I don't drink some milk. は日本語で「いくらかの牛乳をのまない」の意味に とれますか?つまりIt's not the case that I drink some milk.にとれますか? 私には「牛乳には飲まないものもある」の意味にしかとれません。つまり、 There is a certain kind of milk that I don't drink.の意味です。
Thank you very much. My next question is about this sentence.
1. If she doesn't drink some water right now, she'll have a big problem.
Doesn't this sound perfectly OK with the interpretation "it's not the case that she drinks some water right now"? I think this is perfectly fine, and don't know why I can't get the same interpretation in the milk sentence.
Regarding “a California university”….. I still don’t get this. Please allow me to ask of this one more time. Did you intend to refer to “one of the universities under UC group”, or “ a university located in California”?
If there's no context that makes it possible, it doesn't sound right.
If you make a short statement like "I don't drink some milk" it sounds like your describing your habits and the "some" sounds redundant. But in a context like "If I don't drink some coffee, I get grumpy" the "some" sounds OK.
>>5 確かに不思議。 If she doesn't drink some water right now, she'll have a big problem. の場合は、 If she doesn't drink any water right now. というような意味にとれるけど、 I don't drink some milk. と I don't drink any milk. は意味が全然違う。 文法的には分からないけど、Ifがついているからとしか考えようがない。 僕には、I don't drink some milk.って文章自体、なんか変な感じがするけど、ラサールさんがOKと言うのだからいいのでしょう。
Which of the followoing interpretations are LOGICALLY posssible? Please try to think carefully, because this can be very confusing.
a. It's not the case that Chris drinks some milk every day (but he drinks some milk ALMOST every day). b. Every day it's not the case that Chris drinks some milk. c. There is a certain kind of milk that Chris doesn't drink every day (but there is a certain kind of milk that he doesn't drink ALMOST every day..) d. Every day there is a certain kind of milk that he doesn't drink.
If my a-d sentences are hard to understand, you can just tell me all the possible interpretations you can get in either Engish or Japanese.
How is it that you can listen to American music on the radio, while I can't listen to Japanese music on mine? ってメールで書かれたので、 「日本では、外国での日本の音楽の需要に比べて はるかに大きな洋楽の需要がある。 だから、ラジオからは洋楽は毎日流れているし、 テレビでも外国の音楽番組が放映されたりする。」
最近必要に迫られてついにTOEICを受ける事になったのですが、その準備として、以前に買って埃を被っていたTOEICテストパーフェクト模試という本を開いてみました。 どうも、文章が不自然だと思いながらも解いていったのですが、完璧だと思っていたのに、幾つも間違いにされてしまいました。 その中の一つ。空欄に一番ぴったり来るものを選びなさいという問題。 Please exercise _____ and read all safety instructions before use. A) cautious B) cautiously C) cautions D) caution 私は、これを見て、瞬間にDのcautionを選びました。何か危険な装置の説明書のようだし、exercise caution「慎重に」でぴったりです。 そうしたら、その本の解説によると、「気をつけて運動して下さい」と言う意味で、正解はAのexercise cautiouslyだと言うのです。 私は、「うっそだろー」という気分でした。どう思いますか? 私には、どうしても不自然におもえます。exercise your armとかexercise your upper bodyとか目的語がつけばいいような気もするけど。 Exerciseだけで目的語がないと、My doctor said that I should exercise more often.というようにテニスとか水泳とかも含めた一般的な運動を指すような気がするのですが。 運動=exercise という英訳をした文章のように思えるのですが、どうかネイティブのご意見を。
The demand for American music in Japan is much bigger than you can even imagine, judging from the demand for Japanese music in the U.S. That's why many Japanese radio stations play American music everyday, in some cases all day, the TV networks broadcast American and other foreign programs.
「日本では、外国での日本の音楽の需要に比べて はるかに大きな洋楽の需要がある。 だから、ラジオからは洋楽は毎日流れているし、 テレビでも外国の音楽番組が放映されたりする。」 ネイティブじゃないけど、 American music is far more popular in Japan than Japanese music is in America. As a result, radio stations in Japan play American music all the time and even some of the American music shows are shown on TV here.
>>How is it that you can listen to American music on the radio, while I can't listen to Japanese music on mine? ってメールで書かれたので、 「日本では、外国での日本の音楽の需要に比べて はるかに大きな洋楽の需要がある。 だから、ラジオからは洋楽は毎日流れているし、 テレビでも外国の音楽番組が放映されたりする。」
This posting is quite interesting. I think the person who wrote this thinks this is a reply for a question without doubts. But here comes logic. To me, her or his response to the question is just a repeat of what her or his friend said... I guess the friend want to know is the back ground of the reason why american music is popular in Japan while the other way around is not like this..
>>57 Yes you have a point. May be the person who wrote the original question was asking more fundamental question. But if that's the case, it won't be an easy answer. You can write a Ph.D thesis out of it.
"I'm trying to do an honorable thing now...unlike me... If you get my drift, I would recommend that you keep your mouth shut and get your ass out of here!"
shilly is silly lol i didnt come up any good idea that how can i translate "ガラにもなく”it means such as"unusualy"or"rarely" and im sure there is appropriate expression for it.
shilly is a silly lol i didnt come up any good idea that how i can translate "ガラにもなく”it means such as"unusualy"or"rarely" and im sure there is appropriate expression for it.
>>130 言えなくはないけれど、He has a possibility 〜 はあまりみないし あっても 〜の部分がもっと達成が難しいことが多い。 普通は、There is a possibility of his catching cold. だろうね。 He から始めたければ、He is risking catching a cold. とか He might catch cold. の方が自然ですね。
As soon as new thread poped up, this place has been descended upon full of shit needless to say "know-it-all Japanese English teachers. All I want to say is "Hang youself with a cord of your PC, chink!"
