Showing posts with label funny English. Show all posts
Showing posts with label funny English. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Lesson 219--Understanding Words with Multiple Meanings


funky (cool)

English can be hard language to learn.  One problem is that words sometimes take on two different and sometimes contradictory meanings.  For today's lesson, I would like to introduce two of them to you.  The important thing is to look at the context.

Funky

Funky can mean trendy but unusual, abnormal but still cool in a way.  It can also mean smelling bad.

examples
funky (bad smell)

She's got on some funky clothes. (good)
This meat smells funky. (bad)
That is one funky design. (good)
There is something funky in the refrigerator. (bad)


Sick

Sick can mean cool and radical, and it can also mean unhealthy and ill.

examples

That is one sick looking car. (cool)
She looks sick. (unhealthy...the meaning of cool doesn't usually refer to people)
The design of the new MacBook Air is sick, seriously sick! (cool)
After lunch I felt so sick. (unhealthy)

Monday, June 2, 2014

Lesson 209--Sometime vs Some Time



 
 
some time means quite a bit of time.

examples:        It will take some time to fix your car.
                        Sana spent some time with Rachel.

sometime means some unclear, indefinite time in the future.

examples:        I will see him sometime next week.
                        We will eat dinner sometime later.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Lesson 177--English is funny



English is funny.  I probably don't have to tell you that, but I had a lot of time to think over the weekend about how funny it is.  I just wanted to share some examples with you.

 

resign vs. re-sign

resign /ri:ˈzaɪn/ means to quit your job or your team.

i.e.  Matthew resigned from Apple because he didn't like the iPhone5S.

       Because she found the company unethical, April resigned.

note the noun is resignation...please note the change in pronunciation.  /ˌrezɪɡˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

 

re-sign /ri:saɪˈn/ means to sign again.
I know this isn't Messi, but I don't know any soccer players

i.e.  Messi was re-signed by his soccer team for billions of Euro.

       Ferrari is going to re-sign both of their drivers for next year.

note the noun is re-signing.