Wednesday, 31 May 2017

Go for Alternative English!

Today’s English
June 1st, 2017

History repeats itself! But you should not. What happened happens now. What happens now will happen again. Don’t you repeat drinking, eating the same food, going to the same place by the same vehicle on the same road? Who doesn't  repeat the same mistake they already committed and vowed not to repeat? Do you speak the same word to the same person in the same situation after battling for the new and feel ashamed of the impotent vocabulary? Go for avant-garde English expressions to express the same ideas. For, creativity is born out of burning the carbon copy.

1. Normal: Have you completed the work?

Alternatives:
A. Be done with it? (Informal)
B. Haven’t you finished it off yet?
C. Is that all over?
D. When will you end up with this?
E. Don’t you wind up the work yet?
F. When will your work come to an end?
G. Is your work still on the go?
H. Have you got a lot to get through?

2. Normal: He died recently.

Alternatives:
A. He passed away not long ago.
B. He expired lately.
C. He kicked the bucket recently.
D. He breathed his last few days ago.
E. He is no more now.
F. He met his death recently.
G. He lost his life a couple of days before.
H. He went to his resting place a short while ago.
I. He bit the dust the other day. (Bit -past form of bite)
J. He is in the heaven now / he reached the heaven now.
K. He soul rests in peace now.
L. He went the other world a short time ago.

3. Normal : Do you like music?

Alternatives:
A. Are you interested in music?
B. Are you fond of music?
C. Do you love music?
D. Would you be keen on listening to songs?
E. I think, you adore music very much.
F. Do you look on music with favour?
G. Do you enjoy music?
H. Do you have a taste for jazz?
I. Would you like to take pleasure in album?
J. Do you have a passion for music?
K. Have you relished classical tunes?

"One should always look for a possible alternative, and provide against it.
-“Sherlock Holmes “Arthur Conan Doyle

To unearth more, visit my blog : www.spokenenglishabcd.blogspot.com

Make your speech colourful in English!

Today’s English
May 31st, 2017

1. Black.  -  Be in the black (be successful/profitable, especially in business)

A. How is your business going on? It’s always in the black.
B. I’m sure, this project will be in the black.

2. White – as white as a sheet (becoming pale due to fear, shock or illness)

A. Just two days fever made him as white as a sheet.
B. What’s wrong with you? Why are you as white as a sheet?

3. Blue – clear blue water (a complete difference/separation between )

A. There is clear blue water between what you mean and what I say. (Difference)
B. Are they couples? Yes, but there is clear blue water between them. (Separation)

4. Red – roll out the red carpet for someone (to give a guest special treatment)

A. Director is visiting our college next week. Let’s roll out the red carpet for him.
B. Wherever the minister went, people rolled out the red carpet for him.

5. Green – go green on somebody (to get angry at someone)

A. Why do you go green on me?
B. His very presence makes me go green on him.

6. Yellow – yellow brick road (a path believed to lead to success)

A. Study this course and it will prove to be a yellow brick road.
B. Getting into this job will take you to the yellow brick road.

7. Brown – to brown-nose somebody (to please a person in authority in a way that others may not like)

A. I never brown-nose my HOD.
B. Stop brown-nosing me! Work sincerely and you will be in my good book.

8. Violet – a shrinking violet (a very shy person)
A. Don’t be a shrinking violet when you have to express your views.
B. She is a shrinking violet that’s what I like in her most.

9. To be colourless= to be without a personality

A. I don’t like him. He's dull and colourless.
B. A person who is colourless cannot be suitable for this job.

10. To show one’s true colours = to reveal one’s true nature.
A. His contribution to donation showed his true colours.
B. She behaved as if she knows everything. But her very speech showed her true colours.

“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most.
- John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice



Tuesday, 30 May 2017

I’m fond of using new words in English. And you?

Today’s English
May 30th, 2017

As long as human beings evolve and develop, the language spoken by them will also grow up bigger and bigger finding the entry of hundreds of new words regularly.  Oxford English dictionary is regularly updated four times a year.  The following words include some new words recently entered into English usage.

1. New word: 420 (noun)

Meaning: cannabis or the act of smoking cannabis(a drug made from dried leaves and flowers giving intoxication. )

Why 420? : April 20th is abbreviated in the US as 4/20.  This is a special day for celebrating the smoking of cannabis.  They also wish each other- "Happy 420! "

Examples:
A. Have you ever tried 420?
B. This is a 420-friendly hotel and we can stay here.

2. New word : Anonymouse

Meaning: one who gives information anonymously, often being afraid of its consequences.

Examples:
A. I think, he is the suspected anonymouse.
B. At last, they found out the anonymouse and beat him black and blue for spreading rumours.

3. New word: applepick

Meaning: to steal someone’s apple iPhone or iPad.

Examples:
A. Take care of your iPhone. It may be applepicked.
B. Everyone loves to own iPhone but applepick is an issue of big concern.

4. New word: black swan

   Meaning: an extremely rare and unexpected event, often causing much damage and being remarkable in history.

Examples:
A. Terrorist attack on the twin towers of America is really a black swan.
B. People can never forget the Indian black swan, the 2004 tsunami.

5. New word: Bromance

Meaning: a close but non-sexual relationship between two men. It’s a mixture of two words - brother+romance

Examples:
A. Everyone in this college knows about their bromance.
B. You can always find him with karthick. Theirs is such a great bromance!

(Friend 1: Do you carry 420 during your journey?

Friend 2: no. I keep just 100 rupees with me whenever I travel.

Friend1: ………….?!)

Sunday, 28 May 2017

Have you ever paid an arm and a leg?

Today’s English
May 29th, 2017

You can pay somebody money. But can you pay an arm and a leg? Yes, you can.  The English expression “pay an arm and a leg" simply means “spending a lot of money for something."  Similarly “I paid through the nose” also refers to spending too much of money.

1.Thilagavathi paid an arm and a leg to complete her PhD.
2.I’m afraid, I have to pay an arm and a leg for my daughter’s marriage.

If you spend a little time regularly to improve yourself each day, it will produce good results one day. In English, it is said that it "pays dividends" for you.

1.I paid 30 minutes a day to improve my English and it paid dividends at the time of interview.
2.I used to play regularly on my school days and it has paid dividends now. I’m rarely sick.

But beware of the expression “pay your last respect to somebody” that means you attended somebody’s funeral.”

1.I paid my last respect to him last year.
2.He is such a sincere manager. Let’s pay our last respect without fail.

During freedom struggle, many great leaders died for the freedom of India. If anybody dies for a noble reason, in English, “to pay the ultimate price” expression is used.

1.She paid the ultimate price while saving her two children from the accident.
2.Every soldier has to get ready to pay the ultimate price for the sake of his nation.

Remember that in English “pay for something you have done” means “you have to suffer or undergo a punishment for the wrongs you have done”

(Lady : why are you following me up to my house?

Man: sorry.

Lady: stop giving me a missed call from various numbers and troubling me.

Man: sorry.

Lady: why do you send unwanted messages to me?

Man : sorry.

Lady. You have to pay for all these things. Then only I’ll feel ok.

Man: Tell me how much I should pay? In cash, by card or through paytm?

Lady: …………..?!)

Saturday, 27 May 2017

Do you know me and my family members?

Today’s English
May 28th, 2017

Brevity is the soul of wit. This is Shakespeare’s finding. Why should we waste more words while we can be economical with a single word?  This is true with one word substitutes.  Instead of saying that he always uses others' words and ideas as if they were his own, you can say that he is a plagiarist.  It’s play time. Try whether you can identify me and my Kith and kin?

1.My age is more than 100 years.  Who am I?

2.I killed my own mother. Who am I?

3.My father always thinks that a particular type of behaviour is correct and very important. He also expects others to behave in the same way. Who is my father?

