FALSE FRIENDS IN ENGLISH

1 octubre 2018 1

Autor: Jimena González Sanz

Welcome back to our section, today we are going to introduce you to FALSE FRIENDS! Maybe you have or not Heard about them before but it is essential to realize there are some tricky words that can make us misunderstand important information.

According to wikipedia “False friends are words in two languages that look or sound similar, but differ significantly in meaning. An example is the English embarrassed and the Spanish embarazada (which means pregnant), or the word sensible, which means reasonable in English, but sensitive in French and Spanish. ”

Here we present a funny situation

Today we are going to introduce 10 words you might have come across and do not realize they are false friends!

  1. Advertise may look like advertir (to warn) in Spanish but in fact it means anunciar.
  2. Assists may look like asistir (to attend) in Spanish but in fact it means ayudar.
  3. Bizarre may look like bizarro (brave) in Spanish but in fact it means extraño.
  4. Conductor may look like conductor (driver) in Spanish but in fact it means director de orquesta.
  5. Contest may look like contestar (to answer) in Spanish but in fact it means concurso.
  6. Deception may look like decepción (dissapointment) in Spanish but in fact it means engaño.
  7. Embarrased may look like embarazada (pregnant) in Spanish but in fact it means avergonzado.
  8. Envy may look like enviar (to send) in Spanish but in fact it means envidiar.
  9. Library may look like librería ( book shop) in Spanish but in fact it means biblioteca.
  10. Rope may look like ropa (clothes) in Spanish but in fact it means cuerda.

Now let´s see if you can identify if this text is right or wrong. At th end of the text you will find the answers!

The other day I had to catch the bus because I had to return some books in the (a) library and buy new (b)ropes for the school party. After ten minutes waiting it came and when I entered I greeted the (c)conductor. I could find a seat so I sat down. Then at the first stop (d)an embarrassed woman came in. She was carrying heavy bags so I only could (e)attend her.I asked if she needed some help and she (f) answered that yes.  It is not (g) bizarre people help each other but it was a (h)deception that only me left its place. The woman was so grateful that she (i) sent me a gift to thank me for my help. 

So when choosing words that may seem or sound the same to some others in our mother tongue,think twice!

 
 

ANSWER (a) (b) clothes (c) driver (d) pregnant (e)help (f) (g) (h) dissapointment (i) sent

 

Jimena González Sanz.

4 Junio 2022 1
Keep an eye in English

TRADITIONAL BRITISH DISHES YOU NEED TO TRY.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH DISHES YOU NEED TO TRY.

 

Autor: Verónica Amaro Bermejo

 

Shepherd’s Pie

 Shepherd’s Pie is primarily made from minced lamb and potatoes. Many families will make this dish using beef, but then it should actually be referred to as Cottage Pie, as shepherds only herd sheep (duh). 

Most Brits would agree that Shepherd’s Pie is best eaten at home with your family and, in fact, the dish is not often served in restaurants.

 Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington is a fillet of steak coated in patê and then rolled in pastry. Although the dish shares its name with the famous Duke of Wellington, it actually shares no link with the British nobility. In reality, it is thought that Beef Wellington was based around the French dish filet de bœuf en croûte (fillet of beef in pastry).

Beef Wellington is served in posh pubs and restaurants up and down the country.

 

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4 junio 2022 11
Keep an eye in English

READING COMPREHENSION.

READING COMPREHENSION.

Autor: Jimena González Sanz.

 

Simply put, reading comprehension is the act of understanding what you are reading. While the definition can be simply stated, the act is not simple to teach, learn or practice. Reading comprehension is an intentional, active process that occurs before, during and after a person reads a particular piece of writing.

What is the reading process? What do we do during the reading process? The following ideas can sum up the main things that happen on each stage.

The reading process has three stages: The initial stage, prereading or before reading, then the second one that happens while reading and the third and last one is the post reading or exploring and extending your reading. 

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3 abril 2022 11
Keep an eye in English

PHRASAL VERBS

PHRASAL VERBS.

Autor: Jimena González Sanz.

 

Hi everyone! Welcome back to our English space where you can find interesting websites and ideas to improve your learning English learning. Today we are going to tackle a complex topic: phrasal verbs.

A phrasal verb is a phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition or an adverb, or both. In many cases the meaning of the phrasal verb cannot be deduced from its separate elements. In addition, many phrasal verbs are polysemous i.e., they have more than one meaning. There are also difficulties with the grammar of phrasal verbs, particularly with the position of the particles, in that some phrasal verbs are ‘separable’ (the particle can be moved), while some are ‘inseparable.’ Quite apart from all this, there are literally thousands of them

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