ECL Word Prep
The opposite of "difficult" is ______.
the opposite of "difficult" is "easy."
He is unable to _____ his ideas very well.
the verb form TO FORMULATE
If I had a million dollars, I WOULD BUY a new car.
"""IF"" clause. Present unreal. I do not have the money.
They will not qualify him because his ECL is still _____ 80.
"A number can be BELOW or UNDER another number. He can't buy alcohol; he's still UNDER 21. I wish I could keep my weight BELOW
A submarine is designed to function _____ the water for long periods of time.
"Sub" is a prefix meaning "under," so it follows that a submarine can function UNDER the surface of the water.
That little boy certainly ACTS LIKE his father.
TAKE AFTER = to act like = to do what someone else has done = to imitate
The CD player doesn't work. I have to RETURN IT to the store.
TAKE BACK = return something
My sister asked me to WATCH her brats while she went to the movie.
TAKE CARE OF = to watch = protect = guard = keep an eye on
I want to talk to you FOR a few minutes.
amount of time is given Use FOR
Neither one of those two books _____ mine.
The verb must agree with "ONE." "Neither one." Neither one os the children IS at home right now.
There _____ a lot of hard questions in this particular exercise.
The verb must agree with "hard question." A lot of hard questions ARE in this exercise.
I need __________ a car for the weekend.
The verb"need" requires the infinitive form in this structure.
Is the material FLAMMABLE?
flammable : inflammable : it WILL burn
I don't have _____ money to go to the movie tonight.
mass noun The main clause is negative, so "I don't have ENOUGH of something to do it." I don't have enough time to iron my shirt.
I wish today _____ Saturday.
WERE.
He blamed the accident _____ me.
You BLAME something ON someone.
He is staying _____ the Hilton Hotel.
You stay AT a place.
I am not talking _____ you! I'm talking _____ Lt. Smith.
You talk TO a person.
I _____ late for class yesterday.
yesterday = past tense I WAS ¶
Please give the message to _____.
object forms required¶ bjects of preposition Give the message to HIM. Give the message to HIS WIFE. Give the message to HIM and HIS
We're not on a level playing field here.
of a business transaction. There is no doubt. Your "item" is already in the bag.
He was born ______ 1982.
A year by itself takes IN.
The boss is very ANGRY. She is _______.
ANGRY = upset, not happy, not pleased
annoy
ANNOY = bother = irritate = vex = make unhappy. - That kind of problem really ANNOYS me.
My father doesn't HAVE A FAVORABLE OPINION OF people who smoke cigars.
APPROVE OF = have a favorable opinion of = think something is OK
I brought you a BUNDLE of newspapers.
BUNDLE : package, stack (usually tied neatly with a rope or string).
I can't go to the movies with you. I have to BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL.
BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL = work all night. To be working at midnight and later. Students often have to burn the midnight oil the night before a big test.
I need to go to the bank because ¶
Bank should involve MONEY. CASH a CHECK for the MONEY.
The ball game was CANCELED.
CALL OFF = cancel not to be rescheduled
The police found a corpse behind the Rialto Theater.
CORPSE = dead person, body (dead body)
You can always DEPEND ON Mary and Joe to give the right answers.
COUNT ON = depend on = rely on
That painting is counterfeit! It's an obvious FAKE!
COUNTERFEIT = fake = not genuine = bogus = phoney = not real
Some people say President Grant was CROOKED.
CROOKED = not straight = slang for dishonest
I want you to REMOVE my name from your mailing list.
CROSS OFF = to remove, to eliminate, to omit, to draw a line through so as to cancel
Hear's some news. It's hot off the press.
often the newest person in the organization. This comes from native American Indian culture. They would car the machinery.
You may leave early, but it's strictly on the QT.
on the QT = secretly. The first and last letters of "quiet." QuieT
For breakfast this morning, I _____ five boiled eggs.
past tense I ATE
Remove your jacket if you're hot.
phrasal verb To remove an item of clothing is to TAKE IT OFF.
All of the oranges _____ rotten.
pies WERE eaten.
My brother and sister _____ older than I am.
plural subject THEY ARE ¶
Several soldiers _____ being reassigned to this unit next week.
plural subject future (next week) PROGRESSIVE PASSIVE THEY ARE BEING REASSIGNED ¶
It is not polite to stare _____ strangers.
preposition of direction. You stare AT You look AT You point AT
I will do it _____ pleasure.
preposition of manner You do something WITH a certain attitude WITH GUSTO WITH RELUCTANCE WITH ENTHUSIASM
Joe bought a new car in Houston. He paid cash for IT. The word "IT" refers to ____.
pronoun reference He bought a car. He paid for IT. IT refers to the car.
My cousin Frankie _____ 21 years in the Marine Corps before retiring.
question, "Shouldn't they be getting more water?" past tense. He SPENT years in the Corps before he retired.
It was QUITE hot yesterday.
quite = very= extremely = really
He is a ROBBER.
robber = thief= someone who steals = bandit
What is the most common color of RUST?
rust = the reddish-brown (almost orange) oxidation that can form on metal when it's exposed to moisture.
- His starting SALARY was quite impressive.
salary : wages : money earned for doing work
Humans _____ oxygen to survive.
science or nature present tense HUMANS (THEY) need something.
My favorite season of the year is AUTUMN.
seasons of the year FALL = AUTUMN (September, October, November in the U.S.)
IT'S A SHAME that Lt. Jones got kicked out of school for plagiarizing someone's theme.
shame = bad =disgraceful = not good
What is the SUBJECT of her speech?
subject = topic = what you are talking about
That's the man _____ shot the bank guard.
subject form of the relative pronoun. I saw the man. HE shot the guard. I saw the man WHO shot the guard.
That was the _______ movie I have ever seen.
superlative form of the adjective "good." GOOD BETTER BEST
surge
surge = a sudden, strong increase. - There was a SURGE in student enrollment.
It was _____ hot yesterday that you could have fried an egg on the sidewalk.
sweaters.
She likes fish, doesn't she? Yes, but she dislikes beef, _____?
tag has to be negative.
You are not very happy today,________?
tag question If you have negative in the main clause, put affirmative in the tag.
It's raining outside, _______?
tag question It is¶sn't it?
He was born _____ New York City.
Cities take the preposition "in." I went to school IN PARIS.
It's easy for you to Monday morning quarterback. You weren't at the meeting.
A "Monday morning quarterback" is someone who tells you on Monday what you should have done during Sunday's game. It is someone who
He REJECTED my offer.
REJECT = REFUSE, turn down, say "no" to
cigarettes
a bottle OF wine a deck OF cards a glass OF milk"
That picture is going to cost you TWO GRAND.
a grand = slang term for a thousand dollars FIVE GRAND = $5,000
We might be able to travel quickly to the moon _____ the future.
a period of time IN the past In the future
Joe was given a pink slip Friday.
a pink slip = a piece of paper notifying someone that he/she is being fired from a job.
He's PLYING A NEW TRADE these days.
a trade = a job to ply a trade = to work at a job
That class is making progress by leaps and bounds.
LEAPS and BOUNDS are two ways of JUMPING. When you do something by leaps and bounds, you are doing it rapidly, with no obstacles.
Don't LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. Don't ________.
LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG = reveal a secret = tell something that should stay a secret
Some prisoners have to SUBSIST ON nothing but bread and water for months.
LIVE ON = to survive on. - You live on a certain amount of money per month.
Who will TAKE CARE OF your dogs while you're on vacation?
LOOK AFTER = take care of = watch = keep an eye on = be responsible for
I want you to WATCH my kids while I go to the store.
LOOK AFTER = watch = guard = protect = keep an eye on
The Police are SEARCHING FOR clues.
LOOK FOR = search for = try to find = seek
I ANTICIPATE going back home.
LOOK FORWARD TO = to anticipate = to be eager about doing something
I will BRIEFLY VISIT my friend in the hospital on my way home tonight.
LOOK IN ON = briefly stop to visit someone when you are going somewhere else
The police are _____ the bank robbery. They're investigating it.
LOOK INTO = investigate, ask questions about, CHECK INTO
That little boy really RESEMBLES his grandfather.
LOOK LIKE = to resemble
BE CAREFUL! You almost stepped on that snake.
LOOK OUT = watch out = be careful = pay attention = be careful
When you go walking in the woods, BE CAREFUL OF snakes and spiders.
LOOK OUT FOR = be careful about = pay attention
When you are driving near a school, BE CAREFUL OF children.
LOOK OUT FOR = be careful, watch out, pay attention, be alert
You have to SEARCH FOR that word in the dictionary.
LOOK UP = search for in a book, try to find in a book
When you go to Dallas, TRY TO FIND MY COUSIN AND VISIT HIM.
LOOK UP a person = try to find and visit him = get in touch with = locate
At least one species of fish _____ extinct every week.
ONE SPECIES = singular subject We need a singular verb. One species becomes extinct. Three species (plural) BECOME extinct
I hope you have the OPPORTUNITY to visit the Alamo.
OPPORTUNITY : chance, occasion
Why is the baby crying? Because _____.
Of these four answers, the only thing to explain a baby's crying would be the HUNGER.
The police _____ waiting for you in the supervisor's office.
POLICE ARE It's plural. If you want singular, say POLICEMAN, POLICEWOMAN, POLICE OFFICER
Most officers who live at DLI cook _____ own food in microwave ovens.
POSSESSIVE adjective form. It is THEIR food. (The subject --officers -- is plural.)
The students _____ homework.
PRESENT TENSE. Third person plural THE STUDENTS (THEY) LIKE something
If I were you, I ______ call home tonight.
PRESENT UNREAL "IF" CLAUSE.
If I ________ older, I might retire.
PRESENT UNREAL¶F I WERE
I have had _____ here at DLI.
PROBLEM is a count noun. So you can have A LOT OF PROBLEMS or LOTS OF PROBLEMS.
Let's STOP WORKING on this exercise for a minute and do something different.
PUT ASIDE = move something to the side and not work with it for a while
I try to SAVE $200 each month to buy a new motorcycle.
PUT ASIDE = to save a little money periodically in order to make a large purchase later.
It's hot now. I think I'll STORE all my sweaters for the summer.
PUT AWAY = put something in storage, put something in a different place for later use.
Because of the rain, we will have to _____ the soccer game until tomorrow.
PUT OFF = postpone = delay = do it later
We will have to POSTPONE the picnic until next week.
PUT OFF = postpone = delay= do it later, not now. Are they going to put off the next ECL until next month?
When you go outside, you have to ______ your hat.
PUT ON clothing = to wear clothing = to don an item of clothing
It took the firemen over five hours to EXTINGUISH the fire.
PUT OUT = extinguish = to stop a fire = to stop the light
You have to EXTINGUISH that cigarette before you board the airplane.
PUT OUT = extinguish a fire or a light
I will not TOLERATE any more cheating on the tests!
PUT UP WITH = tolerate = allow to happen
The supervisors will not TOLERATE cheating on the tests.
PUT UP WITH = tolerate = let something happen
My mother likes to take long walks _____ the evening.
Parts of the day take IN. IN the morning IN the evening IN the afternoon BUT: AT NIGHT or DURING THE NIGHT
The package _____ today. Otherwise, it won't get there for my mother's birthday.
Passive voice is requited here. MUST BE MAILED.
This exercise was written _____ Mr. Williams.
Passive voice. The action is done BY someone.
He was REARED in Ponce by his grandparents.
REAR = raise a child, bring a child up, help a child develop
We were delayed because of all THE RED TAPE.
RED TAPE is governmental bureaucratic delays that slow you down. Apparently in the old days, some government offices tied all their
Last week, he promised me that he _____ attend yesterday's meeting.
REPORTED SPEECH. Main verb "promised" is in the past, so the subsequent verb "will" must shift to past "would."
The Captain REPRIMANDED Lt. Jones during the company formation.
REPRIMAND = call down, scold, chew out, say very negative things to
_____ you please hand me that ashtray?
REQUEST Would you open the window? Would you please let Sgt. Jones finish speaking?
What color should a RIPE STRAWBERRY be?
RIPE = mature, ready to be picked and eaten STRAWBERRY = a red berry
He is very RUDE to his parents.
RUDE; impolite : NOT polite : not kind : not nice to other people.
I was looking for my car keys when I _____ my father's antique hunting knife.
RUN ACROSS = to find something unexpectedly, especially when looking for something else.
My brother is going to RUN FOR mayor next year.
RUN FOR = to try to win a political office or position
I was strolling through the Mall when I ACCIDENTALLY MET an old friend from high school.
RUN INTO = meet accidentally, meet by chance, encounter someone unexpectedly. COME ACROSS things¶UN INTO people
We EXHAUSTED OUR SUPPLY OF sugar. Go buy some more.
RUN OUT OF = to use up your supply of something
______, I would not have gone to that disco last night.
Reduced "if" clause. If I had been you¶ Had I been you¶
_______________, the student left the testing room.
Reduced clause. "After he had finished" can be reduced to the phrase "Having finished."
He COOKED a large meal for his entire family yesterday.
Regular verb past tense HE COOKED
The teacher divided the candy ______ all the students of the class.
Remember: BETWEEN is for TWO things. AMONG is for more than TWO.
I may WATCH to the movie tomorrow.
Remember: put the SIMPLE FORM of the verb after a modal.
My mother asked, "Whose shoes are those?" My mother wants to know ________.
Reported speech. After the connecting words "whose shoes," the subject "those" must come. She wants to know whose shoes those are.
I cannot STRESS how important vocabulary is on the ECL test.
STRESS = emphasize, highlight
_____ military students must wear uniforms to class.
STUDENTS is a countable noun in the PLURAL. The only determiner that fits is ALL.
I'm stumped.
STUMPED = unable to answer = unable to progress
If I _____ you, I would be more careful with my answers.
SUBJUNCTIVE "IF" clause¶resent unreal. If I WERE you, I would study the "IF" clause patterns.
She's the _____ student in our class.
SUPERLATIVE FORM¶ood¶etter¶est. It takes "the." This is THE HARDEST test I have ever seen.
I think these questions are the _____ of all the questions I have tried.
SUPERLATIVE The adjective is 3 syllables long, so you must use "MOST" to express the superlative. That is the MOST BEAUTIFUL
Just because you are angry at your boss, don't TRANSFER YOUR ANGER TO us.
TO TRANSFER : to move someone or something from one place
Sign your name _____ block 21 at the bottom of this page.
The block has a perimeter, so you put your signature IN the block.
The contractors are going to tear _____ the old abandoned house.
The building is standing UP, so you have to tear it DOWN.
That car Lt. Smith just bought cost a lot, _____?
The car cost a lot (past tenses), DIDN'T IT?
The President lives _____ 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The number is given along with the street name. Use AT.
The cat is hiding _____ the bed.
The only one that conveys the idea of HIDING is UNDER.
prohibit
To stop one from doing something; prevent: forbid, not allow, refuse to give permission to do something. - His parents FORBID him to smoke or drive yet.
I lived in California _____ 13 months.
Total amount of time is given. FOR
What time did you STOP SLEEPING this morning?
