Friday (yes, I know it's Wednesday today, but read on...)
Hi James, and everyone else,
Well, I’m officially homeless now. Yesterday I took most of my possessions to a big storage depot, where they’ll stay until I’ve found a new and more permanent place to live. Until then, I’ll be living out of a suitcase at Lottie’s flat. In fact, there are three of us sharing this flat now – Lottie, me, and Friday the cat.
I could say that Friday is Lottie’s cat, but I don’t think that’s really accurate. Cats are such independent, free-spirited creatures, I’m not sure if humans ever really ‘own’ them. Friday comes and goes as she pleases, and does pretty much exactly what she wants, and Lottie feeds her, takes her to the vet, and so on. It might be more accurate to say that Lottie is Friday’s human.
I’m writing this blog at Lottie’s computer, and Friday seems very interested in the process – in fact, she keeps trying to ‘help’ by standing on the keyboard, and I keep having to shove her off the desk. Maybe she wants to write something. Let’s see. OK, Friday, what would you like to say to James and all the nice people out there?
‘’’’[[‘oplllllllllllllllllllllllllllll88888888
There, that’s Friday’s comment, made by pressing her paws on the keyboard until she got bored and went off to terrorize some birds in the garden. I have no idea what ‘’’’[[‘oplllllllllllllllllllllllllllll88888888 means. If you’re curious, I suggest you ask a cat.
Anyway, let’s move on and talk about some grammar. Thanks to everyone who tried the homework questions. Jameel from Jordan’s answers were so good that I’d like to use them here as examples:
1- Practice: The BBC site advises foreign learners of English to practice listening to native speakers so as to improve their listening skills.
2- According to many people on this planet, appropriate measures should be taken in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Other wise, one day we will have to pack up our belongings and go to a new planet.
(Jameel, please note that I’ve made one small vocabulary change.)
Today I’d like to talk about a particular kind of grammatical error which is very common among students who speak Chinese (or related languages) as their first language – I guess this is because the grammar of Chinese is so different to English.
In order to make my point, I need to start by reminding you about clauses. As I explained to Ana Paula a week or two ago, every sentence in English must have at least one clause. For example:
‘I live in London.’
This sentence has one main verb (live), and therefore one clause.
‘Friday is chasing birds in the garden, but she hasn’t caught any yet.’
This sentence has two main verbs (is chasing and hasn’t caught), so it’s a two-clause sentence.
I’m sure this is quite familiar to you so far; certainly it’ll be familiar to anyone who’s been reading the blogs regularly.
Now, every clause has a main verb and a subject, but some clauses also have objects (note to grammar buffs - I’m talking about both direct objects and indirect objects). For example:
‘I like coffee.’
In this sentence, the noun I is the subject, the verb like is the main verb, and the noun coffee is the object. Now we come to the important point. A noun can be the subject of a main verb, or it can be the object of a main verb, but it can’t do both jobs at the same time. I’ll give you an example of the kind of problem I’m thinking about:
‘I live in London is a big city.’
Of course, this sentence is WRONG. I could say this:
‘I live in London.’
In this sentence, the noun London is the OBJECT of the main verb live. OR I could say this:
‘London is a big city.’
In this sentence, the noun London is the SUBJECT of the main verb is. However, the noun London CANNOT be the object of the verb live and the subject of the verb is at the same time. We can correct the sentence by adding the word ‘which’, like this:
‘I live in London, which is a big city.’
Now, please have a look at these sentences, James. You’ll notice that they both contain the kind of mistake I’ve been talking about.
1. ‘There were some westerners taught English in urban cities like Taipei.’
In this sentence, the noun westerners is trying to do two jobs at once – it’s trying to be the object of the verb were and the subject of the verb taught. It isn’t allowed to do two jobs at the same time!
2. ‘And there were no foreigners except priests taught English in my hometown.’
Here the problem is with a longer ‘noun phrase’ - no foreigners except priests. This noun phrase is trying to be the object of the verb were and the subject of the verb taught simultaneously. Again, this word isn’t allowed to do both these jobs at once.
Can you correct these sentences, James? I’m sure some of our other readers will be willing to try and help you.
By the way, thanks again to all the readers for your many comments, and particular thanks to everyone who sympathized with my housing problems and gave me their encouragement. As usual, I’m sorry I don’t have time or space to answer all your comments and questions, but here’s a quick note to Anna from Poland: Anna, in old-fashioned English (from several centuries ago), the standard ending for a third-person singular verb in the present tense was –th / -eth (instead of –s / -es in modern English). So, I would say, ‘Anna lives in Poland’, but my ancestors would have said, ‘Anna liveth in Poland.’ I hope that answers the question.
