Escrevi um post sobre o superlativo em espanhol e como em inglês não temos a forma –íssimo(a), temos que usar alguns advérbios para intensificar o adjetivo.

Há quatro advérbios bem comuns na linguagem oral para fazer esse serviço: totally, simply, absolutely e extremely. Vamos ver como eles são usados.

Totally – A palavra totally é usada para expressão “plenitude”, “completo”. Dizer que alguém é totally crazy significa que ele não tem um parafuso na cabeça, é doido de pedra, doido varrido. Se alguém é totally honest, é 100% confiável e honesto. O advérbio totally é muito usado por jovens americanos e enfatizam qualquer adjetivo, informalmente. Veja alguns exemplos:

totally finished / wrong / crazy / honest

Simply – O advérbio simply é usado para intensificar adjetivos muito positivos e fortes.

simply perfect / beautiful / wonderful / the best

Absolutely – Com adjetivos, absolutely é usado para indicar que “mais é impossível” e é geralmente aplicado a adjetivos bem fortes como furious, hilarious e gorgeous.

absolutely right / horrified / sure / fabulous

Extremely – A palavra extremely geralmente não modifica adjetivos “fortes”. Por exemplo, não dá para fizer extremely furious, mas costumamos dizer extremely angry. Neste caso, extremely é uma versão mais forte de very.

extremely sensitive / difficult / angry / funny

Exercício! Abaixo você tem uma lista de adjetivos. Quais advérbios você usaria para intensifica-los? Totally, absolutely, simply ou extremely? (Muitas vezes mais de um advérbio é possível.)

adorable – brilliant – cold – cute – drenched – filthy – funny – furious – gigantic – hideous – hilarious – packed – spotless – starving – sure – tired

A resposta vem em alguns dias aqui no post atualizado, ok?

Adaptado de Como Dizer Tudo em Inglês Avançado, de Ron Martinez. Compre no Submarino.

My dear friend Graeme Hodgson shared this video on Facebook and I thought I’d share it with you. It’s by poet Taylor Mali and it’s read by Ronnie Bruce.

It show how the lack of attitude and overhesitation gets in the way of efficient communication.

Enjoy!

Clique aqui para assistir o vídeo inserido.

If you’re reading this post in your e-mail, click here to watch the video.

Totally like whatever, you know?
by Taylor Mali

In case you hadn’t noticed,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you’re talking about?
Or believe strongly in what you’re saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)’s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?
Even when those sentences aren’t, like, questions? You know?

Declarative sentences—so-­‐called
because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true, okay,
as opposed to other things are, like, totally, you know, not—
have been infected by a totally hip
and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?
Like, don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this;
this is just like the word on the street, you know?
It’s like what I’ve heard?
I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?
I’m just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty?

What has happened to our conviction?
Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?
Have they been, like, chopped down
with the rest of the rain forest?
Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society become so, like, totally…
I mean absolutely… You know?
That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like…
whatever!

And so actually our disarticulation… ness
is just a clever sort of… thing
to disguise the fact that we’ve become
the most aggressively inarticulate generation
to come along since…
you know, a long, long time ago!

I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you,
I challenge you: To speak with conviction.

To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.

Mali. Taylor. “Totally like whatever, you know?.” What Learning Leaves. Newtown, CT: Hanover Press, 2002. Print. (ISBN: 1-­‐887012-­‐17-­‐6)

This post is for advanced students of English and it talks about emphasis. Today we are going to focus on changing word order to emphasize a sentence.

Fronting and Inversion

Let’s start by talking about fronting and inversion. Inversion refers to changing the normal word worder in the sentence so that a prepositional phrase is emphasized before the verb. Here are some examples:

Suddenly down came the rain!
Up into the air went the balloon.

Fronting involves changing the order of clauses in a sentence and putting first for emphasis a clause that would usually not be first.

I don’t know where the money is coming from.
Where the money is coming from, I don’t know.

Time phrases can vary in position, and are often put first because the time reference is important.

At six o’clock Monica decided to call the police.

There are also the may clauses, introduced by although which can be inverted. It is a highly formal expression.

Although it may seem/be difficult, it is not impossible.
Difficult as/though it may seem/be, it is not impossible.

