May 30, 2011

False Cognates - III

Hello again!

As I said in the previous post, today I'll post other cognate words that might confuse us. Pay attention, please.

Estate - bens, patrimônio     /     Estado - State
Exit - Saída     /     Êxito - Success, triumph
Exquisite - Refinado, requintado     /     Esquisito - Strange, weird
Fabric - tecido     /     Fábrica - Factory
Fate - Destino     /     Fato - Fact, event, happening
File - Arquivo     /     Fila - Line, queue
Flagrant - Espalhafatoso, escandaloso     /     Flagrante - Red-handed, in the act
Gem - Pedra preciosa     /     Gema - Yolk
Grip - Segurar firme     /     Gripe - Influenza, flu
Hazard - Risco, perigo, arriscar     /     Azar - Bad luck
Inhabitable habitável     /     Inabitável - Uninhabitable
Injury – Ferimento     /      Injúria - Offense, insult
Inscription – Gravação em relevo     /     Inscrição - Registration, application
Jar - Pote     /      Jarra - Pitcher, jug
Large - Grande, espaçoso, amplo     /     Largo - Broad, wide
Mate - Colega, companheiro     /      Matar - To kill
Notice – Notar, perceber     /     Notícia - News
Oration – Discurso formal     /     Oração (reza) - Prayer
Prejudice - Preconceito     /     Prejuízo - Damage, loss
Pull - Puxar     /    Pular - To jump
Push - Empurrar     /     Puxar - To pull
Realize - Notar, perceber, compreender     /     Realizar - To carry out, to make come true, to accomplish
Rim – Borda     /     Rim - Kidney
Support - Apoiar     /     Suportar (tolerar) - To bear, to stand
Toss - Arremessar, arremesso, arremesso de moeda para decidir algo     /     Tosse, tossir - Cough, to cough
Ultimately - Em última análise     /     Ultimamente - Lately, recently
Vicious - Defeituoso, impuro; perverso     /      Viciado (em drogas) - Addicted


Well, of course there are many other words that might confuse us, but you can't memorize all of them just by reading. If you want you can search on the web for more words. 
That's all.


See you!

May 29, 2011

False Cognates - II

Hey people!

As you know, there are many words in English that confuse us about their meaning. For exemple, if a brazilian who doesn't speak English read the word "exit", he might think that its meaning is "êxito", but it doesn't mean "êxito". It means "saída", in portuguese. The word for "êxito" in English is "success". Below, we have some words that might confuse you someday:

Actually - Na verdade     /     Atualmente - Nowadays
Alias - Nome falso, cognato     /     Aliás - esle, moreover, furthermore, by the way
Anthem - Hino     /     Antena - Aerial, antenna (antena parabólica - satellite dish)
Balcony - Sacada     /     Balcão - Counter
Barracks - Caserna, quartel      /     Barraca - Tent
Beef - Carne bovina     /     Bife - Steak
Collar - Gola, colarinho     /     Colar - (verb) To glue, (noun) necklace
Costume - Fantasia, traje típico     /     Costume - Habit, custom
Curse - Maldição, praga, xingamento     /     Curso - Course
Deception - Engano     /     Decepção - Disappointment
Disgusting - Nojento, repulsivo     /     Desgostoso - displeaced, dissatisfied
Doze - Cochilar     /     Doze - (number) Twelve, Dose - Dose

I'll post other words on the next post.

Keep reading my blog, please.

See you!

May 23, 2011

1000!!!

Hello everybody!

Today I am too happy because my blog (our blog) reached 1000 visits! I am too happy! I thank you all for reading my blog, because without you, we couldn't have reached 1000 visits. Thank you so much! Please, share this blog with your friends in order to reach 2000 visits. Thank you, again.

May 20, 2011

False Cognates - I

How do you do?

Today I have a story to tell you. But you'll understand this story only if you speak Portuguese.

