The Coach House in the snow

.....dreaming of a white Christmas?

Language log 12

Nouns
an apron
an ashtray
(to raise) awareness (of a problem)
a baby's bib
a bird feeder
a campsite
a civil servant
decentralisation (verb: to decentralise)
dunes
an estate agent
fare (for the Windermere ferry = £3.50)
a flask, a Thermos (flask)
a (picture) frame
gears (in a car: to change gears)
(sister, mother) in-law
iodine
kitchen roll
a lagoon, marsh
oats, oatflakes
a quid (slang = 1 pound)
a parcel
a satellite dish
(pumpkin, sunflower) seeds
a shuttle (service)
a steamer (to cook vegetables)
your thyroid
a walking stick, a trekking pole
watercress
a wind turbine, wind power, a wind farm

Verbs
it annoys/bothers me....
to bite your nails
to carry on (= continue)
to clear the table (and wipe the table after a meal; to set/lay the table before a meal)
to come across (= find something by chance)
to focus on something
to go out with someone (=be boyfriend & girlfriend)
to know (a poem) by heart
to know someone by sight
to mobilise people (not mobilisate - but noun = mobilisation)
to pack (not package) your bag
to peel an orange
to postpone something, to put something off
to procrastinate (intransitive)
a cat purrs
to recycle (can be transitive (recycle paper) or intransitive)
to run someone over (or knock someone down)
to stroke a cat
to take a pill
to take advantage (of, of -ing: of the stop, of stopping on the motorway) to (have a cigarette)
is it worth (visiting the house)?
to wrap a present

Adjectives, adverbs, etc
available
chubby, plump
clumsy
coastal (ecosytem)
determined (not determinated - but noun = determination)
(your) fellow (students, members of staff etc) (= your peers)
hand made
home made
interested in
(that was very) thoughtful ((=kind) of you)
wholemeal (bread)

Can you remember the difference between:
-herb tea and fruit tea?
- stressful (the situation) and stressed (the person)?
- (the) staff (of a company) and (your) stuff?
- a cat's paws and claws?
- sunrise (the sun rises) and sunset (the sun sets)?
- a cook and a cooker?
- sensible (rational) and sensitive (delicate)?
- a purse (woman's) and a wallet (man's)?
- to drop something; to knock something over and to spill something? (I've dropped a coin. I've knocked over my cup. I've spilt my coffee.)
- a (walking) stick and stickers?
- to borrow and to lend? (You borrow books from the library. They also lend people DVDs)
- a postcard (unfolded, like a photograph) and a (greetings) card (folded)?
- to be cold and to have a cold?
- a couple and a partner? (my partner is...)

Things to watch
1. Say and tell: He said (to me) that.... (not he said me that). (Also he explained (to me) that).
He told me that.... (not he told that).
2. Make and do: In English we use these two verbs where Sp, Fr, Ger etc only have one. Try to notice, when you are reading, which is used in certain expressions. E.g. Make an effort, make things easier...
3. Want (someone) to do something: Do you want me to help you? (Not 'Do you want that I help you?)
4. Remind and remember: This landscape reminds me of Wallace and Gromit. Remind me to post this letter. I never remember people's birthdays.
5. Used to.
- Past habit = I used to play basketball.
- Something which is/was unfamiliar (and is becoming/has become less so) (= accustomed). I'm not used to driving on the left. I'm getting used to my new car.
N.B. For things we do regularly we're more likely to use an adverb eg often/always: I always spend Christmas with my family. In summer I usually go to the beach at the weekend. (not I'm used to...)
6. Negatives
- Avoid double negatives: 'She doesn't know anything' (not 'nothing')
- When a negative is the subject = nobody, nothing (not anybody): 'Nobody knows the answer'
7. Adjectives in -ing/-ed
- -ing describes what causes an emotion: a boring person, an exciting film
- -ed describes the person feeling a certain way: I'm bored, the children are excited
8. The wonderful thing is that.....(we need a noun, we can't use an adjective on its own in this context)
9. Bono was born (not born)
10. Either...or (not 'or...or')
11. Articles
- When I was a child
- We don't use 'the' for general groups of things. E.g. I like tomatoes. But I like the tomatoes we bought in Scotland.
- 'I'm going to bed' (no the)
12. Word order
Unless you're using some structure to emphasise something, usually we need to put the subject before the verb. My host family recommended this whisky. (Not 'this whisky recommended my host family').
13. Plurals
- 1 sheep, 2 sheep
- 1 mouse, 2 mice
14. Yesterday morning, afternoon, evening....but last night.

