Mind Your -mb's in English

Silent -b words

English words ending in -mb bedevil students. They often try to pronounce the 'b' at the end of the word. It is silent!

Examples

The following are examples of the silent ' b' :

• climb
• crumb
• dumb
• comb
• tomb
• womb

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A more complete list of -mb words with a silent 'b' can be found here.


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Philip Hensher: Wrestling with the outer limits of language

Philip Hensher: Wrestling with the outer limits of language

What Mr. Hensher appears to be driving at in his column is in a word or two - word choice.

As Shakespeare would remind us through Polonius in Hamlet: Brevity is the soul of wit.

You are judged by the words you use and how you use them. Therefore your choice of words is essential in English as in any language.

This is often more of a problem in writing than speaking. As we are often reminded, you do not write like you speak.

In clear writing, words need to be chosen which are "consistent with standard English usage and appropriate for the context. They should also be sure that the words they choose convey the meaning intended."

We are all for a rich vocabulary. However sometimes le mot juste is a simple word and more well understood.

English Grammar Point: Gerunds in Passive Voice

We often use a gerund after the verbs need, require and want. In this case, the gerund has a passive voice.

• I have three shirts that need ironing. (need to be ironed)
• This letter requires signing. (needs to be signed)
• The house wants repainting. (needs to be repainted)

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English Test Study Tips

English Test Study Tips

1. Avoid persistent loud noise.

2. Avoid environments that are too hot or too cold.

3. Don’t try to do two or more things at once.

4. Arrange your work space so that your eyes aren’t drawn to other jobs that need to be done.

5. Don’t put unreasonable demands on your attention span.

6. Be aware that emotional distress reduces your ability to concentrate.

7. Understand that drugs (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, sleeping or diet pills) alter your ability to concentrate.

8. Be aware that lack of sleep is a major reason for poor concentration.


If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

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English Grammar Point: Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Gerunds are verbal nouns.

Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:

• Smoking costs a lot of money.
• I don't like exercising.
• My favorite job is eating.

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But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression [gerund + object] can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence.

• Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.
• I don't like exercising my body.
• My favorite job is reading romance stories.

Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners):

• pointless questioning
• a settling of debts
• the making of ET
• her drinking of alcohol

But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:

• a settling of debts (not a settling debts)
• Making "ET" was expensive.
• The making of "ET" was expensive.

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If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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English Grammar Point: Gerunds follow certain verbs

We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the infinitive form.

Example:

• I want to sleep.

But sometimes the second verb must be in gerund form, for example:

• I like sleeping.

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This depends on the first verb. Here is a list of verbs that are usually followed by a verb in gerund form:

• admit, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider, defer, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, can't help, imagine, involve, leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practice, put off, report, resent, risk, can't stand, suggest, take, understand

Examples:

• She is considering taking a vacation.
• Do you feel like going out?
• I can't help falling in love with her.
• I can't stand not seeing him.

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If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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English Grammar Point: "-ing" not always a gerund!

"-ing" ending could also be a present participle

When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a present participle. It is important to understand that they are not the same.

When we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, it is usually a gerund:

• Bowling is fun. (Verbal noun - gerund)

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When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verb or an adjective, it is usually a present participle:

• Juani is bowling. (is bowling is the present participle)
  
• I have a boring teacher. (boring is the adjective)
  

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Do gerunds or other parts of English grammar bedevil you?

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

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English Grammar Point: "-ing" and Prepositions

Which sentence is correct?

A) Are you interested in learning English?
B) Are you interested in learn English?

Well, A is the correct choice.

Why? Because when the prepositions in, at, with, of, for, about and so on are used before a verb, the verb must use -ing.


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More Examples

'I'm scared of swimming in the lake.'

'Thanks for giving me a lift.'

'My brothers are good at playing soccer.'

'How about taking the bus?'

'I'm not interested in reading history books.'

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English Grammar Point: Using the Gerund

The Gerund

What is a gerund? How do you use it?

The OWL at Purdue University defines a gerund as "a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. The term verbal indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being."


