Words are worlds
What’s a synonym for "happy" that starts with “J”?
Joyful
Change this sentence to past continuous: “He eats lunch.”
He was eating lunch.
What’s the correct pronunciation of “often”: with or without the “t”?
Both are acceptable: "off-en" and "off-ten"
100: Why is “eventually” a false friend for Portuguese speakers?
It means “in the end,” not “possivelmente”
What’s the longest word without a vowel?
Rhythm
What’s the difference between "lend" and "borrow"?
Lend = give temporarily; Borrow = receive temporarily
What’s the difference between past simple and present perfect?
Past simple = specific time; Present perfect = unspecific time/relevance to now
refers to two words that differ by only one sound, and this single sound difference changes the word's meaning. Ship / Sheep
What’s the real meaning of “actual” in English?
Real, not “atual”
What is the dot over the letter “i” called?
A tittle
What’s the collective noun for a group of lions?
A pride
What tense is this: “She had been studying for hours”?
Past Perfect Continuous
What is a “schwa” sound, and why is it important in English pronunciation?
It’s the most common unstressed vowel sound (ə); crucial for natural rhythm and stress.
Why is “college” a false cognate in Portuguese?
It means “faculdade”, not “colégio”
What is the origin of the word “nightmare”?
Old English “mare” = evil spirit; “night” + “mare” = bad dream
What’s a more sophisticated synonym for “important” that would be suitable in academic writing?
Significant / Pivotal / Paramount
Rewrite this sentence to emphasize the habitual aspect in the past: “He lived in London for years.”
He would live in London for years / He used to live in London.
Which of these words contains a glottal stop in some dialects of English: “bottle,” “butter,” “bottom”?
All of them in certain dialects (e.g., Cockney, Estuary English)
Explain why “sensible” and “sensitive” are problematic for PT speakers.
“Sensible” = rational; “Sensitive” = emotional (PT: sensível)
Which Shakespearean phrase do we still use today to mean “to be suspicious”?
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” or “There's method in the madness”
What’s the difference in nuance between “resilient” and “stoic”?
Resilient = able to recover; Stoic = enduring hardship without showing feelings.
What tense is used in this sentence and why? “He might have been working on it when you called.”
Modal perfect progressive – used to express uncertainty about a continuous past action.
Explain the intrusive linking “r” and give an example.
When “r” is pronounced between two vowels even though it’s not written: e.g., “law and order” → /lɔːr ənd ɔːdə/
Correct the sentence and explain: “She is very comprehensive with her students.”
Should be “understanding”; “comprehensive” = complete or broad.
What’s an example of a contranym (auto-antonym) in English?
Consult: To ask for advice or to offer advice
Dust: To add or to remove
Sanction: To approve or to punish
Skin: To cover or to remove
Overlook: To see or to miss