學生：Putonghua is not Chinese.
我：Putonghua is not Chinese? What is Chinese then?
學生：Cantonese is Chinese.
我：Cantonese is Chinese. Putonghua is not Chinese. What do mainland people speak?
學生：They speak Putonghua.
我：Chinese people speak Putonghua. And Putonghua is not Chinese. So Chinese people don't speak Chinese?
學生：(thinking ...) Oh, yes! Putonghua is Chinese.
2017年6月5日星期一
"Ice cream" or "ice-cream"?
我告訴學生兩者也是對。但今日，學生向我「投訴」她老師說她的 "ice-cream" 是錯的。
所以我說香港師資有問題，兼老土！經常把 preference (偏愛) 當成對錯。這種態度蔓延成長至今日的笨土與黃絲之中。
所以我說香港師資有問題，兼老土！經常把 preference (偏愛) 當成對錯。這種態度蔓延成長至今日的笨土與黃絲之中。
我另一個 p3 學生在閱讀理解中作 short answers 時，因為第一個字母大草了，老師就每個沒有句號的答案扣她半分。我要爆炸了！
//It is a noun compound that can be applied spaced or with a hyphen depending on what dictionary you use and what applies in the style guide of the publication you may write for.//
https://editorspen.wordpress.com/…/ice-cream-would-you-lik…/
//Language is always changing. It has to move with the times.//
//Indeed, it is a mistake to make a fuss about punctuation unless clarity or actual meaning is at stake.//
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7004661.stm
//It is a noun compound that can be applied spaced or with a hyphen depending on what dictionary you use and what applies in the style guide of the publication you may write for.//
https://editorspen.wordpress.com/…/ice-cream-would-you-lik…/
//Language is always changing. It has to move with the times.//
//Indeed, it is a mistake to make a fuss about punctuation unless clarity or actual meaning is at stake.//
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7004661.stm
2016年9月11日星期日
1,2,3,4,5
Me : I am a teacher. You are...
P1 : I am children.
Me : You are a child. One child, many children.
P1 : 2 le?
Me : Children. One, child. More than 1, children.
P1 : 3 le?
Me : Is 3 more than 1?
P1 : Yes.
Me : More than one, children.
P1 : 4 le?
Me : Is 4 more than 1?
P1 : Yes.
Me : More then one, children.
P1 : 5 le?
⋯⋯
P1 : I am children.
Me : You are a child. One child, many children.
P1 : 2 le?
Me : Children. One, child. More than 1, children.
P1 : 3 le?
Me : Is 3 more than 1?
P1 : Yes.
Me : More than one, children.
P1 : 4 le?
Me : Is 4 more than 1?
P1 : Yes.
Me : More then one, children.
P1 : 5 le?
⋯⋯
2015年12月18日星期五
《「係」的疑惑》2
//Yesterday, Tom is birthday.//
Tom 是生日。
Tom = 生日
說甚麼？Tom is Monday. 可以嗎？
Yesterday was Tom's birthday.
Yesterday = Tom's birthday.
//The table have cola and chicken wing.//
枱擁有可樂與雞翼。
Have 在英文中只有「擁有」的意思，或作完成式的輔助動詞（即沒有字意）。這裏是想表達出現的意思 (be)，正是中文字直譯英文的問題了！
枱上出現了可樂與雞翼。
The table are cola and chicken wings.
The table = cola and chicken wings
這樣也不對啊！
「出現」的並非枱，而是可樂與雞翼。
可樂與雞翼出現了。
在哪？
在枱上。
可樂與雞翼在枱上。
Cola and chicken wings are on the table.