Read more about inversion by clicking here.

Cleft and pseudo cleft sentences

These are sentences introduced by it is/it was or by a clause beginning what. Different parts of the sentence can be emphasized in this way. In speech, stress and intonation also identify the emphasis. Sentences with because and modal auxiliaries are also possible. Some examples:

Sue borrowed my bike last night.
It was Sue who borrowed my bike.
It was last night that Sue borrowed my bike.
It was my bike that Sue borrowed.

It was because I felt sick that I left.

You can’t have read the same book.
It can’t have been the same book that you read.

What clauses

These are common with verbs such as need, want, like, hate.

I hate rainy weather. – What I hate is rainy weather.
I need a vacation. – What I need is a vacation.

It’s also possible to emphasize events, using auxiliary verbs do/did.

Peter left the windows unlocked. – What Peter did was (to) leave the windows unlocked.
They are destroying the environment. – What they are doing is destroying the environment.

This is it for today. See you next time!

Adapted from Advanced Language Practice (Michael Vince).

- Artigos e verbos auxiliares geralmente são omitidos: Early cut forecast in interest rates.
- Usam-se formas simples dos verbos: Queen opens hospital today.
- Usa-se o infinitivo para expressar o fato de que algo vai acontecer no futuro: President to visit mine.

As manchetes de jornal também usam palavras menores que acrescentam um pouco de dramaticidade ao texto. A primeira palavra da lista abaixo é usada nas manchetes e do lado você verá um correspondente mais comum no inglês oral.

aid – help
axe – cut, remove
back – support
bar – exclude, forbid
bid – attempt
blast – explosion
boost – incentive
clash – dispute
curb – restraint, limit
cut – reduction
drama – tense situation
go-ahead – approval
key – essential
link – connection
ordeal – painful experience
plea – request
ploy – clever activity
probe – investigation
quit – leave, resign
strife – conflict
threat – danger
vow – promise
wed – marry

E é claro que alguns jornais gostam de usar o humor nas suas manchetes. Veja por exemplo uma manchete de quando o saudoso Luciano Pavarotti fez um show ao ao ar livre em Londres, e com muita chuva:

Torrential rain in most arias. [aqui se faz o trocadilho de “area” por “aria”.

Aqui, anunciando que uma mulher que trabalha na fábrica de chocolate Mars (lit. Marte) tinha conseguido um novo e interessante emprego:

Woman from Mars to be first Briton in space.

Para economizar espaço, os jornais também usam várias abreviações. Veja algumas bem comuns:

WHO – World Health Organisation
PLO – Palestine Liberation Organisation
BBC – British Broadcasting Coorporation
ANC – African National Congress
IRA – Irish Republican Army
UN – United Nations
PM – Prime Minister
MP – Member of Parliament
NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
OPEC – Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Adaptado de English Vocabulary in Use (Cambridge University Press)

Por hoje é só, nos vemos vem breve!

Hoje temos mais um post do site Phrasemix e desta vez teremos o texto em inglês e os exemplos traduzidos, ok? Let’s go for it!

You’re having your first meeting with a personal trainer. You want to start lifting weights, but you don’t want to get really big muscles. You say:

I don’t want to get all bulked up; I just want to get toned. [Não quero ficar muito bombado; só quero ficar definido.]

get all (adjective) – ficar muito

In casual speech, putting “all” in front of an adjective can make it sound more negative. Use it to talk about things that you don’t like or that annoy you. For example:

Don’t get all impatient. [Não fique muito impaciente.]
OK, OK. No need to get all melodramatic. [OK, OK. Não tem necessidade de ficar todo melodramático.]
No thanks. Sunscreen makes my skin feel all oily. [Não obrigado. Protetor solar deixa a minha pele muito oleosa.]

You can even make positive descriptions sound negative using “all”:

Why are you being all nice to me today? Do you want something from me? [Por que você está todo bonzinho comigo hoje? Você quer algo de mim?]

get bulked up – ficar “bombado”

When a person “gets bulked up”, they get large and muscular like a bodybuilder or an American football player.

Being “bulked up” doesn’t sound very good to most people.

