ESL Lesson: Casual Letter Writing

This blog entry is all about casual letter writing. Casual or informal letters are letters sent to friends, family members or acquaintances for friendly or fun purposes. A casual letter might be a thank you note, an invitation to an event, a question, a request, or a friendly reminder or update. The form of a casual letter is similar to a business letter but the tone is different.



Consider the casual letter below:

Jack O’Brien

82 2^nd Street, Apt. 7

Whosville, IA 10001

Hey Sarah,

What's up? I was so happy to hear you moved back into town and wanted to extend an invitation to you. We're throwing a dinner party next week at Tim's house and we would love for you to come. Stop by around 7 p.m., and feel free to bring other guests (the more, the merrier!).

Cheers,

Jack

Notice the use of informal English with slang words or contractions. That is OK in casual letters to friends, whether by hand and in the mail or through typing and sent by email.

Have you written a letter before? Do you have any questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news!

If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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Free ESL Lesson: Writing Letters

This blog entry is about writing letters in English. Writing letters is a very common mode of communication across the world and a very important step in becoming literate and an engaging communicator in the English language. 

Whether by paper (or snail mail, as it is often called) or email (internet mail), letters are used both formally and informally to pass on information or make requests. Students use letters to communicate instructors and administrators. Workers use letters to request information from colleagues and bosses or to inquire about their job or new opportunities. People use letters to inform, ask for help or catch up with family, friends and acquaintances, usually in an informal fashion. Here are the basics of writing letters:

Salutation

A salutation is a greeting. In letters, the word “Dear” is the most commonly used and appropriate salutation. For instance, a salutation for a letter might be “Dear Mr. Chen” or “Dear Debra.” For letters to friends or family members, just the first name is used while business letters feature titles such as Mr. (Mister), Dr. (Doctor), Prof. (Professor), etc. The salutation takes up an entire line.

Body

The body is the message of the letter. While the other parts feature greetings, formalities and contact information, the body features sentences or paragraphs about informing, asking or requesting information or action from the recipient. Sometimes people refer to the body as the letter itself. In cases of informal letters to someone you know well (like an email to a friend), the body might be the entire composition of the letter itself.

Valediction

The valediction is a sign-off or goodbye to end the letter. It follows the body, and is then followed by the written name and/or signature of the sender. The most common valedictions are sincerely or regards. So, a valediction might look like

Sincerely,

John Smith

OR

Regards,

Jane Doe

OR

Kind regards,

Jason

Other valedictions are more informal, intimate or friendly such as your friend, your sister/brother, xoxo(very casual shorthand for hugs and kisses), love, and take care.

So, combining these different elements, let us look at a sample of a simple letter written in English.

Dear Professor Watson,

I would like to thank you for writing the letter of recommendation in my favor for graduate school. Your positive recommendation helped me get accepted, and I am very grateful for this. I know you did this despite having a busy schedule. Your dedication to your students past and present is a testament to your character and professionalism. I hope we can keep in touch. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

John Smith

A friendly letter, perhaps through email, might look like this…

Dear Bob,

I was writing to see what your upcoming weekend plans were. Tammy and I were planning a camping trip for this Friday, and we were curious if you wanted to join us. Let us know and we will pass along all the details.

Love,

Jane


Have you written a letter before? Do you have any questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news!

If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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ESL Lesson: Formal English and Informal English

English as a Second Language

Formal English and Informal English
This blog entry is all about formal English and informal English. Two major styles of English, both writing and conversational(or talking), are formal English and informal English.

Formal English is usually used in business, academic and scientific settings, business letters, professional emails or essays. Formal English is viewed by many as more articulate*(well said), professional and sharp.
Here are some characteristics of formal English:

• Writes in the third person. 
• Almost never uses the pronoun I, except in business letters. 
• Does not uses slang or colloquial words or expressions. 
• Does not use contractions. 
• Does not use abbreviations. Writes out full words. 
• Longer and more complex sentences to express ideas. 
• Oriented towards logic. 

Informal English is usually used in casual, social or non-professional settings, casual emails or letters, and creative expressions such as songs, poems or jokes. Informal English is viewed by many as friendlier, more natural and smooth.
Here are some characteristics of informal English:

• Often addresses readers with pronouns, sometimes in a friendly way. 
• Uses first, second, or third person. 
• Uses abbreviations. 
• Uses contractions. 
• Often uses short sentences or even sentence fragments. 
• Uses slang.

