How to use "for good"

Do you know that there is another way to say "forever"?

Macmillan Dictionary - permanently, without the possibility of change in the future. It looks like Jamie has left for good this time.

Merriam Webster - "for good" also "for good and all":  forever, permanently

The Free Dictionary - forever; permanently. I finally left home for good. // Now she says she's leaving him for good.

But... is there any difference between "for good" and "forever"? 

I found a good explanation for this question here : 

'Forever' is much more dramatic - it means eternally, till the end of all time.

'For good' is usually used in the sense of everyday happenings in life. It would mean permanently, for the rest of my life.

This leads us to conclude that, when it comes to Portuguese, "for good" is the best translation for " definitivamente" : He left his job for good. (Ele largou o trabalho definitivamente.)

I hope it was helpful. 

Now, how about learning how to use it singing with Boyce Avenue "Back for Good"?
lyrics here 

Until the next time !! :) 

How to use "be dying for/to do something"

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Do you know those days when you want to do or have something so much?

Use "dying for"  

Macmillan Dictionary: wanting to have/do something so much that you do not want to wait (I'm dying for a cup of coffee. / We're dying to meet your new boyfriend.)

English club: If you're dying for something, you really feel like it or you want it very much. (I'm dying for a cup of tea. Let's have a break and I'll make one.)

Cambridge Dictionaries Online : to be extremely eager to have or do something (I'm dying to hear your news.)

JDA English TipTuesday#7

Jack is the owner of JDA English and an expert in IELTS preparation. He is giving a helpful book and you can download it for free : 5 ways to become fluent in English.

I already have my own. 

What about you? :) 

Is it worth your effort?

by Patrick Hill (my guest) 

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Learning a second language such as English is rewarding in several ways: you gain a cultural understanding through language study, broadening your awareness of people of the world and their unique historical  backgrounds. 

While studying another language, you are relearning and hence acquiring an appreciation for your native language as you deduce the distinct differences and similarities of how another society communicates.  

Lastly, you garner the practical advantage that comes with being able to communicate with a foreign culture for business or social purposes.  Studying takes time and patience, but keeping in mind the inherent rewards will make it easier along the way. 

Patrick Hill grew up in Detroit, Michigan before moving to Tennessee where he began studying the Japanese language for over ten years and then traveled to Japan for work.  He earned his master’s degree in business while working within the Japanese automotive industry and afterward became a financial consultant for Charles Schwab and Company.    
Patrick currently teaches online English classes in his spare time.

How to use "come off it" !

Come off it is an informal expression used when you want to ask someone to stop saying or doing something because you don´t believe them or you consider that as  something stupid. 

Cambridge Dictionaries online : Ask Simon to cook the meal? Come off it, he can hardly boil an egg!

The Free Dictionary: Come off it, Pete, there's no reason to be scared of asking her for a date.

Macmillan Dictionary : Come off it now – she was only trying to help. / Come off it, I know lots of men who do housework.

Urban Dictionary:

Oh my god I'm like sooooooooo fat.

Oh, come off it.

How to use "at first glance"

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When you first see someone or think about something without having more details, you may say "at first glance" . It's your first impression. Let´s look at some examples?

At first glance the deal looked wonderful, 

but after reading the fine print he wasn’t so sure. 

At first glance, the problem appeared quite simple. 

Later we learned just how complex it really was. 

At first glance, the theory seems to make a lot of sense.

Let´s pronounce the word "beach" correctly!

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Don´t be afraid anymore! 

In this five-minute video, Rachel's English says the main problem is the tongue position inside the mouth (as well as in many other words which are difficult to pronounce) . She teaches exactly where we need to put our tongue to say the word "beach" perfectly. 

It's election season in Brazil. How to use "runoff".

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Last Monday it was the first round of Brazil´s presidential election. 

The current president Dilma Rousseff didn't get the majority necessary for a reelection and now she is facing Aécio Neves in runoff (a second election or competition that is organized when the first one does not have a winner). 

Brazil presidential vote headed for a runoff. CNN

Brazil Presidential Election Results In Runoff. Reuters

For more election vocabulary (explanation in  Portuguese), 

click on here! 

How to use "on second thought"

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"On second thought" is an idiom and it means a reconsideration of a choice, of a decision. It´s "used when you want to change something that you have just said, often to say the opposite"

"On second thought, I don't think I'll go."

