ESL Learning: Time Idioms

July 31, 2014 Leave a comment

ETO Time

If you’ve ever watched the UFC, you may have heard the announcer, Bruce Buffer, yell, “It’s time!”

What does he mean when he says, “It’s time”?

In this blog post, we will discuss this saying and two other idioms related to time.

It’s time: now is the time to do something

Examples

  • Son, you’re 16 now. I think it’s time for you to start practicing your driving skills.

  • The mothers of the world say that it’s time for us to stop fighting each other.

Moment of truth: a situation that requires us to face a challenge and find out more about ourselves and our plans

Examples

  • Today we face a moment of truth. We will open our restaurant and start inviting customers to eat our delicious food! What will they think?

  • The people of Earth are having to face a moment of truth as we experience the negative effects of polluting our planet.

Now or never: something must be acted on now, because the opportunity may not remain for much longer

  • It’s now or never. We need to make sure that we leave our children with a truly better world.

  • If we really want to be happy, we must choose to be happy now or never.

ETO Hourglass

 

Well, it’s time to say goodbye for now. When you reach your moments of truth, remember that we all have challenges in life. It’s now or never for us as a planet to work together, and 2014 is the year of teamwork!

Why not join the ETO family? Let’s work together to make the world better. For a free class, just click here.

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By Joseph

ETO American English teacher

 

Filed under Idioms and slangs Tagged with , ,

Using Articles with Country Names

July 15, 2014 Leave a comment

Using articles with country names seems difficult. But really it is not. There 3 clear rules that I can give you to help you know when you should use articles with country names.

The

Rule 1: we use ‘The’ if the county’s name includes a common noun.

For example, the United States of America has the common noun ‘States’ in its name, so we need to use ‘The’.

Here is another example: The Islamic Republic of Iran contains the common noun ‘Republic’, so we need to use ‘The’.

Below is a list of some more common country names that have common nouns and use the article ‘The’:

The Central African Republic

The Republic of Korea (South Korea)

The Russian Federation (Russia)

The Roman Empire (Rome)

Rule 2:‘the’ is used before any country name if the name contains ‘of’.

Here is the structure: The ___ of ___.

Look below at these examples:

(Countries with ‘of’)

The United States of America

The Republic of China

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

The Islamic Republic of Iran

Rule 3: we use ‘The’ if the country is an island country.

Look below at these examples:

(Island nations)

The Maldives

The Marshall Islands

The Philippine Islands (The Philippines)

Here is the summary:

Rule 1 is that we use ‘The’ if the county’s name includes a common noun.

Rule 2 is ‘The’ is used before any country name if the name contains ‘of’.

Rule 3 says we use ‘The’ if the country is an island country.

To learn more about Articles view our most recent blogs:

How to Use Articles in English 1 

How to Use Articles in English 2

If you would like to improve your English in grammar, reading, writing or any other reason, please book a free trial class with ETO today! In the meantime, please stay subscribed to our Facebook, YouTube & Twitter pages.

By Luke

ETO American English teacher

Filed under Grammar Tagged with , , ,

How to Use Articles in English 2

June 27, 2014 Leave a comment

ETO-a-an-the

In our last post, How to Use Articles in English 1, we learned 3 grammar rules about articles:

Rule 1: We use a/an when referring to someone’s job or occupation.

Rule 2: We use a, an or the (or another determiner like my, your, our etc.) for singular countable things.

Rule 3: We do NOT need an article to talk about things in general, that are usually true all the time.

a-an-the

In this post, we look at 3 new rules NOT talked about in the last post.

Rule 4: We do not use articles for certain special places.

Examples: 

  1. I want to go home.
  2. I am at university right now.
  3. I do not want to go to jail / prison.
  4. I am in bed; call me later please.

Note: Other special places include work, church & hospital, plus others.

Rule 5: We do not use articles for modes of transportation.

Examples:

  1. I came by bus.
  2. I will go by train.
  3. You can get there by foot.
  4. I went by motorcycle.

Rule 6: We do not use articles with country names, unless if the country name includes a common noun.

Examples:

  1. Country without common noun in name: America
  2. Country with common noun in name: The United States of America
  3. Country without common noun in name: China
  4. Country with common noun in name: The People’s Republic of China

For additional explanation of this rule reference our blog: Using Articles with Country Names.

Lastly,

Here is a quick summary of today’s post:

Rule 4: We do not use articles for certain special places.

