Voiceless and Voiced Consonant Pair

Consonant Sounds /tʃ/ and /dʒ/

[ Click on the image to see it on a large scale!]

Step 1: Watch the videos - VERY IMPORTANT  (I've given the transcript for an easy grasp of the speech.)

             First,  while you are watching a video,  make the consonant sound and pronounce the .............words as instructed by Alex.                          

Voiceless Consonant /tʃ/

(Video 1 - Watch in 'Full Screen')

and at the beginning and end of the word ‘church’ /tʃɜ:tʃ/.

Did you notice the shape of my mouth? Look! ‘church’ /tʃɜ:tʃ/.

         church   ../tʃɜ:tʃ/                               Ok!

.

Similar Sounds /tʃ/ and /dʒ/

You may find it difficult to hear the difference between the voiceless sound that you hear at the beginning of the word ‘choke’ /tʃəʊk/, and the voiced sound that you hear at the beginning of the word ‘joke’ /dʒəʊk/.

Listen carefully to hear the difference. For each examples, I’ll say the word with the voiceless sound /tʃ/ first.

         lunch      ../lʌntʃ/           ..lunge    ./lʌndʒ/

Now you try. Listen and repeat after me. Ok!

 .

Voiced Consonant /dʒ/

(Video 2 - Watch in 'Full Screen')

At the end of the word ‘bridge’ /brɪdʒ/ and at the beginning and end of the word ‘judge’ /dʒʌdʒ/.

Did you notice the shape of my mouth? judge /dʒʌdʒ/ - judge /dʒʌdʒ/

         judge      ../dʒʌdʒ/                             Ok!

similar sounds /dʒ/ and /tʃ/

You may find it difficult to hear the difference between the voiced sound which your hear at the beginning of the word ‘joke’ /dʒəʊk/ and its voiceless partner that you hear at the beginning of the word ‘choke’ /tʃəʊk/.

Listen carefully to hear the difference. For each examples, I’ll say the word with the voiced sound /dʒ/ first.

         surge       /sɜ:dʒ/           ..search   /sɜ:tʃ/

Now, you try. Listen and repeat. Ok!

SUPPLEMENTARY VIDEO

 (Video 3 - Watch in 'Full Screen')

* unvoiced = voiceless

Step 2: Do this activity! - VERY IMPORTANT

Click on the image below for the animation of the speech organs. Watch what happens inside our mouth when the voiceless consonant /tʃ/  and  voiced consonant /dʒ/are made in isolation.

             to do it.]

   1.      .Say the phonemes the number of times they appear.

             Now, say this line rhythmically:  check check   check-check-check 3X

              ..Now, say this line rhythmically:  jerk-jerk-jerk   jerk------- 3X 

   2.      .Read the list of words in pairs. 

             chump     ./tʃʌmp/       .jump     ../dʒʌmp/

             beseech    /bɪˈsi:tʃ/     .besiege   / bɪˈsi:dʒ/ 

   3.      .Names of the countries that begin with /tʃ/ and /dʒ/

                               /tʃæd/               /ˈtʃɪli/             /ˈtʃaɪnə/          /ðə ˌtʃek rɪˈpʌblɪk/ 

                               /ˈdʒɜ:məni/      /ˈdʒɔ:dʒə/       /dʒəˈmeɪkə/    /dʒəˈpæn/

   4.      .Read each sentence twice! (Make a clear difference between /tʃ/ and /dʒ/)  

A sample of the audio assignment that I've recorded for you!

You can use this Vocaroo Voice Recorder to practise the above Audio Assignment.

Powered by Vocaroo

[Note: Your recordings will not be saved permanently in this widget!] 

This study session is assisted by G & G: Gabriel | Galina

[Please take note that Study Session 11 will be posted on 31.05.2013]

 Study Session 9                                                           Study Session 11 

         Don't forget to click the 'Like' button if you find the posting useful!

Hello, friends! 

