Today's grammar tip comes from a fun and great English Blog created by Kaplan International Colleges. In this post, you can find what the difference between However and Although is. So here it is for all of you:
Howeverand although are two English words that both loosely mean “but”. Unfortunately, knowing exactly when you should use however vs although is something that most native English speakers would struggle to explain.
The difference between “however” and “although”
The main difference between these two words is that however can stand by itself at the beginning of a sentence, with a comma after it. Although can’t do this.
The words also have slightly different meanings:
Although means “in spite of the fact that…”.
However means “but”.
The actual rules about whether to use however or although are quite complicated, but there is an easy rule that works in almost all situations... Read the full post and find some exercises here!
Post originally written by Chase for http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/
Today I'm here to share with you an exercise about British words VS American words. Here I don't talk about how they're pronounced differently (of course they are), but about how the same things are called differently depending on the country where you live.
Find the American word with the same meaning as its British synonymous.
You can take up to 5 minutes.
Below are the answers for this exercise.
Don't look at them until you're absolutely sure you have finished.
And before I finish writing this post, I want to share with all of you a fun video I've found on YT about some of these words and how different they are. Enjoy!
I'm back with some resources that I hope you like. As you may know already, Amy Walker is an American actress, singer, writer and teacher of accents with and incredible gift. She has recently launched a new Accent Reduction Series to ESL Speakers. This series is completely in-depth and it is composed by several videos, some of them are for free and you can find them in her channel in YouTube, and some of them are for rental and purchase, and are available on 21accents.com and vimeo.com/amiablewalker.
This series works the different vowel sounds, the consonants, the rhythm and the melody. It is very useful if you're an actor, or if you just want to get a nice and clear american accent.
So here they are, directly from her website 21accents.com, Accent with Amy - American Accent Tutorials:
Fun, In-depth Tutorial for the Standard American Accent – Accents with Amy
Accents w Amy! Learn in real time. Hear first-hand how quickly you too can sound like a standard (neutral) American with Amy’s fun, unique techniques. Speak and learn along with us!
Vowel “ə” (the, love, was, today, money, word, for, for you, forever) Vowel “ˈɔ” (always, all, party, darling, awesome)
American “T” and “S” | Accents with Amy
Part 6:
“T” (time, tint, trick, after, afternoon, tape, hat, mat, between, best, left)
“S” (sip, sand, same, sale, serious, stretch, smart, smile, pass, mass, pace, juice)
American “oh” “oo” “ow” ( oʊ uː ʊ æʊ) | Accents with Amy
Part 3:
diphthong oʊ (oh, no, grow, phone, home, road)
long uː (room, bloom, move, blue, you)
short ʊ (good, book, cook, would, wooden, look)
diphthong æʊ (how, now, out, about, house, powder, shout)
“ee” and “i” ( iː v. ɪ) – American Accent Tutorial | Amy Walker
Part 2:
Long iː (me, need, reason, tea, people)
versus: short ɪ (pick, lift, win, dinner, mint)
“a” and “eh” (æ and e) – fun, essential tips! – American Accent Tutorial | Amy Walker
Part 1:
Short æ (back, have, cat, can, man)
versus: e (bend, men, head, every, left)
The goal is that by listening to any difference between the correct way and another way, you will develop your ability to hear any differences in your own speaking -thereby learning faster and more completely.
So now that summer is almost here, and we're all ready for it, I thought I'd write a post about studying abroad. Do you have your trip already planned? I do!
For those of you who haven't traveled abroad to learn English, here is all you need to know:
TIPS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH WHILE STUDYING ABROAD
DON'T HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE FROM YOUR COUNTRY
When you travel abroad, you're likely to get along with people from your country more than with other people. Why? Because you share the same culture. You share the same language, know probably the same kind of food, have a lot of things in common. That's a problem.
If you feel comfortable with them, you're
more possibly gonna end up hanging out just with them, speaking in your own language and using English just in your classes at school. But then, you will go back to your country feeling like living abroad didn't help you very much with your English (or any other language).
While if you get to meet people from other countries who you don't share a culture with, you are gonna end up speaking English all the time, and you will come back to your country feeling like you really "worked your fingers to the bone" and improved a lot, and you can get to know different cultures, really interesting people and wonderful places. And you will have friends all over the world after your coming back home!
DON'T SPEAK YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE!
