English Idioms 4

MurielB a écrit:Gérard I just want to add that Favorite is preferred in American English, while favourite  is preferred in British English.

Easier my Kiwi niece uses "fav".

Ok I will use "fav" to please both (The Americans and the English)

Differences Between American and British English - ESL Buzz
There are quite a few noticeable differences between the British English dialect and the evolved dialect of American English
ESLBUZZ.COM

gerardM a écrit:


Differences Between American and British English - ESL Buzz
There are quite a few noticeable differences between the British English dialect and the evolved dialect of American English
ESLBUZZ.COM

I love reading over and over those differences. Now I remember most of them !

MurielB a écrit:...
I love reading over and over those differences. Now I remember most of them !

Do you still think there's only one language?
Of course, you prolly know:
- young Brits can speak American
- senior Brits don't want to hear American and are even horrified
- young Americans understand British En
- senior Americans don't speak British, some (not many) can understand British words (the ones who have British relatives ).

gerardM a écrit:

MurielB a écrit:...
I love reading over and over those differences. Now I remember most of them !

Do you still think there's only one language?
Of course, you prolly know:
- young Brits can speak American
- senior Brits don't want to hear American and are even horrified
- young Americans understand British En
- senior Americans don't speak British, some (not many) can understand British words (the ones who have British relatives ).

Gérard I find it very difficult not to mix the two languages.

Yes I understand.
In a first step, we know only one word, in a second step we are happy to know the word used by the other side, then we know both words but don't remember which is what.
So I sometimes wonder who uses elevator and who uses lift

I agree. For me an elevator is larger than a lift. The Americans are larger than the Brits !

How to Express Wishes in the Past, Present and Future - ESL Buzz
The phrase "I wish/If only…" is the most common structure used to talk about our wishes.
ESLBUZZ.COM

gerardM a écrit:


How to Express Wishes in the Past, Present and Future - ESL Buzz
The phrase "I wish/If only…" is the most common structure used to talk about our wishes.
ESLBUZZ.COM

Yes I wish all my dreams came true ! I would be so nice !

gerardM a écrit:


How to Express Wishes in the Past, Present and Future - ESL Buzz
The phrase "I wish/If only…" is the most common structure used to talk about our wishes.
ESLBUZZ.COM

I'm a bit skeptical about the explanations...
I'd have said I wish I could... was a conditional.

What about "I wish I were a billionaire"? Isn't it good English? Is "were" the simple past of 'to be"??

gerardM a écrit:

gerardM a écrit:


How to Express Wishes in the Past, Present and Future - ESL Buzz
The phrase "I wish/If only…" is the most common structure used to talk about our wishes.
ESLBUZZ.COM

I'm a bit skeptical about the explanations...
I'd have said I wish I could... was a conditional.  

What about "I wish I were a billionaire"? Isn't it good English? Is "were" the simple past of 'to be"??

Gérard in that case It isn’t the past but ithe SUBJUNCTIVE

Right Muriel. I meant subjunctive.

List of Descriptive Words: Common Adjectives in English - ESL Buzz
Adjectives are some of the most common words in the English language ...
ESLBUZZ.COM

Do you Know how to teach young children politeness ?
« Want does not get »

MurielB a écrit:Do you Know how to teach young children politeness ?
« Want does not get »

Thanks Muriel, you taught me a new expression "want is not get" « Want does not get »