Before you travel by air for vacation or perhaps to visit a friend, it might be wise to review some of the basic words related to air travel. Firstly, the place you leave from:
I'm off to the airport! -Have a nice trip.
Caption 88, Ask Jimmy Carter - Another interview with Sharon Stone
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Then the vehicle that you use to travel with:
In an airplane, there's always a front exit and sometimes there's a rear exit.
Caption 58, The Alphabet - the Letter R
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Then the action you carry out on the airplane:
But most of us can't just fly off to faraway places. Well, no flying is necessary when you've got Yabla.
Captions 7-8, Yabla Languages - Introduction to Yabla
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The verb "to fly," can mean to travel by airplane, and though you may not need to fly to learn a foreign language, it helps sometimes getting to you destination!
As we prepare for take-off, please relax and enjoy the flight.
Caption 89, Delta's Holiday - In-Flight Safety Video
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"Take-off" is when the airplane leaves the ground and takes to the air. In English, you say you are "catching a flight" to mean you are going to travel on an airplane.
Please power off all electronic devices during takeoff and landing.
Caption 51, Air New Zealand - An Unexpected Briefing
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"Landing" is, of course, the opposite of "takeoff" (note too that "take-off" may be spelled with or without a hyphen). "Electronic devices" include cellular phones, tablets, and laptop computers.
Further Learning
Go to this page and see some other examples of travel words in English, and then go to Yabla English to find other examples of travel words used in a real-world context.
In the last lesson, we went through some examples of English slang, and this time we can continue on that topic. Wikipedia describes slang as referring "to words, phrases and uses that are regarded as very informal and often restricted to special context or peculiar to a specified profession class and the like."
If you over-ask, you're going to be immediately dismissed.
Caption 25, Job Hunting - How to Answer the Salary Question
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There are many proper English words that use "over" as a prefix, such as "overeat," "overwork," and "overheat," but "overask" is not one of them! In this case, since it's not a proper word, a hyphen (-) was used to separate "over" from "ask", and it means "to ask too many questions." You can place "over" before practically any English verb, but if you aren't sure if it's a proper word or not, you are better off saying "We walked too much" rather than something like "We over-walked."
Well, I kind of invited us in for a little look-see.​
Caption 31, Karate Kids, USA - The Little Dragons
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This is a case of several proper verbs being turned into an informal noun: "to take a look and see" has thus been shortened to "take a look-see." According to the Oxford Dictionary, the phrase originated in either pidgin English (pidgin languages being those that have developed between two peoples who do not share a native language) or as an imitation of pidgin English.
Interesting cultural differences in math-speak...
Caption 11, Numberphile - The Scientific Way to Cut a Cake
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In informal English, it is fairly common to use the suffix "-speak" applied to any topic that has its own special terminology. For instance, difficult grammar terms could be referred to "grammar-speak" or somebody working on computer programming could be said to use "tech-speak."
But I've got a shockeroo.
Caption 6, Schoolhouse Rock - Them Not-So-Dry Bones
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In the above example, a "shocker" is a person or thing that shocks, and here they have just added "-oo" to add emphasis to the word. Adding vowels to the end of words to give emphasis has a long tradition in English, and can be seen in such examples as "righto" instead of "right," or "coolio" instead of "cool." It's not advisable to randomly add vowels to a word to make it sound more slang, however, these are specifics that must be learned and used, like all slang words, in the appropriate context!
Further Learning
Do a search for "slang" on Yabla English and find other examples of slang words used in a real-world context.
There is a long history of slang usage in the English language, and you can find some examples of English slang on Yabla too! Slang is sometimes often regional—many slang words used in the United Kingdom would not be readily understood in the United States and vice-versa—but slang is also cultural, for instance people of certain cultural heritages often use slang that is different from what you might hear among people with different ethnic or cultural heritages. Some slang is, of course, very vulgar and not acceptable in polite company, but there are many slang words and phrases that are common and acceptable in everyday speech.
My personal style, I guess, would be edgy, boho [slang: bohemian], fun, flirty.
Caption 6, Demi Lovato - Seventeen Magazine
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The adverb and adjective "boho" is short for "bohemian", which when written lower case does not mean somebody from the Czech region of Bohemia, but rather describes an unconventional lifestyle as often lived by artists and writers.
Oh, ta [British slang: thanks]! Ah, yes, I'm very proud of my kiddies.
Caption 57, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four - BBC TV Movie
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This is an example of British English slang that may not be readily understood among speaker of US English: "ta" is commonly used in the United Kingdom for "thank you". The word "kiddies" is not slang, but is an informal version of "kids" (children).
