| How to Learn Prepositions Posted: 30 May 2020 05:00 PM PDT Compared to nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, prepositions—which identify relationships between things in sentences—are harder to categorize and often more difficult to learn. Because there isn't much logical order in the way prepositions are used in the English language, memorization is an important part of learning them. Fortunately, this memorization can include drawing pictures, listening to podcasts, and playing "Simon says," among other things! Also note that, while the primary focus here is on prepositions in English, most of these suggestions are applicable for other languages as well. [Edit]Using Learning Aids - Utilize images to help you visualize prepositions. Combining text and images helps to reinforce what you're learning and can make it easier to remember specific prepositions. Either use learning aids that include both text and images, or create your own as you work on prepositions.[1]
- For younger learners, for instance, try worksheets that include a sentence using a preposition and a corresponding image to color—such as an image showing "The cow jumped over the moon."
- You might buy, download, or make flash cards that contain an image on one side and a corresponding sentence using one or more prepositions on the other side.
- Refer to preposition charts that use categories and examples. Prepositions are easier to "digest" when they're broken down into smaller "chunks." Instead of trying to memorize a random list of prepositions, download or make preposition charts that are broken down by category. Make sure the charts provide lots of examples as well![2]
- A chart might use categories like "Time" and "Place." Note that a single preposition like "on" can appear in multiple categories—"on Wednesday" (time) and "on the table" (place)—which makes the inclusion of specific examples very helpful.
- Look over the charts regularly, but don't try to just memorize everything in them. Instead, use them to write your own sample sentences, draw corresponding pictures, and so on.
- Use quizzes and learning drills you find online. There's no magical shortcut to learning prepositions—it takes time, patience, and practice. Frequent, brief drills and quizzes may help you get a firm grip on the most commonly-used prepositions and prepositional phrases in English. Check out well-known, well-respected e-learning sites and apps for free quizzes and drills.[3]
- A quiz might be as simple as picking the right preposition usage from 4 options, or filling in the blank in a sample sentence with the correct preposition. But simple quizzes can really work!
[Edit]Hearing, Reading, and Writing Prepositions - Listen to podcasts, audiobooks, and similar sources. Many aspects of the English language don't follow a logical pattern, and prepositions definitely fall into that category. This doesn't mean that memorizing list after list of prepositions is your only alternative, though. Instead, listen carefully to how strong English speakers use prepositions in context.[4]
- Podcasts and audiobooks are great listening options, because you get to listen at your own pace to speakers who typically have a strong command of English. That said, listening to anyone using the language helps to build your familiarity with different prepositions and their usage.
- Repeat to yourself the prepositional phrases you identify. When you pick out a preposition while listening, quietly say the phrase or the entire sentence. Additionally, visualize what is being described while you repeat the words.[5]
- For instance, if you hear "He put his coat in the closet," repeat it to yourself and picture a man putting his coat in the closet.
- Alternatively, jot down the phrases or sentences you identify. You can also make quick sketches—for instance, of a stick figure putting a coat into a closet.
- Read widely in the language you're learning. The more you read, the more prepositions you'll encounter, recognize, and remember. Use any reading material that's appropriate for your age and reading level—and that you also find interesting![6]
- Read slowly and carefully so you can pick out the prepositions.
- Highlight the prepositions you find. Use an actual highlighter, if possible, on written pages, or a digital highlighter for e-texts. Alternatively, jot down the preposition and where you can find it in the text.[7]
- If you're not sure if you've found a preposition, ask yourself the following about the whole prepositional phrase: Does it establish a "when," "where," or "how" relationship among people, objects, locations, or actions within the sentence? For instance, in "She likes to go to the store," the first "to" isn't a preposition, but the second "to" is.
- Sort by preposition and write complete sentences from the text. Once you've highlighted the prepositions in your reading passage, grab a notebook and write down each separate preposition—"in," "under," "at," and so on—at the top of its own page. Then, write down each sentence in the text that uses that preposition.[8]
- For example, your "on" page might include sentences like "Joe went on vacation last week," "He wrote his phone number on a scrap of paper," and "They got on the boat with a bit of trepidation."
- This exercise helps you to recognize and eventually memorize different ways in which common prepositions are frequently used.
[Edit]Learning with Games and Activities - Try the activity "look at me now" alone or with others. This simple but helpful activity involves nothing more than describing—to yourself or others—your situation in the present moment. So long as your description goes beyond the most basic details, you'll have to choose and use at least one preposition in the process.[9]
- You may want to make a game out of how many prepositions you can use: "I am sitting" (0); "I am sitting in my chair" (1); "I am sitting in my chair at home" (2); "I am sitting in my chair at home on a rainy day" (3).
