Time Verbs

In English, there are expressions for how to use your time. Sometimes, they are related to productivity and the amount of available time, so pay attention to how you use them.

to spend time - This is a neutral expression, which could be pleasant or not. It can be used to avoid mentioning the specific activity that you did, as in the first example.

Example: I spent time with my family last weekend.

I want to spend more time doing things that interest me.

I don't want to spend much time at dinner because I have a lot of work to do at home.

During the project, we spent a lot of time in the planning stage, so we couldn't spend much time preparing a presentation.

to pass time - If you pass time, or time passes, you are discussing the movement of time.

Example: While I was waiting in the airport, I passed the time by reading a book.

Time passes slowly when you're bored, but it passes quickly when you're having fun.

to waste time / waste of time - Time is being used unproductively, or counter-productively, in this case.

Example: I wasted a lot of time in high school hanging out and watching TV.

We worked really hard on our project, but it was a total waste of time because the professor didn't want to see it.

A friend of mine visited the city, but he said it was a waste of time.

to kill time / time to kill - This means you have time to do something, and you are occupying that time with an activity.

Example: I killed some time this afternoon watching some old movies.

My friends and I have all weekend to hang out, so we'll kill some time at the mall.

Because of the summer holiday, I have a lot of time to kill.

I have an appointment tonight, but I still have a few hours to kill. Do you want to go for coffee?

Traffic Terms Pt. 2 (Accidents)

The car had a mechanical failure.
It swerved across the road and crashed into a brick wall.
The collision was frightening and the impact could be heard for miles.
The driver went through the windshield, suffering a near-fatal injury.
The car was totaled, so they towed it to the junkyard.
They investigated the accident and found that the brakes had malfunctioned.

Vocabulary:
A mechanical failure is when something mechanical stops working.
To swerve means to leave a straight line; turn.
A car crashes into something.
Collision is the noun for collide; when one thing hits another.
Impact is the force of something striking something else.
The windshield is the front window of a car.
Near-fatal means he almost died.
If a car is totaled, it was damaged so badly that it will never drive again.
To tow a car is to carry it to a different location. This is done by a tow truck.
A malfunction is what happens when something doesn't work properly.

Traffic Terms Pt. 1

The road is a dangerous place, and it comes with its own vocabulary. Try some of the phrases below:

Having the Right-of-way means that you have the right to go first.

To cut SO off means to move quickly into another lane, causing someone to slow down or stop.

A collision happens when something violently strikes something else.

Combined Example: I clearly had the right-of-way, but the car cut me off, nearly causing a collision.

To speed up simply means to go faster.

To ram into someone means to hit someone with intent.

Road rage is the feeling of extreme and uncontrollable anger when driving.

Combined Example: I was so angry that I sped up and rammed into him. I suppose you can call that road rage.

Heavy traffic is what you experience when the roads are extremely busy.

A traffic jam happens when everyone has stopped moving completely.

Combined example: Right now, there’s heavy traffic downtown, but we’re still moving. At least, it isn’t a traffic jam.

To double park means to park next to a car that is parked next to the sidewalk. You cannot do this for long periods of time because the car next to the sidewalk cannot pull out.

To back up means to move backwards in a car.

Combined example: We were double parked on the street, so I had to back up to let him out.

Flip

One word that can be underused by English learners is Flip. There are a few common uses and expressions for the word, as seen below:

to flip / to do a flip - for a person or object this means to turn over completly (or maybe half)
The boy jumped on the trampoline and did a flip.
The SUV turned too quickly and flipped.
The dolphin flipped in the air for the audience.

to flip - in America, it can also mean to be really excited, or really angry
When I said I was getting married, my parents flipped. (excited)
I flipped when I heard I got the acting job. (excited)
When your mother sees this mess, she is going to flip. (angry)

Hot Tip!!! to flip out is the same as to flip, when you're angry. Example: My neighbor flipped out when he saw the damage to his car.


to flip over - this means to turn over on its other side
I flipped over the record to listen to the other side.
Flip over the pancake or it will burn!
The turtle was on its back, trying very hard to flip over.

to flip (someone) off / to flip off (someone) - this means showing someone your middle finger, it's rude, you're probably angry
I got arrested for flipping off a policeman.
The taxi driver almost hit me with his car, and flipped me off as he passed.