4.My sister lives with more than one husband at the same time. Who is she?

5.My uncle never goes to TASMAC. He never drinks alcohol. Who is he?

6.My brother has a mental illness. Due to that he has an uncontrollable desire to steal things.  Who is he?

7.My brother-in-law misuses his power and gives unfair advantages to his friends and relatives. For example, he has given jobs to his undeserving relatives. Who is he?

8.My cousin dislikes learning, knowledge, reasoning, argument and discussion. Who is he?

9.My friend does not like literature, art and music. Who is he?

10. My grandson often cuts classes and doesn’t go to school. Who is he?

Answers:
1.Centenarian
2.Matricide
3.Stickler
4.Polyandry
5.Teetotaller
6.Kleptomaniac
7.Nepotist
8.Misologist
9.Philistine
10. Truant

Do you use greengrocer's apostrophe?

Today’s English
May 27th, 2017

The incorrect use of apostrophe is known as greengrocer’s apostrophe since mostly illiterate sellers like grocers used to employ apostrophe wrongly in their name board or speech. An apostrophe is generally used for two reasons: to show possession (a girl's bag) and to point out omission of letter(s) or numbers– doesn’t (o is omitted).  The following guidelines will be helpful to avoid errors in the use of apostrophe especially in written English.

Rule 1
“for a singular noun, use apostrophe( ' ) + s

1. We have to obey our principal’s order.
2. My father’s friend gave me this gift.

Rule 2
“for a plural noun ending with “s", use only apostrophe( ' ) without “s".

1. Girls' safety is of primary concern here.
2. You are gonna see many teachers' retirement in the year 2019.

Rule 3
“for a plural noun not ending in “s", use apostrophe( ' ) + s

1. She wants her daughter to study only in women’s college.
2. Men’s apparel is a bit cheaper than children’s one.

Rule 4
“If a person’s name ends in “s", use apostrophe( ' ) + s

1. All children would love to read Dickens's novels.
2. Have you read Edward Thomas’s poetry?

Rule 5
“If a person’s name ends with “s" and has double “s" sound, use only apostrophe( ' ) without “s".

1. Jesus' sermon on the mount has as much as 36 interpretations. (Don’t say Jesus’s)
2. Zipporah is Moses' wife. (Don’t say Moses's)

Rule 6
When you don’t mention a living being, use “of" instead of apostrophe + s

1. I have no words to describe the beauty of the village. (Don’t say village’s beauty)
2. Delhi is the capital of India. (Don’t say India’s capital)
3. Measure the length of the scale. (Not scale's length.)

Rule 7
Avoid continuous apostrophe and use “of".

1. She is the daughter of my manager’s sister. (Not manager’s sister’s daughter)
2. I went to the marriage of the sister of my friend’s colleague. (Don’t say my friend’s colleague’s sister’s marriage.)

Rule 8
Use apostrophe while omitting numbers and letters
1. He's my friend. He's a bike.(He’s = He is, he has)
2. He'd come tomorrow. He'd a bitter experience. (He'd = He would, he had)
3. It happened in the year '96. (= 1996)

Rule 9
Don’t use apostrophe in the plural form of years and abbreviations

1. In the 1700s, many innovations led to industrial revolution. (Not 1700's)
2. In 2020s, India will become economically more powerful nation. (Not 2020's)
3. Many MPs live in this area.

(Interviewer: If  Vimal's colleague’s uncle’s sister’s mother’s brother-in-law's father is your uncle, what is your relationship with Vimal?
Candidate: ……………?!)


Thursday, 25 May 2017

Would you like to die with your boots on?

Today’s English
May 26th, 2017

You may not wear any boots but your English can do.  Boots are a symbol of duty, majesty and service to one’s nation.  This may be the reason why it has got its entry into a lot of English expressions. Some interesting expressions with boots are given below with examples:

Have you seen some people to work somewhere even after retirement? Such people will die with their boots on, i.e. while they are at service/working.

1.Even at this old age, he goes to work. I’m sure, he will die with his boots on.
2.I would never like to die with my boots on. (=I will never work after retirement.)

If you maintain good health without any sickness or injury for the most part of your life, it means that you are “as tough as old boots.” This phrase also refers to the stubbornness of a person. You can use it even to refer to hard food that cannot be chewed.

1.Our forefathers were as tough as old boots. (=They were rarely ill.)
2.She is as tough as old boots. You cannot change her mind. (= she is so stubborn.)
3.Chappathi served in the hostel was as tough as old boots.

If a sportsman stops playing and retires, it is said that he “hangs up his boots.”
1.He officially announced that he is going to hang up his boots with this match.
2.Many world champions like Ric Flair and Justin Henin declared to hang up their boots but soon returned to sports to take up their boots again.

If a person says something to please another person in order to get some personal advantages, it is expressed through “to lick someone’s boots.” (use it with caution only to cut jokes in informal situation)
1.I will never lick his boots for my promotion.
2.You are a great genius madam. Hey! Why do you lick my boots?

Your higher official may retire or leave the station giving a way to you to take up the position he held so for.  This is what “step into someone’s shoes/boots” means.
1.I step into my HOD's shoes next month.
2.She was never afraid of stepping into her father’s shoes to run the business.

(Father : I have been as tough as old boots.

Son: You always speak truth, dad.

Father: My daily work is the source of my good health. I wish I die with my boots on.

Son: As you like it. I’ll even bury you with your shoes, if you wish.

Father: Will you never you step into my shoes?

Son: Never dad. It’s quite unfit for me. My size is only 10.

Father: …………..?!)

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Home – a hell on earth or a heaven on earth?

Today’s English
May 25th, 2017

Though hell is a place of suffering meant for sinners, the word is a frequently used one to express anger, disgust, trouble, complaint, curse, criticism and all such negative feelings.  The English expressions carrying “hell” are in abundance.  Here are a few to enlighten us:

If you feel that something is impossible to happen, you can use "a cold day in the hell".

1.If Ranjani passes the maths exam, it will be a cold day in the hell.
2.I’ve never seen him come on time.  Suppose it happens, it will be a cold day in hell.

You can call any place or  experience that you don’t like as “a living hell” or “helll on earth”.

1.How is your hostel? It’s really a hell on earth.
2.Even a home is a living hell if you always quarrel with your wife.

When you give somebody a tough time especially in games or play in an aggressive manner for a duration of time, it is expressed as “forty minutes of hell”.

1.They gave us forty minutes of hell and at last we won the match.
2.The little boy gave me forty minutes of hell and it was difficult for me to change his mind.

From hell to breakfast is another beautiful expression that means “everywhere” and “in all places".

1.I searched for my bike key from hell to breakfast but couldn’t find it.
2.We went from hell to breakfast but no rental house was available that day.

If somebody gives you a trouble, you can say –“don’t play hell with me!”

1.Don’t play hell with my class. Keep quiet or get out!
2.He often played hell with her and she left the town.

(Friend 1 : How was the interview?
Friend 2: They gave me forty minutes of hell.
Friend 1: You mean, all questions were tough?
Friend 2: yes. They played hell with me.
Friend 1: How was the interview place?
Friend 2: it was a hell on earth.
Friend 1: will you get the job?
Friend 2: if I get it, it will be a cold day in the hell.
Friend 1: What the hell are you talking? I will throw you into hell if you say hell once more.
Friend 2: …………….?!)

Speak Shakespeare’s English

Today’s English
May 24th, 2017

A lot of English expressions have been Shakespeare’s gift to English language.  Many of them have become a part of day-to-day English and we scarcely recognise them as Shakespeare's.   I’ve already introduced some of them on April 12th.  Let’s try a few more today:

1.A fool’s paradise

Meaning: to be in a state of happiness arising from false hope

From : Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 4

Examples:
A.Don’t be in a fool’s paradise by thinking that your son’s job will end up your woes.
B.Demonetization didn’t solve black money issue and proved that we just lived in a fool’s paradise.

