transportation

Here are some phrases and expressions for asking directions in English.

·  Where is (the) . . . ?

·  How do you get to (the) . . . (from here)?

·  How do I get to (the) . . . ?

·  Can you tell me how to get to (the) . . . ?

·  Can you give me directions to (the) . . . ?

·  What's the best way to get to (the) . . . ?

1. Excuse me. Is there a grocery store around here? 2. Can you tell me how to get to Phoenix? 3. Where's Tanner's Leather Shop? 4. How do you get to the bank?

Yeah. There's one right across the street. Sorry. I don't live around here. It's on the corner of Holly and Vine. Next to the library. Go straight down this street for two blocks. Turn left when you get to Maple Street. Stay on Maple for half a block. It's on the left hand side.

Here are some sample phrases and expressions to use in giving directions in English.

(First,) go down this street (for ____ blocks).
(Then,) turn left/right at the traffic light.
(After that,) go straight on _____ Street until you get to the ______.
(When you get to the _____,) turn left/right again.
(Then,) stay on_______Avenue for about _______ yards/meters.
It's on your left, next to the __________. You can't miss it!

1. Excuse me. Is there a grocery store around here? 2. Can you tell me how to get to Phoenix? 3. Where's Tanner's Leather Shop? 4. How do you get to the bank?

Yeah. There's one right across the street. Sorry. I don't live around here. It's on the corner of Holly and Vine. Next to the library. Go straight down this street for two blocks. Turn left when you get to Maple Street. Stay on Maple for half a block. It's on the left hand side.

Here are some sample phrases and sentences for asking and giving about location.

Where is the bank?

It's on Main Street.
It's next to the post office.
It's between the bakery and the barber shop.
It's on the corner of Ninth Street and Pine (Street).

Where's Lagoon?

It's in Davis County, near Kaysville.
It's on I-15, between Farmington and Kaysville.
It's ten miles north of Salt Lake City.

How do you get to the sporting goods store?

(on foot)

First, go down State Street until you get to 4th South.
Then, turn left.
Then, go down 4th South for three blocks.
It's on the right side of the street next to Wendy's.

(by car)

Take State Street to 4th South.
At 4th South, turn left.
Stay on 4th South for about three blocks.
The sporting goods store will be on the right, next to Wendy's.

How do you get to (your house in) Lehi?

Take I-15 south about 20 miles.
After you cross the mountain, watch for the signs to Lehi.
Take the first Lehi exit.
When you get off the freeway, make a right turn at the stop sign.
Follow the road (15th East) for five blocks.
Make a left turn on Royal Drive.
Continue on Royal Drive until you see the big oak tree.
My house is on the left hand side.
It's a two-story, red brick house with a large front yard.
You can't miss it!

Here are some sample phrases and sentences for talking about travel and transportation.

·  How do you (usually) get to work/school?

·  I usually take the subway.

·  How long does it take (to get there)?

·  It takes about ______ minutes/hours.

·  What's the best way to get to _____?

·  By train/bus.

·  Do you take public transportation?

·  I walk or ride my bike.

1. How do you get to work? 2. How long does it take? 3. How often do you ride the bus? 4. Do you ever walk to work? 5. Are you going anywhere this summer? 6. How are you going to get there? 7. Why don't you fly?

I usually drive my car. It takes half an hour. Once in a while. No, that would take forever. Probably to Jacksonville. By train. Airplane tickets are too expensive.

degree of comparison

Degrees of Comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with
another.

There are three Degrees of Comparison in English.They are:

1. Positive degree.

2. Comparative degree.

3. Superlative degree.

Let us see all of them one by one.

1.Positive degree.

When we speak about only one person or thing,We use the Positive degree.

Examples:

• This house is big.

  In this sentence only one noun “The house” is talked about.

• He is a tall student.

• This flower is beautiful.

• He is an intelligent boy.

  Each sentence mentioned above talks about only one noun.

2.Comparative degree.

When we compare two persons or two things with each other,We use both the Positive degree and Comparative degree.

Examples:

a. This house is bigger than that one. (Comparative degree)

This house is not as big as that one. (Positive degree)

The term “bigger” is comparative version of the term “big”.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

b. This flower is more beautiful than that. (Comparative)

This flower is not as beautiful as that. (Positive)

The term “more beautiful” is comparative version of the term “beautiful”.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

c. He is more intelligent than this boy. (Comparative)

   He is not as intelligent as this boy. (Positive)

     The term “more intelligent” is comparative version of the term     “intelligent”.

     Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

d. He is taller than Mr. Hulas. (Comparative)

He is not as tall as Mr. Hulas. (Positive)

The term “taller” is comparative version of the term “tall”.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

3.Superlative degree:

When we compare more than two persons or things with one another,

We use all the three Positive, Comparative and Superlative degrees.