Pronunciation
I've just looked for a website demonstrating the pronuciation of English words. At first sight this one seems quite good:
http://www.howjsay.com/
-business
- analysis
- regards
- anecdote
- ruin, ruined

A

Language log 11

Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
(in the) countryside
crab, crabsticks
(to travel in a certain) direction, (to give someone) directions (to Kendal)
food (not 'eat')
grammar (adjective: grammatical)
(thank you for your) letter (not 'post')
midnight
noon, midday
a one-way ticket, a return ticket
opening hours
a satellite dish
a scar
a sheet of paper, a sheet on your bed
a skirt, a kilt
a slope, a hill (to start the car on a slope)
spinach
thoughtfulness, kindness to someone (= Fr. attention)
a van, a camper van
working hours

Verbs
to chew your food well
to fall asleep
my leg/arm hurts (but: I've got a sore throat, a headache, stomachache)
to look after yourself
to make a mistake
I'm missing a letter (Il me manque une lettre)
to mop up the sauce with your bread
to put your contact lenses in; to take your contact lenses out
to put the film on
to solve a problem
to stroke Oli
to sunbathe
to take advantage of (we took advantage of the good weather to go for a walk)
to tidy up, to tidy the lounge
(I like) to try different things
to turn/switch the TV off (not 'to close')
to wipe the table with a cloth
to yawn (noun: a yawn)

Adjectives, adverbs etc
all day (not 'all the day')
any more: she doesn't live here any more
every day (not 'all the days')
for a long time: I haven't seen it for a long time.
grated cheese (verb: to grate)
last but one: it's my last but one day here
my own...(propre)
not at all: pas du tout
painful
plus: 2 plus 2 equals 4
square (noun: a square)
I'm surprised that...
Typically Spanish
I'm not very hungry

A

Language log 10

Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
aluminium foil, tin foil
a bow
a car chase
(to sing in) a choir
a christmas stocking
cling film
a double bill (two films shown together)
(to have) a hole in (the sole of) your shoe
the interior of a house; interior design
a one-way street
a show off (he's a bit of a show off; verb: to show off)
your toes (on your feet), your big toe
vinegar
a waistcoat

Verbs
to evaluate something
to go to bed (not 'the bed')
to make/leave a good impression (on someone)
to put off, postpone (a meeting, your holiday etc)
to turn something (eg a duvet cover) inside out

Adjectives, adverbs etc
checked (material)
(to be) impressed by something/someone
on the contrary
one each
(to be) proud of yourself
really?
sold out

Prepositions
to spend money on something

What's the difference between:
- to pour milk (into your coffee) and to spill milk?
- to hear and to listen to? (to hear something involuntarily; to listen to something deliberately)
- to see, look at and watch? (to see something involuntarily; to see a film/play at the cinema/theatre; look at something deliberately; watch something that continues for sometime)
- a bit and a bit of? (I'm a bit tired. Have you got a bit of paper?)

Pronunciation
fasten (your seat belt) - t is silent
thirty and thirsty

A

Language log 9

(A) Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
armwrestling (verb: to armwrestle)
(a bird's) beak
a catwalk (at a fashion show)
(a cherry) cheesecake
a coincidence
contact lenses
cucumber
(it's my) fault
(a bird's) feathers
a forest, forestry
the freezer
a fridge magnet
(Oli's) fur
gherkins
lettuce
a light switch
a lorry, a truck
a motorway
New Year's Eve
parsley (flat leaf or curly)
prawn crackers
raspberries
salmon (the 'l' is silent)
(to have) shares in a company
a slice of lemon
sunflower seeds
sweetcorn
sweet and sour sauce
a teabag
your throat
a toothpick, a cocktail stick
a wake-up call
a wardrobe (can be 'built-in'/fitted or 'walk-in')
a waterfall
a wave
wheat
a wrong number (It was a wrong number. I think you've got the wrong number)

