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Tips, insights, and updates about English learning
"I very like" is wrong! The Most Common Mistakes Learners Make with "Very"
While a single word like "很" can modify almost anything in Chinese, the English word "very" can only modify adjectives and adverbs—never verbs. This post uses a dense comparison of "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic Expressions" to help you instantly spot the most common misuses of "very" and remember a quick, 3-second rule for getting it right.
Prepositions in / on / at: How to Choose for Time and Place, Mastered with One Simple Rule
in, on, and at are the three most common and easily confused prepositions in English. This article uses a 'smallest to largest' memory rule, paired with A1–A2 example sentences, to clearly explain their usage for time and place once and for all, while helping you fix the most common mistakes.
Don't say open/close when turning lights on and off! turn on / turn off is the natural way!
In Chinese, a single word is enough to mean 'open/close', but in English, the phrasing changes depending on the object. For electrical appliances, you should say turn on / turn off, while open / close is used for doors and windows. This article uses a series of '✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural English' comparisons to help you once and for all break this mother-tongue interference mistake that almost everyone makes.
Essential Phrasal Verbs: The 30 Most Common for A1–A2, Made Easy with Example Sentences
Phrasal verbs are the key to natural, everyday spoken English used by native speakers. This article curates the most common basic phrasal verbs for A1–A2, grouping them with real-life example sentences, and explains the simple rules of "separable" phrasal verbs so you can start using them in your daily conversations right away.