These are a few of the main differences between formal and informal writing. Remember both modes are useful and effective, but in different contexts and settings. Use each one when appropriate. Do you have any other questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news!

If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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ESL Lesson: Asterisk

This blog entry is all about the asterisk (pronounced as aste-risk). What is the asterisk? The asterisk is a unique symbol used in writing. It is sometimes called star or the star sign since it looks like a star. The asterisk is shaped like this:

                                     *

So, when and why do we use the asterisk?

1. An asterisk is used to indicate a footnote*. This tells readers that the writer has additional or more information for readers regarding what the asterisk (*) is next to... 
2. Asterisks are used to represent *emphasis* or special attention when bold text is not available. This is especially true online, with texting and other electronic writing. 
3. Asterisks are used in situations where the writer wants to censor or leave out information, either because of foul language or making a name anonymous (either unknown or generic). An example of this: "Our customer, James S********, complained that his computer was malfunctioning."

An asterisk can be made while typing by either pressing the eight button or holding the "FN" or "CTRL" buttons, and then pressing eight (8). I hope this helps you understand the asterisk better. Have you seen or used the asterisk in writing before? 

Do you have any other questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news!

If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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*This is an example of a footnote. Footnotes are special messages with extra information on a topic at the bottom or foot of a page.

ESL Lesson: More Contractions

Here are some more examples of contractions:

I'm

I'm is a contraction of the words I am. The “a” is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.

I am going to jog in the park this afternoon.

I'm going to jog in the park this afternoon.

You're

You're is a contraction of the words you are. The “a” is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.

You are going to receive a phone call from Ms. Smith tonight.

You're going to receive a phone call from Ms. Smith tonight.

They're

They're is a contraction of the words they are. The “a” is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences. 

They are studying to improve their English language skills. 

They're studying to improve their English language skills. 

He's/She's/It's

He's/She's/It's are contractions of pronouns and the word is. The "i" is replaced by an apostrophe ('), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following sentences.

He is going on vacation next week.

He's going on vacation next week.

She is graduating from medical school next Monday.

She's graduating from medical school next Monday.

It is a cold and bitter day outside.

It's a cold and bitter day outside.

I hope these explanations help you understand the concept of contractions better. Remember that contractions are informal and that these are general contractions. We’ll post even more on other contractions in the future. Do you have any other questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news! If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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ESL Lesson: Contractions

Contractions

This blog entry is all about contractions! 
What are contractions? 
Contractions are a part of informal English frequently used in conversation and in casual or creative writing such as an email to a friend, an anecdote (or a true story someone tells) or a fictional story. 

Don't is a contraction of the words do not.

Contractions are the shorthand way of writing or saying two words as just one word. Very often contractions use the apostrophe (‘) and the removal of letters to make a new word. Contractions should not be used in formal writing such as business letters. In business letters, you should write out words instead of using shorthand like contractions. Here are some examples of contractions.

Can't

Can’t is a contraction of the words can not or the word cannot. The second “o” is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
I can not meet you this Friday as I am very busy.
I can’t meet you this Friday as I am very busy.


Don’t

Don’t is a contraction of the words do not. The second “o” is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
I do not have any appointments next Monday.
I don’t have any appointments next Monday.


Doesn't

Doesn’t is a contraction of the words does not. The “o” in not is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
She does not like to drink coffee.
She doesn't like to drink coffee.


Didn't 

Didn’t is a contraction of the words did not. The “o” in not is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
I did not talk to Mr. Jones last week.
I didn't talk to Mr. Jones last week.


Couldn't 

Couldn’t is a contraction of the words could not. The “o” in not is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
I could not reach Mr. Jones last week through phone calls or email.
I couldn’t reach Mr. Jones last week through phone calls or email.


Wouldn't 

Wouldn’t is a contraction of the words would not. The “o” in not is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
I would not spend too much money on office supplies. I wish to stay within my budget.
I wouldn't spend too much money on office supplies. I wish to stay within my budget.


Haven’t

Haven’t is a contraction of the words have not. The second “o” is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
I have not reviewed your paperwork yet.
I haven’t reviewed your paperwork yet.


Won’t

Won’t is a contraction of the words will not. The second “o” is replaced by an apostrophe (‘), and the space in between the two words is eliminated. Consider the following two sentences.
I will not be able to attend the meeting this Thursday.
I won’t be able to attend the meeting this Thursday.