Embarrassment

Embarrassed is often used too broadly by Korean, English learners. The best way to understand this and other feelings is to tell you situations where you would feel this way.

to be embarrassed
I was embarrassed when I walked into the woman's toilet by mistake.
Embarrassingly, I spilled coffee all over my shirt.
I tried to approach a pretty girl, but embarrassed myself by tripping on my own feet.

to feel/be awkward (for situations that are mutually embarrassing)
We hadn't met before, so it was a very awkward dinner.
During our date, I felt very awkward asking her to pay for half the meal.
I briefly lost my presentation notes, and I spent a few awkward minutes looking for them.

to be frustrated (when you want something to happen, but it doesn't)
I was very frustrated by the lack of cooperation on our team.
It's very frustrating when my computer stops working.
It's frustrating talking to my husband about anything. He doesn't listen.

to (be) upset
I was upset when my friend criticized me.
The newspaper article upset me.
It's always upsetting when a family breaks up.

Schedule and Appointments

Your schedule is the list of "things" you need to do throughout the day. It is normally organized by day and time. Those "things" are called appointments. Look at the following dialogue to see the difference:

Person A: Are you busy these days?
Person B: Yes, I have a busy schedule.
Person A: Are you free at 10am tomorrow?
Person B: No, I already have an appointment at 10am, and another one at 11am.
Person A: Would you like to get some lunch then?
Person B: Sorry, I already have a lunch appoinment with my boyfriend.
Person A: You have a boyfriend?


Hot Tip!!! You can use the words together to make the verb schedule an appointment. It has the same meaning as make an appointment.

Example: I tried to schedule an appointment with my psychiatrist, but she was on vacation.


Next, there are some expressions for a busy schedule and a not-so busy schedule:

Busy:
I have a full schedule tomorrow. (no free time)
My schedule is packed. (no free time)
I have a hectic schedule. (busy)
My schedule is tight. (very little gap between appointments)

Not-so Busy: My schedule is open. (a lot of free time)
My schedule is flexible. (I have things to do, but I can do them at different times.)

Even if / Even though / Even when

This is a quick tip I took from my in-class lessons. It's the difference between even if, even though and even when.

even if means you will take an action, despite a possible event that may otherwise deter you.

Example: He's going to the seaside this weekend even if it rains.

Even if you beg me, I won’t give you any money.

Even if I had the money, I wouldn't waste it on buying a car.

even though means you will that you will take (are taking, have taken) an action, despite an event that may otherwise deter you.

Example: I’m going to his birthday party, even though I don’t like him.

Even though my parents don’t approve, we are getting married.

The man wouldn't give money to the poor, even though he was rich.

even when means an event occurs (occurred) routinely despite another event that may otherwise deter it.

Example: Even when it was snowing, he still went for a jog every morning.

He always makes time to be with his family, even when he's really busy at work.

Clothes

to change clothes means putting on new clothes.
Example: I need to go home and change clothes before we go out tonight.
She spilled coffee on her skirt, and she went home to change it.

to change into clothes means putting on different clothes.
Example: It's getting hot, so I'm going to change into shorts and a t-shirt.
Give me a moment, and I'll change into something more comfortable.

to exchange something (for something else) means you took it back to the store and got a new one.
Example: My pants were too small, so I exchanged them for bigger ones.
The outfit was a little old-fashioned, so I exchanged it for something more modern.

to try something on means you wear the clothing before buying it to see how it looks.
Example: Can I try this on? Yes, you can try it on in the dressing room.
This shirt looked better when I tried it on in the store.
When I tried the shoes on, they felt uncomfortable.

to fit means the clothing is the right size for you.
Example: This dress fits me perfectly.
These pants don't fit me. They're a little too loose.
This shirt fits me, but I'm not sure if it's my style.

to suit someone means the clothing is their style and looks good on them. You can also say, "It's your style."
Example: That outfit really suits you. It makes you look thinner.
That blouse really suits you. It's just your color.

to go window shopping is looking at clothing without the intention buying any. Note: do not say, "eye shopping"
Example: I like to go window shopping to see what's in style.
I go shopping every weekend. And if I don't have money, I will just window shop.

