I'll admit it, I'm pathetic. I like to watch television. You can probably even say that I am addicted to television. Ironically, I don't have a TV, but I have a computer. Thanks to the wonders of internet, TV on the internet is easily accesible for anyone with an internet connection. So despite not having a TV, and pledging that if I had a television I would be able to live without it for a week. Anyway, because of my speedy internet connection, I can still feed my television addiction.
It's not good to be addicted to anything, even something as harmless as television. Shame on me!
Notice we say: addicted to something/ TV is addictive/ I am a TV addict
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Bad Tiger
Well, I think it is safe to say that 2009 is now over. How do I gauge that? Well, for me it's when I finish writing the wrong year by mistake. As I can finally manage to write 2010 correctly, I therefore vote to move on to the current year. Anyway, looking back at last year, there is one interesting news story filled with regret. That's you Tiger Woods. He did some things he was ashamed of. Being an English teacher, it's time to lay blame using correct grammar. So today we will blame Tiger using Should have done
1.) For example: Tiger lied to his wife for a very long time.
We express his regret by saying: He Shouldn't have lied to his wife.
-In grammar speak we say: SHOULD HAVE +PAST PARTICIPLE
-What else about Tiger? He should have told the truth. He Should have apologized. He Shouldn't have slept with so many women. He shouldn't have done so many bad things.
1.) For example: Tiger lied to his wife for a very long time.
We express his regret by saying: He Shouldn't have lied to his wife.
-In grammar speak we say: SHOULD HAVE +PAST PARTICIPLE
-What else about Tiger? He should have told the truth. He Should have apologized. He Shouldn't have slept with so many women. He shouldn't have done so many bad things.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Used to do something/to be Used to doing something!!!
Are you looking at the title thinking both are the same?
SHAME ON YOU!!!
If I say I used to do something; for example: I used to smoke, drink red bull, drive a car, read poetry, it means that I DON'T anymore
So: USED TO +VERB: PAST HABIT NO LONGER PRACTICED!!!!
If I say I am used to doing something, for example: I am used to, waking up early, taking the bus to work, working 15 hours a day, studying for ten hours a day,living in Poland etc..
SO: TO BE USED TO +ING: this means that something was difficult and unpleasant for a while, but now you can manage and not be bothered by it!!!
ALTHOUGH...If you say I am used to snowboarding, skiing, riding a bike, or other activities, then I AM USED TO +ING is strange...it's better to say that you are GETTING GOOD AT+ING..
I am getting good at playing the guitar, because the guitar was never unpleasant, so i didn't have to get used to playing it!!!
Hope this helps!
SHAME ON YOU!!!
If I say I used to do something; for example: I used to smoke, drink red bull, drive a car, read poetry, it means that I DON'T anymore
So: USED TO +VERB: PAST HABIT NO LONGER PRACTICED!!!!
If I say I am used to doing something, for example: I am used to, waking up early, taking the bus to work, working 15 hours a day, studying for ten hours a day,living in Poland etc..
SO: TO BE USED TO +ING: this means that something was difficult and unpleasant for a while, but now you can manage and not be bothered by it!!!
ALTHOUGH...If you say I am used to snowboarding, skiing, riding a bike, or other activities, then I AM USED TO +ING is strange...it's better to say that you are GETTING GOOD AT+ING..
I am getting good at playing the guitar, because the guitar was never unpleasant, so i didn't have to get used to playing it!!!
Hope this helps!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
What would you do?
This week, we have been talking about leaders; what makes a good leader, what makes a bad leader, who are our favorite, and who are our least favorite leaders. It's been fun.
Anyway, In this day in age of international conflict, we often hear how world leaders fail like third graders taking a medical board exam. I always think that if I were the leader, I would do things differently...
Anyway, What would you do if you were president?
If I were president, I would listen to other leaders before I made any decisions.
Or; most likely: If I were president, I would take a vacation!
So in English we say: IF I+(WAS/WERE) president, I+ WOULD + PRESENT SIMPLE
-the speaker means that is an unreal situation, and it's not real...so this is how we speak when we are dreaming about doing something RIGHT NOW...
-If I were rich, I would go to school and get a PHD.
(I am not rich, and I am working like a dog, I am only dreaming!)
Anyway, readers and learners of English, this is your homework. Ask yourself, what would you do if you were president, and what would you do if you were rich?
Anyway, In this day in age of international conflict, we often hear how world leaders fail like third graders taking a medical board exam. I always think that if I were the leader, I would do things differently...
Anyway, What would you do if you were president?
If I were president, I would listen to other leaders before I made any decisions.
Or; most likely: If I were president, I would take a vacation!
So in English we say: IF I+(WAS/WERE) president, I+ WOULD + PRESENT SIMPLE
-the speaker means that is an unreal situation, and it's not real...so this is how we speak when we are dreaming about doing something RIGHT NOW...
-If I were rich, I would go to school and get a PHD.
(I am not rich, and I am working like a dog, I am only dreaming!)
Anyway, readers and learners of English, this is your homework. Ask yourself, what would you do if you were president, and what would you do if you were rich?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Welcome and be Afraid!!
Okay everyone,
First of all I would like to say hello, and thank you for tuning in. As you know I am a struggling ESL Teacher and graduate student in the dynamic European capital city of Poland; Warsaw.
Despite the fact that I try to educate many of you in the art of English communication in the classroom, sometimes I feel like I should do more. You are all wonderful people, and you deserve the best. I am not the best-yet, but to make up for my shortcomings, I am attempting to create my esl blog to help you as students interact with this tricky and fickle language we typically call English.
Anyway, more on this academic English stuff later. As it is also Halloween weekend, and since I have been trying to explain to all you determined students the differences between the being afraid verbs like; to cringe, to be scared stiff, to be mesmerized, and the idiomatic expression not really discussed during lessons: to be 'shitting bricks, I am posting this youtube video of a preview form a film called 'Paranormal Activity.'
You will see cringing, and boyfriends holding girlfriends who are scared stiff. You will even see many people 'shittin bricks!' However not literally!
click this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_UxLEqd074
First of all I would like to say hello, and thank you for tuning in. As you know I am a struggling ESL Teacher and graduate student in the dynamic European capital city of Poland; Warsaw.
Despite the fact that I try to educate many of you in the art of English communication in the classroom, sometimes I feel like I should do more. You are all wonderful people, and you deserve the best. I am not the best-yet, but to make up for my shortcomings, I am attempting to create my esl blog to help you as students interact with this tricky and fickle language we typically call English.
Anyway, more on this academic English stuff later. As it is also Halloween weekend, and since I have been trying to explain to all you determined students the differences between the being afraid verbs like; to cringe, to be scared stiff, to be mesmerized, and the idiomatic expression not really discussed during lessons: to be 'shitting bricks, I am posting this youtube video of a preview form a film called 'Paranormal Activity.'
You will see cringing, and boyfriends holding girlfriends who are scared stiff. You will even see many people 'shittin bricks!' However not literally!
click this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_UxLEqd074
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