EN AQUESTA PÀGINA WEB TROBAREU AJUDA PER MILLORAR LA VOSTRA COMPRENSIÓ LECTORA, LA GRAMÀTICA, EL VOCABULARI, ELS TEMPS VERBALS ... TOT ALLÒ QUE US FA FALTA PER POC A POC ANAR MILLORANT !!

ENGLISH FOR EVERYONE

WHAT TIME IS IT ?

There are two common ways of telling the time.

1) Say the hour first and then the minutes.

(HOUR + MINUTES)

6:25 - It's six twenty-five
8:05 - It's eight O-five (the O is said like the letter O)
9:11 - It's nine eleven
2:34 - It's two thirty-four

2) Say the minutes first and then the hour.

(MINUTES + PAST / TO + HOUR)

For minutes 1-30 we use PAST after the minutes.

For minutes 31-59 we use TO after the minutes.

2:35 - It's twenty-five to three
11:20 - It's twenty past eleven
4:18 - It's eighteen past four
8:51 - It's nine to nine
2:59 - It's one to three

When it is 15 minutes past the hour we normally say: (A) QUARTER PAST

7:15 - It's (a) quarter past seven

When it is 15 minutes before the hour we normally say: A QUARTER TO

12:45 - It's (a) quarter to one

When it is 30 minutes past the hour we normally say: HALF PAST

3:30 - It's half past three (but we can also say three-thirty)

O'CLOCK

We use O’CLOCK when there are NO minutes.

10:00 - It's ten o'clock
5:00 - It's five o'clock
1:00 - It's one o'clock

Sometimes it is written as 9 o'clock (THE NUMBER + O’CLOCK)

12:00

For 12:00 there are three expressions in English.

twelve o'clock
midday = noon
midnight

ASKING FOR THE TIME

The common question forms we use to ask for the time right now are:

What time is it?
What is the time?

A more polite way to ask for the time, especially from a stranger is:

Could you tell me the time please?

The common question forms we use to ask at what time a specific event will happen are:

What time...?

When...?

What time does the flight to New York leave?
When does the bus arrive from London?
When does the concert begin?

GIVING THE TIME

We use It is or It's to respond to the questions that ask for the time right now.

It is half past five (5:30).
It's ten to twelve (11:50)

We use the structure AT + TIME when giving the time of a specific event.

The bus arrives at midday (12:00).
The flight leaves at a quarter to two (1:45).
The concert begins at ten o'clock. (10:00)

We can also use subject pronouns in these responses.

It arrives at midday (12:00).
It leaves at a quarter to two (1:45).
It begins at ten o'clock. (10:00)

AM vs. PM

We don't normally use the 24-hour clock in English.

We use a.m. (am) for the morning and p.m. (pm) for the afternoon and night.

3am = Three o'clock in the morning.

3pm = Three o'clock in the afternoon.

WHAT TIME IS IT?

What is the difference between Color and Colour?

The word Color is used in United States.

The word Colour is used in the rest of the English-speaking countries (England, Australia, NZ etc.)

The names of the more common colours in English appear in the chart below:

Both words mean the same thing and its spelling depends on the country where the word is written.

What is the difference between Gray and Grey?

The same as with the difference between color and colour, it depends on the country.

The word Gray is used in United States.

The word Grey is used in the rest of the English-speaking countries (England, Australia, NZ etc.)

Word order with colours

There are three ways that you can use a colour in a sentence to describe something:

1. To Be + Colour. e.g. My car is blue.

2. Colour + Noun. e.g. The blue car is mine.

3. Colour is the Noun. e.g. Blue is the colour of my car.

Did you know that, because colours give us more information about a person or a thing, they are adjectives in English?

Light - Dark - Bright

You can also talk in shades (or intensity) of colour in English by using such expressions as:

Light is the opposite of Dark.

Bright a strong colour that is easy to see.

Helen has got dark green eyes.

His light grey hair made him look very distinguished.

Her bright pink lipstick doesn't look good.

The words Light, Dark and Bright are placed before the colour.

Colours + ISH

If you are not exactly sure how to describe a colour, we normally use the suffix -ish.

e.g. Greenish (= approximately green but not exactly green)

The sunset is a beautiful pinkish-purplish colour today.

His shirt is lightish blue in colour.

Typical Things of each Colour

The following is a list of things typically associated with each colour:

Red: Strawberry, Rose, Fire engine, Blood, Heart

Orange: Pumpkin, Carrot, Basketball

Yellow:Cheese, Sun, Butter, Lemon

Green: Grass, Lettuce, Frog, Leaf, Lizard

Blue: Sky, Ocean, Blueberry, Whale

Black: Bat, Night, Tire (tyre), Fly

White: Paper, Sugar, Milk, Snow, Sheep

Pink: Pig, Tongue, Cotton candy (Candy floss)

Brown: Wood, Cigar, Earth, Acorn, Horse

Grey/Gray: Rock, Lead, Dust, Mouse, Elephant
Purple: Bruise, Grapes

How many more things can you add to each colour?

Days of the week.

The days of the week in English begin with CAPITAL letters.

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Saturday and Sunday are known as the weekend.

DAYS OF THE WEEK SONG

DAYS OF THE WEEK VIDEO

Months of the year.

The months of the year in English begin with CAPITAL letters.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Seasons of the Year.

summer
winter
spring
autumn / fall

Fall is used in United States, autumn in the rest of the world.

Capital Letters.

Remember, in English that the first letter of the day or month is ALWAYS in capital letters.

January correct - january incorrect
Thursday correct - thursday incorrect

Though the first letter of the seasons DOES NOT begin with a capital letters.

Spring incorrect - spring correct

WEATHER

The Weather in English

In English, we usually use it is when we talk about the weather.

This is normally: It is + adjective OR It is + verb-ing

It is + adjective = A description of the weather

It is sunny today.
It's hot and humid today.
It's a nice day today.

We can also say:

It is a + adjective + day (or morning/afternoon/night)
It's a fine day.
It's a windy afternoon.

It is + verb-ing = This type of weather is happening now.

It’s drizzling outside.
It’s snowing.
Take an umbella, it’s raining.

You can also use it is in different tenses

It was cold yesterday.
It will be cloudy tomorrow.

