English - use and misuse

[Liliana]

A very common mistake that Romanian speakers of English often make regards the verb "to participate". This verb always collocates with the preposition "in", not "at".
Therefore, we say:
I participated IN a course/meeting/conference.
not
I participated at a course/meeting/conference.

[asorin]

good to know :)

[Carmensita]

I'd rather use "attend a conference, a class", unless I'm an active part of that conference, class.
I might be wrong, though.

[Liliana]

You can also take part/join/involve yourself in/engage in a conference, but the issue I dealt with was the verb "to participate", which is used with the wrong preposition by lots of Romanian speakers of English.


I'd rather use "attend a conference, a class", unless I'm an active part of that conference, class.
I might be wrong, though.

[Carmensita]

Thanks!
I've noticed that native English speakers say/use "attend" more often than "participate", in situations when I, for one, would naturally say "participate". That was my point, sorry, I won't "interrupt" you again.

[Liliana]

That is very true. Romance language speakers tend to use words similar to those they have in their mother tongue.
Please, do interrupt me/butt in on me because I know you mean no harm when you do that. Your interest is purely intellectual and you can give further info on what I write. There's a lot to say when it comes to words.


Thanks!
I've noticed that native English speakers say/use "attend" more often than "participate", in situations when I, for one, would naturally say "participate". That was my point, sorry, I won't "interrupt" you again.

[Carmensita]

..Oh, thank you, teacher...but I'm afraid my interest is rather pragmatic than "pure intellectual", my English does need improvement, it is far from being perfect....so...I keep an eye on you ;)

[Liliana]

I think your English is very good, but please allow me a small correction: "I'll keep an eye on you"... future used to state desire or willingness for something or someone and also to express a decision made at the time of speaking.


..Oh, thank you, teacher...but I'm afraid my interest is rather pragmatic than "pure intellectual", my English does need improvement, it is far from being perfect....so...I keep an eye on you ;)

[Carmensita]

Thanks, you're right, I actually think faster than I write, like everybody else (not that this fact could be used as an excuse).
Besides, I wouldn't say "I'll keep an eye on you" at all, but "I'll pay attention to you", there is a...slight difference in meaning I realized a bit late ;)

So, as my son (usually) says: Ready, steady, go!!! :smile:

[Liliana]

You'll be very likely to be asked "What languages have you studied?". I sometimes hear people saying "I've studied English language" as an answer, which is wrong.
The correct answers could be:
"I studied the English language."
or
"I studied English."

[Carmensita]

Speaking of languages, is it proper to say:

My sister is very good at French/languages.
I'm into languages.

[Liliana]

They are correct sentences, but it very much depends on the context whether their use is proper or not.


Speaking of languages, is it proper to say:

My sister is very good at French/languages.
I'm into languages.

[daniel_D]

You'll be very likely to be asked "What languages have you studied?". I sometimes hear people saying "I've studied English language" as an answer, which is wrong.
The correct answers could be:
"I studied the English language."
or
"I studied English."

As far as I know some tyes of nouns (names of languages and nationalities) don't take an article. Therefore the correct form is "I studied English"

Forse sbaglio ma forse no...

[Carmensita]

I haven't heard (yet) anyone saying "I studied the English language" even though it might be a correct sentence.

[Liliana]

Sono sicura che stai sbagliando... :p
It is correct to say "I studied English", but if you add "language", then you have to use the article... therefore you'll say/write "the English language". :smile:


As far as I know some tyes of nouns (names of languages and nationalities) don't take an article. Therefore the correct form is "I studied English"

Forse sbaglio ma forse no...

[Liliana]

I've come across lots of non-native speakers of English saying/writing that sentence without the definite article.
Indeed, the most common sentence out of those two is "I studied English", but in a more formal context the other one is quite perfect, of course if you use it with the definite article "the". :smile:


I haven't heard (yet) anyone saying "I studied the English language" even though it might be a correct sentence.

