GENERAL GRAMMAR EXERCISE (INTERMEDIATE LEVEL)

GENERAL GRAMMAR EXERCISE (INTERMEDIATE LEVEL)

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate word or phrase.

1. The older I get, ……………… I am.

a) the happy
b) the happier
c) happier
d) happy

2. Your accent is ………………… in the class.

a) worst
b) the worst
c) worse

3. I stayed an extra night so that I …………………. see Ann.

a) can
b) could
c) may

4. While I ………………. a shower, I slipped on the floor.

a) am having
b) was having
c) had

5. The man …………………. she married was an old friend of mine.

a) that
b) whom
c) Either could be used here

6. The house ……………….. I live is very small.

a) that
b) where

c) Either could be used here

7. There is the girl ……………….. works with my sister.

a) who
b) whom
c) Either could be used here

8. The road is getting …………………….

a) more steep and more steep
b) steeper and steeper
c) more and more steep

9. I have got …………………. than I used to have.

a) less energy
b) lesser energy
c) least energy

10. She likes music, and ………………..

a) so I
b) so do I
c) I so

Answers

1. The older I get, the happier I am.

2. Your accent is the worst in the class.

3. I stayed an extra night so that I could see Ann.

4. While I was having a shower, I slipped on the floor.

5. The man that/ whom she married was an old friend of mine.

6. The house where I live is very small.

7. There is the girl who works with my sister.

8. The road is getting steeper and steeper / more and more steep.

9. I have got less energy than I used to have.

10. She likes music, and so do I.

TALKING ABOUT LIKES IN ENGLISH

TALKING ABOUT LIKES IN ENGLISH

All of us have got likes and dislikes. Here are a few expressions that you can use to talk about how much you like or dislike something.

If you love something

The most common verbs used to express your liking for something are: love, live, adore, enjoy and prefer.

Examples

I just love the way she smiles.

I love my brother.

I love eating cookies.

I like to listen to the rains.

She adores her kids.

I prefer staying in bed on Sundays.

I like climbing hills. / I like to climb hills.

I enjoy walking in the rains.

She likes to spend her free time reading.

If you like something a lot

By adding an expression like very much, we can convey the idea that we love something a lot.

She is quite fond of chocolates.

He quite likes going to the cinema.

I like western music very much.

If you neither like nor dislike something

‘I don’t mind’is the most common structure used to express this idea. If you don’t mind doing something, you neither like it nor dislike it. Note the use of the –ing form after ‘I don’t mind…’

I don’t mind watching cartoon shows.

I don’t mind doing the housework.

I don’t mind shopping for grocery.

I don’t mind getting up early in the morning.

I don’t mind cooking dinner.

I don’t mind working in the garden.

THREW VS. THROUGH VS. THRU VS. THOROUGH

THREW VS. THROUGH VS. THRU VS. THOROUGH

As with other homophones, the words threw, through, and thru may sound alike but have different meanings and uses. Threw and through have very distinct meanings while thru is generally used only in informal writing.

The term threw is the simple past tense of the verb throw meaning “to propel something with force through the air by a movement of the arm and hand.”

“Young woman, 26, ‘threw boiling water over her boyfriend’s pal during a Valentine’s Day bust-up’”
The Sun

“Prosecutors won’t charge police officer who threw black high school student out of her chair onto the ground for refusing to give up her cellphone”
Daily Mail

“‘Grinning sex attacker’ threw table at woman, grabbed her throat and pinned her down to sexually assault her”
Mirror.co.uk

It may also mean “to cause to enter suddenly a particular state or condition.”

“Corruption threw country into abyss of terrorism: Siraj”
The News International

“Trevor Noah: How Trump threw Republicans in Congress ‘under the bus'”
Business Insider

“Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth Reportedly Threw a Secret New Year’s Eve Wedding”
Brides.com

On the other hand, through is mostly used as a preposition or adverb to denote “moving in one side and out of the other side of an opening, channel, or location.”

“A Gathering of the Global Elite, Through a Woman’s Eyes”
New York Times

“The Photos We Loved: President Obama Through Pete Souza’s Lens”
TIME

“Thousands fill Loop after Women’s March rally in Chicago draws estimated 250,000”
Chicago Tribune

It may also mean “continuing in time toward completion of a process or period.”