This is specially hard for foreign speakers with a very low level of English but, hey!, you can make mistakes while speaking in English. That's how we all learn, by making mistakes. Try to meet people who don't speak your own language and try to get some native speaker friends, that will help you a lot!
STAYING IN A HOST FAMILY IS ALWAYS BETTER!
It will help you much more with your English than staying on your own, and it is always important to have someone caring about you when you're out of your country. They will help you if you need it and they will make your experience more enjoyable, because they probably know interesting places to visit and fun things to do.
GO TO CLASS!
It is hard to attend your classes when there are lots of things you want to do, but it is important for you to go to class. You've paid for the classes and you have to go to your school everyday, or you may not be able to get your certificate at the end of the course, or even worse, you may not learn anything at all.
CHOOSING YOUR ENGLISH SCHOOL CAREFULLY
The quality of teaching has to be good so you can learn as fast as possible. You should check if your school is accredited by the institution of the country you're gonna study in. For example ACCETS for schools in the US and the BRITISH COUNCIL for school in the UK.
I will write a post about different English schools that I would recommend for you to study at.
I hope you find these tips useful and that you learn a lot while being abroad, as it's the best way to learn!
Here I come with the fifth grammar lesson of the blog, hope you find it easy!
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc. Examples:
I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars. Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event. Examples:
I have been to France.*
*This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.
I have been to France three times*.
*You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
I have never* been to France.
*This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.
The affirmative form of the Present Perfect is formed with the verb "To have" in present tense as an auxiliary verb and the form in Past Participle of the principal verb. Example:
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
I have been to France three times.
The negative form of the Present Perfect is formed with the present tense of the verb "To have" in negative and the form in Past Participle of the principal verb. Example:
He has not traveled by train.
Joan hasn't studied two foreign languages.
I have not been to France three times.
The interrogative form of the Present Perfect is formed with the verb "To have" in present tense at the beginning of the question and the Past Participle of the principal verb. Example:
Haven't you seen that movie before? Have you ever met him? Has Joan studied two foreign languages? Has he traveled by train?
Today's movie post is about one of the most watched musical of all times, based on the book "Les Miserables" from Victor Hugo. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards this year, and won three of them. Starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter and some other great artists, and directed by Tom Hooper, the awarded director of "The King's speech". Here it goes a short synopsis:
"Several years after the French Revolution, things are going bad in the country once again as a new king rises to the throne. The rich remain rich and the poor are as bad off as ever. Amid this setting, Jean Valjean finds himself in prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread as well as for numerous escape attempts. There, he has been constantly harassed by prison guard Javert. Valjean is finally released, but when he returns to society he finds himself an outcast and unable to find work. He begins to turn into the thief he was unfairly labeled as. But after a religious epiphany, Valjean resolves to break his parole, create a new identity, and start his life over.
Six years later, Valjean has become the mayor of a town and a successful businessman, but his world is turned upside down when Javert arrives in town as the new police inspector. Valjean becomes consumed with worry that he will be recognized. Unfortunately, this distracts him from the plight of one of his employees, Fantine. Harassed by the other workers and an evil manager, Fantine loses her job and is forced to become a prostitute in order to support her young daughter Cosette. Eventually Valjean learns of her plight, but he is too late to save her. Fantine dies, but not before Valjean promises to locate Cosette and care for her. But unfortunately, Javert discovers Valjean's true identity. Now on the run, Valjean must stay one step ahead of his nemesis if he's going to keep his promise."
And here it goes the trailer:
Les Miserables, Anne Hathaway: I DREAMED A DREAM
FANTINE
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.
Les Miserables, Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried, A HEART FULL OF LOVE
MARIUS
A heart full of love
A heart full of song
I'm doing everything all wrong
Oh God, for shame
I do not even know your name
Dear Mad'moiselle
Won't you say?
Will you tell?
COSETTE
A heart full of love
No fear, no regret
MARIUS
My name is Marius Pontmercy
COSETTE
And mine's Cosette
MARIUS
Cosette, I don't know what to say
COSETTE
Then make no sound
MARIUS
I am lost
COSETTE
I am found!
...
