Future Plans and Predictions Video

Here is my latest video about the future plans and predictions using be going to.

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Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to use be going to to talk about the future. Be going to has two functions:

1. to describe future intentions and

2. to make predictions

We use be going to when we describe something we intend to do. Be going to is used when the decision was made in the past. If the decision is being made now, we generally use will instead of be going to. Compare these two sentences:

A: We're going to give James a surprise birthday party.

B: Great. I'll buy him a present.

We also use be going to when making predictions about the near future that are based on present evidence rather than our opinion. When talking about outcomes that we are less certain about, we would generally use will rather than be going to.

Compare these two sentences:

I missed my bus. I'm going to be late for work.

I think everyone will have their own robot in the future.

To make sentences we use subject + be + going to + verb. This chart shows the grammar we need to make be going to sentences. Let's look at some examples. What are you going to do tomorrow? I'm going to go jogging. What is she going to do on the weekend? She's going to relax. What are they going to do next summer? They're going to go on vacation.

For negative sentences we add not. I'm not going to lose. I'm going to win. He isn't going to be on time. or He's not going to be on time. He's going to be late. You aren't going to fail the exam. or You're not going to fail the exam. You're going to pass.

Here are some examples of yes / no questions. Am I going to be busy today? No, you're not. Is it going to rain? Yes, it is. Are they going to give her the job? Yes, they are.

In informal spoken English we often say gonna instead of going to. However, we would never use gonna in written English and it shouldn't be used in formal speech. Here's an example: I'm gonna watch a movie tonight.

Family Video

Here is my latest video about the family.

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Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to talk about family. First let's review the vocabulary by looking at a family tree.

Hi. My name's Rick. Let me tell you about my family. I'm married. This is my wife. I am her husband. We have two children. One son and one daughter. I have an older brother. His wife is my sister-in-law. They also have one son and one daughter. Their son is my nephew and their daughter is my niece. Then there's my mother and father. At the top of my family tree, there's my grandmother and grandfather.

Now let's review some of the questions we can ask about family and the answers you might hear.

How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have two sisters.

How many brothers and sisters does Jason have? He's an only child.

Do you have any siblings? Yes, I do. I have two brothers.

Does she have any siblings? No, she doesn't. She's an only child.

Tell me about your family. I come from a big family. I have a baby sister and an older brother.

Tell me about her family. She comes from a small family. She has one younger brother.

Are you married? Yes, I am. Do you have any children? Yes, I do. I have a son and a daughter.

Is he married? No, he isn't. He's single.

Present Continuous Video

Here is my latest video about the present continuous.

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Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to use the present continuous. We use the present continuous to describe actions that have started, but haven't finished yet. To make present continuous sentences we use be + verb+ing. This chart shows the grammar we need to make present continuous sentences. Let's look at some examples.

What are you doing? I'm reading a book.

What is he doing? He's taking a nap.

What are they doing? They're playing video games.

For negative sentences we add 'not'.

I'm not playing the flute. I'm playing the guitar.

She isn't playing video games. or She's not playing video games. She's listening to music.

You aren't taking a test. or You're not taking a test. You're doing homework.

Here are some examples of yes/no questions.

Am I getting better? Yes, you are.

Is he playing golf? No, he isn't. What is he doing? He's playing tennis.

Are they watching a movie? Yes, they are.

The action we are talking about is not necessarily happening at that time. We can use the present continuous for any action that has started, but which hasn't finished yet. Listen to this conversation as an example:

A: Are you still learning French?
B: Yeah. I'm taking evening classes. What are you doing over the vacation?
A: I'm learning to surf.

Neither of these people are doing those actions now, but they are actions they have started and haven't finished yet.

We also use the present continuous when talking about the near future. We use future time expressions and context to show we are talking about the future. Consider these examples:

What are you doing after class? I'm taking a piano lesson.

What is she doing on the weekend? She's going shopping.

What are they doing next week? They're taking a vacation.

Jobs Video

Here is my latest video about jobs.

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Here's the script of the video:

First let's review the vocabulary for some common jobs.

What does Lucy do? She's a housewife. What does a housewife do? A housewife manages her home.

What's Derek's job? He's a dentist. What does a dentist do? A dentist cares for teeth.

What's Sarah's occupation? She's a pharmacist. Where does a pharmacist work? A pharmacist works in a pharmacy.

What does Colin do? He's a mechanic. Where does a mechanic work? A mechanic works in a garage.

What does Mark do? He's retired. What did he do before he retired? He was an accountant.

What does Claire do for a living? She unemployed, but she has an interview for a job today.

Now we will review some follow-up questions related to jobs.

What's your job? I'm a salesperson. How do you get to work? I usually drive? I sometimes take the subway.

What's your occupation? I'm an office worker. What days do you work? I work Monday to Friday.

What do you do for a living? I'm an engineer. Do you like your job? Yes, I do. It's interesting.

What's your job? I'm a travel agent. Where do you work? I work for ABC Travel Company.

What do you do? I'm a student. What do you study? I study economics.

Now let's play a fun game. I'm thinking of one these jobs. Can you guess who I'm thinking about by asking yes/no questions?

Do they wear a uniform? Yes, they do.

Do they wear a hat? No, they don't.

