Advice vs Advise

Today I'd like to present two confusing words in the English language: advice and advise. The first one is spelt with "c" (advice) and is an uncountable. It means an opinion you give someone about what they should do. Examples:
There's lots of advice in the book on baby care.
Could you give me some advice about buying a home?
If I were you, I'd get some legal advice.
I want to ask your advice about where to stay.
I followed my father's advice and sold the car.
Take my advice and study something practical.
Let me give you a piece of advice. Wear a blue suit to the interview.

However, the word spelt with "s" (advise) is a verb and it refers to an activity where you tell someone what you think they should do, especially when you know more than they do about something. Examples:
She needed someone to advise her.
'Make sure that you keep the documents in a safe place,' Otley advised him.
advise somebody to do something
Evans advised him to leave London.
You are strongly advised to take out medical insurance when visiting China.
Experts advise that sunscreen be reapplied every one to two hours.

Make

Now it's time for make.

make an appointment
make a bed
make a cake
make a change
make a choice
make coffee
make a comment
make a decision
make breakfast / dinner / supper
make a difference
make an effort
make an exception
make an excuse
make a film
make a fool of yourself
make a fortune
make friends with
make headway
make a list
make a living
make love
make a mess
make a mistake
make money
make a noise
make a phone call
make plans
make profit
make progress
make a promise
make sense
make a speech
make a suggestion
make a phone call

Do

Throughout my teaching career I have noticed my students struggling with the verbs do and make. Therefore I have decided to make their life easier and I have compiled a list of expressions that should go with do and make. Let's begin with do.

do your best
do business
do the cooking
do a course
do a crossword
do damage
do an exam
do an exercise
do sb a favour
do good
do your hair
do harm
do homework
do housework
do the ironing
do your job
do the laundry
do your nails
do the paperwork
do the shopping
do the washing
do the washing-up

A heart-to-heart

A heart-to-heart is a serious conversation between two people in which they talk honestly about their feelings.

Example:
Why don't you have a heart-to-heart with him and sort out your problems?

Teach vs Learn

Many of my students often mix the two verbs up: to learn and to teach. To make thinks clear, have a look at the following explanation and examples.

learn – learnt / learned - learnt / learned - to gain knowledge of a subject or skill, by experience, by studying it, e.g.
What's the best way to learn a language?
I learnt to drive when I was 17.
Hector spent the winter learning how to cope with his blindness.

teach – taught – taught - to give lessons in a school, college, or university, or to help someone learn about something by giving them information, e.g.
Neil teaches at the Guildhall School of Music in London.
He taught geography at the local secondary school.
We were never taught anything about other religions.

TEST YOURSELF
1. The teacher's task is to help the pupil …........
2. I …...... a lot from my father.
3. Miss Himes …..... the youngest class, the four and five- year-olds.
4. Kids can have fun and …..... about music at the same time.
5. I'm …........ English to Italian students.
6. It took us several hours to …........ all the dance moves to the girls.
7. I prefer …...... the older children.
8. Youngsters must …....... what is dangerous and what is not to be feared.
9. The student will …....... from experience about the importance of planning.
10. I …....... 18- to 21-year olds.
11. Before you sail, you need to …....... about basic boat controls.
12. Grandpa …...... me a new card trick.

Overhear vs Eavesdrop

The two verbs to overhear and to eavesdrop are very similar in meaning, although there is one substantial difference between them. Have a look.

To overhear means to accidentally hear what other people are saying, when they do not know that you have heard, e.g.
I overheard part of their conversation.
She overheard the management discussing pay rises.
We overheard the teacher say there would be a pop quiz today.
I couldn't help overhearing your argument.

To eavesdrop refers to a situation in which you deliberately listen secretly to other people's conversations. When you eavesdrop, you do it on purpose, this is your aim and intention, e.g.
There was Helena eavesdropping outside the door.
Sue was able to eavesdrop on them through the open window.
How did you know I was going? You've been eavesdropping, haven't you!
Hackers can eavesdrop using software that monitors packets sent over the network.

Loan vs Mortgage

There are two confusing nouns in the English language: a loan and a mortgage. Let me explain the difference to you.

A loan is an amount of money that you borrow from a bank because you want to buy a car, a computer etc. Examples:
Jim took out a loan to pay for his car.
It'll be years before we've paid off the loan.
a business loan / personal loan

A mortgage is a legal arrangement by which you borrow money from a bank in order to buy a house or a flat. Examples:
They've taken out a 30-year mortgage.
Mortgage rates are set to rise again in the spring.
She was having trouble meeting her mortgage payments.

