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A daily dose of new English words, grammar and phrases to speak fluently. Bot: @EnglishTipsandTools_bot
🆚 device vs. devise 🆚
- device (noun) /dɪˈvaɪs/
- devise (verb, noun) /dɪˈvaɪz/
#Vocabulary
BEAR hand = 🐻 hand
BEER hand = 🍺 hand
BARE hand = ✋🏻
Kid = (n.) human child 👦🏻
Kid = (n.) baby goat 🐐
Kid = (v.) deceive (someone) in a playful or teasing way
#Vocabulary
“Semiannual” = occurring twice a year.
“Biennial” = occurring every two years.
“Biannual” can mean both, so avoid using it if you can.
Technically,
🎲 = Die. (Singular)
🎲🎲 = Dice. (Plural)
(However, because so many people use “dice” as a singular word, it’s also accepted.)
Let me TO show you the world 🌎. → ❌.
Let me show you the world 🌍. → ✔️.
👮After “let me,” use the bare infinitive of the verb (without “to”).
Let me TO teach you how to drive. → WRONG.
Let me teach you how to drive. → RIGHT.
“Scared of” suggests a phobia: I’m *scared of* ghosts 👻 and snakes. 🐍
“Scared about” = worried about: I’m *scared about* tomorrow’s exam. 😓
#Vocabulary
Generally, SHALL = WILL.
But when you ask questions, use SHALL only with “I” and “we”:
Shall YOU marry me? 💍 → ❌
Shall WE dance? 💃 → ✔️
Follow “one of” with a PLURAL noun:
One of my cat 😸 → ❌
One of my CATS 😸😽 → ✔️
One of the kid 👶 → ❌
One of the KIDS 👶👧 → ✔️
Should of → ❌
Could of → ❌
Would of → ❌
Should have → ✔️
Should’ve → ✔️
Could have → ✔️
Could’ve → ✔️
Would have → ✔️
Would’ve → ✔️
FACT: We can use “whose” with people,animals AND objects:
I know a man whose dad is tall. → ✔️
He has a car whose door is missing. → ✔️
CONFIDENT = optimistic ; self-assured.
CONFIDANT = person you trust with your secrets.
I am confident in you as my confidant.
- We appreciate YOU contacting the office. ✔️
vs.
- We appreciate YOUR contacting the office. ✔️
#Grammar
SINGULAR → PLURAL:
Knife 🔪 → knives. 🔪🔪
Wife 👰 → wives. 👰👰
Life → lives.
However,
Fife (a flute) → *fifes*, not “fives.”
#Grammar
Adaptor = adapter → ✔️
Advisor = adviser → ✔️
Impostor = imposter → ✔️
(It’s not a 🇺🇸 vs. 🇬🇧 thing; it’s a matter of preference.)
Annual - 1 year
Biennial - 2 years
Triennial - 3 years
Quadrennial - 4 years
Quinquennial - 5 years
Sexennial - 6 years
Septennial - 7 years
Octennial - 8 years
Novennial - 9 years
Decennial - 10 years
You wear *pants*, not “a pant.” 👖
You cut with *scissors*, not “a scissor.” ✂️
If you can’t see well, you need *glasses*, not “a glass.” 👓
A PART = one part.
Hard work is a part of success.
APART = away from each other; separately.
It’s hard to be apart from me. 😊
ENVELOP (v.) = surround, enclose: Fog *enveloped* the town.
ENVELOPE (n.) = flat container for a letter: He hates licking 👅 *envelopes*. ✉️
EXCEPTIONABLE = offensive:
I was criticized for my EXCEPTIONABLE comments. 👩💬 😡
EXCEPTIONAL = outstanding:
My essay 📝 is EXCEPTIONAL. 👍
RECKLESS = rash; careless.
Don’t be a reckless driver! 🌲💥 🚗
FECKLESS = incompetent; ineffective.
The boss fired the feckless worker.
WRITE 📝 = what authors do.
RIGHT = opposite of left; correct ✔️.
RITE = ceremony; custom.
WRIGHT = maker or builder.
(Tricky, right?)
DENOUNCE = condemn: Fans *denounced* 😠💢 the singer’s racist comments.
RENOUNCE = formally give up: I will never renounce my beliefs.
ANNOUNCE= tell people something clearly or loudly.
EXHAUSTING = tiring.
Cycling 240 km is exhausting.
EXHAUSTIVE = complete, full, thorough.
Make an exhaustive search for clues!
- live down
To overcome or reduce the shame of something.
If you are unable to live down a mistake, failure, or bad reputation, you are unable to make people forget about it.
#idiomatic_expressions
- conspicuous (adj.) /kənˈspɪkjʊəs/
#Vocabulary