Learn how we can use the (very useful and very common) suffix -ion to turn many English verbs into nouns. Click here to see more videos about prefixes and suffixes. The ion suffix video I have a question. If a word ends in -ion, what kind of word is it? It’s probably a noun, a thing. We often add -ion to verbs to create nouns. Competition. Persuasion. So compete is the verb. We add -ion
Here’s one of the happiest songs in the world from the Beach Boys. English learners should sing along because it also provides excellent practice of the meanings and pronunciation of the suffix -ion. I-I love the colorful clothes she wears And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair I hear the sound of a gentle word On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air I’m picking up good vibrations She’s giving me
We tried streaming live on YouTube for the first time today. 20 minutes before the start we’d run all the checks and our lights, camera and sound all worked perfectly. Apart from a few butterflies in my stomach, we were set to go. 4 minutes before the start my mike stoped working, Jase’s audio connection fell out of synch and our dog Carter heard someone outside and went nuts. It was chaos! Oh things used
A question and answer session where Vicki and Jay answer viewers’ questions about the English language. They look at the words efficient, effective and effectual, language change, hyphens and also fall and autumn. Click here if you’d like to know more about the words efficient and effective. Transcript: Oh look, here we are again Jay. Yes, this lesson is a Q & A – question and answer. We haven’t done one of these for a
Pay! This English verb can be tricky because we use it with different prepositions. Learn the rules we follow and fix some common mistakes. Click here to see more vocabulary videos Click here to download our free checklist on common mistakes How to use the verb pay in English video script Yes? I’d like to return this sweater. Do you have the receipt? No, I’m sorry. I lost it. Did you pay by credit card?
The verbs listen and hear can be confusing for English learners. In this video we learn how English speakers use them and fix some common mistakes. These verbs can be confusing. They have similar meanings but we use them in different ways so in this lesson you’ll learn how to use them correctly. Let’s start with hear. When our ears pick up sounds, we hear. If the number dialed is busy, you will hear the
If someone is eavesdropping, it means they are listening secretly to what other people are saying. Jay is trying to hear Kathy’s conversation when Vicki comes by and takes over. This video is part of a larger project we worked on about the verbs ‘listen’ and ‘hear’. What are you doing? Shhh. Kathy’s on the phone with the head office. Really? Yeah, she’s talking about our bonuses. Ooo. What’s she saying? I really can’t hear
Have you ever bought something and then had to take it back to the store? Did you need the receipt? A receipt is a document that shows you have paid for something. Click here to learn some different ways we use the verb ‘pay’ in English Click here to find more conversations for English speaking practice. English shopping conversation script Yes? I’d like to return this sweater. Do you have the receipt? No, I’m sorry.
When you’re trying to work, it can be annoying when a co-worker is messing around and telling jokes. Watch how two workers make their colleague be quiet. Note that ‘Shut up’ is an informal phrase. ‘Be quiet’ is a more formal way to say the same thing. Click here to learn more about how we use phrases like ‘sounds like’ and ‘smells like’ Click here to find more conversations for English speaking practice. Shut up
This is a very old joke, but a good one. It plays on the two meanings that the word ‘smell’ has in English. One meaning is to sense and odour and the other meaning is to give off an odour. Watch the video and see if you get the joke. Kathy, my dog has no nose. Really? How does he smell? Terrible! The joke plays of two different meanings of smell. One meaning is to