When you are learning vocabulary about the weather, it is important to remember that some of the words have a noun form, a verb form and/or an adjective form. For example:

Rain: (noun) The game was cancelled because of the rain.
Rain: (verb) I think it is going to rain later.
Rainy: (adjective) It's a rainy day.

It pays to learn the different forms of each word and when they are used.

Nouns and Adjectives

Many times when we are talking about the weather, we can add the letter Y to the end of a noun to make it an adjective.

rain (noun) - rainy (adjective)
sun (noun) - sunny (adjective)
wind (noun) - windy (adjective)
cloud (noun) - cloudy (adjective)
fog (noun) - foggy (adjective)

Questions about the weather

People commonly ask about the weather by saying:

What's it like out(side)?
How's the weather?
What's the weather like?
What's the temperature?
What's the weather forecast?

Vocabulary about the weather in English

We have divided this vocabulary into different categories to make it easier. We have:

Clear or Cloudy – Types of Rain – Cold stuff – Types of Wind – Mixed Vocabulary

Clear or Cloudy

Bright: (adjective) full of light; when the sun is shining strongly
Sunny: (adjective) the sun is shining and there are no clouds
Clear: (adjective) without clouds
Fine: (adjective) not raining, clear sky
Partially cloudy: (adjective) when there is a mixture of both blue sky and clouds
Cloudy: (adjective) with many clouds in the sky
Overcast: (adjective) covered with cloud; dull
Gloomy: (adjective) with dark clouds and dull light; some people consider this weather depressing

Sometimes the cloud lowers to ground level and it becomes harder to see…
Fog (noun)/ foggy (adjective): thick cloud close to land
Mist (noun) / misty (adjective): light fog, often on the sea or caused by drizzle
Haze (noun) / hazy (adjective): light mist, usually caused by heat

Types of Rain

Damp: (adjective) slightly wet (often after the rain has stopped)
Drizzle: (verb/noun) to rain lightly with very fine drops
Shower: (noun) a short period of rain
Rain: (verb/noun) water that falls from the clouds in drops
Downpour: (noun) heavy rain
Pour: (verb) to have heavy rain
It's raining cats and dogs: (Idiom) To rain heavily
Torrential rain: (noun) very heavy rain
Flood: (verb/noun) to become covered in water usually due to excessive rain

Cold stuff

Hail: (verb) when frozen rain falls as small balls of ice (hailstones).
Hailstones: (noun) the small hard balls of ice that fall from the sky
Snow: (noun/verb) frozen rain that falls from the sky as soft snowflakes
Snowflake: (noun) an individual piece of snow
Sleet: (noun/verb) snow or hail mixed with rain (often with some wind)
Blizzard: (noun) severe snowstorm with strong winds

Types of Wind

Breeze: a gentle wind (often nice or refreshing)
Blustery: blowing (strong) gusts of wind
Windy: continual wind.
Gale: a very strong wind
Hurricane/cyclone/typhoon: a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce winds and heavy rain.

What's the difference between a hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone?

They are the same thing just with different names because of the region they are in.
Atlantic/Northeast Pacific = a hurricane
Northwest Pacific = a typhoon
Southern Hemisphere = a cyclone

Tornado: (noun) strong violent circular winds in a small area; a rapidly revolving column of air
In United States the word twister is often used instead of tornado.

The Temperature in English

The temperature is how hot or cold something is.
We use a thermometer to measure the temperature of something.
Temperature is usually measure in degrees.

The ° symbol after a number means degrees.
30° = thirty degrees

There are two main systems used for measuring temperature:
°F = degrees Fahrenheit (only used in United States)
°C = degrees Celsius (used in the rest of the world)

When talking about the temperature we normally use:
It + is/was/will be + adjective

It is chilly today.
It was warm yesterday.
It will be cold tomorrow.

Here is a chart showing temperature vocabulary:

The temperatures given are only an approximation to give you an idea of when to use them.

28°C (or more) - Hot
15 to 28°C - Warm
10 to 15°C - Cool
5 to 10°C - Chilly
0 to 5°C - Cold
0°C (or less) - Freezing

Remember, what is hot in one country may only be considered warm in another.
What may be chilly in one country may be freezing in another.

The following words refer to being MORE than hot and are used for temperatures over 30°C.

Boiling: very hot, often used in negative contexts
Humid: hot and damp. It makes you sweat a lot
Muggy: warm and damp in an unpleasant way
Scorching: very hot, often used in positive contexts
Stifling: hot and you can hardly breath
Sweltering: hot and uncomfortable

So what makes a day hot or cold? It depends on the weather…

More vocabulary about the weather

Drought: (noun) Long periods of time without rain causing a lack of water in the area

A lot of the crops dried up because of the drought.

Forecast: (noun) A prediction of how the weather will be on a certain day

The forecast says it's going to rain tomorrow.

Lightning: (noun) A flash of light in the sky during a storm.

Lightning lit the sky many times that night.

Puddle: (noun) a small pool of water on the ground, usually after rain.

The kids jumped in the puddles on the way home from school.

Rainbow: (noun) an arch of colors in the sky formed when the sun shines through rain

I took a photo of a beautiful rainbow that was just above the lake.

Smog: (noun) a cloud of pollution hanging over a city (a fog of smoke)

The view of the city wasn't very good because it was covered in thick smog.

Sunburn: (noun) painful red skin caused by spending too long in the hot sun.

If you don't put on your sunscreen, you'll get sunburn.

Sunshine: (noun) the light and heat of the sun

I could feel the warm sunshine on my back.

Thunder: (noun/verb) the rumbling sound in the clouds that happens after lightning

The cat hid inside because it was scared by the thunder.

Questions using weather vocabulary

What's the weather like in Buenos Aires in January?
How's the weather in Moscow in winter?
It's pretty hot. What's the temperature?
Is it raining outside?
What's the forecast for tomorrow?

GAME

ANIMALS

INSECTS

PETS VOCABULARY

ANIMAL BODY PARTS

FOOD VOCABULARY

FRUIT VIDEO

FRUIT QUIZ

VEGETABLES VIDEO

VEGETABLES QUIZ

FAST FOOD

BEVERAGES

PACKAGES OF FOOD AND DRINKS

DIFFERENT METHODS OF COOKING

COOKING VERBS

TABLE SETTING

Shopping is an important part of our daily life's. When you enter a shop, store or supermarket a shop assistant might come to and ask you one of following questions:

Can I help you?
May I help you?
Is there anything I can do for you?
Hello sir/ madam how may I help you today?
Can I help you find what you are looking for?
Are you looking for anything in particular?

