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So far Crystal Fisher has created 498 blog entries.

This, That, These, and Those- Easy English Blog

2023-01-29T19:08:30+01:00

One of the questions I get the most from students is the difference between this, that, these, and those. If you're learning English, they can be tricky. These words are very common in English, so it's important to know the difference. This week we'll be explaining the differences, so you can speak with confidence (security, sureness)! What are This, That, These, and Those? This, that, these, and those are demonstrative-we use them to "point to" people and things. This and that are singular, and these and those are plural. Have you ever heard someone say, "Can you hand me that [...]

This, That, These, and Those- Easy English Blog2023-01-29T19:08:30+01:00

Prepositional Phrase- Used with Nouns and Verbs

2023-01-29T19:04:06+01:00

Prepositional collocations (words that go together), a.k.a. prepositional phrase, are extremely common in English. So common, in fact, that it is absolutely essential (key, necessary, important) to learn them if you want to become fluent in English. Unfortunately (not luckily, sadly), prepositions can be tricky to learn, and sometimes a prepositional phrase has absolutely no logic to how it is formed at all. Much like gendered articles in German, French, or Spanish, you just have to memorize them- there is no rule! What exactly is a prepositional phrase? A prepositional phrase is a group of words that lacks a verb [...]

Prepositional Phrase- Used with Nouns and Verbs2023-01-29T19:04:06+01:00

Commonly Mispronounced Words in English

2023-01-29T19:02:27+01:00

Believe it or not, native English speakers are fans of using these commonly mispronounced (say out loud but incorrectly) words more often than you'd think. Whether it is due to the evolution of the language itself, or maybe just laziness on the part of the speaker, the pronunciation of these words is generally heard differently than it should be. Do you speak English better than a native? If you pronounce these words properly (correctly), you just may! Jewelry Commonly mispronounced word: [JEWL-ree] Correct pronunciation: [JEW-el-ree] Jewelry is what we wear to adorn ourselves, whether with bracelets, earrings, necklaces, or rings. [...]

Commonly Mispronounced Words in English2023-01-29T19:02:27+01:00

Using As and Since to Mean Because

2023-01-29T19:00:04+01:00

One of the wonderful things about English is that it offers us multiple ways to express (say) something- like using as and since to mean because. This may not seem so advantageous (beneficial, good), however, if you're not a native English speaker! As a writer, I find the flexibility of English quite nice because it gives me lots of room to play in the language, and challenges me to express my thoughts in different ways. Synonyms aren’t just for adjectives. Using the words as and since to mean because are great options to shake things up (change, alter things) a bit, depending [...]

Using As and Since to Mean Because2023-01-29T19:00:04+01:00

Hard and Soft C and G Sound in English

2023-01-29T18:58:02+01:00

The hard and soft C and G sound in English can be tricky for non-native speakers, since they both have two types of pronunciations, and both come from the same position in the mouth. Languages like German, for example, where there is only a hard G sound, can mean making the soft sound particularly difficult. For example, I know my friend Tilghman has had his name pronounced like "Tilkman" by many German speakers because of the G in the middle. If you have difficulty pronouncing these two sounds, or even just figuring out when the sound should be hard or [...]

Hard and Soft C and G Sound in English2023-01-29T18:58:02+01:00

Hotel English Phrases-Easy English

2023-01-29T18:56:50+01:00

When travelling for business or vacation, you will probably be staying at a hotel, an Air BnB accommodation, or a cozy (comfortable) hostel. No matter where you are staying, you will need to have some hotel English phrases on hand (quickly to use) so that you can communicate with the desk staff. We’ve collected some great phrases for you to use during your next stay! I would like to check in/check out. (ˈaɪ wəd ˈlaɪk ˈtuː ˈtʃɛk ˈɪn / ˈtʃɛk ˈaʊt.) When you arrive at a hotel, after you’ve greeted (said hello to) the desk staff, you will want to [...]

Hotel English Phrases-Easy English2023-01-29T18:56:50+01:00

Pronouncing the Th Sound in English

2023-01-29T18:54:24+01:00

English is known for being a difficult language to learn, and possibly one of the most difficult things as a non-native speaker is the th sound. This can be a particularly difficult sound for Germans to make (especially if it's at the beginning of a word), as the th sound doesn't exist in German. For example, the th sound is sometimes pronounced like a "d," so "that" becomes "dat," "there" becomes "der," and "those" becomes "doz." This week we'll be focusing on the th sound so that you have a better understanding of how it works and so that you [...]

Pronouncing the Th Sound in English2023-01-29T18:54:24+01:00

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

2023-01-29T18:49:56+01:00

David Rakoff describes how to give a wedding toast to a couple you wish had never met in the first place. Listen to David reading his poem "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace" on the This American Life podcast. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace By David Rakoff Nathan at one of the outlying tables, his feet tangled up in the disc jockey's cables, surveyed the room as unseen as a ghost, while he mulled over what he might say for his toast. That the couple had asked him for this benediction seemed at odds with them parking [...]

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace2023-01-29T18:49:56+01:00

Stay Motivated While Learning a Language – Easy English Blog

2023-01-29T18:45:36+01:00

Learning a new language is like forming a habit (something you do without thinking). You have to stay interesting and engaged to keep going if you want to make progress. But what are some good ways to stay motivated while learning a language? But just like forming a new habit, learning a new language takes motivation. You have to keep at it (continue with it) in order to get better. But sometimes you can get burnt out (have no more desire), lose your motivation, or even just get bored. In addition to some other tips we offered in a previous blog [...]

Stay Motivated While Learning a Language – Easy English Blog2023-01-29T18:45:36+01:00

Simple English Sentences- Easy English Blog

2023-01-29T18:44:01+01:00

Learning a new language can start at home. If you are learning English, you can teach your children as well. There are some easy English sentences you can teach your kids. Use them every day, and see how they (and you) improve (get better)! My dad spoke a few phrases of German to me when I was little. It inspired (motivated) a life-long love of languages. You never know the impact (effect, work) it could have on your children. "Did you sleep well?" (ˈdɪd ˈjuː ˈsliːp ˈwɛl?) You can say this first thing in the morning. Even if your kid [...]

Simple English Sentences- Easy English Blog2023-01-29T18:44:01+01:00

Foreign Loanwords-German, French, Latin, Yiddish, Spanish, & Scandinavian

2023-01-29T18:36:03+01:00

What exactly is a loanword? We've written a lot about foreign loanwords, but do you know what they really are? As always, Bespeaking is here to break it down for you! Read on to find out exactly what foreign loanwords in English are, and how you can use them in your everyday life. What is a loanword? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a loanword is "a word taken from one language and used in another." This word is not translated, and so takes on a very similar meaning to its meaning in the original language. For example, some loanwords in [...]

Foreign Loanwords-German, French, Latin, Yiddish, Spanish, & Scandinavian2023-01-29T18:36:03+01:00

English Oxymorons: 5 Common Contradictions

2023-01-29T18:33:28+01:00

What do the phrases "legal murder," "jumbo shrimp," and "same difference" have in common? They're all examples of the rhetorical device known oxymorons, and we are going to explain five of the most common English oxymorons. An oxymoron is made up of two or more words that either are, or seem to be, opposite from one another. The word oxymoron is, itself, an oxymoron, as well! It comes from the Greek word oxy, which means sharp, and the word moron, which means dull. So if you hear the term oxymoron, we're not insulting you! We might just be talking about [...]

English Oxymorons: 5 Common Contradictions2023-01-29T18:33:28+01:00
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