Cola and chicken wings + are + on the table.
subject + (linking) verb + complement (prepositional phrase)
那就是得先把中文句排列得像英文一樣才能直譯啊！
(From TSA report)
//Today, I help a my friend to do Math homework.//
有 my 就不用 a。
//I help my friend Because He doesn't do Math homework.//
可以看到 Because 及 He 錯用大草是因為多數是在句子頭看到這兩個字。即是學習是以影像記憶，根本沒有明白當中文法規則。
//After, he give me a cancks.//
After that, 其實比較口語化。Then 較好。"cancks" 可能是 snacks 亦可能與 candies 混淆了。但如用眾數前面 "a" 要改為 "some"。
//I feel very happy.//
完美嘅句號！
《「係」的疑惑》1
廣東話「係」即書寫「是」，實在令本身已經複雜的英文更加混亂！
動詞有四種型態：
present / past / present participle / past participle
excite / excited / exciting / excited
四種型態除了可以表達時態亦可以作其他用途。譬如 present participle 嘅 exciting，除 + be + -ing 作進行式，亦可以是形容詞 exciting game；一些 -ing 型態還可以是動名詞 (gerund)，譬如 walking (Walking can be a convenient exercise.) Exciting 與 excited 亦可作形容詞！
http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/ing-forms/
即不同型態的動詞並不一定是句子中的主要動詞！😱😱😱 一些動詞除了可擔當主要動詞（有字意），還可擔當輔助動詞（沒有字意）：
be + -ing [構成時式 -- 進行式]
be + (past tense) V [構成被動]
have/has/had + (past participle) V [構成時式 -- 完成式]
這些情況，輔助動詞翻譯成「在」、「被」、「了」。可是，這些都可以以廣東話的「係」而構成：
She is doing homework.
佢係做緊功課。/ 佢做緊功課。
He has no choice.
佢係冇得揀。/ 佢冇得揀。
They have studied this.
佢哋係一直研究緊呢啲嘢。/ 佢哋係一直研究緊呢啲嘢。
［不過又同樣可以不需「係」。］
所以，如果不想以複雜無比還有很多很多例外的文法來學習英語，必須多讀多用來建立另一套語言系統。這樣就不會以口語廣東話來字譯字，變成不倫不類的英語。
2015年9月12日星期六
Pictures in Storybooks
Every time I take out a storybook, children will look at the pictures,
flip the pages and miss everything I say. So I have to ask them, "If you
stop looking at the picture and pay attention to what I am saying, you
can still see the pictures later. Will the pictures fly away?"
"No."
"But if you stop listening and look at the pictures, can you hear what I say later?"
"No."
So what should you do when I take out the storybook?"
"Listen to you."
"Good."
Then I take out the storybook. They start looking at the pictures.
"No."
"But if you stop listening and look at the pictures, can you hear what I say later?"
"No."
So what should you do when I take out the storybook?"
"Listen to you."
"Good."
Then I take out the storybook. They start looking at the pictures.
2015年9月8日星期二
收皮 , 加油 , 笑死我 , 人山人海 , 放馬過來 , 唔理三七廿一
Is it me? 點解硬係覺得唔太貼切又怪怪？大家有冇好提議或見解？
1. 收皮
廣東話另一種講法係「唔該啦！」「好心啦！」，國語應該係「好不好！」；所以順利成章英文應該係 "please", "come on" 或者 "give me a break"。
2. 加油
"Go! [name] go!"
"[name]! Boom boom boom [could be drum, could be clapping]"
"Break a leg" 比較似祝你好運多過打氣。
3. 笑死我
Rolling on the floor laughing ROFL
Laugh my head off
Laugh out loud
如果聽到好好笑嘅 joke 我會話 "This is a good one"
5. 人山人海
"Jammed/Cramped with people" ?
"Sardined"
"Bustling" 如果指熱鬧
6. 放馬過來
除 "bring it on" "Show me what you got!" 都唔錯。
7. 唔理三七廿一
我唔明中文咁口語，點解譯做英文時咁文皺皺。如果話係職場上用，咁中文係咪都正經啲呢？
"Forget it! Just do it!"
1. 收皮
廣東話另一種講法係「唔該啦！」「好心啦！」，國語應該係「好不好！」；所以順利成章英文應該係 "please", "come on" 或者 "give me a break"。
2. 加油
"Go! [name] go!"
