Grammar : ‘Me too’ and ‘Me neither’, either/or and tasks

 

A fabulous link :

https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/neither-or-either-whats-the-difference

A short message from your mad hatter of a teacher : 

My fabulous student from Russia had some relevant questions in our session this week and so I decided to put together this tiny abstract to assist those who wrestle relentlessly with the differences between either, neither, me too and so on ! I do so hope that it clears up a few doubts and washes away the confusion. Remember that practice makes PERMANENT! Do some revision daily if time allows. Even weekly - every ounce of effort will come to fruition. Try and then try again ! YOU can do this ! :) 

Remember : Either is used when presented with two options.

You can have either the steak or the pizza - not both !

What would you rather have/ either the steak or the pizza?

Example answer : I would rather have the pizza. I much prefer it to steak, thankyou ! / I would prefer to have some pizza please.

.............................................................................................................................................................

Let's practice !!!

Either you keep quiet in our lecture or you can leave !

Would you rather leave the class or keep quiet. You can do either ! Either leave or stay ? 

Example answer : I am sorry ! I would prefer to stay.

Please either keep it down or leave my classroom.

You may stay or either leave - 

Answer :

You have two options, either start behaving or we are leaving the restaurant. ( Parent to child.)

Answer :

Now your turn :

Make 5 sentences using the form ‘’either…..or…..’’ and then respond to your questions with '' I would rather/I would prefer to + verb.)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

‘Me too’ and ‘Me neither’

How are the two different? When to use it?

‘Me too’ agrees with a positive statement.

We NEVER SAY : I like pizza. Answer : Me either. = WRONG. 

CORRECT : Agreeing with a positive statement : 

I really appreciate our lessons! = Me too !

I can not say that I dislike watching football at all. = Me too !

I love TedTalks ! = Me too !

I am rather fond of reading. = Me too !

‘Me neither’ agrees with a negative statement.

N. B: 

If someone says something affirmative and the same is true for you, then you can say, ‘me too’.

For example:

Friend: I like pizza.

You (who likes pizza): Me too!

If someone says something in the negative and the same is true for you, then you can say, ‘me neither’.

For example:

Friend: I don’t like pizza

You (who hates pizza): Me neither!

I do not like nor appreciate sarcasm : Me neither ! ( NEVER USE ' ME EITHER ' !!!!!! BLLEGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

,

Exercise 1 : 

A: I like to play badminton. B: __________ (you like to play badminton.)

A: I can’t dance. B: ____________ (you cannot dance.)

A: I’m not going to school today. B: ________ (you are note going to school.)

A: I can speak Spanish. B: ________ (you can speak Spanish.)

A: I like to drink tea. B: __________ (you do like tea.)

A: I can’t hear the teacher. B: I can’t either. C: ________ (C can’t hear the teacher.)

A: I’m not happy. B: Neither am I. C: _______ (C is not happy).

Either and Neither Exercise 2

Choose 'either' or 'neither'

1) A: I don’t like pizza. B: 

do I.

2) David doesn’t live in London and I don’t ………...

3) John doesn’t want an ice cream and the children don’t ……………..

4) Amanda isn’t French and ……………….

is Lukas.

5) She doesn’t have a job at the moment and ………………...

do I.

6) They haven’t eaten breakfast and Jane hasn’t…………………. 

.

7) She hasn’t studied Latin and …………………..

have I.

8) You won’t go to the party and ………………..

will Lucy.

9) John isn’t going to the meeting and I’m not …………………..

.

10) The weather isn’t good in London and it isn’t good in Scotland …………………….

Thank you my darling students ! Go well, stay safe and BE KIND !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Polite ways to respond when someone says : ''I feel tired/I am tired.''

Polite ways to respond when someone says : ''I feel tired/I am tired.''

Remember : Telling someone they look tired says they look awful and

it will make them irritated with you or it will hurt their feelings - it is impolite. Tip : If they look tired, don't say anything...

Use the following tips : If someone sys that they are exhausted/tired, say something agreeable, like :

I so understand how you feel - we have all been there.

Better/preferred responses :

“Have you been sleeping alright?” ,

“You’re such a dedicated worker, that is a great trait.” ,

“I don’t know how you juggle so many things, I would never be able to !” ,

“Is there anything I can do to help?” ,

‘’Have you been taking breaks between work?’’ Or

‘’Have you thought about maybe taking a day off - it may help you feel a bit better.’’ Thank you so much for being such amazing students -

learning polite language is essential especially when at a higher language level -

Intermediate through to Advanced level !

A kind reminder : Be good to each other.

I am used to + verb + ing ( Gerund.) / Get used to/ I used to + verb ...what are the differences?

I am used to + verb + ing ( Gerund.) / Get used to/ I used to + verb ...what are the differences?

The ''aspect of a verb'' is determined by whether the action is ongoing or completed/finished - today we are going to take a look at three aspects :

Let's dig deeper - get your digging tools ready, get your shoes off and feet in the proverbial sand!

Used to (+ would. ) shows that a particular thing always happened or was true in the past/ a repeated action in the past :

The habitual past is indicated(shown...) most often by the semi-auxiliary verb ''used to'' , the auxiliary would, or the simple past tense of a verb. These denote past states, with verbs such as ‘be’, ‘have’ and ‘live’.

Examples:

I used to have a picnic in the park every weekend - we would eat and drink and be merry!

