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Engoo Blog Articles About Money

English Slang for Money

Did you know that "cheese" is another name for money? It's true, but that's only one of the strange (and sometimes funny) examples of money slang native speakers use. 

These alternative names are very common in daily conversations, so be sure to learn them all if you want to sound as natural as possible. 

> Go to the article

How to Talk About the Economy in English

Talking about the financial situation of the general public often requires different words than what we use to discuss our own personal money.

This article will teach you how to talk about the overall economic health of large groups such as communities and even nations. You'll see these words often in news stories, so make sure you know them.

> Go to the article

How to Talk About Prices in English

If you want to talk about prices, you can use simple adjectives like "high" and "low" to describe them — but that's a bit boring, isn't it? What if an item's price is extremely high or surprisingly low? And what about prices that are neither good nor bad?

If you want to learn more fun and interesting vocabulary for prices, this article has what you need!

> Go to the article

What's the Difference Between "For Sale" and "On Sale"?

We generally talk about things that can be bought in two ways: Something is either "for sale" or it's "on sale."

Do you know what makes each one different? If you're confused, this article is for you.

> Go to the article

"Pay," "Spend" and "Cost": What's the Difference?

When discussing money in English, knowing the difference between "pay," "spend" and "cost" is absolutely necessary. This article explains each word clearly and provides lots of examples to show you how to use them.

> Go to the article

Related article: What's the Difference Between These English Words?

Money Talks! 15 English Idioms About Money

"Bring home the bacon"?

"Put your money where your mouth is"?

If these phrases confuse you, we're here to help. Read this article for a list of common money idioms native English speakers use every day.

> Go to the article

Daily News Lesson Collection: Shopping 

Before we go, here's a bonus article! This is a collection of lessons from our popular Daily News study materials.

Read about Black Friday, American and British shopping terms and more, along with useful vocabulary and discussion questions.

> Go to the article 

Wrap-up

We've covered many different topics here on the Engoo blog, from money to food, and from holidays to sounding polite in English. Do a search for a topic you'd like to learn more about; there's a good chance you'll find an article for it!

The post Topic Focus: English for Money appeared first on Engoo Blog.

To help you better understand what these words mean and how they're used, this article will cover how they differ in meaning, grammar and levels of formality.

Differences in Meaning

We use "both," "either" and "neither" when we talk about a set of two things.

“Both” means 2 of 2

We use "both" when there is a set of two things and we want to refer to all of them.

For example, imagine someone asks you if you want a cat or a dog. That is a set of two options. But if you want a cat and a dog, you can use "both."

A

Do you want a cat or a dog?

B

Both!

Here are some more examples with "both."

“Either” means 1 of 2

We use "either" when there is a set of two things and we want to refer to only one of them. For example, if you want "either" a cat or a dog, you want a cat or you want a dog. Any option is fine, but only one of them.

A

Do you want a cat or a dog?

B

Either. I like them equally.

Here are some more examples.

“Neither” means 0 of 2

We use "neither" when there is a set of two things and we don't want to refer to either of those things. You can think of "neither" as "not either" or "not one or the other."

So if you do not want a cat and you do not want a dog, you can say that you want "neither."

A

Do you want a cat or a dog?

B

Neither. I want a snake.

Here are some pictures to help you understand how "neither" compares to "either."

Either

Neither

Here are some example sentences.

"Either" can sometimes be replaced with "both"

Sometimes, "either" can be replaced with "both." For example, if someone asks you, "Do you want tea or coffee?" and you don't mind which one they give you, you could reply with:

• "Either is fine."
• "Both are fine."

Although both responses mean the same thing, native English speakers have slightly different pictures in their mind when they say them.

"Both are fine."

"Either is fine."

For example, here are some additional sentence pairs that mean the same thing.

However, "either" and "both" are not interchangeable when "either" refers specifically to only one of two things. For example, imagine there are two people, Raj and Ann. Only Ann speaks Japanese. If you asked them:

• "Do either of you speak Japanese?", the answer would be "Yes," because one of them speaks it (Ann).
• "Do both of you speak Japanese?", the answer would be "No," because only one of them speaks it — not both of them.

Differences in Grammar

"both/and," "either/or," "neither/nor"

"Both," "neither" and "either" are all used with different conjunctions (words that connect sentences and phrases).

