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Here you'll find mini lessons, tips and tricks, new vocabulary, grammar rules and pronunciation tips from Thomas' weekly blog posts.

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Grammar

Learn how to correct common grammar mistakes and speak more naturally with the posts in this section of the blog.

Weekly calendar grid with teal day headers and large blue X marks on several days, showing a marked schedule.

Adverbs of Frequency: Never, Always, and Everything in Between

Let's talk about seven common adverbs of frequency: always, often, usually, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, and never. These little words do a lot in everyday conversation, and once you get the hang of them, you'll sound much more natural.

Grammar

Thomas

Aug 304 min read

Two women in a dim restaurant talk over pasta, wine and cocktails at a white-clothed table.

How To Use "Have" and "Had" for Eating and Drinking

There are two very common English words my beginner students are confused by: have and had. We use them all the time to talk about ownership and experiences, but we also use them when we talk about food and drinks. Let me show you how.

Grammar

Thomas

Aug 223 min read

Text reading "Have to vs. Must" in white on a blue background with a green border.

“Have to” vs. “Must”: Are They the Same?

When do we use "have to" and when do we use "must"? One is used for external obligation and the other for internal obligation. Let's talk about those difference and how to form questions and conjugate tenses correctly.

Confusing words/phrases

Thomas

Mar 193 min read

Hand writing a checklist in a grid notebook. Text is partly visible. Blue and white background creates a focused mood.

Using “Have to” to Talk About Obligation in English

You have probably learned that “have” is used to talk about ownership. However, when you add the preposition “to,” the meaning changes from ownership to obligation. Let’s talk a bit more about “have to,” when we use it, and how we use it.

Grammar

Thomas

Feb 163 min read

A person on the left of the image is speaking and a large orange cone is extending from their mouth towards the right. The background is yellow.

"I said" vs. "I told" and when to use them

Remembering the differences between "I said" and "I told" can be confusing. This article will explain when and how to use them and it includes a practice quiz.

Confusing words/phrases

Thomas

Aug 14, 20251 min read

Words ending in "-ing" on a dark blue background, including gerund, past, present, future, and actions like dancing, talking, and sleeping.

Understanding Gerunds: A Comprehensive Guide to -ing Words

In this post, we’ll explore gerunds, how they’re different from other -ing verbs (like the present, future, and past continuous), and how you can start using them naturally in your speaking and writing. There are also practice exercises to test your knowledge and tips on how to continue learning gerunds on your own.

Grammar

Thomas

May 18, 20253 min read

Boy in striped shirt solves math on whiteboard, counting on fingers. Equations include "2+2=4" and "4+2=6". Focused expression.

Countable vs Uncountable Nouns: What’s the Difference?

In English, nouns can be countable or uncountable. This means we either can count them (1, 2, 3…) or we cannot count them easily. Knowing the difference helps you use correct grammar, especially when choosing words like a, an, some, much, or many.

Grammar

Thomas

May 1, 20252 min read