Vocabulary
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
an appetizer
N. a small dish at the beginning of a meal, a starter
a chef
N. a skilled cook
chives
N. a small onion-like herb commonly added to potatoes
chowder
N. a kind of soup usually containing fish and vegetables
to come with
V. to include (in a meal)
dressing
N. a sauce added to salads
an entree
N. a main dish
a menu
N. a list of dishes available in a restaurant
salmon
N. a large fish with silvery skin and pinkish meat
rare
A. very pink adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
medium-rare
A. slightly pink adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
medium
A. normally cooked adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
well-done
A. fully cooked adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
Higher Education
Vocabulary
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
apprenticeship
N. training in an art or a tradeThis word is also sometimes used to describe educational training programs, common in Europe and much of the world, in which young people learn their profession through on-the-job training in companies and organizations. Often this includes one or two days a week of in-class training. This kind of education is uncommon in the United States.
to be funded
V. to be paid for, to supply the money for
a degree
N. a title given by a university
facilities
N. services or conveniences
to major
V. to specialize in (a particular academic field)
a major
N. the main field of study in which a university student specializes
to minor
V. to have a secondary specialization in (a particular academic field)
a minor
N. the secondary field of study in which a student specializes
to stand for
V. to be the short form of, to represent, to mean
terminology
N. specialized words or expressions used in a particular field, activity, job, science, etc.
to transfer
V. 1) to change schools 2) to move from one place to another said of people or things
B.A.
N. Bachelor of Arts, an undergraduate degree in a humanities-related subject
B.S.
N. Bachelor of Science, an undergraduate degree in a science-related subject
master's
N. the graduate degree after a bachelor's and before a Ph.D. There are also different kinds of master's, including M.A. (Master of Arts), M.S. (Master of Science), M.B.A. (Master in Business Administration), etc.
Ph.D.
N. doctorate, highest graduate degree Although Ph.D. stands for Doctor of Philosophy, it is commonly used to refer to a doctorate in any field.
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
apprenticeship
N. training in an art or a tradeThis word is also sometimes used to describe educational training programs, common in Europe and much of the world, in which young people learn their profession through on-the-job training in companies and organizations. Often this includes one or two days a week of in-class training. This kind of education is uncommon in the United States.
to be funded
V. to be paid for, to supply the money for
a degree
N. a title given by a university
facilities
N. services or conveniences
to major
V. to specialize in (a particular academic field)
a major
N. the main field of study in which a university student specializes
to minor
V. to have a secondary specialization in (a particular academic field)
a minor
N. the secondary field of study in which a student specializes
to stand for
V. to be the short form of, to represent, to mean
terminology
N. specialized words or expressions used in a particular field, activity, job, science, etc.
to transfer
V. 1) to change schools 2) to move from one place to another said of people or things
B.A.
N. Bachelor of Arts, an undergraduate degree in a humanities-related subject
B.S.
N. Bachelor of Science, an undergraduate degree in a science-related subject
master's
N. the graduate degree after a bachelor's and before a Ph.D. There are also different kinds of master's, including M.A. (Master of Arts), M.S. (Master of Science), M.B.A. (Master in Business Administration), etc.
Ph.D.
N. doctorate, highest graduate degree Although Ph.D. stands for Doctor of Philosophy, it is commonly used to refer to a doctorate in any field.
Unique Personalities
Vocabulary
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
cynical
A. seeing little or no good in other people, believing that people do good things for bad reasons
eccentric
A. having strange, unusual or abnormal habits or tastes This term is less insulting than strange, weird or bizarre.
egotistical
A. thinking too highly of oneself, considering oneself better than others
imaginative
A. creative, having much imagination
indecisive
A. unable to decide quickly, not knowing what choice to make
picky
A. hard to please, too careful in choosing something
sensible
A. practical, reasonable, something that makes sense
sensitive
A. easily feels emotion, easily hurt emotionally can be positive or negative
sophisticated
A. representing high culture, very experienced in life
thoughtful
A. often doing things to make other people feel good
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
cynical
A. seeing little or no good in other people, believing that people do good things for bad reasons
eccentric
A. having strange, unusual or abnormal habits or tastes This term is less insulting than strange, weird or bizarre.
egotistical
A. thinking too highly of oneself, considering oneself better than others
imaginative
A. creative, having much imagination
indecisive
A. unable to decide quickly, not knowing what choice to make
picky
A. hard to please, too careful in choosing something
sensible
A. practical, reasonable, something that makes sense
sensitive
A. easily feels emotion, easily hurt emotionally can be positive or negative
sophisticated
A. representing high culture, very experienced in life
thoughtful
A. often doing things to make other people feel good
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonym
A synonym is a word that means exactly the same as, or very nearly the same as, another word in the same language.