• I want both a dog and a cat.
• I want either a dog or a cat.
• I want neither a dog nor a cat.

In particular, pay attention to "neither/nor." While you will hear native English speakers use "neither/or" in informal situations, remember that in formal writing, it's better to use "neither" with "nor."

"Both" is normally used with positive verbs

If you want to say "both/not," use "neither" instead.

If you want to say "not/both," say "not/either" instead.

"Either" and "neither" are used with singular nouns

The noun that follows "both" is always plural. However, the noun that comes after "either" and "neither" is singular.

For example, below are some possible responses to "Are you free to meet Monday or Tuesday?" Notice that the noun "day" is plural after "both" but singular after "either" and "neither."

However, remember that when you use "either of" or "neither of," the noun is plural. Why? Because in those cases, you're referring to the set of things instead of just one part of the set.

• Either of those days work for me.
• Neither of those days work for me.

Differences in Formality

"Neither/nor" can sound formal

Unlike "both/and" and "either/or," "neither/nor" sounds formal. This is why you will rarely hear native English speakers say it in a conversation.

Here are some other ways to say "neither/nor" sentences so they sound more relaxed and informal.

Your Turn

Below are some sentences that can use "both," "either" or "neither." Try to fill in the blanks with the right word. To help you out, here's a chart with a summary of the differences.

1. This novel is _____ interesting and easy to read.
2. I hope ____ of you pass the exam.
3. Do _____ of them know about the new changes?
4. I haven't met _____ of my neighbors.
5. I _____ like nor hate cats.

For more practice, try our grammar lessons on these words, then book a lesson with an Engoo tutor and try using them in a real conversation!

The post "Both," "Either" and "Neither": What's the Difference? [Updated] appeared first on Engoo Blog.

In the sentences above, "have to" and "need to" are interchangeable — nobody will notice if you use one instead of the other.

However, "have to" and "need to" sometimes mean different things and are used in different contexts. Today we'll show you what those differences are so you'll know how to use them yourself.

Need To

"Need to" is related to the things we absolutely must have. For example, food, water and air are all basic human needs.

There are different kinds of needs, however: physical needs (like eating or sleeping), emotional needs (such as feeling respected or loved) and other kinds of needs, as well.

I need to take my medicine or I will get sick.

[I absolutely must take my medicine.]

All animals need to eat.

[Animals absolutely must eat.]

Children need to play because that is how they learn.

[Children absolutely must play.]

"Need to" makes the actions in these sentences (taking medicine, eating and playing) sound 100% necessary. If "have to" were used instead, they would still sound very important — just not like an absolute must.

Other meanings

While "need to" is often used literally, it can also be used in other ways. For example:

To add urgency or importance

We can use "need to" to add a sense of urgency or importance to what we say.

We need to talk.

[We absolutely must talk; it's very important that we do.]

I really need to find a job.

[I urgently need a job.]

To express a strong opinion or wish

"Need to" can show that we have a strong opinion about how someone should act or behave.

You need to be more open-minded and try new things!

[I strongly think you should be more open-minded.]

Kate needs to stop worrying so much.

[I strongly think Kate should stop worrying.]

"Need to" can also express a strong wish for something to happen.

My next-door neighbor needs to stop being so noisy.

[I wish my next-door neighbor would stop being noisy.]

This criminal needs to be sent to jail.

[I wish they would be sent to jail.]

When expressing strong opinions and wishes, only "need to" is appropriate, not "have to."

“Need to” is more common in technical and academic writing

Because it has a more specific meaning than "have to," "need to" is a better choice when it's important to be precise. This is why it's more common in technical and academic writing.

For example, here is a sentence from Engoo's Terms and Conditions page.

The User acknowledges that Registered Information needs to be maintained accurate.

And here's another example that you have probably seen while using your phone or computer.

Your device needs to restart to install updates.

Have To

"Have to" also means "must." However, it doesn't have the nuance that something absolutely must be done, like "need to" does. 

Instead, the nuance is that something must happen because of a rule, requirement or expectation.

You have to pay a fine if you park illegally.

[The fine is a result of breaking a rule.]

I have to be at work by 9 a.m.

[I am required to be at work by 9 a.m.]

I didn't want to keep this a secret from you, but I had to.

[I was expected to keep it a secret.]