Today is Friday, and so I'm going to post a song about it. It is called "Last Friday Night" from Katy Perry, and I think it has a very cool style so I wanted to share it with you, although probably most of you know it already. So here it is, song one:
Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night (TGIF)":
There’s a stranger in my bed,
There’s a pounding in my head
Glitter all over the room
Pink flamingos in the pool
I smell like a minibar
DJ’s passed out in the yard
Barbie’s on the barbeque
This a hickie or a bruise
Pictures of last night
Ended up online
I’m screwed
Oh well
It’s a blacked out blur
But I’m pretty sure it ruled
Damn
Last Friday night
Yeah, we danced on tabletops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot
Last Friday night
Yeah, we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bar
So we hit the boulevard
Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping in the dark
Then had a ménage à trois
Last Friday night
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we’re gonna stop
Op-oh-oh
This Friday night
Do it all again
This Friday night
Do it all again
Trying to connect the dots
Don’t know what to tell my boss
Think the city towed my car
Chandeliers on the floor
Ripped my favorite party dress
Warrant’s out for my arrest
Think I need a ginger ale
That was such an epic fail
Pictures of last night
Ended up online
I’m screwed
Oh well
It’s a blacked out blur
But I’m pretty sure it ruled
Damn
Last Friday night
Yeah, we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot
Last Friday night
Yeah, we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bar
So we hit the boulevard
Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping in the dark
Then had a ménage à trois
Last Friday night
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we’re gonna stop
Oh whoa oh
This Friday night
Do it all again
(Do it all again)
This Friday night
Do it all again
(Do it all again)
This Friday night
Today's grammar post is the Past continuous, for those of you who want to have a look at it. So here it goes, past continuous:
We use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the simple past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time. Examples:
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
What were you doing when the earthquake started?
I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.
The past continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the simple past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption. Examples:
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
It's important to know that in the past continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action, it doesn't indicate the moment when it started or when it finished. Examples:
Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner. (I started eating at 6 PM.)
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. (I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.)
In affirmative, it is formed with the past of the verb "To be" and the gerund form (-ING ending) of the principal verb. Examples:
I was watching TV when she called.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
In negative, we use the negative form of the verb "To do" in past tense and the gerund (-ING ending) of the principal verb. Examples:
I wasn't watching TV when she called.
We were't having lunch yesterday at 3:00 PM
Sammy wasn't waiting for us when we got off the plane.
When the phone rang, she wasn't writing a letter.
The interrogative is formed using the verb "To do" in its past tense at the beginning of the question and the principal verb in gerund (-ING ending). Examples:
Was I watching TV when she called? Were we having lunch yesterday at 3:00 PM? Was Sammy waiting for us when we got off the plane?
When the phone rang, Was she writing a letter?
Parallel actions
When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel. Examples:
I was studying while he was making dinner.
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television. Were you listening while he was talking?
I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
What were you doing while you were waiting?
Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
Let's see the use of the past continuous with some videos:
Suburgatory, Episode 1x02: I'M STUCK, SAVE YOURSELF!
TESSA
It took me a couple of weeks,
but I finally found my favorite things
to do in suburbs:
Sleep
GEORGE
Tessa, what're you doing?
Let's go before she gets here.
TESSA
She's still watering?
GEORGE
Still watering
Why didn't you set an alarm?
TESSA
I kept hitting snooze
I was having the most amazing
dream about Manhattan
GEORGE
Yeah? What was so amazing?
TESSA
We were still living there
GEORGE
I can't take it anymore...
Sheila's constant invitations
to dinner every single morning.
I'm running out of
creative ways to say no
TESSA
Have you tried running her over
with your car? That's creative.
GEORGE
Oh, no. Hose is off.
She's coming, she's coming!
TESSA
My backpack!
It's upstairs!
GEORGE
No time! Go! Go
Go, go, go, go, go, go.
I'm stuck.
Save yourself. Go!
TESSA
No, dad.
I won't leave you
GEORGE
Tessa, go, just go.
SHEILA
Well, hiya, neighbor!
Dinner tonight?
Here we have the past simple in BOLD:
TESSA (0:02)
It took me a couple of weeks, but I finally foundmy favorite things
to do in suburbs:
Sleep
GEORGE (0:17)
Still watering
Why didn't you set an alarm?
TESSA
I kept hitting snooze
And the past continuous is UNDERLINED:
TESSA (0:20) I kept hitting snooze I was having the most amazing dream about Manhattan GEORGE Yeah? What was so amazing?
TESSA
We were still living there
Here the actions are cut but the fact she was awakened, so she's not still dreaming about NYC. "She was having the most amazing dream about Manhattan when she was awakened" would be the complete sentence, an action cutting another action that was lasting in the time.