- This is a useful activity at home alone and in a classroom setting. As a teacher, you might ask the class at different times during the school day, "OK, who wants to give us a "look at me now" update?"
- Play "Simon says" to introduce different prepositions. Most of the common commands in this game—"Simon says put your hand on your head," "Simon says stand on one foot," "Touch your nose with your finger," and so on—use one or more prepositions. While playing with a group of friends or in a classroom, you'll hear and start to recognize how prepositions are used in English.[10]
- Alternatively, you might play a variation on this game in which the goal is to follow the commands only when the correct preposition is used—for instance, "Stand on one foot" versus "Stand at one foot."
- Have fun with charades or quick-drawing guessing games. While describing what the person is acting out or drawing, you'll probably have to use one or more prepositions. As a variation on the game, you might have different individuals or teams compete to see who can use the most prepositions to describe what's being acted out or drawn.[11]
- To reinforce what's being learned, write out the answers, circle the prepositions, and underline the prepositional phrases.
[Edit]References |
| How to Remove Scratches from a Car Posted: 30 May 2020 09:00 AM PDT Scratches in car paint can be caused by a variety of things. Car accidents, vandalism, poor parking, and other parking lot mishaps are all common causes for a scratch or 2 on your perfect paint job. While scratches do detract from the appearance of your car, paying a body shop for a new coat of paint or even a small touch-up can be costly. You can try buffing out surface scratches with toothpaste, using a scratch removal product for small scratches, or sanding and repainting the area if the scratch is deep. [Edit]Using Toothpaste for Surface Scratches - Run a fingernail over the scratches to see if they are surface or deep. If your fingernail does not catch on the scratches, then they are on the surface and using toothpaste might be a good option. If your fingernail does catch on them, then they are deeper and you will need to use a professional scratch removal product.[1]
- Wash and dry the scratched area. Before you apply toothpaste to the scratches, make sure that the area is very clean. Rubbing dirt and debris into the scratched area will make the scratches worse.[2]
- You can take your car to a car wash or wash it yourself.
- To wash your car yourself, spray it with a hose to wet it all over and remove the majority of the dirt and debris. Then, use a large sponge or car-washing brush to apply soap formulated for vehicles to your car. Work the soap into all surface of your car and then use the hose to spray it off. Dry your car with a clean, dry towel.
- Apply a quarter-sized amount of toothpaste to a dampened microfiber towel. Get the microfiber towel wet enough so that it is just damp. Then, apply a quarter-sized amount of the toothpaste to the towel, or a little more or less depending on the size of the scratch.[3]
- Whitening toothpaste works best, but you can try removing the scratches with any toothpaste you have on hand.
- You will need to apply the toothpaste with a soft, clean, microfiber towel to ensure that rubbing in the toothpaste does not cause more damage.
- Rub the toothpaste into the scratched area using a circular motion. Push down on the microfiber cloth and move it in small circles to buff out the scratches. Do this until the toothpaste is well-distributed on the surface.[4]
- You will need to apply some pressure as you apply the toothpaste, but not too much.
- Rinse off any excess toothpaste. After you finish buffing out the scratches, rinse the area thoroughly to remove the excess toothpaste. Spray your car with a hose and then dry the area with a microfiber towel.[5]
- You can also wipe away the excess toothpaste with a wet microfiber towel.
- Repeat the process up to 2 more times. You may need to do more than 1 application to get rid of surface scratches using toothpaste. Check the area to see if the scratches are still visible and then repeat the process 1 or 2 more times if needed.
- Make sure that you do not do more than 3 applications or you may damage the clear coat of the car's paint.
[Edit]Using a Scratch Removal Product for Small Scratches - Wash your car so there is no dirt or debris left in the scratch. It is important to make sure that the area is completely clean before you apply any product to it or try to buff the area. Any dirt or debris left on the surface when you buff it will result in more scratches.[6]
- Spray your car with a hose before applying any soap to it. Then, use a sponge or brush meant for washing cars to work the soap in. Rinse the soap off completely and dry your car with microfiber towels. Be sure to use soap designed for washing cars.
- Purchase a scratch-removal product or kit. You can buy scratch-removal products at auto supply stores or in the auto supply section of large one-stop stores. These products are often sold as a scratch-removal kit that includes the scratch-removal solution and a buffing pad to apply the product.[7]
- If you are unsure about what types of scratch removal product to buy, ask a sales associate for help. Employees who work in auto supply stores are usually knowledgeable about these products.
- A microfiber towel is often a good choice for applying scratch removal products since they are gentle on the surface of your car.
- Some products even come with a mechanical buffing tool that you can use to get rid of the scratches.
