thread of a Russian learning English

Very little to be honest
He's moving to London next month, but he doesn't like big cities.
Say's that he has to move to London but doesn't like big cities
He doesn't like big cities, however he's moving to London next month.
Says he doesn't like big cities but will make an exception to move to London
but they are both interchangable
 
Thank you, Chris.
In my opinion, the second variant is more correct. Isn't it?
The first version seems a little strange (for me). And for a native?
 
:thumbs:
To be honest I don't think that it makes any real difference.
Although we are only a small country, regional dialects play a big part in the English language.
I would probably use the 1st example
 
I studied russian a while back.

All i remember is this phrase, i think it's spelt correctly.

у тебя есть кошка?
 
Да, у меня есть кошка. Вернее кот.

And yet, I'd like to receive some answers of my question.
Do you believe in afterlife?
 
elektro said:
Да, у меня есть кошка. Вернее кот.

And yet, I'd like to receive some answers of my question.
Do you believe in afterlife?
Click to expand...

Better would be:
Do you believe in an afterlife?
or possibly
Do you believe in the afterlife?

No.
 
But & however

I would say that 'but' is usually prefixed to an objection or negation/exception, whereas 'however' is more likely to be used as a prefix to additional info which doesn't have to be negative.

I like ice cream, but not raspberry flavour.
We have the go ahead, however, we still need the paperwork.
(I know they are not good examples)

However also has the meaning like regardless/howsoever.

However this got broken it needs fixing.
However did you make such a mess?
 
who? said:
But & however

I would say that 'but' is usually prefixed to an objection or negation/exception, whereas 'however' is more likely to be used as a prefix to additional info which doesn't have to be negative.

I like ice cream, but not raspberry flavour.
We have the go ahead, however, we still need the paperwork.
(I know they are not good examples)

However also has the meaning like regardless/howsoever.

However this got broken it needs fixing.
However did you make such a mess?
Click to expand...

:clap::clap::clap:
Thanks Mark!
These examples are good for me, but I think that I've understood meaning "but & however", however gruel don't damage by butter (Russian idiom).
 
Just some minor adjustments:

These examples are good for me, and I think I've understood the meaning of "but & however", however gruel isn't? damaged by butter. :)

If you ever want to learn any Cumbrian dialect to add to your vocabulary, feel free to ask marra! (mate in Cumbrian) :D
 
Look these ways please, may I write so?
I haven't decided yet.
or
I've not decided yet.
Which sentence is rightly?
 
Both are correct elektro. haven't is short for have not and I've is short for I have so they are both the same thing.
 
Ah but, what about "rightly"...a mistake ? or...personality
 
Today's question is:
What does do use in similar sentences for?
for example:

I do hope that you are going to enjoy these pictures.

I have found nothing about it in my textbooks...
 
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I guess that it is the act of doing something but in that context it is really used for emphasis.
I am in the act of hoping that you will enjoy the pics.
I really (sincerely) hope that you enjoy the pics.

edit: Someone who knows better than me (and is reading over my shoulder) says - it's a modal verb.

modal verbs take an infinitive - I want to / I do hope / I may hope / I will hope

Apparently it is much clearer in French.:shrug:

So there you go - Learn French or Latin first:bang:
 
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OK
If I've understood correctly
I do want = I really want
I do think = I really think
I do try = I really try

Am I right?
 
yes - but see my last edit above for the technicalities.
 
Today's questions are:
1. What's the difference between could and managed to?
2. May I use in the Present tense manage to in place of can?

Teaching and explanations are greeted!:thumbs:
 
Just to put in my twopenneth in:

could, I could try to ride a bike
managed to, i managed to ride a bike

managed to is when you have acheived something, could means that you might try something.

Yes you could use manage to instead of can, but you tend to use them both together in the same sentance.

i wonder if he can manage to do this job for me.

Hope this helps :thumbs:
 
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If I've understood correctly
I managed to ride a bike = I have been able to ride a bike
??????????????????????????????????????????????????
 
Correct!

"Managed to" implies there was some difficulty.

You could use "manage to" in the present tense, but the result would be wordy (more words than the usual alternative).
 
