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My Battle With Grammar

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Pavlionka

Pavlionka

Belarus

September 11, 2008

This week I've started new Advanced English course. With new teacher and new people, btw. So, first of all our teacher made us write an ACTION PLAN about things we think we need to improve and stuff like that. I mentioned writing and public speech of course... and kind of promised to do something to improve - like to update my blog more often...  So, watch it!Laughing

First classes were a bit boring. And I experienced something like shock when I realised that first "advanced vocabulary" topic is FOREIGN WORDS. AAAAA! I felt like I'm studying French or Latin, definitely not English Undecided  Anyway, I don't want to suffer alone - so I share this information with you Tongue out

1. per

If something happens as per normal , it means that it happens in the normal way.

Ex. Despite the wind and the rain he walked to work as per normal.

If you receive an amount of money per annum you receive that amount for the period of the year.

Ex. The salary is 18 000 pounds per annum, which works out at 1500 pounds a month.

2. ad hoc = unplanned

If something is done on an ad hoc basis, it happens or is done only when the situation makes it necessary or desirable, rather than being arranged in advance.

Ex. We can meet on an ad hoc basis, as and when we need to. There is no need to arrange dates now.

3. ad infinitum = endlessly

If someone does something ad infinitum they do it repeatedly over the long period of time. 

Ex. I could read this book ad infinitum and never get bored.

4. ad nauseam 

If somethig happens ad nauseam it happens over and over again so that people get completely bored.

Ex. He talked ad nauseam about his achievements and how successful he is. It was boring!

5. bete noire

A bete noire is something that you esp. hate or that annoys you very much.

Ex. My bete noire is people using mobile phones loudly and indiscreetly in public.

6. bona fide

Something that is bona fide is genuine or real.

Ex. I saw his ID. He was a bona fide representative of the company.

7. carte blanche

If you have carte blanche to do smth you have complete power to do exactly as you wish.

Ex. My boss gave me carte blanche to organize an appropriate party.

8. deja vu

Deja vu is the experience of perceiving a new situation as if it had occurred before.

Ex. I'm sure I've been here before. Either that or I'm having a real sense of deja vu.

9. faux pas 

A faux pas is a socially embarrassing action or mistake.

Ex. It was such a posh dinner and I was so terrified of making a faux pas and using the wrong fork or knife.

10. status quo

The status quo is the situation that exists at a particular time without any changes.

Ex. The arrival of a new baby is likely to change the status quo quite considerably.

11. (sic)

You write (sic) in brackets after a word or expression when you are quoting something that someone else has said or written.

Ex. She said that she liked very much London (sic) and wanted to stay here for a long time.

That's it for today. If you have something to add to this list -  you're very welcome to do it Laughing Lets continue together! (If you're interested of course)

    

More entries: I've passed my Masters!!! (3), My new lesson (2), Foreign Words and Phrases (10), Are you a true maniac? (5), I'm super great! (3), Frustration... (4), Suggestions, Conditionals (2), Quantifiers, Articles

View all entries from My Battle With Grammar >

06:26 AM Sep 23 2008

Pavlionka

Pavlionka
Belarus

I've got accepted! I posted this stuff as a lesson! Congratulations to me! I'm super great once again Laughing

Rate it!!!

http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/4670/member_submitted/some_foreign_words_in_english

12:07 AM Sep 20 2008

Pavlionka

Pavlionka
Belarus

That's what I'm talking about! To post a lesson here you must be a Ebaby!-teacher. To be a teacher you must be accepted as one (fill in the application form, explain Who, Where and Why etc.) ... And maybe (or maybe not) they will accept you... So, I'm waiting Undecided 

10:13 AM Sep 19 2008

bmmanjesh

bmmanjesh
India

lol....

but, that's really a nice idea. y don't you post it as a lesson?

01:35 AM Sep 19 2008

Pavlionka

Pavlionka
Belarus

Actually, I'm working on it Smile I've just sent the application form for Ebaby!-teacher or whatever it is called. So... waiting for their "yes" or "no" is in progress Wink 

12:21 PM Sep 18 2008

bmmanjesh

bmmanjesh
India

Oh yeah! fame on Ebaby... Who says no? Smile

It's really a good idea to post a lesson on this. Let's share it with all!

01:48 AM Sep 18 2008

Pavlionka

Pavlionka
Belarus

per se = by itself

Ex. This statement is interesting per se.

 

01:43 AM Sep 18 2008

Pavlionka

Pavlionka
Belarus

Excellent! Laughing That's what I meant Wink

How about compiling a lesson and posting it? You know - rates, stars, comments... - the world will be ours LaughingLaughingLaughing 

03:38 AM Sep 17 2008

bmmanjesh

bmmanjesh
India

he he he... Honestly, I didn't know about etc until a professor told us in when I was in 11 stdSmile..... Anyway, few more I can recall right now. 

 

incognito: Identity concealed... (not sure if it's a foreign word. But, soudnds Italian)
Eg: I am surfing all my friends' blogs incognito :)

ab initio: from the beginning, from the basics, at first
Eg: Ab intio there was nothing strange

in medias res: in the middle (of a story or occurances)

deus ex machina: a device that unexpectedly solves the problem that was assumed to be insoluble
I don't know it's usage but we had used as the name for one of our symposium in our college :)

terra incognita: unknown territory
Eg: I think we have landed up in a terra incognita


persona non grata: unacceptable person, unwelcome person
Eg: World is ifested with them. For each turn of your head you would find tens and hundreds of examples.. :D
"There comes, the persona non grata"

01:48 AM Sep 17 2008

Pavlionka

Pavlionka
Belarus

etc, i.e. and e.g. don't count - too common Laughing

c'mmon, you know more uncommon words Tongue out

12:32 AM Sep 17 2008

bmmanjesh

bmmanjesh
India

albeit: eventhough, although, norwithstanding

Eg: He fought for our enemies albeit raised by one of our own.

 

etcetera: additional unspecified odds and ends; more of the same (often used in short  etc)

Eg: I like all kinds of fruits. Apple, orange, melons etc.

 

I will share more later:).... there are thousands of them