>>Chinese is much easier. Although the tonal system is difficult (Cantonese is especially difficult with 9 tones; Mandarin has 5) once you master that, conversation is easy. The grammer paterns between English and Cantonese are identical. If you start having actually conversations in Japanese, you'll notice your mind will have to work very fast to rearange the sentences until you can actually think inside that grammer patern. Also, the pronunciation of Japanese is, in fact harder. The major problem with Chinese is the massive amount charaters you need to memorize. Although Japanese has katakana, hiragana and kanji, the system itself is much more effective than Chinese, meaning that you really only need about 2050 characters for common use. With Chinese, however, the numbers are in the thousands. As many as 20,000 different characters can be found in a newspaper, if I recall correctly. Despite this, Chinese is still the easier language. Japanese has been toted as the hardest language to learn by a native English speaker. I can't really be the judge of that, however. To be perfectly honest, French class seemed harder.
>>236 Chinese is much easier. Although the tonal system is difficult (Cantonese is especially difficult with 9 tones; Mandarin has 5) once you master that, conversation is easy. The grammer paterns between English and Cantonese are identical. If you start having actually conversations in Japanese, you'll notice your mind will have to work very fast to rearange the sentences until you can actually think inside that grammer patern. >>I haven't studied Chinese so I couldn't tell you. But, I remember that after a year of Chinese at University, students were having simple conversations in Chinese, whereas students of Japanese couldn't even make a 3 word sentence... So from a westerner's point of view, Chinese might be easier to learn.
Also, the pronunciation of Japanese is, in fact harder. >Hum...Not so sure about that one...
The major problem with Chinese is the massive amount charaters you need to memorize. Although Japanese has katakana, hiragana and kanji, the system itself is much more effective than Chinese, meaning that you really only need about 2050 characters for common use. With Chinese, however, the numbers are in the thousands. As many as 20,000 different characters can be found in a newspaper, if I recall correctly. >I haven't heard an exact figure. I know it's more than Japanese but I didn't think it was that high. Are you sure?
Despite this, Chinese is still the easier language. Japanese has been toted as the hardest language to learn by a native English speaker. I can't really be the judge of that, however. To be perfectly honest, French class seemed harder. >French is harder for Japanese students!
その時「何日で着きますか?」と聞こうとして 「How soon...」と言ってから つかえてしまい、 頭の中で文を組み立てて「How long does it take?」と言うべきだったかな とか 「How soon」で始めてしまったから 「does it take?」を付けるべきかな いや 「 How soon does the money get there?」が正しいかなと いろいろ考えてるうちに銀行員の人が察して答えてくれました。 「How soon」で始めた時は何と言えばよかったのでしょうか。
i went to japan during the world cup and so dirtyhow dirty is japan???it's the worst country i've ever been to..i like the cultures. ..but i thought japan had some dirty streets... they should fix it up...the rest was very good.good food, good Hbut the street gang(?) everywhere seems f ed to me...
>>261 変なとこは読み飛ばしてください。。。 actually im not good at reading. but my listening skill is not bad. but i suppose that that means the japanese can well understand english novels or news papers naturally and quickly,if we can read english (maybe its japanese for you...) as we listen to english. sound inside a head...
you speak various language,dont you? what do you think about it?
I think languages don't just sound good when spoken out loud. They also sound good when read. poetry is appreciated because of the harmony of the sounds and the choice of words. these words don't just look good (some kanji realy look good), they sound good, even if they're not read out loud.
I remember let's talk about it. It was for rahter advanced students. If there were many students from a particular region, it means that the head teacher was from there.
At the school where I worked, the head teacher was from new Zealand, so an abnormal number of teachers were from there. It's a form of nepotism I guess...
Some people say, in general, British teachers are the most difficult teachers to deal with, on the other hand, Americans are quite professional...It depends on people but...
"Let's talk about it!"contains X-file like articles such as "how to build a pyramid",alternative medicine like ginko tree, and psychokinetic power or stuff like that.
why you think so? our conversation classes have some teachers who are from britain, canada and US. but they arent different so much (besides their pronunciation and the words they use), how to teach, speakking speed...etc so they are quite good.
There is a kind of laughter that sickens the soul. Laughter when it is out of control: when it screams and stamps its feet, and sets the bells jangling in the next town. Laughter in all its ignorance and cruelty. Laughter with the seed of Satan in it. It tramples upon shrines; the belly-roarer. It roars, it yells, it is delirious: and yet it is as cold as ice. It has no humor. It is naked noise and naked malice.
>>305 Thank you! ...and I have another question. 「For Contract Customers special conditions apply, as before.」 I have no idea about it. Could you explain in different way?
>>323 Googleするとかなり古そうな書物がヒットする。 「面倒でしょうが、私が〜するのを許して下さい・させて下さい」のような 使い方があるようです。 下の引用はMerriam-Webster OnLine Dictionaryからです。 suffer transitive senses 1 a : to submit to or be forced to endure <suffer martyrdom> ..snip.. ..snip.. 3 : to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable 4 : to allow especially by reason of indifference <the eagle suffers little birds to sing -- Shakespeare>
<This is from TOEIC question.> Mr. Suzuki approved the employees, didn't he? (A)No, it's still in his file. (B)I'm afraid to say, but I don't approve. (C)No, he has a quiet voice.
The answer is "C". What do you think? Do you say "... he has a quiet voice." instead of "I don't think so"?
The Human Tragedy - by Anatole France ... Then he said, turning to the Superior: "Will you suffer me, my Father, to stay outside the Gate with this man, and share my meal with him?" - to which the ... www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/6868/hu01002.html - 12k - キャッシュ - 関連ページ
Chapter Dr Lanyon's Narrative of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert ... ... Will you be wise? will you be guided? will you suffer me to take this glass in my hand, and to go forth from your house without further parley? ... www.bibliomania.com/0/0/46/86/11223/3.html - 12k - キャッシュ - 関連ページ
Short story - Hemones Nightmare by Simon James Gibson - Page 1 of ... ... It turned its eyes towards her and spoke. "Yes, would you suffer me to speak human?" Quathridith spoke to the interrogator, her name was Hamone, and she smiled ... www.sffworld.com/authors/g/gibson_simon/ fiction/hemonesnightmare1.html - 9k - キャッシュ - 関連ページ
My question is in regards to articles used with a term appears in the field of Physics. Although, I know physics may not be your field of expertise, I am confident that you have an answer or at least can give me some insight, because the term is quite common and almost a part of every day vocabulary.