Do they help people? Yes, they do.

Can you guess who it is?

Is she a nurse? Yes, she is.

Let's play again. Can you guess who I'm thinking of?

Do you they use tools? No, they don't.

Do they wear a hat? Yes, they do.

Do they work on a plane? Yes, they do.

Is the person a flight attendant? No.

Then it must be the pilot. Yes, you're right.

Present Perfect Video

Here is my latest video about the present perfect.

If you like this video, please click 'like' and subscribe to my Youtube channel.

Here's the script of the video:


In this video we will learn how to use the present perfect. We use the present perfect to talk about events that affect the present. It is the present result that is the focus, rather than the moment of completion. To make present perfect sentences we use have/has plus the past participle. The present perfect has three functions:
1. to describe events in the past at an unspecified time.
2. to describe recent past events.
3. and to describe past events which are continuing through the present.

We talk about experience using the present perfect as events that took place at unspecified times. We use 'ever' to indicate in the lifetime of the subject, and 'never' for negative statements. For example: Have you ever been to New York? No, I haven't. I've never been to New York. Note we use 'been' to describe a completed action, and 'gone' to describe an action that is still happening. Lucy has been to London. This means 'She went to London in the past.' Lucy has gone to London. This means 'She is in London now.'

We also use the present perfect to describe recent events, such as: I have eaten lunch, so I'm not hungry. We often use the present perfect to find out if someone has experienced something, and then talk about that event in the past tense. Have you watched any good movies recently? Yes, I have. I watched The Avengers last weekend.

And finally we use the present perfect to describe past events which are continuing through the present, such as: How long have you been studying English? I have been studying English for five years. Or I have been studying English since I was 15 years old. We use 'yet' to indicate if an expected event has happened. Have you done your homework yet? Yes, I have.

A Fun Game for Kids. Alphabet Quiz

This game challenges students' listening skills and general knowledge of English. Divide the class into two or three groups. Start by writing the alphabet on the board.

The groups take turns in choosing a letter. The group is then asked a question with an answer that begins with the letter they chose. For example, if the students chose the letter A, they will be asked a question like this: What A is a vehicle used to take people to hospital? The answer being ambulance. Teams get points for every correct answer. If they get an answer wrong, the question can be given to another team.

Below is a list of questions from A to Z. If you play this game regularly, the students will quickly learn the answers, so be ready to make some more questions to keep it fresh and challenging.

A. What A is a vehicle used to take people to hospital? Ambulance
B. What B do we blow up with air? Balloon
C. What C do we drive on the road? Car
D. What D cares for our teeth? Dentist
E. What E is an animal with a long nose? Elephant
F. What F is the opposite of slow? Fast
G. What G is an animal with a long neck? Giraffe

H. What H do we wear on our head? Hat

I. What I is a cold dessert? Ice cream

J. What J is the month after May? June

K. What K do we use to open doors? Key

L. What L is a sour fruit? Lemon

M. What M is the day before Tuesday? Monday

N. What N is the time between evening and morning? Night

O. What O is the opposite of new? Old

P. What P is a baby dog? Puppy

Q. What Q is married to a king? Queen

R. What R helps us draw straight lines? Ruler

S. What is a long, thin reptile? Snake

T. What T is the opposite of short? Tall

U. What U do we use to stay dry on a rainy day? Umbrella

V. What V is a person who helps sick animals? Vet

W. What W is the coldest season of the year? Winter

X. What X is a percussion musical instrument? Xylophone

Y. What Y is a colour in the rainbow? Yellow

Z. What Z is a black and white striped animal? Zebra

Comparatives and Superlatives Video

Here is my latest video about comparing things and people.

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Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to use comparatives and superlatives. We use comparatives to compare two things or people and we use superlatives to show the highest or lowest quality of something. Before we review the grammar, let's look at some examples of how we use comparatives and superlatives by comparing these people. Claire is taller than Michelle. William is the tallest. Michelle has longer hair than William. Claire has the longest hair.Michelle is older than Claire. Fred is the oldest. This chart shows the rules for making comparatives and superlatives from base form of adjectives. For one syllable adjectives we add er to make the comparative and est to make the superlative: fast / faster / the fastest. For adjectives ending in y we delete the y and add ier for the comparative and iest for the superlative: heavy / heavier / the heaviest. For adjectives that have two or more syllables we use more or less for the comparative and the most or the least for the superlative: expensive / more expensive / the most expensive. Then there are irregular adjectives which do not follow these rules, such as good / better / the best.

Now let's look at some examples of sentences using comparatives to compare two things. I want to compare these modes of transport. I will compare speed, length and weight. Which is faster, the scooter or the car? The car is faster than the scooter. Which is longer, the bicycle or the car? The car is longer than the bicycle. Which is heavier, the bicycle or the helicopter? The helicopter is heavier than the bicycle. To describe two things that are the same we use as adjective as. The camel is as fast as the zebra. The zebra is as tall as the kangaroo. The wolf is as heavy as the kangaroo.

Now let's look at some examples of sentences using superlatives to show the highest or lowest quality of something. Which animal is the most dangerous? The snake is the most dangerous. Which animal is the slowest? The scorpion is the slowest. Which animal is the least colorful? The rabbit is the least colorful.