Learn ESL Here
Stephen Lau
Stephen Lau
Correct the Incorrect
Look at some incorrect sentences.
Understand why they are incorrect, and try to correct them.
Correct the incorrect, and learn how to write correct sentences.
Please click here.
Understand why they are incorrect, and try to correct them.
Correct the incorrect, and learn how to write correct sentences.
Please click here.
Learn Some American Idioms Here.
Idioms are words and phrases in a language that have come into existence for a variety of reasons.
The most obvious reason is that idioms often delightfully reflect the characteristics of a race.
Learn some American idioms here.
Idioms are words and phrases in a language that have come into existence for a variety of reasons.
The most obvious reason is that idioms often delightfully reflect the characteristics of a race.
Learn some American idioms here.
Confusing Words and Phrases
In the English language, there are many words and phrases that look similar but they are totally different in meaning.
Click here to learn some of the common words and phrases that are frequently confused and misused by ESL learners.
Click here to learn some.
In the English language, there are many words and phrases that look similar but they are totally different in meaning.
Click here to learn some of the common words and phrases that are frequently confused and misused by ESL learners.
Click here to learn some.
Learn Some Englisih Slang and Colloquial Expressions Here
To speak well, you must learn so English slang and colloquial expressions that are commonly expressed in everyday conversation.
Click here to learn some.
To speak well, you must learn so English slang and colloquial expressions that are commonly expressed in everyday conversation.
Click here to learn some.
Learn Some Prepositional Words and Phrases Here
Prepositions are words that indicate relationships betweens various elements within a sentence.
Prepositional phrases always consist of the object and the prepositional.
Click here to learn some.
Prepositions are words that indicate relationships betweens various elements within a sentence.
Prepositional phrases always consist of the object and the prepositional.
Click here to learn some.
Learning English as a second language is not an easy task because there are skills in listening, speaking, and writing that you have to master.
In listening and speaking English, one has to adjust to certain phonetic sounds that are unique to the English language. In writing English, one has to learn new words and phrases, as well as idioms and colloquial expressions, in addition to the complexity of the English grammar.
Having said that, knowing the basics, and following the right pathways, you can still master ESL and speak and write as if English is your native language. Learning ESL is all about practice, practice, and more practice, with the right know-how.
In listening and speaking English, one has to adjust to certain phonetic sounds that are unique to the English language. In writing English, one has to learn new words and phrases, as well as idioms and colloquial expressions, in addition to the complexity of the English grammar.
Having said that, knowing the basics, and following the right pathways, you can still master ESL and speak and write as if English is your native language. Learning ESL is all about practice, practice, and more practice, with the right know-how.
Learn the Different Types of Sentences in English
The simple sentence
The simple sentence is made up of a subject and a predicate (a verb, or a verb + noun/adjective/adverb/preposition etc. to complete the sentence).
e.g. The woman (subject) went (predicate) to Mexico.
e.g. Washington D.C. (subject) is (predicate) the capital of the United States.
Identifying the subject and the predicate helps you in subject-predicate agreement.
e.g. Drinking a glass of warm milk and taking a hot bath help me sleep better. (NOT helps)
e.g. Every house in the neighborhood has been searched. (NOT have)
e.g. Each of the students was given an assignment. (NOT were)
The simple sentence (usually short) is used to make a statement, or to emphasize an idea.
However, overuse of short simple sentences may result in choppy sentences.
e.g. It was a beautiful day. The sun was warm. We wanted to go for a walk. We decided to go to the lake. (choppy)
e.g. It was a warm and beautiful day, and we decided to go to the lake for a walk. (improved)
The compound sentence
The compound sentence is made up two or more simple sentences joined together by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, for, so, yet), or a punctuation mark (colon, semicolon).
e.g. The man took the money, and (he) ran away.
e.g. You finish this work, or you don’t get paid!
e.g. I don’t want to go, nor will I.
e.g. He was poor, but he was happy.
e.g. We were thirsty, for the weather was hot.
e.g. He worked hard so he passed his test.
e.g. The boy practiced very hard, yet he did not make the swim team.
The compound sentence is used to show relationship, sequence, or importance.
The complex sentence
The complex sentence is made up two or more simple sentences joined together by a subordinating conjunction (after, before, since, when, although).
e.g. After the man took the money, he ran away.
The emphasis is more on he ran away than on the man took the money; the complex sentence here not only shows the sequence of the action but also focuses on he ran away “after” taking the money.
Compare: “The man took the money, and (he) ran away.” In this compound sentence, the emphasis is on the man took the money as well as (he) ran away.
e.g. Before the postman came, the woman had already finished writing the letter.
e.g. When the postman came, the woman gave him the letter.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© 2018 by Stephen Lau
Go to Previous for More.
The simple sentence
The simple sentence is made up of a subject and a predicate (a verb, or a verb + noun/adjective/adverb/preposition etc. to complete the sentence).
e.g. The woman (subject) went (predicate) to Mexico.
e.g. Washington D.C. (subject) is (predicate) the capital of the United States.
Identifying the subject and the predicate helps you in subject-predicate agreement.
e.g. Drinking a glass of warm milk and taking a hot bath help me sleep better. (NOT helps)
e.g. Every house in the neighborhood has been searched. (NOT have)
e.g. Each of the students was given an assignment. (NOT were)
The simple sentence (usually short) is used to make a statement, or to emphasize an idea.
However, overuse of short simple sentences may result in choppy sentences.
e.g. It was a beautiful day. The sun was warm. We wanted to go for a walk. We decided to go to the lake. (choppy)
e.g. It was a warm and beautiful day, and we decided to go to the lake for a walk. (improved)
The compound sentence
The compound sentence is made up two or more simple sentences joined together by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, for, so, yet), or a punctuation mark (colon, semicolon).
e.g. The man took the money, and (he) ran away.
e.g. You finish this work, or you don’t get paid!
e.g. I don’t want to go, nor will I.
e.g. He was poor, but he was happy.
e.g. We were thirsty, for the weather was hot.
e.g. He worked hard so he passed his test.
e.g. The boy practiced very hard, yet he did not make the swim team.
The compound sentence is used to show relationship, sequence, or importance.
The complex sentence
The complex sentence is made up two or more simple sentences joined together by a subordinating conjunction (after, before, since, when, although).
e.g. After the man took the money, he ran away.
The emphasis is more on he ran away than on the man took the money; the complex sentence here not only shows the sequence of the action but also focuses on he ran away “after” taking the money.
Compare: “The man took the money, and (he) ran away.” In this compound sentence, the emphasis is on the man took the money as well as (he) ran away.
e.g. Before the postman came, the woman had already finished writing the letter.
e.g. When the postman came, the woman gave him the letter.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© 2018 by Stephen Lau
Go to Previous for More.