As a non-native English speaker, immersing yourself in a new culture and learning to communicate effectively can be a daunting task. One of the keys to effective communication is a strong command of the language's idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang. These phrases are a common feature of English and ca

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a non-native English speaker, immersing yourself in a new culture and learning to communicate effectively can be a daunting task. One of the keys to effective communication is a strong command of the language's idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang. These phrases are a common feature of English and can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand and use correctly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Idioms are phrases that cannot be understood by translating individual words. For example, the phrase "break a leg" is commonly used to wish someone good luck, but it does not literally mean to break a leg. Instead, it is an expression that has become a part of the English language and culture. Some other common idioms include "the ball is in your court," which means it is your turn to make a decision or take action, and "bite the bullet," which means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language and are frequently used by native English speakers. These verbs are made up of a verb and a particle, such as an adverb or preposition, and the meaning of the phrasal verb is often different from the individual words. For example, "turn off" means to stop using or operating, while "turn down" means to reduce or reject. Other examples of phrasal verbs include "pick up," which can mean to lift or raise something, to improve or increase, or to meet someone and take them somewhere. "Look for" means to search or seek out something, while "get along" means to have a good relationship or to get along well with someone. "Put off" means to delay or postpone something. It is important for non-native English speakers to learn and understand these phrasal verbs in order to communicate effectively with native English speakers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Slang is an informal language that is commonly used by native English speakers in everyday conversation and is often used to add personality and flavor to language. It can be a fun and effective way to connect with native English speakers. However, it can also be confusing and hard to understand, especially for those who are just learning the language. Here are a few examples of common slang terms: "Sick" (adjective): This term can be used to describe something that is cool or impressive, as in "That new car is sick!""Lit" (adjective): This term means that something is exciting or fun, as in "That party was lit!""Fam" (noun): This term is a shortened version of "family" and is used to refer to close friends, as in "What's up, fam?""YOLO" (acronym): This term stands for "You Only Live Once" and is often used to justify taking risks or making impulsive decisions, as in "I'm going skydiving for the first time this weekend - YOLO!"&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Learning these idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang terms is important because they are frequently used by native English speakers and can add depth and nuance to your language skills.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So, how can you learn these phrases and use them effectively to communicate with native English speakers? Here are a few tips: 1. Start with the basics: Make sure you have a strong foundation in standard English, including grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. This will make it easier to understand and use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang when you encounter them. 2. Listen and observe: One of the best ways to learn idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang is to simply listen and observe how native English speakers use them in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the context in which they are used and try to pick up on common patterns and meanings. 3. Ask questions: Don't be afraid to ask native English speakers about the meaning of a particular slang word or phrase. Most people will be happy to explain and may even provide additional examples to help you understand. 4. Use online resources: There are many online resources available to help you learn idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang and improve your overall English skills. Look for websites, blogs, and social media groups that focus on English language learning and offer tips and resources for mastering these phrases. 5. Practice, practice, practice: The more you use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang in your everyday conversations, the more comfortable you will become with them. Practice using these phrases with native English speakers or with other non-native speakers who are also learning the language. 6. Pay attention to regional differences: Idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang can vary widely from one region to another. For example, what is considered slang in the United States may not be considered slang in the United Kingdom. So, it's important to pay attention to the specific region you are in and try to learn the phrases that are commonly used there. 7. Use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang appropriately: These phrases are an informal way of speaking and are not appropriate in all situations. For example, it is not appropriate to use slang in formal settings such as job interviews or business meetings. Instead, stick to standard English in these types of situations. 8. Be aware of slang that might be offensive: Some slang words and phrases can be offensive or inappropriate in certain contexts. Make sure you are aware of the potential connotations of a slang term before using it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In conclusion, learning idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang is an important part of effectively communicating with native English speakers. These phrases can add depth and nuance to your language skills and help you connect with others in a more natural and authentic way. By following the tips outlined above and practicing regularly, you'll be well on your way to mastering these important aspects of the English language. Remember to start with the basics, listen and observe, ask questions, use online resources, and practice, practice, practice. Pay attention to regional differences and use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang appropriately, and be aware of any terms that might be offensive. Learning the history of slang can also provide valuable insight into the culture and society in which it is used. With effort and persistence, you can become proficient in using these phrases and communicate effectively with native English speakers.

Learning Slang and Phrasal Verbs to Communicate With Native English Speakers

All language learners probably have ever asked themselves “do these people actually speak elike the book’s dialogues?” Well, as you have probably found out, no, they don’t.

