Weekly Finds: April 27, 2013

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

GRAMMAR

Uses of the verb be and have in the simple present tense

The verb be has five forms: is, am, are, was and were. Of these, the forms is, am and are are used in the simple present tense. Was and were are used in the simple past tense.

READING

The history of English

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

How to Develop a Positive Mindset

The most important element you require to succeed in life is your mindset– that’s why the power of the universe gave you the ability to imagine. You’re at your free will to think anything you want to, and it all depends on you to think or meditate on the right or wrong things.

VOCABULARY

Sit Versus Set

Get Grammar Girl's take on sit versus set. Learn when to use sit and when to use set.

The Lifehacker Tech Dictionary

Lifehacker talks about all sorts of tech-related things, acronyms or terms that even the geekiest out there don't understand.

Weekly Finds: April 20, 2013

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

GRAMMAR

Sentences with infinitive structures

Learn how to convert a sentence from the active voice to the passive voice.

SPEAKING

Accuracy in Speaking Exams

Speaking exams can be stressful! What if you don't understand the examiner? What if you don't know the exact word you need?

Diction

Get a public speaking expert's tips on how to improve your diction and enunciation. Learn what you can practice in order to speak more clearly.

VOCABULARY

Taboo Words - Hell

Keep in mind that using the word hell can be considered offensive, and because of that, hell is considered a “bad” or “taboo” word in English. Note the author's reminder, though.

Lord Fisher Coined 'OMG' in 1917

The expression OMG as an abbreviation for “Oh my God” first occurred in 1917 letter Lord Fisher, the admiral of the British navy, wrote to Winston Churchill, then a member of parliament, during World War I, the Anorak has uncovered. OMG!

Weekly Finds: April 6, 2013

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

GRAMMAR

A preposition problem

To begin, and so that you won’t feel you have yet another language problem on your plate, the preposition problem here is not a problem for you; it’s a problem for computers.

READING

Macmillan explains the decision to stop printing its dictionary

The author posits that in the rapidly evolving world of information, the digital medium is the best platform for a dictionary. Are you clapping or cringing?

WRITING

Write with the 1,000 Most Common Words

Need a quick writing exercise to get your writing brain working? Try to write a short short story using only the 1,000 most popular words in the English language.

VOCABULARY

Separable or Inseparable?

Phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. Learn the tips.

What are 'Mrs' and 'Ms' short for?

The abbreviations Mr and Mrs are in common use, and are straightforward to pronounce when we see them written down: an approximation would be ‘mister’ and ‘missus’. But what are they abbreviations of?