Back to English

We have been looking at complicated issues related to the learning of English. Today’s blog is back to basics: Gardening tools. I personally believe that we should not forget the “roots” for those who are so new to the English vocabulary. Therefore, this blog – and hopefully a few others – would cater to those who need a refresher course or those who are new.

watering can

wheelbarrow

sprayer

shovel

rake

pruner

hoe

garden hose

spade or trowel

The pictures above show common gardening tools that you see in homes. Look around, and you’ll see at least a few of them in your house. Though appear to be too fundamental, some people do not know the names of tools that they use daily.

Prefixes and suffixes are little groups of words that are added to a root word to give those words new meanings. A prefix is placed in front of a word, while a suffix is placed at the back.

The tables below show what prefixes mean and how they’re used in a word. Take note that there are many suffixes and prefixes, and the list that you see below provides just a few common ones:

Take note:
Some words are tricky; they appear to have prefixes or suffixes, but they’re actually whole words!

Examples:

• return ( = give back)
• demise ( = die)
• hardly ( = very seldom)
• display ( = show)

A gerund is a special noun. It is a verb that has been transformed into a noun by adding the “-ing” suffix.

Using gerunds in a sentence:

(a) as a Subject

• Swimming is my favourite past time.
• I find that reading and writing are difficult language skills to master.
  

(b) as a Complement

• My favourite past time is swimming.
• The most difficult skills to learn are reading and writing.

(c) as an Object

• Mary loves drinking hot chocolate with her boyfriend.
• My students dislike watching romantic movies.

(d) with articles and adjectives

• The (art.) actual (adj.) making of the movie will be shown on TV.
• The (art.) strange (adj.) writing on the wall is a mystery.

So, a gerund is a verbot that deceptively transforms into a nounbot to confuse our fellow humans. If you haven’t been watching “Transformers“, you obviously wouldn’t understand.

Do names mean anything to us? Judging by the way job titles are named – or shall I say, renamed – nowadays, it’s evident that giving appropriate names to match the job really matters.

I guess people are more conscious about their jobs and the positions which they hold whether it’s an executive or a non-executive position. Furthermore, as time passes, their job titles need a boost too to keep up with the times.

Let’s take a look at the Job Title Evolution:

• housewife – domestic engineer
• janitor – floor engineer
• garbage collector – sanitary worker
• postman – mail carrier (esp. in U.S.)
• general clerk – administrative officer (esp. in Malaysia)
• doctor – medical consultant

What else is in store? Well, here are my own versions of what we might be applying for in the future:

• teacher – education consultant
• lecturer – tertiary consultant
• tour guide – travel consultant
• soldier - military personnel
  
• professor – academic scholar
• police officer – crime buster
• news reader – information provider
• pilot – aircraft navigator
• taxi driver – passenger consultant
• construction worker – construction architects

Is there anything else that you’d like to add to this endless list?

“To be, or not to be” – Shakespeare said in his play, Hamlet, around 1600.

The words be, been and being belong to the same family but are used differently. They’re like brothers and sisters; they’re in the same family but each does a different job.

(a) Using “be”

“Be” is used to compliment auxiliary verbs like can, will and must.

Examples:

• Suhaimi will be at home by 5:00 p.m. today.
• You must be very tired after a long day.
• I’ve an old computer that can still be used (by anyone).

The word “be” in all three examples has no specific meaning. It just exists because it compliments can, will and must. Therefore, the following sentences are wrong.

• Suhaimi will at home by 5:00 p.m. today. (X)
• You must very tired after a long day. (X)
• I’ve an old computer that can still used. (X), but
  I’ve an old computer that I can still use. (√) – not “used“

Take note: If you see an action verb after the auxiliary verb, then you cannot use “be“.

• Suhaimi will come home by 5:oo p.m. today.
• You must rest after a long day.
• I’ve an old computer that can still function well.

(b) Using “been”

“Been” is used to compliment auxiliary verbs: has, have and had.

Examples:

• John has been (waiting) here for over an hour.
• The children have been taught (by someone) to respect others.
• If I had been busy, I wouldn’t bother coming here.

The word “been” in both examples also has no specific meaning.

(b) Using “being“

“Being” can be used to replace “to be“.  It normally comes after the verbs: is, are, was and were.

Examples:

• You are being helpful.
• The road was being blocked (by someone), so we can’t get through.
• Who is being blamed for this mistake?
• Was I being rude to you just now?