Robust and secure, so our swag [slang: style] is on blast.
Caption 57, Java - The "Java Life" Rap Music Video
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Here is a slang word with an urban origin often found in rap music: "swag" probably came from the verb "to swagger," which means "to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air" or "to boast or brag noisily," but as a slang word has come to mean "style." The phrase "on blast" is a slang usage too meaning "loud," therefore "swag is on blast" means they are "showing their style."
Has just been released from the pokey [slang: jail].
Caption 3, The Pop Topic Minute - Christina, Lady Gaga and Lindsay
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The noun "pokey" is slang for "jail," and may have originated from the term "poorhouse," which was a kind of prison that existed until the 20th century for people who were too poor to pay their debts. Some other slang words for "jail" are "clink," "cooler," "pen," and "slammer." The adjective "poky," on the other hand, is an informal word for "slow" (such as a "poky car") or small (such as a "poky room").
Further Learning
Do a search for "slang" on Yabla English and find other examples of slang words used in a real-world context. You can also read this Wikipedia article about slang and go to the links to learn about different kinds of slang in English.
In English, the verb to borrow means to take or use something that belongs to someone else for a short period of time. The verb to lend is to give something to a person for a short period of time. These two words often get mixed up by non-native speakers, so let's look at some examples.
In the following example, Valentino lends the clothes and Sharon Stone borrows the clothes. In the end, she has to give them back.
So Valentino, the designer, lends me clothes to wear for appearances.
Caption 64, Ask Jimmy Carter - Another Interview with Sharon Stone
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The phrase "lend a hand" means "to help out."
I would not lend a hand
Caption 5, Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
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In the following sentence, Richard Wiseman tells you to use your friend's money to play a trick on them.
Borrow a note from a friend. Ask them to place their hands palm down.
Caption 49, Richard Wiseman - 10 bets you will always win
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Of course, some people keep things for longer than they should...
You are so welcome to borrow her for the next, like, ten years or so.
Caption 5, Selena Gomez - Ramona And Beezus - Trailer
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So now you know that saying "Johnny borrowed me ten dollars" is completely wrong! You have to say either "Johnny lent me ten dollars" or "I borrowed ten dollars from Johnny."
Further Learning
Write some sentences that begin with "I recently borrowed..." and "I recently lent..." Re-write the sentences above from Yabla English so that they use the other verb and remembering to change the subject and object of the sentence accordingly.
One common mistake made by those who speak English as a second language is confusing the words price and prize. This may be because they are very similar in their sound and spelling, but also because many languages only have one word with two different meanings. For example, le prix in French and der Preis in German can refer to either an award or the monetary value of an item. In those languages you simply have to look at the context of the sentence.
The price of something is the amount of money it is worth:
Well, the price ranges from twenty-five to a hundred dollars.
Caption 54, Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life
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The price on this one was... three dollars!
Caption 51, Jessica - on books
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Price is also used metaphorically to talk about a sacrifice or consequence:
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
Caption 72, Barack Obama's Inauguration Day - Obama's Speech
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A prize is an award given to recognize an achievement. It can involve money (prize money or a cash award), but not always. The Nobel Prize is a prominent example of a prize given on an international level.
I smell the prize, I'm getting closer
Caption 14, World Cup 2010 - For the Love of the Game
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There's no prize money, Gillian.
Caption 6, Dream to Believe - aka Flying
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Further Learning
Find some aspect of the usage of these words on Yabla English that will help you remember which one is which. For example, remembering that "Nobel Prize" has a "z" might help you remember that a "prize" is a type of award. Or perhaps remembering that "cents" as in "dollars and cents" is spelled with "c" will help you remember that "price," which has to do with money, is spelled with a "c" as well.
Homonyms are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings and usages. This can be confusing sometimes as one must rely on context to figure out which word is meant or should be used.
Even native speakers sometimes fail to use the homonyms "there," "their," and "they're" correctly. Here is a quick review of which one is appropriate for which occasion.
1) The word "there" is used to refer to a physical or abstract location.
When I flew in on the float plane, they were all there on the boat.
When I flew in on the float plane, they were all there on the boat.
Caption 4, Alaska Revealed - Endless Wave
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Also, it is commonly combined with a conjugation of “to be” or a modal verb to discuss the existence of something.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.
Caption 28, Barack Obama's Inauguration Day - Obama's Speech
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I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus.
I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus.