Easy A Clip: HIT THE BOOKS
RHIANNON Let's just face it, there is not such things as a sexy George, alright? George is not a sexy name. George is what you name your teddy bear not the name you wanna scream out during climax. MR. GRIFFITH And by that, I assume you mean? OLIVE The stable and self-perpetuating end stage in the evolution of a plant community. RHIANNON Right. OLIVE Why, what were you thinking? MR. GRIFFITH The same. But I don't say it out loud lest someone get the wrong idea. I think you know innuendo is attached to everything these days. RHIANNON Innuendo? What...? Whatever do you mean? MR. GRIFFITH Rhiannon, Olive, go hit the books. They don't hit back. Also, hugs not drugs. Mess with the bull, get the horns. And any other cliches you can come up with. OLIVE Bye, Mr. Griffith. RHIANNON Bye. OLIVE Watch your mouth. RHIANNON Sorry.
For those of you who have already learnt the first two grammar posts, here it comes the third one, the simple past:
The simple past is used to talk about actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.Examples:
I saw a movie yesterday.
I didn't see a play yesterday.
Last year, I traveled to Japan.
Last year, I didn't travel to Korea. Did you have dinner last night?
She washed her car.
He didn't wash his car.
Simple past
In affirmative form, it is formed with the past of the verb used. In regular verbs, the past is done placing an -ED ending at the end of the word, as in: walked, danced, jumped, washed, stayed... Even though, not only are there regular verbs, but also irregular verbs. Those ones don´t have an specific rule and you have to learn them. Here is the whole list. Examples:
I lived in California for many years
He traveled to the UK last week
It rained last weekend
She broke her arm that afternoon
They brought us a pizza for dinner last Saturday night
He bought his new jacket at the new clothing store.
In negative form, the verb "To do" (irregular) is placed before the principal verb as an auxiliary in its past tense "Did" and the principal verb is used in present tense. Examples:
I didn't live in California for many years
He didn't travel to the UK last week
It didn't rain last weekend
She didn't break her arm that afternoon
They didn't bring us a pizza for dinner last Saturday night
He didn't buy his new jacket at the new clothing store.
In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb "To do" in its past tense "Did" is used at the beginning of the question, being the principal verb used in present tense. Examples:
Did I live in California for many years? Didn´t he travel to the UK last week? Did it rain last weekend? Didn't she break her arm that afternoon? Did they bring us a pizza for dinner last Saturday night?
Series of completed actions using simple past
We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.Examples:
I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00. Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?
Let's see its use with some examples:
Modern Family, Emmy awards ceremony: LILY IS A MONSTER
ED O'NEILL It may sound corny, but our show really is like a family JULIE BOWEN Yeah, it's crazy how much I adore everyone in this cast JESSE TYLER FERGUSON Oh, really? everyone? AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS What's going on here? SOFIA VERGARA Nothing AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS I know it's not a table read because all of you showed up ERIC STONESTREET She's a monster AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS Shouldn't you get to make up? JULIE BOWEN Honey, I just came from make up AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS Oh, really? Yikes! AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS Ty, they are ready for ya! TY BURREL Thanks honey! Hey, what's up? ARIEL WINTER Ty! Are you OK? SARAH HYLAND You're sick AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS You're next! SOFIA VERGARA Oh, Aubrey, you look so pretty today AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS Can somebody tell me what the heck she's saying?
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON I'm sorry. Can we cut? Aubrey, I can hear you chewing, what are you eating? AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS Chicken Sandwich with two pickles JESSE TYLER FERGUSON Wait a minute. Did you get that where I think you got it? AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS Yup. This is what I’m going to eat at my wedding. What are you going to eat at your wedding?
ED O'NEILL We've replaced Lily before, no one will notice STRANGER I don't know, I think you're underestimating the audience ED O'NEILL Please, they think I'm married to Sofia Vergara! They'll buy anything! STRANGER I'm a middle aged man and, quite frankly, this whole thing seems a little bit racist. I'm in AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS They're ready for you! ED O'NEILL Yeah! See you on Monday, Lily STRANGER I like the sound of that! So here we have the simple present UNDERLINED and, remember, it is used to express an action that happened in a specific time in the past, it can be five minutes ago, five hours ago or five years ago, but it's an action that is already finished. Examples: AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS (0:22) Shouldn't you get to make up? JULIE BOWEN Honey, I just came from make up
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON (1:00) Wait a minute. Did you get that where I think you got it?
