Conseils pédagogiques

25th birthday

How to pronounce the ordinal number 25, e.g. 25th birthday?
 
Compare:
5th - fifth,
20th - twentieth,
25th - twenty-fifth.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, study pages H.

A, the

My biggest problem is articles in English. I am never sure where to put in "a", "the" or zero article. Is there an easy way out?
 
Unfortunately, there is no easy way out when it comes to articles. There are, however, some methods and techniques which enable a learner to understand and use them properly. For example, we do not put the indefinite article "a" (or "an" before plural nouns (i.e. those which end in "s"). We do not put "a" (or "an") before uncountable nouns either. However, uncountable nouns must be learnt to be recognised.
 
Niveau 2 - Intermédiaire
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Intermédiaire, lesson 11.

Ain't

What does a contraction ain't, which is often used in song lyrics, mean?
 
It is an informal contraction used mainly in American English which may stand for the following: am not, is not, are not, has not or have not.
For example: Is your brother at home? No, he ain't there. This informal contraction is very often used in song lyrics. The grammatically correct sentence would be: No, he isn't there.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, lesson 3.

Antonym

I was asked to find a few pairs of antonyms for my homework. What are antonyms?
 
Antonyms are pairs of words which have the opposite meaning. For example: "fast" and "slow". Here are some more antonyms (or opposites) in English:
fast - slow,
good - bad,
high - low,
hot - cold.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, lesson 7.

Café

There is sometimes a line over "e" in the word cafe? Why is it there?
 
Café is a word which was borrowed from French and it is also used in English with the French accented "e". The Cambridge Dictionary records two variations of this word: café and cafe. Both of them are correct.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, study pages C.

Couch potato

Is couch potato a vegetable?
 
Couch potato is an idiomatic expression used to describe a person who likes sitting on a couch in front of a TV, instead of spending his/her time exercising outdoors. The opposite of couch potato is an outdoor type.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 1(p.2).

Coursebook, exercise book

Is a book used by students called a coursebook, or a course book? Is a book with exercises called an exercisebook, or an exercise book?
 
The correct spelling is coursebook and exercise book. They are examples of compound nouns. The first one is written together, the other separately.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 10 (p.5).

Direct questions, indirect questions

What are direct questions and indirect questions?
 
A direct question is for example: Where is he? What's your name? By quoting a question, we transform it into reported speech. Then it becomes an indirect question, and the order of words in the question changes (in the first example: he is -> is he).
Direct question: Where is he?
Indirect question: Do you know where he is?
I wonder what your name is.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 21.

Going to go

How can I say, using the present continuous tense, that I intend to go somewhere? I'm going to go to the cinema. Is it correct?
 
From the point of view of grammar, your sentence is absolutely correct. However, we normally skip the verb go in the going to structure. It is best to say I'm going to the cinema.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, lesson 23 (p.7).

Have a...
I noticed that the verb have very often replaces other verbs when it forms an expression with a noun (e.g. have a dinner, have a bath, have a good time).
 
That is right. Have is a very common verb which can be used with many nouns to form expressions. For example:
have lunch, have a sandwich, have a drink, have a shower, have a sleep.
Go is another verb which is also very often used. Here are a few examples:
go for a drive, go for a drink, go home, go shopping, go swimming, go out.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, study pages F.

I regret
I regret shouting at you. I wish I hadn't shouted at you. Is there any other way to express my regret in these situations?
 
You can use should have instead. For example:
I shouldn't have shouted at you.
I should have been more kind.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 23.

I'd
What does a common contraction I'd stand for?
 
I'd stands for both I would and I had. It can be used in the past perfect tense: I'd finished the race before you came. (I had) I'd is often used in conditional sentences:
  I'd finish the race but I won't. (I would)
  I'd be more happy if I'd finished the race before you. (I would, I had)
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 23.

Imperatives
How can I make a negative form of the imperative? For example: Look!, Give it to me!?
 
To make the sentence negative, you have to put in don't at the beginning:
Don't look! Don't give it to me!
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, study pages F.

Let's...
Let's... - where is this structure derived from?
 
Let's is a contracted form of let us.
  Let us go there.
  Let me do it.
Compare these sentences:
  She lets her dog sleep in the bed.
  He makes his dog sleep outside.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 5.

Made of, made from
Which of them is correct: made of wood or made from wood?
 
Both expressions are correct, however there is a difference in meaning between them. We use made of when the material used to make an object is not processed. For example: Acoustic guitars are made of wood.
Made from suggests that the material used has been processed. For example: Paper is made from wood.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 10.

Mixed conditionals
When do we use mixed conditionals?
 
We use mixed conditionals when we talk about the present results of past actions. For example:
If he had decided to study the philosophy of culture he wouldn't have to work as a driver, which means that if he had decided to study philosophy (in the past), he would not have to work as a driver (now).
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 23.

