"This," "that," "these," and "those" are demonstrative pronouns that replace nouns while specifying their nature in terms of quantity and immediacy. When these words come before a noun, they are demonstrative adjectives. "This" refers to a singular object that is close or more relevant, immediate, or accessible to the speaker, while "that" indicates a singular object that is further removed.
In the following two sentences, "this" and "that" each replace a noun, and are therefore being used as demonstrative pronouns.
This is where the most important items are discussed with the team
Caption 9, Agile workflow: in simplified terms
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That's a very nice hotel.
Caption 21, A Weekend in Amsterdam: Planning the Trip
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We do not know where the discussion was held, or which hotel is being referred to, but we can assume that these locations were provided in an previous sentence.
Here are both words used as demonstrative adjectives, which essentially answer the question "Which?" and provide specificity and clarity.
I have this red pen and this blue pen.
Caption 7, Abiventures: Organizing
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You think you're so smart with that blanket.
Caption 7, A Charlie Brown Christmas: Snowflakes
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The word "these" is the plural form of "this," and is used for multiple items that are more immediate or relevant. "Those" is the plural form of "that."Something that is described as "this" might be right in your hand. Nouns specified with "that" might be an alternative, not the most logical choice, or something you don't have access to.
And I'm just trying to brainstorm how can I use these in my creative filmmaking process.
Captions 8-9, Abiventures: Papers
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And those are made of elementary particles.
Caption 10, In a Nutshell What Is Something?
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And here we have our plural demonstrative adjectives:
So, if you observe these writing rules, your letter will be easy to read.
Caption 12, Business Life: Cover Letter
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I would have seen those keys in the grocery bag.
Caption 43, Parts of Speech: Modal Verbs - Part 4
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Further Learning
You will find hundreds of examples of "this," "that," "these," and "those" on Yabla English.
In American English, "that" is typically used for restrictive clauses, which provide essential information about a noun. Often, the sentence will no longer be complete if you remove the word "that" and the clause that follows it.
In the first sentence, you can see "that" also used as a demonstrative pronoun, but we are interested in the first "that," which functions as a relative pronoun.
And I bought a voltage converter that will convert that down to twelve volts.
Caption 39, Hobbies and Projects: The Electric Cargo Bike Project
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It's not too early to pack on the pounds that will get them through the next winter.
Captions 17-18, America's National Parks: Olympic
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Actually, there is one thing that Kate's always had a little trouble with.
Caption 43, ALF: Working my way back to you
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As a relative pronoun, the word "which" is reserved for non-restrictive clauses. These offer additional, non-essential details and are usually set off by commas. Note that in the examples below, you could stop the sentence before "which" and it would still be complete.
And now for the final touch, which is the bread.
Caption 62, Abiventures: Sandwich
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One of the largest tributaries into the canyon is the Little Colorado, which joins the big river inside the park.
Captions 17-18, America's National Parks: Grand Canyon
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The mule deer bucks are re-growing their antlers, which they shed each winter.
Captions 31-32, America's National Parks: Yosemite
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Further Learning
Still wondering what a demonstrative pronoun is? No worries! Next month, we will look at "this," "that," "these," and "those." In the meantime, practice using "that" and "which," and look for more examples on Yabla English.
One topic that can even be confusing for native English speakers is the difference between the verbs "to lie" and "to lay." And it's no wonder—both of these verbs can refer to being in a reclined, horizontal position, but they also have other meanings. Not only that, their conjugations in the past tense are really quite tricky!
A difference to remember is that "to lay" is a transitive verb and requires a direct object, whereas "to lie" is intransitive and does not require a second noun in the sentence. "To lie" can mean to say something that isn't truthful, or it can mean to recline or be in a resting position. While these verbs look the same in the present tense, the past tense conjugation is different! Have a look:
But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise.
Caption 68, Charlie Chaplin: Final Speech from The Great Dictator
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I lied! That was three.
Caption 61, Abiventures: Sandwich
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As you lie in fields of gold.
Caption 22, Katie Melua Fields of Gold
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When he came into the room in which Sleeping Beauty lay...
Caption 23, Fairy Tales: Sleeping Beauty
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Although "lay" is the simple past tense of "lie" when it refers to lying down, "to lay" is also a distinct verb and means to put or place something (the direct object) down. We say "The chicken lays an egg" and "The crew lays the foundation for a house." Note the direct objects in each of the sentences below:
Don't lay our love to rest.
Caption 38, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting: All For Love
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And we will act not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.
Captions 30-31, Barack Obama's Inauguration Day: Obama's Speech
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Italian immigrants dug tunnels, laid railroad tracks, constructed bridges and roads, and erected the first skyscrapers.
Captions 36-38, Spotlight: Why Columbus Day?
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I laid four thousand and twenty eggs! -Wow!
