Everyday English (Vocabulary Building)

Topic: Television

Lesson Notes June 27, 2023 (Vocabulary Building)

• A: Did he have any after-effects after having the cold?
  B: He still has a slight cough afterwards.

• Third time is a charm

• an expression that suggests that after two unsuccessful attempts, the third attempt will be successful or lucky

• often used to encourage someone to try again with optimism and the belief that they will achieve success on their third try.

• The daycare she goes to has an English teacher three times a week.

• Graduate; (verb) ( GRAJ-oo-eyt ) / Graduate (adj) ( GRAJ-oo-it )

• After you graduate from university, are you going to graduate school.

Television

• Contestant; (noun) a person who takes part in a contest or competition

• I find the Mentalist addictive, there are a lot of seasons and episodes.

• Some morning shows on NHK are boring, but the new series is popular.

• Infomercial; an advertising programme which promotes a product in an informative, often with the option to purchase

May always

This modal verb (may) and adverb (always) implies that something is continuous, or suggests an ongoing or unchanging condition, action, or state.

• “During the rainy season, I may always bring an umbrella in case it rains.”

• "No matter how old you are, you may always learn new things and expand your knowledge."

• "In a library, you may always find books on different topics to read and learn from.”

• "When you visit a park, you may always see birds flying and hear their songs.”

• "Remember, you may always ask your teacher questions if you don't understand something."

Adverbs

There are different kinds of adverbs. In our lesson on “Television” we are only looking at adverbs of frequency; these say how often something happens (also called indefinite frequency). In another class we are looking at “Word Order of Adverbs with Verbs”, you may find this helpful to study as well.

Here is some basic information on the other types, with examples.

• Connecting Adverbs; these join a sentence to what came before

• However, then, next, anyway

• Focusing Adverbs; these point to and emphasize part of a sentence

• Also, just, even, only, mostly, either, or, neither

• Adverbs of certainty; these say how sure we are

• Certainly, definitely, clearly, probably, really

• Adverbs of Completeness; these say how completely something happens

• Completely, almost, nearly, partly, kind of, hardly

There are also adverbs of Manner, Place and Time. We may cover these in future lessons.