A few kilometres from the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, there are a cluster of bizarrely-shaped rocky outcrops in the middle of the forest. These are the stolbi (literally “pillars” in English) that are visible from almost any window in the city. For centuries, they served as a hideout for criminals and revolutionaries and in the late Soviet…
Effective Writing Skills Tip #3: Write Actively, Not Passively Wherever it’s appropriate, put your subject up front and make it do something. The active voice generally works better than the passive because it’s more direct, more concise, and easier to understand. (But not always). Example: Your proposal was reviewed at our meeting on April 1,…
Present Perfect Tense. Use 4: Something That Happened in the Past But is Important at the Time of Speaking A finished action with a result in the present (focus on result). We often use the present perfect to talk about something that happened in the recent past, but that is still true or important now.…
Today’s Word of the Day is: “shift” (n.) Translation: смена Meaning: a period of time during the day or night when somebody works Example: She works the night shift. – Она работает в ночную смену. Synonyms: duty period, work shift
You can find clips of Jose Mourinho, Manchester United’s manager, speaking Spanish, Italian and French, as well as English and his native Portuguese. While often fluent, much of the foreign contingent’s English is, to native speakers, non-standard. Pep Guardiola, the Spanish manager of Premiership champions Manchester City, says: “We are so satisfy.” Mourinho says “every…
Effective Writing Skills Tip #2: Focus on the Real Subject Don’t bury a key word by dropping it into a phrase following a weak subject. Example: The implementation of the new marketing campaign will begin on June 1. Revision: The new marketing campaign will begin on June 1.
Present Perfect Tense. Use 3: Change Over Time We often use the present perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time. Example: You have grown since the last time I saw you.- Ты выросла с тех пор, как мы виделись в последний раз. Example: My English has really improved since…
Today’s Word of the Day is: “to comprehend” (v.) Translation: понимать Meaning: to understand something completely Example: It was not possible to comprehend what was happening. – Невозможно было понять, что происходит. Synonyms: understand, grasp
Artists from across the globe are being invited to take part in this year’s Artmossphere biennale in Moscow. It’s the first time that international artists have been invited to apply for the street wave art festival, which made its home in the Russian capital back in 2014. Artists with a street art background are being…
Effective Writing Skills Tip #1: Adopt the “You Attitude.” This means looking at a topic from the point of view of your readers, emphasizing what they want or need to know. Example: I have requested that your order be sent out today. Revision: You will receive your order by Wednesday.