When you have a magnetic coil and turn it on by flowing an electric current through it, it is said to generate “a magnetic field”.
As you know the magnetic field does not have a definite shape. Not only that, it does not even have a clear boundary. In case of a static field, its influence can extend to infinity, although its effect falls off sharply as you move away from the source.
My problem is, I just cannot conceptually understand why this fuzzy “thing” with no boundary can be counted. As a result, whenever I use this term (and “electric field”), I have to decide if it is singular or plural based on my shaky intuition or otherwise somewhat arbitrary.
When I ask my fellow physicists, who are Americans, they don’t seem to understand what my problem is. Since you understand problems a Native Japanese speaker has, you may be able to shed some light on this issue.
>>350 Given that 'field' in magnetic/electrical field is a countable noun, you may want to think of it this way → There is always a 'source' that causes a magnetic field to be generated.→ If there are two such sources, then there would actually be two fields which probably interact with each other and form a complex field. Hopefully, this makes sense physics-wise.
I forgot the context, but I heard the expression "pivotal role" in an interview of Harrison Ford. Do you think this would mean "main character", or "an important role in film production"? Any comments are welcomed.
Another question along the same line as >>350. The puffy white stuff floating in the sky. You call it a cloud. If you have more than one of those patches, you call them clouds. What happend when these things grow and start merging together and cover almost a half of the sky as one big sheet.or even worse, it has grown to the point where no blue sky can be seen? Is it (are they) cloud or clouds? Do you still try to identify individual cloud cells in the overcast sky?
それは、depends on the contextだと思うよ。 pivotal roleと言うのは、映画以外でも「重要な役割を果たす」というような意味で しょっちゅう使われる熟語だからね。例えば、 PrimeMinister Koizumi is playing a pivotal role in opening talks between Japan and North Korea. みたいにね。 ハリソンフォードが映画業界の話をしていたのならば、an important role in film productionの意味だろうし、その映画だけの狭いスコープで話をしていたのならば、 多分main characterの意味でしょう。
To Mr. LaSalle or English native speakers (if any)
I read an article that the third-person pronouns of English is difficult words to handle for non-native like me. Is it scarcely permissible to use these pronouns in reference to someone in his or her presence? For example, 'He is a pilot of United Airlines', referring to a gentleman standing beside you at party or something instead of saying Mr. Cloud is a pilot of United Airlines. - Would it be so rude? Is it likely true? If so, I've ever made mistakes....
>>348 I will be ~ingとは予定を表すには使う。 Will you be seing Susan tonight? サービス産業の敬語にも使います。 How will you be paying How are they different (349さんが言ったように)でもいい。 What's the difference betweenでもいい。 >>350 351's explanation is good. Think of it as a source. The same logic can apply to light. (something has to generate both) >>358 There are many different types of clouds. These pictures will help. http://www.wsanford.com/~wsanford/exo/kiosk/pageA1.html >>357 Pivotal role can apply to fields other than acting (so is the word 役 in Japanese). It basically means 重役. I haven't read the interview you're refering to, so i can't speak for Ford. >>360 357に答える前に読んでいませんでした。明確な説明です。 >>363 Yes and no. It's more polite to refer to the person next to you as Mr. X rather than "he" or "she" but if it's not a formal affair, he or she can be used. Depends on the tone you use and what you mention about that person. "Here's my friend Tom. Now HE is a GREAT cook! とはとても自然です。
You apparently don't understand the Japanese word 重役, which is NOT short for 重要な役割 but actually means executive as in "So-and-so is an executive at Whatever Industries." 役 is used only in reference to acting roles, with certain exeptions (this probably isn't the place to get into the oh-so common misuse of 役不足 ) so the ambiguity wouldn't translate properly into Japanese. Had Ford been involved in the producing end, it would have been a pivotal 役割.
First the English itself is funny because it's very bad. Then it's funny to think that a company actually released a product with such bad English. Finally, the fact that it's been made into an internet catch phrase is funny in an 'absurd' kind of way.
i see.this was translated by J*NA Mc*ur*y,i wonder where she from... and i have this CD right here,u know,thats really really beautiful voice! its more than Charlotte Church.
now,how about this one...in japanese.though u might feel sick.
>>454 all your bases belong to us なら問題ナシ。 アレの突込みどころは、 all your base →複数か単数、どっちなんだ are belong to us→文法はちゃめちゃ の二点のみ。 大して面白くなくても祭りになっちゃうのって2chでもよくあるでしょ? >>400みたいに異常な深読みしたいならbaseはアルカリ性って意味も あるからどうぞ。
They are struggling to defend French against the spread of English in cyberspace. 自国の言葉に誇りを持っているフランス人が、インターネット 用語が英語に凌駕(りょうが)されつつあるのを憂(うれ)いて、 フランス語を普及させようとしたけど、あまり成功していないという話でした。Thanx.
To Lasalle valentior amor est ad obtinendum quod velis quam odium.librum ego scripsi qui male venditus est! suadeo tibi ne eum legas. patiens sit ut omnia delectes in scribendo.utinam dives sim!
My image of Japanese, before I started to study the language, was heavily influenced by Kurosawa movies.