How to answer some of these questions :

Yes please. I am trying to find some baby food.
Yes. Can you tell me if you sell toothpaste?
OK, please tell me where I can find shampoo?

Questions you might want to ask:

Hello, can you help me?
Is it OK to ask you something?

When leaving the store, the shop / sales assistant or checkout worker might ask the following questions.

Did you manage to find everything you wanted?
Is that all?
Is that everything?
Do you need anything else, madam / sir?
Will that be all?

Customer can use the following answers.

Yes, that's it. Can I pay my bill now, please?
Yes, that's all for today. Thank you.

Speaking tips: Remember to be polite. Use the words like 'please', 'thank-you' and 'excuse me'.

You will use 'please' when you are asking somebody for something.
You will use 'thank you' when you have received something.
You will use 'excuse me' before you interrupt somebody.

Sometimes you will have to ask for help if you cannot find the product that you are looking for or asking for the various ways to pay for your goods.

Phrases that will be useful when shopping.

Have you got? = Have you got any toothpaste?
Do you have? = Do you have any first aids kits?
Which aisle is the tooth paste in? (Aisle is the walk way between the shelves)
Can I pay using my visa credit card? = Using your credit card or bank card to pay for your goods.
Can I have a plastic bag to put my shopping in, please? = plastics bags used to carry your shopping in. Some supermarket’s you need to ask for plastic bags, most times you will not have to ask for them.

What is the high street?

The 'high street' is where most of the shops in towns and cities are located. British high streets now look more alike, with the same large chain stores in all major towns and cities, which sell clothes, shoes and electronic goods. There are still smaller family run stores, which specialise in certain goods and products.

Butcher’s shop (sells meat)
Baker’s or bakery (sells bread and cakes)
Greengrocer’s (sells fruit and vegetables, also known simply as the ‘grocer’s’)
Stationer's (sells paper, pencils, pens, printer cartridges and things for an office)
Chemist's or Drugstore (sells medicines and toiletries)
Hardware store (sells equipment and tools that you use in your home and yard: nails, screws also paint, glue,etc.)
Newsagent's (sells newspapers and magazines and also cigarrettes and sweets).
Off-license (sells only alcohol such as beer, wine and spirits. Many off-licenses also sell confectionary and cigarettes).

Shops you might want to know

Butcher’s Baker’s/bakery Newsagent’s

Chemist’s Off-license Local corner shop

Clothes shop Shoe shop Supermarket
Market Greengrocers Sports shop
Book shop Sandwich shop

Supermarket: A large store that sells many different kinds of food and things people need for the house.

Corner shop: A small shop near your heme that opens very long hours and sells food and important things.

What is a local corner shop?

Towns and cities across the UK often have a small local corner shop (convenience store) that normally stays open for very long hours, seven day a week, and stocks many essentials such as milk, bread, some basic foods and toiletries.

Stores that sell different types of goods:

Convenience store: A store where you can buy food, newspapers, etc., that is often open 24 hours each day. Also known as small local corner shop.
Department store: A large store that sells many different products, such as clothes, kitchen equipment, etc.

Chain store: One of a group of stores owned by the same company.

Superstore: A very big store, especially one that has many different types of products, or one that has a lot of one type of product.

Food stores

food store, supermarket, grocery store, convenience store, farmers' market, food market;
meat store (the butcher's), fish store, bakery (the baker's), dairy / dairy store;
fruit store, fruit and vegetables store (the greengrocery / the greengrocer's);
deli store / deli (delicatessen), confectionery, liquor store;
street vendor, ice cream vendor, fruit vendor; fruit stand, hot-dog stand, ice cream stand.

Stores that sell goods more cheaply:

Outlet store: A store that sells things for less than the usual price.

Warehouse store: A store that sells things in large amounts at lower prices.

INSIDE A SUPERMARKET

DIFFERENT SECTIONS IN A SUPERMARKET

THE SUPERMARKET

bakery department / bakery section / baked goods;
meat section, fresh meat counter, frozen meat counter; fish section / fish; poultry section / poultry;
dairy section / dairy products; fruit and vegetables section / produce department / fruits and vegetables;
frozen food section / frozen foods; canned goods section / canned goods;
deli counter / deli section / deli; candy section / confectionery / confections / sweets / candy;
beverages section, soft drinks section; pet food section;
customer, shopper, salesperson, salesclerk; shopping cart, shopping basket;
department / section, aisle, shelf, counter, refrigerator, freezer, scale;
checkout counter, cashier, cash register, to pay, receipt, groceries; paper bag, brown bag, plastic bag.

