Getting about in the UK
Mmmmmm! Is it time for dinner yet? Ha, you’re making me hungry. I looooove noodles. But do you have any nice veggi noodle dishes in Vietnam? I don’t eat meat. Or maybe a nice cake or biscuit I could try?
Ha, I don’t know much about scholarships for banking and finance degrees I’m afraid, but I did notice that you used ‘Master’s’ perfectly – twice – in your blog. Excellent! Well done!
The language point I want to mention to you today is the present continuous tense. Ha, in your last blog, you wrote:
‘There are more and more companies invest in Vietnam’.
We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening about now. To form the present continuous tense, we use the verb ‘to be’ + the –ing form of the verb, e.g.
I am blogging now.
I am looking forward to the weekend.
In the example above, you used the bare infinitive ‘invest’ to talk about what is happening in Vietnam now. This is ongoing at the moment, so you should use the present continuous tense, like this:
There are more and more companies investing in Vietnam now.
Oh, and I should also mention that we can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future. Usually, we use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are going to happen in the future that have been decided, e.g.
I’m going to a friend’s house for dinner on Saturday night.
So Ha, maybe you can write a couple of sentences in your next blog, explaining what you’re doing right now? ;->
That’s enough grammar – it’s Friday! A couple of blogs ago, Aaron in Beijing asked if I would tell you a bit about the traffic and transport in the UK, so you can know a bit more about life in the UK.
Well, the stereotypical image of a British commuter is probably a businessman in a pin-stripe suit with a bowler hat on his head, carrying an umbrella. He then hops onto a red London bus to get to his office.
In London, lots of people do use the famous red buses to travel about. They can also use the tube. A couple of years ago, the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, introduced a congestion charge, which means you have to pay extra to drive into the centre of London. The idea was to reduce pollution and congestion, and to raise money for public transport. The scheme has definitely helped to reduce traffic problems in the capital, and the area covered by the congestion charge was recently extended.
However, the population of London is around 7 million, and there are more than 60 million of us the UK. How do the rest of us get about? The simple answer is by car. Not because our roads are so great – there are lots of traffic jams – but because public transport isn’t really that good. Train services have improved greatly over the last 15 years, but it’s expensive. For example, an off-peak return ticket from my house to London, which is a journey of around one hour each way, costs about £23. If you were to do that every day the price would be astronomical. And don’t even mention the buses – they’re always late, crowded or don’t turn up at all. In fact, we have a saying about buses, that ‘you wait hours for one, then two come along at the same time’.
Luckily I work from home so I don’t have to cope with the grind of the daily commute. This also helps to reduce my carbon footprint. You can’t deny that all these people going to work by car every day must be bad for the planet, but I wonder what the alternative is? It’s simply not practical or cost-effective for most Brits to commute by public transport.
How do you all get to and from work/study?
I’m commuting down to the kitchen now for a cup of tea. It’s a hard life!
Oh, and one of my pets has been bugging me to let him blog. So I might ask him to give you some homework over the weekend. Hope you don’t mind!
Catch you later!
Jo
Vocabulary
stereotypical – (adjective) the common mental image of something
commuter – a person travelling to/from work, the verb is ‘to commute’
pin-stripe – with thin, vertical stripes
bowler hat – a hat with a domed top. You don’t see businessmen wearing bowler hats these days.
hop – to jump lightly
the tube – slang for the London Underground
congestion – overcrowding
get about – move, travel
off-peak – (adjective) not during the rush hour
astronomical – extremely high
turn up – arrive
grind – a chore, something that is unpleasant to do
carbon footprint – how much impact an individual has on the environment. This is quite a trendy phrase at the moment.
It’s a hard life! – we use this phrase ironically, to mean that actually someone is very fortunate, e.g.
Tom has two cleaners, a cook, a driver, a gardener, and even someone to brush his teeth for him. It’s a hard life!
If you bug someone, you annoy them.
Answers to your comments
Cathy – Ah! You’re so sweet, thank you. I think it’s easier to learn if you have fun at the same time. For explanations on how to use ‘the’ and ‘a/an’, please see my blog dated Friday 08 June.
Naheed – Hi! Nice to speak to you again! Yes, people do live in those houses. There are lots of them in the Normandy countryside.
The Student With No Name – you can say either ‘He said his mother was ill’ or ‘He said that his mother was ill’. Both are correct and there is no difference in meaning. The same with ‘It started to rain’ and ‘It started raining’. Both are perfect and there is no difference in meaning.
Mauricio – If you say ‘at the weekend’, you’re talking about a specific weekend, i.e. the weekend that has just gone, or the weekend that is coming. If you say ‘on the weekend’ it can be any weekend. You can use ‘on the weekend’ if you want to talk about habits, e.g.
On the weekend, I go fishing and read the newspaper.
Ana Paula – Yes, I have seen the Water Lilies and they are amazing. They are so huge in the flesh you really can’t quite believe it. If you ever go to Paris, don’t miss them! As for commas, a good way to put them in the right place is to say the sentence aloud – where do you pause to take a breath? That’s the place you can put a comma.
