Spelling puzzles

1. forward vs. forwards:
- Answer (public.wsu.edu-Common errors in English usage) (grammarist.com/"When in doubt, use the safer forward.")
- See more (public.wsu.edu-List of errors)
- Other cases: forward; toward; backward; leftward; rightward

Copyright symbol ©

©
* (conradaskland.com/blog/2006/12/how-to-type-a-copyright-symbol)
* (iusmentis.com/copyright/symbol)
* (journalofaccountancy.com)

List (Upper-intermediate level)

I. PART 1 (general):
* azure (a) (n) (color)
* claw (n): móng vuốt
* convenient
* cocoon (n) (cover)
* cowrie (also cowry) (n): a small sea animal with a soft body and a brightly coloured shell, or the shell itself used in the past as money in parts of Africa and southern Asia; tiền vỏ ốc
- cowrie shells (vỏ sò dùng làm tiền trong quá khứ)
* differentiate (vt)
* dissuade: khuyên can, can ngăn (See: prohibition, dissuasion)
* errand: việc vặt (đưa thư, đi mua thuốc lá, đi chợ, etc.)
* fudge (n) (U): kẹo mềm (mixed of sugar, butter & milk); chuyện vớ vẩn!
* generous: rộng lượng, khoan hòa (마음이 넓다) (tính cách)
* gorgeous
* guru
* hiss (vti)
* inferior /ɪnˈfɪə.ri.ər/ (noun: inferiority compare superiority)
* invert /ɪnˈvɜːt/ (vt, formal) (see: reverse): đảo ngược, nghịch đảo; inverted (adj) (see: ảnh âm bản, cuộn phim âm bản)
* lag (internet)
* larynx (Medicine) (n): thanh quản
* median (Maths): trung tuyến (~middle; medial (linguistics): âm giữa, âm đệm)
* mortar (n): cái cối; súng cối
* novice
* one-sided love: tình đơn phương (짝사랑, unrequited love)
* prefect: cảnh sát trưởng Paris; quận trưởng; prefecture: quận, state, district (See meaning in: Japan, France, the Romance Empire)
* profound: uyên thâm; thâm thúy; sâu thẳm; đòi hỏi phải suy nghĩ nhiều
* prohibition: cấm, lệnh cấm
* reiterate (vt) (formal) (Saying again): to say sth again, once or several times; reiteration (n) (Lời nói gián tiếp - Indirect speech)
* relevant (opp. irrelevant)
* snippet (n) (Blog; google): đoạn trích ngắn (của 1 bài báo, của 1 entry trong blog, etc. Cái này cứ sd blog sẽ hiểu snippet là gì.)
* soprano /səˈprɑː.nəʊ/ (Music, Opera): giọng nữ cao
* startled: giật mình (ví dụ khi nhìn hóa đơn thanh toán chẳng hạn), hoảng hốt kinh ngạc, ngạc nhiên há hốc mồm
* streak (n): vệt (cái từ này chơi bài chơi bạc nhiều sẽ biết nó có nghĩa là 'vận' - vận đỏ đen, thắng thua) Còn nghĩa thông thường của nó là vệt. Đọc ví dụ sau sẽ rõ hơn:

- The window cleaner has left dirty streaks on the windows. (vệt bẩn)

- I dye my hair to hide my grey streaks. (tóc bạc)

- Meteors produce streaks of light as they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. (vệt sáng)

* subordinate (see: an subordinate or an equal)
____
II. PART 2: (communicate)
* baffle
* goose bumps (bump (v) (to hit, va đập, va vào)) (englishbaby.com): sởn da gà, sởn gai ốc, nổi da gà, lạnh toát gáy (cảm giác sợ hãi cái gì đó hoặc cảm thấy lạnh)
- I've got goose bumps!
- That gave me goose bumps.
____
III. PART 3 (Thuật ngữ):
* sandhi (linguistics): hiện tượng Sandhi; hiện tượng chuyển âm theo ngữ cảnh. Eg. Chinese tone sandhi (rule về sự biến đổi tone trong tiếng Trung)
* saline; saline bottle; saline soil
___
Phrases:
* (her/his) ancestral home: quê quán tổ tiên, nguyên quán (quê gốc, không nhất thiết phải là nơi sinh ra)
* mentally retarded (person) (_downy '1 lần xả')

Using verbs...

1. to wish
-(english-at-home.com/grammar/using-wish/)
-(perfectyourenglish.com/usage/wish.htm)
-(esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/noncontinuous.htm)

Labels

* Routledge is a British publishing house.

Thuật ngữ nào đó...

* steal one's thunder: Someone 'steals your thunder' when they use your ideas or inventions to their own advantage.(phrases.org.uk)
* thunder thumb

Welcome in Botswana

(explore-botswana.com)

General

The republic of Botswana is completely surrounded by other countries, namely Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Republic of South Africa, and is located in the south of Africa. Botswana has currently approximately 1.5 million inhabitants. The former British protectorate Bechuanaland adapted the current name after independence in 1966. The capital and largest city of the country is Gaborone.

