English Vocabulary List– 9. 7. 2015

1) corduroy
2) exultation
3) disgorge
4) seethe
5) pinnacle
6) stocky
7) aloof
8) giddy
9) connoisseur
10) inane
11) anemone
12) mottled
13) minutiae
14) crate
15) umbrage
16) scald
17) carapace
18) discernible
19) lousy
20) taut

An Alcoholic's Lullaby

Are you trying to bluff the sorrow by getting it drunk?
Say ‘So long until comes tomorrow’ when you realize you flunk.

Don’t you know that in crying there’s no bloody use?
A few drops stop no one from dying so stop being obtuse.

And, will you also dare to look into the mirror?
Then sink into despair and figure out in horror

That it’s always you with your bleary vision
Who is to do a kind of a wrong decision.

When you get painfully sober like the morning light
You’ll let it start all over and never dare to fight.

English Vocabulary List– 4. 7. 2015

1) pummel; verb
2) wisp; noun
3) fidget; verb
4) gush; verb
5) fell; verb
6) hessian; noun
7) brandish; verb
8) shrunken; adj.
9) lumber; verb
10) scurry; verb
11) acme; noun
12) clash (with); verb
13) veil; noun
14) jovial; adj.
15) loiter; verb
16) piety; noun
17) frumpy; adj.
18) comprise; verb
19) penance; noun
20) bleary; adj.

Français: Plus-que-parfait

Usage/ Užití

If you can read this and understand well, you speak English. That means that you have won, because plus-que-parfait is the same tense as the English past perfect. 

Plus-que-parfait je předminulý čas, což znamená, že se používá hlavně při vyprávění.

1) an action that occurred before another action in the past (As soon as I had closed the door I realised that I had left my cell phone on the bed.)

1) děj, který se udál dříve v minulosti, než nějaký jiný (Jakmile jsem zavřel dveře [zavřel jsem je před tím, než jsem si uvědomil], uvědomil jsem si, že jsem svůj telefon nechal na posteli [nechal jsem jej tam, než jsem si to uvědomil].)

Examples/ Příklady

Dès que j'avais fermée la porte j'ai réalisé que j'avais laissé mon portable sur le lit.

Quand je suis arrivé(e) à la maison elle avait déjà disparu.

Conjugation/ Časování

The sentences' construction resembles passé composé sentences, don't they? What we do is take one of the auxiliary verbs (either avoir or être), conjugate it in imparfait and add participe passé of the main verb. 

Don't forget– the same rules apply here: if we use conjugated être, the main verb must agree with the subject (j'étais arrivé(e)) and if it's avoir and direct object, it also must agree (j'avais fermée la porte).

Konstrukce vět se podobají těm v passé composé, že? Co uděláme je, že vezmeme jedno z pomocných sloves (buď avoir, nebo être), vyčasujeme je v imparfait a přidáme významové sloveso v participe passé.

Nezapomeňte– platí zde stejná pravidla: pokud použijeme vyčasované être, významové sloveso musí být ve shodě s podmětem (př. j'étais arrivé(e)), a pokud je to avoir a předmět přímý, také musí být ve shodě (př. j'avais fermée la porte).

For the conjugation/ Pro časování: http://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com/

love & peace

Ciray

Français: Imparfait

Usage/ Užití

All of the following examples are connected to the past, which means that imparfait is a past tense./ Všechny následující příklady se pojí s minulostí, což znamená, že imparfait je minulý čas.

1) a description (She was wearing a red sock. It was raining. The walls were blue.)
2) a state of being (She wanted to become a doctor. He liked it a lot. He had a car.)
3) a repeated/ habitual action (We would go to a park every day. We used to play with the ball.)
4) an action that has an unspecified duration (She was watching me. Sometimes I had some rest.)
5) a wish (If only I were taller.)
6) a suggestion (What about going to the cinema? Not!! I suggest we go this way. – subjonctif)

1) popis (Měla na sobě červenou ponožku. Pršelo. Stěny byly modré.)
2) stav (Chtěla se stát doktorkou. Moc se mu to líbilo. Měl auto.)
3) opakovaná akce/ zvyk (Chodívali jsme do parku každý den. Hrávali jsme si s tím míčem.)
4) akce, která má nespecifikovanou dobu trvání (Sledovala mě. Občas jsem odpočívala.)
5) přání (Kdybych tak byla vyšší.)
6) návrh (Co kdybychom šli do kina? Ne!! Navrhuji, abychom šli tudy. - subjonctif)

Examples/ Příklady

Elle portait une chaussette rouge. Il pleuvait. Les murs étaient bleues. 

Elle voulait devenir médecin. Il l'aimait beaucoup. Il avait une voiture.

Nous allions au parc. Nous jouions avec le ballon.

Elle me regardait. De temps en temps je me reposais.

Si j'étais plus grande.

