With text messaging, or “texting,” it takes too long to type all of the words that you need, so people have developed shortcuts so they can save time.  By using these shortcuts, you can say a lot by texting only a little.  You can even program your iPhone with these shortcuts.  Just go to “Settings,” – “General,” – “Keyboard,” and then “Shortcuts.”  Here you can input all of these shortcuts.  Then all you have to do is type the shortcut and your iPhone will type out the whole expression.  Here’s a list of the most common text message shortcuts.  The ones in blue can also be used when you’re talking because most English speakers will understand these shortcuts.

Click on the audio recording  below to hear the lesson.

AAMOF = as a matter of fact [used before a truth or fact]
AKA = also known as [used when someone uses a different name]
AMAP = as much as possible, as many as possible
ASAP = as soon as possible
AWTTW  = a word to the wise [used before giving advice]

B/C = because
BF = boyfriend
BFF = best friend forever
BION = believe it or not [used before something unbelievable]
BLTN = better late than never [when you do something later than you should have]
BRB = be right back (I’ll be right back) [you have to take a short break]
BTDT = been there done that (I’ve been there and done that) [you have had a similar experience]
BTW = by the way [you want to change the subject]

CMIIW = correct me if I’m wrong
CUL  = see you later

DEGT = don’t even go there [you don’t want to hear a negative story]
DIY = do it yourself
DOB = date of birth
DTRT = do the right thing

EGBOK = everything’s going to be okay [used to comfort someone who’s upset]
EOD = end of discussion [you don’t want to talk about it anymore]
ESP = especially
ETA = estimated time of arrival [you want to tell someone when you’ll arrive]
For example:  Running late.  Eta 20 mins.

FAQ = frequently asked questions [frequently = often] [questions everybody asks]
FC = fingers crossed [you hope what you said is true]
FCFS = first come, first served [the person who’s late doesn’t get anything]
FOAF = friend of a friend
FOMO = fear of missing out [fear of not doing something that could be fun]
FTBOMH = from the bottom of my heart [used when you have strong feelings of love]
FTF = face to face
FYEO = for your eyes only [you want the person to see it but keep it a secret]
FYI = for your information [you want to inform someone]

GAL = get a life [someone is much too interested in someone else’s life]
GBH = great big hug
GF = girlfriend
GFI = go for it
GFU = good for you [you’re congratulating someone on a job well done]
GL = good luck
GNSD = good night, sweet dreams
GOOH = get out of here [you don’t believe what someone tells you]
GTG = got to go  [you have to stop texting]

HAND = have a nice day
HSIK = how should I know?

ICBW = I could be wrong
IDBI = I don’t believe it
IDC = I don’t care
IDK = I don’t know
IDTS = I don’t think so
IMS = I am sorry
IMU = I miss you

IRL = in real life [not on the internet, but face to face]
ITA = I totally agree
IYD = in your dreams [your answer is definitely no]
IYDM = if you don’t mind [you’re asking someone to do something for you]

JFF = just for fun
JMO = just my opinion

KIT = keep in touch [you want to keep communicating with someone in the future]
KWIM = know what I mean? (Do you know what I mean?) [to find out if the other person understood you]

LMIRL = lets meet in real life [to set up a face to face meeting]
LOL = laughing out loud (I’m laughing out loud)
LYL = love you lots (I love you lots)

MIA = missing in action [you don’t know where someone is]
MSG = message
MYOB = mind your own business [you’re unwilling to give the answer]

N/M = never mind [it’s not important]
NAGI = not a good idea
NBD = no big deal  [the problem is really small]
NMP = not my problem [the problem belongs to someone else]
NOYB = none of your business  [you’re unwilling to give the answer]
NP = no problem
NPNG = no pain, no gain [when the result is not easy to get]
NRN = no reply necessary [when you don’t want a reply to your message]

OJ = only joking
OMDB = over my dead body [the answer is definitely no]
OMG = oh my God, oh my gosh, oh my goodness [used when you are surprised]
OMW = on my way (I’m on my way) [you haven’t arrived yet]
ONNA = oh no, not again [the same thing has happened again]
OOTD = one of these days [at some time in the future]
OTOH = on the other hand [used when you start listing opposite things]
For example:  Vancouver’s a beautiful city to live in.  Otoh, it rains a lot.

