ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: flying around / looking at

Avangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:24:19 GMT

Thanks, Nona.

BTW, is your name "Iona"? My cousin goes by Nona, and was named after my maternal grandmother, from Nova Scotia.

Best wishes, - A.

Re: flying around / looking at

nona the brit — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:27:12 GMT

It's a tourist attraction.

Basically a very big greenhouse full of plants and butterflies. The butterflies can't get out. It's a building rather than a 'farm', although they are called butterfly farms. It's unusual to have just the butterfly farm and nothing else; they usually form one attraction at a place with other things going on.

A butterfly farm (think building) is different to a farm that has butterflies (wild ones) on it. You need to specifically state 'butterfly farm' if appropriate as otherwise people will think of the second situation.

Re: flying around / looking at

Avangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:06:05 GMT

Hi Tanit, I think that's great! I'd like to visit one. How do they keep them from flying the coup?

- A.

Re: flying around / looking at

Tanit — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:46:14 GMT

Hi,

Maybe "butterly farm" is a British thing...

Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm: Attraction Site

Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary

Rutland Water Butterfly Farm & Aquatic Centre

... and many more from the UK here.

Re: flying around / looking at

Avangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:36:58 GMT

I think you'd visit butterflies at the butterfly petting zoo.

New2, I always thought "ant farm" was sort of "tongue-in-cheek," but they've been around since I was a child.

I think they raise worms for bait in worm farms, but I'm not sure. I recall a few years back a rumor was started that McDonald's used earthworms to fortify their hamburgers. It was a rediculous idea, because earthworms are worth more per pound than beef - better quality protein too.

Many years ago, Knott's Berry Farm (originally for raising berries - still a famous brand of jams and jellies) was converted to a theme park, competing with Disneyland in Orange county. I think they've only recently removed the "farm" from the name.

(Am I going to be in trouble for naming names? Should be XYZ Theme Park?)

People get creative with names for commercial zoos. There's "Lion Country Safari" in San Diego, or near San Diego. I recall "Benson's Wild Animal Farm" in New Hampshire. I think some are called "parks," but I can't think of one specifically at the moment.

Re: flying around / looking at

Vincent Teo — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:53:47 GMT

Can I say,

They are visiting butterflies in the butterfly farm.

Re: flying around / looking at

New2grammar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:06:53 GMT

Avangi
this is the first time I've heard of a butterfly farm.

Avangi, what do you think of a farm? A place to grow crops or raise livestock for consumption?
Is that the reason butterfly farm sounds weird to you? If the purpose is entertainment, what do you call it? A butterfly park?

Re: flying around / looking at

Avangi — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:35:13 GMT

Yes, that's fine.

Re: flying around / looking at

Vincent Teo — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:57:56 GMT

Can I say,

"around the farm"?

Re: flying around / looking at

Avangi — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:47:23 GMT

Vincent Teo
(a) They are looking at the butterflies in at the farm.
(b) The butterflies are flying in at the ~~butterflies~~ butterfly farm.

I've heard of worm farms, fish farms, and ant farms, but this is the first time I've heard of a butterfly farm. Thanks for the enlightenment. It must be enchanting!

Depending on the type of enclosure, "in" might be acceptable. I'm sure you'd say "in the ant farm."

Best wishes, - A.

flying around / looking at

Vincent Teo — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:16:42 GMT

Can I say,

(a) They are looking at the butterflies in the farm.
(b) The butterflies are flying in the butterflies farm.