Si nous allions au cinéma? 

Quand j'étais petite, je croyais que...

Avant j'y aillais en avion mais l'an dernier j'ai pris le train.

Specific cases/ Specifické případy

Two ongoing actions in the past/ Dvě v minulosti probíhající akce:

Je parlais pendant que je buvais. 

You were watching the TV (background, description) when someone knocked on the door (sudden action)/ Sledovali jste televizi (pozadí, popis), když [najednou] někdo zaklepal na dveře.

Vous regardiez la télé quand quelqu'un a frappé à la porte.

Imparfait can also be used in conditionals and indirect speech.
Imparfait může být také použito v podmínkových větách a nepřímé řeči.

Conjugation/ Časování

Verbs in imparfait have specific suffixes (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -ient) which we add to the verb's first-person-plural form in présent (without the suffix -ons). There are a few exceptions, though, such as: être, aller, avoir, boire,...

Slovesa v imparfait mají specifické přípony (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -ient), které přidáváme k tvaru první osoby čísla množného (bez přípony) onoho slovesa. Je zde ale několik výjimek, například être, aller, avoir, boire,...

This site has helped me a lot/ Tato stránka mi hodně pomohla:

http://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com/

love & peace

Ciray

English Vocabulary List– 30. 6. 2015

1) wheeze; verb
2) garner; noun
3) deft; adj.
4) berserk; adj.
5) vial; noun
6) ambush; verb
7) flotsam; noun
8) mane; noun
9) palpable; adj.
10) preen; verb
11) hangdog; adj.
12) raucous; adj.
13) frantic; adj.
14) nave; noun
15) wickerwork; noun
16) dilute; verb
17) tandem; noun
18) fissure; noun
19) placate; verb
20) musty; adj.

8 Possible Reasons Why You Can't Seem To Stay On A Diet

1) You're a terrible cook.

Am I right? If you choose a new recipe, it doesn't always come out as delicious as it should be. That can be quite frustrating if you've just spent two hours making a meal. And what do you do then? Eat something else- something unhealthy. 

How to fix this- if you like your mum's cooking- get some recipes from her. Or read recipes properly.

2) You store sweets.

If you know they're still there waiting for their chance, you are likely to eat them. Don't feel sorry about putting them into your trash can. They are like an ex boy/girlfriend. Let them go.

3) You have bad friends.

Dot.

4) You don't have snacks.

Then you get hungry and feel allowed to eat whatever you want because you've suffered enough. No. Get some protein and fibre and leave your kitchen.

5) You compare yourself to others.

Let me give you an example: You're hanging around in the city and suddenly, you see a girl who has a body like yours and she's eating some ice cream. So you say to yourself: 'She doesn't care what she looks like... I can do that too!' And you'll be awfully sorry later.

6) Your diet is too strict.

Sugar addiction is like any other addiction so you have to treat it like one. If you just cut it off, you'll end up wanting even more. Buy a package of candies you like and share it with someone. You'll feel guilty about eating so much and want the other one to eat more. Alternatively, if you have no one to share your candies with, eat a half of the package, get rid of the rest and get some friends so that yyou don't eat out of loneliness.

7) You get bored quite often.

Find a hobby or work out when you have time. I, too, eat when I'm bored (or when I study- but I can't tell you 'you study too much'- that would be irresponsible of me).

8) The food you eat is of vague taste.

Use spices and eat fruits instead of candy.

I hope I helped at least a bit.

love & peace

Ciray

Go ahead, draw your life!

But don't make mine look so boring. I'm kidding. I don't mind people drawing their life, sometimes I like to find out how they became who they now are. But at the end of the video (as it's usually a video) I feel quite... Ummm, I get trapped into an existential crisis, frankly.
I've been getting this kind of feeling since I was around sixteen. And that's what makes me feel so old all the time.

I'm too old to start doing stuff

"Doing stuff"- sounds so educated. Thinking this way means killing your dreams. I started living an actual life when I was seventeen. I started playing the violin, doing ballet, writing poems and writing music. I'm so happy I found out what I can do in my free time. When I play an etude like a pro, I feel that I've achieved something. It's not an impression I get at school where I basically feel forced to study. You are never too old to start doing... stuff. You can only be too lazy. Like me now- I'm too lazy to think of a better word than "stuff".

I can't get better friends or a boy/girlfriend

I've seen a lot of people (even in their twenties!) say: "If I leave him/her I might never be in a relationship again." Ah, so you'd rather spend the rest of your life in an unhappy relationship. Clever.

People don't change- why would I change?

This can regard either your physical appearance or the way you behave. You've never had a hairstyle that suits you? Your eyebrows look terrible? You have some belly fat? And the main question- are you willing to change it? If so, change it. Altering your behaviour can be tricky. I'll write an article about it. What I can say now is that I'm choleric and I hate it; therefore I control myself and I'm doing great. Everybody thinks I'm melancholic.

