Help me to learn English Like a native

135

Comments

  • edited November 2012
    Being difficult is a phrase meaning that a person is being disruptive, usually for unimportant reasons.
  • N7.N7.
    edited November 2012
    Giant Tope wrote: »
    Being difficult is a phrase meaning that a person is being disruptive, usually for unimportant reasons.

    Thanks but what does "being disruptive" mean ? :confused:
  • edited November 2012
    unplanned, negative deviation from the expected outcome
  • edited November 2012
    "Being difficult" means the person knows what you are looking for but gives you something different just to be annoying or mildly funny.

    Example: One man asks, "Do you know what time it is?" Second man answers, "Yes," and walks off. Second man knew that the first man wanted to know what the time was, but second man just decided to be difficult instead of telling the first man what time it was.
  • N7.N7.
    edited November 2012
    Your help was useless, I don't know what are you talking about 31170210730292158055.png





    I was just kiding, thanks a lot

    Am I now kind of "Being difficult" ?

    So then "Being difficult" means that I know what is your mean but just saying you What the hell are you talking about ?
  • edited November 2012
    Not quite. If you're being difficult to someone, then you are deliberately preventing them from getting the information they need.

    Example - I ask what day it is. If you know it's, say, Tuesday, but tell me the wrong answer on purpose, or you just don't tell me at all, then you're being difficult because you're getting in the way of the answer.
  • edited November 2012
    If you dont mind me asking n7 what is your native language?
  • edited November 2012
    WarpSpeed wrote: »
    Example: One man asks, "Do you know what time it is?" Second man answers, "Yes," and walks off.

    I like saying time you got a watch.
  • N7.N7.
    edited November 2012
    ty1love wrote: »
    If you dont mind me asking n7 what is your native language?

    Sorry but I'll do mind 31170210730292158055.png



    Thanks guys, Now I know what "being difficult" means
  • N7.N7.
    edited November 2012
    Hi, I have a new question
    What does "reckon" mean in following sentence ?
    "I reckon you didn't do it,then."
  • edited November 2012
    Same as think like If you reckon someone wouldn't finish a hard game then you wouldn't think they would be able to.
  • edited November 2012
    In this instance, it would mean the same thing as 'believe'.

    So "I reckon you didn't do it" is the same as "I believe you didn't do it".
  • N7.N7.
    edited November 2012
    For example

    I reckon It was a good idea to asking my questions in a place like this!
    I reckon Telltale should just work on The walking dead
    I reckon America is the best country

    Correct?
  • edited November 2012
    So, you think asking these questions was a good idea, Telltale should be making more Walking Dead games and America is awesome? ...eh, one out of three isn't too bad, I guess...

    But yeah, you got it.
  • N7.N7.
    edited November 2012
    exactly,.. thanks
    What does "fellas" mean?

    does "I've driven a buncha'"... mean "I've driven a bunch of " ?
  • edited November 2012
    Fellas is slang for a group of people. For example, you could greet a bunch of friends by saying "Hey fellas!".

    And yes, buncha is another way of saying bunch of. You're catching on.
  • edited November 2012
    Fellas is just a way of spelling fellows the way some people say it. That and reckon (and probably buncha) are using a Southern U.S. accent. Reckon is a real word, but the rest are just attempts at spelling the way someone is talking.
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    Hi again, it's been a while after my last visit, I've been working on a game but I've had some problem for establishing a game studio, For now I'm just trying to establish a game studio to continue my way.

    Anyway, I have some more questions here
    My problem is the usage of the word "Fancy"
    I want you correct me if I'm wrong!
    A fancy chair means an expensive and pretty chair
    But in the following sentence
    If you're fancy means If you like! correct ?
    Or it's mean If you are a person with tend to expensive and pretty things?

    Please help thanks.
  • edited May 2013
    OK, the word fancy has several different meanings, but we'll look at the examples you use.

    "A fancy chair" means impressive or extravagant.

    The phrase "If you fancy" (not "if you're fancy") is the same as saying 'if you want to' or, as you say, 'if you like'.
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    OK, the word fancy has several different meanings, but we'll look at the examples you use.