All the best,
Alex
Vocabulary
A depot is a building where things are stored in large amounts.
The phrase living out of a suitcase is quite logical and easy to understand. If you’re carrying a few possessions with you in suitcases or bags, and you don’t have access to the rest of your things, then we say you’re ‘living out of a suitcase’. For example, we normally live out of a suitcase when we’re travelling.
‘Pretty much’ is an informal phrase meaning ‘more-or-less’. We use it with adjectives or adverbs.
‘To shove’ is an informal verb meaning ‘to push’.
If an animal has claws, then its feet are called paws. Friday has claws. I am certain of this, because last night while I was sleeping she attacked my feet.
To terrorize someone is to threaten them or make them feel frightened. It’s closely connected to a word which we see in the British media a lot at the moment, ‘terrorist’.
The informal noun buff is used for a person who knows a lot about a particular subject. We most often use it in the phrase ‘film buff’ – a person who knows a lot about films. I suspect Ana Paula is a bit of a film buff.
‘To sympathize with someone’ means to show that you understand that person’s problems, and you ‘suffer with’ that person.
Comments
Alex you obviously are not as much of a cat person as I am, because Friday´s comment was very clear to me. Friday says: “I love Eartha Kitt and Cherokee Indians.” Best wishes to everyone, mjau...
Hi Alex! Oh my goodness! After I read your blog today, I realised that I´ve written the word sympathize wrong! Duh!!! How embarrassing. Now I´m going to write twice in order to don´t forget it! Sympathize, sympathize! Ok, that´s it. Good night for you, Lottie and Friday( nice name for a cat). Ana Paula.
Hi everybody! It's me again! what? you don't know who I am? never mind. Well, It's was really really really difficult to me finding a cat. I looked everywhere but there were only dogs and they told me they had no idea what ‘’’’[[‘oplllllllllllllllllllllllllllll88888888 meant. After a while I saw a cat at the top of a tall tree, I climbed it and when I was almost there I fell off. The cat burst out laughing. Well, to make a story short, I finally asked him what ‘’’’[[‘oplllllllllllllllllllllllllllll88888888 meant, and he answered me " 1111wwwwwwww978ujjjjjjjjjjjjjjjfdsl" (Sorry I don't understand English, I only speak Spanish"
Hey, Alex. How’s everything now? I haven’t been here for some days. I’m sure you don’t want to know the reason, do you? I think these days I missed something. But I will go back to your previous blogs and find them out. First of all, I want to answer the questions. 1. It should be: There were some westerners who / that taught English in urban cities like Taipei. 2. It should be: And there were no foreigners except priests who / that taught English in my hometown. I’m confident with my answers but I do hope to receive your confirmation. Ok, homework is done. Talk about cat, to be honest, I prefer dog. I have a lovely dog named Lala. I love her very much. Do you like dog? Although my dog (oh, it’s not MY dog, I’m her human too.) can’t write some comments right now, but she knows what Friday wrote. Clever dog, en? I’m very much looking forward to hearing some more stories about you three sharing the flat. Give my hellos to Lottie and of course Friday, please! Best regards, Jill.
Hi there,i agree that cats are independent and free creature,for in my house there are two stray kitties of one month old whose Mum had been poisoned and dead.They are weak and fragil without their mother's care.Althouth i have looked after them for three weeks,both of them are still sluggish.Unluckily,we don't have a animal hospital,and a court to protect their rights.It is unfair,isn't it?Especially those who was poisoned to death.By the way,Alex,Have you got on well with Lovely Friday and her interesting blah blah blah.Cheers!
Hello there I think that the correct sentences would be: 1.- There were some westerners who taught English in urban cities like Taipei. 2.- there were no foreigner except priests who taught English in my hometown. See you.
Alex, your description of cats LOOKS perfect! I have one at home, but I’m not going to introduce it by name as this is my password I use wherever it is possible. I can’t also tell you exactly what’s its gender is as my sons (very brave scouts) couldn’t accept the fact that it is SHE, so from the very beginning it has been quite obvious that this is HE. She accepted the male name with all her dignity and seems to enjoy the best of both worlds. As regards ancient English I’ve just had a sample of it while reading ‘Happy Prince and Other Stories’ by Oscar Wilde – it was quite easy to get the meaning from the context. By the way, I didn’t know that Oscar Wilde wrote such beautiful and moving fairy tales as I used to associate him with something much more ironic (he is not, however, as sweet as Andersen so there are moments you can feel a slight trace of irony). Best,
Hi, Alex How are you today? I hope everything is ok in yourlife. Although you see my name first on this blog , I have been following this blog for about 7 months. Because of my job, I can not make time to write however I try to read both students’ blog and teacher’s blog regularly. In Turkey teachers’ day is 24 november . It is celebrated in every school every year. Our alfabet was found by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and he is known as an our first teacher. Teachers are so important people and we all Turkish people have very huge respect for them. That day our students buy some gifts and follower for their teacher as a class in order to show their love and also ıf we have some teacher friends , we celebrate their this special day by calling or sending some followers. I am not a teacher but I have some close teacher friends. I think , being a teacher has good side and bad side. Good side is you teach sth important and create well-informed, more cultured and better generation. Bad side is you start to get used to your student and a few years later they graduate. It is hightime I turned my job. See you soon.
