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accept:  to say yes to an offer
We accepted their invitation to dinner.
They told the letter carrier they don’t accept junk mail.

appreciate:  to be thankful for something you are given
Thanks again.  I really appreciate all your help.
She appreciates it when her family visits her in the hospital

borrow:  to take and use something for a short time that’s not yours
Could I please borrow your cell phone.
Her sister often borrows her clothes without asking.

cure:  to make (someone) healthy again
He cured his cold with vitamin C and plenty of water.
The doctor cured his patient of a nasty rash.

entertain:  to do something that people enjoy
The mime entertained the crowd for hours.
She entertained her children by playing a game with them.

gain:  to get more
She knew that she had gained weight over the holidays.
What do you have to gain by that action?

head:  to go 
If the alarm sounds, head for the nearest exit.
The soldier headed in the direction of the gunfire.

irritate:  to bother someone a lot
I can’t use that cream because it irritates my skin.
Their loud Saturday night parties irritate us.

memorize:  to learn (something) by repetition
He quickly memorized her phone number.
We have to memorize our lines for the play.

permit:  to allow, to give permission
Many parents permit their children to stay up later on Friday nights
The police would not permit them to walk in the street.

promise:  to do what you say you’re going to do
She promised to never leave him.
Do you promise not to laugh when I tell you my story?

recognize:  to know (something) from an earlier time
I recognize that music.  It’s Beethoven, isn’t it?
The old man didn’t recognize his own daughter.

switch:  to replace one thing with another, to exchange
Let’s switch seats.  I can’t see the screen very well.
I don’t like this toothpaste.  I’m going to switch to another brand.

suffer:  to feel pain for a long time
She suffers from migraine headaches.
Many teenagers suffer from not enough sleep.

warn:  to tell (someone) about a future danger
A sign warned motorists that there was black ice on the road.
He warned her not to go out after dark.

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baggage:  the suitcases and bags you bring on a trip
The airline lost her baggage, but she got it back two days later.
That truck loads and unloads the baggage from airplanes.

business:  the selling of goods and services to make a profit
They started a seafood business in the Florida Keys.
His business takes him to many different countries.

college:  a school of higher learning after high school
Vancouver Community College is well known for its ESL program.
She wants to travel first and go to college next year.

dirt:  the loose top layer of the earth
He wrote his name in the dirt with a stick.
The car sped away leaving a cloud of dirt behind it.

fault:  a wrong action that someone did
The accident was all my fault.
It was no one’s fault that we lost the game.

history:  a record of past events related to people
History is full of bad rulers, both men and women.
I don’t know much of the history of Greece.

label:  the information on the outside of a product
Check the label on that shirt to make sure it’s 100% cotton.
The label on this juice says it’s made from 100% Florida oranges.

market:  a place where people go to buy and sell goods
There’s an excellent meat market on Commercial Street.
Every Friday and Saturday there’s a farmer’s market in this parking lot.

plastic:  a material made from oil that can be shaped
Except for the rubber wheels and the metal frame, the toy truck was all plastic.
The forks, knives and spoons for the picnic were white plastic.

row:  lots of things in a straight line
She liked to sit in the front row of all her classes at school.
There were rows and rows of logs on the public beach.

sleeve:  the part of a shirt or coat that covers the arms
You could see he was a sergeant from the chevron on his sleeve.
She pulled up her sleeves before washing the dishes.

throat:  the connection between the mouth and the stomach
He drank lemon ginger tea for his sore throat.
The man’s throat had been cut and his body left in the alley.

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

 

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athlete:  a person who plays sports
She’s been an athlete all her life but a runner for the past two years only,
His father was a Gold Medal Olympic athlete.

birth:  the act of being born.
The birth of the King’s son was celebrated throughout the country.
She gave birth to triplets.

criminal:  a person who has done a crime
He would never let his daughter marry a criminal.
Johnny has been a criminal for most of his life.

dust:  dirt that falls from the air onto things
Her home was messy, and there was dust on all the furniture.
When the sunlight came through the winfdow, you could see dust in the air.

garage:  the room where you keep your car
The Wilsons have a two-car garage, so they keep their boat on one side.
This weekend we are cleaning out the garage.