History

In 1837, the Afrikaners were the first ones who took the current Botswana into their hands. The former Bechuanaland became part of the British protectorate in 1885, which lasted till 1966. Some years before the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) was established and won the first elections. Bechuanaland became independent 30 September 1966, and Seretse Khama became first president. The name Bechuanaland was officially changed into Botswana. The post of Prime Minister is erased and Botswana became a parliament democracy. After the dead of Seretse Khama he is succeeded by Ketumile Masire. Botswana becomes member of the SADCC (South African Development Coordination Conference). In 1998 Ketumile Masire is succeeded by Festus Gontebanye Mogae. He keeps this position untill 2008. From 2008 till present Ian Khama is president of Botswana.

Geography

On an average, Botswana is located at an altitude of 1000m and is mostly dry highlands. In the east of Botswana there are more hills. The Kalahari desert stretches out over the south and west of Botswana. In the north of Botswana the river Okavango flows, which end in a huge swamp, named the Okavango Delta.

Climate

Botswana’s climate differs per region, and depends on local rainfall. The rainfall varies in the inlands from around 20 cm per year, while in the north this is more than 64 cm rain per year. There is a subtropical climate, but there are also long dry periods. The only and best possibility for visiting National Parks in Botswana is in the dry season (May – October).

Population

The population of Botswana exists mainly out of the Tswana (79%), an ethnical group who speak a Bantoe language. This population is divided in eight important subgroups. There are also small numbers of Kalanga (11%), Basarwa (3%), Kgalagadi and white people. Even though English is the official language, the local Tswana language commonly used. Half of the population is Christian. The other half believes in traditional religions.

Currency

The local currency is the pula. Pula means 'rain' in Setswana language. One pula is worth one hundred thebe, which means 'shield'. Kinds of coins available: 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 thebe and 1 and 2 pula. The notes are available in 10, 20, 50 and 100 pula. Up till 1920, the pound Sterling was used in Botswana, which was followed by the South African pound. In 1961 two South African pounds were traded for one South African rand. Finally, in 1976 the pula was introduced with an exchange rate of 1:1.
In the area between Francistown and Gaborone there are hardly no ATM’s. It is possible to pay by credit card or exchange money at the larger accommodations, but they might ask an extra fee for this. Euro’s or US dollars can be exchanged at most of the lodges.

Flora and Fauna
The natural division of vegetation in Botswana depends strongly on the rain fall. The largest part of Botswana exists of savannah areas, only small parts of Botswana exist of forests. The most appearing trees are the Acacia and Mopane trees. The largest forests can be found in the north, at the shores of the Chobe river. 
Botswana is known for its large diversity in animals, the most African wild species can be found here. Botswana has lately been very protective against poachers in comparison with other African countries. According to the statistics, the country has around 164 kinds of mammals, 157 kinds of reptiles, 80 kinds of fishes, 550 kinds of birds and countless sorts of insects.
The government has reserved thousands of square kilometers as protected area. Some of these protected areas are Chobe National Park in the North, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park at the border of South Africa.

Language

The official language is English, besides that many different local languages are spoken, such as Mbukushu, Naro, Subiya, Tswana, Kalanga (150.000 speakers), Afrikaans (20.000 speakers), Herero (20.000 speakers), and Birwa (15.000 speakers).

Visa

For most western countries no visa are requirred. This is the case for inhabitants of the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, USA, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc. All visitors do need a passport, which has to be valid for al least 6 months after departure. Valid travel and driving documents are necessary, and visitors should bring in enough money to pay for their stay in Botswana. Visitors can obtain a tourist visa for a period of maximum 90 days per calendar year.

Health

A journey to Botswana requires a DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio) vaccination and in some areas Hepetitis A is advisable. When coming from a yellow fever area, a yellow fever vaccination is compulsory. The north of Botswana (f.e Okavango and Chobe) is a malaria risk area. You can protect yourself by wearing long clothes and to use malaria profylaxes. Some medications need to be taken a while before you go, and even when you return home. For professional advice please advice your doctor or a travel clinic.

Economy

For the biggest part of the population, small-scale agriculture and stock-breeding is the most important source of income. In most cases, only a few people of a large family has a paid job. The rest takes care of the farm. The country’s water shortening, and a continuous lack on enough facilities have delayed agricultural growth. Only a small part of the country is cultivated.
Around the time of independence, the only minerals found in Botswana were manganese, gold and asbestos. Since that time large nickel and copper sources has been found, as well as salt. There are also huge coal mines, sources of antimony, sulphur, plutonium and platin. The three diamond mines are the most important for local economy. These mines represent nowadays one of the larges diamond reserves in the world.
The large number of game parks attract many tourists and are therefore also a huge income source. Especially the Okavango Delta is internationally famous, a river that dies out in the Kalahari desert, and therefore created an enormously and unique nature area.  