Verbs
to be in a hurry (we're not in a hurry)
to bring the washing in
to check (not 'control') someone's homework
let's face it....
to go in, to come in (more common than enter)
to have an argument with someone
to have a child (not 'get')
to knock on (or at) someone's door
(ice cream) melts
to overtake (another car on the motorway)
to peel (a mango)
to put your contact lenses in (and take them out)
to put on 10 kgs
to relax
to renew a library book (by phone)
to scream
to stop smoking
to stretch (before you go running)
to take (not 'make') a picture of something
to take off your sweater
to turn the grill off
to turn the volume up/down
to watch a film

Adjectives, adverbs etc
cuddly
different dishes (when you eat/have tapas in a restaurant you order different dishes...)
sour
a strong flavour or smell
this morning (not 'today morning')
warm clothes
yummy

Prepositions
What are you laughing at? (to laugh at something/someone)
It reminds me of....

Can you remember the difference between:
- to wake up and to be awake?
- to get up and to be up?
- to be deaf and to be tone deaf?
- a desert (stress on 1st syllable) and dessert (stress on 2nd syllable)?
- health and healthy (you should look after your health/eat a healthy diet)?
- to invent (something) and to invite (someone to (a party))?
- to let and to leave? (let me help you! leave it there!)
- Russia and Russian (She only speaks Russian. She visits Russia every year)
- remind and remember (She reminds me of Jane. Can you remind me to post the letter. I must remember to feed Oli)

Pronunciation
(see 'salmon' and 'dessert/desert' above)
to sew (sounds like 'so')
answer, sword (w is silent)

(B) The vocabulary of card games
The suits are called: hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades.
The cards are called: (the) 2-10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace (of (hearts etc))
We use the following verbs:
- to shuffle the cards
- to deal the cards (person = the dealer)
- to pick up a card
- to play a card
- to miss a turn (also: "it's your turn")
- to start ("Pam won last time so she starts")
- not to be able to go ("I can't go")
- to cheat at cards

A

Language log 8

Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
the aisle (in a plane) - an aisle/window seat
the back of a chair
a boarding school
Chinese whispers (a game where one person whispers a phrase to the next person etc...)
consumption (e.g. of natural resources)
a contract, an agreement
the dashboard (of a car)
a drainpipe
a hedge
hand luggage
human resources
an Indian summer
(to fly) a kite
politeness
prawns
a reflection (of a tree in a river)
a rugby pitch
a tea towel
a washing line
(to have, to suffer) withdrawal symptoms

Verbs
to cover for a colleague when they are off work
to erase something, to rub something out
I don't feel like doing something
to focus a camera
to forget something
to get lost
(prices) go up/rise or go down/fall
could you hold this, please?
to pop out (to the shop)
to reduce (the amount of paper in the Coach House!)
to reply to someone, to an email/letter
to stroke Oli
to take a photo(graph) of something
to take your shoes off
to treat a disease (noun = treatment)
to underestimate something
to wear (a short-sleeved shirt)
to work overtime

Adjectives, adverbs etc
addicted to...
chewy
complicated
(to be) nervous (about something)
not so much (not 'no so much')
really (hungry)
up-to-date, out-of-date (information)
useless

Prepositions
to throw something in/into the bin (to throw something away)
do you want milk in your coffee?

Things to watch
- articles - when I was a child

A

Language log 7

Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
an antidote (to a poison)
a battle
a blister
the boot (of a car)
a cafe
cauliflower
a century
a coaster
a coathanger, a hanger-up
corn
crumbs
a (learning) curve
(pizza) dough
an expectation
a fake, a forgery
your fringe
gammon
a hare
(to have) hiccups/hiccoughs
your joints
a (dog's) kennel
a kitten
a lamb chop
(that's) the last straw (!)
the length (of a song - 3 mins)
lentils
a manual, instructions (for a machine)
a mixed grill
a (Buddhist) monk
a monolingual dictionary (an English-English dictionary)
a remote (control)
a rolling pin
rye (bread, flour)
scales
the size (of a file - 100kb)
the surroundings (of a town)
a timer (on a camera)
a toast rack
(dental) treatment