It´s important to say that "on second thought(s)" might be also a noun and it means "a revised opinion or idea on a matter already considered". 

"He had second thoughts about his decision."

How to use "what's the use of" and "it's no use"?

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What's the use of (doing something)?  

It's no use (doing something).

📖

These expressions are ...

"... used for saying that something is not likely to have a successful result, and so there is no point in doing it". 

"...used for saying that there is no point in doing something because it will not be successful or have a good result." 

What's the use of worrying about it?

So what's the use of trying to prove my innocence?

It's no use asking me. 

It's no use - I can't persuade her.

How to use "as simple as that"

It is actually not quite as simple as that!

We must remember, however,

that the world is not quite as simple as that.

It's as simple as that. 

Sources:
http://www.fluenteidiomas.com.br/como-dizer-isso-em-ingles/simples-assim-as-simple-as-that 
http://pt.bab.la/dicionario/portugues-ingles/simples-assim

♫ And now, what about practicing with Paul McCartney? :) ♪

"Simple as That" was written by Paul Mc Cartney.

Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

I know it isn't easy to refuse
A lot of thoughts are flying through your head
Tell me this before you have to choose
Would you rather be alive or dead?

It's as simple as that
Would you rather be alive or dead
It's as simple as that, it's so simple
It makes you wanna cry

They ask you if you wanna join in
You linger for a minute or so
Well, now's a perfect time to begin
Are you gonna say yes or no?

It's as simple as that
Are you gonna say yes or no?
It's as simple as that, it's so simple
It makes you wanna cry

And if you love your life
Everybody will love you too
Yes, if you love your life
Everybody will love you too

It's harder when you start to get 'round
I want you to remember what I said
I know you never like to let them down
But would you rather be alive or dead?

It's as simple as that
Would you rather be alive or dead?
It's as simple as that, it's so simple
It makes me wanna cry

Yes, if you love your life
Everybody will love you too
And if you love your life
Everybody will love you too

Would you rather be alive or dead?
Would you rather be alive or dead?
Would you?

It's as simple as that
It's as simple as that
It's as simple as that

And if you love your life
Everybody will love you too
Yes, if you love your life
Everybody will love you too

5 ways to say "goodbye"

How to use "go figure!"

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According to the Cambridge Dictionary online, go figure! is used when you tell someone a fact and you then want to say that the fact is surprising, strange or stupid:

It's a terrible movie and it made $200 million. Go figure!

How to Prevent a Hangover

click on the picture to make it bigger and check the source :) 

Phrasal verbs - even native speakers may mix them up

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Ohhhh phrasal verbs :( :(. 

Sometimes it's so hard to memorize them or even understand their meaning, isn't? 

According to Aaron, from Phrase Mix, "You have to learn phrasal verbs if you want to sound natural in English. English speakers use phrasal verbs all the time. They give our language color and life." (Aaron also teaches a new way to learn them, which by the way, it´s great. I´m going to try it. Click here to check it out. \o/ \o/ \o/) 

Many times I used to be frustrated for not mastering this topic. :( :( But yesterday, I changed my mind. :) :) . I figured out that even Americans mix them up!! Yeah... it´s true!! Take a look at this funny video from Josh Sundquist (a Paralympian, a bestselling author and motivational speaker who has an amazing youtube channel). 

Before watch the video, if you don´t know what "pull up" means, here it comes:

Phrasal Verb: Pull up

Meaning: Slow and stop a car

Example: The cab PULLED UP outside my house and I got out.

(source : http://www.usingenglish.com) 

Second Conditional with Madonna

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I always try to study English by using something relaxing. Today, I was reviewing the second conditional and that reminded me of a famous Madonna's song : Holiday :) :)  

First, let´s check again what the second conditional is about: a particular condition in the future, and the result of it. However, there is not a real possibility that it will happen. 

For example:

IF	condition	result
	past simple	WOULD + base verb
If	I won the lottery	I would buy a car.

 In Madonna's song (Holiday), she sings :

If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be, it would be so nice

I suggest that you take a song that you really like and something that you can easily memorize. Then, whenever you need to use the second conditional and have some doubt, remember the song. That will remind you of the correct way to use it. And, it will be easier to make your own sentence. ;) 

Now... let´s sing with her? 

