Question about the English language

[Monika]

Hi, you are welcome to delete this thread since I only have one short question. If there is a general thread about questions like this I´d be happy if you would point me in the right direction (I looked but couldn´t find one)

I´m writing a story and in it a girl walk in to a cave and she notices that the cave floor...and here´s my question because I don´t know how to put this in English...that the floor is tilting upphill? tilting up?
I hope you understand what I mean.

I´d appreciate it if someone could help me out

[louisev]

The way you could phrase it is "The floor was at an incline."

[Shakesthecoffecan]

Hmmmm, titling up is a good description, you could also say the floor had a gradual incline. You could say the floor was anything but level, or had a gradual rise to it. Maybe there are some other descriptions others can come up with.

[Ellemeno]

at a slant?

I like Tru's suggestion of "gradual rise."

The thing to me about the word "tilt" is that to me that implies a temporariness or change, like a hat might be tilted, or even a building after an earthquake, but not the ground or cave floor itself (unless something like an earthquake had done it).

[Monika]

thanks for your answers! I´m not sure what expression to use though

here is the full sentence, perhaps it helps. Maybe I have to reword it

 She stepped through the entrance and was drawn to a light that she as she moved towards it, saw was another opening that grew bigger and bigger as she got closer. She noticed that the cave floor....

please ignore any other crimes against the English language .

[Fran]

Or...

She noticed that the cave floor rose slightly upward.

[Monika]

Or...

She noticed that the cave floor rose slightly upward.

thanks,that sounds good. I´ll go with that.
Thanks for the help!

[Fran]

Glad I could help. 

[Ellemeno]

Or...

She noticed that the cave floor rose slightly upward.

I like that too.    Hi Fran! 

[Monika]

Is it "to add something for effect" or "to add something for affect"?

I always have a hard time seperating those two words...

[Ellemeno]

Is it "to add something for effect" or "to add something for affect"?

I always have a hard time seperating those two words...

Effect.

A person might wear too much fancy jewelry, or put on an arrogant accent for affect.  But it's only others who would call it "affect," the person doing it wouldn't like being told it though.

(Separate)

I love your questions, buffymon!

[Monika]

Effect.

A person might wear too much fancy jewelry, or put on an arrogant accent for affect.  But it's only others who would call it "affect," the person doing it wouldn't like being told it though.

(Separate)

I love your questions, buffymon!

great!
 

Thanks for helping out!

[Shasta542]

uphill slope / incline slope

[Monika]

uphill slope / incline slope

Thanks, Shasta!


Now one more question..

Is this sentence okay?

"His eyes held that look."

or is it

"His eyes had that look."

I think that the first example sounds more interesting, but I´m not sure it´s correct. Help, please?

[injest]

depends on context, Buffymon....

if he is looking AT someone

" suddenly their eyes met and he held that look wishing he could say what was in his heart"

or is he expressing an emotion:

"His eyes had that look, that "Don't push me" warning"

[Monika]

depends on context, Buffymon....

if he is looking AT someone

" suddenly their eyes met and he held that look wishing he could say what was in his heart"

or is he expressing an emotion:

"His eyes had that look, that "Don't push me" warning"

I´m trying to get across that his eyes are expressing an emotion (want, desire)

"His eyes held that look. Even after all this. At least he wasn’t fickle."

so I´ll go with "had" then. Thanks! I appreciate the help!

[jstephens9]

Hey Monika!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How have you been?

I like "held that look" better just because I think it expresses more emotion.

[Monika]

Hey Monika!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How have you been?

I like "held that look" better just because I think it expresses more emotion.

Hi yourself Jack!!!!

was looking at pictures from Wyoming earlier today...and damn...


English is so damn tricky sometimes. Thanks for the input!

[Monika]

I´m back

Can the word "tame" be used as a verb?

As in this sentense "For sure, nobody could tame her"

[Shasta542]

I´m back

Can the word "tame" be used as a verb?

As in this sentense "For sure, nobody could tame her"

Yes--"tame" can be used as either a verb or as an adjective.

[Monika]

Yes--"tame" can be used as either a verb or as an adjective.

Thanks for clearing it up for me!

[Shasta542]

Thanks for clearing it up for me!

I like this thread. I'm an English teacher. 

[Ellemeno]

I like this thread. I'm an English teacher. 

Me too.  This is fun to me.

