Vocab for Teachers

Deepen your understanding of vocabulary — and learn how to teach it more effectively. Practical masterclasses for English teachers, in any classroom.

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125 masterclasses
Word Building & Morphology
-ing and -ed Adjectives: Interesting vs Interested, Boring vs Bored
Many English adjectives come in pairs — one form ending in -ing, one ending in -ed. Interesting /…
Intermediate
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Collocations
Adjective + Noun Collocations: Strong Coffee, Heavy Rain, Deep Sleep
When English speakers describe things, they do not pick adjectives freely. They use fixed combinations that sound natural.…
Intermediate
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Collocations
Adjective + Preposition: Good At, Interested In, Afraid Of
In English, many adjectives always take a specific preposition after them. 'Good' takes 'at' — 'I am good…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Adjective-Forming Suffixes: -ful, -less, -ous, -al, -ive, -able
English builds many adjectives by adding small endings (suffixes) to nouns and verbs. Care (noun) becomes careful (with…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Adverb Formation: How to Build Adverbs from Adjectives
In English, adverbs describe how an action is done. 'She walks slowly.' 'He speaks clearly.' 'They work hard.'…
Basic
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Animal Idioms: Cat, Dog, Bird, Horse, Fish
Animal idioms are some of the most common and colourful idioms in English. Animals — cats, dogs, birds,…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Apologies: I'm Sorry, I Apologise, Please Forgive Me, My Mistake
In adult life, students often need to apologise — for small mistakes, big mistakes, lateness, misunderstandings, hurting feelings.…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Asking Permission: May I, Do You Mind, Would It Be Alright
In daily life, students often need to ask permission — to leave a room, to use a phone,…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Body Idioms: Head, Hand, Eye, Heart
Body idioms are some of the most common idioms in English. The body parts — head, hand, eye,…
Advanced
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Connotation & Register
British vs American English: Lift/Elevator, Flat/Apartment, Biscuit/Cookie
English has many vocabulary differences between British and American varieties. The same thing has different names. 'Lift' (British)…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Classroom Expressions for Teachers: Let Me Check, Raise Your Hand, Well Done
Teachers need many fixed expressions to manage the classroom in English. 'Raise your hand' (when you want to…
Intermediate
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Collocations
Collocations: Make, Do, Take, and Have
A collocation is a pair or group of words that habitually go together in English — not because…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Colour Idioms: In the Red, Green with Envy, See Red, Feeling Blue
Colour idioms are common in English. Colour words — red, green, blue, white, grey, black — appear in…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Common Idioms: Break the Ice, Hit the Nail on the Head, Cost an Arm and a Leg
Idioms are fixed expressions whose meaning cannot be guessed from the individual words. When a native English speaker…
Advanced
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Word Building & Morphology
Commonly Confused Words: Lose/Loose, Accept/Except, Affect/Effect
Some English words look very similar but mean different things. 'Lose' (to not win, to misplace) and 'loose'…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Comparatives and Superlatives: Tall, Taller, Tallest
Comparatives and superlatives are adjective forms we use to compare things. 'Tall' is basic; 'taller' compares two things;…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Compound Nouns: How Two Words Become One
English has a powerful way of making new words: join two nouns together. 'Bed' + 'room' = bedroom.…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Contractions: Don't, Can't, I've, They'll, Won't
In English, contractions combine two words with an apostrophe. The apostrophe shows that letters have been removed. 'Do…
Basic
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Daily Situation Expressions: Asking, Suggesting, Apologising
In daily life, English speakers use a small set of fixed expressions for common social actions. To ask…
Basic
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Discourse Markers & Linkers
Discourse Markers: However, Therefore, On the Other Hand, In Addition
At basic and intermediate level, students connect ideas with simple words: and, but, so, because. These work in…
Advanced
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Word Building & Morphology
Double Letters: When to Double Consonants in Verb Forms
In English, when we add -ing or -ed to a verb, sometimes we double the final consonant and…
Basic
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Connotation & Register
Email and Letter Expressions: Dear Sir/Madam, Yours Sincerely, I Am Writing To
Formal emails and letters use fixed expressions that students must memorise. The opening: 'Dear Sir/Madam' (when you do…
Intermediate
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Vocabulary
Euphemisms: Passed Away, Between Jobs, Of a Certain Age
In English, some topics are difficult to discuss directly — death, illness, money problems, age, body, certain bodily…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Everyday Phrasal Verbs: Get Up, Sit Down, Turn On, Put Off
