When do you whatsapp everyday?

Today’s English
March 1st, 2017

“Are you married?” questioned Miss. Question. “Yes. I husbanded once and fathered twice” answered Mr.Answer.

The way of using a noun as a verb is known as verbing.  Today it is a trend/fashion to verb, though it is common ever since Shakespeare's time.  Shakespeare loved to add “en” before noun to verb it.

Let me instance some:
1.“Within your mouth, you have enjailed my tongue.” (Richard II, 1.3.160)

2.“Do but encave yourself. (Iago to Othello,4.1.80)

3.“I’ll unhair they head" (Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra”, Act II, Scene 5)

Nowadays technology  follows the same path and has verbed many nouns.  Let us instance more:

1.I facebooked my photo and got 50000 likes.

2.I couldn’t catch you online.  When do you generally whatsapp?

3.Our principal chaired/headed the meeting.

4.He messaged and phoned me but I used to email him.

5.You can friend or unfriend me on the Facebook that is left to you.

6.Recently I youtubed to watch some videos on Group Discussion.

7.Would you like to shop more?

8.Since many people crowded the street, we couldn’t park anywhere.

9.I handed the letter and important files  to my HOD.

10.There was no power and I fanned myself with the newspaper.

(Guy 1 : I was sandwiched between two fat ladies on the bus.
Guy 2: Did you heaven it or hell it?
Guy 1: Before chancing anything, I was jammed, squeezed and juiced.)

Are you an open book or a closed book?

Today’s English
February 28th, 2017

Let us know today some useful expressions connected with “book". 

1. Be in somebody’s good/bad books = to have somebody’s good or bad opinions about you
Are you in your principal’s good books or bad books?
Yesterday I was in his good books but today, in his bad books.

2. An open book /a closed book
He is an open book to all. (=To understand him is very easy, we know much about him)
She remained a closed book until her death. (=We know nothing about her)

3. Go by the book = to follow rules and regulations very strictly
As far as Olympic games are concerned, they always go by the book.
We need not go by the book. Let us be a little bit considerate to him.

4. In my book = in my opinion
In my book, she is honest in her dealings.

5. Don’t judge a book by its cover = not to form opinion just by seeing somebody’s appearance
Those who are lean may be strong. Those who are young may be knowledgeable. Those who get first mark may have no common sense or creativity. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

(As far as love is concerned, boys are open books and girls are closed books, aren’t they?)

Can you eat somebody for breakfast?

Today’s English
February 27th, 2017

Yes. You can eat a boy or girl or even your enemy for breakfast.  The expression “to eat somebody for breakfast” simply means “you are able to control them very easily”  and / or “you are able to defeat them very easily"

1.You cannot eat my son for breakfast. (=You cannot control my son easily.)

2.An inspiring teacher always knows how to eat her/his students for breakfast.

3.In the final match,  I’ll eat him for my breakfast. (=I will defeat him very easily.)

There is also another interesting (but disapproving) phrase connected with breakfast – “a dog’s breakfast”  that does not mean breakfast given to any dog.  It means “a person who is very untidy" or “something that you have done very badly.”

1.Her handwriting is nothing but a dog’s breakfast and she has to improve that a lot.

2.The beggar was a dog’s breakfast (=very untidy) and I was a little bit scared of him.

3.Why have you made your project a dog’s breakfast?(=done very badly) I’m afraid, it won’t be approved of.

N.B. 
1. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are not used with the definite article “The”unless a specific reference is there.

2.“Have you had your breakfast?” is more common and appropriate
than “Did you have your breakfast?”

(Wife:  Being your wife, I can eat you for breakfast. (=can control you easily)
Husband: Being your life partner, I too can eat you for my breakfast.)

British terms and American Equivalents

II MOP, IV SEMESTER, M SCHEME, ENGLISH II

L. Write the American Equivalents for the given British terms:
( British English. -  American English)
1.Action replay – instant replay
2.Anticlockwise – counterclockwise
3.Autumn – fall
4.Bank holiday – legal holiday
5.Biscuit – cookie, cracker
6.Biro – ballpoint pen
7.Black economy – underground economy
8.Bottom drawer- hope chest
9.Brinjal – eggplant
10.Brolly – umbrella
11.Car park – parking lot
12.Casualty – emergency room
13.Cell – battery
14.Chemist – drug store
15.Chips – French fries
16.Cinema – movie
17.Cot – crib
18.Current account – checking account
19.Dressing gown – bathrobe
20.Drinks party – cocktail party
21.Driving licence – driver’s licence
22.Dustbin – garbage can
23.Earth – ground
24.Financial year – fiscal year
25.Fire service – fire department
26.First floor – second floor
27.Flat – apartment
28.Flyover – overpass
29.Football – soccer
30.Footway/pavement – sidewalk
31.Fridge – refrigerator
32.Full stop – period
33.Garden – yard, lawn
34.Goods – freight
35.Grill – broiler
36.Ground floor – First floor
37.Groundnuts – peanuts
38.Holiday – vacation
39.Hotel – restaurant
40.Indicator – turn signal
41.Interval- intermission
42.Jumper -
43.Level crossing – grade crossing
44.Ladybird – lady bug
45.Lift – elevator
46.Lolly – lollipop
47.Lorry – truck
48.Mate/close friend – buddy
49.Marks - grade
50.Mobile phone- cell phone
51.Motor way – highway
52.Nail cutter - clippers
53.Number plate – licence plate
54.Pedestrian crossing / zebra crossing– crosswalk
55.Petrol – gas
56.Plaster - bandage
57.Postal vote – absentee ballot
58.Post-box – mailbox
59.Postal code – zip code
60.Power point – electrical outlet
61.Public school- private school
62.Queue – line
63.Railway – railroad
64.Rubber – eraser
65.Tablets - pills
66.Toilet /loo– restroom/ washroom
67.Towel – napkin
68.Share – stock
69.Trolley – cart
70.Trousers - pants
71.Skipping rope- jump rope
72.Sleeping partner – silent partner
73.Snakes and ladders – chutes and ladders
74.Solicitor – lawyer
75.Stag night – bachelor party
76.Starter – appetizer
77.State school – public school
78.Super market – grocery store
79.Sweets – candy
80.Tea towel – dish towel
81.Tim – aluminum can
82.Trade union – Labor union
83.Trainers / sports shoes– sneakers
84.Underground – subway
85.Wagon – car
86.Wardrobe – closet
87.Zip - zipper

How to use adjectives in the right order?

II MOP, IV SEMESTER
M SCHEME, ENGLISH II

Have you ever seen the sentence as the following one?
I bought a beautiful small shining round new black Indian metal boat-like gift for my friend’s marriage.
When we use more than one adjective before a noun, we have to arrange them in a certain order as per grammar rules.

The usual order is as follows:
1. Opinion – beautiful, brilliant, smart, effective….
2. Size -  small, big, tall, short, long, large….
3. Physical quality – thin, fat, slim, tidy, weak….
4. Shape –round, square, rectangular…
5. Age – old, New, young, middle-aged, ancient…
6. Colour- black, red, green, blue…
7. Origin – Indian, Japanese, American, African….
8. Material- wooden, metallic, rubber, silver, golden…
9. Type – moon-like, four-sided, T-shaped….
10. Noun -the person, object, quality we describe-  lady, ball, knowledge….

How to remember the order is more difficult than how to understand or differentiate them. Since only few of them always join and make a phrase, the usage is always easy.

To remember the most common elements (opinion, size, age, colour, origin, material) students may associate them with an imaginary or well known phrase.  Example: osa.com (opinion, size, age, colour, origin, material)

K. Arrange the following into a sentence according to the order of adjectives:
1. A black, wooden, old, toy
2. A winding, long, street
3. A leather,  black,  bag
4. A silver, costly, ring
5. A young, beautiful, Indian lady
6. A green,  rubber,  new,  ball
7. A pink,  round, smart, clock
8. An American, handsome, guy
9. A wooden, old, useless, stool
10. A moon-like, round, cute, face

Answer:
1. It is an old black wooden toy.
2. There is a long winding street.
3. It is a black leather bag.
4. I bought a costly silver ring.
5. I met a beautiful young Indian lady.
6. I played with new green rubber ball.
7. I have a smart round pink clock.
8. He is really a handsome American guy.
9. This is a useless old wooden stool.
10. She has a cute round moon-like face.