Verbs
to bake (bread)
to blush
to change something (not 'of something')
(do you want) to come in (?)
to expect something, to expect that....
to face facts
to fill in a form
to forge a banknote
to guess
to have enough time to do something
to have a problem/problems doing something
to itch (my arm itches)
to leave something to soak, to leave something to drain
to lick - Oli licks his fur
(how) do you like (Sedbergh, the pizza...?)
to look forward to doing something
to miss the end of a film
to mix (the dough)
to pass someone something (Can you pass (me) the milk?)
to practise (a grammatical structure)
(where do/shall I) put (this?)
dough rises, the sun rises
(how) to say, to pronounce a word
to scratch
see you later!
to split up with (your boyfriend/girlfriend)
I suppose that...
to surround (surrounded by)
to take your things out of the car

Adjectives, adverbs etc
accessible
(a) bright (colour)
be careful!
crunchy
(I am) curious...
deputy (director)
disappointed
encrypted
homely
(to be) in good form
(to be ) in a good mood
mixed race
nothing special!
obligatory
a one-floor/one-storey house
an open-plan house/office
self-employed
(to be) spoilt for choice
unbelievable
whatever (you want)
wholemeal

Prepositions
I'm thinking about doing something
at the weekend
for different reasons
for example
to hear from someone (but about an event, a piece of news etc)
in October
to say something in front of someone
it depends on
on October 10th
allergic to

Can you remember the difference between:
- an employer and an employee
- to push and to pull
- to be cold and to have a cold
- an ankle and an uncle
- a moustache and a beard
- a football pitch and a playground
- a cook/chef and a cooker
- to fry and to roast

Things to watch
-this morning (afternoon, evening) not 'today morning' - but tonight
- it is necessary to... (not 'is necessary to...')
- can (present), could (past) - otherwise use 'be able to' - he will not be able to...
- information, accommodation = uncountable
- NB the difference between: I am going to do something and I am going running, jogging, shopping etc (no 'to')

A

Language log 6

Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
a bench
(to have) a craving for something
a gadget
(bad) habits
hugs and kisses
a key (on the keyboard of a computer)
a stain (on your clothes)
a worktop

Verbs
to feel sleepy
I'm getting hungry
to have ants in your pants
to have breakfast, lunch, dinner
to have a headache
to have a lie in
to have a shower
to know how to do somrthing; to be able to do something

Adjectives, adverbs etc
appetising
burnt
each other
(to be) hungry (not to have hunger)
a long time ago
the other way round
so good (si bon)
too big (not too much big), too good to cook with (trop bon)

Prepositions
to have chicken for lunch; what do you want for breakfast

Can you remember the difference between:
- to hear/to listen to (to hear a sound, to listen to a CD)
- to remember and remind (I never remember people's birthdays; can you remind me to buy some milk; this reminds me of my holiday)
- to review (what you have learnt) and to record (a TV programme)
- history (World War II) and a story (Snow White)
- to be asleep and to fall asleep
-a stranger (someone you don't know) and a foreigner (from another country)
- soup and soap
- sweet and savoury
- a cloud and a clown

Things to watch
- singular/plural: everyone has
- conditionals: zero conditional: if you heat water, it boils (every time); first conditional: if we go out, we will get wet (now, because it's raining)
- modals: must/can do something (not must/can to..)
- relative clauses: which is called..., whose name is...
- questions:
*when did you last (see John), when was the last time you (saw John), how long is it since you (have seen John)?
* Have you (already) had breakfast? (Present perfect)
- indirect questions: I don't remember who he is (not who is he)
- structures with verbs: to want someone to do something (where do you want me to put this?)
- tenses: present continuous for something happening now (Yolanda is jogging)
- before: before I came, before coming (not before to come)

A

Language log 5

Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
bankruptcy - verb to go bankrupt
a bookcase, bookshelves
a database
[to write] an essay
an explanation [not explication]
imports/exports [not importations]
raisins
a satnav
[to give someone] a shock
sultanas
[serving] tongs
a witness -at a wedding

