Whisky galore – and now plenty more besides: exploring the Scottish island of Islay
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EN: Use 'off the coast of...' to describe a location in the sea, near a land area.
Taiwan is an island off the coast of Asia.
EN: Islay is famous worldwide as the 'Queen of the Hebrides' and is renowned for producing distinctive single malt Scotch whiskies, which are known for their smoky and peaty flavors.
EN: Use 'working' before a noun as an adjective to show that something is currently operating or functioning.
There are three working computers in the room.
EN: Islay is famous worldwide for its peaty and smoky single malt Scotch whiskies. Despite being a tiny island, its many active distilleries make it a pilgrimage site for whisky lovers around the globe.
EN: We use 'where' after a place (like 'a place' or 'a shop') to give more information about what happens in that place.
A bakery is a shop where people buy bread.
EN: In Scotland, particularly on the island of Islay, whisky distilleries are central to the culture and economy. Scotch whisky made on Islay is world-famous for its distinct smoky and peaty flavor.
EN: We use 'A is the backbone of B' to describe something or someone that provides the main support or strength for a system, group, or economy.
Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy.
EN: Islay whisky is world-famous for its distinct smoky and peaty flavor. Because of this, Scotch whisky tourism is a key driver of the local economy, supporting not just the distilleries but also local hotels, restaurants, and farms.
EN: Use the Present Simple tense to talk about regular actions, routines, or things that happen every year.
They visit their grandparents every summer.
EN: Islay is famous worldwide for its peated single malt Scotch whiskies. Whisky tourism plays a huge role in supporting local businesses, hotels, and restaurants on the island.
EN: Use 'much more than' to show that something is greater or offers additional things beyond a specific item.
This book is much more than a simple story.
EN: Islay is world-famous for its distinctively smoky (peated) single malt Scotch whiskies. While whisky tourism remains the primary draw, the island has expanded its offerings to include craft beer, artisanal food, and seafood to attract a broader range of travelers.
EN: Use 'thanks to' to explain the good reason why something positive happens. It means 'because of'.
Thanks to the good weather, we had a great picnic.
EN: Lists of items: When listing three or more things, use commas between the words, and put 'and' before the last item.
I bought apples, bananas, oranges, and milk.
EN: Islay (pronounced 'EYE-la') in Scotland is world-famous for its smoky, peated single malt whiskies. The booming whisky tourism has driven the growth of local artisan food, craft breweries, and luxury hospitality on the island.
EN: We use the structure 'give + someone + something' to show that someone receives a thing. Here, 'visitors' are the receivers, and 'more reasons' is what they get.
My mother gives me a big smile every morning.
EN: We use 'help someone do something' or 'help someone to do something' to show that an action makes it easier for a person to do something.
My friend helps me learn English.
EN: Islay is famous worldwide for its single malt Scotch whisky. Because the island is remote, the distilleries serve as the main economic engine, providing stable, year-round employment for local residents beyond seasonal tourism and farming.
EN: We use 'did not' + base verb to talk about things that were not true or did not happen in the past.
He did not call me yesterday.
EN: Islay, like many remote Scottish islands, traditionally relied heavily on seasonal industries like farming and fishing, which were affected by harsh winter weather. The growth of whisky distilleries provided stable, year-round employment for local residents.
EN: Use 'the' + adjective ending in '-est' (superlative) to show that something is the most extreme or highest quality in a group.
This is the largest park in our city.
EN: Islay, located in Scotland, is world-famous for its distinctively peated and smoky single malt Scotch whiskies. Because the island is relatively small with a small population, the whisky distilleries play a crucial economic role, serving as primary providers of employment and driving local tourism.
EN: Use 'called + name' after a noun to give the specific name of something or someone.
A doctor called Smith helped me.
EN: Bruichladdich is a famous Scotch whisky distillery located on Islay. Unlike many distilleries that import ingredients, Bruichladdich supports local agriculture by using barley grown directly on Islay farms.
EN: The verb 'help' can be followed by an object and a base verb (without 'to'). The pattern is: help + person + do something.
This book helps me learn English.
EN: Use the modal verb 'can' to talk about things that are possible to do.
You can buy fresh bread at the bakery.
EN: Islay is famous for its peated single malt Scotch whisky, but because it is an island, it is also renowned for fresh local seafood such as scallops, langoustines, and crabs.
EN: We use the simple present tense (with '-s' for he/she/it) to state facts, routines, or general truths. Here, 'serves' describes what the restaurant normally does.
This cafe serves good coffee every morning.
EN: Islay is an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, making fresh local seafood like langoustines, crabs, and scallops a big part of its local food culture alongside whisky tourism.
EN: Use 'plenty of' before a noun to mean 'a lot of' or 'more than enough'. It can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
We have plenty of time before the train arrives.
EN: Islay is an island in Scotland famous for both its single malt Scotch whisky and its rich maritime resources. Surrounded by cold Atlantic waters, local restaurants regularly serve high-quality fresh seafood such as langoustines, crabs, and scallops directly from the sea.
EN: We use the helper verb 'can' followed by a main verb (action) to show what people are allowed or able to do.
Visitors can see beautiful birds in the park.
EN: Islay is famous not only for its single malt Scotch whisky but also for its rich marine life. Langoustines (also known as Norway lobsters or Dublin Bay prawns) are a major local export and staple in Scottish coastal dining.
EN: We use 'will + base verb' to talk about things that will happen in the future.
Many tourists will visit the museum next month.
EN: Islay is famous worldwide for its peaty and smoky single malt Scotch whiskies. Distilleries are not just places of production, but major tourism hubs that drive the island's overall economy.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Because of or as a result of someone or something.
The most important part of something, providing support and strength.
The commercial sector involved in the production and sales of whisky.