Prepositions again - IN, AT & ON

Hi people.

The very first posts seemed to look too much at prepositions so I felt it was necessary to take a different road for a while. Now it seems that there is still a great need to keep reviewing some specific concepts.

When I start a student's first class(es) I usually focus on the problems associated with these three main PREPOSITIONS - IN - AT - ON as positional forms.

Why, you might ask. Well, it seems that this is where I might be able to instil an understanding of English as being not another challenge, but as being another essential tool towards a better understanding of our global community and a way towards better communication.
This said, the most I can hope for is to plant the seeds that one day may germinate into a better feeling for the language as well as an appreciation of how a better knowledge of this language will probably result in a better understanding of their own language.

To this end, let's proceed.
When learning to speak Portuguese I often had difficulties getting used to the genders of objects, something we don't have in English. I realized after a long, long time that these Portuguese speakers had had these genders drilled into them right from an early age and what seemed so difficult to me, was as simple and natural as so many of our prepositions are to us.

How do we make this sense of prepositions as vivid to learners of the language as they appear to us?

I try to create a similar KEYWORD of association for each of these prepositions.

For IN I suggest - INSIDE - This one word places all objects INSIDE their related environment.
While a book might be ON the table, the same book IN the table suggests that the table has a special kind of compartment for the book to be placed INSIDE it, very much as we had as children with our school desks where the top lifted up so we could place the material we had INSIDE.

For ON I suggest - SURFACE - Again we have a very visual clue to ON especially when we think of the sea. A boat or ship should float ON the SURFACE of the sea. The book ON the table is also placed ON a SURFACE as are chairs and tables placed ON a floor.

For AT I suggest - EXACT - While I am focusing on positional uses of these prepositions, AT as a time preposition very accurately shows the exactness of its use when we specify the EXACT time of an event. I will meet you AT 12 o'clock means 12 o'clock exactly.
In much the same way we state an EXACT position when we use AT to describe the position.
I will meet you AT the shopping center (Where exactly, can be seen below). I will meet you AT the bar.

IN Sao Paulo, we have a very famous building called the Gazeta building. All I know about the Gazeta building, is that it is ON (SURFACE) Paulista avenue, a very famous street IN Sao Paulo. If I knew the EXACT number of the address of this building I could say that it is located AT XXX Paulista avenue.

For the individual describing their residential address, there is the simplest form - I live ON Residential street. More exactly, I live AT XXX Residential street. For businesses, it is exactly the same deal.

IN the above AT example, I mentioned meeting someone AT the Shopping center. We refer to places using the AT preposition to be as EXACT as possible IN our references. AT the library, AT the Airport, AT home, AT work etc. With the other prepositions IN & ON, we can drill that location down to something more specific. AT the shopping center, we are already providing an EXACT reference where we might agree to meet AT the North or South entrance. If we agree to meet IN the Shopping Center there is always going to be a need to state where exactly AT is. I will meet you AT Starbucks IN the Shopping Center. OR, I will meet you AT Starbucks ON the first floor of the shopping center.

Testing this - AT the Shopping Center is EXACT. AT Starbucks is EXACT. IN the Shopping Center is INSIDE. ON the first floor is a SURFACE.

We cannot meet ON the Shopping Center unless it has been designed for people to stand ON TOP of it. We cannot meet IN an Airport if we consider that an Airport consists of not only buildings but also Runways and other facilities. We can meet AT the Coffee shop IN the Airport Terminal.
We must be able to see the crazy, ridiculous aspect of using the wrong preposition in all situations. We must be able to sense what is IN - INSIDE, ON - SURFACE & AT - EXACT to begin to come to terms with this demon referred to as prepositions.

Double translations - False friends - Part 1

I mentioned in a previous post that English has a great range of vocabulary, words that have been added over the centuries, borrowed from most of the world's languages both old and new.

It is very common when Brazilians begin  to learn English, that they take their own vocabulary and use a single word in English as being the equivalent when in actual fact there are two or more words that can have similar or very different meanings. Examples include Leave and Let, Then and So.
On other occasions, the Portuguese word seems so similar to AN English word that this word is mistakenly chosen to represent the same meaning, but in fact has very little to do with the meaning implied in Portuguese. Examples include Actual, Sympathetic among others.

I will now list a few of the more common Portuguese words and their English equivalents.

