TGIFstands for “Thank God It’s Friday” or “Thank Goodness It’s Friday“.
TGIF is a phrase used by people at the end of a working week when they are looking forward to two days of rest at the weekend.
Look at this dialogue:
Friend 1: TGIF!
Friend 2: Yeah!
Friend 1: Do you want to go out tonight?
Friend 2: That’s great!
Friend 1: How about going to the movies?
Friend 2: I’d love to! I’ll book the tickets.
Friend 1: Perfect! Let’s relax!
But, do we say “Thank God” or “Thanks God“? Here is a simple but very effective demonstration which shows you how we use these phrases and fix a very common and recurrent English mistake.
Listen carefully to this video! Make notes and most of all, use it!
Next, a few more examples:
“Thank God I found you!” “Thank God you’re here!” “Thank God I read this tip!” 😉
Like and as are words commonly used in English for comparisons. Even though there are subtle differences between them, English speakers use them interchangeably. They are even sometimes misused.
The confusion in using like and as is first caused by translating them to Portuguese, because both of them mean “como”, one word only.
In formal writing, like is used as a preposition, telling location, direction, time or relationship between a noun or a pronoun and another word in a sentence. As is used as a conjunction,joining two clauses (groups of words that must include a subject and a verb), with the bonus that you have a comparison too.
But let me remind you that there are two ways of comparing:
‘more _____ than’ or ‘_____ than’ and ‘as _____ as,’compare qualities, speed, height, weight, cost, shape
‘like’ and ‘as’ compare thingsto things, actions to actions
When to use Like
Like compares two things, usually appearance or behavior, meaning ‘similar to.’ That is probably the most common use of like. Like, must always be followed by a nounor a pronoun.
He looks like Oscar Wilde.
Here, we are comparing he and Oscar Wilde, so like should be used.
The little girl, like her mother, has bright red hair.
The same goes for this sentence, where we are comparing a mother and daughter.
She’s a teacher, like me.
Like can also be used to say ‘for example,’ especially when there is a list of things.
I love sports like tennis and golf.
I have hobbies like dancing and cycling.
When to use As
As is commonly used to talk about jobs.
I work as a teacher.
Frequently, as can be replaced by ‘the way‘, ‘in the same way,’ ‘in the same condition.’
No one makes chocolate cake as my mother does.
Notice how you could replace as with ‘the way’ or ‘in the same way’ and maintain the same meaning.
No one makes chocolate cake the way my mother does.
As is used to compare verbs (actions). So the conjunction as should be used because there is a subject and a verb (does) after it.
Let’s look at another example.
He can’t play cricket as he used to.
At first glance, there appears to be no verb after as. However, when speaking, we often leave out verbs that are already implied. The implied verb is play, as in he used to play cricket.
Traditionally, like needs to be followed by a noun. However, in informal English, likecan replace as. Some people think this is not correct, but it is common in American English.
Nobody understands him as I do.
Nobody understands him like I do.
It is also possible to use as + noun (preposition) meaning ‘in the role/position/function of a person/thing.’
I’ll dress up as a ghost for Halloween.
We can use the sofa as a bed.
Now compare the following sentences. Here, the change from as to like changes the meaning.
As your father, I’ll help you as much as I can.
The speaker is the listener’s father. (it is not a comparison)
Like your father, I’ll help you as much as I can.
The speaker is not the father but wishes to act in a similar way to the father.
Here is a video that reminds us of the use of as for comparing something that is equal (as + adjective + as), and teaches some expressions, like:
As you know, I’m from Brazil.
I booked that restaurant, as you suggested.
As we agreed, I’ll pay you tomorrow.
You’re late, asusual/always.
She’s the same age as me.
Next, there is a chart which summarizes this information.
Did you know that the vowel sound in SAYS is different than that in SAY?
Many English learners get surprised when they realize that this very common verb, SAY, has slightly different pronunciation in the different forms of this word.
Listen carefully and practice.
Now, do you know what IF YOU SAY SO means?
“If you say so” can have several meanings, depending on context and tone.
It can mean a very respectful “Okay, I accept your word as an expert,” or “I don’t know, but I’ll take your word for it.”
It can imply that the listener is not interested in what the other person has to say. Rather than give his/her input, he or she ignores the matter with a remark like this.
Also used to indicate a weak agreement, it means I won’t argue with you, or I won’t contest your opinion. Unsaid, but implied: “I’m not at all sure you are right,” “It’s only your opinion,” and “I don’t want to fight.”
A: “Eating eggs has made me super-intelligent!” B: “If you say so.” (the person doesn’t necessarily agree)
More examples:
If you say so , I won’t insist.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me.” ” If you say so .”
Well, if you say so , Shelley, I’ll make sure he sees a therapist.
The tone of voice would make the meaning clear. 😉
Note:
I did some further research on the pronunciation of “says”. /seiz/ used to be the standard pronunciation of “says” which was gradually replaced by the shorter /sɛz/. The former appears to have survived as a non-standard dialectal form:
As the linguist Fidelholtz wrote back in 1975 — ‘Frequent words can do exceptional things’. The verb to ‘say’ is a good example of a mundane verb that is used a lot and that does exceptional things. ‘I say, you say, we say, they say’. There’s nothing peculiar here. It’s the so-called third person form that is the problem — this is where the verb falls out of kilter. In Standard English this is pronounced as ‘he/she/it sez’, and not ‘he/she/it says’. So it’s the shortened version ‘sez’ that is standard; the full form ‘says’ is now considered non-standard, dialectal.
Do you have a big family? What do you like doing when you spend time with your family?
Talking about family could be a good way to start a conversation in English, so it’s useful if you know what to say and if you have some questions to ask.