All language learners probably have ever asked themselves “do these people actually speak elike the book’s dialogues?” Well, as you have probably found out, no, they don’t.&nbsp; I still remember the first time I spoke with an American, and he asked me “how are you doing?” and I was like “is he actually interested in what I’m doing? What does he mean by how? The way I do something?”&nbsp; One thing people ignore when they start their learning journey is that language books are made to let you learn a language through its structure and rules and understand how it’s made and how it works, but speaking a language is totally different.&nbsp; When Italians speak, they express themselves not only with words but also with gestures (of course) and a lot of idioms! Idioms are short sentences and expressions whose meaning is not deducible from their literal translation.&nbsp; So here 8 Italian idioms you probably didn’t know:&nbsp; 1) Conosco i miei polli - Lit. “I know my chickens”&nbsp; Spoiler: we’re not actually talking about chickens. This expression stands for “I know what I’m talking about”. So we’re expecting exactly what we’re thinking of. For example:&nbsp; Io so già in anticipo cosa faranno, cosa diranno, come si comporteranno, conosco i miei polli.&nbsp; “I already know in advance what they’ll do, what they’ll say, how they’ll behave, I know who I’m dealing with”&nbsp; 2) Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro - Lit. “one pope dies, another one will be made”&nbsp; I know, Italians have a thing for the Church, even if they don’t do it on purpose. We have many expressions that are referred to it and this is one of the most used. This one’s meaning is like “life goes on even after the worst of tragedies”, in a nutshell: “Oh no. Anyway.”&nbsp; - “Io e Marco ci siamo lasciati, sono molto giù”&nbsp;- “Dai, morto un papa se ne fa un altro!”&nbsp; - “Marco and I broke up, I’m sad”.&nbsp;- “Come on, life goes on!”&nbsp; 3) Ogni morte di papa - Lit. “Every death of a pope” As I said, we have a thing for this stuff. Here’s another expression about the pope. Since the death of a pope doesn’t come very often (or at least, not usually) this depression refers to an event that occurs once after a long time. It’s also used sarcastically.&nbsp; “Qui non nevica mai, forse una volta ogni morte di papa”&nbsp; “It never snows here, maybe once blue moon”&nbsp; 4) Chi dorme non piglia pesci - Lit. “Who sleeps doesn’t catch fish”&nbsp; This one is the English “the early bird catches the worm“, so basically, it means that if you’re lazy, you get nothing.&nbsp; - Sono rimasto a casa a dormire e mi sono perso gli sconti in negozio!&nbsp;- Eh, chi dorme non piglia pesci!&nbsp; - I stayed home to sleep and missed the discounts in the store!&nbsp;- Eh, the early bird catches the worm!&nbsp; 5) Avere le braccine corte - Lit. “To have short arms”&nbsp; This expression is not referred to a physical condition, of course, it’s figurative and it’s used to say someone’s a bit tight with their money. It is translatable with the English expression “short arms and deep pockets”, referring to those people who have money but never put their hands in their pockets to pay for anything.&nbsp; “Paolo non offre mai, ha le braccine corte! ”&nbsp; “Paul never offers anything, he has short arms and deep pockets! ”&nbsp; 6) Tutto fa brodo - Lit. “Everything makes broth/soup”&nbsp; Italians have a thing for food as well (of course), so we have many expressions that are food-related. Here’s one of the most used ones. This one can be translated with “every little bit helps”. A soup is good when you put a lot of ingredients in (good soup, I know you laughed), so everything contributes something to the whole.&nbsp; - Non so se fare il corso di francese o quello di spagnolo.&nbsp;- Falli tutti e due, tutto fa brodo!&nbsp; - I don't know whether to take the French course or the Spanish one.&nbsp;- Do them both, every little bit helps! 7) Minestra riscaldata - Lit. “Reheated soup”&nbsp;Food. Again. This expression usually refers to relationships, mostly romantic ones, but it can also be referred to as friendship. It’s referred to something that has already gone wrong and that we are trying to make right one more time, but know it will go wrong once again.&nbsp; - Io e Luca ci siamo rimessi insieme.&nbsp;- Di nuovo? È la solita minestra riscaldata!&nbsp; - Luca and I got back together.&nbsp;- Again? There’s nothing new about it!&nbsp; 8) Stare a pennello - Lit. “Fit like a paintbrush”&nbsp; This expression is often used for compliments, it means that the dress or whatever (it can also be referred to situations, events, and so on) fits you so perfectly that it looks like it’s been painted onto your body.&nbsp; - Come mi sta questo vestito?&nbsp;- Ti calza a pennello!&nbsp; - How does this dress fit me?&nbsp;- It fits you perfectly!&nbsp; Did you know all these expressions? What’s your favorite?&nbsp;Follow me for more!&nbsp; A presto,&nbsp;Federica

How Do Italians Actually Speak? 8 Italian Idioms

In general, the trick with Italian, unlike English, is to pronounce all the letters of a word exactly, so the important thing is to know the pronunciation of each letter of the alphabet.

Ciao students from all over the world.&nbsp; This month I was thinking about a topic to talk to you about in my monthly article and while I&nbsp;was thinking I said to myself: who can advise me better than a person who has been&nbsp;studying Italian for many years and who has therefore overcome various obstacles? So, for&nbsp;this article I asked Alex, a dear student of mine (whom I'm sure will read me and therefore I&nbsp;greet with much affection), to tell me what was the most difficult step for him in the path of&nbsp;studying the Italian language.&nbsp; He undoubtedly answered me: “Isa, the pronunciation!”&nbsp; And today I'm here to write about this topic because I think that for every language this is the&nbsp;sore point.&nbsp;Has it ever happened to you to learn a language through books, songs, and texts for a long time&nbsp;and then finally make the long-awaited trip to the country where the language you are&nbsp;learning is spoken and think that you have landed on the wrong flight because you cannot&nbsp;understand a single word?&nbsp; Well, yes to me! I studied English at school for many years, until one day I finally traveled for&nbsp;9 hours on a plane to visit my grandparents in Canada, when I got there I tried to practice&nbsp;with my cousin… I let you imagine the disastrous result! At first, I felt confused, wrong, and&nbsp;discouraged as if I had wasted all those years of my life studying a language that I couldn't&nbsp;understand but in reality, it wasn't like that, just the real pronunciation of a language, you can&nbsp;only learn it with lots and lots of practice and some secrets.&nbsp; Therefore, this article wants to be a friend you can count on and I hope that anyone who is in&nbsp;this situation right now can read it and find the right motivation to continue. Having said that, here I am going to tell you some pronunciation secrets. In general, the trick with Italian, unlike English, is to pronounce all the letters of a word exactly, so the important thing is to know the pronunciation of each letter of the alphabet.&nbsp; Let's start with the vowels, which are: A, E I, O, U. Unlike French, English, and the same&nbsp;Latin from which it derives, Italian does not distinguish between short and long vowels and&nbsp;does not have diphthongs. it means that you have to read all the vowels, even the final ones&nbsp;within a word. Let's give some examples: The word "AIUOLE" contains all the vowels and&nbsp;trying to pronounce it helps to understand what I mean by the premise. Let's do another exercise with “AUTUNNO”. The beginning AU is given by the vowels A+U&nbsp;which are read separately, not as in AUGUST in English.&nbsp; Remember to also pronounce E when a word ends with this letter. Try saying “GRAZIE”,&nbsp;with the final E!&nbsp; Let's move on to the consonants, which are perhaps a little more difficult. There are some that are produced by the sound that comes from the throat and is called guttural, these are the C, the G, and the Q.&nbsp; The first two (C and G) can have two sounds:&nbsp;-Sweet, when they are followed by E and I, (for example the words CECI and GESSO) and&nbsp;have the same English sound as Chop or James/Giraffe in English:&nbsp;-Hard, when they are followed by the remaining vowels therefore A, O, U. In this case, the C&nbsp;has the sound of the K in the word King in English, “CASA-CUORE-CORSO”, while the G&nbsp;has the same sound as Game or Got in English “GATTO-GOCCIA-GUSTO”. But how does the pronunciation behave when there are two consonants together rather than&nbsp;a consonant and a vowel?&nbsp;Here we have some sounds that I like to define as special, let's see together what they are:&nbsp; - GL&nbsp;If the graphic nexus GL is followed by the vowel I, it is pronounced as if it were a single&nbsp;sound. “FOGLIO, FIGLIO”, GLI sounds like the double LL in Spanish of “AMARILLO” for&nbsp;example.&nbsp;If GL is followed by any vowel other than I, it is pronounced as two separate sounds of&nbsp;guttural G +L. For example “INGLESE, GLORIA, GLOBO”.&nbsp;For more examples, you can consult the Treccani Encyclopedia and any other Italian&nbsp;language dictionary.&nbsp; - GN&nbsp;The group of letters GN, on the other hand, always produces the same sound, whatever the&nbsp;vowel that follows it. It might look like Spanish N with cedilla. COMPAGNO, INSEGNANTE,&nbsp;LAVAGNA. Start practicing these words!&nbsp; - SC&nbsp;As you may have guessed, its sound depends on the vowels that follow it. Let's do a little&nbsp;exercise in Italian as a foreign language and see if you can guess which group of letters is&nbsp;pronounced as SHOES and which is SCHOOL in English.&nbsp;Group A: SCATOLA, SCONTO, SCUOLA.&nbsp;Group B: SCIVOLO, SCIARE, CRESCERE, SCEGLIERE.&nbsp;&nbsp;The general rule is that SC is formed by guttural S+C if followed by A, O, U. If instead it is&nbsp;followed by I and E it forms a single sound like SH of SHOES in English or CH of&nbsp;CHAMPIGNON in French.&nbsp; These are the main groups, then there would be many others but it is right to learn step by&nbsp;step.&nbsp;If you need or just like to hear the pronunciation of the sounds I have listed in this article,&nbsp;write me a private message and I will be happy to prepare a voice recording so that you can&nbsp;always hear the sound the pronunciation of a certain group of letters when in doubt.&nbsp; I hope this article has been helpful for all of you, share it with your fellow students, and see you soon!&nbsp;Ciao!&nbsp;

