Tongue Twister for the week

Tongue Twister:
 
A phrase that is deliberately designed to be difficult to say correctly, usually because of varying combinations of similar phonemes. The objective is to practice pronunciation.
 
Six sick slick slim sycamore saplings.

American Slang for the week

Slang is the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker’s dialect or language.
Slang may be used in a variety of ways, including insults, compliments, and simply as a way of expressing oneself.
 
 
 
 
ace
 
 
meaning: very good
 
 
Example:
 
He’s an ace reporter.

Idiom for the week

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be determined by the literal definition of the phrase itself, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use. In linguistics, idioms are widely assumed to be figures of speech that contradict the principle of compositionality;
 
 
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:
 
 

meaning: Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.
 
Example: Do not dream of buying more businesses everywhere in as a bird in your hand right now is worth two in the bush.

Phrasal Verb for the week

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition, a verb and an adverb, or a verb with both an adverb and a preposition, any of which are part of the syntax of the sentence, and so are a complete semantic unit. Sentences, however, may contain direct and indirect objects in addition to the phrasal verb.[1] Phrasal verbs are particularly frequent in the English language. A phrasal verb often has a meaning which is different from the original verb.
 
 
 
 
Account for
 
meaning: – To explain
 
Example:
They had to ACCOUNT FOR all the money  that had gone missing.

Gerunds and Infinitives: Their Noun Rules

CLICK HERE FOR THE SOURCE

 

Both gerunds and infinitives can be nouns, which means they can do just about anything that a noun can do. Although they name things, like other nouns, they normally name activities rather than people or objects. Here are five noun-uses of gerunds and infinitives (and one additional non-noun use, the adjective complement, that we throw in here, free of charge).

Gerunds and infintives can both function as the subject of a sentence:

1. Playing basketball takes up too much of her time.
2. To play basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.

It is not impossible for an infinitive to appear at the beginning of a sentence as the subject (as in Ib), but it is more common for an infinitive to appear as a Subject Complement:

1. Her favorite fantasy is to play basketball for UConn.The gerund can also play this role:
2. Her favorite fantasy is playing basketball for UConn.

Both of these verbal forms can further identify a noun when they play the role of Noun Complement and Appositive:

1. Her desire to play basketball for UConn became an obsession.
2. I could never understand her desire to play basketball for UConn.
3. Her one burning desire in life, playing basketball for UConn, seemed a goal within reach.

The infinitive is often a complement used to help define an abstract noun. Here is a very partial list of abstract nouns, enough to suggest their nature. Try following these adjectives with an infinitive phrase (their desire to play in the championship game, a motivation to pass all their courses, her permission to stay up late, a gentle reminder to do your work) to see how the phrase modifies and focuses the noun.

advice appeal command decision desire fact instruction motivation

opportunity order permission plan possibility preparation proposal recommendation

refusal reminder request requirement suggestion tendency wish

 

Verbs that take other verb forms as objects are called catenatives (from a word that means to link, as in a chain). Catenatives can be found at the head of a series of linked constructions, as in “We agreed to try to decide to stop eating between meals.” Catenatives are also characterized by their tendency to describe mental processes and resolutions. (Kolln)

Although it is seldom a serious problem for native English speakers, deciding whether to use a gerund or an infinitive after a verb can be perplexing among students for whom English is a second language. Why do we decide to run, but we would never decide running? On the other hand, we might avoid running, but we would not avoid to run. And finally, we might like running and would also like to run. It is clear that some verbs take gerunds, some verbs take infinitives, and some verbs take either. The following tables of verbs should help you understand the various options that regulate our choice of infinitive or gerund.

Infinitive phrases often follow certain adjectives. When this happens, the infinitive is said to play the role of Adjective Complement. (This is not a noun function, but we will include it here nonetheless.)

1. She was hesitant to tell the coach of her plan.
2. She was reluctant to tell her parents, also.
3. But she would not have been content to play high school ball forever.

Here is a list of adjectives that you will often find in such constructions.

ahead amazed anxious apt ashamed bound careful certain content delighted

determined disappointed eager eligible fortunate glad happy hesitant liable likely

lucky pleased proud ready reluctant sad shocked sorry surprised upset

Although we do not find many infinitives in this next category, it is not uncommon to find gerunds taking on the role of Object of a Preposition:

1. She wrote a newspaper article about dealing with college recruiters.
2. She thanked her coach for helping her to deal with the pressure.

Two prepositions, except and but, will sometimes take an infinitive.

1. The committee had no choice except to elect Frogbellow chairperson.
2. What is left for us but to pack up our belongings and leave?

And, finally, both gerunds and infinitives can act as a Direct Object:

Here, however, all kinds of decisions have to be made, and some of these decisions will seem quite arbitrary. The next section is about making the choice between gerund and infinitive forms as direct object.

