APEX Institute of English_GUNTUR

'Very' Is Very Overused. Here Are 20 Better Words To Use In Your Everyday Vocabulary Laziness is NOT an option.

Play up

If ‘something plays up’ then it causes some pain and or discomfort.
‘During the winter my knee always plays up.’

‘Something that plays up’ can also mean to not work properly.
‘I am sorry, but the TV has been playing up, so we may not be able to watch the game.’

If someone ‘plays up something’ then they emphasise something to make it seem more important than it really is.
‘I know she has won a lot of events, but I wish she wouldn’t play up her achievements so much.’

Photo by (Flickr:CC)

give

Give appears in a number of phrasal verbs. Here are a few examples:

Give up
To ‘give up’ means to stop trying.
‘I don’t know how to do this crossword, I give up.’

‘Give up’ can also mean to stop doing something.
‘She gave up smoking a year ago.’

Give away
‘Give away’ means to offer something for free.
‘The supermarket is giving away bottles of water.’

Give ground
‘Give ground’ means to retreat from an argument, or change your opinion.
‘I refused to give ground on the issue.’

Make an example using each of the above phrasal verbs and we will tell you whether you are right or wrong.

1. Give up
2. Give away
3. Give ground

Come back tomorrow and check the examples.

Photo by Caro Wallis

more feet

‘Find your feet’
When you are finding your feet, you are in the process of gaining confidence and experience in something.
‘He only started the new role last week so he will need some time to find his feet.’

‘Get your feet wet’
To get your feet wet means that you get a little first time experience with something.
‘It would be great if she could work in the city office for a few days, it would be useful for her to get her feet wet before she starts full time in the New Year.’

‘Have itchy feet’
When you have itchy feet you have a desire to change something and generally, want to go travelling or experience something new.
‘I have been in the same job now for the past six years, I am starting to get itchy feet.’

Make an example sentence from each of the following phrases;

1. Find your feet
2. Get your feet wet
3. Have itchy feet

Come back tomorrow and check the examples.

Pic by; Stephen Griffin

Shout

Shout is a verb that means to cry out loudly, usually with emotion.
‘She shouted for joy when she learned she’d passed her exam.’

Shout can also be a noun describing a noise, or a loud cry.
‘The wind prevented him from hearing their shouts.’

Shout can also refer to an offer to pay for someone else.
‘Do you want to come to the new restaurant with me? It is my shout.’

1. Verb
2. Noun
3. Payment

Match the above uses to the examples below:

I can’t believe she didn't shout you dinner on your birthday.
If you want to get his attention you must shout as loud as you can.
Even with the loudest shout she could muster she could not be heard over the noise.

Come back tomorrow and check your answers.

Photo by Geiudris

Good Examples

leaving a conversation

There are many ways to politely end a talk between two or more people. You can use the following phrases to indicate you will leave the conversation:

‘I have to go now.’
A. ‘It was great to see you again but I have to go now.’
B. ‘OK, good to see you too.’

‘I had better go now.’
A. ‘Oh, look at the time, I’d better go now.’
B. ‘Yes, it’s getting late, I should go too.’

‘I must be off.’
A. ‘Wow, it’s 5pm already, I must be off.’
B. 'Sure, it was great to catch up.’

‘I have to rush off.’
A. ’Sorry I have to rush off, it’s almost time for my train.’
B. ‘Sure, no problem, see you next time.’

Make an example sentence of each and we will tell you if it is right or wrong:

1. I have to go now
2. I had better go now
3. I must be off
4. I have to rush off

Come back tomorrow and check your answers.

Photo by Lulu Lovering

starting a conversation in the workplace

When we start a conversation, particularly in the workplace, it is common to use an introductory phrase to show that you wish to communicate.

‘Can I have a word with you?’
We use ‘I’d like to have a word with you’ or ‘can I have a word’ to begin a conversation. It is another way of saying ‘I would like to speak with you in private.’

‘Can I have a word please?’
‘Sure, do you want to speak here or in my office?’

‘Have you got a minute?’
We use ‘have you got a minute’ or ‘do you have a minute,’ to ask someone if they have time to speak.

‘Have you got a minute?’
‘No, not now. Can we talk after lunch?’

‘Can I see you for a minute?’ This is also used to ask someone if they have time to talk.

‘Can I see you for a minute?’
‘Yes, I have ten minutes spare, let’s get some tea and sit over here.’

Make an example dialogue using one of these phrases and come back tomorrow and check other examples.

Photo by Marc Wathieu

This is true.

describing changes in performance – more verbs

To ‘decrease’ means to grow smaller in size, number or amount.
‘Sales decreased by six per cent this month.’

To ‘fall’ means to drop or quickly come down to a lower level.
‘Revenue will fall over the holidays.’

To ‘increase’ means to become bigger in size or volume.
‘We have increased the size of our order.’

Make an example sentence for each of these verbs:

1. To decrease
2. To fall
3. To increase

Come back tomorrow and check all the examples.

Photo by Andrew Fysh

cricket idioms

The phrase ‘sticky wicket’ is used to describe a difficult situation.
‘I failed to hand in the last two assignments so I’m on a sticky wicket now.’

‘To be stumped’ means to have no idea how to solve a problem.
‘I’ve tried everything to fix the car, I am completely stumped.’

‘To catch someone out’ means to outsmart them, or to discover that they have done something wrong.
‘I caught her out when I discovered the missing files on her computer.’

Make a sentence with each phrase:

1. On a sticky wicket
2. To be stumped
3. To catch someone out

Come back tomorrow and check other examples.

Photo by Pete Ashton

Reflexive pronouns reflexive pronouns Reflexive and intensive pronouns have the same form. We use reflexive pronouns when the subject and the object are the same: This example is incorrect: I hurt me running this mo