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Example

Using a gerund is helpful to express oneself in English.

"To use" is the verb while the -ing form "using" is the gerund. When a verb is turned into a noun, a gerund is formed.

Gerund Usage

Since a gerund is a noun, it may occupy the same position of nouns in a sentence: a subject, subject compliment of verb 'to be,' direct object, and object of preposition, phrasal verbs, compound nouns, and certain expressions.

We will examine each case in later posts.

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English Grammar Point - All together vs Altogether

All together

All together means everyone or everything together.

It's time to practice singing. All together now!

The last time we were all together was in 1997.

Put the books all together on the table.

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Tip: If the two terms can be separated, that's a sure clue that the term you want is all together.

It's time for all of us to sing together now!

The last time all of us were together was in 1997.

Put all the books together on the table.

Notice how all and together are apart and the meaning of the sentence does not change.

Altogether

Altogether is an adverb and means "all in all," "all told," "wholly" or "completely."

That was altogether (completely) too difficult

Altogether (all in all) , not a bad day's work.

It cost over a thousand dollars altogether (in total).

The Bottom Line

If you can replace the term with something like "completely" or "all in all," you are altogether better off with altogether. If you can rewrite the sentence to use all and together separately, the term you want is all together.

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English Grammar Point - Phrasal Verb List

Phrasal Verb List

Sometimes it is best to memorize phrasal verbs to become familiar with how they are used in the language.

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About.com has a great listing for quick reference. Make sure to make it a bookmark in your English language folder.

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English Grammar Point: Three Word Phrasal Verbs

Three Word Phrasal Verbs

If phrasal verbs were not complex enough for intermediate or advanced English language learners, enter the three word phrasal verb.

Some verbs are followed by two prepositions (or adverbs). These three word phrasal verbs are ALWAYS inseparable.

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Example of Three Word (Transitive) Phrasal Verb

1) I was talking to Mom on the phone when the operator broke in on our call.

2) Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep up on the news while I was away on vacation in Bora Bora.

Note the verb and its two prepositions/adverbs are all together and not separated.

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English is a Stressed Language

English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic.

In French or Italian, for example, each syllable receives equal importance. There is stress in each, but each syllable has its own length.

English pronunciation focuses on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, non stressed, words.

The Importance

Why is this so important to understand?

If you know where the stress is, you can better pronounce the language. Native speakers automatically know where the stress lies.

Students of English need to realize how words are stressed in the language to improve their pronunciation.

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The Best Way

The best way to improve your pronunciation is to work with a native speaker to mimic the sounds and learn the stress in sentences. A native speaker can also help with the cadence or rhythm which together with proper stress leads to better pronunciation.

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English Grammar Point - Separable or Inseparable Phrasal Verb Tip

Phrasal Verb Tip:

If you are not sure whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable, ALWAYS use a noun or nouns phrase and DO NOT separate. In this manner, you will always be correct!

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Separable Phrasal Verbs: bring up, take off

• John and Mary brought up their children to respect others.
• Liz took off her jacket before she began the lesson.

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: look for, set off

• Sara was looking for her books when Juani arrived.
• The Johnson family set off for a wonderful holiday in Bora Bora.

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If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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International Economic Crisis Vocabulary

The international economic crisis is a serious negative financial situation which affects a lot of countries throughout the world.

Consumers (those buying goods and/or services) , investors (those buying stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, silver or other instruments to get a return on their money so it grows), and governments alike are reeling from the credit crunch (banks are not lending money) worldwide.

What began as a mortgage (an agreement between you and a bank which allows you to borrow money to buy a house or other property) crisis in the US has led to defaults (failure to pay) on mortgages and a greater global economic downturn (reduction in economic or business activities).

The US economy contracted (to get smaller) by its worse rate since 1982 in the fourth quarter of last year.

Global stock markets have investors worried for their decremental (slowly decreasing) mood.

Tough economic times also may spur some governments to consider protectionism (defending domestic producers by taxing imports or making foreign good more expensive).


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Do you need to expand your English vocabulary or improve your skills in general?

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.