PDA = public displays of affection [kissing, hugging, or holding hands when others can see]
PDQ = pretty darn quick [as fast as possible]
PLS = please
POV = point of view [the position someone sees something from]
For example:  From my pov I think she’s crazy to quit school.
PPL = people

Q+A = questions and answers [similar to FAQ]
QT = quiet [“on the qt” means “it’s a secret”]

RE = regarding [this is the topic of your conversation]
For example:  I have a question re the homework for this weekend.
RIP = rest in peace [used after you say the name of someone who has died]
RUOK = are you okay?

S/O = someone
S/TH = something
SBB = stupid beyond belief [you can’t believe someone did something so stupid]
SFSG = so far, so good [until now everything is okay]
SOP = standard operating procedure [the way something is always done]
SOS = same old story [a story you’ve heard many times before]
SPST = same place, same time [for a repeated meeting]

TA = thanks again
TBC = to be continued [you’re not finished and you want to continue later]
TBNT = thanks but no thanks [you politely refuse an offer]
TIA = thanks in advance [you’re thanking someone for something they will do later]
TIE = take it easy [relax, calm down]
TLC = tender loving care [you want someone to be gentle with something]
For example:  Please treat my guitar with tlc.
TM = tomorrow
TMI = too much information [someone told you something you don’t want to know]
TTYL = talk to you later
TX = thanks

USU = usually

VIP = very important person

W/ = with
W/O = without
WDYM = what do you mean?
WDYW = what do you want?
WIIFM = what’s in it for me? [what will I get when I do you this favor?]
WKD = weekend
WOMBAT = waste of money, brains and time
WTG = way to go [congratulations on a job well done]
WU = what’s up? [what’s happening]

X&O = hugs and kisses

YAC = you available to chat? (Are you available to chat?) [do you have time to text?]
YBS = you’ll be sorry [you think someone is doing something wrong]
YD = yesterday
YOLO = you only live once [said as motivation to do something]
YW = you’re welcome

Study these shortcuts and when you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

Sorry. The requested quiz could not be found.

© 2014 Ambien Malecot

 

by Natasha Bedingfield

a British singer and songwriter.  This song comes from her second album of the same title, published in 2008.  She wrote the song with American songwriters Danielle Brisebois and John Shanks.

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine
I got a love and I know that it’s all mine, oh, oh oh oh
Do what you want but you’re never gonna break me
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me, oh, oh oh oh

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine
I got a love and I know that it’s all mine, oh, oh oh oh
Wish that you could but you ain’t gonna own me
Do anything you want, you can’t slow me down, oh no

Take me away, a secret place
A sweet escape, take me away
Take me away to better days
Take me away, a hiding place

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine
I got a love and I know that it’s all mine, oh, oh oh oh
Do what you want but you’re never gonna break me
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me, oh, oh oh oh

Take me away, a secret place
A sweet escape, take me away
Take me away to better days
Take me away, a hiding place

There’s a place that I go that nobody knows
Where the rivers flow and I call it home
And there’s no more lies, in the darkness there’s light
And nobody cries, there’s only butterflies

Take me away, a secret place
A sweet escape, take me away
Take me away to better days
Take me away, a hiding place

Take me away, a secret place
A sweet escape, take me away
Take me away to better days
Take me away, a hiding place

The sun is on my side and takes me for a ride
I smile up to the sky, I know I’ll be alright
The sun is on my side and takes me for a ride
I smile up to the sky, I know I’ll be alright

Vocabulary:

pocket – a bag or pouch sewn into your clothes where you carry small things
pocketful – a full pocket, a lot
gonna – going to
ain’t – are not
escape – a place that’s away from your usual life
lies – words that are not the truth
butterflies – beautiful insects, beauty in general
on my side – helping me, supporting me
alright – okay

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only  

 

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When you put two verbs together in a sentence, most of the time the second verb is either an infinitive (to go) or a gerund (going).  Which verbs are followed by infinitives and which ones are followed by gerunds is often a difficult thing to learn.  Teachers give students lists to memorize and practice, but this is the hard way.  An easier way to learn this grammar is to look at a single verb (stop) and apply its rule to all the other verbs.  Although this rule is only 80%  accurate (true,) it’s better than no rule at all.

Look at this example:
After he had driven for an hour, John stopped to text his girlfriend.

In this example, the action John stopped was driving, not texting.  In other words, stopping was the first thing that he did, and texting was the second thing that he did.  The order of verbs in the sentence (stopped/ to text) is the same order of verbs in real time (he stopped first; he texted second).  When the order of the verbs in the sentence is the same as the order of verbs in real time, then use an infinitive (to text) for the second verb.

