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This is your one stop blog for tips, tricks and general help for all areas of English. 

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How to pronounce -ed at the end of a word in English

13/10/2014

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How to pronounce -ed at the end of a word in English

Here is the complete transcript:


Hello there,

and welcome to another Grammar Bites from Learn-EnglishOnline.net. In today's Podcast, we will cover how -ed is pronounced at the end of a word in English.

Basically, the -ed ending can have three different sounds – all of which will be explained. Also, there will be a complete transcript to this Podcast, just in case you can't remember everything.

The first sound we will look at is -ed as a 't'. If a word ends in F, K, S or P, the -ed is pronounced like a -t. So to make this easy to remember, just think of 'F, K, S and P, -ed sounds like 'T'.' There are three other sounds which make -ed at the end of word sound like a 'T'. These are Ch, Sh and Th. To remember this, think 'THe CHurch SHop has Tea'.

-ed at the end of a word can also sound like -id. If the end of the word sounds 'T' or 'D', then it will sound like – id. Simple as that. 

For all other sounds, -ed at the end of word will sound like 'D'.

There are 9 common words which are exceptions to the previous rules. The words are aged blessed, crooked, dogged, learned, naked, ragged, wicked, wretched. The good news is, as you can hear, they all sound like -id.

So just to recap quickly, 'F, K, S and P, -ed sounds like 'T'.' So does Ch, Sh and Th. Think 'The Church Shop has Tea' Then for all other sounds, '-ed sounds like 'D'

That's it folks. Please comment if you have any questions. Don't forget to check out the website, www.learn-englishonline.net. I have been Jay O'Reilly from Learn-EnglishOnline.net and until the next time, happy learning.  

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Grammar Bites: Two Quick and Easy Ways to Form and Use The Future Tense in English

8/10/2014

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Two quick and easy ways to form and use the future tense in English

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Discover the biggest secret to success for an English Oral Exam

20/9/2014

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Discover the biggest secret to success for an English Oral Exam

If you are preparing for an English oral exam, then this post is for you. It is going to show you the biggest secret to success for any English oral exam. It is so simple, you will be thinking to yourself, 'Why didn't I think of that?' So, are you ready for it? Then read on.


Change your emphasis from what you are saying to how you are saying it. Allow me  to elaborate. 


Most people think the way to get a good score in an oral exam is to impress the examiner with your answers. This is totally wrong. You will impress the examiner by expressing mistake-free English in a coherent and clear manner. Let me let you in on another tip: the examiner is not looking for totally original and wise answers. It is not the place for it. You don't have the time nor the subject matter to do it. 

So instead, focus on being able to say less but say it perfectly. Now, this may seem like a step backwards but firstly, I am not saying only speak basic English but speak, let's say conservative English. So only use the structures and words you absolutely know and forget the rest. The oral exam is not the place half remember a word and use it wrong. So, you need to find that balance between basic English and conservative English. Secondly, the examiner does not really care what you say but rather how you say it. I mean they can only ask you a limited set of questions so they have probably heard it all before. 


Take a second to think about it. Which seems better to you: someone who speaks a little conservatively but makes no mistakes compared to someone to tries to use vocabulary and structures that they have not yet mastered and therefore make mistakes? 
   
So that's it. Told you it was simple. Just change your focus from what you are saying to how you are saying it and reap the benefits. 
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The Differences between 'Make' and 'Do'

12/9/2014

 

Grammar Bites: The Differences between 'Do' and 'Make' Podcast

In today's Grammar Bites Podcast, we are going to look at the differences between 'do' and 'make'.

One thing English language learners can learn from Robin Williams

12/8/2014

 
Today, the world lost a great person in Robin Williams. His comedic genius, intelligence and warmness will really be missed.  But fortunately, his memory will live on through his family and work.


He has thought us many things - just one look at his quotes list shows us that. But one thing English language learners can learn and use from the late Robin Williams is not to rely on scripted answers. He was known for coming up with many his best known lines on the spot, as I am sure many actors do, but Robin Williams had a special talent for this. 


What I am getting to here is do not just rely on scripted conversation answers in grammar or exercise books to improve your English. Because simply they won't. And you will sound very dated. 


This applies to all areas of English. If you can use your skills to construct an intelligent and rememberable answer, it will be infinitely better than just repeating a phrase or a sentence you read in an exercise book. For example, in a job interview or in an exam.


Another problem is that most everyday conversations that happen in English are not like anything that you see in grammar and exercise books. And neither are the questions or answers. 


Also by challenging yourself to think like this and increase your English level will be much more beneficial for you than simply repeating something you saw. 


To finish this post, try to challenge yourself to think independently in English- of course it is going to be difficult but you will improve a lot quicker. 



