Search results for 'tag:Grammar tag:Vocabulary' matching tags 'Grammar' and 'Vocabulary'

proofreading needed

changeling — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:17:16 GMT

Hi everybody!

Could you, please, check my grammar and vocabulary in the following sentences?

Every now and then you will want to enjoy a whole chunk of baked meat. First, you should learn about making your meat soft and tender instead of dry and tough one. The top tip for a succulent baked ham is the right marinating process. It's better to buy fresh and low-fat ham. To make it really tasty, try to get cooled meat, not frozen one. Make this dish for Christmas party when the whole family gathers around the table. Your family and friends will eat it up! (will eat heartily? Could you suggest any idioms to say âto enjoy mealâ)

Thanks in advance

Re: Which language is most difficult language for people to learn?

Kooyeen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:03:07 GMT

Just some quick comments:

1) It is obvious you can't tell which language is the most difficult to learn, because it's a subjective thing. "Difficult" means you are not able to do it well, but someone else might have no problems. Playing the guitar might be difficult for those who never learned how to use one, but it's pretty easy and enjoyable for many others. So I think I wouldn't have problems with Spanish grammar, since I'm Italian, but I doubt I would find Chinese ideograms quite easy.

2) Every language has some aspects you would find difficult, and others you would not find so difficult after all. All this is still very subjective. Some aspects you might want to consider are grammar, pronunciation, writing, speech registers, cultural aspects, regional aspects, etc.

3) The more a language it taught, the simpler it is to find what you need (more material = a better perspective and understanding). So English and Spanish, no matter how difficult and who finds them difficult, have a huge advantage: they are taught a lot. On the net you'll find an avalanche of websites to learn them, for free. Lots of teachers, lots of courses, lots of material. But now try to learn Finnish for example... how many forums to learn Finnish for free from volunteers are there online? As many as those for ESL? Hmm, no way. So less material --> higher probability of confusion and slower improvement.

4) What do you mean by learning a language? Learning the basic words? The basic grammar? Advanced vocabulary? Good style too? Perfect pronunciation? Learning about the major dialects too? And about the cultural aspects?
So the point is, at what level are you going to use a language you are learning? Maybe it's simple to learn how to say the most basic things ("hello, how are you?") in every language, but how about talking about eye surgery like a professor would? Attending a history lecture and understanding basically everything? You need "mastery" for that, and it's probably extremely hard to achieve for every language, no matter how subjective the difficulty might be.

Just my thoughts

Re: Paragraph Suggestions

Mister Micawber — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:48:14 GMT

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I have already commented on the style problem. Below, I have underlined incorrect or unnatural grammar and vocabulary only:

My combined study partner, Computer is lying on the russet table nearby the desk. Its versatility assists me adeptly in studies. Although it is a machine but profoundly alter my feeble grammar like a goldsmith wrought the gold. A rhomb shaped monitor, with cling gray screen, held on the top of the table. Just below I see my easy-to-press keyboard, with special grouped keys on it. The mouse lies quietly on black sponge pad next to the keyboard. Two audio speakersâ stands at each side of the monitor, with the attached headphone set. All these components connected through wavy cables to the nerve centre, Central processing unit placed at the end shelf of the table. The evening rays, entering through the window, cast a gradient of colors on my smooth carpet lying beneath.

Re: Paragraph Suggestions

Mister Micawber — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:25:14 GMT

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I suppose that this is a vocabulary and composition assignment from your teacher, but this style of writing is inappropriate for such mundane topics. I have underlined problem areas and struck out inappropriate metaphors and other words:

My computer, the ~~caretaker~~ of my studies, lies over the ~~flat~~ table at the ~~other~~ side of my desk. Although it is a machine ~~but~~ in my weak spellings and grammar, it is a life saver. Usually it does my long sentences and paragraphâs final revision ~~is done by it~~. A heavy monitor is ~~lying~~ on the top with a gray protected shield and some sack of books and a cd stand beside it. Just below I see my ~~easy-to-press~~ keyboard carrying the ~~soft sound~~ keys on it. Two audio speakerâs stands at each side of monitor like ~~high~~ trees surround the valley. The ~~fast-pace~~ mouse is firmly stays [verb is appropriate?-- No] on the top of the black sponge pad, next to the keyboard. Down on the shelf stands the nerve center, the central ~~control~~ processing unit with its complicated integrated system. In front of table, ~~I see~~ a small frail stool resting on my ~~bright~~ carpet~~âs outer rim~~.

Re: Standard spoken English

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:57:36 GMT

"In turn, standard spoken English is said to have its own 'grammar, vocabulary and idiom'. How do we know what is to be excluded from the standard vocabulary of spoken English? And how are its idioms to be decided on?"

Bex, Watts. 1999

Re: Please help Urgent - Letter to Human Resource

noob_plz_dun_laugh — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:56:13 GMT

This is a classic case of a non-English speaker unfamiliar with the idioms of the English language. Of course, this is entirely not your fault because it is not your first language. Instead of correcting this letter, I suggest you improve on your overall usage of vocabulary in the English language. Reading English books such as novels, prep books for TOEFL, idioms, grammar will help as well as watching English movies as well.

One tip I would like to let you know. In the English society, "communication skills" are very important. What does "communication skills" mean? It means how to express your deepest emotions, interests, and objectives in the most boring and unemotional way possible so that your target audience does not think you're an emotional nutcase.

If you're looking for an increased pay, you may say things such as "My performance has been held steady by the support of this organization and your continued support in the future will reinforce the confidence I have in my abilities. Thus, I feel that being a valuable asset to the organization may entitle me to the same benefits as the other workers that have made the growth of the organization possible."

Good luck buddy.

Re: The new EF is not as good as it was before, I feel

Cool Breeze — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:09:13 GMT

Tanit
Hooray!

Today, for the first time in months, I received some email notifications from threads in the general grammar forums I took part in.
(As I said in other posts, I did receive notifications, but only from other forums - vocabulary, games, topic of the moment etc.)

That happened to me as well today! However, the notifications work very erratically: I still don't receive e-mails from some threads in some furums. The entire system is somehow unstable. If I write a post in the "What's the weather like where you live?" thread and post it, I end up viewing page 13 or 14 of the 20-page thread, not my last post on the last page.

Re: Please proof this and possible conclusion help

Philip — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:41:54 GMT

First, welcome to the Forums. You may have noticed that this is basically a place for students of English as a foreign language to post questions they have about grammar, vocabulary and writing. Native speakers, however, can also get some help here. There is no need to go directly to a moderator for help that you want.

If you'd like to post this in the writing section of the boards, I'm sure that people will be willing to help you out. However, you first need to clean up the style a bit here: separate the composition into paragraphs. It is nearly impossible to work one's way through this and to make comments. You might also consider posting just a paragraph at a time, with specific questions about grammar or vocabulary.

Re: The new EF is not as good as it was before, I feel

Pter — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:50:31 GMT

Yes, this also happens to me. I have been receiving notifications from Vocabulary and Idioms, Speech and Pronunciation, but never from General English Grammar.

Re: The new EF is not as good as it was before, I feel

Cool Breeze — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:00:48 GMT

Tanit
Hooray!

Today, for the first time in months, I received some email notifications from threads in the general grammar forums I took part in.
(As I said in other posts, I did receive notifications, but only from other forums - vocabulary, games, topic of the moment etc.)

I thought I'd take advantage of this thread to share this little piece of news with members who experienced the same problem (CB, YL).

Thank you for the information, Tanit. I'll wait and see if I am as lucky as you.

Cheers, CB