"[name]! Boom boom boom [could be drum, could be clapping]"
"Break a leg" 比較似祝你好運多過打氣。
3. 笑死我
Rolling on the floor laughing ROFL
Laugh my head off
Laugh out loud
如果聽到好好笑嘅 joke 我會話 "This is a good one"
5. 人山人海
"Jammed/Cramped with people" ?
"Sardined"
"Bustling" 如果指熱鬧
6. 放馬過來
除 "bring it on" "Show me what you got!" 都唔錯。
7. 唔理三七廿一
我唔明中文咁口語，點解譯做英文時咁文皺皺。如果話係職場上用，咁中文係咪都正經啲呢？
"Forget it! Just do it!"
我起一個：「走得快，好世界！」
Run! Run like hell!
---------- --------- ----------- ----------- -----------
2015/08/28 星期五 11:26
英語大測試 收皮= Collect Skin？
身處職場，英文流利就如高人一等，但開口埋口用港式英語，只會令人質疑自己的英文程度，遇上外國人，更可能隨時習慣成自然，說不出正統英語，叫人摸不著頭腦！
TOPick 選出港人常犯的7句用語，並標示出其正確英文譯法，讓大家好好擺脫港式英文！
1. 收皮
打工仔忙起上來，做到扯火，或許也想「立會議員王國興上身」，向豬一般的同事大叫一句：「收皮！」
在港式英語的神繙譯中，收皮被直譯為「Collect skin」或「Save skin」，但肯肯定是錯的！發火要夠霸氣，不妨用以下幾句應付：
• 「Knock if off！」（慳啲、我唔受呢套）
•「Cut it out！」（早唞、返歸喇）
•「You make me sick！」（頂你唔順）
•「What’s wrong with you？」 （搞咩啊你？）
•「You shouldn’t have done that！」（你真係唔應該咁做！）
2. 加油
想鼓勵別人，中文可以簡單講句加油，香港人最鍾意用只有港人明白的「Add oil」，若希望對外國人作出鼓勵，應用以下語句：
•「Keep it up！」（繼續努力）
•「You can do it！」（你能做到的）
•「Cheer up！」（打起精神、振作）
但是，英文打氣語句與中文的加油始終有別，某些情況下要懂得變通，例如有朋友跟你說「我今晚會有個演出」，你便應以「Good luck」或「Break a leg」（祝你好運）為他打氣。
3. 笑死我
笑死我「Laugh die me」完全發揮了港式英語的神髓，香港人一聽就明，但若想以正式英文表達笑死的意思，可參考以下說法：
•「I nearly died laughing」（我差點笑死了）
•「You are really killing me」（真是笑死我了）
•「Rolling on the floor laughing; ROFL」（笑到碌地）
4. 好久不見
好久不見究竟可否用「Long time no see」來表達？聽起來有點像港式英語，但其實是可以的！
不少英美電影中的對白，亦曾出現過「Long time no see」，這句話曾掀起了西方教育界與文學界的爭議，有人認為這是不正統英文，堅持以下地道說法：
•「It has been a long time」（很久沒見）
•「It has been a while」（已經有一陣子沒見了）
•「It is a long time since I saw you last」（對上一次見面已是很久以前）
電視教學影集「芝麻街」（Sesame Street）的其中一集，標題也是「Long Time No See」：
5. 人山人海
香港人形容人山人海的景象，只會用上有限英文詞語，於是出現了「People mountain people sea」，在外國人的腦海中，真是很難理解。形容人多最穩陣可以說：
•「There is a large crowd of people」（有一大群人）
在詩詞用語中，外國人也會用上「A sea of faces」，同樣有形容人山人海的味道。
6. 放馬過來
放馬過來有種「夠膽就來鬥過」的意思，香港人十分有趣，將放馬過來直譯成「Let the horses come」，真是霸氣盡失！這句英文可說成：
「Come and take the challenge if you have the guts！」（夠膽就來接受挑戰、鬥過）
•「Bring it on！」（即管放馬過來）
7. 唔理三七二廿一
唔理三七二廿一這句中文本身已非常地道，要直譯成英文「Not caring three seven twenty one」就會變得非常奇怪。取其「不顧一切」、「唔理咁多」的意思，英文可表達成：
•「Regardless of the situation」（不管任何情況）
•「In spite of anything」（不顧任何東西）
•「Whatever may happen」（無論會發生什麼...）
http://topick.hket.com/article/674795/?r=tdsdfb
Run! Run like hell!
