IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION

My boss hit the ceiling when I told him Id lost the documents. The idiomatic expression hit the ceiling means to get very angry and upset. Other expressions for sudden anger include go ballistic and blow a fuse. Im dying to see the new movie. Dying to + verb means you want to do something very much. It does not mean you are literally going to die. Going to the World Cup Final was a dream come true. If something is a dream come true, it means it was an experience that you really wanted it to happen and then it happened. My heart sank when I saw my test grade I got a 54. This expression means that you started to feel sad, disappointed, or discouraged. We were on pins and needles waiting to hear if we won the contest. If someone is on pins and needles, it means they are anxious and in suspense, usually waiting to know some important information. Im kicking myself for not booking the flight yesterday the price just went up $200. If you do something you regret (you wish you had acted differently), you can say Im kicking myself for (the action) After this expression, we use the -ING form of the verb. I was shaking like a leaf after I heard an explosion on the train. We can say someone is shaking like a leaf if they are extremely afraid or nervous. Im pumped about the concert this weekend its gonna be awesome! If you are pumped, it means you are very excited for something (usually something in the future that you are really looking forward to). I was floored by all the help we received after our son was in a serious accident. To be floored means surprised and/or overwhelmed (usually in a good way). It drives me up the wall when people answer their cell phones in English class. Drives me up the wall is an idiomatic expression that means it makes you annoyed. Other expressions for annoying situations include drives me crazy or drives me nuts.

This is a story about the daily life of New York Nate, who lives in the United States; and London Laura, who lives in England. As you can see, they have very similar lives... but the vocabulary words they use are very different! New York Nate lives in an apartment, and London Laura lives in a flat. Every morning, when getting dressed, New York Nate puts on a pair of pants - whereas London Laura puts on a pair of trousers. Both New York Nate and London Laura have babies, but New York Nate needs to change the baby's diaper, and London Laura needs to change the baby's nappy. When it's time to go to work, New York Nate takes the subway and London Laura takes the underground (which is also called the tube). After getting off at the right stop, New York Nate walks along the sidewalk and London Laura walks along the pavement to reach their offices. New York Nate works on the first floor of the building, and London Laura works on the ground floor. This means they don't need to take the elevator (for New York Nate) or the lift (for London Laura). At work, both Nate and Laura need to send some important documents to a client - but New York Nate sends them by mail and London Laura sends them by post. During the day, New York Nate snacks on cookies, french fries, and potato chips. London Laura eats the same things, but she calls them biscuits, chips, and crisps. This isn't a very healthy diet, is it? Both Nate and Laura get stomachaches, so on the way home from work New York Nate stops at the drugstore or pharmacy and London Laura stops at the chemist's shop to pick up some medicine. After work, Nate and Laura go shopping. They drive to the mall, and New York Nate puts his car in the parking lot, whereas London Laura puts hers in the car park. Both of them buy a lot of stuff, so New York Nate puts his purchases in the trunk, and London Laura puts hers in the boot. On the way home, New York Nate stops to fill up the car with gas - and London Laura fills up her car with petrol. At the station, New York Nate sees a truck, and London Laura sees a lorry. They both get home late, and New York Nate needs to take out the garbage or trash; London Laura also needs to take out the rubbish. It's dark outside, so New York Nate takes a flashlight, and London Laura takes a torch. It's been a long day, and New York Nate thinks he's going to go crazy; London Laura thinks she might go mad. It must be time for a vacation for New York Nate... and a holiday for London Laura!

Don't Make These 15 Common Mistakes in Spoken English

Everybody are happy. Words like everybody, somebody, anybody, nobody are actually singular, not plural. Even though everybody refers to a lot of people, it takes the singular verb so the correct sentence is Everybody is happy. Ill explain you the problem. In this sentence, there are two objects the direct object (the problem) and the indirect object (you). After explain, we need to use to before the indirect object the person to whom we are doing the explaining. Also, its more common to put the direct object first, so the correct sentence is Ill explain the problem to you. I have the possibility to study in Canada next year. With have, we use opportunity, not possibility so the correct sentence is I have the opportunity to study in Canada next year. The word possibility is more used with There is, for example, Theres a possibility I may study in Canada next year. I think she doesnt like tomatoes. Although theres no specific grammar rule here, its more common to say I dont think she likes tomatoes. If I will see John later, Ill give him the message. Although both events are technically in the future, this sentence should be in the first conditional form If I see John later, Ill give him the message. Do you want that I make breakfast? That is not normally used after want. The correct sentence is: Do you want me to make breakfast? Im thinking to buy a new car. To + infinitive is not used after think, so the correct sentence would be: Im thinking of buying a new car or Im thinking about buying a new car.

They enjoyed the baseball game despite of the rain. Despite and in spite of mean the same thing, and many English learners confuse them. After despite, we never use of. The correct sentence would be They enjoyed the baseball game despite the rain or They enjoyed the baseball game in spite of the rain. My ten-years-old daughter loves to dance. When an age comes after is, then you say years old: My daughter is ten years old. But when an age comes before the person (or object) as an adjective, then you say year, not years My ten-year-old daughter loves to dance. Our house is near to the beach. Near and close to mean the same thing, but to is never used after near. The correct sentence is Our house is near the beach or Our house is close to the beach. I like very much soccer. We dont normally put very much between a verb (like) and its object (soccer). The correct sentence would be, I like soccer very much. However, in spoken English, it would probably be more common to say I like soccer a lot or I really like soccer. Gary gave to Joan the keys. Like explain in the example above, give has two objects the indirect object (Joan) and the direct object (the keys). We can say this sentence two ways: Gary gave Joan the keys or Gary gave the keys to Joan. She asked me where do I work. This is one of the most difficult parts of English reported speech. In reported questions, we do not use the auxiliary verb do/does/did so the correct sentence is, She asked me where I work. They left without say goodbye. When you use a verb after conjunctions and prepositions like after, before, since, when, while, without, instead of, and in spite of, it is generally in the -ing form. So the correct sentence is They left without saying goodbye. I need to finish this project until Friday. Use until to talk about a situation that will continue up to a certain moment, for example: Im staying in the city until June. Use by to talk about a single action or event that will happen before a future moment. By is often use with deadlines, so the correct sentence is, I need to finish this project by Friday.