Verbs
to babysit for someone
to bend your back/your knee..
to doubt [that something is true/will happen]
to fear something[fear also = noun]; to be afraid of something
to feel the cold
to go down the wrong way -it went down the wrong way
to go home [no preposition]
to have a party
help yourself!
to hesitate [whether to do something or not]
can you hold this please?
to maintain/keep up a conversation
to make someone laugh
to make a mistake
to mean something - I mean
to notice something
can you pass me the...?
to push your luck
to put the shopping away
to value somethng [not valorate]

Adjectives, adverbs etc
to be as good as someone else at doing something
bald
every cloud has a silver lining
good thinking!
guilty/innocent
[to be] hungry [not to have hunger]
in fact
instead of
left-handed; right-handed
like chalk and cheese
proper[ly]
subjective/objective
[un]fortunately
well + pp: well done; well written
yesterday's newspaper

A

End of season vocabulary sale - everything must go!

Adjectives, adverbs etc
5 years ago
as [hot] as [in Europe]
Average
Characteristic –also = noun
Colour-blind
Deaf
Deep
Disabled
Edible
Enthusiastic
Even better
Every other day
Exactly!
Greater Manchester
Nervous
Once or twice per/a week
Thrifty/careful with money
[to be] ticklish

Animals
An animal shelter
A bear cub
A breed of dog
[An animal’s] claws/paws
A dachshund/sausage dog
A duck
A goose
[a bird’s] nest
A pedigree dog/cat
[a horse’s] stable
a swan

Art
An exhibition
Pastel colours

Clothes
A bracelet
[a famous] brand
Drainpipe jeans
High-heeled shoes
[shoe]laces
A logo
A needle and thread
A shoehorn
A short-sleeved shirt
A waistcoat
To put on/take off [an item of clothing]
To waterproof your jacket/shoes
To wear a hat

Education
PE – physical education
Physics
Social sciences

Energy and the environment
Climate change
…degrees
global warming
greenhouse gases
renewable energy
solar power
solar panels
wind power
a wind farm
a wind turbine

Festivals
Lent – before Easter
Pancake Tuesday
Ash Wednesday
Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Food, cookery and the kitchen
An apron
A cafetiere
A chopping board
A colander
Cutlery – knives, forks and spoons
A grater – verb to grate, pp grated
A jug
The lid of a box
A mug
An oven glove
A potato peeler – verb to peel
Salad servers
A serviette, a napkin
A serving spoon
A sieve
A spoonful
A steamer
A tablespoon
A teaspoon
A meat tenderizer – verb to tenderize
A wooden spoon
Blackberries
Blackcurrants
Ground/instant coffee
Curd cheese/cream cheese/cottage cheese
Flavoured water
A clove/ a head of garlic
Gooseberries
Leeks
Leftovers
Pastry
A red/green pepper
Raspberries
Redcurrants
Rhubarb
A second helping, seconds
Seeds
A shot - of spirits
A spritzer – white wine and soda
Stock cubes – verb to make stock
Strawberries
Topping/sauce
The white/the yolk of an egg
Yeast
Meat – tender/tough; lean/fatty; rare/medium/well done; minced; raw/cooked
To burn/scrape the toast
To crush garlic
To marinate something in a sauce
Ice cream melts
To put the kettle on
To put something in/into the oven – on the top/middle/bottom shelf
To share your food
To sizzle- adj sizzling
To spread butter on bread

In the garden
A labyrinth/maze
A monkey puzzle tree
A sundial
A weeping willow

Health and the body
Alternative/complementary medicine
A bandage
A treatment for an illness

