Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
English, it's a piece of cake!
Das ist ein Kinderspiel
It's a piece of cake is an idiom meaning easy or simple.
English is a piece of cake!
It's a piece of cake is an idiom meaning easy or simple.
English is a piece of cake!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A Handy is Handy...?
Germlish = My handy is broken.
Handy = praktisch
Cell phone (US English) Mobile (UK English)
What you want to say: My cell/mobile (phone) is broken.
Handy = praktisch
Cell phone (US English) Mobile (UK English)
What you want to say: My cell/mobile (phone) is broken.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
bekommen und werden: I become a hamburger?
Bekommen sounds similar to the English word “become," and is often mistaken for it. However, 'bekommen' is a false friend.
bekommen = to get or to receive
werden = become
bekommen = to get or to receive
werden = become
Hallo zusammen! Not in English.
Germlish = Hello/Hi (all) together!
What you want to say or write: Hello/Hi everyone/everybody.
*Much more informal is Hi all
Remember greetings means hello.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Keeping it simple: Much and Many
Keeping it very simple.
When do you use much and many?
Ganz einfach:
much = viel
many = viele
Still not sure?
Use a lot of.
Ex: I don't have a lot of free time.
Ich habe einen Tag frei = I have a day off
Germlish = I can't come to class because I have a holiday.
public holiday = gesetzlicher Feiertag. For example: October 3 is a national/public holiday.
religious holiday = kirchlicher Feiertag. For example: Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)
to take a day off = sich einen Tag frei nehmen
to have a day off = einen Tag frei haben
What you want to say: I can't come to class because I have a day off.
public holiday = gesetzlicher Feiertag. For example: October 3 is a national/public holiday.
religious holiday = kirchlicher Feiertag. For example: Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)
to take a day off = sich einen Tag frei nehmen
to have a day off = einen Tag frei haben
What you want to say: I can't come to class because I have a day off.
Monday, May 10, 2010
look on versus look at
Germlish = When you look on this slide, you can see that our costs decreased.
What you want to say: When you look at this slide...
_____________________________________
Phrasal Verbs using LOOK
LOOK AFTER = take care of someone or something
When my brother is out of town, I look after the cats.
LOOK AT= to see/view something or to check/examine something
Look at the beautiful painting on the wall.
Can you look at my car? There's a strange noise coming from the front wheel.
LOOK BACK (ON) = remember, usually with nostalgia
When I look back on my time at university, it puts a smile on my face.
LOOK DOWN ON = see something or someone as inferior
Many Americans used to look down on Japanese made cars. They don't now.
LOOK FOR = search for, seek
I think I lost my wallet Will you help me look for it?
LOOK FORWARD TO = anticipate with pleasure
I am looking forward to seeing you next week.
LOOK INTO = A. investigate B. see in a mirror
A. There's a problem with my computer. Can you look into it for me?
B. What do you see when you look into the mirror?
LOOK ON = observe, be a spectator
Five people just looked on as the robbers got away with all the money from the bank
LOOK OUT = pay attention - be careful - there is danger!
Look out! There's a truck coming.
LOOK OVER = examine, review
Always look over a contract before you sign it.
LOOK TO = to hold as leader or director; someone with better or more knowledge
Many students look to their professors for academic advice.
LOOK UP = A. find in a dictionary B. find and visit someone
A. You must look up new vocabulary words in your dictionary.
B. You should look me up if you are ever in Greece,
LOOK UP TO = respect, admire someone
I have always looked up to my father.
What you want to say: When you look at this slide...
_____________________________________
Phrasal Verbs using LOOK
LOOK AFTER = take care of someone or something
When my brother is out of town, I look after the cats.
LOOK AT= to see/view something or to check/examine something
Look at the beautiful painting on the wall.
Can you look at my car? There's a strange noise coming from the front wheel.
LOOK BACK (ON) = remember, usually with nostalgia
When I look back on my time at university, it puts a smile on my face.
LOOK DOWN ON = see something or someone as inferior
Many Americans used to look down on Japanese made cars. They don't now.
LOOK FOR = search for, seek
I think I lost my wallet Will you help me look for it?
LOOK FORWARD TO = anticipate with pleasure
I am looking forward to seeing you next week.
LOOK INTO = A. investigate B. see in a mirror
A. There's a problem with my computer. Can you look into it for me?
B. What do you see when you look into the mirror?
LOOK ON = observe, be a spectator
Five people just looked on as the robbers got away with all the money from the bank
LOOK OUT = pay attention - be careful - there is danger!
Look out! There's a truck coming.
LOOK OVER = examine, review
Always look over a contract before you sign it.
LOOK TO = to hold as leader or director; someone with better or more knowledge
Many students look to their professors for academic advice.
LOOK UP = A. find in a dictionary B. find and visit someone
A. You must look up new vocabulary words in your dictionary.
B. You should look me up if you are ever in Greece,
LOOK UP TO = respect, admire someone
I have always looked up to my father.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Spenden oder Ausgeben - False Friends
What's spenden in English?
spenden = donate, donated, donated noun = donation / to make a donation
Ex: I donate money to the Red Cross every year.
ausgeben = spend, spent, spent
Ex: Some people spend too much money on things they really don't need.
Ex: I spent so much money on my vacation (holiday) last year.
spenden = donate, donated, donated noun = donation / to make a donation
Ex: I donate money to the Red Cross every year.
ausgeben = spend, spent, spent
Ex: Some people spend too much money on things they really don't need.
Ex: I spent so much money on my vacation (holiday) last year.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Ein Baby bekommen: Hmm?
Germlish: Heidi is going to get a baby in June.
to have a baby = to give birth
We don't use the verb get when we talk about a person that will give birth.
*To get a baby is to acquire it by means of adoption. However, you would use the verb adopt and not get.
to adopt a child - Ex: The child is adopted.
What you want to say: Heidi is going to have a baby in June.
to have a baby = to give birth
We don't use the verb get when we talk about a person that will give birth.
*To get a baby is to acquire it by means of adoption. However, you would use the verb adopt and not get.
to adopt a child - Ex: The child is adopted.
What you want to say: Heidi is going to have a baby in June.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
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