Help me with English, please!

Also host/hostess.

I'm just wondering, does the same host/hostess thing apply for an air hostess? Would you say an air host?
 
LaughingDove said:
This is the best way I have managed to explain these things though to be honest, I wouldn't really worry too much about grammar. We can still understand you anyway!:)
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Thank you, but I am perfectionist sometimes :)

LaughingDove said:
Comma: A comma acts as a punctuation mark that can do quite a lot of different things but it tells the reader when to have a pause. The easiest way to know when to include them is to read what you have written and see when you naturally stop for a breath and this means that some kind of punctuation is needed.
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There is a big problem: "rhythms" of speaking (I cannot find better words) in Russian and English are quite different as for me. That's why Russians are surprised often when they find comma in "unexpected" place in English text.

LaughingDove said:
If it not the end of a sentence then a comma is the most common thing to use (though of course it could also be semi-colon, colon, dash etc.)
When would you use a comma?
-To separate different parts of a sentence such as "He tripped while he ran, then fell, then got up again."
-Before a short conjunction such as but, yet, and or so (the comma should be before the conjunction) such as "It's cold, and rainy."
- For an introductory section to a sentence such as "However, it was still very fun."
-To insert a part of a sentence that could be removed but the sentence still making sense such as "Yellow throated martens, which have yellow throats, are carnivores" (a comma around each side of the inserted section is needed).
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Good examples. The first and the last ones are completely similar to Russian rules.
Third example is not quite right in my language: we have complicated rules for "introductory section words" and "linking words" (which are often the same, but we must use different rules in different situations), and Russian word "however" should not be separated with comma in the case mentioned above.
Second example is very confusing. We use comma always before "but", but I often see that there is no comma in such a case in English texts, and I don't know is it correct or not. The word "and" is used in the strange way too :). We have many rules for using comma before "and", but English-speaking (-writing) people use it more often as for me. For instance, there is very usual phrase type: "first, second, and third". We do not use comma before "and" in such a case.

So for me conclusion is: rules are mostly similar, so I should use Russian rule until I know English :)

LaughingDove said:
This is a very extensive explanation of comma usage, I don't think you need to really bother with all this as we can understand you anyway but you asked so I have explained.

Overall, I don't really think you need to make your grammar perfect, we can understand you anyway. However, if you want help, I am happy to help and I'm sure others will be too. Remember, though, that even native English speakers who don't speak any other languages make mistakes (people constantly misspell a lot as 'alot' or 'allot', it is two words by the way :p)
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I have to converse officially sometimes, and any comma could be important. Besides that, I think that a good language is a kind of respect for interlocutor.

Please correct my new mistakes! :)
 
OrangePerson said:
I can't believe you'd find a lot of English people who know 'grammar rules' very well. I tend to have a good feel for what is right through lots of reading (and am the grammar police at work) but I mainly know any grammar rules (and that's not many) from learning Greek a few years ago. We just weren't taught it in my era at school after vowel = doing word, noun = naming word… :)
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I can say that "lots of reading" is about me. Unfortunately I know Russian rules quite well, and I could even become a teacher, but I like biology much more :) I sometimes edit papers of other people, and there are minutes when I want to kill someone. It is unworthy feeling, but I can not fight it, because I feel a deep respect for the language.

This text was written mostly according to Russian grammar rules. Please correct my new mistakes! :)

OrangePerson said:
We just weren't taught it in my era at school after vowel = doing word, noun = naming word… :)
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It became understandable after your correction :)
 
callorhinus said:
Second example is very confusing. We use comma always before "but", but I often see that there is no comma in such a case in English texts, and I don't know is it correct or not. The word "and" is used in the strange way too :). We have many rules for using comma before "and", but English-speaking (-writing) people use it more often as for me. For instance, there is very usual phrase type: "first, second, and third". We do not use comma before "and" in such a case.
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In terms of using a comma before "and", "but" or other small conjunctions, it is often your choice (Just for information, a comma before a conjunction at the end of a list is called a serial comma). For example, just in the sentence above, I have written ""but" or other small conjunctions", I could have written ""but", or other small conjunctions" with a comma before the "or", but I chose not to because that is how I wanted the text to flow. It is the writers choice whether to put a comma before conjunctions so both "first, second and third" and "first, second, and third" could be correct. However, having said that, different writers would argue different ways about whether the serial comma is necessary and I have had English teachers tell me different things. In American English it tends to be used more and British English less (I personally tend not to use it) so it is arguable either way.
If you don't want to read every thing I wrote above: You can use a comma before a short conjunction but you don't have to (depending on different people's opinions).
 
LaughingDove said:
Also host/hostess.

I'm just wondering, does the same host/hostess thing apply for an air hostess? Would you say an air host?
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No! They change it and find a new name like male ward managers are called "Charge Nurse" not "Brother" :)

I'm going to tell my friend Instructrix is the correct word!

"Comedienne" is something that is falling out of favour along with Manageress.
 
dunstbunny said:
hmm. but = "no": comma, if you like / but = "lish' ": no comma
Excuse my transcription :)
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Looks like Russian :)
Can you give me an example? We must use comma in the case of but = "no". I'm afraid I don't understand what do you mean by "but = "lish' ": no comma."
 
One of confusing things in English is use words "me", "my", and especially "mine". Could you please clarify it for me?
 
Me is the object of the sentence. Follows a preposition. "This belongs to me."
My is a possessive adjective-pronoun. "My book is by Durrell."
Mine is a possessive-object. "The Durrell book is mine."
 
jbnbsn99 said:
Me is the object of the sentence. Follows a preposition. "This belongs to me."
My is a possessive adjective-pronoun. "My book is by Durrell."
Mine is a possessive-object. "The Durrell book is mine."
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This is quite easy. But what about "friend of mine"? Is it just traditional phrase or rule?
 
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I think most of you have heard the song with the phrase "Long as she's got a dime...".
Is it a short version of "as long as ..."?
Is "she's" a shorten from "she has"?
What is the meaning of all phrase? Is it equal to "Till she has a dime"?
 
callorhinus said:
I think most of you have heard the song with the phrase "Long as she's got a dime...".
Is it a short version of "as long as ..."?
Is "she's" a shorten from "she has"?
What is the meaning of all phrase? Is it equal to "Till she has a dime"?
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I have never heard the song. However:

1) and 2) yes you are correct, it is just shorthand for "as long as she has got a dime"
 
ok, I looked up the lyrics:
You know she winks like a glow worm
Dance like a spinning top
She got a crazy partner
Oughta see them reel an rock
Long as she's got a dime
The music will never stop
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Basically, "as long as she has got a dime, the music will never stop" is saying that she can keep the jukebox playing for as long as she has enough money.
 
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