Other meanings

To express certainty

We use "have to" when we are very certain about something.

That company has to be doing well if it can afford that fancy new office.

[I'm sure they're doing well.]

There has to be a mistake!

[I'm sure there was a mistake.]

This has to be the worst pizza I've ever eaten.

[This was definitely the worst pizza I've ever eaten.]

To express annoyance

We also use "have to" to express how annoyed we are when something bad happens.

It had to rain on the day we decided to have a picnic!

[It could have rained any day this week, but it rained today. How annoying!]

Naturally, my cat had to scratch my brand new dress!

[My cat could have ruined any other piece of clothing, but she chose to ruin a dress I just bought. Ugh!]

To share an honest opinion

We also use "have to" to share honest opinions, especially ones that we are hesitant to share.

I have to say, the movie was a bit disappointing.

[I wish I didn't have to say this, but the movie was disappointing.]

I have to admit, you're better at chess than I expected.

[I don't want to admit this, but you beat my expectations.]

Your Turn

Below are four passages from Engoo's Daily News service that use "have to" and "need to." Try to think about why the writer chose to use one phrase instead of the other.

A new law will mean that all new homes and other buildings in England will have to install charging points for electric vehicles.

Vehicle Charging Points Required for New Homes in England | Engoo Daily News

To win the National Awards, most photographers needed to both be a citizen of a country and to live there at the time of the awards.

Sony World Photography Awards Announces National Winners | Engoo Daily News

"I stand up, walk where I want to, I can walk the stairs — it's almost a normal life," Roccati told the BBC. However, he still needs to hold a walker to support his legs when he walks.

Spinal Implant Helps Paralyzed Man Walk Again | Engoo Daily News

The shelter says possible new pet owners will have to spend time getting to know the animal before it decides whether or not they can take the cat or dog home.

German Animal Shelter Puts Pets on Tinder | Engoo Daily News

To learn about the differences between other similar words and phrases in English, we recommend this article.

Finally, if you want to improve your grammar and fluency, join Engoo and learn with thousands of professional English tutors from around the world!

The post "Have To" and "Need To": What's the Difference? [Updated] appeared first on Engoo Blog.

This article will explain how each is used and provide useful examples so you can see them in action. Let's begin!

Borrow

Meaning: to take something for a short time

When you "borrow" something, you're taking it, but you'll return it in the future.

My brother let me borrow his car this weekend.

I used to borrow my friend's CDs in high school.

You can borrow my jacket as long as you return it by Friday.

I borrowed some great books from the library this week.

"Borrow" is often used in questions.

Can I borrow this book if you're done with it?

I heard this video game is fun. Can I borrow it from you?

Lend

Meaning: to give something to someone for a short time

When you "lend" something, you're giving it to someone else temporarily — they should return it to you later.

If you didn't bring a jacket, I'll lend you mine; it gets cold here at night.

Cole never lends anything to anyone. He's so selfish!

Can you lend me this tie? It would go nicely with a suit I'm wearing to an event this weekend.

Note that the past tense is "lent" not "lended."

My sister lent me this book. It's really good.

The art collector lent some of his paintings to the local museum.

"Lend" is often used when talking about money.

The bank lent him money to start his small business.

Remember: You can say "lend me," but "borrow me" is incorrect grammar.

Can you lend me a few bucks until I get paid on Friday?

Related article: Greenbacks and Cheddar Cheese: English Slang for Money

Another Important Point

Remember that "lend" refers to the person who gives, as in the examples below.

• Can you lend me your pen?
• Casey lent me his hockey equipment.

Meanwhile, "borrow" refers to the person who receives the item.

• Can I borrow your pen?
• You can borrow this if you need it.

Rent

The verb "rent" is similar to "borrow," but there's one major difference.

Friends and colleagues will lend things to each other, usually for free. You can also borrow books from a library without paying.

However, businesses that need to make money will charge a fee for people to use things. So if money is required, we don't use "borrow" — instead we use "rent."

I rented a car to use during my vacation.

Before streaming services, I used to rent movies from my local video store.

If you don't have a bike, you can rent one for a small fee.

Wrap-up

The difference between "borrow" and "lend" isn't hard to remember if you keep a few important rules in mind. Remember that borrowing is receiving and lending is giving.

Why not practice using these words in a real English conversation? Book a lesson with an Engoo tutor — they're available to help you any time it's convenient for your schedule. Try it out!

