Posts tagged adjectives
English Lesson: Early or Fast or Quickly
Sep 21st
Happy went to bed early and fell asleep quickly!
Have a look at these two sentences. Can you find the difference between early and fast?
- The train was early.
- The train was fast.
When you want to talk about time, use early. Early refers to clock time, and means not late. It has the nuance of “before the scheduled or appointed time.”
- I was early for work today and the boss was happy.
- The bus arrived a few minutes early, so I had time to buy the newspaper.
- The party starts at 6:00, but if you want to come early to help set up, I don’t mind!
When you want to talk about speed, use the fast. Fast refers to the speed something travels at and can be used as an adverb or an adjective. You can also use quickly, which is an adverb.
- Jack is a fast driver, so sometimes driving with him makes me nervous.
- Jack drives quickly, so sometimes driving with him makes me nervous.
- New Yorkers tend to walk fast.
- New Yorkers tend to walk at a fast pace.
- New Yorkers tend to walk quickly.
Do you usually arrive at work or school early? Do you walk fast? Are you a fast learner?
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
One-Point English Lesson: Men Vs Male, Women Vs Female
Sep 12th
Happy is a female.
When we talk about gender in English we can use either nouns (men & women) or adjectives (male & female). Let’s have a look at how to use these words.
The words man and woman are singular nouns, and men and women are the plural forms of the nouns.
- The man talking to Joe is his boss.
- There are several men wearing baseball caps on the train.
- I met a woman who works at the zoo.
- The women sitting in the café are speaking Portuguese.
The words men and women can also be used in compound nouns. We usually use these words to describe things, not people. Here is are just a few examples:
- Men’s room Not, male’s room.
- Men’s suits, men’s shoes, men’s hats Not, male’s suits.
- Men’s singles, men’s doubles Not, male’s singles.
- Women’s room Not, female’s room.
- Women’s dresses, women’s shoes, women’s hats Not, female’s suites.
- Women’s singles, women’s doubles Not, female’s singles.
The words male and female are adjectives. We use these words to describe people & animals, not things:
- There are more and more female CEOs and politicians these days.
- Do male flight attendants earn the same as female flight attendants?
- My dog Happy is a female, and my sister’s cat is a male.
One Point English Lesson: Excited About or For or To
Aug 27th
The kids are excited to play in the yard!
Excited is an adjective and can be followed by a few different structures. Let’s look at those today.
When you want to mention the thing that makes you feel excited, you can use excited + about + noun:
- I am excited about my trip to Brazil.
- Jack is excited about his new job.
- Is Joe excited about the wedding?
When you want to mention an activity that makes you feel excited, you can use excited + to + verb:
- I am excited to visit Brazil.
- Jack is excited to start his new job.
- Is Joe excited to be getting married?
When you hear someone’s good news and that news makes you feel excited, you can use excited + for + someone:
- I am excited for Jenny. I just heard she is getting married.
- Jack told me he got a great new job. I’m so excited for him.
- Everyone is excited for Jane and Chris. They’re having a baby!
What are you excited about? Who are you excited for? Leave a message here and let us know!
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
