tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57802434692712997332024-03-16T00:08:24.011-07:00LET'S MIND OUR ENGLISH!There are a lot of common errors in English that can be encountered among my students, friends, colleagues and other Malaysians. I usually don't have the heart to tell them upfront as it might hurt their feelings. Besides, I don't want them to think that I think I'm too good, because I am not that good. In fact, I still have a lot to learn. Hopefully, this blog will help us to correct our errors so that we could practise good and standard English together.Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-89554355809857224792019-07-12T03:25:00.001-07:002019-07-12T03:39:07.294-07:00DRIED LEAVES or DRY LEAVES?<p dir="ltr">Many workbooks use "dried leaves" to mean "daun kering" (directly translated from BM).</p>
<p dir="ltr">However, if we really refer to <u>any</u> dictionaries, we could hardly find that term/phrase. All the dictionaries I've got use only "DEAD LEAVES" and "FALLEN LEAVES".</p>
<p dir="ltr">Examples;<br>
1. Ali was sweeping up the dead leaves in the back garden.<br>
2. The pupils swept the fallen leaves up into a pile.</p>
<p dir="ltr">P/S: DRIED FRUIT ✔️<br>
DRIED HERBS ✔️ <br>
DRIED FLOWERS ✔️<br>
DRIED LEAVES❓<br>
Maybe the leaves are purposely dried to make bookmarks...🤔</p>
Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-11491923779598141782019-06-29T20:02:00.001-07:002019-06-29T20:15:13.700-07:00How to use the word 'REQUEST' in sentences?<p dir="ltr"><b>3 ways to use the word 'REQUEST';</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>AS A VERB (=meminta);</b><br>
<b>1. REQUEST (SOMETHING) FROM (SOMEONE)</b><br>
<b>2. REQUEST THAT (SOMEONE) (BASE/ORI. VERBS)</b><br>
<b>~ I would like to request a present from her.</b><br>
<b>~ I would like to request that she buy me a present.</b><br>
<b>(NOT,...that she BUYS me...)</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>AS A NOUN (=permintaan);</b><br>
<b>3. MAKE A REQUEST FOR (SOMETHING)</b><br>
<b>~ I would like to make a request for a present.</b></p>
Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-57782897089123079652019-06-08T22:52:00.000-07:002019-06-08T22:55:17.670-07:00How to say 'ANGKAT JEMURAN (in Malay)', the opposite of 'hang out the laundry/washing'?<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Let's learn vocabulary on laundry!</i></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">
</span><b><u>NOUNS</u></b><span style="font-size: 13px;">
</span><b>1.</b> [All uncountable] <b>laundry/ wash</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>ing </b>(AmE: <b>wash</b>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;">= dirty clothes that are waiting to b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;">e washed/being washed/have just been washed</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<b>2. washing line = clothesline</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">(in Malay we call it <i>'ampaian</i>')</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>~ <span style="font-size: large;">on</span> the <u>washing lin</u></i></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><u>e</u></i></span></b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><u>VERBS</u></b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">1.</b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Do the laundry/washing</b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">('basuh baju')</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>= wash, dry & fold the clothes</i></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><b>~ I have some <u>washing to do</u> today.
~ I need to <u>do the washing/laundr</u>y.</b></i></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">2.</b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Hang/peg the laundry/washing OUT</b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">('sidai baju')</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">
<i>= hang the clothes on a washing line outside to dry</i>
</span><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>~ My mother <u>hung the laundry out to dry</u>.
~ She was <u>hanging out the laundry in the sun.</u> (preposition: <span style="font-size: large;">in </span>the sun)
~ I must <u>hang/peg the washing out on the line</u>.</b></span></i><span style="color: #1d2129;">
</span></span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
3.</b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> <b>Dry the laundry/washing/clothes</b> </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">('keringkan baju')</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">
</span><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>~ She <u>dried the clothes outside in the sun</u>.