Italian Pronunciation

Every language has idioms and everyone loves idioms.

Every language has idioms and everyone loves idioms. Truth be told (i.e., to tell you the truth/actually), I’m not really sure that every language has idioms.After all, there are more than 7,000 languages, and I have not checked to see if all of them have idioms.But we do know that idioms are common in many languages, and they are used in informal and formal speech and writing. <h3>What are Idioms?</h3>Idioms, in any language, are difficult to use correctly or in the right situation.The words in idioms are like the words in poetry.&nbsp;Idioms are not meant to be interpreted literally (word for word).Instead, idioms are figurative forms of speech. <h3>Literal meanings</h3>The words used in an idiom are different from the word’s normal, original, or common meaning.&nbsp;“I ate a pizza” can be taken literally.The sentence means exactly what the sentence and the words in the sentence mean.“I lost my smartphone and had a heart attack” cannot possibly mean that the person suffered a heart attack just because they lost their smartphone. So that sentence should not be interpreted literally. <h3>Figurative meanings</h3>Figurative speech uses words in a different way.The words do not mean what they mean in the literal/original sense.Instead, the words create a figure, an image or picture in one’s mind.Poetry, which is sometimes difficult to understand, uses figurative speech, words and metaphors.Metaphors are a form of figurative language, which&nbsp;refers to words or expressions that mean something different from their literal definition.“The curtain of night fell across the countryside” is a metaphor.Actually, there was no curtain, but the figurative phrase “curtain of night” paints a picture in our minds. <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EoZ0PnI_OAm1pBU-J1tG-LLn-Qa2bZ8TKvsdpc_HRIFMvTNrTbm9iXh-VDQTqngfusFdkKwkApZyimQ_seEjFwe0F4XtXNWKpxFjiETS5H2Nl7bHg_5cqH2l2ue3mUBFJMmTmnE7jAHzaw807ilQln5ymnhPMy7mA6PlrYITCIzuUO6gAjvCjCuI4Pd1_CHfV0iyW3lEQA" alt="90,396 Countryside At Night Stock Photos, Pictures &amp; Royalty-Free Images - iStock" height="97" width="145"> <h3>Who Uses Idioms?</h3>Idioms are used informally and more formally, especially in business.An idiom is an expression used by a particular group of people with a meaning that is only known through common use.An idiom used in one village may have no meaning in a different village or different part of the country. <h3>When do we use idioms?</h3>We use idioms when we talk to people and in many different situations, such as:<ul><li>at work, e.g., “The applicant for the job is too green” “We shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket”</li><li>in stores, e.g., “This new computer cost an arm and a leg”&nbsp;</li><li>in restaurants, e.g., “This restaurant’s food is out of this world”&nbsp;</li><li>when we speak with our friends, e.g., “I will believe what you said but only after I hear it straight from the horse's mouth”</li><li>when we speak to our family members, e.g., “Don’t tell our five-year-old sister about Santa Claus. In other words, don’t let the cat out of the bag”.</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;We also use idioms in the things we write, usually to make the writing more interesting or entertaining,<ul><li>e.g., “We would have enjoyed our vacation if we hadn’t felt under the weather the whole time”</li><li> </li><li>e.g., “The judge didn’t believe the criminal because he spoke out of both sides of his mouth”.</li></ul> <h3>Do Different Languages Have the Same Idioms?</h3>Well… yes and no.The idioms may be different, but their meanings may be the same.In English, the idiom “You can’t get blood from a stone” means that you can’t get financial help from someone who is cheap or selfish.In Chinese, there is a similar idiom and it can be interpreted as, “You can’t pull a feather from an iron rooster”.Both idioms refer to a stingy person. <h3>Be Careful…</h3>It takes many years, even for a native speaker, to know when to use an idiom.For example; kick the bucket does not literally mean kicking a bucket with your foot.<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Zhb4W_w1Js_I-_pkPrEfLxM7Ye9fZ7tAJu4cOFiGBtna4N96H1g1xYCV_3hsNMp63OpP8sziCG8-ASgCjkwSHwOkD36C0Fd9KwzkYUDoOS_2MDMw0FvQHqZGve4txnqSNuoUKAH-vu_yRCXKLHoj1nGqbe0Zx-1AyhJaDkLRCvgx5KMiJfmEFdSRCZsKzm_-l0AxUEmWvg" alt="Kicking the Bucket: How to Die around the World | by K. Habel | Learzing | Medium" height="84" width="118">It means 'dropping dead/to die suddenly'. But you must be careful when using this idiom.It’s a comical, humourous idiom.“I’m sorry your little goldfish kicked the bucket” would be OK, but it would not appropriate to use when speaking about someone a person cared deeply for.&nbsp; Do you see how using this idiom incorrectly could cause problems for you?&nbsp; <h3>Idioms in Business</h3>There are many idioms used in the business world.Here are a few examples:― Think outside the box[an original idea outside the boundaries of normal thinking or rules.]― Not going to fly[an idea or plan that will not be successful]― On the same page[having the same understanding of a situation] <h3>Should a Second Language Student Use Idioms?</h3>Again, the answer is maybe yes and maybe no.My advice to all English learners is to read idioms, learn them, but be very careful about using them.Using an idiom in the wrong situation could cause confusion for the listener or reader and could be embarrassing for the speaker or writer.&nbsp;In fact, it may be best to avoid using idioms at least until you have reached a middle or upper advanced level.

