1StepEnglish - The place to learn English for FREE!!

1StepEnglish's Top 10 Quotes Of All Time

2013-05-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

1StepEnglish's Top 10 Favourite Quotes Of All Time.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of famous quotes, especially Albert Einstein's and John Lennon's. It's their philosophies on life which I admire the most.

The following are my all time top 10. If you have any you'd like to contribute, or you think that a quote you like belongs in the top 10 then feel free to post your quote below.

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” - Abraham Lincoln.
"Everybody loves you when you're six feet under the ground" - John Lennon
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results". - Albert Einstein
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” - Mae West
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi
“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” - Mark Twain

7. "Mind is everything, if you don't believe you can do something then you can't". Kai Greene

8. “Without music, life would be a mistake.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

9. "We live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning". - Albert Einstein

10. "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it". - Albert Einstein

I hope you've all enjoyed my new blog on quotes. If you have any other suggestions for quotes that you feel deserve to be in the top 10 then I'd like to know.

1StepEnglish

Top Most Popular English Idioms!!

2013-05-10T01:23:00.003-07:00

Popular idioms and their meanings.

You're talking to an English native when all of a sudden he comes out with "Piece of cake". Idioms are all too commonly used in the English language, most of the time natives use them without even realising it.

Below is a list of popular idioms that are commonly used. Hopefully you'll be able to implement them into your conversations with natives or other students who are learning English.

Idiom - Piece of cake.

Meaning: When someone says they've finished a piece of work that they've found easy, they'd hand it into the teacher and say 'Piece of cake'. This indicates to the teacher that they've found the work easy to complete.

Example:

Student: I've finished my work sir.

Teacher: How did you find the assignment.

Student: If I'm honest, it was a piece of cake.

Idiom: Pigs might fly.

Meaning: Have you ever seen a pig fly before? No? Me neither! This idiom basically means that something will never happen.

Example:

Friend 1: I've got a feeling I may win the lottery tonight.

Friend 2: Yeah, and pigs might fly.

Friend 3: You aren't confident then?

Idiom: Blood's thicker than water.
Meaning: Normally a member of a family refers to this statement when informing someone that family commitment means more than that of a friend.

Example:

Friend 1: Why won't you take my side on this issue?
Family member: Well, blood's thicker than water!
Friend 1: I understand.

Idiom: Speak of the devil.
Meaning: This is used when you're talking about the person who has just arrived.

Example:

Friend 1: Have you heard about what Robert got up to at the weekend?
Friend 2: No, why?
*Robert walks through the door*
Friend 1: Ah, speak of the devil.
Robert: Have I missed something?

Idiom: Feeling a bit under the weather.
Meaning: Feeling slightly unwell.

Example:

Friend 1: How are you today Jan?
Friend 2: If I'm honest, I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.
Friend 1: Have you been to see the doctor?
Friend 2: I think I'll give them a call today.

Idiom: Costs an arm and a leg.
Meaning: This is often used when we believe something is very expensive.

Example:

Friend 1: Asda has become so expensive.
Friend 2: I agree, it costs an arm and a leg to buy anything in there.
Friend 1: I think I'll look elsewhere from now on.

Idiom: Once in a blue moon.
Meaning: When something happens that is very rarely.

Example:

Andrew: I heard someone was just handing out money near McDonald's yesterday.
Mike: Yeah right, that kind of thing happens once in a blue moon.
Andrew: True, but still, imagine someone giving away free money.

Idiom: A hot potato.
Meaning: This is used to describe a topic which is being spoke about by quite a few people.

Example:

Friend 1: Did you hear about the affair between the manager and her co manager.
Friend 2: Yeah, everyone's talking about it apparently.
Friend 1: Yeah, that topic's a bit of a hot potato at the moment.

Idiom: Cut corners.
Meaning: When something is done poorly to try and save money.

Example:

Friend 1: This presentation was not what I expected, it looks so cheap and tacky.
Friend 2: By the looks of it, I'd say money was a bit tight.
Friend 1: I'd say they've cut corners.
Friend 2: I agree, lets get out of here.