Caption 80, Peppa Pig: Grandpa Pig's Computer
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To review:
| Infinitive | Present Tense | Present Participle | Past Tense |
| to lie (to lie down) | lie/lies | lying | lay |
| to lie (to tell a lie) | lie/lies | lying | lied |
| to lay | lay/lays | laying | laid |
Further Learning
In addition to memorizing the table above, you can find many examples of these verbs used in context on Yabla English.
Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, other adverbs, and even entire sentences, describing how something is done or how something is the way it is. Previously, we have looked at adverbs of frequency, which denote how often something occurs. Today, we'll look at adverbs of manner, which help us express how an action occurs. Most adverbs of manner end in "-ly" or "-ily."
The adjectives "quick," "desperate," and "accurate" may be familiar to you. But here, what is being described is not a person or thing, but instead the verbs "to clear," "to try," and "to represent."
And the skies above the canyon quickly clear again.
Caption 34, America's National Parks: Grand Canyon
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The royal couple tried desperately to wake her.
Caption 39, Fairy Tales: Sleeping Beauty
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Did you know that according to a survey, over sixty percent of employers don't think CVs represent applicants accurately?
Captions 47-49, Business Life: Curriculum Vitae
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You may have noticed that adjectives that end with an "-e" simply get the "-ly" tacked onto the end anyway. This is also the case with adjectives that end in "-ful" or "-less."
English speakers like to greet each other by cheerfully stating the time of day.
Captions 14-15, English with Annette O'Neil: Ways to Say Hello
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As you can see, it's very beautifully decorated.
Caption 8, Christmas in London: Places
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It can walk on almost every terrain effortlessly.
Caption 8, Evolution: On Land
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Seasons moving endlessly.
Caption 25, Justin James: A Beautiful Life
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When an adjective ends with a "-y," like "happy" or "easy," it's customary to replace it with "-ily" in the adverb form. Let's have a look:
Rapunzel happily accepted this handsome prince's proposal.
Caption 34, Fairy Tales: Rapunzel
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This red deer is not red at all, and will be easily singled out by predators.
Caption 50, BBC Planet: Wild Alien Animals
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Further Learning
You can find many adverbs on Yabla English to see them used in a variety of different contexts. You can also write a list of ten adjectives and look up their related adverb.
The noun "mind" is a complex word that has meanings related to your memory and the part of you that thinks. It means more than just your physical brain—it's also its contents and the way it works. The verb "to mind," on the other hand, can mean "to remember," "to remind," "to notice," "to care," and a number of other things depending upon the context.
There are a lot of rather odd phrases and idioms associate with "mind." Let's take a look at some of them today.
Do you mind if we listen to some music?
Caption 30, The Late Late Show with James Corden: Jennifer Lopez Carpool Karaoke
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This "to mind" means "do you care," in the sense of "will it bother you?" If it doesn't bother you, the usual response is:
I don't mind.
Caption 51, Between Two Women: The Movie
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But if it bothers you, you can say "I do mind," with emphasis on the "do." Of course, it's usually polite to explain why you object.
Pieces of peace in the sun's peace of mind.
Caption 3, Twenty One Pilots: Ride
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That's a lot of words that sound the same in one line of a song lyric! The phrase "peace of mind" means to feel calm, safe, and protected: without worries.
Miley Cyrus gives a photographer a piece of her mind.
Caption 2, The Pop Topic Minute: Kate Winslet and Miley Cyrus
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If somebody gives someone "a piece of their mind," it means they are angry and let them know in no uncertain terms.
It's there, but it's out of sight, out of mind.
Caption 15, Essential vocabulary with Sigrid: Delay delay delay
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The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" means that if something that is bothering you isn't immediately in front of you, you worry about it less.
I love the dark handsome guys with their skinny little ties dressing mod, looking out of sight.
Captions 7-9, Movie Trailers: Nine
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"Out of sight" can, of course, mean that something is literally not visible. But in the case above, it's 1960s-1970s slang for "really great."
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind.
Caption 20, John Legend with Lindsey Stirling: All Of Me
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While "out of mind" in Sigrid's video above means you aren't thinking about something, if someone tells you that you are "out of your mind," it's a rather impolite way of saying they think you are crazy. In that case, you'd better either take their advice and desist in your actions, or be even more determined to prove them wrong!
Further Learning
Phrases using the noun "mind" and its verbal form "to mind" are very common in the English language. There are, in fact, nearly 500 videos on Yabla that include some form of the word. Try looking some of them up on Yabla English to see them used in a variety of different contexts.
"Yes" and "no" are some of the first words you learn in any language, but there are many different ways to say you agree to something. Today we'll continue with the second installment of the topic "English words of consent and agreement." Check out Part I first if you missed it!
I agree with that, I really do.
Caption 36, Ask Jimmy Carter: Interview with Robin Williams
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Usually the verb "agree" is used as a way of confirming a statement that somebody has made that suggests a condition or a course of action. You can also simply say "Agreed."
We'd like his table, please. As you wish, sir.
