Conversation Questions and Activities to Aid in the Learning of English
Arranged according to tense, topic, and levels of difficulty
By Prof. Mark McDowell, M.A. Mark’s ESL World ~ http://www.marksesl.com
121
Many
–ed words are pronounced like -t with no sound for the t,
only air, such words ofter have sh or ch before the ed:
finished
– say finisht
washed
– say washt
wished
– say wisht
watched -- say watcht
Don’t put “y” sounds after sh and ch words
church (not churchy)
ash (not ashy)
beach (not beachy)
trash (not trashy)
English (not Englishy)
fish (not fishy)
Common problem areas
Don’t put “a”
sounds after words
We must(a) act(a) now.
Don’t put thinking sounds after words
(ah) Well, I (ah) think (ah) that (ah) . . .
Confused terms
drunken vs. drunk (
“drunken” is
not commonly used, just say
“drunk”)
loan / lend vs. borrow (loan is to give, borrow is to receive)
I have a promise (s/b I have an appointment
, or I’ve already make
plans. Note: plans is pluralized.)
I recommend to you . . . (s/b I recommend that you, or I recommend
you . . .)
Overused Expressions:
So (use: very or really) Use “so” when you are going to give an
explanation, compare
two things, or making an exclamation.
In my case (use: As for me, or as far as I’m concerned, or just don’t
say anything)
These days (use: lately, recently, or now-a-days)
