English Conversation Lesson: Casual Greetings with “How” & What”

Basic Greetings in English

An English conversation a conversation usually starts with a question. There are two kinds of questions we use – how and what. Here are some examples of each:

  • How are you?              What’s new?
  • How’s it going?           What’s up?
  • How’s life?             What’s going on?
  • How’s everything?       What’s shaking?

The how questions ask about our feeling or condition, so the answers are something like this. The closer you are with the person, the deeper the answer you expect to hear / give:

  • How are you?         → Not too bad
  • How’s it going?       → Pretty good
  • How’s life?               → Great!
  • How’s everything?  → I’m ok.

The what questions ask about news or information about us, so the answers are something like this:

  • What’s new? → Not much
  • What’s up? → I just finished work
  • What’s going on? → I’m going on vacation next week
  • What’s shaking? → I bought an iPad!

Please be careful not to confuse the type of questions someone asks:

  • Joe: What’s up?
  • Bob: Fine! ← (the wrong answer, so Joe is confused!)
  • Joe: ???


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One-Point English Grammar Lesson: 6 Basic Time Expressions with Prepositions

Today I am going to show you six basic time expressions using the prepositions in, on, & at. These are set expressions in English, so you’ll need to memorize them. The best way to do that, is to use each expression in a sentence, and make sure that sentence is true for you.

happy-english-basic-time-expressions-prepositions

Now it’s your turn to practice your English. How about trying to write an original sentence using some of the above patterns. Use the comment box below!



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English Pronunciation of Money Lesson: How to Pronounce Dollar Amounts

When you go shopping, it is important to be able to say and listen to the amounts of money correctly. Here are some basic examples:

  • $1 – a dollar or one dollar.
  • $3 – three dollars. *not three dollar
  • $50 – fifty dollars. *not fifty dollar

The nickname for the US Dollar is buck. We use buck when we speak in a casual situation:

  • $1 – a buck. *one buck is less common
  • $3 – three bucks.
  • $50 – fifty bucks.

When the amount has dollars and cents, we pronounce the amount in two ways. Remember, the [.] is pronounced [and] when we pronounce money:

#1 – the long way

  • $1.33 – one dollar and thirty-three cents.
  • $13.79 – thirteen dollars and seventy-nine cents.
  • $110. 99 – one hundred ten dollars and ninety-nine cents.

 #2 – the short way

  • $1.33 – one thirty-three.
  • $13.79 – thirteen seventy-nine.
  • $110. 99 – one ten ninety-nine.


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English Idiom Lesson: Common Expressions with Do

Let's do laundry

Let’s do laundry

There are a number of common expressions in English which use the verb do. Today I am going to show you five of these useful phrases. Try to remember them and use them in your daily conversations.

Do homework (complete homework assignments)

  • I did my homework before watching TV.
  • The teacher let us begin doing our homework at the end of the school day.

Do housework (do household jobs like cleaning and washing)

  • Jane is a stay at home mom. She cooks and does housework every day.
  • Bob doesn’t mind doing the housework to help his wife.

Do laundry (wash, dry, and put away the dirty clothes)

  • I usually do laundry on the weekend.
  • Chris does laundry at the laundromat on Main Street.

Do dishes (wash, dry, and put away the dirty dishes)

  • The students in the dorm often don’t do the dishes in the kitchen.
  • We did the dishes after dinner.

Do one’s hair & makeup (dry and style hair; put on makeup)

  • Jane did her hair with a curling iron.
  • Cathy went to a professional stylist to have her makeup done for the party.

Now it’s your turn. How about trying to write an original sentence using some of the above patterns. Use the comment box below!



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