Thanks for taking the time to read my posts this year.
It’s been another strange year with the Covd-19 pandemic still not over.
Let’s hope things will be better next year.
I’ll be back again in January.
Merry Christmas!
Louise
Like … (21)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
(There’s) no time like the present.
This is used when you want to say that something should be done sooner rather than later. It should be done now or as soon as possible.
E.g. “When do you want me to start work on the presentation?”
“Well, there’s no time like the present. Why don’t you start on it now?”
Too much like hard work.
We use this when we want to say that the task or activity is so difficult, tiring or strenuous that we no longer want to do it.
E.g. I like the idea of regularly cooking a 3 course meal but it’s just too much like hard work with all the preparation and cleaning up afterwards. We regularly go to restaurants instead.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (20)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
To go/run like clockwork.
If something goes/runs like clockwork it proceeds or progresses smoothly, as predicted or planned and without problems.
E.g. Because the conference had been so well planned it went like clockwork. Everything went well and we go lots of good feedback.
Like a duck to water.
This is used to describe a situation where a person is able to do something new very easily or without problems. They adapt quickly as if it was innate. (It often implies a sense of fun or enjoyment.)
E.g. I wasn’t sure if she would like learning to dance but she’s taken to it like a duck to water. She practises every day and she’s doing really well.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Broach vs brooch. When do we use these words?
Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing. Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.
I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘broach’ and ‘brooch’. These words sound the same but have different meanings.
Take a look at the examples below. Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.
To broach is a verb. It means to start a topic for discussion or to mention something for the first time. It’s often used when the topic for discussion is difficult or uncomfortable.
E.g. The subject of budget cuts was first broached at the meeting on Monday.
E.g. I’ll broach the subject with her at our next meeting.
E.g. He knew it was an unpopular decision so he avoided broaching the subject for as long as possible.
Brooch is a noun. It is a piece of jewellery which can be fastened to clothes or a hat.
E.g. She fastened the scarf around her neck with a brooch.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Typical German speaker mistakes in English (46)
I often hear these mistakes made by German speakers who are learning English.
They say: We need to discuss about the project.
The problem here is with the verb to discuss. This verb means to talk about something. Therefore, the word ‘about’ is not needed in the sentence as the meaning is already covered by the verb.
Correction: We need to discuss the project.
Alternatively we can say: We need to talk about the project.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (19)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
To be like a deer caught in the headlights.
This is used to describe a situation where a person is visibly startled and looks so frightened that they are frozen with fear. The person cannot move or think properly.
E.g. After completing his presentation he was asked some really difficult questions. It was very stressful for him and he looked like a deer caught in the headlights the whole time.
To be running around like a headless chicken.
If someone is running around like a headless chicken, they are very busy, moving very quickly but not being very efficient or effective with their time. They are disorganized and not thinking calmly or logically.
E.g. The whole event was so badly organized. Nobody knew who was in charge, or who to talk to when there was a problem. They were all just running around like headless chickens!
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Stay motivated and keep learning (5)
Sometimes, for lots of reasons, it can be difficult to stay motivated when learning a language.
Have you ever planned to learn some vocabulary or revise some irregular verbs but then just didn’t feel like it? Perhaps you found something more interesting to do.
Don’t be frustrated if this happens – it’s normal!
When you make the decision to learn English regularly motivation levels at the start are often high. It can sometimes be difficult to maintain that level of motivation over a longer period of time, especially if you start to feel bored.
Boredom kills motivation. To make sure boredom levels stay low and motivation levels stay high use a variety of learning materials to target different skills.
Try to mix up activities to practise listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
For example, there are lots of different ways to target listening skills. Try listening to the radio, a podcast, the television, an audiobook, a YouTube video, a conversation, music etc.
Don’t always use the same activity. Variety is the spice of life!
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (18)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
To watch someone / something like a hawk.
If someone watches another person like a hawk, they are watching very carefully and paying close attention, usually to make sure the other person does nothing wrong.
E.g. During the exam, the teachers were watching like hawks to make sure the children didn’t cheat.
Like lightning.
If someone does something like lightning, they do it extremely fast.
E.g. She ran like lightning all the way there to make sure she was first.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Stay motivated and keep learning (4)
Sometimes, for lots of reasons, it can be difficult to stay motivated when learning a language.
Have you ever planned to learn some vocabulary or revise some irregular verbs but then just didn’t feel like it? Perhaps you found something more interesting to do.
Don’t be frustrated if this happens – it’s normal!
It might be helpful to create boundaries in terms of where you study. If you are studying at home and if you have the space, set aside a specific area where you can study.
It could be a desk, an office space at home, in the garden or at the kitchen table. Set aside specific times for learning and try to learn in the same dedicated space every time.
If you need a change of scene (and let’s be honest, we’ve all been stuck inside our own four walls for much longer than normal since the pandemic began), take a walk (while listening to a podcast in English) or go to a park and learn there.
Creating a routine and studying in the same space regularly may help you to learn more effectively.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (17)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
Like a flash.
This is used to describe something that happens very quickly and / or suddenly.
E.g. As soon as I saw that spider in the room, I took off like a flash. I have a terrible phobia of spiders.
To go out like a light.
If someone goes out like a light it means they fall asleep very quickly or suddenly.
E.g. He was incredibly tired. He went out like a light as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Have fun learning English!
Louise