For example, "close" is a synonym of "shut".
You can find synonyms in a thesaurus.
Antonym
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
For example "good" and "bad" are antonyms.
You can find antonyms in a dictionary of antonyms.
A synonym is a word that means exactly the same as, or very nearly the same as, another word in the same language.
For example, "close" is a synonym of "shut".
You can find synonyms in a thesaurus.
Antonym
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
For example "good" and "bad" are antonyms.
You can find antonyms in a dictionary of antonyms.
Oxymoron
So fair and foul a day I have not seen!
William Shakespeare
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Some typical oxymorons are:
a living death
sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind
a deafening silence
bitter-sweet
The Sounds of Silence (song title)
make haste slowly
he was conspicuous by his absence
Pseudo Oxymorons
In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. However, in popular usage oxymoron is sometimes used to mean "contradiction in terms", where the contradiction is unintentional. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example:
anecdotal evidence
friendly fire
pretty ugly
A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical:
airline food
American culture
eco-tourism
Microsoft security
military intelligence
William Shakespeare
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Some typical oxymorons are:
a living death
sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind
a deafening silence
bitter-sweet
The Sounds of Silence (song title)
make haste slowly
he was conspicuous by his absence
Pseudo Oxymorons
In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. However, in popular usage oxymoron is sometimes used to mean "contradiction in terms", where the contradiction is unintentional. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example:
anecdotal evidence
friendly fire
pretty ugly
A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical:
airline food
American culture
eco-tourism
Microsoft security
military intelligence
Hyperbole
Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred,Then another thousand, then a second hundred,Then still another thousand, then a hundred
Catullus
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong emotional response. As a figure of speech it is not intended to be taken literally. Hyperbole is frequently used for humour. Examples of hyperbole are:
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.
Her brain is the size of a pea.
He is older than the hills.
I will die if she asks me to dance.
She is as big as an elephant!
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have told you a million times not to lie!
Catullus
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong emotional response. As a figure of speech it is not intended to be taken literally. Hyperbole is frequently used for humour. Examples of hyperbole are:
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.
Her brain is the size of a pea.
He is older than the hills.
I will die if she asks me to dance.
She is as big as an elephant!
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have told you a million times not to lie!
Metaphor
All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely playersThey have their exits and their entrances
William Shakespeare
A metaphor is a figure of speech that says that one thing is another different thing. This allows us to use fewer words and forces the reader or listener to find the similarities.
The word metaphor comes from the Greek word metapherin (meaning "transfer").
The simplest form of metaphor is: "The [first thing] is a [second thing]."
Look at this example:
Her home was a prison.
In the above sentence, we understand immediately that her home had some of the characteristics of a prison. Mainly, we imagine, she could not leave her home. She was trapped inside. Why it was a prison we do not know, but that would be clear from the context--perhaps her husband forced her to stay at home, perhaps she was afraid of the outside. We don't know, but the rest of the story would tell us. What is important here is that in five simple words we understand a lot about her environment, how she felt and how she behaved. In this sentence, "prison" is a metaphor.
Look at another example:
George is a sheep.
What is one characteristic of sheep? They follow each other. So we can imagine that George is a follower, not a leader. In this sentence "sheep" is a metaphor.
Metaphors are very common in everyday language. But poets also like to use metaphors. In the following famous verse (from The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes), can you spot three metaphors in the first three lines?
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,And the highwayman came riding--Riding--riding--The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
Look at these examples of metaphors with sample sentences and meanings:
William Shakespeare
A metaphor is a figure of speech that says that one thing is another different thing. This allows us to use fewer words and forces the reader or listener to find the similarities.
The word metaphor comes from the Greek word metapherin (meaning "transfer").
The simplest form of metaphor is: "The [first thing] is a [second thing]."
Look at this example:
Her home was a prison.
In the above sentence, we understand immediately that her home had some of the characteristics of a prison. Mainly, we imagine, she could not leave her home. She was trapped inside. Why it was a prison we do not know, but that would be clear from the context--perhaps her husband forced her to stay at home, perhaps she was afraid of the outside. We don't know, but the rest of the story would tell us. What is important here is that in five simple words we understand a lot about her environment, how she felt and how she behaved. In this sentence, "prison" is a metaphor.
