Jun 18

Prepositions of Movement

  • 18 de June de 2024

Prepositions of movement describe the direction or movement of someone or something. They are crucial for providing clarity in communication. Let’s explore some common prepositions of movement and how to use them effectively. This graphic shows some of the more common prepositions of movement. Look below for definitions and examples.

1. Up

Definition: Moving from a lower position to a higher one.
Example: She climbed up the stairs.

2. Down

Definition: Moving from a higher position to a lower one.
Example: The cat jumped down from the table.

3. Over

Definition: Moving above something or someone without touching it.
Example: The bird flew over the house.

4. To

Definition: Moving towards a specific destination.
Example: He walked to the store.

5. Away From

Definition: Moving in the opposite direction from a particular place or person.
Example: She ran away from the barking dog.

6. Towards

Definition: Moving in the direction of someone or something.
Example: They walked towards the beach.

7. Past

Definition: Moving beyond a specific point.
Example: The car drove past the old barn.

8. Into

Definition: Moving from outside to a point inside.
Example: She poured the milk into the glass.

9. Out Of

Definition: Moving from inside to a point outside.
Example: He took the keys out of his pocket.

10. Around

Definition: Moving in a circular direction or along the circumference of something.
Example: They walked around the park.

11. Onto

Definition: Moving to a position on a surface.
Example: The cat jumped onto the sofa.

12. Off Of

Definition: Moving away from a surface.
Example: She got off of the bus.

13. Across

Definition: Moving from one side to another.
Example: They swam across the river.

14. Through

Definition: Moving from one side and out the other side of something.
Example: The tunnel goes through the mountain.

15. Along

Definition: Moving in a line next to something.
Example: They walked along the beach.

Practical Tips for Using Prepositions of Movement

  1. Visualize the Movement: Imagine the action described by the verb and how the preposition indicates direction.
  2. Use Context Clues: Consider the context of the sentence to choose the appropriate preposition.
  3. Practice with Examples: Regularly practice by creating sentences using different prepositions of movement.

Conclusion

Understanding and using prepositions of movement correctly can greatly enhance your communication skills. They provide precise information about direction and movement, making your sentences clearer and more informative. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using these prepositions like a pro!

For more information, see our PREPOSITIONS page.

If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.

Follow me on Instagram: @englishyourwaybr
or look for the hashtag #LearnEnglishWithCarlo

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/prepositions-of-movement-guide/

Jun 17

PHRASAL VERBS with “put”

  • 17 de June de 2024

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and an adverb or preposition, for example ‘look up’ or ‘look after’, which together have a particular meaning which is different from the verb alone.

Here are the definitions and examples for each of the phrasal verbs listed:

1. Put away
– Definition: To place something in its appropriate location; to save money.
– Example 1: “She put away the groceries in the pantry.”
– Example 2: “He puts away a portion of his salary every month for savings.”

2. Put back
– Definition: To return something to its original place.
– Example: “After reading the book, she put it back on the shelf.”

3. Put by
– Definition: To save money for future use.
– Example: “They have put by some money for their children’s education.”

4. Put down
– Definition: To place something on a surface; to criticize or belittle someone; to euthanize an animal.
– Example 1: “She put down her bag on the table.”
– Example 2: “He felt hurt when his boss put him down in front of his colleagues.”
– Example 3: “They had to put down their old dog because it was very sick.”

5. Put in
– Definition: To install or insert something; to contribute effort or time.
– Example 1: “They put in a new dishwasher in the kitchen.”
– Example 2: “She put in a lot of hours to complete the project on time.”

6. Put off
– Definition: To delay or postpone something; to cause someone to lose interest or enthusiasm.
– Example 1: “They decided to put off their vacation until next year.”
– Example 2: “The unpleasant smell put her off her food.”

7. Put on
– Definition: To dress oneself in clothing; to gain weight; to stage or perform something.
– Example 1: “He put on his coat before leaving the house.”
– Example 2: “She has put on some weight recently.”
– Example 3: “The school is putting on a play next month.”

8. Put through
– Definition: To connect someone by phone; to make someone experience something difficult.
– Example 1: “Can you put me through to the manager, please?”
– Example 2: “She was put through a lot of stress during the project.”

These definitions and examples illustrate the various uses and meanings of each phrasal verb.

If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.