Look at this example:
After he started his car, John stopped texting his girlfriend.

In this example, the action John stopped doing was texting.  In other words, he was texting first and then he stopped.  The order of verbs (stopped / texting) in the sentence is the opposite order in real time (he texted first; he stopped second).  When the order of the verbs in the sentence is opposite the order of verbs in real time, then use the gerund (texting) for the second verb.

The verbs remember, forget and regret are just like stop.

Examples:

She remembered to meet him for lunch.  (remember is first and to meet is second in real time)
She remembers meeting him last year.  (meeting was first and remember was second in real time)

Did you forget to lock the door this morning?  (forget is first and to lock is second in real time)
Did you forget locking the door because I know you did?  (locking is first and forget is second in real time)

I regret to tell you that you failed the test.  (regret is first and to tell is second in real time)
I regret telling you my secret.  (tell is first and regret is second in real time)

The verb try is different than the above verbs.  If you are trying to do something difficult or impossible, then the infinitive follows.  However, if you’re trying different things to find a solution to a problem, then the gerund follows.

Examples:

You should try to finish as soon as possible.  (to finish is difficult to do)
If you’re hot, try opening the window, or taking off your sweater.  (opening and taking off are possible solutions to being hot)

Now let’s look at other verbs to see how they follow this rule.

Example 1:  I want to go to bed early tonight.

First I want, and then I will go.  It’s the same order in the sentence (want / go) and in real time (want / go).  Therefore, the second verb is an infinitive.

Example 2:  She enjoys watching cartoons on Saturday mornings.

She watches first, and then she enjoys the activity of watching.  It’s a different order in the sentence (enjoys / watching) and in real time (watching / enjoys).  Therefore, the second verb is a gerund.

Example 3:  I forgot to brush my hair this morning.

First I forgot, and that’s why I didn’t brush my teeth.  It’s the same order in the sentence (forget / brush) and in real time (forget / brush).  Therefore, the second verb is an infinitive.

Example 4:  He admitted stealing the necklace.

First he stole the necklace, and then he admitted that he had stolen it.  It’s a different order in the sentence (admit / steal) and in real time (steal / admit).  Therefore, the second verb is a gerund.

This a list of the most common verbs that are followed by infinitives.  The ones in [brackets] are exceptions to the rule:

he agrees to make…           he deserves to pass…        he plans to meet…
[he appears to be… ]          he fails to stop…                  he pretends to be…
he arranges to move…     he hesitates to close…       he refuses to stop…
he can afford to buy...      he hopes to finish…           he seems to know…
he cares to give…                he learns to make…           he struggles to make…
he claims to know…           he manages to put…         [he swears to have…]
he decides to go…               he means to say…               he threatens to end…
he demands to know…     he offers to help…              he waits to open…
he wishes to give…

This is a list of the most common verbs that are followed by gerunds.  Again, the ones in [brackets] do NOT follow the rule:

he admits taking…               he enjoys walking…                 he practices doing…
[he anticipates going…]     [he feels like singing…]        he quits smoking…
he appreciates doing…       he finishes painting…             he recalls meeting…
[he avoids washing…]        [he imagines living in…]         [he recommends buying…]
[he can’t help telling…]      it’s no use asking…                  [he resists making…]
he completes making…      it’s worth seeing…                   [he risks losing…]
[he considers asking…]     he keeps taking…                       [he suggests meeting…]
[he delays finishing…]       he minds being…                       he tolerates smoking…
he denies stealing…            he mentions doing…                 he understands needing…
[he discusses going…]       he misses visiting…
he dislikes having…            [he postpones making…]

Another thing you should know is if you use a person or a personal pronoun such as “me” after the first verb, an infinitive always follows.

he asks me to go…                  he hires me to wash…           he promises me to see…
he begs me to help…             he invites me to visit...          he reminds me to go…
he convinces me to stay…  he instructs me to finish…  he tells me to forget…
he dares me to climb…        he needs me to know…         he wants me to buy…
he expects me to be…           he orders me to wait…         he warns me to stay…
he forces me to clean…       he prepares me to do…

And of course there are a few verbs that are followed by either gerunds or infinitives.  It makes no difference.

he begins to play…              he continues to stay...    he likes to eat
he begins playing                he continues staying      he likes eating
he can’t stand to wait…    he hates to get…                he prefers to sit
he can’t stand waiting…   he hates getting…             he prefers sitting
he loves to beat…                 he starts to wait
he loves beating…               he starts waiting

Use these flashcards to help you study for the following exercises.

