Really Learn English Blog
In this blog you can find the latest additions to the site: articles, explanations, illustrations, exercises, flashcards and stories - all about teaching and learning English.Gender Nouns in English - Grammatical and Metaphorical
The modern English language is not known for having many gender-specific nouns, but they do exist. There are actually four catagories of gender nouns in English: masculine, feminine, common, and neuter. There are also metaphorical gender nouns in English. In this lesson, we will discuss the differences among these catagories of gender nouns and give you many examples.
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How to add Humor to your English Classroom
How many times have you heard your students say, This is boring! or Learning should be fun! If you struggle with keeping your students' attention, you can try adding humor to your English lessons. Humor is an effective way to engage students and increase comprehension. Plus, it is a lot more fun for everyone!
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How to Be Polite in English
When you are just starting to learn English, your main goal is to be understood. It is also important that you do not sound rude or unprofessional. There are many words and phrases in English that you can use to be nice and polite. Read our lesson and watch the narrated video.
English Short Stories for Advanced Learners
A new eBook collection! Over 500 pages of stories, exercises, activities, answers, word lists and definitions for advanced English learners. Learn English through stories: stories on everyday life, adventure, and love (bonus science fiction and fantasy stories).
- Made specifically for ESL/EFL teachers and students
- Suitable for teenagers and adults
- Each story comes with a glossary (word lists + word meanings)
- Exercises
- Fun activites
- An answer key
- Beautiful illustrations
- Interesting and engaging stories
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English Short Stories for Beginners (Also Suitable for Children)
Check out our newest eBook series! 425 pages of illustrated short stories, starting with the most basic words and sentences. The stories come with a complete workbook, full of exercises and illustrated activities.
- Made specifically for ESL/EFL beginners
- Suitable for all ages, including young children
- Each story is very short, and you get many of them!
- Fully illustrated
- Easy to understand
- Fun and amusing
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Oslo, the Tiger City
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Oslo, the Tiger City. Johannesburg is the largest city in the Republic of South Africa. This area is famous throughout the world for its gold and diamonds. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, WH Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Johannesburg, the City of Gold
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Johannesburg, the City of Gold. Johannesburg is the largest city in the Republic of South Africa. This area is famous throughout the world for its gold and diamonds. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, WH Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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How to Improve your Handwriting in English
The way you write on paper is called your handwriting. Everyone has different handwriting styles. Some people write very neatly. Other people write sloppily. Some people write in cursive. Other people write in print. This lesson will give you tips to improve your handwriting in English.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Dusseldorf, Japan on the Rhine
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Dusseldorf, Japan on the Rhine. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Valletta – Superbissima ("Most Proud" in Latin)
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Valletta – Superbissima ("Most Proud" in Latin). Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Brasilia, the Isle of Fantasies
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Brasilia, the Isle of Fantasies. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Dublin, the Fair City
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Dublin, the Fair City. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Los Angeles, the City of Angels
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Los Angeles, the City of Angels. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Tbilisi, the Warm Place
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Tbilisi, the Warm Place. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Bristol, the Capital of the South West
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Bristol, the Capital of the South West. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Beijing, the Celestial City
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Beijing, the Celestial City. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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14 of the Most Commonly Misspelled Words in English – Rules, Tips, Exercises, and Answers
This illustrated lesson is about commonly misspelled words in English, as well as tips and tricks on how to remember them. Learn the rules, do the exercises, and then check your answers.
Comprehension Text and Exercises: Marseille, the City of 111 Districts
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: VMarseille, the City of 111 Districts. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Dar es Salaam, the House of Peace
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Dar es Salaam, the House of Peace. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Advanced Comprehension Text and Exercises: Detroit, the Motor City
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for Advanced English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Detroit, the Motor City. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Kathmandu, the City of Temples
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for Advanced English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Kathmandu, the City of Temples. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Vancouver, Rain City
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Vancouver, Rain City. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Alexandria, the Pearl of the Mediterranean
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Alexandria, the Pearl of the Mediterranean. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Perth, the City of Lights
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Perth, the City of Lights. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Active v. Passive Voice – Which One to Use in Writing?
Active or passive voice – that is every English writer's dilemma. Some writers detest the passive voice and advise against it, others embrace it throughout their texts. While, in general, the active voice is preferred in writing, the passive voice is essential in certain situations. In this lesson, we explain the difference between the active and passive voice and teach you when and how to use the passive voice in your writing.
