How often have you begun you sentence with you should when a friend asks you for some advice? Friend: I can’t decide what colour of T-shirt to buy. The purple or the yellow? You: I think you should get the yellow one. It suits you better. You should this, you should that, you should ….Continue reading “You should…”
Category Archives: Speaking
What do you THINK / MEAN?
“WHAT DO YOU THINK?” and “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” are not the same, folks. I hear them being misused regularly during group or class discussions. Whether you are discussing the latest Big Brother episode or your company’s new advertising strategy, if you want to know your friend’s or colleague’s opinion, then ask, “What do youContinue reading “What do you THINK / MEAN?”
I don’t like “LIKE”
Did you like the film? We liked that Maltese restaurant. In my free time I like walking in the countryside. My husband likes washing the car on a Saturday. Those sentences are grammatically correct but – and this is a big BUT – they are boring. Like is an easy word to use so forContinue reading “I don’t like “LIKE””
What? WHAT?!
When you do not understand what someone has said, please, please, please, never say What?. This is especially true when you are with strangers or in formal and business situations. It might be OK to reply with a What? when speaking in your language but in English, it is a no-no. It sounds extremely rudeContinue reading “What? WHAT?!”
Are you agree? Not!
How do we usually form a question in the Present Simple? By using do (for I / you / we / they) or does (for he / she / it) and the base form of the main verb. Do you live in Malta? Does your daughter visit you often? It is not necessary to useContinue reading “Are you agree? Not!”
What do you THINK / MEAN?
“WHAT DO YOU THINK?” and “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” are not the same, folks. I hear them being misused regularly during group or class discussions. Whether you are discussing the latest Big Brother episode or your company’s new advertising strategy, if you want to know your friend’s or colleague’s opinion, then ask, “What do youContinue reading “What do you THINK / MEAN?”
Agree or disagree with someone
There was a lively discussion in the classroom today. The topic was stereotypes, specifically that of men and women. My students had to discuss a number of statements, such as: Women are better at multitasking than men Men are more interested than women in power Women spend more time than men on social networking sitesContinue reading “Agree or disagree with someone”
Vary your vocabulary
This afternoon’s class focussed on alternative words for common adjectives. Have you ever used any of these before? happy => CHUFFED sad => GUTTED good => TERRIFIC bad => DIRE angry => CHEESED OFF interesting => MIND-BLOWING attractive => STUNNING shocked => FLABBERGASTED Over to you … Can you think of a situation you haveContinue reading “Vary your vocabulary”
Killing a conversation
The following happens (too) often between students who have paid good money to practise their English language skills: Student A: Did you have a good weekend? Student B: Yes, but it was like every other weekend. End of conversation as they turn to their phones or books. Now isn’t that a wasted opportunity? Either ofContinue reading “Killing a conversation”
Greetings – how should you answer?
What I’m going to ask you might seem obvious, yet it surprises me how often students get it wrong. Those of you who were in class today know exactly what I mean. So please, be patient and tell me how you would reply to the following greetings: How do you do? How are you? HowContinue reading “Greetings – how should you answer?”