[Carmensita]

..it is quite obvious now: when you say "the English language", "English" is not a noun any more.

Ah, Liliana...English native speakers do make a lot of mistakes, too! I was amazed, for instance, how (some) Americans from New York area talk, it's not about the slang or the idioms, but the way in which they changed the words' functionality. To be precise, they often use adjectives instead of adverbs.

[Liliana]

You're perfectly right!;)
Just a small correction: it's "anymore", not "any more";
Both of them exist in the English language, but they are used in different contexts. Here's a sentence for you to understand the difference between them:
"I don't buy books anymore because I don't need any more books."

Also:
- "Americans from the New York area", but "Americans from New York";
- "it's not about slang or idioms" (without "the"), but "It's not about the slang or idioms in the area";
- "words' functionality" (without "the"), but I'd rather use "words' function" (see this for further details http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:-L14CNAjNNEJ:alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxfuncti.html+functionality+meaning&hl=ro&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=ro);

I hope you don't mind I corrected you, I won't do that with every sentence you write here from now on. It would be absurd, lots of native speakers make the very same mistakes.


..it is quite obvious now: when you say "the English language", "English" is not a noun any more.

Ah, Liliana...English native speakers do make a lot of mistakes, too! I was amazed, for instance, how (some) Americans from New York area talk, it's not about the slang or the idioms, but the way in which they changed the words' functionality. To be precise, they often use adjectives instead of adverbs.

[Carmensita]

I hope you don't mind I corrected you, I won't do that with every sentence you write here from now on. It would be absurd, lots of native speakers make the very same mistakes.

Oh, that's all right, teacher, I'm not afraid of losing face or something...

If I had paid more attention to the text, I might have done less mistakes. (that one, the “anymore” thing, G! that was gross, shame on me :) )....Nevertheless, it's good you brought it up!
I can't recall where, but I once read something really funny “You can harm your English by writing and speaking”! :))

:tinysmile_fatgrin_t

[Liliana]

I noticed that. However, teachers make mistakes as well. I don't want to be harsh on people, but, when I am asked, I have to point out the mistakes people make (when using language).
That's a funny quote, I'll tell it to my students, but I'll also tell them "Feel free to harm your English." :tinysmile_tongue_t: Otherwise, their willingness to protect the English language might "harm" my English classes. :p


Oh, that's all right, teacher, I'm not afraid of losing face or something...

If I had paid more attention to the text, I might have done less mistakes. (that one, the “anymore” thing, G! that was gross, shame on me :) )....Nevertheless, it's good you brought it up!
I can't recall where, but I once read something really funny “You can harm your English by writing and speaking”! :))

:tinysmile_fatgrin_t

[Liliana]

Another common mistake is the use of "hard" and "hardly".
We know the general rule that we add "-ly" to an adjective to make it an adverb. However, this doesn't apply to all adjectives. "Hard" can be an adjective and an adverb at the same time. Therefore, we can say:
"This is a hard task." (adj.)
but also
"She has worked hard on that task." (adv.)
Do not use "hardly" as the adverb of "hard" because it is completely wrong.
"Hardly" can be used in contexts like the following:
"I could hardly breathe." (almost not)
"Hardly anyone has a good financial situation these days." (almost no one)
"They had hardly arrived home when the phone rang." (just)
For further info on "hardly", please go to http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:NADb1oU2YyYJ:www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/hardly+hardly+adverb&hl=ro&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=ro.

[Carmensita]

I don't want to be harsh on people, but, when I am asked, I have to point out the mistakes people make (when using language).
:p

The teacher-student relationship is based on trust (and on a shared aim). Also, I want my teacher to be more accurate and better learned than I am (I wouldn't read the thread, otherwise ;). It's meant to be a compliment).

[Liliana]

Thanks a lot! :tinysmile_classes_t
It is normal for teachers to be more accurate than their students, but, of course, that is not all. I would add empathy, high interpersonal intelligence, common sense, sociability, etc.