---------- --------- ----------- ----------- -----------
2015/08/28 星期五 11:26
英語大測試 收皮= Collect Skin？
身處職場，英文流利就如高人一等，但開口埋口用港式英語，只會令人質疑自己的英文程度，遇上外國人，更可能隨時習慣成自然，說不出正統英語，叫人摸不著頭腦！
TOPick 選出港人常犯的7句用語，並標示出其正確英文譯法，讓大家好好擺脫港式英文！
1. 收皮
打工仔忙起上來，做到扯火，或許也想「立會議員王國興上身」，向豬一般的同事大叫一句：「收皮！」
在港式英語的神繙譯中，收皮被直譯為「Collect skin」或「Save skin」，但肯肯定是錯的！發火要夠霸氣，不妨用以下幾句應付：
• 「Knock if off！」（慳啲、我唔受呢套）
•「Cut it out！」（早唞、返歸喇）
•「You make me sick！」（頂你唔順）
•「What’s wrong with you？」 （搞咩啊你？）
•「You shouldn’t have done that！」（你真係唔應該咁做！）
2. 加油
想鼓勵別人，中文可以簡單講句加油，香港人最鍾意用只有港人明白的「Add oil」，若希望對外國人作出鼓勵，應用以下語句：
•「Keep it up！」（繼續努力）
•「You can do it！」（你能做到的）
•「Cheer up！」（打起精神、振作）
但是，英文打氣語句與中文的加油始終有別，某些情況下要懂得變通，例如有朋友跟你說「我今晚會有個演出」，你便應以「Good luck」或「Break a leg」（祝你好運）為他打氣。
3. 笑死我
笑死我「Laugh die me」完全發揮了港式英語的神髓，香港人一聽就明，但若想以正式英文表達笑死的意思，可參考以下說法：
•「I nearly died laughing」（我差點笑死了）
•「You are really killing me」（真是笑死我了）
•「Rolling on the floor laughing; ROFL」（笑到碌地）
4. 好久不見
好久不見究竟可否用「Long time no see」來表達？聽起來有點像港式英語，但其實是可以的！
不少英美電影中的對白，亦曾出現過「Long time no see」，這句話曾掀起了西方教育界與文學界的爭議，有人認為這是不正統英文，堅持以下地道說法：
•「It has been a long time」（很久沒見）
•「It has been a while」（已經有一陣子沒見了）
•「It is a long time since I saw you last」（對上一次見面已是很久以前）
電視教學影集「芝麻街」（Sesame Street）的其中一集，標題也是「Long Time No See」：
5. 人山人海
香港人形容人山人海的景象，只會用上有限英文詞語，於是出現了「People mountain people sea」，在外國人的腦海中，真是很難理解。形容人多最穩陣可以說：
•「There is a large crowd of people」（有一大群人）
在詩詞用語中，外國人也會用上「A sea of faces」，同樣有形容人山人海的味道。
6. 放馬過來
放馬過來有種「夠膽就來鬥過」的意思，香港人十分有趣，將放馬過來直譯成「Let the horses come」，真是霸氣盡失！這句英文可說成：
「Come and take the challenge if you have the guts！」（夠膽就來接受挑戰、鬥過）
•「Bring it on！」（即管放馬過來）
7. 唔理三七二廿一
唔理三七二廿一這句中文本身已非常地道，要直譯成英文「Not caring three seven twenty one」就會變得非常奇怪。取其「不顧一切」、「唔理咁多」的意思，英文可表達成：
•「Regardless of the situation」（不管任何情況）
•「In spite of anything」（不顧任何東西）
•「Whatever may happen」（無論會發生什麼...）
http://topick.hket.com/article/674795/?r=tdsdfb
2014年9月6日星期六
Ketchup . Catchup
原來 ketchup 系原自中文「茄汁」咖！
真人真事 -- Ketchup
中學家政堂，拍著個儍婆 J。為咗唔想再嘥時間同 J 補鑊，比咗一份簡單差事佢辦。準備時，我忙到一頭煙。茄汁呢？J
「J，你做咩呀？」
「帮 W 畢油。」
「咁茄汁呢？」
「揾唔到。」
四圍望。就一支令令舍舍响老師枱到。
「果支咪系囉！」
「旦系果支寫 "catch up" 唔一樣。」
「...... 咁佢係咪茄汁吖？」
「嗯。」
「咁就得啦。攞嚟。」
「吓。唔同串法咖喎 ......」
-- 撞鬼！--
真人真事 -- Ketchup
中學家政堂，拍著個儍婆 J。為咗唔想再嘥時間同 J 補鑊，比咗一份簡單差事佢辦。準備時，我忙到一頭煙。茄汁呢？J
「J，你做咩呀？」
「帮 W 畢油。」
「咁茄汁呢？」
「揾唔到。」
四圍望。就一支令令舍舍响老師枱到。
「果支咪系囉！」
「旦系果支寫 "catch up" 唔一樣。」
「...... 咁佢係咪茄汁吖？」
「嗯。」
「咁就得啦。攞嚟。」
「吓。唔同串法咖喎 ......」
-- 撞鬼！--
2011年2月6日星期日
Yes and No
I : So you don't know the password?
Student : Yes.
I : Oh, you know the password.
Student : I don't know the password.
I : OK, you don't know the password? Yes, I know. No, I don't know. Which one?
Student : Yes. I don't know.
2010年7月4日星期日
