Learn how to use American English idioms with confidence. 7 Steps to Learn American English Idioms In order to become fluent in English, you need to be able to use common English expressions correctly in your everyday conversation. This means knowing how to use common phrases and words in a different way from their usual meaning. American English is a little different from British English because it uses more idioms. An idiom is a word or phrase that has a special meaning. In this article, I will show you how to use idioms in your everyday life and improve your vocabulary.
1. Identify the Idiom First, you need to identify the idiom. There are thousands of idioms in the English language, and most of them are unique to American English. When you use an idiom correctly, you can instantly sound more intelligent than the average native speaker. The best way to learn American idioms is to listen to real people using them in real conversations. YouTube is a great resource for this purpose. You can find a wide range of videos that explain idioms from both a grammatical and colloquial point of view.
2. Understand the Meaning Once you have identified the idiom, it is time to understand its meaning. To do so, you must think about the idiom in the context of a situation. The following list will help you understand how to use idioms: If you can’t find the meaning, ask yourself these questions: What is the subject of the sentence? What does the verb mean? What is the object of the verb? Is there an adverb in front of the verb? Is there a preposition in front of the verb? Does the sentence begin with “if”? Do I want to use the word “I” or “you”? Are there any other words that can be used instead?
3. Use it Correctly Now that you have identified the meaning, you are ready to use the idiom correctly. To do so, you need to put the two parts of the idiom together in a sentence. Here are some examples:
4. Practice Using Them Once you have mastered the idioms, you can practice using them in conversation. Here is an example: The man who had no time for breakfast was late for work. You can use this expression in any situation where you can use the word “had” and the verb “have” in the same sentence. For example: The man who had no time for breakfast was late for work. The man who had no time for breakfast was late for work. The man who had no time for breakfast was late for work. To test your comprehension, try to use these phrases in a conversation:
5. Use Them In Context When you master the idioms, you will be able to use them in a wide variety of situations. You should always use idioms when talking about a specific situation. Here are some examples:
6. Memorize Them At some point, you may find that you can’t remember the correct order of the words in an idiom. This happens most often with idioms that are used frequently, such as “you can count on it”. In this case, it is best to memorize the idiom and then use it correctly. To do so, write down the idioms on a piece of paper or record them using the voice recorder function on your phone. Then, whenever you want to use them, just read them back to yourself.
7. Get More Idioms The easiest way to learn idioms is to listen to real people speaking. You can download free podcasts and audio-books at iTunes, Amazon, and many other websites. Another option is to take a course or join a private Facebook group where people share new idioms and phrases. You can also look up idioms on sites such as UrbanDictionary.com, which allows you to type in any phrase and see how it is used in context. There are many ways to learn idioms, but I hope that these seven steps will help you get started.
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