2.A foregone conclusion

Meaning: a result that is well-known and obvious to all before it is officially announced

Source: Othello, Act III, Scene 3

Examples:
A.It’s a foregone conclusion that he will secure centum maths.
B.The election result is a foregone conclusion and his party will certainly win.

3.The be-all and end-all of something

Meaning: the most important part, everything that matters

Source: Macbeth, Act I, Scene 7

Examples:
A.She is the be-all and end-all of my life. (=she is the most important part of my life.)
B.This is my dream project -the be-all and end-all of my career.(=it’s everything that matters to me.)

3.It’s all Greek to me!
Meaning: I can’t understand it.
Source: Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene 2

Examples:
A.He explained me in detail about its mechanism. But it’s all Greek to me.
B.Do you understand what I say? Sorry. It’s all Greek to me.

4.Fair play
Meaning: done honestly and fairly as per the rules or procedure
Source: The Tempest, Act V, Scene 1
Examples:
A.The principal/HOD should ensure fair play while assigning works to the staff members.
B.Whatever is the game, she always makes a fair play and wins.

(Girl:: How much do you love me?

Boy: You are the be-all and end-all of my life.

Girl: will you get a govt job soon as my dad said?

Boy: it’s a foregone conclusion.

Girl: My friends say, I live in a fool’s paradise and I should not believe you.

Boy: I may be sportive in nature but what I do in your case is a fair play.
Girl: Will you come with me in all my troubles?

Boy: I will be with you like All out and Goodnight and keep all your mosquitos away.

Girl: it’s all Greek to me. What I understand is only your love.)

Monday, 22 May 2017

Tempting Errors and the Right Path

Today’s English
May 23rd, 2017

When we are fond of certain words, we are likely to get tempted and go astray in our speech and writing. A Little awareness and clarification will put us on the right track again. Here are few examples:

1.Incorrect: I was sitting on the armchair. Students were sitting on the dual desk.
Correct: I was sitting in the armchair.  Students were sitting at the dual desk.

(the sitting object  before you. = at;   beneath you= on;  around you covering you = in.  You sit at desk, on chair, on stool, on the table, on the floor, on the bike  but in a car, in a bus, in an office, in a place, in an armchair, in a room)

2.Incorrect: Her sari is made from silk.
Correct : Her sari is made of silk.
3.Incorrect: This juice is made of regional fruits.
Correct: This juice is made from regional fruits.
( in making something, if the source remains as it is after the process, use “made of", if the original form disappears, use “ made from”, if the place is involved,” made in”, if a person, “made by or made for".  This pen is made in Japan. This car is made by Chinese engineers. This dress is made for celebrities. They are made for each other. The chair is made of wood. The flour is made from wheat.)

4.Incorrect: He didn’t enter my personal affairs.
Correct: He didn’t enter into my personal affairs.
(If a place is involved, use “enter".  In other cases, use “enter into".  He entered her room.  He entered into the minute details of the project.)

5.Incorrect: This dictionary will be useful for my son.
Correct: This dictionary will be useful to my son.
(Don’t forget: useful to somebody but useful for doing something. This book is useful to her. This book is useful for preparing any competitive exam.)

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
-Mahatma Gandhi

Sunday, 21 May 2017

Indian English expressions – part 2

Today’s English
May 22nd, 2017

This is the continuation of Indian English posted on May 11th, 2017.  The first one in each of the following is Indian usage:

6.I did my graduation in history – I graduated in history.
Graduation generally refers to the special ceremony on which students dress up in gown and wear a cap to collect their degree certificates. But Indians use the term to refer to their three years study.  So “I did my graduation” is typically Indian and is scarcely heard in other countries.

Correct usage:
1.I took all my friends to my graduation.
2.I graduated from Bharathiar University in English.
3.He is an undergraduate in Commerce/ he is a post graduate./ he is a graduate.
4.She did/took/completed a degree in Computer Science.
5.He earned /received/held/ was awarded a bachelor’s /master's degree/a PhD in Information Technology.

Similarly Indians say “he passed out of a school or college” that is also considered to be incorrect because the phrase “pass out" means “to become unconscious”. Passed out students would therefore refer to those students who became unconscious. In stead of passed out, we may try “successful /qualified/graduated students or diploma holders/degree holders.

7.Myself Ramya from Coimbatore– I’m Ramya from Coimbatore
Indians use myself to introduce themselves though the usage is entirely wrong. Myself is a reflexive pronoun that is used to emphasise the speaker’s action or how he is affected by it. It is not equal to I.

Correct usage:
A.I myself prepared this breakfast.
B.I asked myself why I did this.
C.Meera and I went there. (Not: Meera and myself went there.)

8.Where is your Mrs working? – where is your spouse/wife/better half /other half working?
Mrs is a title used before a married woman and it is the abbreviation of mistress. It’s not equal to wife. But the words “missis” and “missus” are English words which are now considered to be old-fashioned. (Where is your missis working?)  Missus is at present an informal term in British English referring to one’s girlfriend. (Where is your missus studying? = where is your girlfriend studying.)

9.Few minutes back = few minutes ago/ few minutes before/ few minutes earlier

Back is not synonymous with “ago". It’s a typical Indian usage but an incorrect one. The alternatives are given above. We use back to refer to a particular time in the past as follows:

The religious practice dates back to 17th century. (=since a particular time)
Back in the day, we owned a jewellery shop in Coimbatore. (=sometimes in the past)

10.Cousin-brother = a female cousin

Cousin-brother and cousin sister are typical Indian usages which are now accepted terms and have got an entry in Cambridge Dictionary. In India, there is a problem in using term “cousin" that refers to the son or daughter of your aunt who may be your father’s sister or mother’s sister. The daughter of your father’s sister can be loved and married but the daughter of mother’s sister can’t be. If you just use the standard term “cousin", the listener may not know whether it’s the daughter of father’s sister or mother’s sister. But the term “cousin sister" makes it clear that it’s the daughter of your mother's sister and you should treat her strictly as your sister.

“India shaped my mind, anchored my identity, influenced my beliefs, and made me who I am. ... India matters to me and I would like to matter to India.”
-Shashi Tharoor

Have you ever been in a catch-22 situation?

Today’s English
May 21st, 2017

A Catch-22 situation refers to a situation in which you cannot escape from the two unpleasant choices left for you. You need to do the first before doing the second and you cannot do the first without doing the second.  For example, if you want to do B.Ed. through correspondence course, you should be a teacher working at a school with minimum two years of experience but to start to work as a teacher, you need B.Ed. Similarly to get a job in some companies, you need minimum two years of working experience but to gain experience, you need to get a job first.  This is what we say “a catch-22 situation”.

Why the name catch-22? Catch-22 is actually a U.S. novel written by Joseph Heller published in 1961 and filmed in 1970.  The hero in this novel is a air force pilot during World War II. He dislikes war and tries at his best to avoid flying. This comic situation in the novel has given birth to “catch-22 “ expression.

1. Girl: My God! My mobile balance is zero. To make a recharge, I should call him now. To make a call, I need balance. It’s really a catch-22 situation.
2. Driving licence can be used as an address proof. But to get driving licence, you need an address proof. It’s a catch-22 situation.

If you are left with two unpleasant choices and you don’t like both, you can try the English expression – between the devil and the deep blue sea.
1. I received a call letter only from these two worthless companies. I’m now jus between the devil and the deep blue sea.
2. Gotta admission in IIT? No, only these colleges have called me. I’m in between the devil and the deep blue sea.
3. How is your married life? I'm in between the devil and the deep blue sea.

