A man walks into a bar...
Hello! Thanks for your answers to all my questions, Kiran! And it was great to read about your daily routine. The thing I found most interesting was that you do 30-45 minutes of meditation a day… that’s amazing! I wish I had time to do that! When we first moved back to England, Ed (my husband) wasn’t working so I used to be able to do almost an hour of yoga every morning… (well, almost every morning :-) Unfortunately he started his new job two weeks ago and so now I can only do it on the weekends :-(
Well done on the linkers homework. Let’s have a little look at your answers:
1. Despite being very busy in my office works I read Amy's blog and comments to my blog.
Your choice of linker here is excellent. Just a couple of tiny things to be changed to be make it perfect: Despite being very busy with my office work (not plural), I read Amy’s blog and comments on my blog. Don’t forget the comma between the two parts of the sentence.
2. Though for some of you it may be a repetition even then I would like to go in details about the materials and the construction of these huts.
In this one you’ve used two linkers when in fact you only need one. Try this: Although for some of you it may be a repetition, I would like to go intodetail about the materials and the construction of these huts. Again, don’t forget the comma.
3. The roof is thatched roof and the height is around 2 to 2.5 meters.
Great! No need to repeat the word ‘roof’ though.
4. Red mud is used more than white mud in some places of Nepal because of its availability.
Here the linking is good but I think your original word order was better: In some places in Nepal red mud is used more than white mud because of its availability.
5. The metal sheet roof makes the top story too hot during the day time yet people prefer it to be tension free from maintining this every year.
This is good except the expression ‘tension free’ doesn’t work so well here: The metal sheet roof makes the top storey (spelling) too hot during the day time, yet people prefer it as there is no need to maintain it every year.
Well done! And well done to all our readers who attempted this as well. I’ll comment on your answers when I do the replies in my next post.
Kiran, is the expression ‘it smells more like that’ a direct translation from Nepali? It doesn’t really work in English. Saying you were a bit biased is a better way of putting it :-)
Now, in my post I asked you why I used the present simple tense when I was writing about what I did. You’ll notice that Kiran also (correctly) used it. Many of you wrote in and said that the reason this tense was used was because we were describing things we did every day – in Kiran’s case that is absolutely right. However, I don’t make quiche everyday and Louie certainly doesn’t have a tantrum over a carrot everday (thank goodness!) SO – why the present simple? Well, Marianna you get the prize! In my case, I used the present simple because it makes the events seem more immediate and (perhaps!) more compelling – it’s good for when you’re telling a funny or dramatic story. It’s the same reason we use present simple when telling jokes… have you ever noticed that we do that? Here’s a joke for you to prove my point:
A man walks into a bar, sits down and orders a beer. The bartender gives it to him, along with a bowl of peanuts. To the man’s surprise, the bowl of peanuts starts talking to him. It says, ‘Hey, you’re really good looking! I love your shirt!’. The man thinks this is a bit weird. He realises he hasn’t got any cigarettes, so he goes over to the machine to buy some. He puts in the money and then the machine starts talking to him too! It says, ‘Man, you’re so ugly. Did you even look in the mirror before you left the house? You look BAD’ and then it doesn’t even give him any cigarettes. The man is very confused. He goes back to the bartender and asks him to explain. ‘Oh yes,’ says the bartender, ‘the peanuts are complimentary, but the cigarette machine is out of order.’
So what do you think? Funny? :-) Focus on the words in bold at the end if you’re not sure you understand… Make sure you use an English-English dictionary!
Here’s my conundrum for you today – I can almost guarantee that this joke would not be at all funny if you translated it into your first language. Why?
Okay, I’m going to love you and leave you now. We’re going out for dinner so got to get ready!
Xxx Amy
p.s. nobody noticed (or perhaps you are all just too polite)! I made a mistake with the title of my last blog, it should have been ‘From dawn till dusk’, not the other way round!
p.p.s. How’s the 5-a-day going everyone? :-)
Okay I really am going now… today’s words and phrases:
Compelling
To prove a point
Complimentary (check the context carefully!)
Out of order (check the context carefully!)
A conundrum
Vocabulary from last time:
A lie-in - to stay asleep past your normal time of waking up, usually on purpose!
Hyperactive - to be over-excited, with lots of energy, not wanting to sit still
To have a ball - to have a great time
A meltdown - I like Ana Paula’s definition here: to become upset and out of control because (in this case a child) can´t have what want he wants
To brandish - to wave something around in a crazy kind of way
To resume - to begin something again after stopping it
To be set (check the context) - here it means the egg is properly cooked so that it is no longer liquid
Comments
Hello Amy, I got your joke but not before using my English-English dictionary. Unfortunately I don't understand what "the 5-a-day" means; is it a next joke of yours? I would be very grateful to you for explaining the term to me. Thank you in advance and best wishes to you and your family.