The teacher-student relationship is based on trust (and on a shared aim). Also, I want my teacher to be more accurate and better learned than I am (I wouldn't read the thread, otherwise ;). It's meant to be a compliment).

[Liliana]

Those who live in Dublin might have often heard tourists asking people around: "Can you make a photo of me?" :icon13:That is what some Romanian speakers of English might say as well, because the verb in Romanian is "a face" (to make). However, the correct English phrase is "to take a photo": "Can/Could you take a photo of me, please?":icon14:
Don't forget to say "please" and "thank you" as often as possible. :icon14:

[Carmensita]

Don't forget to say "please" and "thank you" as often as possible. :icon14:

That is so true!!!! I've come across many Romanians who do not know how to ask for help properly:
Could you, please, bring that paper to me? instead of "Can you bring me that paper?"

[nickydobreanu]

Congrats for this funny thread!

Only two common mistakes I may present right now, namely.

1. Liliana, Carmensita and I (myself) are browsing this page now. (correct)
Liliana, Carmensita and ME are browsing this page now. (incorrect)

2. Consist of (correct only in English) vs. Consist in (correct only in Romanian).
Many Romanian translations of various books transformed the correct "constau in" into "constau din" and this sounds like ... in both languages, when misused.

[Carmensita]

Finally, someone figured out it was supposed to be funny !! It's great that you took the risk to "harm" your English!!

[Liliana]

1. Liliana, Carmensita and I (myself) are browsing this page now. (correct)
Liliana, Carmensita and ME are browsing this page now. (incorrect)


Speaking of that, a mistake I have come across thousands of times (I think it's not a mistake in spoken American English) is "me and my sister/mother/brother...". It's "my sister/mother/brother and I"...

You may also say "me sister and I" :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:, but only if you speak to an Irish. I love the way they say it!

[nickydobreanu]

Before I forget this, be careful when talking about money.
Money = IT (not THEY)
Lads, where is my money? (correct)
Lads, Where are my money? (incorrect)

@Liliana - I like the lads...whenever they are pissed, they keep saying something about our fire (FOCK, FOCK, FOCK) ;)

[nickydobreanu]

Finally, someone figured out it was supposed to be funny !! It's great that you took the risk to "harm" your English!!

Cheers, Carmensita! I mean...not funny peculiar, but funny HA HA HA!
I love to play with words :)

Last word for today...ask someone to spell Responisble (responsabil, in Romanian) and u might get the following R-E-S-P-O-N-S-A-B-L-E.
Trust the man, and more important...
NEVER TRUST A PADDY :P

[Liliana]

Do you mean when pissed (slang for "drunk") or when pissed off (angry)? :tinysmile_tongue_t:::)
("pissed" can mean both, but when you mean "angry" it is often used with "off").
Do you know those small books called "Feckin' Book of ... " (Irish Sayings, Irish Slang, etc.)? If you read them, you'll get more acquainted with the various expressions&words you can regularly hear around Ireland.


Before I forget this, be careful when talking about money.
Money = IT (not THEY)
Lads, where is my money? (correct)
Lads, Where are my money? (incorrect)

@Liliana - I like the lads...whenever they are pissed, they keep saying something about our fire (FOCK, FOCK, FOCK) ;)

[Carmensita]

I remember when I first went shopping here and I was asked "Do you want a bag?"....I was puzzled.."Is she talking about my bike? What is wrong with my "left outside" bike??"..Also, couldn't get what that "thorty! three" meant...:))))

Teacher, I've got one of those small books....funny..!!!

[nickydobreanu]

Do you mean when pissed (slang for "drunk") or when pissed off (angry)? :tinysmile_tongue_t:::)
("pissed" can mean both, but when you mean "angry" it is often used with "off").
Do you know those small books called "Feckin' Book of ... " (Irish Sayings, Irish Slang, etc.)? If you read them, you'll get more acquainted with the various expressions&words you can regularly hear around Ireland.