~ She used the dryer to <u>dry the laundry.</u>
~ I'm <u>hanging up my shirt</u> in the room to <u>dry</u>. </b></span></i><span style="color: #1d2129;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(*We can use 'hang </span>up<span style="font-size: x-small;">' instead of 'hang </span>out<span style="font-size: x-small;">' if we dry the laundry indoors/inside.)</span></b>
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><b><u>Other VERBS:</u></b>
<b>~ to air-dry</b><i> (to dry by exposing to unheated air, usually indoors)</i>
<b>~ to line-dry/line dry</b> <i>(drying on a clothesline)</i>
<b>~ to sun-dry</b> </span></span></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">(drying in the sun - usually for food. For laundry, we usually use 'dry in the sun', 'dry outside' or 'line dry' instead.)</i><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">
</span><b style="color: #1d2129;">~ to tumble-dry</b><span style="color: #1d2129;"> </span><i style="color: #1d2129;">(using a dryer)</i><span style="color: #1d2129;">
</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: x-large;">🤔</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>So, how to say <i>'angkat jemuran (in Malay)'</i>, which is </b></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>the opposite of <i>'hang out the laundry/washing'</i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Technically, it's<b> 'UNHANG THE CLOTHES', </b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-size: large;">but we <b>seldom use it</b> because<i style="font-weight: bold;"> UNHANG MEANS TO TAKE DOWN FROM A HANGING POSITION.</i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">(e.g. </span><span style="color: blue;"><i>~ unhang the mirror/photo from the wall</i></span><span style="color: #1d2129;">).</span></span></b><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">We usually say....</span><span style="background-color: white;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">GET/BRING THE LAUNDRY/WASHING IN</b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;">or </span><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">TAKE DOWN THE WASHING</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">
</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="background-color: white;">~ It's going to rain! You must </span><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">get the washing in</span><span style="background-color: white;">.
~ Please help me </span><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">take down the washing.</span><span style="background-color: white;">
~ She </span><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">brought the laundry in</span><span style="background-color: white;"> because it was raining.</span></b></i></span></span></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-91002800526274702402015-12-13T02:28:00.000-08:002015-12-13T02:28:16.582-08:00'SERIES' is SINGULAR or PLURAL? COUNTABLE or UNCOUNTABLE?<span style="font-size: large;">'SERIES' is a <b>COUNTABLE NOUN.</b><br /><br />SINGULAR and PLURAL are THE SAME!</span><div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Singular ---> Plural</span></u></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Series ---> Series</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">* it is similar to<b> 'species', 'crossroads' and 'headquarters'</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">(words<b> ending in -s</b> that do <i>not </i>change in the plural)</span></div>
Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-19211630562154012992015-08-11T05:53:00.000-07:002015-08-11T05:53:05.804-07:00HOME or AT HOME?<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">What is wrong with "your HOME"?</span></i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A) ---- HOME = ke rumah (adverb referring to DIRECTION) --</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">1) They went/returned/arrived to the home. - WRONG</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2) They went/returned/arrived to home. - WRONG</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b><br />3) They went/returned/arrived home. - CORRECT! </b><br /></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-size: large;">B ---- at HOME = di rumah (referring to PLACE) -----------------</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">1) They stayed/spent time at the home. - WRONG</span><br /><b style="font-size: 14px;">2) They stayed/spent time at home. - CORRECT!</b><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">3) They stayed/spent time home. - AMERICAN ENGLISH.</span><br /></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">*TIPS! Just remember that "home is always </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">without 'to' and 'the' ".</span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-44303288237838354822015-06-09T04:14:00.002-07:002015-06-09T04:14:48.705-07:00HOLIDAYS or HOLIDAY?<span style="font-size: large;">"HOLIDAYS" or "HOLIDAY"?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, in British English, '<b>HOLIDAYS</b>' (plural) is often used;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) for the <b>'LONG HOLIDAY</b>' of the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> e.g:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>summer holidays</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>end of year holidays</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) <b>with 'THE/MY/YOUR'</b> to mean 'percutian/vacation'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">e.g: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Where are you going for YOUR holidays this year?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>It's for THE holidays.