List of Adjectives

List of Adjectives

The list of over 1,100 adjectives is at the end of the article.

The list of adjectives is something of wonder. Behold the modest adjective. It can leap tall buildings in a single bound. It makes the average citizen smarter and kinder. It keeps you in the cleanest car on the block. Such potent words should be used wisely. Read on and learn how to use your adjective powers for good.

An adjective’s job is to modify a noun or pronoun. They are always near the noun or pronoun they are describing. Be careful how you use adjectives such as interesting, beautiful, great, wonderful, or exciting. Many adjectives like these are overused and add little definition to a sentence. Instead, show your reader or listener what you are talking about by using verbs and nouns creatively. Sprinkle fewer well-chosen adjectives for interest.

Adjectives are often used to describe the degree of modification.

The adjective forms are positive, comparative, and superlative.

This tree is tall. (positive)
That tree is taller. (comparative)
The last tree in the row is the tallest. (superlative)
 

A handful of adjectives have irregular forms of positive, comparative, and superlative usage.

These include good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, little/less/least, much-many-some/more/most, far/further/furthest.

My lunch was good, hers was better, and yours was the best.

Proper adjectives are derived from proper nouns. They commonly describe something in terms of nationality, religious affiliation, or culture. Like proper nouns, proper adjectives have their first letter capitalized. Some examples of proper adjectives include:

American
French
Japanese
Latino
Asian
Australian
Catholic
Lutheran
Jewish
 

The following lists are just a sampling of adjectives in the English language. They are categorized by the type of attribute they describe. Use your dictionary or thesaurus to add to each list or use the complete list below this one.

 

Appearance Adjectivesadorable beautiful clean drab elegant fancy glamorous handsome long magnificent old-fashioned plain quaint sparkling ugliest unsightly wide-eyed	Color Adjectivesred orange yellow green blue purple gray black white	Condition Adjectivesalive better careful clever dead easy famous gifted helpful important inexpensive mushy odd powerful rich shy tender uninterested vast wrong.	Feelings (Bad) Adjectivesangry bewildered clumsy defeated embarrassed fierce grumpy helpless itchy jealous lazy mysterious nervous obnoxious panicky repulsive scary thoughtless uptight worried
Feelings (Good) Adjectivesagreeable brave calm delightful eager faithful gentle happy jolly kind lively nice obedient proud relieved silly thankful victorious witty zealous	Shape Adjectivesbroad chubby crooked curved deep flat high hollow low narrow round shallow skinny square steep straight wide.	Size Adjectivesbig colossal fat gigantic great huge immense large little mammoth massive miniature petite puny scrawny short small tall teeny teeny-tiny tiny	Sound Adjectivescooing deafening faint hissing loud melodic noisy purring quiet raspy screeching thundering voiceless whispering
Time Adjectivesancient brief early fast late long modern old old-fashioned quick rapid short slow swift young	Taste/Touch Adjectivesbitter delicious fresh greasy juicy hot icy loose melted nutritious prickly rainy rotten salty sticky strong sweet tart tasteless uneven weak wet wooden yummy	Touch Adjectivesboiling breeze broken bumpy chilly cold cool creepy crooked cuddly curly damaged damp dirty dry dusty filthy flaky fluffy freezing hot warm wet	Quantity Adjectivesabundant empty few full heavy light many numerous sparse substantial

 

Why do you need a list of adjectives? Adjectives can turn the ordinary in to the extraordinary. When used properly, they can add vivid interest to your conversation or written communication. However, there can be too much of a good thing. Please keep your adjectives effective by choosing them wisely.

 