Learning idioms and having fun

Idioms are not so easy to memorize, right? However, I strongly believe when we have some fun studying them, it makes it easier for us. 

Thus, I recommend that you follow Idiom Land, on Google +. They post idioms daily, always in a fun way. :) 

Comics - TipTuesday#7

I do know how difficult is to start reading books in English, isn't? Especially if your level is basic. So, how about doing that with comics? I remember when I was a little girl and my father used to buy many comics in Portuguese for me. Thus, I took a liking to reading. :) :) 

It's worked perfectly for me in English, as well. 

I highly recommend it. 

asking for / giving an update

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According to the Macmillan Dictionary, "update" is a verb that you use "to add the most recent information to something", "to tell someone the most recent news or information about something" or "to make something more modern".

Let´s try to use it ! 

1) If you need to ask someone for an update:

Can you give me an update on what´s happening with... ? 

Do you have any update on ...?

You can also use these follows sentences (without using "update"):

Ok, so what´s the  latest (on) ...?

Can you tell me what the status is on...?

Have you heard anything about...?

What´s going on with ...?

2) If you need to give an update :

Ok, here's what´s going on with ...

Ok, just to let you know what's going on ...

Let me bring you up to date on ...

So far that's all we know. 

Sources: PhraseMix , How to Say Anything in Portuguese

just x already x yet

source: Santino the English Teacher

Audio book - TipTuesday#6

Do you like pets? 

Do you want to learn English while listening to something 

about them? 

You can get the audio book Animal Madness from Laurel Braitman on audible.com/asap , for free. \o/ \o/ \o/ 

Take a look at this video bellow, where she talks more about it. :) 

Errand

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I don´t know why, but I really like this word. Maybe because, sometimes, I use an expression in Portuguese ("estava numa correria, estou numa correria danada) and one day I wanted to say the same in English. However, how could I say that ? I've tried to explain it to my tutor and she said: " ahhhhh.... you mean ´I was running a lot of errands' " Bingo!! :) :) 

"Errand", according to 

Merriam-Webster : "a short trip taken to attend to some business often for another" ;

Macmillan, : "a small job that involves going to collect or deliver something". 

Dictionary.com : " a short and quick trip to accomplish a specific purpose, as to buy something, deliver a package, or convey a message, often for someone else."

You can use "errand" in other contexts. Check it out on the links above!! ;) 

Ways to use "errand" :  "I have to run (some) errands." // "He runs errands after school." // "I have to run an errand." // " I've got to run (a few) errands."

To illustrate it, take a look at this website "Busy Home Solutions". They offer "errand services", such as : check on seniors at home; vehicle maintenance; wait for a repairman – cable, phone etc; run miscellaneous errands; water/plant care; gift buying; travel arrangements to appointments.

Overusing - "interesting"

I don´t know why but I've been overusing the word "interesting".

Actually, I always try to use gap fillers in my conversations. And "interesting" is one of them. However, it´s good to vary them, don´t you agree? :) :) :) 

Thus, my tutor has suggested similar words that I might say, whenever "interesting" comes up to my mind. ;) hehe

It´s important to point it out: the follow words are synonyms, but they may have different meanings. It depends on the context, ok? 

Intriguing, fascinating, illuminating, thought-provoking, profound, inspiring, provocative, engaging, beguiling, captivating, stirring, gripping, compelling, riveting, engrossing, amusing, entrancing, unusual. 

Besides these ones, how about studying other "interesting" examples of gap fillers? 

Tell me. //Tell me something. // Don't tell me.//  Wow!// If you say so…// You mean to say? 

//Do you mean to say? // Do you know what I mean?// Well! // You see! // You know...// I know. // I see. // Oh! I see. // You mean...? Say.// Believe me. // Come on. // Not at all //

Never // No way // Not a chance // Definitely // Oh! Sure // Anyway // Meanwhile // So what! 

For more examples, clique here! (source)

"Taking a break" guide - TipTuesday#5

Let's take this opportunity to learn a bit more about imperatives?

Imperative (according to Macmillan Dictionary) is a "form of a verb expresses an order to do something".

The sentence structure is : verb + object / compliment

When do we use the imperative form? 