Captions 22-23, Oscar® Nominated Short Films: The Absent-Minded Waiter with Steve Martin
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The phrase "as you wish" (or "as you like") confirms that you agree to carry out to a request. It doesn't necessarily mean that you agree with what is being requested. The phrase is sometimes used in cases where you may even have initially objected to the request. Imagine a conversation between a business owner and an accountant: "I want to fly first-class to the meeting." -"That will be too expensive for the budget." -"No, I insist I fly first-class." -"As you wish."
Let's say this: He is the star of the movie. -It's hard to disagree with that.
Captions 32-33, Uma Thurman: Kill Bill
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Saying it's "hard to disagree" with something is a good way to agree with something that may be true only in a figurative way. In the example above, the interviewer makes the argument that because of his good work directing, the director Quentin Tarantino is "the star of the movie," although he didn't actually play an acting role in it.
Oh boy, that is one tasty dish! -I'll say.
Caption 3, A Mickey Mouse Cartoon: Goofy's First Love
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This is an odd way of saying "I agree." It probably comes from "I would say the same thing too." When spoken, the emphasis is on "I'll."
That story is awesome. -Indeed.
Caption 48, Parks and Recreation: Best of Ron & April
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"Indeed" is a confirmation that is basically the same as "Yes, it is."
You have to do what you have to do. -Sure! No problem.
Captions 75-76, Side by Side: Beginners Have to / can
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"Sure" is the same as saying "yes," and "no problem" also works on its own as a way of confirming something or agreeing with something.
Further Learning
Look up the above words and phrases on Yabla English to see them used in different contexts.
"Yes" and "no" are some of the first words you learn in any language. Although such words are technically adverbs, they don't really modify verbs. Many language experts consider them to be sentence adverbs.
OK, alright, good.
Caption 117, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Cookie Jar
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The three words above are kind of like saying the same thing three times: "Yes, yes, yes." "OK" is often also spelled "okay." The spelling here of "alright," is not standard, but is very commonly used. The more formal way write it is with two words: "all right."
There are, however, stronger ways to say "yes" than "OK," "all right," and "good." Let's take a look today at some of these words and phrases.
It's the thing they make movies about. -Yeah, absolutely.
Caption 72, 16x9 - Cool Runnings: Truth Behind Original Jamaican Bobsled Team
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"Yeah" is an informal version of "yes." The adjective "absolute" means "to a very great or the largest degree possible." So when you say "absolutely," it's a very strong way of saying "yes."
I mean, the theory's been proven true, beyond all doubt.
Caption 16, TED-Ed: Questions No One Knows the Answers to
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If something is "beyond all doubt," then it's unquestionably true. The adverb "unquestionably" means, as the word suggests, that something is so true that should not be questioned. Of course, even things that are scientifically proven may be questioned, otherwise science would make no progress! The phrase "beyond a doubt" means the same thing but less forcefully. You'll hear the phrase "beyond all reasonable doubt" used as a legal phrase in court cases.
So, by all means be responsible global citizens.
Caption 54, Great Barrier Reef: Incredible Facts
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"By all means" is a strong way of saying "yes." "Means," in this context, are the ways that something can be done. The person above could have said "So yes, be responsible global citizens." But using the phrase "by all means" instead of "yes" makes the statement stronger.
Ah, two for dinner? -Uh, yes. Two please. -Certainly. Sit right down.
Captions 119-121, Oscar® Nominated Short Films: The Absent-Minded Waiter with Steve Martin
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"Certainly" is related to the adjective "certain," which means "to have no doubt or knowing exactly that something is true."
Are you going to the canteen? -Of course.
Captions 6-7, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four: BBC TV Movie
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The phrase "of course" comes from an old meaning of the noun "course," which is the path a ship takes in a river. The original phrase was "of the ordinary course," which later became "a matter of course." Now "of course" can be a way to say "yes" or to affirm something.
Hope you don't break a leg. -Yeah, for sure.
Captions 38-40, New Year's Resolutions: Lele Pons & Hannah Stocking
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"For sure" is a less formal way to say "certainly."
Further Learning
Look up the above words and phrases on Yabla English to see them used in different contexts.
There are a number of words in modern English that have been borrowed from the German language. These are mostly words that were adopted in the United States and the United Kingdom starting in the 19th century. Let's take a look today at some food and beverage related English words that come from German.
Save them for a stir-fry or noodle bowl later in the week.
Caption 24, Rainbow Plant Life: 20 Minute Vegan Meals EVERYONE Should Know
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A noodle is a long thin strip made of wheat or rice and boiled in water. You often find noodles in Italian and Asian dishes. The noun "noodle" comes from the German word Nudel, which is pronounced the same too. Note that "noodle" is also a slang word for a foolish or simple person. Also, if someone says "use your noodle," it means to use your brain to think about something!
I've got five hundred grams of strawberries here... and I want to blitz these now.
