As a result of the Norman Conquest of 1066, English absorbed lots of French words. Norman, which was a French dialect, was spoken by the ruling class in England until the end of the 14th century. Since then, French words have been borrowed time and again and made their way into modern English. Here are […]
Category: Tips/ ESL
Old English
Did you know that the earliest records of English date back to the 5th century? The earliest form of English is called Old or Anglo-Saxon English. It came about when the Romans withdrew from England and the Anglo-Saxon invaded, bringing their West Germanic dialects with them. Even though much of English has changed since then, […]
Dealing with Listening Comprehension Problems
Below, you will find some useful strategies for dealing with listening comprehension problems. Have you ever tried any of them? Please let us know in the comments. Tips for Dealing with Listening Comprehension Problems Ask for repetition Ask the speaker to talk speak more slowly Ask clarification questions, such as ‘Do you mean that…” Politely […]
Too or to?
Too – an intensifier that’s used for emphasis. It’s used in front of adjectives and adverbs and carries a negative connotation. Example: “The car is too expensive.” To – an infinitive marker; a preposition. Examples: “I would like to take a nap;” “I’m going to school.” If you have any questions, please let us know […]
Stationary or Stationery?
Commonly Confused Words Some words are often confused. Let’s clarify their meanings. Today’s pair is stationary and stationery. Stationary with an ‘a’ is an adjective that means not moving. For example, a parked car is motionless or stationary. On the other hand, stationery with an ‘e’ is a non-countable noun that is a name for […]