Politics

Botswana is a parliamentary republic with multiple parties, that operates under the constitution of 1966. The country is headed by a president, who is as well head of state as leader of government, and serves for a period of 5 years. At this moment, since 1 April 2008, the president is Ian khama, (party: Botswana Democratic Party). The government consists of two Chambers: one House of Chiefs, which consists of 15 seats and where the most important tribe leaders hold position. The second one is the National Assemblée, which consists of 47 seats (40 chosen, 7 named by the president) with an term of office of 5 years. The most important politic parties are the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and the Botswana Independence Party (BIP). 

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

(Source: sacredsites.com)
There are two great complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, one at Bagan in Burma, the other at Angkor in Cambodia. The temples of Angkor, built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements. From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples in all, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings - palaces, public buildings, and houses - were built of wood and have long since decayed and disappeared.

Conventional theories presume the lands where Angkor stands were chosen as a settlement site because of their strategic military position and agricultural potential. Alternative scholars, however, believe the geographical location of the Angkor complex and the arrangement of its temples was based on a planet-spanning sacred geography from archaic times. Using computer simulations, it has been shown that the ground plan of the Angkor complex – the terrestrial placement of its principal temples - mirrors the stars in the constellation of Draco at the time of spring equinox in 10,500 BC. While the date of this astronomical alignment is far earlier than any known construction at Angkor, it appears that its purpose was to architecturally mirror the heavens in order to assist in the harmonization of the earth and the stars. Both the layout of the Angkor temples and the iconographic nature of much its sculpture, particularly the asuras (‘demons’) and devas (‘deities’) are also intended to indicate the celestial phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes and the slow transition from one astrological age to another.

At the temple of Phnom Bakheng there are 108 surrounding towers. The number 108, considered sacred in both Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is the sum of 72 plus 36 (36 being ½ of 72). The number 72 is a primary number in the sequence of numbers linked to the earth’s axial precession, which causes the apparent alteration in the position of the constellations over the period of 25,920 years, or one degree every 72 years. Another mysterious fact about the Angkor complex is its location 72 degrees of longitude east of the Pyramids of Giza. The temples of Bakong, Prah Ko and Prei Monli at Roluos, south of the main Angkor complex, are situated in relation to each other in such a way that they mirror the three stars in the Corona Borealis as they appeared at dawn on the spring equinox in 10,500 BC. It is interesting to note that the Corona Borealis would not have been visible from these temples during the 10th and 11th centuries when they were constructed.

Angkor Wat, built during the early years of the 12th century by Suryavaram II, honors the Hindu god Vishnu and is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology. Consisting of an enormous temple symbolizing the mythic Mt. Meru, its five inter-nested rectangular walls and moats represent chains of mountains and the cosmic ocean. The short dimensions of the vast compound are precisely aligned along a north-south axis, while the east-west axis has been deliberately diverted 0.75 degrees south of east and north of west, seemingly in order to give observers a three day anticipation of the spring equinox.

Unlike other temples at Angkor, Ta Prohm has been left as it was found, preserved as an example of what a tropical forest will do to an architectural monument when the protective hands of humans are withdrawn. Ta Prohm's walls, roofs, chambers and courtyards have been sufficiently repaired to stop further deterioration, and the inner sanctuary has been cleared of bushes and thick undergrowth, but the temple has been left in the stranglehold of trees. Having planted themselves centuries ago, the tree's serpentine roots pry apart the ancient stones and their immense trunks straddle the once bustling Buddhist temple. Built in the later part of the 12th century by Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm is the terrestrial counterpart of the star Eta Draconis the Draco constellation.

During half-millennia of Khmer occupation, the city of Angkor became a pilgrimage destination of importance throughout Southeastern Asia. Sacked by the Thais in 1431 and abandoned in 1432, Angkor was forgotten for a few centuries. Wandering Buddhist monks, passing through the dense jungles, occasionally came upon the awesome ruins. Recognizing the sacred nature of the temples but ignorant of their origins, they invented fables about the mysterious sanctuaries, saying they had been built by the gods in a far ancient time. Centuries passed, these fables became legends, and pilgrims from the distant reaches of Asia sought out the mystic city of the gods. A few adventurous European travelers knew of the ruins and stories circulated in antiquarian circles of a strange city lost in the jungles. Most people believed the stories to be nothing more than legend, however, until the French explorer Henri Mouhot brought Angkor to the world's attention in 1860. The French people were enchanted with the ancient city and beginning in 1908 funded and superbly managed an extensive restoration project. The restoration has continued to the present day, excepting periods in the 70's and 80's when military fighting prevented archaeologists from living near the ruins.

Orthodox archaeologists sometimes interpret the temples of the Angkor complex as tombs of megalomaniacal kings yet in reality those kings designed and constructed the temples as a form of service to both god and their own subjects. The temples were places not for the worship of the kings but rather for the worship of god. Precisely aligned with the stars, constructed as vast three dimensional yantras and adorned with stunningly beautiful religious art, the Angkor temples were instruments for assisting humans in their realization of the divine.

Jayavaram VII, spoke of his intentions in erecting temples as being:

“full of deep sympathy for the good of the world, so as to bestow on men the ambrosia of remedies to win them immortality….By virtue of these good works would that I might rescue all those who are struggling in the ocean of existence.”