Caption 9, A Charlie Brown Christmas - Opening
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2) "Their" is a possessive adjective used before a noun when the subject is "they." With "their," we are speaking about something that belongs to two or more people.
What are their names? -Their names are Naya and Alex.
What are their names? -Their names are Naya and Alex.
Caption 14, Caralie and Annie - Get to Know Each Other
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Their goal is a plan to finally help humanity reduce its carbon footprint.
Their goal is a plan to finally help humanity reduce its carbon footprint.
Caption 3, Green TV - What Is COP21?
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3) "They’re" is a contraction of "they are" used to refer to two or more people in the third person. It is especially useful for shortening sentences in the present continuous tense.
I think they're nice.
I think they're nice.
Caption 12, Comic-Con 2015 - Jennifer Lawrence
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They're playing a game on the lawn.
They're playing a game on the lawn.
Caption 10, Jessica - in Prospect Park
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Further Learning
Check out the examples above on Yabla English to get a better sense of the full context for the use of "there," "their," and "they're." Try to write a few sentences in which you use two or even all three of these words to solidify your understanding. An example would be: "They're not sure when they will get there. It depends on when their plane lands."
Characters in the popular television series Game of Thrones often repeat that "winter is coming," but somehow it never actually arrives. The results of the recent presidential election in the United States, however, have left many liberals preparing for a political winter that could last for at least four years. Here are some Yabla videos dealing with common expressions relating to this coldest of seasons.
Welcome to winter time... right here.
Welcome to winter time... right here.
Caption 33, Jason Mraz - Tour of Studio
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The winter came and the lake froze over.
The winter came and the lake froze over.
Caption 37, Fairy Tales - The Ugly Duckling
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However, there's still a large difference between winter and summer.
However, there's still a large difference between winter and summer.
Caption 4, English with Lauren - The weather
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In this winter of our hardship ...
In this winter of our hardship ...
let us brave once more the icy currents,
let us brave once more the icy currents,
and endure what storms may come.
and endure what storms may come.
Captions 87-89, Barack Obama's Inauguration Day - Obama's Speech
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Instead of lush fields,
Instead of lush fields,
we would have long winters and sparse,
we would have long winters and sparse,
ice-covered landscapes in Europe.
ice-covered landscapes in Europe.
Captions 55-56, Nature Preservation - The Gulf Stream & Climate Change
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You will have your home prepared
You will have your home prepared
and winter-proofed in next to no time.
and winter-proofed in next to no time.
Caption 38, British Gas - Top Tips on Preparing Your Home for Cold Weather
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Further Learning
Watch the above videos in their entirety and search for examples of winter on Yabla English to see other related terms used in a real-world context.
The four seasons in English are winter, spring, summer, and fall. The season "fall" is also called "autumn." The name of the seasons are written lower-case. Different places and cultures have different ways of reckoning the dates of the seasons, but by scientific meteorological methods, winter in the northern hemisphere is from December 1 to February 28 (or 29 in a leap year). In the southern hemisphere winter is from June 1 until August 31.
In the winter it's very cold in New York. -Almost freezing.
Caption 7, Caralie and Annie - Get To Know Each Other
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Spring in the northern hemisphere is from March 1 to May 31, in the southern hemisphere from September 1 to November 30.
First, we have spring, when the leaves turn green.
Caption 19, Lydia Explains - Weekdays, Seasons and Months
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Summer in the northern hemisphere is from June 1 to August 31, in the southern hemisphere from December 1 to February 28 or 29.
The summer is especially beautiful this year.
Caption 2, Nature & Wildlife - Search for the Ghost Bear
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Fall (or autumn) in the northern hemisphere is from September 1 to November 30, in the southern hemisphere from March 1 to May 31.
Third, we have fall, or you could say autumn.
Caption 21, Lydia Explains - Weekdays, Seasons and Months
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Further Learning
Search for examples of the seasons on Yabla English to see them used in a real-world context.
The verb "to be" is, in its infinitive form, part of one of the most famous lines in world literature:
To be, or not to be, that is the question.
—from "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
Most verbs describe action, but "to be" describes a state of being: how or what you are or how somebody is. The present tense conjugation of "to be" is: I am; he, she, or it is; you are; they are; and we are.
"To be" can describe your name and your profession:
My name is Jack Thomas. I am a finance student here.
Caption 1, An American - in London
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It can describe how you are feeling:
I've never been to New York before, and I am so excited to go!
Caption 16, English with Lauren - Emotions
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If the sentence is a negation, the word "not" appears after the verb:
I am not a lawyer.