The post "Borrow" and "Lend": What's the Difference? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

1. They mean slightly different things
2. One is more common in formal English
3. One is more flexible grammatically

This post will explain each of these differences so you can use them both confidently in your English conversations.

Differences in Meaning

"Can" has more uses than "be able to"

"Be able to” has only one function: to talk about ability.

• Are you able to attend the meeting tomorrow?
• You won't be able to use this app until you update your phone's operating system.

"Can," however, has many functions.

1. Ability: “I can speak English.”
2. Possibility: “It can get hot in this room.”
3. Permission: “You can leave now.”
4. Request: “Can you come here, please?”

For example, the question “Can you come to my party tomorrow?” could mean both “Are you able to come?” and “Is it possible for you to come?”

Use "be able to" with subjects that have abilities

Learners sometimes make sentences like “Tickets are able to be purchased online” or “This product is able to be used in a microwave.” 

However, in these examples, it sounds like the tickets and the product have abilities. Since objects do not have abilities, though, this is incorrect. 

"Can” is better in these cases.

• Tickets can be purchased online.
• This product can be used in a microwave.

Differences in Formality

1. “Can” is more common in everyday conversations

Both "can" and “be able to” are used in casual conversations, and you can usually use either without changing a sentence's meaning. 

For example, if a friend invited you to a party, you could reply with either of the following sentences:

• I don’t know if I can come to your party.
• I don’t know if I’ll be able to come to your party.

However, "be able to" sounds a little more formal, so it's common for people to use "can" most of the time. 

Basically, if you want to emphasize ability (instead of possibility), use "be able to." In other situations, you can simply use "can."

2. “Be able to” is more common in formal English

In formal English, especially in writing, it’s usually better to be specific. This is why you’ll see “be able to” more often than “can” in news articles that mention ability.

You’ve probably also seen “be able to” in error messages when you’re using a computer. For example, if you have trouble buying something online, you might see messages like these:

• We are unable to process your request at this time. Please try again later.
• We are having difficulty processing your payment, so we are unable to proceed with your order.

In addition to being more specific, “be able to” also sounds more indirect and impersonal than “can.” For example, you’ve probably also received emails that say something like this:

• Please do not reply to this email, as we are unable to respond from this address.

In situations like these, “unable to” sounds more polite than “cannot.”

Grammatical Differences

1. “Can” and "be able to" can be different in the past tense

“Could” and “was able to” are used to talk about abilities people had in the past. For example, the two sentences below mean the same thing.

• When your grandma was young, she could eat five hamburgers in one meal.
• When your grandma was young, she was able to eat five hamburgers in one meal.

And here are two sentences in the negative about the past that have the same meaning.

• I couldn’t sleep last night.
• I wasn’t able to sleep last night.

But when we want to talk about past abilities involving a specific incident, things get tricky. For example, try to put the following sentence in the past tense.

• Sally can find a job in New York after graduating.

You might think “Sally could find a job … ” is the answer, but the "could" here is not the past tense of "can" — instead, it's the conditional form (“Sally could find a job if she tried”). 

The correct answer is: "Sally was able to find a job in New York after graduating."

You can also say, "Sally could have found a job in New York after graduating" if she had the ability to get a job there but didn't for some reason (for example, maybe she chose to work in another city).

So when you’re talking about past abilities, pay extra attention to the choice between "can" and "be able to"!

2. Use "be able to" for future abilities

If you want to talk about future abilities, use “be able to.”

• My daughter will be able to walk in a few months.
• If I take lessons on Engoo, I will be able to speak English confidently.

If you just want to talk about future plans, “can” is better.

• I can come to your party tomorrow.

3. Use “be able to" after other verbs

Since “can” is a modal verb, it can’t be used after other verbs. This is why the following sentences use “be able to.”

• Applicants must be able to speak fluent French.
• I want to be a nurse because I want to be able to help people who are sick.

4. “Be able to” can be used with other tenses too

As a modal verb, “can” doesn't have a continuous (-ing) form or a perfect form. So when you need to use these tenses, use “be able to.”

• I wonder what it’s like not being able to swim.
• She’s feeling better and has been able to eat a lot more lately.

Your Turn

Here’s a quick summary to help you review.