Rule 5: We do not use articles for modes of transportation.

Rule 6: We do not use articles with country names, unless if the country name includes a common noun.

Like I said, there are many rules about articles, but try to remember the rules from parts 1 & 2 of How to Use Articles and you will have far fewer mistakes. That is for sure.

If you would like to improve your English in grammar, reading, writing or any other reason, please book a free trial class with ETO today!

In the meantime, please stay subscribed to our Facebook, YouTube & Twitter pages.

By Luke

ETO American English teacher

Filed under Grammar Tagged with , , ,

How to Use Articles in English 1

June 27, 2014 Leave a comment

ETO-a-an-the

There are many rules about how to use articles. We will not try to cover ALL grammar rules about articles; but we will cover the 3 most common rules you need to know. These 3 rules will represent most mistakes that most ESL speakers make.

Rule 1: We use a/an when referring to someone’s job or occupation.

Examples: 

  1. He is an English teacher.
  2. He is a policeman.
  3. She was an actress.

Rule 2: We use a, an or the (or another determiner like my, your, our etc.) for singular countable things.

Examples:

  1. I want to try a class online.
  2. Do you want a glass of milk?
  3. I loved the good English class last night.  (Note: We use the to talk about specific countable singular things)
  4.  I ate a piece of the chocolate cake. (Note: We use the to talk about specific countable singular things)

a-an-the

Rule 3: We do NOT need an article to talk about things in general, that are usually true all the time.

Examples:

  1. Dogs are good pets. NOT The dogs are good pets.
  2. Ice melts in the hot sun. NOT The ice melts in the hot sun.
  3. Cows eat grass. NOT The cows eat grass.

Lastly,

Like I said, there are many rules about articles, but if you can remember these 3 rules, you will have a good start:

Rule 1: We use a/an when referring to someone’s job or occupation.

Rule 2: We use a, an or the (or another determiner like my, your, our etc.) for singular countable things.

Rule 3: We do NOT need an article to talk about things in general, that are usually true all the time.

Please be sure to read the next post called How to Use Articles in English 2

If you would like to improve your English in grammar, reading, writing or any other reason, please book a free trial class with ETO today!

In the meantime, please stay subscribed to our Facebook, YouTube & Twitter pages.

By Luke

ETO American English teacher

 

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ESL Learning: The “L” Sound

May 28, 2014 Leave a comment

L letter

For those trying to learn a new language, all the subtle nuances between sounds can be very confusing. If you browse through the internet you will find a mountain of resources providing everything you need to perfect your accent, but all you really want is to be understood.

Take for instance the English consonant “L.” An internet search will bring up results for the DARK L, the LIGHT L, but for right now, all you want is to be able to pronounce the letter “L.” So let’s simply it. Forget about dark and light, and just concentrate on one sound.

Step 1

– Let’s start with the sound that is made when you say “uh.”

Do you feel your vocal cords vibrating? Excellent. The L is a “voiced” sound.

 Step 2

– Place the tip of your tongue against your teeth while your vocal chords continue vibrating.

You can place it behind your teeth, in front of your teeth, or even between your teeth, just keep it from moving. (English speakers, try saying the word “love.” You should be able to say the word with your tongue in any of these positions.)

 Step 3

– You can stop now, because you are done. That is it! That is the basic “L” sound.

As you continue to use this sound, you will notice that the placement of the tip of the tongue has a lot to do with the sounds that precede or follow the “L,” especially if the speaker is running the words together. So let’s practice, repeat after me…

It is a lovely day. I would really like to order a latte.

Well done.

Here are some more challenging words:

– lift       – left       – lily       – flu       – bottle

– legal       – cradle       – world       – ladle

L pronunciation

If you would like more help, English Tutor Online offers one on one lessons with native English speakers. Sign up for a free trial and start learning today!

 

By Joseph

ETO American English teacher

Filed under How to learn English Tagged with , ,

How to Talk About Time: 3 Idioms

May 14, 2014 Leave a comment

Time is a topic that I am very fascinated with. For those of you who haven’t heard this word so far, “fascinated with” means very interested in.

Let talk about some time idioms:

ETO Time

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

  • As we learn a new language, we must be patient with ourselves. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
  • When we are building our dreams, we have to take our time. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Each of these sentences speaks about the idea that everything big and important requires lots of time to finish. The phrase is used to encourage people to be persistent (be willing to do things over and over again until we succeed). The Roman Empire was a huge group of nation states. It was the biggest empire in Europe before the European Union.