FOOD PRODUCTS

Grain and grain products: wheat, rye, oats, corn (maize), barley, buckwheat, rice;baked goods / bakery goods, bread, rolls, buns, cakes, cookies, pies; cereal, corn flakes, oat flakes, wheat flakes, rice flakes, muesli, popcorn; pasta, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, vermicelli, angel-hair pasta, ravioli, dumplings; flour, dough, batter, cake mix;
Baked goods: bread, white bread, whole wheat bread, rye bread, raisin bread, garlic bread, sourdough bread, French bread / French loaf, pita bread, tortilla;
Rolls, buns: roll, bread roll, sesame roll, poppy seed roll, cinnamon roll, hamburger bun, hot dog bun, crescent roll / croissant, bagel;
Thin crispy breads:cracker, biscuit, cookie, toast, breadstick, pretzel, hardtack / ship biscuit, wafer, waffle, crouton;
Cakes: cake, shortcake, fruitcake, strawberry shortcake, coffee cake, chocolate chip cake; blueberry muffin, raisin muffin, cupcake, brownie, oatmeal cookie, chocolate cookie, gingerbread;birthday cake, wedding cake, Christmas cake, chocolate cake, honey cake, cheesecake, layer cake, napoleon, sponge cake, torte;
Pastry: pastry, home-made pie, apple pie, blueberry pie, tart, mince pie, meat pie, knish, pizza, doughnut, English muffin, fritters, pancakes, waffles;
Meat, poultry, fish: Meat and meat products: meat, beef, pork, veal, lamb, mutton;
beef steak, roast beef, ground beef, hamburgers, cutlets, spare ribs, pork chops, lamb chops, veal cutlets;ham, bacon, pastrami, corned beef; sausage, salami, smoked sausage, Bologna; hot dogs, link sausages, frankfurters, wieners; Poultry: poultry, chicken, turkey, goose, duck; whole chicken, chicken quarters, chicken leg, drumstick, chicken breast, turkey breast; eggs;
Fish and fish products : fish, salmon, trout, sturgeon, cod, sole, flatfish, pike, halibut, tuna, perch, sea bass, herring, eel, mackerel; fish steak, salmon steak, fish fillet, fillet of sole; smoked fish, salted fish, marinated herring, caviar;
Seafood: seafood, shrimp, prawns, crab, lobster, oysters, clams, shellfish, squid;
Dairy products: Milk and milk products: milk, whole milk, skim milk, low-fat milk, nonfat milk, pasteurized milk, dry milk, condensed milk;
yogurt, kefir, sour milk, buttermilk; cream, sour cream, butter;
cottage cheese, farmers' cheese, home-made cheese, cream cheese; Cheese: cheese, Swiss cheese, Parmesan, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Roquefort, blue cheese; hard cheese, soft cheese, sharp cheese, mild cheese, smoked cheese, grated cheese, cheese spread;
Ice cream: ice cream, sundae, vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, ice cream cone;
Fruit, berries, dried fruit, nuts: Fruit: fresh fruit, apple, pear, apricot, peach, nectarine, plum, grapes, cherry, sweet cherry; lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, grapefruit;
banana, kiwi, olive, pineapple, papaya, mango, avocado, coconut, persimmon, pomegranate; melon, watermelon; Berries: berries, strawberry, blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, black currants, red currants, gooseberry, blackberry, whortleberry; Dried fruit: dried fruit, dried apricots, raisins, figs, prunes, dates, candied fruit; Nuts and seeds: nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, chestnuts, peanuts; pistachio nuts, cashew nuts, pecans, macadamia nuts; apricot pits, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds;
Preserves: raspberry jam, cranberry jam, grape jelly, honey, maple syrup, peanut butter;
Vegetables, beans, herbs: Vegetables: fresh vegetables, salad vegetables, canned vegetables, leaf vegetables / greens; tomato, cucumber, onion, garlic, carrot, beets, potato, sweet pepper, paprika, hot pepper, chili pepper, green onions / spring onions, leek, mushrooms;cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, artichoke, lettuce, spinach, celery, asparagus, cress, watercress; eggplant, aubergine, squash, gourd, zucchini, pumpkin, turnip, radish, horse radish; pickled cucumbers / pickles, marinated cucumbers, sauerkraut, canned olives; Peas, beans, corn: green peas, sweet peas, string beans, lima beans, kidney beans, black beans, soybeans, corn, sweet corn;
Herbs: dill, parsley, basil, coriander, mint;
Fruit juice, beverages, drinks: apple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, tomato juice, fresh fruit juice, frozen fruit juice;
tea, green tea, black tea, tea with milk, iced tea, herbal tea, mint tea, Indian tea; coffee, instant coffee, espresso, cappuccino, decaffeinated coffee / decaf, coffee with milk, coffee with cream, half-and-half, black coffee; cocoa, hot chocolate, milkshake;
Water, soft drinks: mineral water, spring water, soft drinks, soda water, lemonade, cider, ginger ale;
Alcoholic drinks / liquor: beer, wine, red wine, white wine, champagne; vodka, cognac, brandy, whisky, liqueur; cocktail, punch;
Sauces, salad dressings, vegetable oils, fats: tomato sauce, ketchup, mushroom sauce, meat sauce, steak sauce, gravy, spaghetti sauce, hot sauce, chili sauce, barbecue sauce, sweet-and-sour sauce, soy sauce, garlic sauce, white sauce, dip sauce, apple sauce, cranberry sauce; salad dressing, Russian dressing, Italian dressing, French dressing, blue-cheese dressing, mayonnaise; vegetable oil, olive oil, corn oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame oil; margarine, grease, lard, animal fat, vegetable fat;
Seasoning and spices: seasoning, spices, flavoring, condiment, relish;
pepper, ground pepper, whole pepper, red pepper, hot pepper, chili pepper, salt, mustard, garlic; herbs, seeds, bay leaf, basil, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, dill, parsley, nutmeg, mint, caraway, thyme, cardamom, tarragon, lemon peel, oregano, marjoram, rosemary;
Sweets, candy, chocolate: candies, sweets, caramels, mint drops, jelly beans, lollipop, bonbons; chocolates, chocolate candies, chocolate, chocolate bar, candy bar;taffy / toffee, fudge, marshmallow.

