Category: Class

Articles with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Form

article + countable / uncountable noun


I eat an apple for breakfast every day. (Apple is countable.)
I eat bread for breakfast every day. (Bread is uncountable.)

Usage

  • You can use a/an/the with singular countable nouns.

I bought a car. (Not I bought car.)

The ostrich laid an egg.
Get the papers on my table.

  • You cannot use a/an/the with uncountable nouns.

Sugar is used in making soda.

  • But you can use a + ___ + of

a bottle of soda

  • Generally, use (1) a definite article or (2) no article with plural nouns.

1. I like the animals at the aquarium. (animals specifically found at the aquarium)

2. I like animals. (Animals in general)

Read the text:


I saw a girl with long, curly hair. The girl is holding a box of chocolates. The girl was talking to herself while walking. I think the girl has mental issues.

  • Take note that we use a/an if it is the first time we mention someone or something in a conversation. We use the if the listener already knows which specific object we are referring to in a conversation.

Other English grammar lessons can be found here.

Modals: Can and Could

CAN

-Used to say that something is possible or allowed

Example:
I can meet you later if you want.
I can go out this weekend as long as I finish my housework.

-Used to say that someone has the ability to do something

Example:
He can speak seven languages.
She can solve math problems in 30 seconds.

The negative form of CAN is CAN NOT (contraction: can’t).

Example:
I’m afraid I can’t go to the theater with you on Friday.

-You use CAN’T to say that you believe something is not possible

Example:
You’ve just had dinner. You can’t be hungry already.

 

COULD 

-Sometimes could is the past tense of CAN

We use could especially with:
Hear, smell, taste, feel, see, understand,remember

Example:
As soon as I got in my room, I could smell the burning air conditioner.

-Is also used to say that somebody had the general ability to do something

Example:
She could dance well when she was in her teens.

-Is also used to say someone had permission to do something

Example:
We could go out at night. My grandparents weren’t too strict with us.

The negative form of could is COULD NOT (contraction: COULDN’T).

-Used to talk about possible actions NOW or in the future (especially to give suggestions)

Example:
You could stay in my house when you go to Paris.

-Used for actions that are not realistic

Example:
I am so hungry, I could eat a cow.

-We also use could to say that something is possible now or in the future. (similar to might in meaning)

Example:
She could be waiting for you at the hotel.

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Millennials on Dating Apps

B1 –  Intermediate

Does it feel like the dating game is taking over your life?

Well it probably is, sort of. It’s likely to be taking around 16.8% of your life, which is quite a bit when you think about it.

A recent study  found that millennials are spending 10 hours a week trawling through dating apps like Tinder.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/dating-apps-millenials-10-hours-week-tinder-bumble-romance-love-a8174006.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever gone/Would you ever go on a date with someone you met on a dating app? Why/why not?
  2. What are the good and bad things about online dating?
  3. Why do you think people, especially millennials, are so obsessed with dating apps?
  4. If you could design your own dating app, how would it work?
  5. Is love really that difficult to find these days? Explain.
  6. What are other things define millennials?

Why Does Society Value Beauty Over Brains?

B1 – Intermediate

The ideal for beauty includes flawless skin, shiny, healthy hair, big eyes, even features and a proportioned body shape. This ideal has remained true throughout our history.

People seem so obsessed with beauty that a pertinent question might not be what it is, but why it is so important to us?

Click the link below to have a better understanding why most of us value beauty more than intelligence.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2014/01/11/women_and_beauty_why_does_society_value_looks_over_intelligence.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
  2. How do you define beauty, using your own words?
  3. How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
  4. What are some of the negatives about being beautiful?
  5. Do you think beauty is related to power?

Verb + -ing / Infinitive: LIKE

Full infinitive: to + verb

Uses:

  1. To express purpose

Example:  I eat to gain weight.

  1. After the words: would + love/like/prefer

Example: I would love to go skiing with you.

  1. After adjectives (angry, glad, happy, sorry, pleased, annoyed, etc.)

Example: I am pleased to see you.

  1. With too or enough

He is too old to drive.

She is too young to stay home alone.

  1. Repeated actions (like to +verb)

Example: I like to wash dishes.

 

Verb-ing

Uses:

  1. Noun

Example: Walking is a good exercise.

  1. After the verbs ; love, like, hate, enjoy, dislike

Example: I like washing dishes.

  1. After the verbs start, begin, finish, stop

Example: You should start saving money for the trip.

  1. After the verb “go” for physical activities

Example: Erin goes skiing on Sunday.

  1. After certain verbs; admit; deny, mind, prefer, regret, risk, suggest

Example: I admit making a mistake of firing him.

 

Like to + verb VS like + verb-ing

 

Both can be used for repeated actions:

I like sewing baby clothes.

I like to sew baby clothes.

 

I don’t like being kept waiting.

I don’t like to be kept waiting.

 

Remember:

We use verb-ing when we talk about actions that already exist or existed.

  1. I like being a mother. (I am a mother and I like it.)
  2. Do you like living in Dusseldorf? (You live in Dusseldorf. Do you like it?)
  3. The company I worked for was terrific. I liked working there. ( I worked there and I liked it.)

 

  There is a difference between like to + verb and like + verb-ing

A: I like doing something. = (I do it and I enjoy it.)

Example: I like training new employees. ( I enjoy it.)

I like giving presentations. (I enjoy giving presentations.)

B: I like to do something. = ( I think it is a good thing to do but I don’t necessarily enjoy it. )

Examples: I like to throw the trash on Fridays. (It is not a task I enjoy but I throw the trash on Fridays.)

I like to send my reports on schedule. (It is not my favorite task but I have to do it.)

 

Corporate Social Responsibility

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We normally associate business with financial gains. But at the end of the day, is it really just about the money?

In recent times, a lot of companies are moving toward dedicating their efforts to developing their company’s corporate social responsibility’s arm.

Check out the link below for a better understanding of CSR.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corp-social-responsibility.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. In your own understanding, what is CSR?
2. In your opinion, should CSR be an important part of any company? Why or why not?
3. Talk about your company’s CSR.