A Friend of Me or a Friend of Mine? — Sparks Plus, Week 4

Welcome to this week’s Sparks Plus — your quick, practical boost for clearer, more confident English.
Five short sections, all easy to read and use right away.

1️⃣ Quick Win

A friend of me ❌
A friend of mine ✔

Why?
In English, after “a friend of…”, we use mine, yours, his, etc. (possessive pronouns).

✔ She’s a friend of mine.
✔ He’s a colleague of hers.

2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

Denglish rescue:
A client said: I’ll make a photo of the team.

In English, we take a photo, not “make” one.
✔ I’ll take a photo of the team.

3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

Listening Resource: VOA Learning English – Everyday Grammar — short, clear grammar and usage tips in slow, clear English. Great for listening and reading at the same time.

4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Should I use “which” or “who” when I’m talking about people?

A: Use who for people, which for things:
✔ I spoke to the woman who called yesterday.
✔ This is the report which I mentioned.

5️⃣ Spotlight

Want to make your English conversations more interesting?
Get my guide Spice Up Your Conversations — 25 simple questions to help you connect, go beyond small talk, and feel more natural when speaking English.
Download it here.