F2F Class Notes 5th July (Peter)

Corrections

I made some mistakes on grammar – I made some grammar mistakes

I used to try to make up a story – I tried to make up a story

His (Sharon) – Her (Sharon)

To reply her – to reply to her

Something that is no need angry with – something that there’s no need to be angry about*

            *Note: We are angry about something, and angry with people.

She considers me as a person with an ulterior motive – she thinks I have an ulterior motive

I’m not speaking* it correctly – I’m not saying/pronouncing it correctly

*Note: the verb “to speak” is used intransitively, we do not speak something, we just speak.

I don’t know her point – I don’t get her point/I don’t know what she means

Vocabulary

Petty – something unimportant or someone who cares about unimportant things (adjective, negative connotation)

Ex. Sharon was being petty when she said the client will think she’s lazy.

Connotation – the feeling associated with a word, either positive, negative, or neutral

Idiom – 成语

Parade – 游行

Norm – something that is normal

Ex. It’s a norm to wear sunglasses outside, but not inside.

Grammar

Adding used to before a verb puts in the past for a long period of time. Otherwise, a past tense verb sounds like a single moment in time.

Ex. When I was a child, I used to climb trees, then one day I fell out of a tree, now I’m scared of trees.

Transitive verbs are used with or without objects, intransitive verbs cannot be used with object.

Ex. The verb “to rain” is intransitive. We cannot put an object after rain. For example, it’s okay to say “it’s raining outside” but it’s not okay to say “it rained me.”

Phrases

To draw a blank means to be unable to remember something. (Used as in intransitive verb)

Ex. I can’t remember her name, I’m just drawing a blank.

The phrase on the spot means “without preparation.” (Used as an adverb)

Ex. When I showed up to the party, I found out that I would have to give a speech on the spot!

To mix vs to mix up

The word “mix” means “to combine,” but the phrase “mix up” can mean “to mess up/confuse,” “to try something new.”

To talk vs to talk up

The phrase “to talk up” means to make something sound better than it truly is. This phrase has a negative connotation and sounds almost dishonest; it’s like the bad form of “to flatter.”

Ex. My friend told me that I should go on a date with Jason. She made him sound really handsome, but when I saw him I realized that she had just talked him up and really he’s barely average.

The phrase out and about means “out of the house and doing something, seeing people, going places.” (Used as a location)

The phrase running errands means taking care of regular things that must be done. For example, going to the grocery, going to get a haircut, going to pick up the kids from school. If you would put it on a To-Do list, it’s an errand. (Used as a noun)

The phrase cut to the chase means to skip unimportant information and speak directly.

Ex. Stop beating around the bush and cut to the chase. (Used as an intransitive verb)

The phrase rain on your parade means to say or do something that makes a happy person unhappy. (used as an intransitive verb)

Ex. I know you’re having a good day, and I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but you owe me $3,000. I need that now.

The phrase a little [something] goes a long way means “you only need a little bit of [something] to achieve a lot of presence”

Ex. A little sugar goes a long way. (You only need a little bit of sugar)

Ex. A little lying goes a long way. (It only takes one lie to mess everything up)

To drop the ball means to mess everything up. It comes from the rules of American Football. If somebody drops a ball, it ruins the play.

If someone needs to get a clue, they need to realize something that is obvious.

To play hardball means to act aggressively.

Ex. When the students wouldn’t be quiet the teacher decided to play hardball and fail all of them.

Buckle up means to fasten your seatbelt.

Pronunciation

Usual (YOU-joo-il)

Perfect (adjective: PURR-fict, verb: purr-FECT)

Ex. I practice English every day to perfect my grammar. (verb)

Progress (noun: PRAW-gress, verb: pruh-GRESS)

Ex. The parade progressed down the street. (verb)

Refund (noun: REE-fund, verb: rih-FUND)

Project (noun: PRAW-ject, verb: pruh-JECT)*

*Note: the verb form of project means 投影 (we normally only use the verb to talk about images or voices)

Present (noun: PREH-zint, verb: prih-ZENT)*

*Note: the verb form of present means “to show.” This is where the word “presentation” comes from.

Culture Practice

“You Changed” – Kelly Rowland

I really hate to see that look

On your face

You look like someone came and rained on your parade,

And I know it kills to feel those tears,

In your eyes

But I guess your conscience finally caught up with your lies

But when my tears dropped,

Where the hell were you?

But it’s okay, boy I’ve changed,

And I haven’t been there waiting

So I won’t pretend, to feel bad for you

Because since you left, I haven’t cried

And boy I like it that way

I can say I’m done in a million ways

But let’s not beat around the bush, let’s cut to the chase

When you change, I change, but it’s too late

Now I’m so through, too cool, on you

And if our love was a game, you just lost

When you change, I change, but it’s too late

I know you hate to see this look

On my face

I’m sure that you can see real clear a little lying

Goes a long way

And if you think I’ll waste more tears,

Boy, you’re crazy

And baby you should get yourself to admit it

Don’t delay

But you let the ball drop,

Too bad for you

But it’s okay, boy I’m straight,

My whole life’s amazing

So I won’t pretend to feel bad for you

Because since you left, I haven’t cried

And boy I like it that way

I can say I’m done in a million ways,

But let’s not wait around the bush, let’s cut to the chase

When you change, I change, but it’s too late

Now I’m so through, too cool, on you

And if our love was a game, you just lost

When you change, I change, but it’s too late

Now you want to claim you got a clue (Oh no)

Boy what you expect me to do?

You claim you want to have a life, or two

But you can save your sorry’s, and your “I love you” too

I can say I’m done in a million ways,

But let’s not wait around the bush, let’s cut to the chase

When you change, I change, but it’s too late

Now I’m so through, too cool, on you

And if our love was a game, you just lost

When you change, I change, but it’s too late

Change just in time

Just in time for me to change my mind

And it’s too late,

Boy I changed,

It’s too bad for you

Oh oh boy I changed my mind, I don’t want you

No no boy

(because see) when you change, I change, you changed

But it’s too late

It’s too late

Sorry