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY

A bag of: a bag of potatoes, a bag of oranges, a bag of dog food, a bag of potato chips;
A bar of: a bar of chocolate, a candy bar, a bar of soap;
A bottle of: a bottle of milk, a bottle of mineral water, a bottle of grapefruit juice, a bottle of red wine, two bottles of beer, a bottle of ketchup, a bottle of soy sauce;
A bowl of: a bowl of breakfast cereal, a bowl of cornflakes, a bowl of salad, a bowl of soup;
A box of: a box of spaghetti, a box of corn flakes, a box of crackers, a box of cookies, a box of chocolates, a box of matches;
A bunch of: a bunch of parsley, a bunch of carrots, a bunch of radishes, a bunch of flowers;
A can of: a can of green peas, a can of olives, a can of tomato soup, a can of sardines, a can of beer, a can of hair spray;
A carton of: a carton of milk, a carton of fruit juice, a carton of eggs, a carton of cigarettes (ten packs of cigarettes);
A container of: a container of sour cream, a container / a cup of yogurt;
A cup of: a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, a cup of soup, a (plastic) cup of coffee;
A dozen: a dozen eggs, two dozen eggs, a dozen oranges, a dozen bread rolls, a dozen hamburger buns;
A gallon of: a gallon of milk, a gallon of spring water;
A glass of: a glass of milk, a glass of beer, a glass of wine;
A head of: a head of cabbage, a head of cauliflower, two heads of garlic;
A jar of: a jar of coffee, a jar of mayonnaise, a jar of raspberry jam, a jar of pickles;
A loaf of: a loaf of bread, a loaf of French bread, two loaves of rye bread;
A mug of: a mug of beer, a mug of coffee;
A package of: a package of hot dogs, a package of chicken legs, a package of sesame rolls, a package of cookies, a package of cottage cheese, a package of popcorn, a package of beans, a package of candies;
A pack of: a pack of chewing gum, a pack of cigarettes, a pack of cards; a six-pack of beer, a twelve-pack of mineral water, a twin pack;
A piece of: a piece of bread, a piece of cake, a piece of pie, a piece of fruit;
A pint of: a pint of blueberries, a pint of cream, a pint of beer;
A pound of: a pound of meat, three pounds of ground beef, a pound of cheese, a half pound of butter, two pounds of tomatoes;
A quart of: a quart of milk, a quart of apple juice, two quarts of orange juice;
A roll of: a roll of toilet paper, a roll of paper towels, a roll of foil, a roll of film;
A slice of: a slice of bread, a slice of pie, a slice of pizza, a slice of cheese, a slice of meat; a slice of tomato;
A teaspoon of: a teaspoon of instant coffee, a teaspoon of syrup; a tablespoon of salt; Sugar: a lump of sugar; two lumps of sugar; a cube of sugar; a teaspoon of sugar; a spoonful of sugar;
A tube of: a tube of mustard, a tube of hand cream, a tube of shampoo, a tube of toothpaste;
One, two, five: two fish, four salmon steaks, five frozen hamburgers, three cinnamon buns, six oranges.

WEIGHT

1 ounce (oz.) = 28.35 grams (g)

1 pound (lb.) = 16 ounces = 453.6 grams

2.2 pounds = 1 kilogram (kg)

Liquid

1 pint (pt.) = 0.473 liters (L, l)

1 quart (qt.) = 2 pints = 0.946 liters

1 gallon (gal.) = 4 quarts = 3.785 liters

Inside a clothes shop.

General questions you can ask in a clothing store.

Can you tell me where the dressing room is?
I can't seem to find my size.
Can you help me look for it please?
Do you have this in different colours?
Where is the black shirt you have on display in the shop window?
How much is this jumper?
Will you be having a sale soon?
Where is the matching shirt for this skirt?
When are you going to get more sizes?
I'm looking for a belt that will go with these pants.
Doe's the shop have alteration service?
What will it cost be if I get the skirt altered?
When will you start selling your winter clothes collection?
What day will you be getting your winter clothes collection?

How to answer some of the above questions.

The dressing room is on left at the bottom of the store.
The dressing room is over there next to the jeans.
All our jumpers are located next to the t-shirts at the front of the store.
We get new stock every Monday, so I if you want to try next week.
Yes the store does have alterations ask at the information desk.
Alterations, start from six pounds.
Alterations normally takes one week, but can be quicker depending on our work load. If you leave the shirt today you will be able to pick them up next Friday.
We'll have our winter collection on show late October.

INSIDE A DEPARTMENT STORE

MY TOWN SONG

A house is a building that functions as a home. Most conventional modern houses will at least contain a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or cooking area, and a living room. Each room has a different function & contains a lot of objects inside…

AT HOME. PARTS OF THE HOUSE SONG

1. The Living Room

NOTE: BrE = British English NAmE = Native American English

The living room is the place in the house you're most likely to "hang out" in. It usually has a couch, chairs, and most importantly TV's, VCR's, stereos, and video game consoles and games.

Essential Objects in the Living Room

· Carpet - This can be used to cover an entire floor to make it softer to walk on.

· Rug - This is like a carpet but doesn’t usually cover the entire floor.

· Sofa / couch - This is a large, soft chair, usually meant for several people to sit on

· Coffee table - This is a low table typically placed in front of a sofa.

· Television / TV - You’ll often find this in a living room as a main source of entertainment for the family.

· TV stand - What piece of furniture does a TV usually rest on.

· Side table - This is a small table placed beside couches for drinks, books, etc.

· Fire iron / poker - This a long, metal instrument used to tend a fire.

· Futon / pull-out sofa / sofa-bed - This is a type of sofa that can be unfolded to become a bed, in case you have a guest sleeping over.

· Bean bag - This is a squishy, shapeless chair filled with beans, beads, or something similar.

2. The Kitchen

A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation in a dwelling or in a commercial establishment. The main function of a kitchen is serving as a location for storing, cooking and preparing food (and doing related tasks such as dishwashing), but it may also be used for dining and entertaining.

Objects in the Kitchen

Kitchen is where all the furniture and appliances come together in a package, rather than separate.

Here are some furniture and kitchen utensils & appliances you can find in the kitchen

· A kitchen table and chairs

· Kitchen cupboards (for storage) at eye level fixed to the wall, or at floor level

· A fridge and perhaps a freezer; or a fridge-freezer (a large fridge with a small freezer built in – often there are three freezer "drawers" for example)

· A cooker which consists of an oven (for cooking roast meat, or baking cakes, etc) and a hob (four or five rings for cooking pasta etc)

· A sink (for washing plates, washing vegetables etc)

· Work surfaces (for preparing food)

· A dishwasher (machine to wash plates etc)

· Measuring Cup : Use a measuring cup to measure how much of each ingredient you need to use in the recipe. Many measuring cups are labeled in cups, ounces and milliliters.

· Can Opener : There is also an automatic type called an electric can opener.

· Peeler : Use a peeler to peel (remove the skin from) fruits and vegetables.

· Grater : Use a grater to grate or shred food into small pieces.

· Colander : A colander is often used to drain (remove the extra water) from cooked pasta.

· Sieve / Strainer : A sieve or strainer is often used to separate liquids from solids.

· Whisk : A whisk is used for mixing.

3. The Bathroom

A bathroom is a room in the home for personal hygiene activities, generally containing a sink (basin) and either a bathtub, a shower, or both. In some countries, the toilet is included in this room, for ease of plumbing, whereas other cultures consider this insanitary, and give that fixture a room of its own.

Items in the Bathroom

· Bathtub: a container that is filled with water to take a bath (or to take a shower).