Follow me on Instagram: @englishyourwaybr
or look for the hashtag #LearnEnglishWithCarlo

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/phrasal-verbs-with-put/

Jun 13

PHRASAL VERBS with “throw”

  • 13 de June de 2024

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and an adverb or preposition, for example ‘look up’ or ‘look after’, which together have a particular meaning which is different from the verb alone.

Phrasal verbs with “throw” have a range of meanings depending on the preposition or adverb they are paired with. Here are the definitions and examples for each:

  1. Throw away

    • Definition: To discard something as useless or unwanted.
    • Example: “She decided to throw away the old magazines.”

  2. Throw in

    • Definition: To add something extra or include something at no additional cost.
    • Example: “They threw in a free pair of socks with the purchase of the shoes.”

  3. Throw off

    • Definition: To mislead or confuse someone; to quickly remove something.
    • Example 1: “The decoy threw off the pursuers.”
    • Example 2: “She threw off her coat as she entered the warm room.”

  4. Throw on

    • Definition: To put on a piece of clothing quickly.
    • Example: “He threw on a jacket and ran out the door.”

  5. Throw out

    • Definition: To dispose of something; to reject or dismiss someone or something.
    • Example 1: “He decided to throw out the broken chair.”
    • Example 2: “The committee threw out the proposal.”

  6. Throw down

    • Definition: To challenge someone to a fight or competition.
    • Example: “He threw down the gauntlet and challenged his rival to a duel.”

  7. Throw up

    • Definition: To vomit; to construct something hastily.
    • Example 1: “She felt sick and had to throw up.”
    • Example 2: “They threw up a temporary shelter for the event.”

  1. Throw back

    • Definition: To return something to where it came from; to refer to something from the past.
    • Example 1: “They caught a fish but decided to throw it back into the lake.”
    • Example 2: “Her dress was a throwback to the fashion of the 1960s.”

  2. Throw together

    • Definition: To assemble or create something quickly and without much preparation.
    • Example: “He threw together a quick meal from the leftovers in the fridge.”

  3. Throw about/around

    • Definition: To scatter things carelessly; to mention or suggest ideas casually.
    • Example 1: “The kids threw their toys around the room.”
    • Example 2: “She threw around some ideas for the new project during the meeting.”

  4. Throw down (also means)

    • Definition: To put something down forcefully.
    • Example: “He threw down his backpack in frustration.”

If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.

Follow me on Instagram: @englishyourwaybr
or look for the hashtag #LearnEnglishWithCarlo

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/phrasal-verbs-with-throw/

Jun 12

IDIOM OF THE DAY – “to make ends meet”

  • 12 de June de 2024

Idioms are expressions whose meanings are different from the individual words and therefore aren’t meant to be taken literally. They exist in most languages and are usually the result of usage over a long period of time.

If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.

Follow me on Instagram: @englishyourwaybr
or look for the hashtag #LearnEnglishWithCarlo

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/idiom-to-make-ends-meet/

Jun 06

GRAMMAR – Countable and Uncountable Nouns

  • 6 de June de 2024

Countable and uncountable nouns are two categories used to classify nouns based on whether they can be counted or not.

Countable Nouns:
Countable nouns refer to objects or entities that can be counted as discrete units.
They have both singular and plural forms.
They can be preceded by numbers (one, two, three, etc.) and quantifying words (a, an, many, few, etc.).

Examples:
Singular: cat, book, table, car
Plural: cats, books, tables, cars

Countable nouns can be counted individually or as a group.

Uncountable Nouns (Mass Nouns):
Uncountable nouns refer to substances, concepts, or qualities that cannot be counted as individual units.
They usually don’t have a plural form or can’t be pluralized without changing their meaning.
They cannot be preceded by numbers or quantifying words like “a” or “an.”

Examples:
water, rice, information, furniture

Uncountable nouns are often measured or quantified by using units of measurement, containers, or other quantifying expressions:
a bottle of water, a cup of rice, a piece of information

Here’s a comparison to illustrate the difference:

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS ARE OFTEN:
Abstract Ideas: love, freedom, education, luck, help, music, beauty
Made of small parts: rice, sugar, sand, flour, dirt, dust, traffic, grass, spaghetti
Some food: bread, fish, cheese, chocolate, ham, bacon, food, meat
Liquids and Gases: water, coffee, milk, oil, rain, soup, air, smoke, fog, blood
Materials: wood, glass, paper, gold, silver, ice, steel, cotton, wool

Countable: “I have three cats.”
Here, “cats” is countable because you can count each individual cat.

