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Some questions concerning certain expressions
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Sina



Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 117
Location: Germany

PostPosted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 4:04 am    Post subject: Some questions concerning certain expressions Reply with quote

Hi everybody:), I've got questions again...
First one: ..."even when they are obviously meant to be"
What does that mean? A kind of "even when they shall be"?

Second: The accident was due to his lack of driving.
Is it right that way? Can you give other terms expressing the same as above?

Third: What does "altoghether" mean?

Forth: And has "definitely" the same meaning as "in any case"?

Would nbe kind if you help........Bye
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iitimone7



Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 400
Location: Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 4:46 am    Post subject: questions Reply with quote

Good morning Sina

'altogether' is American English slang in which the two words 'all' and
'together' are formed into one word out of laziness

'the accident was due to his lack of driving' is the best way to phrase that sentence.
you could also say ' due to his lack of driving skills, he had an acident' or 'because of his lack of driving skills, he had an accident,' but due to is still better.

'definitely' is a strong way of saying 'absolutely'

'meant to be' is a little harder. it means something like 'it should have always been that way.'

i hope that helps...your English is very good! iitimone7
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

PostPosted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:27 am    Post subject: Re: Some questions concerning certain expressions Reply with quote

Sina wrote:
Hi everybody:), I've got questions again...
First one: ..."even when they are obviously meant to be"
What does that mean?

It was their destiny/fate to be together. They are a perfect match as a couple.

Quote:
Second: The accident was due to his lack of driving.
Can you give other terms expressing the same as above?

was due to = was because of; was a result of

Quote:
Third: What does "altoghether" mean?

Depending on context:
altogether = all together (as iitimone said).
As slang, it can mean naked.
E.g.
When he was washing up in the stream, a bear stole all of Bill's clothes. So he had to hike down the mountain in the altogether.

Quote:
Forth: And has "definitely" the same meaning as "in any case"?

Basically, yes. But you would use them in different situations.
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Sina



Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 117
Location: Germany

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for replying......but I still have any questions.. Confused

Quote:
First one: ..."even when they are obviously meant to be"
What does that mean?

It was their destiny/fate to be together. They are a perfect match as a couple.


Yes, but that would mean that they shall/have to be together....doesn't it? Could you speak german? If so, could you give a german translation?

Quote:
Second: The accident was due to his lack of driving.
Can you give other terms expressing the same as above?

was due to = was because of; was a result of


The accident was a result of his lack of driving, right?
Is it quite common in the USA? Or which expression is used very often? What would you use when telling a friend?

I haven't got your explanation of "altogehter".....Sorry, Sad

"In any case" is more formal than "definitely", isn't it?

Well, I 've got more questions....Razz Hope you aren't irritated so far.... Embarassed
1) I happen to know...
-> I know it by accident
2) meaning of "thus"...Could you give an example of usage?
3) Other words for pretty, quite, very, rather...as in "it is pretty cold in here"...What about slightly and faintly?

Bye, bye....Ich gr��e euch! Very Happy And thanks!

[/quote]
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grey



Joined: 12 Aug 2005
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:00 am    Post subject: beginner Reply with quote

Please, where I have go for beginner level?
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sina wrote:
Quote:
First one: ..."even when they are obviously meant to be"
It was their destiny/fate to be together. They are a perfect match as a couple.

Yes, but that would mean that they shall/have to be together....doesn't it?

Not really. No one is forcing them to be together. It's just an expression to show that you agree it is a good match. One seems to complement the other, like fish and chips, beer and pretzels, hot apple pie and ice cream, ying and yang. Smile

Quote:
Could you speak german? If so, could you give a german translation?

Ich appoligize. Ich spreche nicht Deutsches. Ich spreche nur Englisch. Embarassed
Quote:
Quote:
Second: The accident was due to his lack of driving.
was due to = was because of; was a result of

The accident was a result of his lack of driving, right?
Is it quite common in the USA? Or which expression is used very often? What would you use when telling a friend?

I would say:
The accident was because of his of driving.
The accident was because of his lack of driving skill.
The accident was because of his poor driving skill.

Quote:
I haven't got your explanation of "altogehter".....Sorry, Sad

Ah, it's just strange English slang. No problem.