IKEA - English or Swedish
A
Hong Kong IKEA commercial is driving me crazy. The kid pronounces it
'it-key-ah'. If you want to pronounce it in English, it should rhyme
with "idea"; i.e. 'eye-key-ah'. If you want to pronounce it in Swedish,
it sounds like 'ee-care'.
2010年6月18日星期五
Dr Qooble is a Secret Agent!
I pick this pamphlet from my mailbox today. OMG! I must be an old-English teacher because the English here is very odd to me.
Grammar, syntax, vocabulary, usage, or expression, No question too simple? Can you find any verb in this ...er... line? Every sentence must have a verb. A lot of Chinese students have the same mistake - skipping the linking verb. Try say this in Chinese "She is very beautiful". No verb eh? That's why. Then, a very good use of commas until the capital N screws it.
Write an essay an assignment submitted to Dr Qooble, He will proofread and mark your writings, give you comment and positive advices..Is it some new font which a full stop/period looks exactly the same as a comma? If it's a list of action, there should be a comma between "an essay" and "an assignment":
--> "Write an essay, write an assignment, submit to Dr Qooble and he will..."
If "submitted" is the verb, there's no subject. A writing cannot 'submit' itself.
--> "Write an essay or an assignment and submit it to Dr Qooble..."
OOOH!!! --- "submitted" sounds like "submit it" --- OMG (oh my gosh)Last "advice" is uncountable.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3&search=advices
http://www.iciba.com/advices/Either Dr Qooble is far from HK or he's disclosing us some top secret!
Last 2 full stops. Is it Dr Qooble, his assistant or the typist?
Wanna take a look at the back of the pamplet or visit the website?
First of all English question is not the same as question about English. It has something to do with the UK's politics.
A noun before another noun, the first noun acts as an adjective. For example, carrot juice is juice with the taste of carrot; a vegetable person is a person who is like a vegetable (probably in coma).
A noun before another noun, the first noun acts as an adjective. For example, carrot juice is juice with the taste of carrot; a vegetable person is a person who is like a vegetable (probably in coma).
Grammar, syntax, vocabulary, usage, or expression, No question too simple? Can you find any verb in this ...er... line? Every sentence must have a verb. A lot of Chinese students have the same mistake - skipping the linking verb. Try say this in Chinese "She is very beautiful". No verb eh? That's why. Then, a very good use of commas until the capital N screws it.
