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So far Crystal Fisher has created 498 blog entries.

Root Word Cult: to Grow

2023-03-01T15:53:17+01:00

You may have heard the word cult in reference to extreme religious sects. I don't know about you, but I think a good documentary about a cult is fascinating! But did you know that the root word cult actually means "to grow"? If you think about the word cult when it comes to the religious meaning, they definitely grow out of a certain belief. If you take a look at the words that have the root word cult in them in English, you'll see that they all have something to do with things growing. Whether it's a culture that develops in a society, or viticulturists (people who grow grapes to be turned into wine), [...]

Root Word Cult: to Grow2023-03-01T15:53:17+01:00

A or An: The Rules and Exceptions

2023-03-01T15:49:24+01:00

A and an are what are called indefinite articles. Indefinite articles give us information about nouns. A and an tell us that there is only one of the nouns. For example: a book, or an apple. But how do you know which to pick? How do you know if you should use a or an? Are there exceptions to the rules? If you've always been curious, read on to find out! Indefinite Article: A You use the article a before singular countable nouns. It is also used before nouns that begin with a consonant (not a vowel – a,e,i,o,u) sound. [...]

A or An: The Rules and Exceptions2023-03-01T15:49:24+01:00

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

2024-05-16T05:25:26+01:00

If you're looking to deepen (improve, strengthen) your knowledge of English, it might be time to get into (understand, explore) some of the finer points of the language. That's why this week we’ve decided to take a look at transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive and intransitive verbs are the two kinds of verbs in English. Here's a look at these two types of verbs, as well as how to use them. Transitive verbs Transitive verbs are the most common kinds of verbs in English. They are action verbs that take a direct object, which is someone or something that receives [...]

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs2024-05-16T05:25:26+01:00

Portuguese Loan Words

2023-03-01T14:49:07+01:00

The history of Portuguese and English is long and storied. Many of the Portuguese loan words we have in English today are from the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese explorers (people who traveled the world to “discover” new land) were coming to the New World and interacting (talking) with sailors from all over the world. If you've been wanting to learn Portuguese, then you're in luck! With our blog, you'll be well on your way with all of the Portuguese loan words we have in English, and Bespeaking now offers Portuguese lessons. To help you get started with your new [...]

Portuguese Loan Words2023-03-01T14:49:07+01:00

Each and Every: What’s the Difference? Easy English

2023-03-01T14:46:34+01:00

Each and every are used in a similar way, but they have slightly different meanings. This can be confusing when learning English. Sometimes even native speakers confuse them! Both each and every can refer to a singular object. Each refers to one particular object or person. Every refers to a group of objects or people all together. Here's how you can use each and every, and some examples. Each The word each refers to a single object or person. When you use each, you want to emphasize (focus on, stress, point out, make more important) the individual and not the group as a whole. For example: Each writer has different ideas. Each egg is checked for quality. I love each of my [...]

Each and Every: What’s the Difference? Easy English2023-03-01T14:46:34+01:00

New Ways to Say Happy New Year in English

2023-02-24T15:20:07+01:00

Christmas is over now and it's time to start looking towards a new year. We hope you made it through the Christmas season relatively stress-free, and that you were able to enjoy lots of time with your family and friends. As the new year approaches, perhaps you're wondering about some new ways to say Happy New Year to the people in your life. While we all know the traditional holiday greetings, they can start to seem a bit old and tired when you use them year after year. That's why this year we wanted to give you some alternatives to [...]

New Ways to Say Happy New Year in English2023-02-24T15:20:07+01:00

Commonly Confused Words in English

2023-02-24T15:10:16+01:00

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: English is a tough (hard) language to learn. So if you've decided to take on the challenge of learning English, good for you! You deserve a pat on the back (to be congratulated). One of the most difficult things about learning English is all of the commonly confused words. This can even be tough for native speakers! If you're learning English, and even if you're a native speaker looking to freshen up your vocabulary, these commonly confused words are great to have down pat (learn perfectly, know well). Or try out these commonly [...]

Commonly Confused Words in English2023-02-24T15:10:16+01:00

Say Thank You to Someone in an Email in English

2023-02-24T15:01:37+01:00

Knowing how to write a proper (fitting, suitable, appropriate) email is an important skill to have in English. We write emails all the time, both in business and in our private lives, so knowing how to sign off (end an email) properly will leave a good last impression on your reader. That's why this week we decided to focus on how to thank someone in an email in English. In case you've missed it in the past, you can find more great tips in our blog in Formal Business Email language. Thank you in advance (for...) Sometimes you need to ask [...]

Say Thank You to Someone in an Email in English2023-02-24T15:01:37+01:00

Some and Any: What’s the Difference? Easy English Blog

2023-02-24T14:56:43+01:00

I always think the smallest words in a language are hardest to learn. Small words usually (often, a lot of time) have a lot of exceptions. They can also be very similar (the same)! So how do you know when to use them? How do you know when to use some and any? For example, what is the difference between, "We have some pineapples," and "We don't have any pineapples"? If you don’t know how to use some and any, or are not sure, read on to find out the answer! Some Some always means that you know “it” is [...]

Some and Any: What’s the Difference? Easy English Blog2023-02-24T14:56:43+01:00

Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns

2023-02-24T14:39:54+01:00

While English is a truly wonderful language with a lot to learn, there are some things that can be tricky for a non-native speaker....and even some of us natives, too!! One of these things is collective nouns. If you are going to talk about collective nouns (Easy English Blog), then you have to talk about the verb agreement with collective nouns. In case you missed it before, a collective noun is a noun that refers to a group of things (typically people). Army, school, team, and company are all collective nouns, as there is more than one person or thing [...]

Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns2023-02-24T14:39:54+01:00

Passive vs Active Voice in English

2023-02-24T14:32:57+01:00

Sometimes when I'm writing these blogs, Microsoft Word will underline a sentence in green, saying that it has been written in the passive voice, and that I should consider revising (changing, rewording) the sentence. This is because the passive voice is not as common (often found) in the English language because we tend to use the active voice more frequently. We were definitely told to do this in school!! So what exactly is the difference between the active and passive voice in English? Active voice Most sentences in English are in the active voice. The active voice is when the [...]

Passive vs Active Voice in English2023-02-24T14:32:57+01:00

TV English Vocabulary

2023-02-24T14:22:38+01:00

I'm going to let you in on (tell you) a little secret: you can watch TV and learn English at the same time! TV English is the best example of informal, spoken English, and picking up (learning by hearing) a few phrases can increase your natural speech and understanding better than anything else. Honestly. I always tell my students that watching TV and movies is a totally acceptable form of homework because it's an excellent way to practice your developing language skills as TV English is full of great idioms, collective nouns, common abbreviations and business English idioms. If you've [...]

TV English Vocabulary2023-02-24T14:22:38+01:00
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