Re: 1 English idioms

gerardM Mar 21 Fév - 22:27

Other words I should have added to the list of "synonyms" are "to harm", "to stab" (very specific), "to make sore",
or psychologically: "to upset", "to offend".

MurielB Sam 4 Mar - 23:49

Thanks Gérard for this antonyms list using dis prefix which gives to the words an opposite meaning.

gerardM Dim 5 Mar - 11:24

"DIS-" is one of the examples of prefixes designed for antonyms.

There're other prefixes used; as in French it's various, a 1st problem being that it's kinda random (it has to be learned by heart/repeating), a 2nd problem being that we can have different prefixes for the same root Smile

to dislike, unlikely hehe
Other prefixes used:
-> ENGLISH – ANTONYMS LIST USING ‘DIS’, ‘IL’, ‘IM’, ‘IN’, ‘IR’ AND ‘UN’ PREFIX

Again, my advice:
Don't learn long lists by heart - it's bloody boring and can lead to hating English; instead read the lists 2 or 3 times trying to remember the "music" and behave like a native baby, when needing they ask themselves: "hm, what did I hear, what did I read in my youth? mishonest? dishonest? unhonest?"

~~ edit
Not exactly antonyms, but I'd also add the prefix "-MIS": misunderstand, misadvice, misalliance, misbehave... the new words rather mean poorly understand, poor advice, etc.

~~~~ edit
Please note it's nor simpler in French!

MurielB Lun 6 Mar - 21:00

Thanks Gérard, iI didn't know the expression "To get off lightly"
Last summer, we seemed to have endless rain, but we got off lightly this year=> To experience less trouble than expected.

gerardM Lun 6 Mar - 23:16

Hi Muriel,

MurielB a écrit:Thanks Gérard, iI didn't know the expression "To get off lightly"
Last summer, we seemed to have endless rain, but we got off lightly this year=> To experience less trouble than expected.

"To get off" has got several meanings of which to avoid punishment (French s'en tirer)... Be careful as there're several meanings, refer to the context.

MurielB Mar 7 Mar - 14:31

Thanks a lot for the explanations Gérard !

gerardM Mar 7 Mar - 20:32

MurielB a écrit:Thanks a lot for the explanations Gérard !

You're very welcome Muriel.

MurielB Jeu 9 Mar - 11:28

MurielB Jeu 16 Mar - 22:12

Hi Gérard
I would have written "to be attracted by" so I searched in wordreference and found
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/attracted-to-or-attracted-by.1167887/

There is a very subtle difference. If you are attracted "to" someone, you gravitate toward them like bees are attracted to flowers.

If you are attracted "by" someone, you find them attractive but you aren't necessarily pulled toward them.

gerardM Jeu 16 Mar - 22:24

That's right Muriel.
In my dictionary, I can read that there's a possible preposition which is "to".
"By" is, of course, always possible but in the passive mode.

MurielB Sam 18 Mar - 17:32

If you want to speak american English, learning all that is useless Very Happy

gerardM Sam 18 Mar - 21:35

MurielB a écrit:If you want to speak american English, learning all that is useless

Do you think Americans got rid of any irregular verbs? don't dream (the page is Am).

MurielB Sam 18 Mar - 22:20

Hi Gérard
If we answer "not so great !" People ask more questions don't they? It's no longer a formal"how are you !"

gerardM Sam 18 Mar - 23:06

MurielB a écrit:Hi Gérard
If we answer "not so great !" People ask more questions don't they? It's no longer a formal"how are you !"

On the list, the items are not equivalent, not synonyms, some apply to friends, others to unknown people, some will be given if you feel talkative...

MurielB Dim 19 Mar - 8:33

Ok Gérard i Will remember Tx

MurielB Dim 19 Mar - 19:51

Hi Gérard Everyone
No,I didn't know that to put down meant to insult. I only knew that to put down a pet meant to put it down to sleep.

gerardM Dim 19 Mar - 20:12

MurielB a écrit:Hi Gérard Everyone
No,I didn't know that to put down meant to insult. I only knew that to put down a pet meant to put it down to sleep.

Muriel,

"Put down = insult" is only one example
The meaning you're pointing out is one among oodles.

My dictionary has got a full page of meanings: 14 different meanings.
For each meaning, there's a wide range of nuances.
On Word Reference, posters must absolutely describe their context before we accept to help them.

No, the main meaning of "to put down" is not "to insult".
Let's say that one meaning lies around: to humiliate... for a vet, it can go far: to have a dog put down means to kill him y injection.

MurielB Dim 19 Mar - 21:40

Tx Gérard for all the explanations. When i wrote "to put down your pet to sleep"I had the idea that it was with an injection.

gerardM Mar 21 Mar - 10:27

MurielB a écrit:...
Ok Gérard, I try to remember what is American and what is English but i don't memorize everything. Thanks for the explanations !

Muriel, you know my usual speech: don't learn anything, just read - your brain will print what it needs at the moment.
Later,
- regarding words you already met, you get confirmation and learn little by little (I suppose you already know "rubber/eraser", "holiday/vacation", and others
- regarding brand new expressions, you may later think: "Oh I met something about this..."; after repetitions, you will remember - if you meet the same expression several times, it means it's concerning you and it's worth remembering.
Learn like a baby i.e. don't learn ny heart, just let things come to your mind, then come again if needed.

MurielB Mer 22 Mar - 14:20

