Telephoning - English Conversation Lesson

In this English conversation lesson you will learn how to make phone calls in both informal and formal styles of speaking.

Glossary of Correct Usage

1.		accept, except. Accept is a verb : except is a preposition
		They accepted my invitation.
		Everyone attended the meeting except the secretary.
2.		advice, advise. Advice is a noun; advise is a verb.
		His advice was useful.
		I was advised to purchase a more economical car.
3.		affect, effect. Affect is a verb; it means " to influence." Effect may be a verb or a noun. The verb effect means " to cause to happen "; the noun effect means " the result."
		Pollution affects everyone.
		Your tears do not affect me.
		Your tears have no effect upon me.
		Doctors have effected a cure for polio.
		The effect of drugs is well known.
4.		almost, most. Most is used to form the superlative; it is used to modify nouns. Almost is an adverb.
		Most people are honest.
		He is the most unusual person I have ever met.
		Almost everyone has a desire to succeed.
		Almost all of the food was eaten.
5.		already, all ready. Already means " before the time specified. " All ready means " completely prepared."
		The movie had already begun by the time we arrived.
		The members were all ready to hear the report.
6.		altogether, all together. Altogether means " thoroughly." All together means " in a group."
		The thought of a third world war is altogether frightening.
		The children were all together on the bus.
7.		amount, number. Use amount to refer to thing sin bulk or mass; number refers to the countable.
		Wrong	:	I was amazed by the amount of people present.
		Right	:	I was amazed by the number of people present.
		Right	:	The amount of money needed was soon collect.
8.		and which, which
		Wrong	:	I found a lost dog and which needs a good home.
		Right	:	I found a lost dog which needs a good home.
		Wrong	:	My father is a good man and whom we all love deeply.
		Right	:	My father is a good man whom we all love deeply and whom we admire.
9,		anywheres, anywhere Anywheres is very informal
		Wrong	:	We can talk anywheres.
		Right	:	We can talk anywhere.
10.		around
		Wrong	:	He arrived around ten o'clock.
		Right	:	He arrived about ten o'clock.

Words differentiation

Able Capable able - if someone or something is able to do something, they have skills or qualities which make it possible for them to do it. capable - if a person or thing is capable of doing something, they have the ability, capacity, or potential to do it. The different usage between able and capable is ' able ' has a broader meaning in one's ability but ' capable ' shows one's ability in a more specialized aspect. * She is an able teacher. ( She is a teacher with quality ) * She is a capable teacher. ( She has the ability to be a teacher ) ____________________ Capable also shows a sense of possibility whereas there is no such usage with able. * The situation is capable of improvement. In this situation, we can't replace capable with able to show the possibility for improvement. ____________________ Ability can be acquired through a series of training, but capability has nothing to do with training. * I do not doubt his ability to do the work.

Oh My English! Top Ten Best Videos

If you want to learn more in English conversation, please click the link below:
www.ohmyenglish.com.my

Common English Mistakes

These mistakes in English are quite common. A formal online English degree will not always go over these errors, so study up below to improve your language skills if you are ESL.
Chinese Style   :	It's seven twenty o'clock.
American Style:	It's seven twenty.
Chinese Style   :	Your coat is broken.
American Style:	Your coat is torn.
Chinese Style   :	Susan didn't make a fault anyway.
American Style:	Susan didn't make a mistake anyway.
Chinese Style  :	Would you mind posting this letter for me ? Yes, certainly.
American Style:	Would you mind mailing this letter for me ? Of course not. OR  ( Not at all )
Chinese Style   :	He becomes better.
American Style:	He got better.
Chinese Style   :	We'll have a hearing test tomorrow.
American Style:	We'll have a listening test tomorow.
Chinese Style  :	I recommend you to take a long vacation.
American Style:	I recommend that you take a long vacation.
Chinese Style   :	The last bus leaves at eleven o'clock. It's about eleven now, Hurry up!
American Style:	The last bus leaves at eleven o'clock. It's nearly ( almost ) eleven now, Hurry up!
Chinese Style   :	It was still bright outside.
American Style:	It was still light outside.