Suburgatory, Episode 1x01: ARE YOU CALLING MY BRA UGLY?
DALIA
That's so lame your mom died, beyotch.
TESSA
My mom, heh, didn't die. She's just gone.
DALIA
So you became a lesbian to get back at her.
TESSA
What?
DALLAS
Tessa? If you need any help
or you have any questions or you feel lost
or unattractive in any way just let me know.
TESSA I know why we're doing all this. It´s because your mom feels sorry for me.
DALIA No. It's because my mom wants to screw your dad.
TESSA
Doesn't your mom screw your dad?
DALIA
Heh, no.
DALLAS The suspense is killing me. I'm dying to see how cute you girls look.
DALIA I'm buying* this
DALLAS Oh, my godness, Tessa. Look at you. That is a keeper. That top is just off to the chizzy, is it not? This is going* straight to the register. Oh dear Lord, Who did this to you?
TESSA
This? I ordered it from a sporting-goods catalogue.
What's the problem?
DALLAS Well, it's downright orthopedic. It's like a giant ACE bandage. Like something a burn victim would wear.
TESSA
Are you calling my bra ugly?
DALLAS
Yes, honey, I am because it is ugly. And I would love to find one for you
that isn't. Along with a nice heterosexual dress shoe.
I put again the same video example, because, as you can see, in just one video we can find a whole variety of tenses: simple present, present continuous, simple past... Examples of simple past:
DALIA
That's so lame your mom died, beyotch.(0:09)
TESSA
My mom, heh, didn't die. She's just gone.
DALIA
So you became a lesbian to get back at her.
TESSA
What?
TESSA (1:01)
This? I ordered it from a sporting-goods catalogue.
What's the problem?
Easy A Clip: FULLY SUPPORTIVE OLIVE'S MOM That boy from yesterday just dropped this off for you OLIVE Well, put it in the pile of gifts from my other suitors OLIVE'S MOM He seems like a nice kid, he seems a little incredibly gay... OLIVE Dyed in the wool homosexual, that boy is. OLIVE'S MOM I just want you to know your father and I are totally supportive. We love you no matter what the sexual orientation of your opposite sex sex partner... OLIVE We are not dating, mom. OLIVE'S MOM ..and don't worry about not making us grandparents. Although we were kind of hoping you'd get "knocked up" so we'd have a second shot at raising kids, really do it right this time. OLIVE
Bye now... OLIVE'S MOM
You know I dated a homosexual once. For a long time actually... a "long" time... OLIVE
Dear god, dear lord, tell me you did not marry and have children with him OLIVE'S MOM
No.
OLIVE'S MOM
No, no. Your father is as straight as they come. A little too straight, if you know what I mean, girlfriend. OLIVE
I don't...
Can you shut the door please?
OK, doors right over there.. So here we have the simple present UNDERLINED again. Examples:
OLIVE'S MOM (0:02)
That boy from yesterday just dropped this off* for you
OLIVE'S MOM (0:37)
You know I dated a homosexual once. For a long time actually... a "long" time... OLIVE
Dear god, dear lord, tell me you did not marry and have children with him...
*"To drop off" is a phrasal verb or phrasal preposition, in this case with the same meaning as "To leave" or "To drop".
Today's show is a comedy that has been running now for four season and looks like it's going to be here for a while. It's one the america's most watched comedies, watched by more than ten millions people. It's about the life of three "typical" american families, and their everyday stories. Here is a brief synopsis:
"When the Pritchett-Delgado-Dunphy family agrees to be interviewed by a documentary crew, they have no idea just how much they're about to reveal about themselves. Family patriarch Jay Pritchett met the stunning Colombian Gloria Delgado when she bartended in a bikini at the pool party he threw for himself the day his wife left him. Now Jay and Gloria are married and Jay tries hard to keep up with his much younger and hotter wife and her passionate teenage son, Manny. Jay's daughter, Claire, is having a hard time raising her own family. Her husband Phil is great, except for the fact that he thinks he's "down" with their teenage kids, much to their embarrassment. Claire's brother Mitchell and his enthusiastic partner Cameron have just adopted Lily, a precious little baby girl from Vietnam. But when everyone gets together, things are bound to get awkward. Especially after Claire and Mitchell hilariously bag on everyone else in the family while they change the baby's diaper. Oops! Too bad they forgot about Lily's baby monitor.
