20 08, 2011

English Lesson: Phrasal Verbs with Back & Bring

Let’s spend some more time today building up vocabulary. Back & Bring are used in a variety of useful phrasal verb. See how many you can think of, then check today’s lesson:

Phrasal Verbs with Back

When you back away from something, you reverse the direction you were moving in:

  • When you park the car, back away from the wall just a little more.
  • Tom was ready to have an argument with his boss, but he backed away.

When you back down, you change reverse your decision to do something. We usually use this idiom when we talk about contracts:

  • The negotiations were going smoothly until the buyer backed down and left the meeting.
  • The union backed down from their demands and accepted the new contract from the company.

When you back someone up, you support them emotionally or financially:

  • If you talk to the boss about these problems, I will back you up and go with you .
  • When Brad bought his house his parents backed him up with a large amount of money.

When you back something up, you move it in reverse:

  • I have to back up the car to get into that parking space.
  • If you back up the sofa a little, the table will fit nicely in front of it.

Phrasal Verbs with Bring

Bring someone down means to make them feel blue or depressed:

  • Rainy days always bring me down
  • Debbie brought everyone down at the party when she insulted the host.

To bring someone up means to raise them. We usually use this when we talk about parents and children:

  • Jenny was brought up in a small town in New Jersey.
  • Ed and Gloria brought up three children during the 1940’s.

When you bring something up, you mention it:

  • I have two topics I want to bring up during the staff meeting today.
  • Jane always brings up the story of her father’s immigration at family parties.

Well…I don’t think I can bring up any more phrasal verbs today. Thanks for studying today and feel free to bring up a topic for a one-point lesson here!

19 08, 2011

English Lesson: Phrasal Verbs with “Break”

Let’s spend some more time today building up vocabulary. Break is used in a variety of useful phrasal verb. See how many you can think of, then check today’s lesson:

When you break away from something, you separate from that thing:

  • When the baby elephant broke away from the group, it’s mother went after it.
  • Apple is always breaking away from tradition and releasing new gadgets all the time.

Break down can mean to have an emotional release or outburst:

  • Jack broke down when he heard his grandfather had passed away.
  • The thief broke down and confessed his crime to the police.

Break down is also used when machine stop working:

  • My car broke down again. I think I need a new mechanic.
  • The printer in the office broke down, so I can’t prepare for the meeting.

Break down also means to analyze numbers in finance or budgets:

  • When we break down this financial report, it looks like the last quarter was good for the company.
  • My boss asked me to break down the sales figures for the last three years.

Break in means to enter someplace illegally when nobody is there:

  • Someone broke in to the coffee shop and stole the computer.
  • Jane has three locks on her door to prevent someone from breaking in.

Break in also means to use something new until it is comfortable and/or you are used to it:

  • A new pair of boots usually needs a week or so to break in.
  • These gloves are very stiff. Do you know how I can break them in?

Break into means to become an entertainer in music or show business:

  • Brad has been going on lots of auditions to break into television.
  • If you want to break into the music business, you’ll need talent and luck.

Break out means to escape from confinement:

  • Three prisoners broke out of the county jail last week.
  • My dog is always trying to break out of the backyard.

Break out in something means to suddenly begin performing:

  • When their football team won, the fans broke out in song.
  • At the restaurant last night, the waiter suddenly broke out in a Jack Nicholson impersonation.

Break up means to end a situation or a relationship:

  • The teacher had to break up a fight between two students.
  • My sister is much happier since she broke up with her boyfriend.

Well, that is a lot of phrasal verbs. Why don’t you break away from studying for a few minutes, then come back and review them. Thanks for studying today and feel free to suggest a topic for a one-point lesson here!

18 08, 2011

English Lesson: Phrasal Verbs with Look

Let’s spend some time today building up vocabulary. Look is used in a variety of useful phrasal verb. See how many you can think of, then check today’s lesson:

When you look down on something it means you consider that thing to be inferior. Look down on is used for both people and things:

  • Jack looks down on his neighbor because they keep their house and yard very messy.
  • In the 1980’s many people look down on American car brands because imports had better quality.

When you look for something, you are searching for it.

  • I looked for my keys all over the house but I still can’t find them.
  • Brad asked me to help him look for a gift for his new girlfriend.

When you look forward to something, you are anticipating something good with positive excitement:

  • I’m looking forward to my week vacation in Morocco.
  • Jill’s mom is really looking forward to her wedding next month.

When you look into something, you research or consider it.

  • I’m looking into getting a new car. Any suggestions?
  • The company is looking into opening a second branch in Taipei.

When you look out for something or someone, you have responsibility to be aware of it

  • Can you look out for the post man? I am expecting a package to come today.
  • When you drive in NYC, you have to look out for bumps and potholes in the street.

When you look something over, you examine it.

  • Can you look over this lesson once more please?
  • The company accountant is looking over last month’s financial statements.

When you look up to someone, you admire them.

  • Little Bobby looks up to his father, and wants to be a fireman just like him.
  • Who did you look up to when you were growing up?

Well, look at that! We covered seven phrasal verbs with look. Thanks for studying today. I hope to see you at my Ustream event tomorrow !

17 08, 2011

English Lesson: Using Move

Some of my students were having trouble with the word move. Let’s have a look today at how we can use this verb. First, take a look at a short conversation:

A: Where were you last night?
B: We were hanging out at Angela’s house. It was fun.
A: Were you there all night?
B: No, after like two hours we moved to my house to play Wii.
A: Huh??

In the above conversation, B used moved. We usually don’t use move this way. Here are a few different ways to use the word move:

Use move when you change the house or town where you live:

  • Jack moved to Brooklyn last week.
  • I moved three times in 2 years. It’s tiring.
  • Are you going to move from your parent’s house?

Use move when you change the location of an object:

  • I moved the sofa to the other wall, and my living room seems so much wider.
  • Please move the flowers; I need to put the dishes on the table.
  • I need to move my car. I am parked too close to the driveway.

Use move, when you talk about a person changing their temporary location:

  • At the theater, I had to move because a guy with a big hat sat right in front of me!
  • I asked my students to move closer to the whiteboard.
  • Jane said she needs to move her houseplants so they get more sun.

In all other cases, you can use go. Here is what our friend “B” from the conversation above should have said:

A: Were you there all night?
B: No, after like two hours we went to my house to play Wii.

I hope this was helpful. Remember, you can always leave a comment or suggestion for a one-point lesson.