Thread: The Groundhog Day

Hello!

I am practicing in only one aspect of English grammar: a usage of
articles. Well, would you please emphasize one or two sentences in the
following text, that contain mistakes, which is related to the usage of
articles?

Also, please pick a couple of sentences, that you can't understand at all
(you can't catch a sense).

Thanks.

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=== 1
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I saw the film "Groundhog Day" a few time ago. A main hero of the film is
Phil, who is a reporter on a Pittsburgh TV. Let me tell about this film
and varios events, what is happened. I would tell about it like I am Phil.
So, imagine, that it is my diary and the events are happening right now,
i.e. it would be the present time or not, as you wish.

So, as you can remember, I am a reporter on a Pittsburgh TV. Today
morning I was telling about the weather in United States. I was marking
different areas on the wide blue screen with my hands and a TV equipment
was making a picture and transferring it to the audience. The weather
wasn't fine that day, because some hurricanes was present. May be, it was
a little rainy, but I can't remeber exactly. I was wear the blue shirt and
the black paints. Also somebody told me, that I have to go to Puxatony
in order to report about the festival. It celebrate every year at the 2nd
February. I hate to go to provincial city, which has a small population.
It's no entertaiments there, no theater, no good movies. There is
absolutely nothing, where I can rest.

In addition I've been being on the air and my colleague was kidding about
me. She said me: "Fun in Puxatony, Phil!". Ohh... my gosh. I was
dreaming about that provinicial city all my life... And I've heard the
sarcasm in her voice!

I have to go to Puxatony with Larry, who's a cameraman and a driver,
and Rita. She is a producer and she's very nice. She has the long hair and
a nice smile. A serviceman told me about she: "She's fun" and I said:
"Yes, she's fun, but this is not my kind of fun".

Well, we're going to Puxatony!

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=== 2
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So, as I can tell a few time ago, I am going to Puxatony. We've left
Pittsburgh and now are going on the road in the van. The van has a white
color. Also it has 5 seats. There are some people in the car: Larry and me
are sitting on the front seats and Rita are sitting in the back of the
van. Well, of course, we are talking about something during our trip.

I've said to all at once: "I don't like that idea: to report about the Groundhog
festival". It's not smart, just imagine that: a groundhog comes out of
his burrow, looks at all the people, that are celebrating on the square,
and thinks: "What's going on! Why you all are here? What do I do?".
Besides, Larry tells us, how he has been making reports about the birds
migration for over seven years on end. It's so depressed. However, Rita
tells us about her point of view: "I like an idea to report about the
Groundhog day". It would be so amazingly... He comes out, he looks around,
he see these people, he's enjoying. But I said, that people like someting
else. They won't see the report about the Groundhog day. They like blood
sousage and wanna see a sex and a voilence. And we finally arrived at
Puxatony.

There was the evening already. Now I am staying near the van... Larry went
away and I am talking with Rita. I am saying to her: "I can't stay here. I
was at this hotel last year and it was a bad service here". (I forgot to
say, that I will be make a report about the Groundhog day the fourth time
already.) And Rita said: "You don't stay here". I was wondering about
this. She gave me the van's keys in order I can go to the other place.
And I said she:
me: I think you're really good producer.
R: What can I do for you?
me: ...
...
So, I am going to the beautiful place at night and I think, as a far as I
can tell, I'll leave this city tomorrow. That would be nice!

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=== 3
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Hello again. We are continuing our story about the celebrating the
Groundhog day. So, today is February second, the Groundhog day. I was
called early at six p.m. sharp, because alarm-clock fired. The first, that
I have heard today, was a radio program. Two guys was hosts. They're
talking about the weather and, of course, about today's festival. Today is
colder every day, because blah-blah-blah... (Next I will describe my
actions) I am standing up and going to clear the teeth. I am washed the
face by cold water. I've seen to the window - the weather was as the late
fall: no snow, no ice, only cold and a little windy.

When I came out of the room, I was stopped by some guy. He welcomed me. It
was a stout man and he had glasses. We have talking a little bit:
He: Hello! Have you arrived to see the grounhog?
me: Yes, I am.
He: What do you think? When the spring comes? Was it a early spring or
a late spring?
me: I don't know exactly, but I can say, that it will come on April 25th.
The chance of that is 100%.

He was smiling and going away. By the way, I forgot to tell you about a
sense of the Groundhog day. It is the following. The people like to know
when spring comes... And all think that the groundhog know that already
and it'll tells them about.

Now I'm going to the first floor of the hotel. I've met there missis
Lancaster.

