von Christine Burgmer | Jan. 28, 2025 | Tips and Tricks, Vocabulary variations |
The word plant has multiple meanings:
- A plant can be your leafy green buddy. “My basil plant loves sunlight.”
- It’s also a factory: “The car plant just opened in Berlin.”
- As a verb, to plant means to hide something: “He planted his phone under the couch.”
- And in spy films, a plant is an undercover agent.
von Christine Burgmer | Jan. 26, 2025 | Tips and Tricks, Vocabulary variations |
Safety = Protects you from accidents or harm (things that happen by chance).
Examples:
- Wearing a helmet (so you don’t get hurt).
- Looking both ways before crossing the street.
Security = Protects you from danger or bad people (things done on purpose).
Examples:
Locking your door (so no one can steal).
Using a password (so no one can hack your phone).
von Christine Burgmer | Jan. 22, 2025 | Tips and Tricks, Vocabulary variations |
Hard means with effort or diligently. It’s used when you want to express that someone is putting in a lot of work or effort to do something.
Example: “He worked hard to meet the deadline.“
(This means he put in a lot of effort to meet the deadline.)
Hardly means almost not or barely. It is used to show that something is done to a very small degree or almost not at all.
Example: “She hardly slept before the big presentation.“
(This means she barely slept or she almost didn’t sleep at all before the presentation.)
hard = hard
hardly = kaum
von Christine Burgmer | Jan. 22, 2025 | Tips and Tricks, Vocabulary variations |
Actual refers to something real or true, without exaggeration or change. It is used when you want to emphasise that something is exactly as it is, not imagined or estimated.
Example: The actual sales figures are impressive.
(This means the real or true sales figures, not any predicted or estimated ones.)
Actual = tatsächlich or wirklich
Current refers to something that is happening now or existing at the present time.
Example: The current sales figures are impressive.
(This means the sales figures right now, as of today or this period.)
Current = aktuell
von Christine Burgmer | Jan. 22, 2025 | British vs. American English, Tips and Tricks, Vocabulary variations |
Crisps in British English are the thin, crunchy potato snacks you eat from a bag.
Example: I’m munching on some crisps.
Chips in American English mean the same thing—those crunchy potato snacks in a bag.
Example: I’m eating potato chips.
It’s easy to get confused, but now you know the difference.
von Christine Burgmer | Jan. 22, 2025 | British vs. American English, Tips and Tricks, Vocabulary variations |
In British English:
Chips are the thick, fried potato pieces you eat with fish (think of fish and chips).
Example: I’ll have some fish and chips, please.
In American English:
Fries are the thin, fried potato pieces that you get at fast food places.
Example: I’ll have a burger with fries.