Private Lesson - General 1 (26.11.24) Flashcards
Demba's Lessons
Past Actions
What ecosystem were you using 2 years ago?
Refer to “Microsoft or Android.”
Mistakes corrected.
2 years ago, I was using Microsoft and Android ecosystem.
Demonstrates past habits.
Correct use of past tense.
Vocabulary
Define “emancipation proclamation.”
Historical term
Related to freedom.
A formal announcement declaring the emancipation of slaves.
Associated with historical events.
Commonly refers to the U.S. Civil War era.
Shopping Context
Provide an example of discussing clothing size.
Small talk during shopping.
Related to online or physical stores.
Example: “This size is too small for me. Do you have a larger one?”
Discusses preferences or adjustments.
Useful for shopping scenarios.
Vocabulary
What does “emancipation” mean?
Noun
Often used in historical contexts.
Emancipation means the act of freeing someone from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation. Example: “The emancipation of slaves was a pivotal moment in history.”
Synonym: liberation, freedom.
Related to “Emancipation Proclamation.”
Vocabulary
Define “proclamation.”
Noun
Formal declaration.
Proclamation is an official announcement, especially one dealing with a matter of great importance. Example: “The government issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency.”
Synonym: declaration, announcement.
Often issued by authorities or governments.
Phrasal Verb
What does “phase out” mean?
Verb (phrasal verb)
Used in business/technology contexts.
To phase out means to gradually stop using or providing something. Example: “The company decided to phase out the old model of the phone.”
Opposite: phase in (to introduce gradually).
Indicates a planned discontinuation.
Idiom
What does “did me dirty” mean?
Informal idiom
Slang expression.
Did me dirty” means to treat someone unfairly or deceitfully. Example: “I trusted him, but he did me dirty by spreading rumors.
Synonym: betrayed, wronged.
Use cautiously; informal context.
Used To: Affirmative
How do you form an affirmative sentence with “used to”?
Rule: Subject + used to + verb
Indicates past habits.
Example: “I used to smoke cigarettes when I was 18.”
Describes habits or routines in the past.
Implies a contrast with the present.
Used To: Negative
How do you form a negative sentence with “used to”?
Rule: Subject + didn’t use to + verb
Indicates habits not done in the past.
Example: “I didn’t use to eat vegetables as a child.”
Emphasizes a lack of a past habit or routine.
Always uses the base form of the verb.
Used To: Questions
How do you form a question with “used to”?
Rule: Did + subject + use to + verb?
Asks about past habits or routines.
Example: “Did you use to play football at university?”
Can be used for any subject pronoun.
Common in casual conversations.
Used To: Contrast
What does “used to” imply about the present?
Contrasts with current habits or states.
Highlights change.
Example: “I used to live in London, but now I live in Istanbul.”
Shows a difference between past and present.
Often used to describe personal history.
Used To: Pronunciation
How is “used to” pronounced in connected speech?
Sounds like “youst to”
Informal speech tip.
In spoken English, “used to” often blends into “yousta.” Example: “I yousta work there.”
Common in fast, casual speech.
Informal but widely understood.
Vocabulary
Define “relentless.”
Adjective
Describes persistent actions.
Relentless means oppressively constant; incessant. Example: “The relentless rain kept us indoors all day.”
Synonym: unyielding, persistent.
Can have positive or negative connotations.
Vocabulary
What does “fluctuations” mean?
Noun (plural)
Often used in economics/science.
Fluctuations are irregular rising and falling in number or amount; variations. Example: “The stock market fluctuations make investing risky.”
Synonym: variations, changes.
Opposite: stability.
Vocabulary
Define “settle down.”
Phrasal verb
Relates to lifestyle changes.
To settle down means to begin to live a quieter life by getting married or staying permanently in a place. Example: “They decided to settle down and start a family.”
Implies long-term commitment.
Also used to mean calming down.
Vocabulary
What is a “scam,” and who is a “scammer”?
Noun (scam); Noun (scammer)
Related to fraud and deceit.
A scam is a dishonest scheme or fraud. A scammer is a person who commits scams. Example: “She lost money in an online scam by a scammer.”
Common in contexts of financial fraud.
Warns against deceitful practices.
Vocabulary
Define “postpone.”
Verb
To delay something.