I could go ahead forever. 

You can get a better job.

You can go out with your friends more often.

You can establish a family.

You can go vegetarian.

You can start cooking instead of eating fast food.

Do anything that can make your life better, more content, happier, then draw it and show the people how boring their life is. That's when they can realize that their life can be what they want it to be, they can start dreaming.

Now think positive, spread happiness, my rant is over, I'm gonna watch Spongebob.

love & peace

Ciray

Winter Happiness

I love winter, you know. I know that I constantly complain about my ass freezing but still it's better than sweating. Aaanyway, I made use of this shitty weather and did what I haven't done in years. When I was sick at home as a child, I would climb to my roof window and build a small snowman like this one:

I fervently hope none of our neighbours saw me doing this.

I don't know whether my fever caused this or it actually happened but this is what I then saw: 

Look at it! It's so sad! Of course I didn't do that, though.

Now excuse me, I have to clean up a lake that has suddenly appeared in the middle of my bedroom.

love & peace

Ciray

You Gotta Love Ballet ♥

I Think I Am Sick Again

Why not get ill when we have our midterm holiday.

This is pretty much how I spend every holiday– except for summer holidays when I don’t get sick… Usually.  Anyway, this doesn’t hurt my psyche so much as our midterm holiday is shorter than a weekend. Yes, it’s one day off school and it’s raining and snowing at the same time. Additionally, I can’t just stay in my bedroom without washing my hair and doing my makeup. No. My friends think that I have nothing to do so whenever they text me I’ll be ready to get to the bus station and go and meet them. Is it so obvious that my life is just a whirl of emptiness and oblivion?

I have things to do! I’m ill for Christ’s sake! Well that’s not a thing to do. Damn, I should do something about my life. At least, I’m glad I hadn’t set any New Year’s resolutions because I would be even more disappointed now.

Well I’ve been thinking about making a new lesson but somehow couldn’t figure out what it should be about. And, so that it’s not such a pointless post I’m adding a poem I wrote yesterday. This is what happens when you have fever and get creative:

No matter how much I strive for rest,

Rest in my head, an end to commotion;

This inner hurdle, unfinishable quest

Nobody sees in my face of no motion.

Calm on the outside, in me just panic,

Trying to sort out my thoughts,

Feeling like a schizophrenic;

Order is what I head towards.

love & peace
Ciray

Studying Abroad? Why not?

      Every time I mention I’d like to study abroad people have plenty of objections and comments on that topic. I picked a few of the main problems and complications and if you will still have any questions after reading this, feel free to use Google. Seriously, I don’t know everything.

You don’t speak the language of the country

      I’m not completely sure whether these people know that you can choose a course led in English. This possibility even exists in the Czech Republic. As a Czech student, I can enrol in a course in English in the Czech Republic (however, they are charged with a fee, I reckon). Not every university or college offers them, though. You will only need the country’s language when doing the shopping, that’s it.
      But if you’re a language geek like me, you can go for a course in Swedish, Dutch, German, Italian, and so on. However, you have to make sure you’ve mastered the language or else you’d get into trouble!

It’s only for smart students

      Living with this attitude, I wouldn’t be able to study any university. It’s utterly wrong. According to me, studying abroad is for the bravest students. Sure, if you apply for a course in a well-known university like Cambridge, Yale, etc., you can expect only the best students to be there. But if you choose a university for mere mortals, it will be tough (because every uni is hard to study at) yet manageable. (This may help you to choose: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014-15/world-ranking)

It costs a lot

      Yes, if you want to study in the US or somewhere where education is not free. Some of you are experiencing a huge shock and, before you pinch yourself – of course, in many countries, education is free. Nevertheless, before you apply, you have to realize it’s for their citizens (they usually pay high taxes), not everybody. This doesn’t mean that it’s going to cost a foreign student an arm and a leg; you will probably have to pay some fees. If you choose to study in the language of the country, you probably won’t be paying any fees whatsoever. (Again, check this out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_education). People who live in the European Union have it even easier. In some countries of the European Union they don’t have to pay for anything (as we can also travel without visa).

      One day, I’ll write an article on pros and cons of studying abroad. One day…

      I hope I helped at least a bit and encouraged you.

Love & peace
Ciray

Lesson 21– Telling The Time & Date, Ordinal Numbers

Happy new year, everyone!
        I'm really sorry for that I haven't posted anything for almost dva měsíce! (=two months) My new year's resolution isn't to post every week (as many of you probably expected) because it would be too difficult to manage school and the blog + I'm going to make another one on French soon and my personal blog. Yes, the lattermost two are my new year's resolutions so I have this whole year to achieve my goals.
         Anyway, I know that this (along with animals, colours, numbers, body parts, etc. vocabulary) is the most boring thing to learn in a new language. This is why I've waited so long to teach you this (and also the fact that I forgot I should make a lesson on this topic O:-).
Let's get started!