TEST YOURSELF – loan or mortgage?
1. A student …......
2. Do you have a …...... on your house?
3. Kenya was still paying off a multimillion-dollar …...... to the IMF.
4. Your building society or bank will help arrange a ….......
5. Nick told me the …...... on his apartment is worth about $90,000.
6. I'll get a bank …...... if necessary.
7. The bank says we have to buy a life insurance policy before we can get a ….......
8. The organization was allowed to make …...... to private businesses.
9. I had to take out a …...... to buy my car.
10. It took my parents nearly thirty years to pay off their ….......
11. We still have a $180,000 …...... on the house.
12. Anyone taking out a …...... should be aware that interest rates can go up at any time.

Allow vs Let

In the English language there are two verbs which mean exactly the same. They are to allow and to let. The only difference is in the usage.

While using the verb to allow, we need to use the following structure:
to allow sb to do sth
e.g. My parents wouldn't allow me to go to the party.

While using the verb to let, we need to use the following structure:
to let sb do sth
e.g. My parents wouldn't let me go to the party.

The only difference is the lack of to while using the verb to let. Here are some more examples:
Don't allow your problems to dominate your life. = Don't let your problems dominate your life.
We do not allow people to smoke anywhere in the building. = We do not let people smoke anywhere in the building.
Some people seem to allow their kids to do whatever they like. = Some people seem to let their kids do whatever they like.

TEST YOURSELF
Fill in with allow or let.
1. Alice’s mum won’t …..... her come with us.
2. …..... your imagination run wild.
3. Sue doesn't …..... her kids eat candy.
4. Unfortunately, they didn’t …..... me to explain the thinking behind my decision.
5. I stepped back and …..... him pass.
6. I can …..... you have another £10, but no more.
7. …..... me have a look at that letter.
8. She only …..... the children to watch television at weekends.
9. …..... Johnny have a go on the computer now.
10. DVD …..... you to record programmes and watch them later.

Subject Questions

Questions about the subject or subject questions (PL podmiot) are slightly different from typical English questions. Let's have a look at the difference:
Who wrote that book? (subject question)
When did he write that book? (typical question)

For subject questions you don't use the following auxiliary verbs do, does and did. The only thing you need to do is to put who + the verb in the correct form, e.g.
Who stole my ring? but Why did he steal my ring?
Who read the book? but When did you read the book?
Who told you about it? but Why did he tell you about it?
What makes you happy? but Why does music make her happy?
Who is swimming now? But Why is Jack swimming now?

You need to remember to use only the 3rd person singular to make subject questions.

TEST YOURSELF
Make the correct question:
1. Who …......... us every day? (visit)
2. When …......... they you? (visit)
3. Who …......... in Paris last weekend? (be)
4. Why …......... you to France last year? (go)
5. Who …......... TV last night from 10pm to 2am? (watch)
6. Who never …......... his room? (clean)
7. Who …......... the first prize recently? (win)
8. What …......... she the first prize for? (win)
9. Who …......... you? (love)
10. Which car …......... first? (arrive)
11. What type of food …......... less? (cost)

Between vs Among

The prepositions between and among are very similar in meaning and they are a bit problematic for some students of English. Let me explain the difference to you.

Between refers to the space, time or number that separates two things, people, places, times or events. Examples:
I sat down between Sue and Jane.
Are there any public holidays between Christmas and Easter?
You shouldn't eat between meals.
The project will cost between eight and ten million dollars.

Among refers to many people or objects. It means in or through the middle of a group of people or things. Examples:
The girl quickly disappeared among the crowd.
Among the collection of photographs are two taken in Hamburg in 1911.
Among women in their later thirties and early forties, the figures are higher still.
At the meeting they discussed, among other things, recent events in Japan.

TEST YOURSELF
1. She was the eldest .......... them.
2. Most of the victims were young men .......... the ages of 16 and 21.
3. .......... you and me, I think Schmidt's about to resign.
4. I could hear voices coming from somewhere .......... the bushes.
5. A lot of students spend a year abroad in .......... school and university.
6. Jim relaxed, knowing he was .......... friends.
7. The ball rolled .......... his feet.
8. The problem is causing widespread concern .......... scientists.
9. The team have a lot of work to do .......... now and Sunday.