Use these flashcards to help you study for the following exercises.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

Conversation:

Joan:    Jane?  Is that you?

Jane:    Joan!  Good to see you again.

Joan:    When you’re turned around, I can’t tell you apart from your sister.

Jane:    A lot of people say that.  By the way, did you hear what they’re going to give away at Budget Clothes to some lucky customer?

Joan:    I give up.  Tell me.

Jane:    A trip for two to Hawaii.  We should go down there and fill out some entry forms for the draw.  I think the limit is 10 entries each, so we’ll have 20 chances to win.  Maybe we’ll get lucky.

Joan:      That’s a great idea.  Then we can try on some new clothes while we’re there.  I feel like shopping.  How did you find out about the free trip?

Jane:    They were handing out flyers yesterday at the supermarket.

Joan:    There’s one thing I can’t figure out.  How can they afford to give away such an expensive trip?  It must cost a pretty penny.

Vocabulary:

• by the way:  changing the topic, talking about something else
• entry form:  paper you fill out so you can win if they pick it
• draw:  the choosing of the winner
• limit:  maximum, the most
• entries:  entry forms
• flyers:  advertisements on paper
• afford:  have enough money

Idioms:

turn around       face in the opposite direction
tell apart              see the difference
give away             give (to anyone)
give up                  not know the answer / stop (an activity) / let an opponent win
fill out                    complete (a form)
try on                     wear clothing, jewelry, or perfume before buying
feel like                 want to
hand out               give (to students or others)
figure out             find a solution, understand
a pretty penny    a lot of money

Notes:

Give up has three meanings.  The second meaning is “stop an activity.”
Example:  I gave up ballet lessons when I was ten.
The third meaning is “let an opponent win.”
Example:  I give up.  You win.  You play so much better than I do.

Fill out and fill in have similar meanings, but fill out is generally used for a whole form while fill in is used for one piece of information.
Example:  Don’t forget to fill in your social insurance number.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

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approximate:  general, a good guess, not exact
Those numbers are approximate; nobody knows exactly how many people saw it.
I can only give you an approximate time; I didn’t have my watch on.

counterfeit:  not real, made to look like a real one
The police seized $2.4 million in counterfeit $100 bills.
They bought several hundred counterfeit CDs in Singapore.

courteous:  polite
She has always been courteous when I’ve been with her.
It’s important to be courteous with others, especially those in your neighborhood.

efficient:  getting a good result in a short time
I know he’s expensive, but he’ll do the job in half the time; he very efficient.
That’s not the most efficient way to deal the cards.  Here, let me show you.

imperfect:  having something wrong with it, not perfect
He’s had imperfect vision since he was a child.
All systems of government are imperfect in some way.

magical:  as if produced by magic, fantastic
The change from the person she used to be was magical. 
His proposal to her was a magical moment she will never forget.

massive:  really really big and heavy
It took four of them to move the massive sofa to the other side of the room.
Your grandmother had a massive stroke and died within minutes.

patient:  able to wait or do boring things without getting upset
She runs an excellent daycare because she’s patient with the children.
She’s in a coma now, so we must be patient.

priceless:  unable to be bought for any amount of money
My daughter’s joy on her wedding day was priceless.
The Mona Lisa is a priceless work of art.

prompt:  on time, not late
The meeting starts at 8:30, and the manager wants us to be prompt.
His reply was prompt; he refused the man’s invitation and walked away.

ridiculous:  really really stupid
You’ve just been arrested; wipe that ridiculous smile off your face!
Don’t be ridiculous; I would never lie to you.

strict:  following the rules exactly, without choice
She is on a strict diet of fruits and vegetables.
There are strict laws against smoking in any public building.

trivial:  of very little importance
It is no trivial matter that she got accepted at Yale University.
The brothers are always arguing over trivial things, like which channel to watch.

vital:  absolutely necessary for life
It is vital that you tell your brother to come say goodbye to his father.
Her surgery is near some of her vital organs, including the heart.

worthy:  deserving, as good as or better
She has worked hard and she’s worthy of your support, so please vote.
I don’t know if Peter will win today; he’s up against a worthy opponent.

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the above vocabulary on the audio file below.

Use these flashcards to help you study.

