English Language Lessons

Tips and training suggestions for learning English as a foreign language.

Archive for February, 2006

Using idioms: Plugged in

Posted by englishlessons on February 28, 2006

Original Correction
His friends like to ask him about stock investment because he is really plugged in the financial market. His friends like to ask him about stock investments because he is really plugged in to the financial market.

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Using idioms: Think out of the box

Posted by englishlessons on February 28, 2006

In the following example the focus words are in bold to show where stress should be placed when pronouncing the sentence. Underlines are used to show the corrections

Original Writing Correction
  1. The company has financial problem. They need to think out of the box, or they will be facing bankrupt.
  1. The company has financial problems. They need to think out of the box, or they will be facing bankruptcy.

Learn more about Idioms in English

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Using idioms: All on the same page

Posted by englishlessons on February 28, 2006

Original Writing Correction
I want to talk with my builder before I decided the projects of my house remodeling because I need to make sure we are all on the same page. I want to talk with my builder before I decide on the projects for my house remodeling because I need to make sure we are all on the same page.

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TOEIC Writing Tip: Active Voice

Posted by englishlessons on February 22, 2006

Active voice focuses on the person who performs the action.
Example: Maria made this mistake. (active)
Passive voice focuses on the results of the action.
Example: A mistake was made. (passive)

Get more information on writing in English from Writing in English

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TOEIC Pronunciation Tip: compound nouns

Posted by englishlessons on February 16, 2006

The stress usually falls on the first part of a compound noun.
Examples: SOFTware, GRANDfather, LANDlord

This tip is taken from  Pronunciation in English.

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TOEIC Writing Tip: gerunds

Posted by englishlessons on February 15, 2006

A gerund is a noun that is formed by adding –ing to the base form of the verb.
Examples:
He enjoys swimming.
She delayed telling the truth to the judge.

This writing tip is taken from the content of the training program Writing in English by AmEnglish.com

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TOEIC Pronunciation Tip

Posted by englishlessons on February 14, 2006

In English every word has one syllable that is stressed more than the others.
Examples: MEDical, elecTRONics, exPENsive

 Pronunciation in English shows non native speakers how to correctly apply stress in words and sentences to be more easily understood.

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An example of a common writing error

Posted by englishlessons on February 11, 2006

Original Writing Correction
  1. I don't mind to do what I can do on my end for this kind of products, but I feel that we will need your contribution as you have been doing for us because you have connections and know more people in the storage area than us.
  1. I don't mind doing what I can on my end for this kind of product, but I feel that we will need your contribution because you have connections and know more people in the storage area than we do.

This example was compiled from the common errors lists generated by students using Writing in English  by AmEnglish.com.

It is challenging to identify your own mistakes in writing. The online writing program, Writing in English, automatically notes your errors and the corrections in the interactive practice exercises. These errors and corrections are saved on the Common Errors List. If you are taking the writing course through UCSC Extension, you will also receive corrections on your homework assignments from your distance coach. Noting these errors and corrections on your Common Errors List helps you identify your common writing mistakes and assists you in avoiding making similar mistakes in future communication.

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Suprasegmentals

Posted by englishlessons on February 10, 2006

The University of Manitoba provides a free tutorial describing the suprasegmental properties of the English language focusing on the concept of stress in words and sentences.  They point out that “In general, the differences between stressed and unstressed syllables are more extreme in English than in most languages.”  AmEnglish.com uses this approach to help non native speakers be more easily understood in our product Pronunciation In English.

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Water under the bridge

Posted by englishlessons on February 10, 2006

Water under the bridge
Definition: A past issue or problem that is no longer a concern
Example: Don’t worry about that mistake. It’s water under the bridge.

This idiom example is taken from Idioms in English by AmEnglish.com.

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