• “Can” is used most of the time in casual conversations.
• “Be able to” is more specific to ability.
• “Be able to” is more flexible — it can be used with any verb and tense!
• “Was able to” is used for (one-time) events in the past that happened, and “could have + past participle” for ones that didn't.

Now it’s time to practice! The following sentences all have a mistake. Try to find them.

1. Your email is unable to be delivered.
2. You don't need to can read music to learn guitar.
3. I have not can log into Instagram since last night.
4. The Great Wall of China is unable to be seen from the moon.
5. Applicants must can speak fluent French.

To find out the answers, book a lesson on Engoo! Engoo has thousands of tutors available any time of day and plenty of free materials you can study with. Give it a try!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Using "Can" and "Be Able To" appeared first on Engoo Blog.

• “boring” and “bored” 
• “exciting” and “excited”
• “annoying” and “annoyed”

However, there’s an easy way to remember the difference between these -ed and -ing words. Just think of the word “tired.”

“Tired” and Other -ed Words

“Tired” was probably one of the first -ed words you learned. We say “I’m tired,” not “I’m tiring,” right?

Let’s look at some more examples of -ed words.

This dog looks bored.

This dog looks excited.

As you can see, -ed words like “tired” and “excited” describe people or animals that feel a certain way.

“Tiring” and Other -ing Words

On the other hand, -ing words describe the cause of a feeling. For example, if you're tired, the thing that makes you feel that way is tiring. 

John quit his job as a construction worker because it was too tiring.

It’s tiring to cook and clean for ten people every day.

So both -ed and -ing words describe feelings. However:

• -ed words focus on the person who is experiencing the feeling
• -ing words focus on the cause of the feeling

This is why we say “I’m tired,” but “My job is tiring.”

Let’s look at some more examples.

Homework is boring.

(Homework makes the person bored, so it’s boring.)

This concert is exciting.

(The concert makes people excited, so it’s exciting.)

⚠️ Warning

After reading the sections above, you might think that it's always OK to use -ed words for people and -ing words for things. Unfortunately, that isn't true. Look at this example:

Syd went on a date with Bryan. Bryan was boring. Syd was bored the whole night.

If you always used -ed for people and -ing for things, the second sentence would be “Bryan was bored” because Bryan is a person.

However, it doesn't matter if he is a person or thing; the important point is that Bryan is the cause of Syd's boredom. Because of that, we say that Bryan is "boring." 

So when deciding between the -ed and -ing forms of a word, don’t ask yourself if the subject of the sentence is a person or a thing. Instead, ask if it’s the cause of a feeling or if it’s the one with the feeling.

Practice Time

Remember:

• -ed words focus on the person with the feeling.  (“I’m tired.”)
• -ing words focus on the cause of the feeling. (“Work is tiring.”)

Think about why each sentence below uses the words in bold. Then, look at our explanations underneath.

1. I visited the Taj Mahal and it was amazing. I was so amazed at its architecture.

(The Taj Mahal doesn’t have feelings, so we can’t use an -ed word to describe it. The speaker has feelings, however, so they are “amazed.” And because the Taj Mahal is the cause of the speaker's feelings, it’s “amazing.”)

2. Grammar is confusing. It always makes me feel confused.

(Grammar is the cause of the speaker's confusion, so it’s “confusing.” The speaker has a difficult time understanding, so they are "confused," which is a feeling.)

3. I feel motivated after my online English lessons because my tutor is very motivating.

(This speaker is talking about how they feel after a lesson, so they are "motivated." The lessons themselves have no feelings; instead, they are the cause of the speaker's feelings, so they are "motivating.")

Wrap-up

If you want more practice with this grammar point, or if you just want to improve your spoken English, book an online lesson with an Engoo tutor. Engoo has thousands of friendly tutors from around the world who are ready to help you any time of day. Give it a try!

The post "Excited" or "Exciting": What's the Difference? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

"How long" is used to ask about …

the physical length of things

• A: How long is the rope?
  B: It's three meters long.

• A: How long is a marathon?
  B: Marathons are 26 miles long.

a length of time

• A: How long is the train ride?
  B: An hour and a half.

• A: How long will you stay in Thailand?
  B: Five days.

• A: How long have you been waiting?
  B: Just a few minutes.

"How far" is used to ask about a distance

• A: How far do you jog every morning?
  B: About five miles.

