English Language Study Guide
Contents
Price and Value Expressions
Extravagant Price
Extravagant price means a price that is too high or unreasonable. It is much more expensive than what is normal or necessary.
Original Examples:
- Buying a simple watch for $10,000 is paying an extravagant price.
- Renting a small apartment for $5,000 per month is also an extravagant price.
Additional Context:
- Paying $500 for a basic dinner would be an extravagant price.
- $200 for a plain t-shirt is considered extravagant.
Memory and Past Experiences
Déjà vu and nostalgia are both feelings related to past experiences, but they are different:
Déjà vu
Meaning: It feels like you have already experienced something before, even if you know it’s happening for the first time.
Key Point: It’s a strange and sudden feeling, often lasting only a moment.
Example: You visit a place for the first time but feel like you’ve been there before.
Original Example Sentence: “As I walked into the small café, I had a strange feeling of déjà vu, as if I had been there before, even though I knew I hadn’t.”
Additional Explanation: Déjà vu is a French phrase that means “already seen.” In English, it describes the feeling that you’ve experienced something before, even though it’s happening for the first time.
This word is often used in contexts where someone feels an uncanny sense of familiarity.
Nostalgia
Meaning: A sentimental feeling of longing or happiness when you think about something from the past.
Key Point: It is usually a warm, emotional memory about real events.
Example: Hearing a song from your childhood and missing those happy times.
Relation:
Both involve the past, but déjà vu is mysterious and about something that feels repeated, while nostalgia is about real memories and emotions tied to the past.
Independence Expressions
Original Example: “I would not drink it by myself.(not on my own)”
Key Points:
- “By myself” and “on my own” are similar in meaning and often interchangeable.
- “By myself” emphasizes being physically alone.
- “On my own” emphasizes independence or doing something without help or company.
Writing Terms
1. Passage
Definition: A passage is a short section or excerpt from a larger written work, such as a book, essay, or speech.
Length: Usually shorter and part of a larger text.
Purpose: Often used to illustrate a point, analyze language, or study a specific idea.
Examples:
- A teacher asks students to read a passage from a novel.
- A short passage from a speech might be quoted in a newspaper.
2. Article
Definition: An article is a complete piece of writing, usually found in newspapers, magazines, journals, or online, that discusses a specific topic.
Length: Typically longer than a passage and stands alone as a complete work.
Purpose: Written to inform, explain, persuade, or entertain an audience.
Examples:
- A news article about recent events.
- A science article explaining a new discovery.
Comparison
| Feature | Passage | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Part or Whole | Part of a larger text | A standalone piece |
| Length | Short (a few sentences to a paragraph) | Varies, but generally longer |
| Purpose | Analyze or illustrate | Inform, explain, persuade, or entertain |
Simple Definitions:
- Passage: A small part or excerpt taken from a larger text (e.g., a paragraph from a book).
- Article: A complete piece of writing on a specific topic, often found in newspapers, magazines, or online.
Making Requests
The sentence “I have something to ask from you” means that the speaker wants to request information, a favor, or an answer from the listener.
Explanation:
- “I have something”: Indicates the speaker has a specific question or request.
- “to ask from you”: Shows that the speaker intends to direct the question or request to the listener.
Example Context:
- A student might say this to a teacher before asking for help with homework.
- A friend could use it before requesting advice or assistance.
Alternative Sentence:
“I have something to ask you.” (This is more common and natural in English.)
Alcohol-Related Expressions
“Handle Your Liquor”
Original Context: “If you cannot handle your liquor, then you may struggle to fit in, as drinking is an important part of our business culture.”
The phrase “handle your liquor” means to drink alcohol without becoming overly intoxicated or losing control of your behavior. It suggests being able to consume alcohol responsibly and maintain composure.
Key Points:
- “Handle”: In this context, it means to manage or deal with something effectively.
- “Liquor”: Refers to alcoholic beverages, especially stronger drinks like whiskey, vodka, or rum.
- Meaning: To drink alcohol without negative effects like getting drunk quickly, becoming ill, or behaving inappropriately.
Examples:
- “She can handle her liquor well and never gets out of control at parties.”
- “If you can’t handle your liquor, it’s better not to drink too much.”
Describing Alcohol Taste
“It starts off with a burning sensation in your throat but in the end you end up with a very nice lingering after taste.”
Luxury Brand Expressions
1. “It looks like a luxury brand of liquor.”
Focus: Appearance or impression.
Meaning: Based on how it looks (e.g., packaging, design, or branding), it gives the impression of being a high-end, luxury liquor brand.
Implication: It might not actually be a luxury brand but gives off that vibe.
Example: A beautifully designed bottle that resembles a premium brand might make someone say, “It looks like a luxury brand of liquor.”
2. “It targets the luxury market.”
Focus: Marketing strategy and audience.
Meaning: The brand is specifically designed and marketed to appeal to wealthy consumers or those looking for premium products.
Implication: This suggests that the brand is intentionally positioned as a high-end product, regardless of its actual quality.
Example: A company might create a liquor brand priced and marketed as exclusive, even if it’s not significantly better in quality than standard options.
