Hey everyone, today is February 29th...
...LEAP DAY~!
Every 4 years, we have a LEAP YEAR with an extra day to keep the calendar moving smoothly. To leap means to jump ^_-
Yup, a really short lesson. I will try and blog a bit more next month. Wish me luck,
Phil
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
scratch vs. scrape
Hi everyone, do you know the difference between:
scratch
and
scrape?
A scratch is usually caused by a nail removing a bit of skin, sometimes it doesn't even break the skin. It is from the verb to scratch （かく） which is what you do when you are itchy（痒い）.
痒い時にかくね。
A scrape is not deep but it is quite wide. It is when something is dragged against something else and removes a layer. It is also a verb, to scrape.
In Montreal, during the winter you have to use an ice scraper to remove the ice from your car windows.
A: What happened?
B: This? It's just a scrape, I fell down skateboarding.
I was running and I slipped and scraped my knee.
A scraped knee happened to me a lot when I was a kid, I liked to run and play ^_-
Actually, when you're a kid and you get hurt you often run to show your Dad what happened. Many Dads will then say:
It's just a scratch.
Which means "It's nothing to worry about" it is a small problem. Usually when Moms say that they then kiss it to make it better ^_^
Have a nice week,
Phil
scratch
and
scrape?
A scratch is usually caused by a nail removing a bit of skin, sometimes it doesn't even break the skin. It is from the verb to scratch （かく） which is what you do when you are itchy（痒い）.
痒い時にかくね。
A scrape is not deep but it is quite wide. It is when something is dragged against something else and removes a layer. It is also a verb, to scrape.
In Montreal, during the winter you have to use an ice scraper to remove the ice from your car windows.
A: What happened?
B: This? It's just a scrape, I fell down skateboarding.
I was running and I slipped and scraped my knee.
A scraped knee happened to me a lot when I was a kid, I liked to run and play ^_-
Actually, when you're a kid and you get hurt you often run to show your Dad what happened. Many Dads will then say:
It's just a scratch.
Which means "It's nothing to worry about" it is a small problem. Usually when Moms say that they then kiss it to make it better ^_^
Have a nice week,
Phil
Friday, February 24, 2012
What Japanese foods do you like? Which ones don't you like?
Hey guys, how's it going?
Everyone learns pretty early how to ask if someone likes something:
What's your favorite drink?
Or you can say:
What's your most favorite drink?
Where most is used for emphasis, but this sounds like something a kid would say... ...because the most isn't necessary. In a really natural way you could also ask:
What drinks do you like?
Many students have trouble asking about something you DON'T like. So today, I will go over a few structures you can use.
The opposite of favorite is least favorite.
What's your least favorite drink?
Which sounds a bit formal.
What drinks do you not like?
This sounds pretty awkward and unnatural, I would probably say:
What drinks dontchu (don't you) like?
If you want to say it formally, you can use the opposite of like ---> dislike.
What drinks do you dislike?
Any questions?
Phil
Everyone learns pretty early how to ask if someone likes something:
What's your favorite drink?
Or you can say:
What's your most favorite drink?
Where most is used for emphasis, but this sounds like something a kid would say... ...because the most isn't necessary. In a really natural way you could also ask:
What drinks do you like?
Many students have trouble asking about something you DON'T like. So today, I will go over a few structures you can use.
The opposite of favorite is least favorite.
What's your least favorite drink?
Which sounds a bit formal.
What drinks do you not like?
This sounds pretty awkward and unnatural, I would probably say:
What drinks dontchu (don't you) like?
If you want to say it formally, you can use the opposite of like ---> dislike.
What drinks do you dislike?
Any questions?
Phil
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Can't you take a joke?
Do you guys understand this question? To take a joke means that someone teases you or makes fun of you and you just laugh with them-you don't get angry.
A: My new boss has no sense of humor.
B: Why do you say that?
A: He fired Sam for making a joke about him~!
B: What? Really? Sounds like he can't take a joke.
A: Yeah, Sam was doing an impression of our Boss when he walked into the room. He didn't think it was funny and fired him on the spot!
B: Wow, that sucks.
An impression is when you imitate how someone speaks, moves and sounds.
He can do impressions of many famous people. His best is Humphrey Bogart.
On the spot means at that moment or right away, it is usually used with negative things or surprising things.
He fell in love and married her on the spot. I was so shocked~!
Have a nice Saturday~!
Phil
A: My new boss has no sense of humor.
