Language Summary 3 Practice Flashcards

Linguistic Usage of Time Expressions and Sequence

Certain expressions are utilized to describe events that happen continually or to provide sequence to a narrative. For instance, in the context of urban history, phrases are used to denote that the city has changed since the time main structures were built. Specific sentences are used to talk about actions mentioned before or later in a timeline. A person might say, "Afterwards, I regretted it," to denote a reaction to a past event. Similarly, a sequence can be established by saying, "Then he realised," or by mentioning changing a "subject quickly."

To talk about an ongoing situation or something currently happening, one might use a phrase like, "I sat I tried to get on with." The phrase "from then on" refers to a specific point in time from which a condition persists. Additionally, the word "then" can be used to connect past and present states, as in the example, "I bought a new (then) I've had," indicating possession over a period of time.

Positive Character Adjectives

Courageous /kareidzas/ individuals possess the specific ability to control their fear when facing a dangerous or difficult situation. An example of courageous behavior is resigning from a job without first finding another position. Decisive /disaisiv/ people have the capacity to make decisions both quickly and with high levels of confidence; this trait is often valued by those who find it difficult to make important choices themselves. Deferential /defərenʃəl/ individuals are defined by being consistently respectful and polite, particularly when they are interacting with older people.

Innocent /nəsənt/ people are characterized by having no knowledge or experience of the unpleasant or evil aspects of life. It is often observed that it is difficult for children to remain innocent given the pervasive influence of television and the internet. Meticulous /me'tikjʉləs/ people are characterized by being very careful and paying great attention to every small detail. This is contrasted with being inaccurate; a meticulous person is expected to be precise in everything they do. Modest /modist/ individuals talk very little about their own skills or personal achievements, often to the point where others may not realize how successful they truly are.

Outgoing /aut gəʉɡ/ people possess friendly personalities and enjoy meeting new people; they typically have many friends and spend time out socializing. Spontaneous /spon'teɧniəs/ people act in a natural and often sudden manner without prior planning or being forced into action. An example of spontaneity is flying to various locations at a moment's notice. Thrifty /Brifti/ individuals are careful with their use of money and specifically focus on avoiding waste. Even those who earn a significant amount of money may remain quite thrifty in their spending habits.

Connotation: Positive and Negative Character Adjectives

Connotation refers to the specific feeling or idea suggested by a particular word. It is possible for two different adjectives to describe similar personality traits, yet one carries a positive connotation while the other carries a negative one. For example, both arrogant and confident describe someone who is very sure of themselves. However, arrogant has a negative connotation because it implies the person believes they are better than others, whereas confident has a positive connotation.

Negative connotations and their positive counterparts include:

Arrogant (negative) vs. Confident (positive)
Reckless (negative) vs. Courageous (positive): Reckless people perform dangerous acts without caring about the risks or eventual results.
Tight-fisted (negative) vs. Thrifty (positive): Tight-fisted people are unwilling to spend money.
Fussy (negative) vs. Meticulous (positive): Fussy /fast/ people are considered difficult to please.
Forceful (negative) vs. Decisive (positive): Forceful people express opinions strongly and demand immediate attention and action.
Submissive (negative) vs. Deferential (positive): Submissive /səb'misrv/ people are easily controlled by others.
Reserved (negative) vs. Modest (positive): Reserved /rəza:vd/ people tend not to show their thoughts or feelings.
Impetuous (negative) vs. Spontaneous (positive): Impetuous /im'petjʉəs/ people act on sudden ideas without considering the consequences.
Loud (negative) vs. Outgoing (positive): Loud people seek attention and attempt to dominate situations.
Naive (negative) vs. Innocent (positive): Naive /naɧɨɧv/ people maintain unrealistic expectations regarding life.

Phrasal Verbs Related to Health

There are several phrasal verbs used specifically to describe health conditions and the process of illness. To "come on" means to start feeling ill, often as the beginning of a cold or the flu. To "swell up" refers to a body part becoming larger and rounder than its usual size, generally as a result of an illness, an injury, or an insect bite. To "pick up" an illness means to catch it from another person or an object. Being "blocked up" /blokt/ occurs when a part of the body, such as the nose, is filled with something that prevents passage.

To "go down with" something means to become ill, typically with a disease that is not considered very serious. When an illness is "going around," it means that many people are contracting the same illness during the same time period because it passes from person to person. To "put someone on" something is to put them on a specific type of medical treatment or a restricted diet. To "come out in" something refers to the appearance of spots or a rash on the skin. To "come off" something means to stop taking a specific type of medication. Finally, a "flare up" describes a situation where a medical condition suddenly worsens after there has been a period of improvement.

Euphemisms and Indirect Language

A euphemism is a word or a phrase employed to avoid saying something that might be considered unpleasant or offensive. These terms allow for more polite or indirect communication regarding sensitive topics like age, health, and behavior. Common euphemisms include being "economical /i:kə'nomikl/ with the truth" as a way to avoid saying someone lied, and referring to an old person as a "senior citizen." To describe something or someone as old-fashioned, the phrase "behind the times" may be used.

Other examples of euphemisms include "seen better days," which describes something that is old and in poor condition, and "get on a bit," which is a polite way to say someone is getting old. People who cannot hear well are often described as "hard of hearing." To say someone feels ill, one might say they are "under the weather." Children or animals that are difficult to look after are described as "a bit of a handful." Extremely difficult tasks are labeled "challenging," and if the temperature is cold, it might be described as being "a bit on the chilly side."