Examples:

a. This is the biggest house in this street. (Superlative)

This house is bigger than any other house in this street. (Comparative)

No other house in this street is as big as this one. (Positive)

The term “biggest” is the superlative version of the term “big”.

All the three sentences mean the same meaning.

b. This flower is the most beautiful one in this garden. (Superlative)

This flower is more beautiful than any other flower in this garden. (Comparative)

No other flower in this garden is as beautiful as this one. (Comparative)

The term “most beautiful” is the superlative version of the term “beautiful”.

All the three sentences mean the same meaning.

c. He is the most intelligent in this class. (Superlative)

He is more intelligent than other boys in the class. (Comparative)

No other boy is as intelligent as this boy. (Positive)

The term “most intelligent” is superlative version of the term “intelligent”.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

d. He is the tallest student in this class. (Superlative)

He is taller than other students in this class. (Comparative)

No other student is as tall as this student. (Positive)

The term “tallest” is superlative version of the term “tall”.

Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

*Degrees of Comparison are applicable only to Adjectives and Adverbs*

*Nouns and verbs do not have degrees of comparisons*

He is the tallest student in the class.

The term “tallest” is an adjective.

Among the members of the group, Mr. Clinton speaks most effectively.

The term “effectively” is an adverb.

All the terms used in the above-examples are either adjectives or adverbs.

We have seen all the three Degrees of Comparison.

Let us see their models.

Model -1: “The best”:

Examples:

i. This is the best hotel in this area.

No other hotel is as better as this on in this area.

No other hotel is as good as this one in this area.

ii. Unemployment is the most serious problem facing our country.

Unemployment is more serious than any other problem facing our country.

No other problem facing our country is as serious as unemployment.

Model-2: “One of the best”:

Examples:

i. Calcutta is one of the largest cities in India.

Calcutta is large than most other cities in India.

Very few cities in India are as large as Calcutta.

ii. Satin Tendulkar is one of the best batsmen in the world.

Satin Tendulkar is better than most other batsmen in the world.

No other batman in the world is as good as Satin Tendulkar.

Model-3: “Not the best”:

Examples:

i. This is not the best solution to the problem.

ii. This is not better than few other solutions to this problem.

iii. Other solutions to this problem are not as good as this one.

ii. New York is not the largest city in America.

New York is not bigger than many other cities in America.

Few other cities in America are at least as large as New York.

Few adjectives and adverbs get their Comparative forms by simply getting “more” before them.

And their superlative terms, by getting “most” before them.

Examples:

Beautiful..........more beautiful..........most beautiful

Effective……….more effective………most effective

Effectively………more effectively……….most effectively

Enjoyable………….more enjoyable……….most enjoyable

Useful……………….more useful………..most useful

Different………..more different…………most different

Honest………..more honest…………..most honest

Qualified…………more qualified…………most qualified

Few adjectives and adverbs get their Comparative forms by simply getting “er” after them and their superlative terms, by getting “est” after them.

Examples:

Hard……………..harder……………..hardest

Big……………….bigger…………….biggest

Tall……………..taller……………tallest

Long………………longer………………longest

Short……………..shorter……………….shortest

Costly…………………costlier……………costliest

Simple………………….simpler………….simplest

Degrees of Comparison add beauty and varieties to the sentences.

Thanking

Thanking people

People have a great variety of ways to thank people and showing appreciation for a gift or an act of kindness. Here are ten of them.

1. Thanks.
2. Cheers.
3. Thank you very much.
4. I really appreciate it.
5. You've made my day.
6. How thoughtful.
7. You shouldn't have.
8. That's so kind of you.
9. I am most grateful.
10. We would like to express our gratitude.

How To Use These Phrases In Your English

• Phrases 1 and 2 are fairly informal. People often say them without really thinking about it. We use them when somebody does something small to help you.
• Phrases 3 and 4 are more formal. We use these when somebody has done something quite large or important to help you.
• We use phrase 6 when somebody gives you a present. We are saying thank you to the other person for thinking about you and deciding to give a present.
• Phrase 7 is also for receiving a present. You are saying that the other person is too generous. It does NOT mean that the person speaking is angry or annoyed.
• Phrases 9 and 10 are more formal. Phrase 10 is especially formal and is only used in business letters and formal speeches.

·  Thanking someone

• Thanks.
• Thank you.
• Thanks a lot.
• Thank you very much.
• Thank you very much indeed.
• It was very kind of you.
• I appreciate your help.
• You’ve been very helpful.

Thanking someone who tires to help

• Thanks anyway.
• Thank you for (looking).
• Thanks for (trying).
• It doesn’t matter. Thanks.
• Never mind. Thanks.