If you've seen some of his movies you'll notice that the men always seem angry when they speak. They also speak very fast. Western comedians who imitate the sounds of the Japanese language usually take their cues from similar movies.
namely , flankly speaking , you mean to say that you felt that japanese is just a little bit funny sounds ? i guess you afraid of our temper to say true , but i would like to know in fact. Is sound of japanese funny for native english speakers ? tell me please but if you wouldn't like to say , i give up then thank you bye
To me, Japanese sounds a little bit like Spanish. The people spit out a large number of syllables very rapidly, and there are not many vowel sounds or the tonal quality of Chinese. Because I don't know very much vocabulary, my impression of Japanese conversation is something like tekatekatekatekatekateka-desho. Also, Korean conversation sounds a lot like Japanese, and I can only tell the difference by the verb at the end of the sentence. It sound like, tekatekatekatekatekateka-imunida.
Please don't be too offended by Western comedians such as John Belushi's Samurai Delicatessan. It is a comedian's job to make fun of everyone! It's nothing personal.
thanks for answer. and I realize that japanese sounds is funny as Korean conversation from image you have. i am sorry just a litte bit , because i wondered japanese sounds is more cool, because there a few "pyo " cha" and so on in japanese . their sounds is looks like baby talk. and so i feel funny langage which is used "pyo, pa chu pe hyo ...and so on" in coneversation . by the way when i listen english , which we was taught at junior high school , i felt cool sounds, exactly, it came from maybe i have it was influenced by dreams to Europe , USA society. on the other hand , English sounds has cool sounds compaired to other Europe langage too. but when i started to study about speaking engllish which away from english of examination , then i wachied sesami street that was TV program for kids in USA, Kids spoke ワラ as warter , then i remenberd i had shocked ,because i studyed ウオウター at schooldays . i felt pronunciation of USA was daialectin those days . and next when i went to LONDON for travel, i spoke ワラ as warter at restaurant , waiter told me warter is not ワラ but ウオウター. my pronounciation of warter returned to me again .
I didn't mean to say that I think Japanese sounds funny. I was trying to describe the predominant consonant sounds. I don't believe that any language is more "cool" than another. They all just sound different, that's all.
>>535 thanx , and it is correct , and you are gentle man and thougtful. but i feel some language is funny sounds actually , it is not racial prejudice of me. its just feeling . i wander it may come from feeling of difference from my daily life. and so i said before that i felt aomoribenn is funny sounds , but i dont deny that dialect. maybe that reason why thir sounds is far from standard sounds of japanese . exactry, you know i dont speak english well , but even me who is not good at ENGLISH , ブレアーwho is preimeminister of UK , when he speak , then i lisetened his speech ,i felt just little bit funny , it sounds like a waye . by the way i am sorry i cant collect at last . that's end thanks you , goodby
>533 I sometimes feel exactly the same thing as you say. I agree with your opinion which Spanish has similar sounds to Japanese. So,I think it makes us feel easy to pronounce Spanish words. Also, when I listened to Korean words from,say,a radio putting far from me, I'm always surprised how similar both languages are. Adding one more thing to it, I feel that Japanese is a very monotonous language. I mean that Japanese has very flat intonation. It is completely different from Chinese and English in this point.
When you listen to Japanese spoken by soft women voice, you may find it's very fluent and tender. I hope.
以下の英文は純粋なネイティブでない、ホンコンの若者が書いた英語です。どうもネイティブらしくないと感じます。 ネイティブのラサールさんだったら、どんな英語になりますか?お願いします。 Dear Friend, Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!!! I wish you and all those that are close to you, even in distance like me, a Merry Xmas and a New Year full of excitement, joy and accomplishments as your life approaches the New Year. This will not be the first or last chance to make your life happier, we all know. But why not use this little extra motivation that Christmas and New Years usually bring about to take all the opportunities and try the hardest you can to make all your accomplishable dreams come true? More than a New Year wish take this as my everyday wish to a friend that I miss having around this time of the year: I wish you can make every day of your life the best one you've ever had, so the next time we meet I'll be sharing the best day of your life with you. Let's remember as well to take few minutes of our time a day, to make others happy and cultivate the Altruistic Love in our hearts. If all of us make this effort, a World of Peace will be not just a dream. Best Wishes for 2003!!! Horacio & Yayoi
Welcome back La Salle-san.I am so glad you are back.
I have a couple of questions. This one is from another thread here. Do you think it sounds funny if someone say: "If you have trouble buying the wrong ticket, call a station attendant."
Another question related to this is that when you got a ticket that was differet from what you had intended to get, would you say: "I got the wrong ticket" or "I got a wrong ticket" To me "the wrong ticket" sounds more natural but I don't understand why, because you could possibly get millions of wrong tickets and the one you have is just one of them.
The same question applies to "the wrong number" as in the wrong phone number.
i went to london for traveling . i was in london for three days. i became to like london. i intended to take a look in london .and studing abroad was going to Aus. but it is changing my mind , i think which shoud i go to study abroad london or AUStraria. but i have not been in AUS. so i am planning i go to aus for studying english just for a week . and i chek them and i could decide to go where i should i am in .
>>606 i would like to study english . yey ! i like to comunucate with another contry pepple basicly. and that English is international langages nowadays , and so i talk to everyone , yey when i went to Oxford city, i met some youngstar. and then i have a disposal camera. they noticed it , and they ask me to take them picture , i agreed with it . i took thme a picture . they ware realy glad , and me too . this is so called 'human comunucation' yey!
La Salle-san, I have a question. This one was debated for a while in another thread and I thought I would ask you for the native speakers perspective.
Here is the problem. Please look at the following sentence. “The Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty are symbols of equal importance.” The point of argument was that whether or not this sentence reads OK.
Some felt this was awkward, because “symbols” is missing some information to be complete. To make it so, the argument goes, you need to modify this by adding some pieces of information such as: “The Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty are NATIONAL symbols of equal importance TO THE PEOPLE OF …...” or “The Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty are symbols of NATIONAL UNITY”
Could you give us your perspective? And also I will be grateful if you could reply to your previous question >>598? Thank you.
