September 2011

English Lesson: Like Vs. As

Happy is a curious dog, like all terriers are. Even though she is twelve years old, she is just as wild as she was when she was younger. But she has put on some weight. In fact, someone recently said she looks like a corgi! I was shocked because I didn’t think she was as big as that.

For today’s lesson, let’s look at using like or as to talk about similarity. Do you know how to use these words? Have a look at the paragraph above once more, and then check today’s lesson.

Like can be used as a preposition to show similarity, and is followed by a noun or pronoun:

  • Someone recently said she looks like a corgi. Not, as a corgi.
  • The baby looks just like his mother. Not, just as his mother.

As can be used to show similarity, and is followed by a subject and verb. In casual English, we usually use like:

  • London is expensive, as New York is.
  • London is expensive, like New York is.
  • Tommy is a good singer, just as his father is.
  • Tommy is a good singer, just like his father is.

We also use as…as to show that two things or people are equal.

  • Jack is as tall as his father.
  • Today is as hot as yesterday.
  • I ate as much as you did.

You can use just to emphasize the sameness:

  • Jack is just as tall as his father.
  • Today is just as hot as yesterday.
  • I ate just as much as you did.

We also have some idioms using as….as:

  • He’s as blind as a bat without his glasses.
  • It was as black as night in the cave.
  • The stuff in that store is as cheap as dirt.
  • She was as cold as ice to her cheating husband.
  • This lesson is as easy as ABC!

I hope this was as easy as you thought it would be, just like my other lessons ;)

August 2011

English Lesson: Prepositions To Vs. For

I like to drink coffee. I probably go out for coffee twice or sometime three times a day. This morning, when the guy behind the counter was handing the coffee to me he almost dropped it! I think his boss talked to him about that, too. Since he spilled some of it, he made a new cup for me. I always go to that shop so they know me…it’s a nice place!

To and for can be confusing for some students. Do you know the difference? Have another look at the paragraph above, then check today’s lesson:

To Vs. For

We use to + base verb which is called an infinitive

  • I like to drink coffee
  • My dog needs to eat twice a day
  • “To be or not to be” (from Shakespeare)

We also use to when something is moved or transferred between locations or in the direction of a location

  • Can you give your homework to your teacher after class? There is movement of the homework between you and the teacher
  • I usually go to the library in the afternoon. There is movement in the direction of the library
  • I think I will talk to him about his class. The information goes from me to him

We use for when we want to refer to a purpose

  • This brush is used for calligraphy. The purpose of the brush is calligraphy.
  • I need a new laptop for work. The purpose of the new laptop is work.
  • Shampoo is special soap for your hair. The purpose of the shampoo is to clean your hair.

We also use for when something is to the benefit of ~

  • Can you check this for me.
  • Tommy bought a present for her birthday.
  • I would do anything for you!

When we use go, we prefer to use the go + to + verb and go + for + something

  • We will go to work today.
  • We will go for dinner after work

English Lesson: Using “It”

It’s such a nice day today in New York but as you may know, yesterday we had a serious hurricane here in NY. It was interesting to experience such a big storm as hurricane Irene. However, it is such an inconvenience to spend all of this time with no electricity. It is surprising how much damage there is from the storm. Some people were out watching the waves at the beach. I think it is crazy to go out in a storm like that. The power company said it will take up to six days to restore the power here in Long Island.

Today, let’s take a look at the word it. It has a variety of uses in English. Do you know how to use it? Today we will look at using it as the subject of the sentence. Have a look at the paragraph above and then check today’s lesson:

It + be is used to talk about time and the weather

  • It’s such a nice day today in New York
  • It is ten o’clock in the morning
  • It is usually cool in the evenings here.

It + takes + to-Verb (infinitive) is used to show how much time is needed.

  • It will take up to six days to restore the power.
  • I takes six hours to fly from New York to Los Angeles
  • How long does it take you to get to work?  

It + be + adjective + to-Verb (infinitive) is used as the subject of the sentence:

  • It is nice to meet you!
  • It was good to see the family was safe after the storm.
  • It was interesting to experience such a big storm

It + be + adjective + Verb-ing (gerund) also can be used as the subject of the sentence:

  • It was frightening hearing the wind last night.
  • It is worth visiting Central Park if you come to NYC.
  • It’s tough working without electric power.

English Lesson: Adjective Order II

It is Saturday night in New York. We are having a serious hurricane overnight and there is a good chance we will lose our electric power and internet. So, I need to get some lessons ready and scheduled to be published this week. The forecast said the tidal surge will be four meters high! That’s a lot of water. It is times like this I wish I lived somewhere higher.

Today, let’s look at a few more cases of the order of adjectives. The first one is when we have a verb + object. In this case, the adjective goes after the object:

  • I need to get some lessons ready
  • My sister painted her bedroom purple!
  • My dog makes me so happy!

Next, when we talk about measurement, we generally put the adjective after the measurement noun:

  • The tidal surge will be four meters high.
  • That movie is three hours long.
  • From the storm, the water in my street was three feet deep.

When you use words like anything, something, somebody, somewhere, etc., put the adjective after those words:

  • I wish I lived somewhere higher.
  • I want to go somewhere quiet so I can concentrate.
  • Have you heard anything interesting recently?

When we use numbers and adjectives, we generally put the numbers first:

  • I went to the store and bought six sweet cupcakes.
  • There are two important bosses in the company. I’d say Jack is the most important boss and Angela is the second important boss.
  • I have three nice steaks for the BBQ

Thanks for studying today. Feel free to leave a comment, suggestion, or request for a one point lesson.