ENGLISH LEARNER'S STATION

Thursday, June 26, 2025

English idioms relevant to Vietnamese Family Day (28 June)

Here is a complete list of English idioms relevant to Vietnamese Family Day (28 June), with explanations, Vietnamese translations, and examples:

1. Blood is thicker than water

Explanation: Family relationships are stronger than others.
Vietnamese: Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã
Example: "We had our differences, but blood is thicker than water."

2. Like father, like son

Explanation: A child often resembles a parent in behavior or appearance.
Vietnamese: Cha nào con nấy
Example: "He loves fixing things, just like his dad — like father, like son."

3. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree

Explanation: Children usually resemble their parents.
Vietnamese: Con nhà tông không giống lông cũng giống cánh
Example: "She’s just as artistic as her mom — the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree."

4. Run in the family

Explanation: A trait or skill common to members of a family.
Vietnamese: Là truyền thống/đặc điểm trong gia đình
Example: "Musical talent runs in their family."

5. Home is where the heart is

Explanation: Home is the place you feel most emotionally attached to.
Vietnamese: Nhà là nơi trái tim hướng về
Example: "No matter where I live, home is where the heart is."

6. Bring home the bacon

Explanation: To earn money to support the family.
Vietnamese: Kiếm tiền nuôi gia đình
Example: "Dad works hard every day to bring home the bacon."

7. The black sheep of the family

Explanation: A family member who is different and often disapproved of.
Vietnamese: Con cừu đen trong gia đình
Example: "He’s the black sheep of the family — always getting into trouble."

8. Tied to (one's) mother’s apron strings

Explanation: Being overly dependent on one’s mother.
Vietnamese: Quá lệ thuộc vào mẹ
Example: "He’s 30 but still tied to his mother’s apron strings."

9. Like two peas in a pod

Explanation: Very similar or close, especially siblings.
Vietnamese: Giống nhau như hai giọt nước
Example: "The sisters are like two peas in a pod — inseparable."

10. Chip off the old block

Explanation: A child who resembles their parent in behavior or appearance.
Vietnamese: Con giống cha mẹ như đúc
Example: "He’s a chip off the old block — calm and clever like his dad."

11. Family ties

Explanation: Strong relationships between family members.
Vietnamese: Sự gắn bó gia đình
Example: "Even after moving abroad, family ties kept them close."

12. Born and bred

Explanation: Born and raised in a place or family environment.
Vietnamese: Sinh ra và lớn lên (ở nơi nào đó/được nuôi dạy trong gia đình...)
Example: "He was born and bred in a traditional Vietnamese family."

13. Bury the hatchet

Explanation: To forgive and make peace, especially in family conflicts.
Vietnamese: Hòa giải, làm lành
Example: "The brothers decided to bury the hatchet and celebrate together."

14. Quality time

Explanation: Time spent giving full attention to someone.
Vietnamese: Thời gian chất lượng bên nhau
Example: "Family Day is all about spending quality time with loved ones."

15. Blood relatives

Explanation: People related by birth, not marriage or adoption.
Vietnamese: Họ hàng ruột thịt
Example: "Only blood relatives were invited to the family reunion."

16. Get along like a house on fire

Explanation: To get along very well and quickly.
Vietnamese: Hòa hợp rất nhanh chóng
Example: "The cousins got along like a house on fire."

17. Like pulling teeth

Explanation: Something very difficult to do, such as getting teenagers to talk to family.
Vietnamese: Rất khó khăn
Example: "Getting the kids to help with chores is like pulling teeth."

18. Put the family first

Explanation: To prioritize family over other things.
Vietnamese: Đặt gia đình lên hàng đầu
Example: "She always puts the family first, even during her busy schedule."

19. Blood is thicker than money

Explanation: Family is more important than wealth.
Vietnamese: Gia đình quý hơn tiền bạc
Example: "He gave up the deal because he believes blood is thicker than money."

20. Keep it in the family

Explanation: Not share information or possessions outside the family.
Vietnamese: Giữ kín trong gia đình
Example: "They decided to keep the family business in the family."

#VietnameseFamilyDay #FamilyFirst #LearnEnglish #FamilyIdioms #IdiomsWithMeaning #EnglishAndVietnamese #28June #GiaDinhLaSo1 #LoveFamily #HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs

ONLINE ENGLISH CLASS

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Verb Tense: Present Perfect Continuous

🌟 Verb Tense: Present Perfect

Continuous

1. What is the Present Perfect Continuous?

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe:

Actions that started in the past and are still continuing now
Actions that have just stopped but have visible results in the present
Actions happening over a period of time

2. How to Form the Present Perfect Continuous

Subject + has/have + been + verb-ing

Subject	Verb: "study"	Example Sentence
I/You/We/They	have been studying	We have been studying for two hours.
He/She/It	has been studying	She has been studying since morning.

3. Negative Form

Subject + has/have + not + been + verb-ing

I have not been sleeping well lately.
He has not been working this week.
They haven’t been coming to class regularly.