Son: Mom, how do you say "dedo" in English?
Mother: I say "finger".
Son: Finger? And how do you say "fingir"?
Mother: That's easy! I say "pretend".
Son: Intersting! And how do you say "pretender"?
Mother: "Intend".
Son: Oh! Amazing! How do you say "entender"?
Mother: (Really angry) This is the last question I will answer! I say "understand".
Son: (Sad) Ok, mom. Thanks...
Mother: Oh, sorry. I didn't intend to talk to you like that!
Son: No problem, mom. I will pretend that's alright.
Mother: (Holds her son's hands) Never pretend that something is alright if it's not, do you understand?
Son: Ok, mom. Now you can let go of my finger.
Mother: Oh, sorry!

Dedo = Finger
Fingir = Pretend
Pretender = Intend
Entender = Understand

See you!

May 19, 2011

Clothing - Exercises

Hello again!

Have you read the post before this? If no, read it. If so, answer to this question:

What do the words below mean? Answer it in the language you speak.
a) dress
b) clothing
c) high heels
d) sleeves
e) wear
f) makeup
g) shirt
h) pinstripe
i) clothes
j) skin


That's all.

See you!

May 18, 2011

Clothing

Hello people!

Today you're going to learn some vocabulary about Clothing. Read the dialogue below carefully:

Daughter: Mom, I don't know what to wear! I'm in doubt between wearing skirts and leggings or just this dress.
Mother: Daughter, you should wear this beautiful dress in your prom. It combines with your skin.
Daughter: I don't want to wear this dress, mom. I want to wear the other one, with long sleeves.
Mother: Ok, but what are you going to put on your feet?
Daughter: I haven't decided yet... What about that blue high heels?
Mother: No, wear the red ones.
Daughter: Great combination! Thanks mom!
Mother: You're welcome! Have you decided how you'll apply makeup?
Daughter: Yeah.
Mother: Ok. Now I'll see if your brother is ready to go.
Daughter: Ok.
    The mother goes to her son's bedroom.
Mother: Son! Are you ready?
Son: I'm almost ready.
Mother: Can I get into your room?
Son: Yes, you can.
Mother: Wow, you're so beautiful!
Son: Oh, thanks mom!
Mother: You're welcome.
Son: Mom, which shirt should I wear?
Mother: The white one.
Son: Ok. What about the suit? Pinstripe or not?
Mother: Pinstripe. Johnny Depp has worn one like this.
Son: Oh mother. Do you know everything about Johnny Depp? You know even what clothes he wears!
Mother: Haha, I love him! - they look at each other -  But I love you first.
Son: I love you too, mom.

Did you like this story? I know who created it, but I don't want to tell...
In the next post, you'll have to answer some questions about this story.

See you!

May 17, 2011

Who, Whom, Whose - Exercises and Answers

Hi!

Today you have to answer some questions about the last post, on Who, Whom and Whose.

1. Complete the sentences below with Who, Whom or Whose:
a) _____ wrote this book?
b) _____ are you going to invite to your party?
c) _____ book is that one?
d) It doesn't look like this is the correct address. _____ did you ask for directions?
e) I know _____ she cursed.

2. Say if the sentences below are right or wrong:
a) Whose are you?
b) This is the guy who stoled my bag!
c) Whom have you helped?
d) I have no idea whose left the oven on.
e) Do you remember whom received the Oscar?

Answers:
1.
a) Who
b) Whom
c) Whose
d) Whom
e) who

2.
a) Wrong
b) Right
c) Right
d) Wrong
e) Right

That's all.

See you!

May 14, 2011

Who, Whom, Whose

Hey poeple!

Today we're gonna learn the difference among Who, Whom and Whose. Observe these sentences:

Who wrote this book? It's so amazing!
I know exactly whom I'm going to support in the upcoming election.
Whose dictionary is that?

Who is a subject pronoun, like "I", "You", "They"... We use Who to ask which person does/did the action:
Who created the answering machine?
Who said we're fat?
I know  who you are!

Whom is used like an object pronoun ("Him", "Her", "Us"). It express which person received the action:
Whom are you going to invite to your Birthday party?
Whom would like to hire for this job?
They hired the man whom we hurted last week!

Whose is a possessive pronoun like "His", "Her", "My". We use it to know which person something belongs to. Observe the examples:
Whose car is going down the street? 
Whose dog is barking outside?
This is the girl whose boyfriend is my cousin.