Use “get” to describe someone becoming more bulked up. Use “be” to descibe someone continuing to be that size:

He was pretty bulked up back then, but he’s slimmer now. [Ele estava muito bombado naquela época, mas está mais magro agora.]

get toned – ficar definido

A “toned” body is in good shape: muscular but not too muscular. A professional dancer or swimmer probably has a “toned” body.

Use “get” to describe becoming toned. Use “be” to describe someone continuing to be toned:

I’m pretty toned right now, but I’d like to work on sculpting my abs a little more. [Estou bem definido agora, mas quero trabalhar meus abominais um pouco mais.]

(“Abs” are stomach muscles, and “sculpting” muscles means exercising until you can see each muscle clearly.)

Click here to read the original post.

1. a. A malapropism is the comical misuse of words, especially those similar in sound. Here, the speaker says, “ammonia” instead of “pneumonia.”

2. b. To importune is to ask incessantly or beg persistently.

3. d. An opprobrious remark is one that is scornful and expresses contempt.

4. a. To remonstrate is to say or plead in protest or objection. Remonstrate can also mean to scold or reprove.

5. c. An effusive remark expresses emotions in an unrestrained or excessive way.

6. a. A derisive comment expresses scorn and ridicules or mocks something or someone.

7. b. A solecism is a mistake in the use of language or a violation of good manners or etiquette.

8. a. A sententious reply is one that is full of maxims and proverbs offered in a self-righteous manner. Sententious can also mean expressing oneself tersely.

9. b. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing a seemingly contradictory combination of words. Authentic reproduction and new classic are oxymorons.

10. c. To gainsay is to deny, contradict, or declare false; to oppose.

Did you get your answers right? I’m sure you did!

See you next time!

What do you say we test your advance vocabulary with this quick test?The answers will be online tomorrow, ok?

1. “Bundle up,” said Aunt Margaret. “I don’t want you getting sick and coming down with ammonia.” The underlined word is a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. solecism.
c. oxymoron.
d. harangue.

2. Jack pleaded, “Can I go on the rollercoaster one more time, Mom? Please? I really, really want to. Pretty please? I’ll do extra chores this week. Please?” This little boy is
a. gainsaying his mother.
b. importuning his mother.
c. disparaging his mother.
d. censuring his mother.

3. “You are hopeless! I cannot believe your files are in such disorder,” the irritable supervisor shouted. This remark is
a. effusive.
b. sententious.
c. bombastic.
d. opprobrious.

4. “Come on, Mom! You’re not being fair! Why can’t I stay out until midnight just like my friends? I’m old enough,” stated Marissa emphatically. This teenager is
a. remonstrating her mother.
b. importuning her mother.
c. gainsaying her mother.
d. being sententious.

5. “Oh, wow! I just can’t believe it! I’m so excited! This is the best thing ever! I am very, very happy,” the new homeowner declared. This remark is
a. bombastic.
b. eloquent.
c. effusive.
d. sardonic.

6. The cranky old coach yelled, “You call that a pitch? I’ve seen rookies with better aim.” This remark is
a. derisive.
b. sententious.
c. voluble.
d. effusive.

7. “We’d only just met the host when Kenny told her that her house desperately needed a makeover,” Janine said. “I was so embarrassed!”
Kenny’s comment was a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. solecism.
c. oxymoron.
d. platitude.

8. “Well, son, I’ve got news for you: You win some, you lose some. Besides, it’s not whether you win or lose that counts. It’s how you play the game,” my old-fashioned dad said. This remark is
a. sententious.
b. sardonic.
c. eloquent.
d. derisive.

9. “They’ve labeled the poster an authentic reproduction,” the antique dealer said. “That’s like calling a book on the bestseller list a new classic.” The underlined words are examples of a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. oxymoron.
c. platitude.
d. repartee.

10. “No, that’s not how it happened,” the honor student said. “Julianna is lying. Winston didn’t steal her idea; she took it from him.” This speaker is
a. censuring.
b. disparaging.
c. gainsaying.
d. mincing.

With some adjectives, we use go (and not get) to mean “become”, usually with color words. Here are some translated examples. Remember that the translation in Portuguese may not be as exact as their English correspondent.