We often went to the beach, where we used to build sandcastles.

I used to enjoy swimming in the ocean - I would swim for hours!

The present form of the habitual aspect : Be used to + A Gerund ( Verb +  ing, )

is used to say that something is par for the course. ( Normal/familiar/a habit.) , not unusual. It means you do this often - let's say - you do this regularly. 

Form: be verb + used to + verb + ing :

Examples:

Affirmative:I am used to waking up at six o'clock.

Negative: I am (not) used to waking up at six o'clock.

Question:Are you used to waking up at six o'clock?

I am used to doing the dishes every evening.( This is my routine.)

The future form of the habitual aspect : 

Get used to + ing or a Noun , shows that something is in the process of becoming normal. You have not done it often - you are trying to form a habit of doing it.

Form: get used to + ing:

Examples:

Affirmative:I am trying to/need to get used to riding my scooter.

Negative:I am not getting/I do not think I will/can not/will not + get used to waking up at six o'clock.

Question: Are you getting used to riding your scooter?

I have to get used to all of this new technology, I have not yet gotten the hang of it. ( get the hang of = Get used to/become accustomed to.)

Conversation/ writing practice:

How have you changed, compared to when you were a teenager/young adult?

( Think of your personality /likes and dislikes/ responsibilities.)

___________________________________

Is there any food you used to hate but you like now?

___________________________________

What activities did you use to do that you’ve stopped doing now?

___________________________________

What are you used to doing everyday?

___________________________________

Are you used to waking up early? Do you think we should all get used to waking up early? Why/Why not?

___________________________________

What are some things we need to get used to doing as an adult?

___________________________________

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Making a choice : Would rather / would prefer

Sometimes, we need to make a choice between two things because we can not have both or because we like one thing more than another! 

Do you know how to make a choice in English/ tell people what you like more than another thing?

If not, do not worry - I am here to help you today...

Let's go !

We use ''would rather'' and ''would prefer to'' when we have two or more options of something to do or to have/eat !

The forms are rather easy ! Take a look:

I + would rather + Verb phrase + than + Verb phrase.

I + would prefer  to + Verb phrase + rather than + Verb phrase.

Examples:

Would you rather eat an apple or a pear?

I would rather + Verb phrase: eat an apple + than + Verb phrase: eat a pear.

I would prefer to + Verb phrase: eat an apple + rather than + Verb phrase: eat a pear.

Would you rather go running or swimming?

I would rather go swimming than go running!

Would you prefer to go running or swimming?

I would prefer to go running rather than go swimming. 

Would you rather stay at home or go out tonight?

I would rather stay home than go out tonight!

Would you prefer to stay at home or go out tonight?

I would prefer to stay at home rather than go out tonight!

Pronunciation tip: ''I would'' in speech, is contracted to ''I'd''. 

Examples:

I'd rather eat breakfast at home than at a restaurant. /I'd prefer to eat breakfast at home rather than at a restaurant.

Now, read the above examples aloud - using the contracted form ''I'd''.

Let's practice !

Try to answer the following ''Would you rather'' questions using both forms: 

I + would rather + Verb phrase + than + Verb phrase. 

I + would prefer  to + Verb phrase + rather than + Verb phrase.

Would you rather live in your own country or move to another country?

Would you rather live your entire life in a virtual reality where all your wishes are granted or in the real world?

Would you rather drink tea or coffee for the rest of your life? Would you rather be alone for the rest of your life or always be surrounded by annoying people?
Would you rather never use social media sites / apps again or never watch another movie or TV show?
Would you rather be fluent in all languages and never be able to travel or be able to travel anywhere for a year but never be able to learn a word of a different language?
Would you rather have an unlimited international first class ticket or never have to pay for food at restaurants?

Confusing words : Sometime and sometimes - explained !

Hello dear students,

I feel so grateful today ! Want to know why? Well, today I had the opportunity to teach a lesson about the differences between two confusing words – sometime and sometimes! 

Do you know the differences? The lovely student I taught this morning now knows the differences.

If you do not yet, fear not ! (  Do not worry.) Keep reading below...

Have a wonderful week ahead and be good to each other !

Biggest hugs from afar,

Your teacher, Bernadette.

Sometime: An Adverb meaning at any time in the future or past/ undecided/ An indefinite point in time. ( Synonyms: sooner or later, one day.)

Examples:

I might visit sometime. I am not sure when.

I may go skateboarding sometime, not sure when yet !

Collocations: Sometime + tomorrow, last week, next year, tomorrow, today.

Examples:

Question: When will you visit me?

Answer: I will pop by sometime tomorrow.

Question: When are you going to finish the book?

Answer: I don't know, perhaps sometime this week.


Practice :

What is something new you would like to try sometime in the future ?

Can you make 4 sentences using ''sometime''? Try it !

Sometimes: An Adverb of frequency meaning every now and then / not always. ( Synonyms: Occasionally, infrequently, not very often.) 

Examples:

I sometimes eat meat - not always.

I sometimes visit my friend who lives in another city.

I sometimes have to wake up early for lessons.

Word order : Sometimes can be placed at the start, in the middle or at the end of a sentence:

Sometimes she is late.

She is sometimes late.

She is late sometimes.

Practice:

What do you sometimes do on the weekend? 
Do you sometimes wake up later than usual? At what time?
Do you think that we should sometimes donate to charities? Why/Why not?