>>610 "The Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty are symbols of equal importance." sounds strange because "symbols of" is likely to be interpreted as "〜のシンボル" and the sentence comes out like "エッフェル塔と自由の女神はequal importanceの象徴です" "The Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty have equal importance as symbols" would be a much easier to understand.
As for >>598, the person is having trouble buying the CORRECT ticket,and certainly does not want any help in buying the wrong one!
>and the sentence comes out like "エッフェル塔と自由の女神はequal importanceの象徴です"
That is exactly what I told them but not many people seem to have bought my argument.
On your response to >>598, I thought so myself, but some people adamantly rejected that argument.
Some people are trying to push their logic based on their knowledge in English grammar. Since my grammatical knowledge is kind of rusty, my argument is mainly based on my observation of American speech over the past several years. Having little theoretical backing, sometimes it is hard to argue convincingly .
I don’t know if you are a native English speaker (I assume you are judging from your writing), but I am glad to find somebody who agrees with me.
>>598 "If you have trouble buying the wrong ticket, call a station attendant."
It sounds like you're trying very hard to buy the wrong ticket... (612 has already pointed that out)
When saying "the wrong number" I guess you are refering to THE number you've just dialed. But, as you've already pointed out there's a "logical" case to be made for using an indefite article.
>>610 Here is the problem. Please look at the following sentence. “The Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty are symbols of equal importance.” The point of argument was that whether or not this sentence reads OK.
It sounds OK but I agree that it might be confusing. I wouldn't go as far as saying it will "likely" be interpreted as "エッフェル塔と自由の女神はequal importanceの象徴です" though, because the other (correct) interpretation is the mostlogical one.
>>611 What was the context? It can mean think about or reconsider.
>>615 Thank you La Salle-san for your reply. Not quite convinced, I just ran my quick Goole search on this. "You have the wrong number" returned 2770 hits. "You have a wrong number" returned 643 hits. And by looking at some entries, I got a feeling that some people do say "a wrong nubmer" instead of "the wrong number". As an example I will site the following: http://www.google.co.jp/search?q=cache:eLy2f43gzNUC:www.metrocake.com/journal/000170.shtml+%22you+have+a+wrong+number%22&hl=ja&ie=UTF-8 I think the writing in the link is by a native speaker. This puzzles me because I was once corrected by my girl friend at the time when I said "a wrong number", and she is an American.
たぶんDo you know these dishes?としたら、おかしくないのでしょう。 文法的にはもちろんthemでいい筈ですが、確かに、do you know them?って 「その人達知ってる?」って感じします。もちろんこの場合、よほどのアホ でない限り実際にそういう意味に取る人はいないと思いますが、文章としては自然に 聞こえないでしょう。試しに、Googleで"do you know them"ってやると、 出てくる例の大多数が(自分が見たのは全て)、人に関する事でした。 英語にはこれ意外にも沢山、文法書にない「決まり」というか傾向のようなものが あります。それに従わないと、不自然な文章になります。
When you describe a general situation, a is used more often. For example.
if you dial the wrong number 63
if you dial a wrong number 95
Both are possible, so using "a" even when referring to the situation at hand might not strike anyone as strange. I do recommend that you use the definite article when you are actually talking on the phone.
>>635 すみません。 「報告書を書くのに時間がかかった」の意味で、take some timeと書いたら、 take a timeと直されました。そこで、take a time(outは入っていません)で検索 してみると、「時間がかかった」の意味で使っているらしき文章がたくさん出てきました。 そこで、take a timeが「時間がかかる」で使われるとしたらtake some timeとの違いを 聞きたいと思った次第です。 ところが631で「take a timeは言いませんね」との回答が得られたので、634の質問をしました。
「想像以上に手間取って時間がかかってしまった」の意味で It took some time to write the report. を書いたら It took a time to write the report. と直されました。 これらの違い(631によれば言わないそうですが)。ついでに It took time to write the report. との違いもお願いします。
>>642 日本人が書いたものは当てにならんし、その暗号読解のははっきり言って ネイティブの文章ではありません。つまり、その使い方は間違え。 "took time to"で検索すると102,000も出てくる表現が "took a time to"で検索すると236しか出てこないって事は、500分の1って事 でしょう。間違えって事だす。インターネットの文章が全部ネイティブのもの ではないし、2chのいんちき英語だって、一週間もすると、検索に上がってくるからね。
lasalle, do you like カレーライス ?. i watched TV of 英会話 in NHK. then steave who is engkish teacher said that he has eaten カレーライス in japan at first time. but he didnt tell us about taste , so i want to know how do you feel カレーライス for foreigner. please tell me about it .
Curry rice is not a Japanese unique dish. We do have curry restaurants here in US. They are moslty from India, but they are quite similar to the Japanese curry rice. Although there are some localized Japanese curry rices, they are basically just different versions of the same dish.
Did you know curry was originally introduced to Japan as an English dish? The English modified the original recipe from India for the Queens taste. That is why the curry you see in Japan is different from the ones you see in India.
Curry rice is not a Japanese unique dish. We do have curry restaurants here in US.
but,steave said that he have never eaten before comeing in japan. rice itself , us peaple doesnt eat so much? right? by the way , is curry rice fun in usa peaple ? thay like it ?
>>617 I went to some temples to pray to Gods and ate some Japanese foods called "おせち" ,"お雑煮" and "スキヤキ". Do you know them?
Your friend was right. Them does sound a bit strange in this context. It sounds like these foods have a personality. I think the verb "know" isn't the best choice and is causing some confusion. It's better to refer to things by their name. I would have said:
X-Do you know them?
O-Have you ever heard about sukiyaki and mochi? or maybe Have you ever heard about these foods?