The main idea is that anything worth having requires time to create. By the way “building our dreams” describes when we take the time to focus on creating the things that we really desire (really, truly want).

It’s about time!

  • Ah, the train station has a healthy restaurant. It’s about time!
  • It’s about time for us to become better listeners.

This is a phrase that is used to describe that the time for something has arrived. Perhaps we were even feeling like the thing we are talking about should have already come in the past. In the first example, the speaker has been waiting for a healthy food option to be available at the train station. Maybe there were only junk food restaurants (restaurants with unhealthy food) before.

The second example describes how now is the time for us to listen better.

taking-a-leap-now-is-the-time2

Now is the time.

  • Now is the time for me to improve my speaking!
  • Why wait? Now is the time for me to move forward.

This idiom describes how this moment is the perfect time to take action. There is no need to wait. The time has arrived for right action.

So Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it’s about time to think about the best ways for us to learn language.

Have you tried a free online English class with ETO? Now is the time!

There’s no time like the present! Notice how present, a word that we use to describe right now, also means gift. This moment is a gift for you.  Use it to benefit yourself and the generations to come, and you will be satisfied when it is your time to go.

Blessings for Long Life and Happiness in Every Moment.

 

By Joseph

ETO American English teacher

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Using At, In and On

May 8, 2014 Leave a comment

at-in-on[2]

At, in, and on are some of the most frequently used words in the English language, but sometimes, they are very easy to mix up!

Let’s make these words a bit more clear.

When we talk about location (where something is), we use all three of these words. Here’s a general rule for distinguishing (deciding) which one is right.

We choose at for a point in space.

  • Where can I find the manager?

He’s at the front of the store.

In this case, we will have to go find the manager at the front (towards the entrance).

  • I parked at the corner of Main Avenue and 1st Street.

This sentence explains that I have parked my car where Main Avenue and 1st Street (also known as 1st St.) cross.

in-on-at-preposiciones

We use in to describe being within a self-contained (closed in) area, also known as an enclosed space, such as a building, a room, or a fenced in yard.

  • She’s in the library checking her email.

With this example, we can find this woman using the computer inside the library. Note that a person can be outside of the library, and still be at the library, but must be inside the building to be in the library.

  • Oops, I left my money in the car!

This sentence would be used especially if I have parked my car and then walked into a restaurant or store. In this case, I would need to go back to my car to get money to pay.

 

We prefer on to talk about something that is located on top of or connected to a surface.

  • The painting looks good on that wall.

This sentence describes a painting that is attached to the surface of a wall, where it looks nice.

  • Be careful! There’s some dog poop on the sidewalk.

We use this expression to let someone know that he/she needs to be careful to avoid some dog poop that is on the ground.

How about when we talk about time? By the way for some great time idioms, click here.

in-on-at

We use at to describe exact times, either based on a clock, or the time of day.

  • I will meet you at 10:30.
  • I love walking on the beach at sunset.

We choose in to talk about longer periods of time, like months, years, and beyond.

  • I will visit the U.S. in May.
  • Top hats were popular in the 19th century (1800s).

And on is reserved for specific days and dates.

  • I will see you on Thursday.
  • Her birthday is on July 14th.

Note that we say, “Her birthday is on July 14,” in British English.

Thanks for checking in with us! For more free resources, check us out on Facebook! Learning English online is very convenient. You are also welcomed to try a free English class with ETO today!

 

By Joseph

ETO American English teacher

Filed under Grammar Tagged with

ESL Learning: Another, Other & The Other

April 11, 2014 Leave a comment

Another Other the other

At first, it seems complicated, but there are clear rules that can help us to understand when to use another, other, and the other.

We use another with singular, nonspecific, countable nouns.

  • Singular means that we are talking about only one of something.

  • Nonspecific represents that we are not referring to a certain one.

  • A countable noun is a noun that we can talk about in numbers (for example, 4 shirts).

We can think of another as a/an + one more OR a different one.

Examples:

  • Mom, this salad is great! Can I have another serving?

  • Excuse me; this glass is dirty. I’d like another glass, please.

We use other with nonspecific plural or uncountable nouns.

  • Plural means that there is more than one.

  • Uncountable nouns cannot be talked about directly in terms of numbers (for example, entertainment).