- Apply a quarter-sized dollop of scratch-removal product to the pad. You may need a little more or less depending on the size of the scratched area. Squirt the product onto the buffing pad or microfiber cloth, and then fold it in half to work the product around the surface of the pad or cloth.[8]
- Make sure that the product is evenly distributed on the cloth or pad before you begin.
- Work the product into the scratched area and the surrounding areas. You can work the product in using a circular motion or a back and forth motion. Do what is most comfortable for you and what covers the scratched area best, but do not switch directions! Only go back and forth or in circles. Continue to work in the product for a few minutes so that it is well distributed.[9]
- Make sure to apply light to medium pressure as you work in the product.
- Wipe away the product residue. After you have finished buffing the scratched area, use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe away the excess product. Buff the surface of the car where you applied the product using a circular motion.[10]
- Do not allow the excess product to dry on the surface of your car.
- Check the manufacturer's instructions to be sure about how to remove the excess product.
- Repeat 2 to 3 times if needed. Check the area to see if the scratches are still visible. If they are, then you can repeat the product application 2 to 3 times. Just be careful not to do this too many times or you may damage the clear coat on your car.
- Check the manufacturer's instructions before proceeding with another application.
[Edit]Painting to Fix Deep Scratches - Wash and dry the car thoroughly. If your car is dirty during scratch repair, that dirt could create more scratches. Wash your car thoroughly to remove all of the dirt and debris. You may want to rinse the scratched area a couple of extra time to be certain that it is clean.
- Pay particular attention to the area you will be repairing. Spray the scratched area with water, making sure to get any debris out of the scratch. Then, clean the area well with soap formulated for use on cars and rinse it all away with clean water.
- Sand the scratched area to strip away the top layers of paint. Wrap 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper around a sanding pad (a holder for the sandpaper with a handle on it) and begin sanding the scratched area.[11] Sand for 10 to 15 seconds at a time and then check the area to see if you need to sand deeper.
- Always sand in the direction of the scratch. You do not want to create opposing scratches, which will only add more ridges and valleys in the paint that need to be repaired.
- Rinse the area with water as needed to check your progress. This will allow you to better see if you have gotten to the bottom of the scratch.
- If the scratch is slightly deeper than the clear coat, use 1500-grit sandpaper to level the surface and then 2000-grit sandpaper to remove the scratches made by the coarser sandpaper.
- Avoid getting dirt or debris between the sandpaper and the vehicle. This will cause scratching.
- Rinse and dry the area. Rinse away the debris left by sanding the scratched area. Then, use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the surface dry.
- Avoid using old or dirty rags since these could cause more scratches on the surface of your car.
- Spray a few coats of primer onto the sanded areas. Get some sandable primer in an aerosol can. Spray the primer onto the area you have just sanded. Use a back and forth motion to spray on the paint. Then, wait 5 to 10 minutes for the primer to dry and spray on another layer. Do this a total of 3 times.[12]
- Choose a primer that is close to the color of your car's paint, if possible. It will not be an exact match, but your paint will be.
- Apply a few coats of paint that match your car. Next, spray on the same color paint as is on the rest of your car to the area where you applied the primer. Wait 5 to 10 minutes between each application so that the paint dries completely.[13]
- To ensure that the paint will match, check with your car's manufacturer to get the same shade of paint. You may be able to purchase the paint from an auto supply store, or you may have to special order the paint from your car's manufacturer.
- Wax the area to seal the paint you have repaired. Apply a high-quality carnauba wax to the surface of your car and then buff the area with a buffer pad or microfiber cloth. You can purchase a waxing kit that includes everything you need to wax your car, such as the wax and a buffing pad or microfiber cloth.[14]
- Apply a quarter-size amount of wax to the buffing pad or cloth to start and add more if needed.
- Use circular motions and press down on the pad or cloth with medium pressure.
- Keep going until the wax is evenly distributed and the car's surface looks shiny.
[Edit]Warnings - If the scratches in your car's paint are deep or excessive, you may want to consider going to a body shop to get them repaired. Auto body shops have the professional set up and know-how to give your car a beautiful, shiny new surface.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Using Toothpaste for Surface Scratches - Soap
- Hose
- Sponge
- Microfiber towels
- Toothpaste
[Edit]Using a Scratch Removal Product for Small Scratches - Soap
- Hose
- Sponge
- Microfiber towels (to dry your car)
- Scratch removal kit
- Buffing pad or microfiber towel
[Edit]Painting to Fix Deep Scratches - Soap
- Hose
- Sponge
- Microfiber towels (to dry your car)
- 1500- and 2000-grit sandpaper
- Sanding pad
- Sander
- Sandable spray primer
- Spray paint that matches your car's existing paint
- Car wax
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Prune Begonias Posted: 30 May 2020 01:00 AM PDT Begonias make a great addition to the shaded areas of your garden or your house, but they need to be pruned to control their spread, keep their foliage thick and avoid an overgrown look. Common varieties of begonia include tuberous, cane, semper florens, rex and winter-flowering begonias. You can grow many of the varieties outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10, but you can grow them as annuals or indoors in colder climates. Be sure to time your pruning correctly, then you can prune your plant to shape it and help it flourish. [Edit]Timing Your Pruning - Pinch off new growth a few weeks after planting. Use your finger and thumb to remove the ends of small stems that branch off the main stems. This will encourage several new stems to sprout in place of each stem you pinch.[1]
- This step is particularly important if you have cane begonias, such as Angel Wings. Pinch off new stems when the newly-planted cane begonia is about tall. This will make the plant produce two branching stems, rather than a single stem growing straight up.
