English Insights

The difference between "among" and "between" (pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate and advanced level)

2008-01-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

We use among when we consider people or things as a group.
E.g. His house is among the trees.

We use between when we are talking about two or more clearly separate people or things.
E.g. Our house is between the woods, the river and the village.

Between can be used to talk about intervals and time limits.
E.g. We need two metres between the windows.
E.g. I’ll be at the office between nine and eleven.

Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press. 1995.

British meals (Pre-intermediate level)

2008-01-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

Breakfast: It is usually a packeted cereal (e.g. cornflakes) and / or toast and marmelade. Although this is not the "traditional breakfast" or " "English breakfast" which also includes a "fry-up" (a lot of fried items such as sausages, eggs or bacon) . Only 10% of the population has an "English breakfast".

Elevenses: They have a cup of tea or coffee (nowadays they drink more coffee than tea) and some biscuits at around eleven o'clock.

Lunch: It's typically at one o'clock. But it is often a bit earlier for schoolchildren and those who start work at eight o'clock.

Tea: This is usually considered the evening meal. It is eaten as soon as people get home from work (at around six o'clock). But some people have a snack and tea at around four.

Supper: For people who have a cup of tea at four, this is the evening meal.

Dinner: this suggests something big and eaten comparatively late (at around eight o'clock). It is associated with formality. Many people talk about "Christmas dinner" even if they have it in the middle of the day. It is also sometimes used to refer to the midday meal in schools.

How do you know? (a positive story about the meanings of life events) Upper intermediate level

2007-12-30T20:23:00.000-08:00

HOW DO YOU KNOW? (Upper intermediate level. Glossary at the end)

Many years ago, in a poor Chinese village, lived a peasant with his son. His only material good, besides the land and his little straw hut, was a horse he had inherited from his father. One good day the horse run away leaving the man without a horse to till the land. His neighbours —who respected him for his honesty and diligence— came to his home to let him know how much they regretted what happened. He thanked the visit, but asked:—How would you know that what happened has been a misfortune in my life?Somebody commented in a low voice to a friend:«He doesn't want to accept reality, let him think what he wants, as long as he doesn't get sad with what has happened».And the neighbours went away, feigning to be in agreement with what they had heard.

A week later, his horse came back to the stable, but he was not alone: He brought with him a beautiful mare as company. After knowing this the inhabitants of the village were overjoyed, because only now they understood the answer the man had given them, returned to the peasant's home to congratulate him for his good luck.—Before you had just one horse, now you have two. Congratulations!—they said.—Thank you very much for your visit and your solidarity —answered the peasant. But, how do you know that what happened to me is a blessing in my life?Confused, and thinking the man was turning insane, the neighbours walked away, commenting on the road:«Is it possible that this man does not understand that God sent him a gift?»

A month had passed, the peasant's son decided to tame the mare. But the animal jumped in an unexpected way, and the boy had a bad fall breaking a leg. The neighbours came back to the peasant's home taking with them presents for the wounded youth. The major of town, solemnly, presented his condolences to the father saying that all were very sad for what had happened. The man thanked the visit and everybody's affection. But he asked:—How can you know if what happened has been a misfortune in my life?This sentence left everybody astonished, since nobody could have the least doubt that an accident of his son is a true tragedy. When leaving the peasant's home they commented among themselves:«Really he is becoming crazy; his only son may end up lame forever and he still has doubts that what has happened is a tragedy».

Some months passed and Japan declared war to China. The emissaries went through the country looking for healthy boys to be sent to the battle front. When arrived to the village drafted all the young ones except the peasant's son who was with his broken leg. None of the boys returned alive. His son recovered, the two animals gave a litter that was sold and gave good money. The peasant went to visit his neighbours to console them and help them, since they had shown solidarity with him at all times. Always when any of them complained the peasant said:—How do you know if this is a tragedy? If somebody was too happy, he asked:—How do you know if that is a blessing?And the men of that village understood that, beyond appearances, life has other meanings.

Unknown author (as far as I know)

Glossary:

peasant: (noun) a farmer (a person who works in the countryside) who has or rent a small piece of land.
straw hut: (noun) a very small and simple house made of dried plants.
till: (verb) to prepare and use the land for growing crops, grains.
diligence: (noun) care and effort in your work.
misfortune: (noun) opposite of fortune or luck.
feigning: (verb) pretending that you have a particular feeling.
mare: (noun) female horse.
overjoyed: (adjective) extremely happy (not use before a noun).
tame: (verb) to make something easy to control.
astonished: (adjective) very surprised.
lame: (adjective) unable to walk well.
drafted: (verb in the past) chose people and send them somewhere for a special task.

Brutish English or the dangers of translating (to have a good laugh) Pre-intermediate and intermediate level

2007-12-29T20:34:00.001-08:00

Are you drinking my hair? = ¿me estás tomando el pelo?
Are you or do you make yourself = sos o te hacés.
As boring as licking a nail = aburrido como chupar un clavo.
Auto stop = Contrólese usted mismo.
Between no more and drink a chair = entre nomás y tome asiento.
Can can = El perro puede.
Catch yourself catherine = agarrate Catalina.
Copyright = Copie bien.
Do you want more yellow = quiere mas hielo.
Give me ball = dame bola.
Go to know = andá a saber.
He doesn't give foot with ball = no da pie con bola.
He is of the tomatoe = está del tomate.
I am make bag = estoy hecha bolsa.
I don't give more = no doy más.
I made myself the rat = me hice la rata.
If I have seen you I don´t remember = si te he visto no me acuerdo.
It imports me a horn = me importa un cuerno.
It matters me a whistle = me importa un pito.
Let's go yet! = ¡vamos todavía!
Like who doesn't want the thing = como quien no quiere la cosa.
Little femile gauchos package = Paquete de Criollitas.
Little potato for the parrot = papita p'al loro.
Not to hunt one = no cazar una.
Of nothing = de nada
President of the street = presidente De la Rua.
Putting was the goose = poniendo estaba la gansa
Re-chicken = Repollo.
Send fruit = mandar fruta.
Skull don't shout = calavera no chilla.
Stay fly = quedate mosca.
That's my chicken = ése es mi pollo.
The what = lo que.
Tina Turner = Bañera giratoria.
To another thing butterfly = a otra cosa mariposa.
To be a dead little fly = ser un mosquita muerta.
To be easy fungus = ser facilongo.
To be glassed = estar copado.
To be in balls: estar en bolas
To cry to the church = a llorar a la Iglesia.
To do egg = hacer huevo.
To do what it sings yourself = hacer lo que se te canta.
To make the duck = hacer la pata.
To spend a person = gastar a una persona.
To stay fathering flies = quedarse papando moscas.
To take oneself the vessel = tomarse el buque.
Urinated by the dog = piyado por los perros.
We are all alive = somos todos vivos.
What a hand rail = que baranda.
What face is the onion = que cara está la cebolla.
What threw it = que lo tiró.
You are ticket = sos boleta.
Your sister is an iron = tu hermana es un fierro

Unknown author (as far as I know)