Archive for July, 2010

adjective: handy

{ July 6, 2010 @ 1:26 am } · { adjectives }
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HappyTreeFriends-handy

The adjective for today is “handy”. There are three meanings for this word.

1. something that is useful or convenient to use. For example:

A hammer and screwdriver are handy tools to have around the house.

Cell phones are really handy because they have so many different functions including Internet access.

2. something that is easy to access. For example:

I always keep my medicine in a handy place in case I need it.

I might need this book later, so please keep it handy.

3. someone who is very skillful at fixing or making things with their hands. For example:

My father is very handy with tools. He can fix almost anything.

You made that shelf? Wow! I didn’t know you were so handy.

the difference between words: popular and common

{ July 5, 2010 @ 1:25 am } · { the difference between words }
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popular

Many of my students mix up the words “popular” and “common”.  The difference between them is very important for effective communication. The word “popular” is used to describe things or people that many people like, but “common” is used to describe things that happen a lot. When something is common, maybe people like it, but maybe they don’t. For example:

Johnny Depp is one of the most popular actors in Hollywood right now.

Going to look at cherry blossoms in April is extremely popular in Japan.

Toy race cars are very popular with young boys, but they’re not so popular with young girls.

Working overtime is very common in Japan.

When Japanese people travel, it’s common for them to buy many souvenirs for their family and friends.

Heart problems are common among people who are 65 years old or over.

It’s important that you don’t confuse these two words. If you say something like heart problems is popular, it will sound very strange because that would mean that many people like to have heart problems which is obviously not true.

idiom: to give someone a hard time

{ July 4, 2010 @ 12:52 am } · { idioms }
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images

Today I think it’s time for another idiom, so I’d like to write about the expression “to give someone a hard time”.  This has the meaning of teasing another person. For example:

Every time I see Jennifer I like to give her a hard time about her job. She keeps saying she’s going to quit, but she never does. I love teasing her about it.

My younger brother just got his first girlfriend, so I love giving him a hard time about it.

Would you please stop giving Keith a hard time about spilling wine on his boss’ shirt? He’s very sensitive about it and doesn’t like it when you tease him.

When we give someone a hard time about something, it’s usually not meant to be unkind. The teasing is meant to be in good fun. However, some people don’t like it when we give them a hard time about something and can get upset.

intransitive phrasal verb: pick up (part three)

{ July 2, 2010 @ 12:20 am } · { phrasal verbs }
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businesssuccess

Today is the final entry for the phrasal verb “pick up”. All the definitions today are intransitive which means there is no object in the sentence. So here are the final three meanings:

13. for some form of entertainment to become more interesting or exciting. For example:

The action movie was quite slow at the beginning, but it really picked up in the middle.

The song is very slow at first, but the tempo picks up a lot after the first verse.

14. for business to improve after going down. For example:

Business really picked up after the summer because people were no longer on summer vacation.

Sales were down for the first three months of this year, but they’re starting to pick up now.

15. for someone to leave suddenly (used with “and left”). For example:

A: Where’s Ralph?

B: I don’t know. He was here, but then he just picked up and left. I don’t know where he went.

As I mentioned in part one of this series, the phrasal verb “pick up” has the most number of meanings. Many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning, but “pick up” is an unusual case. Most other phrasal verbs with many meanings usually only have about five or six definitions maximum. However, because these expressions have more than one meaning, it’s important to study the full sentences so you can understand how to use them, and in what situations they can be used.

separable phrasal verb: pick up (part two)

{ July 1, 2010 @ 12:46 am } · { phrasal verbs }
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index

This is the second entry for the phrasal verb “pick up”. All of the definitions today will be separable, but tomorrow I will conclude with more definitions of “pick up” with intransitive ones. So, let’s get started with part two. I have six more meanings of “pick up” today.

7. to pay a restaurant bill for someone else (usually used with “the tab” or “the check”). For example:

Don’t worry about getting any extra money for tonight. I’m going to pick up the tab.

The check will be picked up by the boss tonight. (passive voice)

8. to learn something through experience. For example:

When I was traveling through France, I picked up a little French.

I don’t know how to use this machine, but I’m sure I can pick it up quickly.

9. to talk to someone in the hopes of a sexual relationship. For example:

A strange guy tried to pick me up in the bar last night. I told him I wasn’t interested.

My friend got picked up by a really handsome guy in the bar last night. (passive voice)

10. for the police to arrest someone. For example:

The police finally picked up the guy who stole my money. I hope he goes to prison for a long time.

The guy who stole my money was finally picked up by the police. (passive voice)

11. for something to give someone more energy. For example:

If I’m tired, I have a cup of coffee. It really picks me up.

12. to receive a radio or television signal. For example:

My radio is really good. It can pick up signals from over 300 kilometres away.

Signals from over 300 kilometres away can be picked up by my radio. (passive voice)

As I mentioned before, tomorrow will be the third and last entry for “pick up” in which I’ll go over three more definitions which are intransitive. As a reminder, intransitive means that the verb of the sentence does NOT take an object.

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