Captions 4-6, Nigella's Recipes: Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
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The word "blitz" came into the English language during the German Air Force attacks on Great Britain from 1940 to 1941. The Nazi propaganda called their victories in those years Blitzkrieg, which means "lightning war." The Brits called the time of the German air attacks "The Blitz," and the word is still used in English today. Later, especially in the UK, "blitz" began to be used as a verb too. In the caption above, "to blitz" means "to mix food in a mixing machine."
I poured the old ginger beer down the sink.
Caption 6, Ed Sheeran: Supermarket Flowers
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Beer is an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink usually brewed from hops and malt. Ginger beer is non-alcoholic and tastes sweet and bit sharp from the ginger root that is in it. There is also a drink called ginger ale that is very similar to ginger beer. Most people probably know that the English word "beer" comes from the German Bier, which is also pronounced the same.
She almost spilt her lager.
Caption 30, Pete Doherty: Last of the English Roses
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Lager is a style of beer developed in Germany. The original German word Lager comes from the word for "storage," as the beer was originally brewed and stored in cool caves. The word "lager" has come to be used as a general term for beer, especially in the UK. Young men who drink too much and behave badly are even called "lager louts."
Later, the Germans arrived selling pretzels from delicatessens.
Caption 10, The History of English: American English
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Pretzels are a snack food, and a delicatessen is a small grocery store, sometimes carrying delicacies and other specialities. "Pretzel" and "delicatessen" come from the German words Brezel and Delikatessen, which are pronounced similarly to the English words. A literal translation of Delikatessen is "delicate food." In English, delicatessens are often called "delis" for short.
...pickled vegetables like sauerkraut or vegan kimchi.
Caption 35, Rainbow Plant Life: 10 Tiny Changes to Improve Your Cooking
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Sauerkraut is made from fermenting cabbage in salt. A literal translation of the German word Sauerkraut is "sour cabbage," and it's indeed very sour! As a note, kimchi is a very spicy fermented food that's a bit similar to cabbage but has hot chilis too. That word has been adopted by English from the Korean language!
Further Learning
See more English words derived from German on Wikipedia, then search for some of the words on Yabla English to see them used in different contexts.
You may have seen recent news reports about flooding caused by heavy rains in Southern California. Let's take a look today at some English words related to rain.
And being so small, they pass through the sewage filters and straight out into our rivers and seas, especially at times of heavy rainfall.
Captions 58-60, TEDxBristol: Why Plastic Pollution is Personal | Natalie Fee
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Rain is the most general term for water falling from clouds out of the sky. The word "rainfall" is, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a steady fall of rain, as opposed to rain falling very briefly. In many cases, however, the words are interchangeable. You'll more likely hear about "the amount of rainfall" in a weather report.
There is freedom within, there is freedom without... trying to catch a deluge in a paper cup.
Captions 3-4, Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande: Don't Dream It's Over
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The noun "deluge" can mean a flood, but in its secondary meaning, it's defined as "a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity" and "a drenching rain." So if you want to mean a very, very heavy rain, deluge is a good word to pick. Notice that it is pronounced in two syllables with a soft "g."
Occasional strong downpours wash over the land during the summer and dry river beds fill up for a short time.
Captions 6-7, The Last Paradises: America's National Parks
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A downpour can generally mean anything pouring downward, but is also used to specifically mean a heavy rain. But it's not as heavy as a deluge, which may be flood-related.
There is constant rain, freezing rain, cloudbursts, steady rain, drizzle, mist, thundershowers, summer rain, winter rain, and pouring rain.
Captions 10-12, Piggeldy and Frederick: Rain
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A cloudburst is a sudden heavy rain that probably does not last a long time. A drizzle, on the other hand, is a fine misty rain—which brings us to mist: Mist is a rain that is so fine that the rainwater is nearly suspended in the air, and it's a bit like walking through a heavy cloud. Mist is like a heavier version of fog. A thundershower is a rain accompanied by thunder and its scientific cause—lightning.
April showers bring May flowers.
Caption 20, Sigrid: Spring Musings
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The term "thundershower" contains the word "shower," and much like the showers that we take when washing ourselves, is a kind of rain of short duration.
Back in the Yosemite Valley, the precipitation falls in the form of rain.
Caption 16, Project Earth: California, Unknown Beauty
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Precipitation is the scientific term for moisture that falls from the sky to earth. It can mean rain, snow, hail, sleet, or mist.
Another noun related to rain is sprinkle, which is related to sprinkler, a device which distributes water through hoses in gardens and on farms. A sprinkle suggests, in this context, a very light rain. Sometimes downfall is also used to mean rain, although it is more often used in a political context to mean a fall from power.
Further Learning
Watch the full length Piggledy and Frederick video above, as it's all about rain. You can also go to Yabla English and look up the other rain vocabulary words (cloudburst, deluge, downpour, drizzle, precipitation, rainfall, shower, and thundershower) to see them used in different contexts.