Hello Alex, and my dear virtual friends, I think that the correct sentences would be: 1.- There were some westerners who taught English in urban cities like Taipei. or; we can make reduction that is; change (who taught) to "teaching" There were some westerners teaching English in urban cities like Taipei. 2.- there were no foreigner except priests who taught English in my hometown. or; we can make reduction that is; change(who taught) to "teaching" there were no foreigner except priests teaching English in my hometown. both are correct and their meaning is the same. have a nice day
Hi!It is amazing, Jil, I thought of you yesterday for I didn`t see your clever comments long! Actually, I didn`t want to write today and surely not correcting the sentences because I am usually wrong. Best regards!
Hi Alex, and everyone else! Alex, I always enjoy reading your blogs, but today I did it more: the story was so fun that I giggled for a while at my work (I hope nobody noticed it), and I also loved the way you described the relationship between cats and human beings. I agree with you when you say that gats are free-spirited creatures and in fact they own the humans. I sympaphize with your story of finding a place too, and don't worry guy, every thing is going to be ok. oh! send my hello to Lottie and specially to her owner, Friday (I love animals too). Best wishes and good look! Please, keep us informed about the three of you.
Hi Alex, Friday is more clever that it seems because he knows how to write with both legs (maybe three) at the same time. Usually “| [`´´´” are obtained, at least in an “azerty” Belgian keyboard, by pushing “Alt Gr”+ the “| [ ´`` sign” (the last three followed by “space bar”)
Dear Alex; Hi. It seems that you are getting along quite well with your hosts. That's perfect to have such a high adaptation quality. I hope you will soon find a suitable place of your own to move into. In Iran, we have recently celebrated Teacher's day on may 2nd.On the occasion students usually take beautiful bunches of flower and lovely gifts for their beloved teachers to show their honor and care for the ones who are so dedicatively building up their future.As for the sentences, I would say " There were some westerners who taught English ..." and "There were no foreigners except for priests who taught English...". Here comes another question and I would be so thankful for you answer; What if the second verb is a passive one? Shall we use the connectives like which,who, that...? For example this sentence "there were some foreigners considered as English teachers". Do we have to change it to " There were some foreigners who were considered as English teachers.?" I am eagerly waiting for your instructive answer. Katy/ Iran
How is going ? For me I would rather dog more than cat . So my parents and I will grow up dog . Its name RAMBO like an actor in the movie. I meant Rambo is very huge and chubby dog that I compar my sister with Rambo. HA.HA.. Anyway I also love cat -just a little bit. Because I do not know when I play with cat , I usually beware of his pawn . It may be make me painful and sometime get any disease from it . Appartently , in Thailand does not cope with disease animal in country side - I live near the town . From time to time in downtown look safe more in country side . Better luck next time .. < Wisarut S >
Hullo, Alex :) Don't you realy know what ‘’’’[[‘oplllllllllllllllllllllllllllll88888888 mean? My cat is Polish so I don't know English cat's language, but this is an international cat's expression meaning 'I'm bored, I must go now'. Living with Friday you'll learn a lot about cats and their mother tongue. Best of luck.
Hellow Alex! What a pitty that you didn't have a permanent place to live now. I am looking forward that the situation will change and you will write you blog from nice house. 1.There are my answer to your question: 2.There were some westerners who taught English in urban cities like Taipei. And there were no foreigners except priests who taught English in my hometown.
Hi! I would like to thank Mr. Alex for using my answers. You really made my day. Now,I would like to try correcting the two sentences of James. 1. There were some Westerners [who] taught English in some cities like Taipei. 2. There were no foreigners except priests [teaching] English in my hometown.
Hi Alex! Well,i've just discovered your blog and i'd like to participate and why not,to be one of the BBC's teachers? Here in France the situation is not so good as millions of people are waiting with no hopes(more fears)for the beginning of that new government... I'd like to know how all this is perceived abroad.
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