The difference between illness, disease and sickness

Hi... Here I am once again. Last time, I shared with you the difference between the words doctor, surgeon and physician. This time, I'll be sharing the difference between the words illness, disease and sickness. Here we go!

Illness can be used when referring to the general state of being sick. 

Alvin missed the party because of an illness.

Disease, on the other hand, has a medical name and must usually be cured before you are well again. 

Alzheimer's disease; sexually transmitted disease

How about sickness? Well, the word sickness refers to a less serious type of illness which may go away by itself. motion sickness , Monday sickness (My students' illness which usually occurs every Monday.)

Well, illness, disease and sickness may be synonyms, but they have their own specific usage.  

Hope you've learned something. See you next time...

What is the difference between a doctor, a surgeon and a physician?

When I was still teaching English, I asked my Koreans students to give me a synonym for the word DOCTOR. Immediately, they answered back, "Physician, surgeon." I told them, "Very Good! But, would you believe me if I say they are different from one another?" Then one of the students said, "Teacher, how can they be different if they are synonyms?

Quite funny! Well, do they really differ from one another? Let's try to find out.

Doctor is a title used for addressing medical doctors, dentists and people with Ph.D degrees in different subjects.

Physician is a formal word for a medical doctor.

Surgeon is a medical doctor who can operate on patients.

In other words, we call these individuals doctor in general. But a person who has a Ph.D degree is neither a physician nor a surgeon, unless of course he also has a degree in medicine. A surgeon is also a physician, but not all physicians are surgeons. 

Have you seen their difference? I hope you learned something. See you again next time.

Patterns of Comparison of Adjectives

Patterns of Comparison of Adjectives

1. If two or more people, animals, places or things of the same quality are compared, use the pattern as + adj + as

James is as tall as Peter.

2. If a person, animal, place or thing is of greater quality than another, use the pattern adj + than 

John is taller than James.

3. If a person, animal, place or thing is of lesser quality than another, use the pattern not + as + adj + as or less + adj + than

James is not as tall as John.

Caren is less active than your sister.

4. If a person, animal, place or thing is of lesser degree or approximately the same quality as another, use the pattern not + adj + than or not + more + adj + than

Devon's car is not faster than yours.

The game is not more interesting than the movie.

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Positions of Adjectives in Sentences

Positions of Adjectives in a Sentence

1. An adjective can be placed before a noun.

That green house is mine.

My father bought a new car.

A wounded soldier was found near the river.

2. An adjective can be placed after a linking verb.

The queen is beautiful. 

Your dog looks scary. 

My friends are amazing.

3. An adjective can directly follow a noun.

Keziah has gathered the budget necessary for the project.

4. An adjective can be placed right after an adverb (intensifier).

You are simply irresistible.

That horse runs very fast.

5. An adjective can be placed between a pronoun and a noun.

Her blue shirt costs one hundred dollars.

My quick reply frustrated her.


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Correct Usage of IF and WHETHER

WHETHER vs IF

Are you buffled as to when and how you are going to use whether and if ?

Well, then keep on reading for this article may be the answer you've been searching for.

First, let us try to know what part of speech do whether and if belong.

Whether is a conjunction which is used when talking about a choice you have to make or about two different possibilities.

I can't tell whether or not my teacher likes me.

If is also a conjunction which is used to introduce a phrase when something else depends on that action and situation (conditional sentences). 

We'll have to leave tonight if it doesn't rain. 

If I drink too much coke, my stomach aches.

Now, take note of this. Whether and If can also be used in similar contexts. Both can be used when you are asking or deciding whether something is true or will happen.

Do you have any idea whether/if we still need to work on Christmas Day?

Both can also be used when changing a DIRECT SPEECH into an INDIRECT SPEECH (for questions answerable by yes or no).

DIRECT SPEECH

My teacher asked, "Is your mother OK?

INDIRECT SPEECH

My teacher asked me whether/if my mother was OK.

However, whether is usually used together in sentences with the word or, especially at the beginning of a sentence.

Whether you see Kaaren or not, I'll be there tomorrow. (not if you see Kaaren or not)

On the other hand, use if instead of whether with clauses following some verbs and adjectives.

Trisha wasn't sure if she could come. (not whether)

But, use whether instead of if before infinitives.

The question is whether to leave or stay.(not if)

Also after prepositions

It depends on whether you're prepared or not. (not if)

And before nouns

It's your decision whether you leave or stay. (not if)

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Are the eggs you eat fresh?

Eggs are the easiest to prepare as food, especially when you are in a hurry. But how are you going to determine whether the eggs you're about to eat are fresh?

There are but a few simple tips on how to determine whether the eggs you're about to eat are still fresh.

By just looking at the egg, you can tell if it's still fresh if the shell is rough. If not, it's an old stock.

The other tip is to put an egg in a cold water mixed with salt. If the egg sinks, it goes to show that it's still fresh. However, it the egg floats, better throw it for it's not good for you anymore.

A good joke in class

I just want to share with you one of the funny experiences I had when I was still teaching English to Korean students.

One day, I decided to start my Vocabulary class with a tricky question since I noticed that my students seemed tired and sleepy. (Actually, it always happens every Monday. That is what we call 'Monday sickness.')