• A: How far can you kick a football?
  B: Usually around 40 meters.

You can reply to "How far" questions with a specific distance or with a piece of information that gives an idea of the distance.

• A: How far are we from the nearest hospital?
  B: About two kilometers. / It's a 10-minute drive away.

• A: How far is it to the peak of the mountain?
  B: We're just 500 meters away. / We're halfway there.

Differences in grammar

1. "How far is it ... ?"

You may have noticed that "How far" questions often start with "How far is it ~?" Sometimes, the "it" refers to a place that was already mentioned. For example, imagine someone says, "Did you just come from school? How far is it from here?" Here, the "it" refers to your school.

However, most of the time, the "it" is what is called an "empty it."

• How far is it to the nearest hospital? [= How far is the nearest hospital?]
• How far is it from here to there? [= What's the distance from here to there?]

In these questions, "it" doesn't refer to anything; instead, it's only used for grammatical reasons. 

For example, "How far from here to there?" would be grammatically incorrect because the sentence doesn't have a subject. That's why English speakers add an empty "it": "How far is it from here to there?"

2. "How long does it take ... ?"

People also use "How long" with an empty it, but only when they're asking about the amount of time needed to do something.

• A: How long does it take to get to work every day?
  B: It takes about 30 minutes by train.

• A: How long did it take for you to run your marathon?
  B: It took me over five hours.

The "take" here is the verb referring to the amount of time required to do something. So when you hear the phrase "How long does it take to ~" you know the person is asking about time, not distance!

Your turn!

Ready to test what you've learned? Fill in the following blanks with the correct phrase: "How far" or "How long."

1. A: _____ is it to the nearest hospital?
   B: 20 minutes by bus.

2. A: _____ does it take to walk there?
   B: About 10 minutes.

3. A: _____ can you keep food in the freezer?
   B: It depends, but usually months.

4. A: _____ is it to Mars?
   B: About 225 million kilometers.

5. A: _____ was Mike out sick?
   B: He was out for a week.

6. A: _____ have you two been dating?
   B: We've been dating since we were university students.

7. A: _____ can you jump?
   B: My record is two meters.

8. A: _____ can you hold your breath?
   B: Two minutes.

9. A: _____ do you live from here?
   B: A 40-minute drive.

10. A: _____ have you been living in Canada?
    B: I've been here for nearly 50 years.

Want to know the answers? Ask an Engoo tutor! Engoo has thousands of professional tutors who can help you improve your grammar and conversation skills 24/7. Join here.

The post "How Far" and "How Long": What's the Difference? [Updated] appeared first on Engoo Blog.

This article will explain how to use these two common expressions as well as some related terms that are useful to know.

Almost

Use "almost” to say that something is close to a particular point or state.

It’s almost time to go, so let's get ready.

My son is almost 13; his birthday is in two weeks.

This song is almost finished; I just need to add some guitar.

In the examples above, we're close to a specific time (the time to go), close to an age (13) and close to a state (completion).

"Almost" can also be used as a response to a question.

A

Are you finished reading that book?

B

Almost. I’ll return it to you tomorrow.

A

Are we there yet?

B

Almost!

This time, we're close to completion (of a book) and close to a destination.

Almost All

While “almost” refers to a point, “almost all” refers to an amount of something.

For example, if you've read 99 pages of a 100-page book, you have read almost all of the book. If there are only 10 minutes remaining in the movie you’re watching, you've watched almost all of the movie.

My coworkers drank almost all of the coffee.

I’ve used almost all of the data on my phone this month.

Almost all of my friends can speak English.

It can also be used as a response.

A

How much of the food did the baby eat?

B

Almost all of it. His appetite is really growing!

In the examples above, "almost all" refers to an amount close to 100%. However, it can also refer to an amount close to zero.

A

How much milk do we have left?

B

It’s almost all gone, so we should buy some more.

This idea can also be expressed as “almost none” or "almost no ~," as shown below.

Milk? There's almost none left, so we should buy some more.

There's almost no gas in my car; we have to fill it up before we can go anywhere.

Related Expressions

Barely

We use “barely” to emphasize that something is only just or almost not what it's supposed to be.

You’re tired already? We’ve barely started!

[= We just started.]

I didn't study very hard, so I barely passed the test.

[= I almost didn’t pass the test.]

