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english bites language library

The EB language library is a resource for anyone learning English. We will be adding to the content as we produce more episodes of English Bites.
Common Expressions
 
We explain some of the common expressions and idioms that are used in our stories. We give you a definition and a simple example, as well as providing the original example from the story, so that you can hear how the expression is really used.
 
 
An example...
cark it
Cark it is slang. It means to die.
Example: My goldfish carked it.
 
You can easily increase your vocabulary by looking at our list of common expressions.
 
 
Expression of the day
dates back
goes back in time to
Example: The feud dates back to an insult someone made twenty years ago

show all expressions
Today's highlight
to send out, especially by way of radio and television
Understanding, writing and speaking English
Select a category:
Understanding
Writing
Speaking
Irregular Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
 

Understanding
These pages help you to understand more about English, such as aspects of its grammar.

 
 
An example...
present perfect continuous tense
We use have or has with been and the ing form of another verb to form the present perfect continuous tense.
 
Example: They have been trying to have a baby for years.

 
We use this tense to talk about an action that has begun in the past and is still continuing.
 
Example: It has been raining for hours.
 
This means that it's still raining now and that the rain started hours ago.
 

Browse Understanding:
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Understanding
Writing
Speaking
Irregular Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
 

Writing
Writing English can be very tricky. These pages will help improve your spelling and instruct you about the correct use of punctuation.
 
 
An example...
they're / their / there
They're, spelled t-h-e-y-'-r-e, is the contracted or shortened form of they are.
 
Example: They're going to knock down the building.
 
Their, the possessive pronoun used to express that something belongs to a group of people is spelled t-h-e-i-r.
 
Example: They're going to knock down their building.
 
There, All other uses of there use the t-h-e-r-e spelling, and mean: in or at that place.
 
Example: They're going to knock down their building over there by the river.
 

Browse Writing:
learn more by selecting from the list below
Understanding
Writing
Speaking
Irregular Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
 

Speaking
Many words in English are pronounced in different ways when they have different uses or meanings, but their spelling doesn't change, such as read and read. You can listen to the difference and practise your pronunciation of those words here.
 
 
An example...
present (pronounced to rhyme with pleasant)
at this time; now
 
Example: Our present situation is very good.
 
a gift
 
Example: He gave her a beautiful present.
 
present (pronounced to rhyme with resent)
give, often in a formal way
 
Example: I present you with this medal.
 
show; display
 
Example: You should be careful about how you present yourself.
 

Browse Speaking:
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Understanding
Writing
Speaking
Irregular Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
 

Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not have past tenses and past participles formed by adding –ed.
They are useful to learn.


The past tense is the verb form that shows something happened in the past.
 
Example: I learned that some time ago.
 
Irregular verbs have different past tenses.
 
Example: I saw him yesterday.
 
The past participle is used with forms of have (has, had) and forms of be (is, am, are, were, was). It’s usually the same as the past tense.
 
Example: I have learned my lesson.
But some irregular verbs have different past tenses and different past participles.
 
Example: I have seen him around.


Browse Irregular Verbs:
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Understanding
Writing
Speaking
Irregular Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
 

Phrasal Verbs
Verbs are sometimes combined with adverbs and prepositions to form a phrase that has a meaning that can’t be worked out from the individual meanings of each of the words.

An example...
Give Up
Give up combines the verb give with the preposition up to form a new verb with several meanings.
It can mean to stop doing something because it's too difficult.
Example: I had to give up trying to learn French.
 
Or it can mean to resign.
 
Example: You should give up that boring job.
 
Notice that phrasal verbs are generally quite informal. In more formal writing and speech, you should try to use alternative words



Browse Phrasal Verbs:
learn more by selecting from the list below
back off
bail out
beat off
blow out
blow up
branch out
break away
break down
break in
break out
break up
break up 2
bring about
bring in
bring out
bring together
bring up
build up
bump into
burn off
buy into
call up
call upon
came about
carry on
carry out
carry over
cash in
catch on
catch out
catch up with
check out
chill out
clean out
clean up
close down
come about
come across
come along
come around / come round
come back
come by
come from
come in
come in 2
come off
come off 2
come on
come on 2
come out
come out 2
come round / come around
come through
come up
come up 2
come up to
come up with
cool down
cooped up
crack down
cut back
cut down
cut up
deal with
deck out
die out
dig up
draw on
draw up
dress up
drive off
drop out
drops off
drum up
end up
even out
fade away
fall apart
fall over
fall through
figure out
fill out
fill up
find out
finish up
fire it up
fish out
fit in
fix up
follow through
gear up
get ahead
get at
get away
get by
get into
get off
get off 2
get off on
get on
get out
get out 2
get out of
get through
get through 2
get to
get together
get up
getting over
give away
give up
go about
go ahead
go around
go around 2
go back
go off
go off 2
go on
go on 2
go out
go out 2
go over
go through
go through 2
go up
grow away from
grow into
grow on
grow out of
grow up
hand over
hand over to
hang around
hang on
hang out
head off
hear of
heat up
help out
hold up
hollow out
hop on
jot down
jut out
keep out
keep up
kept at
kick in
kick off
knock back
lay out
lay up
leave behind
let off
letting up
light up
line up
live off
live on
look after
look back
look into
look up to
make out
make up
miss out
move on
open up
pack up
pass away
pass down
pass it off as
pass on
pass on 2
pass up
patch up
pay for
pay off
peg out
pick out
pick up
pick up 2
pile up
play out
play up
play up to
pop up
pull in
pull out
pull together
pull up
put across
put down
put down 2
put in
put in 2
put off
put on
put on 2
put out
put together
put up
put up with
ring up
roll in
roll on
round up
rule out
run into
run off
run on
run out
screen out
sell out
sell up
set about
set off
set out
set up
set up 2
settle down
settle in
shake up
shaping up
show off
shut down
sign up
single out
skirting around
slip out
slip through
slip up
snap up