"Good morning class," I started. "I know how good you are at Vocabulary, but I still want to challenge you. I have here a few questions before we proceed to our main lesson." No one seemed to pay attention, but I just continued speaking. "Whoever gives me the correct answer will receive a price." All of a sudden, I had my whole class seated properly eagerly waiting for the questions.

"OK, how do you call a female chicken?" They chorused, "Hen." "How about a male chicken?" "Rooster!" "How about a baby chicken?" My class answered back, "Chick!"

"Very good! Now here's the question with a price. How do you call all of them?" Some answered chickens. Others hen, rooster, chick. I said, "No." Then I held a piece of Choco Mucho up and said, "Are there any answers?" No one gave me the correct answer.

How about you? Can you guess the answer?

kruuut krut krut...Kruuuutingggg..... That's how we call them, right? If we call them chickens..... do you think they will come?

Annoyed and disappointed, my students said, "Teacher, another trick please." Because their minds were focused on the choco mucho.

What are Active and Passive Voice?

What are ACTIVE and PASSIVE VOICE?

These are the two formations of the verbs we use in sentences. In other words, verbs have forms called ACTIVE VOICE and PASSIVE VOICE. 

The Active Voice is the normal form of the verb. We use this form in our sentences most of the times. It shows that the subject in a sentence does the action that affects the object. Study the sentence below.

Darren kicks the ball.

                                     subject     verb           object

You can see that Darren (subject) is the one who does the action kicks (verb) which the ball (object) receives.

In the active voice, the subject comes first before the action verb which is followed by its object. The active form of the verb always has an object.

Note: Only transitive verbs are used in the active voice.

The Passive Voice of the verb, however, is formed in a different way. In the active voice, the doer of the action is the subject of the sentence, but in the passive voice, the object of the verb becomes the subject. Study the sentences below.

ACTIVE VOICE

Darren kicks the ball.

                                                                                                          subject      verb           object

PASSIVE VOICE

The ball is kicked by Darren.

You can notice that the structure of the active voice is somewhat reversed in the passive voice. In the passive voice, the object of the verb becomes the subject of the sentence, followed by a be-verb + the past participle form of the action verb. 

HOW TO CHANGE AN ACTIVE VOICE INTO A PASSIVE VOICE

Again, the object of the verb in the active voice becomes the subject of the sentence in the passive voice, followed by a verb to be + the past participle form of the verb + by + the doer of the action (the subject of the sentence in the active voice).

CHANGING AN ACTIVE VOICE INTO A PASSIVE VOICE ACCORDING TO TENSES

Simple Present

Darren kicks the ball.

The ball is kicked by Darren.

Present Continuous

Darren is kicking the ball.

The ball is being kicked by Darren.

Present Perfect

Darren has kicked the ball.

The ball has been kicked by Darren.

Present Perfect Continuous

Darren has been kicking the ball.

The ball has been being kicked by Darren.

Simple Past

Darren kicked the ball yesterday.

The ball was kicked by Darren yesterday.

Past Continuous

Darren was kicking the ball yesterday.

The ball was being kicked by Darren yesterday.

Past Perfect

Darren had kicked the ball yesterday.

The ball had been kicked by Darren yesterday.

Past Perfect Continuous

Darren had been kicking the ball yesterday.

The ball had been being kicked by Darren yesterday.

Simple Future

Darren will kick the ball tomorrow.

The ball will be kicked by Darren tomorrow.

Future Continuous

Darren will be kicking the ball tomorrow.

The ball will be being kicked by Darren tomorrow.

Future Perfect

Darren will have kicked the ball  by the time we arrive tomorrow.

The ball will have been kicked by Darren by the time we arrive tomorrow.

Future Perfect Continuous

Darren will have been kicking the ball by the time we arrive tomorrow.

The ball will have been being kicked by the Darren by the time we arrive tomorrow. 

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How to make a simple yet delicious Pinoy style puto cheese

My wife loves baking and cooking Filipino style puto  cheese and cuchinta. Almost every time there is a celebration in our house, she always cooks either puto cheese or cuchinta.

Our friends like the flavor and always ask for the ingredients and the procedure on how to cook puto cheese. That is why I decided to write an article about the delicious Pinoy style puto cheese of my wife.

Ingredients:

400 grams all-purpose flour

1 can evaporated milk

1/4 kilo sugar

20 grams baking powder

cheese

margarine

Delicious Roasted Tilapia Wrapped with Aluminum Foil

Tilapia is very common fish, especially in the Philippines, though it is not our national fish. It is very common, especially in Mindanao, where there are many rivers. The famous tilapia source in Southern Mindanao is Lake Sebu. There you can also find many fish pens. Tilapia, however, can also be caught in small ponds and rivers in the farm. I remembered when I was still small, I and my friends used to fish in rivers and lakes, and even in farm roads where water from the river passes going to the rice fields. At the end of the day, we would find ourselves carrying strings full of tilapia.

How to make a delicious puto cuchinta

Puto is one of the local delicacies in the Philippines. It is almost always present in every special gathering because it is cheap, delicious and easy to prepare. 

This time, let me share with you the delicious puto cuchinta recipe of my wife.

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups water

1 teaspoon lye

grated coconut

oil