She welcomed me:
L: Hello, Mr. Conners! Did you sleep well?
me: I slept alone
L: Ohhhhh... Would you like some coffe?
me: Hmmmm, I am not sure... May be expresso or cappuchino?
L: Ohhh I really don't know...
me: (thinking myself) How spell expresso or cappuchino...
L: Mr. Conners, what you think, how will the weather today.
and I've beginning to tell her about the weather... because I am a
weatherman on TV. I've told her about the hurricanes, low temperatures etc
and I've asked you in the end of my speech:
me: Did you really wanna know about the weather or you was making a
chitchat?
L: A chitchat
me: See you later!

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=== 4
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Let me tell a little bit about Mrs. Lancaster. She is about fifty and she
is a little stout. As I undesrtand, she owns this hotel. And now, let me
to return to our dialog. So, she asked me:
L: Mr. Conners, do you leave us today?
me: The chance of my depature today is 100%. See you later!

And now I am going to the square, where Rita and Larry are expecting me.
There are a lot of people there already. I came to the van and welcomed a
camera: "How do you sleep without me? OK?" and touched my hairs with hand.
Of course, I was kidding a little bit. Rita said me: "Phil, you missed all
the fun." There are a lot of people. Some people were there all night.
They've dancing, singing. When they feel cold, they have gone to the fire
and they have staying near them, while they will hot. After they was
begining dance again. And they have doing in same manner all night. It was
pretty good, it was fun! And I said: "Yes, Rita, I know, they're dumbs".
R: You're incredible!
me: Who told that!

Let me tell about the square. It is about 300 people around us. In front
of the square is located a stage. We're staying in about thirty feet from
it. There are two men on the stage and the groundhog's burrow locates on
it. Two hosts wear black suites and white shirts. Also they have big tall
hats on their heads. There's a wooden door in the groundhog burrow...

It's time. One of the hosts are beginning his speech and Larry's beginning
to shoot a film. The host is talking: "Ladies and gentlemen! Today is the
second of Februry. And we all know why we here. Yes?" The audience applied
and cheers". The speaker is continuing. In that day our great
prognosticator, Phill, will tell us about the further weather. When the
spring come. (How soon will the spring come?)

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=== 5
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The man goes to the groundhog's burrow and knocks three times to the door.
After a while, he takes Phil out and brings it to the ear. Phil tells
them something in Grounhog's language... During the same time the host
speaks to all: "Phil have said me just now, that he doesn't look your
shadow. Therefore the late spring will be this year." The people look very
dissapointed at that moment. But after a while the celebration was
continuing. And all of them was dancing and singing.

I've said something for the camera. Of course, the big sarcasm was in my
words, which was showing my attitute to the town and the celebration. Rita
noticed that. But I was very excited, because we're finally going to
Pittsburgh, right now.

So, Rita, Larry and me are in the traffic jam. There are a lot ot cars
behind us and in front of us. It is windy and it's snowing a little. I've
pressed on the klakson, but Larry said: "Stop, stop! Nobody can do it
except me, of course". So, I've went of the van and was going to the
policeman. I was wear a blue summer T-shirt and pants. Flakes was falling
to my wear. "Hey, Commander", - I've said - "What's going on? Why we can't
going far?".
C: Because it's the blizzard?
me: What's the blizzard? It's a couple of flakes!
C: Have you heard the weather report? It will a big blizzard! It will the
very bad weather conditions!
me: I make the weather! (because I am a weatherman. And I've started to
talk him about the last weather report. I was telling something like
this: The huge mass of the air is moving from west to est and
blah-blah-blah).
C: Anyway, you have two choices! You will go far and become frozen or
you'll going to Puxatony. What's your choice?
me: I'm thinking!

And we return to the town. It was the evening already. I've been talking about
something with Rita and Larry came to us. He was wear a light sweater.
"Wow!" - I've said - "Larry, you look cool!". Rita said to me.
R: Would you like to have groundhog dinner with Larry and me?
me: No, thanks. I ate grounghog for lunch. Nothing much. It was like a
chiken.
R: So, what will you do?
me: I'll retun to the hotel, take take a shower, rest.
R: See yourself.



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=== 6
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"See yourself", - Rita said. They were going to the restaurant and I was
going to the hotel. I was thinking about a hot shower. But, no such luck!
As I have been turn on the water, there was only a cold water. So, I've
been standing under the cold water about a minute, while I turned
off the water. I rember you, that it all was in the evening and I wanted
to relax. That was very cool! . When I've been returning to my room, I met
Mrs. Lancaster.
me: Hey, mom! There is no hot water in the hotel, is not it?
L: O-ho-ho. Of course! Not today.
me: Ha-ha-ha. How can I imagine anything else! "Not today".
L: Good night!
So, a beautiful day will be tomorrow. I'm going to Pittsbourgh. It will
great! Well, I was thinking in that way.

