Hey everyone, for my last lesson of the month I'd like to talk about something that non-native english speakers often mix up: other than and except.
These have really similar meanings but t heir usage is slightly different.
Other than
This is the same as in Japanese, ほかに, it is used at the start of the sentence to exclude the next thing you mention.
Other than chocolate, what sweets do you like?
(What other sweets do you like(not including chocolate)?)
I know you've been to Seoul so... other than Seoul where have you been in Korea?
Other than that, how was your trip?
Except
This is used at the middle of end of sentences, it is usually used with LISTS.
I like all kinds of chocolate except white chocolate, I hate it.
He loves playing sports, except he doesn't play winter sports. He dislikes the cold.
I am usually free on weeknights except on Thursdays...
You can choose anything on the menu except the lobster.
Have a good week,
Phil
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Let's get this over with...
Hey guys, here's a quick lesson for the weekend. Have you heard this expression before?
This is a set phrase people use when they have to do something but DON'T want to do it. In that situation it is better to get it over with and finish it as quickly as possible.
Ugh, dinner with my in-laws? Ok, let's get this over with...
Alright, neither of us wants to be here. The faster we start the faster we finish. Let's get it over with as quickly as possible so we can both go home.
I wish my results would arrive! I want to get all this waiting over with!
Have a nice weekend,
Phil
get (something) over with
This is a set phrase people use when they have to do something but DON'T want to do it. In that situation it is better to get it over with and finish it as quickly as possible.
Ugh, dinner with my in-laws? Ok, let's get this over with...
Alright, neither of us wants to be here. The faster we start the faster we finish. Let's get it over with as quickly as possible so we can both go home.
I wish my results would arrive! I want to get all this waiting over with!
Have a nice weekend,
Phil
Sunday, June 16, 2013
sometime vs. sometimes
Hey guys, do you know the difference between the two?
Sometime in Japanese would be いつか meaning someday or at some unknown point in the future.
Give me a call sometime.
I want to check out that new bar sometime.
If you're in the neighborhood sometime, drop by.
It is usually used to talk about the relatively near future. If you want to talk about something that is a dream of yours you'd like to do at some point but probably can't use someday. It has a bit of a wishful feeling to it, you aren't sure if it will happen but you'd like it to.
Someday, I wanna visit Antarctica.
We will meet again someday.
I'll be back in Peru someday.
I'll marry that woman someday, I just know it!
Sometimes in Japanese would be 時々（ときどき）it means every once in awhile, occasionally, etc.
I like to shop online sometimes.
Sometimes, I have a drink on the way home from work.
Jim: Do you & Gary often hang out?
Darryl: Yeah, sometimes.
He sometimes takes lessons on Sundays, but usually he goes to the Friday class.
Any questions?
Phil
Sometime in Japanese would be いつか meaning someday or at some unknown point in the future.
Give me a call sometime.
I want to check out that new bar sometime.
If you're in the neighborhood sometime, drop by.
It is usually used to talk about the relatively near future. If you want to talk about something that is a dream of yours you'd like to do at some point but probably can't use someday. It has a bit of a wishful feeling to it, you aren't sure if it will happen but you'd like it to.
Someday, I wanna visit Antarctica.
We will meet again someday.
I'll be back in Peru someday.
I'll marry that woman someday, I just know it!
Sometimes in Japanese would be 時々（ときどき）it means every once in awhile, occasionally, etc.
I like to shop online sometimes.
Sometimes, I have a drink on the way home from work.
Jim: Do you & Gary often hang out?
Darryl: Yeah, sometimes.
He sometimes takes lessons on Sundays, but usually he goes to the Friday class.
Any questions?
Phil
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
When I was a kid...
...I always used to play using my imagination. It was great!
Today we are looking at the word:
This word has a few meanings.
The original meaning is a baby goat!
Wow, what a cute mama goat & kid!
These gloves are many of the finest kid skin.
These days most people don't use this meaning as most people aren't farmers anymore.
The most common usage in North American English is as the casual word for child.
Saying "When I was a child" sounds very formal and old fashioned to people in Canada & the US. Instead, we say "When I was a kid".
Did you see that kid break the window?
Do you want to have kids?
Kids often get into trouble.
When I was a kid, I loved Star Wars!
I'm not a kid anymore, I'm 19!
He's just a kid, he can't play with us.
That's my kid brother.
The last two are a related meaning that says someone is younger than yourself.
The last major meaning of kid is as a verb: to kid. This means to joke, to pull someone's leg, to try and trick someone, to tease.
No kidding, Tom got married again?
meaning really, you're not trying to trick me
I was just kidding.
meaning I was just joking.
Stop kidding around this is serious!
meaning stop making jokes
My Dad likes to kid around.
meaning my Dad likes to make jokes & trick people
Are you kidding? No way!
The last one can be used to ask someone "Really?" when they tell you something incredible or add me at the end to express frustration when something unbelievable happens.
