Do you know about Tag questions?

They are statements to which we add a final "tag" or question. For example:

• You speak English, don't you?

• The movie wasn't that bad, was it?

• He can join us, can't he?

Many learners do not like using tag questions since they can be more confusing than regular questions (which, let's face it, are already damn tricky on their own!).

Even so, it's important to give tag questions a shot. They can really take your English conversational skills to the next level.

Using tag questions can:

• show that you are listening and interested in what the other person is saying

• confirm or deny information quickly

• keep a conversation going

• make you sound friendlier and more confident.

If you're confused about how to use tag questions, check out my new YouTube video. You'll learn why we use tag questions, how to properly form them, AND how to respond to them.

FYI*

Check out the meaning of the expressions/words in bold that I used in this post:

Let's face it (expression): to admit that something is true or real

tricky (adj): difficult to do or deal with

give something a shot (expression): to try or attempt to do

* fyi: This is an abbreviation of "for your information" which is another way to say "just so you know."

Happy studying!

Gabbie

Key words Americans use to talk about shopping

Here are some key 🔑 words Americans use to talk about money. If you plan on going to the store, you'll need to know these.

💵 cash: Cash always refers to paper money. It is quite common for some small restaurants to post signs that say "Cash only" because they don't accept credit cards.

💵 bill(s): Bill(s) refer to different dominations of paper money. For example, you may have a 1-dollar bill, 5-dollar bill, 10-dollar bill, etc.

💵 buck(s): Bucks can refer to both paper and value. However, it is more commonly used to refer to paper money.

💵 change: Change refers both to the money you get back after a purchase and coins. In some places in the US, some places still require you to feed a meter if you want to park. In this case, you will need to bring change (coins).

💵 to come to: In terms of money, this expression means to cost. At checkout, it is more common to hear "that comes to x" instead of "that costs x."

Have you heard these before? If not, please familiarize yourself with them - you will hear them every time you go shopping!

It's time to talk about time!

When we study language from a textbook, we usually only learn how to express an idea in one way.

This can create real problems because native speakers usually have a variety of ways to express a single idea.

Let's look at the example of time.

It's 2:50pm.

Someone asks you what time it is.

What will you say?

If you're like most learners, you will say:

'It's two fifty in the afternoon.'

However, there are so many ways to say this time!

A native speaker might say:

1. It’s ten minutes to three.

2. It’s ten to three.

3. It’s ten to *

4. It’s ten of *

5. It’s ten till *

*: This assumes that the listener can make a good guess about following hour.

If you're unfamiliar with these expressions of time, then you might become lost or frustrated in an everyday situation.

Don't let this happen to you!

You can learn all the key language Americans use to talk about time, and LOTS of other everyday things, in my course 'Essential English for Life in the USA.'