One Point English Lesson: Using “A Little”

Happy slept a little this afternoon.

Happy slept a little this afternoon

The phrase a little is used in English to mean “a small amount.” This phrase can be used with both nouns and verbs.

We use a little before a non-countable noun to mean “a small amount of noun”:

  • Do you have a little time to chat today?
  • Jack had a little red wine and then fell asleep.
  • I need a little information about your English classes.

We also use a little after a verb to mean “a small amount of action”

  • We talked a little, then left the café.
  • Jack drank a little water before falling asleep.
  • I try to exercise a little every day.

Do you make a little time to study English everyday? Leave a comment here and let me know.



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One Point English Lesson: Using Plural Nouns When Speaking “Generally”

I like dogs better than cats

Listen to the lesson as you read:

[powerpress url="http://blog.myhappyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Using-Plural-Nouns-When-Speaking-Generally.mp3"]

Ok, so here is an important point that will help you sound more natural when you use English.

As you know nouns in English can be countable, like pen → pens, or banana → bananas, and non-countable, like fruit or water.

When we are talking about things in general, in other words, not specific things, we always use the plural form of countable nouns or the non-countable noun. Here are a few examples:

  • Which do you like better, cats or dogs? Not, Which do you like better, cat or dog.
  • Bananas are cheaper than strawberries.
  • Mobile phones have become essential tools in our daily lives.
  • Do you often go to baseball games?
  • What kind of fruit do you like?
  • Do you prefer coffee or tea?

Be careful! In some cases, the name of the animal (like chicken) is the same word as the name of the meat from that animal (like chicken). So when you talk about the meat, then use the singular form, because the words for meat (like chicken, beef, pork, etc) are not countable. If you use the plural form, it means you are talking about the animal, not the meat.

  • I like chickens means, I like the animals, chickens.
  • I like chicken means, I like eating chicken meat.

In the same way, the conversation could get very strange:

  • I like cats means, I like the animals, cats.
  • I like cat means, I like eating cat meat!!

What is your favorite kind of fruit? Leave a comment here and let me know.

Learn English with FRIENDS TV SHOW! Season 1 Episode 2

The one with the sonogram at the end

“That would be mine!”

This is the first in a new series of lessons, Learn English with FRIENDS. If you like watching Friends to learn English, you’re going to love these lessons!

Today, let’s look at four phrases from Friends Season 1 Episode 2 Scene 3, The One With The Sonogram at the End. The phrases are:

  • Be through with
  • That would be
  • See…
  • Ball up

In this scene, while Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe are watching TV in Monica’s room, Monica is cleaning up her room very hard because her parents are going to visit her.

Joey has a glass in his hand. Monica asks him, “Are you through with that?”

To be through with [something] means, to be finished using or doing something.

  • I am through with working these late hours. I’m quitting my job.
  • When you are through with the newspaper, please put it in the recycle bin.

To be through with

means, to want to end your relationship with that person.

  • Jane is angry with Joe. I think she is through with him.
  • Rachel was through with Barry, so she didn’t marry him.

Monica is cleaning the house and sees a small ball of paper. She asks, “Whose little ball of paper is this?” Chandler says, “Oh, uh, that would be mine.”

[something] would be means [something] is. We use this pattern to emphasize the answer, often when we are upset or defensive when someone asks us a question.

  • Jane: Do you want to date my friend Jenny?
  • Joe: That would be no.
  • Bob: Should I tell Cathy I want to break up with her?
  • Donna: That would be not good.

Chandler continues speaking saying, “See, I wrote a note to myself, and then I realized I didn’t need it, so I balled it up and…now I wish I was dead.

See is used as a conversational topic marker. See is used in a conversation when the speaker wants to emphasize that the listener should pay careful attention to what is said after see.

  • Later in this episode, Barry says to Rachel, “See, about a month ago, I wanted to hurt you.”
  • See, I think we should move our vacation plans to next year.

Ball up is a phrasal verb and means to put something or oneself in the shape of a ball.

  • Chandler balled up a piece of paper.
  • I balled up the aluminum foil that came with this sandwich.
  • My cat balled herself up and went to sleep on the sofa.

Thanks for studying today. Before you go, please leave a comment below and let me now the answer to this question:

What is your favorite Friends episode?



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One Point English Lesson: Using Apologize & Sorry

I'm sorry I'm late!

I’m sorry I’m late!

When things go wrong which are our fault, we can use apologize or sorry. There are a few set patterns using these words you’ll want to memorize. Let’s check out this topic today.

In conversational English, apologize is a bit more formal than sorry.

Pattern #1 – Apologize + for + gerund (VerbING)

  • I apologize for missing your birthday.
  • Jack apologized for coming to the meeting late.
  • Tommy needs to apologize for breaking Mr. Kim’s window.

Pattern #2 – Apologize + for + noun

  • I apologize for the miscommunication.
  • Jack apologized his mistake.
  • Tommy needs to apologize for the accident.

Pattern #3 – be + sorry + for + gerund (VerbING)

  • I am sorry for missing your birthday.
  • Jack said he was sorry for coming to the meeting late.
  • Tommy told Mr. Kim that he is sorry for breaking the window.

Pattern #4 – be + sorry + for + noun

  • I am sorry for the miscommunication.
  • Jack said he is sorry for his mistake.
  • Tommy told Mr. Kim that he is sorry for the accident.

Also, be careful of this common mistake. Sometimes I hear students say, “I am sorry for late” or I am sorry to late,” but both of those sentences are not correct.  To apologize when you are late you can say:

  • I’m sorry for being late  (or)  I’m sorry I’m late

Do you know another way to apologize in English? If so, why not leave a comment here and share your idea?



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