The noun "resolution" comes from the verb "to resolve," and both mean to make a serious decision about something. "Resolution" is probably most commonly used in spoken English when referring to a New Year's resolution.
So, I also wanted to talk for a second about New Year's resolutions.
Caption 23, Abiventures: Happy New Year
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Wikipedia defines a New Year's resolution as when "a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behavior, accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their behavior at the beginning of a calendar year." This is a tradition usually found in the Western World, but common to many cultures across the globe.
The most common way to express something you are going to do in the future is to use "going to" or "will":
I am going to travel more.
Caption 12, Sigrid explains: The Future
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I can say, "I will lose four pounds this year."
Caption 29, Sigrid explains: The Future
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One problem with New Year's resolutions is that almost everybody promises to change their behavior in some way, but statistically almost nobody does.
I don't really make any New Year's resolutions anymore because I learned early on that when I did, I never really followed through with the resolution.
Captions 2-4, Ashley Tisdale: Happy New Year!
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One reason people don't succeed with their resolutions is that they make unreasonable goals for themselves:
Mine is to pilot a commercial jet. -That's a good one too, Pheebs. Now all you have to do is find a plane load of people whose resolution is to plummet to their deaths.
Captions 13-16, New Year's Resolutions: Friends
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Unless Phoebe is already attending flight school and is far enough along that she can reasonably expect to be working this year, her goal is unrealistic.
All right, my New Year's resolution is to learn how to play guitar.
Caption 29, New Year's Resolutions Friends
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Here Joey, also a fictitious character in the TV series Friends, has a more realistic goal. Notice that as somebody who doesn't know how to play guitar yet, Joey didn't say his resolution is to headline as a guitarist in a world-famous band playing Madison Square Garden—Joey just wants to start learning to play guitar. This just requires buying a guitar, finding a guitar teacher, and taking the time to practice and attend lessons: realistic!
Further Learning
Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? Have you started following through on them yet? If the resolutions you made are not realistic, maybe you can try to make a new resolution that you think you'll be able to keep! Watch some of the videos above on Yabla English and listen to the way people talk about their own New Year's resolutions.
Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The holiday is also commonly celebrated by non-Christian and non-religious people. The Muslim holiday Ramadan, the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, and the African American holiday Kwanzaa are also celebrated in December.
Christmas Day falls on the 25th of December, around the same time as the winter solstice, when we have the longest night and the shortest day.
Captions 11-13, Holidays and Seasons with Sigrid: Sights and Scents at Christmastime
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The timing of many December holidays has roots in pagan winter solstice festivals.
Melchior took gold, Gaspar, frankincense, and Balthazar, myrrh.
Caption 13, Children's Books Read Aloud: The Story of the Three Wise Kings
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Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar were kings who, according to the Christian Bible, visited the infant Christ with gifts. Frankincense and myrrh are aromatic wood resins that can be used in the making of perfumes. Today, these may not seem as valuable as gold, but in the ancient world, they were considered to be treasures worthy of royalty.
You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Caption 17, A Charlie Brown Christmas: True Meaning
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"Swaddling" is an antiquated word meaning strips of cloth, which in the old days were used to keep babies warm and restrict their movements. Today, it's almost exclusively used when referring to clothes worn by the infant Jesus. A "manger" is a box used in a stable to feed animals, but in the case of Jesus, his parents Mary and Joseph were so poor that they used a manger as a crib.
So just keep kissing me under the mistletoe...
Caption 20, Ed Sheeran: Merry Christmas ft. Elton John
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To get to some less religious Christmas traditions: Mistletoe is a plant with green leaves and berries, which is often found hanging above doorways at Christmas parties. Couples who find themselves standing under it are encouraged to kiss. Apparently, mistletoe was a fertility symbol in ancient times!
This is a traditional milk-based holiday drink. -What is eggnog? -Correct!
Caption 83, Delta's Holiday: In-Flight Safety Video
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Eggnog is indeed a milk-based drink that is traditionally offered during the Christmas holiday, but best beware: it tastes deceptively mild but may contain more alcohol than you expected!
And every mother's child is gonna spy to see if reindeer really know how to fly.
Captions 12-13, Clean Bandit: Christmas Special
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The legendary figure of Santa Claus soars through the night skies in a sleigh powered by magical flying reindeer, delivering presents to children around the world. A reindeer is a type of deer found in the far northern regions of Europe, Russia, and the Americas. Sorry to have to say this, but reindeer can't actually fly!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose.
Captions 4-5, Minidisco: Cartoons
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Rudolph is the most famous of Santa's reindeer, and he has the extra special magical power of a bright red glowing nose, which according to Christmas lore, helps light the way for Santa's sled on dark and stormy nights. This story first originated in a book in 1939.
Further Learning
Watch the videos above and search Yabla English for "Christmas" to find some more vocabulary related to the holiday. And regardless of your beliefs or non-beliefs, we at Yabla wish you all happy holidays!