Believe / Believe In / Trust

This another situation where a Korean word (BIT-DO) has two English translations. Believe and Trust are often confused. Likewise, to believe and to believe in have different meanings.

to believe - this is generally only used for trust in one situation.
Example: He told me he was with his friends, and I believe him.
My brother says he wasn't at the Web Cafe' yesterday, but I don't believe him.
My husband promised to give up smoking, but I'll believe it when I see it.


to believe in - this is for belief in the existence of something, or a belief in someone's abilities.
Example: I believe in God and ghosts.
I don't believe in vampires, and I hate the Twilight series.
You can win this race. I believe in you.


to trust - this is stronger than "to believe" and can apply to a general attitude towards someone.
Example: I trust my son, so I don't believe he would cheat.
I would trust you with my life.
Her bad relationships make it difficult to trust men.
Don't trust anyone who promises the world.
I don't trust my government.

Korean Vocabulary Errors

There are two common Korean vocabulary errors when translating the words, NOL-DA and JAE-MEET-DA. I've heard these mistakes even at a high level.

#1) NOL-DA means to play in English. However, when you become a teenager, you don't really play anymore. As an adult, you usually hang out. Although, you can play something if it's a specific, like a board game or sport.

Examples:
When my sister and I were young, we liked to play with dolls.
The children spent all afternoon playing in the park.

I played basketball in university.
Let's play Monopoly. I haven't played that game in about 10 years.

I hung out with my friends on Friday night.
If you have the chance, let's hang out after work.



#2) JAE-MEET-DA means three different things in English: funny, fun, interesting. These all have different meanings in English, and they should definitely be treated separately. Individually, they have more than one meaning, but I think a rough guide will be more useful than a full description.

If something is fun, it makes you happy and you enjoy it/them.
Example: I had a fun time last night, and I hope we can do it again.
Let's have some fun at the amusement park next weekend.
Barry is a really fun guy, and I hope to see more of him.

If something is funny, it makes you laugh.
Example: The movie was funny, and I couldn't stop laughing.
Jerry is a funny guy. He's always telling jokes.

If something is interesting, it makes you think.
Example: The class was interesting. I feel like I got a lot of new ideas.
The book was very interesting. I couldn't put it down.
Perry is really interesting. I could listen to him talk for hours.


Note: This is a rough guide to fun, funny, and interesting. Consult your dictionary if you think you need more details.

As You May Know

When talking about something that the listener might know about already, it's better to introduce it with an expression, such as: "as you (may) know" or "as you (may have) heard".

#1) "As you know" / "As you heard" -- You can use these two expressions when the listener knows the information you will give. Also, the listener knows that you know that they know the information. Including this is helpful because it lets them know you're not just repeating information. Also, you will probably give them additional information.

Example: "As you know. I'm quitting my job next week."
"As you heard, we're going to have company evaluations tomorrow. "

#2) "As you may know" / "As you may have heard" / "As you may be aware" -- This has the same function as the other expressions. However, in this case, you're not sure if the listener already knows. It's also possible that you're speaking to more than one person; some people who know the information, and some people who don't. This is a safe expression because you won't embarass yourself by repeating information, and you won't embarass yourself by claiming the listener knows already when they really don't know.

Example: "As you may know, Alfred is in the hospital."
"As you may have heard, the neighbor's dog is missing."
"As you may be aware, Julia and I have split up."


Additional Expressions: "As you probably know", "As you've probably heard", "As you're probably aware", "As you undoubtedly know"... -- The meaning of these is close to the others, so you can safely follow the logic.

Best of luck!
~~Lance

Forgetting

I've already discussed Memory in one of my posts. Now, I would like to mention some very common expressions related to forgetting.


#1) "It escapes me." -- Sometimes, you know a piece of information (usually a name/title), but you can't immediately think of it. You probably just need a little time to think of it, but at that moment you can say, "It escapes me."

Example: "I've met her before, but her name escapes me."
"I've saw a movies a few weeks ago, but the movie title escapes me at the moment."


#2) "It slipped my mind." -- Sometimes, you may forget to do something. When you explain the situation later, you can say it slipped my mind.

Example: "I knew there was a meeting this morning, but it completely slipped my mind."
"I know you asked me to buy groceries on the way home, but it slipped my mind."


#3) "to take one's mind off (of) something" -- Other times, there is something you want to forget about. Maybe you want to forget temporarily, so you can have a few moments of peace. In these moments, you can say, "...to take my mind off (of)..."