“Pod save America: 12 podcasts to get you through the Trump presidency”
The Guardian

“Growing Up Obama: Malia and Sasha Through the Years”
TIME

“Study suggests surprising reason killer whales go through menopause”
Science Magazine

Meanwhile, the term thru is simply an informal spelling of the word through and is usually not recommended to be used in formal writing as it is considered less serious than its original counterpart.

“Website Thru The Nite: The Countdown Has Begun”
Muncie Journal

“Cold Rain Thru Wednesday. Little Icing North And West”
WPRI 12 Eyewitness News

“Heavy Wet Snow and Ice Expected Monday Night Thru Tuesday”
The Vermont Standard

Another term that may add up to the confusion would be the adjective thorough which means “complete with regard to every detail” or “performed or written with great care and completeness.” This is attributed to its almost identical spelling with through.

“Senate should take its time, be thorough in vetting Trump nominees”
The Seattle Times

“Acting president calls for thorough readiness against potential N. Korea provocations”
Korea Times

“Senator Chuck Schumer Calls for a ‘Thorough’ Vetting of Trump’s Nominees”
Newsweek

SHOPPING AT THE SUPERMARKET

SHOPPING AT THE SUPERMARKET

Here are some English phrases you will find useful when shopping at the supermarket.

Questions the sales assistants might ask

Hello. How may I help you?

Are you looking for anything in particular, Sir?

Hello. How can I help you?

Hello. What can I do for you?

Can I help you at all? (Very polite)

Hello. Can I help you?

Finding and asking for items

Where are the vegetables?

Do you sell flowers?

Could you tell me where the meat section is?

Where is the frozen food section?

Could you tell me where the milk is?

Do you sell meat?

Where are the fruits?

I’d like some fish, please.

I’d like some cookies, please.

I’d like a loaf of bread, please.

I’d like a piece of cheese, please.

I’m looking for a pair of shoes.

‘How much would you like?’ ‘250 grams / half a kilo / two kilos.’

I’m looking for magazines. Where can I find them?

I’m looking for a camera / a watch / a calculator / etc.

Do you sell dolls / shoes / bags / cosemtics / etc.?

Can I try this on?

At the checkout

‘That’s $86 altogether. Do you need any help packing?’ ‘No, I can do it myself.’

Could I have a carrier bag, please?

TO VS. TOO VS. TWO

To vs. Too vs. Two

The terms to, too and two sound alike, causing confusion to some people despite their different uses. This post will help you differentiate between these words and allow you to use them properly.

The word to is most commonly used as a preposition “used for expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing approached and reached.”

“U.S. national security handover to Trump bumpy, officials say”
Reuters

“Islamic State Steps Up Oil and Gas Sales to Assad Regime”
Wall Street Journal

“Under Trump, Approach to Civil Rights Law Is Likely to Change Definitively”
New York Times

When used with a verb, it forms an infinitive.

“Congress moves to give away national lands, discounting billions in revenue”
The Guardian

“Rick Perry Regrets Call to Close Energy Department”
New York Times

“Adrian Peterson wants to stay in Minnesota but would consider Giants, Bucs, Texans”
ESPN

Meanwhile, the term too is commonly used as an adverb meaning “to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible” or “excessively.”

“Sitting down for too long can speed up ageing, finds new study”
The Independent

“Self-help guru Tim Ferriss explains why too much ambition can be a problem”
Business Insider

“Here’s How Americans Ended Up Eating Too Much Sugar”
Huffington Post

As an adverb, it can also be used to mean “in addition” or “also.”

“Donald Trump’s Mexico-bashing hurts American interests too”
Financial Times

“Hudson Square: A Manhattan Bargain, and Quiet, Too”
New York Times

“Newsflash for the transport secretary: cyclists are road users too”
The Guardian

On the other hand, two refers to the number “equivalent to the sum of one and one” or “one less than three.”

“Apple’s Got Three iPhones This Year: One Stunning, Two Boring”
Forbes

“First evidence of dwarf galaxy merger boosts two cosmic theories”
New Scientist

“The symbolism of Trump’s two inaugural Bible choices, from Lincoln to his mother”
Washington Post

TALKING ABOUT THINGS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING

TALKING ABOUT THINGS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING

To say that you are interested in doing something or to say that you want to do something, you can use the expression ‘I would like to..’ or ‘I feel like…’

I would like to + (verb)

The structure ‘I would like to’ is used to talk about things you are interested in doing.

·         I’d like to be the next Prime Minister.

·         I’d like to become a scientist.

·         I’d like to learn the piano.

·         I’d like to invite him to dinner.

·         I’d like to meet the manager.