If you ever choose the best one among the others of less importance and value, then, it means that you have made a cherry-pick.

1. How is my mobile? It’s really a cherry-pick.
2. All blue chip companies generally cherry-pick at the time of campus interview. (=choose only the best candidates)
3. He has always been a cherry-picker while shopping.

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”
- Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Friday, 19 May 2017

Confusions with As and Like ?

Today’s English
May 20th, 2017

I have seen many people to use as and like interchangeably assuming that both have the same meaning.  But they are not.

1.Like = similar to, not really, as = actually is, (often used to describe somebody’s function, job)
He worked like a teacher. (His work was similar to that of a teacher, but he is not actually a teacher)
He behaved like a manager. (He is not really a manager)
He worked as a teacher. (= He was a teacher)
He worked as a manager in TVS.( =He was a manager)
As a father, I have done my duty. (=He is the father)
I want to help you like a father. (= He is not really the father)

2.When we make a comparison of two things or persons, we generally use “like", not “as”
Like Vijay, Ajith is a mass hero.
Like Chennai, Coimbatore is a big city. (Not: as Chennai, Coimbatore is a big city.)

3.Like is used in the case of appearance and behavior but as is used to refer to function.
Vow! You look like a celebrity in this dress. (Appearance)
He worked sincerely as his father did. (Function)

4.Both as and like can be used to give examples. In such cases, as is used as “such as"
I don’t like sentimental TV serials like Vani Rani.
Children are fond of watching horror movies such as Kanchana and Aranmanai.

5.As means really but as if means not really
He completed his work as a project manager. (He is the project manager)
He behaved as if he is the project manager. (He is not the project manager)

Boy(drunken): Hey!  Who is this fellow? He is behaving like your father.

Girl: My God! He is really my father.

Boy: who is this  funny lady? She is making such a blah, blah, blah as if she is your mother.

Girl: What the hell you are talking! She is my mother.

Boy: hey! who is this guy coming with manacle as though he is a police and gonna arrest me?

Girl: You are doomed! He’s my brother working as a sub inspector.

Boy: ………….?!

Thursday, 18 May 2017

Have you ever broken your back?

Today’s English
May 19th, 2017

If you have a hardworking friend or colleague who is sweating a lot to get through a difficult exam or a research work, you can try the expression  “to break your back" that means “to work extremely hard to achieve something.”

1. To get through the IAS exam, everyone has to break his back.
2. Thivya broke her back to clear the TRB exam.
3. How is your project going on? I’m breaking my back!

You will definitely find some people in your working place to be useless, unimportant or playing a very little role though they get equal pay. If you remove such people, no loss will be felt in your workplace.  You know, they are called as “a cog in the machine" or “dead wood" in English. (They never break their back). If you feel that your presence is of less importance in your company, and you are not recognized enough, you then are a cog in the machine. (=lack of recognition)

1. After becoming the manager, she cleared all the dead wood from her company.
2. I no longer wants to be a cog in the machine. So I’m thinking of resigning my job.

After enjoying a vacation or long period of absence from work, you may feel a bit of reluctance to return to work. Many people humorously refer to this occasion as “back to the salt mines". This expression is said to have emerged from the Russian practice of sending prisoners to work in salt mines as a way of punishing them.

1. Vacation is over this week. Let’s go back to the salt mines.
2. Did you enjoy your holidays? Yea. But I’m  again back to the salt mines.

( Student : to score more in the weightlifting, what to do sir?

Coach: You should break your back.

Student: ………..?!)

Errors of Addition and omission in English

Today’s English
May 18th, 2017

Many speakers of English, especially Indians omit prepositions where it is necessary and add where there is no need for any prepositions. It’s not at all a problem when you chat on WhatsApp and Facebook but it is a grave mistake in formal reports and all such correspondences. The incorrect and correct expressions are listed below for your ready reference:

Don’t omit prepositions :
1. Incorrect: Go and see who is knocking the door.
Correct: Go and see who is knocking at the door.

2. Incorrect: Don’t ask my mobile.
Correct: Don’t ask for my mobile.

3. Incorrect: He was sick. I wished him to get better.
Correct: He was sick. I wished for him to get better.

4. Incorrect: Think any flower in your mind and tell me.
Correct:  Think of any flower in your mind and tell me.

5. Incorrect: The story reminded me my college days.
Correct:  The story reminded me of my college days.

6. Incorrect: This is the book you asked.
Correct:  This is the book you asked for.

7. Incorrect: What are you looking?
Correct:  What are you looking for / at?

8. Incorrect: I insisted these things in particular.
Correct: I insisted on these things in particular.

9. Incorrect: which chair did you sit?
Correct: which chair did you sit on?

10. Incorrect: This is the shop I told you.
Correct: This is the shop I told you about.


Don’t add prepositions:
1. Incorrect: She answered to my question.
Correct: She answered my question.

2. Incorrect: We entered into the principal’s room.
Correct:  We entered the principal’s room.

3. Incorrect: She closely resembled to her father.
Correct: She closely resembled her father.

4. Incorrect: I asked to him a question.
Correct: I asked him a question.

5. Incorrect: We discussed about the new cinema.
Correct: We discussed the new cinema.

6. Incorrect: We are awaiting for your reply.
Correct: We are awaiting your reply.

7. Incorrect: He told to me that he would resign his job.
Correct: He told me that he would resign his job.

8. Incorrect: See you in the next week.
Correct: See you next week.

9. Incorrect: I met him on last Sunday.
Correct: I met him last Sunday.

10. Incorrect: I’m going to home/abroad.
Correct: I’m going home/abroad.

Remember three things:
1. Those verbs which do not take a preposition take a preposition when used as a noun. (“I discussed the cinema”, but “ I had a discussion about the cinema.”)

2. To emphasize, sometimes object is used in the beginning and in such cases preposition is used at the end. (This is the girl I was looking for.)

3. In time expressions, before last, next, this, that, one and every, no preposition should be used. (He came here last Tuesday.)

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” - Albert Einstein

Tuesday, 16 May 2017

Have you seen walking papers in your life?

Today’s English
May 17th, 2017

What do you mean by walking papers? The letter dismissing somebody from job is referred to as walking papers.

1. He was given his walking papers and sent out of the company.
2. She was least scared of the walking papers given to her.

If you are forced to leave your job, you can say that “you are out on you ear.”
1. He was out on his ear for his incompetence in the company.(=he was dismissed for his incompetence…)
2. If the same fault is repeated, you will be out on your ear. Mind it.

But if a priest has done anything wrong, we don’t say that he is dismissed. We say, he is defrocked.
1. He is a defrocked priest.
2. The priest was defrocked for his immoral activities.

There are many such expressions to refer to dismissal of a person. Why can’t we sample a few more?

1. be fired = be dismissed
He was fired from his job for his poor performance.

2. to give somebody the heave-ho = to issue dismissal order
The manager gave him the heave-ho.

3. to boot out /to kick out
They booted/kicked him out for the misappropriation of funds.

4. to give somebody the bullet,
Give him the bullet if he is insincere.

5. to show someone the door
When his boss showed him the door, he didn’t know what to do next.

“I like to reinvent myself — it’s part of my job.”
- Karl Lagerfeld, a German Artist

How to exhaust an English Word?