Everyone Loves Idioms, But Did You Know…

Do you often say げんきですか and しつもんがあります to your teacher? Sometimes textbooks and even teachers tell you unnatural expressions, just to make the grammar simple and more understandable.In this article, I will show you how to sound more natural instead of those phrases. Here

Hello everyone! みなさん, こんにちは！ Do you often say げんきですか and しつもんがあります to your teacher? Sometimes textbooks and even teachers tell you unnatural expressions, just to make the grammar simple and more understandable.In this article, I will show you how to sound more natural instead of those phrases. Here we go! <h3>1. げんきですか → Comments on weather</h3>One of the most popular Japanese textbook is called ‘げんき’. Other textbooks also introduce げんきですか as ‘How are you?’ but in fact, it is more like ‘How have you been?’ It is usually not used with people with whom you meet on a daily basis and to someone who you have never talked to. for example, when you send a first message to someone you found on social media. Your teacher is always asking you, ‘げんきですか’?&nbsp;Perhaps it is because you guys only see each other once a week. It is also possible that your teacher has lived in a Western country for a long time and is too used to asking "How are you?”. Usually teachers and students just greet ‘きょうも よろしく おねがいします’&nbsp; So how do people greet each other? We talk about the WEATHER all the time!If you are actually walking together, comment on the weather with&nbsp;'-ね'.e.g.&nbsp;・きょうは　さむいですね- It is cold today.・だんだん　あったかくなってきましたね - It’s getting warmer and warmer.・すごい　あめですね - It is raining so hard!・ほんとうに むしあついですね - It is really hot and humid. When they say xxxね to you, you are supposed to agree with them like ‘そうですね’, ‘ほんとうですね’&nbsp;even if you do not actually think so, just like you wouldn’t say ‘I am so tired’, when asked ‘How are you?’. This is because the purpose of this conversation is not to actually debate the weather, but to share feelings and feel friendly towards each other. This is a conversation I once had with a Russian student in Tokyo in November, where it was like 60℉/ 15℃. Me: きょうはさむいですね/ It's cold today.Russian student: いえ、きょうは ぜんぜん さむく ありません。No, it's not cold at all today. I know, of course, that this student was just being honest and did not mean to attack me or anything. But if you were as honest as she was, you might make your Japanese friend feel awkward. What if the two of you are in different places, like you and your italki teacher?&nbsp;For example, you can say, ・そちらはさむいですか？ - Is it cold over there?・そちらは なんど ぐらい ですか？ - What is the temperature like over there?・さむそうですね - It seems it is cold over there. (Judging by the teacher’s clothing) <h3>2. こんにちは → やっほー！/ よ！to Friends</h3>こんにちは! is a polite greeting and is not used between friends. However, how to greet casually in Japanese is actually a difficult question. Used by everyone: おはよー！/ おつかれ！*Mainly used by people who self-identify as women: やっほー！Mainly used by people who self-identify as men: よ！/ おう！/ うっす！/ おっす！*おつかれ→exept in the morning Male variations are mostly used verbally. In texting, they do not say hi/ hey, especially to those they talk to often. You can jump straight to the main topic or if you are texting on the app LINE, it is also very common to start a conversation with a sticker (スタンプ). <h3>3. しつもんがあります → あ、ちょっと すみません</h3>Do you say "しつもんがあります" a lot to your teacher during class? You may be surprised to learn that Japanese speakers rarely say this in a conversation. These are the phrases that take its place. (formal)・あ、ちょっと すみません・ちょっと よろしいですか？ (casual)・あ、ちょっと ごめん &nbsp;ちょっとすみません and ちょっとごめん are also used as ‘One moment please’, ‘One second please’. As you may already know, in Japanese you do not normally say ’1びょう まってください’ or ‘1ぷん まってください’. <h3>4. ですから→でして…</h3>I'm so sorry! This is not your fault, it is the fault of Japanese textbooks. Probably you learned ‘because’ is ですから. First of all, から is a friendly style and ので is used in formal speech. When speaking in honorifics, use ので, instead of ですから. Secondly, usually when you end a sentence with から, it means you are angry, begging something desperately. There is a nuance that he really wanted to say something afterwards, but held back from saying it. e.g.Your mom: ねえ！！！もう行くよ！！ (Hey! We have to get going!)You: いま行くから！(I’m coming now!! JUST WAIT A MINUTE!!)Mom: 電車行っちゃうから！！ (We’ll miss the train!! HURRY UP!!) As I capitalized the ‘hidden message part’, this ending with から has a strong tone. It is used almost exclusively between families and couples. So, how can we fix it? e.g.A: 日本のどの街(まち)が一番(いちばん)好(す)きですか？/Which city in Japan do you like the best?)B(Formal)京都(きょうと)ですね。歴史(れきし)が好きでして…/ I like Kyoto. Actually I like history.B(Casual) 京都(きょうと)かな。歴史(れきし)が好きで…/ I’d say Kyoto. Actually I like history. In conversation, it is very common to end a sentence with 'て/ でして' when giving additional information. In a written style you can say 歴史が好きなので、京都が好きです。 Another example.A: なんで日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)してるの？B(casual) マンガが好きで…B(Formal) マンガが好きでして… So when ですから/ ますから is used？ It is mainly used by teachers, doctors, authorizations to explain, convince or warn something to others. It is also used in cooking YouTube videos to explain the procedure. In other words, when the speaker has more authority or knowledge than the listener. e.g. At a platform間もなく、1番線に電車が参ります。危ないですから、黄色い線の内側へお下がり下さい。(まもなく いちばんせんに でんしゃが まいります。あぶないですから きいろいせんの うちがわに おさがりください)A train will be arriving soon on Track 1. Please move back to the inside of the yellow line. In a cooking tutorial video卵の白身は後で使いますから取っておいて下さい。(たまごの しろみは あとで つかいますから とっておいて ください)Save the egg whites for later use. <h3>5. 〜ません → 〜ないですね…/ 〜ないんですが…</h3>In conversation, saying ‘〜ません’ sounds a bit harsh and unfriendly. It sounds nicer if you say the following. Teacher: 中国(ちゅうごく)ではクリスマスは何(なに)かお祝(いわ)いはするんですか？&nbsp;(Do you do anything on Christmas in China?) You: 中国ではあんまりしないですね…&nbsp;(Not so much in China (as you might have guessed…) Teacher: Youさんの文化(ぶんか)では、生(なま)のお魚(さかな)は食(た)べるんですか？&nbsp;Do you eat raw fish in your culture?You: あんまり食(た)べないですね…&nbsp;Not so much…(which means No, we don’t.) When you end a sentence with んですが… it adds the nuance ‘Can you help me with it?’, ‘Is there anything you can do with it?’ or ‘hmm…let’s see what is happening…’ Teacher: 聞こえますか？ -Can you hear me?You: えーっと…まだ聞こえないんですが… - hmm…Not yet…(Please check if your microphone is connected properly?) Teacher: 画面、見えますか？- Can you see my screen?You: あ、すみません、まだ見えないんですが… - I can’t see it yet… (Let’s wait for a bit…) &nbsp;At the end of the んですが…, the intonation is lowered, and extended for about 1 second. If you don't lengthen the が, you will sound angry, so be careful! In the written style like an essay, it is totally okay just to end the sentence with ません。 e.g.中国(ちゅうごく)ではクリスマスは特(とく)に何(なに)もしません。 - In China, we don't do anything special for Christmas. I hope you'll try the phrases you learned today with your italki teachers! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. Thank you for reading!!

