Tongue Twisters

Why Tongue Twisters? Whenever you’re at home (or alone somewhere else) you can practice speaking English to yourself in a mirror. Think in English, try speaking your thoughts out loud, have a debate with yourself right in front of a mirror looking at yourself. Just the act of speaking out loud will help you become more comfortable speaking English. The idea behind this practice is to pull you out of your shell. Almost every beginner’s biggest hurdle to speak a foreign language fluently is the lack of confidence. When you start seeing yourself speaking something over and over again with betterment at each step, you grow in confidence. 

These are the some tongue twisters you must try speaking over and over again in front of a mirror. While you practice this, you must keep in mind that the two most important things in this practice are : Fluency and expressions. Don’t bother much about accent or slip of tongue.

Tongue Twisters– Hard

There was a fisherman named Fisher

who fished for some fish in a fissure.

Till a fish with a grin,

pulled the fisherman in.

Now they’re fishing the fissure for Fisher.

Denise sees the fleece,

Denise sees the fleas.

At least Denise could sneeze

and feed and freeze the fleas

To sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock,

In a pestilential prison, with a life-long lock,

Awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock,

From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block!

To sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock,

In a pestilential prison, with a life-long lock,

Awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock,

From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block!

A dull, dark dock, a life-long lock,

A short, sharp shock, a big black block!

To sit in solemn silence in a pestilential prison,

And awaiting the sensation

From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block!

by W.S. Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan from The Mikado

Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.

While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew.

Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.

Freezy trees made these trees’ cheese freeze.

That’s what made these three free fleas sneeze.

from Fox in Sox by Dr. Seuss

How many cans can a cannibal nibble

if a cannibal can nibble cans?

As many cans as a cannibal can nibble

if a cannibal can nibble cans.

Bobby Bippy bought a bat.

Bobby Bippy bought a ball.

With his bat Bob banged the ball

Banged it bump against the wall

But so boldly Bobby banged it

That he burst his rubber ball

“Boo!” cried Bobby

Bad luck ball

Bad luck Bobby, bad luck ball

Now to drown his many troubles

Bobby Bippy’s blowing bubbles.

from mid-Willamette Valley theater

A tree toad loved a she-toad,

Who lived up in a tree.

He was a three-toed tree toad,

But a two-toed toad was she.

The three-toed tree toad tried to win,

The two-toed she-toad’s heart,

For the three-toed tree toad loved the ground,

That the two-toed tree toad trod.

But the three-toed tree toad tried in vain.

He couldn’t please her whim.

From her tree toad bower,

With her two-toed power,

The she-toad vetoed him.

Tongue Twisters for kids

Five frantic frogs fled from fifty fierce fishes.

Seven sleazy shysters in sharkskin suits sold sheared sealskins to seasick sailors.

I would if I could! But I can’t, so I won’t!

Silly sheep weep and sleep.

Truly rural, truly rural, truly rural, ...

A turbot’s not a burbot, for a turbot’s a butt, but a burbot’s not.

The seething sea ceaseth; thus the seething sea sufficeth us.

Real weird rear wheels

I slit a sheet, a sheet I slit, upon a slitted sheet I sit.

A pessimistic pest exists amidst us.

Five fuzzy French frogs Frolicked through the fields in France.

Two to two to Toulouse?

Swatch watch

Round and round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran.

Buckets of bug blood, buckets of bug blood, buckets of bug blood

If coloured caterpillars could change their colours constantly could they keep their coloured coat coloured properly?

We won, we won, we won, we won, …

Thirty-three thousand people think that Thursday is their thirtieth birthday.

How much ground could a groundhog grind if a groundhog could grind ground?

How may saws could a see-saw saw if a see-saw could saw saws?

Shut up the shutters and sit in the shop.

Rattle your bottles in Rollocks’ van.

Bake big batches of bitter brown bread.

Bake big batches of brown blueberry bread.

She sits in her slip and sips Schlitz.

Which wristwatch is a Swiss wristwatch?

Whoever slit the sheets is a good sheet slitter.

Huge collection of Tongue Twisters at www.engtuto.com/tongue-twisters

Phrasal Verbs with their Meaning and Usage

A Phrasal Verb is a verb that consist of two parts. The first part is always a verb like give, go, come, get etc. and the second part is a preposition like in, on, up, down etc. This combination of a verb and a preposition creates a meaning which is completely different from that the original verb.