</i></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-22247097762214214142015-03-05T04:31:00.004-08:002015-03-05T04:34:31.222-08:00afternoon VS evening<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Afternoon</b> = the part of the day from <b>12.01 until 6 p.m.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Evening </b>= The period of time at the end of the day, usually <b>from about 6 p.m. to bedtime</b><br /><br /><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Examples:</u><br /><br /><i>1) We have classes until </i><u style="font-style: italic;">5 o'clock in the afternoon</u><i>. (not in the evening)</i><br /><i>2) It was </i><u style="font-style: italic;">7 o'clock in the evening</u><i>. (not at night)</i><br /><br /><b>*Night</b> = the time <b>between one day and the next</b> when it is <b>dark, when people usually sleep.</b></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-13085225474162400292014-12-13T23:32:00.000-08:002015-01-18T02:16:20.838-08:00Common Mispronunciation (Category: Subtle)<i><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few common mispronunciation that I categorize as 'subtle':</span></i><br />
<br />
1)<b> Infamous </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ˈɪnfəməs</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ (in-<b>fe</b>-mes) not "in-famous"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">2) <b>Assembly</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/əˈsɛmbli/ (<b>uh</b>-sem-blee) not "a-semblee' or "ei-semblee"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">3) <b>Envelope</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ˈɛnvələʊp/ (en-vuh-<b>lohp</b>) not "en-vuh-lep" or "ahn-vuh-lohp"<br />4) <b>Environment</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ɪnˈvʌɪrənm(ə)nt/ (<b>in</b>-vai-<b>reN</b>-<b>menT</b>/ - don't miss the N and the T</span><br />
<br />
5) <b>head</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/h<b>ed</b>/ (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">*as in the name </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">T</span><b style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">ed)</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"> not "hade" (as in 'hate')</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">6) </span><b>Calendar </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">ˈkalɪndə</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ (ka-</span><b style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">lin</b><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">-de) not "ka-<b>lend</b>-er"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">7) </span><b>Alarm </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">É™'la:m</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ (<b>uh</b>-l<b>aa</b>m</span><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">) not "<b>a-lam</b>"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">8) </span></span><b>Aquarium </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">ə'kwe</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">əri</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">əm</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ (<b>uh</b>-<b>kwei</b>-ri<b>e</b>m</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">) not "a<b>-</b>kwa-rium"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">9) </span></span><b>Directory </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/d</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">É™</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">'rekt</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">É™</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">ri</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ (<b>duh-</b>rek<b>-</b>t<b>uh-</b>ri</span><span style="line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">) not "dai-rek-to-ri"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">10) </span><b>Stomach </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">/ˈstʌmək/ (Sta-muhk) not "Sta-mAk"<br /><b>Stomach ache</b> (sta-muh-keik)</span><br />
<br />
*The description is mostly based on "Malaysians' style/way of reading"; it might be a little bit different (could be considered wrong) for people from other countries.<br />
However, "uh" is pronounced as "<span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">e</span></span>h" (e pepet as in 'emak') in Malay.<br />
**The IPA shown (the phonetics symbols used to show the pronunciation) are according to British English pronunciation.Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-87246546706864148972014-05-03T20:08:00.003-07:002014-05-03T20:26:24.239-07:00Confusing FUTURE TENSE: 'be going to' VS 'will' <span style="font-size: large;">Try this question;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>>> I don't want to do my homework now. I <u>(will/ am going to)</u> do it later.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">*The answer is <span style="color: red;">'will'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, try another question;<br /><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>>> My mother <u>(will / is going to)</u> come on Friday.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">*The answer is <span style="color: red;">'is going to'</span><br /><br />WHY????<br />WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'BE GOING TO' AND 'WILL'?????<br /><br />Well, </span><br />
<b><u style="font-size: x-large;">'be going to'</u><span style="font-size: large;"> is used for something that has been </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">planned</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">before</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">while</span><br />