The home and housework
An attic flat
A bench
A blanket
A bucket
A cellar
A coat hook
A cushion
The draining board
The drive
A duvet/duvet-cover
Furniture
A peg
A pillow/pillow-case
A sheet
Shutters/blinds
A steam iron
Washing powder
A washing-up bowl/washing-up liquid
Upstairs/downstairs
To bring the washing in – when it’s dry/still damp
To dampen your clothes with a sprayer or sprinkle them with water before ironing them
The tap is dripping
To fold the washing
To hang/peg out washing on the line
To iron or press your clothes – if they are creased
To leave the dishes to drain
To mop the floor – with a mop
To put the washing away
Clothes can run/shrink in the wash
To sweep the floor – with a brush
To wash something by hand/to handwash something
A washing machine washes, rinses and spins
To wipe the table with a cloth

Language
A diminutive
A hyphen
The punchline of a joke
A saying

Money
A 10/20 pound note
[here’s your] change
[I don’t have] the right money

People
A barman/maid
A conductor – of an orchestra
An electrical engineer
Your extended family
A family doctor/GP
The founder of an organisation
A god-father, mother, son, daughter
A highwayman – Dick Turpin
The landlord/lady of a pub
A lawyer
An only child
Someone’s partner
A pharmacist
A poet
A school nurse
A slave - slavery
A step- mother, father, son, daughter etc

Describing places
An antiques shop
An archaeological site
A canal
A car park – pay and display; park and ride; a fine; a wheel clamp/clamping
[In a church] – stained glass windows; an organ/pipes
City walls
Docks - cranes
Dry stone walls
A mine
A skyscraper
Warehouses

Politics
A councillor
Local or general/national elections
A majority
An MP [member of parliament]
The reign [of Queen Victoria…she reigned..]
To abstain from voting/a vote
To form a government
To increase/reduce taxes
To vote in an election

Sports, games and toys
The board/ a board game
Dice
A doll’s house
Horseracing – flat racing or National Hunt – over jumps
[to throw] the javelin
Self-defence
The shotput
Downhill/alpine or cross-country/nordic skiing
It’s your turn/go

Theatre
A costume
A musical
A rehearsal – verb to rehearse
Theatre in the round
To act in a play/film
To play a character/role

Travel
Air travel
-An airline
-arriving
-to go through passport control/customs
-to reclaim your baggage
-to meet someone in the arrivals hall/at the meeting point
-departing
-to check in
-to go through security
-to wait in the departure lounge
-to go to gate x/board [the plane]
The border between 2 countries
Driving
-the boot
-the driver’s seat/the passenger seat
-petrol/diesel
-roads
-a motorway
- an A/main road
-a B/minor road
-a ring road
-the steering wheel
-to reverse
-to start/turn on the engine
The interior of a country

TV
Advert[isement]s
A commercial break

Verbs
I ask myself
To book a ticket
To climb a hill
To cuddle/hug someone
To enjoy life
Forget it!
To giggle
To influence someone
Leave it on the table
It doesn’t matter [to me]
I don’t mind
To order a meal
To rescue/save someone
To show off
To smell good/bad
To snore
To tease someone
To throw something away/get rid of something

Work and industry
Agriculture
A bank holiday
mining
An x month probation period
Textiles [spinning/weaving]
Work experience
To retire

Can you remember the difference between
-remember and remind?
-sensible and sensitive?
-history and a story?
-to keep something somewhere or to hide something somewhere?
-[in the] shade and a shadow?
-in a while and in the future?
-meat and a meal?
-a document and a documentary?

Prepositions
At school
In the countryside
To travel through a country
It belongs to me
She said to me
Under pressure

Things to watch
- Structures with verbs - to want [someone] to do something
- Modals - I mustn’t [not allowed]/ I don’t have to [not necessary]
- Comparison
- much better/much more difficult
- the harder you work, the more you earn
- my very best friend
- uncountable/countable -a little/a few
- so/such – so difficult [adj], such kindness, such a beautiful flower [[adj+] noun]

A

Language Log 4

Vocabulary checklist

Nouns
an alibi
bagpipes
a breath of fresh air
a bruise
a butcher, the butcher's
a school caretaker
a civil servant
a clothes rack
a coaster
copper
a deal - deal or no deal
a duvet
an electoral programme or manifesto
an excuse
a feather
flat shoes - flatties
flip-flops
the heel of a shoe
a lens
the mid-west of America
a misundersanding
mulled wine
a pain in the neck
a pencil sharpener
a place mat
a pumpkin
sandals
the solution to a problem
a stool
a teaspoon
a thermometer
a waiter/waitress
a wasp