A bunch of you are well aware of the ‘Pronunciation Study Sessions’ conducted jointly by Galina and I right here on MyEC last year! The virtual class had, regrettably, ended abruptly and you haven’t got the slightest clue till this very moment! I’m sorry for keeping you, our enthusiastic learners of speech sounds, in the dark! Believe it or not, I was having problem back then saving any newly created blogs as ‘Drafts’. Usually, for your info, each blog of a study session would take four to five days for me to complete! Just recently a knight in shining armour came to my rescue and the rest is history! Thank you, teacher Tara!

Okay! Are you ready to rekindle your passion for perfect pronunciation? Great! If you remember rightly, our last lesson was Study Session 9. Now, before I post Study Session 10, I want you to record the following speech sounds, words and sentences. This is a perfect opportunity for you to recall all the 14 phonemes (speech sounds) we have introduced so far. To all those NEW KEEN LEARNERS of EC, YOU ARE INVITED too! If you think that it's too late to join us, you're wrong! Don’t worry if the speech sounds are something unheard-of to you. You can still pick them out in next to no time. It's worth learning them because the ability to identify and make the speech sounds could solve the problems concerning your pronunciation. If you put your trust in us, we will not let you down. This is your big chance! 

 .      

         Click the related link if you want to revise a Study Session.

  Study Session 3:   consonant sounds /p/ and /b/

                                     I didn't push him into the bush as he claimed. 

  Study Session 4:   consonant sounds /t/ and /d/

                                     It's not true that the students drew the mural.

  Study Session 5:   consonant sounds /k/ and /g/

                                    The cable right below our gable looks precarious. 

  Study Session 6:   consonant sounds /f/ and /v/

                                    We saw some fast animals in the vast Amazon forest.  

  Study Session 7:   consonant sounds /θ/ and /ð/

                                   The word ‘thigh’ sounds different from ‘thy’, if you ask me.

  Study Session 8:   consonant sounds /s/ and /z/

                             We all know zinc will, without doubt, sink in water. 

  Study Session 9:   consonant sounds /ʃ/ and /ʒ/

                                    Our leader of vision had his mission which ended in failure.

You can use this Vocaroo Voice Recorder to practise the above given task. Please take note, however, your voice will not be saved in it permanently!  

“My shyness has ruined so many opportunities!” 

Please don’t make that mistake, my fellow EC members!

voice recordings so far:

12

         They are: Prostomolotova Galina, Hala J.M, Daniel, Stephen, Asm@, Rajesh,

                          Selma, Hani, SkoonAlBahr, Barbare, Scarlett and Ehab Nassif

.

~* GS *~

ATTENTION

If you have completed the above audio assignment, you can move on to

STUDY SESSION 10

Hello, friends!

Recently one of our EC  members,. Prostomolotova Galina, .posted a blog "Some practical steps to acquire good pronunciation".  In her  blog she  tells  how one  could  use the TTS (Text-To-Speech,)  option on 'AudioPal' to perfect his English speech. I'm glad to see that some of our EC members have heeded  her advice,  especially those in the EC Phonemes and Pronunciation  class,  and  reaping  their rewards.  Do  you  want  to be one of them? Well!  Let me explain briefly what this TTS tool does and how you could benefit from it! 

The TTS  tool could  instantly  process any text that  you type in  into speech. This. gives you the invaluable opportunity to practise speaking with correct pronunciation, sentence stress  and  intonation.  All  the  people who have lent  their voices to this tool .are  native speakers of English. Thus, the tool plays the role of a fine teacher!  They  are  on  standby twenty-four seven  wherever .you  are!  The most .interesting thing about their 'service' is that you don't have to pay a penny. Isn't that GREAT?

(You could also click on the above image to reach AudioPal)

Ok! Are you ready to give it a try right away? What? .Did I hear you saying that not now but you'll definitely do it one of these days? There's a saying, "One of these days is none of these days!" Oh! You changed your mind. That's good! Let's do it!!

I have prepared Text 1 and Text 2 to make sure that you have an easy time of it in trying the tool. Please do as you are requested! Thank you!

