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I am psychological and medical researcher, learning Portuguese for fun. That is I have several friends who are from Brazil and would like to speak with them in their native language. I also have some interest in expanding my research to cover Brazilian healthcare providers.
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- Distinguishing a count noun (or countable noun) from an uncountable noun - This is a bit tricky, because a noun can be both or in some cases one or the other. For nouns that can be both (like truth) it depends on the use in the sentence. "There is no truth in what he said" (uncountable) versus "The fundamental truths about human nature" (countable). In the first sentence the word truth is referring the state of being (or quality) of 'what he said'. In the second, it is a reference to ideas that are true. Another example of both depending on use is milk, coffee, drinks of any sort (even the word drink). 'Would you like something to drink?" (uncountable - as it refers to drinks in general; you can change the word drink with milk or coffee or tea or juice, etc) versus "I order a drink" (countable as it refers directly to a singular drink that I ordered). Certain uncountable nouns are mass nouns - rain, sand, snow, flour, etc. Where unless stated otherwise it is just a mass "Look rain" refers to a plural (a large mass of rain) versus "look a rain drop" refers to a specified drop of rain. The mass ones are about memorization sadly. And there some tricky ones like data. A lot English speakers refer to data in the singular, but the word data is plural. And again many English speakers when they know this, will say something like "a data point" because they are unaware that datum is the singular form of the word. As for your last question, could you please clarify what you mean?0 votedJune 28, 20161
In 2005, Reebok began to produce Welsh ruby uniforms with the sponsorship of a beer brand. Due to the France's national anti-alcohol legislation when the team plays in France, Reebok must replace the advertising "Brains" to "Brawns".
"In 2005 the uniforms began to be produce by Reebok." First issue with this sentence is that it is passive voice (it isn't pleasant to read, but does have its place in legal and scientific writing). If you can end a sentence/clause "by zombies" and it still makes sense the sentence is passive voice (in this case you have 'by Reebok' were you'd say 'by zombies'). Despite the title, you haven't introduced the topic of Welsh ruby uniforms, and so "the" is meaningless here. The first clause needed a comma after it.
"Due to the nation anti french alcohol legislation..." This reads like the legislation is against French alcohol. Anti-X gets hyphenated usually unless it is part of the word (e.g., antibiotic). There a few ways to fix this, I prefer the method I used where the possessor (France) comes before the possessed (legislation). Though I may suggest adding if it the legislation against advertising alcohol.
"The country" is meaningless. While it is clear you mean France, you haven't established that (similar to the uniform issue above).
"You" I don't play for Wales, much less even play Rugby. Be very careful with second person and first person in English writing (especially if formal). I changed it to "the team" because we have established which team it is already (see first correction). However, I could have used "they." While everyone reading would know I logically mean the producer of the uniform, or they might think I mean Welsh ruby team (technically both work, as the team has to request the uniform change), given the structure of the sentence "they" could refer back to France's laws (though that'd be really weird) - this is very pedantic note of mine.As for the final part " 'Brain' to 'Brawns' " - While a saying in English, and one that will fit here eventually, it currently makes no sense. You may need to elaborate on it. I didn't take a stab at what you meant in my correction because I wanted to be certain. Also remember to use the same quotation type, double or single. Don't mix, unless there is an actual reason. Also I am pretty sure that if you are changing your advertising style from direct alcohol advertising to indirect you going from 'brawns' to 'brains.' - "
0 votedJune 28, 20160Vincent,
I didn't take it as a challenge, sorry if I sounded like I did. I responded because I think your understanding of the second one was better than mine.
The first one, I just thought it was funny we heard the same thing. I actually sat there for a good minute going, "what sounds like immune and relates to illegal drug trade" until it clicked.
Again sorry if I came across poorly.(Though I am still stuck on the second one; but I have to say the sound quality from my computer isn't the best).
0 votedJune 28, 20160THE BRAVEST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE. (An invented story) - not sure what you mean by inverted story.
When i I was a child, about 7 years old. This a fragment. Ignoring style issues: When I was a child, about 7 years old, I was playing with other children and... . I was in the park playing with other children. I was having a lot of fun, but then i felt thirsty, so i I decided to go to the little bar (Word choice?) in the park and ("..park to buy..." also works and changes your style a bit) buy a bottle of water. When i was paying, i saw a men Man (men = plural. Man = singular) who was wearing (While technically correct it reads better with other variations "I saw a man in a..." or "I saw a man wearing a...") a black jacket and a black hat in full summer! He was very suspicious.
I went back to play with other children and the man kicked off (This is a phrase in English, just... I wouldn't use it here. It is a good phrase to use in a sentence like this I would just reword the sentence though to make it. "But then, things really kicked off when I went back to play with the other children. He had followed me" or something like that- I am not a fan of my edit though) by following me. I was scared stiff. However, i decided to forget it (again technically correct, but this is an unclear pronoun, while you are obviously referring back to the man, grammatically this could be your emotional state ("scared stiff"), the fact he followed you, or the other children. It is good to get into the habit of using clear pronouns) and keep kept on playing with my friends. The man sat down on a bench and he carried on watching me that while (or whilst) i was playing.
As i wasn't a stupid child, i understood the man's intentions so i went by ("the man" or remove "went by" and change it to "I ran to..") running to the bar and i bought an ice-cream.
Then i approached to the bench and i gave him the ice cream. He smiled and he whispered, "Stupid baby girl" . (this is tricky. American English, "Stupid baby girl." British English, 'Stupid baby girl'.)
Now, i'm 23 years old and i remember very well that moment of my life. He was a child molester, and (or molester; maybe) maybe a rapist who was watching carefully to the child he would have chose.
I think i was very lucky and at the same time very brave in dealing with these sort of people.0 votedJune 28, 20161Vincent,
I also thought it was immune to but because it made no sense I listened a few more times to it. I am pretty sure she said mule, which makes sense. (Not sure if the term drug mule translates well, but a drug mule (or mule) is just someone who delivers drugs).
I think you may be right about the second one, her mumbling made it really hard for me (even as a native speaker) to understand her. But what you heard makes a lot more sense than what I heard for the second one.Alina, welcome - I think Vincent is right about the second one and that I am wrong.
0 votedJune 28, 20160- first I think you mean, joined, joint, or took part in. To quickly address joined versus joint. If you are going for American English - joined. If you are going for British English - joint. (They are the same word, with no differences in use). In this sentence though I would say 'took part in'. I would use this because of the definite article ('the'). If I used joined/joint I would add the word 'in' after it; 'joined in the'.0 votedNovember 20, 20154
- 'I needn't come' is indeed correct. More commonly used in British English than American English. And it is used when a person is asked if they need to be somewhere. It isn't used as a common answer. It is reserved more for instructions and is usually second person; 'you needn't come.' (E.G., someone tells you you need to fill out a form but you needn't come to the office to submit it). I would use 'I needn't come' if I was probably in the above example and relaying what I was told to someone else. 'I need to fill out this form, but they said I needn't come to submit it'. Hope this helps.0 votedNovember 20, 20150
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