Verbs

to blanch - aubergines before frying them
to bleed a radiator
to cut/tear out a newspaper article
to do someone a favour - can you do me a favour
to draw a picture
to ferment - plums ferment when you make Slivovice
I've finished, I've had enough
to make up your mind
to push someone to their limits
to sharpen a pencil
to throw something away
to tie a knot
to trust someone

Adjectives, adverbs etc

abroad
average
cosy
the salad isn't dressed / there's no dressing on the salad
every other day
high-heeled shoes
honest
it's all the same to me
to be lucky -not to have luck
medieval
naff, tacky, uncool
no news is good news
no sooner said than done
not for me, thanks
on heat - a dog or cat
ripe fruit
so - donc
I still haven't found what I'm looking for - word order with still
surprised
that's what I'm here for
well - mais bien

Prepositions
to think about something
to wash something by hand
to be interested in something
in the sky

Can you remember the difference between -
- understanding adj.and understandable
- all the time and every time
- to lend and to borrow
- to learn and to teach
- to be sick and to feel sick
- a wallet and a purse
- access to a place and excess on your insurance

Things to watch
- Possessives - Jose's friend
- Countable/uncountable - 2 pieces of toast, please; how many people

A

Language Log 3

Vocabulary Checklist

Nouns
breadcrumbs (for rizek)
a calf (baby cow)
a (school) canteen
a cooker, a stove
crumble (mixture of flour, butter and sugar)
crutches
dots (a pattern on a shirt etc)
dough (=testo, listove testo = puff pastry)
godfather (-mother, son, daughter, parent, child etc)
head (on a glass of beer = cepice)
horseradish
the lid (of a jar), the top (of a bottle)
(something has more than one) meaning
a mountaineer
natural science(s)
needles (fir trees have these instead of leaves)
a pine (tree) (=borovice), a fir (tree) (=jedle), a spruce (=smrk)
(to have) pins and needles (in your leg)
a potty (nocnik)
raisins
a saying
the stalk (or stem) of a piece of broccoli
a tripod (for your camera)

Verbs
to date someone (US), to go out with someone (UK) (= be boyfriend & girlfriend)
you don't have to... (nemusis)
help yourself!
to go mountaineering, to go climbing
to mix something (in a mixer)
to peel (potatoes, carrots etc)
to put something into the oven (not 'give')
to run out of something
to slice or chop vegetables
(I don't want) to tempt fate

Adjectives, adverbs etc
clear, obvious
discreet
evergreen (trees such as fir; opposite= deciduous)
full fat, semi-skimmed, skimmed (milk)
in hindsight
(you are) right
(a) silent (film/movie)
wholemeal flour

Prepositions
to complain about something

Can you remember the difference between:
-savoury (sweet or savoury), salted (salt has been added to it eg butter) and salty (tastes of salt eg anchovies)?
- dawn/sunrise and dusk/sunset?
- a snail and a slug?
- to get dressed (in the morning) and to dress up (in fancy dress or for a special occasion)?

Things to watch:
- This morning (afternoon, evening, not "today morning....", but tonight)
A

Language Log 2

(a) Vocabulary checklist

Nouns

a bandage (obvazy)
your big toe
custard (= like Czech pudink)
a DVD/video rental/hire shop
your funny bone
gravy (sauce from the juice of roast meat)
haggis
innards (an ingredient in tlacenka)
iron (the metal)
a (dog's) lead
your liver
livestock
a masterpiece
minced meat
pegs (to hang washing on the washing line)
a plaster (on your finger if you cut yourself); a plaster(cast) (if you break a bone)
a pudding:
- can be savoury (Yorkshire pudding, steak and kidney pudding) or sweet (sticky toffee pudding)
a ram (m) and a ewe (f)
a root vegetable
a safety pin
a saw
a scoop of icecream
a screwdriver
shandy (= beer & lemonade)
a splint (dlaha)
a stabiliser (in a camera or lens)
starch (in potatoes)
thunder and lightning
a windmill; a wind turbine