A sad story about Nobody.

This is a story about four people named Everybody,  Somebody,  Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and  Everybody was sure that  Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.  Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.  Everybody thought  Anybody could do it,  but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.  It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody, when Nobody did, what Anybody could have done.

Your job: Copy and paste the above story onto the TTS text box. Choose your choice of gender and nationality. Click the "Say it" button. Tell me! How do you like it?

Here's a sample of the above Text 1 converted to Speech

*Text 2:

Four basic kinds of people.

He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise  - follow him.

Here's another one.

Four, those that everything happens to. They claim they have such terrible luck.

Voice: Paul (US)

Your job: Again,  copy and paste  Text 2  onto the TTS  text box.  This time choose a sex that is opposite to the earlier choice of yours. .Also, pick a different nationality! Click the "Say it" button!  Now, what do you think about this tool? .You can leave your opinion in the comment box below. I would appreciate it!

*Both the texts were picked from the Net. They aren't my creation!

Fun activity:  Here's  something that you'll  find very interesting!  The AudioPal will  be  displayed on a  separate window  when  you  click  the  link  I've  given above. This will enable you to  toggle between the windows  of this blog  and  Audiopal.  Now,  copy a comment from below posted by anyone.  Paste it onto AudioPal  TTS .tool and listen to the speech. I have already tried with all the comments posted here. It's really awesome! It gave me the feel as if I'm listening to them in person.  Why don't you try it and share your feelings with us? :-)  

YOUR TASK

Now,  if you are one of them who heed Prostomolotova Galina’s  advice and would like to  improve  all  the  aspects  of  your  pronunciation,   just  make  yourself  known  by doing this task.  I'm sure  your action  will encourage a few of your friends .follow suit. Don't you think that it is a noble thing to do to a fellow learner of English?

         stress and intonation. (You can write your own text if you want to.)

         embed your AudioPal in the comment box below. Good luck and have fun!

           blog "Make your voice heard!"   

TALKING AVATARS

This is another TTS tool called 'SitePal'. It's a widget that can be embedded on any web page. AudioPal and SitePal are from the same maker.  You can use the widget that you see below right away; you don't have to leave this blog. I'm sure it will enthral you! 

Look at SitePal;  it’s  self-explanatory!  You  use this  widget exactly  the same way you would do with AudioPal. However, there are pros and cons.

                    AudioPal which allows you up to 600 characters!

                    which comes with a sleek black audio player! 

                   avatars by clicking the left or right arrows.

              b) It has more speakers and countries for you to choose from.

 

"EC AUDIOPAL USERS"

Gabriel Sowrian, Prostomolotova Galina, Rajesh, Grace, Sakshi, Scarlett, Tawfeeq, Ha Nguyen, Hala J.M, Robbie, Asma, Marik, Bright Rubies, Jinkee, Stephen A...

* If you are already a user or has started using Audiopal, leave your recorded voice message done with Audiopal in the comment box below. Your name will be added to the above list! Thank you!! 

My last word on one's inability to Speak in English...

or just  be a 'mute' for the rest of your life!"

          Don't forget to click the 'Like' button if you find the posting useful!

Hello, there! 

I often hear people pronouncing the word 'Skype' as /ˈskaɪpi/. Usually, I tell them politely that the letter 'e' in this brand name is 'silent'. Thus, we should say /skaɪp/.

To my amusement, some of them take note of what I say while the others dispute my claim. Here's a video that I stumbled on just now. It tells us how the word in question is actually pronounced. Shall we listen to it, guys?

Now, do you know any other commonly used words that often confuse us? If you do, please share them here with the rest of us. You could even ask us a word whose pronunciation is not known to you. Let's help each other. Thank you!

~* GS *~

Daddy’s been gone

Gone for so long

For him I pray

He joined the Corps

Fighting a war

Somewhere far away

.

He promised me he’d return

When the Chanukah candles burn

So here I wait

The blessings I recite

By the candle-light

But it’s getting late

.

