When Good Intentions Meet Real Life

Feb 2
4 min read

Updated: Feb 12

An idiom, a pun, and why transitive vs intransitive verbs matter

This post comes from my weekly English with Em newsletter.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you use them, I earn a small commission — it doesn’t cost you anything extra.

Weekly update

I didn't quite succeed in my goal of trying something new every week this year. I've been racking my brains this morning, thinking that surely I must have done something new last week, but nothing's coming to me.

It was my intention to get a hula hoop, but I left it too late to order it in time. It'll arrive on Friday, so that'll be my something new for this week!

I did start using my AeroPress, a manual coffee maker. It was a Christmas present, but I can't really call it something new because I've used them in the past when visiting my brothers. I find it really hard to push the plunger down. Clearly, I need to work on my triceps strength!

A few other things I have in mind are joining a Spanish class, adding all the past newsletters to my blog (which you are now reading!), and making a shadowing video for YouTube.

For anyone new to the concept, shadowing is where you listen to a speaker and repeat what they say, trying to imitate them as closely as possible. It's great for both pronunciation and listening practice.

What do you suppose is the right length for that? I've set up a YouTube poll, so you can let me know your thoughts!

On the topic of joining a Spanish class, it's something I've been meaning to do for ages. I get plenty of practice reading and listening, but I don't speak enough. I spend all day speaking English with my students, and I don't go out much because I'm an introvert.

I know... I tell my students they need to speak more, but I don't always practise what I preach. Given that I live in Spain, I really have no excuse! 😬

Speaking of speaking (do you see what I did there? 😜), I shared a new speaking practice option by email on Saturday. If you missed it and want more practice (with feedback!), you can read it here.

Vocabulary list

Rack your brains (idiom): Try very hard to remember or think of something.
Must have + past participle (grammar structure): Used to make a logical guess about the past.
(I must have forgotten = I’m almost sure I forgot)
Video explanation here.
Nothing's coming to me (phrase): I can’t remember anything / no ideas are appearing.
In time (phrase): Early enough; before it’s too late. Learners often confuse this with on time. For a clear explanation of the difference, watch this short video.
Plunger (noun): The part of a device that you push down to make it work.
Have something in mind (idiom): Have an idea or plan, even if it isn’t fully decided.
Imitate (verb): Copy the way someone speaks, acts, or sounds.
Length (noun): How long something is (time or distance).
Ages (noun): A very long time.
Plenty of (phrase): A large or sufficient amount.
Practise what you preach (idiom): Do what you tell other people they should do.
Given (preposition): Considering a fact or situation.
(Given that I live in Spain = when we consider this fact)

What's new on YouTube?

Short

🌟 A Word-Formation Pattern Advanced Learners Should Know

English often adds -en to one-syllable adjectives to form verbs that show a change of state, often caused by an external factor.

An English pun for you!

I was struggling to figure out how lightning works, and then it struck me.

Explanation at the end👇

Idiom of the week

Strike a chord

If something strikes a chord, it creates a strong emotional reaction because it feels familiar, personal, or relatable.

We often use it when something reminds us of our own experiences or feelings.

👉 That article about work-life balance struck a chord with readers.

👉 Her story about learning English abroad struck a chord with many students.

👉 The film really struck a chord with people who grew up in small towns.

🌟 Notice that we say strike a chord with someone.

Your questions answered

What's the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs, and why does it matter?

The key difference is that transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning.

Transitive: "He bought a book."

We can't just say: "He bought."

The sentence is incomplete.

We must "buy something". ✔️

Intransitive: "She slept."

This is a complete sentence.

We don't "sleep something". ❌

Why does this matter?

Only transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice:

Active: "He bought a book."

Passive: "A book was bought (by him)."

"She slept" cannot become:

"She was slept". ❌

What's the fastest way to tell the difference?

The easiest way to tell if a verb is transitive or intransitive is to ask:

"What?" or "Whom?" directly after the verb.

If you have a clear answer, the verb is transitive.

Explanation to the pun

This pun works because strike has more than one meaning:

1) To be hit by lightning

👉 The tree was struck by lightning.

2) To suddenly realise something or have an idea

👉 When I saw the empty street, it struck me that it was a public holiday

I hope you enjoyed this post from my weekly English with Em newsletter. If you'd like to have these tips sent directly to your inbox, you can subscribe here.