<b><u style="font-size: x-large;">'will'</u><span style="font-size: large;"> is used for decisions made </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">now</span><span style="font-size: large;"> or at </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the moment of speaking</span></b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">SIMPLE, RIGHT???<br />Now, try this;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>>> Ali is wounded. He_<u>(isn't going to / won't )</u>__ play at Wimbledon.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br />The answer is 'isn't going to'....<br />because Ali knew that he was wounded so he had made the decision (before) not to play at Wimbledon!.haha.. ;P</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-87084890000177697852014-01-19T00:15:00.001-08:002014-01-19T00:23:44.597-08:00Using the article 'THE' for proper nouns<span style="font-size: large;">We DO NOT always use 'the' with singular proper nouns. That's what we learn at school.<br />However, there are SOME EXCEPTIONS. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">(*There's no special rule for this. You have to remember.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Well, don't get confused! Here are some tips ;)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />We use 'the' for these kinds of place names:<br /><br />1) <b>SEAS</b> e.g. <i>the Atlantic, the South china Sea (Laut Cina Selatan)</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>2) <b>MOUNTAIN GROUPS</b> e.g <i>the Himalayas, the Titiwangsa Mountains</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">*but for single mountains, we don't usually use the article 'the' e.g <i>Mount Everest, Mount Kinabalu</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">3) <b>ISLAND GROUPS</b> e.g <i>the West Indies, the Philippines</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">4) <b>RIVERS</b> e.g <i>the Rhine, the Kinabatangan River, the Gombak River</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">5) <b>DESERTS</b> e.g <i>the Sahara, the Arabian Desert</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">6) <b>Most HOTELS</b> e.g <i>the Grand Hotel, the Hilton</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">7) <b>Most CINEMAS and THEATRES</b> e.g <i>the Odeon, the Istana Budaya</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">8) <b>Most MUSEUMS and GALLERIES</b> e.g <i>the National Musuem</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">9) <b>Most ZOOS</b> e.g <i>the National Zoo of Malaysia, the Zoo Melaka</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">10) Names of <b>COUNTRIES that include common nouns like 'republic', 'state' or 'union' </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">e.g <i>the People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Republic of Korea (but South Korea), the Russion Federation (but Russia), etc.</i><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-38147060311765364982013-12-15T05:28:00.002-08:002013-12-15T18:55:24.448-08:00"I'm always meeting..." VS "I always meet..."<span style="font-size: large;">Try this;<br /><br /><b>I _____________________ my students at shopping malls during the holidays.<br />A) am always meeting<br />B) always meet</b><br /><br /><b>The answer is A</b>.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Why?????</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because I mean that I'm always bumping into (meeting accidentally) my students whenever I visit shopping malls.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">HOWEVER, if I say "I always meet my students at shopping malls during the holidays", that means I always make arrangements or plans to meet them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We use "always VERB+ing" (not "always VERB") for certain situations;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />1) to mean <u>'very often'</u>, perhaps more often than we expected.<br />2) something that is <u>unexpected</u> or <u>unplanne</u>d or <u>not regula</u>r.<br />E.g. :<br /><i>I<b>'m always losing</b></i><i> my keys.</i> (very often)<br /><i>My pupils <b>are always giving</b> me presents.</i> (very often+unexpected)<br /><br />We <b><span style="color: red;">don't</span></b> use "always VERB+ing" for something that's <u>regula</u>r or <u>planned</u>.<br />E.g:<br /><i>I <b>always meet </b>my students at school</i>. (regular/planned arrangement)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>We <b>always spend</b> our holidays together</i>. (regular + planned)</span><br />
<br />Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-44905165560104576482013-12-01T23:14:00.000-08:002013-12-01T23:17:28.900-08:00"MUSTN'T" or "CAN'T"? (in expressing improbability)<span style="font-size: large;"><i>He's a nice boy. It <b>can't</b> be him stealing the pencil!</i> - <span style="color: red;">CORRECT</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>He's a nice boy. It <b>musn't</b> be him stealing the pencil!</i> - <span style="color: red;">WRONG</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">*Must is NOT often used to express certainty in NEGATIVE clauses.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is used to express the conclusion that something is certain or highly probable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">E.g.,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>He's a bad boy. It </i><b><i>must</i></b><i> be him stealing the pencil!</i> - <span style="color: red;">CORRECT!</span></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-62233966867713885022013-08-15T21:05:00.003-07:002013-08-16T22:25:36.442-07:00"It's I" OR "It's me"?<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>1) "It's I" (=I am the one)<br /> 2) "It's me" (=Me am the one)</i></b><br /> Which one sounds correct to you?</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Of course when talking informally we can just use any one we like.
