Easy English Learning Course

American English Idioms:
____________________________________
⭕In the TOEFL, you will find idiomatic expressions that make no grammatical sense. These interesting and colorful expressions are best learned by talking with native English speaking people. And, if possible, you should study a dictionary of American idioms.

⭕An idiom is a word or phrase used in a way that is peculiar to a certain region and whose meaning cannot be deduced from its grammatical structure or its component parts. For example, a Chinese exchange student in America is spinning a yarn (telling a fantastic story). His American host laughs, "Don't pull my leg," meaning, "don't try to fool me with your ridiculous story." The Chinese student replies, "I'm not touching you."

🔘Let us examine some of the most common American idioms.

▶Single and Compound Words

🔸Some idioms are single words that carry an unexpected meaning.

🔹For example, Marsha says, "I get bad vibes (vibrations) every time that showoff comes near me." "Vibes" are psychic emanations or feelings coming from someone or something. A "showoff" is an egotistical person who tries to impress others with his actions.

🔸Example # 2: Joe remarks, "Mary is a knockout. Too bad she is so standoffish." "Knockout" is slang for a beautiful woman. "Standoffish" means "aloof, distant, and reserved."

Conditional Sentences:
_______________________
🔈The Listening Section of the TOEFL also includes sentences which contain conditional words such as "if" and "unless." Most conditional sentences contain the word "if."
🔹Examples:
✔"If you train hard, you can win the race."
✔"Unless he studies more, he will not pass the test."

⭕Also, the modals "can," "could," "will," and "would" are frequently used in conditional sentences. Look for examples in the paragraphs below.

🔘There are two types of conditional sentences :
✔(1) factual, and
✔(2) hypothetical.

⭕1. A factual sentence states a fact. It expresses an action that is happening or will happen if the conditions expressed in the dependent clause are met.
🔹Examples:
✔"If the weather is good tomorrow, we can go fishing."
✔"If we believe in God enough to obey him, he will accept us as if we had never sinned."
🔘Note: If the conditions in the first clause are true, then the facts stated in the second clause are also true. The modals "can" and "will" are used in factual conditional sentences.

⭕2. The hypothetical conditional sentence, however, contains a dependent clause which expresses conditions that have not been met or are not being met. Therefore, the independent clause in the sentence describes what might have been, or what might be if the conditions were to be met.
🔸Examples:
✔"If it would stop raining, we could go fishing tomorrow."
✔"If all people believed in God enough to obey him, he would accept them as if they had never sinned."

The action in the independent clauses of these sentences is theoretically possible and could become factual. But the conditions are not being met. Therefore the action in the independent clause is merely a matter of conjecture.

🔘Some hypothetical sentences are so unreal that the conditions stated in the dependent clause cannot be met.
🔹Examples:
✔"If I were you, I would see a doctor."
✔"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."
✔"If it were Saturday, we could go to the beach."

In each of these sentences, the conditions are contrary to fact.⤵
▶I am not you.
▶Wishes are not horses.
▶And today is not Saturday.
▪Therefore, the sentences are only hypothetical and conjectural.

🔘Notice that the past tense form of "be" ("were") is always used in hypothetical sentences. The pattern is always the same:

If + Noun or Pronoun + were + Noun or Pronoun + Independent Clause
▶If I were you, I|would see a doctor
▶If this were Saturday, we|could go to the beach
▶It is never correct to say, "If I was."

◽Conditional sentences are often difficult for international students because they often mean the opposite of what they seem to say. If the verb in the independent clause is positive, the meaning of the sentence is negative. And if the verb is negative, the meaning is positive.

🔹Example # 1: "If I were as strong as you, I would wrestle a bear."
The meaning is, I am not as strong as you are, and I am not going to wrestle a bear.

🔸Example # 2: "If he teachings were not like friends to me, then my suffering would have destroyed me".
▶The meaning is, His teachings are like friends to me; therefore, my suffering has not destroyed me.