Difference between revisions of "Speak English"
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| − | English is a widely-spoken language. It can be difficult to learn, but there are some things you can do to make it easier. This | + | English is a widely-spoken language. It can be difficult to learn, but there are some things you can do to make it easier. This article will offer lots of tips that may help you learn to speak English. |
== 10 Second Summary == | == 10 Second Summary == | ||
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#[[Learn Simple English|Start simple]]. Very few people are true beginners when it comes to English. "Hello," "hi," "How are you?" and numerals have infiltrated most societies. Odds are you know more English than you think. | #[[Learn Simple English|Start simple]]. Very few people are true beginners when it comes to English. "Hello," "hi," "How are you?" and numerals have infiltrated most societies. Odds are you know more English than you think. | ||
#*Take what you know. For example, "How are you?" That uses the verb "to be." What are other questions just like this? Take what you know and expand it! | #*Take what you know. For example, "How are you?" That uses the verb "to be." What are other questions just like this? Take what you know and expand it! | ||
| − | #**How is she? | + | #**How is she?How is your father?How are your children?How is the weather? |
| − | #*[[Memorize|Start memorizing]] verbs. The top ten most common verbs in English are the following: "be," "have," "do," "say," "get," "make," "go," "know," "take," and "see."<ref>http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/common-verbs-25.htm</ref> Just knowing these verbs can get you through a lot of basic conversations. | + | #*[[Memorize|Start memorizing]] verbs. The top ten most common verbs in English are the following: "be," "have," "do," "say," "get," "make," "go," "know," "take," and "see."<ref name="rf15973">http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/common-verbs-25.htm</ref> Just knowing these verbs can get you through a lot of basic conversations. |
#*English is subject-verb-object, in that order. Your subject pronouns are: "I," "you," "he"/"she"/"it," "we," "you," "they." Object pronouns in English are: "me," "you," "him"/"her"/"it," "us," "you," "them." With those verbs and knowing English is SVO, what sentences can you come up with? | #*English is subject-verb-object, in that order. Your subject pronouns are: "I," "you," "he"/"she"/"it," "we," "you," "they." Object pronouns in English are: "me," "you," "him"/"her"/"it," "us," "you," "them." With those verbs and knowing English is SVO, what sentences can you come up with? | ||
| − | #**I know her. | + | #**I know her.She makes it.He takes us. |
#[[Start a Simple Conversation|Practice conversations]]. Once you have basic subject and object pronouns down and a handful of verbs, you can start asking questions. | #[[Start a Simple Conversation|Practice conversations]]. Once you have basic subject and object pronouns down and a handful of verbs, you can start asking questions. | ||
#*Questions often open with "who," "what," "when," "where," "why," and "how." "Who" indicates a person; "what" indicates a thing; "when" indicates a time; "where" indicates a place; "why" indicates a reason; "how" indicates a manner. | #*Questions often open with "who," "what," "when," "where," "why," and "how." "Who" indicates a person; "what" indicates a thing; "when" indicates a time; "where" indicates a place; "why" indicates a reason; "how" indicates a manner. | ||
#*Say you know the subjects, some basic nouns, those ten verbs, and these question starters. What are some things you could ask an English speaker? | #*Say you know the subjects, some basic nouns, those ten verbs, and these question starters. What are some things you could ask an English speaker? | ||
| − | #**What is your name? | + | #**What is your name?What do you do?When is your birthday?Where is she?Why do you have it?How do you know? |
===Getting Familiar with the Grammar=== | ===Getting Familiar with the Grammar=== | ||
#[[Conjugate Verbs|Start with the present tenses]]. Let's start with present simple and present continuous: | #[[Conjugate Verbs|Start with the present tenses]]. Let's start with present simple and present continuous: | ||
#*Present simple is used for facts and habits. If you are describing something that is true or something that happens often, opt for the present simple. | #*Present simple is used for facts and habits. If you are describing something that is true or something that happens often, opt for the present simple. | ||
| − | #**I '''go''' to work every day. | + | #**I '''go''' to work every day.She '''eats''' breakfast at 7.China '''is''' a big country. |