I hope you've enjoyed learning about some of the most popular idioms that are used within the English language.

The next time you're speaking English, why not have a go at using a few of them? :))

1StepEnglish

The Too, Two and To Quiz!

2013-04-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

The too, two and to quiz!

Are you confused on how to use to, too, and two? If so, then lets try and clear up any difficulties you may have.

1. to is a preposition, before an infinitive. (He walks to church)

2. too - also, as well or when you are saying that there is more than necessary.

3. two - number (For example: He arrived in Rome two hours ago.

Now it's your turn!

Have a go at our quick 10 question quiz below, your answers will be marked in a few days.

The children had eaten ______ much chocolate.
"I'm on my way _____ school" she said.
I'm catching the number ____ bus, which one are you waiting for?
____ many cooks spoil the broth.
"I have just seen a thief run out of your house" she screamed! He was running _____ fast, I just couldn't catch him.
It's time ____ go now Jim.
I'd like ____ packets of chewing gum please, three is ____ many.
I'm on my way ______ school, I'll catch up with you in a minute.
It's _____ much, I simply can't afford it.
The number ______.

Good luck everyone!!!! :))

The Whose v Who's Quiz!

2013-04-24T09:54:00.004-07:00

Who knows the difference between who's and whose?

Below is a quiz to give you a better understanding of whose and who's.

Remember: Whose is the possessive of who or, somewhat controversially, which.

Who's is a contraction of who is or, less commonly, who has.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

Do you know ________ going to speak?
_______ bag is it?
_____ in the kitchen?
_______ shopping bill is this on the table?
______ this on the phone?
_______ side are you on?
I know a man _______ kids study at that college.
_______ ready to go?
________ dog is on the loose?
_____ is it please?

Please post your answers below as if you were leaving a comment.

ENJOY!!!

1StepEnglish

THE CORRECT ANSWERS ARE AS FOLLOWS!

1. who is

2. whose

3. who is

4. whose

5. who is

6. whose

7. whose

8. who is

9. whose

10. who

WELL DONE TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED! :))))

NEW - Mini Lesson - Travel Phrases

2013-04-22T04:31:00.000-07:00

Mini Lesson -

Travel Phrases ‘At the train station’

Phrase: Can I buy a ticket on the train?

Use: This phrase is used when you’re at the tickets kiosk or if you’re asking a random member of the public.

Dialogue:

Customer: Hello, can I buy a ticket on the train?

Ticket kiosk clerk: Yes of course, you can buy your ticket from the ticket master on board the train.

Customer: Thank you very much.

Ticket kiosk clerk: Is there anything else I can help you with?

Customer: No thank you.

Phrase: How many stops is it to London?

Use: When asking a fellow tourist or at the information desk of a train station.

Dialogue:

Information desk: Hello, how can I help you?

Customer: How many stops is it to London please?

Information Desk: It’s three stops from here.

Customer: That’s great thank you.

Phrase: How much is a return to London?

Use: You use this phrase when querying a price at the tickets desk in a train station.

Dialogue:

Customer: Hello there, how much is a return to London?

Tickets office: A return to London is around ….

Customer: That’s good, can I buy that ticket please?

Ticket office: That’s …. Please,

Customer: Thank you.

Ticket office: Have a safe journey.

Phrase: How much is a single to London?

Use: When you’re at a train station and you’re querying how much a single ticket to London is at the tickets desk.

Dialogue:

Customer: Hello there, how much is a single to London?

Tickets office: A single to London is around ….

Customer: That’s good, can I buy that ticket please?

Ticket office: That’s …. Please,

Customer: Thank you.

Ticket office: Have a safe journey

Phrase: Could you tell me where the nearest tube station is?

Use: A phrase that you would ask a general member of the public in regards to finding out where the nearest tube station is.

Dialogue:

Customer: Hello, could you tell me where the nearest tube station is?

Member of the public: Yes of course, it’s just on your right (Directions)

Customer: Thank you very much.

Phrase: The train has been cancelled.

Use: You may see this on timetables in a train station if your train has been cancelled for one reason or another or if you’re being informed by a ticket master.

