Archive for March, 2011

grammatical word: chemistry

{ March 8, 2011 @ 2:28 am } · { grammatical word }
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Most people know the first meaning of today’s grammatical word: “chemistry”. It is, of course, one of the branches of science. Personally, I hated chemistry in high school. It was so difficult for me.

However, there is a second meaning to this word that many people don’t know. It can also be used to talk about a quality that two (or more) people have together that makes them have a good relationship. For example:

I didn’t want to continue dating Steven because there was no chemistry between us.

I met my wife at a party about three years ago. I could feel the chemistry between us from the first moment we met.

The two stars in that romantic comedy have great chemistry together, so the movie is a lot of fun to watch.

That TV show doesn’t work well because there’s no chemistry between the actors.

Although we can use this word to talk about the relationship between anyone, we usually use it to talk about romantic relationships. However, when talking about a TV show or a movie, it can be used to talk about the stars of the production and, in those cases, it doesn’t matter if it’s a romantic relationship or not.

the difference between words: first, at first and first of all

{ March 7, 2011 @ 3:37 am } · { the difference between words }
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Today’s entry is about the word “first” and the different ways we can use it in English. This is a big source of confusion for many of my students. Specifically, I want to go over the difference between “first”, “at first” and “first of all”.

We often use “first” when we’re giving instructions to someone about how to do something. For example:

First, cut up the vegetables. Then, put them in the pot.

First we have to find a good restaurant and then we can make a reservation.

First, put the document in the tray. Then, input the number. Finally, press the green button.

We can also use “first” when talking about a person who does something before anyone else. For example:

I’m usually the first person to arrive at the office every day.

Henry was first in the running race at his school. We’re so proud of him!

My friend tried bungee jumping first and said it was fun. So now I’d like to try it.

We use “at first” when talking about a situation that was a certain way at the beginning, but then it changed. For example:

At first, Jack and I didn’t like each other, but after that we became good friends.

At first, I was confused about how to use this machine, but after Sally showed me how to use it, I realized it’s quite easy.

It was very difficult for me to get up so early at first, but afterwards I got used to it.

We use “first of all” when explaining something which has at least two reasons. We use “first of all” to introduce the first reason. For example:

A: Why is that company so successful?
B: First of all, their prices are very low. Secondly, they do a lot of advertising.

A: Why can’t you help me?
B: First of all, I don’t know anything about your project, and secondly, I’m really busy right now.

A: Why is the project taking such a long time?

B: First of all, we don’t have enough people working on it. Secondly, the equipment is out of date and very slow, and last of all, the project leader is very indecisive.

As you can see from my examples with “at first”, the expression is often placed at the beginning of the sentence but can also be put in the middle after the first clause. However, “first of all” is always placed at the beginning. Also, when giving instructions, the word “first” is placed at the beginning.

idiom: to turn one’s nose up at something

{ March 6, 2011 @ 2:38 am } · { idioms }
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This week’s idiom is to “turn one’s nose up at something”. It is used when we want to talk about a person who refuses something because they think it’s not good enough for them. For example:

This is a good job even though the salary is not so high. You shouldn’t turn your nose up at it.

Jenny is so superficial. She turns her nose up at any guy who’s not handsome and rich.

When I was young I used to turn my nose up at any foreign food, but I don’t do that anymore.

My apartment isn’t so nice, but it was the only place I could find to live. I couldn’t afford to turn my nose up at it.

So this expression is always used in a negative way to talk about people who are being snobby or picky about something.

separable phrasal verb: drum up

{ March 4, 2011 @ 5:05 am } · { phrasal verbs }
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Today, I have a good expression for all the business people out there. It’s the phrasal verb: “drum up”. It is used when we want to talk about doing something to obtain new customers for a business. For example:

If we advertise in the newspaper or on TV, we’ll be able to drum up some new business.

If we don’t drum up some new business soon, we’ll have to shut down our store permanently.

Our business has been doing badly recently because of the recession. We need to find a way to drum up some new customers.

Brad is our best salesman. He is constantly able to drum up new customers for our company.

I’m not sure why we say “drum up” in this situation, but perhaps a long time ago, people used to use a drum to advertise their products and to get people’s attention. That’s my guess anyway.

We can also use it in non-business situations. For example:

Paula is trying to organize a karaoke night. She’s trying to drum up interest in that now.

The president is trying to drum up support for his new legislation.

Nobody is excited about the camping trip this weekend. We need to drum up some enthusiasm for it.

In these situations, the person tries to talk to other people in order to convince them that the idea is a good one.

grammatical expression: look who’s talking

{ March 3, 2011 @ 2:34 am } · { grammatical expression }
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Today’s grammatical expression can be used when talking to a person who is being hypocritical. That means that the person says one thing but then does the opposite thing, or if a person criticizes another person for something that is also true of them. The expression is “look who’s talking”. It is used as a way to point out to the person who is being hypocritical that they are not doing what they say others should do. For example:

A: You’ve certainly gotten heavy recently. You should go on a diet.

B: You think I’m fat!? Look who’s talking! You must be at least 100 kg!

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A: I think you should stop smoking so much.

B: Look who’s talking! You smoke a lot more than I do!

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A: It would be good for you to exercise more.

B: Oh really? Look who’s talking! You never exercise!

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A: I think you’re too negative!

B: Are you kidding me!? Look who’s talking! You’re the most negative person I know!

So, as you can see, we use this expression as a response to another person’s comment about us when they are being a hypocrite. Generally, we only use this expression with people we know well and are close to. It’s a little too strong to use this with people we don’t know well.

adjective: arrogant

{ March 2, 2011 @ 2:55 am } · { adjectives }
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In my blog today, I would like to write about the adjective “arrogant”. We use this word to describe a person who thinks they are always right and who never listens to other people. For example:

My boss is so arrogant. He never listens to anyone’s suggestions about the company.

I don’t like Martin anymore. Before he was very confident, but now he’s just become arrogant.

My coworker thinks he knows everything about this company even though he’s just started working there. He’s such an arrogant jerk!

Peter is very good at his job, and he’s usually right about everything. Unfortunately, that has made him a bit arrogant.

So, as you can see from my examples, the word “arrogant” is always negative. Please be careful of the pronunciation of this word. Some people confuse it with the word “elegant”, which has a completely different meaning. Please make sure you pronounce the “r” sound very carefully in order to have the correct pronunciation.

grammatical word: stuff

{ March 1, 2011 @ 1:39 am } · { grammatical word }
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https://i0.wp.com/www.thedailygreen.com/cm/thedailygreen/images/hG/stuff-wall-hook-recall-lg.jpg

Today’s word is one which is extremely common is casual conversations in English: “stuff”. It has the same meaning as the word “things”. We use it to talk about things which belong to us or things that we have to do. For example:

I bought a lot of stuff at the department store yesterday.

There is so much stuff in my apartment. I have to get rid of some of it.

I have a lot of stuff to do today, so I can’t go see a movie with you.

In my free time, I like to read books, watch films and other stuff like that.

Please note that the word “stuff” is uncountable. Therefore, we CANNOT say “stuffs”.

Also, it’s important to be careful of the pronunciation of this word. Some of my students confuse it with the word “staff” with an “a”. When we pronounce words with “a” like “staff”, our voices go up, but when we pronounce words with “u” like “stuff”, our voices go down.

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