[David In Indy]

I like this thread. I'm an English teacher. 

I always try to pay close attention to my grammar and spelling when I post messages to Shasta. I'm afraid she might try to grade me!

I'm sure she's noticed all kinds of grammatical errors in my post, but she's never mentioned any of them.

Did I ever tell you about Miss Swisher, my high school English teacher Shasta? She was very VERY old and quite senile. She aways kept some plants on her windowsill and somebody stuck some marijuana seeds down in there and they started to grow! She watered them every day and to my knowledge she never figured out what they were. Someone must have told her about it though because the following fall when the new school season started, the marijuana was gone.

Her hand writing was really shaky too. It was almost impossible to read anything she wrote on the blackboard. She was very proper and she was pretty strict too. She was always making me sit in the hall for talking during class.

I remember one day she spent the entire period talking about the sound she heard as the rain dripped off some leaves outside her bedroom window. She just kept talking about it and talking about it. For an entire hour! That's pretty difficult for a 15 year old to sit though. lol

But  it's really weird, because of ALL the English teachers I had over the years, I remember Miss Swisher the most. So she must have made some sort of impression on me. And I admire her because it couldn't have been easy for an elderly woman to teach a bunch of teenagers all day. She must have had some incredible stamina.

[Shasta542]

Mrs. Swisher sounds like an interesting character! My 15 year olds usually try to get me to say or do something off the subject. And I generally say--No. But good try-I admire your effort.    I hope none of them plant marijuana in the class! I'd recognize it now, tho.

When I was in school, I don't think there was a retirement age because several of my teachers were elderly. My second grade teacher died mid-term. (Not during class) That was traumatic. But we got a new young teacher who was so sweet to us.

I consider our posts here as informal, David. I'm just as likely to make a mistake as anyone!   

[Shuggy]

Or...

She noticed that the cave floor rose slightly upward.

or "...sloped gently upward."

[Monika]

So here´s another one for you

What is the English word for...well...I´m trying to explain a wrist tattoo for someone and how it looks on the "underside" of the wrist. Do you understand what I´m getting at? To say "underside" sounds odd to me, so what do you say?

[Kelda]

inside of your wrist.

[southendmd]

The anatomic term is "volar aspect" or "palmar".

[Jeff Wrangler]

The anatomic term is "volar aspect" or "palmar".

The opposite being "dorsal."

[LauraGigs]

The anatomic term is "volar aspect" or "palmar".

But even in the English-speaking world, only an MD would understand those terms.   

[southendmd]

But even in the English-speaking world, only an MD would understand those terms.   

Or anyone who watched "ER".

You're right:  "inside" of the wrist is perfectly understandable. 

[Jeff Wrangler]

Or anyone who watched "ER".

You're right:  "inside" of the wrist is perfectly understandable. 

More so to a lay person: "She had a small tatoo on the inside of her wrist."

[sel]

Buffymon, I thought English was your mother tongue! People from Northen Europe always speak beautiful English.

Please, I'd like to ask for help too.
Yesterday in a post referring to the earthquake in Italy I wrote:

"A nice piece of news among the tragedy" And then went on to tell about a woman who  had given birth  no long after the earthquake struck.
Although you all got the gist of what I wanted to say, what  I wrote to me sounds like a poor translation from Italian to English. But  couldn't think of anything better. Any suggestions anyone? 
When I lived in the UK my English, both written and spoken, was much better, now  I get the two languages mixed up.

[southendmd]

Buffymon, I thought English was your mother tongue! People from Northen Europe always speak beautiful English.

Please, I'd like to ask for help too.
Yesterday in a post referring to the earthquake in Italy I wrote:

"A nice piece of news among the tragedy" And then went on to tell about a woman who  had given birth  no long after the earthquake struck.
Although you all got the gist of what I wanted to say, what  I wrote to me sounds like a poor translation from Italian to English. But  couldn't think of anything better. Any suggestions anyone? 
When I lived in the UK my English, both written and spoken, was much better, now  I get the two languages mixed up.

I would say:  "A bit of good news amidst the tragedy."

[sel]

I would say:  "A bit of good news amidst the tragedy."

"Amidst" is a word I never use. Thank you very much Southendmd. 

[louisev]

I would say:  "A bit of good news amidst the tragedy."

A bit more modern way to express it is "A bit of good news in the midst of the tragedy."

