2018-05-04 Can You Find the Clauses?
Imagine we are having a conversation about dance. Suddenly I say, “Because I love to dance!” You might learn something about me: that I love dancing. But you might also…
2018-04-27 Learning Passive Modals: It Can Be Done!
Imagine that you are planning to travel to another country. There is a lot that you need to do before you leave. Here are some things that might need to…
2018-04-20 Phrasal Verbs with ‘Take’
In past Everyday Grammar programs, we have told you about phrasal verbs. A phrasal verb is a group of words that act as a verb. It is made from a…
2018-04-13 Are You Crazy About English?
English speakers express likes and dislikes in so many ways. By now, you’ve learned how to use words such as like, enjoy, love, or even hate. For example: She really…
2018-03-16 Use -Ever Words Whenever You Like
In the song “Whenever, Wherever,” popular Colombian singer Shakira tells us about a long-distance romance. At one point in the song, she asserts that time and distance are of little…
2018-03-09 Thinking About Using -ing Words?
In the English language, putting two –ing words together often is not only natural but correct. Listen to an example: I’ve been avoiding going to the doctor. In today’s Everyday…
2018-02-23 Making and Responding to Suggestions
Imagine that you haven’t seen a good friend in a month. In a telephone call, your friend tells you she would like to get together for dinner but can’t think…
2017-12-29 Learn 10 Separable Phrasal Verbs
Welcome back to Everyday Grammar from VOA Learning English. Today we return to a very common verb form in English – phrasal verbs. You will find one phrasal verb in…
2017-12-22 Grammar and Christmas
Many Americans experience surprise (or disappointment) when they wake up on Christmas Day. They might be surprised or disappointed by a family member’s actions. They might be happy or unhappy…
2017-12-08 Contronyms Are ‘Literally’ The Best
The American television series “Seinfeld” was famous for its unusual and often strange conversations. These conversations often took place in a diner – a kind of small, informal restaurant. In…
2017-12-01 Short Sentences in Books, Movies, and Speech
Ernest Hemingway was a famous American writer. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. One of his most famous books, The Sun Also Rises, ends with the following…
2017-11-24 Thanksgiving and English Verbs
Every year around the Thanksgiving holiday, a strange ceremony happens in Washington, DC. The president stands outside the White House, gives a brief speech and then officially pardons a turkey.…
2017-11-17 James Bond Can Teach You About English Grammar
In the 1964 action film Goldfinger, actor Sean Connery plays the British secret agent James Bond. Bond, also called agent 007, is well-known for his drink of choice — a…
2017-11-03 Verbs and Gerunds in Speech and Fiction Writing
The American rock group Journey released the song “Don’t Stop Believin'” in 1981. This song, still popular in karaoke music bars, can help you learn about English grammar. Let’s listen…
2017-10-27 Verbs and Infinitives in Everyday Speech
The 1977 movie Star Wars is an American classic, with many memorable lines and characters. At one point in the film, the character C-3PO says the following words: “We seem…