I hope these explanations help you understand the concept of contractions better. Remember that contractions are informal and that these are general contractions. We’ll post more on other contractions in the future. Do you have any other questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news! If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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ESL with Pictures: Signs

                                   SIGNS
What are signs? Signs are symbols used in everyday life that send messages to inform people. They can come in different sizes, shapes, colors and purposes. Some signs warn people, direct drivers of vehicles and pedestrians*(people who walk) alike, inform people or advertise for businesses, buildings and organizations. 


Here are some examples:

This is a stop sign. Stop signs are a type of traffic signs, which are meant to inform drivers of automobiles or cars. When driving, you should stop briefly when approaching a stop sign.

This sign is a warning sign. The word danger means something might cause harm or hurt you if you are not careful. This sign is specifically warning against the danger of unmarked holes, which people might fall into if they are not careful!

This sign is informing people that they cannot swim in these waters. This could be due to a lack of lifeguards or unsafe conditions in the water. It is really important to follow such signs as the area may be dangerous even if the sign does not use the word danger.

This is an exit sign. Exit signs are very common in buildings as they allow people to know where the closest exit is. An exit is a door or pathway that leads someone from inside a room or building to outside the room or outside the building.

This sign says "No dogs allowed." Signs like this are often seen in certain parks or buildings. Some parks allow people to bring their pet dogs, but others do not. Whenever a red line cuts through something in a sign, that means that thing is prohibited(not allowed).  

 

This sign is informing(*telling) people that they must have their bags with them at all times. These signs are very common at airports and bus stations. Sometimes the signs will say "Do not leave bags unattended." Unattended means you are not with your bags, such as if you were to walk away from them.

This sign is for informing people when a train is departing. Departing means going, leaving or going away. This sign tells you the train's destination, departing time, and where it is stopping. Destination means the final stop of a trip or where the trip ends.

Have you seen signs today in your community? What do they mean? Are they helpful to you? Let us know your opinions! 

Do you have any other questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news! If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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ESL Lesson: Possessive Adjectives

This blog entry is all about possessive adjectives. What are possessive adjectives? They are a type of adjective that describe nouns by showing that they possess something. Here are the seven different possessive adjectives:

My

My is a possessive adjective that describes that something belongs to the speaker/writer or the pronoun “I.”

Examples:

I looked at her and said, “My book is on the table next to yours.”

My uncle is visiting me next week.

She said, “I cannot drive today, because my car is being repaired.”

Your

Your is a possessive adjective that describes that something belongs to the pronoun “you.” Remember that “you” can be either singular or plural.

Examples:

Your pet parrot is so pretty and talkative.

I told the students, “The cleanliness of the classroom is your responsibility.”

We are throwing you a party with cake for your birthday tomorrow!

We are throwing you a party with cake for your birthday tomorrow!

His

His is a possessive adjective that describes that something belongs to a male noun.

Examples:

His shirt was dirty after he fell down in the mud at the park today.

I visited his house to welcome him to the neighborhood.

He shared some apples he picked from his apple tree.

Her

Her is a possessive adjective that describes that something belongs to a female noun.

Examples:

She looked very similar to her mother.

Laura purchased new boots for her upcoming hiking trip.

Ling printed off copies of her business proposal to share with her co-workers.

Its

Its is a possessive adjective that describes that something belongs to things, animals, places, ideas, events or the pronoun it.

Examples:

The rabbit scratches its ears with its hind legs.

The house is white but its porch is dark brown.

The ethical life is its own reward.

Our

Our is a possessive adjective that describes that something belongs to the pronoun we or a group that includes the speaker/writer.

Examples:

My sister told me, “Our parents’ wedding anniversary is next week.”

The coach told his team, “Our fate is in our hands!”

Our responsibilities are shared at times.

Their

Their is a possessive adjective that describes that something belongs to a group, multiple persons, animals or things, or the pronoun they.

Examples:

The wolf cubs played in their den.

The children shared and played with their toys.

The businessmen shined their shoes before going into the meeting.

Do you have any questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news! If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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ESL Lesson: Symbols w/ Pictures

Symbols can be figures in writing and typing, but they can also be everyday objects. Remember, symbols are things that stand for, represent* or signify* something else. Sometimes symbols represent situations, ideas, places such as countries or people among other things. Here are some examples of symbols in everyday life. Perhaps you have seen some of these symbols.