English Modal Verbs | Can - Could - May - Might

If you want to learn, improve and master the English language as well as to build confidence when speaking and listening in English, please click the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MinooAngloLink?feature=watch

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

When we want to compare two or more things, we can change the form of adjectives by adding –er or –est. We can also use extra words like more or mostand expressions like not as … as.

Here are some examples:  I think you're taller than me. (tall)
                                                 She's the tallest in the group. (tall)
                                                The pizzas in La Bella Napoli are better than the ones in Pietro's. (good)
                                                It was the best pizza I've ever had! (good)
                                                People say Bioshock is a more exciting game than Skyrim. (exciting)
                                               Grand Theft Auto is the most exciting video game. (exciting)

Mmm, I don't quite see what the rule is here.
With most one-syllable adjectives, we add –er or –est, and with most adjectives with two syllables or more, we add more or (the) most. In comparatives, we also use than before the second thing which is compared, if it is mentioned.
             La Bella Napoli is nearer than Pietro's. (near)

It's not the cheapest restaurant though. (cheap)

With one-syllable adjectives ending in vowel + consonant, remember to double the final consonant before –er/–est.

big → bigger → biggest

If the adjective ends in –e, just add –r or –st.

large → larger → largest

So what are the exceptions, apart  from good → better → best?

Other exceptions are bad → worse → worst and far → further/farther → furthest/farthest.

They use the worst cheese.

What about adjectives ending in –y, like crazy? My brother is crazier than me.

Yes, that's correct. With adjectives ending in y, you change the y to i and add er/ est.

lucky → luckier → luckiest             happy → happier → happiest

They've got the friendliest waiters!

With most adjectives with typical adjective endings, and with two or more syllables, you use more/most + adjective.

They do the most disgusting pasta I've ever tasted.

What other ways of comparing things are there?

We often use not as … as.

I'm not as tall as you. (= I'm smaller than you)
Maybe the pizza at La Bella Napoli isn't as good as I remember. 

And what about less and least?

Yes, less and least are also ways of comparing things. They are used more in writing.

It is less cold in the north of the country than in the south. (the north is warmer, but both north and south are cold)
Of the four participants, Bill is the least experienced. (the other three have more experience)

OK, this isn't as hard as I thought. I think I've got it, more or less.

Vocabulary Exercises

Appearance

Vocabulary exercises help to learn words to describe people's appearance.

Click the link below to do the vocabulary exercises on appearance:

learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/vocabulary-exercises/appearance-0

Tongue Twisters

Listening to tongue twisters is one way to improve your English pronunciation. It's very difficult to say tongue twisters in English so don't worry if you can't do it very well at first, just have fun!

Listen to the tongue twister and practise saying it. How fast can you say it?
"She sells sea shells by the sea shore."

Please click the link below to listen to the tongue twisters.
learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/tongue-twisters

Grammar Exercises

Pronouns
1. True or False.
   Read and circle True or False.
It is my birthday! It is sunny and hot. My parents didn’t go to work. They are at home. We are having a party. My sister gave me a great present. She gave me a new skateboard. My best friend is coming. He likes skateboarding too.
a. Today is my birthday.                                       True    False
b. The weather is cloudy and cold.                             True    False
c. My parents are at work.                                     True    False
d. My family are having a party.                               True    False
e. My sister gave me a new bike.                               True    False

We can use pronouns to replace the names of people and things.
I… You… He… She… It… We… They…

2. Choose the answer!
   Read the sentence. Circle the correct answer.
a. ____________________ is sunny today.                         It's / It / There
b. ____________________ don’t like vegetables.                     I’m / I / Me
c. What’s the time? ____________________ 8 o’clock.             It’s / Is / He
d. Can you see that rabbit? ______________ has very big ears.       He / It / I
e. Ask your sister for help. _____________ is very good at Maths.   She/ I / They