                                                         --ooOO\\//OOoo--

Fazer - DO/MAKE
I looked at the differences between DO and MAKE in a previous post.
Essentially, DO refers to performing an action and MAKE to constructing something. Please see my January post for a fuller description of the two. I DO recommend in that post that because of the frequent misuse of these two that more appropriate verbs be found instead.

                                                         --ooOO\\//OOoo--

Então - THEN/SO
For Brazilians, THEN is often the preferred translation and it is the least accurate.
THEN always refers to a sequence of events.

The company started investing in small businesses. THEN it invested in startups where it THEN began a process of restructuring.
I went to the Supermarket, THEN I went to get my hair cut.

SO, on the other hand, refers to a conclusion.

It was raining, SO I took a taxi.

SO in place of because.

We took a taxi SO we wouldn't get wet. (We took a taxi because we didn't want to get wet.) 
As can be seen here, SO means easier structures than because.

If ever in doubt, stick to SO. Never use THEN unless you wish to refer to a real sequence of events.

                                                         --ooOO\\//OOoo--

Deixar - LEAVE/LET
For Brazilians, LET is often the preferred translation here.
LET means to permit or give permission in most cases.

LEAVE means to not stay as in "We need to LEAVE now."
LEAVE also means remain. "We need to LEAVE the passenger AT the airport." "They have to LEAVE enough money to buy the tickets."
SO, you CANNOT LET someone AT the Airport. But you can TAKE someone TO the Airport and LEAVE them there.

                                                         --ooOO\\//OOoo--

Para - TO/FOR
For Brazilians, TO is the preferred translation and once again it is almost always wrong. TO as a preposition must ONLY be used with VERBS that indicate a movement as in; Drive, Take, Walk, Give, Send, Reply etc.
TO is part of the infinitive structure in sentences like, "I need TO drink, TO study." etc.
In these sentences TO is the infinitive and preposition, "I need TO talk TO James TO ask him TO give the book TO Mary."

FOR is a REASON or ON BEHALF OF/IN PLACE OF

I bought this gift FOR you. This answers the question WHY.
LET me do that FOR you. In your place.
What is this FOR?

I have already given a more detailed explanation of the differences between TO and FOR in a past post.

                                                         --ooOO\\//OOoo--

Nervoso - ANGRY/UPSET
Nervoso is ALWAYS believed to be Nervous. IT IS NOT.
Nervous is the way we get when we begin to do something we are not familiar with, especially when other people are watching. Actors get very nervous just before getting on stage. We are usually very nervous during a Job interview.
Nervoso is always used when referring to getting ANGRY or UPSET.

(NB; While nervoso is described here to mean angry, there is another word in Portuguese - bravo, which I have been told is more appropriate, however, it seems that bravo and nervoso are interchangeable and result in exactly the same mistaken translation.)

I was so ANGRY when the man crashed into my car. I was so UPSET with my boss when he made me stay late on my birthday.

                                                         --ooOO\\//OOoo--

Atual - CURRENT
Atual is often thought to mean ACTUAL.
ACTUAL means real or refers to something that exists.

This is the ACTUAL pen used to sign the Constitution. The ACTUAL time of the meeting is 10 o'clock not 9 o'clock. REAL can be used in place of ACTUAL but CURRENT can not.

CURRENT refers to now, at this time. We talk about CURRENT events, events occurring now.

The CURRENT exchange rate is 2.707889. The CURRENT report refers only to this quarter. The REAL report was released last week, but it does not have the CURRENT figures.

                                                         --ooOO\\//OOoo--

Simpático / Simpática - FRIENDLY/KIND
If someone is SYMPATHETIC, the usual translation, then the person is willing to listen and console a person who needs to talk about their problems.

When Simpático is used it is usually used to mean someone who is FRIENDLY and quite often KIND.

A person who is nice to get on with isn't always SYMPATHETIC but can be FRIENDLY, simpático.

There are so many other examples that I am sure to include them in future posts

Anomalies

Consider the following sentence;

Yesterday we fulfilled your document, but we would like to appoint some inconsistencies we found.

There are two glaring mistakes in this sentence, mistakes that have resulted in a lot of head scratching for some people.

The word FULFILL is used to denote  achievement, as in fulfilling a dream, ambition, potential. To meet a requirement, the terms or conditions of an agreement. To have a particular role or purpose, 

English classes should fulfill the function of helping professionals prepare for multinational trade.

In the sentence at the top of the page, the word FULFILL is inconsistent with the intended meaning.