WAKE UP = stop sleeping GET UP = leave the bed You usually wake up first. Then, you get up.
My friend IS ARRIVING tomorrow.
We can express the FUTURE TENSE with the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE. Something IS HAPPENING tomorrow.
The paratroopers jumped out of the plane _____ hesitation.
We do things either with or without hesitation. The paratroopers are not afraid, so they do it WITHOUT hesitation.
May I ride _____ the airport with you?
You GO TO a place, so you can RIDE TO a place. HITCHHIKE TO a place WALK or RUN TO a place
He wants to go TO school in London.
You GO TO a school. BUT: You ATTEND (no preposition) a college or university or school.
I went _____ high school in Ponce.
You GO TO school. GO TO WORK GO TO just about any place.
My children ______ too many phone calls.
You MAKE a phone call. Answer four is not possible (even though you can GET a phone call), because "gets" would re
I made the children ______ outside.
You MAKE someone DO something. (simple form)
I made the dog _____ in the garage last night.
You MAKE, LET or HAVE somebody DO (simple form) something. I made the children GO to bed early.
We will provide him _____ a new dictionary if he has lost his old one.
You PROVOIDE someone WITH something.
When will Lt. Smith be able to retire _____ the Army?
You RETIRE FROM a job.
He told some jokes _____ me.
You TELL something TO someone.
I will not vote _____ him.
You VOTE FOR or you VOTE AGAINST something or somebody.
Hurry up! We will wait _____ you here.
You WAIT FOR someone or something.
Lt. Smith got a 98 _____ his last test.
You achieve a score or get a grade ON a test.
My unit will not be _____ the parade tomorrow.
You are IN a parade.
Of my two sons, Tommy is _____.
You are comparing TWO things (people). OLD is just one-syllable. Put -ER after the adjective. Tommy is OLDER THAN the other son. Tommy is THE OLDER of the two sons.
That car LOOKS better than this one.
You are talking about something in the present. Third person singular. THAT CAR (IT) LOOKS
Did you have the right to ask that question _____ him?
You ask something OF someone. I need to ask a favor OF you.
I want to ask you some questions _____ your family.
You can ASK ABOUT a subject.
He got ______ an argument with his neighbor.
You can GET INTO certain things: into trouble into an argument get into debt
The dog jumped _____ the bed with his muddy paws.
You can JUMP ON a higher surface.
I can't eat anything fried _____ butter.
You can cook things IN or WITH butter, oil, margarine¶
She gave a party _____ her class, all of whom enjoyed themselves.
You can give an activity FOR someone give a party FOR me give a baby shower FOR my sister
We will try to play the soccer game _____ the rain.
You can use either DESPITE or IN SPITE OF. There is no such phrase as DESPITE OF or IN SPITE.
I did it _____ accident.
You do something BY accident.
I did it ______ the spur of the moment.
You do something ON IMPULSE ON the spur of the moment
I found a great 3-bedroom apartment, so I'm going to move _____ base.
You either live ON base or OFF base. So you would move OFF base.
He is currently enrolled _____ a two-year college.
You enroll IN a school.
I hope I can go up ten points _____ the next ECL.
You get a score ON a test.
I went ____ Egypt for a two-week vacation.
You go TO a place.
I had the secretary ______ the letter five times before I was satisfied.
You have a person DO something (simple form).
I had the secretary _____ the letter five times.
You have somebody DO something (simple form). I had the barber CUT my hair short. I had the bank CANCEL my credit card.
I have not heard _____ family lately.
You hear FROM people when you get any kind of letter, phone call, e-mail¶
Don't jump _____ conclusions.
You jump TO conclusions. (It's a set phrase.)
She is very ___________.
You need an adjective here. "Studious" is the adjective form of "study."
We will participate _____ the parade next week.
You participate IN an activity.
You should practice _____ English during the weekends.
You practice DOING something. Put the "-ing" form after "practice."
He has served _____ the government for twenty years.
You serve IN an organization. Serve IN the Army serve IN the Peace Corps
The policeman showed his badge _____ me.
You show something TO someone.
That shelf is too high. You need to stand _____ a chair to reach it.
You stand ON something for added height.
Roger's father served in the marines _____.
"THEREFORE." It was extremely hot, so we went swimming. It was extremely hot; therefore, we went swimming. This past tense sentences needs a FROM---TO structure. Class lasts FROM 0730 TO 1435.
Please give this package to _____.
"TO" is a preposition. You need OBJECT forms because this is OBJECT of a PREPOSITION. Give the package to her. Give the package to Joe. Give the package to JOE and HER.
Some of the best stores in New York City are located _____ Fifth Avenue.
"TRICK QUESTION? The name of the street is Fifth Avenue. The actual number of an address is NOT given here. The best store is
It is my understanding that the subject the students in IDS enjoy the most _____ preposition usage.
"The subject" is the simple subject of this sentence. IT IS¶
If I had not eaten so much pizza last night, I ________ so sick right now.
"This is a mixed structure ""IF"" clause. The time words ""last night"" and ""right now"" control it, so that I ""would not be"" a certain way right now if
Joe is going to tie the knot next month. What will Joe do?
"To tie the knot" is an idiom meaning to get married.
We were just sitting down to dinner when the phone _____.
A past continuous action interrupted by a simple past tense verb. One thing was happening when something else happened.
I want to tell you about some interesting _____ places you should visit when you come to my country.
A place for tourists to visit is a tourist place. Don't use the word "touristic."
He had CRUMBS all over his shirt and tie.
CRUMBS = small loose pieces of dry food like bread, cookies, pizza crust, crackers¶
I am here _____ your teacher, not ______ your parent.
AS = preposition of capacity (in the capacity of) He will be acting AS the company commander for three weeks.
A dog usually likes to chase cats, and a cat usually likes to chase _____.
Cats would chase mice, not the other 3 objects.
The boss required that Joe _____ at work 30 minutes early.
Certain verbs of URGENCY required the simple form in a following 'THAT" clause. The policeman ordered that Joe GET out of the car.
You need to REMAIN INFORMED ABOUT events in Kosovo.
KEEP UP ON = remain informed about = stay current by following the news
We Can't REMAIN AT AN EQUAL PACE WITH that car. It's too fast.
KEEP UP WITH = maintain the same speed as someone or something else.
You pay the rent to the LANDLORD.
LANDLORD or LANDLADY = the person who owns property and charges people rent.
Don't RIDICULE other people's mistakes in class.
LAUGH AT = make fun of = ridicule = deride
Who is serving _____ the CO of that unit now?
AS means "in the capacity of."
At this moment, you _______ questions.
AT THIS MOMENT requires present progressive. You ARE DOING something.
I hate spinach, and _____.
abridged agreement I hate something and so does my brother. I hate something and my brother does too.
Have you ever been stationed ABROAD?
abroad = in a foreign country, especially after crossing a large body of water
During the flight from Miami, I felt very _____.
adjective form I was NERVOUS. I felt NERVOUS.
Why is he under investigation ______ the FBI?
agent under suspicion BY the police under surveillance BY the cops
Don't assign that duty to Joe. He's still WET BEHIND THE EARS.
an area using his horns as tools.WET BEHIND THE EARS = inexperienced, too new at the job. Like a new-born baby who was dried with a towel, but nobody dried behind the ears.
He found himself trapped BETWIXT a rock and a hard place.
an old-fashioned word betwixt=-between
We reached the APEX of the mountain in 15 hours.
apex = peak = highest point = summit
There was a body lying _____ the middle of the road.
area IN the middle of the room IN the middle of the hall
I made _____ mistakes on this test than I did on the one last week.
fewer mistakes MISTAKES is a count noun. This is a comparative structure. I have FEWER problems now than I did when I was a teenager.
This room is FILTHY.
filthy : dirty ; messy ; not clean
What you did is _____ the law.
fixed expression AGAINST THE LAW = illegal WITHIN THE LAW = legal
My father disapproves _____ most of my friends.
fixed expression APPROVE OF DISAPPROVE OF
Report to the Colonel _____ once!
fixed expression AT once, meaning without delay, without hesitation
I give up! You are _______ redemption!
fixed expression BEYOND HOPE BEYOND SALVATION
Water is composed _____ hydrogen and oxygen.
fixed expression COMPOSED OF
I am disappointed _____ you!
fixed expression DISAPPOINTED IN but PROUD OF
_____ my opinion, we should not have classes on Fridays.
fixed expression IN someone's opinion
When I neared my home, I could see that my neighbor's house was _____ fire.
fixed expression ON FIRE
When I neared home, I could see that my neighbor's house was _____ fire.
fixed expression ON fire
Prepositions are difficult _____ me to understand.
fixed expression Something is difficult or easy FOR a person.
I'm tired ______ studying every night.
fixed expression TO BE TIRED OF something
Musicians have to spend most of their time _____ the road.
fixed expression Traveling ON the road by bus or car or van.
She is not supposed to do any heavy lifting because she is now "_____ child."
fixed expression WITH child means pregnant.
Do you believe _____ ghosts?
fixed expression You BELIEVE IN something.
Don't brag _____ your accomplishments. Let other people do that.
fixed expression You BRAG ABOUT something. But you can BOAST OF or BOAST ABOUT it.
We need to dispense _____ these exercises for now.
fixed expression You DISPOENSE WITH something.
I am very good _____ tennis.
fixed expression You are GOOD AT something or BAD AT something.
My country has been involved _____ wars for most of this century.
fixed expression You are INVOLVED IN something.
I did it _____ purpose.
fixed expression You do something ON purpose. = deliberately
I shudder _____ the thought of giving a speech at the graduation dinner.
fixed expression You shudder AT something.
When do you think scientists will find a cure _____ cancer?
fixed expression a CURE FOR something
_____ fire, do not try to use the elevators.
fixed expression meaning "if it should happen." IN CASE OF rain, the game will be postponed. In case of an emergency, call 911.
I am not afraid _____ snakes.
fixed expression to be AFRIAD OF something
I think Lt. Arroyo is ______ love again.
fixed expression to be IN LOVE opposite: to fall OUT OF LOVE with someone
Be careful! You are _____ danger if you don't leave now.
fixed expression to be IN danger. Opposite: out of danger
I am sick _____ all the political ads on tv.
fixed expression to be sick OF something
If I tell you a secret, will you promise to keep it _____ strictest confidence?
fixed expression to keep IN confidence
I would never run _____ political office.
fixed expression to run for an office or position
I am ashamed _____ myself.
fixed expression. Ashamed of. Opposite is proud of.
I am not interested _______ studying English.
fixed expression: TO BE INTERESTED IN something
Scissors are used _____ cutting paper.
for -ing Something is used to cut Used (in order) to do something
I went to Houston _____ the weekend.
for a period of time¶or two days¶or 48 hours
Of my four brothers, Tommy is _____.
four people? Use the superlative. He is THE TALLEST one of the four.
Someone else volunteered for the extra duty. You're OFF THE HOOK.
free If a fish is hooked, he is in big trouble. If the fish is OFF THE HOOK, he has managed to escape and he is now free.
Last night, I _________ too much Pepsi.
irregular verb DRINK DRANK DRUNK
He didn't actually hit me, but he _____ at me twice with a baseball bat.
irregular verb SWING SWUNG SWUNG
I BOUGHT a new car yesterday.
irregular verb past tense BUY BOUGHT BOUGHT
I _____ sick right now.
irregular verb¶resent tense. I FEEL happy. I FEEL sick.
He comes to school every day _____ motorcycle.
method of transportation BY BIKE BY HORSE but -- ON a bike on a horse (Look for the article "A" or "AN.")
How did you get from your country to San Antonio?
method of transportation BY plane BY ship BY car BY taxi
He is a MIDGET.
midget = short = small in stature = not tall
What comes exactly 12 hours after midnight?
midnight = 12:00 at night Twelve hours later is 12:00 noon.
Had you mastered the "if" clause rules years ago, you _______ trouble answering these questions.
mixed pattern
If I had been born in North Korea, I ________ here at DLI right now.
mixed pattern
If Joe really did get 32 on the ECL yesterday, he ___________ next week.
mixed pattern
If Lt. Smith really did steal something from the BX yesterday, he ________ back home next week.
mixed pattern
What language ___________ right now if you had been born in Brazil?
mixed pattern
If I had not eaten so much pizza last night, I ___________ so sick right now.
mixed pattern. Watch the time words. "last night" "right now"
What will you _____ tomorrow night?
modal Put simple form after a modal. You will DO what?
Do you think he IS ABLE TO get the job done by himself?
modals CAN = to be able
We have to take another test on Friday. We ______ take another test.
modals HAVE TO = MUST
We're going to be late for the ECL. We HAVE TO hurry.
modals HAVE TO = MUST
The weatherman says it MAY rain tomorrow.
modals MAY = MIGHT (possibility)
Our ECL scores are low. We MUST study.
modals MUST = have to = mandatory = requirement
Joe looks very ill. He _____ go to the doctor right now!
modals Should = advice If he's sick, he should go to the doctor.
We really OUGHT TO go home now.
modals ought to : should (advice, recommendation)
You OUGHT TO see the movie "Saving Private Ryan" as soon as possible. You ______ see that movie.
modals ought to = should (recommendation¶dvice)
Where are your MILARS located?
molars : the back teeth.
I ate a hamburger; MOREOVER, I had some fish.
moreover = furthermore = in addition = plus that = in addition to that = and also
You are clutching at straws now.
mountain, you grab at a rope, a tool, anything to help you. If the only left for you to grab to keep from fal
How can you ACCOUNT FOR his low test scores?
to account for means to explain ; give reasons for why something is the way it is
This book is BANNED in the high school.
to ban = to prohibit = to NOT allow = to NOT permit
I was BROUGHT UP by my grandparents in a small town.
to bring up = to raise = to rear = to bring up = to help grow up
I can't afford to buy a new car because I need _____ $2000.
to buy this CD.
My brother is going to FORMALLY VISIT his fiancee's family next week.
to call on = to visit FIORMALLY
Look at Joe. He's typing UP A STORM, isn't he?
to do anything UP A STORM means to do it very hard, very seriously, working much harder than usual, devoting 100% of one's attention to the job at hand.
Don't drag your feet.
to drag your feet = to delay = to do something slowly
I hope you will PARDON me.
to forgive ; to pardon.
He's making a lot of progress.
to get along = to make progress = to continue to do well with something
In the middle of his speech, he WENT OFF THE DEEP END.
to go off the deep end = to act crazily, insanely. To go into a violent rage.
I wish Joe wouldn't HIT THE BOTTLE so much.
to hit the bottle = to drink alcohol (booze)
He's always trying to horn in on my projects.
to horn in on = to intrude or interfere. Imagine an animal with horns. He uses his horns to get certain things. He could maneuver his way into
He is not telling the truth.
to lie = to NOT tell the truth = to say untrue things
He is always PESTERING me.
to pester = to bother = to irritate
loot
to rob by force or violence, especially during war or time of unrest
Don't try to SCARE your mother with that dead snake.
to scare ; frighten ; terrify ; make afraid.