Look at another example:
George is a sheep.
What is one characteristic of sheep? They follow each other. So we can imagine that George is a follower, not a leader. In this sentence "sheep" is a metaphor.
Metaphors are very common in everyday language. But poets also like to use metaphors. In the following famous verse (from The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes), can you spot three metaphors in the first three lines?
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,And the highwayman came riding--Riding--riding--The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
Look at these examples of metaphors with sample sentences and meanings:
Simile
It's been a hard day's night,and I've been working like a dog
The Beatles
A simile is a figure of speech that says that one thing is like another different thing. We can use similes to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.
We often use the words as...as and like with similes.
Common patterns for similes, with example sentences, are:
something [is*] AS adjective AS somethingHis skin was as cold as ice.It felt as hard as rock.She looked as gentle as a lamb.
something [is*] LIKE somethingMy love is like a red, red rose.These cookies taste like garbage.He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.
something [does**] LIKE somethingHe eats like a pig.He smokes like a chimney.They fought like cats and dogs.
* stative verb: be, feel, smell, taste etc** action verb
Here are some more examples of well known similes:
[is] AS adjective AS something
meaning
as blind as a bat
completely blind
as cold as ice
very cold
as flat as a pancake
completely flat
as gentle as a lamb
very gentle
as light as a feather
very light
as old as the hills
very old
as sharp as a knife
very sharp
as strong as a bull
very strong
as white as snow
pure white
as wise as an owl
very wise
Longer list of AS...AS similes
[is] LIKE something
possible meaning (depending on context)
like a rose
beautiful
like a volcano
explosive
like garbage
disgusting
like an animal
inhuman
like spaghetti
entangled
like dewdrops
sweet and pure
like golddust
precious
like a tip
very untidy (tip = garbage dump)
like a dream
wonderful, incredible
like stars
bright and beautiful
[does] LIKE something
meaning
to drink like a fish
to drink a lot
to eat like a bird
to eat very little
to eat like a horse
to eat a lot
to eat like a pig
to eat impolitely
to fight like cats and dogs
to fight fiercely
to sing like an angel
to sing beautifully
to sleep like a log
to sleep well and soundly
to smoke like a chimney
to smoke heavily, all the time
to soar like an eagle
to fly high and free
to work like a dog
to work very hard
Note that with the AS...AS pattern, the first AS is sometimes suppressed, for example:
His skin was cold as ice.
The above patterns of simile are the most common, but there are others made with adverbs or words such as than and as if, for example:
He ran as fast as the wind.
He is larger than life.
They ran as if for their lives.
Similes can include other figures of speech. For example, "He ran like greased lightning" is a simile that includes hyperbole (greased lightning).
Similes often make use of irony or sarcasm. In such cases they may even mean the opposite of the adjective used. Look at these examples:
His explanation was as clear as mud. (not clear at all since mud is opaque)
The film was about as interesting as watching a copy of Windows download. (long and boring)
Watching the show was like watching paint dry. (very boring)
Similes are often found (and they sometimes originate) in poetry and other literature. Here are a few examples:
A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle - Irina Dunn
Dawn breaks open like a wound that bleeds afresh - Wilfred Owen
Death has many times invited me: it was like the salt invisible in the waves - Pablo Neruda
Guiltless forever, like a tree - Robert Browning
Happy as pigs in mud - David Eddings
How like the winter hath my absence been - William Shakespeare
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Jubilant as a flag unfurled - Dorothy Parker
So are you to my thoughts as food to life - William Shakespeare
Yellow butterflies flickered along the shade like flecks of sun - William Faulkner
Popular songs, too, make use of simile:
A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle - U2
Cheaper than a hot dog with no mustard - Beastie Boys
I must do what's right, as sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti - Toto
It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog - The Beatles
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Like a bat outta [out of] hell - Meat Loaf
My heart is like an open highway - Jon Bon Jovi
These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall - Led Zeppelin
Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull
You are as subtle as a brick to the small of my back - Taking Back Sunday
The Beatles
A simile is a figure of speech that says that one thing is like another different thing. We can use similes to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.
We often use the words as...as and like with similes.
Common patterns for similes, with example sentences, are:
something [is*] AS adjective AS somethingHis skin was as cold as ice.It felt as hard as rock.She looked as gentle as a lamb.
something [is*] LIKE somethingMy love is like a red, red rose.These cookies taste like garbage.He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.
something [does**] LIKE somethingHe eats like a pig.He smokes like a chimney.They fought like cats and dogs.