Leaves go brown. (As folhas ficam marrons.)
People go (As pessoas ficam)
… red. (vermelhas – de raiva)
… pale. (pálidas)
… white with anger. (brancas de raiva)
… blue with cold. (azul de frio)
… green with seasickness or envy. (verde de enjoo ou inveja)
… purple with rage. (roxo de raiva)

We can use the verb to turn in these expressions, and is more common than go in a formal style of English. We use the verb go with adjectives in many cases where people or things change for the worse (especially when the change is permanent or difficult to reverse).

People go (As pessoas ficam)
… mad. (bravas/loucas)
… crazy. (loucas)
… bald. (carecas)
… deaf. (surdas)
… blind. (cegas)
… grey. (grisalho)

Horses go lame. (Os cavalos ficam mancos.)
Things go wrong. (As coisas dão errado.)
Beer goes flat. (A cerveja fica choca.)
Jam goes sugary. (A geleia fica açucarada.)
Meat goes off / bad. (A carne estraga / fica passada.)
Milk goes off / sour. (O leite estraga / azeda.)
Cheese goes moldy. (O queijo estraga.)
Fruit goes rotten. (A fruta fica podre.)
Bread goes stale / hard. (O pão fica duro / murcho.)
Iron goes rusty. (O ferro fica oxidado.)
My finger has gone number. (Meu dedo adormeceu.)

Note that we can use come in some expressions to say that things finish up all right.

My dream has come true. (Meu sonho se realizou.)
It’ll all come right in the end. (Tudo vai dar certo no final.)
Your shoelace has come undone. (Seu cadarço se desfez.)
A few pages came loose. (Algumas páginas se soltaram.)

That’s all for today! See you next time!

Today we have the second part of our special difficulties post. These are words that give us a very hard time because they’re similar in meaning but they’re also used in very specific situations.

Very / Too

Very means much or in a large degree. Too always suggests something in excess, more of something than we need or can use. Too is often followed by an infinitive construction.

This book is very big, but it will go into my pocket.
This book is too big to go into my pocket.

Forget / Leave

It is impossible in English to forget something in a certain place. For example, it is wrong to say, “I forgot my book at home.” When you mention the place, use “leave”. Correct possibilities:

I have forgotten my book.
I left my book at home.

Beside / Besides

Beside means “next to”; Besides means “in addition to”.

John sits beside me in class.
Two boys besides John took the trip.

Despite / In Spite of

Despite and in spite of have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. Note, however, that when a clause rather than a noun follows these prepositions, the construction despite the fact or in spite of the fact must be used.

He came despite the rain.
He came in spite of the rain.
He came despite the fact that it was raining.
He came in spite of the fact that it was raining.

Want to try what you’ve learned? Choose the correct word in the sentences below.

1. Four girls ( beside / besides ) Mary left for camp.
2. We went for a walk ( despite / despite the fact ) that the weather was bad.
3. I am afraid that I have ( left / forgotten ) my book on the subway.
4. Helen sits ( beside / besides ) me in class.
5. (In spite of / in spite of the fact) that he was sick, John attended each of the meetings.
6. “You’re just ( very / too ) good to be true.”

Answers

1. besides
2. despite the fact
3. left
4. beside
5. in spite of the fact that
6. too

Os sinônimos

1. enthusiastic – eager
2. adequate – sufficient
3. ecstatic – thrilled
4. affect – influence
5. continuous – uninterrupted
6. courtesy – civility
7. frail – delicate
8. recuperate – mend
9. sufficient – adequate
10. composure – poise
11. eccentric – peculiar
12. commendable – admirable
13. passive – inactive
14. vast – immense
15. comply – obey
16. will – resolve
17. enlighten – teach
18. rigorous – demanding
19. oblivious – unaware
20. verify – confirm

Os antônimos!

1. prompt – tardy
2. delay – hasten
3. soothe – aggravate
4. moderate – excessive
5. reveal – conceal
6. brittle – flexible
7. capable – unskilled
8. stray – remain
9. dainty – coarse
10. craving – repugnance
11. ferocious – docile
12. grueling – effortless
13. forsake – cherish
14. restrain – liberate
15. bleak – bright
16. unruly – controllable
17. disclose – conceal
18. shameful – honorable
19. stifle – encourage
20. aimless – purposeful