He SHATTERED the mirror.
to shatter is to break something, especially glass
Someone has been SNOOPING INTO your private life. Do you know who and why?
to snoop = to pry into = to
After a couple of beers, Joe started SPILLING HIS GUTS.
to spill your guts = to tell all of your secrets to confess a lot of serious things
It's time for us to TALK TURKEY.
to talk turkey = to talk seriously about something important
You want to get married? Please CONSIDER YOUR DECISION VERY CAREFULLY.
to think something through = to consider it carefully, to weigh all the options
Last night, I slept _____ 9 hours.
total amount of time
Neil Armstrong was the first earthling to walk _____ the moon.
touching the surface ON the moon ON the floor On the ground
Don't sit with your elbows ON the table.
touching the surface only ON the table
You will have to treat him with kid gloves today.
treat someone with kid gloves, you are being very gentle and kind to that person---no shocks, no bad news, no yellA wet blanket stops other people from having fun. So he would ruin your party because he's so boring. So he's a party pooper because he
What should I do _____ a sore throat?
treatment You do something FOR a headache. Or ABOUT a COLD.
Which of the following is not an organ located in the torso of the human body?
trunk or torso of the body.
He TURNED DOWN a job offer in California.
turn down = refuse to accept = decline = reject = say "no" to
We will start the test _____ Pvt. Jones gets here.
two possibilities. You have to say "and SO IS her daughter." You could also say "and her daughter IS TOO." "As soon as" has the meaning of "when" in this sentence.
The student FELL ASLEEP during the graduation speeches.
two-word verb DROP OFF = to fall asleep for a short period of time while sitting up
Why do you always keep your coat _____?
two-word verb KEEP (clothing) ON opposite: TAKE (clothing) OFF
The plane LEFT the airport at 0900.
two-word verb LEAVE = TAKE OFF past tense = IT TOOK OFF
You can always rely ____ Lt. Smith to help you.
two-word verb RELY ON = DEPEND ON
He was a bad father, so the social services agency took _____ his children.
two-word verb TAKE AWAY = remove
We FINISHED the test 30 minutes early.
two-word verb TO GET THROUGH WITH = to finish, complete, end, conclude something
We will HANDLE tag questions next week.
two-word verb to deal with = handle = treat = study or discuss
Why are you carrying an umbrella?
umbrella = a shield against the rain or sun.
He bears an UNCANNY resemblance to President Clinton.
uncanny = very strange =weird = impossibly strange
vague
unclear
What is the opposite of unhappy?
unhappy = not happy = sad = depressed = about to cry?
Yoko Ono has a very UNUSUAL voice.
unusual : strange ; odd ; not common
That bird looks very UNUSUAL. Yes, it looks _____.
unusual = strange = not ordinary = not common
When I was a child, I USED TO eat candy all day long.
used to = would To have done something in the past but not now.
Who is your USUAL teacher?
usual : common , regular , ordinary
The Colonel's orders were rather VAGUE, weren't they?
vague : not clear : difficult to understand
If the water is vaporized, we can call it _____.
vapor = steam Choices A, B, and D all involve COLD. Only C involves HEAT.
The police found a white POWDER in his suitcase.
"POWDER: fine dust It can be legal medicine or DRUGS (cocaine, heroin)".
rooster
A rooster is a male chicken, an animal, not a tool.
rotten : spoiled : not good : probably cannot be eaten.
If the food is rotten, what should you probably do to it?
If he broke his THUMB, where does he feel the most pain?
THUMB : one of the five fingers on the hand. One of the "digits" on your hand.
What is the opposite of TIGHT?
TIGHT : not loose, too restricting, hard to move
I RAN INTO an old friend of mine at Ingram Mall.
TO RUN INTO: MEET BY CHANCE
The Captain is standing at the BOW of the ship.
The bow is the front end of a ship. Rear and aft refer to the back part of a ship. The galley is the kitchen of a ship.
If he broke several ribs, where does he probably feel the most pain?
The ribs are located in the upper torso, in the chest and sides area.
We have AMPLE supplies for the next few months.
ample means quite sufficient ; a lot ; enough ; abundant
His vision was BLURRY.
blurry : not clear , not focused , not sharp
The fog was DENSE at the airport.
dense : thick ; heavy ; not light
depressed
depressed: sad: unhappy - He look DEPRESSED today.
HOLD the lever tightly.
grip = to hold tightly
You HAVE TO increase your ECL score by at least 6 points else!
modals HAVE TO : MUST requirement mandatory
Which kind of dessert did he CHOOSE?
to pick out : choose ; select
The opposite of "never" is _____.
ALWAYS (100% of the time) is the opposite of "NEVER" (0 % of the time).
The policeman CAUTIONED him about speeding.
CAUTION = WARN, verbal admonition
This sandpaper is very COARSE.
COARSE, rough, not smooth, very grainy to the touch
The Green Team DEFEATED the Orange Team.
DEFEAT: BEAT. The Green Team WON the game.
He DROWNED in a lake.
DROWN : to die by suffocation in liquid
The villagers had to FLEE their homes.
FLEE: run away from : escape from FLEE FLED FLED
I'm very FOND OF chocolate ice cream.
FOND OF = love something like it a lot
He INJURED his left ankle.
INJURE : to hurt
Why is Joe LAME?
LAME means walking with difficulty because of problems with a leg, a foot, an ankle, the toes.
I am PLEASED with the results of the test.
PLEASED : happy, not angry, very satisfied
The SCENERY in Northern California is beautiful.
SCENERY = scenes of natural.
Where is my SHARE of the cake?
SHARE ; part : portion
Don't SHOUT.
SHOUT : yell in a very loud voice
I need to buy some new SLACKS.
SLACKS: TROUSERS, good pants
I am STARVING.
STARVING means very hungry, to the point of weakness and collapse.
The road is STEEP.
STEEP: greatly inclined far from level
We reached the SUMMIT of the mountain after 9 hours of climbing.
SUMMIT = peak, highest point, the top point, apex
Let's TALK this OVER tomorrow.
TALK something OVER : discuss it
I want you to THINK OVER that job offer before you say "no."
THINK OVER = consider, think about it seriously, don't refuse it yet
There was a big CROWD at the restaurant last night.
a large number of people gathered together.
The drill sergeant is very angry. He is _____.
angry : upset : mad : furious : very unhappy
Because of the heavy rain, we will have to CANCEL the parade.
cancel : call off ((postpone = put off))
accomplish
carry out: to accomplish: to do: to completely conclude something - The unit was unable to ACCOMPLISH the mission as ordered.
The children are going to sleep on the COUCH.
couch : sofa , davenport. a long piece of furniture that can seat 3 or 4 adults and it's long enough for people to sleep on it.
We can always RELY ON Bob to help us.
count on = rely on = depend on
What is the main crop of your country?
crop: means something grown for harvesting
wrecked
destroyed; ruined
Please DISCARD all these old magazines.
discard: throw away: throw out: toss out: toss away: to get rid of
What color are the DRAPES in your room?
drapes : curtains: the cloth hangings over the windows
He is ELDERLY. His age is around 70.
elderly: old : aged
That horse is FAST.
fast : quick ; rapid
Yes, this will be your FINAL book before you transfer to Specialized.
final : last ; ultimate
You should REVIEW this vocabulary list before we take the test.
go over: review: look at again: study
Can you PERSUADE the Supervisor to let us go home early?
persuade : convince : to get someone to change his mind about something
I mopped up the spilled milk with an old rag.
rag : an old piece of worn, torn, or faded cloth used for utility or clean-up work
He speaks too RAPIDLY for us to take notes.
rapidly : quickly ; fast ; not slowly
It is RISKY to do that.
risky means dangerous , hazardous , unsafe
The RUNWAY has been cleared of snow.
runway : landing strip for airplanes
The milk tastes SOUR.
sour means bad ; not good ; gone bad (for milk) SOUR (for lemon or lime) means TART, TANGY, "attacks" the tongue
Joe catches on really fast.
to catche on: to learn, to understand, to comprehend
The police are INVESTIGATING the murder of my neighbor's nephew.
to investigate: to look into: to search for evidence
Can you MAKE UP a good story about foxes and wolves?
to make up a story is to CREATE it.
I wish you wouldn't MENTION the subject of AIDS in the classroom.
to mention: to bring a subject up: to introduce a topic in the discussion
hold up
to rob, especially using a weapon (e.g. a gun)
mopped the floor
to rub, wipe, clean, or remove
discard
to throw away
hold on
to wait (especially on the telephone)
Pvt. Jones has to report to the Captain PROMPTLY.
with little or no delay
I want another cup _____ coffee.
"A common pattern is NOUN + PREPOSITION + NOUN for indicating things and the way they are measured or counted. A pack OF
____________ the barking dogs, we would not have been alerted about the fire in our house.
"A reduced ""IF"" clause. If it had not been for the barking dogs¶ We drop the ""If"" and reverse the subject and first auxiliary verb. HAD IT NOT
There ______ a series of bad accidents on Loop 410 yesterday.
"A series" is singular. There was a series¶ There were several series¶
No matter where you live, you need _____ access to a hospital.
"Access" is a noun. Modify it with an adjective. What kind of access? QUICK access.
Before _________, he meditated for three minutes.
"BEFORE" is a preposition of time here. You need a noun after it. "Starting" is the gerund or noun form of "to start."
I will LEAVE THE HOTEL at 10 a.m.
"CHECK OUT = leave a place = sign out = pay any final bills and leave. You can check out of the hotel or from the military unit you are
I fainted. Then I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS after 10 minutes.
"COME TO = to regain consciousness after being unconsciousness. First, you PASS OUT or FAINT. When you then ""wake up,"" we say that
What ___________ for lunch?
"Eat" is a single action verb, so you need to use a form of "do" as the auxiliary. Since it is past tense, use "did." After the "do" auxiliary, you need to use the simple form of the verb. WHAT DID YOU EAT for lunch? WHAT DID YOU DO last night?
While I ______ for the bus, it started to rain.
"First action can be PAST PROGRESSIVE. One thing WAS HAPPENING when another action HAPPENED (simple past) to change or alter
All of the furniture ______ by the floodwaters.
"Furniture" is a mass noun. Mass nouns take singular verbs.
I was unemployed for 6 months and STOPPED MAKING my monthly house and car payments.
"GET BEHIND IN = stop ddoing something you are reguarly supposed to do I'm supposed to translate ten pages of this book everyday, but
The soldiers ran out of ammo and had to SURRENDER.
"GIVE UP = surrender = stop fighting = stop trying to do something you want to do. He didn't know the answer, so he gave up after two
I have to give a speech tomorrow. I MUST give a speech.
"HAVE TO" = "MUST." Modals
The teacher gives us ___________ homework.
"Homework" is a mass noun. "Much Homework" "Too much homework." You could say "Too many homework assignments," because "assignments" is a count noun.
If it rains tomorrow, I ______ home.
"IF" clause. FUTURE. Simple present in the "IF" clause FUTURE in the main clause.
If you had been here yesterday, you _______ my wife.
"IF" clause. PAST UNREAL because of "yesterday."
If I _____ ECL-qualified, I would not have to do a lot of these extra exercises.
"IF" clause. PRESENT UNREAL. IF I WERE¶
He considers himself better than other people. He _____ them.
"LOOK DOWN ON = to think one is better than other people, to treat other people as inferiors, to think one is HIGHER in standing than other
The Senate _____ on a tax increase last month.
"Last month" requires PAST TENSE.
Lt. Smith _____ his homework last night.
"Last night" requires PAST TENSE. HE DID something. Irregular verb "do"
I SAW a good movie last night.
"Last night" requires PAST TENSE. Irregular verb "see" I SAW something
We SANG a lot of songs at last night's party.
"Last night" requires the PAST TENSE. Irregular verb "to sing" WE SANG
I DID my homework last night.
"Last night" requires the past tense. Irregular verb "do" I DID something
I I WILL DO my homework later tonight.
"Later tonight" requires FUTURE TENSE. I WILL DO something
Nary a drop of rain fell at the airport last night, _____?
"Nary" is a negative word. Put affirmative in the tag.
The news about the storms IS bad.
"News" = singular, although it ends with an "s."
Pvt. Jones _____ next week.
"Next week" requires FUTURE TENSE. HE WILL GRADUATE
After I graduate next week, I WILL GO to Alabama.
"Next week" requires FUTURE. I WILL GO
I WANT to go home now!
"Now" needs the PRESENT TENSE here. First person singular. I WANT
He offered _____ me move my heavy furniture upstairs.
"Offer" is followed by an infinitive. See Book 34 p-4-19 for a big list of verbs followed by infinitives versus gerunds.
You ought to go visit the Alamo. You ______ go visit the Alamo.
"Ought to" is a modal that means "SHOULD." Advice¶ecommendation.
She wore a veil __________ her face.
"Over" can mean to COVER something. He held his hand OVER his mouth.
Young people LEARN AT RANDOM a lot of bad slang words in the streets.
"PICK UP = to learn things at random, not by studying He's picked up this very bad habit of correcting me every time I try to tell him
The police ARE here to arrest you.
"Police" = PLURAL THEY ARE THE POLICE ARE
We ARE happy right now.
"Right now" requires the PRESENT TENSE when we discuss a condition or state of something. Irregular verb "be" WE ARE
It IS too hot to play soccer right now.
"Right now" with weather and time takes simple PRESENT TENSE. IT IS
I don't like to sit _____ Lt. Smith.
"SIT BY someone. You can sit BESIDE someone, but the word BESIDES (with the ""s"" on the end) does not mean NEXT TO. It means IN
Those sheep _____ lost.
"Sheep" can be singular or plural, but the word "those" makes this usage PLURAL. THEY ARE¶
Rice and beans IS my favorite dish.
"Sometimes a compound subject is treated as a SINGULAR subject. BREAD AND WATER HAM AND EGGS Notice ""my favorite meal"" is singular.
Before I came to DLI, I WAS STUDYING English for 5 months.
"Sometimes we can use PAST PROGRESSIVE to indicate a continuous action in the past that was changed or altered in some way by a subsequent action in the simple past."
He can sing well, _____?
"TAG question. Affirmative ""can"" in the main clause takes negative ""can't"" in the tag. If you have a modal or helping verb, repeat that modal or
You've lost your dictionary again, ______?
"TAG question. YOU HAVE done something HAVEN'T YOU? If you have a helping word in the main clause, repeat the helping word in the
Tom will ASSUME CONTROL OF the family business next year.
"TAKE OVER = assume control of something. Mr. Smith is retiring next month, and I think Mrs. Jones will take over as chief of that
The plane TAKES OFF at 0900.
"We can use the present tense to indicate FUTURE, especially with transportation.
I went to bed because I WAS tired.
"Went" shows that it is PAST TENSE. I WAS.
That shirt, ____ is light blue, costs less than $15.
"Which" is used for things. A shirt is a thing. "Who" and "whom" are only used for people.
If I _____ you, I would study more.
"Would study" means this structure is the PRESENT UNREAL among the "IF" clauses. SUBJUNCTIVE!!! Use "were" even when the subject
He stayed _____ bed all day.