If you don't understand this, please, read it again and again 'till you understand. It's easy!

In the next post, some exercises, don't miss it.

See you!

May 13, 2011

Superstitions

Hi everybody!

I couldn't have chosen a better day to post about superstitions! Today it's a Friday the 13th!
Do you have any superstition? Well, I don't, but today, I was in my school and had to go to the bathroom. I walked across the corridor and looked at the mirror, near the stairs, but, to my surprise, there was no mirror! It was broken and scattered around the floor (it wasn't me who broke it, it was already broken)! Then I got to the bathroom and did what I had to do... That was a bit scary... But I have no superstitions, as I said. I thought about that for a long time... if it was coincidence or something else...
In this post I will talk about the Friday the 13th. Soon I'll post about other superstitions.


Why was the Friday the 13th chosen as a day of bad luck?
Some people think that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in a Friday, and that the Flood mentioned on Bible would have started on a Friday. In the Supper, there were 13 people, Jesus and his 12 disciples, and Judas was the 13th man there, and he was the traitor. Some people believe that we must never sit with 13 people on the same table. The Friday received this name in honor of Frigg, the Norse goddess of sex and love. This strong female figure, according to historians, represented a threat to Christianity, which was dominated by men. To fight her influence, the Christian Chruch characterized her as a witch, slandering the day in which they honored her. It was said that Frigg joined a Convention of witches, usually a group of 12, totaling 13. A similar Christian tradition considers the 13 cursed by mean the meeting of 12 witches and the devil.
Some people acquire the fear of Friday the 13th because of bad luck they might have had in the past. If you engage in a car crash, or lose your wallet, on a Friday the 13th, the day will be marked for you. But if you stop to think, you can see that bad things happen to us everyday, things like spilling the coffee. So, if you search for bad luck on a Friday the 13th, you will probally find.
For more, check: http://pessoas.hsw.uol.com.br/questao614.htm (in portuguese)

Well, I hope you're not afraid of Friday the 13th, but if you are, don't worry, it's a day like the others...

Don't miss the next posts!

See you!

May 10, 2011

Listening - Remembering Sunday

Hey there!

Today, we're gonna watch the video Remebering Sunday, sung by All Time Low. I'll post the lyrics below the video:

Remembering Sunday:



He woke up from dreaming and put on his shoes
Started making his way past
Two in the morning
He hasn't been sober for days
Leaning now into the breeze
Remembering Sunday, he falls to his knees
They had breakfast together
But two eggs don't last
Like the feeling of what he needs
Now this place seems familiar to him
She pulled on his hand with a devilish grin
She led him upstairs
She led him upstairs
Left him dying to get in
Forgive me, I'm trying to find my calling
I'm calling at night
I don't mean to be a bother
But have you seen this girl?
She's been running through my dreams
And it's driving me crazy, it seems
I'm gonna ask her to marry me
Even though she doesn't believe in love
He's determined to call her bluff
Who could deny these butterflies?
They're filling his gut
Waking the neighbors, unfamiliar faces
He pleads though he tries
But he's only denied
Now he's dying to get inside
Forgive me, I'm trying to find my calling
I'm calling at night
I don't mean to be a bother
But have you seen this girl?
She's been running through my dreams
And it's driving me crazy, it seems
I'm gonna ask her to marry me
The neighbors said she moved away
Funny how it rained all day
I didn't think much of it then
But it's starting to all make sense
Oh, I can see now that all of these clouds
Are following me in my desperate endeavor
To find my whoever, wherever she may be
I'm not coming back
(Forgive me)
I've done something so terrible
I'm terrified to speak
(I'm not calling, I'm not calling)
But you'd expect that from me
I'm mixed up, I'll be blunt
(You're driving me crazy)
Now the rain is just washing you out of my hair
And out of my mind
Keeping an eye on the world
From so many thousands of feet off the ground
I'm over you now
I'm at home in the clouds, towering over your head
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home


I hope you like it. 


See you!

May 09, 2011

Discribing People - Part II

Hey guys!

Today, I'll post the second part of "Discribing People", as you could see in the title of this post...