Difference Between Marriage and Wedding

Today’s English
February 26th, 2017

The word “marriage” refers to the legal or long term relationship between two opposite sexes.  On the other hand, wedding points out the ceremony of getting United for such a relationship either in church or Wedding Hall or Registrar Office usually followed by reception, music, entertainment and feast. “He had an unhappy marriage” means “he was separated or divorced” but “he had an unhappy wedding" means “The ceremony did not go smoothly or stopped somewhere in the middle”.  The former is a marriage disaster whereas the latter is a wedding disaster.

So you can invite someone to your wedding, not to your marriage.

You celebrate wedding anniversary every year, rather than marriage anniversary.

Other Expressions Connected with Marriage/wedding:
1. Hear wedding bells= to think that the two are going to get married
When we often found them together, we heard the wedding bells.
I already heard the wedding bells and now you have brought the invitation. (=I already thought you would soon get married…)

2. He proposed to me. (=He asked me to marry him)

3. He is my fiancé. (=He is the man whom I am going to marry)
She is my fiancée. (See the spelling. The woman you are going to marry.)

4. I am already betrothed to her. (=My engagement to her is already over)

5. Is it a stag party or hen party? (=The party given by bridegroom to his friends or the one by bride to her friends?

“Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.” – Martin Luther

Let's have a bit of Information about bit

Today’s English
February 25th, 2017

The meaning of bit that generally flashes in our mind is a small piece or a small amount of something – often used as bits of paper found with a student committing malpractice.  But the word can be used in some other ways in our day-to-day life to carry different meaning.

1. In bits = to be very sad, very upset
Don’t disturb him now. He’s already in bits.

2. Bit by bit = gradually
We changed his mind bit by bit. Now he is alright.
Bit by bit, you can improve your English by sparing ten minutes a day.

3. Thrilled/shocked/surprised to bits = thrilled…very much
I was thrilled to bits to see my friend there.

4. Not a bit = Not at all / Not in any way
Are you tired? Not a bit.
Nowadays students are not a bit worried about the test.

5. Quite a bit = a lot, very much, more than enough
Do you have money? Quite a bit.
Is he interested in our products? Quite a bit. (=Very much)

6. Two-bit = worthless, cheap, unimportant, useless
Stop all your two-bit stories.   I have much work to do.
Stop watching these two bit TV serials. They make no sense.

Remember: When we say, the dog bit her sister, we use the verb  “bite" in past tense.

(Love that is “quite a bit" before marriage but not a bit after marriage is not at all love, isn’t it?)

Let’s know a Little about Know

Today’s English
February 24th, 2017

Do you know that you cannot say – “I know to operate this machine.” ?  In English, the verb “know" is never followed by a simple infinitive. Here, we must use “how" before the infinitive : I know how to operate this machine. The same goes with “ I know how to chat on Whatsapp and Facebook. “

Some other common expressions with “know"
1. As far as I know = to my knowledge
As for as I know, we haven’t received any letter from DOTE regarding this scheme.

2. Know-how = knowledge of how to do something
First acquire the know-how of this work and then ask your doubt.

3. Known what is like to be = to have your own personal experience
Though I’m settled enough now, I have known what is like to be with hunger.

4. Know your way around = to be familiar with something
I have visited that place several times. I know my way around there.

5. Know which side of your bread is buttered = to know how to get advantage of something
Wherever he goes or whomever he meets, he knows well which side of his bread is buttered.

6. Know something backwards = to know something extremely well
With 20 years of experience, he knows all procedures backwards.

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”  -Socrates

Let’s deal with the word “deal"

Today’s English
February 23rd, 2017

Deal is one of the most frequently used words in our day-to-day English. The word is mostly used in games, especially in playing cards. Here preposition is not used.   “It’s your turn to deal cards” means It’s your turn to distribute cards among members.  The word is frequently used with a preposition “with" when you treat a subject, question, problem, person, etc.  as in the expression: Don’t worry. Let me deal with him.

Other common usages of “deal":
1.Deal = agreement or contract
We made/signed/closed a deal with him.

2.You are to collect materials and I am to carry out typing.  It’s a deal/That’s the deal.  O.k?

3.A good deal of/ a great deal of = sufficient/much
I spent a great deal of time with Ashoke sir when I was in Kolkatta.

4.I got a good deal on my smartphone. (=bought it very cheaply)

5.To get a raw deal/ rough deal = treated unfairly
We often get a raw deal in our working place.

6.No big deal = Not a problem / Not important.
You may just try at your best. If you don’t get the order, it’s no big deal.

7.Deal a blow = extremely shocking
His death/suicide/the incidents in Tamil Nadu assembly dealt a blow to the whole nation.

8.Deal in = trade in /buy and sell a product
The company deals in programming software /cars.

9.Dealings = business activities/connections/previous relationship
I have no dealings with him now.

10.Double-dealing = dishonest behaviour to cheat others.
You speak kind words to me but speak ill of me to the boss.  Please stop all your double-dealing sir.

“Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.”  - Pythagoras

Life is fun, isn’t it?

Today’s English
February 22nd, 2017

Fun is uncountable and joke is countable and therefore the word fun never takes an indefinite article a or an.  You can say “he made a joke" but not “he made a fun".  

Fun means entertainment or pleasure or something that gives entertainment or pleasure. Joke refers to what you tell to make other people laugh.  Joke is normally concerned with process of making pleasure whereas fun is concerned with process of receiving pleasure.  You can tell a joke and others can have fun.

The phrases generally used in the case of joke are “tell/make/ crack/play jokes", dirty jokes (sexy jokes), get the joke, get beyond a joke, take a joke and “only did it as a joke".

1.We were just cracking jokes on his dressing.
2.I don’t get the joke he made. (=don’t understand)  What does it mean?
3.Stop it! Your teasing is getting beyond a joke. (=crossing the limit)
4.Why are you serious? The trouble with you is you can’t take a joke. (=You couldn’t take it easy)
5.Why are you weeping? I only did it as a joke.

Similarly you can use the word “fun” as in the following expressions:
1.Come on! It’s time to have fun.
2.I am learning French just for fun. (Not for job or with any serious purpose)
3.I like his sense of humour.  His whole speech is full of fun, isn’t it?
4.If you talk like this, you will become a figure of fun. (= a laughing stock)
5.Don’t make fun of your higher officials. (= Make others laugh at them in unkind way.)

Just for fun!
(Father: Did you tell your love to her?
Son: No dad. It won’t work out.
Father: Why?
Son: She already loves someone. So I forgot her.
Father: Tell me what she really said.
Son: I told my love. But she said “I LOVE YOU 2"
Father:  ??!  Once You cut English class. Now you lost a beautiful girl.)

How to Seek Permission?