Receipt vs Recipe vs Prescription

There are 3 confusing words which cause English students trouble, both in meaning and in pronunciation.

The first word is a receipt and it means a piece of paper that you are given which shows that you have paid for something. Examples:
Can you give me a receipt?
Keep your credit card receipts until your statement arrives.

The second word is a recipe and it refers to a set of instructions for cooking a particular type of food. Examples:
a recipe for tomato soup
a recipe book
Could you give me the recipe for that chocolate cake?

The third word is a prescription and it means a piece of paper on which a doctor writes what medicine a sick person should have, so that they can get it from a pharmacist. Examples:
a prescription for sleeping pills
We are trying to cut the price of prescription drugs.

TEST YOURSELF
Fill in with the correct word: receipt, recipe or prescription.
1. During the past few decades, ........ drugs have also been widely used to control the symptoms of depression.
2. Purchases may be returned if you show your .........
3. I've found a really great ........ for barbecue sauce.
4. She asked the doctor a ........ for tranquillisers.
5. Make sure you get ........ for everything.
6. This soup is really good - you must give me the .........
7. Keep your ........ in case you want to bring it back.

Few vs Little

A few refers to countable nouns and means a small number of things or people, e.g.
I've read a few of her books.
I have to buy a few things at the supermarket.
There are a few more things I'd like to discuss.

Few refers to countable nouns and means not many, not enough, e.g.
low-paid jobs that few people want
Very few of the staff come from the local area.
The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.

A little refers to uncountable nouns and means a small amount, e.g.
Susan speaks a little French.
Fortunately I had a little time to spare.
Would you like a little more milk in your coffee?

Little refers to uncountable nouns and means only a small amount or hardly any of something, e.g.
There's little doubt in my mind that he's guilty.
I paid little attention to what the others were saying.
Changes in the law have done little to improve the situation.

TEST YOURSELF
1. There is ………….. time to prepare for the exams.
2. She has done ………. today besides sleep.
3. I spoke with ………… colleagues about it.
4. There was too much rain and too ……… sun.
5. She approached several people, but ………. were interested.
6. We managed to save ………. money.
7. With ………. luck, you might write the next best-seller!
8. Only ……… managers attend the meetings.
9. They live in a very small flat because they have …..... money.
10. I really need to see him. I've got …..... questions to ask him.
11. Could we have …..... champagne, please ?
12. They've already been to Spain …..... times.
13. These plants require …..... water and it's very handy.
14. At home, the kitchen was a pleasant place. There were always …..... flowers in a vase.
15. 'Sandra is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish.' 'It's quite rare, …..... people can speak several foreign languages.'
16. This boy isn't very popular at school. He's got very …..... friends.

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Lie vs Lay

The verbs to lie and to lay are quite problematic for English students. The reason why they are so confusing is their irregular Past and Perfect forms.

Let's begin with the verb to lay, which means to put or place sth. It's quite easy to remember the irregular forms because they are similar pay - paid - paid:

lay - laid - laid, e.g.
She has laid her hand on my shoulder.
He laid the money on the table as they walked out.

However, the verb to lie may be both regular and irregular. Let's start with the regular form, which means not to tell the truth:

lie - lied - lied, e.g.
She lied about her age.
I have never lied to you!

The irregular form means to be in a position in which your body is flat on the floor, on a bed etc. And here come the irregular forms:

lie - lay - lain, e.g.
For a few minutes he just lay on his bed.
Don't lie in the sun for too long.

Please note that the gerund form of the verb to lie is lying.

TEST YOURSELF
1. He …....... on the track for five minutes before being rescued by two friends who were also out riding.
2. I looked at her face and just knew that she was …....... .
3. The camera never …………..
4. I could tell from her face that she was ………….
5. They ………… flowers at the place where so many people died. (past)
6. He was …………. on the bed smoking a cigarette.
7. I would never ………… to you.
8. The dog was …………… dead on the floor.
9. Libby switched off the light and …....... on the couch, staring into the darkness.
10. We ……….. flowers on her grave once a week.
11. The children's clothes were …....... all over the bedroom floor.
12. It was an invention which …....... the foundations of modern radio technology.
13. Almost every night I …....... awake in bed worrying about my family.
14. The project involved …....... an oil pipeline across the desert.
15. Her packed suitcase was …....... near the door.
16. The carpet was …....... last week.

