Commonly Misused Adjectives in the English Language (With Photos)

 

Here are commonly misused adjectives in the English language. Learn to use them well to improve your proficiency when it comes to the English language. Best of luck!

IELTS English Proficiency Training - A Lesson on Indefinite Articles "An" and "A"

Just like the article "the", "a" and "an" are limiting adjectives. These two are usually placed right before the noun they modify. It is important to know that only countable nouns are used with these articles.

Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. They can have a plural form too. For example, we have table, horse, computer, and many more as countable nouns. Here are the rules in usage of the articles "a" and "an":

Corporate English Training: Ten Reasons Why do Businesses Need This?

What do we know about Corporate English or Business English?

In a very competitive business market, there is a huge need for business professionals to be knowledgeable and experts in their fields. Moreover, what makes these professionals more cut-throat in the industry is the expertise in using the English language. Corporate English, also called as Business English, is an advantage to in a very competitive global market. Through this program, companies and industries will realize the importance of efficient language skills for their staff. Is knowledge on Corporate English really necessary?

The company’s success depends on the people working for it. One’s productivity has a big impact on the status of the company; hence, it is best for any employers to hire people good at English. Here are ten things why businesses need to study Corporate English:

1. Increased Productivity

People who can understand each other work well together. International companies have different staff from different countries worldwide. If these people speak English, they will be able to work together efficiently on team projects. In addition, there will be easier communication from the supervisors down to their staff members.

2. Media Relations

Businesses need advertising to promote their products. Communicating with Public Relations and Adverting companies will flow smoothly if both parties come to good agreement. Imagine a client demanding a specific kind of publicity for a product and this has not been met. As a result, there will be miscommunication on both parties. To improve media relations, having someone fluent in the English language is necessary.

3. Better Customer Satisfaction

As what they always say, “Customers are always right.” Hence, how will you be able to make them satisfied if you cannot understand them when providing services? This is the very reason why companies get people who can speak English well as front liners for customer service. To maintain good relationship with customers, a good communication relationship should be practiced.

4. Business Partner Relations

Finding the right partners and investors is important in any business. Thus, most companies seek foreign investors to help with their company. English is known to be spoken in many countries know; therefore, it is important to close deals with the help of the English language.

5. Employee Relations

The loyalty of employees to a company relies on how the company takes care of their hires. Maintaining this relationship through constant communication gives an impression that the company is concerned with their workers. Moreover, miscommunication in companies will be prevented if they speak a language spoken by many which is English.


6. Employee Collaboration

Though they might be seen as a single unit, employees work together for the company’s success. To have a good relationship and avoid any problems within employees, it is best to have people to be speaking English.

7. Global Market Advancement

A company who can market their products better because of the knowledge in English gains more profit. Indeed, clients will be more encouraged and persuaded to patronize a company’s products and services when they can understand the service they are giving.

8. Crisis Management

Whether it is employee to employee or customer to employee, resolving issues in English is easier. It will improve relations between these people and will help build a good reputation for the company as well.

9. Confidence in handling global matters

People are more confident in dealing with different kinds of situations – from giving presentations to taking bigger job responsibilities – when they are proficient in the English language.

10. World Recognition

As many customers and clients become familiar with a company, the more loyalty and investment they get. Ever wonder why some companies become very popular all over the world? It is because they deal with their clients and have global marketing in the English language.

Simply put it this way, the knowledge of hires in a company in the English language results to a high productivity in the company. Hence, it is an advantage for these industries to have people working for them who are good English speakers.

English Proficiency: Free Online Grammar Quiz Sites

Are you currently enrolled in a review center for the International English Language Testing System exam (IELTS) or the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL)?
Being part of review centers for both feels like being a student again. You have one-on-one classes and group classes where discussion on certain topics is encouraged among students. In these English proficiency programs, candidates or students are taught skills, techniques and strategies that are necessary during the actual examination. Aside from these, they will also be given grammar classes. Why grammar?
Grammar is perhaps the most important element in learning the English language. Sentences will not be created without putting the right words together taking into consideration the function of each word if it is a noun, verb, or adjective. Because of grammar, good responses in the speaking section and strong essays for the writing section are possible. Indeed, grammar is something that candidates should work on hard and must not be taken for granted. However, due to the amount of time spent between reviewing and working, it is recommended for candidates to take some online grammar quizzes to hone their skills. Here are some websites online candidates should visit.
1.       Englishpage.com
Englishpage.com is the best in providing explanations most especially on verb tenses. Everybody commits a mistake in writing a sentence with correct verb tense. We have 12 verb tenses in the English language and each have specific function in conveying the meaning of the sentence. In Englishpage.com, the concepts are thoroughly explained with exercises following the lesson.
Here’s a sample from the said website:
November 12, 1997