habit:  an action that you do all the time
She’s in the habit of getting up early on Sunday mornings.
Smoking is a bad habit.

introduction:  a presentation of one person to another
Bill Gates is a man who needs no introduction.
After the introductions, everyone sat down for dinner.

permission:  the agreement of someone else to do something
He gave his daughter permission to take the family car.
Do I have your permission to speak to your son?

promise:  an assurance that something will be done
He gave her his promise that he would return in one year.
A promise is a promise, so of course I’ll do it.

sheet:  any large and flat material and, including the sheets on your bed
Thursdays were the days when she washed all the sheets.
To prepare the room for painting, sheets of packing paper were put all over the floor

truth:  exactly what happened
Tell me the truth – did you take that money?
Her friend told her the truth about her boyfriend.

valley:  flat land with mountains all around
My grandparents have a farm in a beautiful valley.
There are twenty-five ranches in this valley.

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.

Many students confuse these six adverbs, so here is an explanation of how to use them.

Very means a lot.  It is used before adjectives and adverbs to make them stronger.  It is the opposite of a little.

Examples:
I know he’s going to be very tired after his long trip.  (He’s going to be much more than a little tired.)
We are both very interested in science.  (We’re much more than a little interested.)
She learns very quickly.  (She learns more quickly than normal.)

In the negative very doesn’t mean a lot.  It means nothing, but people like to use it anyway.

Examples:
She doesn’t know him very well.  (She doesn’t know him well.)
They don’t have very much money.  (They don’t have much money.)
I’m not a very good singer.  (I’m not a good singer.)

Also, you can say very very, which makes it even stronger.

Examples:
She knows me very very well.
I’m very very proud of you.

Really has the same meaning as very, but really can be used before an adjective, an adverb and a verb.

Examples:
She was really tired, so she went to bed.
He walked home really slowly.
I really like this city.

NOTE:  You cannot say:  I very like this city.  Very cannot be used before a verb but only before an adjective or an adverb.

Also, you can say really really, which makes it even stronger.

Examples:
She is a really really good athlete.
I was really really sad to hear the bad news.

Quite is also strong and means the same thing as very and really.  Like really, it is used before adjectives, adverbs and verbs.

Examples:
I’ve been quite tired these past couple days.
She sings quite beautifully.
We quite like that painting, so we’re going to hang it in the living room.

Pretty is a little less strong than very.  It is used before adjectives and adverbs but not before verbs.

Examples:
This soup tastes pretty bad.  (which is not as bad as very bad)
I think she sings pretty well.  (which is not as well as very well)
I’m pretty tired after a long day of skiing.  (which is not as tired as very tired)

So is stronger than very.  Use it when very isn’t strong enough.  It is used before adjectives, adverbs but not before verbs.

Examples:
I’m so tired of hearing the neighbors argue.  (more than very tired)
She talks so fast that sometimes I don’t understand what she says.  (more than very fast)
We’re so glad you decided to come work for us.  (more than very glad)

Also, use so (adjective/adverb) that when a reason or a result is stated.  You can drop that if you want to.

Examples:
They were so grateful that we had helped them.  (Our helping them was the reason they were grateful.)
She sang so beautifully people in the audience started to cry.  (People starting to cry was the result of her singing.)
You were so excited that you had won the contest.  (Your winning the contest was the reason you were excited.)

Too is the strongest, and is used when something cannot be done.  The thing that cannot be done starts with to.  You don’t have to state what cannot be done, however, if it was stated earlier.  It is used before adjectives, adverbs but not before verbs.

Examples:
They were too tired to play another game.  (Playing another game could not be done.)
They were walking too slowly to get to school on time.  (Getting to school on time could not be done.)
It’s too late to do anything about it.  (Nothing can be done.)

BUT NOT:  The team was too excited about their win.  (Nothing cannot be done.)
CORRECT:  The team was very/really/so excited about their win.

So let’s review:

Very goes before an adjective or an adverb but NOT a verb.  It is strong.

Really can go before an adjective, an adverb or a verb.  It is just as strong as very.

Quite can go before an adjective, an adverb or a verb.  It is just as strong as very.

Pretty can go only before an adjective or an adverb.  Use it to make the word a little stronger.  It is the weakest of the six words.

