Learn American English Online Blog

The word of the day is "vanish." When something vanishes, it disappears completely. You can use this word for many different situations, whether you are exaggerating or stating a fact.

  • The pizza vanished as soon as it was put on the table.
  • The magician made everyone believe that the rabbit he was holding vanished into thin air.
  • As soon as the young man appeared to vanish, his family contacted the police to report that he was missing.
  • This solution will make stains on your clothing vanish.
  • All of the money Julio brought to Las Vegas quickly vanished once he visited the casinos.

Well, I’m back. In case you were wondering, I’ve been doing a lot of traveling in the past month, but now I’m back and able to concentrate my attention on the website.

As an English teacher, I believe traveling to other countries is important for my professional development. When I find myself in a place where English is not the first language used, I’m reminded of how difficult it is for visitors and immigrants in the United States to adapt to English. These experiences help me develop new insights into what my students really need when they want to communicate in English.

The word of the day is "coffee."

woman holding a pot of coffee

Ah, the smell of coffee!

This is a new video for transitive and intransitive verbs:

 

The reason why it’s important to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs is because some verbs take an object after them (transitive verbs) and some do not (intransitive verbs).

Here are some common transitive verbs:

  • John likes basketball.
  • We got a new car.
  • Everyone wants pizza.

Transitive verbs are followed by an object of some kind.

Here are some common intransitive verbs:

  • We walked to school.
  • I live in Minnesota.
  • Let’s go.

Intransitive verbs are not followed by an object. Instead, you might use a prepositional phrase, or there is nothing.

The word of the day is "interfere."

Congratulations to France on a spectacular World Cup win! Croatia also deserves congratulations for its great effort and sportsmanship. It was an impressive World Cup series overall.

The preposition "with" is an important preposition to use when explaining how to do something or when to use a particular object:

  • I eat with a fork.
  • You take pictures with your phone.
  • We think with our minds.

Questions and Answers:

  • A:  What do you use to eat yogurt?
  • B:  I eat yogurt with a spoon.
  • A:  How do you eat pizza?
  • B:  I eat pizza with my hands.
  • A:  How does a student erase mistakes on a piece of paper?
  • B:  A student can erase mistakes with an eraser.
  • A: What does a doctor use to listen to your heart?
  • B: A doctor listens to your heart with a stethoscope.

Lately I’ve been using Instagram to experiment with new ways to teach English. I’m very new to it, so bear with me! Do a search on "photovocab" to find your teacher, Paul Lawrence, and follow me if you are interested in improving your vocabulary. Vocabulary development will be the main focus of the instagram page. This is yet another of my many online experiments.

Use the word "let" when requesting or granting permission. It’s also used when offering suggestions:

  • Would you let me borrow your car for a few hours? (This is a request.)
  • Harold is letting his friend stay at his apartment for a few weeks. (He told his friend it was okay to stay there.)
  • Let’s go see a play! (This is an idea or a suggestion for something to do.)

You can take this quiz to practice using the word "let."

Did you receive today’s emailed lesson for the verb "have"? If not, you can sign up for free lessons, quizzes, and other things by clicking here.

In the United States, after someone says "thank-you," there are many different ways to respond:

  • A: Thank-you.
  • B: You’re welcome.
  • A: Thank-you.
  • B: No problem.
  • A: Thank-you.
  • B: My pleasure.
  • A: Thank-you.
  • B: Don’t mention it.
  • A: Thank-you.
  • B: Sure.
  • A: Thank-you.
  • B: Certainly.

A few days ago, a birthday party in Idaho was interrupted by an American man who apparently tried to stab as many people attending the party as he could. Several people were seriously injured, and one person died–a little girl for whom the party was held. Almost all of the people who attended the birthday party were immigrants from Iraq, Ethiopia, and Syria. The assailant is most likely mentally ill, but that doesn’t lessen the degree of tragedy.

Yesterday, a man in Alabama pulled a gun on a peaceful gathering of protestors opposed to the government’s immigration policies and travel ban. He went to the protest determined to make it as uncomfortable as possible for all who attended. Dissatisfied with the effect he had on the people there, he showed that he had a gun and indicated he was prepared to use it.

Were these two isolated incidents? No. Since the election in 2016, these sorts of activities have become so commonplace that they often aren’t reported in the news. They’ve become the "new normal," a phrase often heard following the events on 9/11, except now the "new normal" is in reference to Americans behaving in ways that are absolutely unAmerican.

To anyone who has moved to the United States in order to escape persecution and injustice, please know that the vast majority of Americans support and welcome you. We just happen to be living through a dark time in which a small minority of people, many of whom support the president, are determined to make life uncomfortable for anyone who was not born here and chooses to make a new life here. I am deeply, deeply sorry about that.

Each course level on this website has a checklist. Print out and keep the checklist next to your computer, tablet, or phone and use it to track your progress as you move through the lessons:

PRINT:

Click here to go back to June 2018

Click here to go to the LAEO Blog Archive.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o