[southendmd]

A bit more modern way to express it is "A bit of good news in the midst of the tragedy."

Or, "...in the face of the tragedy."

[Jeff Wrangler]

Or, "...in the face of the tragedy."

Works, but I think "in the midst" better conveys that it happened while the tragedy is still going on, which it certainly is.

[j.U.d.E.]

I like this thread too! Have learned a thing or two already!

[sel]

Thank you for their suggestions  every one! It is like having your personal English teacher.  I think I'll have to refrain from posting here daily.
Should I  write something  incomprehensible or repeat the same mistake over and over again, please, do not hesitate to let me know. I won't be upset, on the contrary I'd be very grateful. 

[Kelda]

Sel - you're written english is better than mine and I'm a native speaker! Feel free to post as often or as little as you like!

[sel]

Sel - you're written english is better than mine and I'm a native speaker! Feel free to post as often or as little as you like!

Thank you Kelda. But wait until you've read more of my posts, you might change your mind ... 

[sel]

I have been told that the years from 2000 to 2009 are called the Noughties.
What do you call the years from 2010 to 2019, or, for that metter, from 1910 to 1919? 

[southendmd]

I have been told that the years from 2000 to 2009 are called the Noughties.
What do you call the years from 2010 to 2019, or, for that metter, from 1910 to 1919? 

The Teens.

[Jeff Wrangler]

What do you call the years from 2010 to 2019, or, for that metter, from 1910 to 1919? 

The Teens.

Agreed. Though on occasion I hear the period 1910-1919 called "the nineteen-tens." 

[injest]

I have been told that the years from 2000 to 2009 are called the Noughties.
What do you call the years from 2010 to 2019, or, for that metter, from 1910 to 1919? 

so this is the last year we get to be naughty??!

 

[southendmd]

so this is the last year we get to be naughty??!

 

You better hurry, Jess.  Only 8 1/2 months left!

[injest]

You better hurry, Jess.  Only 8 1/2 months left!

my husband is gonna be so upset to find this out....

[sel]

Thank you for their help everybody.

so this is the last year we get to be naughty??!

 

We'd better make the most of it then! 

[Monika]

I´m back with a couple of questions I´m hoping you can help me with. I´m writing a short piece in English and here are a couple of sentences I´m not happy with

Sitting barefoot in an orange plastic chair behind his suburban home at ten thirty at night, Leaphorn felt relaxed for the first time in a long while.

He has a patio in the backyard where he is sitting. Can I use the word "behind" here or does it sound strange?



Chee lifted his gaze towards the sky, Leaphorn did the same and both sets of eyes followed the white smoke as it floated upwards and for a moment took the shape of the Water sprinkler with his arms stretched out holding the bowl of rain water that The Old Ones so often had prayed for, before dissolving in the night air.

I`m just not sure whether this sentence reads well or not?(the Water Sprinkler is a character in the old Navajo religion)

[southendmd]

I´m back with a couple of questions I´m hoping you can help me with. I´m writing a short piece in English and here are a couple of sentences I´m not happy with

Sitting barefoot in an orange plastic chair behind his suburban home at ten thirty at night, Leaphorn felt relaxed for the first time in a long while.

He has a patio in the backyard where he is sitting. Can I use the word "behind" here or does it sound strange?

I think it sounds fine this way.

Chee lifted his gaze towards the sky, Leaphorn did the same and both sets of eyes followed the white smoke as it floated upwards and for a moment took the shape of the Water sprinkler with his arms stretched out holding the bowl of rain water that The Old Ones so often had prayed for, before dissolving in the night air.

I`m just not sure whether this sentence reads well or not?(the Water Sprinkler is a character in the old Navajo religion)

This is a big ol' run-on sentence.  I think you could split it up into two or three sentences, add a little creative punctuation, and it would read better.

Chee lifted his gaze towards the sky; Leaphorn did the same.  As both sets of eyes followed the white smoke, it floated upwards, and for a moment took the shape of the Water Sprinkler--arms stretched out holding the bowl of rain water that the Old Ones so often had prayed for--before dissolving in the night air.

[Monika]

I think it sounds fine this way.


This is a big ol' run-on sentence.  I think you could split it up into two or three sentences, add a little creative punctuation, and it would read better.