Giving instructions; giving orders; offering something and, as we are doing today, giving advice or suggestions :). 

Question words #how

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Today´s topic is the world question "how" :) :) 

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You can use "how" either to describe the method of doing something or talk about quantity, age, distance etc. 

Let´s see some examples?

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How much - refers to the amount of things or a price (uncountable nouns)

How much time do you have to finish the test?

How many - refers to the number of people, things (countable nouns)

How many people live in this city?

How often - refers to how many times something happens in a particular period of time

How often do you visit your grandmother?

How far - refers to how great a distance is

How far is the bus stop from here?

How old - refers to the age of someone or something

How old are you?

How fast - refers to the ability to move quickly

How fast is your internet connection?

How well - refers to a good, proper, or positive way

How well do you know The Beatles?

Do you want to practice it? Click here :) 


sources:
Macmillan Dictionary
Merriam- Webster
WoodWard English

Prepositions #2

As I said and posted here (on May, 27th), prepositions are not something easy to study (at least for me, hehe). Thus, I do like whenever I come across something that improves my knowledge in that area. 

Let's go to review them!! :)

Let's face this challenge?

gear, giraffe, onion, oak, gang, rat, got, tan, afire, again, ago, fork, age, aka, at, ate, fit, fat, fair, freak, goat, king, go, gone, no, not, fog, going, ear, font, fear, tine, are, affair, far, fake tin, fin, ton, frog, freak, tear, fine, air, ant, net, garage. 

Cell phone etiquette!!

When we study a second language, it´s also important to keep in mind that you may come across distinct behaviors. 

After all, we all have several ways to face and treat similar situations. 

A good example? 

Did you know that there are various cell phone etiquettes around the world? Let´s see which are the good manners when it comes to speaking on the phone in different places. 

Click on the picture to make it bigger (and know the source) :)

Other ways to say ...

Who has been here before knows that I always try to improve my conversation skills by using different ways to say the same thing. Although it´s not easy. I tend to use those words and sentences that I´m used to saying. Thus, practicing is fundamental. ;)

Here it comes one more chart to inspire you to use other ways to say ... 

source: Sharing Materials

Indirect questions

We've learned that when we want to make a question in English, we do that by changing the word order or by using the auxiliary "do", right? They are sentences such as: Are you happy? / Is he from Russia?/ Why did you move to Brazil?/ How much does this car cost?

However, one day, I came across an intriguing situation: I wanted to ask something by using the introductory phrase "do you know...". I had no idea how I should say the next question, though. I mean if I was supposed to use either any auxiliary verb or change the word order.

Surprisingly, I've discovered that it´s neither one thing nor the other :) :). 

Actually, it works as in an affirmative sentence. 

Better than keeping talking about this is to check the infographic bellow.

click on the image to make it bigger ;)

If you want to go any further, try these websites.

There are more explanations and exercises. 

http://www.e-grammar.org/indirect-question/

http://www.espressoenglish.net/direct-and-indirect-questions-in-english/

http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.inqu.p.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/indirectques.html

Twitterversary

I just got this message from Twitter:

Happy Twitterversary! You just turned 6. Let everyone know that it's your Twitterversary.   Tweet!

Email settings  |  Opt-out  |  Help Twitter, Inc. 1355 Market Street, Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94103

I'm glad to know that, for the last 6 years, I´ve been using Twitter as an important tool to get news and, especially, learning English. On Twitter I follow CNN, Time Magazine, Discover America, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and many others (as such: actors, comedians, singers, artists, journalists). The good thing is: it enables me to read short 140-character text messages in English. This is absolutely fantastic. Without realizing, I practice my reading skills, every single day. :) 

Give it a try. It really works!! ;) 

Do you like decoration?

I have already talked about Pottery Barn here on my blog. Besides the website, they also have a pleasant youtube channel, where you can practice your listening skills :). They've been posting videos on decoration, this week. If you enjoy this subject, I´m sure you go in for it. :) 

Also, speaking of house things, I came across this curious article. 

Could you live in a tiny house like this?

This is a real  house-on-wheels. 

"The house is equipped with electricity, and has a small RV-style hot water heater for the sink and shower. It is heated by a mini gas fireplace in the living room and an electric wall heater."

If you want to see more pictures and the story of this lovely house, clique here!!