The one missing ingredient to your English: Motivation

6/8/2014

 
Have you been learning English for a long time but feel you haven't improved for a long time also? This is a common problem but keep reading if you want a solution.


I am going to sound like a Eastern philosopher here but sometimes before you look out, you should look in. So, basically, maybe, it's not the material or the way you are learning English but rather your motivation. You really have to stop and ask yourself why am I learning English? If you are only beginning, it is a good idea to write your motivation on a piece of paper and look at it when you've lost your way a little. 


You should tailor what you want to learn and how you want to learn to your motivation. If you want to speak better, reading books, while very useful in its own right, is not going to help you achieve this. Or if you want to prepare for an exam, only watching TV series is not going to help you. 


The message in short is learn better by knowing exactly what you want before you start. If you can do this, you'll learn so much quicker and your learning path will be much straight forward (There's that Eastern philosopher in me again.). 


If you want any help or guidance, please get in touch and we'll have you on the right path before long!

One quick way to instantly interact  in English

4/8/2014

 
Here is a quick tip to instantly interact in English: Find an article that you like: read it, listen to it and leave a comment. Sound simple? Well, it is and that's the beauty of it. And the best part is you practice your reading, writing and listening all at the same time. 


There are no shortage of articles on the internet from which to choose. Try to pick one where people leave comments. Just find one you like preferably with a video too and get to work. If there is already some comments there, continue the conversation with them. 


Another good tip, is to tell them that you are interested in the article and thankful for the opportunity to practice your English. The other who commented will appreciate that and may give you some tips as well. 


So there you have it people, start searching, reading, listening and above all, commenting.


One find word of warning: beware of the trolls.


Until next time, happy learning! 

When to use 'issue' and 'subject'

30/7/2014

 
I am not sure if this a common problem or not but a student asked me today so I thought if any other student had this problem then this post would help. 


So what's the difference between 'issue' and 'subject'? And when can I use them? 


Well, basically, in some cases they can be used interchangeably. For example, 'The main issue of the story is their forbidden love.' or 'The main subject of the story is their forbidden love.'. 


But, this is not always the case. So I am going to give you an easy way to know when to use which one:


If it is a problem or concern, use 'issue'.  For example, 'The main issue with learning English is the pronunciation.'.


If it is related to a thought or discussion, use 'subject'. For example, 'The main subject of conversation was English pronunciation'. 


Hope this clears up any concerns you may have when to use these words. 


If you want us to answer any other English questions you may have, just send us an email or comment below.


Until next time, happy learning!

IELTS Bands Explained

27/7/2014

 
This article is going to explain the often confusing IELTS grade band. Actually, it is quite easy, once properly explained. So if you've just applied or just got your result and are confused by the grade system, everything will be clear by the end of this post. 

So the IELTS band range from 0-9 with 9 being the highest. If you score a 9 in the exam, you are considered to be near native level (C2 according to the Common European Framework for Languages). 

If you score from 6.51 - 8, you are considered to be a proficient speaker of English or an advanced user. It is the equivalent of being C1 in the Common European Framework for Languages (CEF). 

If you score 5 - 6-5, you are a high intermediate. You can use the language comfortably but still sometimes struggle. It is the same as being B2 according to CEF. 

If you score 4-5, you are an intermediate. It is roughly the same as being B1 in CEF. 

If you score below 4, you are considered a beginner and in the region of A1/A2 in CEF.    

Now that the grade band is explained, you can focus on ways to improve your grade. Why not take some classes with Learn-EnglishOnline.net and notice the difference in one hour? We are offering 50% of all classes for a limited time only so get in contact through this page or our email, learn.english.onlineheadoffice@gmail.com.

Why Mistakes are Good

28/6/2014

 
Often, it can be frustrating when we make mistakes especially if we repeat the same mistake. But not all mistakes are bad. You just need to change how you view them. And in particular, while learning English, mistakes are going to happen.  Don't think of them as 'Dang, I should have known that.' but rather, 'Great, I know that now.' 

As mentioned in an earlier post, that is why feedback is so important. It will be your fast track guide to speaking like a native, both in vocabulary and pronunciation. Feedback offers another brilliant benefit: it's easier to remember a situation where you made a mistake and its correction than reading it in a book. 

When you make a mistake in English, it's important that you bring your thoughts to the present moment so when you get the correction, you actively remember it and it just doesn't go in one ear and out of the other ear. This way, you won't make the same mistake twice. It's not a bad idea to repeat the correction several times in your head or develop a routine when you get a correction, for example, lightly pinching yourself as you say the word so it will stick in your mind. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that what may seem like a huge mistake to you, may only be a smaller mistake to a native so don't be too tough on yourself. Just promise yourself you won't make the same mistake twice and watch your language skills grow and grow!

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please comment below or send us an email. Or even, send us a tweet at twitter.com/hangoutwitheng. 

    
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