Ooops, you HAVE right! That's a line that one of my professors in the University years used to repeat over and over. Pissed Off, that's the good one, that's what I meant to say. I will go to READS and look for those books :) Thaaanks!

[Carmensita]

Ooops, you HAVE right! That's a line that one of my professors in the University years used to repeat over and over. Pissed Off, that's the good one, that's what I meant to say. I will go to READS and look for those books :) Thaaanks!

Ohhh.....I've recently heard my son saying "Don't be cross, mommy" ;)

[Liliana]

Just some small corrections:
-I know you meant "you are right", but I'm a teacher, I have to see that written as well; I sometimes cannot take the risk of reading between the lines :tinysmile_hmm_t:;
-I'd rather use "expression" or "phrase"; "line" is rather ambiguous here;
-"repeat over and over again" is a pleonasm; I would use "say over and over again";
- also, I would say "one of my professors at university" (but "one of my teachers/professors in college")

I guess I should stop NOW, before I become annoying to everybody.:icon10: No more corrections! :tinysmile_shutup_t:


Ooops, you HAVE right! That's a line that one of my professors in the University years used to repeat over and over. Pissed Off, that's the good one, that's what I meant to say. I will go to READS and look for those books :) Thaaanks!

[nickydobreanu]

Just some small corrections:
-I know you meant "you are right", but I'm a teacher, I have to see that written as well; I sometimes cannot take the risk of reading between the lines :tinysmile_hmm_t:;
-I'd rather use "expression" or "phrase"; "line" is rather ambiguous here;
-"repeat over and over again" is a pleonasm; I would use "say over and over again";
- also, I would say "one of my professors at university" (but "one of my teachers/professors in college")

I guess I should stop NOW, before I become annoying to everybody.:icon10: No more corrections! :tinysmile_shutup_t:

I must go to my corner, turn around, cry for a while, and go to sleep!
That does hurt :P My line as in "vorba / zicala mea".
What would we do without professors? Can't live with them, can't live without them :P Just kiiding! Thanks! Keep going, everything should be checked and corrected. Do I least get a B+ for my test? Puhleeeez! :P

[Liliana]

Ohhh.....I've recently heard my son saying "Don't be cross, mommy" ;)

Just wait until it crosses his mind that you have to cross people's palms when you cross the border to Romania! :tinysmile_classes_t:tinysmile_twink_t2:

[Liliana]

Thanks for being so open-minded!
Good night!:tinysmile_sleep_t:


I must go to my corner, turn around, cry for a while, and go to sleep!
That does hurt :P My line as in "vorba / zicala mea".
What would we do without professors? Can't live with them, can't live without them :P Just kiiding! Thanks! Keep going, everything should be checked and corrected. Do I least get a B+ for my test? Puhleeeez! :P

[Liliana]

Ha ha! It happened to me as well! :p
I like the way they say "Dublin" (in Romanian would sound like "doblin") and the "th" words ("three" like "tree"). :tinysmile_tongue_t:

I remember when I first went shopping here and I was asked "Do you want a bag?"....I was puzzled.."Is she talking about my bike? What is wrong with my "left outside" bike??"..Also, couldn't get what that "thorty! three" meant...:))))

Teacher, I've got one of those small books....funny..!!!

[Carmensita]

Just wait until it crosses his mind that you have to cross people's palms when you cross the border to Romania! :tinysmile_classes_t:tinysmile_twink_t2:

Hmm...can't I just bribe the "lads"?? :tinysmile_tongue_t:

[Liliana]

Ha ha! Go way outta that! :p


Hmm...can't I just bribe the "lads"?? :tinysmile_tongue_t:

[Liliana]

A frequent mistake even among native speakers of English is the confusion between loose and lose. I've come across it so many times and it's such an annoying mistake!