とりまきとかげ。なんかラサールの周りにダンサーが取り巻いておどってるのをいめーじしてしまった。 by the way ,lasalle, may i ask you question?, can you dance ? have u ever been in CLUB or DISCO ? have u ever been in Roponngi at midnighit? i wonder lasalle have danced well? .... but i couldnt dance at all. i would like to see hoost dance of hoostdance.
I haven't found any clubs in Roppongi that play the kind of music i like to dance to. I'm no Micheal Jackson but I can dance... I have my own style I guess.
あるボクシングの選手に手紙を書くのですが、 「あなたは選手だけでなく私もノックアウトした。」の後に 「I fall in love with you.」と書くつもりなのですが、ネイティブの 人にとっては↑はどんな感じを受けるのでしょうか? 私にとってはi like you very muchよりは断然強く、i love youと 同じくらいの気持ちを表わしているかなと思うのですが、少し言い過ぎでしょうか? (母に言ったらそう言われました) ノックアウト→倒れる(fall)とかけるようにしたつもりなのですが… I fall for you. との違いはありますか? よろしくお願いいたします。
ありがとうございます。 しかし、私は女ですので……女性でもあまり「I love you.」とかは書きませんかね… (ハリウッドスターとか)ファンレターというものを英語で出した事がないので… i fell in love with you. なんか書いたらネイティブの人はやはり引いてしまうでしょうか? (あまりの格好良さに)ノックアウトされて→惚れた という感じを書きたかったのですが… やはり英語は難しいです。
ラサールさんへ 今年の冬は10年ぶりの寒さだそうだ。 1 This is going to be the coldest winter in ten years. 2 This winter is said to be the coldest in ten years. 2つの文はどちらも自然ですか。また、in ten yearsの部分を over the last ten yearsとかin the last ten years/for the last years としても大丈夫ですか。宜しくお願いします。
>>683 1 This is going to be the coldest winter in ten years. 2 This winter is said to be the coldest in ten years.
is saidはどうして必要だったら言ってもいいけど普段は言いません。 つまり1の方が自然です。
in the last ten years にすると、とくに引っかからないけど「十年と言う期間の間」と取られるかもしれません。 over the last ten yearsとは「ずっと」という意味を含めますので不自然でひっかかります。 forも10年ぶりではなく「ずっと」という意味を含めますので不自然です。
>>682 告白ですか。 まあ、I fell in love with you と言ってもいいですよ。 Don't worry I won't stalk youと付け加えた方がいいかもしれません。 ;)
ラサールさん、どうもありがとうございました。 最初に仰って下さったように、やはりI became a fan of yours. にしたいと 思います。 また質問で申し訳ないのですが、You are my hero.というのはOKでしょうか? よくスポーツ選手などに使うのをききますが… よろしくお願いいたします。
When will each of us build the kind of trust that lasts in lifetime, our lifetime Repair the broken dreams that had now so seemingly I follow away I follow away
I don't know what to say but I feel the same the same way And I don't know what to do Turn around and face the truth Why can't we try to make love stay
Time to live and learn as the seasons turn Around the sun Around the sun And why can't we forget yesterday's regret You know I'm sorry, so sorry
I don't know what to say but I feel the same the same way And I don't know what to do Turn around and face the truth Why can't we try to make love stay
ラサール先生是非アドバイスしてほしいのですが 「息子の部屋」という映画の歌詞を聞き取っていてタイトルがby the riverなんですけれど歌詞が Here we are stood by this river you and I underneath the sky that's ever falling down down down ever falling down
through the day as if the notion waiting here always ferry (felly?) to remember why we came came came I wonder why we came
you talked to me as if from the distance and I reply in charge from another time time time from another time
以前、別のスレでも質問したのですが、ここでもう一度質問させてください。 英語を勉強していたところ、 The stem of the word 'runner' is 'run.' 「runner」の語幹は「run」です。 という英文がありました。 英語にも'stem of word' 日本語で言うところの「語幹」のような 考えはあるのでしょうか。ラサールさんお願いします。
>>780 I'm not 778 but would you let me ask a question here?
>Maybe because it wasn't "used to" but "be used used to" (慣れている). I kind of understand this. But I believe "be used to" in this sense is not to be followed by a bare verb as in the sentence in question but by a noun or a verb in the -ing form. Is this belief of mine right?
(…に)慣れて《to...》 get [become] 〜 to...|…に慣れる These men are 〜 to danger.|この男たちは危険には慣れている I'm 〜 to paying the top price.|最高の値段を払うのは毎度のことだ (-ing形の代わりに不定詞を用いることがある.助動詞used toとの混交である: I was not used to see him so tired.彼がそれほど疲れたのを見たことはあまりなかった)
>>780 and comments that followed. Thank you La Salle-san, You are alway the most reliable source of information in 2ch.
And I am glad to find out that a great writer like George Orwell can make a grammatical mistake that a moron like myself can point out. 「弘法も筆の誤り」と言いますからね。
Sex In Old Age This 65 year old woman is naked, jumping up and down on her bed laughing and singing. Her husband walks into the bedroom and sees her. He watches her awhile then says, "You look ridiculous, what on earth are you doing?" She says, "I just got my check-up and my doctor says I have the breasts of an eighteen-year-old." She starts laughing and jumping again. He says, "Yeah, right. And what did he say about your 65 year-old ass?" She says, "Well, your name never came up."
>>793 Mr. La Salle carefully said that it's not a natural way to put it THESE DAYS. He didn't say Gerge Orwell made a mistake or sounded unnatural in his day. You seem to have ignored this on purpose and concluded that Gerge Orwel surely made a mistake. But why are you so interested in making sure that someone made a mistake? What's important for us, learners of comtemporary English, is whether an expression sounds natural or not today. Is that not enough for you?
By the way, I agree with you that Mr. La Salle is the most reliable source of information on this board about English usage.
>>795 Below is what I got. For a reliable answer, wait for La Salle.
