Improve Your English – 748 [Archives:2004/762/Education]

Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and Expressions (69)
Get well wishes

Solace to sick is a sacred service. Get well wishes infuse in the sick much-needed cheer, a robust optimism and hope that goes a long way to usher in speedy recovery and rehabilitate the inner well-being to the indisposed.

– Relax till the time you are back on your feet. A little wish for you to get well soon. Warm wishes fondly come your way to hope that you recover soon and be at your best.
– Hoping for your quick recovery. Thinking of you and hoping good health and good times are right round the corner. Get well soon.
– Thinking of you and wishing you well. If we plant good deeds on sunny days, their beauty will remain in spite of clouds and rain. Remembering all the nice things you have done, the things that make you so dear, and hoping these rainy days will pass and sunshine will reappear. Please get well soon.
– Wishing you a speedy recovery. To let you know you're thought of in a very special way and to hope you feel a little better each and every day. This comes warmly to say that all the understanding and warm encouragement are with you as you rest. May you return to good health as fast as possible and remain so, always. Get well soon!
– Get well soon. Hope you're taking care of yourself and getting lots of rest; so it won't be very long before you're feeling at your best.
– This brings a bit of sunshine to brighten up your day, to let you know you're thought of in a very special way. When you're not feeling well, sometimes it's easy to start feeling a little lonely too. That's why I just wanted you to know that now, more than ever, you're in my mind and in my heart. And hope tender love and indulgent care will boost your sense of inner wellbeing and put you back on the road of recovery. Take care.
– Sorry, you're sick. Wishes for you to hope the days are few until you're feeling strong again and just as good as new. Get well soon.
– As you recover in the hospital, hope this little message will make you aware of how often you're thought of and how much others care.

II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. The Government promised that the loyal workers should be given promotion.
2. When I shall go to London, I shall meet my brother.
3. You are one of those who helps others.
4. Each of the clerks in this office are loyal and efficient.
5. The Dean said the students to go away at once.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. Athletics is very popular in our college.
2. The peasantry are not content with the government's decision.
3. He has been teaching poetry in the school.
4. He takes rest daily for two hours lest he should be ill once again.
5. The student's dues have been paid by the assistant of his master.
Note: since there are two possessive nouns, the second apostrophe should be replaced by 'of' form.

III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. An unhealthy fear of open spaces.
2. The continued and habitual drinking of alcohol in great quantities.
3. A local government officer having various duties.
4. The act of forming or arranging into a line.
5. A substance that forms chemical salts when combined with acids.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. A word made up from the first letters of the name of something: acronym (n)
2. A person who is skilled in something: adept (adj)
3. Something that is added to something else, but is not a necessary part of it: adjunct (n)
4. A man employed in advertising: ad-man (n)
5. A person who believes that one can only have knowledge of material things: agnostic (n)

(B) Literary terms of foreign origin
Give the source of origin and meaning of the following
1. pseudonym 2. Renaissance 3. rhapsody
4. rhetoric 5. rhythm

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. plagiari (Lat. 'plagiarius': kidnapper, literary thief): 'Wrongful appropriation and publication as one's own.
2. poem (Gk. 'poiema': something made, created. Thus a work of art): A composition, a work of verse, which may be in rhyme or may be blank verse or a combination of the two.
3. press (Lat. 'pressare': to press): The term denotes variously printing; a publishing house; news papers and periodicals collectively.
4. prologue (Gk. 'before speech'): The opening section of a work, a kind of introduction which is part of the work and not prefatory.
5. protagonist (Gk. 'first combatant'): The first or principal actor or character in a play.

(C ) Words commonly confused
Bring out differences in meaning of the following pairs of words
1. virtual, virtuous 2. custom, habit
3. doubt, suspect 4. fair, fare
5. social, sociable

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. actuate (vt) (cause to act): In all my efforts, I have been actuated by best of intentions.
activate (vt) (make active): After lying dormant for some time the scheme has been activated.
2. remarked (vt) (said something by way of comment): The supervisor remarked that my classroom performance was satisfactory. re-marked (vt) (mark again): The students' exam scripts were re-marked by a team of examiners.
3. coarse (adj) (material that is rough): The texture of this cloth is coarse.
course (n) (forward movement in space and time): The course of true love never runs smooth.
4. willfully (adj) (intentionally): He willfully absented himself from the party.
willingly (adv) (done readily): He willingly came forward to offer help.
5. considerate (adj) (thoughtful of the needs of others): It was very considerate of you to have come to my rescue at a critical juncture.
considerable (adj) (deserving to be considered): We bought this house at considerable expense.

(D) Idioms and phrases
Use the following idioms in illustrative sentences
1. the burning question
2. strike while the iron is hot
3. look on the bright side
4. throw cold water on
5. pull one's weight

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. have a weakness for (someone/something) (to have a liking for someone or something): Many in Yemen have a weakness for Hindi films.
2. the villain of the piece (the person responsible for doing something wrong): It turned out that he was the chief conspirator and the villain of the piece.
3. mend fences (to put things right after a misunderstanding): After a brief spell of misunderstanding, the two friends have mended fences.
4. movers and shakers (energetic and powerful people who make changes or get things done): It's the movers and shakers who can usher in a new age.
5. mind one's p's and q's (to be very careful): You should mind your p's and q's when talking to your boss.

IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Complete the sentences using 'lend', 'borrow', or 'loan' in the correct form
1. Never )) money from a friend.
2. You could always get a bank )) to buy your new car.
3. My mother said the money was a )), but I'm sure she doesn't expect to get it back.
4. I )) $20 from him last week.
5. He always )) things from Raydan but he never ))Raydan anything.
6. I )) him my watch and he broke it.
7. May I have the )) of your bicycle while mine is being repaired?
8. You can )) upto three books at a time from the library.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. When I was in hospital, they allowed visitors everyday.
2. The police officers made him sign the confession.
3. She advised me to complain to the manufacturers.
4. The fisherman warned us not to swim in the sea as it was dangerous.
5. I know my brother wants me to go on holiday with him.
6. I was taught to read English at school.
7. Khalid's parents let him smoke at home.
8. When I was in the army, I was forced to go for runs every morning.
9. I shall never forget the night we heard Eshrag sing in a concert.
10. My friend encouraged me to telephone Walid as I wanted to see him again.

(B) Composition
Expand the central idea contained in the maxim
74: Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone

Answers to last week's questions
Janet got married to Pedro last Saturday, and we went to the wedding, which was wonderful. The bride wore a beautiful white dress, it had a long train made of silk, and it was carried by the two bridesmaids, who were her eight-year-old cousins. At the start of the ceremony, her husband-to-be the groom was waiting for her at the front of the church. After the ceremony, photographs were taken, and then everyone was invited to the reception in a hotel, where we all had a meal. Afterwards they set off on their honeymoon, which they were going to spend in Bali.

V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
'Ranks specially bestowed
By Him and Forgiveness
And Mercy. For Allah is
Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful
S4:A96

VI. Food for Thought
“I live as I please, I wander where I like; I go in and out each day according to my pleasure; I move where my inclination leads me; I assume all the forms which it pleases me to assume; I hold in my right hand the Lapis stone; I wear in my right ear the flower of Ankham for ornament; I am flourishing, I am prosperous; I am a perennial youth in the garden of immortality.”
)Egyptian Tradition
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