 

When you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

Things may be hard in a new city, especially if you don’t know the language very well.  You may experience loneliness and feel homesick a lot of the time.  Don’t worry too much.  These feelings lessen as time goes on, and you get used to living in a different city.  The key to feeling good in a new city is to get out and meet people.  One of the places you can go to is your local community center.  You can go there and sign up for exercise classes, tennis lessons, arts and crafts workshops, and lots more.  Coffee shops are also a good place to go to meet people.  Students like to hang out there and sometimes do their homework, and in the mornings and at lunchtime, you can meet a lot of professional people there.  You can even meet people outside.  You’d be surprised how easy it is to meet people in walking neighborhoods.  Vancouver has four really good neighborhoods where there are lots of people outside walking up and down the street. They are Granville Street, Robson Street, Commercial Drive, and West 4^th Avenue.  Just sit at an inside or outside table at a coffee shop or a restaurant in one of these areas and wait to see who comes to sit at the table next to you.  Don’t forget nightclubs.  Vancouver is a city with a lot of fun nightclubs.  Most of them are located in three areas of the city: Granville Street, Yaletown, and Gastown.  These three areas also have many bars, so if you can’t get into a nightclub because of a long line, then you can go hang out in one of them.  If you don’t like nightclubs or bars, you can meet people at a number of other places, such as a bookstore, a grocery store, or a mall.  Starting a conversation with someone you meet is a skill you can develop.  If you just be yourself and talk to the person like he/she is already a friend, you should do well.  Good luck.

Click on the audio recording below to hear the above lesson.

Vocabulary:

loneliness – a feeling of being alone
lessen – decrease, become less
get used to – become comfortable
key – most important thing
get out – go out of your home
local – in your neighborhood, near your home
sign up – register
arts and crafts – pretty things you make with your hands
hang out – stay at a place for a while
neighborhood – area of the city where people live
nightclub – a place where you dance and have alcoholic drinks
bar – a place where you go to drink alcohol and maybe have something to eat.
a number of – many
skill – something you’re good at doing
develop – make better
be yourself – be like you really are

Pronunciation Exercise:  Listen and repeat the vocabulary above on the audio file below.

Conversation:  [in a coffee shop]

Ricardo:  Isn’t the coffee here good?
Anne:  Yea, that’s why I come here.
Ricardo:  Do you come here often?
Anne:  Almost every day.  I live in the neighborhood.
Ricardo:  Me too.  I just moved here.
Anne:  From where?
Ricardo:  Colombia.  Do you know where that is?
Anne:  Yea, it’s in Central America, isn’t it?
Ricardo:  Actually, it’s at the top of South America, but you were close.
Anne:  I don’t travel that much, but I’d like to start.
Ricardo:  Well, Colombia is a beautiful country.  You should go sometime.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

Direct question:

Are you tired?    (I don’t know what you’re going to answer – 50% YES/50% NO)

(This is the most common type of question.  You have no idea what the answer is going to be.)

Click on the audio recording  below

Negative question:

Aren’t you tired?    (I think YES – 90%)

(I’m pretty sure (90%) that your answer is going to be YES.  I just want you to agree with me.)

Click on the audio recording  below

Negative question tag:

You’re tired, aren’t you? [your voice goes up on the last “you.”]    (I think YES – 60%)

(I have an idea that you’re going to answer YES, but I’m not really sure (only 60% sure.))

(This kind of question is also used if you think the answer should be YES.  Example: You brush your teeth everyday, don’t you?)

Click on the audio recording  below

You’re tired, aren’t you? [your voice goes down on the last “you.”]    (I think YES – 90%)

(I’m pretty sure (90%) that your answer is going to be YES.  I just want you to agree with me.)

Click on the audio recording  below

Affirmative question tag:

You’re not tired, are you? [your voice goes up on the last “you.”]    (I think NO – 60%)

(I have an idea that you’re going to answer NO, but I’m not really sure (only 60% sure.))

Click on the audio recording  below

You’re not tired, are you? [your voice goes down on the last “you.”]    (I think NO – 90%)

(I’m pretty sure (90%) that your answer is going to be NO.  I just want you to agree with me.)

Click on the audio recording  below

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

by Sarah McLachlan

a Canadian superstar singer-songwriter who recorded this song for the 2006 movie, “Charlotte’s Web.”  It was written by Glen Ballard and David A. Stewart from the band “Eurythmics.”

It’s not that unusual
When everything is beautiful
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when it’s time to snow
Don’t need to teach a seed to grow
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you every day
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own

Isn’t it remarkable?
Like every time a raindrop falls
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Birds in winter have their fling
They always make it home by spring
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
‘Cause we’re all a part of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle?

