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Tags: ESL, ESL Quick Lessons, Nouns, Quick Tips for Learning English, Speaking in General by Debra
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There is, are, was, or were – Subject Verb Agreement

In this quick 1-minute video, you can learn whether to use there is or are in the present tense and there was or were in the past tense. I hope this helps!

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Tags: ESL, ESL Expressions and Phrases, ESL Quick Lessons, ESL Videos, Learn English in a Minute, Nouns, subject verb agreement, verbs by Debra
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Forming the Past Simple – a quick reminder

When you form the past simple, typically you add an -ed to regular verbs. However, it might be worth it to spend time reviewing irregular verbs because many common verbs are irregular (eat, sleep, drink, be, see, hear, etc.).

When you use the auxiliary to form the negative in the past, or to ask a question in the past, use “do” in the past: did. With the auxiliary (did) in a question or negative, go back to the base form of the main verb. Because you’re using “do” in the past, you don’t need the main verb in the past.

Here are some examples:

incorrect: didn’t found (did + find in the past)
correct: didn’t find
incorrect: didn’t called (did + call in the past)
correct: didn’t call

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Tags: ESL Quick Lessons, Grammar, Quick Tips for Learning English, Speaking in General, Verb Tenses by Debra
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5 Activities to Learn New Nouns

There are several ways to learn new vocabulary, but today I’ll discuss 5 ways to learn more nouns.

Group nouns into categories: list nouns at the beach, nouns at the department store, or nouns in the car. Compete with your friends or classmates to list as many nouns in each category. Challenge yourselves by making spelling count for higher points.
If you know some basic nouns, start challenging yourself to learn new words that surround the basic word. You know the word computer, so you probably also know keyboard, monitor, mouse, and mouse pad. What about control panel, pixel, resolution, scroll button, tab, memory, hard drive, port, keystroke, or character? Really look closely at things and see if you can name everything about them.
Play a guessing game where you try to describe a noun without using the name of the noun itself. For example, if you’re thinking of the word “table”, describe it’s characteristics. It has legs, a top, and matching chairs. If you’re trying to describe a coat, you can say it has long sleeves, buttons or a zipper, pockets, and a lining.
You can get a lot of exposure to nouns by examining your food, going grocery shopping, or preparing a meal. Read labels on your food to learn about vitamins, calories, ingredients, and preparation ideas. When you need someone to pass you the ladle, the spatula, or a serving spoon, you need to know the name of it to get the right one!
Find a hobby. You don’t actually have to do the hobby to learn nouns from it. Pretend like you’re going to become a fly fisher, scrapbooker or a chocolatier. Do research. Find out what supplies you will need. You might come across some words that apply to a world that extends beyond the scope of the hobby.

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Tags: ESL, ESL Quick Lessons, How To, Learning Styles, Nouns, Speaking in General, Vocabulary by Debra
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Interested vs. Interesting

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between interested and interesting? This video might help:

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Tags: Adjectives, Commonly Confused Words, ESL Quick Lessons, ESL Videos, How To, Learn English in a Minute by Debra
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When to use “because” or “because of”

Watch this video for an explanation and examples of when to use “because” or “because of”.

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Tags: Commonly Confused Words, ESL Expressions and Phrases, ESL Quick Lessons, ESL Videos, Learn English in a Minute by Debra
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The difference between it’s and its

Practice combining words to make contractions with this activity. Here’s another activity to practice the difference between contractions and possessives.

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Tags: ESL Activities, ESL Quick Lessons, ESL Videos, Grammar, Learn English in a Minute, Writing by Debra
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A or An – Vowels and Vowel Sounds

Watch this video for suggestions on how to use a or an correctly.

Here are links to more activities to practice a or an:

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Tags: ESL Activities, ESL Quick Lessons, ESL Videos, Grammar, Learn English in a Minute, Listening, Speaking in General, Writing by Debra
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Commenters’ Corrections Answers to 1-14-11

Here was the comment from Friday 1-14-11:

there use to be a better one what happen to it

Punctuation should appear at the end of both clauses. A period (.) should appear after one, and a question mark (?) should appear after it.
Once new sentences are created, make sure you have capitalized the first word in each sentence. The T in there and the W in what should be capitalized.
When “use” + “to” is intended for a past ongoing action that no longer happens, “use” should appear in the past: used to.
Since there used to be one, and now it’s gone, something happened (in the past) to it. The commenter is asking what happened, so happen should be in the past simple.
Finally, a better what? The person uses the word one, but doesn’t specify what one represents. Basically, you’re looking at a pronoun without an antecedent. Make sure your pronouns have nouns they can easily refer to.

A corrected version might look like this:

There used to be a better one. What happened to it?

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Tags: ESL Quick Lessons, Grammar, Parts of Speech, Punctuation, Reading, Speaking in General, Vocabulary by Debra
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Commenters’ Corrections 1-14-11

Welcome to Commenters’ Corrections, where you have the chance to analyze and correct the grammar You Tube comment. The answer will be available on Monday 1-17-11:

there use to be a better one what happen to it

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