CHORUS:

Daddy come home

Stay with me

Let me hold your hand

Let me sit upon your knee

I see fear

In Mommy’s eyes

Every time she cries

And tries to comfort me

.

It’s scary here at home

My mind begins to roam

Have I lost you?

I hear the phone

Mommy’s mournful moan

It can’t be true!

.

CHORUS

.

Where has he gone?

How will I carry on?

Tell me what can I say?

I need to pray…

…Please hear my plea

Send my Daddy home to…

.

…Who’s that I hear

Calling my name

I run into his arms

Yes, my Daddy came

Home to me

He’s on his knees

Now he’s holding me

For all eternity

.

Now, as night falls

We stand tall

Eight candles burning bright

And they’re lighting up the night

Home at last

Eyes aglow

I hug my Daddy tight

And I’m not letting go!

.

.

~* GS *~

.

I .have a set of images that I collected  from various sites!  Each one of them  teaches us a different spelling rule. There are 30 images in my collection now. I’m going to share with you one  at  a  time!  The images are not that clear,  thus making it illegible!  I decided to rewrite the text for you! Here's the first one:

SPELLING RULE #1

When a word ends  with a short  vowel  followed .by a consonant,  double the last consonant before adding ‘ed’

The girls skip.           The girls skipped.

1. You can use the online  Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary  if  you  are not sure of the meaning or pronunciation of the above words.

2. If you would  like to practise pronouncing any of the words  found in this blog, you could use the below vocaroo voice recorder. .It allows you to record and play back your voice.  It does not store or save messages. So, don't be afraid to give it a try!

3.  Did you know that the ‘-ed’ added at the end of the  past tense  or  past participle  of regular verbs could make THREE  different  sounds?  If you’re not sure,  please .watch this video.

4. Your task:   Share with us FIVE words that follow this spelling rule. Please give both the base form and 'ed' ending form of the regular verbs. Thank you!     

Note: I'm neither the creator nor rightful owner of the 'Spelling Rules' images. No infringement of copyright is intended!

~* GS *~

both 

 both (of) with nouns and pronouns

   1. We can put both (of) before nouns and pronouns. 

   Before a noun with a determiner (for example: the, my, these), both and both of are p.possible.

               Both (of) my parents like riding.

               She’s eaten both (of) the chops. 

   We can also use both without a determiner.

               She’s eaten both chops. (= …both of the chops.) 

   Only both of is possible before a personal pronoun (us, you, them).

               Both of them can come tomorrow.

               Mary sends her love to both of us.

   2. We can put both after object pronouns.

               I’ve invited them both.

               Mary sends us both her love. 

               I’ve made you both something to eat.

   3. Note: we do not put the before both.

               both children (NOT the both children)

both with verbs

   both can go with a verb, in ‘mid-position’, like some adverbs.

   1. auxiliary verb + both

         (am/are/is/was/were + both)

               We can both swim.

               The have both finished.

                We are both tired.

   2. both + other verb

               My parents both like travelling.

               You both look tired.

both … and …

         both + adjective + and + adjective

         both + noun + and + noun

         both + clause + and + clause

   We usually put the same kind of words after both and and.

               She’s both pretty and clever.                                     (adjectives)

               I spoke to both the Director and his secretary.        .(nouns)

               (NOT I both spoke to the Director and his secretary.) 

               She both plays the piano and sings.                           (verbs)

               (NOT She both plays the piano and she sings.)         (verb, clause)

 TIP 9       

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

March 31, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

 among and between

1.  We say that somebody/something is between two or more clearly separate people or things. 

     We use among when somebody/something is in a group, a crowd or a mass of people or things, which we do not see separately.

     Compare:   

    - She was standing between Alice and Mary.

    - She was standing among a crowd of children.

    - Our house is between the wood, the river and the village.

    - His house is hidden among the trees.

2.  We use between to say that there are things (or groups of things) on two sides.

    - a little valley between high mountains.

    - I saw something between the wheels of the car.

3.  We say divide between and share between before singular nouns.

Before plural nouns, we can say between or among.

    - He divided his money between his wife, his daughter and his sister.

    - I shared the food between/among all my friends.

The following are links to sites where you can do exercises pertaining to between and among:

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-25854.php

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-21388.php

http://random-idea-english.blogspot.com/2011/11/confusing-words-between-and-among.html

http://www.englishpractice.com/quiz/exercise-11

 TIP 8                                                                                                  TIP 10

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

March 19, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

 WORDSPECTOR

Please read and understand the below instructions before you start playing the game!

ATTENTION - DO NOT CLICK on the 'Play' / 'Play Now' button that you see in the middle of the screen if you are playing the game for the first time! Because it will take you to the website instead of starting the game, which I don't want to happen :-(

        .- Just wait for the game to be fully loaded.

           - Click on the button 'PLAY GAME' found at the bottom right-hand corner. 

.

Enjoy the Game!

NOTE: Let's assume for a moment that you've completed successfully the first few levels and have stopped playing. When you come here later on to play the game, you can continue from where  you stopped!  However, you'll  see  the  below shown screen this time...

Now, YOU MUST CLICK on the 'PLAY' button found IN THE MIDDLE to start 'Wordspector' and continue with your game! 

March 15, 2013

~* GS *~ 

     Game #2                                                                              Game #4

          Don't forget click on the 'Like' button if you find this game educationa!

Tenses

When we report  things that people said in the past, we do not usually use the same tenses as they said. This is because the times are different.

Compare

   Original Words                      Reported Speech

   'I don't like the party.'                Bill said he didn't like the party.

                                                          (NOT Bill said he doesn't like the party.) 

   'Will you marry me?'                 I asked him if he would marry me.

                                                          (NOT I asked him if he will marry me.)

   'You look nice.'                         I told her she looked nice.

                                             ....(NOT I told her she looks nice.)

   'I'm learning French.'                 She said she was learning French.

                                                          (NOT She said she is  learning French.)

   'I've forgotten.'                          He said he had forgotten.

                                                          (NOT He said he has forgotten.)

   'John phoned.'                           She told me that John had phoned.)

                                                          (NOT She told me that John phoned.)

Exceptions:

If somebody said something in the past that is still true, we sometimes report it with the same tense as the original speaker.

   'The earth goes round the sun.'    He proved that the earth goes round the sun.

   'How old are you?'                     I asked how old you are.

  TIP 7                                                                                                   TIP 9

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

March 15, 2013

    Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

conjunctions

clause +. conjunction .+ clause

conjunction + clause, + clause

1. A conjunction joins two clauses.

   - I'm tired and I want to go to bed.

    - I tried hard but I couldn't understand.

    - His father died, so he had to stop his studies.

    - I know that you don't like her.

    - I'll sell it to you cheap because you're a friend of mine.

    - She married him although she didn't love him.

    - We'll start at eight o'clock so that we can finish early.

    - I'd tell you if I knew.

And, but, so and that go between two clauses.

Most other conjunctions can also go at the beginning of a sentence.

    - Because  you're a friend of mine, I'll sell it to you cheap.

    - Although she didn't love him, she married  him.

    - So that we can finish early, we'll start at eight o'clock.

    - If I knew, I'd tell you.

When a conjunction begins a sentence, there is usually a comma (.,) between the two clauses.

2. We do not usually write the two clauses separately, with a full stop (.) between them.

    - It was late when I got home. (NOT It was late. When I got home.)

But we can sometimes separate the two clauses in order to emphasize the second, especially with and, but, so, because and although.

    - James hated Mondays. And this Monday was worst than usual.

And we separate clauses in conversation (when two different people say them.)

    - 'John's late.'  'Because he was doing your shopping.'

3. One conjunction is enough to join two clauses. Don't use two.

    - Although she was tired, she went to work.

    - She was tired, but she went to work.

      (NOT Although she was tired, but she went to work.)

    - Because I liked him, I tried to help him.

    - I liked him, so I tried to help him.

      (NOT Because I liked him, so I tried to help him.)

    - As you know, I work very hard.

    - You know that I work very hard.

      (NOT As you know, that I work very hard.)

4. Relative pronouns (who, which and that) join clauses like conjunctions.

    - There's the girl who works with my sister.

A relative pronoun is the subject or object of the verb that comes after it. So we do not need another subject or object.

    - I've got a friend who works in a pub.

      (NOT I've got a friend who he works in a pub.)

    - The man (that) she married was an old friend of mine.

      (NOT The man (that) she married him was an old friend of mine.)

    - She always says thank-you for the money (that) I give her.

      (NOT She always says thank-you for the money (that) I give it her.) 

TIP 6                                                                                                     TIP 8  

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

March 12, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful! 

Description : Enrol at the Dragon University as a young dragon and learn the skills and knowledge required before you can graduate and become a Naturally Speaking Dragon. Combining the classic frogger style game-play into spelling, typing, and mouse controlled activities makes this game a challenge for gamers of all ages and nationalities (being available in 6 languages)!

See how well you can spell, how fast you can type, and how well you can control the mouse in this fun little adventure that is Dragon University.

Start playing the game by clicking on the Union Jack, national flag of the United Kingdom.

Enjoy the Game!

Note: If you've made it to the Top 10 'Daily High Scores' world ranking, get a screenshot of the scoreboard and paste it in the below comment box!

Are you a 'two-finger typist' or 'touch typist'?  Obviously,  a touch typist types more words per minute (WPM) than the former! Would you like to become a touch typist? Then, check my other blog - Learn to Type!

~* GS *~

March 7, 2013

    Game #1                                                                         Game #3   

         Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the game useful!

Reported Speech: Questions

1. In reported question, the subject comes before the verb.

          He asked where I was going.

          (NOT... He asked where was I going.)

          I asked where the President and his wife were staying.

          (NOT... I asked where were the Presidnent and his wife staying.)

Auxiliary do is not used.

          I wondered how they felt.

          (NOT... I wondered how did they feel.)

Question marks are not used.

          We asked where the money was.

          (NOT... We asked where the money was?)

2. When there is no question word (who, what, how, etc), we use if or whether to introduce indirect questions.

          The driver asked if I wanted the town centre. Or...

          The driver asked whether I wanted the town centre.

          I don't know if I can help you. Or...

          I don't know whether I can help you.

TIP 5                                                                                                     TIP 7

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

March 8, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

I, Gabriel Sowrian, take great pleasure in presenting this plaque to our very

First Winner of the "Reading Homographs" Challenge!

Galina!

If you have heard not about the challenge or would like to participate, please check it out HERE.

This is your opportunity not only to win a beautiful plaque but also learn hundreds of homographs. Did you know that you can double or triple your vocabulary just by learning homographs? It's true! A single homograph can have two or more meanings. Thus, learning one homograph is equivalent to knowing two or three different words!  Why not start participating either in the Challenge or Activity today!

"We have all the light we need, we just need to put it in practice!"
... Albert Pike ...

Note: Every time when someone reads all the given sentences with correct pronunciation, this blog will be  reposted  displaying  with  the inclusion of the latest  winner's  plaque.  Don't  you wish to show the world what you could do?

~* GS *~

January 29th. 2013

Infinitive after who, what, how etc

1. In reported speech, we can use an infinitive after the question-words who, what, where etc (but not why) to talk about questions and the answers to questions.

verb + question-word + infinitive

                            - I wonder who to invite.

                            - Show me what to do.

                            - Can you tell me how to get to the station?

                            - I don't know where to park the car.

                            - Tell me when to pay.

                            - I can't decide whether to answer her letter.

2. We cannot begin a direct question with How to...?, What to...? etc. We often use shall or should.

                            - How shall I tell her?    (NOT How to tell her?)

                            - What shall we do?       (NOT What to do?)

