English Basics: pronoun lowdown

Subject and object pronouns are weird and confusing for both learners and native English users alike, but it is especially troubling when more than one subject/object is present. If you don't know what I'm talking about, consider the following sentences. Which ones are correct? She and I went to the hockey game.Her and I went …

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English Basics: there, there’s, their, theirs, they’re in the air

Let's all face it, English sucks. It's a terrible language with all sorts of confusing little landmines to trip up learners and native speakers alike. The problem during speaking is these words are pronounced the same, but have significantly different meanings. When writing, these words are commonly misused, either consciously or subconsciously. Sometimes my typing …

English Basics: verb tenses for gin lovers

There are so many tenses in English, it gives people tension, and what better way to ease tension than drinking a lovely gin and tonic, martini, or gin smash. Many of us use tenses without really knowing what they are or how to use them properly. Whenever we use the PERFECT tense we must use …

English Basics: me, myself, and myself?

There is a saying in English that we're never alone because we are always with "me, myself, and I." These are three common pronouns to denote ME as the subject and object of a sentence, yet they are commonly misused by English speakers. Let's have a brief look at how to use them properly. I …

English Basics: EKS marks the spot

One of the worst pronunciation problems amongst native English speakers is the "ESK" sound. For some reason, many native English speakers pronounce it as X (EKS) instead of ESK. Instead of ESCape, people often say Xcape. This also happens with ESP, as in ESPecially, which is sometimes pronounced Xpecially. It is nonsensical when you think …

English Basics: much, many, little, and few

As an ESL teacher, it is always troubling when students presented examples of poor English usage by native English speakers. One of the most common examples of misused English grammar is the word "much." For instance, I frequently hear there is "much" cars on the road, and "much" cases of COVID-19. Unfortunately this is incorrect, …

Six Days, Seven Nights (or thereabouts) on Kauai, pt. 6

Time to end the suspense, and bring to a close one of our favourite travel experiences. Kauai solidified the path for all of our future travel; we discovered that independent travel resonated with us far more than the All-Inclusive route. Travel became an adventure, about exploring and finding those out-of-the-way places that few others visit. …

Six Days, Seven Nights (or thereabouts) on Kauai, pt. 5

More fun and adventure from our trip to Kauai in 2000. I'm interested to know if anyone has been there recently and knows if it has changed from being a rustic getaway to tourist hot spot. We loved Kauai for it's beautiful secluded beaches and laid back vibe. In this episode we find the illustrious …

Six Days, Seven Nights (or thereabouts) on Kauai, pt. 4

More fun and adventures on Kauai, from naked extras and rip currents, to sunny hikes on the Na Pali coast and rumours about Keifer Sutherland.https://paulpanchyshyn.com/six-days-seven-nights-or-thereabouts-on-kauai-pt-4/

Six Days, Seven Nights (or thereabouts) on Kauai, pt. 3

The continue story of our vacation to Kauai in 2000 featuring Hurricane Iniki damage, Captain Cook, and delicious shaved ice! https://paulpanchyshyn.com/six-days-seven-nights-or-thereabouts-on-kauai-pt-3/