* stative verb: be, feel, smell, taste etc** action verb
Here are some more examples of well known similes:
[is] AS adjective AS something
meaning
as blind as a bat
completely blind
as cold as ice
very cold
as flat as a pancake
completely flat
as gentle as a lamb
very gentle
as light as a feather
very light
as old as the hills
very old
as sharp as a knife
very sharp
as strong as a bull
very strong
as white as snow
pure white
as wise as an owl
very wise
Longer list of AS...AS similes
[is] LIKE something
possible meaning (depending on context)
like a rose
beautiful
like a volcano
explosive
like garbage
disgusting
like an animal
inhuman
like spaghetti
entangled
like dewdrops
sweet and pure
like golddust
precious
like a tip
very untidy (tip = garbage dump)
like a dream
wonderful, incredible
like stars
bright and beautiful
[does] LIKE something
meaning
to drink like a fish
to drink a lot
to eat like a bird
to eat very little
to eat like a horse
to eat a lot
to eat like a pig
to eat impolitely
to fight like cats and dogs
to fight fiercely
to sing like an angel
to sing beautifully
to sleep like a log
to sleep well and soundly
to smoke like a chimney
to smoke heavily, all the time
to soar like an eagle
to fly high and free
to work like a dog
to work very hard
Note that with the AS...AS pattern, the first AS is sometimes suppressed, for example:
His skin was cold as ice.
The above patterns of simile are the most common, but there are others made with adverbs or words such as than and as if, for example:
He ran as fast as the wind.
He is larger than life.
They ran as if for their lives.
Similes can include other figures of speech. For example, "He ran like greased lightning" is a simile that includes hyperbole (greased lightning).
Similes often make use of irony or sarcasm. In such cases they may even mean the opposite of the adjective used. Look at these examples:
His explanation was as clear as mud. (not clear at all since mud is opaque)
The film was about as interesting as watching a copy of Windows download. (long and boring)
Watching the show was like watching paint dry. (very boring)
Similes are often found (and they sometimes originate) in poetry and other literature. Here are a few examples:
A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle - Irina Dunn
Dawn breaks open like a wound that bleeds afresh - Wilfred Owen
Death has many times invited me: it was like the salt invisible in the waves - Pablo Neruda
Guiltless forever, like a tree - Robert Browning
Happy as pigs in mud - David Eddings
How like the winter hath my absence been - William Shakespeare
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Jubilant as a flag unfurled - Dorothy Parker
So are you to my thoughts as food to life - William Shakespeare
Yellow butterflies flickered along the shade like flecks of sun - William Faulkner
Popular songs, too, make use of simile:
A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle - U2
Cheaper than a hot dog with no mustard - Beastie Boys
I must do what's right, as sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti - Toto
It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog - The Beatles
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Like a bat outta [out of] hell - Meat Loaf
My heart is like an open highway - Jon Bon Jovi
These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall - Led Zeppelin
Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull
You are as subtle as a brick to the small of my back - Taking Back Sunday
Figures of Speech
A figure is worth a thousand words
(A picture is worth a thousand words)
Figurative language:One meaning of "figure" is "drawing" or "image" or "picture". Figurative language creates figures (pictures) in the mind of the reader or listener. These pictures help convey the meaning faster and more vividly than words alone.
We use figures of speech in "figurative language" to add colour and interest, and to awaken the imagination. Figurative language is everywhere, from classical works like Shakespeare or the Bible, to everyday speech, pop music and television commercials. It makes the reader or listener use their imagination and understand much more than the plain words.
Figurative language is the opposite of literal language. Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language means something different to (and usually more than) what it says on the surface:
He ran fast. (literal)
He ran like the wind. (figurative)
In the above example "like the wind" is a figure of speech (in this case, a simile). It is important to recognize the difference between literal and figurative language. There are many figures of speech that are commonly used and which you can learn by heart. At other times, writers and speakers may invent their own figures of speech. If you do not recognize them as figures of speech and think that they are literal, you will find it difficult to understand the language.
In this lesson we will look at four common types of figure of speech:
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Oxymoron
(A picture is worth a thousand words)
Figurative language:One meaning of "figure" is "drawing" or "image" or "picture". Figurative language creates figures (pictures) in the mind of the reader or listener. These pictures help convey the meaning faster and more vividly than words alone.
We use figures of speech in "figurative language" to add colour and interest, and to awaken the imagination. Figurative language is everywhere, from classical works like Shakespeare or the Bible, to everyday speech, pop music and television commercials. It makes the reader or listener use their imagination and understand much more than the plain words.