It seems so exceptional
That things just work out after all
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Vocabulary:

ordinary:  usual, not special
miracle:  something that is caused by God
gift:  something given to you
wrapped:  with beautiful paper around it
some of your own: something you can give
remarkable:  very special
fling: a time when they can be free
’cause:  because
exceptional:  very unusual
work out:  are good in the end
after all:  after all that has happened
disappears:  goes away

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

 

 

Conversation:

Chuck:    Oh no!  Not another parking ticket!  I want to tear it up and throw it away.

Paul:    I know how you feel.  I keep getting speeding tickets over and over again.  I’ve gotten so many tickets, I could tell you what they say by heart.

Chuck:    You should watch out for radar vans and slow down when you pass one.  I do, and so far, so good – I haven’t gotten any speeding tickets in a long time.

Paul:    Just a minute.  I’m mixed up.  I thought the government wasn’t using radar vans any longer.

Chuck:    They aren’t, but some municipalities still are, so you have to be careful and pay attention.  And don’t forget about road blocks.  Have you ever run into one on a Friday or Saturday night?

Paul:    Sure.  Hasn’t everybody?  If I were king, I’d wipe out all those too.

Vocabulary:

•  ticket:  a penalty you must pay if you do something wrong
•  speeding:  going faster than the speed limit
•  just a minute:  wait, stop
•  radar vans:  large cars that have radar that takes a photo of a car that is speeding
•  municipalities:  cities or towns
•  road blocks:  when police stop all the cars on a street

Idioms:

tear up                              rip into small pieces
throw away (or out)    put in the garbage
over and over                again and again
by heart                           every word memorized
watch out (for)              be careful (of)
so far, so good              up till now, things are okay
mixed up                         confused / out of sequence
pay attention (to)        look or listen carefully
run into                           meet unexpectedly / hit with a vehicle
wipe out                          destroy completely

Notes:

Throw away and throw out have the same meaning.  They are also the same as get rid of.

Watch out (for) and look out (for) have the same meaning.

Mixed up has 2 meanings.  The second meaning is “out of sequence,”  the same as out of order.
Example:  I can’t find my coffee card in the file box.  They’re mixed up.

Run into and bump into have the same meaning, but bump into is only used for people.
Example:  Guess who I bumped into at the grocery store yesterday?

Run into has 2 meanings.  The second meaning is “hit with a vehicle.”
Example:  Michael went through a stop sign and ran into a truck on his way home from work.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

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forbidden:    not allowed, against the rules or law
Smoking anywhere in this building is forbidden.
In some religions pork is a forbidden food.

fragrant:    having a nice smell
I only buy fragrant flowers that make my apartment smell nice.
This is one of the most fragrant wines I have drunk in a long time.

furious:     extremely angry
She was furious with him for lying to her.
They were furious that their table had been given to someone else.

greedy:    wanting all of it and not willing to share
Eating the whole pie is a greedy thing to do.
Don’t be greedy.  Leave me some of those potato chips.

hearty:    healthy or strong
We had a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, and pancakes.
They gave the soldier a hearty welcome when he arrived back home.

inferior:    not as good, poor in quality
Don’t buy that smart phone.  It’s inferior to the one I have.
Last year they put inferior tires on my car, and now I need new ones.

isolated:    separated from others, alone
The girl felt isolated in her new school.
There was one isolated tree in the middle of the field.

monotonous:    always the same, repeating and boring
His job in the box factory is monotonous.
She doesn’t enjoy the music because she feels it’s monotonous.

noticeable:    easily seen
The scar on his face is more noticeable in the morning.
The stain wasn’t very noticeable, so she didn’t have to change her dress.

outstanding:    better than all the others, excellent
Everyone agrees he’s an outstanding athlete.
The job you did on your last project was outstanding.

peculiar:    unusual and strange
She has a peculiar habit of twisting her hair with her fingers.
I think it’s peculiar that Susan missed our 4:00 meeting.

similar:     generally the same
The boys have a similar attitude toward their studies.
They both had similar experiences when they were young.

superior:    better in quality
That company builds cars that are superior in quality to other cars.
His writing is superior to his classmate’s.

unfamiliar:    not knowing about
We are unfamiliar with the customs of this country.
They found themselves in unfamiliar surroundings.

visual:    about seeing or sight
He will always carry a visual image of her in his mind.
It’s been a long time, and I have no visual memory of her face.

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the above vocabulary on the audio file below.

Use these flashcards to help you study.

 

When you think you’re ready, do the following exercises.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot