Search results for 'tag:Commas tag:Accents' matching tags 'Commas' and 'Accents'

Re: I'm interested in Philosophy, Science, Mathematics, and of course you.

A Cornish Pasty — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:52:49 GMT

Yoong Liat, your teacher was right.

I only put the commas in the way I did because it's the way I said the sentence in my head when I first read it. I thought:

"I'm interested in philosophy... science... maths... and of course... you."

But another way it can be said is also correct:

"I'm interested in philosophy... science... maths... and... of course... you."

Both "maths, and of course, you" and "maths, and, of course, you" are correct.

Kooyeen, your sentence is fine, but it just doesn't sound as natural.

I would only say either:

I'm interested in science, maths, geography, and history, of course.
I'm interested in science, in maths, in geography, and in history, of course.

It may just be my particular accent, and Americans might say it differently, I don't know. Of course they would say "math" instead of "maths".

And bon appetit

Re: Filipinisms/Filipinoisms? Ring a bell?

Mister Micawber — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:07:37 GMT

.
I would consider this exercise damagingly prescriptive; most are neither uniquely Filipino nor wrong. However (and my comments refer to AmE/BrE):

1. Free subscription of... (Free subscription toâ¦) - prepo issue-- AmE/BrE uses the collocation subscribe to.
2. Can I speak withâ¦? (May I speak withâ¦) - To sound more polite/ask permission?-- Both OK. 'Can' is more casual but just as common.
3. Come again? (I'm sorry I didn't get quite get that / Excuse me? / I'm sorry would you please say that again?) - English trainers discourage agents to use this because they say that it could mean 'cum again')-- The English trainers are nuts. Come again is common and casual. Your examples in parentheses are overly formal for most situations.
4. It's for free! (It's free. / It's free of charge. / We're sending it to you for free.) - Filipinos have been used to saying 'It's for free'. How do I say that it should be avoided? What makes it wrong?-- Nothing makes it wrong; it's fine.
5. Hold your line/For awhileâ¦ (Would you mind if I put you on hold for a second? / Please hold) - hold your line is absurd. any comment? what about for awhile?-- I agree that 'Hold your line' is not natural in AmE/BrE. 'Please hold' or 'Could you hold, please' is the usual.
6. Open/ close the light/computer (Turn on/off the light/TV/computer) - how do I explain this? it sounds like opening/closing the tv for repair.- This seems to be a direct translation from Spanish? Tagalog? At least, it is the same error that Japanese make.
7. Do you mind waiting? Yes, I'll wait. (No, not at all. / No, I don't mind at all.) - YES is the issue. wrong response. any other feedback?-- 'Yes' is logically wrong but common when the tag ( e.g. 'I'll wait') is also present; speakers seldom have the opportunity to stop and think about the 'Do you mind?' form, and this includes native AmE/BrE speakers.
8. Anything? (Is there anything I can do for you? / How may I help you?) - fragmented, seems vague?-- Yes, it seems vague and fragmentary out of context.
9. I'll ask her an apology. (I'll apologize to her. / I should make an apology.) - this sounds illogical?-- Not a natural AmE/BrE formation.
10. We take lunch. (We eat lunch. / We have lunch (every Sunday).)-- 'Take' seems to be an occasional replacement in this context in many Englishes. It is not an egregious variation.
11. We accept repairs. (This shop repairs cars/cellphones, etc.)-- Seems fine to me.
12. We accept painting jobs. (This shop does painting jobs.)- Quite common.
13. Tuck out (Untuck)- Odd.
14. He was salvaged. (He was assassinated.)-- A new meaning for the word for me, and it is not in the dictionary. Perhaps some confusion with 'savaged'?
15. She delivered her baby yesterday. (She had her baby yesterday. / Dr. Smith delivered her baby.)-- This is fine. From the dictionary-- 'to give birth to: She delivered twins at 4 a.m. '
16. Xerox (Photocopy)-- Very common in AmE at least. Among my generation, 'to xerox' is perhaps more usual than 'to photocopy'.
17. Oppositor (Opposition member)-- A new word for me. Not a bad formation, but perhaps difficult to understand by foreigners.
18. Hand carry (Carry - on luggage)-- A new word, but reasonable.
19. It's traffic today. (Traffic is heavy.) -- It seems vague and fragmentary
20. Senatoriable (Senatorial candidate) -- Odder than #17
21. At around 2pm (At about 2pm) - around is Am? about is Brit?- Very common in AmE; it also appears with this meaning in the Cambridge dictionary.
22. I failed in Accent training. (I failed accent training.)-- A common expression, though I prefer your alternative.
23. We were under Mr. Johnson. (Mr. Johnson was our teacher.) - Filipinos are used to saying 'That student is under my class' so this filipinism has started.-- In context, 'We were under Mr. Johnson' sounds fine, while 'That student is under my class' does not.
24. My brother is taking up law. (My brother is taking law. / My brother is studying law.) -- 'Take up' is common, but means the overall intention, not just the matriculation.
25. Where are you studying? (Where do you go to school? / What school do you go to?)- 'Where are you studying' is fine.
26. Pass by my office before you go. (Drop by my office before you go.) - Brit/Am phrasal?-- Not AmE, at least. 'Stop by' or 'Drop by'.
27. We have one participant only. (We only have one participant.) - should they say 'only one participant'?-- The 'only' can go in several places; at the end is one of those places.
28. I talked to her already. (I already talked to her.) - I need help on adverb order. This confuses all Filipinos and me too. Where should adverbs be placed?- Adverbs are relatively variable in their placement. In this case, both are all OK. More interesting is that AmE uses simple past more consistently with 'yet' and 'already' than does BrE, which prefers the perfect aspect.
29. Will you be at the office at 7am? Actually. (Will you be at the office at 7am? Yes.)-- Not AmE/BrE
30. Actually, I like Jennifer Aniston. (I like Jennifer Aniston.) - Actually/basically has become Filipinos expressions.-- I wouldn't say that it is unique to Filipinos; many AmE speakers develop the habit in various contexts. Too much is too much, however.
31. As per Paul, all request forms should be signed by him. (As per Paul's instructions, all request forms should be signed by him.)-- This is common bizspeak throughout the English-speaking world.
32. Wanted: Sewer (Wanted: Tailor or seamstress)-- Yes, it is certainly open to misinterpretation! But 'seamstress' is sexist.
33. Take home (Take it home / To go. / For take out)-- 'Take home food' seems like a regional variant of 'take out food'.
34. I felt kind of tired. (I felt rather tired.)-- 'Kind of' is very common in informal AmE.
35. As to the projectâ¦ (About the projectâ¦)-- A common formality in most Englishes.
36. Thank you for that/this one. (Thank you for the information. / Thank you.) - I need to send this in a few minutes and I still couldn't think of an explanation. Phrasing sounds awkward to me. But besides getting straight to the point, why did 'for that/this one' make it wrong?-- 'One' is wrongly used; 'information' is uncountable.
37. I do love playing basketball/volleyball. (I love playing basketball/volleyball.) - this may sound right depending on the flow of the conversation, right? e.g. you don't love playing... No, I do...-- You are correct. This is called the emphatic 'do'.
38. Currently, I live in Quezon City right now. (Currently, I live in Quezon City. / I live in Quezon City.) - redundant - now and currently.- Yes, redundant.
39. Actually, I like Microsoft, Symantec and Adobe (I like Microsoft Symantec and Adobe)-- The comma is necessary if Microsoft and Symantec are different softwares.
40. As per Mon, all request forms should be signed by him. (As per Paul's instructions, all request forms should be signed by him.)-- This is the same as #31, and OK.
41. I do apologize (I apologize.)-- This is fine indeed. It is the same as #37, and is more polite than your bracketed alternative.
.

Re: What is the correct usage of the grave accent diacritical mark when used for quoting?

Tanit — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:40:06 GMT

Anonymous
I am usually not at all pedantic about my grammar usage, however, I've picked up a habit of using paired and unpaired grave accents when quoting. For example, when referring to some `thing' or ``what have you''. What is the proper and correct usage of this diacritical mark in such contexts if at all appropriate?

Hi,

I guess you're asking about inverted commas ( ' ) and speech marks / quotation marks ( " ).
If that's the case, you could start from here.

Re: would and Future

Mr Wordy — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:06:24 GMT

Fandorin
Is it possible to say so: "I hope to do that and then start my business" ?

This is fine.

Fandorin
How use tentative accent in the first part and then connect it with a Future?

I think you need to choose a form of words that makes it clear that the ~~"definite"~~ future action is only definite if the tentative actually happens. The word "then" seems to go some way towards fulfilling this role, and, as I mentioned, I think the following is not too bad:

I would hope to do that, and then I will start my business.

(here I also added a comma, which further helps to divide the two parts).

To make this contingent relationship more explicit, you could say:

I would hope to do that. If I succeed then I will start my business.

Bear in mind, also, that "hope" is already tentative. "would hope" is more tentative, but, depending on exactly how tentative you want to be, "hope" might well be sufficient by itself.

Re: I Want To Be Fluent English Speaker How Please?

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:58:38 GMT

Hello to all,

I believe that to learn English depends of the interest of individual and depending of the English knowledge you wanted to learn. like for instance, if you want to speak English all you have to do is to listen very carefully to some tools such as CD, DVD, tapes etc. either audio or video, any kinds of topics as long as educational and knowledgeable and while you are listening just follow and speak what they are talking this is a training of the tongue or tongue twisting trying to develop proper accent, pronunciation, intonation etc, if any words you donât understand have your dictionary besides you and open it. next step just prepare any topics as guidelines [ prepare the main topics, sub topics and conclusion] prolong, elongate and expound the topics you wanted to discuss make it in English version at first you might have the difficulty to speak but try and try until your English would connect and connect at this point your trying to bridge the gap. What is needed in English is that at least you have many words to know {synonym and antonyms} is what i mean.

The basic training of English is that you have to speak English by any topics. I understand that for a person who lived {not speaking country have the difficulty to speak English} on my behalf, English education must start first on basic like for instance if you need English conversation find a person who could talk with you English, or else speak and talk English with yourself even if someone listening at you and say something you are a fool forget it. What is needed is you learn something and speak English. if you have the difficulty to write English just read books literatures etc at this point you can get many ideas and your vocabulary broadens, watch the period, punctuation, commas, etc, if you are not a good English listener try to listen English teachings, news whatever that could improve your English, the four pillars of English are: reading. Speaking, writing and listening, if you have this all then you can speak English although not fluent as what others did but at least you can communicate via reading, writing, listening and speak. Fluent English would follow donât give up keep trying until success.

I am a Filipino not an English speaker, writer, etc but in terms of communication i could communicate. For to me to learn English depends on individual. If we have the basic then we have to improve, have the desire, act on it, and apply no need a tutor individual interest is vital here. Donât be shy to speak English if the English is crooked and someone laughs at you accept it consider yourself that you are not an English person, perhaps the person who laughs at you donât know how to speak English and even to communicate with. Thereâs a saying goes: a noisy person have little knowledge than a silent one. in this world what is important is communication regardless of races, nationality and religion. a crooked English is better than nothing, a crooked or a carabao English has the opportunity to become fluent rather than nothing. but if you have nothing at all nobody blames except yourself, your making your own fate and destiny donât blame your parents and the government its your own decision for what you are now, your right decision now will be your future someday but if you donât plan or decision today do you think you have something to expect in the future. To speak English needs perseverance, long patience and determination to reach the goal this is fundamental requirements. people who cannot speak English has less opportunity to go abroad particularly in the open country, and thatâs the reason why I wanted to learn English even basic for this is my only tool to go to other countries if opportunities permit.

From Philippines,

Rene

Re: my accent?

Saska — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:47:23 GMT

First of all, thanks for the replies

Second, I downloaded a trial version of some other programme, which is of much better quality.

http://demo.cermak.cx/img/mrstickle.wav - Mr Tickle (1,16) NEW VERSION! ... some1 said I was speaking to fast so I tried to slow down.

In addition I added two other reading passages ... because I was bored.
http://demo.cermak.cx/img/mrcomma.wav - Comma (2,15)
http://demo.cermak.cx/img/rainbow.wav - Rainbows (1,45)

I'd really need an input from a Briton or an AUssie

Re: Is the bolded comma correct?

Marius Hancu — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:50:50 GMT

You're talking about the comma after months, correct?

I think both work:

- no comma: strong connection between the two parts, the accent is on spend overcoming

- comma: what's after the comma would become a bit paranthetical, secondary; the accent is on spend (some time, six months)

Re: Do I need a comma before all quotes?

