Lesson 257--Drag:useful vocabulary

 

The word drag has several interesting and useful meanings

 

drag (verb):  when something is too heavy to carry, you pull it across the floor or ground.

 

Gwen was not strong enough to lift the box, so she dragged it into her room.

The man wouldn't move, so the police dragged him away.

 

drag (verb):  to inhale on a cigarette.

Even though he had quit, Evan took an occasional drag from Tim's cigarettes.

Can I have a drag of your cigarette.

 

drag (noun):  unfun, boring, uninteresting, dull, tedious thing; a hassle.

The party was such a drag that everyone left.

Everyone though Nick had become such a drag.

Getting homework on a Friday is such a drag.

 

drag (verb): to seem to take a long time.

The class started to drag and the students became restless.

The summer classes seem to drag more than the winter classes.

There are some other useful words with drag.  I encourage you to look them up

drag race

drag queen

drag the object (computers)

 

Lesson 223--take a look at

I wonder what he is taking a look at.

 

A useful idiom that you should know is take a look at something.  It has several related meanings, and all of them are useful.  I am sure you can use them in your personal life and your business life.  Remember context is very important for understanding the meaning of English words and phrases.

I will take a look at your report. (read it, edit it)

I will take a look at that program. (watch it)

I will take a look at your proposal. (consider it)

I went to the warehouse to take a look at the operation. (evaluate, inspect)

She took one look at my clothes and told me to change. (evaluate, judge, inspect)

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)

Lesson 83--Stop +gerunds/infinitives

Gerunds versus Infinitives

 

Some verbs are followed by infinitives and some are followed by gerunds.  In some cases verbs are followed by both.  The difficult thing is that in some cases (start, like) there really isn't any difference in meaning.

However, there are some verbs that have very different meanings.

Stop

infinitives

He stopped to buy a newspaper.

This means that he was on the way somewhere and stopped with the purpose to buy a newspaper.  He stopped doing something so that he could buy a newspaper.

gerunds--This has two meanings.  Though people often think this means quit, it can also be a short stop.

He stopped buying newspapers.

This means that he no longer buys newspapers.

 

He stopped singing.

He was singing, then he stopped.

The combination of both of them

He stopped singing to answer the phone.

Lesson 43--Run

 

 

The word "run" has many meanings.  My dictionary lists 25 different meanings/uses of the word run, followed by numerous phrasal verbs.  I can't list them all, but I thought I should highlight a few important ones for you.  There will be more on Wednesday.

run = moving swiftly on your feet

i.e.       He is running in a race on Friday.

run = operating

i.e.       She runs her own business from home.

run = to travel from point to point

i.e.       The bus runs from 6 am to 6 pm.

            The bus runs from Eglinton East station to Eglinton West station.

run = flowing/ in operation

i.e.       The water is running.  Please shut off the tap.

            The car engine is running.

run = be a candidate in an election

i.e.       Marcia is running for School President.

Lesson 16: Sorry....What does it mean?

One of the readers asked me to write something about the word sorry.  Such a simple word, is actually full of complexity.  It will take more than one post.  Check back on Wednesday for more about sorry.

 

Sorry               Used as an apology when you've done something wrong
                        (like stepping on my foot on the subway)

Sorry               Used when you haven't heard what someone said, much
                        like the word pardon.

Sorry               Used when you want to show sympathy or pity with someone
                        else.

 

Sorry               Used when you're not sorry at all.  (sarcastically)

Notice the uses in the following dialogues

John:                Did you drink my last beer?

Adam:             Yes, I did. Sorry.

Marcia:            Has anyone seen my umbrella?

Patricia:           Sorry.  What are you looking for?

Marcia:            My umbrella.  Have you seen it?

Patricia:           No, I am afraid not.

Tammy:           What's wrong Jim?  You look so sad.

Jim:                  My dog died yesterday?

Tammy:           I'm sorry.