Hello friends, welcome to our Hindi Podcasts. In this podcast series we will learn important tips related to fluency, grammar, survival Hindi etc. I have been teaching Hindi to foreigners since 2007.

Learn Fluent Hindi with Professor Ashish...

Welcome to our English Podcasts. In this podcast series we will learn important tips related to Business Eng, Interviews, IELTS/TOEFL Prep, etc. I have been teaching Professional English since 2007.

Learn Fluent English with Professor Ashish

Hello friends, welcome to our Sanskrit Podcasts. In this podcast series we will learn important tips related to pronunciation, grammar etc. I have been teaching Sanskrit to foreigners since 2007.

Learn Sanskrit with Professor Ashish

In the second episode of No Such Thing as a Synonym, we explore a common pair of adverbs: "nearly" and "almost".   

When you look up these words in a dictionary you’ll find they have virtually identical definitions. However, I want to let you in on a secret – the dictionary isn’t telling you the whole story.

In this episode, we’ll explore the pragmatic and subtle differences between the two words, including the difference between "nearly perfect" and "almost perfect" and why we don’t usually use "nearly" with emotions, as in "I felt nearly giddy with excitement".

Listen along to learn something new!

No Such Thing as a Synonym

02: Nearly & Almost

In the first episode of No Such Thing as a Synonym, we kick things off with a pair of very familiar verbs: "see" and "watch". 

When you look up these words in a dictionary you’ll find they have virtually identical definitions. However, I want to let you in on a secret – the dictionary isn’t telling you the whole story. 

In this episode, we’ll explore the pragmatic and subtle differences between the two words, including the difference between “seeing a film” and “watching a film” and “seeing someone fall off their bike” and “watching someone fall off their bike”. 

Listen along to learn something new!

01: See & Watch

In this introductory episode, I’ll explain how this podcast will go beyond dictionary definitions and challenge the idea that two words can actually have exactly the same meaning.

I’m your host Emma, an Italki teacher with four years’ experience in editing and teaching writing skills. I’m bringing my passion for the intricacies of the English language to this podcast, where I’ll explain the subtle, pragmatic differences between a pair of synonyms each week. 

This might mean, for example, that one of the two words is more formal than the other, or creates more of a negative meaning, or has specific connotations that mean it’s only suitable for a certain topic, or level, or audience.

So, when you’re writing your next email, chapter, letter, or essay, you can feel confident that you’re choosing the perfect word for the situation.

So, get your magnifying glass and join me on this investigation into vocabularly!