First, let’s review the vocabulary by looking at the family tree:
Watch the video to listen to examples of simple sentences.
Now gradually add more details and be more specific. Listen carefully and take notes.
So, are you now ready to talk about your family? Introduce them. Say who they are. Add details to make your answer longer and interesting.
1. Introduce your family and say who these people are:
There are four people in my family: my wife, my two sons and myself.
2. Talk about Brothers and Sisters:
I have two brothers and one sister.
I just have one sister.
I’m an only child.
Make it more interesting by adding more information:
I have two older brothers and one older sister. I’m the youngest in the family.
I just have one sister, who’s five years older than me.
I’m the middle child: my brother is two years older, and I have a younger sister who’s finishing university this year.
3. Immediate and Extended Family
In English, we sometimes draw a line between your immediate family (or nuclear family):
Immediate family –> you, your husband/wife, your children, parents, brothers and sisters
And your extended family:
Extended family –> uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, grandparents, grandchildren
There are six people in my immediate family: my parents, my brother and his wife, my sister and me. I have a lot of other relatives, but they live in Canada so we don’t see them often.
If you want to be more specific, you can mention who is part of your paternal side of the family and maternal side of the family, the relatives on/from your dad’s side, and on/from your mom’s side of the family.
4. Talking about Your Children:
I have three kids: two girls and a boy.
We have a newborn son.
We have one daughter, and my wife’s expecting our second child.
Add details to make your answers longer and more interesting:
I have three kids: two girls and a boy. Our eldest daughter has just started secondary school, and the two younger ones are still in primary school.
5. Talking about Your Relationship with Your Family
Finally, let’s add some information about how often you see your family, and what you like to do together:
I’m very close to my family. We have lunch together every weekend.
I see my older brother once a week; we play tennis or basketball together.
I try to spend as much time as possible with my kids.
There are more details you can still add!
I’m very close to my family. We have lunch together every weekend at my grandmother’s house. She always cooks something delicious!
I see my older brother once a week; we play tennis or basketball together. I don’t see my other brother so often, because he lives overseas, although we talk on Skype every so often.
I try to spend as much time as possible with my kids. We play cards, watch films, or go to the park if the weather’s nice.
6. Making a Longer Answer:
There are five people in my immediate family, although my extended family is quite large. I have two sisters, both younger, so I’m the oldest child. I don’t have kids yet but I’d like to have a big family one day. I see my parents and my sisters quite often, because we all live near each other, although I don’t see my other relatives that much.
What about you? Try to make a longer answer talking about your family. Use the vocabulary and ideas from the lesson to help you. Next time you talk about your family in English, hopefully you’ll have lots to talk about!
Todos sabemos que uma alimentação saudável e balanceada exige a presença de legumes, vegetais e folhas. Você sabe falar sobre esses alimentos em inglês?
Why don’t you start by taking this quizabout the names of vegetables?
Did you get them right(get it right – idiom – do it well, achieve a good result; find the correct answer)
Which vegetables are your favorite ones? Which ones do you eat every day?
Below is a comprehensive Portuguese – English list of the names of vegetables.
Raizes
Roots
Beterraba
Beet
Cenoura
Carrot
Gengibre
Ginger
Nabo
Turnip
Rabanete
Radish
Repolhos
Cabbages
Acelga
Napa cabbage / Chinese cabbage
Couve de Bruxelas
Brussels
Repolho verde /roxo
Green Cabbage / Red cabbage
Caule
Stems
Anis
Anise
Aspargo
Asparagus
Salsão / Aipo
Celery
Erva-doce Fresca
Fennel
Palmito
Hearts of Palms
Cebolas
Onions
Alho Poró
Leek
Cebola
Onion
Cebolinha verde
Green Onion
Tubérculos
Tubers
Batata Doce
Sweet Potato
Batata
Potato
Inhame
Yams
Mandioca
Cassava / Manioc / Yucca / Tapioca Root
Folhas
Leafy Greens
Agrião
Watercress
Alface
Lettuce
Almeirão
Dandelions
Chicória
Chicory
Escarola
Escarole
Folhas para Saladas
Salad Greens
Rúcula
Rucola
Verduras para Cozinhar
Cooking Greens
Espinafre
Spinach
Couve-Manteiga
Collard Greens
Vegetais do Mar
Sea Vegetables
Alga marinha
Marine Algae
Flores
Flowers
Alcachofra
Artichoke
Brocolis
Broccoli
Couve-flor
Cauliflower
Feijões frescos e vagens comestíveis
Fresh Beans and Edible Pods
Ervilha
Snow Pea / Chinese Snow Pea
Ervilhas Frescas
Fresh peas
Quiabo
Okra
Vagem
Green Beans
Legumes que na verdade são frutas
Fruit Vegetables
Tomate
Tomato
Berinjela
Eggplant
Pepino
Cucumber
Azeitonas
Olives
Pimentões
Sweet Peppers / Bell Peppers
Moranga
Winter Squash
Brotos
Sprouts
Broto de Alfafa
Alfalfa sprouts
Broto de Feijão
Bean sprouts
Broto de Soja
Soybean sprouts
Outros Vegetais
Other Vegetables
Abóbora
Pumpkin
Abobrinha
Zucchini
Cogumelos
Mushrooms
Variados
Miscellaneous
Cebolinha em conserva
Pickled onions
Funghi Secci
Dehydrated mushrooms
Picles
Pickles
Confira também alguns termos relacionados:
Salada: salad
Molho para salada: dressing
Tempero: seasoning
Dica:
Tanto para se referir a legume quanto a vegetal, a palavra utilizada em inglês é a mesma: vegetable
Click here to listen to the pronunciation of all vegetables on the list.