Are you kidding me? Someone dented my car! Again!
Are you kidding me? The train is late again!?
Have a nice week,
Phil
Today we are looking at the word:
kid
This word has a few meanings.
The original meaning is a baby goat!
Wow, what a cute mama goat & kid!
These gloves are many of the finest kid skin.
These days most people don't use this meaning as most people aren't farmers anymore.
The most common usage in North American English is as the casual word for child.
Saying "When I was a child" sounds very formal and old fashioned to people in Canada & the US. Instead, we say "When I was a kid".
Did you see that kid break the window?
Do you want to have kids?
Kids often get into trouble.
When I was a kid, I loved Star Wars!
I'm not a kid anymore, I'm 19!
He's just a kid, he can't play with us.
That's my kid brother.
The last two are a related meaning that says someone is younger than yourself.
The last major meaning of kid is as a verb: to kid. This means to joke, to pull someone's leg, to try and trick someone, to tease.
No kidding, Tom got married again?
meaning really, you're not trying to trick me
I was just kidding.
meaning I was just joking.
Stop kidding around this is serious!
meaning stop making jokes
My Dad likes to kid around.
meaning my Dad likes to make jokes & trick people
Are you kidding? No way!
The last one can be used to ask someone "Really?" when they tell you something incredible or add me at the end to express frustration when something unbelievable happens.
Are you kidding me? Someone dented my car! Again!
Are you kidding me? The train is late again!?
Have a nice week,
Phil
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Let's talk about parking!
Now here in Japan if you live in the city you don't really need to think about parking all that much but in many parts of North America the car is king and parking can be a big issue so today we'll look at some parking related words.
Most homes have a driveway. This is the strip of asphalt or gravel you drive up to get to your house, in the countryside or for rich people with a big estate the driveway can be quite long but most people simply have enough space to park one or two cars.
When we talk about parking we use three similar sounding words:
parking lot
This is usually the big parking area around a shop or mall. It's also the area under buildings or the lot where many people leave their cars and have to pay an hourly(or daily) parking fee to park their cars.
A: Did you hear about that innovative parking lot in Florida?
B: No, what's so special about it?
A; It's a multi-story parking garage but instead of being all gray concrete it's full of shops and even trees. Take a look!
B: Wow, I can't believe that's a parking lot!
Often, when it isn't a lot (a piece of land, usually empty) but is instead a building we call it a parking garage.
parking space
This is used as a place where you regularly park your car. Think of an office building where many parking spaces are assigned to employees and have their names written on them using paint. The key thing here is when you say parking space, you emphasize it's yours & you probably often park there. It conveys a sense of possession.
This morning when I came into work, some car was in my parking space!
I moved into the city and I need to find a parking space for my car.
parking spot
This is more casual than parking space and it feels more temporary. We often use this when looking for a place to park... Parking space & parking spot can be used interchangeably. It is more of a feeling than a hard rule and can change based on different English dialects
I spent 30 minutes driving around the mall parking lot looking for a parking spot!
I hate driving downtown, it takes forever to find a parking spot on the street & I refuse to pay the high prices at paid parking lots.
Can you believe it? We found a parking spot so close to the elevators? We got lucky!
Have a nice weekend,
Phil
Most homes have a driveway. This is the strip of asphalt or gravel you drive up to get to your house, in the countryside or for rich people with a big estate the driveway can be quite long but most people simply have enough space to park one or two cars.
When we talk about parking we use three similar sounding words:
parking lot
This is usually the big parking area around a shop or mall. It's also the area under buildings or the lot where many people leave their cars and have to pay an hourly(or daily) parking fee to park their cars.
A: Did you hear about that innovative parking lot in Florida?
B: No, what's so special about it?
A; It's a multi-story parking garage but instead of being all gray concrete it's full of shops and even trees. Take a look!
 |
| http://www.isaacsandcompany.com/listings/1111-lincoln-road/ |
B: Wow, I can't believe that's a parking lot!
Often, when it isn't a lot (a piece of land, usually empty) but is instead a building we call it a parking garage.
parking space
This is used as a place where you regularly park your car. Think of an office building where many parking spaces are assigned to employees and have their names written on them using paint. The key thing here is when you say parking space, you emphasize it's yours & you probably often park there. It conveys a sense of possession.
This morning when I came into work, some car was in my parking space!
I moved into the city and I need to find a parking space for my car.
parking spot
This is more casual than parking space and it feels more temporary. We often use this when looking for a place to park... Parking space & parking spot can be used interchangeably. It is more of a feeling than a hard rule and can change based on different English dialects
I spent 30 minutes driving around the mall parking lot looking for a parking spot!
I hate driving downtown, it takes forever to find a parking spot on the street & I refuse to pay the high prices at paid parking lots.
Can you believe it? We found a parking spot so close to the elevators? We got lucky!
Have a nice weekend,
Phil
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