English Class on the Usage of 'e.g.' and 'cherubim'.

Today I gave an English class to a Brazilian student who is a manager with a multinational corporation. He needs English for speaking with and e-mailing American and German colleagues. I enjoy giving him classes because the class content requires me to keep updated. Today we studied fun books for learning grammar, an acronym and an item of vocabulary.

I don't dislike teaching grammar. It is an essential part of teaching English as a foreign language.  I almost always need to use a textbook. And textbooks that fator in a fun element are worth their weight in gold. I used three this morning.

• Lost for Words: The Mangling and Manipulating of the English Language.  Humphrys, J. 2004. Hodder and Stoughton, London.
  
• Eats, Shoots and Leaves. Truss, L. 2005. Profile Books Ltd., London.
  
• Getting the Point. Haddon, J. and Hawksley, E. 2006. Floris Books, Edinburgh.

My student asked what 'e.g.' stood for.  This is a common question. The MacMillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners has the answer.  'E.g.' comes from the Latin exempli gratia, which means "for the sake of example".

One of my student's final important questions arose from his coming across the word 'cherubim' in one of those amusing grammar books listed above.  I reached fro my dictionary, as I do in such circumstances.  I couldn't find the word.  My explanation was that 'cherubic' is an adjective whilst 'cherubim' could be the noun from the adjective.  Now I realise I meant 'cherub'.  If you can educate me on this point of fundamental semantic importance, please do.