Chee lifted his gaze towards the sky; Leaphorn did the same.  As both sets of eyes followed the white smoke, it floated upwards, and for a moment took the shape of the Water Sprinkler--arms stretched out holding the bowl of rain water that the Old Ones so often had prayed for--before dissolving in the night air.

Perfect! I´ve been staring at this sentence way too long now to be able to make any sense of it myself.
Thanks, Paul!

[fritzkep]

"Behind the home" is fine, and you can also say "in back of the home".

Good suggestion about the sentence, Paul!

[louisev]

i've got an advanced degree in English and I couldn't do better than the advice Paul gave you, Mon.

[Meryl]

Wow, you're writing Chee/Leaphorn fanfic?  Tres cool! 

[Monika]

Wow, you're writing Chee/Leaphorn fanfic?  Tres cool! 

Not quite but almost, Meryl. I´m taking a uni class in detective fiction and one of the assignments is to read Tony Hillerman´s "A Thief of Time" and write a creative text with the characters in a different geographical setting. So pretty much like fan fiction. Really enjoying the Leaphorn/Chee combo!

[Sason]

Wow, thanks for bumping this thread Monika! I had no idea it existed.

I'm sure it'll come in very useful at some point.

[Lynne]

Not quite but almost, Meryl. I´m taking a uni class in detective fiction and one of the assignments is to read Tony Hillerman´s "A Thief of Time" and write a creative text with the characters in a different geographical setting. So pretty much like fan fiction. Really enjoying the Leaphorn/Chee combo!

That sounds like a fun class, Monika!  I've read most of Hillerman's work.  Have you ever read any Michael Connelly?  If not, I'd recommend starting with The Black Echo (begins a series) or The Poet (stands alone).  The man is a master.

[Monika]

That sounds like a fun class, Monika!  I've read most of Hillerman's work.  Have you ever read any Michael Connelly?  If not, I'd recommend starting with The Black Echo (begins a series) or The Poet (stands alone).  The man is a master.

No I haven´t. Thanks Lynne, I´ll check him out.

Right now I´m reading "Three Bags full" by Leonie Swann. Pretty good so far but I´ve just started. It features a flock of anthropomorphic Irish sheep out to solve the murder of their shepherd 

[Lynne]

No I haven´t. Thanks Lynne, I´ll check him out.

Right now I´m reading "Three Bags full" by Leonie Swann. Pretty good so far but I´ve just started. It features a flock of anthropomorphic Irish sheep out to solve the murder of their shepherd 

 

[Sason]

Or.........not.


It could be 20 years since he was their herder.....   

[Lynne]

Or.........not.


It could be 20 years since he was their herder.....  

Wow...that was super insensitive of me.  I'm sorry, Sonia and others...I was focusing on the concept of anthropomorphic sheep and skimmed right past the murder of the shepherd...

 

[Sason]

Wow...that was super insensitive of me.  I'm sorry, Sonia and others...I was focusing on the concept of anthropomorphic sheep and skimmed right past the murder of the shepherd...

 

That's ok, Lynne.   

[brokeplex]

Hi, you are welcome to delete this thread since I only have one short question. If there is a general thread about questions like this I´d be happy if you would point me in the right direction (I looked but couldn´t find one)

I´m writing a story and in it a girl walk in to a cave and she notices that the cave floor...and here´s my question because I don´t know how to put this in English...that the floor is tilting upphill? tilting up?
I hope you understand what I mean.

I´d appreciate it if someone could help me out

the little girl walks into the dark black cold cave, and in the dim light of the sputtering dripping candle she holds, she can faintly see that the cave floor rises on up like a cat's back - a black menacing Halloween cat.

hope that put some color into the storyline.

[Monika]

Hi, I´m back and asking for help - again.

Does this make sense to you? Or is it "out of the town´s past."?


Askersund by night…

Guided tour on foot through the town of Askersund - after dark. Learn about
dramatic events and myths and legends from the town´s past.

[southendmd]

Hi, I´m back and asking for help - again.

Does this make sense to you? Or is it "out of the town´s past."?


Askersund by night…

Guided tour on foot through the town of Askersund - after dark. Learn about
dramatic events and myths and legends from the town´s past.

I'd say "from" sounds just right. 

Hmm, myths and legends--sounds interesting!

[Monika]

I'd say "from" sounds just right. 

Hmm, myths and legends--sounds interesting!

Thanks Paul - you´re a gem!