GL2 — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:27:06 GMT

Anonymous wrote:

Hello,

I am just trying to find out if you put a comma before all quotes????

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the EHR is, âa longitudinal collection of patient-centric healthcare information available across providers, care settings, and time. It is a central component of an integrated health information system.â NIST believes, "a personâs medical information is scattered among various providers who most often store it in thick paper files. Although pieces of this overall record may be in electronic format, they are probably located on different, incompatible health information systems. There is no coordinated, standardized system that integrates a personâs medical information within and across care settings. EHRs and EHR systems can provide this capability.â

The following text is from Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers (Second Edition):

Use a comma to set off quoted words from short explanations in the same sentence. This rule holds whether the explanatory words come before, between, or after the quoted words. Examples:

"My love is a fever," said William Shakespeare about love's passion.

"I love no love," procalimed poet Mary Coleridge, "but thee."

This use of commas is especially important in communicating conversations or other direct discourse. Explanatory words like she said, they replied, and he answered are called speaker tags, and they are always set off from immediately following words of direct discourse...

When explanatory words have that just before the quoted words, however, do no use a comma after that. Example:

Shakespeare also wrote that "Love's not Time's fool."

Shaw quipped that "Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else."

Sometimes conversation is conveyed through indirect discourse. The writer does not use direct quotation but instead paraphrases material. Do not use a comma after that in indirect discourse. Example:

Shakespeare also wrote that people should be true to themselves.

Exceptions...

If you have made quoted words part of the structure of your own sentence, do not capitalize the first quoted word, and do not set them off with a comma. Example:

Mrs. Saintonge says that when students visit a country whose language they are trying to learn, they "absorb a good accent with the food."

Winking, she encouraged me to try "very speedy persistence."

~~~

Applying these rules to your sample paragraph above, I would not use the two commas that I've highlighted in red above.

Re: listen to this awful American accent... and why?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:21:53 GMT

Well this conversation is ancient, but maybe you get a tickler when someone replies adn will find this. The guy's accent is crap. I'm Canadian but I'm from Toronto where our accent is *almost* standard American (or what we called in the film business Mid-west Flat) and I can tell you a few specifically crappy things about it. I'll focus on the first couple of sentences, there is more than enough wrong with it. Also I agree with the commenter who said it sounded vaguely Russian.

"Standard American English. Hello my name is Paul and, the reason why I'm recording this video is to show you the way I talk. I will tell you a little story too."

Apart from the specific pronunciation problems, the rhythm is off. That's a very important part of language; when I taught Chinese students I would always try to teach them to emphasize the important words in a sentence (rather than treating all syllables equally). I have punctuated like he did (to my ear); he should have put a comma after "Hello", one after "Paul", no comma after "and", and a comma after "story". Failing to pause or pausing in inapprropriate places will give you away every time - the last sentence is particularly unnatural in this respect.

He also just makes some phrase choices that most Americans wouldn't, in my opinion. Americans would almost certainly introduce themselves first, for example, rather than stating the subject, and they would also tend to speak more directly or perhaps warmly to the audience (perhaps saying "So, let me tell you a little story.")

More specific:
-He puts an extra syllable in "Standard" so it's "Standered"
-His "i" sounds have too much "y" making them sound Slavic: "Mi-yee name yis Paul..." and also "vid-yee-oh" for "video."
-In that same phrase, the "is" has too much "ss"; Americans say "iz".
-When he says his own name the vowel sound is too close to "o" as in Pole. His name is Paul as in "Smoking Pall Malls in the Hall"
-When he says "talk" he almost gets it right. Standard American has ver soft "o" sounds that sound like "ah" in words like "hot" and "stop." the al in "talk" sounds like a soft "o" and in American more like "ah". The reason that word sounds so strange is because it is pretty close to correct in a sea of incorrect.

Good luck.

Re: Can't read out with proper rythm, what can i do?

nona the brit — Sun, 07 May 2006 23:55:31 GMT

Hi,

I listened to your reading and it doesn't seem as bad as you think. Your accent is very American rather than Asian. You are a bit hesitant in a couple of places but most people are when they are learning a language. You are easily understood.

If you look at the punctuation, that will help you get the right rhythm and pause or stop in the right places. You can pause for long enough to take a quick breath at a comma and take a good breath after every full stop (period).