Borobudur Stupa, Java, Indonesia

(Source: sacredsites.com)

Sometime before the 5th century AD, the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism spread southward from the mainland of southeast Asia to the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and a few others in the archipelago currently called Indonesia. (It is misleading to think of all of Indonesia as either an ancient empire or the province of any particular religion. The vast archipelago of over 13,000 islands became the nation of Indonesia only in 1949 and only a few of its major islands were ever settled or much influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism or Islam). There are no archaeological remains of temples in the Indianized states of Java prior to the end of the 7th century as the early Hindu structures were built of wood and have long since decayed in the moist tropic climate. The first stone temples, Shiva shrines constructed during the 8th century, are found high on the Dieng plateau, the name Dieng meaning 'the place of the gods'. The greatest concentration of Javanese sacred architecture, however, lies on the plain of Kedu, some 42 kilometers north-west of the present city of Yogyakarta. Here stands the beautiful Hindu temple complex of Prambanam and the world famous Hindu/Buddhist temple of Borobudur.
Borobudur, a name deriving from an expression meaning 'Mountain of accumulation of merits of the ten states of Bodhisattva' is commonly thought of as a Buddhist structure, yet its initial construction was planned and conducted by Hindu builders sometime around 775 AD. The enormous first and second terraces were completed by a declining Hindu dynasty, construction was then halted for some years, and later, from 790 to 835 AD, the Buddhist Sailendra dynasty continued and finally completed the great stupa. The huge stone mass might have then been permanently abandoned, for it was difficult to adapt to the needs of Buddhism. However, leaving in evidence such an obvious manifestation of Hinduism was probably not deemed politically correct and thus the unfinished Shiva temple was transformed into the world's largest Buddhist stupa. After 832 AD the Hindu dynasty of Sanjaya began to reunify central Java and soon reappropriated the Buddhist monuments built by the Sailendra. Although the Sanjaya were themselves Hindu, they ruled over a Buddhist majority and thus, while some Hindu modifications and ornamentations were done on Borobudur, the stupa remained a place of Buddhist use. During the 10th and 11th centuries there was a transfer of power from central Java to the east, and the great stupa fell into decline. For centuries the site lay forgotten, buried under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth. In 1815 Europeans cleared the site, in the early 1900's the Dutch began its restoration, and a US$21 million project begun in 1973 completed the work.
The Borobudur stupa is a massive, symetrical monument, 200 square meters in size, sitting upon a low sculptured hill. The monument represents a Buddhist cosmological model of the universe organized around the axis of mythical Mt. Meru. Starting at the eastern gateway, pilgrims circumambulate the stupa, always in a clockwise direction. Walking through nearly five kilometers of open air corridors while ascending through six square terraces and three circular ones, the pilgrim symbolically spirals upward from the everyday world to the nirvanic state of absolute nothingness. The first six terraces are filled with richly decorated relief panels in which the sculptors have carved a textbook of Buddhist doctrines and a fascinating panorama of 9th century Javanese life. Upon the upper three terraces are 72 small stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha (these statues are usually headless; relic hunters stole many of the heads, others are in museums). Crowning the entire structure is a great central stupa. Representing Nirvana, it is empty.

4 kinds of conjunctions

<Reference sources: towson.edu; suite101.com; englishclub.com>
There are four kinds of conjunctions:
I/ Coordinating conjunctions
II/ Subordinating conjunctions
III/ Correlative conjunctions
IV/ Conjunctive adverbs
________
I/ Coordinating conjunctions:
1. The seven coordinating conjunctions are short, simple words. FANBOYS is a mnemonic which stands for these seven coordinating conjunctions' initials spell. They are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, & so.
2. Coordinating conjunctions just join equals to one another. In other words, they always join similar elements. For example:
- words to words: Most children like cookies and milk.
- phrases to phrases: The gold is hidden at the beach or by the lakeside.
- clauses to clauses: What u say and what u do are two different things.
3. Coordinating conjunctions usually form looser connections than other conjunctions do.
- Ann was late for work, and she received a cut in pay. (very loose)
- Ann was late for work, so she received a cut in pay. (loose)
- Because Ann was late for work, she received a cut in pay. (subordinating conjunction) (tighter)
4. Coordinating conjunctions go in between items joined, not at the beginning or end.
- I like coffee, but I don't like tea. (in between items joined)
5. Punctuation:
* A coordinating conjunction joining just two items doesn't need a comma before the conjunction.
- cookies and milk
* A coordinating conjunction joining three or more items creates a series and requires commas between the elements.
- peanuts, cookies, and milk
- in the mountains, at the beach, or by the lakeside
- what u think, what u say, and what u do
* A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound sentence and requires a comma before this coordinating conjunction.
- Ann ate all the peanuts, so Tom ate the cookies.
- I don't care for the beach, but I enjoy a good vacation in the mountains.