Key Difference:
- “Looks like a luxury brand” is about appearance or perception.
- “Targets the luxury market” is about business strategy and intended audience.
Expressions About Face
The difference between “lose face” and “lose your face”:
1. Lose Face
Meaning: To experience embarrassment, humiliation, or a loss of respect, especially in front of others.
Usage: This phrase is commonly used to describe situations where someone’s dignity or reputation is damaged.
Examples:
- “He lost face when he couldn’t answer the interviewer’s question.”
- “Apologizing publicly might make him lose face.”
2. Lose Your Face
Literal Meaning: To physically lose your face (e.g., through injury or disfigurement).
Usage: Rarely used because it’s very literal and not common in everyday language.
Examples:
- “In the accident, he nearly lost his face.” (physical injury)
Key Point:
- “Lose face” is an idiomatic expression about reputation and respect, widely used in English.
- “Lose your face” is literal and uncommon.
The Phrase “Worn Out”
The phrase “worn out” has two common meanings, depending on the context:
1. Physical Condition of Objects
Meaning: Something is damaged, old, or no longer useful because of extensive use.
Examples:
- “These shoes are worn out; I need to buy a new pair.”
- “The carpet looks worn out after so many years.”
2. Emotional or Physical State of a Person
Meaning: Feeling extremely tired, exhausted, or drained.
Examples:
- “I’m completely worn out after working all day.”
- “He looks worn out from staying up all night.”
Key Point:
- For things, it means overused and no longer effective.
- For people, it means very tired or fatigued.
Expressions of Waste
Original Example: “I do not want to simply waste my money by flushing it down the toilet on some super expensive alcohol.”
The phrases “down the drain” and “flushing it down the toilet” both suggest waste or loss, but they have slight differences in tone and usage:
1. Down the Drain
Meaning: Something is wasted, often unintentionally or as a result of unfortunate circumstances.
Tone: Neutral or slightly negative.
Usage: Common in formal and informal situations to describe effort, money, or opportunities being wasted.
Examples:
- “All my savings went down the drain after the stock market crashed.”
- “Years of hard work went down the drain when the company shut down.”
2. Flushing it Down the Toilet (continued)
Tone: More critical, direct, or dramatic than “down the drain.”
Usage: Often used to emphasize recklessness or foolish decisions.
Examples:
- “You’re flushing your career down the toilet by not taking this job seriously.”
- “He flushed all his potential down the toilet with his bad decisions.”
Key Differences:
| Phrase | Implied Cause | Tone | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down the Drain | Unintentional loss or waste | Neutral to slightly sad | Accidental or uncontrollable waste |
| Flushing it Down the Toilet | Deliberate or careless waste | Strongly critical | Reckless actions or bad decisions |
Additional Example: “If you don’t continue and see this project through until the end then you will see all of your effort go down the drain”
Verb Forms: Drink
Here’s an explanation of drink, drank, and drunk, covering their forms and usage:
1. Drink (Present Tense)
Meaning: To consume liquid.
Usage: Used in the present tense or when talking about habitual actions.
Examples:
- “I drink coffee every morning.”
- “Do you want something to drink?”
2. Drank (Past Tense)
Meaning: The past action of consuming liquid.
Usage: Used to describe an action that happened in the past.
Examples:
- “I drank a lot of water after the workout.”
- “He drank too much at the party last night.”
3. Drunk (Past Participle and Adjective)
Past Participle:
Used with helping verbs like have, has, or had to form perfect tenses.
Examples:
- “I have drunk three cups of coffee today.”
- “She had drunk all the juice before I arrived.”
Adjective:
Describes a state of being intoxicated from alcohol.
Examples:
- “He was drunk after the party.”
- “Don’t drive if you’re drunk.”
Summary Table:
| Form | Tense | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Drink | Present | “I drink tea every morning.” |
| Drank | Past | “She drank a glass of milk.” |
| Drunk | Past Participle/Adjective | “He has drunk the wine.” (Participle) / “He was drunk.” (Adjective) |
Language Processing Challenges
Understanding Spoken Language
The sentence is explaining a challenge with understanding spoken sentences, even though the person can hear them clearly. Let’s break it down:
Explanation:
- “I can get the different sentences that you are saying”
This means: “I can understand the individual sentences you are speaking.”
The person is able to hear and recognize the sentences. - “It is a matter of being able to process it at a deeper level”
This means: The issue lies in understanding the meaning or context more thoroughly, beyond just recognizing the words. - “Than I am having difficulty with”
This means: “I’m struggling to process the information at this deeper level.”
The difficulty is not with hearing or identifying the sentences, but with fully understanding or interpreting them.
Rephrased Sentence:
“I can understand the sentences you’re saying, but I’m struggling to process their meaning or context deeply enough.”
Common Context:
- This could happen when someone is learning a new language or dealing with complex ideas.
- The listener may grasp the surface-level meaning but struggle to fully comprehend the deeper implications.
Learning Patterns and Time Management
Pattern Recognition: “It is okay if the pattern is repetitive where you continue to talk about the same things again and again each morning.”
Time Management: “I will make sure to not take advantage of your good nature and time because I understand you are busy with work on the weekends”