The expression FILL IN or sometimes FILL OUT is what is needed. These two expressions are used in a similar way although FILL IN is more common and means to place specific information in the input spaces provided on a form. That means providing a NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER or any other information required to complete a form.

Please fill in details of the items you require. Please fill in details of the problems you had. Please fill out the form below.

The word APPOINT is used to choose somebody for a job or position. It can also be used to indicate a prearranged time such as in an appointment.

Eduardo Suplicy was appointed Human rights secretary. The CEO still has to appoint a spokesperson for the company.

We should meet at the appointed time.

In the example sentence at the top of the page, the correct expression is to POINT OUT.

We would like to POINT OUT some inconsistencies we found.

Please be very careful when using these particular expressions.

How strong is DO or MAKE

When offering corrections to my students for odd sounding structures, one of the most common errors that seems hardest to make go away is the use of DO or MAKE in the place of much better and STRONGER verbs.

There seems to be a tendency in Portuguese to use only DO/MAKE - Fazer - together with a noun instead of the verb. So we hear structures like;

• We need to make our registration on the site. (We need to register on the site)
• Doing this simplification. (Simplifying)
• I did a confusion. ( I confused the two)
• I will get my friend to do a recommendation of this product to his colleagues. (I will get my friend to recommend this product to his colleagues. )

While this may not seem to be such a serious problem, it becomes so because of the arbitrary use of DO or MAKE without any real sense of the difference in meaning between them.

So this post has two main objectives.

The first purpose is to try and define what these differences are, and the second purpose is to try and reinforce the concept of using stronger verbs in English.

So how do we understand the difference in meaning between these two words?

Basically, DO is used to refer to an action taking place.

DO as a Transitive verb ' Perform, effect, transact, bring about, finish.

DO as an Intransitive verb ' Act, manage, work, fare, serve, suffice, happen

• DO an exam
• DO homework
• DO (somebody) a favour
• DO exercises
• DO a course

Make is more related to constructing something.

MAKE as a Transitive verb « Construct, produce, create, establish.

MAKE as an Intransitive verb « Tend, contribute

• MAKE a mistake
• MAKE an appointment
• MAKE a phone call
• MAKE a list
• MAKE a noise

Inconsistencies can be found in the use of the two in specific expressions.

• DO Business
• MAKE a profit or loss.
• DO the dishes - where you wash and dry the dirty dishes.
• MAKE an offer
• DO research
• MAKE the bed - This means tidy the bed you have just slept in.

Because of the apparent duplicity in meaning when translated from the Portuguese - FAZER, there can only be confusion on both sides of the language table.

I believe these two verbs are very weak. English is known for it's vast vocabulary which includes verbs. There is a greater tendency for English speakers to be more specific in their language by choosing the more appropriate verbs rather than DO or MAKE.

In the case of a simple request like, Could you DO/MAKE a presentation for me?

What would you expect to do?

So let's make a list of possibilities

VERBS Prepare, Present, Give, Rehearse, Review, Revise, Research, Check, Outline, Write, Develop, Organize etc

The original question Could you ******* a presentation for me would be better asked using the specifics of any of the verbs in the previous list. The DO or MAKE request leaves the listener relying on context and best guesses to really understand what is required.

As an aid to more efficient communication it might be a good idea to get used to learning and using a greater variety of verbs.

Revert

This is supplemental to my weekly post.

Some time ago I was reviewing a student's correspondence with her, advising on possible changes and enhancements.At the end of the text, she had signed off with 'I will REVERT to you later.'

I immediately offered her a correction when she said, 'But we all use this expression.'

I began to explain to her what revert meant.
REVERT is used in the sense of getting back to, and it's here where the real meaning needs to be seen. In actual fact, REVERT should be used to mean getting, or going back to a previous state. Eg. With backup files, there is always the possibility of REVERTING to the most recent backup if a recent change has caused a problem or been lost.

In its use as a salutation the 'getting back to' has been misunderstood and where the writer intends saying I will continue this conversation at a future date, the understanding is that a previous state or conversation must be chosen. This can only lead to confusion.
When I asked my student where she thought it had come from, we traced the probable origin to some correspondence with some writers from India who have a very good command of English, but can at times misinterpret seemingly obvious meanings.

I would recommend that if you or your company has gotten into the habit of using such an expression, then you instruct your people to choose something less challenging.

