Kenneth's ESL Blog

Yes, I am excited about the upcoming election!

This question and answer pair includes an example of an adjective + preposition combination. There are many of these fixed combinations in English. Use these sheets to study some of the most common:

Adjective + prepositions 1
Adjective + prepositions 2

Next, check your understanding of the use of these common combinations:

Quiz 1
Quiz 2

Finally, if you'd like to read about the basics of the upcoming US election you'll find this Presidential Election Reading Comprehension useful. (with follow-up quiz and key vocabulary)

Expressions of quantity are placed before nouns and express 'how much' or 'how many' of something exists. Some expressions of quantity are only used with noncount (uncountable) nouns, others are only used with count (countable) nouns.

This guide to the basics of countable and uncountable nouns includes a discussion of commonly confused uncountable nouns.

Test your knowledge of countable and uncountable nouns with these quizzes:

Interactive Quiz with Corrections
Countable and uncountable nouns gap fill quiz

For teachers, here is a lesson plan focusing on countable and uncountable nouns.

Recently, while creating a course on presentation skills in English, I came across a wonderful book by Mark Powell entitled Presenting in English. In it, there are "sound scripting" exercises which help learners become more expressive by taking sentence intonation skills to the next level. This sound scripting page has an example (with audio example) of an intermediate level text and and advanced level text which have been scripted to help with pronunciation.

You may also want to review the basics of intonation and word stress in English to help your pronunciation.

Hello, Mr Franks! doesn't make much sense if you are talking to your friend Peter. However, it makes plenty of sense if you are speaking to the director of the company.

There are different ways to talk to people depending on your relationship and the situation. Here are the basics of using first name, titles, and other forms in spoken English.

The Bilingual Debate: Transitional Classrooms By BRUCE FULLER in the New York Times is an interesting look at the current ESL situation in classrooms across the United States. In particular, this editorial takes a look at Barak Obama's approach to ESL:

Mr. Obama favors “transitional bilingual education,” meaning that he believes teachers should transition children to English as quickly as possible, building-up from students’ knowledge of their native language. That is, youngsters should become literate in two languages, not one.

The editorial is interesting and informative, and the follow-up discussion is superb.

Yes, I know it's a crazy time to be an investor! However, many business people think that it's a great time to be investing in young technological companies. This Angel Investors advanced level reading comprehension is 'chock 'o block' with key vocabulary and business English collocations related to investing. Of course, there's also a follow-up quiz to test your knowledge.

"Frank Zappa, who was one of the most creative artists in Rock 'n Roll, came from California." In this sentence, who was one of the most creative artists in Rock 'n Roll is an example of a non-defining relative clause and who is the relative pronoun. Take this relative clauses quiz to check your understanding of the use of relative pronouns. For explanations visit the following pages:

Introduction to Relative Clauses
Defining Relative Clauses
Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Here are eight digalogues focusing on English you'll need if you visit the doctor, or if you work in the medical profession. Each dialogue includes a key vocabulary section, as well as a follow-up comprehension quiz.

Troubling Symptoms - Doctor and Patient
Joint Pain - Doctor and Patient
A Physical Examination - Doctor and Patient
Pain that Comes and Goes - Doctor and Patient
A Prescription - Doctor and Patient
Feeling Queasy - Nurse and Patient
Helping a Patient - Nurse and Patient
Patient Details - Administration Staff and Patient

Wow! The phrase above is complicated! It's an example of the future perfect tense. Here are guides to those complicated future and past tenses.

Future Perfect Tense
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Future Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Continuous Tense

This exercise takes has students to relate verbs and verb phrases to a specific process. Students develop narrating skills and expand vocabulary by thinking in terms of verb 'groups' that belong together. The situation provided in the example lesson focuses on the development of a relationship from first meeting to becoming a happy married couple.