The present simple can be used to talk about talk about scheduled future events. These are events that happen according to a schedule or timetable. They are usually scheduled by someone else and they are usually public events. Tomorrow is Friday. I fly to Paris next week. The plane departs at 8 p.m. The […]
English Grammar: How to Use “So” and “Too”
I’ve put so and too together in this lesson because I have heard so many English learners confuse them! Why do the smallest words always cause the most trouble? In this lesson we will focus on so and too as adverbs and as intensifiers. The photo above is of Waikiki, Hawaii. What adjectives do you […]
English Vocabulary: 911 and 9/11
In a recent private lesson, my student was talking about world events. She talked about the attack on 9-1-1 in NYC. I was confused at first, but then I realized she was talking about 9/11, not 9-1-1. You may hear or see both of these numbers when you watch American TV and movies, read American […]
The Story of Santa Claus
Santa goes by many names – Santa Claus, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, or Father Christmas. He lives at the North Pole, where he also has a toy workshop. He keeps an eye on children around the world and he knows if they’ve been naughty or nice! Just before Christmas, children can write letters to Santa […]
English Vocabulary: How to Use the Verbs “Listen” and “Hear”
What’s the difference between listen and hear in English? For many people learning English, listen and hear are two very confusing verbs! In this post I will explain the difference between the two verbs, and when you can use them. Take a look at these sentences: I was listening to the radio when I heard the […]