Posts tagged adjectives
English Vocabulary Lesson: Fun Vs Funny
Mar 30th
My friend Ed is a funny guy!
I went to a party last night with some of my friends from high school. The party was really fun. My friend Ed is a funny guy, and he always makes us laugh. Having fun and enjoying yourself is important, and good for your health. It helps to have funny people around you, too. Some of my students have told me that I am funny. I think they may be right!
The words fun and funny can be confusing sometimes. Do you know how to use these words? Read the paragraph above once more and then check today’s lesson:
Fun means enjoyable, so something that is fun is enjoyable. You can say that [something] is fun, or [someone] has fun. Here are some examples:
- The party last night was really fun.
- Going to the top of the Empire State Building is fun. You should try it!
- Having fun and enjoying yourself is important.
- I had fun at the party last night.
You can also use fun before a noun, like this:
- I went to a fun party last night.
- New York is a fun city!
Funny means something makes you laugh. So if you experience something funny, you will probably laugh. You can say that [something] or [someone] is funny. Here are some examples:
- My friend Ed is funny.
- Some of my students have told me that I am funny.
- That story was funny.
You can also use funny before a noun, like this:
- My friend Ed is a funny guy.
- He told us a funny story.
I hope you fund my lessons here fun (and sometimes funny)! Thanks for studying today. Leave a comment about your fun or funny situation!
How about studying English with me? I am available for private English lessons in New York, and online via Skype. Also, check out my newest book & audio podcasts, 109 Phrasal Verbs
English One-Point Lesson: Hard vs Hardly
Feb 9th
The exam was hard, because he hardly studied!
In many cases, adjectives can be made into adverbs by adding “ly” with the same meaning. For example, strong & strongly both have the same meaning, of course with a different usage. However, hard and hardly have a completely different meaning. Let’s look at these words today.
Hard is an adjective, which has a few different meanings:
- Yesterday’s exam was hard (difficult).
- A diamond is very hard (solid/firm).
- Working in construction is hard work (requires a lot of effort).
Hard is also an adverb, which also has a few different meanings:
- My student’s work very hard (using a lot of effort).
- Look! It’s raining hard (with a lot of force).
Hardly is an adverb, which also has a few different meanings, and very much different from hard:
- I hardly slept last night (I scarcely slept).
- Joe was in the office all day but he hardly worked (He barely worked).
Let’s compare these two sentences:
- Joe works hard (This is a positive statement about Joe. He uses his effort when he works).
- Joe hardly works (This is a negative statement about Joe. He scarcely/barely uses any effort).
So, how about you? Do you work hard, or do you hardly work? Thanks for studying today!
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Including…
- The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
- How to USE the phrasal verb.
- The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
- EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
- A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.
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English One-Point Lesson: Surprised at, by/with, & that
Feb 8th
Surprised is an adjective and is usually followed by at, by/with, or that.
My friend Joe sent me a strange email about his cat. He usually never sends emails!
- I was surprised at Joe.
- I was surprised by Joe’s email.
- I was surprised that Joe sent me an email.
You can be surprised at a person when they do something unexpected or unusual for them:
- I’m surprised at Joe. He never sends emails.
- I’m surprised at my boss. He gave us the afternoon off and he never did that before.
You can be surprised by/with a thing or a situation
- I’m surprised by the service at this restaurant. It is never this slow.
- I’m surprised with the exhibition. I didn’t think it would be so good.
You can use a sentence with that after surprised:
- I’m surprised that there was so much snow today. The forecast said “flurries.”
- I’m surprised that Jane stayed so late at the party. She said she was tired.
What have you been surprised by recently? Have you been surprised at someone recently?
Thanks for studying today!
Check out my book:
NEW for 2012! 109 Phrasal Verbs – 116-page eBook
Including…
- The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
- How to USE the phrasal verb.
- The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
- EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
- A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.
Just $5! Click here to buy it (Thank you)
Would you like a FREE 15-page sample? Click here for more information.