But that's the thing about family: no matter how badly you behave, hopefully they'll forgive... or maybe even forget. In the tradition of The Office, this engaging new comedy offers a 'mockumentary' view into the complicated, messy, loving life of a modern day super-extended family. Steven Levitan (Just Shoot Me) and Christopher Lloyd (Frasier) invite you into the sometimes warm and sometimes twisted embrace of someone else's family."
And here is the trailer:
ABC is now airing season four of the show, and the show has left us some very, very funny moments, with Gloria (Sofia Vergara) in some of them. Here is a video of some of her mispronunciations while speaking English:
I wanted to make a short grammar tip about a very interesting mistake that a lot of people make. It is the difference between "HAVE GOT" and "HAVE" in the simple present, and the truth is, there is practically no difference when we use them in simple present. But there is a big mistake in the way people use it. So here it is, grammar tip of the day, "Have got/Have":
The phrases “has got” and “have got” are somewhat informal and are often contracted, as in “He’s got” and “They’ve got.” Although this expression has long been criticized as an unnecessary substitution for the verb “to have,” it is perfectly idiomatic. It simply adds emphasis. In American English, “have got” is an intensive form of “have”. For example, if I say, “I’ve got a really big TV,” I’m placing more emphasis on my possession of the TV than if I say, “I have a really big TV.” If you say you haven’t got any money, you’re stressing the fact that you’re broke. Note that you can use “has got” or “have got” only in the present tense. If you want to talk in the past tense about your enormous TV, you would say, “I had a really big TV.” instead of "I had got a really big TV".
Simple present: "Have" and "Have got"
The verbs "To have" or "Have got" mean possession, that something belongs to you. Example:
I have a beautiful house
They have got so many friends
We have a new computer
She has got a blue car
He has a lot of movies
Some synonyms are: own, possess...
They can also indicate duty, responsibility. Examples:
You have to clean the house
I have got to go to school everyday
She has to work 6 days a week
We have got to do our homework this afternoon
In affirmative, negative and interrogative, "To have" is used as any other verb. Examples:
We have a new computer
I don't have a beautiful house Does she have to work 6 days a week? No, she doesn't.
But for "Have got", we have to make a little change.
In affirmative form, we use it as a normal verb. Examples:
We have got to do our homework this afternoon
She has got a blue car
I have got to go to school everyday
They have got so many friends
But in negative form, instead of placing the verb "To do" as an auxiliary, we change "Have got" to make the negative. So instead of "I don´t have got a house", it would be "I haven't got a house". Examples:
We haven't got to do our homework this afternoon
She hasn't got a blue car
I haven't got to go to school everyday
They haven't got so many friends
In interrogative form, instead of using the verb "To do", we place "have" at the beginning of the question. Examples:
Have we got to do our homework this afternoon? Hasn't she got a blue car? Have I got to go to school everyday? Haven't they got so many friends?
Saying, "have got" is a little stronger than saying, "must" . So if I’m running late, I might tell my friend, "I have got to go now," with the emphasis on the word “got.” When we’re speaking to friends, we might leave out the "have", as in "I got to go now" We might even say, “I gotta go now.” These two are considered colloquial English and you shouldn’t write these two sentences in a formal English essay. You can use "must" or "have to" instead.
How often you use "have got” instead of “have” depends on where you’re from. In American speech, "the form without ‘got’ is used more than in the UK", so in other words, Americans tend to say, “have” and the British tend to say, “have got.” For example, in Britain, you’re more likely to hear the question “Have you got this book in stock?” whereas in America, “Do you have this book in stock?” would be more common. As I’ve said, it’s perfectly fine to say, “have got” if you’re in America, though it is less formal than plain old “have.” Even less formal than “have got”—and probably considered objectionable by most grammarians—is simply “got” by itself. But “He got” is a very, very colloquial way of saying, “he has.”
Let's see it with some examples:
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: HAVE A LITTLE PRIEST
MRS. LOVETT
That's all very well, but what we gonna do about him?
SWEENEY TODD
Later on when it's dark, we'll take it to some secret place and bury him
LOVETT
Oh yeah. Of course we could do that. I don't 'spose he's got any relatives gonna come pokin' 'round lookin' for him.
Seems a downright shame...
TODD
Shame?