So is used when very isn’t strong enough.  It is used before an adjective or an adverb.  It’s also used when a reason or result follows.

Too is used when something cannot be done.  That thing starts with to.  It is used before an adjective or an adverb.

Study this page and when you’re ready, do the exercise below.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

This vocabulary is not just for people who love birds.  It’s for all ESL learners because these are birds that are generally known by people who speak English.

This is a bluejay

The blue jay is found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains in southern Canada south to the Gulf of Mexico and east to the Atlantic Ocean.

 

 

This is a crane

The crane is found almost everywhere except South America.  They eat almost anything from rats to insects to berries.

 

 

 

 

This is a crow

Crows are found everywhere except South America.  They are very intelligent animals.  They can even use tools.

 

 

 

 

This is a duck

Ducks are found on or near water.  They have webbed feet to paddle with.  They eat a variety of food such as plants, fish and insects.

 

 

 

 

This is an eagle

Eagles are found all over the world.  They are hunting birds that eat small animals including fish.

 

 

 

 

This is a goose

Geese are found on or near water.  They like to group together and mate for life.  They migrate south every winter.

 

 

 

 

This is a hawk

Hawks like open areas where they can hunt for a variety of small animals.   They are found all over North and Central America and the West Indies.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a hummingbird

Hummingbirds are among the smallest birds in the world.  They can stay in one place in the air by flapping their wings very, very fast.  They are the only birds able to fly backwards.

 

 

 

This is a kiwi

These birds live in New Zealand and can’t fly.  They are about the size of a chicken, but lay much larger eggs.  In fact the kiwi’s eggs are the largest in relation to their body size of any bird in the world.

 

 

This is an ostrich

The ostrich is a large bird found in Africa.  It can’t fly but is the fastest running bird in the world.  It can run up to about 70 km. per hour.

 

 

 

 

 

This is an owl

Owls are nighttime hunting birds that eat small animals, insects and other birds.  They are found all over the world.  They can turn their heads 270 degrees because their necks have more bones than other birds.

 

 

This is a parakeet

The parakeet is the most popular pet bird kept in cages in people’s homes.  They eat seeds.  Some of these birds can be trained to speak words.

 

 

 

This is a parrot

These birds live in tropical and subtropical areas of the earth.  They are very colorful and intelligent birds.  They eat seeds, nuts, and fruits.  Many parrots can learn to say words.

 

 

 

 

This is a peacock

The peacock is native to India but has been introduced to many areas of the world.  They eat berries and seeds but also hunt snakes, lizards and  small rodents.  Only the males have a fan of feathers like in this picture.

 

 

 

This is a pelican

The pelican is found all over the world near water.  They have a sack under their bill that can hold fish that they eat.  The largest of these birds have a wing span of 3 meters.

 

 

This is a penguin

Penguins are found from Antarctica to the equator, but not in the northern hemisphere. They can’t fly but they can swim because their wings are flippers.

 

 

 

 

This is a pigeon

Pigeons, also called doves, are found all over the world, especially in cities.  They eat seeds fruits and plants.  These birds have strong wing muscles and are strong flyers.

 

 

 

This is a robin

The robin is found in woodlands, farmland and cities all over North America.  They eat soft insects, fruits and berries.  Most of these birds fly south for the winter.

 

 

 

 

This is a seagull

Seagulls are found near open water all over the world.  They have webbed feet to paddle on water.  They are good at stealing food from other animals. They can drink salt water.

 

 

 

This is a sparrow

Sparrows are small birds that are found in cities all over the world.  They eat seeds and small insects.  They often build their nests on buildings.

 

 

 

 

This is a swan

Swans are found in temperate areas near water all over the world, except Africa, northern South America and Central America.  They are big birds and have webbed feet.  They eat plants that grow under the water.

