The phrase a little is used in English to mean “a small amount.” This phrase can be used with both nouns and verbs. We use a little before a non-countable noun to mean “a small amount of noun”: Do you have a little time to chat today? Jack had a little red wine and then fell asleep. I need a …
One Point English Lesson: Using Plural Nouns When Speaking “Generally”
Listen to the lesson as you read: [powerpress url=”http://blog.myhappyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Using-Plural-Nouns-When-Speaking-Generally1.mp3″] Ok, so here is an important point that will help you sound more natural when you use English. As you know nouns in English can be countable, like pen → pens, or banana → bananas, and non-countable, like fruit or water. When we are talking about things in general, in other …
Learn English with FRIENDS TV SHOW! Season 1 Episode 2
If you like watching Friends to learn English, you’re going to love these lessons! Today, let’s look at four phrases from Friends Season 1 Episode 2 Scene 3, The One With The Sonogram at the End. The phrases are: Be through with That would be See… Ball up In this scene, while Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe are watching TV in …
One Point English Lesson: Using Apologize & Sorry
When things go wrong which are our fault, we can use apologize or sorry. There are a few set patterns using these words you’ll want to memorize. Let’s check out this topic today. In conversational English, apologize is a bit more formal than sorry. Pattern #1 – Apologize + for + gerund (VerbING) I apologize for missing your birthday. Jack …
One-Point English Lesson: Talking About Preferences
When you want to state your preferences, you can use like better, prefer, and would rather. Let’s have a look at these three expressions today. You can express a preference with this structure: like [something 1] better than [something 2]. In this case something can be a noun or a gerund (verbING) I like jazz better than classical music. Jack …
One-Point English Lesson: Saying the Time
When you want to say the time, there are a number of different expressions you can use. Let’s look at these today. First of all, we use the expression tell the time or tell time: Children learn how to tell time when they are in kindergarten. My friend Jack can tell the time in five different languages. When you read …
One-Point English Lesson: Using “Be About To”
When an activity or an action is going to happen in very soon from now, you can use the expression be about to + base verb. The lights just went off. The concert is about to start! It’s almost 8:00pm. My favorite TV program is about to begin. Jack put on his jacket. It looks like he is about to …
One-Point English Lesson: Using Let’s
When you want to make a suggestion for you and another person, or for you and other people, you can use let’s. Let’s is the contracted form of let us, and the meaning is the same as why don’t we. We use let’s + base verb: Jack: What should we have for dinner? Jane: Let’s have pizza. Why don’t we …
English Lesson: Talking About Ability Using Know How
I think most people know that when you want to talk about your ability, you can use can, like this: I can play the guitar. Jack can fix your computer. Can you dance well? If you can do something, then you have knowledge about that. In other words, you know how to do it. We use know how + to …
English Lesson: Short Responses with How and What
We can use how or what to respond to a person or a situation. We use how + adjective: Jack: I got a new hat Jane: How nice! Cathy: Look at these flowers! Jane: How beautiful! We use what + adjective + noun: Jack: I got a new hat Jane: What a nice hat! Cathy: Look at these flowers! Jane: …