A phrasal verb is a verb plus a small word called a particle (usually a preposition or adverb).…
Basic
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Vocabulary
Expressions for Agreement and Disagreement: I Agree, Exactly, I See Your Point But, I Disagree
In conversation, students need to respond to other people's views. At basic level, they often use only 'yes'…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Expressions for Emphasis: Really, Indeed, In Fact, Absolutely, Definitely
In conversation and writing, speakers often need to emphasise what they say — to stress that something is…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Expressions for Explaining and Clarifying: In Other Words, What I Mean Is, To Put It Differently
In academic discussion, presentations, and professional writing, speakers and writers often need to explain or rephrase what they…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Expressions for Offers: Would You Like, Can I Get You, May I Offer
In daily life, students often need to offer things to others — a drink, food, help, a seat,…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Expressions for Plans and Intentions: I Am Thinking Of, I Am Going To, I Plan To
In conversation and writing, students often talk about future plans — what they will do, what they are…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Expressions for Sympathy: I'm Sorry to Hear, That Must Be Difficult, My Condolences
In adult social and professional life, students often need to respond to bad news. A friend's illness. A…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Expressions for Thanks: Thank You, I Appreciate, I Am Grateful, Much Obliged
At basic level, students often have only 'thank you' for thanks. But English has many ways to say…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Fixed Expressions for Opinions: In My View, From My Perspective, As Far As I Am Concerned
At basic and intermediate level, students express opinions with simple phrases: 'I think', 'I believe', 'I do not…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Food Idioms: Cake, Bread, Beans, Salt, Sugar
Food idioms are some of the most colourful in English. Foods — cake, bread, beans, salt, sugar —…
Advanced
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Formal vs Informal Alternatives: Children/Kids, Purchase/Buy, Request/Ask For
English often has two words for the same thing — one formal and one informal. 'Children' (neutral/formal) and…
Basic
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Word Frequency & Range
Frequency Adverbs: Always, Usually, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, Never
At basic level, students need to talk about how often they do things. I get up at six…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Gerunds vs Infinitives: I Like Swimming vs I Want to Swim
In English, when one verb follows another, the second verb takes one of two forms. Some verbs are…
Basic
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Goodbye Expressions: See You Later, Take Care, Have a Good One, All the Best
In daily life, conversations end and people say goodbye. English has many fixed expressions for goodbyes at different…
Advanced
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Word Building & Morphology
Greek and Latin Roots: Port-, Tele-, Bio-, Geo-, Photo-
Many English words come from Greek and Latin. The same small parts — called roots — appear in…
Basic
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Academic Vocabulary
Hedging Language: Tend To, May, Seems To, Apparently, Roughly
In English, speakers and writers often soften their statements with small words and phrases. Instead of saying The…
Advanced
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Collocations
High-Frequency Collocations: Make, Do, Take, Have
Collocations are words that often go together. In English, we do not choose verbs freely — we say…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Homophones: There/Their/They're, Your/You're, Its/It's
Some English words sound exactly the same but are spelled differently and mean different things. These are called…
Basic
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Invitations: Would You Like To, I Would Love To, I Am Afraid I Cannot
In daily life, students often need to invite others — to dinner, to events, to activities — and…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Irregular Verbs: Eat/Ate/Eaten, Take/Took/Taken, See/Saw/Seen
Most English verbs form their past tense by adding -ed. 'Walk' becomes 'walked'. 'Talk' becomes 'talked'. 'Visit' becomes…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Loaded Language: Freedom Fighter vs Terrorist, Frugal vs Stingy, Investigation vs Witch Hunt
In English, the same situation can be described with very different words depending on the speaker's view. The…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Money Idioms: Cost an Arm and a Leg, Break the Bank, Pay Through the Nose
Money idioms are everywhere in English. Talking about prices, expenses, savings, financial difficulty — these topics come up…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Narrative Expressions: Once Upon a Time, All of a Sudden, The Moral of the Story
Stories are everywhere in English — fairy tales, news reports, personal experiences, business case studies, films. English has…
Advanced
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms for Big Quantity: Many, Much, Lots Of, Plenty Of, Numerous
At basic level, students often have only 'many' and 'much' for big quantity. Many books. Much water. But…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: A Moment, A While, Ages, Briefly