Stevieboy – ‘fair enough’ is a colloquial (slang) way of saying ‘that’s fair’, e.g.
The boss said I had to work four hours of overtime that night. I said, ‘Can you pay me extra for that, maybe double time?’ He said, ‘fair enough’.
Tomo – Hmm, I’m not sure that I’m a very good photographer but thank you! Yes, I use a digital camera, which is actually quite old now. But it’s made by a Japanese company so it’s the best! ;-> When we take a photo in the UK, to get everyone to smile, the photographer says: ‘Everybody say cheese!’ Then everyone who is being photographed says back: ‘Cheese!’
Jai – please take a look at my blogs dated June 04 and June 09 for more information about phrases coined by Shakespeare and idioms.
Joel – I’m so happy you enjoy reading my blog. I love writing it too!
Michel – so does that make you a North Man? ;->
Ahmed – great use of the words ‘meaty’ and ‘peruse all of them with great relish’. Well done! Yes, you could also say ‘the lifestyle there is quite different to that in the UK’. The version I wrote is a little less formal. Also, Giverny is a place in Normandy. It’s where the painter Monet lived, and the gardens there are what inspired him to paint The Water Lilies.
Comments
Hi teacher Jo! How nice to read your blog everyday. You see, I have been learning to read in English for several years and I rarely have a chance to write in English or speak it out with a speaking English man. I also have read your blogs many times but I was not dare of (I’m not sure witch is correct: “to be dare of” or “to be dare about” doing something) writing any comment to one of your blogs. Yesterday I happened to see a TV program about how a dump person lives and behavior in his life. They also described of a boy who was very lazy at talking when he was young and this thing happen for a long time. When he was five years old, he could only understand what people around spoke and could not write or speak even a word. All of this made me to the decision of writing a comment to your blog. I hope that I could receive much consideration from you or it just was my willing to practice English. Thank you so much for all of your blogs. They are very interesting and useful for my English. All the best to you, teacher Jo! I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Hi teacher Kent, this week I am quite busy . Because I am preparing for seminar at the beginning of August. I would like to present in English but it is hard for me to manage all in one month. Would it be alright if you give some tips in Seminar? It is essential for remembering the script,isn't it ? By the way,traffic jam in London look so busy and wonderful on the other hand. I think I have a good living in countryside more than downtown. Catch you leter....
Hej Jo, It's a pleasure to read your blog. You blogs make me feel you are chating with friends. I have one question, once I heard someone asking: who cook food in you house. Do you normally say "in you house" or "at your home" in this context? Could you give me more example how to use these two words? One more question, I will travel to Longdon for business in September, could you give me some recommendation where I could go for after working hours? Any language mistakes in my comments?. Maybe too many questions . Thanks! :).
Hello Jo, I really wait to every new blog. I like hearing about life of ordinary people. I have found your information about commuting in Britain very interesting. It is necessary to talk about grammar over and over. Learning, revision and forgeting is really never ending story. It is our (learner) story.
I'm new here. Thank you,Jo, I leant lots new words and phrases by reading your blog,and it was an enjoyable read,too.Keep up the good work. Defo will become a regular here.:)
Hi Jo! You are really lucky! For sure if one day I go to Paris, I wouldn´t miss for nothing in this world The Water Lilies in the flesh. Thanks for the tips about punction, I´ll follow them. Well, as I work near my home, I don´t have to cope with any commute. In five minutes I get there walking. It´s a hard life, isn´t it ;-)? Now my sister who works in Sao Paolo city, has to commute everyday in the rush hour to get to her work. Once, when she was trying to get out of the crowed subway car(if she knows that I told this for you, she´ll kill me, haha) she lost her left shoe during the mess of people trying to get in and people trying to get out of the car. So, she couldn´t do anything, when she realized she was bare foot, and she only sobbed for lost one of her favourite shoes. However, suddenly, something was thrown of the subway car. Yes, it was her shoe, that she watched motionless it flies away through the subway station until it hits the floor. What a situation! Can you imagine the scene? Haha! Well, I´ll finish my comment here Jo. Anyway, I´m looking foward to meeting another one of your pets. Something tells me that he/she is really cute :-). Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Hi Jo! It´s me again! :-) I would like to say one thing to Ahmed from Casablanca, if you allow me. Ahmed, when I saw you are from Casablanca I could help myself. Immediately I remembered the famous phrase ' Play it, once, Sam, for the old time´s sake!' And the soft melody of As Time Goes By come to my mind ' you must remember this...' do you know it? It´s from Casablanca film. Oh! I´m sorry. Maybe many people boring you with this subject, but it´s really nice to meet someone from Casablanca. Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Hi,Jo! How's everything with you? Train in UK is pretty expensive! I can't believe British people must pay £23 for a ticket. Instead of UK, in my country train is one of the cheapest transports. However train conditions are terrible here :S that's why I prefer bus to train. Fortunately, School of Art is two blocks from my home and I don't need to use any kind of transport. I do enjoy going on foot though 'cause I let my thoughts stray and I come into contact with nature this way. Walking indeed relax myself. Wish you all the best! Kisses
Hello Jo!I must say you are lucky,touch wood(have I used it correctly?).Reading about the buses in the Uk seems like you are talking about the buses in Pakistan.The only difference between the two is that, the ones here are colourful like confetti. Not only the buses but lorries are also of the same kind(this art form is called 'the truck art'and is getting fame these days).I use buses to travel about as the bus fares are fairly cheap than that of the taxi and rikshaw.It costs from Rs 6-9 to travel by a bus, however, the taxi and rikshaw charge more than the distance travelled.