Uncountable: “I need some advice.”
“Advice” is uncountable because you can’t count it as individual pieces of advice; it’s a concept rather than a physical object.

Remember, some nouns can be both countable and uncountable depending on context. For example, “fruit” is usually uncountable (as in “I like fruit”), but it can be countable when referring to specific types of fruit (as in “I bought three fruits: an apple, a banana, and an orange”).

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable and uncountable nouns are two categories used to classify nouns based on whether they can be counted or not. Countable nouns have both singular and plural forms. Uncountable nouns refer to substances, concepts, or qualities that cannot be counted as individual units and don’t have a plural form or can’t be pluralized without changing their meaning.

1 / 12

Which noun is countable?

2 / 12

Which noun is uncountable?

3 / 12

Choose the correct option:
How many ________ do you have?

4 / 12

Choose the correct option:
There isn't much ________ in the bottle.

5 / 12

Choose the correct option:
I need some ________ for the meeting.

6 / 12

Choose the correct option:
Can you give me a few ________?

7 / 12

Choose the correct option:
There are many ________ in the garden.

8 / 12

Choose the correct option:
She has a lot of ________.

9 / 12

Choose the correct option:
I don't have much ________ left.

10 / 12

Choose the correct option:
They bought a few ________ at the market.

11 / 12

Choose the correct option:
He didn't buy much ________.

12 / 12

Choose the correct option:
How much ________ do you need?

Your score is

The average score is 87%

0%

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/grammar-countable-and-uncountable-nouns/

Jun 04

CONFUSING WORDS – DO vs. DOES

  • 4 de June de 2024

The difference between DO and DOES is not difficult to understand.
DO is a verb and DOES is the third person singular of that verb in the present tense. Every other person in the conjugation uses DO.

When the subject is I, you, we, or they, we use DO.

I do my homework every day.
Do you know the answer?
I don’t see it.
We don’t want any cake.
They do it for fun.
We do it every day.
Why do you ask?

When the subject is he, she, or it, we use DOES.

He does his homework every day.
Does she know the answer?
She doesn’t see it.
He doesn’t want any cake.
He does it for fun.
She does it every day.
Why does she want to know?

DO or DOES

Choose the correct option (DO or DOES) to complete each sentence

1 / 12

___ you like ice cream?

2 / 12

___ she know how to swim?

3 / 12

___ they play soccer on weekends?

4 / 12

___ he have a pet cat?

5 / 12

___ you and your friends go to the same school?

6 / 12

___ it rain often in your city?

7 / 12

___ we need to bring our own lunch?

8 / 12

___ your parents speak English?

9 / 12

___ the teacher give homework every day?

10 / 12

___ my sister like to read books?

11 / 12

___ the kids enjoy the park?

12 / 12

___ you have any questions?

Your score is

The average score is 89%

0%

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/confusing-words-do-vs-does/

May 31

Indirect Questions

  • 31 de May de 2024

Indirect questions are a polite and often more formal way of asking questions. They differ from direct questions in their structure and use. Let’s break down what indirect questions are, how to form them, and provide examples to illustrate their use.

What Are Indirect Questions?

Indirect questions are questions embedded within statements or other questions. They are commonly used to show politeness or to soften the impact of a question. Instead of asking a question directly, you rephrase it in a way that makes it sound less direct and more courteous.

Direct vs. Indirect Questions

Direct Question: Where is the nearest bank?
Indirect Question: Could you tell me where the nearest bank is?

Notice the difference:

  • The direct question is straightforward and to the point.
  • The indirect question is introduced by a polite phrase and follows a statement structure.

How to Form Indirect Questions

To form an indirect question, follow these steps:

  1. Start with a polite phrase:
    • Could you tell me…
    • Do you know…
    • I wonder…
    • Can you explain…
  2. Follow with the subject and verb, avoiding inversion:
    • Direct: What time is it?
    • Indirect: Do you know what time it is?
  3. Use ‘if’ or ‘whether’ for yes/no questions:
    • Direct: Is it going to rain today?
    • Indirect: Do you know if it is going to rain today?