Dialogue:

Ticket Master: The train has been cancelled to London.

Customer: Excuse me, why has the train been cancelled?

Ticket Master: There’s been a problem with the line so we’ve sent the technicians out to deal with the problem.

Customer: Oh ok, thank you.

Phrase: The train is currently running late.

Use: If your train is running late then you’ll be informed by the ticket master or you’ll see ‘This train is running late’ on the notice board.

Dialogue:

Ticket Master: The 14:40 train to London is currently running late.

Customer: Ok, do you know how long the train will be?

Ticket Master: The train should be here in around 40 minutes time, if there’s any further delays I’ll let you know.

Customer: Ok, thank you.

Phrase: What time does the train arrive on platform 2?

Use: You would ask this if you know your train is set to arrive at platform two but you’re unsure of the time of arrival.

Dialogue:

Customer: Hello, what time does the train arrive on platform 2?

Information desk: The train arrives at 13:00 hours.

Customer: That’s brilliant, thank you.

Information desk: You’re welcome.

Phrase: Is this the right platform for…. Cardiff?

Use: If you’re unsure whether you’re on the right platform for the train to Cardiff then you’d ask the information desk to be certain.

Dialogue:

Customer: Hello there, is this the right platform for Cardiff?

Information desk: Yes the platform you’re currently on is the correct platform.

Customer: Thank you.

Information desk: You’re welcome.

Phrase: Do you mind if I sit here?

Use: A question you would ask if there was a spare seat next to a member of the public.

Dialogue:

Customer: Hello, would you mind if I sit here?

Public: Yeah of course, nobody else is sat here.

Customer: That’s great, I appreciate that.

Public: No problem.

Happy Easter Everybody!! Be back soon...

2013-03-28T01:38:00.001-07:00

I enjoyed teaching you this term and look forward to posting more lessons for you.

Enjoy your Easter break.

We'll be back soon :)

Thank you!! New Google+ COMMUNITY

2013-03-25T03:19:00.002-07:00

Dear Followers

We are really happy and pleased to be helping so many of you Learn English. In a short space of time since we launched back in January, we have developed a very impressive following. Our fans on Google+ have been incredible. We have enjoyed making new friends and to show you how much we have enjoyed chatting to you online, we have created our very own Google+ COMMUNITY called - Learn English with 1StepEnglish.

Here I am online teaching you in person for FREE whilst we talk, share resources, take part in daily quizzes etc and at the same time, make new friends. If you would like to join us too...Click the button ;)

Google+ COMMUNITY = Learn English with 1 StepEnglish

(you must hold a googlemail account to join us here)

Many Thanks for your continued support. We really appreciate it and the more who share and follow, means more friends and more learning!

Warm Regards,

James

New Look + New Follow Us Tab!!

2013-03-24T01:48:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I hope you enjoy our BLOG's updated new look!

Please find our Brand New FOLLOW US Tab at the top of our sidebar >>>>HERE>>>>>
For all our fans, you can now follow us easily, make friends and receive our great updates straight into your inbox!

A great way to make new friends :)

Have fun

James

Mini-Lesson - At The Restaurant!

2013-03-24T01:37:00.002-07:00

New Mini-Lesson

Theme: At The restaurant

CLICK HERE - 10 Key Phrases you should know!

Enjoy and Share

1StepEnglish

This week's COMPETITION: THE BIG WRITE

2013-03-21T20:25:00.006-07:00

This Week's Competition...

The Big Write

This week our challenge is to write an exciting and interesting short story.

We will read and mark all the stories sent to us and will pick one winner. That winner's story will be published here on our blog and website for all to read and enjoy.

If you would like to take part in this, write a brilliant story and send it to us at 1stepenglish@gmail.com by April 1st

Please indicate your stories Title and your name on the email.

Have fun and Enjoy!

We look forward to reading your entries!

1StepEnglish

NEW ENTRIES - Gripping Grammar Tips

2013-03-15T22:16:00.007-07:00

Take a look at our new entries on our website!