Physical Characteristcs:
Man (Men)  --  Homem (ns)
Woman (Women)  --  Mulher (es)
Child (Children) --  Criança (s)
Teenage  --  Adolescente
Boy  --  Menino, garoto
Girl  --  Menina, garota
Tall  --  Alto
Short  --  Baixo
Fat  --  Gordo
Thin  --  Magro
Overweight  --  Obeso
Muscled  --  Musculoso
Beautiful  --  Bonito
Ugly  --  Feio
White  --  Branco
Black/ Negro  --  Negro
Red  --  Vermelho
Long hair  --  Cabelo comprido
Short hair  --  Cabelo curto
Blond  --  Loiro
Brunette  --  Moreno
Red-haired  --  Ruivo
Grey  hair  --  Grisalho
Blind  --  Cego
Deaf  --  Surdo
Mute  --  Mudo
Deaf-mute  --  Surdo-mudo
Cripple  --  Aleijado
Beard  --  Barba
Moustache  --  Bigode
Clean-shaven  --  Barbeado

Tha's all folks!

See you!

May 06, 2011

Discribing People - Part I

What's up?

Today we're gonna learn how to discribe people. Below, you can see some adjectives used to do that.

Emotional Charactristcs:
Cofident  --  Confiante
Sensitive  --  Sensitivo
Calm  --  Calmo
Hot-headed  --  Temperamental
Cheerful  --  Alegre
Kind  --  Gentil
Mean  --  Mau
Good-humoured  --  Bem-humorado
Moody  --  Pessoa de temperamento estável
Lazy  --  Preguiçoso
Outgoing  --  Que sai/ gosta de sair
Shy  --  Tímido
Witty  --  Ajuizado
Absent-minded  --  Distraído
Brave  --  Corajoso
Happy  --  Feliz
Sad  --  Triste
Stubborn  --  Teimoso
Cunning  --  Astuto
Clumsy  --  Desajeitado
Dumb  --  Burro


To Be Continued...

See you!

May 05, 2011

The Former vs The Latter - Exercises

Hello people!

In the previous post, we learned about The Former and The Latter. Today you'll answer some exercises on it, ok?

Complete the sentences with The Former or The Latter:
a) I would like to live either in the White House or in the Empire State Building, but the _____ is very white and the _____ is too high.
b) I know how dogs and cats are. The _____ always drool and run inside the house, while the _____ lick their hair and eat fish.
c) There's a book about Math and other about Geography on the table. The _____ has an Earth on its cover and there are lots of numbers on the cover of the _____.
d) I said two words: "butterfly" and "dragon". The _____ has six letters, and the _____ has six plus three.

That's all, folks!

See you!

May 04, 2011

A Video About Human Rights

Hey guys!

Today, I should post some exercises about The Latter and The Former, but I surfing in the internet and I found a great video about Human Rights, so today I won't post exercises. This is the video:

Human Rights Video: UNITED




I hope you understand what this video means.

See you!

May 02, 2011

The Former vs The Latter

How do you do?

Today, we're going to learn how to use The Former and The Latter. Read the text below:

"There's a book about Math and other about History on the table, but the former is mine, and the latter is hers."

Observe that, the statement, "the former" refers to "Book of Math", and "the latter" refers to "Book of History".

Next post, some exercises.


See you!

May 01, 2011

Either, Neiter, Or and Nor - Exercises

Hi folks!

Now, answer these questions about Either, Neither, Or and Nor.

1. Complete the sentences:
a) In this game, you _____ win _____ lose. It depends on you.
b) _____ this computer _____ the other one can be used. They need to be fixed first.
c) I would like to watch _____ action _____ sci-fi. I hat watching two different movies in the same day.
d) I need _____ you money _____ your mercy. I can perfectly handle my problems all alone.
e) _____ Patricia _____ Camila will go to your Birthday party. They told me they have to wake up earlier tomorrow.

2. Choose the correct answer to complete this sentence:
"You may answer _____ this _____ that letter."
a) neither, or
b) nor, or
c) either, or
d) neither, either

That's all, folks.

See you!

Like us on Facebook