Figurative language is the opposite of literal language. Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language means something different to (and usually more than) what it says on the surface:
He ran fast. (literal)
He ran like the wind. (figurative)
In the above example "like the wind" is a figure of speech (in this case, a simile). It is important to recognize the difference between literal and figurative language. There are many figures of speech that are commonly used and which you can learn by heart. At other times, writers and speakers may invent their own figures of speech. If you do not recognize them as figures of speech and think that they are literal, you will find it difficult to understand the language.
In this lesson we will look at four common types of figure of speech:
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Oxymoron
Positive Contractions
Notes
Be careful. Some contractions can have two or three meanings. For example, he'd can be he had or he would. It depends on the rest of the sentence. Look at these examples:
He'd like to go. (He would like to go.)
He'd finished when I arrived. (He had finished when I arrived.)
The contraction 's (= is or has) is not used only with pronouns. It can also be used with nouns, names, question words and words like "here" and "there", for example: The train's late. John's arrived. Where's the phone? Here's your change. There's a policeman.
Negative Contractions >
Be careful. Some contractions can have two or three meanings. For example, he'd can be he had or he would. It depends on the rest of the sentence. Look at these examples:
He'd like to go. (He would like to go.)
He'd finished when I arrived. (He had finished when I arrived.)
The contraction 's (= is or has) is not used only with pronouns. It can also be used with nouns, names, question words and words like "here" and "there", for example: The train's late. John's arrived. Where's the phone? Here's your change. There's a policeman.
Negative Contractions >
Contractions
We often "contract" or shorten words in English. For example, we may say "he's" instead of "he is". Note that we usually insert an apostrophe (') in place of the missing letter or letters in writing. Here are some example sentences:
I haven't seen him. (I have not seen him.)
Who's calling? (Who is calling?)
They're coming. (They are coming.)
We do this especially when we speak. We do not contract words so much in writing
These pages show the most common contracted forms.
Positive Contractions
Negative Contractions
Other Contractions
Informal Contractions
I haven't seen him. (I have not seen him.)
Who's calling? (Who is calling?)
They're coming. (They are coming.)
We do this especially when we speak. We do not contract words so much in writing
These pages show the most common contracted forms.
Positive Contractions
Negative Contractions
Other Contractions
Informal Contractions
Prefixes
A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. This is a list of the most common prefixes in English, together with their basic meaning and some examples. You can find more detail or precision for each prefix in any good dictionary. The origins of words are extremely complicated. You should use this list as a guide only, to help you understand possible meanings. But be very careful, because often what appears to be a prefix is not a prefix at all. Note also that this list does not include elements like "auto-" or " bio-", because these are "combining forms", not prefixes.
Irregular Adjectives
The regular way to make comparative/superlative adjectives is to add -er/-est or to use more/most. A small number of adjectives, however, are irregular and some of these can be regular or irregular. The most important ones are listed here:
Adjective
Comparative
Superlative
Example
good
better
the best
irregular
Tara is the best athlete in the school.
well (healthy)
better
the best
irregular
He is still in hospital, but he is better than he was last week.
bad
worse
the worst
irregular
You are the worst driver I have ever known.
far
further
the furthest
irregular
My house is the furthest one.
far
farther
the farthest
regular
My house is the farther one.
old (people in a family)
elder
the eldest
irregular
Ram is my elder brother.
old (general use)
older
the oldest
regular
Your teacher is older than my teacher.
Adjective
Comparative
Superlative
Example
good
better
the best
irregular
Tara is the best athlete in the school.
well (healthy)
better
the best
irregular
He is still in hospital, but he is better than he was last week.
bad
worse
the worst
irregular
You are the worst driver I have ever known.
far
further
the furthest
irregular
My house is the furthest one.
far
farther
the farthest
regular
My house is the farther one.
old (people in a family)
elder
the eldest
irregular
Ram is my elder brother.
old (general use)
older
the oldest
regular
Your teacher is older than my teacher.
Do or Make?
It is not always easy to choose between "do" and "make".
Do can be an auxiliary verb (Do you like coffee?) or a main verb (I did my homework yesterday.). As an auxiliary verb, it has no meaning. It is necessary only for the grammatical structure. As a main verb it has a meaning, but the meaning is rather general. It often expresses a general activity.
Make is not an auxiliary verb. It is always a main verb (I made a cake yesterday.). Its meaning is also rather general, but it often expresses the idea of construction or creation.