Say These Instead of the Textbook-Phrases!

Let's uncover five powerful hacks listed below that use this verb tense to enable speaking in the present, past, and future.

Many French learners will find verb conjugation the worst part of the journey. However, it does not have to be! While the present indicative can be intricate for some learners, the good news is that it may be the only verb tense you ever need to master! It is especially true if your goal is to use French mostly to chat. Though we can use it the same way as in English, the present indicative in French can also be your conversation Swiss-army knife! Even better, its different uses will sound natural and vivid compared to tenses like future, simple past, and past tense. Therefore, let's uncover five powerful hacks listed below that use this verb tense to enable speaking in the present, past, and future. 1. Recurring actions (present equivalent)2. Ongoing activities "progressive present" (present continuous equivalent)3. Recent actions "recent past" (past equivalent)4. Stories: the "historical present" (past equivalent)5. Future actions "close future" (future equivalent) <h3>1. Recurring actions</h3> For recurring, usual actions, when we use the present in English, we use the same in French. So let's call it the "recurring present." Je&nbsp;joue&nbsp;de la guitare. (I play guitar.) Though you can use it to communicate an action you are doing in the present moment, we generally use it to share something we commonly do. For example, have a look at the following sentences. Gérard: Comment est-ce que tu t'occupes&nbsp;les fins de semaine ?&nbsp;(How do you spend your weekends?)Ginette: Je m'achète&nbsp;une caisse de 24, je&nbsp;mets&nbsp;du country et je&nbsp;fais&nbsp;de la danse en ligne.&nbsp;(I buy a case of 24, put on country and line dance.) <h3>2. In-progress actions</h3> For an activity you are doing right now, you can build your sentence using the verb "être" conjugated with the subject + "en train de" + an infinitive verb. This structure will effectively stress that you are in the process of doing that action. Je&nbsp;suis en train de faire&nbsp;mes devoirs. (I am doing my homework.) Using "en train de" helps emphasize that the action is still incomplete. For example, look at the following chat: Georgio: Qu'est-ce que vous faites en ce moment ?&nbsp;(What are you doing right now?)Groupe d'amis de Georgio: On&nbsp;est en train de regarder&nbsp;le dernier film de Xavier Dolan.&nbsp;(We are watching Xavier Dolan's latest movie.) <h3>3. Recent actions</h3> I recently realized how valuable the use of the "recent past" is. Commonly, we start a chat by revealing what we were doing minutes before or recalling what occurred in our lives over the last days, weeks, or months. Instead of using the compound past, you can build your sentence using the verb "venir" conjugated with the subject + "d'/de" preposition + an infinitive verb. You will effectively stress that the event happened recently. Je&nbsp;viens de déménager&nbsp;à Montréal pour mon nouvel emploi. (I just moved to Montréal for my new job.) Martine: Qu'est-ce qui&nbsp;vient d'arriver&nbsp;?&nbsp;(What just happened ?)Guy: Je&nbsp;viens de tomber&nbsp;en bas de ma chaise.&nbsp;(I fell out of my chair) <h3>4. Stories</h3> Using the "historical present" is not only remarkably easy, but it also can enhance your storytelling! To build your sentence, use the basic indicative present form and give proper context, so your listener understands that you are recounting something from the past in the present tense. La chanson&nbsp;reçoit&nbsp;en 2015 le Prix Empreinte culturelle de la SOCAN. (The song received the 2015 SOCAN Cultural Footprint Award.) Jean-Paul: Pourquoi ça&nbsp;devient&nbsp;une chanson aussi populaire? (Why did it become such a popular song?)Pierrette: Parce qu'après cet événement, le mouvement nationaliste s'en&nbsp;empare&nbsp;et en&nbsp;fait&nbsp;l'hymne national québécois! (Because after this event, the nationalist movement seized it and made it the Quebec national anthem!) <h3>5. Future actions</h3> This last one may be the most intuitive for English speakers. To communicate events in the future, we use the structure "aller" conjugated with the subject + an infinitive verb, the same way you would use "be going to." Je&nbsp;vais passer&nbsp;la fin de semaine au chalet. (I will spend the weekend at the cottage.) Jean-Claude:&nbsp;Vas-tu&nbsp;voyager&nbsp;pour tes vacances ? (Are you traveling for your vacation?)Germaine: Bien sûr ! Je&nbsp;vais me faire bronzer&nbsp;à Fort Lauderdale. (Of course! I'm going to get a tan in Fort Lauderdale.) I can't stress enough how practical, effective, and underused these five tips are. But unfortunately, I see too many learners move quickly to other tenses before they master the present tense. They often get discouraged because of the enormous memorization effort required. That rushing behavior can be counterproductive. Quick wins increase motivation, which is crucial for success. That's why I recommend and encourage their use without restraint! Do yourself a favor, use these tips daily while discussing, and wait until you feel comfortable before tackling other verb tenses.