Apple

The apple is a fruit that is often a symbol for a teacher, school or a classroom, because students often give apples to their teachers as a gesture* of gratitude* in some places.

Flag

A flag is a piece of cloth that is a symbol. A flag can represent a nation, country, state, province, territory, city, team or organization. Here is a flag flown on a pole. This flag represents Sweden.

Animals

The swan is a bird considered to be very graceful and lovely. It is often used as a symbol of gracefulness. 

The owl is a nocturnal* bird that is often called wise due to an old legend about the owl warning other birds of the danger of birdlime.* The owl is a symbol of wisdom.

The butterfly is an insect known for transforming from a caterpillar to a beautiful flying creature. It is a symbol of beauty and transformation or change.

Ring

This is a ring. Rings are a symbol for unions, membership and weddings.

Clock

This is a clock. Clocks are a symbol for time.

Rose

This is a rose. Roses are flowers and a symbol for love and passion.

Fireworks

These lights and explosions in the sky are called fireworks. Fireworks are a symbol of celebration, New Year's and Chinese New Year's. 

Pumpkin

This is a pumpkin. A pumpkin is a large, tough orange fruit. The pumpkin is a symbol for autumn (or Fall)in much of the world as well as Halloween.

This is just a sample of the many symbols seen in every day life. What are some symbol you see in your life?

Do you have any questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news! If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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*Vocabulary Terms:
Represent (rep-ree-sent): To stand in the place of; to act the part of another thing.
Signify (sig-na-fi): To be a sign or symbol of something. It can also mean to make important.
Gesture (jest-ur): A sign or signal of feelings through action or the movement of hands.
Gratitude (grat-it-tude): The feeling of appreciating (liking or be glad about something)
Nocturnal (nok-turn-ul): An animal that is awake during the night instead of the day.
Birdlime (bird-lym): A natural substance that traps and threatens birds in the wild.

ESL Lesson: Possessive Pronouns

This blog entry is all about possessive pronouns. Remember, we discussed possessive nouns here. A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a person, place, thing, animal, idea or event. Pronouns include I, me, he, she, they, we, you, us, and it. Possessive pronouns take the place of owned, belonged or related things. Like all pronouns, possessive pronouns help keep speech and writing more direct by not repeating the noun over and over again.

The following are the eight possessive pronouns in English
1) Mine: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to the speaker.
Examples:
I bought those shoes yesterday. They are mine.
The blue umbrella on the floor is mine.

2) Yours: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to the person the speaker is addressing.
Examples:
I picked these flowers for you; they're yours.
The new computer is available to you; it's all yours.
The keys with the colorful key-chain are yours.

3) His: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to a male noun.
Examples:
The dog chewed on his bone.
His shoes were muddy after it rained this afternoon.
His brother, Ted, came to visit him this week.

4) Hers: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to a female noun.
Examples:
The bright and colorful skirt that was folded on the table was hers.
That pile of books on the table are hers.

5) Its: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to a thing or animal.
Examples:
The cat licked its paws and legs while sitting on the sofa.
The tree lost its leaves when the cold wind blew them away.

6) Ours: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to us or we.
Examples:
The day is ours to enjoy.
The house across the street is much bigger than ours.
The white domestic cat that ran away is not ours; our cat is black.


7) Theirs: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to "they" or a group that does not include the speaker/writer.
Examples:
Is this book mine? No, the book is theirs.
Our sailing boat is much smaller than theirs.
The food on their table is theirs.

8) Whose: This possessive pronoun refers to what belongs to whom.
Examples:
This is the man whose father started the local newspaper.
The woman, whose sunglasses were very dark, said that she was sensitive to light.


Do you understand possessive pronouns better? Share your questions, comments or suggestions in the comment section. Stay tuned for more ESL advice on this blog. If you are interested in personal, one-on-one tutoring in ESL or other subjects, contact Kingston University USA. Find out how you can live locally and learn globally!

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ESL Lesson: Introduction to Symbols

This blog entry is all about symbols. What are symbols? Symbols are things that represent, stand for or show other things. They can be found in writing, keyboards, everyday objects or as part of signs. Signs are messages using words and/or symbols to tell an important message to people. They are found on objects, along roads, and in buildings.

