How can I learn English by reading?

The answer depends on your current skills and how well you learn from books and online content. Reading helps you develop vocabulary, understand the structure, and pick up nuances of punctuation and grammar from seeing how others use it. You can learn simply by engaging in active reading while trying to improve your language skills.Some people can absorb English from textbooks and develop incredible skills from reading alone. However, they’re incredibly rare, and you’ll most likely need some help and advice on your journey to fluency.If you choose to take a Promova English class, reading will also be combined with other activities to help you develop overall comprehension. For example, you’ll interact with a certified tutor who will ask you questions about the text and your opinions, improving your communication skills and expression.

How can I practice English reading comprehension?

There are several ways to improve your comprehension:Ask Questions. Start your reading with a quick skim of the upcoming text to prepare for what you’re about to read. After reading a section, quickly go through it again to see if there’s anything you missed.Skim and re-read. Start your reading with a quick skim of the upcoming text to prepare for what you’re about to read. After you’re done reading a section, quickly go through it again to see if there’s anything you missed.Look for context. Texts don’t exist in isolation and usually have many references, history, or related materials. If you can find out where the author is coming from, you can understand ideas much more quickly.Improve fluency. Spend time sharpening other skills such as listening, speaking, and writing. You can get back to reading later with a new vocabulary and awareness of the language.Lastly, taking English reading and writing classes can help you see the language from various angles and develop better comprehension by engaging with a teacher and getting feedback.

What types of English reading can I learn?

We separate reading into three types based on your purpose - why you might be doing it:Skimming. You’re reading for gist - to get the main ideas from the text. For example, you might be deciding whether a book is worth buying by skimming different chapters to see if it interests you.Scanning. You’re reading to get something in particular from the text and retain specific information. For example, you might be reading a restaurant menu trying to find a dish with shrimps in it, then you’re scanning through the text for the word ‘shrimp’.Intensive reading. You’re reading for detailed comprehension. For example, you’ve received an email from a friend who has just relocated to Canada in which he or she is telling you about their first few weeks in this country. In this case, you might be interested in all the details and even some hidden nuances and inferences, so you will be reading for detail.Extensive reading. You’re reading easy, enjoyable texts without focusing on details or doing any comprehension tasks or examining the text for vocabulary or grammar. This type of reading helps build up fluency by getting used to the language.Learning all the above techniques can help you adjust your reading style and speed depending on your purpose.

How Many vs How Much

What’s the difference between them?

How Many

Meaning:

How many is a way of asking the quantity or number of something related to countable nouns.

Examples:

1) How many cars did you say you owned?

2) How many days until Christmas?

3) How many members are in your family?

How Much

Meaning:

'How much' is an expression used to ask for information about the quantity or amount of something, related to uncountable nouns.

Examples:

1. How much money do you have in your wallet?

2. How much did you pay for the car?

3. How much time do you need to finish the project?

Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference

Synonyms

Antonyms

How Many

There are no direct synonyms for this word.

There are no direct antonyms for this word.

How Much

There are no direct synonyms for this word.

There are no direct antonyms for this word.

Tricks for mastery

Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "How Many", "How Much".

1. 'How many' is used to ask about a countable plural number.

2. 'How much' is used to ask about an uncountable plural.

3. A mnemonic device to help remember this is 'I can count how many, but I can't do this for how much.'

Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words

Frequently asked questions

When to use the first word 'How Many'?

'How Many' should be used to ask questions about the quantity of something that can be counted. For example, 'How many students are in the room?' or 'How many apples do you have?'

When to use the second word 'How Much'?

'How Much' should be used when asking questions about the quantity of something that is uncountable. For example, 'How much water is in the pool?' or 'How much flour do you need for this cake?'

Do the words have the same pronunciation?

No, they have different pronunciation. 'How many' should be pronounced as /haʊ ˈmen.i/, while 'how much' is pronounced as /haʊ mʌtʃ/

What are common mistakes associated with words 'How Many' and 'How Much'?

One common mistake is confusing these words. Although both words are used to ask questions about quantities, they should be used depending on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.

Fill in the gaps to check yourself

1. _______ money did you spend on the trip?

2. _______ hours do you usually sleep?

3. _______ people are attending the banquet?

4. _______ books do you have in your library?

5. _______ items do you need to buy?

6. _______ time do you need to finish the project?

1. How Much

Explanation: The phrase How Much is used when referring to a quantity of something that can be measured in terms of value or amount, such as money.

2. How Many

Explanation: The phrase How Many is used when referring to a quantity of something that can be counted, such as hours.

3. How Many

Explanation: The phrase How Many is used when referring to a quantity of something that can be counted, such as people.

4. How Many

Explanation: The phrase How Many is used when referring to a quantity of something that can be counted, such as books.

5. How Many

Explanation: The phrase How Many is used when referring to a quantity of something that can be counted, such as items.

6. How Much

Explanation: The phrase How Much is used when referring to a quantity of something that can be measured in terms of value or amount, such as time.

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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.

List of Commonly Confused Words

Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.

Affect vs. Effect Analysis vs. Analyses Greatful or Grateful Center vs. Centre Loss vs. Lost Seat vs. Sit

How Many vs How Much

How Many

Meaning:

Examples:

How Much

Meaning:

Examples:

Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference

Tricks for mastery

Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words

Frequently asked questions

When to use the first word 'How Many'?

When to use the second word 'How Much'?

Do the words have the same pronunciation?

What are common mistakes associated with words 'How Many' and 'How Much'?

Fill in the gaps to check yourself

List of Commonly Confused Words

How to pronounce

Grammar Articles

What part of speech