Hi,Amy I’d noticed your mistake, but I thought you had coined a new phrase as an English teacher. Sorry it’s not funny as much as your joke. I passed the joke on to my husband and son. My husband chuckled but my son said it’s not funny at all. I have done the-a 5-day on the internet program called ‘freerice.com’(thank you, Ana Paula) and it help me a lot expand new vocabularies. I know your life is so hectic and I don’t think you have time to watch the telly a lot, but since you gave us a chance to to choose topics I have been thinking and this idea has popped into my head. I would love you to compare some of Indian’s with English’s telly programs if you can, and it would be very grateful to let us know whether you have discovered any interesting program in The Uk. Have a fabulous weekend!xx
Hello again, its nice to read another three blogs of yours in a week:). I've read your posted joke and i found the meaning of complimentary (from the context)= cost nothing and out-of-order = not working. So, here actually the peanuts were given to him free of charge so in order to compensate the loss the machine keep the money and it doesn't give him any cigarettes too. The bartender just said because he doesn't want to make the man feel bad and also he doesn't want to loose a customer. Thats my speculation. I dont know why your're saying its not funny if we translated it into our native language, i've translated it and found it quite funny. Amy, i try to learn 2 words each day and then on sunday i try to revise them all. Now the HW part: Compelling= Attractive, To prove a point= to make it clear, Complimentary (check the context carefully!)= costing nothing, Out of order (check the context carefully!)= not working properly, A conundrum = A diffciult task.
Hi Amy, I tried to post before your last post but it never appeared, in the last you win me, but this time I'm answering your enjoy blog. Respect to conundrum the things talking!, it's funny, but I don't get what is it behind?. best wishes
Hello Amy! Don't the subtleties of a languege make its wealth? With my own range of French vocabulary I'm likely to think in another way than an English person with his own one don't you think so? And on the top of that with my culture I probably have got different benchmarks to see, understand things...and a joke, a riddle which are more than often a bit subtle can be funny at home but not abroad. Or we need some extra clue to get the picture! It's the case tonight because I don't even smile reading the outcome! Not to worry; I'm on my own in front of my computer. It's a bit bothering to feel lonely when everybody is laughing around you isn't it?!!
Dear Amy, I read your blog several times to find out meaning of joke. What is the other meaning of words than simple meaning? At last, I got the meaning after a long brain teasing (conundrum), I got it but still I am not sure whether I am in right track or not. So, it is compelling (makes me think over it) me to read this joke several times. It is hard to decide whether someone really complimenting my improve skill in English learning or flattering because that may be out of order (inappropriate). I am not getting enough evidence to prove a point. As in your joke, bartender declared that peanuts were flattering and the comments made by cigarette machine were inappropriate (not suitable). So, it is wise to think several times either compliments given by anyone is appropriate or not.
Amy, you are right. Not all English jokes are considered funny in my Country. However, the jokes which you sent is exception. Why is the joke not considered funny in other country?...because some of the jokes mentioned anything which are not well recognized in the country. In my Country, most of people doesn't familiar with "bar" and most of them enjoy meal & drink at caffee shop which is normally don't sell any beer or alcohol. Cigarette machine is not common either as we can buy cigarret in the mini market (e.g 711). thank's.
Hello Ami I'll try to give a go at the joke. The peanuts as well as being free of charge, they were polite and well educated (they made a compliment to the customer),though perhaps the didn't say the true. On the other hand the cigarette machine apart from not work properly, it probably said the true, but in a rude way. See you soon
Hi Amy - to tell the truth, I've noticed something weird in the title of your previous blog, but I haven't even tought of point it out ( politess, shyness... who knows?)The next week is the last of your blog (sigh) and the last of my holiday because on 2nd September a new school year starts and I have to come back to work.I'm happy to see my pupils (they are 9 years old)even if sometimes they are mischievious. Homework: compelling=vivid, exciting; to prove a point=to give an example; complimentary=flattering; out of order=not working; conundrum=a trick question, often involving an amusing use of word that have two meanings. Sorry, I'm not able to answer to the question about the joke for my limited knowledge of English. Best wishes
Hello Amy, Here I am... reading your recent posts. I especially liked to read your daily routine. Very funny! I'd like to tahnk you for your reply. without further ado. ;-) Bye Adri
hi everyone I'm new in this blog area as writer but always I am following all entries and comments. Now I'm I'm Vancouver trying to improving my english language skills. Vancouver is a perfect place to everyone to learn english cuz hear you always can make mistake and anyone laugh. I think that the most important when you are learning anything in you life is not fell fear or shame. Everyone made mistakes, what's the problem? The most important is keep walking. See you.
Hi Amy - I've realised I have completely misunderstood your question about the 5-a-day, so I try to answer now. I don't manage to learn 5 words a day because I learn some and forget others, however I've improved my vocabulary. I usually write some words on a board in the kitchen and, while I'm cooking or ironing,I glance at them and try to say a sentence. It works!Ciao
Hello Amy, it's nice talking to you again. I'm afraid I'll have to say that I didn't get the joke. I got the first part, I think, after looking "complimentary" in the dictionary. But I couldn't get the thing about the cigarette machine. I know that "out of order" means sth that is not working, but I couldn't get the second meaning that makes the joke funny. I'll have to wait for you to explain. As for the conundrum, I guess it wouldn't work in our first language, because the fun of it is in the fact that the words used have two different meanings in English and that probably won't be the case in our first language. Amy, I'm trying to keep my 5-a day diet, but as it happens to me in regular diets, I'm going out of it every now and then. But, today is monday: a good day to start a diet isn't it, or maybe re-start it. (Can I say that, re-start? Amy, thanks for your nice blog. See you soon. Bye,bye.
Hello Amy, better late than never, I should give my warm welcome to you. It's really good to see you again. As for your conundrum, the joke will not be funny if it is translated as it is in our first language. But it can be made funny if we think how can this joke be written in our language to make it sound humorous.Here are my answers to the vocabulary you have set: 1)Compelling: if something is compelling it gets more of your attention. 2)To prove a point: to give proof of something that has been said earlier in order to make it true. 3)Complimentary: in this context it means to praise someone. 4)Out of order: out of work. 5) A conundrum: a tricky question. Best wishes, Naheed
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