Examples of Indirect Questions

Here are some examples of how direct questions are transformed into indirect questions:

  1. Direct: Where does she live?
    Indirect: Can you tell me where she lives?
  2. Direct: Why did they leave early?
    Indirect: Do you know why they left early?
  3. Direct: Did he finish the project?
    Indirect: Could you let me know if he finished the project?
  4. Direct: What is your name?
    Indirect: I’d like to know what your name is.
  5. Direct: When is the meeting?
    Indirect: Do you have any idea when the meeting is?

Tips for Using Indirect Questions

  • Maintain Politeness: Use indirect questions to be more polite, especially in formal situations or when speaking to someone you don’t know well.
  • No Auxiliary Verbs in the Question Part: Unlike direct questions, indirect questions do not use auxiliary verbs like ‘do’ or ‘does’ after the polite phrase.
  • Tense Consistency: Ensure that the tense of the question remains consistent. The polite phrase does not change the tense of the question itself.

Indirect Questions

Choose the correct indirect question for each direct question provided.

1 / 12

Direct: Where is the nearest pharmacy?

2 / 12

Direct: When does the train leave?

3 / 12

Direct: Is the library open today?

4 / 12

Direct: How much is this book?

5 / 12

Direct: Why did they cancel the meeting?

6 / 12

Direct: What time does the show start?

7 / 12

Can you help me with this problem?

8 / 12

Direct: Where did she go last night?

9 / 12

Direct: Will it rain tomorrow?

10 / 12

Direct: Who is your favorite actor?

11 / 12

Direct: How do you make this dish?

12 / 12

Direct: What are the office hours?

Your score is

The average score is 83%

0%

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/indirect-questions/

May 26

GRAMMAR – This, that, these, those

  • 26 de May de 2024

Demonstrative Pronouns

  1. This
    • Usage: Refers to a singular noun that is close to the speaker.
    • Example: This is my book. (The book is near me.)
  2. That
    • Usage: Refers to a singular noun that is far from the speaker.
    • Example: That is my book. (The book is not near me.)
  3. These
    • Usage: Refers to plural nouns that are close to the speaker.
    • Example: These are my books. (The books are near me.)
  4. Those
    • Usage: Refers to plural nouns that are far from the speaker.
    • Example: Those are my books. (The books are not near me.)

Visual Aid

Quick Tips

  • This/These = close.
  • That/Those = far.
  • This/That = singular.
  • These/Those = plural.

This simple framework can help your students understand and correctly use these pronouns.

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/grammar-this-that-these-those/

May 26

Personal Pronouns & Adjectives

  • 26 de May de 2024

1. Subject Pronouns: Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence, meaning it performs the action of the verb. They replace nouns as the doers of the action. Here are the subject pronouns in English:

  • I
  • You
  • He
  • She
  • It
  • We
  • They

For example:

  • “She runs every morning.” (The subject pronoun “she” replaces the noun that would be the person running.)

2. Possessive Adjectives: Possessive adjectives show ownership or possession. They come before a noun to indicate that the noun belongs to someone or something. Here are the possessive adjectives in English:

  • My
  • Your
  • His
  • Her
  • Its
  • Our
  • Their

For example:

  • “This is my book.” (The possessive adjective “my” shows that the book belongs to me.)

3. Object Pronouns: Object pronouns are used when the pronoun is the object of the verb or preposition, meaning it receives the action of the verb or follows a preposition. They replace nouns as the receivers of the action. Here are the object pronouns in English:

  • Me
  • You
  • Him
  • Her
  • It
  • Us
  • Them

For example:

  • “He gave the book to me.” (The object pronoun “me” receives the action of the verb “gave.”)

4. Possessive Pronouns: Possessive pronouns also show ownership or possession, but they stand alone and do not need to be followed by a noun. They indicate that something belongs to someone or something. Here are the possessive pronouns in English:

  • Mine
  • Yours
  • His
  • Hers
  • Its
  • Ours
  • Theirs

For example:

  • “The red car is hers.” (The possessive pronoun “hers” stands alone and shows that the red car belongs to her.)

5. Reflexive Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the verb are the same person or thing. They reflect back to the subject of the sentence. Here are the reflexive pronouns in English:

  • Myself
  • Yourself
  • Himself
  • Herself
  • Itself
  • Ourselves
  • Yourselves
  • Themselves

For example:

  • “She hurt herself.” (The reflexive pronoun “herself” reflects back to the subject “she,” indicating that she hurt herself.)