5 Ways of Hacking the Present Indicative in French

Today I feel like telling the amusing story of a native English-speaking tourist who after a day in Italy, questions his knowledge of pronouns in the Italian language.

Hello, students from all over the world! Today I feel like telling the amusing story of a native English-speaking tourist who after a day in Italy, questions his knowledge of pronouns in the Italian language. Johnny lands at Rome airport at 7 a.m. So what better way to start the day in Italy than with a good cappuccino? He heads to the bar and as he waits his turn he hears the barmaid say "tocca a Lei” which literally translated to "it's her turn," but he does not respond until the barmaid gestures for him to come closer, so Johnny,&nbsp;thinking he misheard, drinks the steaming cappuccino use and heads to the bank to change his money into euros and finally begin his vacation. As he stands in line he hears the banker asks an older gentleman, "signore, Lei è sicuro di avere un conto in questa banca?" which literally translates to "Sir, She is sure she has an account at this bank?", Johnny is a bit dazed by these&nbsp;two happenings is he begins to question his knowledge, however, he is not discouraged, after all, it has been only 45 minutes since he landed in Italy, so he heads to the hotel and during the check-in, the receptionist asks our tourist friend “signore, Lei preferisce ricevere la colazione in&nbsp;camera o vuole farla in sala?” literally translated "sir, would She prefers to receive breakfast in her room or would she likes to have it in the hall?".&nbsp; At this point Johnny can no longer understand why everyone is talking to him in the third person,&nbsp;but more importantly, doubting that he did not notice that he looked particularly feminine that day, he runs off to the room to be alone.&nbsp; The moral of the story is that if you are in Italy and you hear a person talking to a woman but also to a man talking to her or him and about him or her in the feminine and in the third person, rest assured, it is not you who has confused feminine and masculine pronouns or verbal persons so far, and think about it he is not even mistaking that person you are listening to so attentively,&nbsp;simply in Italian there are two ways to address someone: the formal way and the informal way also referred to as the "forma di cortesia" The former is usually used with friends, relatives, co-workers, classmates, acquaintances, peers, etc., etc. The form of politeness, or forma di cortesia, is used with people one does not know, e.g., in a business where one does not personally know the interlocutor, in health care (with doctors, nurses, and all other figures), with people older than one's age, e.g., with a gentleman one meets on the street, or in situations where one is subordinate to the person with whom one is having a conversation, e.g., the student when talking to the teacher. Although these forms also exist in other languages, especially in the&nbsp;United States, relationships tend to be much more informal.&nbsp;&nbsp; In Italy nowadays many people, especially among the younger generation, tend to use the familiar form with everyone but this is still seen as bad manners. The distinction of these forms has many cultural, social, and even political implications.&nbsp; In southern Italy, the place I come from, the pronoun "Voi" is still widely used rather than "Lei”&nbsp;but the form considered most appropriate is the second one just mentioned. What I advise my students, however, is to always start a conversation with the form with which they feel most comfortable, to avoid not starting a conversation because they are not sure how to use one form rather than the other, perhaps premising that you don't want to be disrespectful,&nbsp;avoiding misunderstandings, if that makes you feel more comfortable... in short, the important thing is to talk! If you decide to use the formal way, almost certainly the interlocutor will soon offer to switch to the familiar form to facilitate the naturalness of the conversation itself.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are the expressions that are used to ask to set up the conversation in one way rather than&nbsp;another: "diamoci del tu” is used to ask one's interlocutor to speak using the familiar form (with the pronoun you), this is usually said by the person who holds the "decision-making power" in that particular situation (such as the doctor, the teacher or the elderly person of the previous examples) if, on the contrary, you want to establish a formal relationship with someone, who seems to want to cross boundaries that you just can't cross, we can say: "Mi dia del Lei" i.e.,&nbsp;speak to me in the form of courtesy, and this is a request (almost imperative) that can be made by any party to the conversation because anyone can request to receive respect, such a request will surely create a physical and mental distance between the two interlocutors, so that a formal,&nbsp;non-interpersonal relationship is re-established, respecting each other's boundaries.&nbsp; So dear students, what to say? Did you enjoy the anecdote? Were you already familiar with this formal way? What did you think about it? I hope I have kept you company and intrigued you so that you can continue on your journey&nbsp;through learning the Italian language. Enjoy your continuation!

Are You Sure "Lei" is Just A Feminine Pronoun?

When we are learning a language, we usually reach a point where we understand quite well; we can read, write, listen to easy conversations and understand, but when it comes to using our oral skills, panic sets in!