To postpone means to arrange for something to take place at a later time. Example: “They postponed the meeting until next week.”
Synonym: defer, delay.
Often used in formal contexts.
Vocabulary
What does “found a company” mean?
Verb phrase
Business terminology.
To found a company means to establish or start a new business or organization. Example: “She plans to found a tech startup.”
Founding refers to initial establishment.
Not to be confused with “find.”
Phrasal Verb
What does “warm up” mean in a fitness context?
Verb (phrasal verb)
Exercise terminology.
To warm up means to prepare for physical exertion by exercising gently beforehand. Example: “I always warm up before running.”
Important for preventing injuries.
Also used metaphorically.
Reflexive Pronouns: Basics
What are reflexive pronouns?
Examples: myself, yourself, themselves.
Subject = Object.
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object are the same. Example: “I cut myself.”
Adds emphasis or shows independence.
Commonly used for emphasis or accident.
Reflexive Pronouns: Politeness
How are reflexive pronouns used in formal speech?
Polite phrases: How about yourself?
Friendly or polite tone.
Example: “Help yourself out. Make yourself at home.”
Used to show hospitality.
Common in social settings.
Reflexive Pronouns: Emphasis
What does “I locked the door myself” mean?
Implies personal effort or emphasis.
Often emphasizes independence.
It means “I did it personally.” Example: “I built this house myself.”
Stresses the speaker’s role in the action.
Used to avoid ambiguity.
Reflexive Pronouns: Common Errors
What is a common mistake with reflexive pronouns?
Using “hisself” instead of “himself.”
Informal usage error.
Always use correct forms like “himself” and “themselves.” Example: “He taught himself English.”
Avoids incorrect forms in formal settings.
Common in casual, incorrect speech.
Reflexive Pronouns: Non-standard
When do reflexive pronouns replace regular pronouns incorrectly?
In informal speech or writing.
Reflects poor grammar.
Example: Incorrect: “John and myself went shopping.” Correct: “John and I went shopping.”
Reflexive pronouns cannot replace subjects.
Use only when subject = object.
Vocabulary
Define “consciously” and “unconsciously.”
Adverbs
Relate to awareness levels.
Consciously means with awareness of one’s actions. Unconsciously means without realizing or being aware. Example: “She consciously avoided sugar.”
Antonyms highlighting awareness.
Derived from “conscious” and “unconscious.”
Vocabulary
What does “courageous” mean, and how does it relate to “brave”?
Adjective
Describes a person’s character.
Courageous means not deterred by danger; brave. Example: “The courageous firefighter saved lives.” Brave is a synonym.
Noun forms: courage, bravery.
Positive connotation.
Vocabulary
Define “dense” and “fruitful” in the context of information.
Adjectives
Describe content quality.
Dense means containing a lot of information with little space between parts. Fruitful means producing good results. Example: “The lecture was dense but fruitful.”
Dense implies complexity; fruitful implies productivity.
Often used in academic contexts.
Expression
What does “looking forward to it” mean?
Phrase
Expresses anticipation.
Looking forward to it” means to be excited or eager for something to happen. Example: “I’m looking forward to the concert.
Common in letters and conversations.
Polite way to express excitement.
Phrasal Verb
Explain the difference between “try on” and “try out.”
“Try on” for clothes; “try out” for experiences.
Phrasal verbs with “try.”
Try on” means to put on clothing to see if it fits. “Try out” means to test something new. Example: “Try on the jacket. Let’s try out the new cafe.
Important distinction in usage.
Common in shopping and activities.
Idiom
What does “gain back the weight” imply?
Related to weight loss/gain.
Health and fitness context.
Gain back the weight” means to regain weight that was previously lost. Example: “After the diet, he quickly gained back the weight.
Suggests a reversal of progress.
Highlights challenges in weight management.
Expression
What does “I never lose; I always win” convey?
Confidence or determination.
Positive affirmation.
This expression conveys strong self-belief and determination to succeed. Example: “With that attitude, he says, ‘I never lose; I always win.’”
Can be seen as motivational.
Sometimes used humorously.
Vocabulary
Define “binge-watch.”
Verb (informal)
Media consumption context.
To binge-watch means to watch multiple episodes of a TV show in rapid succession. Example: “We binge-watched the entire series over the weekend.”
Reflects modern viewing habits.
Related to “binge-eating.”