"Loose" is an adjective. If something isn't fixed properly or it doesn't fit, because it's too large, it's loose.
Here are a few expressions with "loose" and their translation into Romanian:
loose hair = par despletit si lasat pe spate
loose sheets = foi (de hartie) volante
a loose tooth = un dinte care se misca
loose earth = pamant afanat
of loose texture = cu structura necompacta
this coat is too loose = haina aceasta este prea larga
a woman of loose morals = femeie de moravuri usoare
to have a loose tongue = a fi gura sparta
to be at a loose end = a fi fara ocupatie, a nu avea de lucru
to give a loose to one's feelings = a da frau liber sentimentelor
to be on the loose = a duce o viata fericita; a nu avea obligatii
to loose hold = a da drumul, a slobozi

"Lose" is a verb that means to no longer possess something because you do not know where it is, or because it has been taken away from you. To lose something, one needs to be in possession of it (that is also why we say "to miss the train", but "to lose a bet"; that's another discussion, though).

[Carmensita]

"Lose" is a verb that means to no longer possess something because you do not know where it is, or because it has been taken away from you. To lose something, one needs to be in possession of it (that is also why we say "to miss the train", but "to lose a bet"; that's another discussion, though).


:tinysmile_tongue_t::tinysmile_tongue_t::

And yet, sometimes people may lose something they never were in possession of:
lose one's temper - He lost his temper (si-a pierdut cumpatul)
lose one's nerve - She lost her nerve (si-a pierdut curajul)

lose the benefit of the doubt (a pierde dreptul la “prezumtia de nevinovatie”- is there any better translation of this idiom?) as in: Valentin, the economist, lost the benefit of the doubt.

lose face (a deveni mai putin respectabil)

Shoot me, teacher!!!
:tinysmile_tongue_t::tinysmile_tongue_t:

[Liliana]

That's a good point, Carmensita, unless you assume that, from the very beginning of creation, everybody has had temper, courage, etc.


:tinysmile_tongue_t::tinysmile_tongue_t::

And yet, sometimes people may lose something they never were in possession of:
lose one's temper - He lost his temper (si-a pierdut cumpatul)
lose one's nerve - She lost her nerve (si-a pierdut curajul)

lose the benefit of the doubt (a pierde dreptul la “prezumtia de nevinovatie”- is there any better translation of this idiom?) as in: Valentin, the economist, lost the benefit of the doubt.

lose face (a deveni mai putin respectabil)

Shoot me, teacher!!!
:tinysmile_tongue_t:

[Liliana]

Two - Too - To
If you text somebody, you just digit "2" instead of all three and have solved the problem, but if you need to write these words in letters, here are their meanings:

Two- belongs with words that also begin with "tw-", like “twice” and “twenty” that involve the number 2;
Too- its only two meanings are "also" (She's writing, too.) and "in excess" ("It's too much!"
To- this is the proper spelling for all the other uses
e.g.: I want to go to the railway station.

[Liliana]

I am sure you've heard this expression lots of times: “worse comes to worse”. It sounds nice, even a bit poetical, but it's not correct. The traditional idiom is "if worst comes to worst" and the modern variation "worse comes to worst" is a bit more logical, but never "worse comes to worse".
Just remember Billy Joel's song "Worse comes to worst" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNQ8l7e-lKc) and you'll never be wrong. ;)

[Liliana]

Farther and further
It seems to me that these two words have become interchangeablenowadays, but still the rule is the following:
- farther refers to physical distance
My school is farther down the road.
- further refers to an extent of time or degree
The kids are reading further in the book and someday they'll further their education.
Further has also the meanings "in addition" and "moreover".
This case needs further investigation.