I thought it would be crowded, but there’s barely anybody here.

[= There is almost nobody here.]

I can barely understand what they're saying.

[= I almost can’t understand.]

A

Can she drive?

B

Barely. She just turned 16 last week.

[= She is only just able to drive.]

Hardly

“Hardly” is used very similarly to "barely;" we use it to emphasize a small amount/degree/etc.

There’s so much food that I can hardly finish it all!

[= I almost can’t finish it.]

Her handwriting is so messy; I can hardly read it!

[= I almost can't read it.]

I can hardly drive on these narrow streets.

[= I almost can’t drive.]

She’s hardly gotten any sleep this week.

[= She almost hasn’t slept this week.]

Just about

Finally, there's "just about," which is a more casual way of saying "almost."

It's just about time to go, so get ready.

A

Are you finished reading that book?

B

I'm just about done. I’ll return it to you tomorrow.

Wrap-up

Let's do a quick summary: "Almost" refers to a point that is close to something, while "almost all" (or "almost none") refers to an amount of something.

The more you practice with these terms and hear them being used around you, the more you will master their differences. Study the examples included here and try using them yourself in a lesson with an Engoo tutor!

For more explanations of similar English words and phrases, check out our article What's the Difference Between These English Words?

The post "Almost" and "Almost All": What's the Difference? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

This article will explain the differences between "used to," "be used to" and "get used to," and show you how to use them with some helpful examples.

Used to

We use "used to" when talking about something in the past that doesn't exist or happen now. For example, if you played volleyball in high school, but you don't now, you can use "used to."

I used to play volleyball in high school. It was a lot of fun.

I used to eat meat, but now I'm a vegetarian.

There used to be a big office building here.

Generally, "used to" is followed by a verb, like in the examples above (used to play, used to eat, used to be). However, if it's a response to a question, you don't need a verb.

A

Do you smoke?

B

No, but I used to.

Let's look at some negative sentences next.

I didn't use to like green tea, but now I drink it all the time.

She didn't use to be so messy.

Notice that "used" becomes "use" when it comes after "didn't." This is because "did not" is already past tense. This is also true for questions that begin with "Didn't."

Didn't you use to play tennis?

When "didn't" comes at the end of a sentence, like in the example below, we still say "used."

You used to play tennis, didn't you?

Remember, all of these example sentences are referring to something in the past.

Be used to

"Be used to" has two different meanings. The first is "used for" or "used in order to." This usage comes before a verb, as in the following examples.

A clock is used to tell time.

This device is used to help you find your phone if you lose it.

The second meaning is "be accustomed to." When you become accustomed to something, it becomes normal or comfortable for you.

This usage comes before nouns and verbs in the -ing form, and it's for questions and statements about a situation in the present.

All of the factory workers are used to the loud noise from the machines.

Are you used to the humidity in the summertime?

I'm used to waking up very early in the morning.

Get used to

We use "used to" to talk about something that has already become normal or comfortable. However, we use "get used to" to talk about the process of something becoming normal or comfortable. It can be used in various tenses, so let's look at some examples.

get used to

A

How long did it take you to get used to your new job?

B

It took me about six months to get used to it.

Notice that "to" always appears before "get used to." This is important to remember!

getting used to

Are you getting used to your new job?

They're still getting used to living in a new country.

In these examples, the process of becoming normal isn't complete yet. In other words, the situation is somewhere between new and normal. 

gotten used to

Use "gotten used to" with the verb "have" to ask questions and to talk about a process of adapting that began in the past.

Have you gotten used to waking up early every morning?

There's a lot of stuff about my new city that I haven't gotten used to yet.

got used to

With "got used to," the process of becoming normal is complete.

I hated my long commute at first, but I got used to it.

It took some time, but I finally got used to speaking English every day.

Sometimes, people don't get used to things even though a lot of time has passed.

She never got used to eating with chopsticks. 

Wrap-up

Things always change, so it's important to know how to talk about adjusting to new situations.

A great way to practice with these different forms of "used to" is to have a chat with an Engoo tutor. Find one who shares similar hobbies, and talk about things that have become normal to you — or maybe even things that aren't quite normal yet!

This article is part of a larger series explaining the differences between similar English words. Take a look at this article to see more!

The post "Used To" / "Be Used To" / "Get Used To": What's the Difference? [Updated] appeared first on Engoo Blog.