The five senses are sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
We see with our eyes, but "to see" can also be used to mean "to understand" or "to realize." "To watch" something takes longer, like when we watch television. The verb "to look" can be transitive or intransitive. You can look at something to examine it or look (as in “outwardly appear”) a certain way.
Finally, I can see you crystal clear.
Caption 3, Adele: Rolling in the Deep
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Now I can see that we've fallen apart
Caption 27, Backstreet Boys: I Want It That Way
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Make sure you guys watch the whole video if you want to see all that footage.
Caption 22, Aspyn Ovard: What To Pack for Vacation! Tips + Essentials!
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Just look at all those acorns!
Caption 22, America's National Parks: Grand Canyon
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This may look like a massive body of water.
Caption 9, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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The difference between "hearing" and "listening" is a little like the difference between "seeing" and "watching." If you listen to a sound, what someone is saying, or music, you pay close attention rather than just noticing it with your ears.
Did you hear that?
Caption 54, Abiventures: Sandwich
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And then I always listen to music because it helps me work out better.
Caption 41, Harvard: A Day in the Life of a Harvard Student
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So, now listen to how I pronounce the following words.
Caption 8, British vs American English: Pronunciation Lesson
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Our sense of touch is about physical contact and how things feel. There are many phrases that use the idea of touch to describe different types of physical and metaphorical contact. "keep in touch" (remain in contact), "lose their touch," (lose their ability to do something), or "have the right touch" (have certain skills)."
If we touch his tail, he'll get frightened.
Caption 10, Nature & Wildlife: Wild Sharks
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He must be losing his touch.
Caption 42, ALF: Some enchanted evening
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And, of course, a pineapple just to add a touch of the tropics.
Captions 15-16, Tara's Recipes: Delicious Fruit Salad with Greek Yogurt
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Like "to look," the verbs "to smell" and "to taste" can be either transitive or intransitive. They can be used to talk about the action of smelling or tasting, but also to describe how something smells or tastes.
I think I can smell chocolate.
Caption 23, Peppa Pig: Easter Week
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And they smell so good.
Caption 35, Blippi: Cool Science Experiment for Kids
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I'm gonna open up a restaurant, so people can taste my food!
Caption 16, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Pam's Trinidadian Caribbean Kitchen
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I wanna see what the lambsquarters taste like, first of all.
Caption 38, Food Talk with Sigrid: Foraging
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You may know that "taste" is also a noun meaning someone's idea of what's good or bad and their ability to choose well. It can also refer to a short experience of something.
This show is all about the three Ts of New York: The talent, the trends, and the taste.
Caption 2, On Deck with Lucy: TV Host Jeremy Hassell
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Another thing to be aware of: While "tasty" is a positive adjective, "smelly" means that something smells bad!
Further Learning
There are several videos on the senses on Yabla English where you can learn even more about this topic, including a detailed overview from Sigrid and a fun video about a dog's sense of smell.
Two English words that are often a source of confusion are "further" and "farther." Are they the same or not? It doesn't help that many native English speakers get these words mixed up, and that they are handled differently in British and American English.
In American English, "farther" refers to actual, measurable physical distance:
The second stage propelled the spacecraft even farther and faster into space.
Caption 45, Moon Landing: Apollo 11’s Journey to the Moon
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He looked out onto the meadow that stretched for as far as he could see and even farther.
Captions 57-59, Story Hour: The Story of The Ugly Duckling
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...like with the Andes, or farther inland like the Rocky Mountains.
Caption 63, The Last Paradises: America's National Parks
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The word "further," on the other hand, is used when talking about extent, amount, or figurative distance:
And we now face further uncertainty.
Caption 5, Brexit: PM Says He Will Pause Brexit Legislation after Timetable Loss
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Don't need to look no [sic, any] further.
Caption 4, Adele: The Making of "Chasing Pavements"
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First, the Americans released a further three hundred and fifty million dollars.
Caption 13, BBC News: Western aid for Ukraine's military
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In British English, the word "further" is generally used for both physical distance and as a synonym for "more"/"even more," "additional," "extra," or "to a greater extent." "Farther" is still only used for physical distance.
Further Learning
You'll find many examples of "further" or "farther" on Yabla English. When you see these words, pay attention to the accent of the speaker as well as the context the word is used in.
Thanks to you all for reading this, keep up the good work! If you have any good ideas for lesson topics, please email them to us at newsletter@yabla.com, and you can tweet us @yabla.
There are a lot of English expressions suggesting that somebody or something is "crazy." But please remember: while it may be perfectly polite to use such expressions regarding objects or situations, it can be rude and aggressive using them to describe people. A dictionary even warns: "The reference of the adjective "crazy" (and words derived from it) to mentally or psychologically ill people is strongly discriminatory." It also might get somebody very angry with you, so it's a better policy to be polite!
... a thin, pale, watery cup of tea that nobody in their right mind would want to drink.
Captions 15-16, Simon Jones: On Tea
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If somebody is described as "not being in their right mind," it suggests that they are not thinking clearly.