B: Why do you say that?
A: He fired Sam for making a joke about him~!
B: What? Really? Sounds like he can't take a joke.
A: Yeah, Sam was doing an impression of our Boss when he walked into the room. He didn't think it was funny and fired him on the spot!
B: Wow, that sucks.
An impression is when you imitate how someone speaks, moves and sounds.
He can do impressions of many famous people. His best is Humphrey Bogart.
On the spot means at that moment or right away, it is usually used with negative things or surprising things.
He fell in love and married her on the spot. I was so shocked~!
Have a nice Saturday~!
Phil
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
It's a fake!
Do you know what the word fake means?
It means it is not real. It is a copy. In Japanese, you would say: にせもの.
A: Do you like my Louis Vuitton bag?
B: Hmm, it's nice but I think it's a fake.
A: What?!?! I'll never buy online again!
You can also use fake as an adjective.
Guard: Tickets please.
Man: Here you go.
Guard: Sorry, sir. This is a fake ticket.
Man: Really? Stupid scalper...
A scalper is someone who illegally resells concert/sports/event tickets, usually for a lot more money on the day of the event.
Fake can also be used as a verb.
Kid: Mom, I can't go to school today. I'm sick.
Mom: I think you're faking! I know you have a big test today.
Kid: Who told you?
Mom: Your teacher called me last night.
Kid: ...OK I'll go to school...
-------
C: My leg, ouch~!
D: Stop faking! Whenever there's work to do you suddenly get hurt.
Any questions?
Phil
It means it is not real. It is a copy. In Japanese, you would say: にせもの.
A: Do you like my Louis Vuitton bag?
B: Hmm, it's nice but I think it's a fake.
A: What?!?! I'll never buy online again!
You can also use fake as an adjective.
Guard: Tickets please.
Man: Here you go.
Guard: Sorry, sir. This is a fake ticket.
Man: Really? Stupid scalper...
A scalper is someone who illegally resells concert/sports/event tickets, usually for a lot more money on the day of the event.
Fake can also be used as a verb.
Kid: Mom, I can't go to school today. I'm sick.
Mom: I think you're faking! I know you have a big test today.
Kid: Who told you?
Mom: Your teacher called me last night.
Kid: ...OK I'll go to school...
-------
C: My leg, ouch~!
D: Stop faking! Whenever there's work to do you suddenly get hurt.
Any questions?
Phil
Monday, February 6, 2012
You're dreaming~!
If someone says to you "You're dreaming!" do you know what they mean? Is it a good or bad expression? Basically, it is used between friends or family members. It is a casual expression and you should only use it with someone you have a close relationship with. It is a bit rude.
For example:
A: Someday, I'm gonna be President of the United States!
B: You're dreaming! That'll never happen. For starters, you have to be born in the US and you're Canadian!
A: Oh yeah, you're right. Ok, someday I'll be the Prime Minister of Canada!
B: Well, that's at least possible but I still think you're dreaming. Anyways, good luck.
A: Thanks, I'll prove you wrong!
So as you can see, it means I think it will never happen - it's just a dream, it isn't realistic. To prove someone wrong means you will show that they made a mistake. In Japanese, to prove means: 証拠だてる; 証拠立てる (しょうこだてる) .
Jim: Hey, did you hear Tom is gonna ask Sally out.
Harry: He's dreaming! She's way out of his league!
To be out of someone's league means they are much better than you - you aren't playing at the same level. It comes from baseball, some people play in the minor leagues and some in the Major League.
Have a nice week,
Phil
For example:
A: Someday, I'm gonna be President of the United States!
B: You're dreaming! That'll never happen. For starters, you have to be born in the US and you're Canadian!
A: Oh yeah, you're right. Ok, someday I'll be the Prime Minister of Canada!
B: Well, that's at least possible but I still think you're dreaming. Anyways, good luck.
A: Thanks, I'll prove you wrong!
So as you can see, it means I think it will never happen - it's just a dream, it isn't realistic. To prove someone wrong means you will show that they made a mistake. In Japanese, to prove means: 証拠だてる; 証拠立てる (しょうこだてる) .
Jim: Hey, did you hear Tom is gonna ask Sally out.
Harry: He's dreaming! She's way out of his league!
To be out of someone's league means they are much better than you - you aren't playing at the same level. It comes from baseball, some people play in the minor leagues and some in the Major League.
Have a nice week,
Phil
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