[ovimat]

Nice to know about farther, it is so close to fart:tinysmile_cry_t4:

[mihaimilk]

Am observat la colegii irlandezi, marea majoritate cand povestesc au anumite 'verbal ticks', folosesc foarte des anumite cuvinte:

- like, sort of, kind of, basically, you know

Si ma intreb ce le pot face, nu vreau neaparat sa-i corectez, dar as vrea sa-si dea seama ca ma zgarie pe urechi cu exprimarea lor. Hehe, sa le critic eu engleza... :tinysmile_shy_t:

Faza tare caraghioasa la stiri acum ceva luni, erau niste irish asa mai needucati, un cuplu era intrebat 'cum de stau impreuna, ce motive au?' iar raspunsul:

- It's love, like!

(Nu "it's love-like", "It's like love [only stronger]"...

Can't argue with that.

Am un rus in echipa, pe langa ca vorbeste cu un accent puternic rusesc (e in Irlanda cam de prin 2000, ca si mine), prinde toate tick-urile astea pe care le aude mult mai usor decat prinde engleza nezgarietoare.

De exemplu, isi incepe SI TERMINA orice propozitie, in orice context prin "Right..." si apoi continua cu o asezonare de 'like', 'basically' si 'you know' ... RIGHT...

Sa-mi fac putin autocritica, mi se pare ca in ultima vreme daca incep sa explic ceva, la un moment dat folosesc un pic cam des 'I mean... '. Se poate argumenta ca se incadreaza in context, totusi mi se pare ca as putea evita repetitia...

Glad I got this off my chest :redface: :smile: ::)

[sfinx]

Am observat la colegii irlandezi, marea majoritate cand povestesc au anumite 'verbal ticks', folosesc foarte des anumite cuvinte:

- like, sort of, kind of, basically, you know

Si ma intreb ce le pot face, nu vreau neaparat sa-i corectez, dar as vrea sa-si dea seama ca ma zgarie pe urechi cu exprimarea lor. Hehe, sa le critic eu engleza... :tinysmile_shy_t:


cel mai simplu : te faci ca nu auzi sau te duci in alta parte



Faza tare caraghioasa la stiri acum ceva luni, erau niste irish asa mai needucati, un cuplu era intrebat 'cum de stau impreuna, ce motive au?' iar raspunsul:

- It's love, like!

(Nu "it's love-like", "It's like love [only stronger]"...

Can't argue with that.

Am un rus in echipa, pe langa ca vorbeste cu un accent puternic rusesc (e in Irlanda cam de prin 2000, ca si mine), prinde toate tick-urile astea pe care le aude mult mai usor decat prinde engleza nezgarietoare.

De exemplu, isi incepe SI TERMINA orice propozitie, in orice context prin "Right..." si apoi continua cu o asezonare de 'like', 'basically' si 'you know' ... RIGHT...

Sa-mi fac putin autocritica, mi se pare ca in ultima vreme daca incep sa explic ceva, la un moment dat folosesc un pic cam des 'I mean... '. Se poate argumenta ca se incadreaza in context, totusi mi se pare ca as putea evita repetitia...

Glad I got this off my chest :redface: :smile: ::)
adica ala din fata ta (partenerul de dialog) "e un bou" si nu intelege ce spui tu

[Carmensita]

What about "grand"? Everything is grand, everybody is grand...Is it "grand" the old "cool"?

[mihaimilk]

sfinx, sunt persoane foarte de treaba, doar ca asa s-au obisnuit sa vorbeasca.

Vorbind de straini, am mai avut un francez in echipa (acum a plecat acasa), si asta antitalent la limbi straine, la aproximativ orice zicea unul altul ca au facut sau ar trebui sa faca, el: "You would wouldn't you". WTF?? Normal, era foarte bun meserias (manca Linux si software development pe paine, dar fraza asta ma exaspera )


What about "grand"? Everything is grand, everybody is grand...Is it "grand" the old "cool"?

Eu il traduc ca insemnand 'OK', nu neaparat 'cool'. Ai mei colegi nu-l prea folosesc (decat in gluma), dar colegii prietenei din domeniul constructiilor il folosesc f des.