4. Question Form

Have/Has + subject + been + verb-ing?

Have you been working out?
Has she been crying?
Have they been living here long?

5. When to Use the Present Perfect Continuous

To show how long an activity has been happening (still continuing)

I have been learning English for 3 years.
She has been working at that company since 2020.

To explain the present result of a recent activity

He is tired because he has been running.
Her eyes are red. She has been crying.

Repeated actions in the past with a present impact

They have been calling all day.
I have been thinking about your suggestion.

6. Signal Words

Common time expressions:

for + duration (e.g., for two hours, for a week)
since + point in time (e.g., since Monday, since 2022)
lately, recently, all day, all morning, how long

7. Common Mistakes

Don’t forget “been” in the sentence:

❌ I have working all day.
✅ I have been working all day.

Don’t use it for completed actions without a time frame:

❌ I have been finished my homework.
✅ I have finished my homework. (Use Present Perfect here, not Continuous)

8. Quick Practice

Fill in the blanks using Present Perfect Continuous:

She __________ (study) for the test all morning.
We __________ (not/sleep) well lately.
__________ you __________ (exercise) regularly?
He __________ (work) here since 2018.

(Answers: 1. has been studying, 2. have not been sleeping, 3. Have, been exercising, 4. has been working)

#presentperfectcontinuous #learnenglish #englishgrammar #hoctienganh #tienganhcoban #grammarlesson #englishforkids #verbtense #grammarpractice

🌟 Thì Động Từ: Hiện Tại Hoàn Thành Tiếp Diễn (Present Perfect Continuous)

1. Thì Hiện Tại Hoàn Thành Tiếp Diễn Là Gì?

Thì Hiện Tại Hoàn Thành Tiếp Diễn được dùng để diễn tả:

Hành động bắt đầu trong quá khứ và vẫn đang tiếp diễn đến hiện tại
Hành động vừa mới kết thúc, nhưng có kết quả/ảnh hưởng ở hiện tại
Hành động xảy ra liên tục trong một khoảng thời gian

2. Cấu Trúc Thì Hiện Tại Hoàn Thành Tiếp Diễn

Chủ ngữ + have/has + been + động từ-ing

Chủ ngữ	Động từ: "study"	Ví dụ câu
I/You/We/They	have been studying	We have been studying for two hours. (Chúng tôi đã học được 2 tiếng rồi.)
He/She/It	has been studying	She has been studying since morning. (Cô ấy học từ sáng đến giờ.)

3. Câu Phủ Định

Chủ ngữ + have/has + not + been + động từ-ing

I have not been sleeping well lately. (Gần đây tôi ngủ không ngon.)
He has not been working this week. (Tuần này anh ấy không làm việc.)
They haven’t been coming to class regularly. (Họ không đến lớp đều đặn.)

4. Câu Hỏi

Have/Has + chủ ngữ + been + động từ-ing?

Have you been working out? (Bạn có đang tập thể dục không?)
Has she been crying? (Cô ấy vừa khóc à?)
Have they been living here long? (Họ sống ở đây lâu chưa?)

5. Khi Nào Dùng Thì Hiện Tại Hoàn Thành Tiếp Diễn

Nhấn mạnh khoảng thời gian hành động đang diễn ra và vẫn tiếp tục

I have been learning English for 3 years. (Tôi đã học tiếng Anh được 3 năm.)
She has been working at that company since 2020. (Cô ấy làm việc ở công ty đó từ năm 2020.)

Diễn tả nguyên nhân dẫn đến kết quả hiện tại

He is tired because he has been running. (Anh ấy mệt vì vừa mới chạy.)
Her eyes are red. She has been crying. (Mắt cô ấy đỏ. Cô ấy vừa khóc.)

Hành động lặp lại nhiều lần trong thời gian gần đây

They have been calling all day. (Họ gọi điện cả ngày.)
I have been thinking about your suggestion. (Tôi đang suy nghĩ về gợi ý của bạn.)

6. Dấu Hiệu Nhận Biết

Một số trạng từ thường đi với thì này:

for + khoảng thời gian (e.g., for two hours, for a week)
since + mốc thời gian (e.g., since Monday, since 2022)
lately, recently, all day, all morning, how long

7. Lỗi Thường Gặp

Quên dùng “been”:

❌ I have working all day.
✅ I have been working all day. (Tôi đã làm việc cả ngày.)

Dùng sai khi hành động đã hoàn tất:

❌ I have been finished my homework.
✅ I have finished my homework. (→ Dùng Thì Hiện Tại Hoàn Thành thay vì Tiếp Diễn)

8. Bài Tập Nhanh

Điền thì hiện tại hoàn thành tiếp diễn vào chỗ trống:

She __________ (study) for the test all morning.
We __________ (not/sleep) well lately.
__________ you __________ (exercise) regularly?
He __________ (work) here since 2018.

(Đáp án: 1. has been studying, 2. have not been sleeping, 3. Have, been exercising, 4. has been working)