Using "please"

The word "please" is easy to misuse, especially if we put it in the wrong place or add too much stress.

For example, "Could I have a glass of water, please?"

As compared to,

"Please, could I have a glass of water?

In the first example the main part of the request (can I have a glass of water) can be expressed with normal intonation and if the "please" is stressed it is at the end, it doesn't change the intonation of the whole sentence.

However, if "please" is placed at the beginning of the sentence and stressed it can indicate frustration, importance or anger as it tends to influence the tone of the request.

Keep it in mind next time you ask for something, please. Please, be careful!

In order to increase vocabulary and gain new expressions it is useful to study collocations. A collocation is a group of words which combine to have a special meaning.

For example, if we consider the verb "do", we can combine it with many other nouns to explain activities. For example, do the dishes, do my make-up, do the dinner, and so on.

When you learn a new word try to find as many collocations as you can.

Good luck with your study!

Crazy about something?

We normally think of crazy as a negative word, but when we are passionate about something we can use it as a phrase such as "crazy about".

For example:

I am crazy about baseball.

In simple English... I love baseball!

Or maybe yesterday someone sent you roses with a message "I'm crazy about you!!"

In simple English... I love you!

What are you crazy about?

How to remember a new sentence or phrase.

When learning a new sentence or phrase it helps to use the following steps.

1. Read the sentence or phrase slowly and carefully.
2. Cover it with you hand and repeat from memory.
3. Check and repeat until you can remember it.
4. Practice it using correct intonation and natural speed.

Good luck with your study!!

Using the preposition "on"

Using the preposition "on" is useful when talking about when something happened or is going to happen.

For example:

What did you do on Saturday?

Can we meet on the 26th?

Can you think of other ways to use "on" ? Leave your ideas in the comments.

Improving hearing comprehension is a challenge for many English students. An effective way to improve listening skills is to read out aloud every time.

You will find that words become more familiar. This is because you have heard them in your own voice before and can link the image of the word's spelling to the sound.

Try it out!!

When talking about how many times something has happened, which is correct?

1. Once, twice, three times
2. One time, two times, three times
3. Once, twice, thrice

Answers 1 and 3 are possible. Answer 3 is not used often any more but can be found in poetry, novels and older texts.

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