Bite-sized English

Today we continue our discussion on the passive voice using the present tenses. We form the simple with am/is/are + past participle and we form the continuous with am/is/are + being + past participle.

Send your practice sentences to [email protected].

Matt begins his week talking about the passive voice with one of the more important tenses of the passive: past simple. We use it to describe some of the major achievements in human history all the way to minor happenings in day to day life.

Please direct all questions and homework to [email protected] or @bitesizedengpod.

Matt summarises some of the complicated history between France and England, and how that has impacted the English language in very dramatic ways. He also covers a few French words and phrases that we use in day to day English:

-touche

-bon voyage

-mousse

-carte blanche

-entree

-cul-de-sac

Be sure to submit your questions to [email protected] or on Twitter @bitesizedengpod!

Matt talks about some important tips we can focus on when we are writing persuasive essays, especially for tests or in a classroom setting. He does introduce a few new words/phrases: anecdotal, infrastructure, stay on topic, rack your brain.

Direct questions and comments to bitesizedenglish@gmail or on Twitter @bitesizedengpod.

Matt covers some of the trickier uncountable nouns that caused some confusion for submitted answers. He talks about words like news, meats, paper, money (and currencies), and grass.

If there are any more nouns you are not sure of, please do send your questions to [email protected].

Today Matt covers the main quantifiers we use in English with countable and uncountable nouns. We practice some of them with examples, and highlight some of the related quantifiers that are interchangable or similar but slightly different.

Send your assignment to [email protected] and Matt will be happy to help!

Matt talks us through countable and uncountable nouns. He covers some important basic points like general rules, basic quantifiers, and some key irregularities. Check in tomorrow for more detail on quantifiers.

Send your assignment to [email protected] or Tweet at Matt @bitesizedengpod!

Matt talks about the various words we use when talking about the habit of smoking.

Vocabulary:

cigarettes, tobacco, cigars, pipe, smoking, butts, second-hand smoke, inhale, addicted to, quit, cold turkey, wean off

Matt practices some basic greetings we use in English rather than the boring standard: "hello."

Please do email [email protected] for any questions or comments!

Matt reviews some of the highlights of this week's material. Be sure to check out the podcasts from the last week to practice the material we covered.

Comments and questions to [email protected]!