Thanks to everyone who helps me with their advices.

Today's question is:
Which word does mean that girl who has a friendship with other girl (only friendship no more)?
It's needed for naming my next photo...
 
"Girlfriends" ( or "girl friend" as in "one half") can be used quite readily without any sexual inference.
If you want to be more specific then you can use the word "platonic"
it means a non sexual relationship between
a) men / women
b) women /women
c) men / men

ie "these women have a purely platonic relationship"
 
Thanks Chris.
You have shed light on this problem, but it have not helped to name my next work...
The subtext of it that I captured one bloke and two girls, which are not indifferent to him. So in a head of one girl has a thought about killing other one.
What do you think about its name?
 
elektro said:
You can see it here, Chris
Click to expand...


Ah I understand now what you mean :thumbs:

"jealousy" perhaps?

Or maybe even better, " the green eyed monster"
this is a slang phrase for jealousy, and can mean a varying depth of feelings
from mild annoyance to real hatred
Perhaps that helps?
 
She became the green eyed monster after she'd heard a spicy story with him.
Is it right understood?
 
elektro said:
She became the green eyed monster after she'd heard a spicy story with him.
Is it right understood?
Click to expand...

She became the green eyed monster after she'd heard a spicy story ABOUT him.
 
elektro said:
Oh my god, my mistakes are omnipresent :'(
Click to expand...

Although that is technically correct its not a word that we would use in everyday speech
more like
"I have made a lot of mistakes"
"I have made a few mistakes"
or
I have made a huge mistake
or just
I have made a mistake. :thumbs:
 
OK, Chris.
In my opinion, I've still made a lot mistakes sounds better
 
elektro said:
OK, Chris.
In my opinion, I've still made a lot mistakes sounds better
Click to expand...


When spoken in english, it is missing a word to make the above comment complete.
"In my opinion, I've still made a lot of mistakes, sounds better."

My question to you is, Do you feel this thread has helped you with your english? Do you learn a lot from this furom correcting and explaining your sentences?
 
Even I thought he'd soon get fed up with us constantly correcting every minor English infringement.
 
gazedd said:
My question to you is, Do you feel this thread has helped you with your english? Do you learn a lot from this furom correcting and explaining your sentences?
Click to expand...

I'm absolutely certain that studying foreign languages is hard work and a lot of time. This forum give me more motivation and make me feel confident of my skills to communicate.
I think that many rules I memorize, however a lot of stuff is passing by. Step by srep. I understand that this process have to continue several years...
Why have you asked me about it?
 
Elecktro, I commpletely agree and only learnt a little bit of French when i was at school. I am lucky, I speak english and so does most of the world, so to get by in life people help me rather than i help them. Its a selffish view, i know - but for the limited times i am out of this country i can get by in the tourist parts of the world.


I do not know why i asked the question, i guess i was being nosey.
 
I often confuse with some of simple, similar and popular verbs such as:
- to talk - to tell - to say
- to listen - to hear
- to see - to look at - to watch

If you have some free time and a desire to explain me their difference with simple examples - you are always welcome!
 
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elektro said:
I often confuse with some of simple, similar and popular verbs such as:
- to talk - to tell - to say
- to listen - to hear
- to see - to look at - to watch

If you have some free time and a desire to explain me their difference with simple examples - you are always welcome!
Click to expand...

Always got time for people who want to learn!

All of the words in red essentially mean the same thing, the describe the act of speaking, however each carries a slightly different meaning. To talk is just the act of speaking. You can talk to someone (in which case the other person is involved in the conversation), or talk at someone. The latter implies that the person being spoken to isn't listening.

Hearing means that the words are reaching someone's ears, listening means that person has taken on board what has been said! So (to use a stereotypical example ;) ), when a wife nags her husband while he's watching TV, he may hear, but he probably hasn't listened. Usually you 'hear someone/something', or you 'listen to someone/something'

To see something often implies an element of chance..... "I saw a friend when I was out shopping" for example. To watch implies more of a fixed gaze. You can watch animals for example, but if you watch people, it might sound a bit creeps! Hope this helps a bit!

Chris
 
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