· Comb: a flat piece made of plastic or metal with teeth to help make one's hair neat / tidy.

· Faucet: a device that controls the flow of water from a pipe.

· Hair brush (brush): A metal or plastic object that has bristles and is used to make one's hair neat and tidy.

· Liquid soap: a liquid substance that is used with water to get the body clean.

· Mirror: a piece of glass that reflects an image.

· Sink: a wide bowl that has a faucet and a drain to let the water out. It is usually attached to the wall or is positioned on top of a pedestal.

· Toilet: a large bowl that you sit on that collects bodily waste which is flushed away through a pipe with water.

· Toilet paper: thin sheets of paper that is used to wipe the body after one uses the toilet.

· Toothbrush: a plastic object with a handle an bristles that is used to clean the teeth.

· Toothpaste: a creamy substance that's used to clean the teeth.

· Towel: a piece of fabric, usually made of cotton, for drying the body.

4. The Bedroom

As its name, a bedroom in the house is where people sleep. Furniture and other items in bedrooms vary greatly, depending on taste, local traditions and the socioeconomic status of an individual.

Here are some typical furniture and items can be found in the bedroom:

· Dressing table : a piece of bedroom furniture with drawers and a mirror, that you use while dressing or putting on makeup, etc.

· Bed : a piece of furniture on which you sleep or rest.

· Bedspread : a decorative cloth put over a bed, on the top of all the other covers.

· Blanket : a large piece of cloth, often made of wool, that you use on a bed to keep you warm.

· Pillow : a rectangular bag made of cloth that is filled with soft materials, and is used to rest your head on when you are lying.

· Alarm clock : a clock that wakes you up at specified time.

· Wardrobe("closet" in American English) : a large piece of furniture or a space in a wall with a door where you hang your clothes.

THIS IS ME SONG

STAMP YOUR FEET SONG

HEALTH PROBLEMS VOCABULARY

The most common ways to ask about someone's health are:

How do you feel (today)?

How are you feeling?

Is everything okay?

They will most likely respond:

I'm fine.

I feel sick.

Not so good.

Not very well.

I don't feel well.

I'm sick.

When you see (or hear) that they are not well, then you can ask:

What's the matter?

What's wrong?

If the person wants to say what is wrong, they may give the reason they feel that way:

I have ... (+ health condition)

I've got ... (+ health condition)

I have a headache

I've got a sore throat.

List of Health Problems

The following is a list of common health problems (ailments and illnesses) with the definition of each word or expression:

asthma: a respiratory condition where spasms in the lungs cause difficult in breathing. An asthmatic uses an inhaler to calm the spasms.

a backache: a prolonged pain in the back.

a broken leg: when a bone in the leg is broken. A broken leg is put in a cast to help immobilize the leg so that it heals quicker. Other parts of the body with bones can also be broken, for example a broken arm, a broken wrist etc.

a cold: a common viral infection which causes mucous to run from the nose, gives a sore throat and often includes sneezing.

a cough: the act of expelling air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound.

an earache: pain inside the ear.

a fever: an abnormally high body temperature, usually accompanied by shivering and a headache.

the flu: flu is the common name given for influenza. It is a contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages that causes fever and sever aching.

a headache: a continuous pain in the head.

heartburn: a form of indigestion felt as a burning sensation in the chest. It is caused by acid regurgitation into the esophagus.

(the) measles: an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash on the skin. It typically occurs in childhood.

a rash: a lot of small red spots on the skin that are usually itchy.

a sore throat: a condition of pain in the throat, typically caused by inflammation of it.

a stomachache (US) - stomach ache (Brit): The pain in a person's belly. Notice how the word can be spelled together or as two words, depending on the country.

sunburn: when the skin becomes red with inflammation as a result of overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

a toothache: the pain in a tooth or teeth.

The difference between sick and ill

To most people, both sick and ill more or less mean the same thing, that you are not in a healthy condition.

Sick is less formal than ill and usually describes short-term ailments or diseases (like a cold or cough). Sick can also refer to feeling nauseous. In British English, to be sick can mean to vomit.

Ill is often for more serious health problems (like cancer or pneumonia) but can also be used for short-term ones.

Illness (noun) refers to a medical condition. Sickness (noun) refers to how you feel.

The difference between ache and pain

ACHE is a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of the body. It can often be a throbbing sensation that covers more than one point. You can sometimes try and ignore an ache.

PAIN is physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury. It is usually a sharp sensation in a specific part of the body and hurts more than an ache.

List of clothing for men, ladies and babies vocabulary.

Men's clothes

Suit / suits: Suits can be worn by men a women suit are different to a mans suit.
Waistcoat / waistcoats: Are worn with a suit although women tend not to wear them.
Long-sleeved shirt / long-sleeved: Shirts Shirts are worn with suits, but also can be worn with trousers or jeans.
Short-sleeved shirt / short-sleeved shirts:
Tie / ties: Ties are worn with shirts and also when wearing a suit.

Women's clothes

dress / dresses: A garment for women and girls, that consists of bodice and skirt in one piece.
Blouse / blouses: Worn with a women's suit or with a skirt.
Skirt / skirts: Skirts are only from the waist down and can vary in length.
Tank-top / tank-tops: A item of clothing that as no arms and has shoulder straps.

Uni-Sex (clothes that can be worn by a man or women)

Coat / coats: Coats normally are waist length, but can be as long as ankle length, and are used to protect us from the weather.
Jacket / jackets: most jackets are waist length and open down the front.
T-shirt / t-shirts: a light garment where the short sleeves, t-shirts get there names as when laid flat look like the letter t.
Polo shirt / polo shirts: a short-sleeved, pullover sport shirt, normally of cotton, with a round neckband or a turnover collar.
Trouser / trousers: Worn with a shirt or as part of a suit, however they can be worn with a t-shirt as well.
Jean / jeans: Normally are a blue colour , but can be most colours and Levis are a popular brand.
Short / shorts: Can be knee length or shorter depending on the style.
Jumper / jumpers or pullover / pullovers: A garment that is pulled over your head so it can be worn.
Cardigan / cardigans: Normally a collarless knitted sweater or jacket that opens down the front.
sweatshirt / sweatshirts: A garment that is pulled over your head so it can be worn.