- You can also pinch off the young flower buds of tuberous begonias. This will make the plant produce additional blooms.
- Thin out thick foliage when the begonia is fully grown. If your begonia gets bushy and overgrown, you can cut off up to a third of its stems. This will make the plant look less rambling and more aesthetically pleasing.[2]
- Deadhead the begonias at the end of the blooming season. When the flowers and buds of a begonia go brown and die, you should remove them. You can use your fingers, pruning shears or scissors. This process will help the plant conserve its energy and produce new flowers and new growth rather than seeds.[3]
- For most begonias, the blooming season is in the spring and summer. Winter-flowering begonias bloom from late autumn to mid-spring.
- Cut back begonias in autumn. Once the begonias have finished flowering for the year, you can use pruning shears or sharp scissors to cut the main stem of the begonia back to a length of . This will help conserve the plant's energy over the winter so that it grows back the next year.[4]
- If you're growing your begonias as a perennial, they need more pruning. You should cut them back up to 1/3 of the plant after flowering. Throughout the year, prune your begonias to shape their growth.
- If you have winter-flowering begonias, cut them back in the spring after they have finished flowering.
[Edit]Keeping Your Begonias in Shape - Inspect your plants for damaged or diseased areas. You should regularly check your begonia for leaves and stems which are discoloured.[5]
- Remove dead or diseased parts with shears or scissors. Cut off the discoloured stem or leaf just below the start of the brown area, but try to leave as much of the healthy (green) area of the plant intact as possible. You should cut the stem off at about a 45-degree angle. If there is a large brown area, you can cut off the entire stem. If you do so, be careful not to damage the main stem.[6]
- Make sure to remove the dead leaves and stems from the floor immediately as they may spread disease into the healthy plant.
- Pinch off the tips of the largest stems. In the growing season, use your finger and thumb to pick off the tips of the largest stems. This will help the plant's appearance and other stems to grow more uniformly.
- Don't cut the tips off all of the stems as this may damage the plant. Only cut off the tops of the few tallest stems.
- Pinch off the last two sets of leaves on a tall branch. This will encourage a growth spurt from this particular stem.
[Edit]Pruning Intensively - Trim off leggy stems with shears or scissors. Leggy stems are parts of the plant which grow outwards above your desired shape. They can detract from your plant's aesthetic appeal and drain energy from other parts of the plant.[7]
- This step is particularly important if you have perennial begonias, which come back year after year.
- Cut back taller begonias. Types such as the cane begonia should be cut back at the end of the growing season (usually in autumn). Use pruning shears or sharp scissors to cut the main stem of the begonia back to a length of .[8]
- Store tuberous begonias over the winter. If you have tuberous begonias (such as the Go Go Yellow variety) and are growing them outside, dig up the bulbs after you have cut them back. You can then store the bulbs over the winter in a bag of peat moss, and replant them in the spring.[9]
- If the tuberous begonia is growing in a pot, tip the pot over on its side and move it to a sheltered area. This will protect the begonia during the winter.
- Re-root healthy cuttings. If you have stems of the begonia which are still green, you can keep them so that you can use them to grow other plants. Place the cutting in a glass or vase of room-temperature water. After about a week, roots will start to appear and the cutting will be ready to re-plant.[10]
- Clean your scissors or pruning shears by soaking them in a diluted bleach and water solution. You can also use rubbing alcohol. In either case, make sure to rinse them off thoroughly in water and dry the tools with a hand towel before pruning your plant.[11]
- If a lot of your begonias' leaves go brown, it may be a sign that you need to thin out the foliage to allow the plant to grow properly.
- If taller begonias start to grow lanky stems or can't support the weight of the foliage, it's probably time to prune some of the stems.
[Edit]Warnings - Certain types of cane begonia (e.g. Angel Wing) are poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children.
- Begonia stems can be brittle and easily damaged. You should be careful not to damage the main stem of the plant while pruning it.
- Don't prune more than 1/3 of a begonia at any 1 time as this stresses the plant, which may kill it.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