Days of the Week (Dny v týdnu)

pondělí (Monday) - v pondělí
úterý (Tuesday) - v úterý
středa (Wednesday) - ve středu
čtvrtek (Thursday) - ve čtvrtek
pátek (Friday) - v pátek
sobota (Saturday) - v sobotu
neděle (Sunday) - v neděli

         There's nothing to explain about days of the week. Yet there's one thing you have to memorize: The first letters of the days of the week in Czech are not capitalized!

Months of the Year (Měsíce v roce)

leden (January) - v lednu

únor (February) - v únoru

březen (March) - v březnu

duben (April) - v dubnu

květen (May) - v lednu

červen (June) - v červnu

červenec (July) - v červenci

srpen (August) - v srpnu

září (September) - v září

říjen (October) - v říjnu

listopad (November) - v listopadu

prosinec (December) - v prosinci

         Again, do not capitalize the first letters! The months are masculine except for one– září which is neuter.

Seasons of the Year (Roční období [v roce])

jaro (spring) - na jaře

léto (summer) - v létě

podzim (fall/ autumn) - na podzim

zima (winter) - v zimě

       Like in English, no capitalizing, please! 

Parts of the Day (Části dne)

ráno (morning)

poledne (noon) (v poledne [=at noon])

odpoledne (afternoon)

večer (evening)

noc (night) (v noci [=at night])

půlnoc (midnight) (o půlnoci [=at midnight])

       Ráno, odpoledne, večer are the basic words you definitely need to know. They are adverbs, therefore you don't need any prepositions to use them. For the rest, I added the prepositions right into the list. 

Telling the Time (Určování času)

        Kolik je hodin? Well, this sentence makes no sense at all, yet it's perfectly correct and it's the only way to say 'What's the time?' Sometimes Czechs shorten it to 'Kolik je?' (do not mistake for 'Kolik ti je' [=How old are you])
        Let's learn how to answer this question. (Yes, showing the screen of your cell phone is easier but stillllll...) 

        The answer is similar to the English one: 'Je...' (=It's...). 

        Now you can choose: 

Půl (half) +second case of an ordinal number 

Usage: Půl páté (=a half of fifth) 4:30 

Čtvrt (quarter) +na +fourth case of a number

Usage: Čtvrt na dvě (=a quarter on two) 1:15

Třičtvrtě (three quarters) +na +fourth case of a number

Usage: Třičtvrtě na osm (three quarters on eight) 7:45

       You can only use these using numbers 1-12 even though you mean in the afternoon. 


       Remember, there's still the option of saying: 14:25 ('čtrnáct dvacet pět') or 'dvě hodiny a dvacet pět minut'.

Telling the Date (Určování data)

        'Jaké je [dnes] datum?' (=What's the date [today]?) 

        'Kolikátého je?' (=What number (of the day) is it?) This one makes much less sense than the previous one but they both are used equally often. Advanced learners may know that the word 'kolikátého' indicates an ordinal number. Yes, we'll be answering this question with an ordinal number. Example: 'Šestnáctého března.' (=16th March). Also note that the number and the month are in the second case. As regards the number, you basically just take the neuter form, e. g. 'šesté', and add '-ho'.

Ordinal Numbers (Řadové číslovky)

první

druhý/á/é

třetí

čtvrtý/á/é

pátý/á/é

šestý/á/é

sedmý/á/é

osmý/á/é

devátý/á/é

desátý/á/é

jedenáctý/á/é

dvanáctý/á/é

třináctý/á/é

čtrnáctý/á/é

patnáctý/á/é

šestnáctý/á/é

sedmnáctý/á/é

osmnáctý/á/é

devatenáctý/á/é

dvacátý/á/é

dvacátý/á/é první

dvacátý/á/é druhý/á/é

dvacátý/á/é třetí

***

třicátý/á/é

čtyřicátý/á/é

padesátý/á/é

Prepositions (Předložky)

        Prepositions ar really simple. In English, you have at for hours, on for days, in for months, centuries, years and seasons of the year. In Czech, you can pretty much get on with only one preposition. It's the magic word 'v' (or ve) (=in). This preposition connects with the third case, therefore the word it precedes will be in the third case. However, 'jaro' and 'podzim' are used with the preposition 'na' only (+ sixth case). Another exceptions are festivals when you have to use 'na' + fourth case (na Vánoce, na Velikonoce, na Nový rok, na Dušičky...).
        Remember that you can't say 'v 2000'; you have to add 'roce' (the third case form of 'rok'). V roce dva tisíce šest (=in 2006).

         And, finally, a phrase that means anything from just one minute to years: 'za chvíli' (=in a moment).

love & peace
Ciray