Land & Take Off

If a plane takes off, it rises into the air from the ground (synonym lift off), e.g.
I felt quite excited as the plane took off from Heathrow.
Noun -> take-off, e.g.
At the beginning, the key moment is take-off.

If a plane lands, it moves safely down onto the ground, e.g.
Flight 846 landed five minutes ago.
Noun -> landing, e.g.
take-off and landing procedures

At

at + time of day e.g. at 9.20am, at midnight
at night

at + address e.g. At 65 Sutter Street
at + building e.g. at the Prado Museum
at home

at present
at the moment
at first / at last
at times (=sometimes)
at once (=immediately)
at a high / low price
(not) at all

On

on + date e.g. on 27 Apr
on + day e.g. on Friday

on + street e.g. on Wall Street
on + coast e.g. on the East Coast
on + floor e.g. on the 3rd floor

on a vehicle e.g. on a bus, on a train, on a plane
on foot
on the cover (of)
on a trip
on sale (=for sale at a reduced price)
on schedule
on TV / radio
on the phone
on a farm
on a map
on the other hand
on purpose (=intentionally)

In

The next 3 posts will be devoted to the usage of the following prepositions: in, on, at. Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section.

In
in + century e.g. in the twenty-first century
in + decade e.g. in the 1940s, in the nineties
in + year e.g. in 1987
in + season e.g. in the summer
in + month e.g. in September
in + parts of the day e.g. in the morning / afternoon / evening
in + continent e.g. in South America
in + country e.g. in Japan
in + state / province e.g. in Ontario
in + city e.g. in Berlin
in + building e.g. in the Empire State Building
in + room e.g. in the bathroom
in + clothing e.g. in a grey suit
in + language e.g. in French
in + book e.g. in the Beast and the Beauty
in + newspaper / magazine e.g. in the Financial Times
in + department e.g. in the legal department
in + field e.g. in computer science, in architecture

in my opinion
in the past / future
in the world
in a car / taxi
in trouble
in danger (of)
in part (=partially)
in front of
in the middle of
in line
in the process of
in the market (=trying to buy sth)

A Guinea Pig

A guinea pig is someone who is used in a scientific test to see how successful or safe a new product, system etc.




Examples:
We're looking for volunteers to act as guinea pigs for a new AIDS vaccine.
My guests are guinea pigs for all the new dishes I try out.

Dealing with Problems on the Phone

Problems in communication
You're breaking up... I haven't got a very good signal.
Sorry, it's a really bad line.
I'm afraid I didn't catch that.
Can you speak up a bit?
Hold on while I go somewhere quieter.
I'll hang up and try again later.

Not a good time to call
Sorry, but I have someone other on the line. Can I call back?
I'm afraid I really don't have a lot of time today. Can you call again tomorrow?
I'm just on my way out. Can you call again later?
Sorry, this will have to be quick. I'm about to go into a meeting.

Avoiding Saying 'No'

Sorry, I'll be away on business when you need me.
Er... have you tried John?
Hmm, I don't have a lot of time at the moment.
I'd love to help, but...
It may be a bit problematic...
Try me again when I'm back from holiday.
I'm afraid I've got too much on at the moment.

To Turn a Blind Eye

If you turn a blind eye to something, you deliberately ignore something that you know should not be happening.



Examples:
Teachers were turning a blind eye to smoking in school.
Management often turn a blind eye to bullying in the workplace.

To Set the Ball Rolling

To set/start the ball rolling means to start something happening.



Examples:
I've started the ball rolling by setting up a series of meetings.
The hospital appeal received a gift of £1 million to set the ball rolling.
To start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute £1 million.

To Be Up in the Air

If sth is up in the air it means that no decision has been made, often because other matters have to be decided first.



Example:
I may be moving to Canad, but it's still up in the air.

To Take the Bull by the Horns

To take the bull by the horns means to bravely or confidently deal with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant problem.



Examples:
I decided to take the bull by the horns and ask him to leave.
Helena decided to take the bull by the horns and organize the show herself.
Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.
We decided to take the bull by the horns and go to court, instead of paying the fine.

Quick Requests

Making a quick request
Do you have a minute?
Excuse me, am I disturbing you?
Could you just have a quick look at...?
Could you spare a few minutes?
Do you have a few minutes?
Would you mind checking...?
Could you give me a hand with...?