Understanding the differences between these pronouns and adjectives can help clarify their usage in sentences. The table below lists subject pronouns, object pronouns, possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns, and reflexive pronouns.

Subject PronounPossessive AdjectiveObject PronounPossessive PronounReflexive Pronouns

I

My

Me

Mine

Myself

You

Your

You

Yours

Yourself

He

His

Him

His

Himself

She

Her

Her

Hers

Herself

It

Its

It

Its

Itself

We

Our

Us

Ours

Ourselves

You

Your

You

Yours

Yourselves

They

Their

Them

Theirs

Themselves

For more information visit our PRONOUNS page.

Here’s a multiple-choice exercise to reinforce the understanding of subject pronouns, possessive adjectives, object pronouns, possessive pronouns, and reflexive pronouns:

Personal Pronouns & Adjectives

1 / 12

Which type of pronoun is used as the subject of the sentence?

2 / 12

Choose the correct possessive adjective to complete the sentence:
"This is ________ book."

3 / 12

In the sentence "She gave him a gift," what is the object pronoun?

4 / 12

Which of the following shows ownership and stands alone without a noun?

5 / 12

Fill in the blank with the appropriate reflexive pronoun:
"He hurt ________ while playing."

6 / 12

What type of pronoun replaces a noun as the receiver of the action?

7 / 12

Which word is a possessive adjective?

8 / 12

Choose the correct subject pronoun: "______ are going to the party."

9 / 12

In the sentence "I made dinner for myself," what is the reflexive pronoun?

10 / 12

Which of the following indicates that something belongs to someone or something?

11 / 12

Fill in the blank with the appropriate possessive pronoun:
"The blue bike is ________."

12 / 12

What type of pronoun is used to refer back to the subject of the sentence?

Your score is

The average score is 80%

0%

If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.

Follow me on Instagram: @englishyourwaybr
or look for the hashtag #LearnEnglishWithCarlo

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/pronouns/

May 26

Adverbs of Frequency

  • 26 de May de 2024

Have you ever wondered how to tell someone how often you do something? There are special words in English that help us do just that. They’re called adverbs of frequency, and they’re pretty cool! Let’s learn more about them together.

What are Adverbs of Frequency? Adverbs of frequency are words that tell us how often something happens. They’re like little helpers that make our sentences clearer. Some common ones are “always,” “usually,” “often,” “sometimes,” “rarely,” and “never.” For example, if you say, “I always brush my teeth before bed,” the word “always” tells us that you do it every time.

Understanding Usage: We usually put adverbs of frequency before the main verb in a sentence. For example, “She usually goes to bed early.” But if the sentence is negative, we put the adverb before the main verb. Like in, “He never eats vegetables.” These words also work with different verb tenses, like past, present, and future.

Frequency Adverbs in Daily Life: In our everyday conversations, these words help us talk about our habits and routines. For example, “I often walk to school,” or “She sometimes plays soccer with her friends.” Everyone’s habits are different, so these words help us explain how often we do things.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls: Sometimes, we might put these words in the wrong place in a sentence, which can make it confusing. It’s important to double-check where they go. Also, using words like “always” or “never” too much can sound a bit strange. It’s better to find a balance.

Adverbs of Frequency

1 / 12

Where do we usually put adverbs of frequency in a sentence?

2 / 12

Which of the following is an adverb of frequency?

3 / 12

Fill in the blank with the correct adverb of frequency:
"She ________ watches TV in the evening."

4 / 12

Which sentence is correct?

5 / 12

What does the adverb "always" tell us?

6 / 12

Rewrite the sentence using a different adverb of frequency:
"I usually eat breakfast at 7 am."

7 / 12

Which adverb of frequency means "not often"?

8 / 12

Choose the correct adverb of frequency to complete the sentence:
"She ________ forgets her keys."

9 / 12

Where does the adverb of frequency "never" typically go in a sentence?

10 / 12

What do adverbs of frequency help us talk about?

11 / 12

Which sentence is correct?

12 / 12

Which adverb of frequency means "all the time"

Your score is

The average score is 88%

0%

If you have any questions or doubts, please ask in the comments or send me a private message.

Follow me on Instagram: @englishyourwaybr
or look for the hashtag #LearnEnglishWithCarlo

Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/adverbs-of-frequency/

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