"You are IN BED when you have at least one of the covers OVER you (a sheet, a blanket, a quilt). You are ON the bed when you are lying on
I saw the old man fatally _____ himself once through the heart.
"You see and hear people ""do"" or ""doing"" something, but in this case we can't put the verb ""shoot"" in the ""-ing"" form because it was not a
A number of students _____ waiting to see the supervisor.
"a number" = plural A number of cars ARE parked illegally near that fire hydrant.
When he was in England, he was a successful BARRISTER; he won't be able to pass the bar in Texas.
"barrister = British lawyer. Pass the bar = pass the qualifying test after law school, permitting you to practice law in a certain state. The ""BAR""
There was a DISCREPANCY between his leave statement and his paycheck.
"discrepancy = inconsistency = something wrong = a disagreement of data = something that doesn't JIBE with other information = something
Water is slowly LEAKING into the basement.
"leak = seep = the very slow, gradual transfer of a liquid from one place to another. The other three answers in this question all have the idea of
This cake is made _____ eggs, butter, milk, chocolate and nuts.
"made of made from made with made out of If you want to use ""made by,"" it's passive: made by a person¶ade by using ingredients or
Would you mind _____ the door for me? My hands are full.
"mind" takes gerund (-ing) form after it. See Book 34, page 4-19 for a big list of the verbs that take gerunds versus the ones that take
A pecking order is an organization is _________.
"pecking order = in the barnyard, the bigger powerful birds ""peck"" on the smaller weaker ones. In a large organization, some people have
He makes a living _____ recycling old newspaper and magazines.
"preposition of manner. HOW did he do something? You can do something BY doing something else. He survived BY drinking melted snow
What is the square root of 49?
"square root = a number which can be multiplied by itself to give another number 7 x 7 = 49, so the SQUARE ROOT of 49 is 7. The
The number of students Stancovia _____ decreasing.
"the number" = singular The number of students from Puerto Rico IS increasing.
Joe is WELL-INFORMED ABOUT everything in Bosnia.
"to be up on = to have knowledge about something, to be well-informed about it. I'm not up on all the new rap singers my friends watch on
I want _____ to a movie tonight.
"want" is followed by an infinitive. The student WANTS TO LOOK AT page 4-19 of Book 34 for a good list of verbs followed by infinitives versus verbs followed by gerunds.
All of the cake _____ by the dog in no time at all.
"you-neek." He has A UNIQUE accent.
We could hear the FAINT sound of a child's voice calling for help.
( adjective) faint = very soft (verb) faint = pass out = black out = lose consciousness
I didn't go to that movie because _____________.
A main verb "KNEW" in the past needs the following verb to also be in the past.
Americans celebrate Memorial Day _____ May.
A month by itself takes IN.
I was born _____ August.
A month by itself takes IN.
Paris IS the capital of France.
A general truth about science, nature, or geography is stated in the PRESENT TENSE. Third person singular of the "be" verb. PARIS IS
Which of these birds does not fly?
A kiwi is a small bird that cannot fly; it can run very fast.
Mike bought 100 pounds of sugar.
100 pounds of sugar = a quantity -= IT is a big quantity of
My neighbor drives LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL.
A BAT OUT OF HELL= fast, wild, crazy, dangerous
I have A DOUBT about question 2.
A DOUBT = an uncertainty = not knowing something
Joe bought _______ for his fiancee.
A DOZEN THINGS, not a dozen OF things. However, you can say A COUPLE OF ROSES. And you can say something like "There were sixty people on the plane, and a dozen of them were injured. However, you cannot say A DOZEN OF ROSES.
We found a FLAW in the structural design.
A FLAW is a mistake, error, something wrong.
A number of students _______ waiting to see the principal.
A NUMBER = plural (More than two¶aybe more than several¶) A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN during your absence.
The next test will be A PIECE OF CAKE.
A PIECE OF CAKE = something very simple, easy to do
We had to dig a TRENCH to drain off the standing water.
A TRENCH is a long narrow ditch
hop
A frog hops. Snakes crawl. Hummingbirds fly and hover.
Which of these would you not want to eat?
A gauge is a tool or measuring device, usually made out of metal. You can't eat it.
Thanksgiving is always celebrated _____ November.
A month by itself takes IN.
What is the normal shape of a chocolate bar?
A bar is usually rectangular¶onger than it is wide.
Joe answers the questions correctly ONCE IN A BLUE MOON.
A blue moon is very rare. Once in a blue moon is very rare. How often have you looked up in the sky and seen a BLUE moon up there?
My son wants a COLLIE.
A collie is a specific breed of dog.
We will have another ECL ______ Tuesday.
A day by itself gets ON.
A device for circulating air to cool a room is _______.
A fan has blades that rotate and circulate air, cooling the air of the room.
______I to become a supervisor, I would probably not enjoy it.
A reduced "IF" clause. If I were to become¶ Were I to become¶
The students are waiting _____ the classroom.
A room takes IN.
I would have made screwdrivers if I ______ some vodka.
A screwdriver is a mixed drink of orange juice and vodka.
He's a square peg in a round hole.
A square peg (piece of wood) would not fit properly in a round hole. So this means that the person doesn't belong there. The person is a
He has a mind like a steel trap.
A steel trap is something to catch animals. Once it catches one (by the foot), it is so tight that the animal can't get away. If your mind is like this, it keeps every piece of information and doesn't "let it go."
The train travels _____ the tunnel at 90 miles per hour.
A tunnel is like a long tube, so something travels THROUGH it.
I lost my WALLET.
A wallet is a billfold, especially a man's wallet. (The paper money--the bills--are folded in half when it is closed).
I'm rather leery of Joe. Sometimes I think he's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
A wolf who is pretending to be one of the sheep is trying to deceive you and cannot be trusted.
I went there _____ 1996.
A year by itself takes IN.
There are only 9 people _____ the bus right now.
ABOARD means to be on a large vehicle like a plane, bus, train, ship, space shuttle
The taxi made an ABRUPT stop.
ABRUPT =very quick, fast, unexpected, discomforting
How do you ACCOUNT FOR your unusually high ECL score?
ACCOUNT FOR = to explain
He as ACNE all over his face.
ACNE = pimple, a skin condition, zits
When you drive, you must OBEY AND FOLLOW the traffic laws.
ADHERE TO = follow = stick to = obey
I like to sit _________ all the flowers.
AMIDST = among (old-fashioned¶oetic)
Divide these cookies ______ all twelve students in this class.
AMONG for more than two
The entire meal, including drinks and tip, AMOUNTED TO $512.
AMOUNT TO =COME TO numerical totals
The thunderstorm knocked out the electricity, thereby ___________ impossible for us to watch tv.
ANGERING all the students.
If you are tired, you SHOULD GO to bed.
Advice. "Should" is a common modal when giving advice. If these questions are too easy, you SHOULD GO to a higher level.
Tomorrow, I will BE home.
After a MODAL, you use the SIMPLE FORM of the verb. I WILL DO something tomorrow.
I would like to know __________________.
After a connecting word like "where" in an embedded structure, you put the SUBJECT first, then THE VERB. I want to know WHEN THE
The policeman ordered that Joe _____ out of the car with his hands up.
After certain VERBS of URGENCY, a "that" clause takes a subjunctive (simple) form. The airline agent insisted that Steve CHECK IN at the counter two hours prior to departure.
The Captain ordered that Lt. Smith _____ in the company area at 0500 tomorrow morning.
After certain VERBS of URGENCY, you have to put SIMPLE FORM in the "that" clause. The policeman INSISTED that Joe GET out of the car with his hands up.
Do you know __________?
After certain connecting words in complex sentences the correct word order is SUBJECT/VERB. Can you tell me where THE HOTEL IS?
He keeps ________________ my comb!
After the main verb "keep," you need to put the "-ing" form of a word. KEEP STUDYING and you will do fine.
The mumps _____ a strange disease.
Although ending in "s," the word "mumps" is treated as a singular, especially when called "a disease."
You must keep the AISLE clear.
An AISLE is a long narrow space between chairs, usually in a theater, in a church...
_____________ a foreign language is difficult.
An infinitive can be the subject of a sentence. So can a gerund. TO RUN is good exercise. RUNNING is good exercise.
It is great!
Another way of saying "It is great!" is "How great it is!"
Did you _____ a big breakfast this morning?
Anytime you use the DO" auxiliary, put simple form of the verb. DO you GO to the gym every day? DID he SEE that movie?
We are planning a big party. Would you like to PARTICIPATE?
BE IN ON = participate = be a part of = share in the activity
We need to STRENGTHEN the final paragraphs of this report.
BEEF UP = to make something stronger. (adding more meat to a weak, watery soup or stew)
The Titanic is lying two-and-a-half miles _____ the surface of the water.
BENEATH = UNDER = BELOW = UNDERNEATH
The gym is located BEYOND the post office.
BEYOND = past, on the far side of
He was FORCED OUT OF the military after 13 years of service.
BOOT OUT = kick out = fire =dismiss = force out
That song really RECALLS good memories of when I lived with my grandmother.
BRING BACK = to make you remember something from the past. It brings a memory back to your brain.
He was RAISED by his grandparents after his parents' death.
BRING UP = raise = help something to grow .
What would you use to SWEEP the floor?
BROOM = a device used when you SWEEP an area
My brother, but not his sons, _____ coming to visit me next week.
BROTHER IS
He climbed up on the roof _____ a tall ladder.
BY MEANS OF = using a certain tool, device, instrument, or method
Tom is 17 years old. Jim is 18 years old. Joe is 16 years old.
Based on the facts given, the comparison between Joe and Jim is the only one that is both factually and grammatically correct. Joe (16) is younger than Jim (18).
Which of these would not be a good beverage for breakfast?
Beverages are liquids you drink.
That's the way the cookie CRUMBLES.
CRUMBLE = to fall into little pieces
The teacher always CALL ME ON when I don't know the answer to the question.
CALL ON = to ask someone to talk = to say someone's name in order for that person to speak
Before becoming engaged, Joe needs to FORMALLY VISIT Susan's parents.
CALL ON = to visit formally = to announce ahead of time that you want to visit and to arrive on time, perhaps dressed up and bringing gifts
TELEPHONE the dentist and make an appointment for me, OK?
CALL UP = make a telephone call
It is mandatory that Lt. Smith _____ at the airport before 0600 tomorrow.
CALL her family. It is imperative that he GET 80 on the next ECL.In a NEITHER¶OR structure where one element is singular and the other is plural, make the verb agree with the element closer to it. Neither
The traffic was extremely heavy. There were _____ cars on the road.
CARS = count noun Heavy traffic means TOO MANY CARS.
That car is relatively inexpensive. _____, I think you should buy it.
CAUSE and EFFECT. The car is not expensive, SO you should buy it. "Therefore" is a stronger synonym for "so," requiring stronger punctuation. You are studying a lot. THEREFORE, you should do well on the next test.
The cause of all the recent accidents at several major airports _____ not been determined yet.
CAUSE is the simple subject. The verb must agree with CAUSE. The CAUSE HAS not been determined.
Tom REGISTERED AT the hotel at 3:30.
CHECK IN = to register = to sign in
I need to go to the library to BORROW a book.
CHECK OUT = to borrow the book from the library. RETURN the book = check in the book.
When will the boss be able to INSPECT the new equipment?
CHECK OUT = to look at something = to inspect = to see how something is
When you get things at the store, MARK THOSE ITEMS ON THE LIST.
CHECK SOMETHING OFF = to mark items on a list to show that you have taken care of them.
We should each CONTRIBUTE $2 and but the teacher a nice present.
CHIP IN = to contribute money to buy something as a group
Which animal could leave CLAW marks on your body?
CLAWS = the talons = like human fingernails for scratching and clawing A lion has claws.
A General's wife always has a lot of CLOUT.
CLOUT = power, influence
How much did the total bill at the restaurant ADD UP TO?
COME TO = add up to = total
Which sentence is correct?
I was born = passive voice You need the preposition "IN." "City" is a count noun.
They honeymooned _____ Paris.
Cities take IN. So do countries, counties, towns¶
Joe is ______ Steve.
Comparison with a one-syllable adjective. ---ER THAN I am shorter than Tom. He is richer than Bill.
If Joe ________ here, he could help us.
Conditional¶resent unreal¶F JOE WERE¶ There is an entire section of "IF' clauses in this databank IF YOU WANT TO TRY THEM.
My left leg HURTS.
Current state or condition. PRESENT TENSE. Third person singular. MY LEG (IT) HURTS
We go to school _____.
DAY in this sentence is singular. EVERY DAY is the only one that fits. EACH DAY
Steve is deaf. He _______.
DEAF = cannot hear
I'm not DEAF.
DEAF: cannot hear
Some children openly DEFY their parents.
DEFY = oppose, refuse to obey, go against the orders of
If one car bumps into another one, it will leave _____.
DENT = slight damage, especially to metal, when it is hit by something
Video cameras are used in many stores to DETER shoplifting.
DETER = to try to prevent something from happening
My parents bought an old house, so they can REDECORATE it.
DO OVER = redecorate an old room or house. The house was cheap, but doing it over cost us a lot.
I saw the man _____ from the bridge.
DOING things. The progressive would not make much sense here, so the simple form is best. I SAW the policeman SHOOT the suspect.
Joe looks DOWN IN THE DUMPS today.
DOWN IN THE DUMPS = unhappy = sad = dejected = in a depressing situation, as if one is LIVING IN THE DUMP.
What color are the DRAPES in your room?
DRAPES = CURTAINS window coverings made of cloth (fabric) NOTE: Rugs and carpets are basically the same, so answers A and C cancel each other out.
I DREAD going to the dentist.
DREAD = mixture of fear and hatred, strong reluctance based on fear
I got DRENCHED last night as I was walking home from the movies.
DRENCHED means very very wet saturated.
Why don't you VISIT US CASUALLY after the game?
DROP IN = to visit casually, not at any specific time
If I have to sit in that hot classroom another hour, I'll FALL ASLEEP.
DROP OFF = fall asleep while sitting up. The movie was so boring that I dropped off during the first hour.
The number of students from Framolia has DECREASED in the past few months.
DROP OFF = to decrease in number = to lessen = to become smaller in number
I DROPPED OFF during the history lecture.
DROP OFF = to fall asleep (while sitting up in a chair)
Frank STOPPED ATTENDING high school when he was only 14.
DROP OUT OF = stop attending a school or organization
There has been a terrible DROUGHT in West Texas for months now.
DROUGHT = a long period with no rain, when things start to dry up. Crops and animals are going to die because of no water.
Hot and cold air is conveyed through a DUCT.
DUCT = a tube, channel, or pipe for the passage of liquids or air. What did the ancient Romans use an AQUEDUCT for?
The next book quiz will be _____ Wednesday.
Day by itself takes ON.
His party will be _____ Sunday.
Day of the week by itself
______ Joe or Steve will loan me his car tomorrow.
Either¶r Neither¶or These are correlative conjunctions. Either Mr. Jones or Ms. Smith is going to teach you next week.