Click on the links below:

20 Common Business Collocations - Phrases you need to know!

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda - Tips on Modal Verbs

Enjoy and Share

1StepEnglish

This week's challenge! Play this fun Quiz :)

2013-03-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

Phrasal Verbs

Which one is which?

Play this fun quiz...

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

How many did you get out of 15? Let us know here as a comment! Good Luck ;)

Enjoy

1StepEnglish

Mini-Lesson - Phrasal Verbs with 'PUT'

2013-03-13T05:04:00.001-07:00

Mini-Lesson

CLICK HERE >>>8 Phrasal Verbs with 'PUT' + Preposition

Enjoy

1StepEnglish

Our first 1000 views!!! :)

2013-03-11T00:36:00.002-07:00

Dear Followers, we thank you for your time and interactions with us so far. We've just reached our first 1000 views and thrilled!!

We will be sending out an extra FREE resource this month to our subscribers as a thank you!

Look out for it in your Inbox!

If you haven't subscribed to us yet, you can at the top of this blog!

Thanks everyone! We'll keep posting for you.

1StepEnglish
:)

What's a collocation? 15 most common ones...

2013-03-09T20:18:00.003-08:00

What's a collocation?

CLICK HERE >>> 15 of the most common collocations used by English natives!

Do you know any other collocations? If you do, please share them here as a comment! :)

1StepEnglish

SHIFT HAPPENS!! Watch this inspirational video!

2013-03-09T01:16:00.002-08:00

SHIFT HAPPENS

An Inspirational Video

Click here to Watch now!!

View our FREE Prezi Lessons here!!

2013-03-08T08:49:00.002-08:00

NEW PREZI Lessons

For more fun and interactive lessons, please view our PREZIs.

Click here: http://prezi.com/user/1StepEnglish/

2 NEW Lessons

PHRASAL VERBS - What are they?
Phrasal Verbs with the word 'get.'

We hope you enjoy them :)

1StepEnglish

This week's challenge...PLURALS :) ANSWERS REVEALED

2013-03-08T06:39:00.002-08:00

This week’s quiz!

Can you find the missing plurals?

ANSWERS REVEALED :)

The two BABIES were crying upstairs.

The chef was preparing his dinner and sharpening his KNIVES.

Henry VIII had six WIVES.

She was busy chopping up the VEGETABLES for her soup.

My COLLEAGUES at work were slacking off.

Would you like to have a game of CARDS?

The farmer forgot to put on his WELLIES so his FEET ended up very muddy.

We often see red BUSES in London.

How many COUNTRIES are there in Europe?

I have lost five POUNDS since I started my diet.

Post your answers as a comment :)

We will reveal the answers on Tuesday!

Have fun!

1StepEnglish

HINT

Knife, vegetable, card, welly, foot, bus, pound, baby, wife, colleague, country,

Subscribe now to get our FREE Resources!

2013-03-06T09:14:00.003-08:00

OUR NEXT RELEASE:

'Up the ante!'

Subscribe now at the top of this page or at our website www.1stepenglish.com with just a few clicks!

Did you know...?

2013-03-05T02:33:00.003-08:00

NEW POST

Click

5 Great SPORT Expressions

Enjoy ;)

1StepEnglish

The Best Books to help you learn and enjoy English!

2013-03-02T23:09:00.000-08:00

The TOP 50 BEST Children's Books of all Time!!

These classic titles are not just for children! They are classic English stories that have been our favourite books for years. They can't be beaten! If you are looking for excellent Authors to entertain you and help you learn English...this list will help you!

