This entry is part 10 of 12 in the series Phrasal Verbs(This is a series on Phrasal Verbs. There are hundreds of phrasal verbs and many of them have no relation to the words that form them. When you are learning a new phrasal verb, I recommend learning it as a completely new piece of vocabulary, instead […]
Archive | September, 2013
Sunday in São Paulo
After the long, hectic weeks in the city of São Paulo, Sunday is a great oasis. On Sunday, almost all of the stores are closed, the roads are empty and the people are relaxed. There is nothing better than heading to a fruit market and eating a pastel with some sugar cane juice. I also […]
Expressions (expressões) – Dog Eat Dog
This entry is part 10 of 10 in the series Expressions(English, like most other languages, is full of expressions that don’t really make sense when translated. This series will explore some of the different, popular expressions used in English to help any speaker improve their vocabulary.) There are many expressions which work well in […]
Using “The” Correctly – Part II
This entry is part 9 of 13 in the series Improving EnglishWe already looked at the basic rules about “the,” but there are a few things that are harder to understand. Let’s take a look at using articles with names. Proper names never use an article. (David, Brian, Santa Clause, Barack Obama, Xuxa) Proper titles […]
English Quotes
This entry is part 7 of 11 in the series QuotesBill Cosby is a famous comedian in the United States, but he is also known for a variety of quotes and expressions. His television show, The Cosby Show, was one of the first to show a successful black family. The following quote by Mr. Cosby […]
Expressions (expressões) – Corner the Market
(English, like most other languages, is full of expressions that don’t really make sense when translated. This series will explore some of the different, popular expressions used in English to help any speaker improve their vocabulary.) There are many expressions which work well in business settings, so we will look at some over the […]
Using “The” Correctly – Part I
The word “the” is a very small but very important word. We use “the” in the following situations: “The” always comes before a noun (the cat, the apple) or noun phrase ( the very interesting conversation) “The” refers to one specific example of the object, and the specific example must be clear from the spoken […]
False Friends (Falsos Cognatos) – Anticipate/Antecipar
This entry is part 6 of 6 in the series False Friends( False friends or false cognates are words that look the same in different languages, but which actually have different meanings.) Anticipate is a false friend that I personally use sometimes! I really like the word “antecipar” and try to use it the same […]
Time Changes
One of the hardest adjustments for me to make when I moved from the United States to Brazil was the difference in seasons. In the United States, December is Winter, so Christmas is cold and Santa Claus makes sense. In Brazil, December is Summer, so New Years is a beach holiday. Growing up, I always […]
Good and Well
This entry is part 8 of 13 in the series Improving EnglishThe English words good and well cause a great deal of confusion even for native speakers. Surprisingly, most Brazilian students quickly pick up on the difference, after learning what the difference actually is. So, let’s take a look at some examples with English to […]