A lot of dust _____ through the open window! Close it!
Dust is a mass noun. THE DUST IS¶ Only the progressive is possible here. The dust is DOING something.
Don't EAVESDROP.
EAVESDROP = secretly listening in on someone else's supposedly-private conversation
His behavior has been rather ERRATIC lately.
ERRATIC : not consistent, changing wildly and quickly
Athletes who want to be bouncers in clubs and bars are A DIME A DOZEN.
Everyone knows you will not succeed, but they try to make you do it anyway.DIME A DOZEN = very common, ordinary, plentiful. If you can buy a dozen (12) of something for a dime (10cents), then it is very common,
I will meet you in Lab 4 _____ exactly 0736.
Exact times need AT
The test will start _____ 0745.
Exact times take AT.
His jeans are FADED.
FADE = losing the color, colors are not bright like they used to be
How did she hurt herself? She _____ down when the bus made an abrupt stop.
FALL FELL FALLEN (simple past = FALL)
He FIBBED when he said he had done his homework.
FIB = to tell a lie, not tell the truth, a "little lie," not a serious untruth
Bill and Steve are going to DUKE IT OUT.
FIGHT. A slang expression for your fists is your DUKES. "Put up your dukes!" = Prepare to fight. Duke it out = fight to the finish
You must COMPLETE application in black ink.
FILL OUT = write information in all the blocks = complete all of the form
My glass is empty. Please _____ again. I'm thirsty.
FILL up = replenish = put something in an empty space
flames.
FLAMMABLE and INFLAMMABLE mean the same thing!"
He FLUNKED the test.
FLUNK = fail, not pass
He FLUNKED the test.
FLUNK = to fail = not to pass
He is leaving here FOR GOOD.
FOR GOOD = forever, for always
It was difficult for __________________ to do the job by ourselves.
FOR is a preposition, so you need OBJECTS OF THE PREPOSITION. "For Joe" and "for me." "For Joe and me." It is easy FOR MARY
I am scheduled to take one more OPI, _____?
FROM THE BANK¶. exception I AM, AREN'T I? More formal = I AM< AM I NOT?
This sketch of my mother was made completely ____ memory.
FROM memory also - BY MEMORY
He's FULL OF BEANS.
FULL OF BEANS = wrong = doesn't know what he's talking about = FULL OF HOT AIR = incorrect about things
We need to get our FURNACE repaired.
FURNACE = a large device designed to heat a building.
If you don't get a high score on the next ECL, you _____ in trouble.
FUTURE "IF" CLAUSE. The word "next" indicates this. Something WILL happen¶
By the time I graduate, I ______ at least 12 ECL tests.
FUTURE PERFECT. I have not graduated yet. But by the time I do graduate, something else WILL HAVE already HAPPENED.
Because of the rain, the Commandant will postpone the parade.
FUTURE. He hasn't done it yet. HE WILL DO it.
My neighbor was convicted _____ car theft.
Fixed expression to be CONVICTED OF First, he was CHARGED WITH the crime.
That window is so dirty that I can't see _____ it.
From one side to the other involves THROUGH. SEE THROUGH the fog. SEE THROUGH the dirty windshield.
By this time tomorrow, I ______ at DLI for 72 hours.
Future perfect tense
By the time you finally graduate from school, you __________ with 14 different teachers.
Future perfect tense One thing WILL HAVE HAPPENED by the time something else HAPPENS. By the time Col Smith retires, he WILL
Dogs and cats don't ACT LIKE FRIENDS most of the time.
GET ALONG = be friendly with each other = maintain a good relationship
My dog and cat MAINTAIN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH each other.
GET ALONG WITH = to be friendly, maintain a good relationship, not fight, act in a friendly way, to be friends
You may ENTER the bus now.
GET ON = board a large vehicle like a bus, train, plane¶o enter a large transportation vehicle
He BOARDED the airplane in Denver.
GET ON = to board a vehicle, like a plane, bus, ship, train
When will you FINISH your homework?
GET THROUGH WITH = finish = conclude = end doing something
He was just so old and tired that his poor little heart ________.
GIVE OUT = to stop working, to cease functioning The engine finally gave out after about 120,000 miles.
I can't answer these questions! I QUIT!
GIVE UP = to quit = to stop trying = to surrender
You can always predict that Joe will GO AGAINST THE CURRENT.
GO AGAINST THE CURRENT = take the opposite position = do the opposite of what others do = be difficult and hard to get along with
Tom told me to GET LOST.
GO AWAY = leave me alone = stop bothering me = get lost
The fire alarm bell RANG at 9:25.
GO OFF = to explode = to activate = to ring - Things that can go off are bombs, grenades, alarms signals, bells, alarm clocks, timers
We neeed to REVIEW chapters 3 and 4 today.
GO OVER = review = look at = review quickly
The police officers will SEARCH your luggage at the airport.
GO THROUGH = to search inside things, looking for something
Relax! GO WITH THE FLOW.
GO WITH THE FLOW = do what everyone else is doing and don't argue about it = accept what everyone else wants = float along in the current
Why did Lt. Smith wear GOGGLES?
GOGGLES = protective eye coverings, used when swimming, working with certain machinery, part of a safety uniform in dangerous jobs
Don't GRIPE so much.
GRIPE = complain = say negative things = kvetch
Horses EAT grass.
General statement about nature. PRESENT TENSE. PLURAL SUBJECT. HORSES (THEY) EAT
I had the supervisor _____ the police.
Give the message to me. Give the message to him and me.You MAKE, LET, and HAVE somebody DO (simple form) something, no matter what the tense. I will make the secretary WORK overtime. I
She got tired of talking to him, so she ______.
HANG UP = to stop a phone conversation
I thought the movie was HILAARIOUS.
HILARIOUS = funny, amusing, makes you laugh out loud
It's time to HIT THE HAY.
HIT THE HAY = go to bed. In the old days, people slept on piles of hay.
If Joe is going to HIT THE SLOPES next weekend, what will he do?
HIT THE SLOPES = ski down the mountainsides
It's time to HOIST the flag.
HOIST is to raise something up in the air. You HOIST a flag. A crane can HOIST cargo.
Just WAIT a second. I'll get the answer for you.
HOLD ON = wait a little bit = (idiom) hold the phone¶old your horses
If you want a different pencil, RAISE your hand.
HOLD UP = raise something Hold up your books so I can see them.
My brother got 30 years in prison because he tried to ROB a bank.
HOLD UP = to rob - When you point a gun at someone, he usually HOLDS his hands UP in the air.
Which of the following can HOVER?
HOVER = to stay in the air in one stationary place (for a while)
He studied English at Harvard _____ two years.
He did something FOR a measurable amount of time. Lincoln was President FOR five years.
for 4 days.
He excelled by writing a brilliant essay."
He comes to school every day _____ an old motorcycle.
He is sitting ON top of it. On a horse On a bike On a camel On a motorcycle
My leg still hurts. I can't walk anywhere _____ a cane.
He walks WITH the aid of a cane. Opposite is WITHOUT.
When I was a child, I used to _____ cats.
Here "used to" is followed by simple form.
You need ________ experience if you want a job in this company.
Here, "experience" is a mass noun. You need some of it.
I don't like ____ kind of movie.
Here, "kind" is singular. The other choices would have to go with plural forms. THAT KIND OF BOOK¶ THAT KIND OF CANDY.
I HAVE SEEN that movie already.
Here, the "already" requires PRESENT PERFECT. I HAVE DONE something already.
filthy : dirty : messy : not orderly : not clean.
His room is filthy.
We ought not to cheat on a test, _____?
However, if we had "ought" in the main clause, we could put "oughtn't" in the tag. We ought to go now, oughtn't we?
I am scheduled for another ECL next week, _____?
I am, aren't I? This is a strange structure, but that's the way it is. You could also say "I am, am I not?"
Siblings : a brother or sister:
I have four siblings: three brothers and a sister.
I just heard some bad news _____ the radio.
ON the radio ON the television
If I finish my homework early, I _____ to the gym and work out.
IF clause FUTURE might = possibility (WILL = future certainty)
If I _____ ECL-qualified, I would not have to do these exercises.
IF clause UNREAL present If I WERE ¶
If Napoleon _____ more troops, he might not have lost at Waterloo.
IF clause. Past unreal. If he had had something¶
If I ______ you, I would be more careful with my answers.
IF clause. Unreal present. Subjunctive. If I were you ¶
When you finally get back home, please sed me a postcard.
IMPERATIVE. A request. "You" is omitted from the main clause.
My mother is the lady seated _____ the blue sofa in the corner.
IN a chair (with arms) ON a chair (without arms) ON a sofa (because it's wide and you might not be touching the arms of it).
He was born _____ New York City.
IN a city.
I think he has a knife _____ his pocket.
IN a pocket IN a purse IN a drawer
I always take my big vacation _____ the summer.
IN a season of the year
My brother is _____ debt. He owes thousands of dollars to some loan sharks.
IN debt opposite OUT OF debt
You can't go swimming in the river IN the winter.
IN one of the four seasons
There was nothing _____ the envelope when I opened it.
IN or INSIDE certain objects like envelopes, pockets, purses, wallets, drawers, boxes¶
I would like to live ______ the country miles from the nearest town.
IN the country In the city In a town
You should not walk alone in this neighborhood _____ night.
IN the evening but AT night
Let's sit _____ the shade of that big tree over there.
IN the shade IN direct sunlight IN a specific area
Children should not walk _____ the streets.
IN the street
The children are playing _____ the street again.
IN the street It's a place with marked borders. An area with defined limits.
Don't let the children play _____ the street.
IN the street ON the sidewalk
Children should not play ____ the streets.
IN the streets ON the sidewalk
The paramedics arrived at the crash site _____ time to save dozens of victims.
IN time, not ON time. ON time suggests there was an appointment. In time means they were not too late to do something.
The boss REQUIRES prompt arrival and good work.
INSIST ON = demand = require
In our ethics class, we were taught that a good leader should have INTEGRITY.
INTEGRITY = honesty = sincerity = inner truth = basic morality
The robber snuck up _____ me and held a gun to my back.
If he sneaks up and touches your back, he has to be BEHIND you.
This new office furniture FITS THE BILL.
If something fits the bill, it is perfect. It's just what you want and need. It meets your needs exactly.
Dikes, dams, and levees are all intended to control _____.
If you check your dictionary, you'll find that these are all engineering structures constructed to hold back large amounts of water.
This coffee is _____ hot to drink right now.
If you have an infinitive directly after the adjective, put "TOO" in front of the adjective. He is TOO old TO JOIN the military. It is TOO late
My parents live _____ 253 Oak Street.
If you have the NUMBER and the street name, it takes AT.
Hold your horses!
If you hold your horses, you WAIT. You do not proceed.
How old is your father?
In English, we do our ages with the BE verb, not the HAVE verb. My car IS four years old. She WAS 56 when she died.
Neither the boss nor the workers _____ working tomorrow.
In a "neither¶or" structure, if the two elements are singular and plural, make the verb agree with the unit closer to it. The workers ARE
I haven't visited the Alamo _______.
In a negative PRESENT PERFECT or PAST PERFECT construction, put "yet" at the end. I haven't passed the ECL yet.
The Sears Tower is the tallest building _____ Chicago.
In the world In space In your imagination In the universe
I INJURED myself yesterday.
Injured : hurt , wound , cause pain to
______ toward the ice cream truck, the children waved excitedly to the driver.
Introductory participial phrase. It has been reduced from "AS THEY WERE RUNNING TOWARD THE ICE CREAM TRUCK."
My mother ______ down the stairs three times this summer.
Irregular verb. FALL. Present perfect tense. She has fallen down¶
Is your ID card _____ your wallet?
It would be IN or INSIDE a wallet. In a drawer. In a closet. In a box.
The children are playing _____ the backyard.
It's a place with a perimeter or border.
My wife is _____ work right now.
It's a place, so you can be AT the place. AT school AT home
There is no one _____ the world who can help you now.
It's a place. IN the world INI the universe IN the solar system
It's very cold. You might want to CONTINUE WEARING YOUR JACKET.
KEEP ON = continue wearing an item of clothing. Keep your hat on. We're going right back outside.
I was unable to go to the movie with my friends last night.
Last Night = past tense. Only answer B is in the past. If I was unable to go, then I didn't go.
Last night, I _____ for nine hours.
Last night = past tense. Irregular verb SLEEP SLEPT SLEPT Last night, I SLEPT ¶
Let's _______.
Let's DO something. (simple form) This one is negative. Let's NOT DO something.
If I have no friends, I am probably LONELY at times
Lonely : alone : not with other people
REVIEW your notes tonight.
Look over = review = study = examine = look at
After the accident, he was MAIMED.
MAIMED = seriously wounded, perhaps the loss of an arm or leg, perhaps with severe disfigurement (damage to the face)
Tom can't find his key. It _____ out of his pocket.
MAY = modal of possibility You are suggesting that this is one of the things that MAY, MIGHT, or COULD have happened.
We hit pay dirt with that idea!
MISFIT.To hit paydirt is to get good results. If you are a miner digging for gold or silver, you hope to hit "pay dirt"---dirt that is full of gold or silver. You
I have been here ________ two months.
MOVIE STARTS.When you work with the PRESENT PERFECT tense, you use "FOR" when you are given the total amount of time. If you are given only the starting point, you use "SINCE." I have been here SINCE April 5.
What is the usual color of most MUSTARD?
MUSTARD: a yellow "sauce" that we sometimes put on our hamburgers and hot dogs
The price of cars IS increasing.
Make the verb agree with the simple subject "price," not with the object of the preposition "cars."
I heard some bad news ______ the radio this morning.
ON the radio There was a good show ON Channel 4 last night. I found a good story ON the Internet.
Children should walk _____ the sidewalks.
ON the sidewalk
Lt. Smith passed out dead drunk _____ the sidewalk near his car.
ON the sidewalk. IN the street.
The graduating class _____ a party next week.
NEXT WEEK = future The class WILL do something NEXT WEEK.
Can you finish the job by tomorrow?
NO SWEAT. NO SWEAT = It will be so easy that we won't even sweat.
Their new business will be located _____ Lincoln Street.
Name of the street by itself. No address number given.
Is this CD player very expensive?
No, it is _____. Opposite of expensive = cheap costly = expensive
nonflammable
Not easily set on fire
stingy
Not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give. STINGY = miserly = not generous = doesn't want to help others. - My brother is very STINGY.
All of the passengers are ____ board the plane now.
ON BOARD is a phrase meaning inside a larger vehicle like a plane, train, bus, ship.
My uncle lives _____ a farm.
ON a farm. On base. On a reservation.
I was raised _____ the island of Santa Catalina.
ON an island The island is IN the water.
I stayed up all night, _____ I feel very tired today.
One clause is the result of the other. There is a comma between the clauses, so you use "SO.' If there were a semicolon, you could use
His broken nose should not have a negative influence _____ his ability to swim in the final race.
One thing can have an influence ON another thing.
I like my coffee _____ milk and sugar.
One thing combined WITH another thing or WITH other things.
