Like: Speak English LIKE a Native

Stephen Mayeux — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 07:15:42 +0000

Das EFX is an American hip hop duo consisting of emcees Dray and Skoob. They named themselves “Das” standing for “Drayz and Skoob” and “EFX” meaning “effects”. They rose to popularity in the early 1990s due to their affiliation with EPMD‘s Hit Squad and the duo’s stream of consciousness lyrical delivery, which became one of the most influential lyrical styles in hip hop music during the early 1990s. Their style combined nonsensical lines with a fast-paced flow (that included words that end with “-iggedy“) and numerous pop culture references (taken verbatim from Wikipedia).

To the hiddip the hop it don’t stop.
Das EFX with the real hip hop.
To the hiddip the hop it don’t quit.
Das EFX and we came to rip shit.

Grammar: Preposition ‘Like’

In case you didn’t know, the flow is fat like Joe.

I eat a rapper like I’m Pacman.

Well I pop shit and rock shit like Metallica.

Use the preposition like to say that things are the same. Use like before a noun or pronoun to talk about the similarity.

like + noun/pronoun

He looks like his father.
She plays piano like Mozart!
She won’t go out with guys like me.

We can also use like to give examples.

People are happy in sunny places like California.
I’m not good in subjects like math. I prefer creative classes.

Like and as can be used as a conjunction before clauses and prepositional phrases. Using as is more formal.

like + clause/prepositional phrase
as + clause/prepositional phrase

Nobody loves you like I do.
Das EFX raps like nobody else I’ve listened to.
No other website will help you learn English like ESLhiphop does!

Writing Task

Das EFX are very fast rappers. What do they sound like? Do they sound like anybody you know? Write as many sentences as possible!

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Time Prepositions and Vocabulary with Eric B. & Rakim

Stephen Mayeux — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:14:10 +0000

Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo from Long Island, New York. The group was composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim, and they are considered by aficionados as one of hip-hop’s greatest pairs. They rose to fame during the “Golden Age” of hip-hop, which covered the late 1980s to early 1990s. Eric B is known for his unique scratching and sampling, and he especially loved sampling James Brown. Don’t Sweat the Technique is the group’s fourth and final album together, and the title track was a minor hit on the radio in 1992.

In “Don’t Sweat the Technique”, Rakim is warning other rappers not to copy his musical style because he will make them look foolish.

I made my debut in ’86
With a melody and a president’s mix.
And now I stay on target and refuse to miss.
And I still make hits
With beats, parties, clubs, in the cars and jeeps.
My underground sound vibrates the streets.
MCs wanna beef then I play for keeps
When they sweat the technique.

Grammar: Time Prepositions

Use at, in and on to express time in English.

Use at for precise time

at 5 o’clock
at 7:30pm
at noon
at midnight
at the moment

Use in for months, years and centuries

in 1986
in April
in June 2012
in summer/winter/fall/spring
in the 1970s

Use on for days and dates

On Monday, Tuesday, etc
On Mondays, Tuesdays, etc. (every Monday, every Tuesday, etc.)
On March 6 (American Date)
On 6 March (International Date)
on December 25, 2010
on his birthday

Example Sentences

I will meet you at 3.
She goes to sleep at midnight.
My boss isn’t here at the moment because she is at a conference.
Rakim made his debut in 1986.
California weather is always hot in July.
My parents grew up in the 1960s.
We don’t have to work on Monday because of the holiday.
He calls his parents on Sundays.

Other Time Expressions

at night
at the same time
at this time

in the morning / in the mornings
in the afternoon / in the afternoons
in the evening / in the evenings
in a while (soon in the future)

on Tuesday morning / on Tuesday mornings
on Wednesday afternoon / on Wednesday afternoons
on Friday evening / on Friday evenings
on the weekend / on the weekends

And in a while the style’ll have much more value
Classical too intelligent to be radical
Masterful, never irrelevant. Mathematical

Vocabulary

Don’t sweat it! (expression) – used to tell someone to stop worrying about something. I know you are nervous around women, but don’t sweat it! Just relax and enjoy the party.
on target (adjective) – focused; making progress towards a goal. Her hard work is paying off. If she keeps studying hard, she’s on target to become a doctor!
for keeps (idiom) – forever. This car is my gift to you. It’s yours for keeps!
deep (adjective) – showing great knowledge or understanding; philosophical thoughts; strongly emotional. This rapper is so smart and poetic, and his songs are so deep! I understand everything he’s singing about.
brand new (adjective) – very new; completely new. My friend won a brand new car at the casino. He’s so lucky.

Discussion Questions

What is your daily schedule like? What do you normally do in the mornings and afternoons? What do you like to do on the weekends? Do you have any special future plans, such as a vacation? When are you planning to take your next trip? Please write your comments below!

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