Eg; With regard to the new processes recently implemented, I feel that after so many problems we should REVERT to the previous method until substantial changes have been made to the new system. (REVERT is used in its proper sense here) I WILL GET BACK TO you later if any further changes need to be made. (And this is the proper salutation)

How many anys?

It kind of sounds strange doesn't it. How many Anys do we use in English?

Well, this is a medium to serious problem when used incorrectly. 

I have seen it used to express;

• We have anybody to do the work
• He has any time to do the work
• There are any reasons for this problem.
• Where is the document you need? Anywhere.

         These are real world examples

An English speaker might recognize what is intended by each of these phrases, but let's see if you did.

• We have NOBODY to do the work. We don't have ANYBODY to do the work.
• He has NO time to do the work or He doesn't have ANY (enough) time to do the work or even He has plenty of time to do the work. (Confusing?)
• There are NO reasons for this problem. Or there are MANY reasons for this problem.
• The ANYWHERE answer should be SOMEWHERE. This means I don't really know where.

The misuse of ANY comes about because some translations of the Portuguese NENHUM, NENHUMA offer not only NO, but ANY as the translation. 

I believe that there is also a problem of pronunciation and Maths. The letters N and M are pronounced 'enni' and ' emmi' respectively. If we consider the variable N in Maths used to represent an unknown quantity and its pronunciation being so close to ANY ('enni' ) we might understand that there is a probable reason for its misuse. I have a friend who very much doubts this reason.

Together with these two reasons is the use of ANY when MANY should be used.

The rule in ENGLISH is that we use ANY ONLY in questions and negative sentences.

Do you have ANY money?
No, I do not have ANY money. He doesn't have ANY time for his Cats. Do they have ANY pets?
I have SOME money. I have SOME time for my cats but I do not have ANY time for work. They have SOME pets but don't have ANY space.

In these examples, I have introduced the word SOME, used in affirmative statements. We can also use A LOT to mean MANY.

So let's see how much you have understood.

1. I have any/many friends who are learning English.
2. I don't have any/some friends who are learning English.
3. Do they have some/any time to study?
4. There is anybody/somebody who likes to eat chocolate.
5. There is anybody/nobody who likes to eat Ants.
6. There isn't anybody/nobody to take the garbage out.
7. Anybody/Everybody celebrates their birthday.
8. There are any/many ways of sending messages.
9. Is there everything/anything I can do for you?
10. There aren't anything/many things that can be done without using a Cellphone.

I hope you can see what a difference the wrong use of ANY can make to your communication. Try doing the exercise choosing one of the options in bold, send me your answers or check them yourself in my next post.

Welcome - Bem Vindo - to 2015

Well, here we are with a bright new opportunity to get everything back into order.

I'm sure that you have all resolved to dedicate more time to trying to make your English as good as your Portuguese. I know I did. I have spent the last few weeks studying ways of improving my use of English, practiced my listening by playing Audio-books and watching a lot of those films I had set aside to watch during the holiday period.
I have read a lot and practiced some ONLY English conversations, and I am happy to say that I am feeling revitalized. I am fully ready to get on with things and make this the best year ever.

So, let's see what you have been doing.

Normally you'd have 1 class a week of 1.5 hours. That would be 6 hours a month. 11 months, if we discount the weeks of holiday you probably took, so that comes to 66 hours a year. Last year you were happy with 3 days of classes to keep your English swinging and constantly  improving to the point of becoming almost fluent. Probably not.
Imagine if you were to dedicate 3 days to your profession, being one and a half hours a week. Of course, it might take you a little bit longer to get that promotion, that new car, that house or dream holiday, but then again that was all the time you could find to dedicate to such an unimportant event.

And it seems that tomorrow will come along and miraculously, you will be a fluent speaker of English, But tomorrow never comes. It has to be today and your knowledge and use of English is becoming as critical as the many other skills you have to hone, to get ahead.

Just in case you've forgotten, the Internet provides an immense source of material for most of your needs. Many of you have the latest in Cell-phones and other portable devices, all with their own dedicated APPs to help you with your English. You can learn so much from these resources alone.
Now, a great number of you have regular classes, and for the lucky ones, supplemental material sent out on a weekly basis. Roughly 10% of my mailing list respond in some way to this material. Those 10% who do are well on their way to doubling their involvement in English and English Fluency.

LET'S MAKE 2015 A MEMORABLE YEAR, A YEAR WHERE YOUR ENGLISH TAKES OFF AND JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER.