to exacerbate (v.)

Today’s Word of the Day is: “to exacerbate” (v.) Transcription: [ɪɡˈzæs.ə.beɪt] Translation: усиливать, усугублять Definition: to make something that is already bad even worse Example:  Sunny weather exacerbates the effects of pollution. Synonym: make worse, aggravate

Grammar Tip

Present Continuous Tense. Use #3: An Irritating Situation with “always” If you use the present continuous with words such as “always” or “constantly”, it expressed the idea that something irritating often happens. Example: He is always forgetting his keys.- Он всегда забывает свои ключи. Example: They are constantly complaining.- Они постоянно жалуются.

Head start (n.)

Today’s Word of the Day is: “head start” (n.) Transcription: [ˌhed ˈstɑːt] Translation: рывок на старте, преимущество Definition: an advantage that someone has over other people in something such as a competition or race Example:  If we leave early, we can get a head start on the holiday traffic. Synonym: advantage

Do You Believe Photography Can Change the World?

Apply to ISSP’s 2019 Open Call The International Summer School of Photography (ISSP) is searching for emerging (перспективный) artists to join a week of networking, workshops and creativity in the heart of rural Latvia.   Now in its 13th year, the 2019 edition will focus on “Photography and the World”. Photographers will work alongside activists,…

Business Communication Skills Tip

Can’t Get Any Work Done In the Office? Try These Steps You might need to change your environment. Here are a few steps you can take to stop wasting time at work–and start doing your job more efficiently. TIP #1: LOCK YOURSELF IN QUIET SPACES It’s easy to get distracted (отвлекаться) at the office when…

Grammar Tip

Present Continuous Tense. Use #2: Longer Actions than in Progress Now “Now” means not only “this second”, but it can also mean “today”, “this week”, “this month”, “this century”, etc. We use the present continuous to express the process of doing a longer actions that is in progress. We should note, however, that the action…

Image of the City at the Burganov House

The Burganov House invites you to look at famous cities from an unusual angle. The Image of the City exhibition presents a series of paintings by artist Yulia Smolenkova, who creates abstract interpretations (представление) of urban landscapes. The exhibition features (демонстрировать) new views of the cities of Spain, Italy, France and Belgium.   The artist…

Business Communication Skills Tip

Mistakes in Your Everyday Speech Mistake #5. Losing Attention A final sin of impromptu speaking is thinking of casual conversation as unworthy of your full attention. When speakers lose their attention, their thoughts wander (стать непоследовательным), they look around, or they glance (заглядывать) repeatedly at their phone or computer. Such movements show the speaker is…

Showery (adj.)

Today’s Word of the Day is: “showery” (adj.) Transcription: [ˈʃaʊə.ri] Translation: дождливый Definition: Used to describe weather with light rain that is often not continuous. Example:  The weather in spring and autumn is usually showery and cool. Synonym: rainy

Grammar Tip

Present Continuous Tense. Use #1: Something Happening Now We use the present continuous to express the idea that something is happening at this moment. Also to show that things are not happening at this moment. Example: I’m drinking coffee.– Я  пью кофе. Example: I’m not sleeping.– Я не сплю.