Today (be)  the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am exhausted and my legs (shake)  ; I just hope I am able to complete the trek. My feet (kill, really)  me and my toes (bleed) , but I (want, still)  to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be)  so different, and I (try)  to adapt to the new way of life here. I (learn)  a little bit of the language to make communication easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not)  foreign languages quickly. Although I (understand, not)  much yet, I believe that I (improve, gradually) .

After filling the blanks, there is a check button below that once you click it, it will show the percentage of the right answers you have and will leave the wrong ones for you to correct.

2.       English-4u.de
This is a good website too that will practice a candidate on the different parts of speech, verb tenses, voices of verbs and even prepositions. The site is for free so candidates can use the website as many times as they want. It also has a discussion on the topics presented and followed by exercises. Here’s a sample:

Put the sentences into passive voice.

1. They built these houses in 1902.
.
2. She bakes a cake every Sunday.
.
3. He broke the vase yesterday.
.
4. I clean the shoes every Friday.
.
5. We wrote the exercise an hour ago.
.

3.       www.englisch-hilfen.de
This is another website that offers free grammar exercises. The topics are so varied that they cover almost everything in the English grammar. A good site to practice and it is all free of charge. Here’s a sample:

 Fill in all the gaps with the correct forms of the adjectives.
 
Toggle example

1)  - longer -
2)  -  - worst
3) modern -  -
4)  -  - nicest
5)  -  - nearest
In English proficiency programs, grammar is highly important and is taught with tremendous and thorough explanation. To be good at grammar, all you need is practice and more exposure on the different exercises found online.

Daily Activities that Can Help Improve One's English Speaking Skills

Do you agree with the statement that Filipinos are good English speakers?

Being one o f the countries that use English as its second language, Filipinos are somehow expected to be good at speaking the English language. For starters, the English language has been used in kindergarten curriculum. With this, young children already get accustomed to using the language. Most subjects in school are taught in English and so are books that are written in English. With this exposure, Filipinos can fairly use the English language.

http://goo.gl/pech1H


However, in taking any English competency examination, doing exercises in improving English speaking skills is essential. One must know certain strategies on how to effectively deliver and create strong responses. To be able to do this, here are some activities one can enjoy in learning and improving one's English speaking skills.

1. Watch English movies.

English movies are very helpful in improving one’s vocabulary. There are certain words that are particularly used in conversations. Not only will vocabulary be practiced but also sentence construction and even some slang. Also, individuals will be taught how to deliver conversations in different situations. Sometimes, it is difficult to understand spoken English, so do not hesitate to turn the subtitles on.

2. Watch American television series.

Following an American series is also best to improve one’s skill. Like movies, American TV series have good vocabulary and conversation expressions that can be used by its viewers. In addition, with the wide variety of American series available, individuals can choose from courtroom drams to medical science or to any genre which will keep them interested in watching.

3. Reading English books.

Boring and tedious, reading can improve one’s speaking skills with the acquired vocabulary. Do not overuse your vocabulary. Use new words that will best fit in your sentences and convey the meaning very well. Books that are best for reading are novels, magazines and newspapers.

4. Listen to English songs.

Some English songs do not use correct grammar; however, you will learn how to pronounce words properly by listening. Some foreigners, like Koreans and Japanese, listen to English songs and sing them to practice their tongues.

5. Practice with coaches.

There are a lot of English proficiency training centers nationwide with very experienced speaking coaches. Speaking coaches provide comments and suggestions on how to make responses better and smarter.

Speaking English well can be attained through constant practice which one can do very easily. Furthermore, practicing it daily will give results fast and accurately.