At basic level, students need to talk about time — how long they waited, how long a journey…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Argue, Claim, Assert, Maintain, Contend, Insist
When students write essays, they often need to report what another writer has said. At basic level, they…
Advanced
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Ask, Request, Demand, Beg, Enquire
When we ask for something, we are doing more than producing words — we are positioning ourselves socially.…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Beautiful, Scenic, Charming, Picturesque, Lovely
At basic level, students often have only 'beautiful' and 'nice' for describing places. The village is beautiful. The…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Big, Large, Great, Huge, Vast, Enormous
Ask a B1 student how they would describe a significant problem, a large building, a vast desert, and…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Bright, Dim, Dark, Shiny, Dull
At basic level, students often have only 'bright' and 'dark' for describing light. The room is bright. The…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Cheap, Affordable, Expensive, Exorbitant
At basic level, students often have just two words for price: cheap and expensive. But these words carry…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Clean, Tidy, Spotless, Dirty, Messy, Filthy
At basic level, students often have only 'clean' and 'dirty' for describing things. The room is clean. The…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Clear, Obvious, Vague, Confusing, Ambiguous
At intermediate level, students need precise words for talking about communication, instructions, ideas, and writing. 'Clear' is the…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Come, Arrive, Reach, Get To
At basic level, students need to talk about going to places, arriving at school, coming home, and reaching…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Correct, Wrong, Right, Accurate, Inaccurate, False
At basic level, students often have only 'right' and 'wrong' for correctness. The answer is right. The answer…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Delicious, Tasty, Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Spicy, Bland
At basic level, students often describe food using only 'good' or 'nice'. The food was good. The meal…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Easy, Simple, Straightforward, Hard, Tough, Challenging
At basic level, students often have only 'easy' and 'hard' for describing tasks. The exam was easy. The…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Fast, Quick, Rapid, Slow, Sluggish, Swift
At basic level, students often have only 'fast' and 'slow' for speed. The car is fast. The bus…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Give, Donate, Offer, Provide, Supply
At basic level, students need to talk about giving things to people. They usually learn 'give' first and…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Good, Great, Fine, OK, Nice
B1 students often have two words for positive things: 'nice' and 'good'. When asked about a meal, a…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Happy, Pleased, Delighted, Content, Thrilled, Ecstatic
B1 learners often have just two words for their emotional range: 'happy' and 'sad'. These words serve every…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Hot, Warm, Cool, Cold, Freezing, Boiling
At basic level, students often have only 'hot' and 'cold' for temperature. The day was hot. The water…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Important, Essential, Vital, Crucial, Significant
At basic level, students often have only 'important' for talking about importance. Education is important. Family is important.…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Kind, Friendly, Generous, Polite, Rude
At basic level, students need to describe people. He is kind. She is friendly. They are rude. But…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Laugh, Smile, Grin, Giggle, Chuckle, Beam
At basic level, students often have only 'laugh' and 'smile' for positive emotion expression. He laughed. She smiled.…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Like, Love, Enjoy, Prefer
At A2 level, students need to talk about what they like and don't like. But four common verbs…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Look, See, Watch, Observe, Notice, Glimpse, Stare, Peer
English has a surprisingly large number of verbs that describe what the eyes do. At B1, most students…
Advanced
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Loud, Quiet, Silent, Noisy, Deafening
At basic level, students often have only 'loud' and 'quiet' for sound. The music is loud. The room…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Near, Far, Close, Distant, Nearby, Remote
At basic level, students often have only 'near' and 'far' for distance. The shop is near. The village…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Rude, Arrogant, Selfish, Mean, Lazy, Dishonest
Personality adjectives often describe people we admire — kind, generous, hardworking. But sometimes students need to describe negative…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Sad, Upset, Disappointed, Heartbroken
At basic level, students often have just one word for negative feelings: sad. They use it for everything…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Say, Tell, Speak, Talk
Say, tell, speak, and talk are among the most frequent verbs in English — and among the most…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Small, Little, Tiny
Students at A2 level often learn 'small' first and use it for everything. But English has three common…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Smart, Clever, Intelligent, Wise, Brilliant, Sharp
