Know about Figures of Speech- Meaning with Examples.

Meaning of Figures of Speech

Figures of Speech are phrases that have a different meaning from their literal definition. These are somewhat simialar but differ from Idioms. 

On one hand, a Figure of Speech is nonliteral and imaginative language but can be understood by someone who isn’t familiar with that particular Figure of Speech. On the other hand, it’s impossible to understand an idiom without being familiar with that particular idiom. 

In general, Figures of Speech can be metaphors or similes but can fall into other categories as well. Figures of Speech are designed to make comparisons. This is achieved by devices such as alliteration (the repetition of certain sounds) or exaggeration, known as hyperbole. This creates a dramatic effect.

Alliteration in figurative language is fun. For example, you may hear a native English speaker say:

“I bought a box of bricks.” 

The repetitive b sound makes the phrase have a nice ring to it. Not just is the saying alliteration, it’s hyperbolic. 

Hyperbole

Hyperbole, one of my favorite types of figurative speech, exaggerates an attribute of something, calling attention to it. In the above example, I didn’t literally buy “a box of bricks.” I bought a faulty product. I called the product “a box of bricks” because it didn’t work correctly. You, in your lifetime, have probably bought “a box of bricks” too, perhaps you purchased a faulty phone. 

Ophelia is my guardian angel

Here’s another example of hyperbole: 

“Ophelia is my guardian angel.”

In reality, Ophelia isn’t a mythical creature. But she helps me when I’m in need, and so, I used this hyperbole when discussing her. 

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Idiom: Spring is in the Air- Meaning with Examples

Meaning of the Idiom- “Spring is in the air”

Many idioms were first penned by a famous writer or poet, but “spring is in the air” has no known author. Perhaps it came from ancient societies where planting and warmer weather were essential to their livelihood, but this is unknown. 

As an expression, “spring is in the air” means spring has arrived or is coming soon. In addition, the idiom conveys a feeling of optimism. To summarize the idiom, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the grass is growing and good things are on the horizon. 

The idiom was most notably used by Westlife,  an Irish boy band, in the song Seasons in the Sun. They use it as a farewell to the old, in an almost sorrowful way. 

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Here’s a dialogue that might help you understand the idiom “spring is in the air:” 

Mary: “I don’t think I did well on my exams.” 

Susan: “You’ll do better next time.” 

Mary: “I’m not too worried about it, and anyway, spring is in the air.” 

Notice how Mary uses the idiom to show a sense of optimism while telling the reader of the season. From reading this, we become aware that Mary, although it isn’t said, has an optimistic outlook as the season changes from winter to spring. 

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Independent Clause- Definition, meaning with examples

Definition of Independent clauses

When we combine different parts of speech, clauses are formed. An Independent clause is a clause that can form a sentence of its own having a subject and a predicate.

To The Moon

Clauses are separated from each other by commas. For example, when John F. Kennedy gave his ‘To The Moon speech’, he used long sentences with many clauses.

Here’s an excerpt of that speech: 

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”

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In this speech, he used a combination of Clauses to get his point across. One of the  Independent Clauses is “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things. ” This Independent Clause is interjected by the Dependent Clause “not because they are easy.” 

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Figures of Speech: Metaphors – Meaning of Metaphors with examples

Meaning of Figures of Speech

Figures of Speech, like idioms, have evolved through usage, rather than the work of Lexicographers, those who decide what goes in the dictionary. But unlike idioms, the meaning of the Figures of Speech known as metaphors can be deduced through logic. 

Figures of Speech fall into many categories. They can be

  • Similes,
  • Hyperbole and
  • Metaphors.

What are Metaphors?

Metaphors, the language of poets, are Figure of Speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t exactly true. However, these untruths help to describe the object or actions by comparing them to something else. For example, you may hear a native English speaker say:

Adam is a walking encyclopedia

“Adam is a walking encyclopedia of music.” 

Upon hearing this Metaphor, you would be correct to assume that Adam isn’t literally a collection of books that give information on many subjects. Adam is simply knowledgeable about music. 

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Idiom about change: Turn over a New Leaf

Idiom: Turn over a new leaf- Meaning and example

Most languages have idioms about change. And, there are many different sayings that express getting a new outlook or starting again. 

One of my favorite idioms of change is an ancient Chinese saying: “Mountains crumble to the sea over time, yet people remain the same.” However, we are here to discuss the idiom “Turn over a new leaf.” 

Oddly, this idiom has nothing to do with leaves. It’s about becoming a new person, a better person. Someone who “turns over a new leaf” changes the direction of their life. 

Using the idiom turn over a new leaf

How can I use the idiom – turn over a new leaf?

Kevin Turns Over a New Leaf

Idiom - Turn over a leaf
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Kevin was a troublemaker. He never went to class. He never listened to his parents. He would even laugh at the lessons his elders tried to teach him, saying “You don’t know anything old man,” as the family spoke to him of ancient books and traditions. But one day Kevin came to me and said, “I’m tired of causing mischief. I will study and make good marks in school.” To which I said, “You are young and have time to turn over a new leaf.” 