Hi Jo.Just like you, i usually spend my whole daytime in front of the Computer learning english with BBC.Now comes to the side effect, my back is killing me when i get my bum out of the chair, so i would like to know have you got any"painkiller"(advice)? Thank you.Best wishes. I love your blog.
Dear Jo, Do you have bycicles in England? They might be the alternative! ;) Thank you very much for your interesting blog, I always learn a lot!
Hi teacher Jo! Reading your blog about “Getting about in the UK” made me very interested because I can understand more about people’s life in London. I can imagine businessmen in London being very hurry getting to their offices with umbrellas in their hands. As you has written about the rainy weather in London, so that the umbrellas seem to be useful for them in case of a sudden rain. Now it’s time for me to talk about the stereotypical image of a Vietnamese commuter. Typically, he is riding on a motorbike with a helmet or a cap on his head, wearing an anti-dust cloth mask, carrying a satchel at his back, getting to his office. In Vietnam there are busses as public transports but they are so big vehicles with high door step that commuters could not hop onto it. Usually, they have to wait for the buses to stop still and then climb onto them. As for roads in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, they are all still narrow with the estimated Hanoi’s population of more than three million and each family in Hanoi are possessing of at least one motorbike that make seriously traffic jam in rush hours. Normally getting around in Hanoi in the off-peak time seems to be easier, especially on weekends. In term of the weather, it’s close now in Hanoi and the northern part of Vietnam. Humidity in Hanoi always high and it is rainy sometimes. It makes people tired and uncomfortable. While I am writing my blog, it’s bucketing down and it’s a bit parky today. I have to go for a woolen jacket in my wardrobe. It’s a hard life! TV’s Today's predominant weather is forecast to be torrential downpours in two more days. It makes me to think of the rains in London, would it be as much as in Hanoi now? Oh, it’s so late now because it took me long time witting the blog and it is time for me to mull over what to write for my next one in my dream tonight. Hope all goes well with you and I’m looking to get some replies from you!
Hello Jo,I can't figure out what this sentence means,"However, the population of London is around 7 million, and there are more than 60 million of us the UK." And this sentence also,"Not because our roads are so great – there are lots of traffic jams – but because public transport isn’t really that good." Is it correct if I write like this,"Not because our roads are so lousy - there are lots of traffic jams - but because public transport isn't really that good." Jo, transportation fee in the UK is skyhigh compared to that in Singapore. If I consider working in the UK, I'd rather ask my boss to allow me to work 24 hours a day so that I don't need to spend a big sum on commuting. with warm and kind regards!!
Hi Jo I live about 30 Km from my work office and every mornig I have to reach it at 8.30. Usually I get my car and the travel lasts about 40 minutes. I find a lot of traffic and the journey is quite hard. In the evening I finish at 7 - 7.30, and the traffic is better then I can get to home in 30 minutes. It's possible to use the train. A return ticket costs 5,20 € . Bye, bye
hello, my dear teacher.thank you for your wonderful blogs and your hard work.here is a expression that i can't understand clearly that's "cost-effective".Does it mean the expense that you spend in going to work by car or you pay for the congestion charge.because of the bad public transport they have no other choice but go to work by car.thank you. best wishes for you and everyone of your famlily.
Thankyou,very much Jo.I am a maths teacher but I am weak in english.I am brushing up my english through bbc learning english.
It’s really interesting to know that you brits are waiting so long to catch buses. I couldn’t imagine. Because I heard that everything is very punctual in country like Britain. But your blog today tells differently. People are changing isn’t? In India you can’t expect buses or train on time. Some time people in rural areas sit on the top of the bus to travel. Otherwise they have to wait 3 to 4 hours to take another bus. Commuting in the trains in the cities is also a difficult task. You said the ticket charges in the train in your country are astronomical. If you take season ticket in our place for one month or three months, the ticket charges are cheaper. Office goers and students are using this facility. When I read your blog today simultaneously the article “an”, I added in front of the word extra. You have to pay an extra. Was not necessary article here? Could you explain me this? People are talking more about environment now days. People are taking extra efforts to eat nutritious food now days. I am taking too much drink now days.
Hi, Jo. It's nice to hear that you think the Japanese camera you have is the best. I have a British bag which is famous for its tartan. The brand is quite popular in Japan, too. By the way, I used to go to work by train. I was jammed while I was on it almost everyday. That was disgusting. It doesn't so much expensive to buy a train ticket in my place but not cheap. I converted 23pounds into Japanese yen. The yen has been weak against the pound so I can't travel in UK now! See you.
I appreciate all ur activit on improving english starting from i will attend thank u
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