Let’s learn about some symbols in writing that can be found on the keyboard by pressing control or alt followed by one of the numbers one through seven.

@

This is the at symbol. It stands for and means the word “at.” It is frequently used for email addresses. Email addresses are written as kingstonuniversityusa@gmail.com , username@website.org , or username@website.net.

#

This is the number symbol. It stands for the word “number” or for numbering. For instance, “Teamwork is our number one value,” can be written as “Teamwork is our #1 value.”

$

This is the dollar symbol. It stands for either the dollar or the idea of money. For instance, “This hat costs ten dollars,” can be written as “This hat costs $10.”

%

This is the percentage symbol. This symbol stands for percentage, which is a number expressed as a fraction of the number 100. This symbol is often used in business, finance, retail, and culinary endeavors.

^

This is a caret. The caret is used in mathematics and finance to represent exponential functions.

&

This is an ampersand. It is sometimes called the “and symbol.” It is used to write the word “and” in a short way.


The following symbols are a bit more difficult to produce in a word document when typing. For Mac software or Apple products, you can use the Mac OS character palette, which is available in many programs by selecting Special Characters from the Edit Menu, or from the Input Menu (flag) icon on the menu bar. In Microsoft Office and many similar programs, there is often also an Insert menu with an Insert Symbol or Symbol command that brings up a graphical palette of symbols to insert, including the degree symbol.

∞

This is the infinity symbol. It is used for the idea of infinity, which is often treated as or acts as a number in mathematical equations.

Π

This is the pi symbol. Pi is a constant ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. It is most often used in mathematics, science and engineering.

¢

This is the cent sign. It is used to represent cents in countries' whose currencies or money can be divided by 100. An example of this sign in action is "This drink costs 79 cents," expressed as "This drink costs 79¢."

€

This is the Euro symbol. It is used in much of Europe and around the world as a symbol for money expressed in the Euro currency system.

£

This is the pound symbol. The pound is a currency in the United Kingdom.

¥

This is the Yen symbol. The Yen is the currency of Japan.

°

This is the degree symbol. It is used in science and everyday life to stand for degrees in regard to temperature. An example of the degree symbol in use is, "It is cold today with the temperature of 4° C."

Do you have any questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. Stay tuned for more free advice on this and other subjects as well as promotions and news! If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!!

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ESL Lesson: Possessive Nouns

Hello! This blog post is about helping ESL learners better understand possessive nouns. What are possessive nouns? Remember that nouns are any people, places, things, animals, ideas or events. When any noun has or is related to something else, then the possessive is used. Possessive nouns require a punctuation mark called the apostrophe. The apostrophe looks like this
'
Now, here are ways the apostrophe is used to make a noun into a possessive noun.

We use the possessive 's with a person to talk about relatives and possessions.

Examples:
She is Omar's sister.
I am Jane's oldest uncle.
Bobby's pet dog is named Rover.
Fritz's car broke down on the highway.

We also use the possessive 's with irregular plural nouns: men, women, children, people, etc.
Examples:

Here are my children's rooms.
Those women's jewelry look really shiny and pretty.
The people's attitude on the issue changed over time.


We use the possessive s' with regular plural nouns.

Examples:
Dr. Janet Smith is my parents' colleague at the university.

The dogs' excitement increased once they reached the park.
The cats' collars are too tight around their necks.

When a noun ends with the letter s, we simply add an apostrophe ' to the end of the noun.

Examples:

James' car is a red convertible. 

This book is Russ'.

Francois' hat is brown, wool and very sharp-looking. 

Do you understand possessive nouns better? Share your questions, comments or suggestions in the comment section. Stay tuned for more ESL advice including possessive pronouns on this blog. If you are interested in personal, one-on-one tutoring in ESL or other subjects, contact Kingston University USA. Find out how you can live locally and learn globally!

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ESL Practice: Singular and Plural Nouns

Hello ESL learners! 
Now that we have been introduced to the concepts of singular and plural nouns, let us practice these concepts. Try to fill in some of the following sentences with the right plural or singular form of the noun provided before the sentence. The answers will be at the end of the blog post.

1. Noun: Glove

Laura is wearing two black ______ right now.

2. Noun: Hat

That is a sharp looking _____ you are wearing.

3. Noun: Fish

There are over forty ____ in the aquarium.

4. Noun: Box

Pack your clothes away in the four ______ over there.

5. Noun: Child

The classroom was filled with over thirty _____.

