BOX SET: English In A Minute 22 – TEN English lessons in 10 minutes!

Hello, let's look at six different uses  of the adjective 'serious', starting with 

not funny or not joking. Stop laughing.  This is serious! If a person is serious,  

they are quiet, thoughtful and don't laugh very  often. Our professor is quite serious - he makes  

everyone nervous. If a person is serious  about something, they are determined. She's  

very serious about becoming a scientist. And  if a person is serious about another person,  

they are in a loving relationship and want to  stay together for a long time.They seem really  

serious about each other. It's sweet!  When describing nouns like 'accident' 

or 'injury' or 'problem', serious means  ‘bad'. Smoking can cause serious health  

problems. And serious can also mean 'important,  needing of your complete attention'. Getting a  

pet is a big commitment.It's a decision  that deserves serious consideration.  

Let's learn 'service'. A service can be an  organisation or company that provides something  

useful or helpful for people. The park service  look after the green spaces. It could also be the  

thing that is useful or helpful. Sorry, we don't  offer a delivery service. We also use service  

to talk about types of businesses. If a company  does something rather than makes something, it's  

a service. We often use it here as an adjective.  Accountants work in the service economy. We often  

talk about 'service' as the length of time that  someone works for a company. He retired after40  

years of service to the company. So, 'service'  is all about helping or being useful to people,  

companies and organisations. Hopefully,  this video has been of service to you.

Let's learn 'feature'. As a noun, a feature is a  part of something that's interesting or important.  

The number of parks is an important feature of the  city. The features of this car include a powerful  

engine. Features can also be the different parts  of our faces. My eyes are my favourite feature.  

'Feature' is also a verb, and we use it to say who  or what is included in something, and usually it's  

important that they're there. The most successful  films always feature famous actors.This phone  

features an amazing camera.So, we used the  word 'feature' to talk about interesting or  

important things. Don't forget our website  features some amazing ways to learn English.

Above is used to show that something is in a  higher position than something else. I live  

in a flat above a bakery. Can you sign here,  above your name, please? We also use above to  

mean more than a level or amount. It's winter and  it's above 15 degrees outside. I can't believe  

it! This meal is delicious. The food here is  definitely above average. If you're talking  

about a person in a more advanced position than  someone else, we can use above. Matthew's in the  

class above me. He's really good at maths. Finally, we can use above to mean that  

someone is too important for something.  Lola thought she was above the law,  

but then she was arrested.To take your English  to the level above, watch our other videos.

Check, as a verb, can mean examine the quality,  condition or suitability of something. He checked  

his car after the crash, but, luckily, there  wasn't any damage. Can you check this email  

before I send it, please? Check can also be used  as a verb to mean find out about something.I've  

emailed Sue to check when the meeting is. Could  you check the address of the dentist? Check,  

as a noun, is an examination to make sure  something is correct or in a suitable  

condition. You always have to go through security  checks at the airport. The engineer did regular  

checks of the work on the building site.  Finally, if you play chess, check is what  

you say when you can win the game. Check mate.  Your king is under attack and I am the winner!

Let's learn purpose. We're looking at the noun,  and the simplest meaning is that a purpose is a  

reason to do, make or use something. The purpose  of this video is to learn a new word. We can also  

use purpose to talk about determination, and  in this way we often use it with 'a sense of',  

or 'real'. She showed real purpose to  complete her course.To get promoted,  

you need to show a sense of purpose.  Another way that we use purpose is in  

the adverbial expression 'on purpose', which  means deliberately. He didn't forget his money  

-he left it at home on purpose. So, we can use  purpose to talk about a reason, determination  

or doing something deliberately. The purpose of  our videos is to help you – we do it on purpose!

Let's learn the adjective special. The main use of  special is to say that something is different to  

other things. That might be because it's better.  I've cooked you something really special. This  

isn't just chocolate, it's special! It can also be  because something is particularly important. Today  

is a really special day for me - my birthday!  This song is special to me. It brings back  

memories. Something can be special because it's  different to other similar things. Maybe it's  

for a particular reason. You'll need a special  tool for that. This one won't work.The doctor  

gave me a special diet to follow. So, special can  mean very good, very important or just different.  

Our audience is very special to us so we try  to make some special videos like this one.

As a verb, if something concerns you, it  worries you. Climate change is an issue that  

concerns many people. It concerns me that  my granddad hasn't returned my call. Concern  

can be used in the same way but as a noun, to  mean the feeling of worry. This often sounds  

more formal. Concern for the missing woman is  growing.Traffic in the city is a concern for  

many residents. Concern as a verb can also be used  to mean that something is important or relevant to  

someone. What we talked about doesn't concern  you. It was a private conversation. Finally,  

we can use the verb concern when explaining what  a book, film or TV programme is about. It's quite  

formal when used this way. The book concerns  two lovers who live in different countries.  

We hope the word concern is  no longer concerning you.

The noun 'scale' can be a measurement used for  numbers or amounts like temperature and weight.  

Celsius is a scale for temperature. For water,  0° is freezing and 100° is boiling. Also as a  

noun, 'scale' can be used to mean the size or  extent of something. The scale of the damage  

was only visible the morning after the flood.  'Scale' as a verb can mean 'climb', specifically  

a steep surface. You should only scale these  mountains if you have the appropriate equipment.  

Finally, fish and reptiles have scales on  their body. These are small bony plates  

that overlap on the skin. I was surprised that  the scales of the snake felt smooth and soft.

Let's learn the noun 'place'. The simplest meaning  of place is that it refers to a physical location.  

This is the place where we make videos. But  it means more than that. If we talk about  

something's place, sometimes we mean the correct  or most suitable location. Can you tidy up?  

Put those things in their place. The place for  playing football is outside. Not here. A place  

can also be the opportunity to do something,  especially something you need to earn, like  

a university course or being in a sports team.  He studied hard and got a place on the course.  

She needs to play well to keep her place on the  team. So, a place can be any location, the best  

location or somewhere you've earned the right to  be. We think here is the place to learn English.