 

 

This is a woodpecker

The woodpecker is found in forest and woodland areas all over the world, except Australia, New Zealand and Madagascar.  They make holes in trees to eat the insects that live there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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area:  general place, all the space inside of a border
I lost my umbrella in the area by the bicycles.
The area of British Columbia is just under 945,ooo square kilometers. 

button:  the round object pushed through a hole to keep your clothing closed
His best shirt was missing a button, so he couldn’t wear it.
There were thirty buttons down the back of the dress.

definition:  the meaning of a word or group of words
This is a new word for me.  I have to look up its definition.
The definition of the word ‘cease’ is to stop an activity.

fog:   a cloud on the ground
The fog caused traffic accidents all over the city.
All the mountains were hidden by the thick fog.

helmet:  protection worn on the head
It’s the law in Vancouver to wear a bicycle helmet when riding on the road.
He had an extra helmet so she could ride on the back of his motorcycle.

idea:  a creative thought
I have an idea.  We should throw her a surprise party.
He had the crazy idea that she would marry him.

liquid:  any material that acts like water
Water, oil and alcohol are all liquids.
My doctor wants me to drink lots of liquids everyday.

metal:  a hard material used to make things
Old cars can be sold for their metal.
Everything but the road surface of the bridge is made of metal.

opposite:  the thing that is most unlike something else
The opposite of right is wrong.
He told her he wasn’t going to go and then did the opposite.

prisoner:  a person who is put in prison or jail
His great grandfather was a prisoner of war in Germany In 1944.
All the prisoners are locked in their cells overnight.

suggestion:  an idea one person gives to another
Her suggestion was to combine the classes for the day.
May I make a suggestion?

zero:   nothing
His bank account went down to zero.
The team lost by a score of six to zero.

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

 

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adult:   a grown up person
You can’t vote until you are legally an adult.
A teenage driver must have an adult in the car when he drives.

bucket:  a container with a handle used to hold a liquid.
If you’re going to wash the car, you’ll need a bucket full of warm soapy water.
It took buckets full of water to put out the kitchen fire.

citizen:  a legal member of a country.
My cousin is a citizen of both Canadian and Britain.
If you want to become a citizen of Canada, it will take you three years.

cupboard:  a hanging closet with shelves inside to store things.
He built a row of cupboards in the garage for all his tools.
The wine glasses are in the cupboard above the sink in the kitchen.

favor:  something you do to help someone
Could you please do me a big favor?
After Tom helped his sister move, she returned the favor and introduced him to her roommate.

handkerchief:  a small cloth carried in a pocket to blow your nose with.
He gave her his handkerchief after she started to cry.
In the pocket of his white suit jacket, there was a red handkerchief.

landlord:  a person who owns and rents out homes to other people
His landlord told him that his rent would go up five percent in January.
When the dishwasher started making noise, she called the landlord and told him.

musician:  a person who makes music.
The musicians who play outside for money are called buskers.
Glenn Gould was an extraordinary Canadian musician on the piano.

president:  the person who is responsible for an organization, a company or a country
Juliana was elected president of the yacht club.
The President of the United States has more power than the Prime Minister of Canada.

relative:  a person who is related by blood
All my relatives live back home in my native country.
Albert Einstein was a relative of hers, so that’s why she’s so smart.

sponge:  a squeezable pad that soaks up water used for cleaning.
Get the sponge and clean up that spilled water on the floor.
He washed the car with a sponge and some soapy warm water.

temperature:  the measurement of heat
What is the average temperature of Mexico?
Johnny had a fever, so his mother took his temperature to see how high it was.

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

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audience:  the people who are listening or watching
After her performance, the audience cheered loudly.
During the school play, Susan saw her mother sitting in the audience.

beard:  the hair a man has on his cheeks and chin
The little girl pulled on Santa’s beard to see if it was real.
He shaved off his beard because his girlfriend didn’t like it.

building:  a structure with walls, a roof and usually windows used for activities such as living, entertainment and manufacturing
He works in the medical research building at the hospital.
There are many more buildings in the city than ten years ago.

edge:  the part where a surface drops off
The movie was so exciting everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats.
The car drove off the edge of a cliff and crashed into the ocean.

gasoline:  the liquid that is necessary for a motor to run
They canceled their trip across the country because of the price of gasoline.
Henry ran out of gasoline and had to walk to the nearest service station.

hanger:  a metal or plastic device used to hang shirts, coats and other clothing in a closet
All the coats are on hangers in the hall closet.
After she irons her blouses, she puts them on hangers.

island:  a piece of land totally surrounded by ocean or other water.
They own an island in Maine, where they have a summer camp.
Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean Sea.

