Two of the most important parts of speech in all languages are nouns and verbs. While nouns are quite easy to learn, verbs are relatively more challenging. Verbs are made up of several types, and one of them is what we refer to as “linking verbs.” Perhaps, you may have heard of your grade-school teacher …
English
Despite the fact that every word of it is English, business English often feels like a foreign language. This is especially true of complicated technical terms. It’s hard to understand the meaning of competitive parity in strategic management, for instance. But even basic business English vocabulary can leave people fumbling. What is the meaning …
English has lots of ways to address people. Some are common. Others are so rare they seem ungrammatical. However, just like with “a unique” vs “an unique”, these differences are often down to regional variation. Let’s take a look at “my dears,” an expression that has a mixed reputation. What is the meaning of …
The rise and spread of English as a global language means that expressions in English come from all over the world. For that matter, some even come from other worlds. Although these expressions, which reference favorite books and movies through a process called allusion, are fun to use, doing so can confuse others. Today, we’ll …
Words that are only a vowel different from each other naturally trick language users all the time, natives and non-natives alike. Just like “bad” and “bed,” “pat” and “pet,” and “mat” and “met,” the words “than” and “then” only differ in their middle vowel sound. So, if you’ve been having a challenging time distinguishing the …
When you’re learning English, you also have to learn some idioms and other colloquial language along the way that are common among native speakers. These are usually common, well-established words and phrases, such as “errands to run.” However, there are also forms of slang that cycle in and out of circulation so quickly that it’s …
Expressions in English often seen arbitrary, if not nonsensical. What is a hot minute, for instance? And how on earth can you stare into the abyss? Sometimes, though, English expressions actually do make sense. For an example, let’s explore the meaning of the phrase “hitched breath.” What is the meaning of the expression “hitched …
The internet has changed the way we communicate with each other and the way that words and ideas spread. It’s given us countless memes and words like cheugy. One of the most popular topics for conversation on the internet is pop culture: the TV shows, movies, games, comics and books that everyone is reading and …
Many expressions in English are metaphorical in nature. Some of these expressions, such as close to the chest vs. close to the vest, are easy to understand. However, many seem strange at first glance. Metaphorical expressions like turn the other cheek are ancient, but some sayings are much newer despite how popular they’ve become in …