II/ Subordinating conjunctions:
* The majority of conjunctions are 'subordinating conjunctions'. These words are commonly used as subordinating conjunctions:

Subordinating conjunctions (for examples)
1. after	2. although	3. as
4. as far as	5. as soon as	6. as if
7. as though	8. because	9. before
10. even if	11. even though	12. how
13. if	14. inasmuch as	15. in case (that)
16. in order (that)	17. insofar as	18. in that
19. lest	20. no matter how	21. now that
22. once	23. provided (that)	24. since
25. so that	26. supposing (that)	27. than
28. that	29. though	30. till
31. unless	32. until	33. when
34. whenever	35. where	36. wherever
37. whether	38. while	39. why

1. A subordinating conjunction joins a subordinate clause (dependent clause) to a main clause (independent clause).
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
• Main clause: we have an umbrella
• Subordinate clause: because it's raining
2. A subordinating conjunction may appear at a sentence beginning or between two clauses in a sentence.
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
- We have an umbrella because it's raining.
3. A subordinating conjunction usually provides a tighter connection between clauses than a coordinating conjunction does.
- It's raining, so we have an umbrella. (coordinating conjunction) (loose)
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella. (tight)
4. Punctuation note:
* Subordinate clause + a comma + main clause.
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
* Main clause + subordinate clause.
- We have an umbrella because it's raining.

III/ Correlative conjunctions:
1. Correlative conjunctions work together in pairs. They include: either...or; neither...nor; not only...but also; & both...and.
2. These pairs of conjunctions require equal (parallel) structures after each other.
- Ann wants not only money but also fame.
- Ann not only wants money but also wants fame.

IV/ Conjunctive adverbs:
* Although conjunctive adverbs can be used simply as adverbs, they can also be used as connectives to link two or more independent clauses and establish certain relationships between those clauses. The following are frequently used conjunctive adverbs.

29. thus	Conjunctive adverbs (for examples)
1. after all	2. also	3. as a result	4. besides
5. consequently	6. finally	7. for example	8. furthermore
9. hence	10. however	11. in addition	12. incidentally
13. indeed	14. in fact	15. in other words	16. instead
17. likewise	18. meanwhile	19. moreover	20. nevertheless
21. next	22. nonetheless	23. on the contrary	24. on the other hand
25. otherwise	26. still	27. then	28. therefore

* Punctuation note: Place a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after this conjunctive adverb.
- The tire was flat; therefore, we called a service station.
- It was a hot day; nevertheless, the roofers worked on the project all day.

Versus (3)

1. less or lesser? (englishplus.com)
2. principle or principal? (grammar.quickanddirtytips.com audio support)

pal (informal)

(dailywritingtips.com/principle-principal/)
Principle and principal are easily confused. It doesn’t help that they are homophones, which means they sound alike. Here’s a guide to what they mean and how you can tell them apart.

Principle
The word principle means a standard, a law or a rule. This means you can have:

* the principles of economics, which are the laws that govern economic theory
* moral principles, which are the rules and standards that govern your behavior

Principal
The word principal usually refers to a person. Remember that it ends in ‘pal’, which is a person. A principal can be:

* the head of a school
* the head of an organization
* the main person involved in a contract or financial negotiation

Putting It All Together
If you remember that principal is a person, then you can easily make sense of this sentence:

The principal taught us the first principle of social responsibility.

Thành lập từ (prefix, suffix, etc.)

-guish: extinguish; distinguish
1. extinguish /ɪkˈstɪŋ.gwɪʃ/ (vt): dập tắt; làm phá hủy, tiêu tan
- It took the fire-fighters several hour to extinguish the flame.
- to extinguish a cigarette
___________
-some: fearsome; handsome; lonesome; troublesome; meddlesome
==============================
ex:
* excommunicate: rút phép thông công (~ bị nhà thờ tẩy chay)

Irregular verbs

* englishclub.com Irregular verbs list (dream - dreamed/dreamt - dreamed/dreamt)
* usingenglish.com Irregular verbs following a similar pattern
1. flee - fled - fled (run away to find safety)
2. fly - flew - flown
3. spread - spread - spread
4. seek - sought - sought
5. overrun - overran - overrun
6. sit - sat - sat

double vowels problem

1. to quarrel; quarrelled (UK); quarreled (US)
- What did u quarrelled about/over?
2. to rebel; rebelled (v)
3. to travel; travelled (Brit); traveled (US)
4. win; winning
5. incurred (chịu, gánh)
6. to transfer /trænsˈfɜːr//ˈtræns.fɝː/ (v) (-rr-); transferred; transfered (tùy thuộc trọng âm rơi vào âm tiết thứ nhất hay là âm tiết thứ hai; It's up to the verb be stressed at its first syllable or second one.)

