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Summer is coming. It's warm in here.

Hi, everybody.

Welcome back to Ask Alisha, the weekly series where you ask me questions and I answer them,

maybe.

The first question this week comes from Ajin.

Ajin says, “Hi, Alisha. I'm your fan.”

Thanks.

“Explain the difference between 'scared' and 'afraid,' with examples.”

Okay, sure.

American English uses the word “scared” more often to talk about the emotion of fear.

We can use this as both an adjective and a verb.

“I was so scared.”

“That movie really scared me.”

“You scared me.”

“Afraid” can be used also for emotions but it sounds a bit more formal than the word,

“scared.”

“I'm so afraid.”

“Don't be afraid.”

But, we do have a different use for the word, “afraid.”

We use it in formal situations to make apologies or rejections.

“I'm afraid we can't do that.”

“I'm afraid he's not in the office at the moment.”

You can use both “afraid” and “scared” to express fear but if you want to use one

as a verb or as an adjective, go with “scared.”

I feel like we use “scared” more often in American English.

Thanks for the question.

Next question comes from Johnny Ringo.

Hi, Johnny.

Johnny says, “Hi, Alisha.

What's the difference between 'I don't have' and 'I have not.'

This is confusing.

Also, do you have Instagram, I want to follow you.”

Okay, first question first.

“I don't have” and “I have not” quite different.

“I don't have” refers to not possessing something, not owning something.

“I don't have any money.”

“I don't have a big house.”

“I don't have your keys.”

“I have not,” however, refers to lack of life experience.

Something you do not have experienced in your life.

“I have not been to France.”

“I have not eaten horse.”

“I have not taken your bag.”

So, I hope that answers that question.

As for Instagram, yeah, sure.

I have Instagram.

You know, I've been giving it literally every single live stream by posting something

from my social media accounts but if you haven't found it yet, you can find me on Twitter and

Instagram @arishaintokyo.

Check it out.

Next question.

Actually, next question is two questions.

I get this question a lot so from Viran Israeli, “What is the meaning of though at the end

of a sentence?” and from Yukie, “I saw someone commenting, 'his face though.

LOL.'

What does this though mean?”

Yeah, very common question about the use of the word, “though.”

I've answered this question please check this video to see some more information about this

use of “though” and a couple of variations on it.

Hope that helps.

Okay, next question.

Next question comes from Kenneth.

Hi, Kenneth.

Kenneth said, “Good day!”

Good day!

“What's the schedule of your live stream?”

Sure.

We broadcast every Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, that's New York

City time.

If you don't know that time in your time zone, google it.

You can google it.

So, 10 p.m. Wednesday nights, Eastern Standard Time.

Check it out.

Please join us if you can.

That'd be good.

Next question comes from Amir.

Hi, Amir.

Amir asks, “How can I communicate with Alisha?”

You just did.

Hello!

Okay, next question, seriously.

Next question comes from Roberoo.

Roberoo, hi.

Roberoo says, “What is the difference when pronouncing 'leader,' 'leather' and

'letter?'”

Nice one.

Okay.

“Leader,” so, to break it down.

“Lead,” that “E-A” there is pronounced “lead” in the word, “leader.”

In “leather,” the “E-A” is pronounced “eh,” “leh,” “leather.”

And, in “letter,” we have the same vowel pronunciation, “eh,” but there's a “double

T” in the spelling.

However, we don't pronounce it as “letter” in actual speech, in rapid speech.

We say, “letter,” it's a “D” sound.

So, “leader,” “leather,” “letter.”

So, “leather” and “letter” might sound quite similar but there's a “T-H” sound

in the word, “leather.”

Also, you can just listen to the context.

Does “letter” or “leather” make more sense?

“Leader” has a very different vowel sound.

I hope that helps.

So, those are all the questions that I want to answer for this week's episode.

Thanks very much for sending your great questions, as always.

Remember, you can send your questions to me at EnglishClass101.com/ask-alisha.

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you haven't already and check us out at EnglishClass101.com for other good English study tools.

Thanks very much for watching this episode of Ask Alisha and I'll see you again next week.

Bye-bye.