Begin vs start: what’s the difference?

The two words "begin" and "start" are very close, but many learners are shocked when they hear that one of their uses were awkward. Natives do hear a difference, and it is very subtle. Begin is usually about processes When…

How to say “when” in German

It's funny to me that English is such an expressive language with so many words, but we have so many words that have several very distinct meanings but we use one word. It's not that we think they are the…

Perhaps vs probably: what’s the difference?

There are two words in English that are used in very similar circumstances: perhaps or probably. There are many other pairs that I talk about on my blog. Like those other pairs, they deserve special attention. There are some other…

Can a language be “too hard”?

Too many language learners limit themselves by the thought that a language is "too hard." How can you blame them when they are inundated with articles and videos of "top 10 hardest languages" and "what is the most difficult language…

Contemporary vs modern: what is the difference?

A lot of English learners have a hard time with the two similar words contemporary and modern. Whether you choose the word contemporary or modern in your sentence will depend on the tense of your story. This is an oversimplification,…

How to learn a language with video games

It's common knowledge that you can implement music and movies into your language-learning routine. What is a less common suggestion is video games. They can be very useful tools. We live in a world of an overflow of information, and…

Grow vs raise: what is the difference?

This pair is really close, but it can be confusing for learners. The dictionary describes these two words very similarly. However, they have a big difference in nuance. How do we know whether to use grow or raise? Grow is…

An vs année: what is the difference?

A lot of French learners have a hard time knowing with the pair an or année. They both translate as "year," but they are used in different context. Maybe you have an idea of how they differ, but you want…