In this lesson we look at some guidelines that may help you, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:
Do
Make
Expressions with Do and Make
Do or Make Quiz
Do can be an auxiliary verb (Do you like coffee?) or a main verb (I did my homework yesterday.). As an auxiliary verb, it has no meaning. It is necessary only for the grammatical structure. As a main verb it has a meaning, but the meaning is rather general. It often expresses a general activity.
Make is not an auxiliary verb. It is always a main verb (I made a cake yesterday.). Its meaning is also rather general, but it often expresses the idea of construction or creation.
In this lesson we look at some guidelines that may help you, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:
Do
Make
Expressions with Do and Make
Do or Make Quiz
Say or Tell?
Say and tell have similar meanings. They both mean to communicate verbally with someone. But we often use them differently.
The simple way to think of say and tell is:
You say something
You tell someone something
You say something
You tell someone something
Ram said that he was tired.
Ram told Jane that he was tired.
Anthony says you have a new job.
Anthony tells me you have a new job.
Tara said: "I love you."
Tara told John that she loved him.
But, of course, it is not always so easy. Here are a few rules to help you.
Personal objectWe usually follow tell with a personal object (the person that we are speaking to). We usually use say without a personal object:
She told me that she loved John.
She said that she loved John.
He told everybody that he had to leave.
He said that he had to leave.
Say "to someone"With say, we sometimes use "to someone":
He said to me that he was tired.
Tara said to Ram that he had done very well.
Anthony said to her, "I hope you come soon."
"I'd like to sleep," she said to him quietly.
Direct speechWe can use say with direct speech. We use tell only with direct speech that is an instruction or information:
Amanda said, "Hello John. How are you?"
"That's great'" she said.
He told her: "Open the door quietly."
She told me, "I have never been to England."
We can use say with direct questions, but we cannot use tell:
She said: "Do you love me?"
The policeman said to the prisoner, "Where were you at 8pm?"
Reported speechWe can use say and tell to talk about reported information:
She said that it was raining.
She told me that she would call at 2pm.
We cannot use say or tell to talk about reported questions. We must use ask (or a similar verb):
She asked if I had ever been there.
They asked what I wanted to eat.
She asked where he lived.
He asked if she wanted to go home.
Orders, adviceWe use tell + object + infinitive for orders or advice:
She told him to sit down.
They told me not to wait.
Tell Neil to have a holiday and forget her.
PhrasesHere are a few fixed phrases with tell. We cannot use say with these phrases:
tell (someone) a story
tell (someone) a lie
tell (someone) the truth
tell the future (= to know what the future will bring)
tell the time (= know how to read a clock)
The simple way to think of say and tell is:
You say something
You tell someone something
You say something
You tell someone something
Ram said that he was tired.
Ram told Jane that he was tired.
Anthony says you have a new job.
Anthony tells me you have a new job.
Tara said: "I love you."
Tara told John that she loved him.
But, of course, it is not always so easy. Here are a few rules to help you.
Personal objectWe usually follow tell with a personal object (the person that we are speaking to). We usually use say without a personal object:
She told me that she loved John.
She said that she loved John.
He told everybody that he had to leave.
He said that he had to leave.
Say "to someone"With say, we sometimes use "to someone":
He said to me that he was tired.
Tara said to Ram that he had done very well.
Anthony said to her, "I hope you come soon."
"I'd like to sleep," she said to him quietly.
Direct speechWe can use say with direct speech. We use tell only with direct speech that is an instruction or information:
Amanda said, "Hello John. How are you?"
"That's great'" she said.
He told her: "Open the door quietly."
She told me, "I have never been to England."
We can use say with direct questions, but we cannot use tell:
She said: "Do you love me?"
The policeman said to the prisoner, "Where were you at 8pm?"
Reported speechWe can use say and tell to talk about reported information:
She said that it was raining.
She told me that she would call at 2pm.
We cannot use say or tell to talk about reported questions. We must use ask (or a similar verb):
She asked if I had ever been there.
They asked what I wanted to eat.
She asked where he lived.
He asked if she wanted to go home.
Orders, adviceWe use tell + object + infinitive for orders or advice:
She told him to sit down.
They told me not to wait.
Tell Neil to have a holiday and forget her.
PhrasesHere are a few fixed phrases with tell. We cannot use say with these phrases:
tell (someone) a story
tell (someone) a lie
tell (someone) the truth
tell the future (= to know what the future will bring)
tell the time (= know how to read a clock)
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