II MOP, M Scheme,

IV Semester, English II

J. Write the appropriate expression to ask for permission:

1. Samy to his mother: I want to have an ice-cream.

2. Student to the Teacher: Grant me leave for two days.

3. Ram: Am I permitted to use your computer?

4. A man to his employer: “ I’d like to take your umbrella.”

5. Wife to husband: “I wonder if I could borrow your scooter.”

6. Ravi to his manager: Can I turn on the fan for a moment?

7. Father to daughter: May I ask you a question?

8. Brother to sister: Would you mind if I used your eraser?

9. Employee to Employer: I’d like some advance on my salary.

10. Reporter to Minister: I’m going to ask you another question.

11. Husband to wife: I wonder if I could have a cup of tea?

12. Girl to sister: I should be obliged if you would permit me to wear your blue jeans tonight.

13. Student’s letter to Principal: Will you mind if I didn’t take the final exam?

Answers:

1. Samy to his mother: May I please have an ice-cream? (This is the answer given in the prescribed book and I have given it here, though I partly disagree with that)

2. Student to the Teacher: Would you mind to grant me leave for two days, Madam?

3. Ram to his friend: Can I use your computer?

4. A man to his employer: “ Would you mind if I took your umbrella?”

5. Wife to husband: “Can / Could I borrow your scooter?”

6. Ravi to his manager: Would you mind if I turned on the fan for a moment?

7. Father to daughter: Can I ask you a question?

8. Brother to sister: Can I use your eraser?

9. Employee to Employer: Would you mind if I had some advance on my salary?

10. Reporter to Minister: May I ask you another question, Sir?

11. Husband to wife: Can I have a cup of tea?

12. Girl to sister: Can I wear your blue jeans tonight?

13. Student’s letter to Principal: Would you mind if I didn’t take the final exam?/ I should be obliged if I were allowed not to take the final exam.

Guidelines:

We commonly use certain modal auxiliaries to seek permission. Their order of politeness is given from the lowest to highest as follows:

Can I have your pen?    -  Informal, to a friend, to subordinates, elders  to children…

Could I have your pen? – Less formal, to known people, equals, spouse, colleagues who are friends…

May I have your pen? – Formal/ polite, subordinates to higher officials, youngsters to elders, unknown people, colleagues who are new or not very close, students to teachers…

Would you mind if I had your pen? More formal/ more polite, people of highest rank, status, employees to employer, youngsters to elders, students to principal, chief guest, resource persons…

I wonder if I could have your book? / I should be obliged if I were permitted to have your book. – the Most formal / the Most polite

How to find appropriate expression?

Which expression you should use depends on

(i) to whom you are talking (the person’s status/ his relationship with you)

(ii) whether the situation is formal or informal ( whether the person you are addressing  is your teacher/employer or your friend / wife/ child…)

Are you living at home or in a house?

Today’s English
February 21st, 2017

People generally say that you can buy a house but not a home. Yes, of course, house is made by bricks whereas home is made by love. House is used when you refer to the building but the term home is used to mean a place where you have someone to love you, to care for you, to make you feel free, relaxed and comfortable.  When you family members keep away from home or quarrelling with you, your home becomes a house. Use of preposition “to" is of another concern.  You can say “go to house" but you have to say “go home", not go to home.

The common phrases which include home are "be/feel at home", set up home, leave home, work from home , come home (attain enlightenment) and make yourself at home.

1.His comic performance brought the house down. (= He made everyone laugh)

2.They recently got married and set up home together in Chennai. (=started living together)

3.She left home at the age of six. (=started living independently)

4.Do you feel at home now? (=Are you comfortable and without tension?)

5.What happened to you? Please sit down and make yourself at home first. (Feel relaxed and comfortable)

“Where thou art, that is home.” – Emily Dickinson

Identifying Modal Auxiliaries

II MOP, M SCHEME
IV SEMESTER, ENGLISH II

I.Pick out three modal auxiliaries from the following passages:

1.He is a versatile genius. He can write poems, dramas and novels. Few years back, he could even make a painting for competition. I think, he may win the Nobel Prize for his recent book.

2.I am sure, he will attend our party this evening.  He hasn’t yet replied to my mail.  So he would probably seek his apology for that. I may not be flexible then.

3.You ought to take care of your parents. They would suffer a lot without money from you. I felt, I should tell you about this and the rest is left to you.

4.“What shall we do now?” asked Ravi.  “We can do nothing in this case.  Whatever we do might go wrong. So it is better to wait and see” suggested Prabha.

5.He used to stand in queue before ATM for several days. Actually he need not waste his time this way.  He might have tried cashless payments online through several ways, if he had been aware of them.

6.You must have brought your hall ticket. What is more, you dare to argue with me.  How can you expect me to help you?

Answer:
1.Can, could, may
2.Will, would, may
3.Ought to, would, should
4.Shall, can, might
5.Used to, need, might
6.Must, dare, can

Guidelines:
Modal Auxiliaries:
The auxiliaries(24) in English can be divided into two : 1. Primary Auxiliaries (11) and Modal Auxiliaries(13).

The Primary Auxiliaries: (11)
Be forms: am, is, are, was, we’re
Have forms: Have, has, had
Do forms: Do, does, did

Modal Auxiliaries (13)
Can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, must, dare, need, used to and  ought to are the modal auxiliaries in English.

The main function is to express the mood and hence they are named as modal auxiliaries. They are generally used to express ability, duty, possibilities, probability and  offer suggestion, advice and warning.

Difference Between Bring and Fetch

Today’s English
February 20th, 2017

You cannot ask your student to bring chalk or your book from the department.  Why?

The word “bring" means “to come with something/somebody from the listener’s place to the speaker”  whereas the word “fetch" means “to go to a place mentioned, get and return with that to the speaker" If the listener has the book with him, you can say “bring your book" and if you direct him to go somewhere, pick and then bring it, you have to say “fetch my book from the department”.

1. What’s that in your hand? Bring it here.
2. Can you do a favor for me? Please fetch my bike key that is upstairs. (Not bring….)
3. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. (Not bring…)
4. She’s not at home. She has gone to fetch her kids from school. (Not:  to bring her kids)

The common phrases we generally use with the word “bring" are “brings you here", bring forward, bring back, bring to an end and bring A and B together.

1. Hey Ramya! What brings you here? (= I’m surprised to see you here.)

2. The meeting is brought forward from 4p.m. to 2p.m. (= preponed, conducted in advance)

3. I don’t know who will bring the agitation to an end.

4. Please bring back all your library books within two days. (= return)

5. I couldn’t bring Ramya and Revathi together.  They are still in conflict with each other.

"If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you."    - Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Thomas

Common Abbreviations in English

II MOP, IV SEMESTER
M SCHEME, ENGLISH II

H. Expand the following abbreviations:
1.AC -  Air Conditioner /Alternative     Current
2.AICTE – All India Council for Technical Education
3.AIDS  - Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
4.AIR – All India Radio
5.BBC-British Broadcasting Corporation
6.B.Ed.- Bachelor of Education
7.BHEL – Bharat Heavy Electronics Ltd
8.BIOS-Basic Input Output System
9.BIS – Bureau of Indian Standards
10.CET- Common Entrance Test
11. CA-Chartered Accountant
12.CBI – Central Bureau of Investigation
13.CBSE – Central Board of Secondary Education
14.CID - Criminal Investigation Department
15.DVD – Digital Versatile Disc
16.DNA - Di-ixyribo Nucleic Acid
17.DTH – Direct to Home
18.EVM – Electronic Voting Machine
19.FDI-Foreign Direct Investment
20.FII-Foreign Institutional Investors
21.FIR – First Information Report
22.GPF – General Provident Fund
23.GPRS-General Packet Radio System
24.GPS-Global Positioning System
25.GOOGLE - Global Organization Of Oriented Group Language Of Earth
26.HTML-Hyper Text Markup Language
27.IGNOU-Indira Gandhi National Open University
28.I IT – Indian Institute of Technology
29.IOC-International Olympic Committee
30.IFS- Indian Foreign Service
31.IPS- Indian police service
32.IAS- Indian Administrative service
33.ISRO – Indian Space Research Organization
34.IST-Indian Standard Time
35.I SO – International Organization for standardization
36.IQ – Intelligence Quotient
37.LTTE-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
38.MBBS-Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
39.MMS-Multimedia Messaging Service
40.MODEM-Modulator-Demodulator
41.NABARD-National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development
42.NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
43.NAV-Net Asset Value
44.NABARD – National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development
45.NCERT-National Council of Education Research and Training
46.NIIT – National Institute of Information Technology
47.NRI – Non Resident Indian
48.NSE-National Stock Exchange
49.PAN-Permanent Account Number
50.PTI – Press Trust of India
51.PIN – Postal Index Number
52.PWD – Public Works Department
53.RBI-Reserve Bank of India
54.RCC-Reinforced Concrete Cement
55.SAARC- South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation
56.SEBI-Securities and Exchange Board of India
57.SIM – Subscriber Identify Module
58.STD – Subscribers Trunk Dialing
59.SMS – Short Message Service
60.TDS-Tax Deduction at Source
61.TIN-Tax Information Network
62.UNESCO- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
63.UNO – United Nations Organizations
64.UGC-University Grants Commission
65.URL – Uniform Resource Locater
66.UTI – Unit Trust of India
67.VAT – Value Added Tax
68.VIP – Very Important Person
69.VRS-Voluntary Retirement Scheme
70.WHO-World Health Organisation
71.WWW – World Wide Web
72.XML-eXtensible Markup Language
73.YAHOO - Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle

Please Pay Attention to “attention”

Today’s English
February 19th, 2017

Do you know that “give attention to what I say" is an incorrect expression?  You can use “give" here if only you use possessive adjectives as in “your attention”,  “his attention” and “her attention”.

Compare:
1.Please, pay attention to my instructions. (Not: please give attention to my instructions.)
Please give me your attention for few minutes. (Correct)
Would you mind to give your attention to his speech. (=please don’t talk and disturb)

Others common phrases related to attention are :  to draw attention, to catch attention, to attract somebody’s attention, pay special attention, to call someone’s attention to something, short /long attention span and pay no attention:

1.The headline drew my attention to the political turmoil in Tamil Nadu.

2.She dressed to kill and tried to catch attention of the visitors.

3.I attracted his attention to the changes in the syllabus.

4.I called his attention to the notice issued by G.M.

5.Please pay special attention to this G.O.

6.Nowadays students have short attention span.  What to do?

7.I admired his undivided attention to my long lecture.

8.Nowadays students pay no attention to what the teachers say.

9.It has come to my attention that you are going to resign your job. (= I have been informed that …)

10.Don’t pay any attention to him. He will get you in trouble.

( Do you know? : Researchers surveyed 2,000 participants in Canada and studied the brain activity of 112 others using electroencephalograms.
The results showed that the average human attention span has fallen from 12 seconds in 2000, or around the time the mobile revolution began, to eight seconds.
Goldfish, meanwhile, are believed to have an attention span of nine seconds.)

Do you ever spend your money like there is no tomorrow?

Today’s English
February 18th, 2017

If you ever feel –“We have two more weeks. Why should we do it in a hurry?”, you can use the expression “like there is/was no tomorrow.”

Examples:
1. We have 30 days more to complete the syllabus/project. But why are you in a hurry to complete like  there is no tomorrow?

2. Yesterday he gave us a treat but emptied his purse like there was no tomorrow. (Spending in large amounts carelessly)

3. Learning is a life long process. Don’t neglect your daily duties and study for hours together like there is no tomorrow.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein

Common Errors in the Usage of Some English Words

Today’s English
February 17th, 2017

Can you find out the errors in the following sentences?
1.I answered to his question.
2.I asked a question to him.
3.We entered into the class.
4.He resembled to my relative.
5.We are discussing about Apple iPhone 7.
6.Without password, we cannot access to his mobile.
7.We reached to the place very early.
8.I am awaiting for your reply.
9.I helped him to collect the data.
10.With your advice, you cannot make her to come early.

There are some non-propositional verbs in English which are not followed by a preposition.  Just remove the preposition that comes after the verb in each sentence. Now they are ok.

Correct expressions:
1.I answered his question.
2.I asked him a question.
3.We entered the class.
4.He resembled my relative.
5.We are discussing Apple iPhone 7.
6.Without password, we cannot access his mobile.
7.We reached the place very early.
8.I am awaiting your reply.
9.I helped him collect the data.
10.With your advice, you cannot make her come early.

But remember, if any one of the above verbs is used as a noun, then we must use a preposition. See the difference:
1.We discussed the new project.
We had a discussion about the new project.
2.We can access his mobile.
We are able to have access to his mobile.
3.He entered the room
His entry to the room is restricted.

“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” – Oscar Wilde, “Lady Windermere’s Fan"

Grammar based on analogy

II MOP, M SCHEME
IV SEMESTER, ENGLISH 2

E. Complete the analogy by writing the correct word on the blank line:

1. Open is to close as near is to …………… (far, close, shut).

2. Soft is to loud as slow is to …………… (quiet, quick, sluggish)

3. Little is to small as large is to ……………. (Tiny, huge, medium)

4. Smart is to intelligent as sly is to …………. (Sneaky, dumb, genius)

5. Dishonest is to honest as always is to ………… (usually, never, sometimes)

6. Tall is to high as rich is to ……… (fat, short, wealthy)

7. Weak is to strong as silent is to ………. (Peaceful, noisy, calm)

8. Dead is to alive as ugly is to ……… (unpleasant, pleasing, contemptible)

9. Good is to virtuous as hard is  to …………. (Tough, flexible, soft)

10. Friendly is to cordial as tired is to …………(active, busy, dull)

Answer:
1. Far
2. Quick
3. Huge
4. Sneaky (cunning/ deceitful)
5. Never
6. Wealthy
7. Noisy
8. Pleasing
9. Tough
10. Dull

Correct the Errors

II MOP, IV Semester, M scheme, English II

The following questions are taken from the prescribed book, page no. 98-99

F. Correct the errors in the following sentences:

1. I am liking burgers.

2. I usually feeling tired in the morning.

3. I’m hungry. I am wanting something to eat.

4. I am knowing that it is true.

5. I am agreeing with you.

6. I am having flu.

7. She is having three sisters.

8. Oh My God! I picked up a hot dish.

9. I burnt myself.

10. I know her for a long time.

11. When did they arrived?

12. I did not went there.

13. We lived here for twenty five years.

14. In each episode, Shah Rukh Khan encounters many hazards, but he overcame them and continued to defend Ali.

15. I will come if he will call me.

16. See the clouds. It will rain.

17. Look! That kid will fall off his bike.

18.  I think I go to bed.

19. Do you know where does she come from?

20. How have you done that yesterday?

Answers:

(From first to seven, non-progressive / stative verbs have been used and they refer to a state, not an action. Since they are not to be used in continuous forms here. Other such verbs are:

·                          feeling: hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish

• senses: appear, feel, hear, see, seem, smell, sound, taste
• communication: agree, deny, disagree, mean, promise, satisfy, surprise
• thinking: believe, imagine, know, mean, realize, recognize, remember, understand
• other states: be, belong, concern, depend, involve, matter, need, owe, own, posses )

1. l like burgers.

2. I usually feel tired in the morning.

3. I’m hungry. I want something to eat.

4. I know that it is true.

5. I agree with you.

6. I have flu.

7. She has three sisters.  

8. Oh My God! I have picked up a hot dish.  (Questions 8, 9, 10 are based on the issue “whether past or present perfect.” Present perfect is used to refer to an action happened in the past but consequences are felt in present, or along with for / since as duration of time )

9. I have burnt myself. (consequences are still felt in the present)

10. I have known her for a long time. (used with the preposition for)

11. When did they arrive? (did + arrived is wrong)

12. I did not go there. (did + went is wrong)

13. We have lived here for twenty five years.

14. In each episode, Shah Rukh Khan encounters many hazards, but he overcomes them and continues to defend Ali.

15. I will come if he calls me. ( subordinate clause in if clause here must be in present if main clause is future)

16. See the clouds. It is going to rain.( “ going to” = about to happen)

17. Look! That kid is going to fall off his bike.

18.  I think I will go to bed. ( you think something that is to happen in future)

19. Do you know where comes from? (where is used here in subordinate clause, not as in question)

20. How did you do that yesterday? ( a specific time in the past and hence past tense is used.)

How to switch over to polite English?