Baby clothes

Nappy / nappies: Used on babies till they are toilet trained.
Baby grows: Covers the whole body and is fastened on the back.
Dummy / dummies: To help sooth babies.

HoIiday and leisure clothes

swimming trunk / swimming trunks: Can be a pair of shorts or skin tight pair of briefs.
bikini / bikinis: A 2 piece costume ladies wear on the beach or swimming.
swimsuit / swimsuits / or swimmimg costume / swimmimg costumes: A 1 piece item that covers the body from the neck to the waist.

Underwear men

boxers
briefs
y-fronts
vest / vests

Ladies underwear

bra / bras
knicker / knickers or brief / briefs:
tights
stockings or suspenders:
vest / vests:

Foot-ware

Shoe / shoes (unisex): can be worn for many things such as, going to work, shopping and walking.
High heels (ladies shoes): A ladies shoe that as a heel that can be between 1 inch and 10 inch.
boot / boots: Boots are normally ankle high, although ladies boots sometime can be knee high.
wellington / wellingtons: normally about knee height and used to stop your feet wet.
Slipper / slippers: Only worn in side the house to help keep your feet warm.
Sock / socks (unisex): A garment worn on the foot before putting your shoes or trainers on.
Trainer / trainers: Can be used for most sports and also worn as a fashion statement.
Flip flops: Are a thong sandal and the name was given due to the noise when people walk in them.
Plimsolls: Normally worn when going to the gym.

Head-ware

Baseball cap / baseball caps: Worn by many young people as a fashion statement, it can be worn to shield the sun from your eyes.
Sun hat / sun hats: Used to protect your head and shoulders from the sun.
Bowler hat / bowler hats: An old English hat from the 1800's and still worn sometimes by the upper class.
Knitted hat / knitted hats or woolen hat(s) or bobble hat(s): Worn when the weather is very cold.

Clothes for men and women vocabulary

Clothes and accessories vocabulary

Learning about clothes and accessories English lesson

VIDEO

PLAY + Sport

We use to play for the following sports:

Football : This name refers to different sports, depending on which country you are in. In the USA, (American) football is a very strategic game that is played with an oval-shaped ball. It is called gridiron in other parts of the world. In Australia, football refers to Australian Rules Football, which is a very fast paced game that is also played with an oval-shaped ball and the players use both their hands and their feet. In New Zealand, football may refer to the game of rugby, which involves an oval-shaped ball and fifteen players on each team. In the rest of the world, football usually refers to what we call soccer in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Netball : is a fast and skillful game that is played on a court that is divided into sections. It is played with a round ball that is approximately the same size as a soccer ball. The aim is to get as many goals as possible by 'shooting' the ball through the ring. A netball ring is similar to a basketball ring, but it does not have a backboard.

Cricket : is played on a grass oval with a pitch in the centre. It is played with a small, hard ball, a wooden bat and wickets. The aim is to get more 'runs' that the other team. The game is divided into 'innings'. In the first innings, one team bats and the other team bowls, and then they change sides for the next innings. The batting team has two batsmen on the field and as they go 'out', other batsmen from their team take their place. The fielding team team has a bowler, a wicket-keeper and fieldsman who try to prevent the batsmen from making runs and who try to get the batsmen out. Cricket is the national sport of Australia and is the most popular sport during the summer. One of the most famous Australians - Sir Donald Bradman - was a cricketer and regarded as the best cricketer ever. They are the current world champions in both test match cricket (five day match) and one-day cricket. Cricket is very popular in other Commonwealth countries like England, South Africa, India and New Zealand.

Baseball : is played on a 'diamond' with four bases - first, second, third and home. It is played with a rounded bat and a small, hard ball. The fielding team wear a special padded glove with which to catch the ball. The aim is to get as many home runs as possible by running around the diamond without getting 'out'.

Basketball : is a very dynamic game where the players are often very tall and can jump very high! They use a round, bouncy ball and the aim is to get as many points as possible by putting the ball through the ring. You get a different number of points depending on how you get the ball through the ring.

DO + Sport

We use to do for the following sports:

Gymnastics : requires enormous strength and flexibility. Gymnasts may perform exercises or routines of exercises on a slightly padded floor or on many other pieces of equipment, such as the vault, beam, high bar, uneven bars, parallel bars, rings and pommel horse.

Martial arts :There are many martial art forms that you can learn, such as Karate, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Judo, Kendo, Capoeira, Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, Aikido and many others. Martial arts usually have a very long and rich history and some also have spiritual or religious significance. They require a lot of discipline and practice to master them.

GO + Sport

We use to go for the following sports:

Swimming : There are many different swimming strokes that you can use to move your body through the water - freestyle (also called the front crawl), dolphin crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, sidestroke and dog-paddle. When you swim, you can wear bathers (also called a swimsuit, swimmers or togs) or you can wear a wetsuit if you are going surfing or scuba-diving. You can also use equipment to swim, such as fins (also called flippers), a snorkel or an oxygen tank if you are going to stay underwater for a long time.

Snowboarding and snow-skiing : Many people love winter because they can go snowboarding and skiing at the snow. In these sports, people attach skis or a snowboard to their feet and glide across the surface of the snow. There are many different types of skiing, including downhill skiing and cross-country skiing. Both skiers and snowboarders can also learn freestyle skiing or snowboarding, where they use jumps to perform acrobatic-style tricks.

Hang-gliding : This sport is for people who wish they could fly! In hang-gliding, people hold onto and 'hang' from a set of manmade wings. The hang-glider then runs along the ground and jumps off the edge of a cliff and the wings, like a kite, fly on the wind and carry the person along in the air. Without a motor, the glider cannot stay in the air for very long, but he or she can keep the hang-glider flying for as long as possible before directing it safely to the ground.

Skydiving and parachuting : Many people love the excitement of jumping out of a plane and either free-falling for a time before opening their parachute (skydiving) or opening their parachute immediately after jumping so that they float more leisurely to the ground (parachuting). These sports are usually done in the open country where there is a lot of space for people to land safely.

Horse-riding : You can ride a horse through countryside or along the beach to enjoy the scenery. You can ride your horse at a walk, trot, canter or gallop. You can enter dressage and show-jumping competitions where you display your horse-riding skills. The style of riding at these events is very disciplined and requires a lot of skilled communication with the horse.