6. Noun: Month

I have one ______ to complete my business project for school.

7. Noun: Woman

The two ______ walked to the office building to attend a business seminar.

8. Noun: Loaf

I bought three ______ of bread today at the grocery store.

9. Noun: Car

The ____ were slow moving today on the highway.

10. Noun: Dog

The lone ____ chased a bird in the park today. 

Can you make the following singular nouns plural?

1. Bus

2. Teacher

3. Book

4. Kiss

5. Hand

6. Foot

7. Sheep

Can you name the singular form of the following nouns?

1. Mice

2. Cities

3. Men

4. Toys

5. Trees

Answers:

Fill- in-the-blank

1. gloves

2. hat

3. fish

4. boxes

5. children

6. month

7. women

8. loaves

9. cars

10. dog

Can you make the following singular nouns plural?

1. Buses

2. Teachers

3. Books

4. Kisses

5. Hands

6. Feet

7. Sheep

Can you name the singular form of the following nouns?

1. Mouse

2. City

3. Man

4. Toy

5. Tree

Do you have any questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!

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Happy Groundhog Day!

Today is February 2nd, 2012. In the United States of America and Canada, the second day of February is called Groundhog Day. It marks six weeks until the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.* 


According to legend, if a groundhog sees his shadow on the morning of February 2nd, then the winter weather will continue for six more weeks; if not, spring may arrive early. Groundhog Day festivals are celebrated in Pennsylvania in the USA and Ontario in Canada featuring Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie as the most famous groundhogs. Scientist Neil degrasse Tyson quipped* that today is "evidence that Weather Forecasters still haven't convinced people that they know what they're talking about." 


Does your region or culture feature similar legends?? What do you think of Groundhog Day? Share your thoughts with us!

Vocabulary terms:
hemisphere: a term used for one of the planet's halves. There are northern, southern, eastern and western hemispheres.
groundhog: a large rodent related to ground squirrels such as the beaver.
quip: to make a witty, clever or joking remark

ESL: Singular and Plural

This blog post is about helping you better understand singular and plural nouns in the English language. 


What is a singular noun? A singular noun is a noun that refers to one person, one animal, one thing, one place, one event or one idea.
Here are some examples where the singular nouns are underlined:
The woman goes to the cafe to have a drink.
A runner races through the park.
The puppy wags his tail.
The bird sings a song.
Sarah picked up her backpack and her books.
The apples are in the fruit bowl.
What day is today?
Happiness is an exciting feeling to have.


A plural noun is a noun that refers to a number besides one. 
This could be anything more than one, zero or negative numbers.


Most plural nouns are made by adding -s or -es to the singular noun.
Singular - Plural:
room - rooms
hat - hats
house - houses
river - rivers
day - days

minute - minutes

student - students 

gas - gases

box - boxes

A noun ending in -y preceded by a consonant makes the plural with -ies.
Singular - Plural
fly - flies
puppy - puppies

city - cities

baby - babies

lady - ladies

There are some irregular formations for noun plurals. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
Singular - Plural:
person - people
woman - women
man - men
child - children
tooth - teeth
foot - feet
mouse - mice
leaf - leaves
fungus - fungi
nucleus - nuclei 

goose - geese
half - halves
knife - knives
wife - wives
life - lives
loaf - loaves
cactus - cacti
focus - foci
syllabus - syllabi/syllabuses
analysis - analyses
thesis -  theses
crisis - crises

Some nouns have the same form in the singular and the plural.
Singular - Plural:

sheep - sheep

fish - fish

deer - deer

shorts -shorts

moose - moose

you - you

species - species

aircraft - aircraft

Some singular nouns group more than one person, place, or thing together. Even though the group contains more than one, the noun is still considered as singular because there is one group. These types of nouns are called collective nouns.
Examples:
Corps
Team
Neighborhood
Litter
Pride
Group

Remember, singular means one. It could be one person, one place, one idea, or one thing, as well as a single group of multiple people, things, ideas or places.

Nothing can improve ESL and general language skills more than practice with specialized instructors. Contact Kingston University USA to find out more about enrolling in an English language course or receiving ESL tutoring. You will discover that you can live locally and learn globally no matter what your current English abilities are!

Kingston University USA
Live Locally. Learn Globally.
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Today is Digital Learning Day!

