I remember that when I studied Latin and had to memorize tons of vocabulary, I had my mother test my vocabulary before every test. Her job was very limited. She just had to say the word in Dutch and I would translate it into Latin.
Recently, I doscovered that I could have saved her a lot of time! On the internet, I found the website www.vokabel.com. It is a grammar and vocabulary site, but it also offers its users the possibility to create their own test. All you have to do is insert a list of words and the according translation. And after just one mouseclick, the website test you just as your mother would. The next time I have to study vocabulary, maybe when I start studying Spanish, I think I could really use that website!
maandag 8 december 2008
zondag 7 december 2008
Random words
I was opening my Longman Dictionary earlier today to look up the word "mallet" which I encountered in Trivial Pursuit. Suddenly I realized that each time I open the program, it displays a random word with its definition and a clarifying picture!
So actually, everytime I look up a word, I could learn two. I will try to remember all of these random words at well! The word that popped up today is "strainer". Not the kind of word that I would discover while playing Trivial Pursuit, but still nice to know!
So actually, everytime I look up a word, I could learn two. I will try to remember all of these random words at well! The word that popped up today is "strainer". Not the kind of word that I would discover while playing Trivial Pursuit, but still nice to know!
donderdag 4 december 2008
Much/Many
One grammatical feature of English that I really have a problem with is the difference in use between much and many. I even made the mistake of writing "much compromises" in an essay.
I know the rule: use much for uncountable nouns, many for countable. But still, sometimes much just seems more right with a countable noun. I think that it has something to do with the colloquial speech of many Americans. In films and television series, I'm sure that I have heard it wrong a few times. And even if that makes a character more believable for the audience, it makes it difficult for the language learner!
I know the rule: use much for uncountable nouns, many for countable. But still, sometimes much just seems more right with a countable noun. I think that it has something to do with the colloquial speech of many Americans. In films and television series, I'm sure that I have heard it wrong a few times. And even if that makes a character more believable for the audience, it makes it difficult for the language learner!
woensdag 3 december 2008
Thanks a million!
In my previous post, I talked about how I'm taking over Irish expressions. Today, it happened to me again. I wanted to photocopy one page in the library, but had forgotten my copy card. I asked a girl if I could pay her to photocopy the page for me. She did it and didn't even desire any money for it!
It struck me as the ideal opportunity to exclaim something I had heard many Irish say already: "Thanks a million!" I still thought it sounded somewhat unusual, but the girl clearly perceived nothing strange. I think I might use that expression more often, however I wonder if an American or even a British person would understand it. I should try it out one day.
It struck me as the ideal opportunity to exclaim something I had heard many Irish say already: "Thanks a million!" I still thought it sounded somewhat unusual, but the girl clearly perceived nothing strange. I think I might use that expression more often, however I wonder if an American or even a British person would understand it. I should try it out one day.
Abonneren op:
Reacties (Atom)