marriage:  the official union of two people.
Paul asked his long-time girlfriend if he could have her hand in marriage.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 2007.

noise:  unpleasant or meaningless sound
Mom says to stop that noise.  She’s trying to study.
He knew there was a party next door because of all the noise.

piece:  part of something
For dessert I’ll take a piece of that blueberry pie.
She knocked the vase off the table and had to clean up all the broken pieces.

secret:  information that is known and shared by only a few people
Her surprise birthday party is a secret, so don’t tell anybody
Can you keep a secret?

video:  moving picture
The police have been given videos of the fight that people took with their smart phones.
You can upload your wedding video to YouTube so your relatives can see it.

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

 

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ankle:  the connection of your foot to your leg
The man twisted his ankle when he got off the bus.
When she was pregnant, both her ankles swelled up.

blanket:  a heavy cloth that you sleep under in your bed
I think we’ll need an extra blanket tonight.  It’s cold.
When she kissed her son good night, she pulled the blanket up to his chin.

center:  middle
I think we should put the sofa in the center of the living room.
There is a black hole at the center of the galaxy.

customer:  a person who may buy what you’re selling
You should treat every customer with respect.
Her restaurant has lots of steady customers.

emergency:  a situation where something must be done now
Call this number if there’s an emergency, and I’ll come right away.
The doctor had to go to the hospital for an emergency.

immigrant:  a person who comes into the country to live
As an immigrant herself, she knows the challenges of living in a new country.
Canada accepts over 200,000 immigrants yearly.

lipstick:  a substance women put on their lips to add color
She went to the ladie’s room to refresh her lipstick.
Her perfect lipstick is just a shade darker than her natural lips.

perfume:  a nice-smelling liquid women put on their skin
She usually only puts on perfume before she goes out on a date.
The smell of her perfume was so strong he had to open the window.

recipe:  a plan for making delicious food
I’ve been looking for a good chilli recipe for ages.
Let’s go on-line and search for a recipe for antipasto.

scissors:  a tool you use to cut paper or other thin material
The last time he used scissors, he cut his finger.
These scissors need to be sharpened.  They tear the paper.

stomach:   the organ that receives the food that you eat
The bully hit him in the stomach, and he ran away crying.
After eating many slices of birthday cake, his stomach is upset.

village:  a small group of houses
I think there’s a doctor in the neighboring village who can help.
They came from a village on the island of Borneo.

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

 

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author:  a person who writes books, articles, blogs, etc.
She is the author of several children’s novels.
I’ve seen this writing before.  I think I know who the author is.

couple:  two people with a close relationship, often married
Jeremy and Judy make a nice couple.
Do you remember that couple we met in Mexico last year?

distance:  the length between two places
In the distance he saw a small dot in the sky and knew it was his father’s plane.
The average distance between the earth and the moon is  384,403 kilometers.

forest:  an area with a lot of trees and other plants
The whole island was covered in forest.
There are many wild animals living in the forests of British Columbia.

grocer:  the owner of a grocery store where you buy food
There’s a green grocer down the street where you can get some salad makings.
The grocer recommended these Nicola apples.  He said they’re crispy and sweet.

hero:  a person who saves someone’s life or does other great things
Everyone says he’s a hero for saving that boy from the river.
He tried to be a hero and save her, but they both died.

mirror:  a flat glass in which you can see yourself
As she passed by, she saw herself in the hallway mirror.
The mirror was foggy after his shower, so he wiped it down.

pocket:  a place to carry things in your pants, shirt or coat
I know I have change for a dollar.  Let me check my pockets.
His camping knife dropped out through a hole in his pocket.

pronunciation:  the way you say words
Her pronunciation is quite good, and she’s easily understood.
There are two correct pronunciations of the word “either.”

salary:  the money you get for working in a job
She’s getting a base salary of $12 an hour plus a percentage of her sales.
Can I ask what the salary will be for this position?

shoulder:  the connection of your arm to your body
He was glad he could give her a shoulder to cry on.
She sprained her shoulder trying to lift her bike onto its rack.

traffic:  all the cars on the road
There’s not much traffic at this time of day, so let’s get going.
At rush hour the traffic downtown is bumper to bumper.

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

Use these flashcards to help you study.