Many of you missed my quirky stories/observations last week… back to normal this week.
Not sure what happened last week, I did explain in the first sentence as to why I only wrote about Grammar, but they cut it from the main page and used it as part of the title!
Give up
The whole city smells of sewerage, I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but now it’s worse. Not very becoming for the more affluent!! It’s like Armenia has turned the clock back 100 years and everyone is using a commode/bucket as a toilet. This will have a serious impact on health and social development if left untreated especially for children. Human excreta have been implicated in the transmission of many infectious diseases including cholera, typhoid, infectious hepatitis, polio, cryptosporidiosis, and pneumonia. Not saying any of these will happen- But if nothing is done …A repeat of 1348, The Black Death!
The other gripe people in Armenia have is the build-up of rubbish /garbage… Yes, parts of the city are dirty at the moment with bags and boxes dumped either in the street or along the side of the road. However, people have to start taking some responsibility; the Rubbish Collectors can only do so much; it is not their job to follow us around 24 hrs a day cleaning up. Last Sunday I was on the bus when a middle-aged woman, threw her food wrapper out the window as if it was the norm. When adults set a bad example, then what chance do the younger generation have! There is no excuse for this type of behaviour. Armenia is a beautiful city if only people cared and stopped expecting other people to do everything for them. Change has to come from within; if not then things will never change. The time has come to get up off those Silicon- Implants and start setting a good example.
Other terms for Rubbish Collector:
Refuse/Bin/Waste/ collector, or as the (PC) politically correct brigade, in the UK would say, “Waste management and disposal technician.” Yes, Political correctness, gone mad!
Continuing the Theme
Another bad habit I have noticed, why do so many people (men and women) spit in public? It’s just as bad as when people are talking to you and picking their nose at the same time!!… Please…Stop-Stop-Stop, use a tissue. There is another bad practice… but it’s better to leave it…I don’t want to put you off your food. “The Mind- Boggles” Definition: overwhelming, startling, amazing, or astonishing.
Ireland 2021
March 2021, will be the last time Ireland and most of Europe will have to change their clocks. As the saying goes: “Spring forward –Fall back” Every March clocks have to be put forward by an hour”Summer Time/Daylight Saving” and in October back an hour “Winter time.” Europe has now decided that each country can decide which time zone they want to use. If every country keeps “Daylight saving” then it means darker mornings and brighter evenings. Not sure if the UK will follow this trend after Brexit.
Eating and drinking
When talking about food (action) we use “have” and “had”, it’s easier: For example, I had lunch yesterday. We will have a drink after work tomorrow. Monday lunchtime I had some food and a couple of drinks with my friends. We are having lunch now. I am having a coffee and cake. Never use take for food and drink-like in Spanish. You can use “take” for transportation. I take my lunch to work every morning. I bring my lunch to work every morning. Or, I carry my lunch to work every morning. However, in an exam or quiz, use the proper tenses for, eat and drink when needed.
Hence vs. Thus
“Hence” and “Thus” have the same basic meaning and are often interchangeable. However, there is a slight difference. Hence usually refers to the future. Thus usually refers to the past.
Hence: is defined as from this place, this time, from this life or for this reason, as a consequence; for this reason: The customer was displeased with her meal, hence the chef prepared a replacement. The roads were covered in ice; hence it was not safe to drive.
Thus: in this way, with this result, thus far, so far, up until now, as a result, or consequence of this, therefore: The mirror was curved, thus (therefore) it made objects look farther away than they really were. She had come thus far (this far), so she might as well continue. The men were starving; thus, (so) they were desperate for food.
At / In
An easy way to remember: “at” for a temporary location and “in” for a longer period of time or for locations.
I am at the hospital (visiting or appointment). I am in the hospital (patient).
At the: clinic /work/school/office/ airport/station. In the: garden/ building/London, Colombia.
Sometimes they are interchangeable, “At the library” or “In the library”. “At the cinema or “In the cinema” This depends on the context and as your English improves you will know when and if it sounds correct.
A correction-last week should have read: Object pronoun – Me not My- Sorry.
Until next Tuesday – Be good.
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