2022-03-03 International Crises and Verb Forms
An international crisis – the invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine – has been one of the top stories in the news in recent days. In today’s report, we will…
2022-02-24 Modal Verbs and Phone Calls
In today’s report, we explore the connection between modal verbs and phone calls. Consider a time that you answered the phone or made a phone call. What kinds of words…
2022-02-17 Elton John Song Teaches about Future Time
In today’s report, we explore what an Elton John song can teach you about English grammar. Elton John’s famous 1972 song Rocket Man appeared in a surprising way during this…
2022-02-10 Grammar, the Olympics: Ordinal Numbers, Expressions of Surprise
Everyday Grammar The Winter Olympic games are currently taking place in Beijing, China. In celebration of the event, we will explore a couple areas of connection between the Olympic games…
2022-02-03 Action Movie Teaches You about Conditional Statements
Everyday Grammar Imagine you see an action movie on television. Perhaps it is the movie Predator, a famous film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. It involves an alien creature who attacks people…
2022-01-27 Past Unreal Conditional, Contractions in ‘Citizen Kane’
Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles, is widely considered to be one of the best American films of all time. For example, the British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, created a…
2022-01-20 Contractions with Question Words
everyday grammar Imagine you enjoy hip hop music or want to learn about the history of hip hop. You might listen to Run DMC, one of the most famous groups…
2022-01-13 Use Grammar to Make Inferences, Improve Reading Skills
Imagine you want to improve your reading skills in English. Perhaps you pick up a book such as “The Night Watchman,” an award-winning book by Louise Erdrich. You read the…
2022-01-06 Auxiliary Verbs in Everyday Speech
Imagine someone asks you if you can speak English. You could say: I can speak English. Or you could say: I can’t speak English. In today’s Everyday Grammar, we will…
2021-12-30 A Look Back at 2021: Grammar and the Passing Seasons
As 2021 comes to an end, we leave behind a wonderful year of English grammar. This year, we explored many areas – adjectives, phrasal verbs, determiners and more. We also…
2021-12-23 Grammar and Christmas
Everyday Grammar: 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…
2021-12-16 Function Words in Everyday Speech
Imagine you are using an internet service to watch American films. Perhaps you decide to watch Mixtape, a movie recently made by Netflix. My gosh! This store is so rad!…
2021-12-09 TED Talks Teach You About Phrasal Verbs
TED Talk videos are popular in the United States and other countries. These videos explore issues in science, technology, education and other subjects. They can also be a useful tool…
2021-12-02 Verbs, Nouns, and Pronunciation
Consider the words building, window, and garden. What do all of them have in common? Now consider the words produce, succeed, and employ. These, too, have something in common. You…
2021-11-25 Thanksgiving and English Grammar
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.…