    "A fancy chair" means impressive or extravagant.

    The phrase "If you fancy" (not "if you're fancy") is the same as saying 'if you want to' or, as you say, 'if you like'.

    Thanks, about "if you're fancy" I've seen this in the Walking Dead!
    Chuck told lee, Name's Chuck. Charles if you're fancy!

    My next question is about "pants off" in the following sentence.
    "scaring the pants off of you"

    Does it mean to frighten someone to death?
  • edited May 2013
    In that context, "Charles if you're fancy" would mean that he you can refer to him as Charles if you want to be formal or polite like a posh person, but he prefers to be called Chuck.

    Scaring the pants off you doesn't mean scaring someone to death. It basically means scaring you a LOT.
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    did anyone seen those trailers that Rock Star released newly? I have few question about them, I mean about pronunciation uses on them.

    I would to know what exactly said that fat boy with a red hat in the Michael trailer!?
    Does he said "Why do I have to hold your hands to this Omid's life crisis bullshit!"

    I'll shot other questions after this one were answered :D
  • edited May 2013
    If you don't mind, I'm going to merge this with your other 'what does this mean' thread, since this one's very similar.
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    If you don't mind, I'm going to merge this with your other 'what does this mean' thread, since this one's very similar.

    Thanks but I think those people that seen those trailers aren't so many and those that seen GTA_V Michael trailer may not coming to this thread to see who needs help about that
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    In the Walking Dead after Kat asked Lee to go and talk with Kenny about Duck, Lee told Kenny "I don't know what the hell is wrong with you but you need to lock it up. be a man here"

    What does that "Lock it up" mean?
  • edited May 2013
    N7. wrote: »
    Does he said "Why do I have to hold your hands to this Omid's life crisis bullshit!"

    trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E0iD9twjDc&t=24

    You're close. He says "Why do I have to hold your hand through this whole mid-life crisis bullshit?!"

    In this case, when he says "hold your hand", he's saying that he feels like an adult holding a child's hand in order to keep the child safe.

    A mid-life crisis is a time of emotional stress that many people have in their 30's or 40's.
    N7. wrote: »
    In the Walking Dead after Kat asked Lee to go and talk with Kenny about Duck, Lee told Kenny "I don't know what the hell is wrong with you but you need to lock it up. be a man here"

    What does that "Lock it up" mean?
    He means to keep it secret. He's saying that because the children need to be able to look to the adults for emotional support, and so Kenny needs to be emotionally strong for the sake of the children feeling better. "Be a man" refers to having emotional strength and stability.

    If someone says "lock it up and throw away the key", they are stressing the need to keep it secret forever.
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E0iD9twjDc&t=24

    You're close. He says "Why do I have to hold your hand through this whole mid-life crisis bullshit?!"

    In this case, when he says "hold your hand", he's saying that he feels like an adult holding a child's hand in order to keep the child safe.

    A mid-life crisis is a time of emotional stress that many people have in their 30's or 40's.

    He means to keep it secret. He's saying that because the children need to be able to look to the adults for emotional support, and so Kenny needs to be emotionally strong for the sake of the children feeling better. "Be a man" refers to having emotional strength and stability.

    If someone says "lock it up and throw away the key", they are stressing the need to keep it secret forever.

    Thanks, that was really helpful, my next ask is about the meaning of "don't pop a gasket" and "cracked up to be"
  • edited May 2013
    "Don't Pop a Gasket" is another way of saying "don't lose your temper".

    Not entirely sure about the other one. I'd have to hear the whole sentence.
  • edited May 2013
    Doesn't it mean that you had big expectations for something, but it didn't turn out to be as good as you thought?

    Like if a friend of N7 said he should watch Brokeback Mountain because it was the movie of the year. Then when he watched it he nearly choked on his popcorn and stormed out of the theater. The next day when his friend asks him what he thought of the movie he goes: "Meh, it's not what it's cracked up to be. King Kong was much better with its awesomely lengthy dinosaur fighting scenes."

