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…
2017-10-20 The Word “That” in Everyday American English
The 1994 crime film “Pulp Fiction” tells the story of a gunman, played by Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, the gunman is growing tired of his life of crime.…
2017-10-13 The Many Reasons for the Word ‘The’
The 1995 film Dead Man has a strange opening scene. Actor Johnny Depp is sitting on a train. A man sits down across from Depp’s character, and speaks to him:…
2017-10-06 Good and Nice: Common Adjectives with Many Uses
The 2014 film Whiplash tells the story of a young man who wants to be a great jazz musician. He has a music director who often says cruel things to…
2017-09-29 Popular Culture and Academic Writing
Popular culture can teach you about English grammar. You might be surprised to know that music and films can show you how to use difficult grammatical structures. How so? Consider…