thread of a Russian learning English

you could blow the dust off, maybe that would help huh?
or get an updated edition from the local library.

is it very cold in moscow at the moment?
 
oh.
how do you think russia has changed in the last 5 years?
 
I think Russia is standing at one place...
It's so hard to explain
 
where is it standing?
is it outside? inside? halfway in and halfway outside? or on the roof? or round the corner? or up the junction? or on the far side of the field? please try to explain as best you can...
 
I think that you may find some of the English humour a little hard to understand Elektro. ;)
Tolerate it like you would tolerate a child and you'll be fine. :lol:
 
I think that Russia is searching itself way.
But I know that both you and I know nothing and we're leading a guff!
 
Susane said:
I think that you may find some of the English humour a little hard to understand Elektro. ;)
Tolerate it like you would tolerate a child and you'll be fine. :lol:
Click to expand...

i think elektro is playing a game, i'm just playing along. not trying to be rude!:thumbs:
 
Game?
I just want to improve my English and you're helping me with it:thumbs:
 
I am loved to you and can't stop! ;)
 
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But I should really go to bed.
I hope this show will continue...
 
elektro said:
A smiling girl is participle 1
A smiled girl is participle 2

what's the odds?
Click to expand...

sorry to drag the thread back to the question!

instead of smile try paint

a painting girl = a girl who is performing the activity of painting
vs
a painted girl = a girl who has been painted

so
a smiling girl = a girl who is performing the activity of smiling
a smiled girl = doesn't make sense as a girl cannot be "smiled"

she can be smiled at "I smiled at the girl"
but you would not use "a smiled at girl"

English is easy - it is rule based
there is one rule for each occasion!
 
i can sympathise with you elektro as im learning estonian ready for visiting estonia in july to meet the inlaws for the first time.......................
 
You wouldn't be a Cheeky Girl?
 
Thanks Mike! You are the best!!! ;)
To my mind I've understood it!
My examples:
an interesting man = a man who is interesting in something
an interested man = women like that man
 
elektro said:
Thanks Mike! You are the best!!! ;)
To my mind I've understood it!
My examples:
an interesting man = a man who is interesting in something
an interested man = women like that man
Click to expand...

almost
an interesting man = a man whom others find interesting
an interested man = a man who is interested (in a woman possibly!)

like I said there is one rule for each occasion - and they're all different!
 
I'm interested in politics, because the politics is interesting
Was I correct?
Is the red words participle?
 
elektro said:
I'm interested in politics, because the politics is interesting
Was I correct?
Is the red words participle?
Click to expand...

:clap::clap::clap::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

(but politics isn't interesting for me :) )
 
:banana:Yes! I've done it!:banana:

(and politics isn't interesting for me too )
 
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Please, mark out phrases which are actively using in UK in red and slacken off in blue.
If you think that some phrases not use - underline it

fight like a lion (like a tiger)
I hope to God
I should not mind
jog my memory
sooner or later
use your brains
where's the fire?
with mirrors
rhyme or reason
get a kick
the name of the play
rake up the past
dark horse
act of God
actions speak louder than words
kill two birds with one stone
what's up?
open old wounds
rack your brain
don't push my buttons!
don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you
make my day
banana skin
a can of worms
dead duck
eagle eyes
feel free
Get the green light
Half a mind
I'll eat my hat
Juggle frogs
Keep at bay
Land of nod
Man of his word
Nail in the coffin
On the run
Picture perfect
Quick as a flash
Rain on your parade
Scotch Mist
The sands of time
Under your nose
Volte-face
Warm and fuzzy
Yes-man
Zip it
A little bird told me
Back number
Call it a day
Dirty dog
Early bird catches the worm
Fat head
Gild the lily
Get on your nerves
Go tell it to birds
Better half
Mummy's boy
Slow boat to China
Beat your brains out
Prick up your ears
Ride high
Cock of the walk

:wave:
 
elektro said:
I'm interested in politics, because the politics are interesting
Was I correct?
Is the red words participle?
Click to expand...

are - 'politics' is plural
'the politics' implies specific interactions rather than the more general 'politics'

Have you got a copy of
Fowler's usage?