Nobody cares anyway, right? Even some native speakers use the wrong one
too!</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> BUT, here I'm discussing the standard one which we use in
formal writing, formal speech, at schools, during interviews or even in
our daily conversation if we want to speak better English.<br /><br />So, the 'better answer' is "It's I". ;)<br /><br /><u>MORE EXAMPLES:</u><br />1)<br />Hello. You want to speak to Hafidz? This is him. </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hello. You want to speak to Hafidz? This is he.</b> - CORRECT</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />2)<br />We're going to dinner alone - just you and me.</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We're going to dinner alone - just you and I.</b> - CORRECT<br /><br />3)<br />It was him who ate all the biscuits.<br /><b>It was he who ate all the biscuits. </b>- CORRECT<br /><br />4)<br />Mom gave both of us, Ziana and I, money for the film.<br /><b>Mom gave both of us, Ziana and me, money for the film</b>. - CORRECT<br />('me' is used here because it's an object in the sentence, not a subject )<br /><br />5) </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;">The teacher told I to keep quiet.</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The teacher told me to keep quiet. </b>- CORRECT *as an object<br /><br />6)</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;">She is a friend of Hazzi and me.<br />She is a friend of Hazzi and I.<br /><b>She is a friend of Hazzi and mine</b>. - CORRECT *to show possession</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-35679051414440533682013-08-15T00:35:00.000-07:002013-08-15T00:51:19.434-07:00"You're welcome" OR "You're welcomed"?<span style="font-size: large;">Both are correct but they are different!<br /><br />WELCOME<b>D <span style="color: red;">(VERB)</span></b> is used when;<br />1) you're received or greeted with pleasure or in a friendly way when you arrive at a destination.<br /><br />WELCOME <b><span style="color: red;">(ADJECTIVE</span></b>) is used when;<br />1) giving the permission to do, have or accept something.<br />2) you're pleased when someone comes to stay at your house, etc.<br />3) As a reply for 'thank you'.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sentence examples;<br /><i><b>1) You're welcome to stay as long as you wish. </b>(I give you the permission to stay)<br /><b>2) Welcome to my house!</b> (another expression for no (1))<br /><b>3) I could see that you're welcome<u>d</u> by the receptionist just now.</b> (you're greeted with pleasure by the receptionist).<br /><b>4) The visitors were welcome<u>d </u>by the hosts</b>. (the hosts greeted the visitors with pleasure)<br /><b>5) You can bring as many friends to the party as you like. Everyone is welcome.</b> (Everyone's invited to the party)</i></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-20621568938490222522013-08-14T22:12:00.001-07:002013-08-14T22:12:26.985-07:00Should we begin 'dad' and 'mom' with capital letters?<span style="font-size: large;">We <b>only</b> capitalize (begin with capital letters) when we're calling our parents' names for example;<br /></span><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">Hi, Mom!<br />Welcome home, Dad.</i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">BUT,</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">WE DON'T CAPITALIZE THEM when we say;</span><br /><i style="font-size: x-large;">- My dad's busy working.</i><br /><i style="font-size: x-large;">- Is your mom here?</i><br /><i style="font-size: x-large;">- His mom is pretty.</i><br /><i style="font-size: x-large;">- Our dad isn't working today.</i><br /><br /><br />*more info:<br />- Religions, nationalities and races of people should always be capitalized.<br />(Malay, Chinese, Muslims, etc.)<br />- General subjects at school shouldn't be capitalized.<br />(mathematics, history, geography, etc.)<br />BUT we capitalize 'English' in English language.<br /><br /><br />
<br />Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-83565112643681498512013-08-11T07:20:00.000-07:002013-08-11T07:28:57.951-07:00A FEW versus FEW<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">If I say "I have a few excellent pupils", that means I'm happy and grateful to have them.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">On the other hand, if I say "I have few excellent pupils", it means I wish I had more of them!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">A FEW indicates a positive count something like "it's better than none", but</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">FEW indicates a negative count something like "there should be more".<br /><br />*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">Same goes to "a little" and "little".<br />A LITTLE indicates "more or better than none" or "a small amount"<br />LITTLE indicates "not enough to be important" or "not very much"/"almost none".