Examples:

run + into = meet

break + up = end a relationship

look + down + on = think less of, consider inferior

Phrasal verbs are so commonly used by native speakers that it’s impossible to sound like a native speaker without using them. Be it spoken, formal or informal written language, one just can’t get away without using phrasal verbs. As we all know – knowing something about a foreign language is of lesser importance than practicing it in day to day life. Take for example (in informal, casual conversation) if you know the meaning of phrasal verb- “pay for something” but instead of using the phrasal verb you chose one dictionary word “punish”, you are going to sound ridiculous, obsolete or extremely formal. 

Phrasal verbs have to be learned (and practiced regularly) because most of them are idiomatic, in other words you cannot deduce their meaning just by knowing the meaning of words they are made up of. Take the common phrasal verb ‘put’ and its different meanings.

Put down- to criticize

My father puts down my mom even for no fault of her

Put down- to write down

I am putting down my thoughts on corruptions

Put on- to get dressed

I am going to put on a leather suit for John’s wedding.

Put on- to gain

I avoid eating oily food because I don’t want to put on weight.

Put off- discourage

We badly want to play football but this terrible weather put us off.

Students who are learning English as a second language with the aim of gaining their First Certificate in English need to pay a lot of attention to the phrasal verbs. To master phrasal verbs is one of hardest but must do tasks.

Here is the complete list of phrasal verbs.

List of preposition and their usages.

IMPORTANCE OF PREPOSITIONS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Prepositions can occasionally cause huge embarrassment to nonnative speakers of English—and for some local speakers too. Nobody pays heed to prepositions when you use them effectively. However, when you don't use them correctly, your composition may sound weird and its meaning becomes misty.

One must always keep in mind that an important piece of writing or speech, in no way, should distract its readers/listeners from its content to its mistakes. 

Here are the examples of some common mistakes made in the usage of prepositions, and their solutions.

1

.       Preposition (at) to Indicate a specific or precise time

Incorrect : Session ends on 2.50 P.M.

Correct:   Session ends at 2:50 P.M.

Incorrect:  In midnight, the next day begins.

Correct:   At midnight, the next day begins.

Incorrect: Laborers punch out for lunch at noon.

Correct:    Laborers punch out for lunch at noon.

2

.        Preposition (by) to Indicate a time no later than the specified time

Incorrect: John will reach before 8:00.

Correct: John will reach by 8:00.

Incorrect: I might be ready as early as 5:30 but certainly before 6:00.

Correct: I might be ready as early as 5:30 but certainly by 6:00.

3

.       Until a specific time (continuing up to that time)

Last night, John studied until 11:00.

We won’t be able to meet until Monday.

4.        In a specific time period (usually measured in hours, minutes, days, months, or years)

In two hours, I will be leaving.

In rains, you see fewer people on the streets.

We are planning to go on a leisure trip in January.

in the morning, in the afternoon, or in the evening (but at night)

5.        For a period of time

I have been a spokesperson for thirteen years.

We have been best friends for a long time.

6.       Since a date or an hour

They have been a source of trouble to us since 1988

No one has eaten since 9.00

7.       On a specific day or date

Most people party on Friday.

I can meet you on June 12.

8.       During a continuing time period (or within the time period)

I was nervous during the whole match.

We’ll be away from the office during the next few hours.

9.       Miscellaneous time expressions

on time (that is, promptly)

in a while

at the beginning (of the day, month, or year)

in the middle (of a day, month, or year)

at the end (of a day, month, or year)

from time to time (that is, occasionally)

Prepositions to Indicate Place

1. In a country, area, state, city, or neighborhood

 in India

 in Canada

 in France

 in Italy

2. On a street or block

 We live on MG Road, Mumbai.

 They work on highway no.8

3. At a specific address

 We work at 30-C Naman Plaza, Kandivali-west, Mumbai.

 John lives at B-1001, Park Avenue, NY.

4. At an intersection of two streets

 Let’s meet at (the corner of) MG Road and Link Road.

Other Prepositions - For a reason or for someone who benefits

 I went to the bar for a drink.

 I watered the plants for him.

 I bought a car for my father.

2. About a subject (or on a subject)

 We were talking about our plans for next week.

 I recently read an article about (or on) astrology.

3. Between two; among three or more

 We shared the burger between the two of us.

 The five players of the team discussed it among

 themselves.

4. From a starting point; to a destination

 We drove from Delhi to Mumbai.

5. Toward (in the direction of) a place

 I was walking towards the Juhu beach when I came cross John.

6. Into (entering) a place or space

John went into his house through the back door.

7. In (inside of) a place or space

 He’s been working out in the gym: he hasn’t gone outside.

8. On a surface

 The book is on the table.

 The portrait is hanging on the wall.

9. Off a surface

 I took the plate off the kitchen platform

 I have nailed the painting deep into the wall; it’s not going to come off the wall any time soon now.