This podcast covers English grammar and vocabulary topics that you don't normally see in textbooks.  Stop "just memorizing" and start to see the big picture!

Difficult English Explained

How can you memorize what you need without wasting a lot of time or feeling bored?  Unfortunately, some of the strategies that we learned in school are not very efficient or effective.  Learn what works in this episode!

The complete text of this podcast can be found at https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/whats-the-most-efficient-way-to-memorize-material-part-2/

What's the most efficient way to memorize material? (Part 2)

Understanding the most common prefixes and suffixes in English is a great way to build your vocabulary. In this blog post, I cover how we form adjectives in English using "-y" as a suffix.  

For the full text of the article, go to https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/adjectives-that-end-with-y/.

For a visualizer, go to:  https://youtu.be/eWxfzuEqlvs.

Adjectives that end with "-y"

Students regularly ask me, "How do I know what comes after a verb?" If a verb takes another verb as a complement, it is usually either a full infinitive or a gerund (e.g., "to do" or "doing").  Bare infinitives (e.g., "do") can only be complements for a small number of verbs, but these verbs are very common.  In this article, I take a look at some verbs that take bare infinitives as complements.  

To access the full text of this podcast, please go to https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/what-comes-after-verb-2/.

Be sure that you read the first post in this series!  You can find it at: https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/what-comes-after-a-verb-to-do-do-or-doing-part-1/

What comes after a verb? "To do", "do," or "doing"? (Part 2)

If you find yourself confused about how to use the word “since,” you are not alone.  “Since” can be a preposition, a subordinating conjunction, or an adverb.  In this podcast, I talk about the different meanings of "since" and how to use it properly.

For the full text of this podcast, check out my website:  https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/how-do-i-use-the-word-since/

How Do I Use the Word “Since?”

Students regularly ask me, "How do I know what comes after a verb?"  This is a tough question, and it's no surprise that most EFL textbooks don't talk much about it.  There aren't any easy answers but at the same time, there are some guidelines.  

To access the full text of this podcast, please go to https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/what-comes-after-verb-1/.

What comes after a verb? "To do", "do," or "doing"? (Part 1)

If you look up “get” in a dictionary, you might see anywhere from 10 to 20 definitions.  That is really scary.  However, I have some good news.  There is a much easier way to remember how to use “get.”  

Instead of memorizing dozens of meanings, it’s better to organize the meanings of “get” into groups.  Each group is easy to recognize because it is based on what comes after “get.” 

For the full text of this podcast, please go to https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/the-verb-get-not-as-complicated-as-it-looks/ . 
 

The Verb “Get” --- Not as Complicated as it Looks

Understanding the most common prefixes and suffixes in English is a great way to build your vocabulary. In this blog post, I cover the prefixes "dis-" and "mis-." They may seem the same, but there are some subtle differences.

For the full text of the article, go to
https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/what-is-the-difference-between-dis-and-mis-making-negative-words-in-english/

Visualizer: https://youtu.be/ZE2AaUxq2n0




What is the Difference between “dis-” and “mis-”? — Making Negative Words in English

I am going to talk about the difference between two prefixes, “un-” and “non-.” Both of them are used to make negative words, but their meanings have some subtle differences. 

The full text of this episode can be found at 
https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/what-is-the-difference-between-un-and-non-making-negative-words-in-english/.