<br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 15.453125px;">e.g<br />1) I have a little money for savings. :)<br />2) I have little money to spend today. :(</span></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-38325269680091951422013-03-30T03:01:00.001-07:002013-04-25T07:47:14.232-07:00BRING versus TAKE<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Parent: <i>Please <u>bring</u> the books to school tomorrow.</i> <span style="color: red;">(WRONG)</span><br />Parent:<i> Please <u>take</u> the books to school tomorrow.</i> <span style="color: blue;">(CORRECT)</span></b><br />(*SITUATION: You're not at school and the parent is not going to school with you tomorrow.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Teacher: <i>Please <u>take</u> the books to school tomorrow.</i> <span style="color: red;">(WRONG)</span><br />Teacher:<i> Please <u>bring</u> the books to school tomorrow.</i> <span style="color: blue;">(CORRECT)</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(*SITUATION: Both the teacher and the student are at school. The books are with the student but are not with the teacher.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>TIPS!</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>-BRING means '<u>come</u> with somebody/something' (NOT 'go')</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>-TAKE means '</b><u style="font-weight: bold;">go</u><b> with somebody/something' (NOT 'come')</b><br /><br />Other examples:<br /><i>- When you come to my house this Sunday, <b>bring</b> (NOT take) your sister with you so I can meet her.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(*come to my house)<br /><i>- Whenever I go sightseeing, I </i><b style="font-style: italic;">take </b><i>(NOT bring) my camera with me. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(*go to any places for sightseeing)<br /><i>- Would you like to </i><b style="font-style: italic;">take</b><i> (NOT bring) me home?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> (*go back home)<br /><i>- Can I come to your party and </i><b style="font-style: italic;">bring</b><i> (NOT 'take') a friend with me?</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(*come to my party here)</span><br />
<br />Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-70017585727157719412013-03-27T07:56:00.002-07:002013-03-27T08:37:54.856-07:00'ANY' for singular or plural?<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: red;">Do you have <b>any questions? </b></span></i><br /><b>OR</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: red;">Do you have <b>any question?</b></span></i><br /><br />The correct one is;<br /><i><u><b><span style="color: red;">Do you have any questions?</span></b></u></i><br /><br /><b>Any is usually used with <u>uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns</u> (NOT with singular countable nouns</b></span><b>). </b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some other sentence examples:<br /><br />> <i>Do you have a pen?</i> (singular countable)<br />> <i>Do you have any pens?</i> (plural countable)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">> <i>Do you have any money?</i> (uncountable)</span><br />
<br />
<b>OMG! What????? You don't know what countable, uncountable, singular and plural are??</b><br />
<b>You'd better check it out yourselves! hahahaha</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-86255571906730852512012-12-01T09:03:00.005-08:002012-12-04T06:41:19.250-08:00MIND OUR SPELLING! One word or two words?<br />
Here are some confusing words in terms of spelling.<br />
These also happen to be some of the common errors in pupils' English.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ALL RIGHT or ALRIGHT?</b> <span style="color: red;">- Both correct </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ALL TOGETHER or ALTOGETHER</b> - <span style="color: red;">It depends...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A) There are five of us <u>altogether</u></i>. (in total)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>B) The classroom has been cleaned <u>altogether</u></i>. (completely)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>C) Can you put us <u>all together</u> in a group</i>. (used when people/things are brought together)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>EVERY DAY or EVERYDAY?</b> - <span style="color: red;">It depends...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A) I go to school <u>every day.</u></i> (each day)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>B) Forgetting my bag is an <u>everyday</u> event for me.</i> (daily - an adjective used to describe the noun 'event')</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>EVERY WHERE or EVERYWHERE?</b> - <span style="color: red;">Everywhere</span> (One word. 'Every where' is wrong)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ANY ONE or ANYONE?</b> - <span style="color: red;">It depends...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A) You can choose from <u>any one</u> of these books.</i> (means 'one of the books', usually used with the word 'of')</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>B) I will reward <u>anyone</u> who answers the question correctly</i>. (any person)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ANY BODY or ANYBODY?