At basic level, students often use 'clever' or 'smart' for any kind of mental ability. He is clever.…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Start, Begin, Commence, Finish, End, Conclude
At basic level, students often have only 'start' and 'finish' for beginning and ending things. The lesson started…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Strong, Weak, Powerful, Feeble, Sturdy, Frail
At basic level, students often have only 'strong' and 'weak' for describing strength. The man is strong. The…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Study, Learn, Research, Investigate, Examine
Students often use 'study' for everything related to school work. I study English. I study for the exam.…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Sure, Certain, Probably, Possibly, Maybe
When English speakers talk about events or ideas, they often signal how sure they are. The new policy…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Tall, Short, Long, Narrow, Wide, Deep, Shallow
At basic level, students often have only 'big' and 'small' for describing things. The road is big. The…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Thin, Slim, Skinny, Slender, Lean, Emaciated
Students often learn one word for a concept and then use it in every context — 'thin' for…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Think, Believe, Suppose, Assume, Reckon
At basic level, students use 'think' for everything that happens in their mind. 'I think it will rain.'…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Try, Attempt, Struggle, Manage, Succeed
At basic level, students often have only 'try' for any kind of effort. They tried hard. They tried…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Walk, Stroll, March, Stride, Wander, Trudge
English has dozens of verbs that describe walking — each one encoding a different speed, mood, purpose, or…
Intermediate
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Near-Synonyms: Young, Old, Elderly, Aged, Youthful, Middle-Aged
At basic level, students often have only 'young' and 'old' for describing age. The boy is young. The…
Basic
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Vocabulary
Negative Emotion Verbs: Cry, Weep, Sob, Sniff, Wail, Whimper
Just as English has many verbs for positive emotion (lesson #73), it has many verbs for sad expressions…
Advanced
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Word Building & Morphology
Negative Prefixes: Un-, Dis-, In-, Im-, Ir-, Non-
In English, we can change a word from positive to negative by adding a prefix. 'Happy' becomes 'unhappy'…
Basic
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Negotiation Expressions: Let's Meet Halfway, Are You Flexible, The Best I Can Do
In adult life, students often need to negotiate — about price, schedules, terms, conditions, agreements. Negotiation involves give…
Advanced
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Word Building & Morphology
Noun-Forming Suffixes: -tion, -ment, -ity, -ness, -er, -ship, -hood
Noun-forming suffixes are small word endings that turn other parts of speech into nouns. 'Educate' (verb) becomes 'education'…
Advanced
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs for Communication: Speak Up, Hold On, Get Through, Hang Up
Communication contexts use many specific phrasal verbs. 'Speak up' (talk louder / state your opinion). 'Hold on' (wait…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs for Daily Routines: Wake Up, Get Up, Go to Bed, Fall Asleep
Daily routines come up constantly in everyday conversation. What time do you wake up? What time do you…
Basic
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs for Health and Illness: Come Down With, Get Over, Throw Up, Pass Out
Health and illness come up in everyday conversation — talking about colds, flu, recovery, medications. English has many…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs for Problems and Difficulties: Run Out Of, Deal With, Sort Out, Get Over
Life involves problems — practical, emotional, work, family. English has many phrasal verbs specifically for facing and solving…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs for Relationships: Get On With, Fall Out With, Make Up With, Break Up With
Relationships — friendships, family, and romantic — come up constantly in everyday conversation. English has many phrasal verbs…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs for Travel and Journeys: Set Off, Take Off, Check In, Get Away, Drop Off
Travel involves many specific actions — beginning a journey, flights, hotels, transport. English has phrasal verbs for each.…
Advanced
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs for Work: Take On, Lay Off, Follow Up, Set Up, Carry Out
Work and business contexts use many specific phrasal verbs. 'Take on' (accept new work or staff). 'Lay off'…
Advanced
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with Bring: Bring Up, Bring About, Bring Back, Bring In, Bring On
The verb 'bring' alone means to carry something to a place — bring me the book, bring it…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with Come and Go: Come Across, Come Up With, Go Through, Go Without
Come and go are two of the most common verbs in English. Combined with particles, they make many…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with Look: Look Up, Look After, Look For, Look Forward To, Look Down On
The verb 'look' alone means to use your eyes — direct your sight at something. 'Look at the…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with Make: Make Up, Make Out, Make For, Make Do, Make Off With
