EnglishClass101.com Blog

The need for companionship runs deep. The desire for a hand to hold even as we grow old alters the way we lead our daily lives. The longing to find a person who embraces us completely—and whom we can embrace completely—burns within our hearts like an illuminated candle…until we meet that person and everything becomes so clear in the light of a roaring fire. But then we find ourselves tongue-tied! What do we say to win this person’s heart? And what about in English? What you need, in this case, are some quick and easy-to-use love phrases in English. Proper communication is key in any relationship. And this can be difficult in an unfamiliar country, speaking a language that’s not your own! If you struggle to find love or keep... Show more

Your friend is offering you cake, but you’re on a strict diet. There’s some creepy guy at the bar trying to ask you out, and you’re a little scared. Your new coworker wants to know about your likes and dislikes, but you don’t know what to say… The world is full of situations that require us to say "no," turn down offers, or negate a response altogether.  In this article, I’ll show you how to properly use negation in English. Learning how to make negative sentences in English will empower you to stick to your goals, keep yourself safe, and express yourself effectively!  → Before you start, you might want to read my article on English Sentence Patterns or look over our vocabulary list of the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.... Show more

If you’re reading this article, odds are you know quite a bit of English already.  Still, everyone hits that point while learning something new where they get tired and want to quit. If this sounds like you, you may be wondering: Why learn English? Is it really worth continuing? The short answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’ There are plenty of reasons why learning English is important. Today, I’m going to talk about the top ten.  Keep reading for the motivation you need to continue your studies and reach complete fluency! Table of Contents English has immense worldwide popularity. The English language has far-reaching influence. Learning a second language is great for your brain. Learning English will make learning... Show more

Does this title make you feel a bit...tense? (Yeah, me too.) Jokes aside, tenses are an important part of English grammar. They allow speakers to clarify the timing of an action so that there’s no confusion.  In this article, I’ll briefly explain each English tense and show you how it affects verb conjugation.  Let’s get started. Table of Contents What are Tenses? Present Tense Past Tense Future Tense Irregular Verbs Time to Practice! Final Thoughts Answers 1. What are Tenses? A tense indicates the timing of an action. There are three basic tenses in English: present, past, and future. Verb tense is formed based on a sentence's main verb and the auxiliary words... Show more

Learning a language can feel like climbing a huge mountain. It’s not so bad when you start, but the higher up you get, the more difficult the terrain becomes. You’re tired, you’re out of breath, and you don’t know if it’s worth it to keep going. Things aren’t going well, and you’re getting discouraged. When this happens, it can really help to have a more realistic sense of the work involved and the direction you must take. This way, you can prepare yourself for the road ahead and regain your energy. And I have some good news: If you’re reading this article, you’re almost there! You just need to keep pressing forward.  In this article, I’ll talk about how long it takes most people to learn English and give you some advice on how to... Show more

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that "every cloud has a silver lining" when I was sad. Or that "curiosity killed the cat" when I asked too many questions. Or, my least favorite as a child, that I should "never put off until tomorrow what I can do today" when I wanted to play video games instead of finishing my homework.  These are only three of the most commonly used proverbs in English, but I swear I’ve heard these hundreds of times!  I’m sure that you’ve heard similar proverbs and sayings over and over again in your native language. These words of wisdom can give us a new perspective, reinforce good habits, and give us something to say when we’re at a loss for words. And for you, as the avid language-learner you are,... Show more

If you plan on visiting the United States, you can’t pick a more iconic location than New York City.  With a population of over 8 million people, NYC received over 65 million tourists in 2018! Compare this to other major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, California (50 million tourists) or Seattle, Washington (40.9 million tourists).  So what makes New York City such a desirable tourist destination?  NYC is known for being welcoming to any and all visitors, and the city also has quite a diverse population. NYC is known to have the largest population of Jews outside of Israel and the largest population of native Chinese outside of Asia. In addition, roughly a quarter of all Native Americans in the U.S. reside in New York City.  ... Show more

As an individualistic country that’s home to people of numerous cultures, the United States has not one cultural identity, but many.  Learning about American culture, values, and lifestyle is a great way to immerse yourself in the English language. Whether you’re just curious about what life in the United States looks like, or you plan on moving to the country soon, the information in this article will help you better understand what to expect.  You’ll learn about a variety of topics, from religion to food, and walk away with a clearer image of the American culture basics.  Let’s get started. Table of Contents Values and Beliefs Religion in the United States What is an American Family? American Work Culture Art:... Show more

According to Reference.com, Americans eat thirteen billion hamburgers every year, about 3 billion pizzas, and 2 million tons of french fries. Holy moly.  In the United States, we really do love our American fast food (and our Mexican fast food, Chinese fast food, and all other types of fast foods...).  That said, not all typical American food is super-unhealthy or purchased at a drive-thru window. American food culture is rather versatile, including a mix of all-American classics, meals passed along from Great Britain, and even traditional foods from other cultures.  Exploring a country’s food and eating habits is a fantastic way to learn about that country and its people. In this article, I’ll introduce you to: Several popular... Show more

When I was a kid, my mom used to force me to diagram sentences, one after another. For some reason, she thought it would help me understand things like sentence structure and parts of speech better.  It didn’t. I hated it. And today, I don't even remember how sentence diagramming works. I just remember spending miserable hours of my childhood doing it at the kitchen table. That image popped into my head as soon as I started writing this article. So today, my goal is to introduce you to all of the English grammar basics in a straightforward and simple manner. No sentence diagramming and no fuss, because I’ve been there!  By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of how English grammar works, from word... Show more