</b> - <span style="color: red;">anybody</span> (one word, means 'anyone')</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">*same goes to <b>ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ANYWAY</b> - all <span style="color: red;">one word.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCEPT!...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ANY MORE, ANY TIME</b> (<span style="color: red;">two words</span>, one word is considered wrong in British English)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>STORY BOOK or STORYBOOK?</b> - <span style="color: red;">Storybook </span>(one word)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i>*newly added</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>MAY BE or MAYBE</b> - <span style="color: red;">It depends...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A) I may be short, but I'm taller than you</i>. (means 'it's likely to happen', used after pronouns like I,she,he,they,etc.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>B) <u>Maybe</u> I'm taller than you</i>. (means 'perhaps', used as an adverb)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>C) This <u>may be</u> a coincidence, but <u>maybe</u> we should find out more before we decide what to do. </i></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-90187462478907924722012-11-14T02:50:00.004-08:002012-11-14T03:33:50.963-08:00"PACK YOUR BAGS" versus "PACK YOUR BELONGINGS"<span style="font-size: large;">One of the meanings for<b> 'pack <u>up</u>'</b> is to <i>put things in a suitcase, bag or other container so that you may take them with you when you're leaving.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Therefore, when I'm going for a holiday, I'd prefer to say;<br /><b><span style="color: #20124d;">"PACK <u>UP</u> MY BELONGINGS"</span> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">instead of</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">"PACK MY BELONGINGS"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">or </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">"PACK MY BAGS".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is because <b>'pack your/my/his/her/etc. bags'</b> could mean <i>to leave a place or a job and not return (permanently).</i><br /><br />*So, are you packing up or packing your bags? ;)</span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-49606191693420306522012-10-28T03:05:00.000-07:002012-10-28T03:05:10.717-07:00"DAY BY DAY" versus "DAY AFTER DAY"<strong>A)</strong> <br />
<em>I get fed up with listening to complaints day by day.</em> - WRONG<br /><em>I get fed up with listening to complaints day after day.</em> - CORRECT<br /><br /><strong>B)</strong><br /><em>Day after day the pupils are getting more disrespectful.</em> - WRONG<br /><em>Day by day the pupils are getting more disrespectful.</em> - CORRECT.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><strong>NOTE:</strong></u><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Day after day = repeatedly or continously<br />Day by day = gradually</span></strong>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-68614639810740219292012-07-28T00:21:00.000-07:002012-07-28T00:21:46.980-07:00"What a beautiful scenery!" - Don't say that!<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>"What a beautiful scenery!"</em> </span></span><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size: large;">- may sound correct to most of us but it's grammatically <span style="font-size: x-large;">wrong.</span></span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>"What beautiful scenery!"</em> - may sound awkward but it's actually </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">correct.</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span> </h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Do you know why?</span></span></h6>
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<br /></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">So, we cannot say '...a scenery' or 'sceneries'. ;)</span></span></h6>
</span><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">*It's simply because 'scenery' is an uncountable noun, just like 'furniture', 'information' and 'bread'.</span></span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-8636039620189995972012-03-14T23:34:00.001-07:002012-03-14T23:41:38.544-07:00family is/are? (Singular or plural?)<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The family _______ (is/are) cleaning the house.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Which answer is correct? Is or are?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In American English, family is always considered as a singular noun.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Therefore, the answer is 'The family is....'</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">HOWEVER;</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For British English, <u>'family' can be a singular noun or a plural noun.</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When you are referring 'family' as <u>a single unit</u> or think of them <u>as a group</u>, you use 'is'.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When you are referring 'family' to the <u>individuals (family members)</u>, it's more common to use 'are'.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>For example;</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) <em>My family<strong><span style="color: red;"> is</span></strong> big. <strong><span style="color: red;">It</span></strong> consists of 10 members</em>. (singular)<br />