Caption 15, English - Common Phrases
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In the first person singular, "I am" is often contracted to "I'm"; "he is," "she is," or "it is" to "he's," "she's," or "it's"; "you are" to "you're"; "they are" to "they're" and "we are" to "we're":
Today we're at the top of the Empire State Building.
Caption 3, English for Beginners - Letters and Numbers
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See how we're part of the global economy?
Caption 13, Dissolve Inc. - Generic Brand Video
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Further Learning
Browse some videos at Yabla English and find some other examples of the verb "to be" used in context in real conversations.
A personal pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun representing people, animals or objects.
The first person singular pronoun "I" usually refers to yourself (or the speaker). In the plural form it is "we."
I really am passionate about this.
Caption 24, Business English - The Job Interview
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Well, we are very excited to have you with us!
Caption 16, Business English - Starting on a New Job
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The second person pronoun "you" can be singular or plural and usually refers to the person or persons you are addressing.
What will you have for lunch?
Caption 23, Caralie and Annie - Get To Know Each Other
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The third person pronoun refers to someone other than the person you are speaking to, and is "he" (male) or "she" (female) or "it" (object) in singular, "they" in plural:
She is elegant and we wish her luck this weekend.
Caption 32, Taylor Swift - Prom Party
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They thought it was a hoax.
Caption 7, Soccer World Cup - Australia
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Further Learning
Read the personal pronoun article in English and in your native language to help you understand the basics. Write a simple sentence in your native language for each of the personal pronouns, then translate them to English. Search for some personal pronouns on Yabla English and see some different examples of how they are used in context.
A countable noun is a common noun that has singular and plural forms and can be modified by a number.
The opposite of a common noun is called a mass noun, which does not have different singular and plural forms, nor can it be modified by a number.
As a general rule, words referring to objects and people are countable nouns, and words referring to liquids (water, juice), powders (sugar, sand), and substances (metal, wood) are mass nouns.
When you travel you have two suitcases. Suitcases are the same as luggage, but you cannot say "two luggages" as luggage is a mass noun. When you travel you have luggage, or two pieces of luggage. Mass nouns use measure words like pieces of to make plurals.
You want to build a bookshelf so you buy eight boards made of wood. "Wood" is a mass noun, so it is incorrect to say you have "eight woods," but you can say you have eight pieces of wood.
Here is a list of some more mass nouns: advice, air, art, blood, butter, data, deodorant, equipment, evidence, food, furniture, garbage, graffiti, grass, homework, housework, information, knowledge, mathematics, meat, milk, money, music, notation, paper, pollution, progress, sand, soap, software, sugar, traffic, transportation, travel, trash, water
There are some words that are both countable nouns and mass nouns. You leave some papers on the desk, by which you mean you leave some specific documents. If you leave some paper on the desk, you mean you left a package of paper or just some paper in a general sense.
Further Learning
Search for some mass nouns on Yabla English and see how they are used in context.
A noun is a word for a person, place, or thing that can be the subject of a verb. One of the first things you learn in a new language are nouns. Different languages have different ways to make a singular noun plural.
In English, the most common way to make a noun plural is to add the letter s:
pen: pens
spoon: spoons
table: tables
letter: letters
window: windows
Nouns ending in tch, s (or ss), or x are often made plural with the letters es:
tax: taxes
match: matches
bus: buses
business: businesses
Some nouns ending in f replace the f with v, ending in ves:
shelf: shelves
knife: knives
self: selves
thief: thieves
Some nouns have irregular plurals:
man: men
woman: women
child: children
foot: feet
ox: oxen
Some nouns ending in y drop the y and are made plural with ies:
university: universities
baby: babies
But if the y has another vowel before it, then usually the plural is made by adding s:
boy: boys
monkey: monkeys
Nouns ending in o are irregular. Some end with s, some with es, and some work with both:
hero: heros or heroes
volcano: volcanos or volcanoes
Some nouns have the same singular and plural forms, and most of these are animals: moose, deer, fish, swine
Further Learning
This example from Yabla English has 5 different plural nouns, including two that are irregular:
We have brought a set of consulting tools
that include analyses, evaluation criteria,
business processes and governance recommendations.
Captions 9-11, Planview and Kalypso - Partner to Drive Innovation
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Try to correctly change the four nouns to their singular form and check your work to see if you converted the two irregular nouns correctly.
For even more plurals, watch the Yabla English video English with Lauren and Matt - Parts of the Human Body.
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