I can't imagine my life without the ocean. I would go absolutely nuts!
Caption 19, Naish Kiteboarding TV: Kai Riding Jaws
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'Cause they'll drive you good and nuts.
Caption 7, Ask Jimmy Carter: Interview with Robin Williams
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The phrase "to go nuts" means the same as "to go crazy." If something "is driving somebody nuts," it means that something is making them crazy. There is also an old-fashioned expression "to be nutty as a fruitcake," which also suggests "crazy."
Some say to survive it you need to be as mad as a hatter.
Caption 5, Filmtrailer: Alice in Wonderland
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The 19th century English children's book Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll had a character called the Mad Hatter, hence the phrase "mad as a hatter." In the old days, hatmakers were exposed to mercury, which would eventually damage their health and their minds. Note that in British English, "mad" means "crazy," whereas in US English, "mad" usually means "angry."
And I'm always off my trolley, so I never say sorry.
Caption 19, Robbie Williams: Party Like A Russian
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The expression that somebody is "off their trolley" is a particularly British expression meaning "crazy"—or as they would say, "mad." The equivalent American English expression is to say somebody is "off their rocker." The source of the latter phrase is uncertain, but it may refer to elderly people falling out of their rocking chairs due to senile dementia. Not very nice, is it?
Some further idioms and expressions that mean "crazy" include:
—to go (or be) bananas
—to be a basket case
—to not be playing with a full deck of cards
—to have the lights on, but nobody is home
—to lose one's marbles
—to have a screw loose
—to take leave of one's senses
—to have toys in the attic
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the above videos in their entirety to see the contexts in which the expressions were used.
Let's talk today about the noun "foot" (and its plural "feet") as the word is used in different idioms and expressions. It's interesting that many English expressions may have the same or similar expressions in your native language. But the ones that don't may take a bit of getting used to, since direct translations often don't make any sense at all!
The mud at the foot of the cone makes a perfect cement.
Caption 7, America's National Parks: Yellowstone
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Closer to the foot of the bed ...
Caption 13, The Cure: Lullaby
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The English expression "the foot of" means "the base" or "the bottom" of something. It's most commonly used for the foot of a mountain or (as above) the foot of a bed. The latter is easy to remember since the foot of the bed is where your feet go when you lie down!
Let's hope the snow's gone come kick-off time, otherwise all the teams will get cold feet.
Caption 29, World Cup 2018: A Tour of Cities and Venues
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The caption above is ironically meant, in that of course, playing in the snow would make a soccer player's feet cold. But the meaning of "to get cold feet" is "to be afraid," so it also means that soccer players are afraid of playing in the snow!
But I think it's in my best interest and in the interest of the bear community to put the best foot forward.
Captions 72-74, Habitat: The Bear
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In US English (as above), the phrase "to put one's best foot forward" means "to behave very well so as to make a good first impression." However, in British English, it means "to do something with as much effort and determination as possible." The two meanings are not necessarily compatible.
What was that like having one foot in the door?
Caption 53, Movie Trailers: Funny People
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To "have one foot in the door" is a figurative way of saying "to gain entry" or "to get an opportunity." People often use the expression when they are close to achieving a goal, such as getting a new job.
So Columbus never actually set foot in North America.
Caption 18, Slow News with Sigrid: October commemorations in the U.S.
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To "set foot" somewhere means "to have been" somewhere. Many US Americans grew up learning that Christopher Columbus "discovered America," which in most people's minds means the part of North America that constitutes the United States. The phrase has fallen into disrepute, however, since the land Columbus "discovered" was already occupied by native peoples. Columbus was not even the first European to land in the Americas, as the Norse were already there centuries earlier. And as the comment above shows, none of the parts of the Americas where Columbus "set foot" were in North America.
And I can't sweep you off of your feet.
Caption 2, Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud
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The usual phrase is "to sweep someone off their feet," but perhaps Mr. Sheeran needed an extra syllable in his song! It means "to cause somebody to fall in love with you."
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the above videos in their entirety to see the contexts in which the expressions were used. Just for fun, you can take a look at this extensive list of other foot expressions!
Father's Day always falls on the third Sunday in June in the United States and the United Kingdom. This holiday was established in 1910 in the US state of Washington, and remains the most popular Father's Day date in the world. This year, Father's Day is on June 18th.
Most countries in the world celebrate Father's Day, as you can see on this map on Wikipedia Commons. In many places like the US and the UK, the date falls on a particular Sunday of the month. But in some countries, the date is fixed and the same every year. In some Hindu, Islamic, and Burmese cultures, it falls on a date that varies each year according to the lunar calendar.
Let's take a look today at some typical Father's Day traditions in the US and the UK. These might be the same as you do in your home country, but maybe they'll help give you some ideas for Father's Day this year anyway!
But it later became a permanent federal holiday.
Caption 34, Spotlight: Why Columbus Day?
