Adam: Hi. Welcome to www.engvid.com My name is Adam. And, today, I want to talk
to you about English. Now, I know that you think English is a very confusing
language, and you're right — it's a very confusing language. Many students have
come to me and said: "But I check in the dictionary, and this is what it means."
And I say: "Yes, but there are several meanings in the dictionary. Which one
did you choose?" And everybody looks at me and going: "Well, the one it says in
the dictionary." Little hint for all of you... all of you studying English: Many
words in English have more than one meaning, and the dictionary doesn't list
them in the order that you need them; it just gives you definitions. You need to
look at the context. What is the sentence around this word you're not
understanding? Okay? So, I chose a few examples, here, just to give you an idea
of what I'm talking about. So, I think all of you know this word: "wear". You
"wear" clothes, you "wear" a tie, you "wear" glasses. So, most of you think
this is a verb about clothes. Okay? Did you know that this can also be a noun?
Now, the noun "wear" and the verb "wear" have absolutely no relationship. The
noun "wear", although it can also be used as a verb, basically means to make
less; to make more weak. Okay? For example, if you put a lot of friction,
if you rub something a long time — the material will become less and less. So,
for example, look at my jeans. Okay? If I do this many times, eventually my knee
area will "wear"; and then, when this area is "worn" — okay? — there will be a
hole here. And then these jeans will have so much "wear" that I won't be able
to wear them in public; people will laugh at me, and that's not good. Now,
usually, we talk about: "wear and tear". Okay? This is the use of materials. Now,
for example, if you have anything with moving parts — your car, for example:
You drive, you drive, you drive, you drive — eventually things start to break
and fall apart. Why? Because of the "wear" on the parts. Metal rubbing
against metal — the metal becomes less; becomes weak. Okay? So, that's "wear".
I think everybody knows this word: "meet". You're gonna "meet" your
friends; you're gonna "meet" for drinks. Okay? Great. Did you know that this word
can also be a noun? You're thinking: "'Meet', a noun? It can't be." But it
Now, these two are funny ones, because they're used usually as slang. Oops,
can. Okay? When? For example, recently, you've seen the Olympics. The Olympics
is the biggest swim "meet" in the world; it's the biggest gymnastics "meet" in
sorry. "Milk", of course, you've all drank... you've all drunk milk; you've
the world; the biggest track-and-field "meet" in the world. A "meet" basically
means an event, and usually we're talking about a sports event. But "meet"
as a verb also has other meanings; besides "meet someone". You can "meet
all drunk water. These are very delicious drinks, but that's not what
expectations". Your boss wants you to be able to do this much work in a week,
let's say. If you can "meet expectations" means you can finish all
we're talking about here. Do you know that "milk" and "water" can both be
that work that your boss wants you to do. Right? Nothing to do with other
people; has to do with the work. You're "meeting expectations"; you're "meeting
verbs? Now there's, of course, the literal meaning of "milk" — "to milk" is
deadlines", etcetera. "Mean". Now, most of you, I think know this word — you
think it means mean, like not nice as an adjective. This word can also be a noun.
Now, I'm shocking you, I know. But what does "mean" mean as a noun? Well, for
to milk a cow; to squeeze the milk out of a cow. "To water" means to pour water
example, some of you are going to be taking the IELTS exam. You have a
reading score, a listening score, a speaking score, and a writing score. The
over something; over your garden or your lawn. But in slang, it has a completely
universities, they want to see your "mean" score. What does that mean?
"Mean" mean, right? It basically means your average. If you take all the four
scores, the "mean" is where these come in the middle; in the average. So, you
different meaning. "To milk something" or "to milk someone" is to get out of it
have to be careful to use this as a adjective... as an adjective; sometimes
as a noun. So, someone says: -"Have you taken the TOEFL exam?" -"Yes." -"What
as much as possible. Okay? So, for example, your friend is very rich, and
was the mean?" -"Oh, it was seven." -"Oh, congratulations — you're going to
university." Next: "make". "Make". Everybody knows "make". This is one of
the first verbs you learn in English, right? "To make" — to create; to build
very generous, and he likes to give out money. So, you try to "milk him for
something. Here's another little shocker: It's also a noun. Let's say
you're calling tech support. Your computer is not working very well; you
every penny he has". Maybe not a nice thing to do, but people do it anyway.
call tech support. The first question the tech support guy is going to ask you
is: "What's the make of your computer?" And you say: "I don't want to make a
computer; I want to fix my computer." And he's saying: "Well, yes, but what's
That's what "milk" means — "to milk someone". "To water" — we usually say:
the make?" So, "make" basically means the maker or the manufacturer.
Basically, who made it. So, "the make" of my computer, for example, is Acer;
"to water down". "To water down" means to make less intense; a little similar
maybe yours is Dell, or Apple, or Toshiba, etcetera. So, "the make" — who
made it.
to "wear", but different. "To water down" means to make it less intense; a
little bit weaker. So, for example, if you're reading a business report, and
Now, you're thinking: "Okay, wow. I know all these new words that I already knew,
you have to explain to your customer the business situation, for example, if you
but I didn't know." So, now you're thinking: "Well, how am I supposed to
know other words by myself?" Without me here? "Without Adam here to explain
give them all these technical words, they won't know what you mean. You need
them?" Use context. And, of course, use your dictionary. If you look at your
to "water it down for them"; you need to make it simpler. So, you put less
dictionary, all of these meanings are there. The thing is: Don't take the
technical words; you make the sentences a little bit easier to understand. You
first meaning a dictionary gives you because it may be it's not the one you
explain the situation in everyday words; you make it less intense, so they don't
need. Look at the context — what is around the word, what is the situation
the word is being used in? — and then look for something in the dictionary
get scared. Good.
that matches that context, and that's how you will improve your English. Okay?
Now, you're still not too sure; you want a little bit of practice — go to
www.engvid.com. There's a quiz there; you can practice these. And come back to
www.engvid.com for other lessons; learn English, improve your abilities, and
I'll see you next time. Thank you.