LOVETT
Seems an awful waste...
Such a nice, plump frame
Wot's 'is name has...
Had... Has
Nor it can't be traced...
Bus'ness needs a lift,
Debts to be erased...
Think of it as thrift,
As a gift,
If you get my drift
Seems an awful waste...
I mean, with the price of meat
What it is,
When you get it,
If you get it...
TODD
Ah!
LOVETT
Good, you got it!
Take, for instance, Mrs. Mooney and her pie shop!
Bus'ness never better using only pussycats and toast!
Now a pussy's good for maybe six or seven at the most!
And I'm sure they can't compare as far as taste!
TODD
Mrs. Lovett, what a charming notion
LOVETT
Well, it does seem a waste...
TODD
Eminently practical
And yet appropriate as always!
LOVETT
Think about it...
TODD
Mrs. Lovett, how I've lived
Without you all these years, I'll never know!
How delectable!
Also undetectable!
LOVETT
Lots of other gentlemen'll
Soon be comin' for a shave,
Won't they?
Think of
All them
Pies!
TODD
How choice!
How
Rare!
For what's the sound of the world out there?
LOVETT
What, Mr. Todd?
What, Mr. Todd?
What is that sound?
TODD
Those crunching noises pervading the air!
LOVETT
Yes, Mr. Todd!
Yes, Mr. Todd!
Yes, all around!
TODD
It's man devouring man, my dear!
BOTH:
Then who are we to deny it in here?
TODD
These are desperate times,
Mrs. Lovett, and desperate measures are called for!
LOVETT
Here we are, now! Hot out of the oven!
TODD
What is that?
LOVETT:
It's priest. Have a little priest.
TODD
Is it really good?
LOVETT
Sir, it's too good, at least!
Then again, they don't commit sins of the flesh,
So it's pretty fresh.
TODD
Awful lot of fat.
LOVETT
Only where it sat.
TODD Haven't you got poet, or something like that?
LOVETT
No, y'see, the trouble with poet is
'Ow do you know it's deceased?
Try the priest!
Lawyer's rather nice.
TODD
If it's for a price.
LOVETT
Order something else, though, to follow,
Since no one should swallow it twice!
TODD
Anything that's lean?
LOVETT
Well, then, if you're British and loyal,
You might enjoy Royal Marine!
Anyway, it's clean.
Though of course, it tastes of wherever it's been!
TODD
Is that squire, on the fire?
LOVETT
Mercy no, sir, look closer,
You'll notice it's grocer!
TODD
Looks thicker,
More like vicar!
LOVETT
No, it has to be grocer --
It's green!
TODD
The history of the world, my love --
LOVETT
Save a lot of graves,
Do a lot of relatives favors!
TODD
Is those below serving those up above!
LOVETT
Ev'rybody shaves,
So there should be plenty of flavors!
TODD
How gratifying for once to know
BOTH
That those above will serve those down below!
TODD
What is that?
LOVETT
It's fop.
Finest in the shop.
And we have some shepherd's pie peppered
With actual shepherd on top!
And I've just begun --
Here's the politician, so oily
It's served with a doily, Have one!
TODD
Put it on a bun.
Well, you never know if it's going to run!
LOVETT
Try the friar,
Fried, it's drier!
TODD
No, the clergy is really
Too coarse and too mealy!
LOVETT
Then actor,
It's compacter!
TODD
Ah but always arrives overdone!
I'll come again when you have judge on the menu!
Have charity towards the world, my pet!
LOVETT
Yes, yes, I know, my love!
TODD
We'll take the customers that we can get!
LOVETT
High-born and low, my love!
TODD
We'll not discriminate great from small!
No, we'll serve anyone,
We'll serve anyone
BOTH
And to anyone
At All!
Amy Walker: DO YOU HAVE AN ACCENT?
AMY WALKER
Hello, I'm Amy Walker from third man news. Obviously I've had some vocal training to enable me to sound like I'm from nowhere. But today, we're gonna go find some people who are from somewhere, or at least, sound like they are from somewhere?
May I have your name?
MAN
Sherman
AMY WALKER
And where are you from Sherman?
MAN
I live in Nashville
AMY WALKER
So, Do you have an accent?
MAN
No
WOMAN
Well, I never though we did, but I remember one time visiting our relatives in Texas and they told me I had a terrible accent.
...
AMY WALKER (1:05) Do you have any favourite accents?