Kevin will begin to do the right thing. He will turn over a new leaf by making good grades in school and listening to his parents.

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Adverbs of Manner- Definition, and examples along with practice exercise.

Meaning of Adverbs of Manner:

Adverbs of Manner describe how an action of a verb is done. For example, “Yohanne plays the flute,” tells us nothing more than the fact that he plays the instrument. However, by adding an Adverb of Manner, we can describe how he plays the flute. 

Yohanne plays flute melodically.

“Yohanne plays the flute slowly.”

“Yohanne plays the flute badly.”

“Yohanne plays the flute quickly.” 

Notice that the Adverb is underlined. In many ways, they are like an Adjective, they describe something, however, an Adjective is used to describe a noun. 

When you think about it, Adverbs of Manner are useful because they allow the speaker to include extra details in descriptions. They make what the Speaker says more interesting and dynamic. For example:

“Yohanne plays flute melodically,” sounds poetic. This statement shows the contrast between a musician playing badly and well. 

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Possessive Nouns: Meaning and ways of using it in sentences.

Meaning of Possessive noun and how to use it in sentences.

Simply, a Possessive Noun shows ownership. For singular Nouns, a Possessive Noun is made by adding an apostrophe and s to the end of a Noun. For example, if a pen belongs to Aaron, it’s “Aaron’s pen.” 

If the noun is plural and ends in an “s”, place the apostrophe after the finals. For example, “Those are the airplane’s wings.” 

In the following sentence, “William’s” is a possessive Noun, modifying the car to show ownership: 

“William’s car won’t start.”

It is clear that the car belongs to William, the “’s” signifies ownership.

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Here’s a dialogue using the possessive form of Nora. 

John: “Whose moped is that?”

Alice: “That is Nora’s moped.” 

John: “Girls can’t own mopeds.” 

Alice: “Girls can own mopeds, they can drive them too. Nora is an excellent driver. Nora’s moped is fast but she drives safely.”

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Use of “Adverb of Manner-Hard”: Meaning with examples

Definition of Adverb of Manner

Adverb of manner is an adverb that described how and in what manner the action of a verb takes place. Such as quickly, slowly, badly, etc.

How to use the Irregular adverb of Manner- Hard

As you may know, Adverbs of Manner describe how an action is done. And, today’s word, “hard” is an irregular Adverb of Manner. 

Unlike other words, the spelling of Irregular Adverbs of Manner doesn’t change when used to describe an action. And so, it’s incorrect to say “I work hardly,” although adding ly to “hard” seems like the correct way to conjugate the word. It’s worth noting that, hardly is an Adverb of Frequency, not Manner. It means to do something rarely. 

As for using the Adjective of Manner “hard” in a sentence correctly, it can be placed after any Verb to state that the person doing the action is putting the most effort in. For example, you can “play ball,” or “play ball hard.” A team member who “plays ball hard” is doing their best. 

We Like Bands that Play Hard

Getting to the theme of this article, this writer likes bands that “play hard,” to borrow a line from David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel. A band that “plays it hard (as the song goes)” puts all their energy into performing on stage. 

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Modal Verbs of Probability- Meaning, Use, And Practice Exercises.

What are Modal Verbs?

Modal Verbs are Verbs of probability. They express a guess at outcomes. Modal Verbs include:

“must, might, may, could” and “can’t”

Cinderella may find her prince.

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For example: 

“Cinderella may find her prince.” 

Is a guess at the likelihood of Cinderella, the mistreated stepdaughter, meeting and marrying Prince Charming. 

The Modal Verb “may” expresses a greater degree of certainty than “might,” although neither are quantified into exact numbers. 

Alternatively, someone may say:

“Cinderella might find her prince.” 

Or

“Cinderella could find her prince.” 

which expresses little belief in a positive outcome. 

And finally, you may hear someone say:

“Cinderella can’t find her prince.”

This means that there’s no likelihood of her meeting and marrying Prince Charming. 

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The Possessive Form: Definition, meaning with examples

Meaning of the Possessive form

The Possessive Form demonstrates the relationship between two or more objects (physical things, not sentence endings). These sentences are loaded with Nouns, Proper Nouns, and Pronouns. And so, it’s essential to understand the difference between a Proper Noun and a Pronoun to construct Possessive Form sentences. 

Pronouns take the place of a Noun. They are found in a sentence’s Subject as words like “his, her, she” and “theirs.” But, Proper Nouns are specific, capitalized nouns. They may be something like Dr. Smith.  

Let’s look at some Possessive Form sentences:

“Dr. Smith’s cat is at Eric’s house” demonstrates a relationship between “Dr. Smith’s cat” and Eric’s house,” our two Possessive Nouns. And so, our Verb Phrase is “is at.”

Here’s another example of a Possessive Form Sentence: 

“Sarah’s dog is by the station’s door.”

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