Improve Your English – 272 [Archives:2005/844/Education]

I. How to Say it Correctly

Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences

1. She asked me that I wanted to go to the music festival.

2. Bassim asked me that he was hungry.

3. Adel asked me where do you live.

4. Ahmed asked me open the window.

5. My friend told me that she understands my problem.

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. Ann has a good/large vocabulary. Ann knows a lot of words.

2. There are many kinds of trees in the world.

3. I am studying English.

4. I'm living in the United States.

5. I need some advice.

II. Increase Your Word Power

(A) How to express it in one word

1. To make the mind or morals better, higher, or more educated.

2. The best or most important people in a social group.

3. To explain or make clear a mystery or difficulty.

4. Set free from legal, political or moral restraint.

5. Order that forbids the movement of ships or trade.

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. Showing the belief that all men are equal: egalitarian (adj)

2. The self in relation to the outside world: ego (n)

3. All the people in the country who have the right to vote: electorate (n)

4. To excite and surprise greatly: electrify (vt)

5. A type of poem to show sorrow for the dead: elegy (n)

(B) Words commonly confused

Bring out the difference in meaning of the following pairs of words

1. elemental, elementary

2. elfin, elfish

3. elide, elude

4. ellipse, eclipse, ellipsis

5. replace, substitute

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. ecliptic (n) (the path along which the sun seems to move): The path of the ecliptic is shown on the map.

elliptic (adj) (shaped like a regular oval): The earth's path round the sun is elliptic.

eclectic (adj) (method or approach formed by borrowing freely from various sources): The teacher should adopt an eclectic approach in the classroom.

2. inquest (n) (official inquiry to learn facts concerning an unnatural death): The police have sent the body for an inquest.

inquiry (n) (investigation to find out the reason for something): The authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident.

3. every (determiner, used before singular countable noun and singular verb): It is used when thinking of a whole group, like all with a plural verb. Ex. Every child loves sweets = all children love sweets.

each (determiner, used before a singular noun. It is used to refer to things , one at a time): Each of the boys got a prize.

4. end (n) (the point where something stops, or beyond which it doesn't exist): A failure in the exam need not be the end of the road.

finish (vt) (to reach or bring an activity to an end): When will the lecture finish?

5. brigand (n) (member of a band of robbers): The notorious brigand was killed in an encounter with the police.

brigade (n) (a group of people who have certain duties): The fire brigade labored hard to put out the flames.

( C) Phrases and idioms

Use the following phrases in sentences

1. pour oil on troubled waters

2. get one's fingers burnt

3. call the shots

4. like the wind

5. take one's mind off (something)

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. nothing to it (very easy): 'Come on, take the test – there is nothing to it!'

2. just around the corner (very near in time, soon): Every one is buying presents – Id's just around the corner.

3. turn over a new leaf (to begin to behave well after a period of bad behavior): He used to behave very roughly with his wife, but recently he has turned over a new leaf.

4. put all one's eggs in one basket (to depend totally on the success of one particular plan): A wise man never puts all his eggs in one basket.

5. be up to no good (to be doing something wrong or illegal): Unless there is strict surveillance in the hostel, the inmates will be up to no good.

III. Grammar

Rewrite the following sentences using just about to (do), was just (doing), or has just done

1. Ashwag was in the bath when there was a knock at the door.

Ashwag ))

2. Ann had been on the point of ringing the bell. She noticed that the door was slightly open.

Ann ))

3. Ann closed the door. Then she dropped her handbag.

Ann ))

4. Arwa finished her bath. She heard a noise.

Arwa ))

5. Ann picked up her handbag and at the same time she knocked over a chair.

Ann ))

6. Bassam decided to phone the police. He heard another noise.

Bassam ))

7. Mohammed shouted for Jamal. He noticed Jamal standing by the phone.

Mohammed ))

8. Bushra dialed 999, and at the same time she heard a familiar voice shouting her name.

Bushra ))

9. She put down the phone. Then she saw her friend Fatima standing in the doorway.

Bushra ))

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. When we got to the post office, it was closed.

2. My ring is made of gold.

3. Your name is Ramzy Al-Hamzy. Are you related to Ali Al Hamzy?

4. This fruit is spoiled. I think I'd better throw it out.

5. Tom is drunk. He is making a fool of himself.

6. Ahmed loves his job. He is interested in his work.

7. What's the matter, little boy? Are you lost?

IV. Pearls from the Holy Quran

“He is Irresistibly supreme

over His servants. And He is the Wise, Acquainted with all things.”

S6: A18

V. Food for Thought

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.” )Elizabeth B Browning
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