Disagreeing is tricky in any language. It means you’re saying someone else is wrong or different and linguists have found it’s a dispreferred response. In this lesson we look at some steps English native speakers often follow when they disagree: Hesitating Asking challenging questions Saying ‘yes but…’ and adding their objections We note how the […]
How to Disagree like a Native Speaker Read More »
We use the English second conditional to talk about imaginary, hypothetical or unreal possibilities. In this video we’ll show you how to form the second conditional and when to use it. We look at: First vs second conditional First and second conditionals are similar because they’re both about present and future possibilities. The difference is
The second conditional in action – English grammar Read More »
Is the meaning of the adverb quite, very or completely? It looks like a small difference but it can lead to big misunderstandings. Sometimes quite means the same thing in British and American English, but sometimes it’s used differently. In this video we show you – how to use quite to mean completely – how
The trickiest word in English – Quite! Read More »
Play along with a British English slang quiz. Vicki (who is British) tests Jay (who is American) with 10 British English slang words and he does very well! You’ll learn 10 slang words and colloquial expressions including: bloke, meaning dude quid, not quids bog and bog roll a tad meaning a little knackered and clapped
British Slang Words Quiz Read More »
Learn some adjectives while you’re shopping with us in Philadelphia. We’ll show you 7 useful English adjectives in action and also some common adjective + preposition phrases. We look at: – the adjective chilly and how we use it to talk about the weather and relationships – major, meaning large and important – financial vs
7 useful English adjectives Read More »
We made a video a while ago on how we say can and can’t in British and American English. You can see it here. It was very popular but many of you wrote saying you were worried about saying the right the vowel sound in the word can’t. If you get it wrong you could
2 tricky vowel sounds in British and American English – AH and UH Read More »
What’s the difference between a plate and a dish in English? In some languages there’s just one word. It’s not a simple answer because the meanings of words often overlap. In this English lesson we explain when we say dish or plate and look at the features of: – plates, dishes, cups, mugs and bowls
Dish or plate? Prototype theory and English vocabulary Read More »
Is it possible to fall in love in just one conversation? In this video we ask and answer 11 English questions that can lead to love and explore the vocabulary of love and relationships along the way. In this lesson you’ll learn vocabulary for talking about love and relationships including: – words for describing relationships:
Vocabulary for talking about love – Happy Valentine’s Day! Read More »
Watch this English lesson to learn vocabulary for health and sickness. We’ll also show you how some words we use to talk about illness are different in British and American English. You’ll learn vocabulary for: – cold and flu symptoms like fever, sore throat and blocked or runny nose – germs and bugs – symptoms
Sickness and Illness Vocabulary in British and American English Read More »
Learn the difference between who and whom in this English grammar lesson. Who is a subject pronoun and whom is an object pronoun. We’ll show you: – how who and whom work – a test to see if who or whom is correct – when it’s appropriate to use whom in formal writing – when
Who and whom – when and how to use them Read More »