Today’s English
May 16th, 2017

Most of us mostly use most of the English words miserly knowingly or unknowingly. Exploitation is good in the case of squeezing an English Word to the last drop.  A book, as you know,  is not only a book for reading but also a weapon when you throw it, a paper weight to arrest your flying bills and forms, a cash bag to carry your currencies, an album to safeguard your photos, its papers being plates and cones for your snacks, etc. Similarly a word can be juiced in multiple ways as follows:

Example word: run

1. Use all its parts of speech wherever possible

He always runs fast. (As a verb)
He is a marathon runner. (As a noun)
He is best remembered for his running commentary (As an adjective)
He challenged me for a run./ We made a run for the bus.(As a noun)

2. Use it in different meanings you didn't try so far

Bahubali-2 made a record-breaking run worldwide. (Run= the performance of a film/drama/serial)

How do you run your family / business / school / company? ( run = manage)

Due to food poison, he had the runs (the runs = diarrhoea)

Our school runs summer courses for kids.(Run =organise)

All rivers in Tamil Nadu ran dry due to lack of rain fall.(Run =become)

Even at the age of 80, he wanted to run for the chief minister. (Run =To compete as a candidate in election)

3. Use it as a phrasal verb
Run after = try to have a romantic relationship with someone)
Why do you run after her in vain?

Run on = to continue longer than necessary
I don’t like staff meeting to run on for several hours.

Run through /run over = read something quickly
She ran through the circular once again.

Run down = make someone very tired / ill
Continuous classes ran me down.

4. Try idioms connected with that word

To have something up and running = to have it fully and correctly
Don’t forget to have our website up and running.


To run a light = Not stopping at red traffic light
He was fined for running a light.

Run a risk/run risks= to put yourself in a situation in which something bad may happen to you.
I don’t want to run a risk of starting this business.

To run for the roses = to be ready for a tough challenge
The final started and we all were ready to run for the roses.

To run out of steam = to be out of energy or motivation
I felt as if I had run out of steam.

5. Use it as a present participle if it is a verb
After running for a long distance, he fell flat.

6. Use it in  a rhetorical question to improve your persuasive speaking skill

Who can’t run such a business? (=everyone can run such a business)

Where can she run away from me? (Implied meaning: She cannot run away from me)

7. Use it as a figurative term to carry a non-literal meaning
Why do you run away from yourself to find yourself?
Run your own race to find your Destiny.
How fast you run in life doesn’t matter if you run on the wrong path.

Apart from the above ones, you can try a word in different tense forms in stead of using the same tense form or  the same kind of sentence pattern.  The more you utilise a word, the more you build up your fluency.

“Now bid me run,
And I will strive with things impossible.” – (Shakespeare, “Julius Caesar, Act 2, Scene 1. )

Sunday, 14 May 2017

About Most, uppermost, utmost, at most and almost

Today’s English
May 15th, 2017

One of the mostly used terms in English is most. How to use them in day-to-day speech with the utmost care is almost a significant part of spoken English. The uppermost words cited here are illustrated in the following with two examples at most for quick reference.

1.Most or the most?
When you use “most" in superlative degree and in sentences with the meaning of “largest in number and amount", the article the should be used.
Vani Rani is the most favorite TV serial for many ladies in Tamil Nadu.
Who spends the most money in your family?
Who got the most votes?
(Though in informal spoken English the is omitted, it’s not done in superlative, e.g. who got most votes? I spend most time in reading books.  But not "he is most intelligent student")

The article “The” is never used  before when “most" means “more than half" or “al most all".
Most of the students in my class come from rural areas.(= al most all students)
As most of you know, I’m gonna leave for Bangalore next week.

2.Utmost, uttermost or at most?
Utmost is a variant and short form of uttermost.  Both mean greatest. It’s always used as with the utmost care, with the utmost importance and with the utmost sincerity.
I filled in the application with the utmost care. (=with the greatest care)
He worked with the utmost sincerity.
It’s a matter of the utmost importance. Let’s deal with that first.

At most means “not more than”. It can be used as at most or at the most.
Candidates can attend five questions at the most. (= Not more than five questions)
Nowadays many families prefer to have two children at most.

3.Uppermost or upmost?
Upmost is a rarely used variant of uppermost. Both mean “the highest in position” or the greatest importance.
His office is on the uppermost floor.
My son’s admission is uppermost in my mind now. (=it’s of the greatest importance now.)

4.Almost
Almost means “nearly but not exactly or completely”
I’m almost ready. Please wait for few seconds.
The project is almost over. Just the finishing work is going on.
He behaved almost like a joker.

(Ladylove: How will you look after me after marriage?

Lover: with the utmost care.

Ladylove: will you be a faithful husband?

Lover: The most faithful one in the world. Unlike most of the other hubbies.

Ladylove: How many new dresses can I get in a year?

Lover: one on your birthday, one on the wedding anniversary and one on Diwali day – three at most.

Ladylove: whom will you support if any quarrel arises- me or your mother?

Lover: you will be uppermost in my mind.

Ladylove: Is that all true?

Lover: Almost true. You know, I never change my words from one person to another person. )

Saturday, 13 May 2017

Let’s understand the word understand.

Today’s English
May 14th, 2017

1.hidden meaning of the word understand

Psychological experiments have proved that mind functions at between 0 to 40 frequencies. The more the frequency of your mind is (From 20 to 40), the more it will be emotional and the less it will understand what comes to it. The less your mental frequency is (From 0 to 19), the more you will be conscious, peaceful, powerful and the more your mind can understand what comes to it. 

For example, if a poet like T.S. Eliot has written a poem at the low frequency of his mind (8 or 10), the reader has to bend his mind to the same frequency (8 or 10) so that he can understand that poem. If the reader is capable of tuning up his mind below 8 frequency, he will be more conscious and powerful than T.S. Eliot and can understand still better. The same applies to listening to somebody’s speech, reading the books of great philosophers, etc. Stand + under has become “understand” that means stand under the frequency of someone to understand them.

2.The meaning of the word “intuition”

If any instruction, teaching of something, guidance of dos and don'ts comes from outside, it is called tuition.  If God instructs you from inside of you in the form of voice of truth, wisdom and consciousness, that is what the English word “intuition” (in + tuition) means.  Desire followed by temptation or any emotional state of mind often raises a wall against intuition. One who misses external tuition is an idiot outside, one who misses in-tuition is a sinner inside.

3.Of understanding the words mother-in-law and sister-in-law

When you use the hyphenation “-in-law", it means “by justice”, in truth, in fact and actually.  The word “mother-in-law” comes from middle English “modyr in lawe”. The implied meaning is that your mother-in-law is entitled with the same rights and responsibilities of your biological mother through the legal bondage of marriage. (Simply meaning, your mother-in-law is your mother by law). Similarly the term sister-in-law refers to the sister of a person’s wife or husband. It means that wife’s sister should not be taken the other way(?!) but only as a sister. If daughter-in-law takes her mother-in-law as mother, the eternal cat-and-rat enmity will come to an end. If husband looks at sister-in-law as sister,  charms of life and all verbal fun with sister-in-law will come to an end but cultural values will be preserved.

4.Obedience, discipline, loyal, faithful, patriotism = slavery

The term “slave” stands for one who obeys his master, follows whatever the master says, has no freedom of his own and cannot make his own decisions. The state of being a slave is called slavery. If you follow whatever your parents say, without having freedom to make your own decision, is it obedience or slavery?

Oxford dictionary defines the word discipline as “The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.”  When you follow someone’s rules, instruction, order without any question, is it discipline or slavery?

When you are loyal to somebody, you are blindly faithful to them and give your constant support to them whatever they do. If you are faithful to your country and give your constant support to whatever it does, that is patriotism. Government and politicians have exploited these words the most. British colonization is a typical example. In the name of patriotism(love for one’s country), you are recruited in army where you have to obey the rules strictly, obey the order of your higher officials without any question, your questioning ability and freedom will be completely crushed. Is it patriotism or slavery?

Just because you are married to somebody, you have to follow wherever he goes, do whatever he says, cannot take your own decision and cannot do anything without his knowledge or permission. Is it a marriage or bondage? Is a wife a wife or a slave? Beware of these words - obedience, discipline, duty, patriotism, faithfulness and loyalty, which all mean slavery in the personal dictionary of many cunning people.