Responding to requests
Yeah, sure.
No problem.
Certainly. Take a seat.
Yes, come in.
I'm a bit busy right now.
Sorry, no time!
I'm sorry, not just now.
Give me two minutes and I'll be right with you.

To Rush from Pillar to Post

To rush from pillar to post means to go from place to place in a panic.



Example:
The poor kid has been rushing from pillar to post.

Apologising & Responding

Apologising
Sorry I'm late.
I'm sorry that...
I'm very sorry about...
I do apologise for...
Sorry about that.
I'm afraid that...

Responding to an apology
Never mind.
That's OK.
That's all right.
It doesn't matter.
Don't worry about that.
No problem.

A Splitting Headache

If you have a splitting headache, you have a very bad headache. You can also say to have a pounding headache. Please note that the word headache is a countable noun, so you should say a headache.



Examples:
I had a splitting headache, and couldn't go to work.
She went home because she had a splitting headache.

Down in the Dumps

To be / feel down in the dumps means to be very sad and without much interest in life.



Examples:
Some Mondays I just feel in the dumps.
She's feeling a bit down in the dumps.

Formal vs Informal

In business writing it is essential that you do not mix the formal with informal writing styles. Here is a list of some formal expressions and their infomal equivalents.

Thank you - Thanks
I would like to apologize for … - Sorry for …
I would appreciate it if you … - Can you … ?
Would you happen to know …? - Do you know … ?
Unfortunately, I will not be able to … - I can’t …
I am unable to say whether … - I don’t know whether …
I would rather not … - I don’t want to …

May I make a request? - Could I ask you for something / some help?
I appreciate that this will be difficult for you. - I know that this is not going to be easy.
Would you be able to attend a meeting on the 4th of June? - Can you meet up on the 4th of June?
Please contact me at any time. - Feel free to call any time.
I would like to apologize for … - Sorry for …

Above vs Over

The two prepositions above and over are very similar in meaning, and in some situations you can use them interchangeably. However, there is a small difference between them.

Above refers to a certain position. You use static verbs (e.g. to be) with above.

The house is above the city. ( - the house is standing still on the mountain)
Our office is above the hairdresser's.
He had a bruise just above his left eye.
I heard a strange noise coming from the room above.

Over refers to movement (in time or space). You use dynamic verbs (e.g. to fly) with over.

UFOs flew over China. ( - over the whole of it, to its borders or even beyond it)
A lamp hung over the table.
We watched a helicopter flying low over the harbour.

TEST YOURSELF
1. We lived in the room ... the shop.
2. Somehow the sheep jumped ... the fence.
3. Government troops fired a few shots ... their heads.
4. Curran’s leg was broken ... the right knee.
5. Flocks of geese flew ... , calling loudly.
6. The lamp is ... me.
7. We could see the Angolan flag flying ... the governor’s palace.

Responding to Spontaneous Situations

Inviting / Offering
How about meeting on Friday?
What about meeting on Friday?
Do you feel like meeting on Friday?
Would you like to meet on Friday?
Do you want to meet on Friday?

Accepting
I'd love to.
Good idea.
Why not?

Partly accepting
Maybe... Can I let you know later?
Let me just check with my boss / my wife.
OK... But I can't stay long.
Yes, but can we make it next week?

Declining
Sorry, I'm heading straight home tonight, it's my wife's birthday.
Not tonight, I've had a bad day.
I'm afraid I don't really feel like it today.
I'm afraid I need to stay behind and finish this presentation.

Rise vs Raise

The verb to rise /raiz/ is an irregular verb (rise – rose – risen) and it means to go up or upwards, increase (in number, amount etc). This is an intransitive verb and it doesn't have an object, e.g.
The Sun rose.
Her hopes rose higher than ever.
The unemployment rate has risen dramatically.

The verb to raise /reiz/ is a regular verb (raise – raised – raised) and it means to move or lift to a higher position, increase an amount, number etc. This is a transitive verb so it needs an object, e.g.
The government has raised VAT.
She knew the answer so she raised her hand.