Verbs

to download something (from the internet)
to give someone a fright
to grate cheese/carrot/potato (noun: a grater)
to grind (wheat in a mill)
to hide something
to make a meal of something
the price of something increases/goes up/rises or falls/goes down
to rewind/fast-forward a video
to saw a piece of wood
to take a photo
to tie a knot

Adjectives, adverbs etc

antediluvian!
from head to toe
(to be) grateful (to someone for something)
swollen (napuchly)
(to be) ticklish

Prepositions
Along the Czech/Polish border

Can you remember the difference between:
- to lend and to borrow?
- a recipe and a prescription?
- spice(s) (n) and spicy (adj)?
- kitchen and cooking/cookery/cuisine? (Czech....)
- deep and shallow?
- in his/her 30s and in the (19) 30s?

Things to watch:
- another (= one of many alternatives) - Dvorak is a famous Czech composer. Another famous Czech composer is Smetana.
- the other (= the only alternative) - One part of the former Czechoslovakia is now known as the Czech Republic, the other is called Slovakia.
- other (= several other alternatives) - There are many famous Czech composers. Dvorak is one, others include Smetana, Janacek and Martinu.

(b) Vocabulary for driving in the UK!

Nouns
(see diagram of a car from the dictionary)

a bend in the road
car insurance
a car park (pay and display!)
cats' eyes
a (wheel) clamp; clamping
a crossroads
diesel-petrol-LPG
a driving licence
a fork in the road
a one way street; a one way system
a motorway (exit/junction number...); an A road/a main road; a B road/ a minor road
a parking fine
a pedestrian crossing; a zebra crossing
a petrol station; a garage
a right/left-hand drive car
road markings
a roundabout
a speed camera
(what's) the speed limit(?)
a T junction
traffic lights

Verbs

to accelerate (noun: accelerator)
to bear left/right
to brake (noun: brake)
to change gear (noun: clutch)
to crash the gears!
to drive on the left/right
to fill the tank/car up with petrol/diesel/LPG
to give way (GIVE WAY)
to go straight on
to have priority
to put on the handbrake; to release the handbrake
to reverse
to slow down; to stop
to stall (the engine)!
to turn left/right
to turn round
to turn/switch the ignition/engine on/off

A

Language Log 1

Vocabulary Checklist

Nouns
An ashtray
An aubergine
The bark of a tree
Belly dancing
A cage (for a pet rat!)
The core of something
A courgette (or zucchini)
A diving bell
(To do) an experiment
An eskimo roll
A flood
A gooseberry
Headphones
A hornet
Imagination
Inhabitants
Leftovers (after a meal)
Meringue
Ointment
(Orange/potato) peel
A philosopher
(The power of) the present moment
A remote (control)
Rubber (also adjective: a rubber raft)
Sawdust
(Bathroom/kitchen) scales
A seagull
(To have a good/no) sense of direction
An SLR (single-lens reflex) camera
The source of a river
A spring (in a spa)
A tape/cassette recorder
(A pair of) tights
A vet
A weir
Willpower
The yolk/the white of an egg

Verbs
To beat an egg
To breed/farm/rear sheep
X is called...
To capsize (in a canoe)
To feed (an animal)
I feel like (an ice cream)
To peel an orange/potato
To scrape (burnt toast!)
To stammer (or to have a stammer; to stutter)
It suits him

Adjectives/adverbs etc
(In) alphabetical (order)
Convex/concave
Dopey, dozy
Inflatable
A light/heavy cake
Out of/in focus
Recycled

Prepositions
Named after..
Known for
Interested in

What's the difference between:
- marmalade and jam?
- other and another?
- a blackberry and a blackcurrant?
- mud and slush?
- food and a meal?
- a dish and (to wash) the dishes?

Points to watch:
- 'whom' used in relative clauses and questions for the object and after prepositions:
The woman whom I met....
The man to whom I spoke...
(Though you will hear 'who' used in these contexts).

A

Welcome to the Coach House blog!

My friend Katka, who is staying at the moment, has encouraged me to start a blog!
You know me and technology.....it could take a while before I get the hang of it!
But watch this space.....!