Responding to thanks

• You’re welcome. (US)
• Not at all. (formal, UK)
• Don’t mention it.
• (It’s) my pleasure.
• It was nothing.
• That’s alright/OK.
• No problem.
• Anytime

Conversation Rituals

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Conversation rituals are recurring patterns of conversation whose meaning or social function is not what it appears to be. Not understanding that the conversation you are in is part of a conversation ritual can cause problems. Some typical conversation rituals:
How are you? This is the classic American greeting, and is not normally seen as an actual request for a detailed report of the person's medical condition.
I’m sorry. Often saying I'm sorry is not about taking blame. Particularly among women, it really means: I’m taking your feelings into account. It can also be part of a 2-step ritual where both parties say I'm sorry:
Part 1:  I'm sorry for that typo ...
Part 2:  No, I'm sorry I wrote it so small.
Thanks. This is very similar to I'm Sorry, and is often part of a 2-step, symmetric ritual, such as you see between customer and clerk at a store.
        Part 1:  Thank you.
        Part 2:  Thanks.
Answering a 'thank you' with a 'your welcome' can be tricky. In some ways, this asymmetrical response is what is called for. In others, it is a way of establishing one-upness:
        Part 1:  Thank you.  {expressing good feelings}
        Part 2:  Your welcome  {interpreting 'thank you' as gratefulness of one in need}
The 'your welcome' seems to say acknowledge that person 1 was not fully together, not autonomous, and was dependent on person 2 to help them out. 
Ritual fighting & jousting. This is where people exchange mild put downs and compete for the purpose of establishing rapport. Women are more likely to misunderstand the ritual nature of this and take it personally. Even for men, though, it usually requires other clues, such a twinkle in the eye, to make clear that it is a ritual and not a real competition. 
Small talk. Discussion of unimportant things just to establish a relationship. Since establishing closeness is more important to women (according to Tannen, that is), we should observe women engaging in small talk more often than men. But both should do it. 
There are differences in what topics they use for small talk. Men tend to talk about things outside themselves: sports, or work, while women tend to talk about themselves (each other), or things close to, such as clothing. Talking about each other is a more efficient way of establishing a relationship.
Patting each other on the back. "Great talk" "Thanks, yours too".
Troubles talk. This is where people complain about problems to commiserate, not to solve problem. Men often misunderstand the ritual nature of troubles talk, thinking that they are being asked to actually solve a problem rather than commiserate or bring up parallel problems. 

LIKE, DISLIKE, and PREFERENCE

if you love something

"I love eating ice-cream."
"I adore sun-bathing."

If you like something a lot

"She's fond of chocolate."
"I like swimming very much."

If you like something

"He quite likes going to the cinema."
"I like cooking."

If you neither like nor dislike something

"I don't mind doing the housework."

If you don't like something

"She doesn't like cooking very much."
"He's not very fond of doing the gardening."
"I dislike wasting time."

If you really dislike something

"I don't like sport at all."
"He can't stand his boss."
"She can't bear cooking in a dirty kitchen."
"I hate crowded supermarkets."
"He detests being late."
"She loathes celery."

Things to remember…

Dislike is quite formal.
Fond of is normally used to talk about food or people.
The 'oa' in loathe rhymes with the 'oa' in boat.

Grammar Note

To talk about your general likes or dislikes, follow this pattern:

like something or like doing something.

When speaking generally, it's easiest to use plurals with count nouns, for examples:
I like apples. (count - plural)
I don't like radishes. (count -plural)
I don't like soda pop. (non-count)

Common mistake

Be careful where you put very much or a lot. These words should go after the thing that you like. For example, "I like reading very much." NOT "I like very much reading."

Expressing Preferences

Sometimes you need to state a preference when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks your opinion about what to do. Often people are asking for your opinion and you can state your preference freely, other times, people have made an offer and you need to state a preference politely if you do not want to do what has been suggested, or would rather do something else.

You can use "prefer to (do)" or "prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general:

• I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country OR I prefer livingin the country.

Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:

• I prefer something to something else.
• I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.
• I prefer doing something to doing something else.

•  I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
•  I prefer driving to traveling by train.
but • I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
•  Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.

Would prefer (I'd prefer...)

We use "would prefer" to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general):

•  "Would you prefer tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."

We say "would prefer to do" (not "doing"):

•  "Shall we go by train?" "Well, I'd prefer to go by car. (not "I'd prefer going")
•  I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

Would rather (I'd rather...)

Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive without to.

Compare:

•   "Shall we go by train?"	"I'd prefer to go by car."
	"I'd rather go by car. (not to go)

•  "Would you rather have tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."

The negative is "I'd rather not (do something)":
•  I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
•  "Do you want to go out this evening" "I'd rather not."

Study the structure after would rather:

I'd rather

do something

than (do)

something else.

•  I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

I'd rather you did something

When you want somebody to do something, you can say "I'd rather you did something":

•  "Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us."
•  "Shall I tell them the news?" "No. I'd rather they didn't know."
•  "Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn't know?"

In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future, not past.

Compare:

•  I'd rather cook the dinner now.

but • I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not "I'd rather you cook")

The negative is "I'd rather you didn't...":
•  I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.
• "Do you mind if I smoke?" "I'd rather you didn't."