Some plan you had

Grammar Point

There are times when plans just do not happen. Often, before we articulate our disappointment, we need to state the facts first.
A good way to talk about a plan that did not materialize is by using was going to do (was/were going to + verb).

Example:
I was going to watch Lifehouse concert last weekend, but I got sick.
They were going to start the project. Levi, the team leader, canceled because of an emergency.


Vocabulary
Effective vs. Efficient

These two words are often confused in English.
Effective is used to mean that something works while efficient is used to mean that something or someone is able to carry out something without spending too much effort, energy, time and other resources.

Consider the difference:
I bought an air conditioner last weekend, since the summer heat is getting into me. It is very effective in the sense that I am now able to get my 7 hours of sleep! However, it is not energy efficient. I can only imagine the electricity bill next month.

She is a very efficient employee. She never wastes any minute of her 8-hour work day. However, most of the solutions she provides are rarely ever effective.

Other examples:
1. Sam is a very effective public speaker. People who listen to him always get convinced.
2. I want to look for an effective means to reduce stress.
3. His efficiency is due to the fact that he starts his week with a to-do list and makes sure that everything in his list is done by Friday.


Add-on
Wish is always used with a past verb as in the following sentences.
- I wish I could help you, but I am cramming for my exams this week.
- She wishes it rained the whole day.
- They wish the concert was postponed.

If wish is in the past tense, then use had + past participle in the next clause as in:
- I wished I had seen you at the party.
- He wished he had gotten up earlier. He would not have been late.


Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!

To know about my travels, click here.

I should have!

Grammar Point

Since it is close to impossible to know the outcomes of our decisions, it happens that sometimes we choose one that can make us regret. It is therefore, important that we know how to communicate regrets clearly. 

A very powerful phrase that can be used is, should have.

Example:

I should have just stayed home. I would not have lost my ipad.

She should have chosen the blue trainers. They look better on her.

As you notice, should have is used to describe a situation that did not happen, but would have been better if it did.
Notice, as well, that should have is always followed by the past participle of the verbs (chosen, stayed, given, etc.)

Vocabulary

Rain check: when you give a rain check that means you agree that an appointment or a date is postponed and that another one will be arranged for when he is available

E.g. 

We will give you a rain check, since you can't make it to the poker game tonight. You should have canceled your other dates.

Sorry, I should have told you sooner that I am a bit tied up at the moment. I will take a rain check.

Add-ons

Despite vs. In spite (always two words)

Despite does not need of while in spite is always coupled with the preposition of.

E.g.

Despite her persistence to win, she finished only second in the race. She should have practiced more.

In spite of all the negative things that happened to him, he is still one of the most optimistic people I know.




Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!

What are you doing this weekend?

Grammar Point

What are you doing this weekend?
What, with that sun outside, I am pretty sure a lot of you are going to the beach!

Before that, however, we should be able to tell people what our plans are correctly. It is common to use will when referring to the future, but there are other verbs that can be used when talking about things that you have planned to do this weekend, next week, or in the coming days.

Remember that we normally use will if it is a decision that we have just made. However, we use the continuous tense (verb-ing) when mentioning plans, as in the following sentences:

1. I am playing badminton with Jim this weekend. (You have planned to play badminton with Jim)

2. We are going to the movies tonight.

3. She is going to Paris next month.

Notice the difference between the two sentences below:

1. I do not have anything to do this weekend, so  I will probably call up some friends for a drink.

2. Sorry, I cannot go with you this weekend, since I am drinking out with my college buddies. We made this plan about 3 months ago.

Vocabulary

Proceed with vs. Proceed to

Proceed with is used as in the sentence below:

We cannot wait for them, so please proceed with (start) the meeting. They will have to make do with the minutes later.

Proceed to as in the following example,

Please proceed to (go to) the front desk. They should be able to give you the information you need.

Add-ons

Still on Subject-Verb agreement. By now, you should no longer be a stranger to how these two must agree. There are several rules on this, but let me just mention the ones that I think are very important.

1. A number vs. The number

A number uses plural verb, while The number uses a singular verb, as in the examples below:

A number of my friends on facebook like to talk about what they are up to.

The number of children getting respiratory diseases has increased.

2. Either-or, Neither-nor

- The verb agrees with the nearer subject (usually after or or nor).

E.gs.

Either she or her parents are cooking dinner.

Neither her friends nor Jenny is coming to the party.