Well, it's 6 a.m. and I was waking to the sounds of radio. The same song
was on the radio. And the hosts was the same and they've been telling the
same words like yesterday. I was thinking myself: "Good boys. You're
playing the yesterday's tape". When I was looking in the window, I was
wondering: in spite of the blizzard, there was no snow anywere! "What a
hell!", - I've thought. I washed the face, cleared the teeth and
went out of the room. I've met the yesterday man again. He said me
following:
M: Hi! Are you here in order to see the groundog?
me: Yees (I've said that slowly and I've beginning to suspect something wrong)
M: What do you think? What will the spring this year? Will it early or
late?
me: Have we been talking about it yesterday?
M: I don't understand what you say!
me: Don't lie me! What day is this?
M: It's February second, the Groundhog day. (The man said it with caution
in the voice)
me: (I've relaxed a little) Oohhhh... (I've smiled). But I've been
thinking, that today is yesterday....

I came downstairs to the first floor. Mrs. Lancaster was there. She have
been asked me with respect in the voice:
L: Did you sleep well, Mr. Conners?
me: Did I sleep well...
L: Would you like some coffee? All people around are talking about the
blizzard...
me: Do you ever have deja vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
L: I don't think so... But I could check in the kitchen.
me: No, thanks.
L: Do you leave here today, Mr. Conners?
me: (My voice was not so sure as always. The chance of my departure today
is 80 percent... Seventy five/eighty.

I was going on the street. I've stopped some women and I've asked her.
me: Where's everybody going?
she: To the square. It's the Groundhog day.
me: It's still just once a year, isn't it?

I am practicing only in correcting mistakes in usage of articles.

=== 1

I saw the film "Groundhog Day" some time ago. The main hero of the film...
...the weather in the United States.
...and _ TV equipment was...
I was wearing a blue shirt and _ black pants.
And I've heard _ sarcasm in her voice!
She has _ long hair and a nice smile.

=== 2

"I like the idea..."
...wanna see _ sex and _ voilence.
me: I think you're a really good producer.

=== 3

...because the (or an) alarm-clock fired.
I am standing up and going to clean my teeth.
I am washing my face...
_ people like to know...

=== 4

=== 5
...and brings it to his ear.
Phil tells them something in the Grounhog's language...
... and was going to a policeman.

Have no patience left for reading to the end.


Being a Russian, I understand all of it.

OK astro, I'll help you.

1;
I saw the film "Groundhog Day" a SHORT time ago. A main hero of the film is Phil, a reporter on a Pittsburgh TV. Let me tell about this film
and varioUs events, THAT happened. I WILL tell YOU about it like I am Phil.
So, imagine, that it is my diary and the events are happening right now,
i.e. it would be the present time or not, as you wish.

So, as you remember, I am a reporter on a Pittsburgh TV. THIS
morning I was REPORTING the weather in THE United States. I was marking
different areas on the wide blue screen with my hands and THE TV equipment
was making a picture and transferring it to the audience. The weather
wasn't GOOD / GREAT that day, because some STORMS WERE present. MAYBE, it was
a little rainy, but I can't remeber exactly. I was WEARING A blue shirt and
black paints. Also someONE told me I have to go to Punxsutawney
in order to report about the festival. It IS celebrated every year ON the 2nd OF February. I hate to go to THIS provincial city, which has a small population.
THERE IS no entertaiment_ there, no theater, no good movies. There is
absolutely nothing, where I can rest.

In addition I've been on the air and my colleague was kidding about
me. She said me: "Fun in Puxatony, Phil! Ohh... my gosh. I was
dreaming about that provinicial city all my life"... And I heard the
sarcasm in her voice!

I have to go to Punxsutawney with Larry, who's a cameraman and driver,
and Rita. She is a producer and she's very nice. She has __ long hair and
a nice smile. A serviceman told me about she: "She's fun" and I said:
"Yes, she's fun, but this is not my kind of fun".

Well, we're going to Punxsutawney !



Note: Hurricaines are HUGE storms in the summer. They need heat from the ocean for fuel, so they stay near the coast. BLIZZARDS are big winter storms, snow, etc.

"A reporter on a Pittsburg TV" sounds wrong to me.

