30 09, 2012

One-Point English Lesson: Every or All

All dogs love going to the beach!

We use every + [singular noun] + [singular verb] to talk about all the individual members in a group of things or people:

  • Every film by Humphrey Bogart is a classic.
  • Every report he writes is quite interesting to read.
  • Every glass in that cabinet has a crack or chip.

We use all + [plural noun] + [plural verb] to talk about all an entire group of things or people. When you want to talk about a specific group, you can use All of the:

  • All films have a musical soundtrack.
  • All of the films by Steven Spielberg are exciting.
  • All glasses are delicate, and need to be handled with care
  • All of the glasses in that cabinet have a crack or chip.

Note the difference between every + [time] and all + [time]

  • Every morning I eat yogurt and cereal (every morning means, Monday morning, Tuesday morning, etc…)
  • I work hard all morning (all morning means from the time I wake up until noon)

What do you usually have for breakfast every morning? Are you busy all morning?

29 09, 2012

English Lesson: Quit, Retire, Fired, Laid Off

He suddenly quit his job!

We have a few different ways in English to talk about when you leave a job. Let’s look at those words today!

 

When you choose to leave a job, you quit the job. You can say

  • I quit my job last week. Not, I retired from my job last week (see below)
  • I quit working for the bank.

You can also use resign from, which is a more formal way of saying quit

  • I resigned from my job last week.
  • I resigned from the bank.

When your company chooses to end your employment, you can get fired if you do something wrong or get laid off if the company’s financial situation is not good

  • Joe got fired because he came to work late too many times
  • Jenny got laid off because the company had a hard time in this bad economy,

When you stop working around age 60 or 65, you retire.  The condition is called retirement.

  • Brad retired from the bank and now lives in Florida
  • My grandfather is enjoying is retirement and new life in Southern California.

What do you want to do when you retire? Feel free to leave a comment here.

28 09, 2012

Take an English Learning Adventure in New Zealand!

Do you like adventure? Do you want to push yourself to the limit? If so, then a new adventure package from Kaplan in New Zealand might just be the ticket for you!

Students who learn English in New Zealand with Kaplan can learn English and improve their language skills during the day, and then live the life of a Hollywood stuntman in the afternoon! Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

Language school students can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime  experience while studying English in Auckland with electrifying activities such as jet-boating, base-jumping and bridge climbing.

Are you this kind of adrenaline junkie? If so, you can take advantage of 10% savings on the full price of an English course in New Zealand. This special promotion includes the 10% discount on your English course, plus you can get an NZ$200 adventure package for a 10-24 week booking, or an NZ$300 adventure package for a booking longer than 24 weeks. Just be sure to book the course by the end of the year.

One of their international students, Ms. Marie Fabreguettes, said that the her Kaplan Experience was “amazing!” She saw a dramatic improvement in her English and now can easily communicate in English. I do feel that studying in the country where the language is spoken is the best way to improve.

Did you also know that Auckland was recently named one of the world’s ten most livable cities? It is an Oceanic paradise, with amazing forests, beautiful wild islands and a bustling city center, so  there is really something for everyone!

27 09, 2012

English Lesson: ~ Reminds Me Of ~ / ~ Takes Me Back To~

Today’s trip to the old neighborhood takes him back to his youth!

Do you feel nostalgic sometimes? Do people or things sometimes make you think about think about the past? Have you met someone who looks like or acts like another person you know? Here are two was you can express these situations in English:

Reminds Me Of

When something makes you think of something else, or a person makes you think of another person you know, you can use this pattern: [someone/something] reminds me of [someone/something]

  • This pasta reminds me of the pasta my grandmother used to make.
  • That song reminds me of my high school days.
  • The new salesman in my company reminds me of my cousin Joe.
  • Seeing the ocean from the hotel window reminds me of how much I love the sea.

Takes Me Back To

When something makes you think of a past time in your life, or gives you nostalgic feelings, you can use this pattern: [someone/something] takes me back to [point in time]

  • This pasta takes me back to my grandmother’s house when I was a child.
  • That song takes me back to the time I was in high school.
  • Jack said seeing that movie takes him back to when he first got married.
  • Seeing the ocean from the hotel window takes me back to my childhood. I used to always go to the beach with my grandfather.

What takes you back to your childhood? Why not leave a comment here and share your story!

How about studying English with Michael or Jackie? We are available for private English lessons in New York, and online via Skype. Also, check out Michael’s newest book & audio podcasts, 109 Phrasal Verbs