TEST YOURSELF
Please use the correct verb (rise or raise) in the correct form:

1. Sales ….. by 20% over the Christmas period.
2. Drinking too much coffee can ….. blood pressure.
3. The research budget ….. from £175,000 in 1999 to £22.5 million in 2001.
4. Temperatures rarely ….. above freezing.
5. The university is working to ….. the number of students from state schools.
6. The number of people seeking asylum in Britain has ….. sharply.
7. The divorce rate has ….. steadily since the 1950s.
8. Many shops have ….. their prices.
9. The floodwaters began to ….. again.
10. ….. your hand if you know the right answer.
11. William ….. his hat and smiled at her.
12. Smoke ….. from the chimney.
13. The road ….. steeply from the village.
14. Can you ….. the torch so I can see?

In the Middle of Nowhere

In the middle of nowhere means a long way from the nearest big town.



Examples:
They live miles away, in the middle of nowhere.
We had a puncture in the middle of nowhere, with no mobile and no water.

To Be in the Red

To be in the red means to owe more money than you have; to be operating at a loss, in debt.



Examples:
This is the airline's fourth straight year in the red.
Many of the students were in the red at the end of their first year.

The Tip of the Iceberg

The tip of the iceberg is a small sign of a problem that is much larger.



Examples:
The reported cases of food poisoning are only the tip of the iceberg.
I'm afraid that these few reported cases of the disease might only be the tip of the iceberg.

Thanking & Responding

Thanking
Thanks. / Thanks a lot.
Thank you very much.
Thanks for your time / help.
I'd like to thank you for ...
Thank you for having me.



Responding
You're welcome.
My pleasure.
It's a pleasure.
No problem.
That's OK.
Thank you for coming.

To Have a Narrow Escape

If you have a narrow escape, you just manage to avoid danger or trouble.



Examples:
The crew had a narrow escape when the pilot made a crash landing.
A woman had a narrow escape yesterday when her car left the road.
He only just got out of the vehicle before the whole thing blew up. It was a narrow escape.

You Are Right vs You Have the Right to

There are two expressions with which seem to be a bit problematic for students of English. Both of them contain the word right:

You are right - it means that you have said something that is true. Opposite - you are wrong.
I think you're right. We should have set out earlier.
I think the Prime Minister is only half right.
Am I right in thinking that you two have met before?

You have the right to do sth - it means that you are morally, legally, or officially allowed to do or have something:
You have the right to consult a lawyer.
Everyone should have the right to freedom of expression.

A Laughing Stock

Someone who is a laughing stock has done something so silly that people have no respect for them.



Example:
The programme has made the US a laughing stock.

The Acid Test

The acid test is a key test which will prove the value, quality or truth of something.



Examples:
The producer says critics love the film, but box-office takings will provide the acid test.
People ask if the team is good enough. This match will be the acid test.

On the One Hand

The expressions on the one hand and on the other hand are used to present two opposite facts or two different ways of looking at the same issue.



Examples:
I'd like to eat out, but on the other hand I should be trying to save money.
Braque, on the other hand, developed more slowly as an artist than Picasso.
High schools need to develop clear connections with post-secondary institutions, on the one hand, and businesses, on the other.

To Bend the Rules

To bend the rules means to do something or allow someone to do something that is not usually allowed, especially in order to make things easier on one occasion.



Examples:
They shouldn’t bend the rules for him just because he’s the director’s son.
We might be able to bend the rules just this one time.

To Face the Music

To face the music means to accept criticism or punishment for something you have done.



Examples:
I had to face the music, I had to face myself.
It was not just Diana who had to face the music but her parents as well.
They can't tell us how to live and not face the music when their own conduct is questioned.

Customer vs Client

A customer or a client is a person who buys goods or services. The term client is mainly used for service industries, and implies a regular contact between the buyer and the seller. A consumer is a person who buys goods or services for their personal use. The term is also used to talk about someone who uses the product / service. For food, the customer is the person who buys it and the consumer is the person who eats it. However, the two terms are often used interchangeably without any particular attention to the difference in meaning.

Not Have the Foggiest Idea

If you don't have the foggiest idea, you don't know at all. Other expressions:
I don't have a clue / I haven't got a clue.
I don't have the faintest idea / I haven't got the faintest idea.



Examples:
I don’t have the foggiest idea why he called me.
None of us had the foggiest idea about how to put the tent up.

To Throw a Tantrum

When a child throws a tantrum that means a sudden short period when s/he behaves very angrily and unreasonably.



Examples:
Alex threw a tantrum and screamed loudly.
She throws a tantrum when she can't have the toy she wants.
He threw a temper tantrum at school when two of the newcomers took his soccer ball.