A list of sports in English

American football Australian rules archery
artistic gymnastics athletics (track and field) badminton
baseball basketball bowling
boxing cricket cycling
diving fencing football (soccer)
golf handball hockey
horse riding ice hockey judo
karate kayaking lacrosse
netball polo rhythmic gymnastics
rowing rugby (union) rugby league
running sailing softball
squash surfing swimming
table tennis taekwondo tennis
volleyball waterpolo weightlifting
wrestling

Free Time Activities

Free time = The time when you are not working, when you can choose what you do.

Free time = leisure time

What do you do in your free time?

General Free Time Activities

Go to the cinema : to see Hollywood blockbuster movies, Bollywood movies (from India), art films, animated films. You can also say go to the movies.

Some film categories are: Comedy, Drama, Horror, Thriller, Action, Science Fiction (Sci-Fi), Fantasy, Documentary, Musical.

Watch TV : Different types of television programs are: The News, Soap Operas, Criminal Investigation Dramas, Medical Dramas, Reality TV, Situation Comedies (Sit-Coms), Talk Shows, Documentaries, Cartoons, Game Shows, Sports programs, Movies, Political programs, Religious programs.

Spend time with family : You can do many things with your family. Usually, the fact that you are together is more important than the activity.

Go out with friends : You can also do many things with your friends, like go out to a bar, go dancing at a club, have dinner at a restaurant, play a sport, sit down and talk, go out for a coffee, have a barbecue, or any other activity that you all enjoy. Or sometimes when you don't do anything specific, you can say hang out with friends.

Surf the internet : On the internet, you can research a topic you are interested in using a search engine, visit your favourite websites, watch music videos, create your own video and upload it for other people to see, maintain contact with your friends using a social networking site, write your thoughts in a blog, learn what is happening in the world by reading news websites, etc.

Play video games : You can play games on your computer or on a game consoles, like PlayStation, X-Box, Wii, PSP, Gameboy, etc. You can play on your own or with your friends or family.

Play a musical instrument : Learn to play the piano, guitar, violin, cello, flute, piano accordion, mouth organ, panpipes, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, etc. You can play on your own or with a group, such as a band or an orchestra.

Listen to music : Turn up the volume and listen to your favourite type of music, such as pop, rock, hip hop, rhythm & blues, blues, jazz, classical, soul, heavy metal.

Read: Many people love to read both fiction and non-fiction books and magazines. If you like fiction, you can read novels, short stories, crime fiction, romance, etc. If you like non-fiction, you can read biographies, autobiographies, or books on history, science, philosophy, religion, or any other topic you are interested in.

Write : Many people like to write in their diary. Another name for a diary is a journal. You can also write many other things, such as poetry, novels, letters, short stories, etc. (See under Read for more options).

Go to the park : You can go to the park alone, with family or with friends. You can take a picnic rug and a picnic basket and have a picnic. You can read, sleep, kick a football around, climb trees or play on the children's playground.

Go to cultural locations and events : There are many types of cultural locations and events. You can go to the museum, to an art gallery or to the zoo to see animals from around the world. You can go to concerts, plays, musicals, dance recitals and opera performances.

Go shopping : Many people like to go to shopping malls and areas of the city that are known for shopping to buy clothes or items for their houses and gardens.

Cook : Many people like to cook different types of food. You can make meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can bake cakes, cookies, slices and pastries in the oven. Some people boast that they have a special recipe - ask them to cook it for you!

Study something : There are many things that you can study just because you find it interesting! You can study a language; you can learn a skill, such as cooking or making furniture; or you can even study the hieroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians, if you want to!

Art and crafts : There are many, many arts and crafts that you can learn and practice. You can paint, draw, sew, crochet, knit, sculpt, engrave, make furniture, make jewelry, or you can even create your own new art form!

Gardening : You can plant flowers, vegetables or herbs and maintain your garden by watering it, pulling the weeds and feeding it with fertilizer.

Exercise and play a sport: To stay fit and healthy, you can do exercise alone, such as swimming or working out at a gym, or you can play a team sport, such as football or basketball.

WH- QUESTIONS

Present Simple Tense – Daily Routine

We use the present simple tense when talking about daily routines.

What is your normal daily routine?

Your routine is your normal everyday activities. The things that you usually do on a normal school or work day.

How to write about your simple daily routine:

1. Use the present simple tense.

Forming the present simple tense is simple – use the base form of the verb.

If you are using the third person singular (he/she/it) you need to add s/es to the verb.

He plays… (to play)
She jumps… (to jump)
It goes… (to go)

Example sentences with the simple present tense:

I clean my teeth at 7:00.
I go to sleep at 11:00.

2. Use adverbs of frequency.

100%

always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, hardly ever, rarely, never

I always clean my teeth before I go to school.

I sometimes have hot chocolate in the evening.

Present Continuous Tense-What are you doing ?

We use the present continuous tense when talking about things that we are doing now.

What are you doing?

The present continuous tense is written with the present tense of the auxiliary verb be (am/is/are) and with the –ing (present participle) form of the main verb.

We can use the present continuous tense to talk about something that is happening right now.

I am reading.

We can also use this tense to talk about something that is not happening now.

I am not studying.

TO BE

TO HAVE GOT

TO JUMP (or any verb ending with consonant)

TO GO (or any verb ending with vowel)

Past Simple Tense – What Did You Do?

We use the past simple tense when talking about things that we have done in the past.

What did you do?

The past simple tense is written by adding “ed” or “d” to a REGULAR VERB or by using the past tense form of IRREGULAR VERBS ( third column of the irregular verbs list).

Regular Verbs

arrive – arrived
play – played
work – worked

Irregular Verbs

buy – bought to buy-bought-bought
go – went to go-went-gone
sit – sat to sit-sat-sat

Examples:

I went to the shop.
Steve played football.
They jumped out of the window.

Past Continuous Tense – What were you doing When…?

We use the past continuous tense when talking about things that we were doing in the past.

What were you doing When?

The past continuous tense is written with the PAST TENSE of the auxiliary VERB BE (was/were) and with the –ing (present participle) form of the main verb.

We can use past continuous tense to talk about an action or event in the past that was interrupted by something. The past continuous describes an unfinished or incomplete action in the past.