Versus (2)

1. less or lesser?
2. principle or principal?
3. specially or especially? (englishplus.com; answers.yahoo.com)
4. every time [everytime]
5. ambience or ambiance (gearslutz.com); (wiki.answers.com); (englishwithsunil.wordpress.com)

Adverbs

1. roughly (adv) (not exactly): approximately
- The two armies were roughly the same size, but there were important differences between them.
2. merely (adv): just; only; simply (used to emphasize that you mean exactly what you are saying and nothing more)
- I wasn't complaining, I merely said that I'm tired.
3. allegedly: bị cho là, được cho là
4. ultimately (adv): cuối cùng

to want to do sth

1. to tell sb to do sth:
- I told you to stop talking.
2. to be content with: bằng lòng; vừa ý

- He seems fairly content with (his) life.
_________
1.http://www.bedavaingilizce.net/prepositions/verb_pre.htm List
2.http://wps.ablongman.com/long_faigley_penguinhb_2/30/7853/2010449.cw/index.html reference list
3.http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbprep.htm (3 ways)
And here are three lists of the various ways we combine verbs and prepositions in English:
* Verb+preposition combinations
* Phrasal verbs
* Phrasal verbs+preposition combinations

Sentence types

(Source: scientificpsychic.com)
English has four main sentence types:

1. Declarative Sentences are used to form statements.
   Examples: "Mary is here.", "My name is Mary."
2. Interrogative Sentences are used to ask questions.
   Examples: "Where is Mary?", "What is your name?"
3. Imperative Sentences are used for commands.
   Examples: "Come here.", "Tell me your name."
4. Conditional Sentences are used to indicate dependencies between events or conditions.
   Example: "If you cut all the trees, there will be no forest."
   

It is not polite to use imperative sentences without the word "Please". It is better to say "Please, come here." than just "Come here." The simplest English sentences are imperative sentences with a single verb (Example: "Help!").

Sentences may be simple or compound. Compound sentences consist of two or more simple sentences joined by conjunctions.
Examples:
"Come here and sit down.",
"My name is Mary and I live in New York.",
"What is your name and where do you live?",
"Either John will go to New York or Mary will come here."

It is not correct to combine different sentence types in a compound sentence.
Wrong: "Mary lives in New York and come here."
_____

<English Sentence> =
       <Simple Sentence> |
       <Compound Sentence>

<Simple Sentence> =
       <Declarative Sentence> |
       <Interrogative Sentence> |
       <Imperative Sentence> |
       <Conditional Sentence>

<Compound Sentence> =
       <Simple Sentence> <conjunction> <Simple Sentence> |
       "Either" <Declarative Sentence> "or" <Declarative Sentence> |
       "Either" <Imperative Sentence> "or" <Imperative Sentence>

_______________
(Source: learningnerd.wordpress.com)

Types of Sentences by Structure

• Simple Sentence – “I love chocolate.” One independent clause (underlined).

• Compound Sentence - “I love chocolate, and I love eating chocolate.” Two or more independent clauses.

• Complex Sentence – “I love chocolate because it’s decadent.” One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses (italicized). Note: according to Wikipedia, a sentence like “The dog chewed up the shoes that I just bought” is a simple sentence, not a complex sentence, because the relative clause “that I just bought” simply modifies the noun without performing any other function. I’m not sure how accurate this is, however.

• Complex-Compound Sentence – “I love chocolate because it’s decadent, and I love eating chocolate because it’s delicious.” Two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Those four categories apply to normal, grammatical sentences. However, some of our most common expressions are sentences that don’t follow the rules — see Major and Minor Sentences.
Note: obsessive syntacticians (is there any other kind?) have also named more specific types of sentences, which I’ll address when I start learning about the finer points of writing style.

Types of Sentences by Purpose

• Declarative Sentence – “I love chocolate.” Used to make a simple statement. Most sentences are declarative.

• Interrogative Sentence – “Do you love chocolate?” Used to ask a question. See also Rhetorical Question. 

• Exclamatory Sentence – “I need chocolate!” Used for emphasis and emotion.

• Imperative Sentence – “Please buy me some chocolate.” Used for commands, with the pronoun you always implied.

• Conditional Sentence – “If I had a billion dollars, I would buy a castle made of chocolate.” Used to express what one would do if a condition were met. There are several types of conditional sentences: the present general (or zero condition), the future more-vivid (or first condition), the future less-vivid (or second condition), the present contrafactual (also sometimes called the second condition), and the past contrafactual (or third condition).

Lists of grammar

1. Kinds of sentences in English grammar; sentence structures; sentence types; Types of sentence

Nouns

Irregular plural nouns:
1. phenomenon: phenomena (existing thing; ~ hiện tượng)
- Gravity is a natural phenomenon.
_____
Male/Female:
1. waiter/waitress
2. actor/actress
3. heir/heiress
4. elector/electress
_____
Subject + Verb.
Singular/Plural agreements:
* singular or plural verbs? (http://wps.ablongman.com)
* singular or plural? (tolearnenglish.com)
- trousers, pants

Writing a letter skill

- List of Letter Closings and E-mail Goodbyes (www.suite101.com/)
- Best regards/wishes
- How to end a letter that starts 'To Whom It May Concern'? (uk.answers.yahoo.com/)
- www.englishforums.com/
- How to end a letter (www.ehow.com/)

English tests

1. Her renown spread ... the country. (A)
A. across
B. over
2. Nội động từ 'arrive' với giới từ theo sau nó. Ví dụ như arrive in chẳng hạn.
- He arrived in Cairo.
Mình đoán chừng nội động từ này là một cái 'bẫy' quen thuộc trong các bài kiểm tra tiếng Anh đây.

