use the comment box below

 



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30 04, 2013

English Idiom Lesson with Audio: 7 Useful Idioms

I have a cup of joe every morning.

I have a cup of joe every morning.

IDIOM #1: a cup of joe 

  • How to use it:  You can buy, drink, make, etc a cup of joe.
  • Explanation: Joe is a slang word for coffee and so a cup of joe means a cup of coffee.
  • Example: I like to start my day with a cup of joe.

IDIOM #2: a dime a dozen


  • How to use it:  [something] is a dime a dozen
  • Explanation: A dozen means twelve, and a dime is a ten-cent coin, so a dime a dozen literally means twelve costs ten cents. So if something costs a dime a dozen, it is inexpensive and easy to find.
  • Example: Hot dog carts are a dime a dozen on the streets of NYC.

IDIOM #3: a pain in the neck

  • How to use it:  [something] or [someone] is a pain in the neck
  • Explanation: Something that is a pain in the neck is troublesome and inconvenient.
  • Example: Tom is a pain in the neck. He borrows my tools but never returns them on time.

IDIOM #4: a piece of cake

  • How to use it:  [something] is a piece of cake
  • Explanation: Something that is a piece of cake is easy to do.
  • Example: Using computers is a piece of cake for me.

IDIOM #5: a pipe dream

  • How to use it:  [something] is a pipe dream
  • Explanation: A pipe dream is something unrealistic that you wish for or wish to do.
  • Example: I know sailing a yacht in the South Pacific is a pipe dream, but someday I hope to do it!

IDIOM #6: a screw up

  • How to use it:  [someone] is a screw up
  • Explanation: A screw up is a person who often make careless mistakes, generally because they are not paying attention to what they are doing or because they are incompetent.
  • Example: I hear Tom was fired because he is a screw up.

IDIOM #7: absent-minded

  • How to use it:  [someone] is absent-minded
  • Explanation: Someone who is absent-minded easily forgets things.
  • Example: Jack forgot his wife’s birthday. He’s so absent-minded.

Now it’s your turn. How about trying to write an original sentence using the above idioms. Use the comment box below!



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30 04, 2013

One-Point English Lesson: Ever vs Never with Present Perfect

Welcome to another one-point Happy English Lesson! Today, I’m going to teach you how to use ever and never with the present perfect. Have a look at the graphic here for the details.

happy-english-never-ever-present-perfect



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29 04, 2013

Win an English Course With Your Sharp Eye!

You could win a free English course!

You could win a free English course!

Win an English Course With Your Sharp Eye!

Kaplan International Colleges has just launched the Kaplan Talent Awards and is holding a contest to find their best student photographer. And, fans of Kaplan’s Facebook page are being given the opportunity to judge the contest and vote on a series of photographs. The school will pick one winning photographer and one winning judge and these winners will both win a free two week English course at any Kaplan English Language school. They have English language schools in some of the world’s most desirable locations such as London, New York, Sydney and Singapore. The school here in New York City is inside the world famous Empire State building!

More than 1,000 student photos have been submitted over the past month and 30 have made the final cut. Everyone stands a chance of winning the experience of a lifetime, and everyone at Kaplan is excited to be offering this opportunity. Their Social Media Manager, Robert Pickstone, explained that “For a long time now, we’ve been impressed and inspired by the talent displayed by our students. Their photography skills are fantastic.”  Kaplan wanted to recognize and reward their students, while also involving their Facebook fans. This lead to the current contest

If you want to be a judge and enter the prize draw for a two week English course, visit http://www.facebook.com/kic where you will find the Kaplan Talent Awards Facebook App. You only have until May 13th 2013 to be a judge, so don’t delay!

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