Using adverbs correctly is correct

Most people know that an adverb describes how a verb is done, yet they have a difficult time actually using adverbs correctly.   Here's a little help...

Rule: Use adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs

Wrong: Sarah played her part perfect. 

Right:  Sarah played her part perfectly. [The adverb perfectly modifies the verb played.]

Wrong: The plane departs at a reasonable early hour. 

Right: The plane departs at a reasonably early hour. [The adverb reasonably modifies the verb early.]

Wrong: The Broncos played real good during the first quarter. 

Right:  The Broncos played very well during the first quarter.  (How did you think the Broncos did?)

Wrong: How are you doing? Good! 

Right: How are you doing? Well! (Yeah, you'll sound like a smarty-pants, but you'll be correct.)

 

For more grammar tips or to sign up for our Business Writing Course, Workplace ESL training, or Workplace Spanish classes, visit us at Workplace ESL Solutions!

 

International Religious Holidays in March 2013

Happy March!

Lion or lamb?  So far snow storms across the country have pounded any glimmer of spring out of our minds, but it's around the corner.  We promise!  This year March is packed full of special religious holidays that your co-workers or clients may be celebrating.

It's nice to be aware of special events, as well as be sensitive to those who may be expressing their religious devotion on certain dates.  Here's what this month looks like:

 
 

Traditional holidays

8 March:

International Women's Day

The day was commemorated for the first time in 1911. At a meeting in Copenhagen in 1910, the Socialist International established a Women's Day to honor the movement for women's rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women.

 

21 March: Norouz  

This festival of Persians, Kurds and Bahai. Eggs and evergreen plants serve as symbols of life, continuity, and eternity. On this day Alevi also celebrate the birth of Ali who was born in Mecca on the first day of spring or Norouz in 598/9 AD. Ali ibn Abi Talib was a cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.

 

 

 

Christianity
 

24 March: Palm Sunday

   

28 March: Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday

 

Catholic Christians commemorate the anniversary of the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus at the Last Supper and of the washing of the disciples' feet which is symbolically reenacted in many churches as a sign of humility.

 

 

29 March: Good Friday

Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus, when He sacrificed Himself for man's redemption.

 

30 March: Holy Saturday

A Catholic mass without bells or organ music.

 

31 March: Easter Sunday

The most holy of Christian sacred days. The day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus and the victory of life over death. Customs: the Easter Vigil is held in the night of Holy Saturday, the Easter candle is sanctified and lit. The Easter Bunny and Easter eggs are a commercial aspect of the holiday that has become a children's tradition. 

 

 

Hinduism
 

27 March: Holi

Holi is a colourful spring festival and commemorates the rescue of Prince Prahlad from a fire pyre where his sister Holi had taken him. A bonfire is lit to signify the burning of Holika and to thank Lord Vishnu for his good deed. Ashes from the bonfire are marked on worshippers as a sign of inner cleansing.

 

 

Judaism
 

26 March to 2 April: Pesah/Passover

The feast of unleavened bread is dedicated to the celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. At the Seder, a unique dinner ceremony, Jews commemorate the "pass over" when God would send the Angel of Death to kill the firstborn males but would see that the Israelites had marked their houses with lambs' blood and would command his angel to "pass over", to kill no one there. (All Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the previous day.)


To learn more about improving your workplace, visit us at Workplace ESL Solutions!

Ronna Timpa wins "Women to Watch in 2013" Award!

Award-winning Ronna Timpa with her beautiful daughter, Sarah, at the Vdara Hotel where Ronna received the prestigious "Women to Watch in 2013" Award in January!
Watch Ronna's speech at: http://youtu.be/eiLvzu6sLmI   

How to fall in love with commas

How to Fall in Love with Commas

 

In our world at Workplace ESL Solutions, it is so important to know that commas save lives!  It's a fact.

Here's an example:

 

Let's eat Grandma!

 

Let's add a comma to save her....

 

Let's eat, Grandma!

 

Commas are our friends, and they are good friends!  They perform many things for us without a complaint.  They don't ask for money and don't have to be fed.  They never criticize or talk back.  They are nonperishable, renewable, totally reliable and are guaranteed to do what they say they can do.  Can anyone or anything else say that?  No other punctuation mark has a greater burden and no other mark has so wide a variety of tasks to perform. 

 

So, let's learn to love commas!

 

Ok, first of all, don't be afraid to use one.  Just don't use one after every 4.3 words.  As your hand is about to type the comma, STOP and think about it.  Is there a rule or are you just in a mood to use a comma?  Some days, you might just be in the mood to use a comma.  That's ok.  We all have those days, but just use them appropriately.  If you have had comma trouble for many years, I can provide you with a comma punch card.  When you have used your allotted commas for the day, you have to stop.   Plain and simple.

 

Ok, so we've kept you waiting long enough.  Click HERE for a great link.

Are you a grammar geek too?

See if you can figure out what these seven words all have in common:

1. Banana
2. Dresser
3. Grammar
4. Potato
5. Revive
6. Uneven
7. Assess

Have you already given up?

Give it another try....
Look at each word carefully.

You'll kick yourself when you discover the answer.

No, it is not that they all have at least 2 double letters or 6 letters.

Answer:
In all of the words listed, if you take the first letter, place it at the end of the word, and then spell the word backwards, it will be the same word! Yeah, we're kinda geeky when it comes to playing around with English words.

Want your employees to speak and write better for business? We'd love to share our popular "Business Writing" workshop with your company! We can offer a fun 2 hour class or a longer course to meet your company's goals.

Congrats Grads!

Congratulations to some of our most recent class graduates! We love teaching!


(Hotel Spanish Course at the Cosmopolitan Hotel)

                         (Business Writing Course at Circus Circus Hotel)


We would love to help YOUR company by improving guest and employee communication in English and Spanish!  To get a customized program to fit your company's needs, contact ronna @workplaceesl.com or go to http://www.workplaceesl.com