Here is a step-by-step guide to learning idioms in American English, and how to use them in everyday life. We’ll be taking a look at some of the most commonly used idioms in American English. You’ll also learn how to apply them in your writing, and how to use them in conversation. As with any skill, these are only the basics. The more you practice, the faster you’ll master these phrases. Here’s what we’re covering…
The 7 Steps to learn American English Idioms
Learn more about these common phrases and their uses…
STEP 1: Choose Your Study Material
It’s very important that you choose your material carefully.
Make sure you’re studying the right material, with the right examples.
If you don’t know what the correct material is, check out my article on how to choose good study material.
Choose examples that you can understand, and make sure they’re relevant to you.
STEP 2: Read and Analyze Your Examples
Read through your example material slowly, one phrase at a time.
Ask yourself questions about each phrase.
How does this sentence work? What does it mean?
How do the words fit together?
Why does this word sound so weird?
Think about the context of the sentence. Is it something that makes sense in real life?
STEP 3: Write Down Your Answers
After you’ve read and analyzed the example material, take a minute to write down your thoughts.
Try to explain the meaning of each phrase in your own words.
Include the example material as part of your explanation.
Make sure you get your explanations 100% correct. Don’t just guess.
STEP 4: Repeat Your Steps
Repeat these steps again and again until you’re confident with the phrasal verbs.
Once you’re comfortable with these examples, move on to the next step.
Don’t worry if you get stuck on some examples. Simply go back to the previous step and try again.
STEP 5: Write Your Own Phrases
Now it’s time to start creating your own phrases.
These are the key idioms you’ll need to master in order to communicate effectively in American English.
Once you’ve got the hang of these, you can apply them to your own writing.
Use your phrase bank to help you when you’re writing.
Make sure to use the correct form of the verb, the subject and the object.
If you’re unsure, check out my article on how to choose the correct form of the verb.
STEP 6: Practice Your Idioms in Real Life
Now that you’ve got a feel for the idioms, it’s time to practice using them in real life.
The more you use them, the easier they’ll be to remember.
Remember that this isn’t a test, so don’t worry about making mistakes.
Just keep practicing until you feel comfortable.
STEP 7: Review Your Progress
Review your progress every few weeks.
This will help you to see where you need to focus your studies.
As you get better at using the phrases, you’ll be able to use them more naturally.
Don’t worry if you still make mistakes. This is just the beginning.
Thanks for reading!