The following is the interpretation of Osho which, striking your heart, cannot be ignored:

“Obedience has a simplicity. Disobedience needs a little higher order of intelligence. Any idiot can be obedient -- in fact only idiots can be obedient. The person of intelligence is bound to ask, 'Why? Why am I supposed to do this? And unless I know the reasons and the consequences of it, I am not going to be involved in it. 
Obedience teaches you blindness.

Obedience teaches you unintelligence.

Obedience teaches you that “You don’t have any responsibility on your own, just follow the order!” – but the order is to kill people.

The man who bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki – the pilot of the plane – killed within ten minutes more than two hundred thousand people, and he slept perfectly well in the night, with not even a little prick of conscience, that “What have I done?”

The next morning the pilot was asked by the journalists, “How do you feel?”

He said, “There is no question, I am feeling perfectly good that I followed the order.” 

What is there in your belt?

Today’s English
May 13th, 2017

When your friend suggests you something to buy, you might already have it at home. Similarly when your friend talks about his achievement or somebody else’s achievement, you may recall and say that you have already achieved such things. Strangely this idea is expressed in English through the idiom “to have something under your belt.”

1.Why can’t you try these saris? Oh, no! I already have them under my belt. ( = I have already bought such saris.)

2.You say that she has scored centum in  three subjects. But I too had it under my belt during my school days. (= I too made such achievements).

Cost of living is so high especially in cosmopolitan cities.  Sometimes when you have less money in a month, you have to spend them very carefully and economically. This is a typical situation for many middle class families and they can try this expression – “to tighten one’s belt" that means “to spend the available less money very carefully.”

1.Shall we go for shopping this evening? No way. This month I have to tighten my belt.

2.My salary is still not credited. I have to tighten my belt for few days.

You generally say “please, keep quiet!” if you are disturbed by someone's talk.  You say, “shut up your mouth” if you hit the ceiling.  Have you ever tried “belt up” .  It is a bit more rudely saying “shut up".

1.Belt up I say! Will you?

2.The moment he cried “belt up", there remained complete silence.

(Boy : Wanna this mobile?

Girl: No.

Boy:  have you already had this kind of mobile under your belt?

Girl: stupid! I never wear belt.

Boy: Ok. I understand your problem. But you don’t .

Girl: What’s your problem?

Boy: You know, we have only 300 rupees this month. We have to tighten our belt.

Girl: What the hell are you talking! Both of us don’t put on any belt today. How can we tighten our belt?

Boy: You are killing me… Belt up your sweet mouth, will you?)

Thursday, 11 May 2017

Indian English (part -1)

Today’s English
May 11th, 2017

Indians use English in their own way a bit different from native speakers of English. Some words which are typically Indian do not have even an entry in Oxford dictionary.  Let us see few of them with equivalent British/American terms. (The first one in each of the following is Indian usage)

1.Visiting Card – business card
Indians use the term visiting card in stead of business card though the former generally is to carry the name and contact number of the visitor before or after making the visit and the latter is essentially to give a sales person’s name, designation, contact number, along with the details of products and services and company’s contact information.

2.Write the exam – take/sit/appear for/do the exam
(To say “write the exam" is typically Indian which is considered to be incorrect by native speakers of English. )
3.Topper – a high scorer
(Topper is a student who gets the highest results in the exam in India. A high scorer is the equivalent by foreigners. However topper has found an entry into OED marked as Indian English. )

4. Time waste – waste of time, the act of wasting time
(Just reading everything on WhatsApp Facebook is a waste of time. Indians simply say time waste that is considered to be incorrect.)

5.Take leave – to go on leave, to be on leave
She is on leave/she has gone on leave/ she wants to go on leave for two days. Indian usage of “I want to take leave for two days" is incorrect. Take  leave is a British idiom that actually means “to say goodbye".  (I have decided to take leave of my job = to say goodbye to my job). Similarly “to avail yourself of something” means to make use of an opportunity, offer or facility.” I availed myself of two days  leave = I made use of the two days leave. I availed leave is not equal to I went on leave.
(To be continued later…)

Do you know? : The first book written by an Indian in English was Travels of Dean Mahomet, a travel narrative by Sake Dean Mahomet published in England in 1793.

Wednesday, 10 May 2017

A Little About e.g., etc. and i.e.

Today’s English
May 11th, 2017

Some abbreviations which are commonly used in English are given below with full forms, origin,  meaning, usage, rules and guidance to avoid possible errors:
1.e.g.
Full form : exempli gratia
Origin : It’s from Latin language

Meaning: For example

Usage: Now it’s time for you to try some dramas of Shakespeare, e.g. Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello.

Rule/ common error: it must be preceded by a comma and followed by a  dot after each letter.  You should give at least one example after this abbreviation. It may be read as “e.g.” or “for example” though many Indians think that the second one alone is correct.

2.etc.
Full form : et cetera
Origin : It’s from Latin language

Meaning: and so on / and so forth/ and other similar things

Usage: While going to interview, you should take your certificates, resume, call letter, etc.

Rule/ common error: This abbreviation is used to avoid giving a long list of things we want to mention. Don’t use “and” before etc. (Wrong usage: We have a new car, Colour TV, Washing Machine and Fridge, etc.) When you use it in a sentence, it must have a comma before and a dot at the end. It should be read as “et setara” or “it setara” but not as many people wrongly pronounce –“ek cetera”.

3.i.e.
Full form : id est
Origin : It’s from Latin language.

Meaning: that is / that is to say (used to say before explaining what something means)
Usage: Your increment date falls on the first day of  third quarter, I.e. 1st July.

Rule/ common error: In a sentence,  it must be preceded by a comma and followed by a  dot after each letter. It can be read as “eye ee” or “that is" but many people prefer the second one.

Remember: Nobody reads the abbreviations “e.g.” and “i.e"  as exempli gratia and id est though these are what they actually stand for.

Manager : I have to say something to you, just few words, i.e. I…

Typist: What? Why did you stop it sir? Tell me the other  words.

Manager: I’m afraid, you may get angry.

Typist: What kind of words are they? Any clue?

Manager: it may be words, e.g.  evolve, solve, love,  dove and move.

Typist: What is the use of beating about the bush by saying solve, evolve, dove, etc. I’m always for one who is courageous enough!

Manager: This lifts me up a bit.  I wanted to tell you…

Typist: tell me fast. I’m lost.

Manager: I

Typist: hmm.. come on.

Manager: I love…

Typist: finish it fast. You are killing me.

Manager: I love your friend Amudha.

Typist: (pointing to M) hey………..?!(fainting)

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Dictionary as a Second English Teacher

Today’s English
May10th, 2017

The teacher who comes with you throughout your life to clarify your doubts about any word in English is a dictionary, everyone’s second teacher.  Don’t you know how to pronounce a word? Aren't you clear about its spelling?  Wanna try the unknown uses or meanings of a known word? There comes your second English teacher to guide you on your way.

The days we used to keep a standard dictionary on our study table and look for an uncertain word turning several pages patiently alphabetically are gone! Nowadays any online dictionary or its mobile app with just a few strokes on the keyboard finishes it off.

Here are few things about a dictionary you may be interested in:

1. How many words are in English in total? The Second Edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary contains 2,28,132 words in total,  (full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words. To this may be added around 9,500 derivative words included as subentries.)  Webster’s Third New International dictionary includes 5,00,000 words. The number of words will often change in the case of online dictionaries since they are constantly updated with new words.

2. How many English dictionaries are in the world? Amazon.com alone sells more than 2,00,000 different kinds of dictionaries! So the actual number is uncountable!

