Hot English Language & Culture How-Tos « English Language & Culture

How To: Understand present, past and future tenses in English

This tutorial tells us about using helping verbs with the simple form. It also gives us information on the differences between the present, past and future tenses.

How To: Understand English phrasal verbs & compound words

The presenter, Ms. Jennifer explains how compound words are formed from phrasal verbs. With examples she explains how the meaning and pronunciation differs when compound words are formed from phrasal verbs. She explains the difference between 'show' and 'show off' by showing her collection of fans, and showing off with one of her beautiful fan from Japan. Then she explains the difference between 'show off' and 'show-off', giving examples and makes the listeners clear about compound nouns also...

How To: Use inseparable verb phrases in English

In this video, we learn how to use inseparable verb phrases. Inseparable verb phrases are verb phrases that can't be separated. An example of this includes: "Hiep's English wasn't very good because he dropped out of school early". In this sentence, "dropped out of" means to leave school early and cannot be separated from the rest of the sentence. Depending on the tense of the verb phrase, you will not be able to change just one word, you will have to change the entire sentence. After you find...

How To: Use "It's + adjective + infinitive" in English

In this video, we learn how to use "It's + adjective + infinitive" in English. To form these sentences, you will use the pattern that is stated above. This is very common in the English language, and you can put whatever you want into the sentence as the infinitive. You can change this from "it's hard to do" to It's not hard to do" to "it's easy to do". You can also make something negative, by giving it the prefix "im", which would change "possible" to "impossible". You can also ad in "un" to...

How To: Pronounce the English word "queue"

Today's word is "queue". This is both a verb and a noun. As a noun, it means a line of people waiting their turn.

How To: Use the modal verb and continuous form in English

Some modal verbs can be put in front of the continuous form to express some present action that is or isn't happening. To make the past tense for each, use "have been" instead of "be."

How To: Use infinitives in English

An American English teacher explains how infinitives are used.

How To: Pronounce the " rl " in the English language

In this two part episode, Jennifer goes over the pronunciation of the letters "rl" in the English language. This is great for all levels of students learning English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Use the word "being" correctly in English

Being is a word that can be hard to master for English as a Second Language speakers. It can be used as a gerund, or in present or past continuous tenses.

How To: Use "live" as a verb & adjective in English

Paul, an English teacher, gives a lesson on the difference between the word "live" as a verb and as an adjective. To make to "v" sound when saying the word, the lower lip has to touch the teeth. "Live" as verb is an action, so you say "I live in Minneapolis". The singular form is "live," and the plural form is "lives". Live" as an adjective is a describing word, so you say "Live TV is fun". "Live"" as an adjective describes the subject of a sentence. "Live" as an adjective can mean something ...

How To: Describe the feeling of fear in English

In this English language tutorial we look at fear and being afraid. There are many words to convey the emotion of fear and anxiety. This ESL lesson teaches you how to talk about your fear and the names of some common phobias.

How To: Use "we're" & "were" properly

Learning American English is often difficult when faced with two words of similar spelling or sound. This is certainly true in the case of "we're" and "were".

How To: Speak English better by always speaking slower

Instantly improve your American English pronunciation by following these invaluable tips on how to speak more slowly. You'll be amazed at the difference in your speech!

How To: Pronounce the soft "i" and a hard "e" in English

Many of my students have problems pronouncing the soft i. This ESL how to video explains how your mouth should move for the soft i and the hard e. You'll never say beach when you mean bitch again. Watch this how to video and you'll be speaking proper English in no time.

How To: Use the 'stop' verb in the English language

The verb "stop" in the English language can be used with a gerund and an infinitive. The word "stop" has different meanings depending on how it's used. Look at the sentence, "I stopped eating fast food." Stopped is used in the past tense and eating is a gerund, or a word that describes an activity and functions as a noun. Look at the sentence, "I stopped to eat some fast food." In that sentence, there is an infinitive. The first sentence means I no longer eat fast food. The second sentence me...

How To: Use the word 'got' in the English language

In this video it is explained how to use the words "got" "got to" and "gotta'". "Got" is the past tense of the word " get". Sometimes Americans say "have got" in place of "have" or "got" in place of "have". For example there is a sentence "I've got my wallet". Some Americans say "I have my wallet" and some may say "I got my wallet". All of them are correct. "Gotta'" is used in place of "have got to". For example there is a sentence" I have got to go". Some Americans may say

How To: Speak English smoothly using the marble technique

Destroy filler words, overcome stuttering, speak smoothly, improve enunciation, and get better at public speaking all around with just marbles and your mouth! This video is best for people learning to reduce stuttering or students learning English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Pronounce the English word "misogynistic"

Today's word is "misogynistic". This is an adjective which means prejudiced against women.