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A federal holiday (called a "bank holiday" in the UK) is a holiday where most people have the day off from work and where, depending on the local laws, many shops, offices, and institutions are closed. Father's Day in the US and the UK, however, is just a regular holiday, and not a federal or bank holiday. The fact that it always falls on a Sunday means that most people take the day off from work anyway!
My father yells, "What are you going do with your life?"
Caption 7, Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Want to Have Fun
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Relationships with our fathers are sometimes problematic, but hopefully we've been able to forgive and forget, and maintain a healthy relationship with our dads.
This Mother's Day you might want to make her a card.
Caption 70, World's Toughest Job: Official Video
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It's also part of the holiday's tradition to send your dad a Father's Day card.
And what do you hope to get for a present this year?
Caption 15, Christmas in London: People
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This video caption is referring to Christmas presents, but you can also consider getting your dad a present for Father's Day. Then the question remains: What would he like to have?
We went out to dinner.
Caption 17, Sigrid: The New Normal
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If you live near your father, it's also a nice gesture to invite him out to dinner. It's also a nice gesture make dinner at your home and invite him over.
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the videos above. Maybe there are some Father's Day traditions in your native country that aren't discussed here. Try writing a paragraph in English about Father's Day traditions where you came from.
Today we're going to focus on a BBC news report from last year about water shortages in the Western United States, but the topic applies to many places in the world.
The Western United States is now entering one of the worst droughts ever seen.
Captions 24-25, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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A drought (rhymes with "doubt") is a prolonged period of dryness that is usually caused by a shortage of rainfall or snowfall.
Then, in a place like the West, we get wildfires.
Caption 29, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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A wildfire is a large and sweeping fire in a wilderness or rural area. When a wildfire happens in a forest, it's called a "forest fire." The Canadian wildfires that filled many US cities with smoke starting in March 2023 are also a result of drought. The smoke from the fires made many cities issue warnings to residents to keep their windows closed and not go outside.
But thousands of acres are now lying idle, because they're unable to irrigate.
Captions 35-36, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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An acre is a unit of measurement, used primarily in the USA and the UK, that is around 4,000 square meters. The verb "irrigate" means to supply land and crops with water by artificial means, such as pumps and diverting river flows. The noun equivalent is "irrigation."
We're looking at food shortages in the United States.
Captions 44-45, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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Because of the lack of water for farms, there's a possibility that some kinds of food made with ingredients grown in the USA may be in short supply.
The government has urged Californians to conserve water.
Caption 46, BBC News California: ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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The verb "to conserve" means to avoid the wasteful use of something. Water conservation measures are essential during times of drought. According to the BBC, the first three months of 2022 were the driest on record in the Western United States, but during this period, water usage actually increased!
So you see how a shortage of precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) has a domino effect: it hurts farming, causes wildfires and forest fires, and has a major impact on health and the economy. The city of Phoenix, Arizona has even suspended previously approved house-building projects due to the projected lack of water for them. Cities like Las Vegas, Nevada have even banned lawns as "nonfunctional," since maintaining them requires so much water. Phoenix has not yet implemented such drastic measures. Similar programs are taking place all over the Western United States.
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the video above in its entirety. You can also watch the Sigrid "Slow News" video in New Videos above. Then you may do a search for other videos using some of the keywords above. What can you and your family do to conserve water?
Las formas verbales progresivas en inglés son las formas verbales construidas con el auxiliar to be + la forma del gerundio ing al final de los verbos. Las formas progresivas tienen un matiz de intencionalidad y tiempo futuro.
Por ejemplo, el presente progresivo de RUN es
I am running.
que se traduce como “estoy corriendo”.
We're running right back, here we go again
Estamos corriendo justo de regreso, aquí vamos de nuevo
Subtítulo 18, Eminem ft. Rihanna Love The Way You Lie
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Las formas progresivas en inglés (to be+ ing) se traducen al español con la forma conjugada del verbo estar + gerundio.
or I'm somewhere eating sushi, for sure.
o estoy en algún lugar comiendo sushi, seguro.
Subtítulo 87, Food Diaries Everything Kylie Jenner Eats in a Day
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Este tiempo verbal se utiliza para expresar principalmente acciones que tienen lugar en el momento de hablar o que son transitorias.
He sees you when you're sleeping
Él te ve cuando estás durmiendo
Subtítulo 12, Justin Bieber Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
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"Today, a woman is teaching the class." That's present progressive or present continuous.
"Hoy, una mujer está dando la clase".Eso es presente progresivo o presente continuo.
Subtítulos 18-19, Sigrid explains the passive voice - Part 2
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Aprendizaje adicional.
Haz click en el siguiente link Present Continuous Tense para que disfrutes de un video Yabla inglés en el que se explica de manera entretenida lo concerniente al Present Continuous o Present Progressive como también se le conoce.
Luego de esto, podrás inferir cómo se construyen otros tiempos verbales, además del presente, en Progressive.
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