A Bitter Pill to Swallow

A bitter pill to swallow is something which is unpleasant, but has to be accepted.



Examples:
Losing my job was initially a bitter pill to swallow.
The knowledge that his friends no longer trusted him was a bitter pill to swallow.
The truth about her family had been a bitter pill to swallow.

To Have a Memory like a Sieve

If you have a memory like a sieve, your memory is realy bad and you forget things easily (a sieve is a kitchen tool with a plastic net which separates liquids from solids).



Example:
I'm sorry, I forgot to get your newspaper. I have a memory like a sieve!

To Catch Sb Red-handed

To catch somebody red-handed means to catch someone while they are doing something illegal



Examples:
I was caught red-handed with the money in my bag.
He was caught red-handed taking money from the cash register.
Tom was stealing the car when the police drove by and caught him red-handed.

Fall vs Feel

The most common mistake regarding the two verbs to fall and to feel are their Past Simple and Past Participle forms. Both verbs are irregular:

fall – fell – fallen

feel – felt – felt

In order to memorise them, feel free to do the following exercise.

TEST YOURSELF
Please use either the Past Simple or Past Participle form:

1. She … asleep at 9pm yesterday. (fall)
2. Marie immediately ... guilty. (feel)
3. I think that I've ... in love with Angela. (fall)
4. The book ... from his hands. (fall)
5. When his dad left, he ... as though his world had turned upside-down. (feel)
6. I ... like I'd really achieved something. (feel)
7. Rob ... down the stairs. (fall)
8. She ... his warm breath on her cheek. (feel)
9. “What has happened?” “I have slipped and … on the ice” (fall)
10. The earthquake was ... as far south as San Diego. (feel)
11. The house was empty for many years and ... into disrepair. (fall)
12. A tree had ... across the road and blocked it. (fall)
13. It ... wonderful to be wearing clean clothes again. (feel)
14. Fred ... out of the tree and broke his arm. (fall)

Brain Drain

The phrase the brain drain refers to the movement of highly skilled and educated people from their own country to another one where they are paid more.

How to Begin & Close an Email

If you know the recipient's name, it is usual to use a personal greeting, e.g.
Dear Mr Ashton
Dear Miss Agnes
Dear Jakie

If your email is addressed generally to an organisation and not to a specific person, the more formal greeting should be used:
Dear Sirs

If your email is addressed to a head of a department or the head of an organisation whose name is not known, it would be more appropriate to use the following greeting:
Dear Sir or Madam

The two common closings are:
Yours faithfully (used only with Dear Sirs/Dear Sir or Madam)
Yours sincerely (used with personal greetings e.g. Dear Mr Ashton)

By Word of Mouth

If you learn about something by word of mouth, it means that you get it by somebody telling you.



Examples:
Most of our customers hear about us by word of mouth.
Much of this information is picked up by word of mouth from previous students.
"How did you hear about this company?" "By word of mouth."
The book became a worldwide best-seller, largely by word of mouth.

To Pay Lip Service to Sb/Sth

If you pay lip service to somebody / something, you say that you support or agree with somebody / something without actually doing anything.



Examples:
This organisation pays lips service to career development.
This company pays lip service to the principle of equal rights for women.
You don't really care about politics. You're just paying lip service to the candidate.

I Wish

We use I wish + Past Simple when we want to talk about the present. We want to express regret for a present situation.

I wish I were you. (= but I'm not)
I wish I knew the answer. (=but I don't)
I wish I could speak Hungarian. (=but I can't)
I wish you had more time for me. (=but you don't)
I wish she didn't have to work sho hard. (=but she has to)

We use I wish + Past Perfect when we want to talk about the past. We want to express regret for a past situation.

I wish I had studied English at school. (=but I didn't)
I wish I had taken your advice. (=but I didn't)
I wish she had visited me yesterday. (=but she didn't)
I wish you hadn't stayed at home last weekend. (=but you did, you stayed at home last weekend)

We use I wish + would when we want to express our annoyance / anger at somebody's behaviour (something is annoying / irritating / something gets on your nerves.)

I wish my neighbour would stop listening to music so loudly!
I wish you would listen to me!
I wish you would stop throwing things around the flat!



TEST YOURSELF
1. I wish you ... (give up) smoking! I can't stand the smoke!
2. I wish I ... (can) play the piano.
3. I wish Jack ... (attend) my birthday party last week.
4. I wish I ... (not choose) philosophy when I was graduating.
5. I wish my boss ... (not scream) at me! It's so difficult to concentrate.
6. I wish it ... (not rain) today.