I think all of those phrases would be understood, but some are archaic and some rather stylised - more likely to be written (esp. in newspapers) than used in normal conversation.
 
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who? said:
are - 'politics' is plural
'the politics' implies specific interactions rather than the more general 'politics'
Click to expand...
Why? I had in mind no people. It means a process. Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions on who gets what.

who? said:
Have you got a copy of
Fowler's usage?
Click to expand...
No, I have not

who? said:
I think all of those phrases would be understood, but some are archaic and some rather stylised - more likely to be written (esp. in newspapers) than used in normal conversation.
Click to expand...
I've written it since it is rather like Russian phrases
 
elektro said:
Why? I had in mind no people. It means a process. Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions on who gets what.
Click to expand...


I'll need to think about this (I suffered comprehensive education). I think that its a quirk of your choice of politics as a subject. Politics is the process but also the subject area or the relationships and interactions/rivalries. But in common usage the construction 'the politics' does imply a set of politics. eg That project is a disaster; the politics between IT and finance are causing problems.

I would say that to be correct:
The politics are interesting <-- A specific set (so plural) of politics. The politics of 17th century europe are interesting.
but
Politics is interesting. <-- the subject (singular). Politics is an interesting topic of study.

edit: Actually the more I think about this, the more I think that I would generally treat 'politics' as a plural. Your original could have been 'I'm interested in Politcs because politics is interesting'

However
The camera is interesting
Cameras are interesting
 
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Well, My mistake was writting THE, wasn't it?
and Thank you for your efforts!
 
Today's question:

What is the difference between other and another?
 
another question from Elektro
Rather like the others

Do you know another way of taking a picture other than using a camera?
Another is something similar but not quite the same
I would like another cup of tea

other can be similar
My other car is bigger
My other brother is older
I have another brother

But just to confuse things a little more
My back hurts but other than that I am well.
in this case "other" is excluding something rather than comparing
 
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elektro said:
Today's question:

What is the difference between other and another?
Click to expand...


A zoo manager was ordering new animals for the zoo and he wrote 'Please send me two mongooses'

Feeling mongooses didn't sound right, he changed it to 'Please send me two mongeese' which didn't look or sound right either.

After some thought he finally wrote...
'Send me a mongoose please'

and then...

'P.S. Please send me another'

Sorry elektro - bad English joke. :D
 
CT said:
A zoo manager was ordering new animals for the zoo and he wrote 'Please send me two mongooses'

Feeling mongooses didn't sound right, he changed it to 'Please send me two mongeese' which didn't look or sound right either.

After some thought he finally wrote...
'Send me a mongoose please'

and then...

'P.S. Please send me another'

Sorry elektro - bad English joke. :D
Click to expand...


:lol: many years ago, a few friends and I took a drive out to a country pub. Weather gorgeous, so we sat outside enjoying cold beers. After about half an hour, one friend said "isn't that shup cute"
We looked askance at her. What was she on about?
She pointed at the freshy shorn sheep in the field next to the beergarden, in particular, the single animal poking its head through the fence near by.
"that shup, its trying to get our drinks"

It took several minutes of hysterical laughter and at least half the beer before we could explain that 'sheep' are 'sheep', both singular and plural :bonk:
 
Oh, I,ve understood. The shup is an impudent sheep, isn't it?:lol::lol::lol:
 
another question from Elektro
We already told about should, could and would.
Today I want to ask you -
What is the difference between should and have to?
I think that it is the same. Isn't it?
 
They are similar but not always the same.

I should do this, but I might not.

I have to do this, I have no choice.
 
If I comprehend right so:
I have to drink 20 glass of beer - I'll crack...
I shold drink 20 glass of beer - I'll be able to drink 5 glass of beer and after that run away...
Yes?
 
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