Phrases, idioms, proverbs, etc.

Idioms; Phrasal verbs

1. first off : first of all; firstly
2. bid fair to succeed: hứa hẹn sẽ thành công; có triển vọng thành công
3. to look beyond (not phrasal verbs???) (http://www.myprofe.com)
- “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” (source)
-"But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part.
For a hero’s strength is measured by his heart." (Hercules)
4. on a daily basis (yahoo answer)
5. thank to: (english-test.net/forum); (englishforums.com/English)
6. to turn over a new leaf:

7. It provides the final piece in the puzzle.
__________
PHRASAL VERBS:
1. to put up with sb/sth: nhân nhượng, nhún nhường, chịu đựng, cam chịu
2. to abide by sth: tôn trọng, tuân theo (1 cam kêt, 1 quyết định)
_________
VERB + PREPOSITION:
1. to plunge into
2. to spark off
________

1. administrative zeal
- A new administrative zeal was evident at the beginning of the period.
- evident (a) (slightly formal): obvious
2. trick or treat (Halloween) (to treat: pay for; khao)

Versus (1)

1. response (n) and respond (v)
1. skillful or skilful ???, and skilled ???
- skilful
2. Differences between cookies and biscuits ?
3. Coach vs. Carriage.
- (US usu. bus) a coach trip
- (Uk) a railway carriage
- a horse-drawn carriage.
4. Compare the words: under, beneath ?
5. over and above ?
6. "Mỗi ngày tôi chọn một niềm zuj." Each day I pick up a joy ...
each là mỗi, còn every là mọi. 'Every day' là hàng ngày, mọi ngày, thường ngày.
I found an answer from englishclub.com. See these examples:
- Every artist is sensitive.
- Each artist sees things differently.
* Some more examples, taken from the Internet:
- We gave each child who came to the party a present. (We handed them out one by one).
- We gave every child who came to the party a present. (We gave them all a present).
7. yearly vs. annual

Pronunciation

1. subordinate /səˈbɔː.dɪ.nət/ (a) : - a subordinate role
2. check /tʃek/: check out; check on
3. to stamp out (how do u pronounce it?)
4. love; lose; loose :)

Battles, Treaty, ect. (when)

* Battle of Legnica (1241) (Silesia):
- The Battle of Legnica (also known as the Battle of Liegnitz or Battle of Wahlstatt) was a battle between the Mongol Empire and the combined defending forces of European fighters that took place at Legnickie Pole (Wahlstatt) near the city of Legnica (German: Liegnitz) in Silesia on 9 April 1241.
_____
* Battle of Bannockburn (1314):
- The battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence. It was the decisive battle in the First War of Scottish Independence.
- Belligerents: England (king Edward II) # Scotland (Robert the Bruce)
_____
* Battle of Agincourt (1415) (Belligerents: England vs. France):
- The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). The battle occurred on Friday 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day, November 3. NS), near modern day Azincourt, in northern France.
- The battle is notable for the use of the English longbow, which Henry used in very large numbers, with English and Welsh archers forming most of his army. The battle is also the centrepiece of the play Henry V, by William Shakespeare.
_____
* Treaty of Tordesillas (1494):
- The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed at Tordesillas (Spain), 7 June 1494, divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands (off the west coast of Africa).

Timeline (UK)

(reference source: royal.gov.uk)
ENGLISH MONARCHS (trích lược):

* The Normans (1066-1154):

1. William I the Conqueror (r.1066-1087)
2. William II Rufus (r.1087-1100)
3. Henry I Beauclerc (r.1100-1135)
4. Stephen & Matilda (r.1135-1154) (The Anarchy)

* The Plantagenets (1154-1485):

* The Angevins (1154-1216):

1. Henry II Curtmantle (r.1154-1189)
- Thomas Becket 1170
2. Richard I the Lionheart (r.1189-1199)
3. John Lackland (r.1199-1216)
- 1215: The Magna Carta - Latin for "Great Charter"

* The Plantagenets (1216-1399):

4. Henry III (r.1216-1272)
5. Edward I Longshanks (r.1272-1307)
6. Edward II (r.1307-1327)
7. Edward III (r.1327-1377)
- The Hundred Years War (1337-1475)
8. Richard II (r.1377-1399)
- The Peasants' Revolt 1381

* The Lancastrians (1399-1471):

9. Henry IV (r.1399-1413)
10. Henry V (r.1413-1422)
11. Henry VI (r.1422-1461 & 1470-1471)

(Lancaster) (York) (Tudors)