A Real Eye-opener

A real eye-opener is an event or situation that you unexpectedly learnt something from.



Examples:
The whole trip has been a real eye-opener.
Working in such a poor country opened my eyes to how unjust the world is. It was a real eye-opener.

To Go Through the Roof

If a price / cost goes through the roof, it increases to a very high level.



Examples:
Will the price of petrol in Poland go through the roof in the next months?
Following news of increased profits, the company's share price went through the roof.
Sales of the Funky sunglasses went through the roof after Natalie Portman wore them in her latest film.

Exiting a conversation

Have you ever ended up in a situation where the person with whom you are talking has no intention of closing the conversation and you are already late for a meeting / bus / whatever? Here are some useful phrases which will help you to exit a conversation in a relatively painless way.

Nice talking to you.
I'm afraid I must be off.
Well, I'm going to circulate. It was good to meet you.
Is that the time? My parking ticket runs out in five minutes!
Is that Jack over there? Excuse me, I really must go and speak to him.
I'm going to get some food. I missed lunch because of the conference call.
I promised to meet someone else. But I'll come back when I've seen him / her.
Look, I really don't have time to chat at the moment. I'll call you tomorrow though.

Exchanging contact details

It's essential to make a good impression on a new customer / business partner. The following expressions will come in handy when you meet them and want to swap your contact details.

Asking for details
Let me take your name and number.
Can I have your name / number / email address?
What's the best way to contact you?
I have an email address but I'm not sure if it's current.

Giving details
Let me give you my card. / Here's my card.
Thanks, and here's mine.
I'll send you my contact details by text.
You can call / reach me on 3526849509.
Here's my email address.
It's easiest if you just give me your email address.
The one above is my business email. I check it regulary so please use that one.

Explain & Recommend

The following verbs to explain and to recommend have one thing in common. Polish students often use them in a wrong way. They do so because they translate the structure/sentence with these verbs directly from their mother tongue. However, in the English language it is vital to use the preposition to before a person, i.e.

to explain something to somebody

Examples:
Could you explain that to me?
I explained the situation to my bank manager.
He carefully explained the procedure to my mum.
The librarian will explain to us how to use the catalogue system.

to recommend something to somebody

Examples:
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in chemistry.
Would you recommend this company to us?
Could you recommend a good film to me?

Until vs By

We use by to refer to a deadline or the latest date when sth must be finished / completed.

Examples:
I need the report by Friday.
Application forms must be received by 31st March.
You will receive my email by EOD. (=end of day)
I reckon the film should be over by 9.30.

We use until to refer to a period of time to do sth. Please note that the spoken form of until is till.

Examples:
We have until Friday to finish the report.
I was employed by a manufacturing company until 1999.
Until now, the United States could not produce enough oil to satisfy its needs for transportation.
He waited until she had finished speaking.
Up until last year, they didn't even own a car.

TEST YOURSELF
1. They lived in a small house ... September 2003.
2. You have to finish ... August 31.
3. I will be away ... Wednesday.
4. Will the details be available ... December?
5. Details will not be available ... January.

Ponglish - Polish English?

While learning a foreign language, we all make mistakes. Having been a teacher for more than 8 years, I've noticed that Polish students have a tendency to make certain types of mistakes. It might stem from the fact that there is a similar word in Polish but has a different meaning (so called false friends). The other thing is that the Polish language may be poor in certain grammar structures or items of vocabulary. Finally, the structure of an English word / grammar unit could be completely different from our mother tongue.



The purpose of this section of my blog is to make friends with those common mistakes and eradicate them so that you could use natural English. You won't speak Ponglish any more. Every post will consist of three parts: introduction/explanation, examples, and exercise. Feel free to comment on them / ask questions in the comments section.

Last but not least, remember that practice makes perfect.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Nothing ventured, nothing gained - this English idiom is used to say that you cannot achieve anything if you don't take risks.



Examples:
We tried to make television programmes that were new and different, and we weren't always successful, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

To Climb Up the Career Ladder

To climb up the career ladder means to move up within an organisation / company; to get promoted.



Examples:
He is very young but ambitious, that is why he is trying to climb up the career ladder.
It's not always easy for women to climb up the corporation ladder.
How are things going? Have you already climbed up the career ladder?