Comprehensive List of Adjectives

Aaback    abaft    abandoned    abashed    aberrant    abhorrent    abiding    abject    ablaze    able abnormal    aboard    aboriginal    abortive    abounding    abrasive    abrupt    absent    absorbed    absorbing    abstracted    absurd    abundant abusive    acceptable    accessible    accidental    accurate    acid acidic acoustic    acrid    actually    ad hoc    adamant    adaptable    addicted    adhesive    adjoining    adorable    adventurous afraid    aggressive agonizing    agreeable ahead    ajar alcoholic    alert    alike    alive    alleged    alluring    aloof    amazing ambiguous   ambitious    amuck   amused amusing ancient    angry animated   annoyed annoying anxious apathetic    aquatic    aromatic    arrogant ashamed aspiring    assorted    astonishing    attractive auspicious    automatic available    average   awake aware    awesome awful axiomatic	Bbad    barbarous    bashful    bawdy    beautiful befitting    belligerent    beneficial bent berserk    best better bewildered big billowy    bite-sized bitter bizarre    black black-and-white bloody blue blue-eyed blushing boiling boorish    bored boring    bouncy boundless    brainy brash    brave brawny    breakable breezy brief bright bright    broad   broken    brown bumpy burly bustling busy	C cagey calculating callous    calm capable    capricious    careful careless caring cautious ceaseless    certain changeable    charming cheap cheerful chemical chief childlike    chilly chivalrous    chubby chunky    clammy    classy    clean clear clever cloistered  cloudy    closed clumsy cluttered coherent    cold colorful colossal combative    comfortable common complete complex concerned condemned confused conscious cooing cool    cooperative coordinated courageous cowardly    crabby    craven    crazy creepy crooked crowded cruel cuddly cultured    cumbersome curious curly curved curvy cut cute cute cynical	D daffy    daily    damaged damaging    damp dangerous dapper    dark dashing    dazzling dead deadpan    deafening dear debonair    decisive    decorous    deep deeply    defeated defective    defiant delicate delicious delightful demonic   delirious dependent depressed deranged    descriptive deserted detailed    determined devilish    didactic    different difficult diligent    direful    dirty disagreeable    disastrous discreet    disgusted disgusting disillusioned    dispensable    distinct disturbed divergent    dizzy domineering    doubtful drab draconian    dramatic    dreary drunk    dry dull dusty dusty dynamic    dysfunctional	E eager early earsplitting    earthy    easy eatable    economic    educated    efficacious    efficient eight   elastic elated elderly electric elegant elfin   elite    embarrassed eminent    empty enchanted enchanting encouraging endurable    energetic enormous entertaining    enthusiastic envious equable    equal erect    erratic    ethereal    evanescent    evasive    even excellent excited    exciting exclusive    exotic    expensive    extra-large extra-small exuberant    exultant
F fabulous   faded   faint fair faithful fallacious    false familiar famous fanatical    fancy fantastic   far far-flung fascinated    fast    fat faulty    fearful fearless    feeble feigned    female fertile   festive   few fierce filthy fine finicky    first five fixed flagrant   flaky flashy   flat flawless    flimsy flippant    flowery    fluffy fluttering foamy    foolish foregoing    forgetful    fortunate four frail    fragile frantic free freezing frequent fresh fretful    friendly frightened frightening full fumbling functional    funny furry furtive    future futuristic fuzzy	G gabby    gainful    gamy    gaping    garrulous    gaudy    general gentle giant giddy    gifted gigantic    glamorous    gleaming    glib    glistening glorious    glossy    godly    good    goofy    gorgeous    graceful    grandiose    grateful gratis    gray greasy great    greedy    green grey grieving groovy    grotesque    grouchy    grubby gruesome    grumpy    guarded    guiltless      gullible gusty    guttural	H habitual    half    hallowed    halting    handsome    handsomely    handy hanging hapless    happy hard hard-to-find harmonious    harsh hateful heady    healthy heartbreaking    heavenly heavy hellish    helpful helpless hesitant    hideous high highfalutin    high-pitched hilarious   hissing historical    holistic    hollow homeless homely honorable    horrible    hospitable    hot huge  hulking   humdrum    humorous    hungry hurried    hurt  hushed husky hypnotic    hysterical	I icky    icy idiotic    ignorant ill illegal    ill-fated ill-informed illustrious    imaginary    immense imminent    impartial   imperfect    impolite important imported    impossible incandescent    incompetent    inconclusive    industrious    incredible inexpensive infamous innate   innocent inquisitive insidious instinctive   intelligent interesting internal    invincible    irate    irritating itchy	J jaded    jagged    jazzy    jealous    jittery    jobless   jolly    joyous    judicious    juicy jumbled   jumpy juvenile