Hi Gérard
I have read all the correct and incorrect sentences.
I have to memorize

I congratulate you on your success
I cannot agree with you on the subject

gerardM Mer 22 Mar - 14:47

MurielB a écrit:...
Thanks Gérard, I would definitely have also written "travelling" instead of traveling

"Also"?? I wouldn't have Muriel.

I guess you've a good grammar book, check the rule about Americans writing -eling/-eled" instead of the British "-elling/-elled" for oodles of verbs ending in "-el".
I think it comes from Webster and the spelling simplification projet (the project started in England but never went on there): our->or, -re->-er etc.
Many verbs double the ending consonant (ending consonant of the infinitive) to keep the pronunciation at past, present and past participles: hidden, written...
Regarding verbs ending in "-el", "eled" and "elled" do have the same pronunciation hence the "ll" is useless and was abandoned: cancel, travel...

Verbs ending with a vowel plus -l

If the verb ends with a vowel plus -l (as in travel or equal), then you need to double the l before adding -ed and -ing in British English:

verb past tense present participle
travel travelled travelling
distil distilled distilling
equal equalled equalling

This rule doesn’t apply in American English: see more information about the differences between British and American spelling

(Oxford dictionary)

Verbs ending with a single vowel plus a consonant

If the verb ends with a single vowel plus a consonant, and the stress is at the end of the word (e.g. refer), then you need to double the final consonant before adding -ed and –ing:

verb past tense present participle
admit admitted admitting
commit committed committing
refer referred referring

If the verb ends with a vowel plus a consonant and the stress is not at the end of the word, you don’t need to double the final consonant when adding -ed and -ing:

verb past tense present participle
inherit inherited inheriting
target targeted targeting
visit visited visiting

If the verb has only one syllable and ends with a single vowel plus a consonant (e.g. stop), then you need to double the final consonant before adding -ed and -ing:

verb past tense present participle
stop stopped stopping
tap tapped tapping
sob sobbed sobbing

(Oxford dictionary)

~~

Words ending in a vowel plus l

In British spelling, verbs ending in a vowel plus l double the l when adding endings that begin with a vowel. In American English, the l is not doubled:

British US
travel travel
travelled traveled
travelling traveling
traveller traveler
fuel fuel
fuelled fueled
fuelling fueling

(Oxford dictionary)

MurielB Ven 24 Mar - 14:26

yes "She is married to a doctor" : "to" instead of "with" is important to highlight ! :-)

MurielB Sam 25 Mar - 7:14

Yes these expressions are very good. I have read the list twice and I hope to remember a few !

MurielB Sam 25 Mar - 7:20

gerardM a écrit:
MurielB a écrit:...
Thanks Gérard, I would definitely have also written "travelling" instead of traveling
"Also"?? I wouldn't have Muriel.

I guess you've a good grammar book, check the rule about Americans writing -eling/-eled" instead of the British "-elling/-elled" for oodles of verbs ending in "-el".
I think it comes from Webster and the spelling simplification projet (the project started in England but never went on there): our->or, -re->-er etc.
Many verbs double the ending consonant (ending consonant of the infinitive) to keep the pronunciation at past, present and past participles: hidden, written...
Regarding verbs ending in "-el", "eled" and "elled" do have the same pronunciation hence the "ll" is useless and was abandoned: cancel, travel...

Verbs ending with a vowel plus -l

If the verb ends with a vowel plus -l (as in travel or equal), then you need to double the l before adding -ed and -ing in British English:

verb past tense present participle
travel travelled travelling
distil distilled distilling
equal equalled equalling

This rule doesn’t apply in American English: see more information about the differences between British and American spelling
(Oxford dictionary)
Verbs ending with a single vowel plus a consonant

If the verb ends with a single vowel plus a consonant, and the stress is at the end of the word (e.g. refer), then you need to double the final consonant before adding -ed and –ing:

verb past tense present participle
admit admitted admitting
commit committed committing
refer referred referring

If the verb ends with a vowel plus a consonant and the stress is not at the end of the word, you don’t need to double the final consonant when adding -ed and -ing:

verb past tense present participle
inherit inherited inheriting
target targeted targeting
visit visited visiting

If the verb has only one syllable and ends with a single vowel plus a consonant (e.g. stop), then you need to double the final consonant before adding -ed and -ing:

verb past tense present participle
stop stopped stopping
tap tapped tapping
sob sobbed sobbing
(Oxford dictionary)

~~

Words ending in a vowel plus l

In British spelling, verbs ending in a vowel plus l double the l when adding endings that begin with a vowel. In American English, the l is not doubled:

British US
travel travel
travelled traveled
travelling traveling
traveller traveler
fuel fuel
fuelled fueled
fuelling fueling
(Oxford dictionary)

Tx a lot Gerard !

gerardM Dim 26 Mar - 11:09

Here are a few differences

1 English idioms - Page 2 Temp10