3. Which is the first dictionary in English language? The first English dictionary was published by Robert Cawdrey in 1604. However Dr. Johnson was the first one to produce a standard modern dictionary on15-04-1755 with 42773 words which are explained with 1,14,000 quotations taken from the works of great writers such as Shakespeare, Milton and Dryden.

4. When you refer to a standard dictionary, words mentioned as archaic, old-fashioned, obsolete, slang and disapproving should not be employed in speech and writing in English.

5. Wanna download an offline dictionary for a ready reference on your mobile? Choose “English Dictionary -offline by vivio” the best mobile dictionary app that works well without internet connection, available on google play.

Do you know how Dr.Johnson defined the word life in his dictionary? His exact definition with 15 meanings is given below:

“LIFE,/. plural //T/fi. [Iipun, to live. Sax.]
1. Union and co-operation of foul with
body. Geneſis.
2. Preſent ſtate. Cowley.
3. Enjoyment, or pcfTeflion of terreflnai
exiſtente. Prior.
4. Blood, the ſuppoſed vehicle of life. Pope.
5. Conduct ; manner of living with reſpect
t to virtue or vice. Pope. .
6. Condition ; manner of living with reſpect
to happineſs and miſery. Dryden.
7. Continuance of our preſent ſtate. Locke.
8. The living form ; reſemblance exactly
copied. Brown.
9. Exact reſemblance. Denham.
10. General ſtate of man. Milan,
11. Common occurrences ; human affairs
; the courſe of things. y^fcjjam.
12. Living perſon. Shakʃpeare.
13. Narrative of a life pafl. Pope. .
14. Spirit ; briflcneſs ; vivacity ; reſolution. Sidney.
15. Animated exiſtence ; animal being. Thomſon.”

Monday, 8 May 2017

Use Apple a little more than “A for Apple”

Today’s English
May 9th, 2017

A child learns English from A for Apple but the same Apple has much more to teach a grown up. Let’s see few of them here:

If two people or two things are entirely different from each other, we say that they are apples and oranges. Both may be great but unique in their own way.

1. What about the meals in these hotels? I don't know how to compare? They are apples and oranges.
2. Whom do you like- Shakespeare or Milton?  I like both and they are like apples and oranges. You cannot compare them.

When you are sure about something, you can use the expression –“as sure as God made little green apples”.

1. Will he join with us for shopping today? Yes, he will. As sure as God made little green apples.
2. I will defeat him in the match as sure as God made little green apples.

Have you heard about apple polishing?  School children used to take apples to the teacher to win her favor so that the teacher would be a bit more gracious to them in awarding marks. This gave birth to the expression to polish the Apple that means to praise someone falsely to get an advantage of it. (flattering)

1. Don’t polish the Apple? Tell me what you want.
2. Do you know why he is polishing the manager’s Apple? Yes, I do. For promotion.

(Fred came rushing in to his Dad. "Dad!" he
puffed,
"is it true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away?"

"That's what they say," said his Dad.

"Well, give me an apple quick ?
I've just broken the doctor's
window!")

Sunday, 7 May 2017

Thanks to Roget who cared our vocabulary

Today’s English
May 8th, 2017

If you wanna avoid repeating same words several times in your speech and writing, you gotta use a thesaurus that will also help you employ apt words relevant to the context.  You know, the word thesaurus comes from a Greek word “thesauros” meaning “treasure”.   It’s really a treasury of words – a reference book listing words with similar meaning.  The most widely used thesaurus in the world is Roget's Thesaurus. Roget is a British doctor who resigned his profession for publishing the world’s first thesaurus in 1852 with 15000 words. You can also go for oxford thesaurus, Webster’s thesaurus or Collins thesaurus if you feel that thesaurus.com has many irrelevant words. The following may give you an idea of using thesaurus:

1. Creative –  innovative, inventive, experimental, original,  expressive, productive, talented, resourceful, visionary, gifted, ingenious, quick-witted, inspired.
Our students are so creative. They have the highly inventive mind.  This is because of the experimental teaching methods by our teachers. Their projects are original and stand testimonies of the expressive power of their profound analytical study. (And so on)

2. Angry – furious, hit the ceiling, boil with anger, furious, provoked, become enraged, hot-tempered, outraged, wrathful, in a frenzy, infuriated, wild, hot under the collar, up in arms, steamed up, ratty, eggy, hot, stormy, fiery, lose one’s temper, go bananas, hit the roof and so on.
If you want to say that somebody is angry with you, how many alternatives are supplied by thesaurus!
Why do you boil with anger? / he is up in arms now./ when you are steamed up, you don’t think rationally./ she lost her temper at his silly behavior.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
- Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”

Saturday, 6 May 2017

Differences: see, look and watch

Today’s English
May 7th, 2017

How we use our eyes in different ways has given birth to these three verbs -see, look and watch.  Some people use them interchangeably but each one is different both in meaning and usage.

See:
When you are going on your way, you may happen to see something. When you open your windows or doors, you may occasionally see some incidents.  Seeing happens occasionally, by chance, accidentally and unintentionally. You are not going for it but it comes to your sight.

1.I saw an old man on the way struggling to cross the road.
2.When I went to the library, I saw your sister with a boy.
3.Have you seen him before anywhere?
(You cannot use “look" in these places.)

Look:
When you look at something, you look at carefully, intentionally with a reason to know something.  When you see, you are not involved into it.  When you look at, a kind of involvement is there. You may look at a picture for a long time carried away by its beauty or for a deeper understanding of it.

1.Please look at these photos. I took them yesterday.
2.Look here! You should not send me any message hereafter.
3.We were looking at each other for a long time and didn’t know what to speak.

Watch:
When something is moving or changing from moment to moment, looking is not possible. Watching is needed. You watch something with full attention because it is continuously moving, changing or unexpected things may happen. You can look at a picture, but you have to watch a video or TV programme.  What does a watchman do? He watches the entire place, all people moving here and there,  with full attention to keep the place secured.  Thus intensity and involvement are more in watching than in looking.

1.I watched that programme and got shocked to see the madness of people.
2.You can watch this video on YouTube.
3.Keep a watch on her! Her movements are abnormal.

Remember: seeing is casual and by chance; looking is with attention and intentions; watching is with more alertness especially on moving or changing ones.

“For some must watch, while some must sleep
So runs the world away”
-William Shakespeare, “Hamlet”

Learn English from English Newspapers

Today’s English
May 6th, 2017

If one wants to pick up standard English and enrich his vocabulary, one of the best ways is to “regularly” read English Newspapers.  I’m sure, you will jump out of your skin to know the total number of English Newspapers being published in india. It’s 19172. (As per the records with the Registrar of Newspapers for India). There are plenty of English newspaper apps and sites in addition to their own News channels. W3newspapers.com can be one's favorite site where anytime you can have access to any newspaper in any language in any part of the world (updated from hour to hour). Here are few samples from English Newspapers today:

1. In stead of saying, “get started”, you can say “get under way".

Dog show in Ooty gets under way.
(Taken from The Hindu, Coimbatore Edition)

2. What do you mean by “inebriated”?
It’s an adjective referring to the state of having drunk too much alcohol.

Hamsa, reportedly inebriated shot her hubby in Bangalore.
(From The Times of India)

3. Act as a deterrent = prevent others from doing wrongs

After the verdict on Delhi gang-rape case, the victim’s grandfather said that it will act as deterrent and women will feel more secure now.
(From the Hindustan Times)

4. Crackdown = severe action upon offenders;  abattoirs – slaughterhouses

A day after taking oath as UP CM, Adityanath ordered a crackdown on illegal abattoirs in the state.
(From the Indian Express)

5. Haircut, in finance and economics, means “a financial loss on an investment”

The Modi government has taken a big haircut by deciding to disinvest the three business hotels run by India Tourism Development Corporation(ITDC).
(From the Economic Times)

(Husband: I had a big haircut yesterday.