K kaput    keen kind kindhearted    kindly knotty    knowing    knowledgeable    known	L labored    lackadaisical    lacking   lame lamentable    languid    large last late laughable    lavish   lazy lean learned    left legal   lethal   level   lewd   light like likeable   limping literate    little lively lively    living lonely long longing    long-term loose lopsided   loud loutish    lovely loving low lowly    lucky ludicrous    lumpy lush    luxuriant    lying   lyrical	M macabre    macho    maddening    madly    magenta magical    magnificent majestic    makeshift    male malicious    mammoth maniacal    many marked   massive   married marvelous material materialistic    mature mean   measly    meaty medical meek mellow melodic melted merciful    mere    messy mighty military milky mindless    miniature minor    miscreant    misty mixed moaning modern moldy    momentous    motionless mountainous muddled    mundane murky mushy mute mysterious	N naive    nappy    narrow nasty natural naughty nauseating    near neat nebulous    necessary needless    needy    neighborly    nervous new    next nice nifty    nimble nine nippy noiseless    noisy nonchalant    nondescript    nonstop    normal nostalgic    nosy noxious    null    numberless    numerous nutritious nutty	O oafish    obedient obeisant    obese obnoxious obscene    obsequious   observant    obsolete    obtainable    oceanic    odd offbeat    old old-fashioned omniscient one   onerous    open opposite optimal    orange ordinary organic    ossified    outgoing outrageous outstanding oval    overconfident    overjoyed    overrated    overt    overwrought
P painful    painstaking    pale paltry panicky panoramic    parallel parched    parsimonious    past pastoral    pathetic    peaceful    penitent    perfect periodic    permissible    perpetual    petite   petite phobic    physical picayune pink    piquant    placid    plain plant       plastic plausible    pleasant    plucky    pointless    poised polite political    poor possessive    possible powerful precious    premium    present pretty    previous pricey prickly    private probable productive    profuse    protective    proud    psychedelic    psychotic    public puffy    pumped    puny    purple purring pushy puzzled puzzling	Q quack   quaint quarrelsome    questionable    quick quickest quiet quirky quixotic    quizzical	R rabid    racial    ragged   rainy rambunctious   rampant   rapid rare raspy ratty    ready real rebel    receptive    recondite    red redundant    reflective    regular relieved remarkable reminiscent    repulsive resolute    resonant responsible rhetorical    rich right righteous   rightful    rigid ripe ritzy    roasted    robust    romantic    roomy    rotten rough round    royal   ruddy    rude rural    rustic    ruthless	S sable    sad safe salty same sassy    satisfying    savory    scandalous    scarce    scared scary scattered scientific    scintillating    scrawny screeching second second-hand secret secretive    sedate    seemly    selective    selfish separate serious shaggy shaky shallow sharp shiny shivering shocking    short shrill shut shy sick silent silent silky silly simple simplistic sincere six   skillful   skinny sleepy slim slimy slippery sloppy    slow small smart smelly    smiling smoggy smooth sneaky    snobbish    snotty   soft soggy    solid somber    sophisticated sordid    sore sore sour sparkling special spectacular    spicy spiffy spiky spiritual    spiteful splendid spooky    spotless spotted spotty spurious    squalid    square squealing squeamish    staking    stale standing    statuesque    steadfast    steady steep stereotyped    sticky stiff stimulating       stingy stormy straight strange striped strong stupendous stupid sturdy subdued    subsequent    substantial successful succinct    sudden sulky    super superb superficial supreme    swanky    sweet sweltering    swift symptomatic    synonymous	T taboo    tacit    tacky    talented tall tame tan tangible    tangy  tart tasteful    tasteless tasty tawdry    tearful tedious teeny teeny-tiny telling    temporary ten   tender tense tense tenuous    terrible terrific tested  testy thankful therapeutic    thick thin thinkable    third thirsty thirsty thoughtful thoughtless threatening three    thundering tidy tight    tightfisted    tiny tired tiresome    toothsome    torpid   tough towering    tranquil    trashy  tremendous tricky trite   troubled truculent    true truthful two typical
U ubiquitous    ugliest ugly ultra   unable    unaccountable    unadvised    unarmed    unbecoming    unbiased    uncovered    understood    undesirable    unequal unequaled    uneven unhealthy uninterested unique unkempt unknown unnatural unruly unsightly unsuitable    untidy unused unusual unwieldy unwritten upbeat    uppity   upset uptight used    useful useless utopian utter    uttermost	V vacuous    vagabond    vague    valuable various    vast vengeful    venomous    verdant   versed    victorious vigorous    violent violet vivacious    voiceless volatile    voracious    vulgar	W wacky    waggish    waiting wakeful    wandering wanting    warlike    warm wary    wasteful watery weak wealthy weary well-groomed well-made well-off well-to-do wet whimsical    whispering white whole wholesale    wicked wide wide-eyed wiggly wild willing   windy wiry   wise    wistful    witty woebegone    womanly    wonderful wooden woozy    workable    worried worthless    wrathful    wretched    wrong wry	Y yellow    yielding    young youthful    yummy	Z zany    zealous zesty zippy   zonked

 

 

source: moms who think

Phrasal Verb, American Slang, Idiom and Tongue Twister for this week

PHRASAL VERB:

Account for

 

-         To explain

 

example: The teacher accounts for the missing student who went out during class hours.

 

 

AMERICAN SLANG:

 

ace

-very good

 

 

example: He’s an ace reporter.

 

 

IDIOM:

 

Above and beyond the call of duty

 

-         If a person does something which is above and beyond the
  call of duty, they show a greater degree of courage or effort
  than is usually required or expected in their job.
 

TONGUE TWISTER:

Black bug bit a big black bear. But where is the big black bear that the big black bug bit?

 

example: “The fire-fighter received a medal for his action which went
  above and beyond the call of duty