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Facts about the English Language

Average: 3.5 (22 votes)

How much do you know about the language that you're learning? Here are some fascinating facts about English! Read through them and complete the gaps with the words below.

Do you have any more interesting insights into English? Let us know!

Lesson by Caroline

Gerund vs Infinitive Practice

Average: 3.6 (362 votes)

New Update: EC is now virtual! Check out Online English Classes

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing."

Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb.

It can be tricky to remember which verbs are followed by the infinitive (the to form) of the verb and which are followed by the gerund (the ing form) of the verb.

Try to remember that:

Restaurant Vocabulary

Average: 3.8 (26 votes)

How well do you remember all the vocabulary related to restaurants? I have written a description of one of my favourite restaurants below but I've mixed up the letters of the orange words, can you work out what they should be?

Bonus question: What do Americans call the 'bill'?

Good luck!

Lesson by Caroline

The School System in England

Average: 4.6 (10 votes)

Read the following article about the English school system and see if you can choose which word correctly fits the gap. This lesson will test grammar, collocations and your understanding of context. Let us know how you do! Good luck!

Lesson by Caroline

Word of the Day: Handy

Average: 3.8 (19 votes)

handy idiom

When something is useful, convenient or helpful we can say it is handy.

“An iPad is a handy thing to have when you travel.”

“My apartment is handy for school.”  –  My apartment is near to school.

Music Video: Boyce Avenue

Average: 3.2 (34 votes)

This song is by Boyce Avenue, a band that became famous over YouTube. Before you listen to the song and try to complete the gaps, I'd like you to think about the answers to these questions. How do you think these questions are related to the meaning of the song?

Winter Wonderland Activity

Average: 4 (11 votes)

If you learn English in London this winter, why not visit the famous Winter Wonderland? I'm planning on taking my daughter this year, though I'm sure she will be too young to appreciate it!

Head to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park for traditional Christmas markets, Santa's grotto, a spectacular ice sculpture show, a giant observation wheel, funfair rides and London's largest outdoor ice-rink.

There is so much to do and see there to get you in the festive spirit.

Learn Food Idioms

Average: 3.9 (50 votes)

"Jemima is a tough cookie, she doesn't give up easily." When we describe someone as a tough cookie, we are saying they are a strong person.

8 Food Idioms

Here are eight idioms which include a type of food.

Listening Lesson: Too few women leaders?

Average: 3.8 (37 votes)

Today's lesson is based on a TED Talk by Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook. TED is an organisation that believes in the power of sharing ideas.

TED invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to give an 18 minute talk on a wide range of topics within the research and practice of science and culture, often through storytelling. On their website more than 1400 TED Talks are available, with more added each week. All of the talks are subtitled in English, and many are subtitled in various languages.

Expressions we use when leaving a place

Average: 4.4 (26 votes)

Today we look at some informal expressions we can use when we are leaving a place. These expressions let the people you are with know that it's time for you to go.

When we are with friends or people we know well it is ok to use informal English. It is also ok to leave a place without giving too much of an explanation when you are talking to friends. You can leave suddenly using one of these simple phrases. 

Gotta go! See you tomorrow!

Chris