Learn Spoken English with Free Lessons & Tips

Spoken English is nothing but the language we use to communicate with others. People from various backgrounds speak in a variety of accents, for example, an American's speech differs from that of a Canadian or a British person. And another distinction is the presence of utterances in spoken English.

If the "y" isn't at the beginning of the word or beginning of a syllable, it's functioning as a vowel

Even though "y" is technically a consonant, there are many more instances in which it functions as a vowel. You'll hear it work as a long /e/ sound (as in city or party), short /i/ sound (as in cyst or symbol) or long /i/ sound (as in fly or shy) depending on the word it's in. It can also be part of a vowel team.

In English grammar, "wh-questions" are questions that are formed using "wh-words," which are interrogative words that begin with the letters "wh." These questions are used to obtain specific information about a subject or object. Here are the common "wh-words" used to form these questions:

1. Who - Asks about a person. Example: "Who are you?"

2. What - Asks about a thing or an idea. Example: "What is your name?"

3. Where - Asks about a place. Example: "Where do you live?"

4. When - Asks about time. Example: "When is your birthday?"

5. Why - Asks for reasons or causes. Example: "Why are you studying English?"

6. Which - Asks for a specific choice among a set of options. Example: "Which color do you prefer?"

7. How - Although it doesn’t start with "wh," it functions similarly in seeking specific information. It can be used to ask about the manner, condition, quality, or degree. Example: "How are you?" Additional variations include "How much?" (quantity) and "How many?" (number).

These "wh-questions" are essential for gathering information and are fundamental in both written and spoken English. They typically require more than a yes/no answer and are structured by placing the "wh-word" at the beginning of the question.

In learning English, both grammar and vocabulary are fundamentally important, and their relevance can vary depending on your specific goals and contexts in which you use the language. Here’s how both elements play crucial roles:

1. Vocabulary:

   • Understanding and Communication: A rich vocabulary allows you to express yourself clearly and understand others more effectively. The broader and more precise your vocabulary, the better you can articulate your thoughts and comprehend the nuances in others' speech or writing.
   • Contextual Relevance: In many real-world situations, such as casual conversations, having a wide range of vocabulary might be more immediately useful than perfect grammatical accuracy.

2. Grammar:

   • Structure and Clarity: Grammar provides the structure needed for organizing words into meaningful sentences. Good grammar helps ensure that your communication is understood by others without ambiguity.
   • Professional and Academic Contexts: In professional or academic settings, strong grammatical skills are essential. Errors in grammar can undermine your credibility or the clarity of your arguments in academic papers, business communications, or formal speeches.

Balancing Both:

• Integrated Learning: Ideally, grammar and vocabulary should be developed in tandem. Learning vocabulary without understanding the grammar can lead to miscommunication, just as knowing grammar rules without sufficient vocabulary can limit your ability to fully express your thoughts.
• Progressive Learning: Often, beginners might focus more on vocabulary to quickly boost communicative competence—being able to say things and engage in basic interaction. As one progresses, a deeper understanding of grammar becomes crucial to refine speaking and writing skills, and to handle complex ideas and structures.

Ultimately, the importance of grammar versus vocabulary can depend on your current level of proficiency, the specific requirements of your language tasks (e.g., speaking vs. writing), and your long-term language goals. Both are essential components of language mastery, and improving both in parallel is the most effective approach.

1. Verb tenses: Mastering the correct use of verb tenses, such as past, present, and future perfect, can be tricky.

2. Subject-verb agreement: Ensuring that the subject and verb match in number (singular or plural) can be a challenge.

3. Pronouns: Using pronouns correctly, especially in complex sentences, can be difficult.

4. Modal verbs: Understanding the nuances of modal verbs like "can," "could," "may," "might," and "shall" can be tough.

5. Passive voice: Converting sentences from active to passive voice can be challenging.

6. Clause and phrase structures: Understanding independent and dependent clauses, and how to use them correctly, can be difficult.

7. Word order: English word order can be flexible, making it hard to determine the correct order in some sentences.

8. Idioms and phrasal verbs: English idioms and phrasal verbs can be difficult to understand and use correctly.

9. Tenses in conditional sentences: Using the correct tenses in conditional sentences (e.g., "if" clauses) can be challenging.

10. Exceptions and irregularities: English grammar has many exceptions and irregularities, making it hard to apply rules consistently.

These challenges can make English grammar difficult to learn, but practice and dedication can help overcome them!