Today’s English
February 16th, 2017

If you use a polite or indirect word or expression in stead of rude, impolite and harsh one, that is known as euphemism.  For example, using “ restroom” in stead of “toilet" is a euphemistic usage of English. Euphemism is to mask the unpleasantness in your expressions.

1.He died -  he passed away./ He departed his life.

2. Did you go to toilet/ urinate? – Have you relieved yourself? / Have you answered nature's call?

3.Where is lavatory here?  -  Where is washroom /restroom here?

4.She is a prostitute – She is everybody’s moon / She is lady of the night / a working girl / a call girl.

5.TCS is reducing number of Employees now. - TCS is downsizing now.

6.Small one. – compact one

7.A small quantity of products – a handy version

8.Old Website /design – classic version

9.Why do you take stupid people for job? – why do you hire mentally challenged people?

10.Solving the problem – troubleshooting

11.Why are growing bald? - Why are growing a little thin on your top?

12.She is pregnant now -  She is in the family way now.

13. a disabled one/handicapped/ retarded one – differently tabled / a special child.

14.Reduction of salary – readjustment of pay

15.Heavy / overweight – bigboned

16.Have sex – go all the way / sleep together /share the bed

17.She is poor – She is economically disadvantaged.

18.An annoyed/ unwanted phone call – courtesy call

19.He is a liar – he is economical with the truth.

20.You are not qualified for this job – You are partially proficient.

Shakespeare, the father of euphemism, uses it in his plays more frequently than others.  For example, in “Antony and Cleopatra”, Act II, Scene II, Agrippa talks about the sexual intercourse and pregnancy in the euphemistic way:

“She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed.
He plowed her, and she cropped.”

Missing Prepositions (propositional phrases)

II MOP, M SCHEME,
IV SEMESTER, ENGLISH II

(The following exercise is taken from the prescribed book, Spring Board, page 97)

E. Fill in the blank with the missing preposition:

1. Since the restaurant is usually crowded, it is advisable to make reservations ___ advance.

2. Because we have no car, we go everywhere _____ foot.

3. I was ______ breath after running up the long flight of stairs.

4. We walked out of the room _____tiptoe, so as not to disturb the sleeping baby.

5. Inside your passport, you should write the name of your next_____ kin.

6. We made out the report_____ triplicate.

7. Citrus fruits, _____ example oranges and lemons, require a long growing season.

8. The movie seemed to go on for ever,but______ last it was over.

9.  She is so busy, she always seems to be _____ a hurry.

10. Many people believe birds are in capable of reasoning, but _____ fact some birds are quite intelligent.

11. Since he is not very trustworthy, I advise you to take what he says _____ a pinch of salt.

12. I went to the library but the book I wanted was out ______ loan.

13.To save money, we usually buy flour and rice _____ bulk.

14. Since he could offer us no proof, we had to take his story _____ trust.

15. She knows hundreds of poems _____ heart.

16. Since we cannot find a place to live, _____ the time being, we are staying at a cheap hotel.

17. Little______ little the clouds dispersed and the sun became brighter and brighter.

18. Because of its importance, we studied the report _____ detail.

19. All of the clothes stored in this store were made _____ hand.

20. At an intersection, pedestrians usually have the right ______ way.

Answers:
1.In.  ( in advance = well before time)

2.On (on foot = by walk)

3.Of (actually “short of breath", the question is with an error without the word “short" next to was)

4.On (on tiptoe = move silently and without noise)

5.Of (next of kin means closest living relative)

6.In (in triplicate means copied twice in addition to the original one)

7.For (for example = for instance, used before giving example)

8.At  (at last = at the end)

9.In (in a hurry means more quickly than usual)

10.In ( in fact = in reality)

11.With (with a pinch of salt = listening with a doubt)

12.On (out on loan = borrowed)

13.In (in bulk= in large quantity)

14.In

15.By(by heart - able to tell by memory)

16.For (for the present time)

17.By

18.In ( in detail = with necessary details)

19.By (made by hand = by a person, compare: made in India,  made of plastic, made for each other )

20.Of ( right of way= the right to proceed first in traffic)

Do you ever speak matters of floccinaucinihilipilification?

Today’s English
February 15th, 2017

Today is for those who are fascinated by the longest words in English, though, I know very well,  you will use it once in a blue moon in your life.

The word “antidisestablishmentarianism" has 28 letters and 12 syllables (an-ti-dis-es-tab-lish-ment-ar-i-an-is-m).  You are anxious to know it’s meaning, aren’t you?
It means an opposition to the proposal of disestablishment of the Church of England. Disestablishment here means the removal of status of Anglican Church as the state church of England. Now the term is used not only to mean church, but also any established society, system, culture, or government. (Disestablishment itself is an opposition to establishment and when you add “anti", it refers to an opposition to an opposition).

The another word “floccinaucinihilipilification" is generally used to describe something as unimportant or worthless. This word is the elder brother to the previous word I mentioned (Yes, it is born one year before, having 29 letters).  Who is that bloody fellow who coined this word? In England, there is an independent boarding school known as “Eton College” where the pupils coined this long word while learning from Latin grammar book.  Many writers have used this term right from William Shenstone in his “Letters" published in 1741. Recently, in 2012,  a conservative MP,  Jacob used it in the British House of Commons.

Other longest words in English:
1.Llanfair¬pwllgwyngyll¬gogery¬chwyrn¬drobwll¬llan¬tysilio¬gogo¬goch: 
It is the name of a large village in Whales. (58 letters)

2.Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu – the name of a hill in New Zealand. (85 letters)

3.Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg – the name of a lake in Massachusetts, the US. (45 letters)

4.Honorificabilitudinitatibus – the longest word used by  Shakespeare in his  “Love’s Labour’s Lost to mean “The state of being able to achieve honours.”

“What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

How to express your love for someone?

Today’s English
February 14th, 2017
(Lover’s Day Special)

1.Yours is just a puppy love. Soon you’ll grow out of it. (Love between teenagers)

2.I think, I’m smitten by her. (I’m in love with her)

3.See the couple there! They are so lovey-dovey, aren’t they? (Romance in public place)

4.His second son is the Apple of his eye. (Loves him very much)

5.My love, I have eyes only for you. (Forget everything/everybody and live only for you)

6.When are you going to tie the knot? (Going to marry)

7.I have never seen her before. It’s my blind date. (First date)

8.I’ll do anything to catch her eye. (To be loved by her)

9.He is a love-rat. Don’t trust him. (One who betrays his girlfriend/wife)

10.Did you tell him those three little words? Not yet. (Telling I love you)

“Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?” (Shakespeare in As You Like It)

Money makes many.

Today’s English
February 13th, 2017

Top ten expressions to talk about one’s financial position:

1.He is born with a silver spoon in his mouth. (To be very rich from birth)

2.She has hand to mouth existence. (With enough money but no savings)

3.For the last two years, he is down-and-out. (Penniless, with no money)

4.He started his own business but burnt his fingers.(had a heavy loss)

5.He gained the upper hand in business.(more successful in business)

6.He made easy money through his website. (Earned more easily)

7.You are penny-wise and pound-foolish. (Careful in small expenses but careless in large ones)

8.I don’t like your out of balance life style.( to spend extravagantly and always be in shortage of money)

9.People in power can hide anything, because money talks. ( To use money to make something happen as you desire)

10.Don’t worry . Soon you will be back on your feet. (To make progress after a loss)

“A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money.” ( W.C.Fields)

Your students cannot write a test. Why?

Today’s English
February 12th, 2017

No one can write a test or exam because in standard English,  the words “write" and “test" don’t go with each other:

You can do a test /exam.
You can sit a test/ exam.
You can take a test/ exam.
You can appear for a test /exam.
You can pass/fail a test / exam.

Wrong expression: Write your test fast. He didn’t write his test well.

