Friday, June 30, 2006
GARDEN in U.S. & U.K.
Hello buddies. I reckon you will be shocked to hear that the word "garden" has two dissimilar usages in English language. In simple terms, the use and meaning of "garden" in U.S. is different from its use in U.K. To make it less difficult for you to understand I give its definitions separately:
Garden(in England): The area of land next to a house, where there are flowers, grass and other plants and often a place for people to sit.
Garden(in America): A part of the area next to a house, which has plants and flowers in it.
In the end, by reading this very, very short article you will never wonder why Brits spend most of their time, esp summer time, sitting in the garden whereas Americans consider it an odd and strange thing to do . Simply, people in the U.S. use the word "yard" instead of "garden".
Garden(in England): The area of land next to a house, where there are flowers, grass and other plants and often a place for people to sit.
Garden(in America): A part of the area next to a house, which has plants and flowers in it.
In the end, by reading this very, very short article you will never wonder why Brits spend most of their time, esp summer time, sitting in the garden whereas Americans consider it an odd and strange thing to do . Simply, people in the U.S. use the word "yard" instead of "garden".
How to answer and speak on the phone
Answering the phone
*Good morning/afternoon/evening, York Enterprises, Elizabeth Jones speaking.
*Who's calling, please?
Introducing yourself
*This is Paul Smith speaking.
*Hello, this is Paul Smith from Speakspeak International.
Asking for someone
*Could I speak to John Martin, please?
*I'd like to speak to John Martin, please.
*Could you put me through to John Martin, please?
*Could I speak to someone who …
Explaining
*I'm afraid Mr Martin isn't in at the moment.
*I'm sorry, he's in a meeting at the moment.
*I'm afraid he's on another line at the moment.
Putting someone on hold
*Just a moment, please.
*Could you hold the line, please?
*Hold the line, please.
Putting someone through
*One moment, please. I'll see if Mr Jones is available.
*I'll put you through.
*I'll connect you.
*I'm connecting you now.
Taking a message
*Can I take a message?
*Would you like to leave a message?
*Can I give him/her a message?
*I'll tell Mr Jones that you called
*I'll ask him/her to call you as soon as possible.
*Good morning/afternoon/evening, York Enterprises, Elizabeth Jones speaking.
*Who's calling, please?
Introducing yourself
*This is Paul Smith speaking.
*Hello, this is Paul Smith from Speakspeak International.
Asking for someone
*Could I speak to John Martin, please?
*I'd like to speak to John Martin, please.
*Could you put me through to John Martin, please?
*Could I speak to someone who …
Explaining
*I'm afraid Mr Martin isn't in at the moment.
*I'm sorry, he's in a meeting at the moment.
*I'm afraid he's on another line at the moment.
Putting someone on hold
*Just a moment, please.
*Could you hold the line, please?
*Hold the line, please.
Putting someone through
*One moment, please. I'll see if Mr Jones is available.
*I'll put you through.
*I'll connect you.
*I'm connecting you now.
Taking a message
*Can I take a message?
*Would you like to leave a message?
*Can I give him/her a message?
*I'll tell Mr Jones that you called
*I'll ask him/her to call you as soon as possible.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Summertime Quotes
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent
Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James
Do what we can, summer will have its flies. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock
People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy. ~Anton Chekhov
Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~Sam Keen
In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams
There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter
The summer night is like a perfection of thought. ~Wallace Stevens
US-UK - Food:
US--------------- UK
appetizers----------starters
baked potato-----------baked potato/jacket potato
canned (in metal)-----------tinned
cookie------------biscuit
cornstarch------------cornflour
cotton candy-----------candy floss
dessert-----------dessert/sweet/ pudding
eggplant----------aubergine
fish sticks----------fish fingers
french fries-----------chips
ground meat----------mince
hamburger----------mince
jello----------jelly
jelly----------jam
oatmeal----------porridge
potato chips----------crisps
preserves----------preserves/ conserves
zucchini----------courgettes
appetizers----------starters
baked potato-----------baked potato/jacket potato
canned (in metal)-----------tinned
cookie------------biscuit
cornstarch------------cornflour
cotton candy-----------candy floss
dessert-----------dessert/sweet/ pudding
eggplant----------aubergine
fish sticks----------fish fingers
french fries-----------chips
ground meat----------mince
hamburger----------mince
jello----------jelly
jelly----------jam
oatmeal----------porridge
potato chips----------crisps
preserves----------preserves/ conserves
zucchini----------courgettes
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch.....
