Phrasal verbs: verb + preposition

Some verb + preposition phrasal verbs always have an object. This is because prepositions always have an object. He asked for his bill. She listened to him. They referred to our conversation. Some phrasal verbs with prepositions are: add to, agree with, approve of, ask for, believe in, care for, hope for, laugh at, look for, refer to,… Read More

Learning French: speaking on the phone

Our latest Learning French blog takes a look at some of the words and phrases that might come in handy when it comes to making a phone call in French. Read More

Spanish words of the week: helado or helada?

Time to get the cold, hard facts on another pair of Spanish nouns which differ superficially only in ending and gender. This week it’s the turn of the masculine 'helado' and the feminine 'helada'. Read More

French word of the week: recevoir

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French verb 'recevoir'. Read More

Phrasal verbs: verb + adverb

Some verb + adverb phrasal verbs have no object, i.e. they are intransitive, for example, get up, go away, hold on: Mary went away. Helen sat down. The students came back. Others do require an object, i.e. they are transitive, for example, blow something up, close something down, pick someone up: We could make out a figure in the distance. Read More

Spanish words of the week: copo or copa?

This week’s masculine and feminine pair are copo and copa. Read More

French word of the week: trop

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French adverb 'trop'. Read More

Spanish words of the week: fruta or fruto?

This week it’s time to get the juice on the meaning differences between two more Spanish nouns that are identical in form apart from their last letter and their gender: fruta and fruto Read More

Modal verbs

The most common modal verbs in English are: can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, and must. Modal verbs are a particular kind of auxiliary. Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can. Can I use your phone? – Of course you can. Do you think she will come? – I’m sure she will. I must get… Read More