    EDIT: Note, I'm not a native English speaker myself.
  • edited May 2013
    Yes, you're pretty much right.
  • edited May 2013
    "It's not all that it's cracked to be" means it's not as good as people say it is.

    Usually, when someone says this, they're saying that they'd heard something was good, and it actually turns out to be "meh." If it turned out to be terrible, they'd probably say something more harsh than this.
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    Thanks a lot again, just about "don't pop a gasket" does It mean as a friendly advice?
    Like: don't pop a gasket I'll deal with them later
    Or like: don't pop a gasket" as*hole!

    Aside that I have more questions.
    First I want to know does "he run its course" means "he's breathing his last breaths"?
    Or he's close to get off or death

    Second I want to know what does "She's dug in" mean
    Thanks
  • edited May 2013
    N7. wrote: »
    Thanks a lot again, just about "don't pop a gasket" does It mean as a friendly advice?
    Like: don't pop a gasket I'll deal with them later
    Or like: don't pop a gasket" as*hole!

    Aside that I have more questions.
    First I want to know does "he run its course" means "he's breathing his last breaths"?
    Or he's close to get off or death

    Second I want to know what does "She's dug in" mean
    Thanks

    "Don't pop a gasket" means "don't lose your temper" as was said before. It could be said in either a friendly, joking way or it could be said angrily. It's hard to know without context.

    When something has run it's course, it means that's finished or almost finished. Something is about to end, probably permanently.

    To be "dug in" means to have taken a defensive position that you're not going to give up on. I assume the term originates with armies digging trenches in the past or something--once they're "dug in" they're hard to remove. One could be dug in literally, like defending themselves against an attack, or one could be "dug in" in that they've taken a moral stance that they're not going to give up on.
  • edited May 2013
    Actually, the proper use is "don't blow a gasket", not "pop".

    A gasket is a mechanical part that helps to create a seal between other connecting parts (such as pipes) and keep them from leaking where they connect to each other. That being said, blowing a gasket refers to an engine that gets overheated and causes one of the gaskets to break (ie. "blow") and causes the engine to leak fluids.

    So when someone says "don't blow a gasket", they're telling you not to overheat emotionally, so to speak, or rather to not lose your temper.
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    I've searched for them in the net and dictionaries but I couldn't find the meaning of those phrase, but you're help was really good and helped me to figure out what does them exactly mean

    Did I make any wrong in my above writing?

    Three more ask
    First: What is the meaning of "drawing a conclusion"
    Second: What does "freaking out" means in you're freaking me out
    Third: What is the meaning of "don't let them get a hold of you"
    Thanks
  • edited May 2013
    N7. wrote: »
    I've searched for them on the net and in dictionaries but I couldn't find the meaning of those phrases. However, your help was really good and helped me to figure out what they exactly do mean.

    Did I make anything wrong in my above writing?
    I fixed it for you.

    I've searched for them in the net and dictionaries but I couldn't find the meaning of those phrase, but you're help was really good and helped me to figure out what does them exactly mean

    First: it's "on" the net, not "in" it.

    Second: "Those phrases." The word "those" is plural (meaning more than one.) You could say "that phrase" or "those phrases."

    Third: The reason why I put a period after "phrases" is because the sentence was run-on. (A "run-on sentence" is a sentence that is too long and is incorrect usage of grammar.) Think of it this way: try saying it out loud. "I've searched for them in the net and dictionaries but I couldn't find the meaning of those phrase, but you're help was really good and helped me to figure out what does them exactly mean." It's too long. You would need to breathe somewhere in there.

    "I've searched for them in the net and dictionaries but I couldn't find the meaning of those phrase. But you're help was really good and helped me to figure out what does them exactly mean."

    This is better, but there are still the other problems that also needed to be fixed.


    Fourth: I replaced "but" with "however" because it sounded better at the start of a new sentence, especially when the last sentence already used the word "but".





    Also, you used "you're" when you should have used "your." Here's a tip: "your" is the possessive form of you. "You're" is a contraction (shortened) form of "you are."