2)<em> My family <strong><span style="color: red;">are</span></strong> having lunch. <span style="color: red;"><strong>They</strong></span> are having lunch at the restaurant.</em> (plural)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">*you cannot say <em>'<strong>It</strong> is having lunch at the restaurant'</em> (singular)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Another example;</strong></span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">1) My family <strong>is</strong> big. (That means it consists of many family members.)</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">2) My family <strong>are</strong> big. (That means the family members are all fat/big.)</span></em><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOVE, WHICH ANSWER IS CORRECT? IS OR ARE?</span></strong>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-79318351799329696562012-03-13T06:44:00.002-07:002012-03-13T06:52:15.104-07:00I knew or I've known (him for years)?<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>I knew him for years.</em></strong> - This is correct but is used if the person mentioned has died.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>I've known him for years.</em></strong> - This is more accurate. It shows that the person is still alive and you still know him until now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>However, can we use "I've been knowing him for years" (Present Perfect Continous Tense)?</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to show that something started in the past and has continued up till now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>Therefore, formally, it's correct to say;<br />
- <em>"I've been <span style="color: #cc0000;">living</span> here for years" </em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>but not, <em>"I've been <span style="color: red;">knowing </span>him for years."</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">WHY???</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">It's because there are <u>some verbs that we do not usually use in progressive (continuous) forms.</u> They are mostly verbs of sensations and mental states.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">For example;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #edf5fa; color: #111111; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #edf5fa; color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">like, love, need, prefer, know, seem, mean, own, <span style="background-color: #e1ebf2;">hate, want, </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #edf5fa; color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #e1ebf2;">wish, desire, see, hear, feel, notice, understand, remember, forget, believe, recognize, appear, possess, contain, consist, etc.</span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Of course you don't say, "I'm liking the food" when you can just say "I like the food" or "I'm loving/believing/knowing you" if you can just say "I love/believe/know you".<br />
<br />
ANYWAY, AS THE VERNACULAR (SPOKEN LANGUAGE), THOSE EXPRESSIONS ARE SOMETIMES USED AND ARE ACCEPTABLE. </span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780243469271299733.post-84144016162577282762012-03-11T19:46:00.002-07:002012-03-11T20:11:33.750-07:00playing football 'ON the field', 'AT the field' or 'IN the field?<span style="font-size: large;">Based on my references, it's actually <strong>'on the field'</strong>. (British English)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">E.g.: <em>The children are playing football <strong>on </strong>the field.</em> (for a playing field)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">BUT; <em>The cows are grazing <strong>in</strong> the field.</em> (for a field with crops)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">*The preposition <strong>'in'</strong> is also used for <strong>'playground',</strong> <strong>'park' </strong>and <strong>'garden'</strong>.<br />
*The preposition <strong>'on'</strong> is also used for <strong>'beach' </strong>and <strong>'farm'.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">*The preposition <strong>'at'</strong> is also used for <strong>'market',</strong> <strong>'school', 'hospital' </strong>and <strong>'airport'</strong>.<br />
<br />
However, when you refer to a meeting point, you can use 'at', for example; "Meet me at the school field."</span>Sir Hafidzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903106937604030762noreply@blogger.com1