Wife: why don’t you take our kutties? They too need haircuts, don’t they?

Husband: ………..?!)

Friday, 5 May 2017

Differences – still, yet and already

Today’s English
May 5th, 2017

All these three words are adverbs used in different situations:

Yet – something has not happened as expected (mostly used at the end of questions and negatives)

Already – something happened before one’s expectations

Still – something going on even at the time of speaking as not expected or surprisingly

1.Haven’t you submitted your project yet? (Don’t use still here)
2.He hasn’t come yet. (Don’t use still)
3.I have already collected the data. (Finished earlier than expected)
4.She is already on the spot. (Happened sooner than expected)
5.I’m still going to gym.
6.It’s still raining and we can’t go out.

Remember: still is a continuation of something; yet is a query or report on incompleteness; already means completion.

(Boy : will you mind, if I open my heart to you?
Girl : I'm afraid, I’m already in love with your friend.
Boy: What….?! What does he say?
Girl: He hasn’t opened his heart yet.
Boy: why?
Girl: He is still looking for a good job.
Boy: Can please keep me at least in waiting list?
Girl: ………….?! )

Thursday, 4 May 2017

Can you walk on air?

Today’s English
May 4th, 2017

You are not a magician. You can still walk on air. In English, the expression “walk on air" simply means “to feel very happy”. 

1. Everybody walks on air when they get a government job.
2. She proposed to me and I really walked on air.

You can also do another wonder. Why can’t you try to walk on eggs?  Yes, you can.  If you do something very carefully, especially not to disturb or offend somebody, it means in English that you are walking on eggs.

1. Please walk on eggs. My mom’s sleeping.
2. Whenever you enter the principal's room, don’t forget to walk on eggs.

There is one more expression “walk all over somebody" that means “treat somebody very badly without giving importance to their needs".  The same expression is also used in the meaning of “to defeat somebody very easily".  Perhaps just by treating the enemies badly, some people may think that they have defeated their foes very easily.

1. The manager has walked all over me (=has treated me badly).  Let me teach him a lesson one day.
2. In the fight between Bahubali and his enemies, it's always he who walks all over them. (=defeats them easily)

[immediately after marriage]
Man 1 : How do you feel now?
Man 2: I walk on air.

[2years after marriage]
Man 1 : How do you feel now?
Man 2: I walk on eggs.

[10 years after marriage]
Man 1 : How do you feel now?
Man 2: My wife walks all over me.

Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Learn English by Standing Before Mirror

Today’s English
May 3rd, 2017

Just stand before the mirror and look at your body.  I’m sure, each part your body can help you speak more in English.  There are plenty of English expressions connected with the organs of our own constitution. Let us try a few now:

1.Let your hair down = to relax yourself and enjoy

Just for laugh programme was so funny. I completely let my hair down.
Why are you so serious? It’s time to let your hair down.

2.Follow your nose = go straight ahead

Where’s the Shiva temple here? Just follow your nose and you will find it within a mile.
Are we on the right track?  I hope so, just follow your nose.

3.Be all ears = eagerly waiting to listen/hear

Are you interested in what I say? Yes, I’m all ears.
Whenever the class starts, she is all ears.

4.Read my lips = listen carefully
Please read my lips. I’m gonna tell a secret about her.
Let me tell you the expected questions for the exam. Read my lips.

5.Be/stand head and shoulder above somebody = be much better than

He was head and shoulder above anyone else in the office.
Her presentation stood head and shoulders above the rest.

6.To give / get a free hand = to give /get an opportunity to do as you wish

First year syllabus was framed without giving a free hand to the committee members.
My father has given me a free hand to choose my life partner.

7.Get your finger out = Do some work

If you want to pass the exam, first get your finger out.
Mere expectations won’t help you. Go and get your finger out.

8.At your mother’s knee = when you are very young

I have watched Shivaji's movies at my mother’s knee.
She used to hear many moral stories at her mother’s knee.

9.To run off your feet = to be very busy
You can’t contact him now. He’s running off his feet.
Shall I call you some other time if you are running off your feet.

10. Under somebody’s heel = completely under the control of someone
Before 1947, India was under the heel of British empire.
I’m a free bird. Nobody can keep me under their heel.

“The Church says: the body is a sin.
Science says: the body is a machine.
Advertising says: The body is a business.
The Body says: I am a fiesta.”
- Eduardo Galeano, in "Walking Words"



Monday, 1 May 2017

Learn English from Quiz

Today’s English
May 2nd, 2017

The following is a collection of questions in an English quiz. Try your way through. Discuss with your friends in group if you are doubtful. ( Those who refer to internet sources or any dictionary will be booked under malpractice.)

1.A lover of books
A)Bookish person b) bibliophile  c) linguist d) bookbinders

2.Hebetude means
A)Sharpness. B) foolishness c) intelligence d) womanliness

3.Fecund stands for
A)Fertile  B) entangle. C) immature. D) hostile

4.He blows his own trumpet. Who is he?
A)He who praises others. B)he who makes his own complaint. C) he who speaks boldly d) he who praises himself.

5.She gave me the cold shoulder
A)Treated me unfriendly  B) praised me. C) scolded me. D) condemned me

6.He got the job using backstairs influence.
A)Political  B) religious. C) secret and unfair. D) monetary

7.The exam was held over.
A) Postponed. B) cancelled. C) stopped. D) started

8.A person Who knows many foreign languages
A)Polyglot. B) linguist. C) polyandrist  D) grammarian

9.Extreme old age in which a man behaves like a fool.
A)Dotage  B) serenity. C) solitude D) superannuation

10.He burnt his fingers.
A)Suffer in love affair. B) suffer financially. C) suffer while helping  D) suffer from loss of blood relations

Answers are on the way.

Which is correct - it's me or it's I?

Today’s English
May 1st, 2017

When you go to your friend’s house and knock at the door, he may ask -who is that?  What will you say -it’s me! Or it’s I.  Another similar problem arises in comparison. She is taller than me Or she is taller than I -which is correct? This is a typical grammatical issue associated with personal pronouns and just the following two points will guide you on the way.

I, we, he, she and they are subjective pronouns since they are used as subjects but me, us, him, her and them are objective pronouns as they are used as objects. You and it are both subjective and objective.

1.I called him at once. (I -subjective, him – objective)
2.He tortured me. (He -subjective, me-objective)

Traditional grammarians, the purists of English language argue that subjective pronouns should be used after “than" but modern English, especially informal spoken English prefers only objective forms in such places:

1.It is I. (More formal and traditional)
It is me. (Informal, spoken and modern accepted usage)
2.She is more beautiful than I. (More formal but uncommon)
She is more beautiful than me.(modern spoken English)
3.Who said that?
It’s she. (Traditional English and more uncommon)
It’s him. / he did.(Commonly accepted modern usage)
4.Uma and me are going to a movie.(Informal but considered incorrect in formal contexts)
Uma and I are going to a movie.(More correct)
5.Between you and I, there is nothing. (Incorrect)
Between you and me, there is something. (Correct)

Remember!  After main verb and preposition, use objective forms(me, us, him, her, them) and along with other nouns or pronouns in subject, use subjective forms (I, we, he, she, they) as in the example 4.

(Husband : who ordered this pizza from Dominos?
Wife: It’s me!
Husband: Who ordered this new mobile from Flipkart?
Wife: It’s also me!
Husband: What’s this message again… who booked 6 tickets for Bahubali-2?
Wife: It’s again me!
Husband: What the hell you're doing? Who will pay money for all these?
Wife: It’s you! You and I are made for each other! )