Helping English language learners
Verb tenses indicate the timing of actions or events, enhancing communication clarity. There are three primary tenses—past, present, and future—each subdivided into four categories, resulting in twelve tenses overall. This system allows for detailed expression of event timing and duration, ensuring more precise understanding.
We use the idiom “getting blood out of a stone” when we’re talking about trying to do something that is impossible.
Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration used for emphasis, often to convey strong feelings or humour. Common examples include statements like “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” or “My suitcase weighs a tonne.” While using “literally” to enhance hyperbole is widespread, it is not recommended in formal contexts.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which words with opposite, or almost opposite, meanings are used together to create a special effect. Often oxymorons might appear at first to be nonsense but...
Unassuming is an adjective. We use it to describe a person who is modest. Unassuming people tend not to draw attention to themselves. Often, they are very talented and accomplished people who don’t show...
We use the expression “follow suit” when we talk about somebody doing the same as – or copying – someone else. It comes from a card game called whist in which a player must...
Influence, influence on and influence over? We use the word Influence when we are talking about someone or something having an effect. We can use it on its own or with “on” or “over”...
Loophole When people make laws, rules and contracts they often use very complicated words and sentences. This is supposed to make them very precise or clear about what is expected to happen or not...
You might come across the phrase “to a t” (or, perhaps “to a tee”). It means “exactly” or “perfectly”. One common use is in the expression “suits … to tee”. If your friend’s dress...
Coax and cajole are words that we use when we talk about trying to get someone to do something – perhaps something that they don’t want to do. They are both synonyms of “persuade”...