Examples:

  • I would like some other chances to go to the beach.

  • She has some other equipment that we can use for gardening.

We use the other for specific nouns. These specific nouns can be singular, plural, countable, and uncountable nouns, as long as they are specific.

  • Specific nouns are nouns that have been introduced before in the conversation or that we can point to.

Examples:

  • One of the things that I like about her is that she is really funny. The other thing that I think is great about her is that she is kind.

  • He has visited South Korea. The other countries that he has visited in East Asia are Japan and Taiwan.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog! There are many other posts about grammar here on the ETO blog. Would you like some other chances to build your English skills?

Another thing that you can do is to try a free ETO class! One of the other options is to study on your own, but studying with another person who is a skilled English teacher will help you to build your English more quickly, and to have more fun!

By Joseph

ETO American English teacher

 

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ESL learning: Travel idioms

April 4, 2014 Leave a comment

ETO-Travel

Today, we’re going to talk about idioms related to travel.

Travel is something that gives us a lot inspiration, and allows us to learn about the world and ourselves. Travel also helps us to experience more beauty.

As the old saying goes, a flower becomes more beautiful when we say that it is beautiful.

And this is true for travelling the world as well. So let’s get started.

Let’s hit the road

This phrase means to start a journey, to leave a place, or to go away from one’s home.

  • Our bags are packed, and my cousin is here to look after the house. It’s time to hit the road!

  • We want to be at the beach by tomorrow afternoon, so we should hit the road tomorrow morning about 10 am.

Off the beaten track

This is an idiom used to describe a place that is not visited very often.

  • Even though Namhae is off the beaten track for most foreigners, it is a beautiful part of South Korea!

  • It takes courage to travel off the beaten track, but as Robert Frost wrote, “I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”

On the road again

This phrase means that we are travelling another time, looking for more adventure, experience, fun, and beauty.

  • We’re on the road again, and we’re having so much fun!

  • I can’t wait to get on the road again!

Do you want to hit the road, get off the beaten track or get out on the road again? There are opportunities for you to work from so many beautiful parts of the world. Use English as your vehicle to get there!

If this was interesting or useful to you, you may also be interested in many of our new English topics at EnglishTutorOnline. Get started with a free class today!
 

By Joseph

ETO American English teacher

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Homophones: To, Too, & Two

March 27, 2014 Leave a comment

two too and to

To is a word that can actually be used as two different parts of speech. As you’ll notice, it is one of the most used connecting words in the English language.

First, it can be used as a particle, part of an infinitive verb (to + root verb). Infinitive verbs are often used after another verb.

  • I want to play that song again!

  • We love to sing along with that Bob Marley song.

To can also be used as a preposition. As this part of speech, to is often used to describe directional movement (both literal, or physical and real, and figurative, or as an idea or metaphor).

  • Please pass the cayenne pepper to your brother.

  • After years of war, Liberia is finally returning to peace.too to two

As a preposition, to can also be used to describe moving towards something, and towards a certain time.

  • I will come to your house on Saturday morning.

  • It’s ten minutes to 9 (8:50).

Too is an adverb.

It is used to describe an excess, when there is more than enough of something.

  • There is too much food for us to eat! Let’s invite the neighbors to share with us!

  • It’s never too cold for me to eat coconut milk ice cream.

In addition, too is used to mean ‘as well’ or ‘also’.

  • Make sure to leave some chicken for me. You ate some, and I want some, too.

  • She also knows my wife. They are friends, too.

Two is the spelling of the number 2.

  • I don’t need two cars! One is enough.

  • Two more minutes of exercise, and then I will be done!

Like we say in English, it’s not where you’re from; it’s where you’re going to! Let’s put your skills to the test!

I want _______ learn how ________  play the accordion.

  1. to, two

  2. two, too

  3. to, to

Barcelona is a successful soccer team because their players pass the ball so well ________ Lionel Messi.

  1. too

  2. to

  3. two

She has ______  brothers, and ________ sisters, _________!

  1. two, two, too

  2. to, two, two

  3. two, two,  to

Thanks for taking the time to read this ETO blog! What are you going to do next? Are you interested to learn more English? Why don’t you sign up for a free lesson? You won’t have to pay until lesson number two! You will be glad that you did it, too.

 

By Joseph

ETO American English teacher

 

 

Filed under Grammar, How to learn English Tagged with , ,

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