Right expression: Do / take your test fast. He didn’t do his test well.

Difference between a test and an exam:

Test is less formal than exam.

Test is generally at the end of a lesson or training decided by the teacher or authority at any time. (Class test, monthly test, driving test, typing test) but exam is at the end of a semester or term conducted in large scale for a large number of candidates in a more formal way. (civil service exam, NET exam, board exam, practical exam)

The term test is used in all field (medical test, eye test,  lab test, pregnancy test, safety test, voice test etc.) whereas exam is in use mostly in the educational field.

Test can be informal, oral, written or practical but exam is mostly written, though practical exams are formal in our educational system.

(Exams are like Girl friends
- Too many questions
- Difficult to understand
- More explanation is needed
- Result is always fail!)

The Two Things I Like with “The"

Today’s English
February 11th, 2017

Do you see any difference in meaning in the following two sentences?

1.He goes to college.
2.He goes to the college.

If you are going to a place with a purpose for which the building exists, you are not supposed to use the definite article “The”.  Otherwise, use “The”.  A student goes to college to learn but a parent may go to the college to enquire about his son’s progress, not for study.
Similarly, people go to temple but the filmmaker or thief goes to the temple.

Generally we don’t use article before the name of someone but there is an exception to this. If you find someone to have certain quality of a great person, you can use the before the name of that celebrity.

1.How beautiful she is! She is the Cleopatra of our college.

2.Muthukumar sings well, doesn’t he? No doubt, he is the Ilayaraja in our group.

(My wife is the Sarojini Naidu in our family. How beautifully she speaks poetry even when she fights.)

Why did the monk sell his Ferrari? To buy another Ferrari?

I recently finished all leaves of a literary piece “The Monk who sold his Ferrari” by Robin Sharma.

The book, with the pride of three million copies sold worldwide, excels with rich language, apt idioms, inspiring quotes, fables, messages and speeches of great writers, symbols and many more.

This is the book that is supposed to serve to awaken you and the same urged me to choose to read it, at least spending 15 to 30 minutes a day to cover the 198 pages. It had its impact on my daily life and I hope, it will also turn you into a new leaf.

Story: An ambitious lawyer, after a heart stroke, gets awakened, sells all he had, says good bye to his profession and looks for someone in the Himalayas who would transform his life. How he got enlightened, how he shared the ageless principles of the Sages of Sivana with John, another lawyer to transform him make the rest of the story.

Run your own race. Find your Destiny. Stop daydreaming and live the present. Live totally, with full potential of your Real Self.  These are the central threads and the objective here is to transform the readers who, by applying the principles unfolded by Julian to John, can rejuvenate themselves and make their lives more meaningful and joyful ones.

But Why did the monk sell his Ferrari? To buy another Ferrari? 

Aim, dream, goal, achievement and finding your destiny are all different words but refer to the same “desire”. 

How ridiculous it is to say that the ancient principles of the sages of Himalayas is goal setting,  that is,  merely the corporate term of the western mind. 

I was forced to stop reading somewhere in the middle of the book where the spirit of spirituality completely disappears and Robin Sharma, as a unique corporate trainer, elaborates the principles of goal setting through his so called enlightened protagonist Julian Mantle who has sold all his wealth to learn this “ancient principles of sages" known as goal setting.

Robin Sharma is a great writer but not the awakened one and  knows not the least how an awakened one lives. I love his language but how long I can read the experience of a so called yogi whose words have no life in it.

I can never imagine a sage who asks you to write your goal in a paper and visualise it with a deadline and says this what he learnt from the sages of the East.

Robin Sharma is , in my opinion, marketing his known spiritual ideas.  

The long discourse between these two is, more or less, that of a soft skill trainer to a corporate employee.  The focus here is not enlightenment but personality development- a high quality western product with Eastern label. The language used is from a learned mind, not from a liberated soul.

In fact, the book does have no story at all but a long night discourse between Julian and John about the ageless principles of Sages. Nothing is to speak of descriptions of events or characterisation.  No story is here to be developed, or struggles to overcome.

The book will be a good guide and an inspiring one for IT people and for all who want to achieve their goal.

I feel now and tell myself -Don’t judge a book by its cover.  This book is, of course, “The Lost Child” in a Sales Fair.

However, the following quotes from the book, that touched my heart will be remembered by me as a true source of inspiration for ever.

“The size of your bank account and the size of your house have nothing to do with living life with a sense of joy and wonder. This world is full of unhappy millionaires.”

“I had everything money could possibly buy. But I sold my soul for it.”

“A person with three solid friends is very wealthy indeed.”

“Don’t let others steal your time. Having the little courage to say no to the little things in life will give you the power to say yes to the big things.”

“when you control your thoughts, you control your mind. When you control your mind, you control your life. And once you reach the stage of being in total control of your life, you become the master of your Destiny.”

“… truly enlightened people never seek to be like others. Rather, they seek to be superior to their former selves. Don’t race against others. Race against yourself.”

“…books do not actually teach you anything new. Books simply help you to see what is already within your self. That’s what enlightenment is all about.”

“Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish.”

“people who study others are wise but those who study themselves are enlightened.”

“The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.”

“Your I Can is more important than you I.Q.”

“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside awakens.”

“I am simply a man who has found his soul.”

Setting the words in right order

II MOP, M SCHEME, ENGLISH 2, IV SEMESTER

The following exercise is taken from the prescribed book in the syllabus
(Springboard, page no.75)

A.Form the affirmative statement using the given word or phrase by arranging them in proper word order:

1.7.30 starts school at the
2.brother goes never football to my games
3.having we at the office moment are
4.am practising I basement the drums in the
5.on in club often I am weekdays the
6.school Walter is afternoon always at Wednesday on
7.my friend tennis play does not
8.never grandmother goes for a walk
9.chickens I two see cannot
10.Jack kitchen does breakfast always not have in the

Answer:
1.The school starts at 7.30.
2.My brother never goes to football games.
3.We are having coffee at the moment.
4.I am practising the drums in basement.
5.I am often in the club on weekdays.
6.Walter is always at afternoon school on Wednesday.(or)
Walter is always at school on Wednesday afternoon.
7.My friend does not play tennis.
8.Grandmother never goes for a walk.
9.I cannot see two chickens.
10.Jack does not always have breakfast in the kitchen.

Guidelines for setting the words in right order:
1. Arrange the words into group of phrases and then arrange them into a sentence:
Example: been his in has years father working for company this three

First step: for three years, has been working, his father, in this company

Second step: His father has been working in this company for three years.

2. Know basic sentence patterns and arrange the words accordingly

Example: busy, work, he, at , was, his

Find the pattern: it is SVCA here (subject+verb+ complement + adjunct)

Arrange: He/was/busy/at his work.
Other common patterns:

SVO - He sent a mail.
SVC-  He was happy.
SVIODO- He gave her a pen.
SVOC - He made her the president of the association.
SVOA - He sent a mail last week.
SVCA - He was happy at home.

3. Know the common structure
Most of the sentences have the common structure : subject + verb + place + time (with or without object/complement next to verb)
Example: He went to his native place yesterday.
I will take you my home next week.

4. Know structures with dummy subject (it, there) and let
Example :
Structure: There + aux.verb+ place( + time)
There were/are ten students in the class.
Structure: let + object+ infinitive without to (+ time)
Let me deal with that.
Let him go now.

5. Know the placement of adverb, especially adverb of frequency:

Most of the students commit mistakes in placing the adverbs. Most adverbs come at the end of a sentence but adverbs of frequency (always, never, often, rarely, almost, seldom) comes before main verb or after axillary verb:

He always/often came late.
He is always late.
He has often visited that place.
I have never been called by anyone in the company.

Do you refuse or deny your statement?

Today’s English
February 10th, 2017

He was in trouble.  I gave him the money he needed.  But he denied.

Can you use “deny" here? No, you can’t. 

The words “refuse” and “deny" may look synonymous but they differ in meaning.

