Thread: Random thoughts

Originally Posted by chaika

More:
"rich with" is kind of antiquated, I would not use.

Accepted!

Actually I overuse metaphors when I speak Russian, so when I am trying to say something in English I can not say what I want to say.

For example, in Russian that sentence would sound: Этим летом прям урожай на фильмы с остроумным шутками.

Hottest joke of summer: "My name is...Optimus Prime"

Originally Posted by Matilda

And if someone knows the official name for grammatical constructs like "started chasing", "I stop reading", etc. could you tell me? I would like to find the rule

Gerund (герундий)

Originally Posted by ST

Hottest joke of summer: "My name is...Optimus Prime"

So, what's funny?

Originally Posted by Matilda

And if someone knows the official name for grammatical constructs like "started chasing", "I stop reading", etc. could you tell me? I would like to find the rule

Complex Object?

Originally Posted by Matilda

chaika

What is the difference between "someone" and "somebody" ("anyone" and "anybody")?

At school (in Russia) we used mostly "somebody".
Here it seems that the word "someone" is more preferable, I almost stopped using the word "somebody" by now.

As an American, I would say there is no difference between "somebody" and "someone". Also the same with "anybody/anyone". They mean exactly the same thing. Perhaps I would suggest that you would choose one or the other based on the way in sounds in the particular sentence. But this is a matter of opinion, I'd say. One person may prefer "somebody", while another might like to use "someone".

I think they're the same thing.

Thank you guys!


As for

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Originally Posted by Matilda

And if someone knows the official name for grammatical constructs like "started chasing", "I stop reading", etc. could you tell me? I would like to find the rule

Gerund (герундий)

Originally Posted by Rtyom

Complex Object?

In "[Cliffs] TOEFL Preparation Guide" that rule one can find in section Verbs as Complements. There are lists of verbs, verbs+prepositions, adjectives+prepositions, nouns+prepositions which are followed by the gerund.
I think the lists are not complete, but I can not remember even only them, I will try.

Originally Posted by chaika

I think "film" and "movie" are from different speech registers, that's why I would probably not use them together. Film is the higher-level term.

As far as "witty" is concerned, I just said that I did not know what you meant by it. I guess if you applied it to a play, I would think it was a comedy. We don't generally use the word here in the US, so that's why I was unclear of its meaning. We would probably say ... a lot of good comedies and cartoons this summer. Ratatouille, anyone?

Economist July 28th Issue: "[The Simpson movie is] a wonderfully smart, witty film that rescues Hollywood from the doldrums" and "[...] how many smart, satirical, uproariously witty comedies did Hollywood make this year?"

Witty just means that it is full of wit. That can be assigned to any situational comedy. Film, play, radio-show, even American Idol!

Originally Posted by Platinum

Originally Posted by Matilda

chaika

What is the difference between "someone" and "somebody" ("anyone" and "anybody")?

At school (in Russia) we used mostly "somebody".
Here it seems that the word "someone" is more preferable, I almost stopped using the word "somebody" by now.

As an American, I would say there is no difference between "somebody" and "someone". Also the same with "anybody/anyone". They mean exactly the same thing. Perhaps I would suggest that you would choose one or the other based on the way in sounds in the particular sentence. But this is a matter of opinion, I'd say. One person may prefer "somebody", while another might like to use "someone".

I think they're the same thing.

True. BTW, I like your new avatar.