Come in and
look around!
Practise your English
This page is designed for you to practise your English in various ways. We will regularly add new phrasal verbs, idioms, prepositions, "false friends", etc.
And, of course, you can learn all about the adventures of Sam and Paddy. (advanced reading)
Make sure you return to this page from time to time to see what's new and improve your skills!
Tongue TwistersPeter Piper
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper;
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled pepper?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
Where's the peck of pickled pepper
Peter Piper picked?
Betty Botter
Betty Botter bought some butter,
But, she said, this butter's bitter;
If I put it in my batter,
It will make my batter bitter,
But a bit of better butter
Will make my batter better.
So she bought a bit of butter
Better than her bitter butter
And she put it in her batter,
And it made her batter better,
So 'twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit of better butter.
Idiom
(and) Bob's your uncle: (and) everything is all right (used especially when something good happens suddenly without difficulty)
"All you have to do is add an egg to the cake mixture, cook it for 30 minutes, and Bob's your uncle - you've got a perfect cake!"
Prepositions
Time: at - on - in
We use AT for the time of the day:
at 5 o'clock, at 9.25, at lunchtime, at midnight, at sunset, etc.
We use ON for days and dates:
on Monday / on Mondays, on 7 April 1983, on my birthday, on Christmas Day, etc
We use IN for longer periods:
in March, in the Summer, in the past, in the future, in 1984, in the 1980s,
in the Middle Ages, in the 16th Centruy, etc.
Idiom
to pull someone's leg: to make fun of a person in a friendly way, e.g. by trying to make him believe something that is not true.
"John told me I would earn £100,000 a month in a hospital but he was just pulling my leg".
Phrasal Verb
To run down
1. to criticise
‘He’s always running people down behind their backs’
2. to feel unwell
‘I feel/am really run down these days and I keep catching colds. I must be working too hard.’
3. to be neglected (building)
‘That building is really run down. No-one ever paints it or does any repairs.’
4. to diminish strength/reduce
‘These batteries are run down’
‘The government is running down their troops in Africa’
5. to be hit by a vehicle
‘He was run down by a bus while crossing the road.’
6. to track and find
‘The police eventually ran down the criminals in a house in London.’