Blog for ESL by Stephen Lau
Learning a language is not easy, let alone mastering it, especially a second language. This blog provides information and tools not only to learn but also to master the English language.
Monday, November 18, 2024
The Subjunctive Mood
Saturday, November 16, 2024
You Correct the Incorrect
Friday, November 15, 2024
Use of Italics
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
American Idioms
Dog in the manger: a very selfish person
Had better: ought to, should
e.g. Don’t you think it’s late in the day to change your tactics?
First and last: above all; under all circumstances
Monday, November 11, 2024
Learn How to Speak Like a Native Speaker
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Better English For You
WHAT this book is all about:
This book is about every aspect of both written and spoken English.
It covers the basics as well as the essentials of good and effective written and spoken English.
It helps you avoid all the common errors made by both native and non-native speakers of English.
WHY you should read this book:
This book is for every one who speaks and writes English every day.
This book is especially for ESL learners who are not familiar with the use of the English language.
This book is also for native speakers of English, who need to write good English in their education, and throughout their careers.
CONTENTS
ONE: WHY BETTER ENGLISH
TWO: HOW TO HAVE BETTER ENGLISH
LEARING TO SPEAK BY SPEAKING AND TO WRITE BY WRITING
GETTING BASIC TOOLS FOR BETTER ENGLISH
An English Dictionary
A Thesaurus
THREE: BETTER WRITTEN ENGLISH FOR YOU
THE PURPOSE OF WRITING
THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BASICS
Nouns
Pronouns
Adjectives
Verbs
Adverbs
Conjunctions
Prepositions
Interjections
THE ENGLISH SENTENCE
Sentence Patterns
Different Types of Sentences
Balanced Sentence Construction
THE TENSES
THE PUNCTUATION
The Comma
The Semi-Colon
The Colon
The Dashes
The Period (Full-Stop)
COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS
Avoid Double Negatives
Avoid Omission of Key Verbs
Avoid Omission of Words in Comparison
Avoid Dangling Participles
Avoid Misusing Dependent Clause
BEGINNING TO WRITE
Paragraph Development
Learn Commonly Used Difficult Vocabulary
Learn Commonly Used Difficult Vocabulary
Learn Idioms and Colloquial Expressions
Learn to Know the Difference
Learn to Avoid Wordiness
DEVELOPING THE TOPIC
Point of View
Tone
Planning the Writing
Writing the Introduction
Planning the Outline
Expanding the Writing
Writing the Draft
GOOD WRITING
Clichés
Figures of Speech
Italics
Simplicity in Writing
FOUR: BETTER SPOKE ENGLISH
Slang and Colloquial Expressions
Saturday, November 9, 2024
The Subjunctive Mood
Friday, November 8, 2024
You Correct the Incorrect
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
American Idioms
Dog in the manger: a very selfish person
Had better: ought to, should
e.g. Don’t you think it’s late in the day to change your tactics?
First and last: above all; under all circumstances
Monday, November 4, 2024
Your Living By Faith
THE NEW BLOG