English Class

English Class

When you speak any word beginning with the letter (W), your mouth should take a round shape as in pronouncing (O). But when you speak a word beginning with the letter (V), your upper teeth should touch your lower lip.

Now, if you have a dictionary which speaks the pronunciation aloud, key in the words beginning with these two letters and note the difference. But if you don’t have such a dictionary, listen to the perfect speakers and note how they speak.

In order to finely utter the words beginning with these two letters, first take a word which begins from the letter (W) and keep on speaking it till you feel you are easy with it. After this do the same with the letter (V). Then, mingle the words and keep on practicing till you fit them properly into your mouth. It will not require enough time or work; 10 minutes devoted till 15 days to this practice would be enough. I tell this out of my own experience.

Words of the day

Quintessential: adj. The most typical example or representative of a type. A quintessential Indian woman devotedly works for her husband and children without caring for herself.

Iota: n. A very small amount, a bit. I am sure that Tim is the robber, and there isn’t even an iota of doubt in it.

Downplay: v. To minimise the significance of anything. John downplayed the threats he was receiving from his opponents and suffered heavy loss.

Idioms of the day

Step into the breach (this is formal): To do a substituting job because the real person is suddenly not present. Mr James, the director of my company has suddenly got ill and Mrs Brown has step into the breach.

A turf war (this is American): A fight or an argument to decide who holds an area or an activity. Suddenly the road changed into a battleground as a turf war triggered off between two gangsters. Emerging victorious after a series of turf wars with Clinton, Obama went ahead to stamp his victory over McCain.

At/on the cutting edge: In the area of a subject or activity where the newest changes or developments are taking place. Dr Woodsworth is on the cutting edge of gene therapy.

Combinations of words

Needless innovations: It is always better to stick to simplicity by neglecting the needless innovations the glamourous blokes promote.

Work and constancy (constancy = n. Steadfastness, changelessness): Thinking about success without work and constancy is impractical.

Wild havoc: The storm created such a wild havoc that children started to panic.

The class is over.