A cheetah is different _____ a lion.
One thing is different FROM another thing.
He had to go to the hospital because he had an _____.
Only "accident" makes sense here.
The river is not wide.
Opposite of wide is NARROW.
This question _____ for you by Mr. Williams.
PASSIVE VOICE Something IS DONE by somebody. PAST TENSE of the PASSIVE. It WAS DONE by somebody.
This exercise ______ by Mr. Williams.
PASSIVE VOICE. The word "by" usually indicates a passive structure. Active voice: Mr. Williams wrote this exercise."
I asked Joe again if the accident _______ his fault.
PAST REAL The accident WAS Joe's fault. He just keeps denying it.
If there ______ a point to his speech, I missed it entirely.
PAST REAL The speaker claims there WAS a point to his speech. I just didn't understand it.
If there _____ a storm last night, I slept right through it.
PAST REAL There really WAS a storm last night. I just didn't know about it.
If he _____ speaking English, it's news to me. I thought he was speaking Icelandic.
PAST REAL. He really WAS speaking English.
If I had known the answers, I _____ well on the test.
PAST UNREAL CONDITIONAL.
pear
PEAR : a fruit, similar to an apple (usually sweet and yellow). - I ate a PEAR for dessert.
I'm very PERPLEXED about tomorrow's assignments.
PERPLEXED = confused, not understanding, baffled, needing an explanation
I'm going to SELECT a nice box of chocolates for my mother.
PICK OUT = select = choose
Which shirt did you finally CHOOSE?
PICK OUT = select = choose
Where did you PICK UP those bad words?
PICK UP = learn randomly, acquire, gain by being exposed to
My brother and sister _____ on a ranch in Utah.
PLURAL SUBJECT in the PRESENT TENSE. They "LIVE"
The tour guide CALLED OUR ATTENTION TO a lot of old buildings.
POINT OUT = call attention to = tell people about = show = demonstrate
The police _____ coming to investigate the robbery in just a few minutes.
POLICE = plural The police are. If you want a singular, you can say: the policeman is The policewoman is¶ The police officer is¶.
The police _____ waiting outside to talk to you.
POLICE = plural The police are¶ The police were ¶
Yesterday, I MET my old friend.
Past tense irregular verb MEET MET MET
We liked the restaurant because we ______ quickly.
Past tense passive voice They served us quickly (active) = We were served quickly (passive).
Rabbits _____ faster than turtles do.
Plural subject in the present tense.
These books ARE heavy.
Plural subject. Present tense. THESE BOOKS (THEY) ARE
Don't stare _____ strangers. It's not polite.
Preposition of direction. You STARE AT POINT AT LOOK AT A rhinoceros can CHARGE AT you.
He came to class ______ 0735 this morning.
Preposition of time. AT a specific time.
I have been here at DLI _____ October of last year.
Present perfect tense. When you have only the starting point for your measurement, use SINCE.
I have been in the Army ______ 1993.
Present perfect. Only the starting point is given. USE SINCE.
Dogs LIKE to chase cats.
Present tense. Plural subject. DOGS LIKE
Steve and Joe ARE students.
Present tense. Plural subject. THEY ARE
I don't recall __________ you before.
Put "ing" form after "recall." Book 34 has a good page that lists the verbs that take the gerund and/or infinitive after them
I anticipate _____ back home.
Put a gerund ( -ing form) after ANTICIPATE or LOOK FORWARD TO.
The witness avoided _____ the truth about his involvement in the robbery.
Put the " - ing" form after "avoid." He avoided FALLING because he grabbed ahold of the railing.
My kids are always QUARRELING.
QUARREL = argue, verbal fighting, disagreeing loudly
quite
QUITE: very: extremely: a lot The teacher is QUITE angry with you for chewing gum in class.
If you DOUBLE THE RADIUS of a circle, you get the diameter.
RADIUS = half of the diameter
I RARELY go to movies during the weekend.
RARELY: SELDOM, not very often, only once in a blue moon
I do not like RAW turnips.
RAW: uncooked, not cooked at all. rare = cooked a little bit
My uncle deals in REAL ESTATE.
REAL ESTATE = land and property, buildings
I ORDERED THROUGH THE MAIL several new CDs.
SEND FOR = to order something through the mail
I SENT FOR Mariah Carey's new CD.
SEND FOR = to order something through the mail system
I fell down because someone SHOVE me from behind.
SHOVE = push
You don't have to stand up. BE SEATED.
SIT DOWN = stop standing
He drew a SKETCH of the crime suspect.
SKETCH = a quick drawing = a picture that one draws quickly
- The car SLAMMED into the wall at 90 miles per hour.
SLAM: to hit with a lot of force. - He SLAMMED the door.
My aunt is no spring chicken. She is not YOUNG.
SPRING CHICKEN = young
He will AID AND SUPPORT you no matter what happens.
STAND BY = help = support = aid = assist = give you support
You must stay today _____ 3:30.
STAY UNTIL a certain time is reached.
The children DID NOT GO TO BED until after midnight.
STAY UP = not go to bed
There was a big nail PROTRUDING from the wall. I tore my pants on it.
STICK OUT = protrude = reach beyond the surface
You'd better ADHERE TO the speed limit between here and Austin.
STICK TO = adhere to = obey = follow
It is raining; _______, I want to play soccer outside.
STILL = but, yet, however STILL can be used for CONTRAST structures
Lt. Smith ______ 8 more weeks before he graduates.
STILL is not a verb. It an adverb. Lt. Smith HAS 8 more weeks. He STILL HAS 8 more weeks.
We always STORE our sweaters and coats during the summer.
STORE = put away, put in storage, put out-of-sight, maybe in the closet or in a trunk
I believe the waitress dropped _____ pencil on the floor.
Since a waitress is a woman and the pencil belongs to her, it is HER PENCIL.
The most common color for snow is _____.
Snow is white. (We hope)
I hear a lot of police sirens.
Someone _____ have committed a crime nearby. INFERENCE MODAL Based on some evidence, you come to a logical conclusion. There is a lot of laughter in that room. Someone MUST be telling jokes.
I want another glass _____ milk.
Something and the item of measurement used for it. A cup OF tea a slice OF bread a bouquet OF flowers
It is difficult ______ me to speak in front of the class.
Something is DIFFICULT or EASY FOR you.
The Empire State Building is located _____ New York City.
Something is IN a city IN a country IN a town
I live _____ the third floor of the dorm, the smoking floor.
Something is ON a certain floor of a building.
______ an excessive amount of Pepsi is not good for you.
Sometimes we use an infinitive (TO form) as the subject of a sentence. TO STEAL is wrong. TO PASS the ECL is my immediate goal.
We will leave _____ noon.
Specific exact time. At noon. At 12:00.
The weather _______ good yesterday.
Subject-verb agreement AND past tense. The weather WAS good yesterday.
I cannot TAKE IN all this information at once.
TAKE IN = understand, absorb in the brain, comprehend
In Japan, many people REMOVE their shoes when they enter a house.
TAKE OFF = remove an item of clothing. Take off your hat when you enter a building.
I cannot ACCEPT any additional duties at this time.
TAKE ON = accept, agree to perform extra work
I have too much work already. I can't ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR any more.
TAKE ON = to accept the responsibility for more work or for more duties
He REMOVED a gun from his coat pocket.
TAKE OUT = remove Take your I.D. card out of your wallet.
My younger brothers fight each other all the time, but I refuse to BE PARTISAN.
TAKE SIDES = be partisan = show favoritism for one side over the other = not being neutral
We must BEGIN TO CONSIDER prepositions next week.
TAKE UP = begin to consider = start doing something He's going to take up tennis next summer.
Some students ANSWER DISCOURTEOUSLY the teachers.
TALK BACK TO = answer without politeness = sass = say things to rudely
I need to DISCUSS a serious problem with the supervisor.
TALK OVER = discuss, converse with someone We talked over all the old times we had in high school.
Your TASK is to alphabetize all of these files.
TASK = job, chore, duty, assignment
The movie was TERRIBLY GOOD.
TERRIBLY = AWFULLY, extremely, quite, very (The key word here is "good," not "terrible.")
What is your opinion of this book? What do you ______?
TO THINK OF SOMETHING = to have an opinion. You just saw that new movie, didn't you? What did you think of it?
Joe turned out to be a wet blanket.
THE BOONDOCKS is a very remote, primitive area far from big cities. There are no cultural amenities within hundreds of miles. Also known
The number of students _______ decreasing.
THE NUMBER = singular (It's only ONE number.) THE NUMBER OF WHITE TIGERS IS dedcreasing rapidly.
He was very sick; THEREFORE, he couldn't compete in the race.
THEREFORE = THUS, so, as a result, because of this, consequently
He CREATED an interesting game for his students to play.
THINK UP = create, invent, make up
I wonder how they INVENTED THE IDEA FOR "The Matrix."
THINK UP = to invent = create = make up
Before you ask for a re-assignment, CONSIDER THE MATTER CAREFULLY.
THINK something OVER = consider it carefully, think about all the possible advantages and disadvantages
Don't DISCARD your DLI books after graduation. You can use them later.
THROW AWAY = discard = throw out = put in the garbage = get rid of
The score was TIED at the end of regulation time.
TIED = to be even, to be the same. The score was TIED at 2-2. His home run in the eleventh inning finally broke the 3-3 tie.
He is a TIGHTWAD. He is stingy.
TIGHTWAD: stingy: a person who is not willing to spend money
My brother is LATE IN paying his bills.
TO BE BEHIND IN = to be late in doing something
I paid $25 to see the concert, but I forgot that it took place last night! Now, I'm out $25.
TO BE OUT something = to have lost it = to spend money with nothing to show for it.
The Captain SUPERVISES 138 people in Echo Company.
TO BE OVER = to be in charge of, to be the boss of, to supervise or command
A captain IS LOWER IN RANK THAN a major.
TO BE UNDER = to be the subordinate = to be lower = to be underneath in the chain-of-command
There is something strange going on. Nobody will tell me what's .going on.
TO BE UP = to happen. What's up? = What's going on?
He IS A CANDIDATE FOR promotion this month.
TO BE UP FOR = to be a candidate for advancement She is up for soldier of the quarter, and she'll probably get it.
I keep fighting the battle of the bulge to no avail.
TO BULGE is to get bigger. Battle of the bulge = trying to keep from getting fat. PUDGY = a little too fat.
When will your father's flight ARRIVE?
TO GET IN = arrive = reach the destination
I am ______ tired to go to the movie with you tonight.
TO PLAY basketball for the A team.
We SPOTTED the enemy sniper at a sixteenth-floor window.
TO SPOT = to see, to detect, to discern at a distance
Please give the message to _____.
TO is a preposition. The blank requires OBJECT FORM, object of the preposition. HIM and ME are the objects. Give the message to him.
There was a TRACE of gunpowder on his finger.
TRACE = a very small amount of something
Traits
TRAITS = distinguishing characteristics. - What are the TRAITS of a good leader?
He will TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF his business to his oldest son next month.
TRANSFER OWNSERSHIP = turn over, pass the legal ownership to, pass the responsibility to someone else
Joe is TRIGGER HAPPY.
TRIGGER HAPPY = nervous, overanxious too eager to shoot his gun
Congress is going to TRIM the budget.
TRIM is CUT. (The barber TRIMMED my hair.).
Joe had _____ trouble when he tried to take a bus downtown.
TROUBLE = a mass noun MUCH trouble LOTS of trouble A LOT OF trouble TOO MUCH trouble
My brother is not very TRUSTWORTHY.
TRUSTWORTHY = deserves to be trusted, dependable, reliable, you can TRUST him.
Before you buy that coat, you should DETERMINE IT IF FITS WELL.
TRY ON = to put clothing on to check the fit
Before you buy a car, you must TRY IT OUT.
TRY OUT = to test something to see if you like it.
He TUMBLED down the stairs.
TUMBLE = to fall, sometimes rolling head over heels
The radio to too lous. Please _______.
TURN DOWN = lower the volume of something
Please SUBMIT YOUR PAPER before 2:35.
TURN IN = to hand in = to submit = to give something to someone after completing it
INCREASE the volume. I can't hear anything.
TURN UP = increase volume = make it louder
He likes Texas, ISN't HE?
Tag question. Affirmative in the main clause requires negative in the tag.
He is such _____ honest person.
The "h" of "honest" is silent, so it sounds like "ONEST," a vowel sound. He is AN HONEST person. She is AN HONORABLE person.
core
The CORE is the center of something. The core of the earth is very hot. - Don't eat the apple CORE.
knuckles
The KNUCKLES are joints in your fingers. - Have you ever been socked in the jaw by someone who was wearing BRASS KNUCKLES? - Where are your KNUCKLES located?
shin
The SHIN is part of the leg, the front part between the knee and the foot. Do not confuse it with CHIN, which is part of your face.
If he suffered a SKULL injury, where is the heaviest damage?
The SKULL is the round protective BONE area covering and protecting your BRAIN.
If he injured his thumb, where does he feel the most pain?
The THUMB is one of your five fingers on your hand.
We are rapidly approaching zero hour.
The ZERO HOUR is a very critical time to do something important. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Florida used to be a major _____ outpost.
The adjective form of "Spain" is "Spanish."
I was late because my alarm clock didn't ______.
The alarm clock DID NOT GO OFF.
An octopus is so-named because it has eight TENTACLES.
The eight "arms" of the octopus are called TENTACLES.
Before I could get back to the safety of my room, it ______.
The first action (rain) can be in the PAST PERFECT. IT HAD ALREADY BEGUN before something else happened.
I wish I _____ back home with my family.
The harder I tried, the better I did.PRESENT UNREAL wish clause about something that is NOT true right now. The "wish" clauses work just like the "if" clauses. If I WERE
The KNEE is to the LEG as the ELBOW is to the ARM.
The knee is the joint in the middle of the leg, just as the ELBOW is the joint in the middle of the arm.
Mrs. Smith is a great painter, and _____.
The main clause contains the "BE" verb, so the second abridged clause must also contain the "BE" verb. That means "a" and "b" are the only
Shouldn't those rose bushes _____ more water?
The modal SHOULD is here, and you must put simple form of a verb after a modal. The bushes SHOULD BE GETTING more water. As a
Which sentence is correct?
The movie was 4 hours long. = It was a four-hour movie. The book is 300 pages long. = It is a 300-page book. It is I = the correct formal structure. I AM guilty. Therefore, it is I who am guilty.
Getting 100 on the ECL would be A FEATHER IN YOUR CAP.
The people with big pretty feathers were assumed to be rich or powerful or aristocratic. It was good to havecentury = 100 years. Century mark can mean 100 of anything. "The temperature reached the century mark yesterday" means it hit 100
The President can, it is widely believed, in no way, resolve this crisis soon, _______?
The phrase "in no way" makes the main clause negative, so the tag must be affirmative.
My son drew pictures _____ the wall of his bedroom.
The pictures are touching the surface of the wall, so they are ON the wall.
The contractors are going to tear _____ the old road and replace it with a modern 4-lane one.
The road is lying flat ON the ground, so you have to tear it UP.
