Learning is a lifelong effort. "Consider a language ... language serves to describe a combination of colored squares on a surface. The squares form a complex like a chessboard. There are red, green, white and black squares. The words of the language are 'red', 'green', 'white', 'black', and a sentence is a series of these words. They describe an arrangement of squares in an order." -- Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher (20th century)

GEPT - Vocabulary List 1

Caldron noun [ káwldrən ] (plural cal·drons) pot for boiling

Collarbone noun [ kóllər bōn ] (plural col·lar·bones) either of the two bones connecting the shoulder blades with the upper part of the breastbone

Funny bone noun elbow point

Sprain verb [ sprayn ] to injure a joint by a sudden twisting it

Daring adjective [ dérring ] risky, shocking

Insulting adjective [ in súlting ] being rude or insensitive

Sashimi noun [ saa shèemee ] a Japanese dish consisting of slices of raw fish

Hanukkah noun [ hàanəkə] Jewish festival

Allergic adjective [ ə lúrjik ] having allergy

Allergy noun [ állərjee ] sensitivity to something

Orphan noun [ áwrfən ] (plural or·phans) child without parents

Sink noun [ singk ] (plural sinks) basin for washing something

Prompt adjective [ prompt ] done immediately

Vitamin noun [ vī təmin ] (plural vi·ta·mins) organic substance important to food

Supplement noun [ súppləmənt ] (plural sup·ple·ments)

Currency noun [ kúrrənssee, kúr ənssee ] (plural cur·ren·cies) a system of money

Home Economics noun study of subjects related doing things in your home

Mannered adjective [ mánnərd ] behaving in particular way (well mannered = very polite)

Root canal noun (plural root ca·nals) a dentist removes diseased tissue from the root of a tooth

Rapid eye movement noun jerky movements of the eyeballs while asleep

Parlor noun [ páarlər ] (plural par·lors) a room used to provide particular services like a a beauty parlor

Pileup noun [ p ī l ùp ] (plural pile·ups) large-scale collision or accident

Freeway noun [ frèewày ] (plural free·ways) expressway or highway

Unimpressive adjective [ ùnnim préss iv ] not capable of impressing

Amateur noun [ ámmə tùr, ámmətər] (plural am·a·teurs) somebody who does something for pleasure rather than payment. (Antonym: professional)

Antonym noun [ ántənìm ] (plural an·to·nyms) word with opposite meaning

Die away verb diminish, fade or disappear slowly

Immortal adjective [ i máwrt'l ] never dying

Fad noun [ fad ] (plural fads) short-lived fashion or getting less popular over time

Cult noun [ kult ] (plural cults) something popular or fashionable in one group

Classic adjective [ klássik ] always fashionable and elegant

Elegant adjective [ élləgənt ] stylish and graceful, neat and simple

Print noun [ print ] (plural prints) writing on surface such as words, figures, or symbols

LED noun (plural LEDs) light-emitting diode (small lamps)

Coated adjective [ ktəd ] covered with a layer of something

Rumor noun [ r óo mər ] (plural ru·mors) a story without facts that may not be truth

Gay adjective [ gay ] (comparative gay·er, superlative gay·est) brightly colored, showing happiness, relating to attraction or activity among members of the same sex

Homosexual noun [ h ō mə sékshoo əl, h ō mō sékshoo əl ] somebody who is attracted to members of his or her own sex

Present perfect continuous vs. simple present perfect

What are some of the differences between the present perfect continuous, also sometimes called the present perfect progressive, and the simple present perfect.

Normally we use the present perfect progressive for shorter, temporary situations. So you might say, "I have been studying for ten minutes."


And we use the simple present perfect for longer or permanent situations. For example, "I have lived in Taipei since I was born."

However, sometimes either present perfect continuous or simple present perfect can be used. It depends on how the speaker sees the situation so you might say, "The sun has been shining all week." Or, "The sun has shined all week".

Now a few rules you should remember. Some verbs are almost never used in progressive forms even when the meaning is one where you would use a progressive, for example “be, have and know. Therefore you should not say, "She's been being here for ten minutes. Or I’ve being had a headache all day. or I've only being known him since Friday."

Also remember if you want to put the emphasis on results, you use the simple present perfect, as in “I've learned ten new words since I arrived this morning."

Last we use the simple present perfect to say how many times something has happened. "He has interrupted my studies six times this morning."