When we are learning a language, we usually reach a point where we understand quite well; we&nbsp;can read, write, listen to easy conversations and understand, but when it comes to using our oral&nbsp;skills, panic sets in!&nbsp;&nbsp; What can you do to go a step further when it comes to speaking another language?&nbsp; Training your listening abilities is the first step to achieving good pronunciation, so it is essential to start there; although it may sound like a stereotype, watching series or movies, listening to music,&nbsp;podcasts, radio programs or any type of content in the language you are learning is an excellent&nbsp;exercise for this. Start with content that has been dubbed from another language, then it will be&nbsp;much easier to understand this way and as soon as you get a good understanding, move on to content that has been originally recorded in the language, this will give you much more vocabulary&nbsp;and will also help you find a natural accent.&nbsp;&nbsp; Once you are familiar with the sounds of your target language, I recommend doing the following&nbsp;exercises:&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>-read aloud</h3>Don't worry! It is not necessary to read for someone else, if you don't feel comfortable in front of&nbsp;another person, find a quiet and solitary place, some reading according to your level and read&nbsp;aloud; you can use your cell phone to record while you are reading, then you should listen and ask&nbsp;yourself. How do I feel when I hear myself speaking in another language? what could I improve in&nbsp;my accent? Why do I have some difficulties in pronunciation?&nbsp;&nbsp; Make a diagnosis of everything you consider important, based on the initial training or exercise to&nbsp;sharpen your ear and your own audio recordings; this will help you to clearly know which aspects&nbsp;of your oral expression require more attention and you can look for exercises focused on this; for&nbsp;example, Spanish learners usually have a little difficulty with the pronunciation of the letter R and&nbsp;&nbsp;a very good exercise to improve this is the repetition of the following tongue twister:&nbsp;Rápido ruedan los carros cargados de azúcar al ferrocarril.&nbsp; Repeat this exercise usually, so you can keep track of your progress.&nbsp; <h3>- imitate a native speaker who you admire&nbsp;</h3>You are going to look for a public figure with whom you feel identified, and you are going to try to&nbsp;copy his way of speaking; all the details are important, what expressions he uses frequently, how&nbsp;he changes his verbal communication according to his environment or context, the speed at which&nbsp;he speaks, the way he moves his mouth... absolutely all the details are important. In this way, your&nbsp;brain stores information that will be used unconsciously when you are talking to other people.&nbsp; <h3>- pronunciation exercises</h3>Every language has its "tricks" when it comes to speaking; make sure you know the correct position of the tongue to pronounce each different sound and you will see how your fluency improves a lot and with it your confidence.&nbsp; <h3>- start with 1-to-1 conversations&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>If you feel fearful when you have to talk, exposing yourself to conversations in large groups of&nbsp;people or in unfamiliar environments can be very difficult and frustrating…so try to find&nbsp;alternatives that make this experience much easier for you; actually I think that, although starting&nbsp;it is better to find a language partner, you should expand the number of people you speak with,&nbsp;even if you keep having 1 to 1 conversations, try not to talk with the same person every time, then&nbsp;you learn to understand different accents, speeds, etc. Once you have mastered 1-to-1&nbsp;conversations in environments that are comfortable for you, it is time to go into “natural places"&nbsp;and gradually loosen the control you had over your initial conversations. Finally, recognize your&nbsp;effort and progress Although it is very important to identify your shortcomings in order to improve&nbsp;your fluency, it is really important to learn to recognize your successes, because, even when they&nbsp;may seem insignificant, learning a language is a path that is built on those 'small' successes so, let&nbsp;go the control and just try to enjoy your own process.

The Fear of Speaking in Spanish and How to Overcome it?

Christmas is a festivity celebrated in more than 160 countries all over the world, and as Italy is by definition a Catholic country, it is certainly included in the list.

Christmas is a festivity celebrated in more than 160 countries all over the world, and as Italy&nbsp;is by definition a Catholic country, it is certainly included in the list.&nbsp; But have you ever asked yourself how Italians celebrate this special day of the year?&nbsp; And what do they eat to enjoy this special moment? (You know food plays a fundamental&nbsp;role in the country! )&nbsp;&nbsp; Italians start feeling the Christmas atmosphere at the end of November when shops and&nbsp;cities start adorning their windows and streets. For this reason, it is very easy to bump into a&nbsp;Presepe (Nativity scene) while strolling around, as well as be delighted by zampognari&nbsp;(bagpipe players) playing merry songs, or smelling caldarroste (roast chestnut) and vin brulé&nbsp;(mulled wine aroma) on every corner.&nbsp; But actually, the season officially starts on the 8th of December, that is il Giorno&nbsp;dell'Immacolata Concezione (the Day of Immaculate Conception), which - for this reason - is&nbsp;holiday in Italy. On this day Italians usually decorate their homes and trees, they also bake&nbsp;biscuits and wrap presents to put under the Christmas tree.&nbsp;&nbsp; Therefore, from this day on the Christmas atmosphere is very heartfelt and I personally really&nbsp;enjoy this period.&nbsp; On the 24th of December, they celebrate la Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve). <h3>1. No meat at Christmas Eve (la Vigilia)&nbsp;</h3>Italians do not usually eat meat on this day, rather they eat a wide variety of fish and seafood&nbsp;dishes. Christmas day and Christmas Eve are observed differently all over the country. Some prefer to have a light dinner on the 24th waiting for the huge Christmas lunch the&nbsp;following day, and others instead do the contrary. Of course, there are some others who eat a lot on both days indifferently! But, one way or another, it is time to brindare (to make a toast) with a nice glass of&nbsp;spumante. <h3>2. Sweet treats (Dolci)&nbsp;</h3>Typical sweet treats are Pandoro (a sweet bread from Verona) and Panettone (a sweet&nbsp;bread from Milan). You will recognize Panettone because is one garnished with raisins and sometimes also with candied fruit.&nbsp;Yet Italians also enjoy eating il torrone (that is a long rectangular bar of chocolate with nuts&nbsp;– usually hazelnuts).&nbsp;Of course, every region of the country has its own special treats, but I would say that these&nbsp;are like the must-haves on Italian tables at Christmas.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>3. Italian Saying at Christmas: Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi&nbsp;</h3>There is a saying in Italy that you may spend Christmas with your family, but Easter with&nbsp;whoever you want (generally with your friends).&nbsp;They say: Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi.&nbsp;It is very strong the concept of being with their loved ones, sitting around the table (almost&nbsp;all day long, trust me), eating, playing board games, unwrapping presents, and tasting Italian&nbsp;delicacies on Christmas day.&nbsp; But celebrations are not over yet! They continue celebrating also the day after, on the 26th of December, which is il Giorno di&nbsp;Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen’s Day). This day is another occasion to gather with their loved&nbsp;ones and taste other homemade specialties. &nbsp;And they continue up to the 31st of December, during La notte di San Silvestro (New Year’s&nbsp;Eve). This is another opportunity to meet with their parents and relatives but also with their&nbsp;friends to celebrate Capodanno (New Year) and have a big party all night long.It normally starts late in the afternoon with an aperitivo and is followed by the famous Cenone&nbsp;(literally, Big dinner), which most of the time includes cotechino which is like a gelatinous pork sausage together with lentils. Tradition wants that eating as many lentils as possible after the midnight countdown will make you richer in the year coming! And that is probably due to the round shape of the lentils, which reminds one of a coin.&nbsp; The following day, instead, so on the 1st of January, they usually enjoy some time to rest and&nbsp;stay with their families or friends. The bravest have a big meal also on the 1st!You might think now that the celebrations are over, but they are not yet!&nbsp; <h3>4. Epiphany (la Befana)&nbsp;</h3>Indeed, coming down the chimneys to leave gifts under the Christmas tree is not only a matter of Babbo Natale (Santa Claus). Right across Italy marking the end of the holiday season on the 6th&nbsp;of January, there is la Befana or l'Epifania (the Epiphany)!&nbsp; On this night, children wait for la Befana to come into their houses. She is depicted as an old&nbsp;witch-like woman, who arrives on a broomstick and comes down to chimneys looking forward to filling kids’ stockings with candies, chocolate, sweets, or even a lump of coal, for those who have been naughty.&nbsp; It is very funny to see children’s reactions while opening their stockings! Yet, also adults enjoy this moment because stockings are made for any age. It is a very nice moment to share.&nbsp; What do you think about these 4 Italian traditions to observe at Christmas? Do you find them similar to the way you celebrate (if you do) this festivity? Let me know in the comments below!&nbsp; If you would like to learn more about me, feel free to check out my profile! Ciao!&nbsp;

