Question tags are like little stickers you put on the end of sentences. They’re similar to the German: “oder?” and “nicht wahr?”.

But why do we use them?

1. To confirm information. Imagine you’re in a meeting. You want to ensure everyone understands and agrees on the topic being discussed. You could say, “We’re meeting again next Tuesday at 9am, aren’t we?”
2. To seek agreement. For example, at lunch together, “This pizza is delicious, isn’t it?“
3. To soften a statement. Instead of claiming, “You don’t understand,” you could say, “You do understand, don’t you?“
4. To add emphasis. For example, if you want to convince someone that your solution is the best, you could say, “Our solution is the most efficient one, isn’t it?“

Question tags are a fun and easy way to make your English sound more natural. So next time you’re speaking English, try using a few and see how it goes!

Now here’s a mini-quiz to see how well you understand question tags:

1. You speak English very well, _____?
2. They’ve been living in London for years, _____?
3. It’s going to rain tomorrow, _____?
4. Mark doesn’t play tennis, _____?
5. I’m late, _____?
6. They flew to Malta, _____?
7. You don’t need my help, _____?
8. It won’t cost too much, _____?

Good luck!

And now the answers:

1. don’t you
2. haven’t they
3. isn’t it
4. does he
5. aren’t I
6. didn’t they
7. do you
8. will it

You’re at a networking event, chatting with someone, and then… well, silence.

How do you escape this situation? How can you leave without coming across as rude or leaving a lasting negative impression?

Don’t worry, I have a few tips for you!

1. Thank the other person for their time. While this may seem obvious, this gesture is actually very powerful. It shows respect and appreciation for the other person and their time. Saying “Thank you for our inspiring conversation” is powerful. Expressing “I really appreciated your thoughts on this” can also have a strong impact.
2. Then comes the transition. We all know those moments of silence when no one knows quite what to say next. Use phrases like “It’s been great chatting with you” or “I should get going.” These are perfect for putting an end to the conversation while still exuding friendliness.
3. Offer to stay in touch. You can simply say, “Let’s connect on LinkedIn.” Or you might express real interest with, “I’d love to hear how your project is progressing.” By offering to keep the connection going, you show interest and openness for future discussions.
4. And finally, say goodbye with a smile. This makes the other person feel good and cheers up their day. It doesn’t matter what kind of conversation you both had beforehand.

So, how do you go about it when it’s time to go? What do you say?

You know how sometimes English can feel a bit like a mysterious maze?

Well, don’t worry! Today, we’re going to explore the “present continuous” or “present progressive” tense.

Imagine you’re telling someone in German, “Ich fahre ins Büro, um meine Papiere zu holen.“

In English, you might say, “I drive to the office to get my papers.” 

But wait. We need the present continuous to talk about things happening right now!

So, instead of saying, “I drive to the office,” it would be correct to say, “I’m driving to the office.”

Do you see the difference?

Let’s dive deeper and see how to use the present continuous correctly:

1. Right Now Actions: Use it for things that are happening at or around the time of speaking: “I’m talking to my colleague on the phone at the moment.“
2. Future Plans: Use it for things you have already arranged to do in the future. “We’re meeting our client tomorrow.”
3. Always Actions: Use it with words like “always” or “constantly” if something happens often. For example, “She’s always forgetting her keys.” (It means she forgets them a bit too much!)

And there you are!

Before you go, tell me: What’s the funniest language mix-up you’ve ever had?

PS If you’re looking for cool English grammar tips or have specific topics you’re interested in, please tell me!

Language is like a magic toolbox, but sometimes the rules can be a bit confusing. Just one wrong word or a mix-up here and there, and our message can turn upside down! 

Today, let’s talk about two words that often get confused: “remind” and “remember.”

“Remembering” (or “sich erinnern” in German) is similar to using a very quick computer in our brains to search for and retrieve information we have stored in our minds. It’s the opposite of forgetting. 

You use “remember” when you’re actively pulling something out of your memory bank.

For example, “I still remember the name of my first boss.“

On the other hand, “remind” (in German, “jd. erinnern”) is about bringing something to someone else’s attention. 

For example, a project manager might remind her team members about a deadline. Or a salesperson might remind his client about an upcoming delivery.

Both words have quite different meanings and uses. And mixing them up can lead to funny situations or puzzled expressions. 

So, let’s make a pact not to mix up “remember” and “remind” anymore!

The one who remembers correctly and reminds someone correctly is a true communication champion!

In a nutshell

• Use “remember” when you are recalling something from your own memory. You are the one who is doing the remembering.
• Use “remind” when you are telling someone else to remember something. You are reminding them of something they already know or need to know.

Now, it’s your turn: Have you ever mixed up words, leading to funny or embarrassing situations?

Are there any other words you would add to my list?