Think about / Think of The two most common prepositions used after the verb think are about and of. They are very similar, but there is a small difference. Usually when you think of something, it is a brief moment just a few seconds. It is also used for opinions. When you think about something you are considering it for a longer time like a few minutes or more. Every time I hear this song, I think of my mother. (thinking for a few seconds) What do you think of my new haircut? (opinion) Im thinking about moving to a different city. (considering) I still get angry when I think about all the rude things my sister said to me. (thinking for a few minutes or more) Common error: Dont use think to for considering. Im thinking to do an intensive English course in Canada. Im thinking about doing an intensive English course in Canada. Think over / Think through Use the prepositions over and through when you need to consider a topic carefully or think about it for a longer time (hours, days, or weeks).

Im not sure which course I want to take. Let me think it over for a while. Ill need some time to think through your proposal. Can I call you back next week?

Think ahead / Think back The preposition ahead is used for thinking about the future:

We need to think ahead at least five years if we want our company to have long-term success. The preposition back is used for thinking about the past: I like to think back on my college years; that was a great time in my life.

Think up Think up is an expression that means to imagine, invent, or create an idea.

We need to think up a way to distract Laura while we plan her surprise party. I spent half an hour trying to think up a good excuse for why I was late to work. Lets think up some new strategies for increasing sales.

Think to Think to is most frequently used with myself when you think about something, but you dont say it or share it with any other person. Think to myself is often followed by a direct statement of the thought.

Whenever Im in a meeting at work, I think to myself, This is a huge waste of time. Didnt think to can also be used when something did not even enter your mind. Sorry I didnt see your message I didnt think to check my e-mail before I left the house. Im annoyed because all my friends went to the movies and didnt think to invite me.

The difference between should, could, and would is difficult for many English learners this lesson will help you understand when to use each one!

Use SHOULD and SHOULDNT for advice

Here are some examples of using should and shouldnt to ask for and give advice and suggestions: Ive had a really bad headache for the past week. Thats not good you should go to the doctor. I want to make more friends, but I dont know how. First of all, you shouldnt spend so much time on the computer. You should go out and join a club or start playing a sport instead! I had a fight with my best friend. What should I do? Hmm I think you should call her and tell her youre sorry.

Use COULD and COULDNT for ability in the past

Could and couldnt are the past forms of can and cant: When I was younger, I could run a mile in 7 minutes. Now it takes me 20 minutes! Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. Last year, he couldnt speak English very well, but now he can.

Use COULD for possibilities in the future

Heres an example of could to talk about future possibilities: Do you have any ideas for our publicity campaign?

Yes, Ive got a few ideas. I could put advertisements on Facebook and Google. We could also give out pamphlets in our neighborhood. Maybe John could even contact local TV stations.

Use COULD to make polite requests

Could you please open the window? Its hot in here. Could you turn the music down? Thanks. Could you make 10 copies of this report, please?

Use WOULD to talk about unreal or unlikely situations

If I were the president of my company, I would make a lot of changes. If people were more generous, there wouldnt be so much poverty in the world today. She would travel around the world if she had more vacation time.

Note: In this case, would is often shortened to d

If I were the president of my company, Id make a lot of changes.

Use WOULD YOU LIKE to make polite offers

Here are some examples of using would you like? to make polite offers: Would you like anything to drink? A soda would be great. Thanks! Would you like to join us for dinner? Id love to, but I actually have other plans tonight. Would you like to see some pictures from my vacation? Sure! Dont use to after should, could, and would: You shouldnt to smoke. You shouldnt smoke. We could to order pizza tonight. We could order pizza tonight. I would to buy a new car if I had the money. I would buy a new car if I had the money.

Quiz - Difference between Should, Could, and Would

Question 1 Helen, _________ you come over here for a minute? I need to talk to you. A could B should C wouldn't Question 2 You _________ like my brother if you got to know him better. A couldn't B should C would Question 3 I __________ call you last night because I left my cell phone at home. A couldn't B shouldn't C wouldn't Question 4 When your father was a boy, he _________ play soccer for 5 hours straight without getting tired. A could B should C wouldn't Question 5 In my opinion, you _________ dye your hair blonde. You'd look great! A could B should C would Question 6 You really __________ stay up so late. I don't think you're getting enough sleep. A couldn't B shouldn't C wouldn't Question 7 I __________ touch that equipment if I were you. It looks dangerous. A wouldn't B couldn't C shouldn't Question 8

__________ I buy a DVD or a watch for my father's birthday? What do you think? A could B should C would Question 9 Joanna, _________ you like some chicken? A would B could C should Question 10 If it rains on the date of the wedding, we _________ have the ceremony inside the church instead of in the park. A could B shouldn't C