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Using the Right Conjunctions in Writing
In order to write longer, complex sentences, you need to use conjunctions. Conjunctions are linking words that connect, separate parts of a sentence or whole sentences. They are extremely important because they enrich your writing and help you say more with fewer words. In this lesson, we cover how to use conjunctions correctly in writing, including rules, tips, and many examples.
Using the Word "That" in English
"That" is one of the most commonly used words in writing. This short word can have multiple roles in a sentence. Because it is so common, it is important to know when to use it, how to use it properly, and also when you should not use it. In this lesson, we explain the difference between "which" and "that", teach you when "that" can replace "who", and provide many other examples of how to use "that" in writing.
How to Avoid Wordiness in Writing
Writing brief and concise sentences is a true skill. Doing the opposite is what we call wordiness. Writers who are wordy use too many words to say too little. In this lesson, we teach you how to detect critical parts in your article which contribute to wordiness. We also give many examples to help you feel comfortable with cutting down words and becoming less wordy.
When and How (Not) to Use Adverbs
Stephen King, a celebrated American fiction writer once said: "I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs." English learners and writers are often advised not to use adverbs in their writing. In this lesson, we provide a detailed guide and many different examples on what adverbs are, what can be wrong with using them, when you should not use them, and when it is helpful to add adverbs to your writing.
Writing with Strong Verbs
Strong verbs are verbs that help readers imagine or know exactly what the writer is trying to describe. In other words, they convey a stronger degree of meaning than a weaker verb with the same or similar meaning. For example: " I think I did the task. " =
Avoiding Weak Adjectives
Adjectives such as "cold" or "good" are weak because they are gradable. This means that they alone do not tell us how cold or how good something it. "Cold " could mean below zero degrees, but it can also be cold when the temperature is higher. On the other hand, "freezing" is not a gradable adjective. On the contrary, it is considered a strong adjective because it specifically relates to low temperatures and provides a precise description. A paragraph filled with weak adjectives can lead readers to lose focus because they might feel like they are reading a monotonous, repetitive piece. It also fails to help the readers create images of what they are reading in their minds.
Sticky Sentences and How to Avoid Them
Sticky sentences are long sentences that contain more words than they need to. For example: "With regard to that event you mentioned yesterday, I would like to say that I almost certainly will not be able to attend the event." Isn't it better to write "I'm sorry but I won't be able to come to the event you mentioned yesterday"?
Comprehension Text and Exercises: Venice, the City of Canals
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Venice, the City of Canals. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Vegetation Regions
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Vegetation Regions. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Famous Cakes from Around the World
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Famous Cakes from Around the World. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Oceania
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Oceania. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Cairo, the City of Contrast
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Cairo, the City of Contrast. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Caucasus, the Border of Europe and Asia
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Caucasus, the Border of Europe and Asia. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Grammarly Review: Walk-through, Pros, Cons, and Examples
This detailed review was written by Maja, an advanced English learner and writer. She used this tool in her work and shares her experience and conclusions with us in this comprehensive analysis.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Interesting Festivals around the World
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Interesting Festivals around the World. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Europe's Smallest Countries
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Europe's Smallest Countries. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Planets of Our Solar System
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Planets of Our Solar System. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: The Coldest Places Where People Live
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: The Coldest Places Where People Live. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Summer Solstice
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Summer Solstice. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Winter Solstice
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Winter Solstice. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Types of Climate
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Types of Climate. Exercises include a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, wh Questions, evaluating statements, and true or false questions.
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Comprehension Text and Exercises: Can You Guess Where These Beautiful Natural Places Are? (Part 2)
English Reading Comprehension Text and Exercises for English Learners and School Students. This reading text is about: Can You Guess Where These Beautiful Natural Places Are? (Part 2) The lesson includes a reading passage, vocabulary questions, collocation questions, WH Questions, evaluating statements, true or false questions, and an answer key.
Detective Nora and the Ancient Statue (Story, Glossary, Exercises, and Answer Key)
Download our newest booklet for English teachers and learners (intermediate level). It contains a detective story, glossary, exercises, and answers. It's free to download if you share the page! :-)
Plot Summary: Nora and William, fellow students, travel to Mexico for an international conference, but their short trip turns into a surprising crime scene, which they now must solve! Read the story and follow the clues to try and solve the mystery.
Fun Facts About English - Part 2
The English language is popular all over the world. English has a rich history dating back to 5th century AD, and it has changed over time. English continues to change every day. Did you know that some silent letters were purposefully added to words? Did you know that one English word has over 400 definitions? Here are more interesting facts about the English language.