That television show was __________.
The show was BORING. I was BORED when I watched it.
The price of cars and boasts _____ very high right now.
The simple subject is "price." THE PRICE IS ¶
I always take a short nap _____ class.
This turns out to be a TIME question, so it is AFTER class, as opposed to a PLACE preposition, "I take a nap IN class."
I BOUGHT a new car last week.
Time words "last week" require PAST TENSE. IRREGULAR VERB "to buy" I BOUGHT
The fire alarm STARTED RINGING right in the middle of my speech. The bell _____.
To "go off" means to sound, explode, ring¶
I'm on pins and needles waiting for the answer to my reassignment application.
To be on pins and needles means you are very nervous.
The student next to me tried to copy from my paper. He was trying to _____.
To copy someone else's answer is CHEATING.
chopping
To cut food into small, uneven pieces
We _____ to my brother's house tomorrow.
The time word "tomorrow" needs FUTURE TENSE.
He hit me WITH his dictionary, and it was the first time he had ever used it for anything.
The tool or weapon is given. He shot me WITH a rifle.
He enjoyed __________ soccer.
The verb "ENJOY" requires gerund ( "-ing" form after it.
_____ knows Mary's brother.
The verb "knows" needs a third person singular form. HE KNOWS¶/
The river runs _____ the old bridge.
The water will pass UNDER the bridge under normal conditions.
mild : moderate : not extreme : in the middle of a range.
The weather was very MILD throughout our entire vacation.
The wind is _____ very hard.
The wind BLOWS.
I would like to have a neighbor _____ I can feel certain will watch my apartment when I'm away.
The word in the blank must be a SUBJECT form¶E or SHE WILL WATCH my apartment. WHOM will not fit here.
I graduated from college _____ 1994.
The year by itself takes IN.
They took his car to the shop _____ it.
They did it IN ORDER TO FIX it. We can reduce it: THEY DID IT (in order) TO FIX it.
My friends LIVE in a different dorm.
Third person plural PRESENT TENSE MY FRIENDS (THEY) LIVE
The color red on the flag _____ blood.
Third person singular THE COLOR (IT) symbolizes PRESENT TENSE
My brother _____ in a bank.
Third person singular present tense. HE WORKS there at this time.
If Joe really _____ at the meeting (and two people said they talked to him), I didn't see him there.
This is a PAST REAL. It is possible he was at the meeting. This is not an UNREAL situation.
The captured soldier ______.
This is a fixed expression: to commit suicide
Someone might have to stay in the office until 1800 if _____.
This is a fixed structure. If need be. IF the NEED should BE for something, and we reduce it to IF NEED BE.
You ____________ bring your own pencils to the testing room. We will provide the pencils.
This is a modal. "He need not" do something = He doesn't need to do it. You need not do it = You don't need to do it.
The money _____ from the bank has not been recovered yet.
This is a reduced clause structure. The money WHICH WAS STOLEN FROM THE BANK can be reduced down to THE MONEY STOLEN
The man _____ by the door is my uncle.
This is a reduced clause. The man (who is) sitting by the door¶
_____ continuously, the dog nearly drove me crazy.
This is a reduced structure. It started out as the clause "Because it was barking continuously," and we can reduce it to "Barking continuously."
While _____ the street, be very careful to look in both directions.
This is a reduced structure: WHILE YOU ARE CROSSING THE STREET¶educe it to WHILE CROSSING THE STREET.
He's gone to the happy hunting ground.
This is a translation of an American Indian phrase for "heaven." Someone who is there has died.
____________________, I would have helped you.
This is the REDUCED SUBJUNTIVE. "If I had been there" can be reduced to "Had I been there."
If I were a person who ______ a million dollars, I would retire immediately.
This is tricky. You are a person. The unreal part of it is having a million dollars. IF I WERE A PERSON WHO HAD¶.
_____ the test, he stood up and left the room.
This started out as the clause AFTER HE HAD FINISHED THE TEST¶ We can reduced it to the phrase HAVING FINISHED ¶
PUT your hat out in the hall on a hook.
To put something on a hook = to hang it up
While I was driving to work this morning, I ____ to my new Celine Dion Cassette.
Two actions happening simultaneously. Both can be in the PAST PROGRESSIVE.
I WAS TAKING a shower when the phone rang.
Two actions in the past. One was a PAST PROGRESSIVE, interrupted by the next one in the SIMPLE PAST.
By the time the firemen arrived, the flames ______ by the homeowner.
Two actions in the past. The first action (in time) can be PAST PERFECT. The subsequent action can be simple past.
Take these pills _____ a glass of warm milk.
Two items together.
First, I ate breakfast; then, I MET my family.
Two simple actions in the past, one after the other. Both are in the SIMPLE PAST.
While I was driving to work this morning, I _________ to the radio.
Two simultaneous actions in the past, both progressive (continuous).
While I was reading the paper, the children WERE PLAYING outside.
Two simultaneous actions in the past. They are occurring at the same time. PAST PROGRESSIVE for both.
I ordered chicken _____ rice.
Two things linked together coffee WITH cream salad WITH dressing ice cream WITH chocolate sauce
His WAGES are not very high right now.
WAGES: salary: the money you earn from working
We EXPECTED HIM TO COME for an hour before we finally left without him.
WAIT FOR = not leave until someone arrives = expect someone to arrive
The owner of the restaurant himself SERVED us.
WAIT ON = to serve the customer in a restaurant or store. The store was so crowded that we couldn't find a clerk to wait on us.
The connecting flight was very late, so we had to REMAIN in New York for 8 hours.
WAIT OVER = to spend time waiting for a connecting plane, train, or ship.
He blamed me _____ the accident.
You BLAME someone FOR doing something wrong.
While I was trying to watch television, the kids _____.
WIFE.Two simultaneous events, both of them in the PAST PROGRESSIVE As I WAS DRIVING to work this morning, I WAS LISTENING to my new Celine Dion cassette.
The meeting should CONCLUDE around 3:00.
WIND UP = conclude = end = finish
He stabbed me _____ a dirty kitchen knife.
WITH indicates the weapon used. Cut the bread WITH that clean knife, not WITH that dirty one.
My brother WRECKED his car.
WRECK = destroy, ruin completely, can't be used any more
What does water do a 212 degrees Fahrenheit?
Water boils.
If the water is frozen, it is _____.
Water freezes and becomes ICE. (Steam and boiling are associated with HOT liquids.)
Please listen carefully _____ the instructions.
We LISTEN TO something.
This umbrella will not protect you _____ heavy rain.
We PROTECT FROM
Please don't talk ______ someone else's speech.
We TALK DURING an event.
There were five passengers _____ the car when it got hit by the train.
We are IN a car.
The repairman _____ we called will not be able to get here today.
We called him. Object form is required. The person WHOM we called will not come here today.
Don't laugh _____ other people's mistakes.
We laugh AT things and people.
He went down the hall _____.
We need an ADVERB ( -ly form) because it tells us HOW he went down the hall. Adverb of manner.
Lt. Jones wants to play _____ the basketball team.
We play ON a name, because our names can be written ON the team roster, ON the paper that lists our names.
When will you retire _____ the military?
We retire FROM a job.
Do you live _____ base in the dorms?
We say ON BASE versus OFF BASE. Another example would be ON a reservation versus OFF a reservation.
I didn't understand what he said _____ me.
We say something TO a person.
I am tired _____ studying prepositions.
We say we are TIRED OF something.
She was born ________ Latvia.
We use "IN" for countries. I was once stationed IN Egypt.
My car is parked ______ the red Toyota and the white Cadillac.
We use "between" when we are taking about TWO specific things.
He was shot twice in the back _____ a Colt .45.
We use WITH to indicate what method, tool, or instrument was used.
What is the reason _____ his failure?
We would have a REASON FOR something.
If you leave ice cream out in the sun, it will _____.
When frozen stuff starts to warm up, it MELTS (THAWS).
May I borrow $300 ____ you?
You BORROW FROM someone. You can LOAN TO. You can LEND to.
The guerrillas caused problems _____ the government.
You CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR someone.
Lt. Tdwazjkskwxz comes _____ a small country called Dramamania.
You COME FROM a certain place.
I fell _____ the stairs.
You FALL DOWN. You CLIMB UP something.
I finally got the dog _____.
You GET somebody TO DO something. (infinitive)
The teachers always gives too much homework _____ us.
You GIVE something TO somebody.
I haven't seen my family ______ October 23.
When you give only the starting point of measuring the time, use "since" in these PRESENT PERFECT structures. I have been here SINCE October 25
Mr. Jones has been my teacher _____ Oct 24.
When you give the starting point for measuring time, we use SINCE, especially with PRESENT PERFECT VERBS.
I have not seen a movie ____ five or six months.
When you give the total amount of time, you use FOR, especially in PRESENT PERFECT sentences.
He will graduate _____ July 23.
When you have a specific day indicated by NUMBER, you use ON.
Class starts _____ 0730.
When you have an exact time for something, you use "AT." The movie ended AT *:45.
I have been here at DLI _____ 8 weeks.
When you have the total amount of time given, use FOR in these PRESENT PERFECT structures.
We will talk to you _____ the supervisor's office.
When you talk about a specific room, you use IN.
If you want to mail that letter, you will have to use three ______.
When you turn a number into part of a hyphenated adjective, you drop the plural of the noun. A general wearing three stars = a three-STAR
At this moment, you _________ these questions.
Words like "right now" and "at this moment" often take the present progressive tense. You ARE READING this sentence at this moment.
He is old, YET he is healthy.
YET = but, however, still, on the other hand
What I am asking _____ you is that you be quiet during other people's speeches.
You ASK something OF someone. What I'm asking OF you is that you do your homework.
He stabbed his victim with a _____.
You would STAB with a knife, not with the other 3 objects.
I always brush my teeth _____ going to bed.
time element BEFORE or AFTER doing something
Joe got his next assigment. He'll be IN THE BOONDOCKS for three years.
as THE BOONIES. "After two years in the boonies, it was great to be back in Houston."OJT stands for "on-the-job training." Instead of just reading books about how to do the job, you actually try to do the job while someone assists
He looked at me _____ he didn't understand a word I was saying.
as if = in such a manner like
What is the job OF a drill sergeant?
association noun OF noun The role OF a leader
He told us some ASTONISHING news.
astonishing = surprising = unexpected = unbelievable
My date STOOD ME UP last night.
at a certain time.
He is serving as a cabinet member _____ present.
at present or at the present time
When snow starts cascading down the side of a mountain, we call it _____.
avalanche = snow falling rapidly down the side of a mountain
I need to _____ some gas before we start the trip.
back home with my family right now, I would be happy.It is common to reduce "Go and¶ to just "go." I will GO AND BUY some cigarettes. = I GO BUY some cigarettes. I have to GO AND MAIL a letter. = I have to GO MAIL a letter.
- Children should not play near the dump with BARE feet.
bare : naked : not covered with clothing : exposed.
My room is ____ the third floor of the dorm.
basketball team. She is smart enough to join MENSA. Something is ON the floor, touching the surface of the floor.
Kudos _____ to anyone who can answer all of these questions correctly.
be "praise."
We saw the BEACON in the distance.
beacon = signal light, especially for aircraft and ships
Some of these questions are BEWILDERING.
bewildering = confusing = not easy to understand
The BEAN COUNTERS probably won't agree to your budget requests.
big advantage over the other.Someone who deals with numbers, especially in a bureaucracy. They think their job is to count and (dis)approve EVERYTHING, even the
There was a BLIZZARD last night.
blizzard : a lot of snow driven by strong winds.
There was a bad BLIZZARD last night.
blizzard = heavy snow and powerful wind
We need to BOOST morale around here.
boost = raise = increase A booster rocket a booster shot I can't reach the highest shelf. Give me a BOOST.
That movie gave me the willies.
bunch of them around you, you will be scared.When you stand someone up, you don't honor an agreement. You don't show up for an appointment. You break a promise to be somewhere
The battle for Texas independence took place _____.
car I have ever seen. She is THE MOST INTELLIGENT person I have ever met. This is an action in the past expressed in the simple past, so it happened "years ago."
I found some CASH lying on the table.
cash : money
Othello CHOKED Desdemona.
choke = strangle = stop the passage of air at the throat
Because he was driving while intoxicated, Joe _____.
clause should be simple past. HE GOT (passive) HE GOT ARRESTED. HE GOT PROMOTED. HE GOT ROBBED.
The ambassador's wife wants to eat in _____ restaurant.
clause.When you create a hyphenated adjective using a number and a unit of measurement, the unit of measurement goes from plural to singular.
The wife of a president or prime minister usually has a lot of CLOUT.
clout = power = influence
COMBINE all the ingredients in a big bowl.
combine ; mix ; put together.
I have been AT DLI ________ six months.
combined amount of time. Use "for" in these kinds of present perfect sentences.
American English is _____ British English.
comparative forms GOOD BETTER BEST One thing is better than another.
Tom is __________ Joe is.
comparative form¶ne-syllable adjective
Today's class was _____ than yesterday's.
comparison more fun than
Brazil is _____ Peru.
comparison one-syllable adjective ONE THING IS -er THAN ANOTHER.
That is a CONFUSING math problem.
confusing = perplexing = hard to understand = difficult to decipher
What _____ this word mean?
correct formation of questions action verb (mean) present tense simple subject. This word means something. WHAT DOES THIS WORD MEAN?
Don't give the new students too _____ things to do their first week in class.
count noun = things TOO MANY THINGS versus TOO MUCH WORK (mass noun)
You can count on Lt. Arroyo because he is such a RELIABLE person.
count on = depend on = rely on The adjective forms would be DEPENDABLE and RELIABLE.
A lot of people thought President Nixon was a CROOK.
crook = dishonest person = not "straight" = someone who is "crooked"
That bread _____ stale. Don't try to eat it.
current state or condition mass noun THE BREAD IS ¶
We will have another test _____ Friday.
day of the week by itself
He gave a DAZZLING speech.
dazzling = brilliant = impressive = extremely good = great
Mr. Smith hit the century mark yesterday.
degrees F.
I need to go to the dentist because
dentist = person who works on the TEETH.
Last night, we dined _____ lobster and shrimp.
dine on = to eat formal
My parents are going to DO OVER my grandmother's house in Houston.
do over = redecorate = improve the appearance of = make something look new again
I didn't eat ______ yesterday.
double negatives! You must not say "I didn't eat nothing."
It's going to be down to the wire on this one.
down to the wire = the final seconds of a race It's too close to know who the winner is. Nobody knows the result yet.
My cousin STOPPED ATTENDING school when he was only 11 years old.
drop out of = to stop attending something or to stop participating in an organized group
When will this DROUGHT ever end?
drought = period of no rain = everything dries up = crops and animals start dying from the lack of rain
inflammable
easily set on fire; easily angered or aroused.
I made my son _____ to bed early last night.
eat dry cat food for two weeks.
What color are most ripe eggplants?
eggplant = a vegetable that is purple when ripe Sometimes a fabric might be described as egglant (meaning purple).
