Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[luciaC]

What do they mean?
1. He is a shrimp.
2. That is a rat. informal way
3 fancy dancy
4. Does fireman mean fire fighter?
5. Does garment worker mean tailor?
6 What is your business?

Grammar questions
1. answer sheet or answering sheet? Which is correct?
2. What is the difference between device and equipment? Is IPOD a device?
3. Do you still have a cough? Yes, I do. I haven't gotten it over yet.
4. I am a Muslim.
5. I am an Islamic.
6. Does Muslim and Islamic worship the same God?

Thank you!
_________________
Mimi

[bud]

What do they mean?
1. He is small for a man (or boy).
2. Hmm... not sure... If you call a person a rat, often it is meant that he betrays you. For example, a member of a crime syndicate who confesses to the police to save himself is called a rat. I could also say that he ratted me out. -- Also, we call a mean person a rat.
3 It's just a jocular way of saying "fancy."
4. Yes.
5. Not really, but they're similar. A garment worker makes clothes in a factory or workshop. A tailor usually alters clothing for an individual. I suppose sometimes they make clothes, too, but they usually have their own business or work for a clothing store.
6 Do you mean something such as, "It's none of you business?" That means, "I'm not telling you. It's nothing that is of any concern to you."

A: What are you doing?
B: It's none of you business. Leave me alone.



Grammar questions
1. Answer sheet.
2. Yes regarding the iPod. I don't have a good answer as to the difference, except that a device is only one thing while equipment is usually more than one thing.
3. Do you still have a cough? Yes, I do. I haven't gotten over it yet.
4. Yes.
5. I think it's ok, but I think maybe "I am Islamic" would be more likely.
6. Does a Muslim and (an) Islamic worship the same God? Yes, it is the same religion.

5 & 6. A person who practices the religion of Islam is called a Muslim. I don't think it is usual to call him or her an Islamic, but I don't know if it is an error to call him that... If you need an adjective for Islam, then you use Islamic. Ex. Iran is an Islamic country. Most of its citizens are Muslims.