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at CmabrigdeUinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in wahtoredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olnyiprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist andlsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.The rset can be a total mses and you cansitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs isbcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raedervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as awlohe.
Amzanig huh?
Amzanig huh?
Common and Daily American Expressions
Word/Expression: to wolf something down
Quick translation: to eat something quickly
Example: "I wolfed down that sandwich so quickly."
Possible interpretation: Wolves are known for eating their food quickly, for fear that another wolf will get to it before them. So to "wolf something down" is to eat as quickly as a wolf does.
Word/Expression: gotta
Quick translation: to have to/to need to
Example: "I gotta leave now."
Word/Expression: to go (expression used where food is sold)
Quick translation: to carry out/to take out with you
Example: a waiter or salesperson may ask "Would you like (your food) to go?"
Word/Expression: sick (when used to describe a person's mind or an event)
Quick translation: strange or perverted
Example:That person is sick.
Word/Expression: What's up?
Quick translation: a very casual way to say "Hi" or "How are you?" or "What is happening here?"
Word/Expression: handy
Quick translation: very useful, very industrious, or able to fix things themselfExample: "Her husband is very handy around the house."
Word/Expression: to catch a taxi / cabto hail a cab/taxi
Quick translation: to get a taxi / cab
Example: "Let's catch a taxi to the restaurant."
Word/Expression: "You gotta be kidding me."
Quick translation: "You must be joking." OR "What you are saying cannot be true."
Word/Expression: gonna (pronounced like "gunna")
Quick translation: going to ....
Example: "I'm gonna clean the bathroom today."
Word/Expression: "Whatever floats your boat."
Quick translation: whatever pleases you
Example: "I'd prefer to go on Sunday." Response: "OK, whatever floats your boat."
Word/Expression: to double-check
Quick translation: to re-check or verify
Example: "You should double-check our bank account balance before we plan our vacation trip."
Word/Expression: shaky/sketchy
Quick translation: unsafe, unclear, not a good idea
Examples: "I'm not sure what my boss wants me to do. His directions were a bit sketchy." OR "Should you go there? Isn't that neighborhood a bit shaky/sketchy?"
Quick translation: to eat something quickly
Example: "I wolfed down that sandwich so quickly."
Possible interpretation: Wolves are known for eating their food quickly, for fear that another wolf will get to it before them. So to "wolf something down" is to eat as quickly as a wolf does.
Word/Expression: gotta
Quick translation: to have to/to need to
Example: "I gotta leave now."
Word/Expression: to go (expression used where food is sold)
Quick translation: to carry out/to take out with you
Example: a waiter or salesperson may ask "Would you like (your food) to go?"
Word/Expression: sick (when used to describe a person's mind or an event)
Quick translation: strange or perverted
Example:That person is sick.
Word/Expression: What's up?
Quick translation: a very casual way to say "Hi" or "How are you?" or "What is happening here?"
Word/Expression: handy
Quick translation: very useful, very industrious, or able to fix things themselfExample: "Her husband is very handy around the house."
Word/Expression: to catch a taxi / cabto hail a cab/taxi
Quick translation: to get a taxi / cab
Example: "Let's catch a taxi to the restaurant."
Word/Expression: "You gotta be kidding me."
Quick translation: "You must be joking." OR "What you are saying cannot be true."
Word/Expression: gonna (pronounced like "gunna")
Quick translation: going to ....
Example: "I'm gonna clean the bathroom today."
Word/Expression: "Whatever floats your boat."
Quick translation: whatever pleases you
Example: "I'd prefer to go on Sunday." Response: "OK, whatever floats your boat."
Word/Expression: to double-check
Quick translation: to re-check or verify
Example: "You should double-check our bank account balance before we plan our vacation trip."