Must, have to
What is the difference between have to and must?
 
Must and have to have similar meanings. Must is used when we tell other people what they must do. Have to is used when we tell others what we have to do ourselves.
Jim, you must drink milk. I have to drink milk.
 
Niveau 2 - Intermédiaire
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Intermédiaire, lesson 17 (p.6).

Nationalities
Is there a rule in English for making nationalities from country names?
 
There is no single rule as nationalities have different endings. For example:
Spain - Spanish (-ish),
Italy - Italian (-ian),
Japan - Japanese (-ese),
Iraq - Iraqi (-i).
Remember that in English nationalities are written with a capital letter.
 
Niveau 2 - Intermédiaire
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Intermédiaire, study pages J.

Pain, ache
What is the difference between pain and ache?
 
Pain is a noun, whereas ache can function as both a noun and a verb. There is also another synonymous word: hurt hurt which functions as a verb only. There are subtle differences between these words.
Pay attention to the differences in spelling between: stomach ache and headache.
 
Niveau 2 - Intermédiaire
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Intermédiaire, lesson 12.

Secondary school, high school
Do secondary school and high school mean the same?
 
Both secondary school and high school have a similar meaning. However, the former is more frequently used in British English, whereas the latter is more frequently used in American English.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 16.

She's 16
She's 16. What does the number mean in this sentence?
 
The full version of this sentence is: She is sixteen years old. In everyday language we often use short forms if a sentence has a clear meaning. In this one, for example, we don't say years old.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, study pages A.

The longest word
What is the longest word in English?
 
It is believed that the longest word in English is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis,
which refers to a disease of the lungs. Theoretically speaking, it is possible to make never-ending words describing chemical compounds. One of the longest words in English is also the name of a small town in Wales:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
 
Niveau 2 - Intermédiaire
Vous pouvez écouter la manière dont ce mot est prononcé dans Reflex'English Cambridge Intermédiaire, lesson 15 (p.9).

There's sb -ing
There's a woman singing. What is the tense used in this sentence?
 
It is a combination of two sentences: There's a woman and She's singing. The first one is in the present simple tense, the second in the present continous tense. When we combine them together we get a present participle structure (there is / there are ing).
 
Niveau 2 - Intermédiaire
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Intermédiaire, lesson 5.

Try on
Try the shoes on. Why is the word on used in this sentence?
 
This sentence contains a phrasal verb. Try (sth) on means to put something on to see if it fits (i.e. shoes, in the example given).
Try these glasses on.
Try this red dress on, I think it's your size.
If there were no on in your sentence, it would mean that you encourage someone to taste the shoes.
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 2 (p.14).

Used to
What does used to mean in the present tense? For example: I use to listen to the radio.
 
The example you have given is incorrect. Used to is used to describe past events only and it does not have the present form. Note the difference between:
I used to listen to the radio (I did it in the past but I no longer do it now).
I'm used to listening to the radio (I often listen to the radio. It is my habit).
 
Niveau 3 - Avancé
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Avancé, lesson 7.

Very good, better
Is very good the comparative form of good?
 
It is not. The comparative and superlative forms of good are better and the best. Note the difference between very good and much better (but never very better!).
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, lesson 21 (p.4).

Wash, catch s
I know that in the present simple third person singular verbs I have to put "s" at the end. It is easy with words like eat or fly (he eats, it flies). But how should I write words like wash and catch? It is not washs and catchs, is it?
 
In case of verbs like wash and catch the present simple third person singular ends in "es" (washes , cathes). Note that the verb fly in the third person singular is flies and not flys. The vowel "y" changes into "ies" which is the same for verbs like cry and carry. It cannot be treated, however, as a universal rule, because the same change does not apply to verbs like buy or pay (he buys, he pays). (i.e. if a vowel comes before the final y).
 
Niveau 2 - Intermédiaire
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Intermédiaire, lesson 1.

Winter, spring, summer, autumn
Are the names of seasons of the year written with a capital letter?
 
Spring, summer, autumn i winter are treated as common nouns so we only write them with a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence.
  Summer is my favourite season.
  I always go abroad in summer.
We always write the names of the months with a capital letter.
  It usually snows in December.
  I have my birthday in June.
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, lesson 14.

Years
How can I read dates like 1982 or 1555?
 
We read the first two numbers together and then the second two numbers together: 1982 - nineteen eighty two, 1555 - fifteen fifty five.
It is, however, different with dates like 2002 or 1040 which we read as two thousand and two and one thousand and forty. However, years such as 1904, are spoken as nineteen o (like the letter) four
 
Niveau 1 - Débutant
Vous trouverez des exercices et plus d'informations dans Reflex'English Cambridge Débutant, study pages I.