Practice
A number of my friends are going hiking this weekend. They will meet at the bus terminal so they could proceed to the mountain together. Now that I think of it, I am doing nothing Saturday and Sunday, so I will probably go with them.



Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!

To know about my travels, click here.

Free Stuff

Grammar Point

Think past when talking about the past. We cannot talk about the past and use present verbs. If you do, you could, implicitly, give the wrong notion of time traveling or that you are a doppelganger.

- Use the simple past tense when talking about past events. This is more of a requirement when you include time expressions that refer to the past like, yesterday, last night, two hours ago, last year, etc.

E.g.
1. I went to bed late last night.
2. They went on a trip last summer.
3. She did her homework after last night's Episode of, "Merlin".
4. Yesterday, we ended the holiday with a great movie by Spielberg.
5. I was sick last week.

Vocabulary

Do not, under any circumstances, say STUFFS.

Stuffs (with the -s, especially if the subject is singular) can be used if it is a verb in the sentence. However, if used as a noun, you cannot add -s to it. It is what they call non-count noun, just like water, feedback, homework (or work), information, milk, etc.

It is, therefore, very strange to say, "I have a lot of stuffs in my bag". Instead, you say, "I have a lot of stuff (noun) in my bag".

You may say, "She stuffs (verb) her bag with everything she thinks she needs for camping".

Add-ons
Other Non-count sample sentences:

1. Thank you for all the feedback! (not feedbacks)

2. She is doing her homework for all five subjects.

3. How much information do you need?

Practice

A number of things have to be done first before I can start thinking about what stuff I need to bring for the trip. Either my brother or my buddies are drafting the itinerary, so I could finish all the office work in time for the vacation. I am just glad that I am traveling with the cream of the crop, so I have nothing to worry about. I only hope I get my supervisor's feedback on Friday, before 7pm, so I could have enough time to get to the bus terminal.

Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!

What do you do?

Grammar Point

The Simple Present Tense

- This is commonly confused with the present continuous (verb-ing). We use the simple present tense to state a fact, opinion, anything that happens regulary and timetables or schedule.

1. Running is a good form of exercise. (opnion)

2. Rice gives you the carbohydrates you need for tasks that require a lot of your energy. (fact)

3. I always have breakfast before I go to work. (regular activity)

4. The train departs at 5am. (timetable)

5. The movie starts at 7pm. (timetable)

6. I manage the maintenance department of the company. (fact; answering "What do you do")

7. Work starts at 8am. (schedule)

Vocabulary

Cream of the crop

- This means the best among all.

- Sadly, this is sometimes pronounced wrong. People either end up making a fool of themselves or insulting the one they are supposed to praise.

- It's cream of the crop, I repeat CROP, and not, crap. There is a big difference between the two,. and if you have no idea what, you could try putting your internet connection to good use. Then again, if you want to be sarcastic...

E.g.

He is the cream of the crop in his class.

Add-ons

What do you do?

- This question should never be answered by any of the following or their derivatives:

1. I am fine. Thank you. And you?

2. What do you do?

3. I am just hanging around.

4. I am doing my homework.

What do you do is a question that pertains to your job, occupation, or profession. The right way to answer it, therefore, is to say something like, "I am an engineer", "I work for that company as a consultant", "I write books".

Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!

Boredom

Grammar point

Be careful with subject-verb agreement. It is a pretty basic rule in English that if the subject is singular, your verb must be singular. Forget your name, but never this rule.

Examples:

1. One of the many reasons she dislikes movies is the idea that it is nothing real.

Note: When using the phrase one of the as the subject, the verb is always a singular verb.

2. The grapes she bought last week do not have seeds.

Vocabulary

Boring vs. Bored

- They are not the same. (It's really weird listening to people say, "Naboboring ako". Why would anyone flaunt he is boring?)

Bored is used to describe how one feels.

Boring is used to describe something or someone that can make you feel bored.

Hence,

I am bored with your stories.

This is a boring movie.

Add-ons

1. Will and decisions made just now.

- We use will when expressing decisions that you have just made.

E.g.

This is a boring book. I will never read anything from this author again.

2. We never say, Everything are or Everything do. We say, Everything is or Everything does. (It's the same with everyone, everybody, every)

E.g.

Everything is not what it seems.

Practice

One of the many reasons I read books is that it's never boring. You see, I easily get bored, so I read a lot of them. Every book is an escape from the daily stress. However, my friends think I need to find a new hobby, so I will try running this weekend.

Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!

To know about my travels, click here.