The term “refuse" means “to say that you don’t accept an offer"  or “to say that you won’t  do what is asked to do"

1.I refused his call for a date. (Not I denied…)

2. Our principal asked me to take charge of furniture. I simply/firmly refused. (Not denied)

3.We insisted her to talk to him but she refused to do so.

On the other hand, the word “deny" has the meaning “to say that something is not true"  or “to withhold something from a person".

1.He denied the charges/rumours against him. ( Not he refused….)

2.Sasikala denied the statement made by Panneer Selvam about his resignation. (Not refused)

3.The management denied him the promotion he deserved. (Withholding)

4.His parents saved his future by denying him bike and smartphone.

Remember,  you refuse something but something is denied to you.

“To deny one’s own experiences is to put a lie into the lips of one’s own life. It’s no less than a denial of the soul.” – ( Oscar Wilde in “De Profundis”)

Difference in Prepositions

II MOP, M Scheme, IV Semester
.
Fill in the blank with correct preposition chosen from those given in brackets:

1. He lives …………. 19 Tower Road. (at, on)

2. We Will be gone ………… two days.(for, since)

3. Tom and his friend will divide the money ………….themselves. (among, between)

4. They will be returning ………. November. (in, on)

5. I have known him …………three years. (for, since)

6. Many foods ……….. milk contain calcium. (beside, besides)

7. I will arrive …………six o' clock. (at, in)

8. He has been gone ………… Friday. (for, since)

9. The store is located ……….. North Street. (at, on)

10. She is leaving ………….. five minutes.(at, in)

11. Bridget, Leslie and Sarah will discuss the matter ………. themselves. (between, among)

12. I have known her ……… last year. (for, since)

13. We expect them ………. Wednesday. (in, on)

14. The cat was sitting ………. the stove. (beside, besides)

15. The play begins ……….. seven thirty. (at, on)

16. We waited ………….. fifteen minutes. (for, since)

17. Columbus crossed the Atlantic ………. 1492.(in, at)

18. There are many possibilities ……….. the one I have mentioned.(beside, besides)

19. She will call us ………. half an hour. (at, in)

20. His birthday is …………. the 8^th of January. (in, on)

Answers with Explanations:

1. on ( “at” refers to a specific point in a place or a small place within a big place, “on” is used to refer to something which is on the surface, “in” is used to indicate a large place or an enclosed place, or a place in general)

Other examples: at Gandhipuram in Coimbatore, works at Infosys, works in a company,  at bustand,  walking on the road, moving on the street, on the table,  at the end of the road, in a box, in the room

2. for (“for” is used to refer to a period or duration of time and “since” is used to denote a specific moment in time)

Other Examples: for two weeks, for 5 months, for 2 years, since yesterday, since last year, since 2015

3. between (“between” refers to a position between two objects, persons or places but “among” means “surrounded by more than two persons, objects or places”)

4. in (use at for a particular time, on for days, date and in for duration, morning,  months, years, seasons, centuries)

Other Examples: at 5 o’ clock, at 6 p.m, at sun rise, at dinner, on Sunday, on Moday, on 5^th January, on my birthday, in March, in August, in the summer, in the morning,  in the winter, in the 19^th century, in 2017, in 1892)

5. for (please, refer to second answer)

6. besides (beside = near, besides= in addition to)

7. at  (see 4^th  answer)

8. since (from a particular time in the past)

9. at (a specific place is mentioned)

10. in (duration of time, not a specific time)

11. among (see 3rd answer)

12. since (from a specific time in the past)

13. on (see the fourth answer)

14. beside (beside = near, besides= in addition to)

15. at (a particular time)

16. for (see 2^nd answer)

17. in (see the fourth answer)

18. besides (beside = near, besides= in addition to)

19. in (duration of time, mentioned in general, not a specific time)

20. on (see the fourth answer) 

Say please to please

Today’s English
February 9th, 2017

The word “please" is not a request but it is used to make a request “a stronger one" or to make an order politely. Please can be used in the beginning, middle or at the end but each makes difference:

1.Please, shut the door behind. (It’s imperative. It’s not a request but an order said politely. It’s by an elder to the youngster, not by an youngster to the elder or higher officials)

2.Could you please shut the door behind? (Not imperative, but a request in
question form. A request made stronger)

3.Can you bring your book tomorrow, please? (Request is less stronger than the above one) wrong: Please, can you bring your book tomorrow?

The word thanks, not used in official context,  is more informal than thank you. Other words added to thank or thank you make the gratitude stronger: Thanks a lot, thank you very much, thank you very much indeed. You can also say, “Thank God, the last date is extended. (NOT: Thanks God…)

Please can be used only for affirmative answer but thank you can be used both for the affirmative and negative answer:

1.Are you quite comfortable here? (An enquiry)
Yes, thank you. / No, I would like another one.

NOT: Yes, please.(It is not an offer but enquiry)

2.Would you like another cup of coffee? (An offer)
Yes, please. (NOT: Yes, thank you)
No, thanks./   No, thank you. (NOT: No, please)

[ S. KALA : Will you please resign and give me the way?
Paneer: Yes, please.  As you like it. (Past)
Paneer: No, thank you. (Present) All is well that ends well.]

A LITTLE about Messing and Fussing

Today’s English
February 8th, 2017

The two words “mess" and “fuss" can be frequently used in our daily life in most of the situations.

If your hair,  dress,  or place or somebody’s is dirty and untidy, you can use the phrase “such a mess"

1.Why is your hair / dress such a mess today? (Dirty and untidy)

2.O my god! I have never seen your home with such a mess today?

Similarly to “make a mess of” something is “to spoil something” or act badly.

1.Talking unnecessary matters, he made a mess of the meeting. (Spoiled)

2.How was your exam yesterday? Ask no more. I really made a mess of it. (Performed badly)

If you find someone to behave in a rude or annoying way or argue with you unnecessarily, you can use the expression “ Don’t mess with me".

1.Don’t mess with your higher officials. Then you have to pay for it.

2.Nandhini! How dare you mess your teacher like this!

Like mess, the word fuss also carries a negative meaning. If somebody expresses too much of feelings, anger, excitement, arguments on trivial matters, it is said, they make much fuss on it.

1.I have never seen such a fuss. Can you please keep quiet?

2.Please stop fussing. I’m not at all interested in that.

You know, Shakespeare has staged a complete drama on fuss (=ado).   Yes, it is “Much Ado About Nothing" which I still remember for the following lines in which Beatrice is fussing over why she wants to remain unmarried:

“He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him.”

Don’t be always on the run.

Today’s English
February 7th, 2017

Look at the following three sentences:

1.You may please ask Mr. Anand. He’s running the show.

2.He’s always on the run. I don’t know when to talk to him.

3.Hey! Why are you laughing? What’s running through your mind?

You probably catch the meaning of the second and the third, but in two minds with the first. Let’s go ahead with a little more light on it.

To run the show doesn’t mean that you are a theatre manager or a programme organiser here.  It means, he is the leader or responsible person to answer or the one who is in control of all of us. Again when someone is dominating the scene, you can use the same expression.

1.I can’t answer this question. Ask our HOD. He’s running the show. (=He is the responsibility person)

2.It’s not a lady’s club meeting. I don’t know why these women are running the show right from the beginning. (Dominating)

The expression “on the run” conveys “very busy, running from one activity to another"  whereas “running through your mind" carries the meaning “thinking or singing in your mind silently that you can’t stop"

1.He couldn’t resist! The song was running through his mind all day.

2.Can you find out what’s running through my mind now?

3.No one has time to enjoy the sunrise or a full moon. They are always on the run with Facebook, Whatsapp,  browsing and forwarding. (Very Busy)

4.Sorry madam. I couldn’t attend your call. I was on the run. (=Busy with some commitments)

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” – Socrates

It’s not my fault but yours.