Quote:
"In any case" is more formal than "definitely", isn't it?

Not necessarily. Definitely is a single statement. In any case is used to show different situations.
E.g.
1. We are definitely going to see Star Wars at the cineplex after dinner.
2. We might go out for Thai food or pizza before the movie. But in any case, we will be going to see Star Wars after dinner.

Quote:
1) I happen to know...
-> I know it by accident

Basically, yes. You did not specifically learn it for this situation, but the information is useful now anyway.

Quote:
2) meaning of "thus"...Could you give an example of usage?

Bill spent all of his extra money on new clothes. Thus, he could not afford to go out to eat.

Quote:
3) Other words for pretty, quite, very, rather...as in "it is pretty cold in here"...What about slightly and faintly?

fairly, significantly, noticeably, substantially (used in comparisons)

Slightly and faintly are opposites of very, quite, rather, etc.

Quote:
Very Happy And thanks!

You're very welcome.
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Sina



Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 117
Location: Germany

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks again! Very Happy
By the way, your german is quite well.. Wink Sorry, I was just kidding...My english isn't good either. But I hope you'll understand me anyway...
Well, some questions...

Quote:
Bill spent all of his extra money on new clothes. Thus, he could not afford to go out to eat.


..Consequently, he could not afford to go out to eat.
..As a consequence,

Can I replace "thus" for the expressions I have mentioned above? (By the way, how do I have to put it? "Replace thus to/for" ??? Confused Which preposition do I have to use?
Bye, bye...

Where do you come from, Bob? And why are you using this site?
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asterix



Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 1654

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Altogether = 1.) totally, completely. e.g. You are altogether wrong.

OR 2.) On the whole. e.g. Altogether it has been a fine day.

OR 3.) In total. e.g. There are six rooms altogether.

Auf deutsch - ganz, im Ganzen, ingesamt; was macht das zusammen?
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iitimone7



Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 400
Location: Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:18 pm    Post subject: grey Reply with quote

grey - you can post anywhere you want and we'll help you
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iitimone7



Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 400
Location: Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:20 pm    Post subject: altogether Reply with quote

correct in the meanings, asterix, but altogether is not a real word...it was made up many, many years ago by people who are lazy in their english speech
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Perhaps at one time it was not a real word (I really don't know), but it is certainly a real word today. What is it about the word that would make you say that someone is a lazy speaker to use it, Iitimone7? I hear/see it used a lot.
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iitimone7



Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 400
Location: Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:34 pm    Post subject: altogether Reply with quote

bud, i meant to say in written language. it's been used improperly for so long that it is now an accepted spelling - that doesn't make it correct.
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sure it does, doesn't it? Words become words because many people use them. Later, dictionaries start to document them. They don't become words because there is some authority that decrees them to be legitimate words. Do you have a similar problem with alright and already?
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sina wrote:
My english isn't good either. But I hope you'll understand me anyway...

Hey, your written English is better than a lot of native speakers. Smile

Quote:
..Consequently, he could not afford to go out to eat.
..As a consequence,
Can I replace "thus" for the expressions I have mentioned above?

Yes. Thus, consequently, as a consequence, therefore, as a result, hense, all pretty much mean the same.

Quote:
(By the way, how do I have to put it? "Replace thus to/for" ??? Confused Which preposition do I have to use?

Replace "A" for "B".
"B" goes away. "A" takes its place.
Replace "A" with "B".
"A" goes away. "B" takes its place.
Confusing enough? Laughing

Quote:
Where do you come from, Bob? And why are you using this site?

I used this site a number of years ago to gleen information about teaching English in Japan (see the Job section about that). Although I returned to California about a year and a half ago, I still enjoy helping people learn English while sharing opinions with such an interesting diverse international crew. So I get to learn something myself! Cool
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iitimone7



Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 400
Location: Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 6:59 pm    Post subject: slang Reply with quote

as a matter of fact, bud, i do. and with other similar words...such as 'alot' (it's the only thing that comes to mind), but Bob S used it correctly in the previous post. i don't have a problem with other people using them and i don't correct them, unless they act, but english is hard enough to learn without adding more confusion by adding an 'a' or 'al' to any word that sounds good. iitimone7
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