An idiom, a pun, and why transitive vs intransitive verbs matter

This post comes from my weekly English with Em newsletter.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you use them, I earn a small commission — it doesn’t cost you anything extra.

Weekly update

I didn't quite succeed in my goal of trying something new every week this year. I've been racking my brains this morning, thinking that surely I must have done something new last week, but nothing's coming to me.

It was my intention to get a hula hoop, but I left it too late to order it in time. It'll arrive on Friday, so that'll be my something new for this week!

I did start using my AeroPress, a manual coffee maker. It was a Christmas present, but I can't really call it something new because I've used them in the past when visiting my brothers. I find it really hard to push the plunger down. Clearly, I need to work on my triceps strength!

A few other things I have in mind are joining a Spanish class, adding all the past newsletters to my blog (which you are now reading!), and making a shadowing video for YouTube.

For anyone new to the concept, shadowing is where you listen to a speaker and repeat what they say, trying to imitate them as closely as possible. It's great for both pronunciation and listening practice.

What do you suppose is the right length for that? I've set up a YouTube poll, so you can let me know your thoughts!

On the topic of joining a Spanish class, it's something I've been meaning to do for ages. I get plenty of practice reading and listening, but I don't speak enough. I spend all day speaking English with my students, and I don't go out much because I'm an introvert.

I know... I tell my students they need to speak more, but I don't always practise what I preach. Given that I live in Spain, I really have no excuse! 😬

Speaking of speaking (do you see what I did there? 😜), I shared a new speaking practice option by email on Saturday. If you missed it and want more practice (with feedback!), you can read it here.

Vocabulary list

Rack your brains (idiom): Try very hard to remember or think of something.

Must have + past participle (grammar structure): Used to make a logical guess about the past.

Video explanation here.

Nothing's coming to me (phrase): I can’t remember anything / no ideas are appearing.

In time (phrase): Early enough; before it’s too late. Learners often confuse this with on time. For a clear explanation of the difference, watch this short video.

Plunger (noun): The part of a device that you push down to make it work.

Have something in mind (idiom): Have an idea or plan, even if it isn’t fully decided.

Imitate (verb): Copy the way someone speaks, acts, or sounds.

Length (noun): How long something is (time or distance).

Ages (noun): A very long time.

Plenty of (phrase): A large or sufficient amount.

Practise what you preach (idiom): Do what you tell other people they should do.

Given (preposition): Considering a fact or situation.

(Given that I live in Spain = when we consider this fact)

What's new on YouTube?

Short

🌟 A Word-Formation Pattern Advanced Learners Should Know

English often adds -en to one-syllable adjectives to form verbs that show a change of state, often caused by an external factor.

An English pun for you!

I was struggling to figure out how lightning works, and then it struck me.

Explanation at the end👇

Idiom of the week

Strike a chord

If something strikes a chord, it creates a strong emotional reaction because it feels familiar, personal, or relatable.

We often use it when something reminds us of our own experiences or feelings.

👉 That article about work-life balance struck a chord with readers.

👉 Her story about learning English abroad struck a chord with many students.

👉 The film really struck a chord with people who grew up in small towns.

🌟 Notice that we say strike a chord with someone.

Your questions answered

What's the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs, and why does it matter?

The key difference is that transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning.

Transitive: "He bought a book."

We can't just say: "He bought."

The sentence is incomplete.

We must "buy something". ✔️

Intransitive: "She slept."

This is a complete sentence.

We don't "sleep something". ❌

Why does this matter?

Only transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice:

Active: "He bought a book."

Passive: "A book was bought (by him)."

"She slept" cannot become:

"She was slept". ❌

What's the fastest way to tell the difference?

The easiest way to tell if a verb is transitive or intransitive is to ask:

"What?" or "Whom?" directly after the verb.

If you have a clear answer, the verb is transitive.

Explanation to the pun

This pun works because strike has more than one meaning:

1) To be hit by lightning

👉 The tree was struck by lightning.

2) To suddenly realise something or have an idea

👉 When I saw the empty street, it struck me that it was a public holiday

I hope you enjoyed this post from my weekly English with Em newsletter. If you'd like to have these tips sent directly to your inbox, you can subscribe here.

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