Today’s English
February 6th, 2017

Differences: mistake, error, fault, blunder

Mistake arises from your choice that goes wrong. You know why it is wrong. It is your performance based and  can be self-corrected.

1.Why did you choose this course? There is no scope for it. You committed a mistake.(choice)

2.Sorry sir. I won’t commit this mistake again. (Can be self corrected).

Error happens due to lack of knowledge, mismatch, violation of rules, mostly in texts, devices, programmes, experiments and formal expressions.

1.It is a technical error. I can’t solve it. (Lack of knowledge, devices)

2.There are so many grammatical errors in your essay. (Violation of rules)

Fault is used while blaming and making others responsible for the wrong.

1.It’s not my fault but yours.

2.Don’t find fault with her. She is innocent.

Blunder is a serious mistake from carelessness implying lack of knowledge of consequences.

1.You made a blunder. The person you have insulated is our new manager.

2.It’s not a mistake but a blunder. You have to reap the consequences.

You may avoid :
1.It’s a blunder mistake.
2.I will reduce marks for your typing mistakes.
3.I did a mistake yesterday. (Use the verb committed or made)

“To error is human, to forgive divine.” – Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope.

How will you comment on somebody’s performance?

Today’s English
February 5th, 2017

If somebody asks you, “How is my performance?”, you can say that “it is Out of this world.” to mean that it is amazing, not normal one. It doesn’t mean something in a negative way.
1.I have never seen you sing like this. You are really out of this world.
2.Nobody has danced with this much energy and expressions. I’m sure. He’s out of this world now.

If somebody does not perform well, we can use the expression – “your cake is not worth the candle” but not in a way that will demotivate him.

1.You tried at your best. But something is missing. Your cake is not worth the candle today.
2.He burnt his midnight oil to solve the technical issue in the software.  But the result was very poor. He realised, the cake was not worth the candle.

One’s performance will always be good if he remembers what Tennyson unfolds in “Ulysses”:
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will,
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

How to participate in group discussion?

Life and Employability Skills
M Scheme

Experiment 9
Group Discussion

Dos in GD

Be smart, neatly dressed, cheerful and confident

Be assertive and positive in your approach

Initiate the discussion if you understand the topic

Allow others to speak, listen to others with interest

Be brief and talk to the point
Be authentic, accurate, analytical, logical and reliable in your statement

Take the chance to conclude or summarize the points discussed at the end

Be polite and keep eye contact throughout the GD

Don’ts in GD
•Don’t be emotional and nervous in your expressions

•Don’t interrupt others while they are presenting their points

•Don’t be a mere spectator but a participant, trying your best twice or thrice

•Don’t be rude and aggressive even though someone disagrees with you.

•Don’t bluff

•Don’t indulge in unnecessary or side talk with others.

Practice – Group Discussion
Topic: Has the harassment of women at workplace come to an end or not?
Group members: 8
Duration : 8 minutes

Sowmiya: Hi friends, today our topic for discussion is whether the harassment of women at workplace has ceased or not? Let me first initiate the topic and define the issue on hand.  We all know, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 came into force on December 9th, 2013. It is a significant step by the government in response to the nation-wide protest against Delhi Gang Rape 2012.

Sanjay: You are right Miss.Sowmiya.  The question now is why the harassment still persists, though severe punishments and penalties are included in the Act. 

Kirutika: Excuse me, I’m very sorry to disagree with what our friend Mr. Sanjay says. What do you mean by severe punishment? For a man committing such an offence, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, Section 354 prescribes one to three years imprisonment and/or a fine. Is that all you mean as a severe punishment?

Nandini: Of course, Kiritika is right. Only a severe punishment can put a full stop to this issue.  You know, in Afghanistan, a culprit indulged in rape is shot dead within four days of the crime and in Saudi Arabia, he is stoned to death in public.

Ganesh: hello friends, lend me your ears, please. Harassment means not only rape but also , as the Act says, a demand or request for sexual favours or even showing the pornography to working women.  Above all, Indian laws maintain respect for Life. That’s why, only in extreme cases, the committed is sentenced to death punishment.

Vidhya: It’s ok Mr.Ganesh. But the harassment act 2013 asks the woman to give her complaint in writing within three months from the date of incident. You know very well, neither the woman nor her parents would come forward and put her future life or family heritage at risk.

Gayathri: Yes Vidhya. It’s one the reasons why men take advantage of that.

John: Yes, I also agree with our friend Miss. Gayathri. The rate of harassment of women has hiked even after this Act(2013). All over India, 34000 rapes have been reported in 2014 and 36735 in 2015. It’s  a big number, isn’t it?

Kirutika: There is another reason Mr.John.  Many aggrieved women are  still not aware of the laws meant for them.

Sowmiya: It’s true. The implementation of this Act is also questionable.

Vidhya: I too feel the same.  Many industries have paid no attention to this Act.  You know, friends, according to a FICCI-EY November 2015 report, 36% of Indian companies and 25% among MNCs are not compliant with the Sexual Harassment Act, 2013

Sowmiya: Ok friends, it is time to end up our discussion. On behalf of all, let me summarize the points we discussed so far. The reports say, the harassment of women is still on the go. We feel that severe punishments coupled with awareness of legal provisions may solve the issue gradually. I thank you all for listening to me and for your active participation. Thank you very much.

Have you ever dressed to kill?

Today’s English
February 4th, 2017

The following expression that I would like to share with you now can be used when you see someone dressed well and looking smart.  The expression “dressed to kill" is mostly used to admire a lady who has dressed fashionably to attract others.
1.Today is our college annual day and you can see all girls dressed to kill.
2.You are dressed to kill me today. (=you look extremely smart today)

Another phrase “look like a million dollars” also has the same meaning “you look so good and smart" and it can be used for both genders of any age.

1.Hi Preethi, you look like a million dollars today.
2.How is this dress for me? Vow! You really look like a million dollars.

Both on Facebook and Whatsapp, ladies dressed to kill get thousands of likes, don’t they? Shakespeare’s Cleopatra purposely dressed to kill Antony. You will agree with me when you read his own words:
“Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety:” –( Antony and Cleopatra)

Would you like to make a gentleman’s agreement?

Today’s English
February 3rd, 2017

Your friend or relative asks you for 10000 rupees and promises to return in a couple of days. Will you trust his words or ask for his signature? There are certain agreements which are neither written nor signed but understood out of trust.  Such an agreement is known as “a gentleman’s agreement.”

1.I made only a gentleman’s agreement with him as I like no formalities.

2.Members shouldn’t share irrelevant postings in a specific whatsapp group. Of course, it’s a gentleman’s agreement.

But you can’t make gentleman’s agreement with anyone who has no soul.  There are certain situations in which only written proof of something will cover you like an umbrella.  Then get everything “ in black and white".

1.He can’t cheat me. I have the contract in black and white. (=In writing properly signed as a proof)

2.Let me see the G.O. I won’t believe it if it is not in black and white.

( I’m sure, our group members are highly educated and they won’t indulge in unwanted postings. It’s a gentleman’s agreement, isn’t it?)

Have you ever thanked your lucky stars?

Today’s English
February 2nd, 2017

If you escape from an accident or any other misfortune, you can say, “thanks to my lucky stars".  The same phrase can be used when you want to be grateful for something or somebody you are having such as a govt job, possessive wife, and beautiful kids.

1.He thanked his lucky stars for his placement in a multinational company.

2.Just a few minutes before the fire accident, we were only there. Thanks to our lucky stars.

3.I got a nice guide for doing my PhD. Thanks to my lucky stars.

There are possibilities that you may find something or somebody very difficult to deal with.  Then you will have to consider them as “a headache" or “a bitter pill to swallow"

1.Whatever I say, my guide shows a red signal. He is really a bitter pill to swallow.

2.She is really a headache to me and I don’t know how to stay away from her.

3.Instead of teaching, I am doing all clerical work in my college.  You know, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

( Is your spouse a bitter pill or a blessing in disguise?)