I made a SERIOUS ERROR on the math test.
error = mistake = wrong answer serious = big = major
I am EXHAUSTED.
exhausted = tired = weary = no energy = fatigued
This car is very expensive.
expensive = not cheap = costly
It was EXTREMELY cold last night.
extremely = very= awfully = terribly
I think this is A RED HERRING.
false clue In mystery stories, we find red herrings, false clues to deceive us and draw our attention away from the truth.
- The soldiers were FULLY briefed before they went on their mission.
fully : completely : thoroughly : 100%.
By the time you graduate, you _________ at least 40 tests.
future perfect tense By the time I retire, I will have worked for this company for 35 years.
The bill ________ to you before the end of the month.
future tense passive voice
Take a gander at that car over there.
gander = look
I became sick; _____ I didn't want to take the test.
general a car with four doors = a four-door car A run that lasts four miles = a four-MILE run thus = therefore = hence A formal word used with a semicolon.
We were putting up our tents when it _____.
gerund. IT BEGAN TO SNOW or IT BEGAN SNOWING.
I've gotten behind because I was sick."
get behind: to fail to do as much work or pay as much money as you should by a particular time: She got behind with her mortgage and the house was repossessed.
Can we go _____ you to the movies?
go along with = phrasal verb meaning to accompany
Mrs. Goodteacher has _____ students at DLI in her Advanced Class.
good = better = best Something is THE BEST.
loot -The pirates buried their LOOT.
goods or money obtained illegally. LOOT is something valuable--money, treasure, jewels, gold, etc.
What is the normal color of most grass in the summer?
grass = vegetation, usually green
Soldiers are always GRIPING.
gripe = complain = make negative comments
Before _____ your test paper, verify that you have answered all the questions.
hand in" is HANDING IN. Before LEAVING your room, I make sure the door is locked. After finishing his homew sugar.
A hatchet is A SMALL AX.
hatchet = a small ax used for chopping
It is mandatory that Lt. Smith ____ in Col. Jones's office at 0730.
homework.
Why is Joe looking under the hood? Because _____.
hood = the part of the car that you lift up to look at the engine.
I am very hungry. I need _____.
hungry for food thirsty for water
I told you a little white lie.
idiom A little white lie = a small lie = not serious = fib
I am feeling down _____ the dumps today.
idiom IN the dumps, because it's a place
I think I'll take a stab _____ learning French next semester.
idiom You take a stab AT doing something. = TRY to do something
A person who is broke does not have any _____.
idiom to be BROKE = no money
I'm broke.
idiom to be broke = to have no money
When I told the Captain my ECL score, he hit the ceiling.
idiom to hit the ceiling = to be angry = to be explosively angry, like a bomb. LIVID = to be so angry that you might turn purple in the face.
Please write the rough draft of your essay _____ pencil.
in ink in pencil If you want to use "with," you have to say "with A pencil."
Cats like to sleep all day and prowl the neighborhoods _____ night.
in the morning in the afternoon in the evening BUT at night
He is not old ______ to join the military yet.
infinitives. Would you mind CLOSING that window, please?If the blank comes after the adjective, put "ENOUGH" in it. Are you rich enough to buy a Mercedes? He is tall enough to play on the
There was a fire _____ the library yesterday.
inside a specific building IN the dorms IN the Amigo Inn
When you are finished with your conversation, _____ the phone.
instructions or orders in the imperative (You) hang up the phone.
I'm wearing two hats today.
jobs of two people
I want you to CONTINUE studying.
keep on = to continue Keep on answering these questions.
If he is lame, he probably has trouble _____.
lame = something wrong with the leg or foot
I _____ a really good movie last night.
last night = past tense. I SAW something last night.
My mother _____ a used Ferrari last week.
last week = past tense irregular verb BUY BOUGHT BOUGHT Last week SHE BOUGHT something.
I'm going to LEASE that 1996 convertible red car.
lease : rent . - You sign a contract and rent something big and important like a house, an apartment, an airplane, a car.
Is there really a LINK between smoking and lung cancer?
link : connecting : something that joins two things
Is there really a LINK between smoking and lung cancer?
link : connection ; one thing is joined to another thing
The pirates buried their LOOT on the deserted island.
loot = treasure = gold and money = jewels = valuable items you can steal and carry away
The price of that sofa is very low. The sofa is ______.
low price = cheap = doesn't cost much
My father was ANGRY when I told him I wrecked the car.
mad = angry = very upset = very unhappy
He comes to class every morning _____ foot.
means of transportation ON foot BUT BY CAR BY BICYCLE
He MESSED UP his speech by forgetting his second point.
mess up : ruin : make a mistake : fouled up
The last test was not easy. In fact, it was extremely _____.
not easy = difficult = hard
His family is not rich. In fact, they are very poor .
not rich ; poor ; not wealthy ; not much money
This handout is not short.
not short = long
We have a certain lack _____ discipline in this unit.
noun OF noun structure EXCESS of STUDENTS opposite LACK of STUDENTS
He is an outspoken critic _____ his country's economic policies.
noun OF noun structure a champion OF human rights a defender OF freedom a critic OF reforms
Who do you think you are---The Queen _____ England?
noun OF noun structure the King OF Fools the Governor of Texas
She is the supervisor _____ Unit 6.
noun OF noun structure¶or association Queen OF England chief OF trainees leader OF Delta Company
She gave the police a good _____ of the robber.
noun form = a description
Lt. Arroyo's date of _____ is April 23.
noun form = departure = the act of departing or leaving
I can't take a shower because the NOZZLE is broken.
nozzle = the end of a pipe or a hose that allows you to control the flow of water.
I'll try to KEEP THEM AT BAY while you get away.
number of beans in each bag.keep at bay = to keep someone at a safe distance away while something else happens. Hunting dogs bay (bark) when they near the animal
I took a shot in the dark.
of the river = be passive and let it happen to you = don't try to change anything = just do what everyone wants you to guess.
Joe will have been working for this company for 25 years by the time he ________.
time she finally moves to a bigger house, she will have been living in this one for 40 years.
It's like an oven in this room! (How is the temperature?)
oven = heating device, cooking device. If it's like an oven, it's very hot.
There is a killer wasp right ABOVE your head!
over = above
How does it feel to be LOW MAN ON THE TOTEM POLE?
paperwork up in bundles with red tape and then it took them a long time just to locate the paper, much less process it.
My father always takes a long nap IN the afternoon.
part of the day IN the morning IN the afternoon IN the evening
All of these prepositions questions were written _____ Mr. Williams.
passive voice
America ________ by Columbus in 1492.
passive voice
All of these sentences _____ by Mr. Williams.
passive voice The subject is plural. The sentences WERE WRITTEN by someone.
We can have the meeting in Room 204 if the door ________.
passive voice structure
These drugs must be given top the patients under _____ conditions.
passive voice structure The conditions are controlled by someone, so they are CONTROLLED conditions.
He ________ in New York City in 1982.
passive voice structure. His mother bore (carried) him inside her body. He was born (by his mother). Therefore, he WAS BORN.
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated _____ John Wilkes Booth in 1865.
passive voice! An action IS DONE BY someone.
This book __________ by William Faulkner in 1953.
passive voice. Requires the "be" auxiliary. Past tense.
All of the cakes _____ by the officers' wives.
passive voice. The verb must agree with "cake."
He promised me that he _____ repair my car tomorrow.
past of WILL is WOULD.
Yesterday, I _______ a black hawk.
past tense "yesterday" irregular verb SEE SAW SEEN
The escaped prisoner _____ last night near the airport.
past tense (LAST NIGHT) passive voice
The homework _____ easy last night
past tense (last night)
He PERKED UP when he heard his name mentioned.
perk up = become alert = become attentive = pay attention = listen intently
Which of these best describes tin?
tin: a light METAL
I want you to accompany us. Come _____ with us.
phrasal verb come along with
Can a normal person EXIST ON just $200 per month in San Antonio?
phrasal verb exist on : live on : subsist on : survive on
CAREFULLY CONSIDER ALL THE DETAILS before you do it.
phrasal verb think through = carefully consider everything in advance
I fell down when I was trying to run away _____ the pit bull.
phrasal verb to RUN AWAY FROM something
Turn right _____ the next intersection.
place TURN AT the sign TURN AT the traffic light.
These questions _______ easy.
plural subject¶lural verb "questions are"
The police _____ here to arrest you for having a low ECL.
police = PLURAL THEY ARE here.
Whose book is that?
possessive adjectives. It's my book. Or It's mine. (possessive pronoun)
He wants to know whose book this is. I tried to tell him that it's _____.
possessive pronoun. Whose hat is that? It is MINE. It is MY hat.
I visited my family _____ Christmas.
preposition of time FOR a short period of TIME. I visited them FOR the two days of Christmas.
In spite _____ the rain, we practiced for the parade.
prepositional phrase IN SPITE OF
She enjoys taking tests, _____?
present tense tag question¶action verbs needing "DO" in the tag¶hird person singular¶She studies every night, DOESN'T she?
If I _________ in your position, I would not do that.
present unreal subjunctive IF I WERE ¶
He PUNCHED my ticket.
punch : make a hole in - Punch can also mean to hit with the fist.
The firemen were able to EXTINGUISH the fire in less than 30 minutes.
put out = extinguish
There was a strange RATTLE in the engine.
rattle = noise = sound
I will give the message to the Supervisor, ___________ her.
reduced "if" clause. Inversion of subject and auxiliary verb.
I would study the "if" clause patterns a little more _________.
reduced clause requiring inversion of subject and verb
The Captain REPRIMANDED Lt. Smith during formation.
reprimand = call down = scold = give a tongue-lashing to= chew out
I _____ finishing the report right now.
right now = present progressive I AM FINISHING.
Right now, the children ______ baseball in the park.
right now = present progressive PLURAL THE children ARE PLAYING.
It _____ twenty minutes to drive from here to the airport.
third person singular present tense IT TAKES ¶
splinters
sharp, thin pieces that have broken off something SPINTERS are very small pieces of wood, created when you are sawing. - The floor is covered with SPLINTERS.
He hurt his shin, so it is hard for him to walk.
shin = part of the leg Do not confuse it with CHIN, the lower part of the face.
Our suitcases are _____ each other.
similar to¶HE same as
The next ECL will _____ easy.
simple form of a verb after a MODAL WILL BE MIGHT BE SHOULD BE
The tallest student in the class _____ Lt. Jones.
simple subject = student The student is ¶
I don't like the new printers _____ they're not as fast as the old ones.
since = because The second clause tells us WHY, so we need BECAUSE or SINCE.
Fifty people were SLAUGHTERED yesterday.
slaughter = to kill savagely, with a lot of violence and blood and cruelty
You can leave now. THE COAST IS CLEAR.
smuggling or contraband.
There was a typical SNAFU about the outprocessing schedules.
snafu = a situation in which nothing has happened as planned.
The little girl was SOBBING.
sob = to cry loudly = to make noises while crying
If I were the boss, I ______ you extra work.
something
A species of rare fish ____ on display at the Witte Museum.
species is
My father died _____ April 17, 1989.
specific date Use ON.
The train will arrive _____ 0955.
specific exact time
Class will start ______ 0730.
specific time
The troops have been standing ______ parade rest for 20 minutes.
stand AT ease AT attention AT parade rest
Don't stare at him like that.
stare: means to look at something or someone for a long period of time
The ECL will START at 0745.
start : begin : commence
I am STARVING.
starving = famished = very hungry = about to die from lack of food
I feel STMIED because I keep missing these questions.
stymied = impeded = thwarted = blocked = obstructed = not making any progress = unhappy because of no success
There ____ a bad series of accidents near Highway 90 and Loop 410 yesterday afternoon.
subject is "A SERIES." A SERIES WAS
I see one empty desk. Who _____ absent today?
subject verb agreement One person IS absent. Who IS it?
The price of those books ________ five dollars each.
subject-verb agreement. The PRICE IS¶ Do not make the verb agree with "BOOKS."
Joe said that we have to be at Lab 3 before 0800, _____?
tag question Joe said¶idn't he? Affirmative in the main clause needs negative in the tag.
There was a chemical spill in the TAIL of the jet. The spill was in the _____.
tail = rear = aft = back part = (ship) stern
The cake is TASTY. It is _____.
tasty = tastes good = delicious
Please don't TEASE the dog. He's in a bad mood today.
tease = to torment = to bother = to irritate = to play with in a mean way
Your promotion is in the bag.
tells you what you something obvious AFTER it's too late. He wasn't around to give you the advice when you really needed
I thought the movie was terribly good. I _____.
terribly = awfully = VERY = extremely terribly good = very good terribly bad = very bad
Neither the lieutenants nor the Captain _____ going to be at E Co today.
the father nor his sons ARE here right now.
We need to nip this problem in the bud.
they are chasing. If you can keeps the dogs at bay, they are only able to bark at you, not actually catch you.To nip in the bud is to stop something in its earliest stages. Frost can NIP a young plant while it is just BUDDING, so it never grows. Nip = cut off bud = a flower before it even starts to open up
We were sitting there eating lunch when suddenly Joe TOOK A POWDER.
very ordinary, not unusual or different.to take a powder = to leave, often quickly and without telling anyone. (When women GO TO THE POWDER ROOM, they leave the table go to the ladies' restroom.) It means to go away and leave someone alone. and
We cannot wade across the river because it is_____.
wade = to walk, usually with the water not higher than your knees.
wallet
wallet : billfold : A small thing we carry our paper money (dollar bills) in - Joe lost his WALLET.
The students WERE REQUIRED TO take another ECL test. They ______ do it.
were = past tense. The only choice in the past is HAD TO. They HAD TO DO something.
You don't want Joe to lead the mission. He's still a babe in the woods.
wild animals and bad weather.
The boss sent me off on some wild goose chase.
will be happy with your good results.It would be very difficult for you to run after and catch a wild goose. Therefore, a wild goose chase is an impossible job or assignment.
When I was a child, I used to _____ candy all day long.
will have the boss CALL you tomorrow. I have my students DO homework every night.USED TO = WOULD = to have done something in the past, but not now. It is a modal and requires SIMPLE FORM. I used to LIVE in Germany; now I live in Texas.
The cheetah ran ______ that the photographers couldn't take pictures.
woke up ten hours later.
We had an _____ lesson yesterday. It was about biology.
word form = interesting The lesson was interesting. The students were interested in the lesson.
I wish today _____ Sunday.
would be happy.
AUTUMN is my favorite time of the year.
years.autumn = fall the time of the year when it starts to get colder, the leaves turn yellow, orange, red, and brown¶hen the leaves FALL from the trees.
Yesterday, the news about the earthquakes in Iran and Mexico _____ bad.
yesterday = past tense THE NEWS = singular THE NEWS WAS BAD.
Yesterday, I _____ tardy for class because my car wouldn't start.
yesterday = past tense Yesterday I WAS ¶
The teacher _____ all day yesterday preparing new handouts for you.
yesterday = past tense third person singular THE TEACHER WORKED ¶
I'm going to Fort Bliss for a little OJT. I'm going for _______.
you and corrects you.