How To: Describe situations that didn't happen in the past

This video shows us how to describe the situations that are opposite of the future perfect tense. Here it is shown how to describe the situations that did or did not happen in the past using would, have and past participle. He gives us 3 very good examples that are describing such situations. In these examples he describes a situation which happened in the past which is actually a negative and uses a fact that is described in the present tense to give the reason why that situation ended in a ...

How To: Pronounce the English word "pause"

Today's word is "pause". This is both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it means to stop an action temporarily.

How To: Use infinitives for questions in English

In this tutorial, we learn how to speak English using infinitives for questions. First, you need to be able to identify reported questions inside of a conversation. Infinitives include words like "to go", "to buy", "to find". They are formed by saying "to" + the verb. "Wh" infinitives are simply at the beginning of infinitives, like "where to go", "when to buy", and "how to find". Use infinitives to report questions that have modal verbs such as "should" and "can" depending on what the modal ...

How To: Pronounce the word "ubiquitous" in English

Today's word is "ubiquitous". This is an adjective which means being or appearing to be everywhere at the same time.

How To: Use infinitive phrases in English Grammar

Learn from Yossarian the Grammarian about infinitive phrases (to run, to learn, to cook, etc.), which function as adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. Great English grammar lesson for ESL students.

How To: Use economic vocabulary in English

Learn business English with Video Vocab. This episode introduces English vocabulary related to economics and the economy. This video is for ESL students who are at an intermediate to advanced level.

How To: Ask questions in a polite way in the English language

In this episode ask questions in a polite way in the English language. This video is great for advanced, intermediate, and beginner learning to speak the English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Ask "yes, no" questions in English, using "is", "are"

In this episode learn to ask yes and no questions with "is", "are", "have" and "can" in the English language. This video is great for advanced, intermediate, and beginner learning to speak the English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Put on a convincing Irish accent

Accents are not only fun but attractive too, when done properly, at least. Work on your Irish accent, practicing the inflection and sound of consonants and vowels. Impress your friends with your new accent.

How To: Use the verb "have" for eating and drinking

In this tutorial, we learn how to use the verb "have" for eating and drinking. When someone asks you what you are eating or what you did eat, you will have to use the word "have" to answer or even if you want to ask the question you have. An example of asking something a question like this would be, "what do you usually have for breakfast, lunch or dinner?" Any question with meals will have the word "have" mixed into it, because it's asking what you are going to or have eating in a different ...

How To: Use the English proposition "at"

This video is in the Language category where you will understand how the proposition "at" is used in English language. "At" is used to indicate either location or time. A few examples of using "at" for indicating location are; "I am at school", "You are at home", "She is at the store" and "They are at the park". To indicate exact time, the preposition "at" is used. A few examples are; "The movie starts at 6:15", "You have to be there at 1:30" and "Let's meet at noon". You can watch the video ...

How To: Use the passive voice "supposed to" in English

In English, "supposed to" expresses obligation. Someone expects you to do something. It's an unusual form of the passive voice, but it's very important to learn. This ESL tutorial teaches you how to use "supposed to" in English. Watch this grammar how to video and you will be speaking English in no time.

How To: Use past tense regular verb pronunciation

In this ESL lesson, learn how to correctly pronounce past tense regular verbs in English.

How To: Speak with a Liverpudlian 'scouse' accent

Can you speak like the Beatles? Not bloody likely! Well, you CAN learn to speak with a Liverpudlian accent IF you check out this video and wrap your head and tongue around the words. This accent is a wonderful one and recognized around the world as the dialect spoken by the Fab 4. It almost sounds Scottish, but it's 100% working class England. John Lennon had the best example out of the Beatles of this accent, with George Harrison coming second. Paul and Ringo did not have particularly good L...

How To: Read the poem "Hope is the thing with feathers"

This video tutorial belongs to the Language category which is going to show you how to read the poem "Hope is the thing with feathers". This video is a reading of the poem is by Emily Dickinson. Here is the poem. Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all and sweetest in the gale is heard. And sore must be the storm, that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm. I've heard it in the chilliest land, and on th...

How To: Make the AA sound in American English

Learn how to pronounce the AA sound in American English with this ESL lesson.

How To: Pronounce the word "xenophobic" in English

Today's word is "xenophobic". This is an adjective which means being fearful of, or showing distrust or hatred towards foreigners and strangers.

How To: Describe solutions in English

In this video, we practice describing solutions in English. For example, if the problem is that you have stomach problems, the solution is that you should go to the doctor. Should simply means a good idea or a recommendation. You could also say the solution is that you need to go to a doctor. For the next example, if your problem is that your car won't start, this means your car will not start. You could also say that your car does not start, which is a good way to describe the problem. For t...