Example: "I'm going on a day trip this weekend to take my mind off of work."
"I'm going to do some heavy drinking to take my mind off my troubles."
"You need to start dating again to take your mind off of your divorce."


#4) "to draw a blank" -- When you're trying to remember some information, you know that you knew it before, but you can't remember, you are drawing a blank.

Example:
"This is frustrating. She told me when her birthday was, but I'm drawing a blank."
"I wish I could remember his name, but I'm drawing a blank."
"Do you know which film stars Robert DeNiro as a taxi driver? I'm drawing a blank."


#5) "to be on the tip of one's tongue" -- Finally, when you almost remember a piece of information (again, usually a name), you can say it's on the tip of my tongue. By the way, this is a very frustrating feeling.

Example: "What is her name? It's on the tip of my tongue."
"Who was that actor in the movie Taxi Driver? His name is on the tip of my tongue."
"What's the capital of Poland? Starts with a 'W'. It's on the tip of my tongue."

Showing Preference

These are a few main ways to show preference in English, but sometimes the included grammar is mixed up. Be careful with these terms, especially "to" and "than", infinitive verbs and gerunds.


Prefer

#1a) to prefer something to something else
Example: I prefer motorcycles to cars.

#1b) to prefer doing something to doing something else
Example: I prefer driving a motorcycle to driving a car.
I prefer swimming to running.

#1c) to prefer (to do) something
Note: You can use this to express a preference when the alternative is already known.
Example: Would you like to eat Italian food?
Answer #1 -- No, I would prefer sushi.
Answer #2 -- No, I would prefer to eat sushi.


Would Rather

to rather do something than do something else
Note: This is used for simple present verbs.

Example: I would rather live abroad than stay in my home country.
I would rather go the movies than go to a play.


Like More Than

#1) to like something more than something else
Example: I like weekends more than weekdays.
I like my daughter more than my son.

#2) to like doing something more than doing something else
Example: I like walking in the park more than walking through the city.
I like talking on the phone more than writing emails.

Water Idioms and Expressions

Honestly, I don't like the study of idioms. On average, native English speakers don't use them very often. It's usually reserved for written English, and using them in normal conversation is unnatural. All the same, I will write about idioms once in a while. Furthermore, I promise you: THE IDIOMS I WRITE ABOUT WILL BE USEFUL.

The first ones I discuss will be about water:

#1) a fish out of water - someone who finds themselves in an unnatural setting; someone who is out of their element

example: #1) Rupert is a typical guy, who likes sports and going out with his friends. Whenever he meets his in-laws, he has to be polite. He's like a fish out of water. #2) I'm trying to fit into a regular job, but I feel like a fish out of water.


#2) to keep your head above water - to survive a challenging situation

example: #1) My work is piling up, and I'm desperately trying to keep my head above water. #2) Please don't ask me for any favors. I'm barely keeping my head above water.


#3) watered down - diluted and less potent

example: #1) My whiskey is watered down. Get me a strong drink! #2) The director made a very edgy and controversial film. Then, the film studio got a hold of it and watered it down. #3) You changed my article, and made it into a watered down version.


#4) to tread water - a.) to stay in one place in a body of water by kicking your legs quickly. b.) to do strenuous activity but still not be productive

example a: I can tread water for 15 minutes before my legs get tired.
example b: We all want to make progress in the workplace, but we're only treading water.

Distance #2 (Near, Nearby)

Many English learners make mistakes with the words near and nearby.
The mistakes include when to use them, and where to place them.
Be warned: this is not a simple topic, so think carefully about it.


Near is used when discussing the distance between two objects.
It can be used for the absolute distance between two locations.

Example: The subway station is near my office.
The red light district is near city hall.
The fire station is near the fireworks factory.


Near can also be used for the relative distance between two things.

Example: There's a bear near the picnic baskets. Run away!
This is a long bus ride. Are we near the university yet?
I'm near the police station now. I'll go in for help. (phone)



Nearby can be used when the subject is assumed, but not explicitly mentioned.

Example: The subway station is nearby.
You've suffered a lot today. Do you have any friends or family nearby?
I'm starving. Can we go somewhere nearby to eat?


Nearby can also be used as an adjective for a location.

Example: He goes to a nearby pharmacy to buy his heart medication.
The robbery took place at a nearby restaurant.