The woman was pleased because the doctor said her 65-year old breasts are of an 18-year-old. The husband asked, then, what the doctor said about her 65-year old ass, that is, her bottom. The woman took 'your 65-year old ass' as meaning 'your 65-year old stupid husband' ('an ass' often means a stupid person and no wonder the husband are the same age as the wife) and replyed that no mention of the husband took place in their conversation. This humor depends on the double meanings of the word 'ass' and it is funny that her reply shows that she thinks her husband is an ass. That she is so happy herself that she doesn't care about other people at all is also funny.
>>796,>>797 I didn't ignore it purposefully. I just misinterpreted his comments. That's all. I simply did that because G.O's writing is from mid 20th century, which, I felt, was pretty much contemporary. But reading back La Salle-san's comments, you are probably right, he was carefully wording to allow the possibility that G.O's writing might have been OK in his time.
Also it's not like I'm interested in making sure someone made a mistake. I just wanted to understand myself that if it was correct or not. Because you do see mistakes like misspelling or repeating same words twice in a wide range of publications.
>>801 802 Good we're all happy campers now. The best thing I've got working for me isn't my "deep" understanding of English grammar, but my "ear." My ear usually tells me if something sounds awkward, then I try to back it up with solid arguments.
> The cruel knives with which Mr Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs was flung down the well.
ラサールさん、繰り返しすみません。 これは、 The cruel knives with which Mr Jones was used to castrate the pigs and lambs is flung down the well. という英文を、過去形に変えたものととらえていいんですよね。
La Salle-san Question. I was looking at a pictorial explanation of sounds in English. One of the pictures show the symbals with a word "crash" underneath. But then, under "clash" in my English dictionary listed an example "The symbals clashed". Unable to tell the difference between the L and R sounds, I am always confused between clash and crush. I know "clash" is also a sound of two metalic objects colliding with each other. Does that mean "crash" and "clash" somewhat exchangeable? Or can you say "The symblas clashed to make a crash"?
Thank you La Salle-san for your reply. Symbals->cymbals, I copied it wrong. The book I was refering to is "Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English"
Also in the same dictionary under "clash" there is an example as follows "The clash of swords" I guess, clash, crash, clang all represent a sound, but they are slightly different from one other. カチーン、ガシャーン、カシャーンっていうようなもの?
>867 ラサール氏 For instance, You are a 24-years-old student at a ordinary university. And you'll graduate soon. Now, you're trying to get a job. Today, you came to a company to be interviewed. You're getting a little nervous. but your answer to the interviewers is not so bad. After some question finished, It seems that they think you're reliable. You said "YES!! I've done well!!" in your heart. And the interview continues. Now,The man next to you (he also came to here to be interviewed for employment like you ) is answering. It's his turn. You listen to his speech and are disappointed at his perfect answer. It seemed that he made much better impression on them than you. Besides he is a excellent student at ラサール university. Now, you say "彼のような人が僕の希望を奪うんだ、、、、"
In my view, "People like him rob me of hope,,," and What do you think about this? またしても下手なりに頑張ってみました。
1-Mr. "perfect" here made me look like a frickin idiot. 2-Are they still hiring at McDonalds? (and I mean the kitchen, not the headquarters...) 3-He just burst my bubble.
ラサール弁護士に質問です。 Van Halenのファンなんですが Fire In The Hole というタイトルの曲があるんですが、意味は何ですか? リフでもずっと歌われてるんですが。 There's a fire in the hole Fire in the hole There's a fire in the hole (hey hey hey hey hey) Fire nativeの人にも尋ねてみたんですが、rock music に興味ない人で よくわからないということでした。 よろしくお願いしますm( )m
>>879 u r meaningless in the world 'cause of slandering >>1. u r very rude'n'lude(sigh u r less valuable than microbes. u r a germ. u r a virus. u r a trash. u r a rabish. u r a dust. u r a garbage. u r most mean. no one needs you. if u hadn't come here, this thread would be terriblly peaceful.
01 Johnson, I want every report on my desk now. 02 Where are you Johnson! 03 Your number one job description is ??to keep dragging?? Johnson 04 It's time for you to ???? 05 I'm tired of your excuses. 06 That report was due on my desk nine o'clock this morning. 07 Nine o'clock this morning! 08 Introducing Metal gear solid 2 substance only on XBOX. 09 The orignal smash hit plus rows of extra game play. 10 Like over 500 new missions. 11 Exciting new story lines. 12 And all playable caracters. 13 Not to mention some of the meanest bosses you'll ever encounter. 14 Metal gear solid 2 substance only on XBOX ready to ??in for mature?? from KONAMI 15 What the ...
I was reading a local paper and saw an article about anti-war protests and it's impacts on Bush's campaign twards war with Iraq. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/5199667.htm While I was reading it I found the following sentense.
>The Security Council meeting on Friday that was to have been the penultimate step in laying >the groundwork for war, instead produced two significant negatives.
I was wondering how different would it sound if I rewrote "that was to have been" to "that was to be" . Later I was reading the NY times and found the same article (this was the original). And I found, to my surprise, the original version did actually say "that was to be". http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/17/international/middleeast/17ASSE.html
The editor of the paper made a point of changing the wording, when they copy the article from the NY times, my question is, is the difference between the two versions so siginificant that they couldn't let it print as it was? How different are they?
>>888 01 Johnson, I want THAT (video jumps) report on my desk now. 02 Where are you Johnson! 03 Your number one job description is to keep (looking? working? video jumps) Johnson 04 It's time for you to PRODUCE. 05 I'm tired of your excuses. 06 That report was due on my desk nine o'clock this morning. 07 Nine o'clock this morning! 08 Introducing Metal gear solid 2 substance only on XBOX. 09 The orignal smash hit plus LOADS of extra game play. 10 Like over 500 new missions. 11 Exciting new story lines. 12 And all NEW playable caracters. 13 Not to mention some of the meanest bosses you'll ever encounter. 14 Metal gear solid 2 substance only on XBOX RATED M for mature?? from KONAMI 15 What the ...