Write an essay an assignment submitted to Dr Qooble, He will proofread and mark your writings, give you comment and positive advices..Is it some new font which a full stop/period looks exactly the same as a comma? If it's a list of action, there should be a comma between "an essay" and "an assignment":
--> "Write an essay, write an assignment, submit to Dr Qooble and he will..."
If "submitted" is the verb, there's no subject. A writing cannot 'submit' itself.
--> "Write an essay or an assignment and submit it to Dr Qooble..."
OOOH!!! --- "submitted" sounds like "submit it" --- OMG (oh my gosh)Last "advice" is uncountable.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3&search=advices
http://www.iciba.com/advices/Either Dr Qooble is far from HK or he's disclosing us some top secret!
Last 2 full stops. Is it Dr Qooble, his assistant or the typist?
Wanna take a look at the back of the pamplet or visit the website?
2010年5月18日星期二
Go Banana = becomes crazy; Go Toilet ???
"to"
gives readers a sense of action done towards a place. Here, "go" is an
intransitive verb (i.e. no object; nothing to accept/receive the
action). One can make a toilet, break a toilet, flush the toilet (all transitive verbs) but 'go a toilet' doesn't make any sense. So one has to say "I go to school by bus."
Another meaning of "go" is "to be". For example: "go bananas" means "go crazy", i.e. to become crazy. I don't think your teachers would want to know if you want to be a toilet.
Sometimes, we go shopping, we go swimming ... Here, shopping and swimming are activities. Toilet is a thing. So you should say "Teacher, may I go wee wee/poo poo?" which is like in Chinese 先生, 我想痾屎!
2010年5月10日星期一
Are You Finished?
I tend to ask students if they 'are finished'. But they laugh as if I'm asking if they're dead.
Alternatives:
Are you done?
Are you through?
To or not to. That's the questions.
Student's
sentence: "We should help our parents to clean the house." Her teacher
crossed her 'to'. "To or not to. That's the question."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv226.shtml
2010年4月26日星期一
Here Comes the Tenses! - 6 Present Perfect
-
about a period of time which is continuing; for unfinished actions and events; time stated is not finished (with since, for, still, yet)
I've practised my piano since 4 o'clock. (it's 4:15)
I've lived there for 4 years. (still living there)
I still haven't finished my homework.
Mum hasn't prepared dinner yet.
The builder have started working on the kitchen this week.
-
express recent event (often with just); to focus on the results of an activity or event which is complete
Jack has just been to the bank.
I've mentioned the car. (= I've just finished so we can go out in it now)
- unspecified past even or time is irrelevant; talk about how many times something has happened (with adverbs like already, before, ever and never; after a superlative)
I've lost my new camera. (it's irrelevant when)
Pete has been to New York 3 times.
I've met her before somewhere.
It's the biggest dog I've seen.
2010年4月21日星期三
2010年4月19日星期一
Here Comes the Tenses! - 3 Present Continuous
-
present moment; temporary action with now, at the moment, at present, or just
I'm wearing a pair of old jeans.They're eating lunch at the moment.
-
current projectWe're working on our geography project this month.
-
changing or developing situations with always or continually
You're always buying new video games! (you buy too many) -
unexpected things happens several times
I'm always meeting my neighbour John near the station. -
arranged plansJanice is meeting Frank tomorrow at 2 in the coffee shop.
Here Comes the Tenses! - 2 Simple Present
-
happen regularly & habits
Jason takes the bus to work every day. -
general truth
The moon goes round the earth. -
permanent situations
I work in Central. -
to describe the plots of books and films
The story begins and ends in Spain. The year is 1937. -
for scheduled events with a future meaning
timetables - My plane arrives Hong Kong on Saturday at 14:30.
programmes - The meeting starts on Wednesday at 9:30.
plans - The speaker arrives on Tuesday afternoon.
Here Comes the Tenses! - 5 Past Continuous
-
for interrupted action
They were eating dinner when he arrived home
-
2 things happening at the same time
He was buying a burger and all the crowds were walking past.
-
for exact time in the past
I was reading last night at 9:30 p.m.
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