With all the advancements in computers and the internet as well as their interconnectedness with all of the parts of society, it is no wonder we live in an era known as the Digital Age. Education is no exception in the digitalizing of society. Both traditional and distance learning programs are using new tools online to help students learn more effectively and conveniently. We here at Kingston University USA know firsthand that motivating, personalized instruction to a global classroom can greatly improve a student's understanding of a subject and the world.

Today is Digital Learning Day, which commemorates the merging of education and learning in general with the transforming force of the internet and global communication. Educators, learners and their family and friends from around the world are participating online and in-person to engage in Digital Learning Day. Esther Wojicki of the Huffington Post has published an article on today's events. Learn more by reading it below:

Digital Learning Day Is Happening Today

Want to know how we can improve our schools using technology? Want to know how your son/daughter's education can be more effective? Today is the day to watch Digital Learning Day. It is happening all day.
You can see teachers and students talking about what works in the classroom using technology. It is being broadcast on the website Digital Learning Day.Today at 1 p.m. EST, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be speaking at a Town Hall Meeting. Anyone can pose a question through the website.

What do you think of digital learning? Have you heard of Digital Learning Day?  Share your comments or questions about this subject below!

Kingston University USA
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ESL: Educational Vocabulary

ESL: Educational Vocabulary

This blog entry is about learning new words in English that are important in educational and academic environments. The words will be listed with a pronunciation (how to say it), part of speech (e.g., verb or noun), definition, and examples of the word in sentences. We hope this blog will be useful for learners of English as a second language (ESL learners).

Education-related vocabulary:

Attend (ah-tendd) [verb] : To go to, show up or interact with a classroom, teacher, class, event or group.
Example sentences:
John attends his distance learning program by watching lectures,
completing assignments and talking with his instructor.
I attend class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 11 a.m.

Bachelor’s degree (Baa-chlurs duh-gree) [noun]: An education degree earned after studying beyond the secondary or high-school level. The bachelor’s degree is also called the undergraduate degree.
Example sentences:
You can earn a bachelor’s degree in English by enrolling at this university.
I will earn my bachelor’s degree after I finish this semester.

Credits (cred-itz) [plural noun]: Amount of academic work by a student acknowledged by his or her university.
Example sentences:
This class is worth three credits towards your degree.
I need twelve more credits to earn my degree.

Cram (kram) [verb]: This is a word students use for studying very hard for a test or assignment in a short amount of time.
Example sentences:
I have a test tomorrow, so I will cram for it by studying several hours tonight.
It is better to study on a regular basis than to cram at the last moment.


Distance learning (diss-tins luhrn-ing) [noun]: Formal education which takes place through long distance by mail or email rather than in a local classroom.
Example sentences:
I prefer distance learning because it is more convenient, interactive
and modern than traditional modes of education.
Does this school offer distance learning programs?

Enroll (in-rowl) [verb]: To join a class, university or a specific learning program.
Example sentences:
How do I enroll in this class?
I am glad I enrolled at Kingston University. I really learned a lot!

Instruct (in-strukt ) [verb]: To teach, tell or show someone how to do something, what certain information means or how to develop a certain skill.
Example sentences:
Can you instruct me how to use this new computer program?
The professor instructed the classroom of students on the proper
application of mathematics in chemistry.

Major (may-jur) [noun]: The focus of someone’s study for an undergraduate, masters, or doctoral degree. Examples of majors include physics, business administration and education.
Example sentences:
What is your major?
My major is business administration with a concentration in business ethics.

Master’s degree (mah-stirs duh-gree) [noun]: An education degree earned after studying beyond the undergraduate level.
Examples sentences:
Do you have a master’s degree?
I earned a master’s degree in business administration two years ago.

Semester (Sah-mess-tur) [noun] The period of time it takes to complete a course at university. This is similar to a school term.
Example sentences:
How long does this semester last?
This semester begins in January and ends in May.
This class was very engaging; the semester flew by!

Have you come across any other educational terms? Would you like to know more about education terms? Do you have any questions, comments or curiosities about the English language? What are your challenges in education as an ESL learner? Please leave a comment here and tell us about it!

Nothing can improve ESL and general language skills more than practice with specialized instructors. Contact Kingston University USA to find out more about enrolling in an English language course or receiving ESL tutoring. You will discover that you can live locally and learn globally no matter what your current English abilities are!

Kingston University USA
Live Locally. Learn Globally.
Official Website
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