Hear the word boundaries
Listen once without typing. On the second play, decide where one word ends and the next begins. Replay the whole phrase to check.
Showing 73–90 of 456 lessons
-
Stubborn: meaning, tone, and alternatives
Stubborn describes a person, animal, or object that resists change, movement, or persuasion. When applied to people, it suggests an unreasonable refusal to listen or compromise. When applied to physical objects or situations, it describes something difficult to move, open, or solve.
-
Caveat Meaning: One Condition to Remember
A caveat is a warning, condition, or limitation attached to an idea, offer, or agreement. It tells the listener what they must keep in mind before accepting or proceeding. It does not mean an idea is bad; rather, it identifies a boundary that requires careful attention.
-
When or if: Choosing the Right Word
When refers to time and certainty. It points to a moment that the speaker treats as definite or repeated. If introduces an open condition. It leaves room for doubt, showing that the result will occur only in the event that the condition is satisfied.
-
Past continuous: talking about past actions
The past continuous describes an activity in progress at a specific past moment. It presents an action from the inside as ongoing, without stating when it began or whether it finished. It frequently provides the background scene for a shorter event or connects two activities occurring at the same time.
-
Elicit or Illicit: How to Choose
To elicit something means to bring out a reply, emotion, or statement from another person through questions or actions. For instance, a thoughtful speaker may elicit laughter, sympathy, or valuable advice. In contrast, illicit characterizes an activity, substance, transaction, or relationship as forbidden by statutory law or official institutional policy.
-
Speaking in class: how to stay calm
Nervous tension usually comes from the pressure to say everything at once. Effective class speaking requires the opposite approach: reduce your message to one clear statement supported by one concrete detail. A focused response is easier for your classmates to follow and much easier for you to produce under pressure.
-
Membership
Open every lesson free for 7 days
- 456 lessons with dictation and listening tests
- Three accents: British, American and Australian
- New lessons every day, and your progress is saved
No card needed. Then from $7.50 a month if you want to keep going.
Start free trial -
There was or there were: how to choose
There was and there were establish existence in past time. There was indicates that a single item, person, or uncountable substance was present. There were indicates that multiple countable people or things existed. The structure places the true subject after the verb, directing your listener's attention to what was discovered or observed.
-
Bought or brought? Getting ready for a games night
Bought describes getting something by paying for it. It is the past form of buy. Brought describes bringing someone or something to a place. It is the past form of bring. The same object can appear with either verb: you bought a game yesterday and brought it here today.
-
In or inside: choosing for a place
In positions an object or person within an area, container, city, or building. Inside points directly to the interior of an enclosed space, making the contrast with the outside environment clearer.
-
Relative adverbs: choose with confidence
Relative adverbs link a noun to a clause that describes it. The word where relates to a physical location or setting. The word when relates to a point or span of time. The word why relates to an underlying motive or reason. Each connector tells the listener how the clause explains the noun before it.
-
Insane Meaning: Choose the Right Word
Insane is an adjective that describes something as extreme, shocking, unreasonable, or impressively good. While historical and legal contexts used the word to describe severe mental illness, casual modern speakers use it to express an intense reaction to an unusual event or extraordinary action. The word itself signals high intensity, but it does not specify whether that intensity is positive or negative.
-
Active and passive voice: choose clear sentences
Voice describes the grammatical relationship between the subject and the verb. In an active sentence, the subject performs the action. In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action. Active sentences highlight who acts, while passive sentences highlight the person or item affected by that action.
-
Reflexive Pronouns: Rules and Examples
A reflexive pronoun reflects an action back to the subject. When a person acts on their own body, feelings, or belongings, standard English uses a reflexive pronoun instead of an ordinary object pronoun. In addition, placing a reflexive pronoun after a noun adds emphasis, indicating that someone completed an action personally without passing the job to another person.
-
Obsolete meaning: no longer in use
Something is obsolete when it is no longer used or needed because a newer, faster, or more effective alternative has replaced it. The word does not mean broken, ugly, or unpopular. Instead, it indicates that practical circumstances or technological progress have eliminated the necessity of using that specific tool, method, regulation, or expression.
-
Relative pronouns: choose the right word
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses that clarify or expand on a preceding noun. Words like who, which, that, whose, and whom tell your listener whether you are describing an individual, a thing, an owner, or someone receiving an action.
-
Public speaking nerves: Four recovery steps
Public speaking anxiety refers to the physical and mental tension people experience when addressing a group. Common symptoms include rapid breathing, trembling hands, a quavering voice, and sudden memory blanks. Managing this tension means using concrete language strategies such as deliberate pauses and signpost expressions to maintain control over your pace and message.
-
Spoken English exercises: everyday conversation practice
A conversation exercise focuses on a single turn within an everyday exchange rather than an entire memorized script. Each speaking turn accomplishes a specific job: opening with a question about an observable situation, answering while supplying one helpful detail, following up on your partner's words, holding the floor while you think, clarifying missed words, or closing with polite warmth. Mastering these individual communicative moves allows you to participate flexibly in real-world dialogue.
-
English class skills: What you learn
A language skill is something you can do with English to communicate. Reading and listening help you receive and understand messages from other people. Speaking and writing help you produce your own thoughts, answers, and requests. Grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation support these four skills so your messages remain clear.
Not ready for a trial? Get a free lesson every day
One short dictation in your inbox each day for 7 days. Practise where you are, no account needed.
Can’t find the phrase or situation you need?
Lesson requests come with membership.
See membership