#*Present continuous is used for things that are happening right now. There are two verbs: a helper and a main verb. The helper is "am"/"is"/"are" (depending on the subject) and the main verb is any verb with -ing: | #*Present continuous is used for things that are happening right now. There are two verbs: a helper and a main verb. The helper is "am"/"is"/"are" (depending on the subject) and the main verb is any verb with -ing: | ||
| − | #**You '''are reading'''. | + | #**You '''are reading'''.I '''am typing'''.He '''is watching''' TV. |
#[[Conjugate Verbs|Move to the past and future tenses]]. Once you've mastered the present, get started on the past and future tenses. We're just going to go over the basic ones now: | #[[Conjugate Verbs|Move to the past and future tenses]]. Once you've mastered the present, get started on the past and future tenses. We're just going to go over the basic ones now: | ||
#*Use the past simple for any event that happened in the past at a specific time. | #*Use the past simple for any event that happened in the past at a specific time. | ||
| − | #**I '''saw''' that movie last year. | + | #**I '''saw''' that movie last year.She '''died''' on a plane.We '''went''' to the bank yesterday. |
#*For the future, let's keep it simple. Add a future time marker, and just use the present continuous! It can double as a future tense, too. | #*For the future, let's keep it simple. Add a future time marker, and just use the present continuous! It can double as a future tense, too. | ||
| − | #**They '''are making''' a cake tomorrow. | + | #**They '''are making''' a cake tomorrow.You '''are leaving''' in May.I '''am going''' at 6 pm. |
#Put your adjectives before nouns. Always, always, always put the adjective (the word that describes) before the noun. Always! In fact, there's even an order within adjectives: | #Put your adjectives before nouns. Always, always, always put the adjective (the word that describes) before the noun. Always! In fact, there's even an order within adjectives: | ||
| − | #*There are eight basic types of adjectives: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. If you have more than one, '''they go in that order'''<ref>http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/adjord.htm</ref>. So, it's a "huge, round, metal bowl" or a "small, red sleeping bag." | + | #*There are eight basic types of adjectives: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. If you have more than one, '''they go in that order'''<ref name="rf15974">http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/adjord.htm</ref>. So, it's a "huge, round, metal bowl" or a "small, red sleeping bag." |
===Maintaining Progress=== | ===Maintaining Progress=== | ||
#[[Write|Label]] everything. Take the objects in your house and label them with their English equivalent. The goal is to get your mind thinking in English. When it's right there, it'll be impossible to ignore. | #[[Write|Label]] everything. Take the objects in your house and label them with their English equivalent. The goal is to get your mind thinking in English. When it's right there, it'll be impossible to ignore. | ||
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#**If a teacher isn't up your alley, get a penpal! | #**If a teacher isn't up your alley, get a penpal! | ||
#[[Use the Internet|Use the internet]]. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of sites you can use to your benefit. Anything to make grammar more exciting is welcome--there are games and videos galore. | #[[Use the Internet|Use the internet]]. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of sites you can use to your benefit. Anything to make grammar more exciting is welcome--there are games and videos galore. | ||
| − | #*Such resources can be found at Simple English Wikipedia<ref>http://simple.wikipedia.org</ref>, the British Council<ref>http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/</ref>, and English Club<ref>http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english.htm</ref>, among many others. | + | #*Such resources can be found at Simple English Wikipedia<ref name="rf15975">http://simple.wikipedia.org</ref>, the British Council<ref name="rf15976">http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/</ref>, and English Club<ref name="rf15977">http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english.htm</ref>, among many others. |
#*YouTube doesn't have to be about funny animals and popular music. Tap into its educational resources as well. | #*YouTube doesn't have to be about funny animals and popular music. Tap into its educational resources as well. | ||
#[[Watch Netflix on TV|Watch TV]], [[Listen to Music|listen to songs]], and [[Read a Book|read books]]. Though your goal is to speak English, you have to be able to understand it, too! Even when you're alone and not stuck in a grammar exercise you can keep your mind primed. | #[[Watch Netflix on TV|Watch TV]], [[Listen to Music|listen to songs]], and [[Read a Book|read books]]. Though your goal is to speak English, you have to be able to understand it, too! Even when you're alone and not stuck in a grammar exercise you can keep your mind primed. | ||