上級質問スレではM for mature というのはゲームのrating にmatureというのが あるからそれだろうというレスがありました。 03 isn't to keep dragging, Johnson 03 is to keep dragging Johnson などと聞こえるというレスがありましたが結局いまだに???です。しかし、なる ほどこの部分は「オマエの職務記述書の最初に書いてあることはだなー」という 部分だけ聞かせればa mean bossのセリフとしては十分ですね。わざとclipした のかもしれません。
>>894 Thank you very much for your reply. So based on your reply, it is plausible that the editorial staff of the Mercury News who adopted the article from the NY times found it strange and rewrote the sentence. Because, "things did not turn out that way." as you said, so it sould have read "that was to have been".
What is the difference between the following two sentences: I saw a dog cross the street. I saw a dog crossing the street.
Does the first one imply that you stood and watched the dog crossing the street until it reached the other side, and the second one is, you just watched it crossing but not necessarily saw it reached the other side?
Since the late 1960s, there has been a revolution in how we think about human groups. Although the idea of 'cultures' remained the dominant approach in anthropology for many decades, the limitations of such an approach have gradually become apparent. There is now plentiful evidence that the fundamental assumptions underlying it are quite wrong. Typically, human 'cultures' do not have sharp boundaries and are not usually the same all through. ( a ), 'primitive' societies are not 'timeless', but dynamic and constantly changing, although not necessarily quickly or in any particular direction.
( a )に入る語を答えよ 1. As a rule 2. Further 3. However 4. In contrast 5. Specifically
You probably don't give a **** what I think, but I'll say it anyway: good job!
>>904 Saying "I saw it crossing" might imply that you didn't see it reach the other side, but not necessarily. In this case both "I saw it cross" and "I saw it crossing" can suggest that the dog DID cross the street. If you want to say that it DIDN'T cross the street, you'd have to state it more clearly. It isn't implied automatically.
"I saw it crossing" sounds more vivid though. "I saw it cross" sounds like a reference to a past event. "I saw it cross" does imply that it did cross the street completely.
>>916 I think "For example" is the answer because the statement after (a) that primitive societies are not timeless makes a specific example of the general statement before (a) that human cultures are not usually the same all through.
>>916 I'm sorry. I missed that "For example" is not in the answer list. Um, then I choose "Specifically" almost for the same reason. This time, it seems to imply that primitive societies are not just an example but a typical example for the change of attitude in the study of cultures.
>>921 I'm not 910 and I'm not interested in whether this question sucks or not. When I read your native speaker opinion in 916, I found it so different from mine that I wanted to know if my opinion makes sense. That's all.
When I say "the question sucks," I'm just talking about the question. Don't worry. I use words that sound "angry" but I'm just talking like most North Americans do, that's all...
>>922 ah-ha! There was more to read. Now you tell me... ;) I'll read it and tell you what I think.
>>923 I've read it now and I still think it's a bad question.
I though the link between "culture" and "primitive society" was not clear enough, so I didn't think the second part was an example of the other. I though the two concepts were different enough to be considered independent, so I chose "further" because it can be used to introduce a new idea.
I have a question. What the word "101" origniated from? It ususally means a basic course or a guidance of the seminar or training course such as "Network 101" or "Computer 101 - Introduction", etc. My guess is that something is related to the Route 101 in US West coast.
In 1985, my high school freshman daughter LOVED the Violent Femmes. The chorus of their big hit went "All I want is just one fuck" so I wouldn't let her play them in the car.
ざっとですが、スレッド全部読みました。荒らしもいますが、ラサールさん凄い! 10年以上インターネットを使っていますが、ネットでこんな気前の良いことをしている人 を見たのは初めてです。さて、 Can I help you?よりMay I help you?の方が丁寧だ、と聞いたことがあります。 本当ですか? 本当だとして、その心は? Thanks in advance.
well, while I was in the voice chat room(but just send message each other, not voice chat) I was talking with a girl. We talked about a lot,and she write me saying "why don't you speak up?"
Sometimes some guys ask me like that when I'm just sitting back with listening chatting. But mistakenly, I always took it as a simple question. (その時は、その子が「なぜ話さないの?」と聞いているのだと思いました。 今思うと、多分「一緒に話そうよ!」と言っていたのだと思いますが。でもその場合、 "Why don't you talk WITH ME?" にならないのでしょうか?)
I mean...I'm not sure what "why don't you... (←we? I don't know...)"phrase means, I often confuse the "Why" phrase with the main two meanings,(I suppose so) One is "Shall we...?" or"Let's...!" , and the other is "Ask a reason"
Maybe this solution will help my chatting, I believe, definitely. Tell me what that means please, sincerely. Sorry for my terrible English. If you can't figure out what I mean, please ask me. Thanks:)
And when I was asked "why don't you speak up?" I answered "Nothing much. I'm just hanging around:)" or something like that. (ボイスチャットで喋らない理由を聞かれているんだと思って、 「別に理由はないよ^^単にぶらぶらしてるだけ」と答えたつもりなんですが(汗)
And somewhat later, she asked me again the same thing and said "Do you use MSN?" or something like that. But I didn't have any idea how can I say what I thought. So I said to her with the crazy sentence, "i havent used messanger. but i use MSN cuz i use hotmail." or like that, "use" were used again and again....
and then she got out of the room. I really think I'd better study English harder and harder, yeah.
And I realized that I should learn the Conversation English first, rather than just writing English,Such as how to introduce about myself, how to respond, and how to express my emortion by intonation, (laughing or voice volume) especially at voice chat
>>986 If it's used with a noun it sounds fine. That book "a best" seller.
When I ran a search on Google I notice that there were quite a few stores named A best. I didn't know. I guess they use "A" as a sign of high standards.
To answer your question, I think "A best" sounds strange as the title of an album. Maybe it's a regional thing. Maybe it doesn't sound strange in the UK...