·         I’d like to take a look at the house.

I would like can be followed by a noun. This structure is used to talk about things we would like to have.

·         I’d like some tea.

·         I’d like an answer.

·         I’d like some rest.

·         I’d like some advice.

I feel like + (verb-ing)

‘Feel like’ can mean ‘want’ or ‘would like’. After ‘feel like’, you can use a noun or an –ing form.

·         I feel like a drink. (= I would like a drink.)

·         I feel like going to the beach. (= I would like to go to the beach.)

·         I feel like singing. (= I want to sing.)

·         I feel like reading a novel.

·         I felt like crying. (= I wanted to cry.)

You can use the expression ‘don’t feel like’ to talk about things you don’t want to do.

·         I don’t feel like leaving yet. (= I don’t want to leave yet.)

·         I don’t feel like going out with him. (= I don’t want to go out with him.)

·         I don’t feel like talking about it. (= I don’t want to talk about it.)

This structure can also be used to talk about your fears and concerns.

·         I don’t feel like we are doing the right thing. (= I don’t think that we are doing the right thing.)

FARTHER VS. FURTHER

FARTHER VS. FURTHER

The terms farther and further are sometimes used interchangeably by some writers because they both denote “at a greater distance.” However, there are different uses of the word further in which farther cannot be substituted. This post will help you determine which of these terms to use in a particular situation.

As an adjective, the word farther means “more distant in space than another item of the same kind.”

“Faster, Farther, More Frequent: Ultramarathon Runners Keep Pushing Limits”
New York Times

“When it comes to vacationing with these Guardians Of The Quirks, things can’t seem farther from right.”
India Times

“Then they lighten, and steam is visible rising from the coats of the horses at the farther side of the twenty-acre field.”
The Guardian

However, as an adverb, farther shares the same use as further which denotes “at, to, or by a greater distance,” indicating the extent to which one thing or person is or becomes distant from another.

“Developers in Montgomery County will pay more to build farther from transit, jobs”
Washington Post

“Indigenous in Mexico Take Consultation Farther Than Expected”
teleSUR English

“Many New Orleans voters are still driving farther to vote than before Katrina”
The Lens

Notice that even if you substitute the word further in the sentences above, they will still retain their meaning. However, there are several other uses for this term. As an adjective, further may mean “additional to what already exists or has already taken place, been done, or been accounted for.”

“Fitch: China Power Companies Face Further Margin Erosion in 2017”
Reuters

“Further floods threaten travel chaos across Britain”
The Guardian

“Japan supports further sanctions against Russia”
Interfax

Further may also be used as a verb meaning “to help the progress or development of something” or “to promote.”

“Trump’s Twitterfests are meant to further the culture wars that helped win him the presidency”
Los Angeles Times

“Mohammad Amir ‘should be free to further career’ says Essex chief executive”
BBC Sport

“AHN announces $6M grant to further diabetes care”
Pittsburgh Business Times

An easy way to remember which word to use is to choose farther if you are talking about a physical distance while further is considered more appropriate to use when discussing metaphorical or figurative distance.

HOW TO MAKE OFFERS IN ENGLISH?

HOW TO MAKE OFFERS IN ENGLISH?

Here are a few phrases you can use.Offers often begin Would you like…?

·         Would you like some more cherries?

·         Would you like something to drink?

·         Would you like some coffee?

·         Would you like another cake?

In a more formal style, you can say Can I get…? or May I get…? Expressions like Can I offer you…? or May I offer you…? are also possible.

·         May I bring you some coffee?

·         Can I help you?

·         May I offer you something to drink?

·         May I help you with this?

·         Offers to do things for people often begin Would you like me to…?

·         Would you like me to type your letters for you?

·         Would you like me to make some coffee for you?

More examples are given below.

·         Shall I get you something to drink?

·         You look tired. Would you like a cup of tea?

·         How about a coffee?

·         Can I get you some juice?

·         Can I help you?

·         Can I do something for you?

Learners should be able to make offers as well as accept or reject them. The following are useful expressions to do so.

Accepting the offer

Here are some phrases you can use to show your willingness to accept the offer.

·         That would be very kind of you.

·         Yes please. I’d like to.

·         Yes please. That would be nice / lovely.

·         Thank you. That would be great.

Rejecting an offer

Here are some phrases you can use.

·         No, thank you.

·         No, thanks.

·         It’s OK. I can do it myself.

·         Don’t worry, I’ll do it myself.