Sunday, February 28, 2010
"It just... happened"
CLARA PARDINI - a conversation student at PLS - talks about how she became confident in the use of Everyday English. Check out her story and find out more about Classroom and Online Conversation Courses at PLS
Labels:
CONVERSATION,
EVERYDAY ENGLISH,
REAL STORIES,
RESOURCES,
SPEAKING
Thursday, February 25, 2010
More to see on the home page
This is just to let you know we added some new links and resources on the home page of PLS English Users.
From the top all the way down, the additions are as follows:
A Search Box: to look for content within the blog
Main Sections (Buttons): To simplify looking for Posts on SKILLS, POP CULTURE and RESOURCES
Recent Posts: So you can quickly scan the latest information on the blog
Useful Links
Videos: A constantly changing selection of Movie Trailers, Music Videos and our own videos.
News: A constantly changing selection of news items about technology, sports, entertainment, travel, fashion and cuisine
Topics: A topic by topic list of posts
Suscription to RSS
Blog Archive
From the top all the way down, the additions are as follows:
A Search Box: to look for content within the blog
Main Sections (Buttons): To simplify looking for Posts on SKILLS, POP CULTURE and RESOURCES
Recent Posts: So you can quickly scan the latest information on the blog
Useful Links
Videos: A constantly changing selection of Movie Trailers, Music Videos and our own videos.
News: A constantly changing selection of news items about technology, sports, entertainment, travel, fashion and cuisine
Topics: A topic by topic list of posts
Suscription to RSS
Blog Archive
Monday, February 22, 2010
Coming home in style... sort of
PLS ENGLISH USERS HOST PAUL POSTED A LETTER.
READ IT AND CHECK THE VOCABULARY AT THE END:
Dear English Users,
My vacation has come to an end. Today, I'm coming home to my favorite roadside stop on the web.
And you'll never believe it! The boss was really cool and sent the company jet to get me. But that's the good news.
The bad news is the pilot drank the water over here. He got really sick. Now, he'll have to stay a few days to recover.
So guess who has to fly himself home? But I look at it this way. If I can teach future perfect continuous (passive) to false beginners, I can fly a LearJet.
Just in case, wish me luck.
Warm Regards,
Paul
----------------------
TARGET VOCUBULARY
sort of: an idiomatic expression at the end of statement indicating uncertainty
host: the person who conducts an activity or show
to come to an end: to finish
you'll never believe it: you will be surprised
to be cool: to have an attitude and style that people really like
to get me (someone): to transport me (someone)
over here: in this place
get sick: to become ill
recover: to return to good health
future perfect continuous: a difficult verb tense
just in case: in the unlikely event that something happens...
luck: good fortune
Labels:
CORRESPONDENCE,
READING,
SKILLS,
VOCABULARY,
WRITING
Friday, February 19, 2010
Bigger, Better, the Best: REVIEW of Comparatives and Superlatives
When we describe something or someone we use adjectives.
Bill is tall.
Tom is short.
But when we need to compare, we use comparatives and superlatives.
Bill is taller than Tom.
Tom is shorter than Bill.
Who is the tallest man?
Who is the shortest man?
So here is how to do it...
CASE 1: One Syllable adjectives (big, tall, green) / Two Syllable adjectives ending in Y (pretty)
<> Comparatives (+ er)
(big) New York is bigger than Denver.
(tall) Arthur is taller than Jack.
(green) The grass is greener than the grapes.
(pretty) Do you think Susan is prettier than Mary? (change the "y" for an "i)
<> Superlatives (+ est)
(big) Shanghai is the biggest city in the world.
(tall) Bill is the tallest kid in his class.
(grass) That is the greenest grass I’ve ever seen.
(pretty) Jane thinks she’s the prettiest girl in school. (change the "y" for an "i)
CASE 2: Adjectives with Two or More Syllables (interesting)
<> Comparatives (more +)
(interesting) This book is more interesting than the previous one I read.
(complete) Tom’s plan is more complete than Michael’s plan.
<> Superlatives (the most +)
(interesting) Dr. Smith wrote the most interesting book on this topic.
(complete) Ellen has the most complete plan.
CASE 3: Irregular Adjectives (good, bad, far)
Good – Better – The Best
Bad – Worse – The Worst
Far – Farther/Further – The Farthest/The Furthest
<> Comparative
(good) This coffee is better than the other one.
(bad) The situation is worse today than yesterday.
(far) We need to travel farther before we find a roadside stop.
<> Superlative
(good) That is the best coffee in the world.
(bad) We considered the worst possible scenario.
(far) This is the farthest I have ever travelled.
Bill is tall.
Tom is short.
But when we need to compare, we use comparatives and superlatives.
Bill is taller than Tom.
Tom is shorter than Bill.
Who is the tallest man?
Who is the shortest man?
So here is how to do it...
CASE 1: One Syllable adjectives (big, tall, green) / Two Syllable adjectives ending in Y (pretty)
<> Comparatives (+ er)
(big) New York is bigger than Denver.
(tall) Arthur is taller than Jack.
(green) The grass is greener than the grapes.
(pretty) Do you think Susan is prettier than Mary? (change the "y" for an "i)
<> Superlatives (+ est)
(big) Shanghai is the biggest city in the world.
(tall) Bill is the tallest kid in his class.
(grass) That is the greenest grass I’ve ever seen.
(pretty) Jane thinks she’s the prettiest girl in school. (change the "y" for an "i)
CASE 2: Adjectives with Two or More Syllables (interesting)
<> Comparatives (more +)
(interesting) This book is more interesting than the previous one I read.
(complete) Tom’s plan is more complete than Michael’s plan.
<> Superlatives (the most +)
(interesting) Dr. Smith wrote the most interesting book on this topic.
(complete) Ellen has the most complete plan.
CASE 3: Irregular Adjectives (good, bad, far)
Good – Better – The Best
Bad – Worse – The Worst
Far – Farther/Further – The Farthest/The Furthest
<> Comparative
(good) This coffee is better than the other one.
(bad) The situation is worse today than yesterday.
(far) We need to travel farther before we find a roadside stop.
<> Superlative
(good) That is the best coffee in the world.
(bad) We considered the worst possible scenario.
(far) This is the farthest I have ever travelled.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
TERMINATOR Tells the truth about "T" SOUNDS
One of Hollywood's best known "talking machines" is our guest host. He talks about the many different SOUNDS of the "T" in the English language.
Learn what most courses never teach you how Americans really reduce "T" sounds in words like "water".
Labels:
AMERICAN PRONUNCIATION,
POP CULTURE,
SKILLS,
T SOUNDS,
TERMINATOR
Monday, February 1, 2010
TERMINATOR Guest Host
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)