1StepEnglish

Our Favourites have been starred ***

1 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, C S Lewis***

2 The Very Hungry Caterpillar,

Eric Carle

3 Famous Five series, Enid Blyton

4 Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne***

5 The BFG, Roald Dahl***

6 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, J K Rowling

7 The Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton

8 The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame***

9 Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

10 The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson***

11 The Tales of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter***

12 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl***

13 Matilda, Roald Dahl***

14 The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett***

15 The Cat in the Hat, Dr Suess***

16 The Twits, Roald Dahl

17 Mr Men, Roger Hargreaves

18 A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

19 The Malory Towers Series, Enid Blyton

20 Peter Pan, J M Barrie

21 The Railway Children, E. Nesbit***

22 Hans Christian Fairy Tales, H C Andersen***

23 The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum***

24 The Witches, Roald Dahl

25 Stig of the Dump, Clive King

26 The Wishing Chair, Enid Blyton

27 Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell

28 The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Judith Kerr

29 Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jan Brett

30 James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl

31 A Bear Called Paddington, Michael Bond***

32 Black Beauty, Anna Sewell

33 Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak

34 Aesop's Fables, Jerry Pinkney

35 The Borrowers, Mary Norton***

36 Just So Stories, Rudyard Kipling

37 Meg and Mog, Jan Pienkowski***

38 Mrs Pepperpot, Alf Proyson

39 We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Michael Rosen 4

40 The Gruffalo's Child, Julia Donaldson

41 Room on a Broom, Julia Donaldson

42 The Worst Witch, Jill Murphy

43 Miffy, Dick Bruna

44 The Little Prince, Antoine De Saint-Exupery

45 Flat Stanley, Jeff Brown

46 The Snail and the Whale, Julia Donaldson

47 Ten Little Ladybirds, Melanie Gerth

48 Six Dinners Sid, Inga Moore

49 The St. Clares Series, Enid Blyton

50 Captain Underpants, Dav Pilke

A fantastic website to help you learn English!

2013-03-02T22:53:00.002-08:00

Reading short stories/text in English with Questions afterwards to test your understanding is one of the best ways to learn English.

This website is excellent! The stories are free and every story has activities/questions to do at the end!

http://www.rong-chang.com/qa2/

Enjoy

1StepEnglish

Play this Quiz :)

2013-03-02T00:04:00.003-08:00

Play this quiz to help you learn English!

Have Fun!! :)

1StepEnglish

1. Homophones - Their, there or they're? Take this QUIZ!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

GRAMMAR TIPS...Did you know?

2013-03-01T20:58:00.002-08:00

NEW POST

Click:
15 Slang Phrases you hear in the office at work!!

Enjoy :)
1StepEnglish

Gripping Grammar Resources Released TODAY!!

2013-03-01T02:46:00.003-08:00

Great news to all our fans! Our brand new GRIPPING GRAMMAR resources have been released today to our registered students.

Follow this link to view a preview from our website:
http://www.1stepenglish.com/1stepenglishonline.html

Your first FREE resource is on IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS!

If you would like to receive these resources for FREE, register with us through our website and we will add you to our mailing list. Free registration, Free Resources and NO obligation!

We hope this helps you!

Regards

1StepEnglish

1StepEnglish - The place to learn English for FREE!!

1StepEnglish's Top 10 Quotes Of All Time

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” - Abraham Lincoln.

"Everybody loves you when you're six feet under the ground" - John Lennon

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results". - Albert Einstein

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” - Mae West

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” - Mark Twain

Top Most Popular English Idioms!!

The Too, Two and To Quiz!

The Whose v Who's Quiz!

Who knows the difference between who's and whose?

NEW - Mini Lesson - Travel Phrases

Happy Easter Everybody!! Be back soon...

Thank you!! New Google+ COMMUNITY

New Look + New Follow Us Tab!!

Mini-Lesson - At The Restaurant!

This week's COMPETITION: THE BIG WRITE

NEW ENTRIES - Gripping Grammar Tips

This week's challenge! Play this fun Quiz :)

Mini-Lesson - Phrasal Verbs with 'PUT'

Our first 1000 views!!! :)

What's a collocation? 15 most common ones...

SHIFT HAPPENS!! Watch this inspirational video!

View our FREE Prezi Lessons here!!

This week's challenge...PLURALS :) ANSWERS REVEALED

Subscribe now to get our FREE Resources!

Did you know...?

The Best Books to help you learn and enjoy English!

A fantastic website to help you learn English!

Play this Quiz :)

GRAMMAR TIPS...Did you know?

Gripping Grammar Resources Released TODAY!!