                            - Where should I pay?    (NOT Where to pay?)

why (not)

We can use an infinitive without to after why. This usually means that it is unnecessary or stupid to do something.

                            - Why pay more at other shops? Our prices are the lowest.

Why not...? is used to make suggestions.

                            - Why not ask Susan to help you? 

 TIP 4                                                                                                    TIP 6

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

March 3, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

We spent hours chatting with her.

Subject and Object Forms

1. Six English words have one form when they are used as subjects, and a different form when they are used as objects.

                                              SUBJECT                    OBJECT

                                            I                             .me

                                            he                          .him

                                            she                        .her

                                            we                         .us

                                            they                       them

                                            who                       whom

        Compare:

        A)    I like dogs.                         Dogs don't like me.                   

        .B)   We went to see her.          She came to see us.

       ..C)   This is Mr Perkins, who works with me.

               This is Mr Perkins, with whom I am working at the moment.

2. In informal English, we use object forms (me, him, etc) after be and in one-word answers.

              "Who's that?"           'It's me.'

              "Who said that?"     'Him.'

In a formal style, we prefer to use a subject form with a verb.

              "Who said that?"     'He did.' 

3. Whom is not used in informal English. We prefer to use who as an object, especially in questions.

               Who did you go with?

               Who have you invited?

We use whom in a more formal style; and we must use whom after a preposition.

               Whom did they arrest?       (formal)

               With whom did you go?     (very formal)

4. After as, than, but and except, we use object forms in an informal style.

               My sister's nearly as tall as me.

               I'm prettier than her.

               Everybody but me knew what was happening.

               Everybody except him can come.

Subject forms are used in a more formal style (usually with auxilliary verbs) after as and than.

               My sister is nealy as tall as I am.

               I'm prettier than she is.

P.S. If you would like to know more about the correct usage of the pronouns 'I' and 'me', please watch the video that I uploaded to our EC video gallery.

Similarly, if you need additional notes about the difference between 'who' and 'whom', there is another video. 

TIP 3                                                                                                     TIP 5 

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

February 28, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

Perfect tenses with

this is the first time..., etc

1. We use present perfect tense after the following   ..*expressions: 

     *This/that/it is the first/second/third/fourth/ etc

     *This/that/it is the only...

     *This/that/it is the best/worst/finest/most interesting/ etc

       Examples:

           This is the first time (that) I've heard her sing.

           (NOT This is the first time that I hear her sing.)

           That's the third time you've asked me that question.

           (NOT That's the third time you ask me that question.)

           It's one of the most interesting books I've ever read.

2. When we talk about the past, we use a past perfect t ..tense after the same *expressions.

          It was the third time he had been in love that year.

          (NOT It was the third time he was in love that year.)

TIP 2                                                                                                    TIP 4

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources!

~* GS *~

February 24, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

I wish....

1. We can use wish + infinitive to mean want. 'Wish' is more formal.

     I wish to see the manager, please.

2. We can also use wish to express regrets - to say that we would like things to be different. We use a past tense with a present meaning in this case.

     I wish + subject + past tense

     I wish I was better-looking.

     I wish I spoke French.

     I wish I had a yacht.

     I wish it wasn't raining.

In formal style, we can use were instead of was after I wish.

     I wish I were better-looking. (formal)

We can say I wish... would (but not I wish... will)

     I wish she would be quiet.

     I wish something interesting would happen.

To talk about the past, we use a past perfect tense (had + past participle).

    I wish + subject + past perfect

     I wish I had gone to university.

     I wish I hadn't said that.

3. We do not use wish in progressive tenses.

     I wish I knew why. (NOT I am wishing...)

 TIP 1                                                                                                                    TIP 3 

Note: The tips in this series are picked from various sources! 

~* GS *~

February 21, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful! 

the same

......1.  We always use the before same.

................A.  Give me the same again, please.
....................    (NOT Give me same again, please.)

................B.   I want the same shirt as my friend’s.
....................    (NOT I want a same shirt like my friend.)

......2.  We use the same … as before a noun or pronoun.