The verb 'make' alone means to create or produce something. 'Make a cake.' 'Make a decision.' But when…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with Put: Put On, Put Off, Put Up With, Put Away, Put Down
The verb put alone means to place something in a position. Put the book on the table. Put…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with Take: Take Off, Take On, Take Over, Take After, Take Up
The verb 'take' alone means to grab something, carry something, or accept something. 'Take this book.' 'Take your…
Intermediate
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Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with Turn: Turn On, Turn Off, Turn Up, Turn Down, Turn Out, Turn Into
The verb 'turn' alone means to change direction or rotate. 'Turn left at the lights.' 'Turn the page.'…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Plurals: How English Makes Nouns Plural
Making a noun plural is one of the first things students learn in English. The basic rule is…
Basic
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Near-Synonyms & Word Choice
Positive vs Negative Connotation: Slim/Skinny, Confident/Arrogant, Careful/Picky
Many English words describe similar qualities but with different shading — positive or negative. 'Slim' (positive — attractively…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Possessives: The Boy's Book vs The Boys' Books
In English, we use a small mark called an apostrophe (') with -s to show that something belongs…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Prefixes: How Small Word-Parts Change Meaning
A prefix is a small group of letters added to the start of a word to change its…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Restaurant and Shopping Expressions: A Table for Two, I Would Like, How Much, The Bill Please
For travel, daily life, and adult living, students need fixed expressions for restaurants, shops, and services. 'A table…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Root Words and Parts of Speech: How One Word Becomes Many
One of the most powerful vocabulary strategies available to learners is understanding that a single root word can…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Silent Letters: Know, Write, Hour, Lamb, Knife
In English, some letters are written but not pronounced. These are called silent letters. The word 'know' starts…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Suffix -able for Adjectives: Wash → Washable, Break → Breakable
In English, the suffix -able turns verbs into adjectives meaning 'can be done' or 'fit for'. 'Wash' (verb)…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Suffix -ment for Nouns: Develop → Development, Manage → Management
In English, the suffix -ment turns verbs into nouns. 'Develop' (verb — to grow) becomes 'development' (noun —…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Suffix -ness for Nouns: Happy → Happiness, Kind → Kindness
In English, the suffix -ness turns adjectives into nouns. 'Happy' (adjective — feeling joy) becomes 'happiness' (noun —…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Suffix -tion for Nouns: Educate → Education, Discuss → Discussion
In English, the suffix -tion (sometimes -sion) turns verbs into nouns. 'Educate' (verb) becomes 'education' (noun). 'Discuss' becomes…
Basic
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Word Building & Morphology
Third-Person -s Spelling: He Plays, She Watches, It Tries
In English present tense, the third-person singular (he, she, it, or any singular noun) takes a special verb…
Basic
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Word Frequency & Range
Time and Frequency Expressions: Every Now and Then, Once in a While, Sooner or Later
At basic level, students know the frequency adverbs — always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never (covered in lesson…
Intermediate
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Vocabulary
Top Vocabulary Tools for B1+ Teachers: A Practical Reference
This lesson is a practical reference for teachers. Across the library, certain patterns and tools come up again…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Travel and Directions: How Do I Get To, Which Way, You Cannot Miss It
For travel, daily life, and any new place, students need fixed expressions for asking and giving directions. Asking:…
Intermediate
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Collocations
Verb + Noun Collocations: Give a Speech, Pay Attention, Catch a Cold
English speakers do not pick verbs freely when they combine them with nouns. They use fixed combinations that…
Intermediate
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Collocations
Verb + Preposition: Listen To, Depend On, Agree With
Many English verbs must be followed by a specific preposition. 'Listen' takes 'to' — you listen TO music,…
Intermediate
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Word Building & Morphology
Verb-Forming Suffixes: -ise/-ize, -ify, -en
English builds many verbs from nouns and adjectives by adding small endings (suffixes). Modern (adjective) becomes modernise (=…
Intermediate
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Weather Idioms: Under the Weather, Raining Cats and Dogs, A Storm in a Teacup
Weather idioms are common in English. Weather words — sun, rain, clouds, storm, thunder — appear in many…
Advanced
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Idioms & Fixed Expressions
Work and Business Expressions: At the End of the Day, On the Same Page, Touch Base, The Bottom Line
In professional life, English has many fixed expressions that come up constantly. 'At the end of the day'…
Advanced
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