- The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485):
+ House of York (White Rose) vs. House of Lancaster (Red Rose)
* The Yorkists (1461-1485):
12. Edward IV (r.1461-1470 & 1471-1483)
13. Edward V (r.Apr-Jun 1483)
14. Richard III (r.1483-1485)
* The Tudors (1485-1603):
1. Henry VII (r.1485-1509)
2. Henry VIII (r.1509-1547)
3. Edward VI (r.1547-1553)
4. Lady Jane Grey (9 days, 1553)
5. Mary I (r.1553-1558)
6. Elizabeth I (r.1558-1603)
- August 1588: the defeat of the Spanish Armada
__________
UNITED KINGDOM MONARCHS (1603-present):
1. The Stuarts (1603-1714):
1.1. James I (r.1603-1625)
1.2. Charles I (r.1625-1649)
- English civil war (1642-1651)
1.3. Interregnum (1649-1660)
- The English Interregnum was the period of parliamentary and military rule by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the Commonwealth of England after the English Civil War. It began with the overthrow, and execution, of Charles I in January 1649, and ended with the restoration of Charles II on May 29, 1660.
1.4. Charles II (r.1660-1685)
- Charles II sponsored the founding of the Royal Society in 1660 to promote scientific research. (royalsociety.org)
- Appalling plague (1665)
- The Great Fire of London (1666)
1.5. James II (r.1685-1688)
- (See: Jacobitism)
1.6. William III (r.1689-1702) and Mary II (r.1689-1694)
- The Bill of Rights (1689) is an act of the Parliament of England.
- The Act of Settlement of 1701 is an act of the Parliament of England that was passed in 1701.
- The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom. Sometimes known as the 'Old Lady' of Threadneedle Street, the Bank was founded in 1694, nationalised in 1946, and gained independence in 1997. (bankofengland.co.uk)
1.7. Anne (r.1702-1714)

Hanover

2. The Hanoverians (1714-1901):
2.1. George I (r.1714-1727)
2.2. George II (r.1727-1760)
2.3. George III (r.1760-1820)
- 4th July, 1776: the declaration of American independence
2.4. George IV (r.1820-1830)
2.5. William IV (r.1830-1837)
2.6. Victoria (r.1837-1901)
3. Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1901-1910):
3.1. Edward VII (r.1901-1910)
4. The House of Windsor (1910-present):
4.1. George V (r.1910-1936)
4.2. Edward VIII (Jan-Dec 1936)
4.3. George VI (r.1936-1952)
4.4. Elizabeth II (r.1953-present)

Timeline (USA)

3. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) (P.1801-1809)

When (Arab, North Africa & Anatolia) (1)

* Battle of the Masts (Dhat Al-Sawari) (655) (naval battle):
- The Battle of the Masts (romanized Dhat Al-Sawari) or Battle of Phoenix was a crucial naval battle fought in 655 between the Muslim Arabs, led by Abdullah bin Sa'ad bin Abi'l Sarh and the Byzantine fleet under the personal command of Emperor Constans II. Location of the battle: Mediterranean Sea.

Một vài mốc thời gian

* Cuộc tàn phá thành Roma do những người Goth năm 410, người Vandal năm 455, người Saracen năm 846 và người Norman năm 1084.
* 1539:
- Với sắc lệnh Edit de Villers - Contterêts (1539), vua Francois I (1494-1547) đã đặt tiếng Francien làm ngôn ngữ chính thức duy nhất.
* Mãi đến giữa thế kỷ 19 từ vựng phương Tây mới có từ “thời tiền sử”.

What (Japan)

JAPAN

* inro:
- An inrō  is a traditional Japanese case for holding small objects. Because traditional Japanese garb lacked pockets, objects were often carried by hanging them from the obi, or sash. Most types of these sagemono were created for specialized contents, such as tobacco, pipes, writing brush and ink, but inrō were suited for carrying anything small. Consisting of a stack of tiny, nested boxes, inrō were most commonly used to carry identity seals and medicines. The stack of boxes is held together by a cord that runs through cord runners down one side, under the bottom, and up the opposite side. The ends of the cord are secured to a netsuke, a kind of toggle that is passed between the sash and pants and then hooked over the top of the sash to suspend the inrō. An ojime is provided on the cord between the inrō and netsuke to hold the boxes together.
- 'Inro' là cái tráp truyền thống mà người Nhật cột vào một cái dây để đeo vào cổ hay cột vào dải lưng, khi họ mặc trang phục truyền thống không có túi.
_____
* Cipangu (romanized one of the many names of Japan in history):
- The English word "Japan" has a circuitous derivation; but linguists believe it derives in part from the Portuguese recording of the early Mandarin Chinese or Wu Chinese word for Japan: Cipan (日本) and literally translates to "country of sun origin". Guó is Chinese for "realm" or "kingdom", so it could alternatively be rendered as "Japan-guó".
- Cipangu was first mentioned in Europe in the accounts of the travels of Marco Polo. It appears for the first time on a European map with the Fra Mauro map in 1457, although it appears much earlier on Chinese and Korean maps such as the Kangnido. Following the accounts of Marco Polo, Cipangu was thought to be fabulously rich in silver and gold, which in Medieval times was largely correct, owing to the volcanism of the islands and the possibility to access precious ores without resorting to (unavailable) deep-mining technologies.
_____
Some names of food:
* kamaboko (Kamaboko); unagi (món lươn, hix món nì ngon lém mèng ơi! Có cái ảnh minh họa ở dưới đó.)

inro, netsuke, ojime	kamaboko	Unagi (món lươn)