Different Ways to Pass and Fail

Students prepare for an exam in suburbs of Yangon, Myanmar, February 2016.

Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. On this show, we explore the origins and usage of common expressions in American English.

Bring or Take

Bring vs. Take       Some words have certain similarities in meaning and use, and this, oftentimes, causes confusion among us. This is the case with the terms  bring and take. These two refer to moving something or someone from one place to another. But the goal of this post is to help you differentiate the two so you can use them properly.

Listening Comprehension

Three Word Phrasal Verbs

Elder, Older, etc.

Fill in the blanks.

1. My …………….. sister took care of me after the death of our mother.

Oldest          eldest          Either could be used here

2. She is two years …………….. than her husband.

Elder           older           Either could be used here

3. I have two …………….. sisters.

Elder           older           Either could be used here

Этимология некоторых названий стран мира

Афганистан - возможно, от 'Upa-Ghana-Stan' (на санскрите "земля объединенных племен").

Албания - земля горцев. Корень "Алб" означает "белый" или "гора". Предполагается, что горные племена из современного Косово принесли свой горский этноним на узкую прибрежную равнину.

Affordable comes from the word, "afford." Anne Ball and Jonathan Evans explains in this weeks News Words.