Word/Expression: shaky/sketchy
Quick translation: unsafe, unclear, not a good idea
Examples: "I'm not sure what my boss wants me to do. His directions were a bit sketchy." OR "Should you go there? Isn't that neighborhood a bit shaky/sketchy?"
Monday, June 26, 2006
Two Links for Improving Your Reading Skill
http://www.short-stories.co.uk/
Here you can read short online stories for free. You can have several choices; From crime stories to hyperfiction.
http://www.stashtea.com/stories.htm
Is tea your favorite drink? Do you like to read poems and stories about tea? If yes click on the link given above. Enjoy drinking tea! Oh no, enjoy reading it!
Here you can read short online stories for free. You can have several choices; From crime stories to hyperfiction.
http://www.stashtea.com/stories.htm
Is tea your favorite drink? Do you like to read poems and stories about tea? If yes click on the link given above. Enjoy drinking tea! Oh no, enjoy reading it!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
For when you feel really bad
There is harmony in disharmony.
Behind the clouds, the sun is shining.
It could be worse.
It will be worse.
Feeling bad is just a new sensation.
Tomorrow is another day.
I will survive.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
After the rain comes a rainbow.
It's always darkest before the dawn.
It has to get worse, before it gets better.
Every rose has its thorn.
Midnight is where the day begins.
Cheer up, it's not the end of the world.
This too, shall pass.
Life's not so bad, when you consider the alternative.
The sharper is the berry, the sweeter is the wine.
Behind the clouds, the sun is shining.
It could be worse.
It will be worse.
Feeling bad is just a new sensation.
Tomorrow is another day.
I will survive.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
After the rain comes a rainbow.
It's always darkest before the dawn.
It has to get worse, before it gets better.
Every rose has its thorn.
Midnight is where the day begins.
Cheer up, it's not the end of the world.
This too, shall pass.
Life's not so bad, when you consider the alternative.
The sharper is the berry, the sweeter is the wine.
ONLINE NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES FOR ENGLISH LOVERS
Daily Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Very rich in recent news and information.
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com
There is no need to introduce this one to you. Nytimes is very famous.
Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com
Rather than a page full of teasers to news stories inside, the Ottawa Citizen presents a straightforward index of its content.
Press On-Line
http://www.press.co.nz
The Press On-Line is the daily Web site of this New Zealand daily paper.
The Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk
The Independent: Lively and popular daily London newspaper. Internet lovers should visit this one.
The Irish Times
http://www.irish-times.com
Ireland's best-known newspaper is based in Dublin. Readers can get a daily dose of Irish and world news, plus search the archives for old reports.
The National Post Online
http://www.nationalpost.com
The online home of Canada's newest national newspaper, National Post. National, world, business, arts, life, sports news and commentary plus Diversions and forums.
Guardian Unlimited
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk
The Web presence is actually a collection of thematic sites, such as News, Football, and Film. Requires registration for full access.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Very rich in recent news and information.
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com
There is no need to introduce this one to you. Nytimes is very famous.
Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com
Rather than a page full of teasers to news stories inside, the Ottawa Citizen presents a straightforward index of its content.
Press On-Line
http://www.press.co.nz
The Press On-Line is the daily Web site of this New Zealand daily paper.
The Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk
The Independent: Lively and popular daily London newspaper. Internet lovers should visit this one.
The Irish Times
http://www.irish-times.com
Ireland's best-known newspaper is based in Dublin. Readers can get a daily dose of Irish and world news, plus search the archives for old reports.
The National Post Online
http://www.nationalpost.com
The online home of Canada's newest national newspaper, National Post. National, world, business, arts, life, sports news and commentary plus Diversions and forums.
Guardian Unlimited
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk
The Web presence is actually a collection of thematic sites, such as News, Football, and Film. Requires registration for full access.
Hello and Welcome
Hello Friends. Welcome to "my English book". Prepare yourself now to partake of a real mental feast-- From appetizer of idioms, through meat of short English essays, salad of grammar, juice of websites' links, to dessert of English vocabulary.I hope you enjoy it.
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