................Her hair’s the same colour as her mother’s.
................(NOT Her hair’s the same colour like her mother’s.)

......3.  We use the same … that before a clause.

................That’s the same man that asked me for money  money yesterday.

Note: I'll be posting a series of tips as and when time permits. They're not my own but picked from various sources!

                                                                                                                                        TIP 2

~* GS *~

February 18, 2013

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find the above tips useful!

Remember...  same spelling; different meanings; different or same pronunciation!

[Listen to my audio for details!]

...

.

01. The bandage was wound around the wound.

02. The farm was used to produce produce.

03. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

04. We must polish the Polish furniture.

05. He could lead if he would get the lead out.

06. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

07. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to to...present the present.

08. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

09. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10. I did not object to the object.

11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13. They were too close to the door to close it.

14. The buck does funny things when does are present.

15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18. After a number of injections my jaw got number.

19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

22. The accountant at the music store records records of the records.

* I first saw these sentences on Aija's facebook page. Thank you, Aija!

.

..

Homograph

A homograph is a word that is spelled like another word but has a different meaning from it. In addition to these two, it may have the same pronunciation or a different one.

Note: Our dearest Hala has posted a slide show that shows the differences between 'Homographs' and 'Homophones'. Personally, I find it very interesting and useful. Thanks Hala! To watch the slide show, please click HERE.  

Challenge

Record your reading of the above twenty-two sentences and share the audio file with us. You can use AudioPal to do the recording! If you have never recorded your voice or embedded an audio player on a web page before, you can learn how to do them HERE..

Every person who reads the sentences with correct pronunciation stands the chance to win a beautiful virtual plaque with his/her name inscribed on it!

You  can  find  the  list of  participants  who  have won the challenge, along with the plaques, in another blog specially dedicated to the winners!   

 

Activity

Do you know any other homographs? Let us compile a list of them for the benefit of everybody. Here's how you could contribute:

1. Choose a pair of homographs. Post them here along with their meanings, then write two separate sentences with a homograph in each sentence. Finally, add a note saying whether the homographs are pronounced the same way. If they have different pronunciations, please record them for us.

2. If you would like to contribute a second pair of homographs, please feel free to do so! You can post it once the next contributor has posted his/her pair of homographs. There's no limit to the number of homographs that you would like to share. The more the better!

[An 'Afterthought': Share with us at least one pair of homographs every day. But if you choose to post more than one pair in a day, that would be EXCELLENT! Also, I've set a target for us! It's to come up with 100 Homographs. Do you think it's possible?]

   

Solution

Now, tell us how one could find whether the pronunciation of two homographs of a pair are different or same! What is the most effective way to remember the different pronunciations of a pair of homographs?

Click HERE to see the list of homographs that we’ve compiled so far!

My heart-felt thanks to all the contributors!  

.Happy Learning!

.  

I'd like to dedicate this blog to a deligent learner of Englishwho was kind enough to allow me to conduct myPhonemes and Pronunciation Study Sessionsat his group, EC Virtual Classroom!He is none other than our.

Rajesh

You could follow these links to my other blogs if you want to...

know how to do a voice recording and embed the audio player;

play 'virtual' pianos, drums and other musical instruments;

learn hundreds of idioms and other useful expressions;

use question tags correctly in your spoken English!

~* GS *~

January 22nd. 2013

..

I stumbled on this video today, February 13th. 2013! Twelve out of the above twenty-two sentences are found in the video along with some other interesting sentences / homographs!  

MORE HOMOGRAPHS

[ The  following sentences were taken from the above video! If you want to record these sentences and share your audio file with us, please feel free to do so! ]

A. The artist worked for hours to perfect the nearly perfect work.

B. After taking a shot with his bow, the archer took a bow.

C. They were going to project the project at the local theater.

D. The band booked the studio to record their record.

E. I had to console my mom after I sold her console.

F. The incense incensed the customers.

G. I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.

          Don't forget to click on the ’Like’ 'button if you find this challenge useful to you!