4 Christmas Traditions in Italy

Latin adage says: “ Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicu.” Seneca.

Latin adage says: “ Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicu.” Seneca.&nbsp; Making mistakes is human nature, but persisting in making the same mistakes is “demonic” behavior. Therefore, making mistakes is the best symptom that we are on track to managing the target language properly, but we need not fall at the same mistakes once and again.&nbsp; In this list, you can read, reflect and review fifteen sentences written with one mistake. Please read it and write down the incorrect or missed word. At the end of the list, check your answers by reading the correct sentences.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>Incorrect sentences</h3>1-&nbsp;Yo soy veinticinco años2-&nbsp;Este pan es bien&nbsp;3- a) No puedo ir al cine esta noche.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) No problema.4- ¿Qué es tu ciudad favorita?&nbsp;5- En la vida hay mucha problemas&nbsp;6- Esto pescado está mucho bueno.7- Nosotros vivimos en Madrid para tres años.8- Tengo quinicientos euros.9-&nbsp;Por favor, quiero un otro helado10- La gente somos muy trabajadoras11- La&nbsp;reunión está en el hotel Hilton12- Uno momento por favor13- ¿Cómo es la clima en invierno en tu ciudad?14- Madrid es en el centro de España15 -&nbsp;a) Señor, ¿quiere alguno de beber?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) Gracias quiero nada Now it’s the “learning” time. Please read the correct sentences and explanations.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>Correct sentences</h3>1-&nbsp;Yo tengo veinticinco años&nbsp;In the Spanish language we “have years”, not “are years”&nbsp;2-&nbsp;Este pan es&nbsp;bueno.Ser verb + adjective: bueno, bueno, buena, buenas (not the adverb ‘bien’)&nbsp;&nbsp;3- a) No puedo ir al cine esta noche.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) No hay problema.In English language : ‘No problem’ but in Spanish always: ‘No hay problema’4- ¿Qué es tu ciudad favorita?&nbsp;When we ask about different options to choose from, we use the interrogative pronoun: ‘Cuál’ not ‘Qué’5- En la vida hay muchos problemas.The word ‘problema’ is feminine (it’s a gender exception), so the adjective has to agree with the noun.&nbsp;6- Este pescado está muy bueno.Two mistakes:&nbsp;1) The demonstrative masculine is ‘este’ not ‘esto’ (it’s neutral demostrative)2) In front of an adjective, in this sentence ‘bueno’, we use and adverb like ‘muy’7- Nosotros vivimos en Madrid por/durante tres años.Expressing a period of time, we don’t use the preposition ‘para’.The best option is to use ‘durante’ although ‘por’ is correct as well8- Tengo quinientos euros.Cien. Doscientos. Trescientos. Cuatrocientos. But... Quinientos9-&nbsp;Por favor, quiero otro helado.When we want to ask for another thing, it’s not necessary&nbsp;‘un’10- La gente es muy trabajadoras&nbsp;Watch out,&nbsp;in the English language ‘the people’ is plural, but in Spanish ‘la gente’ is singular.11- La&nbsp;reunión es en el hotel Hilton.As you know, the ‘estar’ verb is used for locating people, animals or things. However, when we want to locate people at social events (meetings, weddings, parties, etc.) there is an exception, we use ‘ser’ verb instead of ‘estar’12- Un momento por favorIn front of a masculine noun, it’s used the short adjective ‘un’13- ¿Cómo es el clima en invierno en tu ciudad?In general, the Spanish nouns ending with the ‘ma’ syllable are feminine.14- Madrid está en el centro de España.For locating: people, animals, or things, we use the ‘estar’ verb (except for locating social events as we saw above)15 - a) Señor, ¿quiere algo de beber?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) Gracias no quiero nada &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1) In front of an uncountable noun, we use the indefinite pronoun ‘algo’ (‘alguno’ is used as an indefinite pronoun referring people: ¿Alguno de vosotros quiere beber algo? ~ Any of you want to drink something?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2)In Spanish&nbsp;the double negation is common: no - nada&nbsp; Should you have any questions,&nbsp;feel free to type in the comments.Finally, let me have an idea that I bear in mind: “Your best teacher, it’s your last mistake.”Keep making mistakes!

15 Mistakes Most Spanish Students Make

Hello. 
Can you help me? Are secret snackers the people who eat at night?

Hot little jets of hate worked into his thoughts, pushed once, moved back.

What do "jets" and "work into" mean here?

1. He watched them fly, their color a bright slash in solid green, and in this way he found the berries

What does slash mean here?

2. His whole abdomen was torn with great rolling jolts of pain, pain that doubled him in the darkness of the little shelter, put him over and face down in the sand to moan again and again: "Mother, mother, mother..."

What do "rolling", "jolts", "double" mean here?

3. It was as if all the berries, all the pits had exploded in the center of him, ripped arid tore at him.

What does "rip arid tore at" mean here?

You told me you had bought it

Or 

You told me you bought it ?

Thank you 😊