Saturday, December 22, 2012

I'm glad you like it!

Ok, Christmas is right around the corner (coming soon) and so it is a time to give and receive gifts~!

Often a gift- giving conversation might go like this:

Alice: Here, this is for you.

Betty: Oh, you shouldn't have!

(opens the gift)

Betty: Wow! The purse I wanted! It's great!

Alice: I'm glad you like it.

Betty: Thanks a lot.

I'm glad you like it is a set phrase people use when giving gifts.

Tom: Do you like it?

Bill: Of course!

Tom: Good, I'm glad (you like it can be dropped).

Be careful, when talking about EXPERIENCES or PERISHABLES (things you can use up) you must use the phrase in the PAST TENSE.

Tom: Did you enjoy the movie?

Bill: Yeah, it was great! Thanks for treating me.

Tom: I'm glad you liked it. I thought you would.

---------------------------------

Heather: Those cookies were fantastic! Did you make them yourself?

Helen: Yeah. I'm glad you liked them.

Have  a  Merry Christmas everyone!

Phil

P.S. glad you is pronounced gladju





Thursday, December 20, 2012

Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained.

Have you heard this expression before?

It means that if you don't take any risks you won't get any reward. 

Basically, you need to take a chance if you want to win.

Harry: Should I ask Helen out?

Ed: Nothing ventured nothing gained Harry. Go for it!

Harry: Thanks, I'll ask her out tomorrow.

As you can see, it is a common response to someone asking for your advice  about if they should do something. If you think they should take a chance, simply answer:

Nothing ventured nothing gained

You can tell from the phrasing that this is quite an old saying and it actually goes back to the 14th century!

Weblio says that in Japanese it means:

》 危険を冒さなければ何も得られない, 「虎穴(こけつ)にらずんば虎子(こじ)をず」

Have a great week, 

Phil

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The flu is going around...

Do you guys know what that means? It is a pretty common expression, it means that it is really common right now and everyone seems to be getting sick on after another. I think in Japanese you would say ぐるぐる or possibly回る(まわる)


Henry: You look pale, are you ok?

Greg: Yeah, I just feel tired.

Henry: Be careful, there seems to be a nasty cold going around.

So whenever many people seem to be getting sick at the same time use the expression:


X is going around


a cold is going around

the flu is going around

a stomach virus seems to be going around

etc.

Please see my earlier lesson about the flu, you can find it here.

Often, if you are a teacher or parent maybe you think a child is faking. This means you don't believe that they are sick, you think they are pretending to be sick so that they don't have to go to school...

Kelly: cough... cough...

Mom: Are you ok?

Kelly: Mom my throat hurts... cough...

Mom: Hmmm.... isn't there a test today? Are you faking?

Kelly: MOM! I wouldn't do that!

Mom: Ok, we'll check your temperature and if you have a fever you can stay home today...

Kelly: cough... cough... ok...

You can use faking whenever you think someone is pretending to have a problem...

Hope you're healthy! Have a nice week,

Phil






Saturday, December 8, 2012

Well, I got to go, take care.

Do you know when to use this sentence?

It is most commonly used when you run into someone and have a quick conversation. This is how you politely end the conversation so you can continue going where you were going before bumping into your friend. ^_^

Well

This indicates a change in topic or a conclusion.

I got to (pronounced godda) go or you could say 
I have to (hafta) go or
I need to go (formal)

and if you are in a rush you can switch go with RUN.

Then you finish the sentence with something polite related to your previous conversation:

take care

have a good time

see you

see you around

etc.

So the next time you have to continue on your way because you're in a hurry, please say something like this:

A: Well, it was nice bumping into you but I gotta run. Take care.

B: You too, see you.

Have a nice weekend,

Phil