    -- "Help" here is a noun which is used after "your" so it would mean "help that belongs to you".
    -- "You are" - a + ' = "you're".

    Also, "their" is the possessive form of "they". "They're" is a contraction (shortened) form of "they are." "There" refers to a physical place.

    -- "Help" which is used after "their" would mean "help that belongs to them".
    -- "They are" - a + ' = "they're".
    -- "There" is a specific place, (such as "I am going there.")


    An example of all of these could be "They're going there to get their help."

    The mistake between "your" and "you're" as well as "they're", "their" and "there" are common mistakes among many on the internet. Making these mistakes shows these people to be woefully uneducated (meaning it's obvious that they didn't learn very much in school). Please don't make these mistakes.

    Many would call me a "Grammar Nazi" for being nitpicky about these mistakes, but it's important to not make them if you ever intend to get a job where writing anything is important, and it really helps for people to take you seriously as an adult (as mistakes like these are those that a small child would make.) English is not your primary language, so people should understand if you make these mistakes at first. However, adults and teenagers, whose primary language is English, have no excuse to make mistakes like this.



    Three more questions:
    First: What is the meaning of "drawing a conclusion"?
    Second: What does "freaking out" mean in "you're freaking me out"?
    Third: What is the meaning of "don't let them get a hold of you"?
    Thanks
    fixed that for you.

    "Drawing a conclusion" is when you have information about something, and you use that information to decide what that information means. For example: If I turn a stove on and I know that it heats up, after it gets hot I can draw the conclusion that the stove will burn me if I touch it.

    The difference between a "drawing a conclusion" and "making an assumption" has to do with how much fact is used compared to how much opinion or feeling is used. When you "assume" something, you are using feelings, opinions or instinct to decide something. When you "conclude" something, you are deciding something based more on fact.


    "Freaking out" means "scaring". "You're freaking me out" means "you're scaring me." If someone "freaks", "freaks out" or "is freaking out" that means they are scared. If someone "is a freak", or is "freaky", it means they're scary. Although to call someone "a freak" is really just more of an insult.



    "Don't let them get a hold of you" means exactly what it says. Don't let them use something (probably their hands) to get a hold of you. When you hold something, you have it in your hands. In other words: "Don't let them grab you."
  • N7.N7.
    edited May 2013
    Thanks man, That was an awesome help, about using You're instead of Your I should say that was a typing mistake, I don't know why I did make ( or I made!) that foolish mistake
    As I said I've searched for them on the internet and in dictionaries but I couldn't find any useful tips, I hope It will help others people too

    My vocabulary holds around 4000 words and I know that's really sucks, But I'm trying to reach my vocabulary around 10,000. I'm a self taught and I've learned by myself everything that I know, In our country and in our schools they really don't teach us English! just a little about grammatical rules.
  • edited May 2013
    N7. wrote: »
    Thanks man, That was an awesome help, about using You're instead of Your I should say that was a typing mistake, I don't know why I did make ( or I made!) that foolish mistake
    Emphasis on the correct phrase you needed to use, given the context.

    To make something is to do it at the present moment (Excuse me while I make a sandwich).

    To have made something is to have done it at some point in the past (Oh wait - I made a sandwich earlier).
  • edited May 2013
    I think either "did make" or "made" would be correct.

    "Made" is past tense.

    "Make" is present tense, but "did" is still past tense (past form of "do").

    -- "I did make a sandwich, but I can't find any chips."

    I suppose the reason why you'd use one or the other depends on the context.
    If someone asked me: "Did you make a sandwich?", I would say "I did make one."

    It really just depends on how you want to say what you mean, or what emphasis you want to use one which word. ("I did make a sandwich" versus "I did make a sandwich.")
  • edited May 2013
    You seem to speak it fairly well considering the fact that your country doesn't natively speak it. Are there any nearby English speaking ones you could take a vacation to sometime? Immersion is the best way to learn a language once you hit a certain point, and assuming your spoken English is as good as your written English, you might be ready to try it.
Sign in to comment in this discussion.