The Improve Your English Thread v3

[Vita]

Well first off that's legal speak. Normal everyday English is not spoken that way! Other native speakers might want to jump in but what I get that anyone who promotes using this product in a way that is prohibited by the article can be punished with a fine or a jail term. That's what I get from it, I know I'm close to the true meaning but without reading the rest of the article I can't explain it better. This is complex English.

[Tiberius]

It simply refers to any person who causes an advertisement, or any person who causes an advertisment to be issued will be punished if that advertisement is against the law.

Basically it's to cover the possibility of someone saying, "But you can't punish me! I didn't actually issue it!" Now the law can say back to them, "But you caused the advertisement to be issued, so you can still be punished."

[Vita]

Tibs explains everything so well that's why we love him though I was attempting to explain that but failed miserable.

[Italoiaadbwiag]

Hey, I am from the Netherlands and I would like to improve my english, since my english is a bit rusty.

[TheInvisibleF]

Well a great way to do that is to keep coming on to CoS where there are lots of native English speakers just waiting to help and it usually helps us find out something about how English is spoken in other places in the world like the US or Australia so we get to learn as well.

[Morning_Star]

I've forgotten what the difference between these and those is... Could someone please explain it?

[kittling]

Originally Posted by Morning_Star

I've forgotten what the difference between these and those is... Could someone please explain it?

'These' is the plural of 'this'

'Those' is the plural of 'that'

Just in case...

'This' is used to denote a person/thing that is present or near in space or time

'That' is used to denote a person/thing that is specificaly designated, pointed out, implied or understood

[Morning_Star]

Thanks!

[ominous]

The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 11 “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”

Sheldon: Of course, I do. The essence of the custom is that I now have to go out and purchase for you. A gift of commensurate value and representing the same perceived level of friendship, as that represented by the gift you’ve given me. There’s no wonder suicide rates skyrocket this time of year.

Penny: Okay, you know what? Forget it. I’m not giving you a present.

Sheldon: No, it’s too late. I see that elf sticker says “To Sheldon”. The die has been cast, the moving figure has _____. Hannibal has crossed the Alps.

Q. What is the right word for the blank?

[Vita]

The line is actually "The moving finger has writ" Basically saying that it's too late, things are already in motion. Hope this helps

[kala_way]

Originally Posted by Vita

The line is actually "The moving finger has writ" Basically saying that it's too late, things are already in motion. Hope this helps

Yea, though I've never heard anyone use that saying. I have heard people say "The writing's on the wall" based on the same Bible story with Daniel and Belshazzar. I guess it's a very Sheldon thing to do to know the story and use a more dramatic form of the saying

[Klio]

Actually, this is a clever reference, but not a direct quotation....

the full phrase is this:

The moving finger writes, and - having writ - moves on ....


This is from the nineteenth century English version of the The Rubayat (spelling?) of Omar Khayyam, but I think it refers to the Biblical story anyway. At least that's what I always thought.

OK... I googled the rest of the verse. Here it is:

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

(Edward Fitzgerald's translation of the poem The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, 1859, according to this site)

[Italoiaadbwiag]

I'd particularly like to improve my grammatical ability. I have lots of difficulties with the English verb tenses. Could someone explain to me the usage of the verb tenses ?

[Klio]

Originally Posted by Italoiaadbwiag

I'd particularly like to improve my grammatical ability. I have lots of difficulties with the English verb tenses. Could someone explain to me the usage of the verb tenses ?

That's really broad and might be rather difficult, actually ... don't forget that native speakers (except those trained to teach their tongue as a foreign language) usually find it very hard to explain the theory of their own language!

I think you might be better off if you give examples and ask whether you got the tense right or not. That's much more practicable (and, in my opinion as a non-native speaker) much more useful, too! You can actually read the theory in any reasonable grammar book (and it's best to find an explanation that's taylored to your native tongue in any case)... but it's more difficult to find a relaxed place where you can practice at leisure...

[kala_way]

Originally Posted by Klio

This is from the nineteenth century English version of the The Rubayat (spelling?) of Omar Khayyam, but I think it refers to the Biblical story anyway.

That's really interesting Klio, I'd never even heard of Omar Khayyam

Originally Posted by Italoiaadbwiag

I'd particularly like to improve my grammatical ability. I have lots of difficulties with the English verb tenses. Could someone explain to me the usage of the verb tenses ?

Like Klio said it's probably easier to ask questions with specific examples, but here is a site that explains all of the verb tenses with examples. It's rather long, and most native speakers wouldn't even be able to give you an example of a present perfect progressive but there you go

[ominous]

The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 11 “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”

Howard: Come on, bath stuff. It’s perfect. You’ve got a scanted candle, a cleansing buff, spearmint and green tea scented bath oil promotes relaxation.

Sheldon: That presupposes Penny is tense.

Rajesh: She knows you. She’s tense. We all are. Buy a basket.

Q. What is the meaning of "Someone is tense"?

[Vita]

In this case its similar to nervous or worried and up tight.

[ominous]

So basically what Sheldon says is that "Those things are based on an assumption that Penny is nervous and she needs relaxation but how do we know she is so (even not aking her right now)?

[kittling]

"She knows you. She’s tense. We all are. Buy a basket."

This implies that it is ecause she knows Sheldon she is tense - it is a common joke/jibe to make this kind of comment or it could be a repremand, you'll have to work that out by looking at the relationship between Sheldon & Rajesh!

hope that's some help

[Klio]

I don't quite understand the question... are you asking how one can tell that someone is tense?

Well, the one character says 'She's tense. We all are'. So I am assuming that the situation makes all of them nervous, and in the context it would be clear. And one could probably see it. It's a form of being nervous, although I probably wouldn't expect to see that 'running up and down' form of nervousness - when I see 'tense' I'd more think of the way it feels when you have the ominous sense of not knowing what to expect, and when someone is just so obviously not relaxed because of that feeling of nervousness.

But then, these people obviously know each other. Of course, the 'need for relaxation' thing might also be an excuse to, well, hep her relax. it's not the most original things to suggest, but hey, every little helps