Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

1.Don�t talk with me like that.
2.Don�t talk to me with that attitude.
3.� She still stands on ceremony when talking with/to me.
-He still minds his manners when he talks to/with me.
-Are 1, 2 &3 natural?

4.In some action films the police often say �freeze!�, does this mean �stand still!� or �don�t move!�?

5.I want to tell my friends to get into my house, so I�ll say these, right?
-You guys, get in!
-You guys, go inside!
-You guys, come on in!

6.I�m so sure that she just / only loves me beside her parents.
-Is this natural?

Thanks a lot to Teachers,

Stevenukd

[bud]

Hi Stevenukd,

1. I think this is grammatical, but I don't think it's very natural. Much more likely is "talk to."

2. Very natural.

3. All very natural.

4. "Don't move!" It means don't move anything (your head, your arms, your legs, don't twist or bend your body, etc.) "Stand still" means only to not move your legs and feet.

5.

You guys, get in! - This is more likely for a car or a swimming pool. Then it's natural.

You guys, go inside! - Yes, very natural. (This would be said if you were also outside, and you want everyone to go inside.)

You guys, come on in! - Yes, very natural (You're inside and they are at the door.)

6. I think it's correct, but it sounds a little off. To my ear, it sounds more natural with the last clause moved to the front. Or another possibility is to use a comma or a dash after "me." I think it's the preposition (besides) following "me" that sounds odd. Also, I think you need "besides" (with an "s"):

Besides her parents, I�m so sure that she just / only loves me.
I�m so sure that she just / only loves me - besides her parents.
I�m so sure that she just / only loves me, besides her parents.