“So have I.”

“So am I.”

Native speakers use these phrases often, so you've probably heard them before. But what makes them different? And do they mean the same thing as “Me too”?

This article will explain them in detail so you can use them yourself in your own English conversations!

So ... I.

Basically, all phrases that start with “So” and end with “I” mean “Me too.”

If you have trouble understanding the dialogues above, just replace the “So ... I” phrases with “Me too.” They mean the same thing and are both used in formal and casual English.

But how do these phrases mean the same thing? Well, “so” is a word English speakers often use to avoid repeating things.

Just think about phrases like “I think so.” If someone asks "Do you think it will be hot today?", it's simpler to reply with "I think so" than "I think it will be hot today."

The same applies when you’re agreeing with the statement “I love spicy food.” Instead of saying “I love spicy food too,” you can simply say “So do I.”’

Why is “I” at the End of the Sentence?

You probably learned that English sentences start with the subject. So why is “I” at the end of “So … I”?

This probably isn’t the first time you’re seeing normal English sentence structure inverted (switched around). For example, when you ask someone “Where are you?” that’s also an inversion of normal sentence structure (“You are … ”).

The process for inverting sentences for “So … “ is similar to the process of inverting a sentence to change it into a question. If the verb in the sentence is “to be” or a modal verb, keep it.

• I am busy. → So am I.
• I can speak English. → So can I.
• I will be there. → So will I.
• If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion. → So would I.

If the sentence contains some other verb, simply replace it with “do.”

• I love spicy food. → So do I.
• I go jogging every day. → So do I.
• I eat a lot for breakfast. → So do I.
• I have twenty dollars in my pocket. → So do I.

Just make sure to pay attention to verb tense.

• I loved spicy food when I was a kid. → So did I.
• I’ve been sick recently. → So have I.

When to Use “So … I” Instead of “Me Too”

You might be wondering when you should use “So … I'' instead of “Me too.” After all, “Me too” is simpler and means the same thing, so it makes sense to use it whenever you can, right? 

Well, there are two situations when “Me too” can’t be used.

1. As part of a longer sentence

Unlike “Me too,” “So do I” can be part of a longer sentence. For example, if you wanted to combine the sentences “Jay likes dogs” and “I like dogs too,” you could say one of the following: 

• Jay likes dogs, and so do I.
• Jay likes dogs, and I do too.

The sentence "Jay likes dogs and me too," however, sounds unnatural. In addition, it's unclear because it could mean something different: “Jay likes dogs and he likes me too.”

2. With other pronouns

While the phrase “Me too” is very convenient, it only works for the pronoun “me.” You can’t say “He too” or “They too.” Instead, you’ll either need to include a verb (“He does too.”) or use the “So + [verb] + [pronoun]” structure. 

• Jay likes dogs, and my sister does too.
• Jay likes dogs, and so does my sister.

Here are some more examples:

• I’ve been to China before, and so has my sister.
• I can speak Italian. So can my friend Bill.
• I'm hungry, and so are they.
• A: I think that’s a great idea. / B: So do we.

Responding to "I Love You."

One important thing to remember when using these phrases is the correct way to respond when talking about loving another person.

If someone says that they love pizza, for example, you can say either "Me too" or "So do I" to agree. However, if someone says "I love you," those same responses mean that you also love yourself! 

A

I love you.

B

Me too. / So do I.

[= I also love me.]

A

!!!

If you want to express your love for your partner, you would say, "I love you too."

A

I love you.

B

I love you too.

A

💗💗💗

Bonus: “Neither ... I”

While we’re on this topic, let’s also go over “Neither … I” – the negative version of “So … I.” It means “Me neither” and you use it when agreeing with negative statements.

• I don’t speak German. → Neither do I.
• I’ve never had a pet before. → Neither have I.
• I’m not a fan of pizza. → Neither is my mom.

Remember that only "Neither …" responses are appropriate in these examples; using "Me too" would be incorrect grammar.

Wrap-up

Want to get some practice using these phrases in a real conversation? Book a lesson with an Engoo tutor and have a chat! We also have a grammar lesson on “So/Neither do I” that you can study together. Give it a try!

The post How to Use “So Am I” and “So Do I” Like a Native Speaker [Updated] appeared first on Engoo Blog.