A TV, when used with an indefinite article, usually means a TV set. If you wanted to say that he was a reporter for one of Pittsburg TV stations or channels, you should say "I am a reporter for/with/of a Pittsburg TV station/channel" etc.

The entire script for Groundhog Day is available on the internet in Russian, somewhere. I have the first 10 pages printed out but I forget where the internet site is that I found the script at.

>A main hero of the film is Phil, a reporter on a Pittsburgh TV. Let me tell about this film

See, reading too much Russian causes to write awkwardly even Americans.

The main character [protagonist, if you will] is Phil, a reporter for a Pittsburgh TV station. Let me tell you about this film.

И далее, с логической точки зрения, второе предложение (Let me...), пожалуй, должно стоить перед первым.

На самом деле, он не репортёр, а синоптик.

I thank you for the replies. It was useful for me (i.e. I didn't know the
difference between words "hurricane", "blizzard" and "storm" and several
others things). It's wonderful, that you can understand my words and just
magical. However, other opinions are welcome too.

I'll just do the first part of section 6.

"See you", - Rita said. They were going to a restaurant (if these is only 1 restaurant in town, or if you have already mentioned the restaurant, you can say THE) and I was
going to the hotel (in this case we already know there is one hotel where Phil is staying, so "the" is correct). I was thinking about a hot shower. But, no such luck!
When I turned on the water, there was only a cold water (or, make it all present--"When I turn on the water, there is only cold water). So, I stand under the cold water for about a minute, until I turn it off. I remember you, that it all was in the evening and I wanted
to relax (this is confusing--I'm not sure how to write it because I don't understand it). That was very cool! Sad. When I returned to my room, I met
Mrs. Lancaster (or all in present tense again--
"When I return to my room, I meet Mrs Lancaster").
me: Hey, mom! There is no hot water in the hotel, is there?
L: O-ho-ho. Of course not! Not today.
me: Ha-ha-ha. How could I imagine anything else! "Not today".
L: Good night!
So, it will be a beautiful day tomorrow. I'm going to Pittsburgh. It will
great! Well, that's what I thought.

I'm glad you are trying so much writing. I think this is a great way to work on your English. I wish I would try to write that much in Russian It's just hard to correct it all because it is so much.

Also, the town has a very strange spelling. It is Punxsutawny. We drove through Punxsutawny last week on vacation. Very pretty town. My wife's brother lives close to it.

Originally Posted by paulb

I remember you, that it all was in the evening and I wanted
to relax (this is confusing--I'm not sure how to write it because I don't understand it). That was very cool!

I'll try to say that in other words:

It was the evening. I usually want to sleep in this time. Before Phil goes to
bed, he wants to take a hot shower in order to calm down (in order to sleep
well). The cold shower doesn't make Phil more sleepy... Vice versa it
makes him more sprightly. And I've made an effort to say about it with
the sarcasm: "That was cool".

Originally Posted by paulb

I'm glad you are trying so much writing. I think this is a great way to work on your English. I wish I would try to write that much in Russian

Just do it! (c) Nike

Originally Posted by paulb

It's just hard to correct it all because it is so much.

Paul, I thank you that you correct the section 6. Besides it is too difficult for me to
remeber all corrections to the whole text. Anyway this piece of text gives
me a feedback and it allows me to improve my English.

Originally Posted by chaika

>A main hero of the film is Phil, a reporter on a Pittsburgh TV. Let me tell about this film

See, reading too much Russian causes to write awkwardly even Americans.

The main character [protagonist, if you will] is Phil, a reporter for a Pittsburgh TV station. Let me tell you about this film.

OK.

Originally Posted by chaika

И далее, с логической точки зрения, второе предложение (Let me...), пожалуй, должно стоять перед первым.

В принципе, да. Я согласен с тобой, так логичнее: "Я сейчас вам расскажу о фильме... Главный герой..."

Кстати, я уж было подумал, что ты русский/русская, если судить по тексту... Нормально написан, пунктуация на уровне. Но маленькая ошибочка тебя выдала

Originally Posted by paulb

Also, the town has a very strange spelling. It is Punxsutawny. We drove through Punxsutawny last week on vacation. Very pretty town. My wife's brother lives close to it.

The funny thing is that although the setting for the movie is in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania, the movie was completely filmed in Woodstock, Illinois. I have never been to Punxsutawny, but I did spend a summer vacation in the Woodstock area. That's actually a neat place also. I went to the McHenry County fair, but they didn't have any groundhogs!

Originally Posted by astronomer

I am practicing in only one aspect of English grammar: a usage of articles.

I am practicing _ only one aspect of English grammar: the usage of articles.

I think your post is a bit too long.