Apoi cand am venit in Irlanda, de fiecare data astia ma salutau (am realizat eu mai tarziu) cu "how are ya", "how are things" si ma simteam obligat sa le dau detalii despre viata mea, cand ei vroiau doar sa exprime faptul ca le-am intrat in raza vizuala...

Live and learn I suppose.

[nickydobreanu]

Legat de sectorul constructii, am invatat expresii noi, de genul "bog standard" vs. "dog's bollocks". Iar "bollocks" e si asta la ordinea zilei, eu prefer bulls*it.
Am aici colegi care nu ma scot deloc din basically si actually si am unul (cel care a lucrat cu mine si in Romania) care ma omoara cu grand, grand.
Asa sunt colegii, eu nu ma agit, nu ma deranjeaza deloc, doar ma amuza :tinysmile_shy_t:

[mihaimilk]

come again after 9 years :)

[Carmensita]

Cheer up, guys!
...something worth knowing>
Jack Lynch says in his "The English language - A user's guide":

"But here's something worth noting: no English-speaking nation has an official academy. The upshot? There's no "official" standard of what's right or wrong in the English language. (And bear in mind that English, though it's by far the most common language in America, isn't the "official" language of the USA, just a de facto standard.)" :))
And there he goes on "Academies"

"Some countries have official organizations to issue rules on linguistic matters: the Académie Française in France and the Accademia della Crusca in Italy are the most famous. Neologisms are among their biggest concerns: they're charged with keeping their languages "pure," and that often takes the form of keeping non-native vocabulary out of their dictionaries. Their largest job for the last hundred years or so has been resisting the incursion of English words into their languages.

They're mostly fighting losing battles. The Académie fought long and hard against le weekend, preferring the native French fin de semaine. But most Frenchies simply ignore the official ruling, and use the familiar English word. Other common French words include le showbiz and les bluejeans. The Accademia della Crusca has been a little more tolerant on the whole: the most recent supplement to the official Italian dictionary, for instance, includes "Millennium bug," derived "Dall'inglese millennium 'millennio' e bug 'insetto.'" Most of the academies, though, try to minimize the incursion of "foreign" words into their languages."

:))

[daniel_D]

What about "grand"? Everything is grand, everybody is grand...Is it "grand" the old "cool"?

What's the craic?
I'm wrecked today.
it was brilliant craic
You're a right eejit
Have you got a mot?


to be continued....

[Carmensita]

What's the craic?
I'm wrecked today.
it was brilliant craic
You're a right eejit
Have you got a mot?


to be continued....


craic=crack=fun=joke
eejit=idiot
mot=girlfriend

Am I right? :)

[Mihaela]

Top of the morning to you! (i.e. good morning)

How'z things? Any crack withya?
S'grand, just grand. Not too bad.
OK then, talk t'ya later.

Older (or old-fashioned) people might say:
God bless!
Happy days! (instead of goodbye)

PS: De-abia dupa citiva ani m-am obisnuit cu grand, pe care acum il consider ca avind cam aceeasi valoare ca romanescul "asa si-asa". Iar "not too bad" pare ca inseamna de-a dreptul bine spre foarte bine.

[Carmensita]

PS: De-abia dupa citiva ani m-am obisnuit cu grand, pe care acum il consider ca avind cam aceeasi valoare ca romanescul "asa si-asa". Iar "not too bad" pare ca inseamna de-a dreptul bine spre foarte bine.

Thank you!!!!!!
A fost nostim! :))
Si eu care-mi faceam iluzii (de fapt, nu stiam ce sa cred...)...de-aia e bine sa intrebi!!!

[Liliana]

Dear all,
I would very much appreciate if you tried to write in English here, because we have other threads where we can write in Romanian or in RomEnglish.
I am sure this could be a useful way to practise our (written) English.