English beginner

Fault
The spelling "au" in English is pronounced "aw" as in the word "fault". Other words that sound similar are:
a vault - a strong room for storage in a bank
an assault - to attack a person with words or actions
Words that are spelled with "alt" also have a similar sound. Some "alt" words are:
malt - a sweet powder made from grain
halt - a formal command to stop

Daily Routines
CULTURAL NOTE
Because many people work in jobs in which they sit at a computer all day, they have to find time to make exercise part of their daily routine. Some people jog, others participate in team sports, but today the most common way of getting exercise in the U.S. is by joining a gym or health club. In this age of technology, using a treadmill is like going for a "virtual walk"!

Invitations
See if you can guess who usually pays for dinner in the following situations here in North America:
1. Two friends agree to meet for lunch.
2. A man invites a woman for dinner
3. The manager of a local company invites visiting colleagues out for dinner.
4. A group of friends meet for dinner.
5. A group of friends meet for dinner to celebrate someone''s birthday.

CULTURAL NOTES
In 1, each friend would usually pay for his or her own lunch. Friends who often meet might take turns paying for lunch.
In 2 and 3, the person who invites you out for dinner will usually pay, especially in a business situation.
In 4, it is common to receive one bill and to divide the total among the friends (including taxes and tip!).
In 5, everyone will split the bill except for the birthday guest. The friends will pay for his or her meal.
How do these scenarios differ from your country?
Question for the week: How do you politely accept or decline an invitation in your country? Come to the hosted chat and tell us!!

Daily Routines
WORDS
Can you remember the words from yesterday''s reading? Number the words below from 1 to 5 in their correct place in the reading.
dinner, routine, bed, morning, bus
Here is an example of a daily (1) for Anna, a 24-year-old bank teller:
I get up in the (2) at 6:00 a.m. I spend 30 minutes practicing yoga before I shower and eat breakfast. Then I walk to the bus stop and catch the 7:40 (3) to work. At the end of the work day, I catch the 5:10 bus to go home. I make (4) and watch the news on television, and then I either read or spend time with friends. I go to (5) around 11:00 p.m.
Answers: 1. routine 2. morning 3. bus 4. dinner 5. bed

Fault
What are the different meanings of the word "fault"?
"Fault" can be used as a verb as well as a noun. As a verb, it means the same as blamed. "Faulted" is a bit more formal than "blamed".
Henry: DonĂ¯t you think that John sleeps too much?
June: He canĂ¯t be faulted for that. He works 12 hours a day.
You can substitute or change the word "faulted" for "blamed" above and the meaning is exactly the same.
Come to Englishtown''s online courses to expand your vocabulary and learn more about formal and informal styles of English.

Fault

What are the different meanings of the word "fault"?
Everyone has faults or things about themselves they can improve upon. If you say, "It''s not my fault" it means that you don''t want to take the blame for something you may or may not have done. When someone accuses you or tells you that you have done something incorrectly or have broken something, you can answer them in this way:
Harold: Why doesn''t the computer work? Who was using it last?
Ju***h: I was using it last but if it doesn''t work now, it''s not my fault. Don''t blame me.
What kinds of things do you usually get blamed for? How much of what you get blamed for is your fault?

Daily Routines
READING
Here is an example of a daily routine for Anna, a 24-year-old bank teller:
I get up in the morning at 6:00 a.m. I spend 30 minutes practicing yoga before I shower and eat breakfast. Then I walk to the bus stop and catch the 7:40 bus to work. At the end of the work day, I catch the 5:10 bus to go home. I make dinner and watch the news on television, and then I either read or spend time with friends. I go to bed around 11:00 p.m.
What is your daily routine?

Dreams
I have many dreams, but in the morning, I cannot remember them. I keep a "dream journal" by my bed. In my dream journal, I describe my dreams. Sometimes, I write in the middle of the night.
In one dream, I was at a dinner party. Many famous people were at the party. Many people asked me questions. I was famous too! It was very strange. Why was I famous? I didn''t know. I still don''t know, but it was an interesting dream!

WRITING EXERCISE
Describe a dream. It can be a new dream or an old dream. Try to remember everything.
See you in my dreams!

Grey hair
I am getting grey hair.
I am becoming grey-haired.
The Present Progressive tense is used here because becoming grey-haired is not a process that happens all at once. It happens slowly, a few hairs at a time. When a person''s hair is totally grey, then they can say, in the proud, present tense:
My hair is grey.

Dreams
IDIOM LESSON
Match the "dream" idiom to its definition. Guessing is fine!
1. He''s so dreamy.
2. I wouldn''t dream of it.
3. It''s a pipe dream.
4. Sweet dreams!
5. She''s a dream.
a. It''s a crazy idea. It will never happen.
b. She''s great.
c. He''s wonderful.
d. I would never do that.
e. Have a nice sleep and happy dreams!
ANSWERS: 1.c 2.d 3.a 4.e 5.b